by Frank Morin
General Wolfram said, “We’ve already dispatched messages via speakstone to encourage them to accelerate the march. Windriders were dispatched just prior to this meeting to bring in some of the Builders and most powerful Petralists. Chances are good the rest of the army will arrive before the queen’s forces.”
Shona still looked worried. “But there’s a chance they won’t. We cannot abandon the defenses of my city. Merkland is too important to allow it to fall.”
Rory and Ivor nodded agreement and Kilian said, “Agreed. We have to prove that one city can remain free.”
Verena spoke up. “And don’t forget the powerful new weapon we just discovered.”
“What weapon?” Rory and Ivor asked together.
Verena declared proudly, “With Shona’s help, we discovered the keystone Kirstin set up to activate a remarkable super-mechanical we’ve dubbed Kirstin’s Defense.”
Connor gripped Verena’s hand. Her enthusiasm was back, and he loved how her eyes glowed when she spoke of Builder discoveries. He appreciated that she’d given Shona some of the credit, especially after that hilarious race to the tower.
Hamish added, “It links to eight sculpted soapstone, arrayed around Merkland in a ring about a mile out.”
They looked exuberant about that find, although Connor did not doubt they also felt incredibly annoyed by the queen’s bad timing. They needed time to study it.
As if reading his thoughts Shona said, “We did find it, but we don’t yet know what it does.”
Hamish added quickly, “That doesn’t mean we couldn’t activate it if we had to. That would be the best way to tell what it does. Right in the queen’s face.”
Verena said, “But that’s not the ideal solution. Better to understand it first. It appears to utilize additional higher-level Builder skills that we do not yet understand. It would be a tragedy to waste this opportunity to learn.”
Shona said gravely, “War requires hard choices. If it comes to choosing between saving that mechanical for research or using it to save the city, we must be prepared to unleash it.”
Verena looked like she wanted to argue, and the two held each other’s gazes for a moment. Connor bet they were communicating all sorts of things with that look, but he didn’t feel even a little tempted to tap chert. He knew they hated each other, and only hoped they could avoid coming to blows.
General Wolfram said, “I like that we have a secret weapon as a last resort, although with the additional defenses we’ve already implemented, hopefully we won’t need it.”
Connor hated the idea of leaving some of his friends in Merkland to face danger without him, but he could see no way around it. “I still need to head to Jagdish.”
Kilian nodded. “Without question, and I must come with you.”
Student Eighteen did not entirely look convinced that was a good idea but said, “It’s best if we keep our group as small as possible. We’ve been in touch with my people, but we don’t want them to think we’re an invading force.”
Kilian gave her a wink and that roguish smile. “It would be unfortunate if I had to kill a few of them before you could convince them we meant no harm.”
Student Eighteen opened her mouth to object, but the door opened and Tomas and Cameron rushed inside. Connor was surprised to see them. He had figured they would be assigned to rouse the garrison and review defensive preparations from the Fast Rollers. Then he noticed they were carrying a piece of quartzite.
The two men threw quick salutes to Rory and Ivor and nodded toward Shona in what Connor expected was the only bow she ever received. Then they rushed to Rory and presented the speakstone.
Tomas said, “Urgent news from Anton, General.”
Cameron added, “Much better receiving it this way, Sir. Last time he rose up out of the floor without warning, nearly gave us heart stomps.”
Connor had feared time was short. Suddenly he felt a growing conviction that they were simply out of time.
36
Nothing Is Ever Easy
Connor leaned forward, listening intently as Rory held up the speakstone and said, “Anton, this is Rory. You have news?”
Anton’s deep voice echoed through the room. “The pedra rules over life and death while in the skies, but even the mighty warrior can be smothered by a pillow in his sleep.”
The news couldn’t be all that bad if he was speaking in Sentry speak. Connor felt a little of his worries subside, even though the words seemed unusually grim from the great Sapper.
Rory seemed used to dealing with Sentries and he did not miss a beat. “We’re in battle conference right now. Is this immediate?”
“As immediate as a swarm of summoned creatures moving against Merkland at speed, barely ten miles out.”
Connor’s sense of security evaporated. He scowled at the speakstone. It was a rotten trick to lull him like that. Now he could never trust that any indecipherable Sentry speak was not critical intelligence.
Rory clenched one fist, his expression making it clear he wanted to throttle Anton for not speaking plainly earlier, but he refrained.
Kilian interjected. “If you sense them ten miles out, she’s not even trying to shield them.”
“I doubt even she could shield this host. They cover the land like a plague of locusts for at least half a mile downriver.”
Connor felt a chill of fear creeping down his spine. They’d heard the queen was creating summoned monsters, but who could imagine even she could create so many?
Looking grim, Wolfram asked, “Can you estimate a number?”
“Thousands at minimum, and those are only the ones I can sense through the earth.”
“Thousands,” Connor whispered, exchanging a worried look with Verena. During the battle of Merkland, they had fought Harley’s summoned hounds with their own small army of summoned creatures that Connor had dubbed the Famcakes, but they’d barely created a hundred. How could Queen Dreokt have summoned thousands, let alone control them?
“Can you summon creatures to intercept?” Verena asked Connor.
“Not enough to make a difference. Not in time,” he told her, hating that he couldn’t give her better news.
She muttered a soft curse, brows furrowing. No doubt she was already calculating how to best apply their layered defenses. She had overseen many aspects of their design and knew them better than anyone, but they’d never imagined dealing with such a host.
Lady Briet asked, “Can you sense if the army is on their heels?”
“Negative.”
That was two clear sentences in a row. The day was shaping up to be terrible.
Verena said, “I wonder why she didn’t save them until the army was in position? A double strike like that would probably crush us.”
Kilian said, “She most likely assumes her swarm will breach the walls and wreck Merkland. She has never really considered her armies more than status symbols, forces best utilized for occupying territory she has already conquered.”
Rory grimaced. “On any other day, she might be right. We’re lucky we have all of you here, but we don’t have much time.” He turned to Tomas and Cameron. “Issue the general alert. Activate all defensive measures.”
Verena added, “Shona, I recommend we initiate the Tomb Protocol.”
Everyone turned to her and Shona’s already pale face whitened further. “You have such little faith in the defenses you designed?”
“Not at all, but we’ve got twenty thousand civilians in the city. You heard Anton. Thousands of summoned creatures. We can’t afford to underestimate them.”
Shona held Verena’s gaze for a moment, and Connor silently willed them to set their differences aside for the sake of the city. Shona nodded. “You’re right. See it done and add the Overrun Directive to it.”
They weren’t holding back. Everyone hoped for victory, but with such a swarm closing on them, even the famous walls of Merkland might not be enough. Verena nodded and said softly, “We’ll spare all we can.”
Tomas and Cameron rushed out, along with most of the military officers. Connor heard Tomas say, “That boy always brings the fun with him.”
“Barely landed this morning too,” Cameron added.
Sometimes Connor wished he could see the world through the lens of how good a bash fight each challenge presented. Maybe the two of them were right and thinking was overrated. His thoughts were just making him scared.
Anika rose, kissed Rory’s cheek and said, “I go help Erich prepare the Crushers.” She chased after the other two, her expression eager, as if she didn’t get to bash fight with Rory every single day.
Verena said, “I’ll order the Albatross into the air. They can provide air support and scan for additional threats, like any flying monsters.”
That was a good idea, but Connor hoped they wouldn’t see any flyers. The ground swarm sounded like more than enough.
General Wolfram turned to Lady Briet. “I recommend you ascend with the Albatross.”
“So I’m not a liability here on the ground?” she asked with a half-smile.
“Not at all. I need a skilled observer to monitor from the air and relay intelligence to me.”
It was a good idea, and she appeared to accept it at face value. She excused herself to find the Builder Verena told her would take the Albatross up. Connor appreciated Wolfram’s cleverness. No doubt both he and Lady Briet had already considered the ramifications to their alliance if the battle went poorly.
If summoned monsters breached the walls, they might wreak terrible destruction. Lady Briet was the overall leader of the Arishat League alliance, and if she was killed, her death could hamper or even shatter the recently formed defensive pact.
Ivor rose. “I’m off to the river. If the queen is sending so many by land, she may be sending water-bound creatures as well.”
Shona said, “As we rouse the rest of our forces, we’ll send our Spitters to assist.”
Battle had come to Merkland too soon. They weren’t quite ready, and as Connor watched his friends rushing off to face the deadly threat, he couldn’t imagine leaving them. He glanced from Verena to Student Eighteen, and then to Kilian. “We have to stay and help.”
Kilian shook his head. “You said yourself, it’s most vital that we get you to Jagdish immediately. If we stay here and get distracted, those extra hours might prove the difference between arriving in time to meet with the Mhortair or arriving to find their city a smoking ruin.”
Connor started to protest but Verena placed a hand over his. “They’re right, Connor. You have to go. No matter what happens to Merkland, it does not change the fact that the knowledge you need from the Mhortair is more important than any of us.”
He hated the fact that she was right. Connor always felt driven to step into the heart of danger. Not only because he was uniquely gifted to fight it, but if he did not do it that meant one of his friends would be forced to take the risk in his stead.
Hamish had nearly died keeping Harley distracted during the battle of Merkland, Verena had nearly died supporting Kilian when her second Swift crashed, and Ilse had been brutally crushed. Her husband Lukas, Mattias, and many others had paid the ultimate price, and of course Jean’s terrible injuries served as a daily reminder of the risks they all faced.
Verena shook her head, dashing his hope that at least she would be spared having to go into battle without him again. “I’m staying here.”
“Verena—” he started protesting, but she tilted her chin in that way he found adorable, her expression challenging.
She gripped his hand as his words failed him and said, “We don’t have enough Builders to activate all of our defenses. We lack time to fly in those reinforcements. Besides, I know them better and can manage more of them than anyone else.”
“She’s right,” Hamish said simply.
Connor scowled at him and even Verena looked incredulous. He grinned and added, “Not about the fact that you can do more. That’s just a little Grandurian-noble pride that you haven’t worked through yet. You’re still the one who should stay and take care of it.” He added to Connor, “Don’t look at me like that. You know she’s right. Verena in battle fury even gives you pause before you try to kiss her.”
He had a point, but Connor still didn’t like it.
Hamish continued. “I’ll fly you to Jagdish in the Hawk. I have more experience with the Mhortair than Verena does. Student Eighteen and I were there when her dad almost killed old Dreokt. Together we can share that story. From what Student Eighteen has told me, a good death battle story will win them over better than even Althing chocolate.”
Rory rose. “Figure it out. I’ll expect one of you Builders to run the mechanicals. We have work to do. Anton, we’ll prepare our Sentries to support you, but how far out can you begin initiating defensive measures?”
“I have already begun. Keep the other Sappers and Sentries closer to Merkland. I will do what I can to slow the swarm.”
Connor stared at the speakstone, mouth agape. He knew how devastating autonomous summoned creatures could be. He, Kilian, Ivor, and Ilse all together had fought to support their Famcakes against Harley’s hounds. Connor couldn’t imagine standing alone against thousands.
Verena said, “Anton, I advise you to retreat to the one mile point. I’ll be able to provide support at that range.”
“Negative, Builder. I will maintain a buffer at two miles. You will have time to prepare for the swarm that passes.”
“Be careful,” she urged, looking close to tears. Connor did not know Anton terribly well, but Verena had known him all her life. Connor knew Verena hated seeing friends step into danger as much as he did.
He took her face in his hands and said, “You be careful.”
She kissed him quickly and flashed that predatory grin of hers that she usually wore right before a fight. Luckily he no longer feared her punching him in the face after kissing him, but he still enjoyed the thrill he felt knowing he was courting such a dangerous woman.
“Go. Hurry, or you’ll waste your chance.” Then she rose and hurried after the others. Connor watched her go, feeling that heart-freezing terror that he’d felt during her coma. He’d feared he would never see her awaken again. Now he wondered if he was watching her walk away for the last time. He should tell her a thousand more things, but he couldn’t seem to find any words.
The door closed behind her with a finality that made him cringe, leaving him alone with Hamish, Aifric, and Kilian.
Kilian was scowling, and Hamish wasn’t even chewing on anything. They were as worried as Connor. Kilian said, “Let’s move out. We have a lot of ground to cover.”
As they headed outside, the palace buzzed with energy as soldiers raced in every direction, shouting commands and donning armor. The swarm was coming fast, but Merkland would be fully mobilized in moments.
“I wish I had a couple of Juggernauts here,” Hamish muttered as they all climbed into the Hawk and strapped in.
“Me too,” Connor said.
Hamish activated the window shielding, opened the release rate on the thrusters, and lifted the Hawk smoothly into the air. As they ascended vertically over the city, Connor leaned out to study the view.
Soldiers were streaming from barracks up onto the wall. Teams of engineers were assembling catapults, ballistae, and some of the new siege mechanicals around the city. Once they reached a thousand feet, Hamish activated the rear thrusters and accelerated rapidly south, along the river.
“Ravinder is farther to the east,” Student Eighteen pointed out.
“I know, but I want to see the swarm and forward it to Verena via sightstone so she can have a visual.”
“Just don’t get distracted,” Kilian warned, but he made no other objections. Connor was glad of that. He wanted to see the swarm, although he fea
red that seeing it would only make him fear for Verena’s safety even more.
Hamish had activated speakstones that paired with Verena, Ivor, and Rory. As they flew, they listened to the rapid mobilization effort.
“Contact,” Ivor suddenly called from his position sliding along the surface of the river, just south of the bridge between Merkland and the township. “I sense at least several hundred more water-bound creatures.” He whistled softly, his tone turning awed. “The entire river is full of them, closing on the two mile mark from the city.”
Shona must have been linked into the conversation through one of the others because she responded. “Can you stop them?”
“I’ve already engaged, but there’s no way I can stop them all.” Ivor sounded tense and a little distracted, suggesting he was already fighting a long-distance battle.
Connor’s tension grew and he gripped the rail in front of his seat, wishing he could do more than look down at the river. Ivor was fighting for his life, but from their height he could not see the danger. Hamish did not slow or bank the Hawk to magnify the view, so Connor tapped quartzite to his eyes. The view swept closer, as if he was diving on the back of a pedra instead of riding level in the Hawk.
A couple miles south of Merkland, he caught sight of the swarm in the river. The entire surface of the water churned and boiled. He saw glimpses of limbs and tentacles and enormously fanged mouths. They seemed to vary dramatically in size and shape.
Some of the creatures lunged out of the water, looking like fish, but with legs and sickle-like arms. Others galloped along the surface, like enormous horses, hooves crackling with fire. Many of them sported the deadly jaws of pedras or many-tentacled arms with suckers. Others carried scorpion-like stingers.
“I have visual,” Hamish declared in the remarkably calm voice he usually assumed during a fight.
Connor was struggling to find his fighting calm. He glanced forward and had to release quartzite because Hamish had activated the long-vision aspect of the front viewscreen and the double magnification effect gave Connor an instant headache. The swarm of land creatures was even more dense than the river swarm had been.