by Ben Hale
Breaker didn't respond, and continued to pour his magic into the spell. The interior of the egg shrank to the size of a softball, then a pebble, and then finally . . . it closed completely. The pressure on the Voidling would exceed that of a landslide, and had the power to snap a steel bar like it was candy.
Breaker released the spell and sank to his knees as a wave of nausea washed over him. To use so much magic in so short a time invited magesickness. His training had helped him push the threshold back, and it had been a long time since he'd felt it. A savage grin split his face. If ever there was a time to use so much power, it was now.
Ivan was half lifting, half dragging him away. Breaker clutched his stomach and tried to move. With every step he felt better, and by the time they reached the first lookout post he could stand on his own. He fell into a crouch beside the others, and watched the cooling boulder.
"How far did you take it?" Billy asked, a trace of awe in his voice.
"All the way," Breaker responded. "A gnat couldn't fit in there."
"You weren't supposed to do that," Ivan said.
Breaker nearly punched him. "I had one chance to find out if my magic can hurt them. I wasn't about to waste it."
"But if it exploded . . ."
"It didn't," Breaker said.
His tone closed the discussion, and Ivan reluctantly turned away. In silence the four of them watched the trap. Layers of steam gradually faded until the egg resembled an odd boulder that had fallen into the trail.
"How long should we wait?" Billy asked.
"Until we know," Breaker said.
It didn't take long. Within the hour a shadow fell across the trap, and soon it turned into a dark fog. Over the next few minutes it continued to thicken until it began to resemble its former shape.
"It can pass through stone?" Billy asked. "How's that possible?"
"Earth is porous," Breaker said, his voice hard. "I'm not surprised that it's escaping. I am surprised that it survived the compression charm. It would have crushed an auren car."
The other two murmured under their breath, but Ivan and Breaker remained resolute. When it became apparent that the Voidling would escape unscathed, Breaker clenched his jaw.
"Let's go," he spit the words out. "Before it comes after us."
Without a word they darted into the tunnel that Breaker had prepared. He closed it behind them, and collapsed the entrance. Then he followed in Ivan's footsteps. Ivan dropped back to walk beside him.
"Think another spell will work?" Ivan asked.
Breaker shook his head, and had to fight to keep the bitterness from his voice. "Not from me."
He'd given it his best shot, and the Voidling had escaped in an hour. A cold knot formed in his stomach as he realized that against the Dark entities he was as helpless as a child. No spell or ability he possessed could harm them.
For the first time the thought crossed his mind that they could lose. Alice had soldiers impervious to magic, and he doubted the auren projectile weapons would do more than annoy them. If they couldn't beat the Voidlings, how could they defeat the Dark? With an effort he shoved his doubt aside.
"Let's go," Breaker said. "We have a meeting to get to."
Chapter 18: Assassin's Visit
Breaker listened to the other battlemages officers argue about what to do. Their words meant little. Everyone knew the truth. The most powerful collection of men and women on Earth were helpless. They just didn't want to accept it.
He grunted and turned away, but Ivan nudged him. "Aren't you going to stay until the end?"
"Why?" Breaker asked. "There's nothing they can do, and we just proved there is nothing we can do."
Ivan frowned at his tone. "You talk like you're giving up."
Breaker closed the gap, and spoke in a harsh whisper. "Don't make the mistake of thinking you know my mind. We fight, we die. We wait, and we can fight when we have a chance. It's time for everyone to accept that."
Some of the other battlemages had overheard, and they fell silent at the intensity in his voice.
"Do you have something to share?" Captain Thames called.
"Nothing you would listen to."
Captain Thames’ expression clouded with anger. "You may be the second highest ranking officer here, but I am the—"
"The what?" Breaker demanded. "The captain of the resistance?" All the anger and frustration he felt boiled over, and he stabbed a finger at the captain.
"You keep talking like we are the strongest force on Earth—but we have been beaten! Alice, the Harbingers, the Voidlings, they kicked us out of the Spirus like we were children. How many did Kendrik get killed trying to battle them? How many have you gotten killed?"
"It's my job to—"
"You don't have a job!" Breaker exploded. "We are resisting a superior force. It doesn't matter what we were before. Right now we are trying to destroy a stronger enemy. When you stop thinking like a Rayth and start thinking like an underground we might accomplish something."
"We're an army," Thames insisted. "Not a resistance."
"Look around you!" Breaker shouted. "We're in a cave in the depths of Auroraq, hiding. We need to be focusing on disrupting their plans, neutralizing smaller threats, and seeking allies."
There was a murmur of agreement from the other lieutenants.
"You want us to stop fighting the Voidlings?" Thames laughed, the sound laced with scorn. "With them in power anything else we do will barely make a dent. We have to take them out first."
"We can't," Breaker growled. "Not until something changes. We've tried every magic, every spell, every attack we know. Nothing hurts them. To continue antagonizing them is pointless. We need to focus on what we can do."
"I am the ranking—"
"And you're stupid."
Fury lanced across the captain's face. "I will have you exiled for insubordination."
Breaker laughed. "If we ever retake the Spirus—and either one of us is alive—feel free. Until then you need to discard your pride and start accepting what we are." He turned his back and walked away, ignoring Thames’ shouting in his wake.
Out of the corner of his eye he noticed that many of the gathered mages were nodding. It didn't matter. Unless the entire battlemage and Rayth Corps decided to eject Thames from leadership, nothing was going to change. He stepped into the rough corridor that led to his home and slammed a fist into the wall. The stone closed the gap, cutting off the screaming captain.
He sighed and cast a slideways charm to carry him home. Per protocol, he shifted the tunnel twice in case it was discovered, and twenty minutes later reached his home. Opening the secret wall that led to his basement, he shut it behind him and strode up the stairs. He came to a halt when he found an occupant in his kitchen.
"What in Skorn's name are you doing here," he demanded.
The Swordsman swallowed the bite he'd been eating. "You're out of salami."
"How did you get in here?" Breaker demanded, and yanked the sandwich out of the assassin's mouth. "And why are you eating my food?"
The Swordsman wiped his mouth. "You took a long time getting back. I got hungry."
"You have no right to barge into my home," Breaker snapped. "Just because Hawk says you are his ally doesn't make you mine."
"Word is that Hawk is decimating Harbinger strongholds—by himself. You think you're strong enough to do the same?" The Swordsman leaned back against the counter and folded his arms. "We're on the same side. That makes us allies."
Breaker released a grunt, but didn't comment. His lack of response drew a smile to the Swordsman's face, but that just made Breaker more furious.
"I didn't think you were here before the occupation. How did you get into the city?"
"The city might be closed to you, but it isn't to me. The Spirus is another matter."
Surprise overcame Breaker's anger. "Why do you want to get in?"
"My target is inside."
Breaker stared at the Swordsman. Only Harbingers and Vo
idlings were allowed inside, making it the most difficult place on the planet to infiltrate. But the higher the target, the higher the payment. Then he had a flash of insight.
"Alice."
The Swordsman nodded. "How do I get in?"
"You don't," Breaker growled. He put his hands on the counter. "No one gets past the Voidlings. No one."
"I will."
"Every battlemage in the city has tried. You think you are better than them?"
"Yes."
Breaker issued a bark of laughter. The Swordsman's answer was not made in arrogance, but rather simple confidence. As much as Breaker hated to admit it, the Swordsman might be right. But could he do it?
"I got into the Vaults," the Swordsman reminded him. "How many battlemages did I get past? Not to mention the dragon down there."
"This is different," Breaker said. "You can't fight the Voidlings. They are immune to every magic we know."
"So I avoid them," the Swordsman said with a shrug. "I prefer subtlety anyway."
"It would be like sneaking through an auren mine field barefoot and blind."
The Swordsman frowned. "I never tread where I cannot see, and I never go after a target unless I have a plan to finish it."
Breaker let out his breath. "This is Alice we're talking about. From what we've gathered she started planning her takeover decades ago. By all accounts she has a unique magic—one that nobody can identify. Even if you can get past the Voidlings—and I'm not saying you can—what makes you think you can kill her?"
"Every target has a weakness."
"What if you encounter Rook?" Breaker challenged. "I hear he's left the Assassins Guild and joined up with her."
"And Harry," the Swordsman said. "Or did you not hear about him?"
"Who?"
"Nearly every high level poisoning in the last decade was him," the Swordsman said. "He's a phynus that enjoys using spiders or snakes."
"Why tell me so much about him? You've never shared Guild secrets before."
"He's not in the Guild anymore," the Swordsman replied. "And I want something from you. It's only fair that I give you something in return. Now you can place anti-animary charms around your house, or those of your friends."
"Why?" Breaker asked. "Alice has shown no sign of coming after us."
The Swordsman gave a scornful laugh. "It's not going to stay that way. She's allowed you to prove the Voidlings are untouchable. Since they are entities of the Dark, she has proved that the cloud is equally impervious to your magic. You've done more than she ever could at convincing the mage population that she's in control. But that won't last. It's only a matter of time until she snaps the backbone of your resistance."
Breaker looked away, his jaw clenching. The Swordsman clearly knew more than Captain Thames. But how long did they have? His fist tightened. The Dark would finish consuming the globe in a matter of weeks. That's when Alice would move to ensure the mages were all on her side.
"Aren't you in charge of the resistance?" The Swordsman sounded surprised.
Breaker shook his head. "Kendrik was killed, but Thames is still alive."
The Swordsman issued an annoyed grunt. "How did that pile of reaver dung ever get such a high rank?"
"His uncle was on the High Council a few years back," Breaker said absently. "For now he's taken a more direct approach against the Voidlings."
"That explains a lot," the Swordsman said, and scratched the stubble on his chin.
"What?"
"The Harbingers have recorded your attempts to take out the Voidlings, and broadcast them to the other mage cities. Everyone has seen their vaunted battlemages fail time and again. Your compression charm was particularly impressive, by the way."
Fury lanced through Breaker like a hot knife. Kendrik, Thames—even he was doing exactly as Alice wanted, and sowing fear across the mage world. By the time Alice was done with the aurens the mages would fall at her feet.
"I thought you knew," the Swordsman said, his voice apologetic.
"Can you kill her?" Breaker bit the words off.
"I have a plan," the Swordsman said.
"Then I will help you get inside, but I will need something from you."
"What about your resistance?"
Breaker ground his fist into the countertop, unaware that the stone was cracking. "It's time we got a new leader."
Chapter 19: Siarra's Memory
"Do you have any idea what you've signed up for?" Robar seethed.
Tess glared back at him. "I don't have a choice."
"Of course you do," Robar growled. "You could choose the option that doesn't get you killed."
After meeting with the queen they'd been led to a set of private quarters. Positioned high on the side of Primok, the room boasted a curving balcony that looked down on the Well of Shadow. Twin doors of carved mushroom stalk led to opposite sleeping chambers.
The main room had been decorated with memory paintings and further illuminated with silver algae that grew across the ceiling. Comfortable chairs ringed a crackling blue fire in the center. Alcoves in the walls held small statues that Tess suspected were entities. Robar had been tightlipped until they had been left alone. Then he'd exploded.
"Do you see another way that I can get them to join us?" Tess snapped back. "Aside from you, they are the only ones that are impervious to the Dark. If there's even a chance that this will work, I have to take it."
"There isn't."
"Do you have so little faith in me?" Tess was angry now. "Or do you not care?"
"I've spent the last week keeping you alive," he said. "I'm not inclined to see you throw your life away."
"Then stop wasting time and help me. The queen said I face the trial tomorrow. What do you know?"
Robar blew out his breath. "The Allegian Trial is legendary. There are whole books written on it."
"Why?"
"Because you face a reaver."
Her eyes widened. "There was a chapter on reavers in my animary class. I thought they were extinct."
"In ancient days there were a few kinds," Robar said. "But today there are only two left. The Magtherian keeps strict control over silvers, and the dark elves control the only known black reavers."
"How do you know so much about them?"
Robar sank into a chair. "My brother and I used to love reading about the ancient monsters. Reavers, dragons, and three other such creatures were the worst. Nowadays they are referred to as mythical, but back then they were called the Five Terrors. Just one terror could destroy a city, regardless of the type."
"Why keep the reavers alive then?" Tess asked.
"Like dragons, a reaver's blood has numerous magical uses," Robar said.
Tess was beginning to have second thoughts about the trial, but held her tongue. "Have you ever seen one?"
He shook his head. "Only pictures of a silver. The Magtherian keeps theirs on a reserve in the Brazilian Amazon. For a while the Rock Trolls helped control them but they kept getting killed. That alone should tell you what they're like."
"So what makes them so dangerous?" Now she wished she'd read the chapter in greater depth.
He ran his hand over his face. "Reavers absorb minerals from their diet. While they are young the metals seep into their bones until they become laced with steel. Once the bones have absorbed all they can the spines start to grow. Silvers grow them on their arms, blacks grow them on their back, shoulders, and flanks. When they reach adulthood a black's skin starts to harden."
Tess slid into a seat across from him. "How big are they?"
"Silvers were always the largest," he said. "Blacks were the smallest, and were supposed to be about the size of a large lion or manticore."
Was he right? Had she taken on too much? She swallowed at the image he was describing. "Anything else?"
"I haven't shared the worst of it."
"How can it get worse?"
"I told you it was bad," he said. "Each reaver was known for a unique trait. Silvers can
regenerate. Blacks absorb the magic or power of their victim for a short time."
It took a moment to register, and then she realized what he was saying. "You can't mean . . ."
"If it gets a taste of your blood, it will temporarily take on every magical ability you possess."
Tess leaned back into her chair, finally understanding what the queen had meant when she said she would face herself. But this was far worse than she could have imagined. If the creature got her blood, she would be finished.
"How do I beat it?"
"You can't," he said, his anger returning. "The Allegian Trial is meant to give criminals a way to prove their innocence. They must face the demon within themselves and survive. If they do they are granted a return to their previous life. For an outsider such as yourself it will prove that you are loyal to the dark elves."
"How long do I have to survive for?"
"You can't be considering this," he demanded. "After everything I've just said? If you go through with this there won't be enough pieces for your parents to bury in a shoe box."
"I need to try."
Robar growled and rose to his feet. "Then you're going to die." He turned on his heel and strode to his quarters. He slammed the door and did not return. After a minute Tess rose to her feet and walked to the balcony.
Beautiful and serene, the view did little to combat the tension in her gut. Was she making the right choice? Or was she being foolish? She sighed, and wished that Hawk was there to advise her.
Time passed as she watched the algae on the spines darken. Shirrilis had mentioned that the luminescent plants of the city had been cultivated to brighten and dim on a cycle. By now she guessed it to be their equivalent of midnight. Giving in to her fatigue, she plodded to her quarters and climbed into bed. Covered with the soft furs of unknown creatures it was beyond comfortable, but her worry was like an ache that refused to ease. Then a thought crossed her mind that drove her from the bed.
Rising, she clasped the amulet at her neck and slipped into her magesight. Then she pushed forward. The colors of energy faded to grey except for the figure which materialized into view. As with every time she accessed the Book of Oracles, Alydian appeared first.