by N. M. Howell
Finally, Andie saw the dragonborn prisoners ahead. She could hardly believe when the dragons found a way to go even faster. Andie could see roughly a dozen Dead standing guard. She hoped the dragons would aid them in taking out the Dead, but instead the dragons simply landed and sat, their enormous forms frozen in place somehow.
Andie couldn’t believe it. Saeryn didn’t seem surprised. They both dismounted and drew their swords. The Dead began to circle in that flashing way of theirs and Andie wasted no time. She targeted the locks of the cages with her magic and closed her hands. At least a hundred cages were instantly opened and the dead were outnumbered. The Dead grouped together and stared at the dragonborn, contemplating their next move. They grimaced, unhappy to be taken by surprise. Andie targeted more locks and crushed them, too. And all the free dragonborn raced to free their people and their dragons. The Dead knew better than to fight now. They turned and ran.
Andie and Saeryn joined the others and continued taking the locks off the cages. Their people laughed and cried to have their freedom again. As soon as they were all free, Saeryn urged them to mount their dragons and fly up to the University. The streets vibrated with the sound and force of so many wings beating up into the sky. Andie and Saeryn were last, making sure they had freed every last one of their people.
Andie couldn’t help trying to delude herself that Oren might still be there, waiting for them to save him. She and Saeryn mounted up and took off. But they were only in the air for a few moments before Andie saw something. Saeryn must have seen it, too, because she turned the dragon in the very direction Andie stared. A large group were coming toward the city from the direction of the String Fields.
Andie was still too far away to see clearly, but they weren’t moving in any formation she had seen before, not of the battalion or the army. They moved at a moderate pace, so they were not of the Dead either. The dragon landed just in front of them. They’d already stopped moving when they saw the creature flying toward them. Andie observed them before getting down. They wore dark clothes, heavy boots, bags and crates marked “Explosive,” not to mention a smell of extreme cleanliness, their scent pungent in the crisp air.
“You’re from the mine cities in the north,” Andie said.
“Yes, ma’am,” one of the men said. “Are you Princess Andryne or Queen Saeryn?”
“I’m Andie. This is Saeryn. What are you doing so far from home?”
“Well, if you’ll pardon the intrusion, a few months back me and my wife found a young girl in pretty bad shape. We took her in got her back on her feet and she stayed with us a while until she figured out what she wanted. Then she left. Well, truth be told, she made quite an impression on me and my wife and we told her she could call on us for anything, any time. Then a few days ago, we get a call telling us she’s part of a revolution and they need as many hands as they can get as fast as they can get. She explained everything to us.
“I don’t know how much you know about the cities in the north, but we never liked the University. They’ve been stealing from us and keeping us poor for too many cycles to count. And we never hated you or your people. You’ve never done anything to us. But more than all of that, when Yara called and said she needed our help, we came directly down and we brought our explosives, too.”
The mining cities in the north were famous for their explosives and combustible mixtures. They were also noted builders and refiners, and a people tougher than the steel they used to excavate.
“We spread the word through the towns and everyone came when they could. We’ve been gathering in your neighbor city and when everyone got here, we came the rest of the way on foot. We’re ready. Put us to work.”
Chapter Twenty
The miners came in a group of just over one thousand, a number that could go a long way in changing the outcome of the war. They had also brought enough powerful explosives to blow up Arvall three times over. Andie and Saeryn talked with them and made a plan for a coordinated attack. Andie warned them to stay out of the city until nightfall to protect themselves from the Dead, and then she gave them the locations of shelters that still had available space. They set a plan for the next day before Andie and Saeryn left for the University.
Once they reached the school again and were inside, the first person Andie ran into was Lymir. He threw his arms around her as she approached.
“Aye, we’ve missed you around here, girl,” he said.
“You, too, Lymir.”
Raesh and Yara came running up, their expressions ecstatic.
“We’ve got news,” Raesh said. “The Thabians radioed us from their ships. They’re on their way to Arvall. They’re coming to help us and they’ll be here by morning. They asked us to call them back with our attack plan.”
“We’ve got news, too,” said Andie. “We ran into some people from the mining cities in the north. Friends of yours, I believe,” she said, looking at Yara. “There’s about a thousand of them and they brought all the explosives we’ll ever need. I’ve spread them throughout the city.”
“This war might finally be looking up for us.”
“Well, don’t stop enjoying the good news yet,” said Lymir. “As long as surprise forces are coming to our aid, I might as well tell you that the forces I’ve stashed all over the city will be ready tomorrow, too. No one’s been able to get an accurate count yet, but I’d say we have a fighting chance now.”
“My only concern are the Dead,” said Saeryn. “They will not go quietly. They have been waiting centuries for the chance to obtain our power. It will be the defining battle of our people. I ask that, if at all possible, the rest of you avoid confronting the Dead. They will hunt my people out on the battlefield and my people are best equipped to handle them.”
“What shape are they in? Will they be able to fight?”
“With a little food and rest, they’ll be ready by morning.”
“The dragonborn can all ride their dragons down to the city, but what about the rest of us?” Yara asked. “How are we supposed to get our forces down to Arvall in time to launch a coordinated attack?”
“We’ll use the portal,” Raesh said. “By now everyone who’s coming through to the city is here. It should be safe to use.”
“We need to get everyone together,” Andy said. “The Thabians and the miners are going to be waiting for our signal in the morning and we need to have our plan down. I think for this the Grand Mirror Hall will do. Let’s spread the word.”
They all turned and began heading for the largest of the mirror rooms, the Grand Mirror Hall of Terpsichore. Everybody went ahead except Lymir, who stopped in the hall and placed his hand on the intercom system that was usually used for the siren’s call. Using his magic, he connected his voice to the intercom and urged every person who planned to fight with them in the morning to make their way to the Grand Mirror Hall. Aside from the main hub, it was the only room in the University that could hold so many people at once. Lymir asked that everybody who was not going to fight look after the wounded and try to clear the halls and tunnels of any blockage.
In the Grand Mirror Hall, the people poured in. The room was completely empty and, in fact, hadn’t been used since Chancellor Mharú killed the diplomats the night the dragonborn arrived in their world. But now the people rushed in, filling all the available space. They seemed much better now, more excited and hopeful. Winning the small victory in the University had done more for their morale and determination than any speech could have.
Andie, Raesh, Yara, Bonhaus, Saeryn, and Lymir all stood on a bare platform Saeryn had conjured. When the room held as many people as it could, the spectators began to quiet down as they looked up to their leaders. Andie and the others on the platform looked back and forth among each other, trying to decide who would speak. Somehow, the silent consensus gave the honor to Andie. She took a last look at Lymir, head of the University, and Saeryn, Queen of the dragonborn, to make sure it was not overstepping her bounds. When they all bowed their head to
her, she stepped forward.
“I want to thank each and every one of you for what you’ve done today. I know it was only a small victory, but you fought hard and showed the enemy that if they want this city they need to be willing to die for it. Because we are. And to the dragonborn, I’m so happy to have you back here, safe and among friends. I only wish we had found you sooner. We took a big step in getting back our courage today and I’m proud.
“But this war has only begun. We’ve flown over some of the enemy strongholds down in the city and it looks as if they’re prepared for a full siege. It could last days. Our enemies are many. There is the army made up of hundreds of different factions from all over Noelle, but also more dangerous foes. The Church of Stone and Sea has weaponized the red sand, combined with its other abilities, and they’ve marched against us. The battalion has returned, stronger, more full of hate, and lead by Ashur—trained by the Chancellor himself—and they march against us. A very old, very powerful enemy has risen from the shadows. The Beautiful Dead, descendants of the dragons and sworn enemy of myself and my people. Their physical abilities are astounding and incredibly dangerous, and they march against us. The enemy outnumbers us and they have some pretty terrifying abilities.
“But we have not been abandoned. Lymir has been training a force in secret and they’re ready to fight with us tomorrow. The Thabians are sailing to us from the True Isles with their incredible weapons, and the miners have come down from the north with more explosives than we could use in a lifetime. And the dragonborn have been rescued, and when they’re rested they and their dragons will fight as well. And everyone you see here onstage will be down in the city giving the battle everything we have.
“Tomorrow, at dawn, we’re going down to war. Lymir and I will coordinate our allies and forces throughout the city. The dragonborn will fly down the mountain on their dragons and lead the attack. The rest of you will go down on EARTH 1. Let me explain. I went to the city transport department after we defeated the Chancellor and asked them to begin constructing an underground train from the city to here in case of emergencies. That giant dome at the foot of the mountain that everybody thinks is a fertilizer plant is actually the construction site. They finished building about a month ago. I didn’t tell anyone except Lymir and Saeryn. I wanted to play it close to the vest. EARTH 1 is faster than SKY 6 and can get you to the base of the mountain in half the time. It can also hold more people. I think two trips should be enough to get everybody down. The best part is no one will be expecting it and that’s exactly what’s going to win us this war. The element of surprise. The enemy has no idea that we have allies coming, that we have men stashed throughout the city, or that we have EARTH 1. And they certainly won’t be expecting what I have planned for SKY 6. None of us will be riding that.
“Right now, I want you all to eat and get some rest because beginning at dawn we’re going to be at war in earnest.”
Andie took a step back and watched the people as they filed out of the room. It took a while because there were so many, but the people were in a rush to get themselves ready and to rest. Lymir left, too, to get on the radio with his secret forces. The dragonborn were the last to leave, taking a few last moments to look on their Queen and princess. Andie tried to hold on just a little longer. Finally, she saw him. Gordenson, chief physician of the dragonborn. She motioned for him and he came smiling, as happy to be safe and among friends as Andie was to have him. He came to a stop just in front of her and she gestured for him to wait. When the last person left the room, Andie let herself go. She fell backward, but Raesh was there to catch her. Yara, Bonhaus, and Saeryn crowded around her. Gordenson knelt beside her.
“Princess,” he said. “What’s happened?”
“The Dead,” she said. “We ran into them in southern Noelle. The Black Grotto. Saeryn and I were the only ones who escaped, but we didn’t get out unscathed. The Dead have special daggers. Wherever they cut us, our bodies refuse to heal.”
“Wrothsaield,” said Bonhaus. “It’s the name of their blades. Yara and I came across it in our research. The blades are made of cursed metal, no one is sure exactly what kind. Part of the curse was to infuse the blades with the blood of the first Dead who wielded them. Those daggers can cut through anything, even dragon hide if they wanted to.”
“One more thing to worry about,” said Andie.
“The blades were cursed because they were made for a special purpose. To break the spell and allow the Dead to take on the magic of the dragonborn. All they need to do is plunge the blades into the hearts of all the living descendants of the man who paced the spell on them.”
“So that’s it,” Saeryn said. “That’s how they’ll do it.”
“Yeah, that’s not happening,” said Raesh.
“I hate war,” Andie said. “How does it look Gordenson?”
The physician tore the top of Andie’s shirt to examine the cut.
“It’s starting to become infected, but I can clean it for you. The one on your cheek isn’t too bad, but the one on the back of your hand is all the way to the bone. Thank goodness you did such a job wrapping it or you would have bled out hours ago. I can treat the wounds and stitch them. Your dragon blood won’t heal these, but your body will, at a normal rate. I haven’t seen wounds like these since the old days.”
“Well, as soon as you’re done with me, see to the Queen, too. These cuts hurt like you wouldn’t believe.”
“You’ll tear your stitches fighting tomorrow,” Raesh said.
“No, she won’t,” said Gordenson. “I’ll spell the stitches to move as she moves. It’ll still hurt, but it won’t interfere with the healing process.”
“Okay. Thank you,” Andie said. “Since I’m going to be here for a while, Yara I need you and Bonhaus to get on the radio and coordinate the miners. They should have reached the shelters by now. Make sure everyone is eating and resting. You rest, too.”
“I want to stay with you,” Yara said.
“I not quite sick of you either,” Andie said with a smile. “But there are very few people I trust to lead this fight. You’re one of them. By extension, you, too, Bonhaus. So, please, help me out here.”
Yara huffed a bit, but bent down to take Andie’s hand for a moment, then she and Bonhaus hurried out. Gordenson went to get his bag and then he saw to Andie while Raesh held her. He also treated Saeryn’s wounds. He gave them both something for the pain, something tailored especially for their dragon blood. Within moments, they felt better, though there was too much pain to be rid of it completely.
Andie and Saeryn got to their feet and they all made their way out of the mirror hall. They moved toward the main hub and there they found everybody eating and resting. They walked into the room and first there were smiles. But then there were gasps. Andie turned around, moving Gordenson to the side with her arm so she could cast. There were six battalion soldiers standing in the hall. Four in the front and two behind.
“You must be on a suicide mission,” Andie said.
“No exactly,” one soldier said. “We were already in the Archives when you stopped the others. And now we’re going to kill you.”
“Now I know you’re delusional.”
“Let’s see who laughing in ten seconds. Boys, camouflage.”
The four soldiers in front tapped something on their wrists. But nothing happened. They tapped it again. Nothing happened. Now they began to panic. Andie was seconds from casting, but before she could send even one spell, the two soldiers in the back raised their hands and broke the backs of the four soldiers in front. The whole room went still. No one knew what is happening. Andie looked at the two soldiers, her hand still raised.
“Who are you?”
“Old friends,” one of the soldiers said.
The soldiers took their helmets off. It was Kent and Lilja.
An hour later, Andie, Raesh, Saeryn, Lymir, Yara, Bonhaus, Kent and Lilja were rested and fed, as was everyone else. The forces were spread out through the Uni
versity, sleeping, or not sleeping if they were praying or talking with their families. It was the first real moment of peace they’d had since they first got the news that the army was marching on the city. A peace before the calm. Kent and Lilja were broken when they heard about Sarinda, especially Lilja, who hadn’t seen her since the day they split up in the Hot Salts of Mithraldia. Now she’d never be able to know if Sarinda forgave her or not.
Lilja and Kent had travelled to the Old World, the continent on the other side of the vast reach of the Spider Sea. They had been following a lead for Andie, based on information she’d gotten from Saeryn. During the first war with the University in Saeryn’s time, many dragonborn families fled to the Old World to escape persecution. The University’s power couldn’t reach that far, and the dragonborn were safe there.
Weeks before she was pulled through the portal, Saeryn made a journey across the sea to convince her people to come home. Many of them did return, but a lot stayed behind, preferring to stay safe rather than to fight. Andie had charged Kent and Lilja months before with finding any dragonborn descendants on that side of the sea. Saeryn was sure none would have survived the curse that threatened to wipe her people out back in her original time—the curse she had called to Andie in the future to save them from—but she allowed them the chance to go investigate in case. To everyone’s surprise, they had found some, but they were even less willing to fight than their ancestors.
Kent and Lilja journeyed all the way across the Old World and returned to Noelle from the east. From there, they began tracking the battalion, taking out as many as they could before finally disguising themselves and joining the ranks. The two climbed their way up. They’d both had engineer training and so they put their skills to use, working on the suits for the battalion and connecting them all to the same network. The enhancements for the suit were real, but Kent and Lilja installed new programming that allowed them to disable the suits remotely, just as they’d done to the four soldiers who tried to turn on their camouflage. They hadn’t brought back the dragonborn reinforcements, but they had come home able to shut down the battalion’s suits, leaving Ashur and his men with nothing but some very expensive pieces of clothing. The only catch was they didn’t have the clearance to get access to a level of the network high enough to have a trickledown effect. They would need to capture either Lucas or Ashur and plug into their suit.