by Eve Langlais
It cracked, and she let the oil within pour out in a slick mess that coated everything. Before she could strike a spark, a swarm of bugs erupted from the drain in a wiggling deluge that had her taking a step back.
She swung and even stomped, now wishing she’d kept her mouth shut and not insulted the general. It didn’t help that her pride wouldn’t let her call for help. She grunted and sweated as she beat them back, realizing it would never end.
“Duck!” the knight yelled.
She didn’t question, just bent low as a burning brand spun past overhead. It hit the oil-soaked sink and ignited it with flames and screams. Who knew bugs had a voice?
The men guarding the latrine arrived. “Holy barbecued critters.”
“This entire area is compromised,” the general knight declared. “Fall back to the courtyard.”
Arguing served no purpose. The heat baked the flesh of her rear as she exited the communal hall. The general and his soldiers had to heave and pull the not-often-used door before it would slide shut. At least it had a mostly airtight seal. Only a faint whiff of smoke emerged and the distant squeal of dying bugs.
“Seal off all entrances to this room,” the knight ordered.
As if he had every right.
Then again, at least his men weren’t a huddled mess of sobbing bodies. Of the nineteen other Soraers living in the Abbae, Agathe counted fourteen in the room. Several of them were injured. Venna moved among them, offering bandages and a kind word. This was the first time they’d suffered true casualty. To this point, they’d always emerged on top. It proved a sobering blow to the acolytes and Soraers.
Hiix appeared frazzled, as those remaining in the Order of the Shield looked to her for direction.
“What are we going to do?” The single wailed query hung in the air, and Hiix appeared uncertain.
The general knight had an answer. “Those who can’t fight or are injured, over there.” He pointed to a barren spot by the wall, away from the fountain. “Lior and Naam, you’re on watch.”
“Yes, sir.” The pair went to stand on opposite sides of the room.
Agathe opened her mouth and shut it.
“You have a problem with my orders?” the general muttered, slewing a glance her way.
She shrugged. “It makes sense. Until we can ensure the Abbae is secure again, we’ll repel any further attacks better as a group.”
“And here I was looking forward to another verbal battle. Maybe teach you a thing or two about defense,” he mocked.
“I highly doubt you can teach me anything.”
“Don’t be so sure of that,” he muttered. “I need to speak with my men.” The general left her side, and Agathe joined a huddled Hiix and Venna.
“Well, that was unexpected,” she declared.
Hiix’s brow rose. “You mean unprecedented. Since when do Vhampirs work together with other monsters to attack?”
Agathe shook her head. “It was only a matter of time before the monsters banded.”
“And they found a way inside,” Venna added.
“Question is, what do we do now?” Hiix spread her hands.
“Can we seal off the holes letting in the bugs?”
Agathe frowned. “Only if we stop needing latrines and running water.”
“Even if we started using buckets, there’s the Vhampir. What will we do if they keep attacking?”
“Fight back.” It seemed clear to Agathe.
“You do realize we only prevailed because of the general and his men,” Hiix said.
“Excuse me, but we would have done just fine without them,” Agathe huffed.
“You might have. Me, too. But what of the other Soraers? Most have barely begun training.”
“How could the Goddess let her daughters slack so much?” Agathe grumbled, not for the first time. How had a fighting order become so weak?
“How were we to know the peace we enjoyed would end?” Hiix countered.
“We’re about to have company,” Venna muttered.
No need to look or ask who. Her nape prickled as the general knight neared.
“Maeder, I’m going to need the purple-eyed at once.”
“What for?” Agathe asked. “It’s not like you can leave tonight. We’re locked in until morning.”
“This location is no longer considered secure.”
“More secure than the path at night,” she retorted.
“That’s a matter of opinion.”
“It’s fact. If it’s not safe in here, then it’s definitely worse out there.” She pointed to the door.
“I didn’t ask for your opinion, Soraer. You will comply.”
Hand over Belle? Agathe made one last attempt. “What if she died in the attack?”
“She’s not dead. And neither are the other two you’ve been hiding.”
Chapter Nineteen
That damned rat. Not bad enough they’d spilled about one purple-eyed girl, the traitor had revealed all three?
The chill inside her didn’t match her lighthearted tone. “What are you talking about?”
“You have three purple-eyed females. We require all of them immediately.”
How dare he demand? “I'm not just handing over Soraers,” Agathe snarled.
“You don't have a choice. The King—”
“Can come here and ask himself if it’s so damned important!” Agathe interrupted.
The general leaned close, and his voice emerged low and growly. “You think the King doesn’t have more important things to do than deal with a stubborn Soraer of the Shield? He’s got a Kingdom to manage. Threats to mitigate.”
“Young women to molest. Where does he find the time?” was her retort.
The general’s jaw tightened. “The King does not force any woman.”
“Liar.”
“How would you know?” Maric asked, leaning close. “Have you ever been inside the Citadel?”
She stared at him in a contest of wills. He expected her to bow. She probably should, but sheer stubbornness had her drawling, “There are stories about what happens.”
“And that’s all they are. Stories.” He turned from her. “Bring the girls. At once.”
“Yes, General Knight.” Hiix chose that moment to jump in.
Only as he returned to his men did Agathe round on Hiix and mock, “Yes, sir. Can I give you anything else while I’m at it? Maybe bare my throat?”
“Give it a rest. Can’t you see we don’t have a choice?”
“It’s not right. We are supposed to help these girls, not hand them over.”
“And what else do you suggest we do?”
“He wouldn’t kill us.” Agathe was sure of it.
“Are you willing to bet lives on it?” Hiix asked.
“Apparently, he doesn’t put much stock in anyone’s life. He’s planning to go out there. It’s still hours until dawn.”
“It’s grown quiet outside.”
“And? For all we know, we’ll be ambushed the moment we open that door.”
“More like they’ll wait until the soldiers are gone and then come after us while we’re weak.” Hiix had an even more pessimistic outlook.
“I’ve got an idea,” Venna said, finally speaking up.
“What?” Agathe snapped.
It was a terrible idea, and also the only one that might actually work. Hiix gathered the fourteen remaining Soraers and acolytes. Those who weren’t injured began bustling around the courtyard.
It was enough to have the bald fellow saunter over to ask, “What are you doing?”
“Telling the Soraers to gather anything useful they can find.” As she said it, they began converging, carrying satchels, a few wearing cloaks.
“Why?”
“For the trip, of course. The general knight said we’d be leaving.”
The bald man frowned. “Maric said only three were coming with us.”
“Purple-eyed young women, yes. But Maric”—she drew out the name—“also pointed out
something I should have seen. The safety of the Abbae has been compromised. Why, without your strong sword and axe arms, we’d have never prevailed. Which is why we are leaving with you.”
The smooth-pated fellow’s mouth rounded. “Come with us? Are ye daft? We’ll be moving too fast to protect you.”
“You’d leave us behind without any aid?” Agathe pretended to be aghast.
“Once we’re gone, the monsters will probably cease their attacks.”
“How arrogant to assume they’re only interested in men.”
“Never said that. But—”
“Don’t bother arguing. It’s obvious you’re as sexist as your leader,” Agathe spat.
The bald fellow gaped at her. “What is your problem?”
Before she could snap, Venna interjected herself between them. “You’ll have to excuse Agathe. She gets ornery when she doesn’t get proper sleep. I’m Venna, by the way. And you are?” Venna offered a friendly dimpled smile to the man.
“Xaav Treeborn.”
“Lovely to make your acquaintance. You’ve met Hiix and Agathe.” She waved at them. “Then there’s Marnai and—” Venna named off everyone there until Xaav’s eyes glazed. “I assure you that, despite her limp from a battle with a klider, Yanny won’t slow you down. And Pollee is an excellent scout.”
Xaav regained his wits enough to say, “You can’t seriously expect to all come. Maric will never agree.”
“He doesn’t have to,” Agathe snapped. “We can’t stay here, so we’re leaving. If we happen to do so while following a squadron of King’s Elite, then call it a coincidence.”
“I’d say that’s smart planning,” Hiix muttered.
“We’re not stopping so you can rest every five minutes,” Xaav declared.
“We’d never expect it,” Agathe said with a sweet smile.
No surprise, not long after Xaav reported, the general strode over and pulled Hiix aside. It irritated Agathe despite the fact that the Maeder ranked higher.
She sidled closer just in time to hear Hiix say, “Understood. Thank you.”
“What did you thank him for?” she asked as he left abruptly—still without a glance her way.
“He’s agreed to have us join him so long as it’s understood we carry only what we can move with quickly and don’t distract his men.”
Agathe rolled her eyes. “Because, of course, we’re going to be seducing them as we’re marching at night in the mist, listening for monsters.”
“We got what we wanted, Agathe. Don’t push him.”
But she wanted to. It might be irrational, but a part of her wanted to blame him for what had happened. Never mind the fact that, without the soldiers, they might all have perished.
By the time they were organized to go, dawn neared. It was close enough that Agathe said to the general, “Maybe we should wait.”
“You can wait. We’re leaving. Fall in!” he barked.
The soldiers formed up, the three purple-eyed acolytes with them. Korra and Neelie were wide-eyed with fright, but Belle was smug, her chin held high.
Lingering by the door, her ear to the wall, Hiix glanced at Agathe. “It’s quiet outside.”
Indeed, a lull had fallen. Ominous sign? Or would it mean this ill-fated adventure might have a chance of succeeding?
Agathe stood close as the general conferred with the big, hairy fellow he called Baer. Baer hefted a spiked mace and eyed the door before nodding. The moment it opened, Baer charged out, yelling and swinging his weapon. Had Agathe not been at the right angle, she might not have seen the silver light shining from his mace, pushing back the mist, revealing the outer ledge empty of monsters.
Where had they gone?
“Clear!” Baer yelled.
“Move out,” the big knight barked.
The Soraers and acolytes shuffled into rows three wide behind the soldiers. Unlike the purple-eyed, they had no one but themselves to guard them.
Not that Agathe, Hiix, and Venna needed any special consideration. While Hiix led the Soraers and Venna trailed them, Agathe ranged up and down the length of their queue as they quick-marched up the path. On guard. Alert. Dagger ready to be wielded. It would be hours before they reached the relative safety of the next Abbae.
Her wide-ranging scout meant she noticed Baer wasn’t the only one keeping the mist at bay with his weapon. A fellow with curly red hair had a spiked ball on a chain that he swung as he whistled from the tail.
Did they use magic? Agathe saw no signs of purple in the air or in their eyes, and yet, there was no denying their actions helped with the fog, which thickened and pressed around them.
Still no monsters. No whispers. No Vhampirs.
The farther they got from the Abbae, the more it bothered her. It seemed odd that they’d simply given up. Especially now that their prey had emerged from behind solid walls.
Eventually, the soldiers took a break from the long, hard march. The Ghost Brigade took up a loose semi-circular position that had them on the edge, overlooking the Abyss. The Soraers huddled by the stone wall of the cliff.
A headcount showed everyone accounted for except the general. He had disappeared, and yet, no one seemed worried.
While the Soraers ate a snack and rested tired feet, Agathe walked past the group and followed the road’s curve. The mist enveloped her. Filled her eyes and ears. Dampened her skin. Oozed under her clothes. Roused her dread.
She ignored it. She kept a hand on the cliff wall as she followed the path, knowing how easy it was to get lost. Abruptly the fog cleared, and she could see. The general knight crouched on a rocky outcropping that might have been carved to appear like a bird at one time. He didn’t turn to look at her. Then again, why would he? He didn’t consider her a threat. She could shove him off. Drive her dagger through his chest.
Kill the emissary of the King.
And then what?
Kill all his men?
Maybe another time. “What are you doing?”
“Listening to the fog until you arrived, making a racket.”
She arched a brow. “Says the man making himself into a target.”
“There’s nothing around.”
“How can you tell?” She swept a hand.
“I just can.”
“Maybe the dawn is too close.” Not that she could tell with the thick mist everywhere.
“They could attack and be done before the sun burns away the fog.”
“Then maybe they needed to regroup or they’re rethinking their decision to attack. After all, we did decimate their first attempt.”
His lips pressed into a tight line. “If that were true, they wouldn’t have been outside the Abbae doors for hours trying to get us to come out.”
“Why do you think they’ve retreated?”
“I don’t know, and that’s a concern. Along with the fact that more than one type of monster was fighting together.”
“That was unusual.”
He glanced sharply at her. “So that’s never happened before?”
She shook her head. “The smaller, dumb creatures tend to attack in groups, like those bugs. But the bigger threats, and the smarter ones like the Vhampirs, usually work alone or with the occasional minion.”
“Minion? Are you speaking of the rengool?” He snorted. “Mindless slaves who are an extension of a Vhampir’s whim.”
“I didn’t know they had a name.”
“All of the monsters do, although some have mutated.”
“Like the roaches that attacked the Abbae.”
“Yes.”
“How does it happen?”
“Blame the Abyss.”
She grimaced. “I assumed that. I want to know how.”
“Because the mist perverts everything it touches. It’s a pollution that infects.”
“Is that what happened to the Vhampirs? Are they people who somehow got changed?”
“No, that would be the rengool. The Vhampirs are something else entirely.”
; “How do you know these things? Are there books?”
He rolled his big shoulders. “Not many books or stories. Most of my knowledge comes from experience.”
“If you know these things, how come they’re not common knowledge? Wouldn’t it be useful to teach the populace so we might better defend ourselves?”
“Teach them what? That Vhampirs can control their minds and make them do disgusting things. Exactly how would that help? Or do you think people paralyzed by fear is useful?” The sarcasm rolled slickly from his lips.
“I think giving them options is a good thing. Teaching them how to fight even better.”
“So you would arm the people, and when they panic and kill someone who isn’t a monster, then what?”
“You can’t know that would happen.”
His grimace deepened. “It already has. The border towns have had incidents with people swinging sharp weapons before realizing who they attacked.”
“It happens because they’re afraid and don’t know any better.”
“Then why don’t you teach them?”
Her turn to make a face. “As if they’d listen to me.”
“They would if they saw you fight.”
She changed the subject. “Why is it Baer’s weapon glows when he swings it?”
That drew a sharp look. “When did you see that?”
“The whole trip up the path. Him and the fellow at our back. How is it they make light that pushes back the fog? Are the weapons inscribed with the sigils for repelling it?”
“What would you know of the symbols?”
She pressed her lips into a line, wondering how much to say. “Just that they appear to have some effect on the mist. At least they used to. They’re getting weaker.”
“Because the enemy is getting stronger.” His turn to clamp his mouth shut as if he regretted his words.
“Enemy as in the Vhampirs? I don’t understand why they hate us.”
“Who says it’s hate? To them we’re but food.”
Her nose wrinkled. “It must be more than that. Last night, that Vhampir spoke. It could think.”