Letty’s hand tensed and the blade appeared. It cracked against the purple armor but refused to do more.
“Caspian is desperate to reincarnate, but you are too far removed for him to do more than influence your thoughts or move your arm. I suppose that means he is having no luck with the boy, then. Perhaps the boy is dead already; Caspian could never hold onto a body for long.”
Letty shivered, and the air hissed with the sound of her blade colliding with the creature’s armor. Purple and silver crystals formed along the floor, ceiling, and on the bars of the cells.
“Hmm, Pythia had her way with the boy. She made an agreement with him, signed a contract even. I expect she attempted to bring back her lover as quickly as possible and bungled it. But none of this matters to you if the boy is already dead.”
“Let me go!” Letty cried releasing the blade, raising her fist, and summoning it again.
Letty’s arm twisted, and her fingers articulated on their own. The blade appeared, but narrower and reddish. Chimerax saw it coming, but could barely flinch before it crashed into his face. A purple helmet appeared, but her blade pierced it and Chimerax cried out, letting her go, before stumbling into the wall.
“Go, now!” Clang ordered, pushing the humans and Martin towards the stairs.
Clang gestured, and his goblins formed an orderly retreat, throwing javelins and firing arrows as they went. Chimerax’s body undulated and expanded. Letty looked back and saw a dragon’s head spewing burning purple letters at a pair of flagging goblins. The goblins fell to the floor, their bodies shrunken and discolored. Letty tried to see, but she was pulled up the stairs.
“Run!” Martin commanded.
They escaped the stairwell and followed Clang.
“Did you come by portal?” Martin called out over the loud clanking of the rushing goblins.
“Yes, but it’s outside the palace!” Staza replied.
“Too far!” Clang replied, suddenly changing direction and running for another stairwell. “We go to fighting pit!”
Letty looked back and saw the stream of goblins, but out of a shadow emerged a scorpion’s tail, preceding an impossible body. She felt as if the claws were still about her throat.
Oh, God.
Letty nearly stumbled.
“Watch outs, girly!” An underfoot goblin yelled at her.
Stop looking back!
Letty ran after Clang until they suddenly left the great hall and the bright, flashing sky was all around.
“We’re outside!” Staza yelled in surprise.
“Our portal, there!” Clang yelled to the humans, pointing at a rectangular arena.
They ran down into the arena and towards a small floating orb.
A piercing noise, like that of three creatures roaring at once broke out over the arena.
Letty summoned the blade and looked up to see the monstrous shape cast its shadow. It had three heads. Letty saw a raven’s beak, the muzzle of a jackal, and the scaled hide and hollow eyes of a dragon. It alighted on the stands and stared down at them as Clang struggled to get the sea-star into position on the portal. Finally, Staza slapped the sea-star out of Clang’s hand and tried to open the portal herself.
Letty held up her blade, as if to keep the monster at bay.
Smoky letters drifted down out of the dragon’s mouth. The smoke settled over the stone benches of the stands and corroded them into gravel.
Staza got the portal to twist open, and everyone piled through.
“Letty, come on! before it attacks!” Quill yelled.
Letty kept her blade leveled as she backed away. The corroded gravel sprouted thick strands of orange and black lichen.
The crow cawed at her. “We will take Caspian to Maelstrom, no matter what body he owns. Keep him from your friend, if you can,” the crow said.
Confused and afraid, Letty turned and leaped through the portal. She turned and looked back through to the arena and noticed that Chimerax had a growing look of mischief on its crow and jackal faces. The beast lumbered towards the portal.
“Close it!” A voice cried out.
Letty saw a mer guard running towards the portal with one of the sea star keys.
Chimerax’s scorpion tail shot towards the portal and burst through to their side.
Goblins and humans ducked and dived, slamming into walls, one another, and the floor to avoid the sting. The mer guard finally twisted the portal shut slicing the stinger, and ten feet of tail, clean off.
The tail writhed on the floor for a long moment, before finally turning to inky ash.
“Good lord!” the guard exclaimed. “This is the worst posting in the entire Sink.”
“Silence!” A temple maiden called out, pushing through the crowded hallway. “Somebody get these goblins out of here! And you, humans! Give me your key, we need to shut your portal immediately! Especially if that monster is trying to get through.”
The sea-star was produced and handed over. Letty took the reprieve and tried to get her bearings; she was surprised by the confines of the hall.
“Where are we?” Letty asked. “This isn’t the temple, is it?”
“We’re down in the catacombs. This is where we keep the portals after they are summoned,” the maiden said.
Staza gave her a quarrelsome look.
“We can’t just leave them up in the temple. What if another customer should appear? Besides, there are some portals that have been open for years; this is where we keep them.”
“I thought they would go out after a day or two,” Blue replied, venom in his voice.
The guard laughed. “That’s simply what they say to get a little extra out of you. Who knows how long the portals might last?”
The maiden gave the guard a scornful glance and then cast that same expression over her hallway, which was now teeming with goblins.
“An old and profound institution of fidelity and dignity,” she mumbled, raising an eyebrow.
Martin approached Letty. “Let us go into town. We have captured a large basement beneath an abandoned building, near the pillars. We need to rest and consider our newfound knowledge.”
“I don’t know,” Letty replied. “If Andy is in the city, it could be that he was the Seer causing the problems everyone was talking about.”
The maiden scoffed. “You mean the Caspian that wasn’t? Young lad, handsome, if poorly behaved.”
Letty glared. “You know where Andy is? Did you know this whole time?”
The maiden stepped back, realizing the hundreds of beings surrounding her had paid dearly to find a boy she knew was in the city.
“I didn’t realize you were looking for him! We don’t ask questions of our clients!” she replied, stuttering. “And, even if I did, we wouldn’t give him up to you.”
“Give him up to us,” Quill scoffed. “We’re here to save him from the ryle!”
“He’s been captured by a ryle who wants to conquer the city,” Blue explained.
The maiden crossed her arms. “That’s strange. He walked into our parcel unaided and alone. A child recognized his signs and welcomed him. He was no one’s prisoner.”
“How?” Letty whispered, astonished. She couldn’t believe it. “So, he’s been freed? Or maybe he escaped. Oh, God. Did I actually see him? Was that really him on the streets earlier today?”
“How long ago?” Martin asked the maiden. “Where is he now?”
“Ten days—” the maiden said uncertainly, before facing a guard.
“Going on two weeks now,” he corrected, “Word has it that he’s been training. Nobody knows if he really is Caspian. The signs are there, but he acts strangely.”
“Take us!” Letty stammered at the guard, who looked to the maiden for approval.
“I shouldn’t allow it, but these are unique circumstances. Just send another fighter in to take your post,” the maiden concluded, grateful the conversation was over, and desperate to get the mob out of her temple.
They stumbled up the narro
w stairs and were led through a few tight halls before they finally broke out into the day.
“Martin, how did you know Andy was at Zentule?” Quill asked, as they were going up another set of stairs.
“Probably the same way you did. I knew Ziesqe had him, and, in ychoron circles, it isn’t hard to find out where a lordly ryle has his palace. To be honest, we expected to suffer heavy losses even scouting the damn place. I am thankful that instead of them, we found you,” Martin mused.
“What about that monster?” Letty asked. “You understood what it was.”
Martin shivered. “It was a creation of the Maelstrom; a beast made to fulfill a purpose or answer some question.”
Letty remembered the monster’s claws on her throat and felt bumps rise up her spine. “What was it after?”
“It mentioned Caspian,” Quill said.
“Everyone here thinks that Andy is Caspian,” Staza added.
“Pythia did too,” Letty replied.
Blue pulled on a whisker. “If Caspian is trying to manifest through Andy, he will need Andy to take possession of one of his artifacts, or become so weak as to allow Caspian in.”
“How do we stop this?” Letty asked.
The maiden, who was silently listening, interrupted. “Stop this? The boy belongs to Caspian, who is the Voice of God and the only hope for salvation. If only Ithmene can convince him of that.”
“What!” Letty cried. “You’re trying to make it happen?”
Blue pulled on her ear. “Careful now, we need friends here.”
The maiden ignored Letty.
“Blue’s right,” Staza said, “we need to find Andy; the rest is speculation.”
She’s right, but who is this, Ithmene, and what has she been saying to him?
Letty was silent as the maiden departed and the mer guardsman led them over the rooftop roads and on a jagged path through the sink, to the drier fringes.
“Just up this street here,” the guardsman said.
A group of mer children were playing nearby. They spotted the strangers, and rushed for cover behind the bushes, while braver ones approached.
“How is the Voice?” the guardsman asked the children.
“He’s not here now. They went into town,” the child said, gawking at the army of goblins. “Besides, I don’t think he is the Voice anyway.”
“What?” the guard blustered. “She took him into town! What for?”
The child stepped back and shrugged.
Letty felt desperate. She looked from face to face for an answer. “So he’s not here,” she finally said, keeping her fury in check. “Which direction did they go?”
The child shuffled uncomfortably. “They went towards the Panforum, but I don’t know where to exactly.”
“What’s in the Panforum?” Letty asked.
“Too many things for us to search,” Martin said, before considering Clang. “Let’s leave a couple of goblins here, in case he comes back. We should also break into groups. We’ll head to the Panforum and keep an eye out. Maybe if we ask around someone will know something. He was with a temple maiden, after all.”
“What’s so special about that?” Letty asked.
“They are famous for being the most beautiful women in the scape,” Blue replied absentmindedly.
Letty raised a brow. “I see.” She was nearly seeing red.
“Come on now, and break up this goblin mob. We’ll meet back at the basement every few hours,” Martin commanded, moving the group back down the street.
Letty walked along in a rage, ready to attack anyone who so much as spoke to her. She unclenched her fists and followed along behind Staza and Quill, noticing that the goblins had dispersed.
They walked past a plaza and a Redvolutionist yelled at them in passing. “Are you for the repealing of all property law?”
“Oh, shut up!” Letty screamed at the woman on stage.
Everyone went silent, and the crowd parted as Letty fumed her way through. Even Staza and Quill cringed and passed through awkwardly.
Ithmene—what a stupid name. Trying to make Andy think he’s someone else, just like Pythia did to me.
Letty remembered the striking woman who she saw next to Andy earlier that day. She remembered the lovely dress Ithmene had been wearing.
I’ll rip that dress off and strangle her with it—
Letty bumped into Staza, who had stopped short.
“What is it now?” Letty snapped.
“Don’t look,” Staza said, grabbing Letty by her arms.
Quill’s face twisted with too much emotion. He helped Staza restrain her.
“What!” Letty burst out instinctively struggling. “What is it?”
“We’re too late,” Martin said.
Letty pushed against her friends and finally saw the cause.
Andy?
Her throat tightened as she saw Andy, chained and in a steel cage, being carted through the Panforum.
Letty shrieked and tore at her friends.
The crowds had been cheering, but she didn’t know what for, and now she saw.
They have him!
Guards surrounded the procession, and an ychorite stood on the cart calling out to the crowd, “Caspian, the Usurper, has been captured! He will be seen by the Exegesuits in an hour! Head to the Secular to witness his execution! The Cogito is protected, and Degoskirke is saved!”
Letty reached for her argument, but her friends restrained her.
“Let me go! I’m going to kill them!” Letty cried.
Andy’s eyes met hers and she stopped struggling.
He sees me.
Andy looked away as his cart split the crowd.
Chapter 9
Extraction
The Seeress, Letty, had broken down. Though restrained, she still refused to leave the growing procession that followed Andy’s prison cart. Martin knew he needed to take charge.
“Clang, send some boys out to collect our searchers; let them know we’ve found Andy, and to regroup on us,” Martin whispered. “Also, bring those carrots for the Seers, their eyes are starting to show.”
Clang nodded. “Will do. But the Teeth is many, we scare guards for certain.”
Martin shook his head. “Have them assemble in smaller groups nearby, in case we need them.”
Clang grunted. “Good thought, Martin, and the girl? The wailing gives us up, no?”
Martin considered the crowds and the guards, noticing several other crying followers. “The Exegesuits aren’t stupid; they won’t start arresting these people, even if they are crying for Caspian.”
“Two other surfacers,” Clang mumbled. “What to do for them?”
Martin blinked, his face thoughtful. “This is the perfect cover. Every eye in the city will be on the Secular steps. I’ll take a walk into the cathedral and find the other surfacers.”
Blue leaped from shoulder to shoulder before speaking to Martin. “Could you bring the baggage as well? We have minoe, weapons, and more equipment. We might need it. Also, Clang, scare up some robes with hoods, we need to cover up the humans. Everyone may be distracted right now, but someone might recognize them in the crowd.”
Martin raised a brow. “You don’t ask the impossible, do you?”
Clang whispered orders to a pair of goblins, who rushed off through the mass of bodies.
Likely to separate people from their clothes, Martin thought.
Blue’s ears flattened in thought. “The humans will be useless until this shock wears off. I understand why they are upset, but we expected to find him as a prisoner.”
“Truths change and the heart rages,” Clang said, casting a pained eye to the humans. “She has a shiny blade; if all the Teeth come, can we not strike?”
Martin grimaced. “Look at all the mercenaries and guards. They are ready for a response from the crowd. Even with her blade, we would take too many losses. We cannot fight a battle in the open.”
Clang took a deep breath and looked to his eager gobli
ns, waving his hand to the ground. The goblins were disappointed, but not surprised.
Martin followed the cart for a long while, keeping an eye on Letty and the Caspians.
I woke up today not even knowing about them. They seem like a liability, but, if they want to help us recuse Andy, we should continue working together.
Martin scowled at their violet eyes.
Seers, all. They have no idea how valuable they are to the ryle, or how dangerous it is for them in this city.
Finally, a squirrelly goblin pushed his way through their group, carrying a bundle of human-sized robes.
Martin motioned the humans off to an alley and kept an eye on the entrance while they put on the robes. Staza had to help Letty, who was still shocked.
“Perhaps I could arrange an escort for you to our safe-house. I’ll keep an eye on Andy and have you informed of any developments,” Martin said, cautiously.
Letty refused with an angry face that quickly filled with tears. “No. I’ll be quiet, but I’m not leaving.”
Quill and Staza looked to be of the same mind.
“Fine, let’s get back out there.”
Martin led the way through the crowd, back to Clang and the Teeth. They continued after the slow-moving procession, through the city, and all the way to the Secular, where the banners were already out and the High Exegesuits were standing by. A few hundred Exegesuit guards lined the steps. Their halberds gleamed and each wore a rugged cudgel at their waist. Lines of guards armed with wheel-locks stood behind the halberdiers.
We cannot stand a fight here.
Martin looked down at Clang, who clearly thought the same.
There are so many armored warriors. They haven’t even spared the wheel-locks. The Exegesuits are taking this seriously.
Silius, the ychorite diplomat, had the podium and held out an open hand to silence the crowd.
The procession of mercenaries that accompanied Andy’s cart parted to reveal a man dressed in the fine clothes of an affluent merchant.
His gait—he walks with purpose. That one’s in charge of this group, but there’s something else.
“Ziesqe,” Letty spat.
Martin took a second look.
The Immortal of Degoskirke Page 18