World in Chains- The Complete Series

by Ryan W. Mueller

  There was no way to climb down, but there were some bushes beneath the window.

  "We have to jump," Ander said.

  "You sure about that?"

  "We have no other choice." Ander took a deep breath and jumped. He hit the ground hard. The bushes softened the impact, but it still knocked the wind out of him. He lay there a few moments, trying to breathe again.

  The captain landed beside him, got to his feet first, and helped Ander up. They stumbled through the alley. When they reached its end, they stopped dead.

  Four Imperial Guards waited for them.

  "Let's try the other way," Ander said. They raced through the alley with the Imperial Guards right behind them. Just when Ander thought they'd escape, another four Imperial guards appeared at the other end of the alley.

  Ander swiveled his gaze from one group of enemies to the other. There was no way out of this.

  Chapter 35: Flight to the Land of Storms

  Ander watched the Imperial Guards approach, and to his relief, none carried bows. Maybe there was still a chance. Ander pointed his staff at them and unleashed a wave of fire.

  The flames burst to life just in front of the Imperial Guards, driving them back.

  "You insane?" shouted one of the Imperial Guards. "You're gonna set the building on fire."

  Ander hadn't considered that. Already, the flames licked at the sides of the buildings on each side. He could still fix this. Channeling the staff's power, he sent a massive spray of water at the side of each building in turn. The Imperial Guards didn't interfere. Maybe they were waiting until he put out the fire, and then they'd attack.

  At last, the flames died down, though using so much water had tired Ander.

  "Could you please not do that again?" said one of the Imperial Guards.

  That was strange. These Imperial Guards were more courteous than Ander had expected. Were they truly here to arrest Ander and the captain, or was something else going on?

  "Please lower your weapon," said another Imperial Guard, who wore the uniform of a commander. He stepped forward from the rest of the group, motioning for calm. Ander didn't lower his weapon all the way, but he did drop the tip of the staff so that it was no longer pointing at the Imperial Guards. Maybe there was room for discussion here.

  "What do you want from us?" Ander demanded.

  "We received intelligence that members of the Order were staying at this inn," said the commander. "Now we know the intelligence is correct. You shouldn't have run from us." He narrowed his eyes. "And you certainly shouldn't be carrying a staff like that."

  Ander raised the staff again. "You've seen what this staff can do. If you value your lives, you should let us go without resistance."

  "You know that isn't how it works. We have a duty to Emperor Warrick. Traitors must be arrested and tried for their crimes, and you proved yourself traitors by attacking us. Put down your weapons."

  Ander barked a laugh. "So you can execute us? I don't think so."

  "There are eight of us and only two of you. Do you think those odds are in your favor?"

  "I'd rather die fighting than submit to execution," Ander said.

  "Then I suppose you leave us with no choice." The commander turned to his men. "Attack them."

  The Imperial Guards launched into their assault. Ander used his staff to send another blast of water, but this time he aimed it at the Imperial Guards ahead of them. The force of the impact knocked them all to the ground, including the commander.

  Ander and Captain Davis took off running, leaping over the fallen Imperial Guards. The men scrambled to their feet, but by the time they started their pursuit, Ander and the captain were out of the alley and racing through the dark streets of Marion.

  Buildings flashed by. A few people looked their way as they passed, but no one interfered. In a place like Marion, and all throughout the Empire, people had learned not to interfere with Imperial Guards.

  "Where're we going?" asked Captain Davis.

  "West, toward the river," Ander said. "Beyond that, I have no idea."

  Footsteps pounded behind them, and they hastened their pace. Sweat poured down Ander's face as he glanced back to see their pursuers struggling to keep up. Surely the Imperial Guards, encumbered by their armor, couldn't catch them.

  Ander and Captain Davis sprinted into a rundown section of the city, where shadowy figures watched them from alleys but didn't interfere. Some even retreated out of view.

  Soon Ander grew short on breath. Every movement felt forced, and his muscles burned. "I’m not sure how long I can keep this up."

  Captain Davis nodded in return, looking pale in the moonlight. The Imperial Guards were now gaining on them. They had to think of something, and fast.

  Wait. Ander had magic at his command. Surely he could use it to hold off the Imperial Guards. Without turning, he sent another blast of water back toward their pursuers. Shouts and grunts came from behind.

  Most of the Imperial Guards had fallen, but a few remained on their feet, looking more determined than ever to catch Ander and the captain.

  Ander might have to try something more damaging, something fatal. At least they were out in the street now. He wouldn't burn down anything with a wall of fire. Panting, he pointed his staff back toward the Imperial Guards and released a burst of fire.

  The flames sprang to life in front of the Imperial Guards, and they recoiled, cursing as they tried to brave the heat and go around the flames.

  Ander and Captain Davis raced into the wealthier dockside district, the part of the city that was home to most of its merchants. In a place like Marion, there was still a lot of crime here, but it operated more in the shadows.

  A few city guards watched as Ander and Captain Davis flew by, but the guards didn't interfere. Ander glanced back and saw that his spells had only delayed their pursuers. He had to send another burst of fire. When he tried, however, he felt as if he were straining against a heavy weight. A few meager flames flickered to life, then died.

  Great. His exhaustion was affecting his magic now. He'd have to try something else.

  He sent a burst of lightning at the Imperial Guards. This spell was a little stronger, but it fizzled quickly. When he tried to channel wind, all he could produce was a gentle breeze. Sweat had drenched him. His muscles felt as if they were about to cramp.

  They reached the docks at the edge of the river. For a moment, Ander considered swimming, but the river looked too wide to swim across while exhausted. They had to commandeer a boat. It was stealing, yes, but this mission was important enough to justify it.

  Ander and the captain raced along the docks and spotted a small boat tied to the dock. The ropes looked weak enough that Ander could cut through them with his sword. They hopped into the boat.

  "What the hell do you think you're doing?" demanded a nearby city guard.

  "I'm really sorry about this." Ander pointed his staff at the guard. "But we need this boat right now." He sent a blast of fire in the general direction of the guard, but not so close it would hurt him. Ander met his eyes. "You don't want to mess with us, all right?"

  The guard nodded, backing away, his face pale in the moonlight. From behind him came the Imperial Guards. Ander swung his sword in a quick arc, severing the ropes.

  He and Captain Davis grabbed the oars and began rowing, pushing through fatigue.

  The Imperial Guards had reached the edge of the docks, watching Ander and Captain Davis as they rowed away. Ander expected the Imperial Guards to commandeer another boat, but instead they remained where they were.

  "That's strange," said Captain Davis. "They aren't chasing us."

  "I know. Maybe they think the plains will take care of us."

  "Sounds like a safe assumption to me."

  "It can't be impossible," Ander said as they rowed. "Nadia managed it, and she didn't have a magical staff."

  "Didn't seem like your staff was working too well back there."

  "I think I'm just exhausted—physi
cally and mentally."

  "I know what you mean. I just want this quest to be over."

  "That's the thing about quests," Ander said. "They sound much better in stories than they really are. When you're on a quest, it's days and days of endless exhaustion. We have to focus on our goal."

  "Can't disagree with that."

  About halfway across the river, the captain wanted to stop rowing, but Ander told him it would be harder to start again if they stopped now. Ander had never known his body could endure such torture.

  At last, they reached the other side of the river. Ander and Captain Davis stumbled out of the boat. When Ander hit the muddy riverbank, he collapsed, making a mess of his traveling clothes, or perhaps making them more of a mess.

  "Should we rest here?" asked Captain Davis.

  Ander got to his feet shakily, then peered across the moonlit plain. Tall grasses stretched as far as he could see. "We should make a little progress tonight. I don't want to give the Imperial Guards any chance of finding us."

  Captain Davis groaned. "I thought you'd say that."

  They pushed through the tall grasses, leaving the river far behind. Ander had no idea how long they walked that night, but eventually they couldn't go any longer and decided to rest. Only when they woke up the next morning did Ander realize someone should have stood watch.

  The morning passed without incident, but late that afternoon, dark clouds appeared on the western horizon. After all the stories he'd heard about the plain's infamous storms, he wasn't looking forward to facing one. Already, he was battling hunger.

  In their haste to flee, they hadn't purchased any food. Nor did they have cloaks to protect them from the elements. How could Ander call himself a leader when he committed such grave and foolish mistakes?

  The rumble of the storm grew louder.

  "What should we do?" asked Captain Davis.

  Ander gazed at the sky. "No idea."

  "Guess we'll just have to brave the storm and hope for the best."

  Ander chuckled without humor. "It might be time for some prayer."

  "To tell you the truth, I've never been much of a believer."

  "Neither have I," Ander said, "but I'll take any help I can get." He shook his head. "I don't know if He exists, and if He does, He sure doesn't seem to care about us."

  "That's why I've always relied on my own skills."

  "Until you're faced with a situation like this," Ander said as the sky grew so dark it was almost black—except for the horrible green tint. A sure sign of hail, maybe even a tornado.

  The wind began to blow—gently at first, but it grew stronger with time. Ander and Captain Davis crouched low to the ground, shielding themselves from the wind and hoping they could protect themselves from lightning as well.

  Ander felt vulnerable. "I'm sorry I got us into this."

  "What is there to be sorry about?"

  "I should've been a better leader. Look at everyone I've lost."

  "Stop it. You've done the best job you could. You can't prepare for every possibility."

  Deep down, Ander knew his friend was right. Dwelling on mistakes was useless. As a leader, he had to learn from his mistakes so he wouldn't make them again. If only it weren't so hard.

  The storm picked up. Rain lashed at them so hard it was painful. Ander shivered as he huddled low to the ground, getting mud all over his clothing.

  The wind became stronger and stronger. Ander was sure they were facing a tornado. The wind roared and thundered, throwing grass and twigs. He covered his head, praying nothing large would strike them.

  The storm felt as if it would never end. How were such storms possible? Surely this was Warrick's magic, and if Warrick could do this, how could Ander hope to surprise him?

  At last, the storm died down. Ander looked up at the sky, and sure enough, a tornado swirled in the distance, directly west of them.

  "Is it coming toward us?" asked the captain, eyes wide.

  "I’m not sure." Ander watched the tornado. After perhaps a minute, he exhaled with relief. "I think it's going well north of us."

  Captain Davis brushed mud off his clothes. "Guess we should get moving."

  Thunder faded into the distance as they traveled. After the storm, the sun came out—a welcome relief, but it was a long time before Ander stopped shivering.

  "How many more storms do you think we'll face?" asked Captain Davis.

  "I'm not sure. I never spent much time studying this place. I never thought I'd go here." Ander shook his head. "There are so many things I never thought I'd do. You know, before Crayden happened, I was content to stay there and do routine work for the Order. Yes, I took a leadership position, but I feel like I never cared enough. Not like Nadia."

  "In all fairness," said the captain, "we all thought Nadia was a little insane."

  "I know. I liked her. I might have even felt something more for her. But I thought she was crazy. Crazy for wanting to do what we're doing now. Ironic, isn't it?"

  "Maybe a little bit."

  Ander's thoughts drifted to Nadia. How was she faring now? Cyrus had been vague on details, and Ander needed to know, needed to see Nadia again. He didn't even know if Markus and Rik were still alive. In retrospect, he found it foolish that they'd gone by themselves.

  How could Ander have left three inexperienced young people to fend for themselves? It had felt like the right decision at the time. Ander wished he could have received some advice from Cyrus, wished he could have known about the Webs of Fate. They could have chosen his path for him.

  No. The Webs did not determine one's path. They merely showed which directions it was most likely to take. Ander had chosen to follow the Webs, but he knew where his path was leading, knew it with dreadful certainty.

  "Are you ready to die?" he asked the captain.

  "Every second I have now is a gift. I was supposed to die in the belly of that monster. Most people would've died. Even as strong as I am, it was very difficult cutting my way out. I almost ran out of air." His face grew pale. "It was terrifying."

  "I can imagine," Ander said.

  "I'm not sure you can."

  "You did a great thing," Ander said.

  "I know." Captain Davis walked a few steps, staring off into the distance. "I hope Berig's doing all right out there. He's worth a lot more than he thinks."

  Ander didn't want to think about the party that had left the Empire. Whenever he thought of Aric, he felt as if something were breaking inside him. He'd known Aric most of his life. They'd been friends ever since they'd started learning swordplay from the same man.

  Ander would never see Aric again. He was sure of that. Every step took him closer to his own death.

  Chapter 36: Not the Same

  Sex was not forbidden among Imperial Guards, but they couldn't look for anything more than that. As Tylen lay in bed beside Farah, he wondered if he should break that rule.

  He remembered her from his time in Crayden. He'd spent too much time chasing the high lord's seat to waste his time with a simple noble, but he had always found her attractive. Maybe he would have bedded her after marrying Nadia.

  After all, Nadia would not have been willing to go to his bed.

  Nadia. Why did he always think about her? Even when he lay beside Farah, his thoughts drifted to what could have been. He didn't know why he liked Nadia so much. She'd been nothing but harsh toward him, and she'd made her wishes clear enough.

  But Tylen admired something about her spirit. Very few women had ever resisted Tylen's charms. If Tylen wanted something, or someone, he got it. It was that simple. His persuasive abilities were remarkable, almost magical.

  But Nadia was different. At first, he'd seen her as his ticket to power, but now he believed he might have grown to love her, though she never would have shared the same feelings for him.

  It was strange. He'd bedded many women, most of them much prettier than Nadia, who was quite plain and too concerned with learning skills better left to men. No proper
woman learned swordplay and archery, but perhaps that was why Tylen liked her. She was different, a challenge. He smiled, recalling how she'd felt about that particular phrase.

  "Tylen, you look like you're deep in thought," Farah said. "What are you thinking about?"

  "Nothing important."

  "You're thinking about her, aren't you?"

  "I only have eyes for you. You know that."

  Farah gave him a tired look. "You don't expect me to believe that? Your amorous exploits were the talk of Crayden. I know how it works with men like you. It's great while it lasts, but eventually you move on."

  "I won't move on from you. I love you."

  "No, you don't. You love having sex with me."

  He grinned. "Well, I have to admit the sex is quite good."

  She gave him a light slap on the cheek. "You're a naughty boy, Tylen."

  Tylen felt his time with Farah had been enjoyable. A week ago, when he first saw her in the market, he couldn't believe his eyes. He'd thought she'd died in Crayden. She didn't say much about what had happened, only that she'd escaped.

  Whatever the reason, Tylen was glad to have her. He spent most of his nights at the manor of her noble aunt and uncle. It was easier than hanging around the garrison. Ever since the episode with William's son, there'd been distance between Tylen and his comrades.

  He doubted a forbidden romance would help, but he didn't care. Warrick knew what he was doing and hadn't objected. Tylen wondered if Farah was part of Warrick's master plan. Why else would he allow this romance?

  Tylen was tired of being controlled, but there was nothing he could do about it.

  Chapter 37: Into the Ruins

  By the time Nadia and Rik reached Andersonville, she thought her leg would never stop hurting. Each step was torture, even with Rik's help, but she refused to slow them down. She didn't want to think about Rik going forward on his own.

  A guard patrolled near the edge of town. She stopped and stared at them. "It looks like you need a doctor."

  Nadia spoke through gritted teeth. "My leg's broken. I'm not sure how bad."