“His rule is not maintained by strength alone,” Baluka continued. “It is maintained by corruption. By agreements with the greedy and deals with the cruel. With the allies’ help, the Raen maintains control of all the worlds. Of you.”
Touching lightly on many minds, Tyen sensed the mood of the crowd darken. When he singled rebels out, he saw an ally or more blamed for the injustices they had suffered or seen. Not for the first time, he wondered if he would have eventually joined the rebels anyway, if he had not encountered the Raen and made a deal.
Baluka’s tone grew more forceful, though the volume of it remained the same. “He may be the most powerful sorcerer of the worlds, but he is not the most powerful force. That, my friends, is you.” He stretched out an arm and turned full circle. “Every person willing to stand up for what is right. Every fighter battling for freedom. Every sorcerer seeking the right to simply exist. Each of you defying his laws. Each of you demanding justice. Each of you saying ‘enough!’.” Baluka shouted the last word. “He’s had a thousand cycles! That is more than enough! It is time the worlds were free of the Raen’s laws and ruled themselves!”
The cheer that followed set the air buzzing. Tyen shuddered, half elated and half appalled by the collective wave of fury and defiance. Baluka waited, nodding, until the crowd had quietened again.
“Together,” he continued. “Together we are equal to the Raen–no, we are greater than the Raen. We have what the Raen does not. We have the strength that comes of a common purpose. We have the certainty that we fight for the good of all the worlds. I planned to tell you that even if we fail today we will gather again and fight until the change owed to us is made. But now that we are here I no longer believe I need to.” He stretched both arms out and spread them wide. “With so many of us… How. Can. We. Not. Win?”
His last words were drowned out as the crowd erupted in a roar that vibrated through Tyen’s chest. He heard cheering, whistling, trilling, and even hooting and barking. The gestures the rebels made were as varied, from dignified nods to wildly jumping on the spot. Frell was punching at the air above his head, his mouth open in a half-audible yell. Hapre was grinning approvingly up at Baluka, her hands coming together in a clap only she could hear.
And what am I doing? Nothing. He realised his shoulders were hunched, so he forced himself to stand straighter. He pressed his lips into what he hoped was a grim smile. Let them think I’m the cool-headed one.
Baluka raised his arms, calling for silence. “We will delay no longer. Whether you now join us for the fight or return to your homes, I thank you and hope every one of you will soon be celebrating our victory. Be careful, be safe.” Baluka paused, turning full circle again as he considered all the people watching and listening. “Everyone, be quiet. Form your groups. Be ready for my signal.”
It was done so quickly that Tyen sensed surprise from more than a few doubters in the crowd. All were too aware that the Raen and his allies might find the army at any moment. The sooner they were prepared, the better. Within a short time the great circle of sorcerers had fragmented into smaller ones. Baluka lifted a hand and a burst of light flashed upwards.
“Release your magic NOW!”
At the base of the rock, Tyen’s view was limited, so he concentrated on the magic nearby. Plumes of it rose and expanded rapidly, blending and rushing outwards, then stilled and reversed, pulled back to the crowd. Little escaped. The first part of Baluka’s solution had worked.
The rebel leader was turning and turning, eyes roving across a crowd mostly beyond Tyen’s sight. He nodded.
“It is done,” he said. “Now, those who have volunteered to transport others, take your group to a world not depleted of magic. Fighters come to me.”
As if readying to begin a dance, people clustered together in circles, linking hands, but rather than sway and turn, they began to vanish. A few breaths later all that remained was a scattering of men and women. These now hurried towards the rock. Tyen felt a hand on his arm and turned to see Frell standing beside him. Hapre was not far away, reaching out to Frell’s offered wrist. Baluka skimmed down to join them.
“I want to go through first, just to the sixth world,” he told them, “to ensure the way is safe.”
“Alone? That’s madness,” Hapre objected. “How will we know if you don’t make it?”
“Tyen will come with me,” Baluka interrupted. “If we don’t return, get the rest to safety.”
Frell scowled as he let go of Tyen’s arm. “They won’t like it. They’re determined to fight.”
Baluka shrugged. “You’ll have to convince them. Now, you two take them to the meeting place we agreed on. Tyen and I will go on ahead. If all goes well, we’ll be there, waiting for you, by the time you arrive, or join you soon after. Is all that clear?” The two generals nodded. “Then let’s get on with it.” He turned to Tyen and held out a hand. “Take us there as fast as you can.” He sucked in a deep breath of air.