The Arcane Ward

by Jeffrey L. Kohanek

  A firm grip wrapped about her wrist, stopping her abruptly. She turned, ready to scold the guard for stopping her, but the words slipped from her tongue and her mouth dropped open.

  “Hi, Doll.” the man said.

  “Wyck?”

  “What are you doing here?”

  She looked around and found them alone before responding in a hushed tone. “I’m on a mission. Why are you here?”

  He released her wrist. “Same as you, I guess.”

  Quinn moved closer to him, her whisper heated with anger. “You’re not an espion. You should not be here.”

  “Well, I am.”

  “Does Delvin know?”

  Wyck’s brow furrowed. “I suppose not.”

  “Explain why you are here, then.”

  “Well, Firellus sent me off to Cinti Mor when an opening came up to work for Prelate Dorlan. It was nothing significant, just a typical guard position at the citadel. For a few weeks, I found it more boring than you can imagine. The only thing I discovered is that listening to judges and court sessions is a form of cruel torture.

  “Then a day came where I was guarding the side door in Prelate Dorlan’s courtroom, and I spotted a flash of metal. I burst into a run, dove, and a dagger struck my shield just a stride in front of Dorlan. Lucky, too, because the blade was poisoned. The woman who threw it was arrested and found herself in a dungeon cell. The act won me praise, and the next thing I knew, my captain told me I was getting promoted to Sol Polis. So, here I am.”

  Quinn listened to the tale and wondered how Wyck could possibly be useful in this situation. The man might be an outstanding warrior, but he had the subtlety of a bear in a sweetshop. When Quinn looked past him, she noticed a curtain move in a fifth story window. She gasped when she realized it was Varius…watching.

  “Kiss me,” Quinn said with urgency.

  Wyck grinned. “So, you did miss me.”

  “Kiss me. Now!”

  The man put his hand behind her head and pressed his lips against hers. She allowed it for a moment and then pushed away, slapping him.

  His face held the look of shock as his hand went to his cheek. “Ouch! What was that for?”

  “Just walk away. We’re being watched,” Quinn said quietly between clenched teeth. She then screeched, “Stay away from me!”

  His face turned red and he snarled, “You crazy wench!”

  Wyck reached for her but Quinn was faster, reacting on instinct. Her hand flashed out and grabbed his thick fingers, bending them back as she leapt to his side. With a knee up against his rear, she twisted his arm behind his back and lifted the elbow with as much pressure as she could apply. Even then, it was a struggle to hold it. Quinn grunted and strained while he did the same. However, she was in a position of advantage – one that countered his superior strength.

  “Argh.” He grunted. “Let go of me.”

  “I’ll let go, and you just walk away,” she said aloud before lowering her voice. “The Archon is watching,” she hissed.

  Quinn released him and stepped backward. Wyck turned toward her while holding his arm, his face red as he breathed heavily through his nose. “I’ll remember this.”

  “Good. Now, move along.”

  Without another word, the big man stomped down the path and faded from view. Quinn then turned the opposite direction and made her way back to the castle, hopeful that Varius would see the interaction between Quinn and Wyck as nothing more than a man’s unwanted pursuit of a woman. But she knew that Varius was intelligent. Quinn hadn’t meant the situation to go as far as it had. Trained to defend herself, Quinn’s instincts had taken over and revealed far more than she might wish.

  31

  Discovery

  “Good, Cassie. Concentrate. Hold it.”

  Jestin’s voice carried through the mist of Cassie’s mind. Her eyes remained closed as she maintained her focus. She felt him place his hand to her forehead. His palm was warm compared to the cool peace she found inside herself. Like a ghost slipping into a room, she sensed Jestin extend his awareness, probing her mind.

  Order was her most prevalent inherent trait, and she allowed him to divine it. When his presence dove deeper, she held the false image she had created – a representation of a Dominus rune, masking the true symbol that resided there. Satisfied, he dove deeper and read the Cognitio rune, Artifex Altus rune, and the Medicus rune that lay deep within herself, all inherent traits, each weaker than the one prior.

  When Jestin lifted his hand from her forehead, Cassie opened her eyes. The man gave her a nod. “Very good, indeed. I couldn’t sense anything false, nor could I see the Chaos rune in you.”

  Cassie turned toward her brother, who sat cross-legged on the floor a few strides away. “It actually worked, Brandt. Somehow, your idea worked.”

  “Thank, Issal.” Brandt’s jaw set as he turned toward Jestin. “Try me. If I can’t make it work, Delvin won’t send me out, regardless of how I progress with the other skills.”

  Brandt shut his eyes and slipped into meditation while Jestin shifted to squat beside him. The master ecclesiast placed his hand on Brandt’s head. Cassie bit her lip as she watched. She knew how badly Brandt wanted this. Despite her misgivings, she understood his desire to make a difference…as well as his thirst for excitement. Besides, only one of them would go into the field, and she knew it should be him.

  When Jestin opened his eyes, he shook his head with the look of awe on his face. “It worked. I see Famulus as your primary trait and no hint of the Chaos rune you are hiding. How did you think of this anyway?”

  When Brandt opened his eyes, a grin spread across his face. “It was something Delvin said before he and Quinn left. He was explaining personas to me, and I began to understand the depth he wanted us to achieve when we adopt them. Knowing that others divining my inherent ability to channel Chaos was a risk, I wondered if we could somehow use Order to mask Chaos with a different vocation rune – as if it were a persona of another trait.”

  “When Brandt came to me with the idea,” Cassie said, “he and I began testing it right away, one divining the other while attempting the mask. It took a few days to master before the mask appeared like a proper symbol, but once we had the method perfected, slipping the mask rune over the true one became as easy as slipping on a glove.”

  Jestin stood and began to pace. Cassie watched him from their dark corner of the Atrium. The sun was low; the upper portion of the building still bright while shadows filled the lower reaches. It was quiet since the others had left to clean up before dinner.

  “The pair of you continue to press the boundaries of what we know about Order. Considering the strength of magic your parents possess, you two may be just scratching the surface of your full potential.”

  Cassie heard Brandt in her head. If we are so strong with Order, why can’t I heal yet?

  We’ve been over this. It will come in time. Even Jestin believes so.

  The man continued his speech. “Despite the academy class sessions that now occupy my days, I would like to continue to work with you. Perhaps I can help you discover other things Order can achieve.”

  He stopped pacing and faced them. “In the meantime, continue with your meditation when your other duties allow it. I will make time to visit a few times each week, and we shall see what else you might achieve.” The man gave them a final nod. “Enjoy your dinner.”

  “Thank you, Master Wykatt,” Cassie said.

  Bootlicker, Brandt said.

  Troublemaker, she replied.

  “Come on.” Brandt stood and stretched. “Let’s get some food.”

  As Brandt led her toward the dining hall, Cassie considered the man’s words.

  A lack of purpose had been hanging over her since she had yet to find her place within ICON. It had become clear to her that Brandt was training to be an espion like Nalah…like Quinn. While Cassie had helped Everson with a number of augmentations, she found the process of infusion dull and repetitive. Despite the
worthiness of the cause, she desired something more – desired to make a greater impact. Walking beside her brother, she glanced toward him and found herself envious. The life of an espion might be fraught with danger, but danger meant excitement – something that they both had craved since they were young.

  Jestin had a point. If she could develop new abilities using Order, perhaps she might find herself a new purpose.

  The thuds of Elastic-augmented weapons colliding filled the Atrium, along with the grunts from those who wielded the weapons. Cassie opened her eyes, yet maintained her connection with Order, something she had been practicing. The calmness, the peace of it, surrounded her as she watched Brandt and Bilchard training.

  Bilchard stood practically a foot taller than Brandt and seemed almost as strong as Wyck. His wooden longsword repeatedly connected with Brandt’s staff, with both fighters exchanging vicious attacks. While Bilchard possessed an obvious edge in strength, Brandt’s advantage was his speed.

  The quarterstaff whirled in his hands, expertly blocking one strike after another. Occasionally, he would alter the course of the staff and connect with Bilchard’s leg, his shoulder, his hip – each drawing a grunt from the overgrown teen. Rather than attempt to block what he could not reach, Bilchard kept his shield held before his torso to ensure that Brandt never struck his most vulnerable areas.

  When Brandt smacked his opponent’s thigh a third time, it drew a roar of anger from Bilchard, who charged with his shield in the lead. Brandt twisted and dove aside, lightning quick. A red symbol materialized before Cassie’s eyes, holding in the air near her brother. The image startled Cassie, and she lost her connection with Order, the vision of the rune fading with it.

  The two opponents faced each other with intense glares. Bilchard shifted forward but Brandt retreated a step, waiting, measuring.

  Cassie closed her eyes and took a long, calm breath as she sank back into meditation. The cool blue aura of Order enveloped her inner self, and she embraced the connection. Still holding it securely, she opened her eyes to see Brandt lunge forward with a flurry of strikes, fast and furious, exhibiting his exceptional quickness. The symbol materialized as it did before. Cassie gasped in awe. She suddenly knew what the rune meant, yet she was sure to maintain her connection. With concentration, she stared at the glowing emblem and memorized the lines, curving and crossing to create a rune she had never before seen.

  A low sweep of Brandt’s staff connected with Bilchard’s ankle, and the larger boy fell to the ground, clutching at his leg.

  “Hold,” Bilchard said between clenched teeth. “I think you broke it.”

  “Huh. It’s about time.” Brandt pulled his helmet off and wiped the sweat from his brow. “I was growing tired of hitting you.”

  Realizing she was needed, Cassie stood and approached the two fighters.

  Brandt turned toward her. “It’s a good thing you decided to stick around while we dueled.”

  Cassie knelt beside Bilchard. “Yes,” she mumbled as the memory of the odd rune remained in her head. “Hold still, Bilchard.”

  Still embracing her own source of Order, she shut her eyes and extended her inner self toward Bilchard. A storm of red symbols swirled about his lower leg. She seized his source of Order and used it to smother the crimson invaders. They began to unravel and dissipate, shedding tiny red threads before fading away. Bilchard’s body shook beneath her palm, and he gasped for air. She opened her eyes and stood.

  “I know you are hungry from the healing. Although I don’t have any food, lunch should be ready by now,” she said.

  Bilchard gave her a nod as he stood. “Thank you, Cassie.” He turned toward Brandt. “If we were allowed to fight with a Power augmentation, I know I could win.”

  “You are already crazy strong. Adding a Power augmentation…” Brandt snorted. “Let’s just call that a scary thought. Thankfully, we don’t duel under those conditions because one of us might kill the other.”

  A sigh slipped from Bilchard. “True. Yet, training to fight while charged with a Power rune is the point of being a wildcat. How can I truly test my enhanced fighting skill before I face a real battle?”

  Brandt gave Bilchard a friendly thump in the shoulder. “I’m sure you’ll get a chance to test it in the field soon. Your strikes already feel like they are coming from an Ox in heat. I shudder to think of how hard you’ll hit when charged with an augmentation.”

  “Thanks,” Bilchard said. “You know, waiting for my first mission was already difficult before the others left. But now…”

  “I know. Trust me. I’ve been pushing Delvin to let me go out ever since he came back.”

  A loud rumble caused Bilchard to put his hand on his stomach. “Huh. Hear that? I feel like I could eat a herd of cattle. I’ll see you two later. I’m off for some food.”

  He turned and walked away. Cassie waited until he was beyond earshot and then she turned to her brother. “I saw something while you were fighting.”

  His brow furrowed. “What do you mean?”

  “I saw…a rune. It came from you, first when you dodged, the second time when you attacked. I…think it has something to do with your nature.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  Cassie sighed. “I was holding a tight connection with Order while I was watching you two fight.”

  “You can do that? With your eyes open?”

  “I’ve been practicing.” She shrugged. “Anyway, while doing so, I was thinking of how much faster you are than Bilchard. You then dodged him, and the rune first materialized.”

  “Can you draw this rune?”

  “Sure.”

  Cassie reached into the satchel at her hip and withdrew a chunk of glowstone. Kneeling, she sketched the rune on the stone tile floor. When finished, she looked at Brandt.

  “I haven’t seen that one before,” he said.

  “That’s what I thought.”

  “What does it mean?”

  “I…I can’t explain how I know this, but I think it has to do with speed or quickness”

  He stared at her for a long moment before a grin crossed his face. “We need to test it.”

  The sun was kissing the tall peaks west of the Ward. Cassie pulled her coat tight about herself to keep the cool breeze from sneaking inside. Now full autumn, and the nights were as cold as the most bitter winter weather in Kantar. While Cassie was eager to experience snow for the first time, she feared how cold it might become in the valley when winter had it firmly within its grasp.

  She walked beside Brandt, down the road that ran along the inner perimeter of the training yard wall. Over the hours since she had revealed the strange rune to her brother, he had been acting like a young boy on Libra Te, unable to wait for the food, music, and games that marked the event. His desire to test the new augmentation almost caused him to ignore her caution. Thankfully, she was able to talk him out of trying it on himself. She shuddered at the thought of Brandt exploding or being fried to death by uncontained Chaos should the rune not prove capable of harnessing it.

  Brandt angled away from the road and led her toward a waist-high boulder surrounded by long, yellowed grass.

  “We’ll use this for our test.” He sounded confident.

  “What if it doesn’t work?”

  “That is why you and I will keep a distance from it.”

  “Are you sure we need to perform both augmentations?”

  He sighed. “You heard Everson. He said that we needed to apply a Speed augmentation to something animated. Machines require the conversion of energy to propel them. A Power rune works in that instance. A Speed augmentation would not.”

  “We don’t even know that this is a Speed rune.”

  He stared at her for a moment with concern in his eyes. “What has gotten into you? Why are you so pessimistic about this?”

  Her mouth twisted in a grimace. “It…just seems too good to be true.”

  “What?”

  “The idea that I could dis
cover a new rune this way. It can’t be that simple.”

  “Listen. Just because nobody else can do it, and that a new rune hasn’t been discovered in Issal-knows-how-many years, doesn’t mean it can’t happen.” He gripped her shoulder. “I believe in you, Cass. You say you saw it, twice. I believe it.”

  “All right.”

  “Good.” He smiled and handed her a chunk of glowstone. “I’ll draw the Animate rune. You draw the other one.”

  They each took position and began to trace a rune atop the boulder. When Brandt finished, he backed away. Cassie did the same, both of them backing up until they were a dozen strides from the rock.

  “I’ll charge the Animate rune. Once it comes to life, you do yours.”

  He closed his eyes for a long moment. When they opened, red sparks sizzled in his irises. The rune on the rock glowed, pulsed, and faded. The boulder trembled, as if the earth were shaking. In a sudden blast, shards of rock sprayed from the boulder. Legs formed, lifting the boulder from the ground, pushing a mound of dirt aside, and revealing that the rock was bigger than Cassie had believed since a fair portion of it had been buried from view. With a grinding sound emitted from each movement, the boulder began to walk toward Brandt.

  “My pet has come to life.” Brandt smiled. “Your turn.”

  Cassie clenched her eyes shut, embraced her anxiety, and reached for Chaos. The surrounding energy poured into her until she was ready to burst. She opened her eyes and focused on the other rune traced atop the boulder. The stored energy poured into the rune, setting it ablaze with a crimson hue. A wave of exhaustion washed over her, leaving her empty and feeling lethargic. Even so, she and Brandt backed away from the thing they had created.

  The movements of the headless rock-monster grew faster and faster as it blazed toward them. Brandt dove to one side, Cassie to the other as the thing sped past in a flash. A swirl of dust arose when it blazed across the gravel road before colliding with the wall. The rumble of the impact was immense. Rock sprayed through the air with bits pelting Cassie as she covered her head with her arms. When the noise settled, she lowered her arms and looked at Brandt, who stared back at her with wide eyes.