Malcolm resisted his impulse to agree with her immediately.
“Some might say that the philosophy of the Awakened Children is also propaganda,” he said, carefully. “You have to admit, it’s a little farfetched.”
Shield Maiden let out a small laugh.
“Yes, Rain and I differ on the benefits of the church’s teachings,” said Shield Maiden. “I do think the overall message is sound, however. And we both agree that the Champion Authority, in its current state, is not something that can be allowed to continue.”
“So it’s you, and Rain Dancer, and a few dozen normal humans, against an international organization of superhumans?”
“Along with anyone else who sees the injustice in what’s currently going on,” said Shield Maiden. She gave him a pointed look. “Have you ever wondered how the Champion Authority came out on top? How it became the organization in charge of policing the superhuman world?”
“I always just assumed it happened naturally,” said Malcolm.
Then again, I always took what they said about sprytes and demons at face value…
“Savior, the leader of the Champion Authority, is a United States Senator,” said Shield Maiden. “He pushed for government funding. Invented the threat of sprytes and demons. Sold not just the United States, but governments all around the world on the need fora genocide against hundreds of thousands of people who, through no fault of their own, became something different in the eyes of their fellow citizens.”
“That’s not the full truth either, though,” said Malcolm. “There are some demons and sprytes out there who, for lack of a better word, are evil.”
My brother was one of them. How many people did he kill in his time as a demon?
“If you’re looking for a simple truth, Wind Runner, I doubt very much that you will ever find it.”
Shield Maiden turned her attention back to her sandwich. Malcolm couldn’t decide whether the conversation was one he wanted to keep having, and so he did the same.
CHAPTER 20
“I have one more thing to teach you,” said Shield Maiden. “And it won’t involve as much risk as what we tried before.”
Malcolm stood up and dusted his pants off. He nodded slowly.
“Sure,” he said. “But just how is it that you came about this knowledge, anyway? Your power is nothing like wind manipulation. How is it that you have so much insight into how to use it properly?”
Shield Maiden smiled at him.
I guess my question was a good one.
“Living as a spryte or a demon puts you in touch with your powers,” said Shield Maiden. “I have an intuitive sense, both for how my powers and the powers of others work.”
“And you didn’t have that before you became a spryte?” asked Malcolm.
“I don’t know,” she said. “I can’t remember much from that life. But regardless, it’s up to you to decide what to take and what to toss from the advice I give you. I’m not here to preach the gospel.”
“I mean, technically speaking, you are kind of worshipped by a cult…”
“Wind Runner,” said Shield Maiden. “I will trap you inside of my bubbles for the next week if you don’t quit being such a smartass.”
“Duly noted.”
Shield Maiden led him down to the sand at the bottom of the cliffs. She stood for a moment without saying anything, and then finally extended her arms wide.
“Your power is wind manipulation,” said Shield Maiden. “But just as easily, you could use it to interpret vibrations on the wind. To hear what’s going on around you, at a distance much further than a normal, unaided human.”
“Super hearing,” said Malcolm. “Uh, okay. Not quite in the same league as flying, but I’ll give it a try.”
“It’s more useful than flying,” said Shield Maiden. “For a spy.”
Malcolm froze. She was looking at him, and it was clear that it wasn’t an inadvertent slip.
“That’s why you don’t want me overusing my powers,” he said, slowly. “I’m more useful to you as an ally if I’m not a spryte or a demon. You want me as your eyes and ears in the Champion Authority.”
Shield Maiden nodded slowly.
“Are you surprised?” she asked. “You must have considered why we would risk bringing a champion into our base of operations. Along with wooing you with food, drink, and friendship.”
That’s such a huge gamble. I need to make them think that it’s paid off, if I want to stay alive.
Malcolm exhaled slowly.
“I see where you’re coming from,” said Malcolm. “It’s a big decision for me to make without thinking it through. But… I’m open to helping you, Shield Maiden. Really, I am.”
He wondered if she could tell if he was lying. He wondered if he really was lying, or if would end up helping them, somehow. More than anything, Malcolm felt confused. Shield Maiden watched his face for a couple of seconds before giving a slow nod, and moving on.
“Listen,” said Shield Maiden. “Not to me. Listen to the wind, Malcolm. Rain and I call using one’s powers like this ‘meditative focus’. You have to let yourself relax in order to get in the state of mind to make it work.”
“Alright,” said Malcolm. “I’ll give it a shot.”
He took a deep breath, trying to clear his head of all thoughts. It was far more difficult than he’d been expecting it to be, especially with Shield Maiden’s offer still fresh in his mind. He tried to relax, to listen.
A bird chirped, not nearby, but at least a mile or two in the distance. Malcolm heard not just the sound of the bird, but also the sound of the wind moving through the trees near it. He could picture it, in his head. He could almost “see” which branch the bird was on, and how it was oriented.
And they want me to use this to betray Tapestry, Multi, my friends and coworkers…
Malcolm lost concentration and the meditative state broke instantly. He scowled and shook his head, expecting Shield Maiden to chastise him for his lapse. Instead, she was looking at her phone. It was strange watching a spryte stare into a handheld screen, a mixture of the exotic and the mundane.
“We have to go,” said Shield Maiden. “Something has happened back in Underworld.”
“What?”
Shield Maiden didn’t answer him. She waved a hand, encasing him in a bubble for transport.
“Oh, come on,” said Malcolm. “You don’t have to be mysterious all the time, you know.”
An hour later, the bubble vanished, and Malcolm followed Shield Maiden down the last stretch of hallway and into Underworld’s main chamber. He spotted Rose standing next to her sister and almost immediately knew how her day had gone.
Rose’s body language was tense and openly disappointed. Leah was just as tense, but in more of a reverent kind of way, like a young teenager meeting their celebrity idol. Malcolm walked toward them slowly, waving and watching as both women reacted.
“Hey,” he said. “How goes it?”
Rose sighed.
“Good,” she said. “Malcolm, this is my younger sister, Leah.”
Leah frowned.
“Star touched don’t have family,” she said, in a quiet voice. It almost seemed as though it pained her to contradict Rose, but it was something that her beliefs required her to do.
“Right...” said Rose, with an eye roll. “Don’t mind her. This is one of those points we’ve been stuck on for most of the day.”
Leah brought her gaze up from the ground to smile at Malcolm and extend her hand in greeting.
“It’s nice to meet you, anyway,” she said, softly. “It gladdens me to know that others worship the star touched as we do here.”