Shade sighed and drummed his fingers on his leg as he calculated and nodded slowly. “It might work without him, but I’d rather have triple the number of goblins that way and I can’t say that I would enjoy catching two hundred more,” he said at last.
“Let’s hope Lutheron can make it, then,” Charm said with a sigh of his own.
“I’ll start gemming them in the event that he does have time tonight. It shouldn’t take me long, though, with only fifteen to store,” Shade replied and once again thanked Fortune for his idea of testing the storage process on the goblins. After the spell had worked on the Assassin, Shade had found himself wondering if it actually could work on live creatures without harming them. Eventually he had broken down and tried it, and was rewarded with a rather cranky but very live goblin afterwards. It made the task ahead of them much easier to have the creatures stored in the stones. The idea of having a hundred angry stinking goblins on his ship had never set well with him.
“I’ll let you know what he says,” Charm said before walking off toward the camp once more.
Shade watched him go and smiled faintly. He couldn’t blame the rogue for being in such a hurry to get away from the cage. The combination of the smell of blood and that of the goblins was enough to make anyone feel sick. Sadly, he had gotten used to the scent weeks ago. With a faint groan he made his way back to the cage. The wind in the clearing picked up a bit and Shade tightened his coat around him. Glancing up at the overcast sky he sighed again. From the looks of it they would have snow tonight. If it came too heavily it would make the mission much more difficult. He shook his head and looked back to the goblins. “You know, where I come from, it wouldn’t snow for another two moons,” he grumbled and all the creatures but the small quiet one ignored him completely. He raised an eyebrow at the creature that was staring directly at him and motioned a hand toward the sky. “Snow sucks,” he said in slow stilting words.
It garbled something at him and waved its hands over its head in a pale mockery of his own actions. “Shakudoobie to you too.” Shade chuckled, wondering if the word had actually been garble or if the creatures had their own language aside from snarls and growls. He frowned a bit at the thought and pushed it away from his mind. Considering what he had planned for the goblins he didn’t want to put too much thought into wondering if they had a culture or language.
* * *
By the time he finished with storing the creatures, the sun was setting low in the west. If the Blights were as much like their goblin kin as Shade suspected, they would be venturing out to hunt now. He opened the cage door and stepped inside to gather the stones from the floor of the cage. It was tricky to stone an object without touching it but he had developed the technique after two goblin bites. Scooping them up quietly he dropped all but one into the bag that held the rest. The last stone he picked up was the quieter creature that had spoken to him. Glancing around to make sure Charm was nowhere in sight, Shade dropped the stone into his pocket. Even if the creature hadn’t truly been talking it had been peaceful compared to its savage kin and he hated the thought of killing it.
“I’ve heard Goblins make poor pets,” a low voice whispered near the cage and Shade actually jumped at the sound. He had just looked around and the night had seemed empty. Spinning toward the voice, Shade could barely make out the faint form of a man leaning against the cage. The shadows on that side were too dense for him to make out the man’s features, though. “Jumpy, aren’t we,” Lutheron said as he stepped away from the cage wall and into the faint light coming from the ship.
“Damn, Lutheron, you scared the hell out of me,” Shade said with a relieved sigh. “I thought a bloody Blight had wandered in for some chit chat.” He shook his head at the Fionaveir who wore an expression of quiet delight.
“I am rather good at frightening. That is why you want me here, after all,” Lutheron said with a grim smile. “So, tell me, Shade, what exactly am I supposed to do for this plan of yours to work?”
“Stand outside the city and make everything too scared to leave the walls. Charm said you can do that. You can, right?” Shade raised an eyebrow and studied the man. Eldagar was a very large city. To lay an aura of fear over the entire wall was no minor act of magic. If Lutheron actually could, then the man was far more formidable than anyone actually said.
“Just the walls? Or shall I start with the country side surrounding the city and work my way in so I drive whatever hunters might be about, back toward their refuge?” Lutheron asked casually.
“You can do that?” Shade said, his tone betraying the amazement he felt.
Lutheron smirked and nodded faintly. “It shouldn’t be a problem. I’m curious how you intend to keep from pissing yourself while I’m doing it however.”
“Take a leak right before we go up and remind myself over and over that I will have to clean up any mess I make,” Shade replied, drawing an amused chuckle from the older man. “Really, it’s Charm I’m worried about. He keeps raving about me being insane and seems the nervous sort.”
“There are those that run, those that fight, and those that go mad from fear. Charm is a runner. Tie him into the ship if you wish to keep him there. He is a rogue and not nearly as flamboyant as you in his methods. He doesn’t care much for this kind of excitement,” Lutheron said and glanced back toward the campsite. “What do you intend to do with Remedy though?” he asked, his voice softer and holding a note of what might have been pity.
“Truthfully, I hadn’t planned on him at all. I’m rather hoping he can stay with you during this. He has had a rough time of it and I don’t want to add more to his burden,” Shade answered.
Lutheron nodded his agreement and motioned back toward the ship. “Let’s be done with this then. There are difficulties elsewhere in the world that I must see to by morning.”
Shade nodded and walked back toward the campfire where Charm and Remedy waited. Charm looked up quickly at his approach and stood at the first glimpse of Lutheron. He bowed low in respect and stood quickly, causing his long blond braid to fall over his shoulder. “Commander Lutheron, I’m pleased you could make it on such short notice,” he began, but Lutheron raised a hand to cut him off.
“We’ve worked together before, Charm. You know better than to use the Commander shit on me,” he said gruffly and looked down to Remedy. Frowning, he dropped down to a knee bringing himself eye to eye with the man. “Remmy, Symphony told me to bring you home. She says she misses you too much to let you continue gallivanting about.”
“I can’t face her, Lutheron,” Remedy said faintly, refusing to meet Lutheron’s gaze.
“Why?” Lutheron asked simply. There was no accusation at all in Lutheron’s sharp features, nor in his voice. If anything, the man seemed genuinely puzzled by the response.
“I’ve betrayed her. The Barrier on Sanctuary went up just days after my capture. They must have found out from me that we intended to call the vote soon,” Remedy replied, his voice trembling. “How can I face her after what I’ve done? There is no hope of a vote now. It will be bloody war and it’s my fault.” He raised his hands to cover his face and shook his head. The agonized tone in the man’s voice made Shade flinch. He could remember the feeling of disappointing his father and what Remedy felt must be ten times worse.
Lutheron reached up and pulled his hands back down forcing Remedy to look at him. “They must have found out from you?” he repeated with a raised eyebrow. “You don’t know they found out from you? You don’t remember telling them anything? Is that what you are saying?” He fired the questions off so rapidly that Remedy simply gaped at him for a moment.
“How else would they find out, Lutheron?” Remedy asked, sounding anguished.
“That’s a damn good question that I will find the answer for. I’ll believe a dancing monkey dropped down from the sky and sang it to them before I’ll believe you told them, though,” Lutheron shot back. He pulled the man to his feet and roughly clapped him on the back. “I’ve known you si
nce you were a child, Remmy. You are as loyal and true as Caspian himself. I will never believe you betrayed the Fionaveir and I’ll have the head of anyone that suggests it. Are we clear?”
Remedy stared at him for a long moment before nodding slightly. “I don’t remember speaking to them about anything, Lutheron. They tried everything, but I didn’t utter a sound, and yet the Barrier is up. Why else would they raise the Barrier unless they knew we meant to call a vote? What if they had a Mind mage work on me and I don’t remember it?” Doubt crept back into his voice as he spoke the last.
“They didn’t. It would require one of the Han’shy themselves to work on your mind and none of the Han’shy would. You did not sell our secrets, Remmy. You are innocent. Quit blaming yourself and come with me. We apparently have a city to help destroy tonight.” Lutheron patted him on the back once more and then turned to look at Shade. “We will be positioned on the Northern side of the city. Let me know when you are in the air and I will begin,” he said and disappeared with Remedy before Shade had a chance to respond.
Glancing at Charm with a smile Shade tossed him the bag containing the goblin stones. “I, for one, have never trusted singing sky monkeys. Especially not when they are dancing,” he said as he headed toward the ship.
Charm gave a snort of amusement and fell into step beside him. “So, I’m supposed to simply crack the stones and throw them out of the ship right?” he asked and looked down into the bag with a skeptical expression.
“Essentially. Oh, and Lutheron says you have to tie yourself into the ship, too,” Shade said as he dropped down into his pilot seat and began the pre-flight check.
“Tie myself into the ship?” Charm asked, sounding incredulous.
“Yep, he is afraid you will jump ship, literally,” Shade replied and nodded toward the cargo area. “There is rope back there. Get strapped in, oh shadowy one, it’s going to be a rough ride.”
“I wish you wouldn’t say things like that. Whatever happened to the calm and collected Christian that was so well spoken and was never accused of being insane,” Charm sighed and began to walk back toward the cargo bay.
“His father killed him and I buried him,” Shade said quietly, ignoring the look Charm cast back over his shoulder.
* * *
Shade swallowed heavily as the aura increased over the city. “I asked for this,” he reminded himself as he flew toward the stone walls. Tears were beginning to fill his eyes as the oppressive cloud thickened around them. His heart was beating so hard against his chest he found himself wondering if he could actually fly through it.
“I hate you so much,” Charm whispered from near the door. The rogue was tied into the ship with three ropes that attached to various objects near him. After long consideration they had decided that in a fit of panic he might cut one rope, but surely not three. It had been Shade’s idea to add the chain around the ankle just for good measure. As far as he saw it, that was a twofold blessing. On one hand, it would prevent Charm from jumping if the ropes failed, and on the other hand, Shade held the only key. If Charm was too upset after this flight, he could wait until he settled down to release him. The rogue could, of course, pick the lock, but it would take time to do that, which gave Shade a head start on running.
“Don’t feel bad. I’m not liking myself too much at the moment, either,” Shade muttered as the aura of fear increased again. The steady pulse was like a second heart beat now as the magic coursed through him. Run, run away, run, it chanted through his mind, relentless and cold. He swallowed heavily and glanced back at Charm. The rogue was huddled by the door now and no longer standing, but still had the bag of stones clutched tightly in his gloved hands. His face was drained of all blood and he seemed to be trembling, but as far as Shade could tell he was still capable of thought and hopefully, of action. “We are just about to the wall now, Charm. Are you ready?” He had to force the words out through clenched teeth and hoped the rogue could understand him.
“Yes, I’m ready, you crazy bastard. God, I hate you and every insane plan you come up with. First you try to blow me up and now this shit. You aren’t right in the head, Shade, and after this you won’t get another chance to kill me, I promise you that,” Charm said, his voice rising in hysteria.
“A simple, “yes,” would have sufficed,” Shade replied and flicked the music crystal that rested on his dash. The quick drum beats of the Firym music pounded through the ship and Charm shrieked and nearly fell from the doorway. Shade scrambled for the crystal. The drums were sending his already fragile nerves over the edge. “Bad idea, bad, bad idea,” he said, finally managing to grab the crystal once more. He deactivated the magic and threw it back behind him into the ship and shuddered. “I won’t be able to listen to drums for a month,” he mumbled to himself. The walls of Eldagar were looming closer now, almost directly below them. The pulse of fear increased again and Shade let out a nervous laugh in response.
“I hate you, you crazy bastard. I hate you, you crazy bastard,” Charm began chanting softly behind him and Shade laughed louder in response.
“Oh, you are really going to hate me when I pick up the pace here. We have to do this low and fast Charm or it won’t work,” Shade said quietly but the rogue’s chanting didn’t falter at his words.
Shade watched as the wall passed below them. He took the ship down to the street level, scarcely high enough to fly. “Now, Charm, start throwing them.” He thought he heard the sound of crying or whimpering behind him but didn’t spare the time to look. He had to trust that Charm would do as they had planned. Right now, he needed all of his attention to fly through the cramped city without crashing.
A startled howl of fear behind him made him laugh again as he recognized a goblins voice. The rogue was still chanting his new mantra, but he was doing his job. He pulled carefully on the controls and maneuvered around an over-turned wagon. Ideally, he needed to spread the goblins as thickly as he could throughout the city. He needed them scattered, but he only had a short time to do it.
He wasn’t sure how the Blights would react to the goblins presence but guessed it would be violent. This plan rested on the fact that the goblins and the Blights shared instincts and would both run to the same hiding spots. He needed them to reach the Blights, but he couldn’t give the creatures long together. If the Blights killed the goblins and moved away from the area it would be a failure.
More howls came from the back door as Charm continued to cast the creatures from the ship and Shade began making his way toward the Fortress at the far end of town. He hadn’t told Charm about this part of the plan but judging from the continued chanting of the words crazy bastard it wouldn’t lower the rogue’s opinion of him any.
“Half-way done,” Charm called up to him, his voice still frantic.
“Save about five,” Shade called back loudly and turned down a trash strewn street to continue dropping their living weapons.
“For what?” Charm asked. “I don’t want to save five goblins. I want to get rid of the bastards and get the hell out of this city.”
“Save them for the Fortress,” Shade replied as he pulled the ship around a partially collapsed building. His heart was racing so fast by now he was wondering if it was going to burst. For covering as much ground as he was, Lutheron’s magic was extremely effective. Charm had told him the man could handle the task and Shade had doubted him. He no longer held any doubts.
“The Fortress is locked. We can’t get them inside the Fortress. If you think I’m getting out of this ship you are even crazier than I thought. Which I’m not sure is possible,” Charm’s voice was rising again and Shade snickered at how it blended with the goblin howls. They had nearly the same pitch to his ears.
“Who said anything about getting out of the ship to go inside?” Shade asked and broke into another wave of laughter as Charm fell back to his mantra in more frantic tones.
Shade made another of the city streets before Charm spoke again. “We have five left,” he said in a chok
ed voice that sounded as though he was in tears.
“Got it, time to knock on the big doors,” Shade replied and had to fight down the urge to laugh again. From the description Lutheron had given on the effects of fear it seemed he was one of the individuals that was struck by madness. The thought gave him momentary pause as the thick Fortress doors loomed ahead of him. If Charm thought he was mad before the fear, what did that say about his judgment now.
A small voice in the back of his mind urged him to forget about flying through the heavily warded fortress that was made entirely of stone that was several feet thick. “Bugger off,” he mumbled to the voice of reason as he prepared to fire. He knew from Charm’s reports that the largest hive resided inside the fortress. If they were going to do this right they had to take the fortress down as well as the city.
With a muttered prayer he fired and watched the liquid splatter against the doors. It was the same ammunition that had taken down the transport ship. With luck it would do equal damage to the Fortress doors. He was going far too fast to slow down now, regardless, and had calculated the distance with just enough time to allow the blast to go off. At best, his ship would suffer minor damage from flying debris. That he could repair. At worst, well, he didn’t have to worry about the worst case. No one would walk away from a wreck like that.
“Why are we flying that fast toward closed doors?” Charm asked, having apparently dared standing long enough to see what was going on.
“Ten, nine, eight …,” Shade whispered ignoring the rogue’s question entirely. Flames burst to life on the door and he found himself biting his lower lip hard enough to draw blood. It shouldn’t have taken that long to catch fire, but he couldn’t turn aside now. There wasn’t room. If he tried, they would broadside the unforgiving stone wall of the fortress. “Three, two, oh, fucking, come on, blow..,” Shade yelled, but the last of his words were drowned out by the concussive boom of the doors finally exploding. His ship rocked violently as fire and splinters of wood washed over it. He leaned forward in his seat, his eyes searching the smoke frantically for the first glimpse of what lay ahead.
The Elder Blood Chronicles Book 2 Blood Honor and Dreams Page 35