The Marenon Chronicles Collection - By Jason D. Morrow Page 0,283

left were various rooms. Past the center, however was a hall with one small door at the end.

At the door, Inga waited patiently behind him. He placed his fingers on the handle and held them their firmly.

“What if it’s not there?” Julian asked. “What if someone else still has the orange medallion?”

“You won’t find out by standing here,” she chided.

Julian took a deep breath and nodded. It was time.

He swung the door open. The room was as bare and cold as he had left it just a week before. That is, except for one item.

The orange medallion sat in the pedestal and its chain dangled over the side. Julian smiled stupidly, expressing his elation at this discovery. He reached inside his cloak and pulled out five medallions that were individually wrapped in silk pouches.

“What are we supposed to do?” Inga asked.

Julian’s mind was too preoccupied to comprehend her question.

He let the medallions dangle from his fingers by their thin chains as he stepped in front of the pedestal. When he came close, the top right corner of the map illuminated, revealing a night view of Voelif and the surrounding land.

He grabbed the red medallion and placed it in its designated slot, causing the map to show the midnight-shadowed Reemlock Mountains surrounding Mudavé.

His hands trembled with anticipation. He didn’t even notice Inga’s open-mouthed stare as she silently cherished the display of magic happening before them.

He placed the white medallion in its slot to reveal the land surrounding Timugo. Farlaweer came next with the purple medallion. The green showed the Erellen territory. The two of them could see each region, every square inch of Marenon. The thought overwhelmed them both.

Julian held the blue medallion in front of his face, not knowing what might happen when he placed the final one into the slot. He turned his head to Inga.

“You might want to step away.”

She did as he suggested and set her back against the wall behind them nearest the door.

Julian gripped the pedestal with his right hand, and with his left he set the blue medallion into the sixth and final slot. The last piece of the map’s puzzle was in place. All of Marenon was visible to them.

He waited for the power to flow through him, the energy to burst forth, but nothing happened.

“Why isn’t it working?” he said angrily. “What am I supposed to do?”

With frustration, he gripped both sides of the pedestal.

It was as if a silent explosion went off right in front of his face. He felt himself floating high above Marenon, and could see any part of it that he wanted. The entire landscape sat quietly, hundreds of feet below him.

What he felt was very similar to the sensation he had when he had explored the memory orb. He could almost feel his body standing in front of the pedestal below Jekyll Rock, but in his mind he was outside, exposed to the world below him, though he was sure no one could see him.

What do I do?

He knew he had to get to the battle, but how?

Before he could finish the thought, he found himself floating above Jekyll Rock. Thousands of Dunarian soldiers fought to keep their lives, while many thousands more of their enemies waited outside of the city walls to take their turn against them.

Julian had failed to plan for this moment. He had often thought about using Marenon’s Map as a weapon, but now he wasn’t sure what to do.

What would make fighting more difficult? He racked his brain for inspiration then…Rain.

The very thought of it brought clouds to the sky within moments and then came the torrential downpour.

Some of the soldiers seemed distracted by the unexpected drenching, but the fighting continued without being hindered.

This isn’t enough, Julian thought. He moved his floating body to the eastern wall and over the edge. Thousands of Stühocs and Nestorians waited patiently for their chance to punish the Dunarians. Julian lifted his hand and slapped it downward. Instantly, a clash of lightning burned through several Stühoc soldiers. He did this ten more times before stopping.

This isn’t enough!

He descended to the ground, somehow knowing that the enemy could not sense his presence, for no part of him was actually there except for his mind. His spirit body stood on the ground among the soldiers, and he wondered what he could do.

What storm could wipe them out?

Like the lightning he had created, the idea struck him.

He lifted his arms into the air, moving them in a circular motion.