The Call of Ancient Light

by Ben Wolf

  Roderick sidestepped the arrow and charged at her, but she burst into the air, well out of his reach. By now the freed slaves had scattered, and Roderick yelled for more slave traders.

  The set of keys Colm had given her lay on the floor near a pile of shackles. Lilly angled down and scooped them into her hands, bolted toward the ceiling again, and then she dropped down onto the platform in front of the slaves.

  She landed in front of Sharion.

  Sharion’s eyes widened, and she recoiled a step.

  Lilly smiled at her. “Told you I’d get you out.”

  Movement rushed behind Sharion.

  “Get down!” Lilly yanked Sharion to the floor and a sword lashed where her head had just been. Adgar.

  He swung at them again, but Lilly and Sharion rolled opposite directions, and his blade clanged against the platform instead.

  Lilly sprang off her feet and drove her shoulder into his side, and Adgar lost his footing and fell. Still on her side, Sharion bashed him in the face with her elbow then got to her feet.

  Adgar lay there, clutching at what appeared to be a broken nose. The stupid hat he always wore had tumbled off his head and lay next to him on the platform.

  Lilly crushed it under her boot as she handed Sharion the keys. “Can you take it from here?”

  Sharion nodded and smiled. “Thank you.”

  Lilly gave Adgar a kick to his ribs for good measure, then she turned toward the crowd—or rather, what remained of it. Windsor and some of the other slaves, including the Saurian she’d seen locked up in the cells below, had overrun them and caused a ruckus.

  Lilly grinned. It was exactly what those pigs deserved.

  A primal roar erupted behind her.

  She spun around in time to see Roderick barreling toward her.

  Lilly zipped away, but Roderick pursued her nonetheless. She wove through the crowd and arched toward the row of curtains, then angled up and over them.

  Roderick’s sword severed the rod that suspended the curtains in place, and he tore after her. He moved faster than she remembered.

  She flew down the corridor toward the auction house door. Another archer stepped into view at the opposite end of the hall and took aim at her, but she dropped her flight path low and the arrow knifed past her. Roderick grunted behind her, but when she looked back, the arrow hadn’t hit him.

  Lilly just had to get outside, and then she could get away. The archer nocked another arrow and let it fly as she zoomed toward the door, but on instinct, she stopped short.

  The arrow thudded into the doorframe just inches from her face.

  She pushed through the door and pulled her bow from her shoulders as she took to the night sky.

  The city dropped out from beneath her, but an arrow whizzed past her, then another. She looped and twisted and whirled, but they kept coming. She drew an arrow of her own, turned back and took aim.

  Pain stabbed her left shoulder and her arrow loosed, but it hit nowhere near her intended target. Instead, someone else’s arrow protruded from her shoulder, right between her breastplate and her shoulder plate. She looked down.

  Far below, Roderick fired more arrows at her in quick succession. Despite the pain, Lilly spun away from the next barrage and ascended above the cloud line.

  She’d made it. She’d escaped, and she’d freed the other slaves, too, but not without cost. Blood trickled down her armor.

  Lilly wanted nothing more than to rip it from her flesh, but she recalled General Balena’s instructions about arrow wounds: she had to leave it in until she could get proper care, or she’d risk bleeding out.

  It burned like no pain she’d ever felt before, but she could still fly, and she’d flown well clear of the auction house and Roderick and his men by now. All she had to do was find her way home.

  Easier said than done. She’d never been to this half of Kanarah before, and she had no idea where she was. And it was nighttime, and she’d never really learned how to navigate using the stars.

  Her head swam with disillusionment. Something wasn’t right. Her vision wavered, and her body quivered as she flew. Not normal.

  She looked at her bleeding shoulder and at the arrow sticking out of it. She hadn’t lost enough blood to grow faint, so why would she—

  Aliophos Nectar. It had to be. Roderick must’ve coated the arrowheads with it. Whether he had or not, she couldn’t risk flying while only half-awake.

  She descended below the cloud line and saw a small forest below her, and beyond that a sprawling field of gold drenched in silver moonlight. Wheat, maybe?

  Her head throbbed, and her vision blackened. She couldn’t see.

  She blinked hard as she continued to drop lower and lower, and her vision returned in intermittent glimpses of what lay before her. She wanted to slow down—she needed to. Most of all, she needed to land face-up so the arrow wouldn’t lodge any deeper in her shoulder.

  The land rose up to meet her as her feet touched the ground, but her legs melted underneath her. Lilly managed to twist as she fell, and she landed on her back among the wheat.

  Then everything faded to darkness.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  The sun hadn’t yet risen when Corporal Jopheth burst into Commander Anigo’s room.

  He jerked upright in his bed, and a jolt of pain stabbed his chest—a reminder that while he was still alive, he was also still mortal. “What is the meaning of this, Cor—”

  “I’m sorry for the interruption, Commander,” Corporal Jopheth blurted. “Captain Fulton and Montrose have been killed.”

  Commander Anigo’s rage iced over. “What happened?”

  “It reeks of scandal, sir. It appears Montrose brought Captain Fulton to a slave auction and helped him procure a Windgale girl to… to…”

  “I’m familiar with the concept of prostitution, Corporal.”

  “Anyway, it appears she brandished a knife and killed him, then she loosed the other slaves and escaped with most of them. The warehouse where it all happened has been vacated, but a man named Wandell Thirry alerted us to several dead bodies inside. Fresh bodies.”

  Commander Anigo’s eyes narrowed. “At an auction? Were they purchasers?”

  “Some, yes. Also some slaves and some slave traders, we presume.”

  “What about the other slave traders?”

  “After the pandemonium of the auction, they cleared out. I have men watching the west gate to Trader’s Pass right now in search of anything suspicious.”

  “Well done.” Commander Anigo didn’t care for Corporal Jopheth, but at least he’d proven somewhat competent.

  “I’m afraid Captain Fulton’s death means you’re now the ranking officer in Kanarah City, Commander. I have dispatched a messenger to Solace requesting instructions on how we are to proceed,” Corporal Jopheth said. “In the meantime, what are your orders?”

  The ranking officer in Kanarah City? He’d lamented having to deal with Captain Fulton’s insolence and disregard for the effective rule of law just yesterday.

  Perhaps this was providence—the means and manpower to catch the three fugitives he’d been chasing for the last few months. He grinned.

  “Sir?” Corporal Jopheth leaned forward.

  Commander Anigo threw the sheets off his legs and stood. “Bring me breakfast. We have much work to do.”

  Axel’s stomach grumbled for what had to be the third or fourth time that morning. They’d gone yet another day of camping in the woods with no food, so when Magnus suggested they head southeast toward the Golden Plains rather than staying in the mountains, the idea immediately appealed to Axel—at least at first.

  “We can harvest some grain from the King’s fields,” Magnus said. “And if we travel far enough east, we can collect some fruit from his orchards. Along with our weapons and armor, we should be able to make the trip across the valley if we pack enough food. From there, we can begin our search for the Arcanum.”

  “I said I didn’t want to go back to manual
labor.” Axel folded his arms and frowned. He’d done everything he could to get away from that life, and now Magnus was suggesting he go right back to it. Even if it was only temporary, the idea still grated on him. “I’m done with that life.”

  “We are enacting this plan precisely because of your farming background. You get to lead this expedition. You know the soil, the plants, the trees. You know the fruits and vegetables better than either Calum or me,” Magnus said. “You know what will keep and what will spoil.”

  Axel’s eyebrow rose. Everything Magnus had said was true, but the only thing that had any appeal to it was his suggestion that Axel lead this part of the journey.

  “And besides, at this point, we cannot afford to spend any extra time in Kanarah City. I want to get us to Trader’s Pass as fast as possible, so having food already packed is essential to our progress. This way, we do not need to linger in a populated area any longer than necessary.”

  Axel huffed, but he couldn’t really argue with Magnus’s logic. “I still don’t like it, but I’ll do it.”

  Magnus smiled. “We leave at your command.”

  Even as a farmer, Axel had never seen anything like it.

  Expansive fields of gold shimmered under the afternoon sun. Wind rippled the grain like waves in a lake, a lake that never ended, for all he knew.

  In a way, the fields made him long for home, but in another way, they reminded him that he could never go back to the life of a farmer.

  “Do you think we’re far enough away from Kanarah City?” Calum asked.

  Magnus nodded. “Even though we can see it in the distance, we’re too far for them to muster any actual response, even if they could see us. We just need to watch out for patrolling soldiers or workers who might be in the area.”

  Early that morning, they’d taken a circuitous southern road mostly devoid of travelers to the King’s Orchards. There, they filled two sacks with various fruits, based on Axel’s instructions on what would stay fresh the longest.

  Then they’d headed northwest along the edge of the fields, back toward Kanarah City. Once they harvested a couple bags full of grain, they’d be ready to head for Trader’s Pass.

  “Stay near the edge, at least at first,” Axel said. “If we venture too far into the heart of the crops, it’ll be that much harder to find our way out if someone finds us.”

  “I don’t know how the King’s men could safeguard such vast fields, anyway.” Calum scanned the fields. “But we can stick to the edges. The grain should be just as good, right?”

  Axel nodded. He plucked a head of grain and held it up for them to see. “This is the part we need. Anything else is just plant fiber, and while we can eat it, it has no nutritional value, so try not to drop them in the bag.”

  Magnus nodded, and Calum said, “Got it.”

  They harvested for about a half hour and almost filled the first bag halfway.

  “Hey,” Calum said. “I’ll be right back. Gotta pee.”

  “Don’t stray too far,” Axel said. “It’s easy to hide or get lost in fields like these. All you have to do is crouch or lay down, and the grain does the rest. Watch yourself.”

  Calum nodded and stepped a few feet deeper into the sea of gold.

  Axel elbowed Magnus in his ribs. “Remind me not to harvest over there, right, Scales?”

  Magnus smirked. “No question.”

  “Uh… guys?” Calum said.

  “What’s wrong? Can’t get it out on your own?” Axel chuckled and dropped another head of grain into his bag.

  “No. I found something.”

  Axel glanced at Magnus, then they both walked over to where Calum stood.

  There, among the golden grain, lay a beautiful young woman with blonde hair and an arrow sticking out of her upper chest between her left shoulder and her collarbone.

  She wasn’t moving.

  The girl was beautiful—really beautiful.

  Definitely the most beautiful girl Calum had ever seen.

  While he hadn’t known many women throughout his life, he’d certainly seen a fair number in the last month or so of traveling with Magnus and Axel through the few villages they’d visited. But none of the others even came close to this girl.

  Calum bent down next to her. Detailed white engravings of eagles and hawks adorned the pale pink armor that covered her legs, arms, and torso. Blood oozed from around the arrow in her shoulder, but her chest moved up and down slightly.

  “She’s breathing,” Calum said.

  “How did she get here? It looks like someone dragged her through the grain and left her here.” Axel picked up the ornate bow and a pristine quiver of arrows that lay next to her and looked them over. “And who is she?”

  “That does not matter right now.” Magnus brushed her long blonde hair away from the wound. “Find me something I can use for a bandage.”

  “From where?” Calum asked.

  “Anywhere. Just find me something.” Magnus clasped his fingers around the arrow.

  Axel knelt down, set the bow and quiver down, and pointed to the shimmering blue fabric spread out under her body. “What about this?”

  Magnus grabbed his wrist. “Do not touch her cape.”

  “Cape?” Axel’s eyes widened with the same realization Calum was having. “You mean she’s—”

  “She’s a Windgale.” Calum looked at Axel. “She needs it to fly.”

  “Bandage. Now,” Magnus grunted. “Keep looking.”

  When Magnus pulled the arrow out of the girl’s shoulder, she jerked awake and screamed. Her blue eyes darted between Calum and Axel, focused on Magnus, and then she screamed again. She clawed at the dirt and grain around her and tried to get away from them.

  Magnus clamped his hand around her ankle and pulled her back, but when Calum and Axel reached down to try to help, he warned them to stay back. Though she kicked and hollered, he held her in place by her shoulders. He leaned in close and stared right at her.

  “Be silent.”

  Her mouth clamped shut, but her blue eyes opened wider.

  “I will not hurt you,” he said, slowly and pointedly. “Do you understand?”

  She glanced at Axel and Calum.

  “Neither will they hurt you,” he continued. “You have taken an arrow to your shoulder. I removed it, but you are still bleeding. I need to stop it. But first, I need to clean the wound so you do not get an infection. In order to do that, I need you to stay as still and as calm as you can.”

  She nodded.

  “Press your hand against your wound to help stop the bleeding.” When the girl complied, Magnus dug his fingers under the armor along his wrist and pulled out a small vial of orange liquid.

  Calum eyed the vial. “What is that?”

  “It’s veromine.”

  “Vero-what?” Axel asked.

  Magnus eyed him. “Veromine. It fights against infection and speeds up the body’s natural healing process. We Saurians have it in our blood. It is the reason we can regenerate from wounds so quickly. Did you find me something to use as a bandage?”

  “Uhhh…” Calum and Axel eyed each other.

  “Both of you remove your gauntlets and shoulder armor. Rip off your shirtsleeves and give them to me.” While they complied, Magnus looked down at the girl. “What is your name?”

  She glanced at Calum again, and her voice barely registered above a whisper. “Lilly.”

  “Calum.” Magnus’s voice broke Calum’s stare.

  “Huh?” Calum blinked.

  “Sleeves.”

  “Oh. Sorry.” He hadn’t realized he’d stopped moving. He tore off his sleeves and handed them to Magnus, who was already at work on Lilly’s wound with Axel’s sleeves.

  Lilly winced when Magnus dabbed at the wound. Once he cleared of most of her blood, Magnus opened the vial and poured in a few drops.

  “Calum, Axel?” Magnus eyed them both. “Turn away, please.”

  They exchanged glances with each other then looked at Magnus agai
n.

  “I must tear away some of her undershirt to secure the bandage, so for her sake, please divert your eyes.”

  Calum nodded, and he and Axel turned around. As he slid his armor back onto his arms, Calum leaned over to Axel and whispered, “She’s beautiful.”

  “Yeah, but she’s beyond you,” he whispered back.

  Calum tilted his head. “What do you mean?”

  Axel shook his head and secured his gauntlet to his left forearm. “A girl like that? You don’t have a chance, brother.”

  On one level, Calum had never had a relationship with a girl before, and Axel knew more about life in general. He was older and wasn’t confined to just his farm like Calum was to the quarry, so Calum felt inclined to believe what Axel said.

  Yet a part of him wanted to believe that Axel was lying, or just plain wrong.

  “Why not?”

  “Someone that beautiful? Are you kidding me?” Axel scoffed. “By the look of her armor, her bow, and her quiver, she’s probably rich, too. You’re more likely to get struck by a bolt of lightning than to end up with her.”

  Calum’s jaw hardened. He didn’t want to believe it, but Axel was probably right. Even though he’d earned his freedom, he was still just a poor nobody.

  But if he managed to free Lumen, then…

  Axel put a gloved hand on Calum’s shoulder. “I’m not trying to be harsh. I’m just trying to keep you from getting your hopes up.”

  “What’s wrong with hoping?”

  “I don’t want you to get hurt. It’s not a good feeling.” Axel frowned. “Just trying to look out for you.”

  “There. Finished,” Magnus said.

  Axel rotated his head. “Can we turn around?”

  “Just a second—there. Now you may turn around.”

  Lilly still lay there, now with one of Calum’s and one of Axel’s sleeves tied around her shoulder to cover the wound. Her undershirt was tied together over her shoulder where Magnus had ripped it, its white fabric now stained red.

  “Are you alright?” Axel asked before Calum had a chance to open his mouth.