Dante closed his mouth. He and Ryne continued their staring match.
“It’s decided then.” Adesh Hamada dipped his head in surrender. “Come, I know the fastest way to the Cobalt Talisman.”
Adesh Hamada led them through a maze of dark alleys and lanes, avoiding the Via Iridius. They stopped at the rear of a building. He made his way to a shed from which wafted a pungent odor. When he pulled open the door, Frost and the others shied away at the vile stench. Adesh stepped inside.
A moment later, a light sparked to life. Adesh Hamada held a glimmerwand, the thin aether-powered hierka revealing a set of stairs. Without pausing, he descended into the sewers, where water bubbled and dripped, and unseen things scurried and squeaked in the inky blackness beyond the reach of his glimmerwand’s luminance. Faced with little other choice, they followed the sorcerer.
Adesh navigated the sewer tunnels as if he’d lived there. From time to time, they emerged to travel the streets for a bit. Bloodguard presence slowly increased as they wove their way to their objective. Adesh made them pause whenever a zephyr’s cry echoed.
On one occasion, Ryne called forth a Mirage of a guard to distract a patrol. Soon enough, the sewers became Adesh’s only avenue of travel. A while later, they made it to the sewer shed behind the Cobalt Talisman. Adesh snuffed out the glimmerwand, leaving them mostly in darkness. The slit of the barely open door provided the sole illumination.
Ryne summoned a defiler. The wraith-like creature had long claws and wore black hooded robes that trailed behind it. Green eyes glowed within the hood. Ryne Concealed the defiler and sent it out to make certain no guards were in the backyard. The building’s rear was clear. As was the front of the Cobalt Talisman.
“Most likely they’re watching the place, hoping we show up,” Saba said. “Or they already have him.”
“I say we just storm in, smash some heads, rescue him, get the hell outta here.” Dante hefted his crescent axe.
“I’m with Big Foot,” Ryne said. “Unfortunately.”
Dante shot him a glare. Ryne offered a smile, face more mischievous by the way the light fell across half of it.
“Nah.” Frost shook his head. “We might never make it out the city, then. Gotta do this quiet. Gives us a better chance.” He glanced at Gilda. “You’re gonna have to use Concealment to get in there and tell him.”
“As much as I dislike volunteering,” Saba said with a sigh, “my skill is most likely better than hers.”
“But Meritus doesn’t know you,” Frost said. “I told him about Gilda. All she needs to do is say her name.”
“How do we even know he is there,” Adesh Hamada asked.
Frost peeked outside the shed. Bloomglobes mounted on the rear of the building lit the yard. There were alleys to either side of the tavern. He could see part of the way down one. It appeared to be empty. Echolocation told him he was correct. Light shone through the window of the third-floor middle room. Someone passed by the curtain.
Frost pulled back inside. “He’s there. Third floor, middle window.”
“What about guards?” Tia asked. “He said he was going to hire new ones.”
“If he’s in his room now, he woulda dismissed them,” Frost said.
“Or so you hope,” Saba added.
“This is where I wish I was a cutthroat again,” Gila said. “I could’ve just climbed up there and got him. Well, a girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do.” And with that, she stepped past Frost, glanced over her shoulder to him, smiled, and added, “I’ll be back with your friend.” Then she was gone.
Frost stood to one side of the slightly open door with a view of Meritus’ window. The others crowded around him, their breathing heavy. He fully expected for them to have to rush outside to the sounds of battle. Trying to calm his nerves and resist the urge to go out was an exercise in discipline.
The wait seemed to last forever. At the point when he was ready to tell Saba to head out or for Ryne to send out another concealed defiler, the lights in Meritus’ room winked out.
Someone swept aside the curtain. The window cracked open. Then it swung wide.
Framed by bloomglobe light, Gilda pulled herself up onto the window ledge, crouched, then jumped. Frost held his breath. Someone behind him hissed. Gilda hit the ground with a slight thud, rolled in the grass, and came up ready, head on a swivel from one alley to the next. She eased back perhaps ten feet and then signaled up to the window.
Meritus was there. He appeared uncertain at first. Then he took a breath, teetered, and jumped, arms flailing. He landed with a heavy thud and stumbled forward before falling face down. He just managed to get his hands beneath him.
Frost let out a breath he didn’t realize he held. Gilda led Meritus to the shed. Frost kept an eye out to make certain no one came to any windows.
“My man,” Meritus said once he entered the shed. He coughed, covered his nose and mouth with one hand, but still managed to give Frost a dap in the dim light. “That explosion and fire in the Gregis District was you, wasn’t it? I knew things were gonna get epic.”
Frost chuckled. “And I shoulda known you were gonna love this. I’ll fill you in with the details later. Right now, we need to get outta Kituan as fast as possible.”
“Lead on, homie,” Meritus said.
Adesh Hamada activated the glimmerwand. They descended the stairs to the sewers. The trip was a longer one, filled with twist and turns, and the sewer’s effluvium. When they exited at one of the many canals, the relatively fresh air was a welcome respite.
Frost got his bearings as they hurried across the bridge. They were somewhere deep in the Gregis District, near the city’s outskirts. They went down the stairs on the other side and entered the sewers again.
Less than fifteen minutes later, Adesh led them to a blank wall. He pressed some unseen switch. The wall slid aside to reveal stairs.
They ascended into a dimly-lit building that could have passed for a large barn. Instead, there were several pens. A few held drakes. Three had zephyrs. Two simurghs occupied the biggest area.
“Welcome to Blue Sky Headquarters,” Adesh said proudly, gesturing around. “Pashere, Nofre, it is time,” he shouted.
An erada man and woman emerged from the back of the building near the simurghs. The man, Pashere, had skin like smooth mahogany and was dressed in dark trousers and a sleeveless tunic. Nofre’s complexion was a bright electric blue, in stark contrast to her dark robes. They hurried to the beast-birds.
“They are Blue Sky’s last riders left in all of Ignis,” Adesh Hamada said. “Made to stay for instances such as this one. Everyone else is gone. The activation of any trap at one of our safe houses like the Wyvern’s Eye was the signal to flee. We will soon be safe in Korbash.”
“Not exactly,” Frost said.
He’d contemplated how they would take his next words. Gilda might want to join him. He wasn’t certain of the others. Not that he needed them. He believed he could go at it alone.
“Meritus.” He turned to his best friend. “I’m going to trust you to see Tia safely reaches the Blue Sky stronghold in Korbash.”
“No prob. I got you.” Meritus puffed out his chest.
“The rest of you can choose what you want to do,” Frost continued, “but I’m going to Maelpith Island.”
“Drelan, no, you can’t,” Tia exclaimed. She grabbed his hand and looked up into his face with pleading eyes. “Why do this when you have a chance to be free of it all? Besides, I’m going to need you.”
He gazed down at her. “I won’t be free of anything ‘til I get the people responsible for Mom’s death. You read the letter. You know what she asked me to do. I promised. And a man is only as good as his word.
“My best chance of fulfilling her last wish is to clear the Sanctum, hopefully come away with some shards, and
maybe an epic hierka weapon. It’s the best shot I have to get back at Setnana.”
“You’re chasing rumors about Sanctum treasures, now?” Saba asked, brows raised.
“Not all are rumors,” Adesh Hamada said. “I can confirm that the Coalition found weapon and skill shards and at least one schema from a GUM in the Sanctum or on the island itself.” He turned his attention to Frost. “Anefet also spoke of a need to secure a special hierka from the Sanctum, but unlike her, you are not ready for the island, the Sanctum, or Nomarch Botros.”
An objective popped up called Sanctum’s Secret Hierka.
Frost shrugged. “I gotta do this now.” How could he tell them that the well-being of his IRL family relied on him doing this? He felt as if time was running out. Saving Meritus had set off a sudden urgency. Worry for Kai, Mom, Regi, and Rayne filled his head.
“Even after you saw Khafra the Mad’s power?” Adesh Hamada gave Frost a dubious look. “Setnana is more powerful than he is.”
Frost swallowed at the reminder. Khafra had killed a dozen Blue Sky operatives in the Wyvern’s Eye with a single combo of Dementia, Shockwave, and Sonic Blow. With his speed and power enhanced tenfold by Dementia, his Shockwave had staggered everyone within fifteen feet. Sonic Blow had exploded through anyone lacking heavy armor who was standing directly in front of him in a ten-foot range.
“I’m not stupid enough to fight her head on,” Frost said. “But if I get the chance to ambush her, thwart her plans, or steal anything she finds, I’m gonna make it happen.”
“I’m coming with,” Gilda said.
“You don’t have to.”
“I know. It’s my choice.”
“Shiiitttt.” Dante rested his axe handle on his shoulder. “I’ll be damned if I let y’all have the fun of all the action and bragging rights to a world first.”
“As much as I would love to venture out on the island,” Ryne said, jutting his chin toward Meritus, “my place is with my employer.”
“It is.” Meritus pointed to Frost. “And he’s your boss.”
“It’s settled then.” Ryne grinned.
“You guys realize we have terrible group composition?” Saba screwed up her face.
“There’s that ‘we’ again,” Ryne said.
“Whatever.” Saba rolled her eyes at the goblin and continued, “First, we have no mystic. And since the Sanctum scales in difficulty to match levels, Ryne can’t enter with us. Hell, having Dante and me in the group will be pushing it.”
“Guess it means you’re in?” Frost arched a brow.
Everyone laughed when Saba’s tail started to swish.
“I’ll come, too,” Adesh Hamada said. “Although I will be unable to aid in the Sanctum. But I, too, gave you my word. I also want to help fulfill Anefet’s last wish. I should be able to convince the island’s dvergr tribes to lend us a hand. They have no love for the Coalition.”
Frost glanced down at Tia and gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze. “See, sis, I’m gonna be fine. Now, let’s get you and Meritus on a simurgh to Korbash.”
Gilda leaned over to Frost and whispered, “I’m surprised you didn’t just sneak off so you could try solo it.”
“I thought about it. Believe me. But then I remembered a friend told me sometimes you have to do things you don’t like to get what you want. Or to save people you love. My mom IRL said something similar the night we had the accident.”
Gilda smiled. “Sounds like a smart friend. And a smarter mother. Let me see what reagents they have for potions in this place and then I’ll be ready.” She touched Frost’s hand and then strolled away.
While the others made preparations, Meritus came over to Frost. “I picked up a lil something for you, homie.” Meritus held out his hand.
Frost opened his palm. Meritus dropped a translucent blue orb into it. The orb sunk into Frost’s skin, became a part of him. Information Memory flashed.
Acquired Communication Orb
The device grants the owner the ability of text or voice communication by way of its connection to the Aetherstream. Requires recipient’s orb address, which begins with @ followed by their name.
Meritus’ IGN was already listed as @MeritusKillgain.
“Damn.” Frost shook his head. “That had to cost you.”
“Worth every credit,” Meritus said. “Just make sure you use it.”
“I will.”
After a final hug and reassuring words to Tia, Frost watched her and Meritus climb atop the first simurgh. Nofre was the rider. Frost and the others did the same on the other beast-bird. Gilda mounted behind Frost.
As Frost wondered how they would fly out of an enclosed building, there came a great churning of gears and a repetitive metal on metal clank. The roof creaked. Dust fell. The roof split down the middle and slowly opened inward, folding down into the building itself to reveal the impenetrable black of a desolate night sky.
Frost looked on in awe. He waved to Tia just as Nofre took flight. Beneath Frost, the simurgh tensed, and then leaped into the air with a beat of its great wings. In moments, they were soaring above Kituan.
Eyes closed, Frost relished the feel of the cool air against his face. He opened his eyes and marveled at the numerous lights beneath him, the canals and streets and lanes that were Kituan’s veins. Finally, he allowed himself a true sense of relief. He smiled.
A zephyr screamed. Then another. And another.
“Deathguards!” Adesh yelled.
Diaphanous wings tucked, a half dozen armored zephyrs dived toward the simurgh carrying Meritus and Tia. Atop the zephyrs’ backs were the black clad, human elite Deathguards, heads down, bodies low to the back of their mounts. Another six zephyrs repeated the maneuver toward Frost and his group, but he had eyes only for Tia.
“Go, go, go,” he urged, neck straining forward, hands clenched into fists as if he could will Nofre to be faster.
The distance closed. Frost’s stomach clenched. He reached a hand out, his eyes wide. And then Nofre’s simurgh swelled, beat its wings, and shot forward.
Frost barely had time to let out a relieved breath, register the IM of exp and credits gained from securing Tia’s escape, as well as quest completion for Kituan Trials, when a blue streak of light and heat seared his vision. His simurgh let out a pain-filled shriek. And tumbled from the sky.
“Hang on,” Pashere yelled.
Winds buffeted Frost. Teeth gritted, he clung to the fur handholds, tried to press his legs and body tighter against the simurgh as it plunged. If not for the creature’s harnessing, he would have toppled from its back. Gilda clung to Frost with her face buried into his back.
The beast-bird spun. Frost’s stomach knotted. His heart raced. Thundered. The frothy gray glint that was the ocean raced to meet them.
He imagined himself pulled beneath its surface, an ending far worse than the blaze of Aether Shots exploding into the water. Frost closed his eyes, took a deep breath, braced for pain, for the cold unforgiving sea. For a watery grave.
And then, the falling stopped. The simurgh screeched. Leveled out. Glided.
Frost opened his eyes. The ocean sped beneath them, a fathomless expanse glinting with moonlight. A speck floated out where the solemn gray sea swallowed the deathly black sky. He sucked in a shuddering breath, his eyes wide with the thought of the ocean’s closeness. Gilda’s hold on him eased.
He managed to pull his eyes away from the fear-inspiring spectacle and glance over his shoulder. Zephyrs and their Deathguards were still in pursuit. A dozen of them at least. They were too far away for ranged attacks but were closing the distance. He forced a smile. One Velocity Surge and the pursuit was over.
The simurgh wobbled. Then steadied again.
“She’s hurt,” Pashere bellowed over the wind, his voice strained. “We won’t be a
ble to outrun the Deathguards. Our best chance is to climb, but I doubt we’ll be able to land without crashing.”
“Land?” Frost repeated. “Where the hell are we gonna land? Please tell me you’re not talking about the sea.”
“He meant crash,” Ryne yelled. The little green bastard actually sounded excited.
“Over there.” Adesh Hamada pointed toward a curtain of gray mist that swallowed a portion of the gray sea and sky. Lightning flickered within it. “Maelpith Island.”
The simurgh screeched and ascended at an angle. It climbed. Higher and higher. Far below, the mist was a stain upon the ocean, sporadic bursts of lightning radiating in azure, white, and hellish hues. The simurgh leveled off for an instant, banked, tucked its wings, and plummeted. They dropped faster than the first time.
Frost’s stomach lurched. He gripped the fur so tight his hands hurt. Gilda’s arms were cinched around him. Frost’s eyes teared up. The wind howled. But there was another sound, long and protracted. It took him a moment to realize it was him. Screaming. So were the others. Except for Ryne. The goblin was cackling.
They plunged into the mist, the air abruptly cold and clammy. The silent lightning flickered all around, causing Frost’s hair to stand on end. He shut his eyes against the glare. Against his clenching stomach. Against the fall. The fear. Abruptly, the cold clamminess was gone, replaced by heat like hell itself.
Frost forced his eyes open. Plains stretched beneath them, the ground a blur that made it impossible to discern any details. The simurgh’s wings spread wide, decreasing its speed, its furred feathers ruffling in the wind. It gave a piteous cry, slammed into something, and tumbled.
When the simurgh struck the ground, Frost’s world became a tumbling haze of pain, the taste of blood, and fear. Fear of death. Fear for himself. Fear for his family.
CHAPTER 24
Sidrie tapped her lips with her forefinger as she perused the attendee names scrolling down the upper right side of her HUD. A dozen senators and every person of importance from the most influential corporations made up the list. They were due in the Grand Ballroom for Equitane’s Annual Gala at 7 p.m.
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