Resonance

by C S Vass

  Fiona felt herself grow tense with the new information. She had no fear of warriors, but that did not seem to be the danger that was waiting for them.

  “Sandra Redfire is the Duke’s daughter,” Fiercewind went on. “She is a good and true woman, perhaps the most capable person in Sun Circle. I trust her with my life. Should the opportunity arise for you to make an ally of her I would strongly recommend it. I will introduce you myself when we arrive.”

  “Headmaster…when the guards walked me over here, they spoke about the Vaentysh Boys—”

  “Fiona, you can absolutely not play the hero right now,” Fiercewind interrupted. Fiona took her words like a slap in the face. “Now, we have to go. We are expected. Stay close to me, and we will arrive in due time. Let us away.”

  With that she unlocked the door with a rusty looking iron key, pushed it aside with a heave of her shoulder, and vanished into the subterranean darkness.

  The sewers were black as midnight, and Fiona wondered how they were ever going to get through when she couldn’t even see her hand in front of her face. They moved deeper and deeper down a flight of stone steps until their route transformed into a slope and they continued on the flat rocky path.

  After what felt like an eternity, they hit the bottom. The walls around them were filled with what looked like tiny pieces of glass that held a magical red shine like millions of fireflies, surrounding them in a forlorn glow.

  “How?” Sasha asked startled. “There’s no sound here. Is this true magic?”

  Fiercewind gave her a knowing look. “There are many types of magic that the soundmages do not understand,” she said.

  With a shudder Fiona thought of the werewolf Rodrick had encountered. She had been aware of the great expanse of tunnels beneath the city, but she never imagined how extensive they truly were. “Headmaster, what can you tell us about this place?” Fiona asked. “Most of Haygarden can hardly be aware that its even here.

  “Very well,” Fiercewind said without looking back. “Before they had a practical function as a complex sewer system these tunnels were said to house the tombs of the long dead Vaentysh kings of old. As you know, they ruled here centuries ago, when the Tellosian Empire had yet to be conceived of.”

  Of course Fiona knew that much. Every student at Clearwater was taught at least the basic story of the elder days when the Vaentysh Kings ruled. As she understood it they had a mixed reputation, one that combined cruelty with wisdom and courage.

  Fiercewind went on, “They came across the sea, fleeing the gods and monsters that had reigned over them in their strange ancestral land that was said to have a black sun that emitted cold instead of heat. Upon arriving they set about the business of slaughtering the native population, to the point where only a handful of tribal people still existed. Haygarden was one of the great cities they founded after the local population had been moved or killed off. These sewers used to be a sacred place for them, a land in-between the realms of life and death.”

  “Are the tombs still here?” Sasha asked, fascinated.

  “Well,” Fiercewind said, “Academics and historians have plundered the place raw over many years. I don’t believe we’ll stumble across any such monuments. All known relics have been taken away for them to study and the public to gawk at. Though if your’e like me you likely find it distasteful that the dead have not been allowed to remain undisturbed.”

  “I never imagined they would be so big,” Sasha said. “How on earth are we to make it to Sun Circle from so low down.”

  “Don’t be disheartened,” Fiercewind replied. “I have been in these tunnels on several occasions, and I am confident that there is more magic and mystery in them than the rest of Haygarden combined. There will come a point when we must climb, and it will be a steep climb at that, but all the same…it never feels as though the distances are the same. The journey we will take upwards will not be nearly so long. It is…strange.”

  They continued on in silence for some time after that. Fiona found some relief from her grief in the determination that she would do everything in her power to get Rodrick back. She glanced at her best friend and wondered where Sasha Rains found her solace. The red glow from the glass that surrounded them made her auburn hair seem positively ablaze, and her hazel eyes set above high pointed cheek bones gave her a queenly look. But all the same…

  The stars had aligned perfectly for Sasha when her romance with Reggie Downcastle began just over a year ago. At first it was all deceptions, not even Fiona had been allowed to know. They would meet in secret, always at night. Sasha was positive the son of the Master Soundmage would never be able to marry the daughter of a mere up-jumped spice trader, no matter how quickly he rose through the ranks. When Reggie’s father finally found out however, to everyone’s surprise he was overjoyed, and happily arranged a marriage. Thus Sasha got the man of her dreams while the parents on all sides were gifted with the peace that came from knowing it was an amiable arrangement for everyone. Of course until now.

  Was it possible that the marriage had something to do with Reggie’s kidnapping? Fiona did not understand the first thing about the court at Sun Circle, but Rodrick had always complained about its cloak and dagger nature. It was only recently that Fiona became aware that the Downcastle’s were old in name, high in station, and near bankrupt in their finances. Did somebody want to keep Sasha available so they might have a chance at her family’s fortune for themselves, or was it that they wished instead to keep the Downcastle’s poor?

  “What was that?” There was a note of panic in Sasha’s voice. Fiona heard nothing, but Fiercewind drew them in close.

  “Fiona, draw your weapon,” Fiercewind breathed in a whisper.

  Fiona nodded and the demon-pommel sword hissed as she drew it.

  “Sasha, you have the blade I gave you?”

  “Yes.”

  “Back to back,” Fiercewind said. Her voice was low and tense. They positioned themselves as she requested while the seconds trickled by. After nearly a minute Fiercewind said, “We resume our journey. Any sign of trouble we go back to back. If I command you to run, you will run.”

  “Run where?” Fiona said as she sheathed her blade. “We’d be lost instantly.”

  “Always to the right and always up,” Sasha replied, to Fiona’s surprise.

  “Very good,” Fiercewind said. “It is by no means the fastest route, but at most any point it is the route that will guarantee you eventually make it out.”

  Just as they began walking again Fiona heard a wet suction sound. Her blade was halfway out of its sheath when Fiercewind rested a hand on her. “No, child,” she said. “It’s all right, there are some people down here. Most do not wish us harm.”

  It took Fiona a moment to understand what was just said. “There are…people down here? Why in the world are there people down here?”

  With a solemn face Fiercewind responded, “You will remember at Clearwater being warned of the dangers of sleepleaf, of excessive drink, and such. Down here you will find those addicted to something far worse.”

  “Worse?” Fiona asked. “What could be worse than the horrific cycle of pain and numbness endured by those addicted to sleepleaf?”

  “Sleepleaf is a monster in and of itself,” Fiercewind said. “But some sinister souls in Haygarden have taken it upon themselves to use forbidden sound magic to create something far worse with Shadowleaf from Laquath. Down here you will find the sparse population of those who suffer from drumba addiction. It is a policy I protested most vigorously when it was first introduced.”

  “A policy?” Sasha said. “You mean, they government put them here?”

  “Duke Redfire ordered them here shortly after the Movement for Independence, before either of you were born. They are to be greatly pitied, but they will hurt you. Living amongst such dark and filth has not been good to them. Sleepleaf contains a powerful magic in itself. Combine that with these conditions, and the natural magic of the sewers and well…” She did not c
ontinue talking, but there was a pained look in her eye. Fiona got the sense that somehow Fiercewind was speaking about something deeply personal, but it was not the time to ask any questions.

  As they continued to move through the sewer system it became more and more maze-like. They would find themselves in some long tunnel for a some period of time, only to come to a circular chamber with multiple passageways out. Fiercewind would always take her time at this, walking around the room muttering under her breath. At times she would even take them back down the path they had just come. Whenever this happened Fiona and Sasha would glance at each other, but not say anything.

  At long last Fiona noticed a definitive tension in her calves and realized that they were going up. Slowly it got steeper and steeper, until it became difficult to walk, and then it got steeper still. Twice Fiercewind asked for a moment to stop, and would hulk over in a ball while she would sing lightly under her breath and the three of them would feel as if invisible hands were massaging their legs and some small amount of energy would be restored. Then they would continue their ascent.

  When their climb evened out they approached yet another massive tunnel entrance in the dark. The entrance to the tunnel had what appeared to be an ancient carving of a great lion roaring so that the tunnel began by walking into its mouth. The path was lit by a dark green light from the sparkling walls rather than red. Fiona asked if that meant anything. “It means a great many things,” Fiercewind responded. “Some of which I can only guess at and none of which I will.”

  As they moved down the tunnel Fiona thought she noticed a faint mist in the air. She looked to Sasha, whose face was pale and worried in the strange light. A drowsiness began to overtake her, and she wondered how much longer they would be. She had slept all day, but surely they had walked most of the night by this point. Time seemed to lose all purpose where they were.

  She approached a place where there was a large vertical crack in the wall. Some greenery poked through the crevice. She stoped, somewhat enchanted by the strange opening. As she stared the crack seemed to widen, and to her horror there was a demonic face staring back at her with a humanoid body and horselike head.

  Fiona shouted, but Fiercewind and Sasha were gone. The face stared at her with eyes of green fire, and she saw two hands come from the darkness to seize her. Quick as lightning she had her sword out and pierced the demon through its open mouth. Red blood trickled down her sword as the light left the beasts eyes. Slowly, its face melted like wax and she stared directly into the face of Rodrick. Horror gripped her as she screamed…

  Only to find herself mumbling on the floor of the cavern. Fiercewind was singing in some foreign language over her, a tranquil look on her face. Sasha was there too, her face splintered into a thousand wrinkles of worry. Slowly, her cold body felt like it was becoming warm again.

  “Wha…what happened?” she asked groggily.

  “You…you said—”

  Sasha was interrupted by Fiercewind who had stopped singing. “It’s best not to dwell on it. Such things are not uncommon down in these tunnels. Beware of any plants you encounter in the sewers. They are…not understood by botanists or soundmages. In any case I am not surprised. Take the time you need to recover yourself, and we will resume our journey. We are near the end, and will move quickly from now until the finish.”

  Fiona sat up feeling rather foolish. “Thank you. I’m all right now. We can go.”

  Sasha tried to give her a reassuring smile but her face was still clouded by anxiety. Fiona could not wait to move on from this hellish place. It took what must have been another hour, but as they pushed through at as quick a pace as they could manage Fiercewind pointed to a wooden ladder that was propped against the end of the tunnel.

  “The exit!” she shouted. Fiona did not miss the joy in her voice. They quickened their pace and ran to the ladder which led to a small opening where moonlight fell down into the tunnel floor in a perfect circle. When they were about twenty meters from it there was a deep roar, and Sasha screamed.

  “What the hell was that thing!” she yelled.

  Fiona had missed it but the noise it made sounded like a rockslide. “That was no human,” Fiercewind said. “Run!”

  The three of them continued on and the walls of the tunnel shook. Behind them Fiona saw something so big the tunnels could barely contain it. It appeared to be reptilian, scuttling along on four stubby legs that shredded at the stone walls.

  “Climb, climb!” Fiercewind shouted as she ushered them onto the ladder.

  Fiona wanted to see Fiercewind up first but she knew the promise she had made. Unable to keep herself from looking down as she moved upwards she watched with amazement as Fiercewind took out her trumpet and let an enormous blast of sound. The note was low, and so loud she thought it would crack the stone around them.

  Fiercewind let it ring for a moment as the creature sat stunned, and then played a spiraling downward arpeggio that made Fiona bite her tongue so hard it bled.

  “Up! Up!” A new voice shouted. Fiona looked up to see a pair of slightly off-grey eyes and a squashed nose looking down at her. “Don’t try to kill the damn beast! Come on!” Fiona quickly scurried up to him and helped lift Sasha out of the sewers. Fiercewind was slow up the ladder, but she appeared to have won herself some time with the trumpet.

  As they emerged into the dark night again, a large circular stone was hastily rolled over the opening, and they were in Sun Circle.

  Chapter Six

  “What the hell was that thing?” Fiona shouted as soon as she caught her breath. They had emerged into a flat plain that was filled with purple and pink flowers, with a light breeze flowing through the grass.

  “Nothing your esteemed Headmaster was incapable of handling,” the man with the off-grey eyes said. Now that Fiona could see him up close she saw that he was short and stocky, with a close-cut salt and pepper beard and curly black hair. There was a strange look in his eyes as he stared at Helena Fiercewind. “An honor to greet you,” he said to her with a dramatic bow.

  Fiercewind looked at him like she wanted to crush him under her thumb. They appeared almost comical next to each other, her as imposing as a colossal iceberg and him with a wry smile tugging at his lips.

  “You must be the lady Sasha,” he said, grasping Sasha’s hand with his own and kissing it. “My deepest hopes are with your betrothed. I am confident he will be returned swiftly and justice will be dealt to those who have wronged him.”

  Sasha thanked him politely. When he turned to Fiona there was an interesting light in his eyes. “Fiona Sacrosin, I should offer similar sympathies to you, though I’m afraid I’m not quite as acquainted with your brother as I am with Reggie Downcastle. Rodrick kept his time at Sun Circle to a minimum, as I’m sure you know. All the same, I wish your brother a safe and speedy return home.” When he grasped her hand she noticed how hairy his knuckles were, and he planted a fat, wet kiss on it.

  “Welcome to Sun Circle,” he said with a grand sweep of his arm. He almost lost his footing as he gestured around them.

  “Gods be dammed, are you drunk Donyo?” Fiercewind barked.

  “How rude of me to have indulged without you,” Donyo said as he removed a wineskin from inside his purple cloak and offered it to her.

  She slapped it out of his hand. “I want none of your nonsense you cretin. If I find out that you are responsible for whatever that monstrosity is I’ll have the Duke whip you through the streets.”

  He gave her a mocking smile, but held his tongue. Instead he turned to Sasha and Fiona and said, “I apologize for failing to introduce myself. My name is Donyo Brownwater, Master Architect of Haygarden.”

  Fiercewind scoffed. “Master drunk of Haygarden, and a living testament to the virtues of sobriety.”

  “Quite right,” Donyo happily agreed. “My father always said that a clear mind is the bedrock of a peaceful soul. Though my mother said a groggy mind is the bedrock of a happy one. Now, I suggest we continue this conve
rsation inside the castle. Duke Redfire is quite eager to greet you.”

  Fiona drew herself from the strange conversation long enough to look around at the landscape around them. She was quite intrigued to see that they stood on a flat plateau high up in the mountain. The summit loomed above them, strangely close, and she observed the intricate pattern of rock formations that were never visible from below in the Lead District.

  “How is there so much greenery this high up?” Sasha asked, awestruck. She wasn’t wrong to ask, Fiona thought. From how it looked they could have been in a fertile vale rather than near the summit of a mountain.

  “One of many mysteries of this magical place,” Donyo answered. “Now, let us talk as we walk. I’m sure that you’re weary and could do with some food and rest.” Just then the first rays of the rising sun splintered over the horizon and Donyo stopped.

  “Keep moving,” Fiercewind grumbled. “You’re the one who suggested it.”

  “Oh have a heart, Helena,” Donyo whined. “They’ve never seen it before. Let them have a proper view.”

  “We do have a sunrise in the Leaf District, you know,” Fiona said to him. She was tired and hungry and wanted to get a move on as quickly as she was able to. Donyo simply smiled at her. The next moment the sun peered over the horizon and the world exploded in light.

  The entire landscape around them was a blazing circle of glowing red. Birds leapt from the trees as their wings drank the air and a chorus of tittering wildlife could be heard. “What in the name of the gods is that?” Sasha asked in a breathless voice. Fiona couldn’t speak. It was the single most astonishing thing she had ever witnessed. They stared for several minutes, tracing the path of this mysterious brilliant ring of light that shone white hot at its base and extended upwards in glorious golden-red until it licked the sky.

  As it slowly faded when the sun moved more fully into the sky Donyo said, “Well, now you know why they call it Sun Circle.”

  “They placed glass from inside those tunnels in a giant circle around the top of the district,” Fiercewind said. She added simply, “And that’s what it does.”