Darkness Ascends in Magic City

by TR Cameron

  She’d assured Morrigan that she could hold her breath long enough to make sure it got into all the rooms. Morrigan's last comment before she’d departed had been, “If you fall asleep down there, don’t expect a rescue.” Idryll had only grinned and jumped down. After several minutes, her voice carried up the metal shaft. “You can come down.”

  Morrigan used the grapnel on her belt to slide down, then contacted Demetrius. “Hey, D, I need to get in a window. Will you check for security systems?”

  His voice came back almost immediately. “Sure, hang on.” After a minute’s silence, he said, “Seems like there isn’t one. At least, I can’t find any wireless telltales. Look for low-tech stuff, magnet connections, that sort of thing.”

  Morrigan did all the searching she could from her position but didn’t see anything. Finally, she used her force magic to unlock the window, slid it open, and stepped through. She dropped cautiously to the floor and crept around the side of the workstation to find the tech leaning back in his chair, arms hanging at his sides and mouth agape, snoring softly. Idryll joined her a couple of moments later, back in costume.

  She examined the workstation setup and noticed control spots for the drones, plus several monitors and some communication gear. She keyed her comm again. “D, I have an equipment console of some kind here. Think you can do anything with it?”

  “Find a place to hide a signal enhancer there, and maybe put another on the roof in case it needs additional power. Then, give me a day, and I’ll own them.”

  “Good deal.”

  Idryll gave her a haughty look. “See, I told you we should take a look inside.”

  “Yeah, yeah, you’re brilliant. Clearly, Ruby and I are holding you back.”

  “It’s true. I really should have been chosen as Mirra, with Ruby as my companion.”

  Morrigan laughed, “It’s anti-tiger, is what it is.”

  The shapeshifter nodded. “So true. Which is unfortunate because tigers are great.”

  “Remind me to introduce you to Calvin and Hobbes when we get back. You’re going to love them.”

  Chapter Ten

  Ruby walked down the street of her home kemana, seeing it with fresh eyes. Her experience attending the Council meetings had provided a new layer of understanding about the currents that flowed unseen in her community. As above, the place was full of shops, restaurants, everything the residents could need.

  As far as she knew, the amount of interaction between the surface world and the kemana was unique on Earth, mainly because of the casinos. Although heaven knows, it’s not as if I’m an expert. She felt like she should know more—as if she should know everything if she was going to be the leader of the Mist Elves or whatever the Mirra did. But that’s not important right now.

  She reached the door to Shentia's shop and pulled it open, stepping inside to find the Drow absent from her normal position. Voices came from the back of the building, both familiar and one male, suggesting the woman was with a client. Ruby adjusted the duffel bag over her shoulder, which was surprisingly heavy when carried in that particular configuration. Give me a good back sheath any day.

  Her gaze wandered over the shelves as she wondered at the purpose of the various items, trying to think of a reason she might need them. When she spotted a necklace that was entirely too beautiful for her ever to wear, and her inner voice shouted that she had to have it, she gave a soft snort at her ridiculousness. Okay, apparently, I have a weakness for magic items. Being a technomancer, that’s probably not too far beyond the pale.

  Further rumination was interrupted by the arrival of Shentia and Challen, the gnome healer, from the back. Ruby hugged the smaller person and exchanged pleasantries. He offered his farewells and bustled out, carrying a backpack that looked about to burst.

  The Drow explained, “At first, he handled shipments of his supplies. But eventually, he decided he’d rather spend that time enjoying himself and outsourced it to me. He gets what he needs without effort. I get free medical care for myself and a few select others. It’s a good arrangement for everyone involved.”

  Ruby nodded. “Seems like it to me.”

  Shentia, who wore a long button-down black coat with a shining medallion at her neck, nodded and crossed her arms. “So, what can I do for you today?”

  Ruby could feel the other woman calculating what favors she might extract in exchange for helping Ruby out. “I’m interested in acquiring an artifact sword.”

  That seemed to surprise her, based on her expression. “Really? I thought you had one already.”

  Ruby nodded. “I do, but I’m working toward proficiency in dual-wielding swords, and it seems like it would be good to have a pair.” She shrugged the pack off her shoulder and laid it on the counter between them. “Here, let me show you.”

  Shentia had seemed about to speak but remained silent as Ruby reached into the bag with one hand and grabbed the sheath through the fabric with the other. She drew the blade, baring the steel, and held it out for the other woman to take.

  With no transition at all, she was no longer in the shop. Instead, she was on the mountaintop where she’d first met Tyrsh, surrounded by stone, snow, and biting wind. The chairs she usually imagined weren’t present, and she had the immediate sense she’d made a misstep. From behind her, the harsh tones of her sword’s male inhabitant confirmed it. “Have we done something to offend you?”

  Ruby turned to find the two entities standing shoulder to shoulder, each dressed in the most formal and reserved clothes she’d ever seen them in. He wore all grey and Shalia forest green. Both outfits covered them from the soles of their feet to their throats, and elegant button-down outer jackets that reached to their calves finished their ensembles. The pair had never looked so much alike—or so severe. She stammered, “What? No, of course not.”

  Shalia’s expression turned questioning. “Then why replace us?”

  Ruby shook her head. “There’s a misunderstanding here. I don’t want to replace you. I’m simply thinking of adding a second blade.”

  Tyrsh sounded incredulous. “You intend to wield two sentient swords at once?”

  “Yes, that was my thought.”

  From behind her came the mocking laughter of the Atlantean who represented the artifact in her arm. “Discord in the home?”

  Ruby scowled and replied without turning. “Do you really need to show up every time we three get together?”

  His mirth continued unabated. “Of course I do. You have yet to allow me to train you, and you rarely, if ever, use me, so this is the only entertainment available. And it is, indeed, highly entertaining.”

  Ruby sighed and met Shalia’s eyes. “I sense that I’m missing something important.”

  The other woman nodded. “Sometimes we fail to remember how untutored in history you are, wielder.”

  “I’ll try not to take that as an insult.”

  Tyrsh laughed darkly. “Perhaps you should be insulted if it inspires you to learn more about the powers you attempt to control. But to eliminate the mystery, while you could possibly use two artifact swords at once, it would be a very poor choice on your part.”

  His companion echoed, “Very.”

  Ruby wasn’t sure if they based their position on magic or whether these particular entities were against it. “Why?”

  The Atlantean laughed louder as he moved into her peripheral vision. She turned a little to see him clearly as he replied, “Sentient magics are inherently possessive and jealous. How have you not figured that out yet, between them and me?” He held out his hands to resemble a set of scales. “To attempt to balance the needs of multiple personalities is difficult, as you’ve seen. To carry another artifact sword would be a heinous insult to these two. And, to be fair, probably to any inhabitant of an artifact weapon.”

  The others nodded as he continued, “It’s not that they’re especially possessive. In fact, the only thing they are exceptional at is being equal parts boring and annoying.”

&nbs
p; The pair glared at the Atlantean, and a ripple of power thrummed through the air. When it passed, only the three of them remained. Ruby said, “I didn’t know you could do that. That’s useful.”

  Shalia nodded. “Your lack of knowledge seems to be the crux of many issues. I will make an effort to educate you better and to anticipate what you need. At the current moment, you must understand that the Atlantean was largely correct. We would not welcome an additional artifact weapon. And, frankly, I don’t believe there’s enough room in your head to accommodate increased influence.”

  Ruby scowled. “Hey, leave the small brain comments to Idryll, please.”

  Tyrsh’s laugh was lighter this time, and the mood became instantly less dark. “It is a simple statement of fact. You already find coping with us and the Atlantean challenging. Adding another into the mix would be unbearable for you, especially if it was reluctant to cooperate. Then your only solution would be to wield only a single artifact weapon, which is the situation you currently have.”

  Shalia nodded. “While his suggestion that we are jealous is not fully accurate, it is true that we don’t wish you to replace us. You won’t find anyone better for you than me.” She looked at her partner and amended, “Than us.”

  Tyrsh added. “So, instead, perhaps consider focusing your energies on the single blade and on learning how to maximize its use.” The corners of his mouth turned down. “Even if that means working to learn what the Atlantean has offered to teach.”

  Ruby dipped her head in acceptance of their position. “For what it’s worth, I’m sorry for the misunderstanding. I have no wish to replace you, now or ever.”

  They nodded in unison, and she instantly returned to the shop. Only a second or two seemed to have passed. Shentia took the weapon from her outstretched hands and said, “I have never heard of anyone successfully wielding two artifact swords. My understanding is that it’s generally not done.”

  Ruby laughed. “Yeah. Turns out the sword is of the same opinion. They just let me know that.”

  The other woman smiled. “Sentient artifacts are always a challenge and a reward.” She returned the weapon, and her fingertips absently rose to touch the medallion at her throat. Perhaps she has one herself and speaks with firsthand knowledge.

  Ruby sheathed the sword again and withdrew the dagger and its sheath from the bag. She handed the weapon over and said, “I won’t need this anymore. Thank you for the use of it.”

  The other woman nodded. “Are you sure?”

  “Yes. Positive. I need to learn to cast spells through the sword and not having that one as a crutch will push me to do it. On a different subject, do you know of anything that can counter a Rhazdon artifact?”

  Shentia turned solemn and shook her head. “Nothing I’ve ever heard of.”

  Ruby sighed. “Yeah, somehow I figured that would be the answer. Okay, thank you.”

  The Drow nodded. “As always, you’re welcome. Stay safe, Ruby.”

  She chuckled as she slung the bag back over her shoulder. “I’ll do my best.”

  Chapter Eleven

  After spending the day in her bunker working hard on getting the small drone’s payload function operational and almost but not quite succeeding, Ruby was equal parts frustrated and exhausted as she portaled into her room at her parents’ house. She and Morrigan had agreed to have breakfast together with her folks the next morning, and it made sense to sleep over.

  Idryll was still in the house on the surface after indicating her desire to stay there for the night. On occasion, she and the shapeshifter scraped against one another, and their snarky comments had almost risen to actual hurtful words during the afternoon’s work. My fault. Technology made me testy. I should get her some salmon to apologize. She laughed inwardly. No better way to influence Idryll than through her stomach.

  She’d crossed her hands on the bottom of her shirt to pull it off when she spotted the blue and silver ribbon tied through the handles of her wardrobe. Her arms flopped to her sides, and she sighed loudly. “Of course.” The ribbon was the signal to come to Oriceran, and the type of knot was Keshalla's instruction to do so immediately. “Bloody hell, I’m way too tired to train.”

  Nonetheless, she opened the connection between the planets and stepped into the living room of her house. She walked into her dressing area and found her mentor sitting there, waiting. Ruby yawned. “I’ll be ready in a minute. Just have to get my gear on.”

  Keshalla shook her head. “You’re not here to train. Word came from the mystics. The messenger has arrived.”

  Adrenaline and excitement shot through her, and all traces of exhaustion evaporated. “Really? Excellent. Not knowing what’s next has been eating me alive.”

  She was already moving toward the door when a thought struck her. “Hell, I can’t go looking like this. Give me fifteen minutes.” She opened a portal to her attic room in the house she shared with her roommates and poked Idryll as she crossed to her vanity. “Get up, kitty cat. Events are afoot, and you don’t want to miss them.”

  Her companion transformed from her feline form to her annoyed humanoid one and hopped off the bed, as alert and fresh as she always seemed to be when she first woke. “What’s happening?”

  Ruby grabbed a couple of rings and the hair clips she preferred, then opened a portal connecting to her bedroom in the kemana. Idryll followed her through. “The messenger has arrived.”

  She caught Idryll's grin in the mirror on the way to her wardrobe. “Outstanding. The waiting has been irritating.”

  Ruby laughed as she yanked open the doors to reveal her clothes. “Right? Now, what does one wear to meet the mystical messenger?” She slid hangers to the side repeatedly, muttering, “Nope. Nope. Nope.” Then she brightened, “Oh, that’ll do.” She pulled out a vintage dress she’d found in a pawnshop on the surface before she’d left for college. It had been loose, so even though she’d bulked up some, it should still fit.

  She changed into it and admired her look in the mirror. The sleeves ended in small holes for her thumbs, ensuring that the lines stayed long and clean. It gathered in at sternum height, fell straight to accentuate the narrowness of her body, and flared out a little to accommodate her hips. It was a fabric she’d never taken the time to figure out, something between polyester and cotton but with an unexpected heaviness. The bottom was finished with lace and ended at mid-calf. It swirled when she twirled, but the weight kept it from rising at all.

  She chose her best boots, which didn’t have daggers hidden in them, unfortunately. She added her magic bracelets and her shield pendant, then bound her hair up high, pulling the sides straight up and back, turning the whole thing into a cascade that looked vaguely like the flourish atop a Roman legionnaire’s helmet. Finally, some quick touches of makeup finished the look. She grabbed her sheathed sword and tossed it to Idryll. “Carry this, companion. Make yourself useful.”

  As they crossed to the other planet, Idryll complained, “Note that the title is companion, not sherpa, or servant, or even valet.”

  Keshalla laughed at her whining. “I think it’s a reasonable ask, in this case, Idryll.”

  The shapeshifter grinned. “Oh, I completely agree. But my job is to make the Mirra better, right? So, I’m helping her improve her mental endurance.”

  Ruby snorted. “Well, if I have to deal with many jerks, I’ll be set after putting up with you for this long.”

  Keshalla ordered them both to shut up and set a deliberate pace toward the mystics’ compound. Ruby momentarily wondered why they didn’t portal, but as members of the village fell in behind to follow them up the mountain, she understood. This was a notable event, as the last stage of the venamisha had been, and they wanted to be a part of it.

  Nadar awaited them at the end of the path, with an unfamiliar and regal-looking Mist Elf beside him. She was tall and thin, with braided dark hair that cascaded over her shoulders and down to her waist. The messenger, I presume.

  Ruby stopped and turned
to the people who had followed her. “Thank you for being here. Thank you for always being there for me in the past.” Smiles greeted her words, and she turned back and drew a deep breath. She muttered quietly, “No stress, Ruby. Just do it.”

  She strode forward, and Nadar tipped his head in a slight bow. “Mirra Ruby, welcome. This is the messenger.”

  The other woman also inclined her head, and Ruby matched it. She noticed Idryll and Keshalla doing the same. The messenger’s voice was musical and pleasant. “Congratulations on your success.”

  She smiled. “Thank you. But it took all of us to make it happen, so really it’s our success.”

  “As you say. Are you ready to assume the mantle and duties of Mirra?”

  “Do I get to know what they are first?”

  The other woman laughed. “Of course. The Mirra in the past have served as the moral compass of the Mist Elves.”

  Idryll interrupted with a muttered, “Uh-oh,” and Ruby kicked her.

  The messenger continued, “In addition, the Mirra is the final word in all disputes. When a local leader, such as the honored Keshalla, cannot resolve an issue, the people involved may seek guidance from the Mirra. Her word is law, her decision binding with no possibility of appeal.”

  The weight of that duty settled on her like a shroud. “So, no pressure.”

  The messenger nodded in understanding. “Those who have gone before you responded similarly. It is an awesome responsibility. Greater still is the role of the Mirra as the voice of the Mist Elves. You are the emissary to the other groups on Oriceran. You speak for all your people, and as with internal disputes, your word binds everyone. And now, for the first time in history, you will also be our voice on Earth.”

  Ruby knew in her heart that she was unworthy of such a tremendous responsibility. Her mind also recognized that every single person who’d ever stood in this place had probably felt the same. There was no way to be prepared until you had experienced it.