by Ben Hale
Broad and sweeping, the high chancellor's home was imbued with swirling water and air magic, creating an ever flowing elegance and grace. Knit into walls of light blue and white, the energy curled and twisted into intricate columns and spires.
Sweet melodies cascaded through the immaculate gardens, adding to the cadence of the shallow brooks. Unwilling to deviate from his course, he left the curving path of sparkling white and stalked through the greenery.
Leaves and flowers blackened at the heat of his passing. Scorched footprints remained in his wake. Behind his rigid expression the emotions of a phoenix raged. Twice he passed guards, but he sucked the heat from their bodies and left them shivering on the ground, alive, but unable to cry a warning.
He left the front gardens and strode to the door of solid light. Two steps away it opened of its own accord, and a woman addressed him.
"I'm sorry, but the high chancellor is not available . . ."
Fear stilled her tongue, and in the resulting quiet, he said, "It is a matter of life and death."
The darkness to his tone was evident, but the simple phrase could not be ignored. She slipped out of sight and returned a moment later with High Chancellor Ranson. While she was gone Hawk used his magic to examine the depths of the home, and saw that only two bodies were present, and both were walking toward the front door. At the sight of Ranson's smiling face Hawk's rage erupted.
The blast of fire shattered the enchanted door into wisps of fading light. The explosion launched the woman out of view, but her shrieking cries could still be heard. Ranson was not so fortunate. His body tumbled into the formal receiving room. Burns streaked his arms and small fires rose from his clothing.
As he rose to his feet the mask of civility was gone, leaving behind the rage of a Harbinger. "You dare to come into my home!" Balls of purple light sparked across his arms as he prepared to fight.
"If you harm the defenseless, you face the ones bound to protect them."
Magnified by Reiquen's fury, Hawk's voice reverberated throughout the house, overpowering the screaming woman and the faint sounds of pounding feet. Despite himself, Ranson flinched and took a step back.
"You must understand why—"
Hawk's blast of fire shredded the receiving room. Glass walls exploded outward, and the enchanted stairs of air and water cracked from the concussive blast.
"There exists no cause that warrants harming an innocent!"
Liquid fire cascaded off his shoulders like a cloak as Hawk stalked forward, launching an unrestrained inferno at his adversary. Ranson tried to flee. Raising furniture and broken sections of wall, he blocked the brunt of Hawk's assault, but the weak barriers were no match for the pouring flames.
Ranson was backed into a corner. With panic spreading across his features, he turned and slapped the wall. A blast of air launched him aside, causing the boulder of fire to miss him by inches. It crashed through the space where he'd been standing. Abandoning his efforts to fight, Ranson weaved his way through the massive home. Half flying and half running, he fought to stay ahead of the inferno.
Roaring flames billowed behind Hawk as he pursued. The bitter taste of vengeance was hot on his tongue as he seared every inch of the building as he passed. Enchanted or not, the walls and ceiling shuddered in his wake, their magic crumbling into ash. Ten steps later Hawk caught up with his quarry.
Desperate to escape, Ranson caught the fleeing woman and threw her back toward Hawk. She stumbled and shrieked as she fell toward the devouring flames. Despite his fury, Hawk swept the fire toward the adjacent wall. Stone, wood, and sparkles of magic detonated outward, revealing a sweeping pond at the rear of the house.
Without breaking his stride, Hawk caught the woman's arm and tossed her into it. Her scream ended as she splashed through the house's fire lit reflection. Momentarily delayed, Hawk reached the open door to find Ranson already in the air. The high chancellor paused and threw Hawk a sneering expression.
"You will die for what you—"
"You will not flee!"
Hawk roared at his adversary, and then spread his arms wide. Bellowing his hatred at the man, he ignited all the oxygen in a massive dome over the crumbling house. Ranson's eyes widened as he saw his escape being cut off. An instant later the dome of fire began to shrink. Ranson tried to force his way through but fell back, crying out at his burns.
He glanced at Hawk, and tried again. And then again. The third time the searing heat blackened his skin and left him tumbling to the grass. Hawk closed the distance and caught the man's shirt.
"It was the Master's order!" Ranson screamed, struggling to break Hawk's grip.
"But you followed it!" Hawk roared into his face.
Ranson began to beg, and Hawk discarded him in disgust. Then he raised his hands and a sword of pure yellow fire gathered in his palms. As it turned almost solid he placed the tip against Ranson's heaving chest.
"You have committed crimes worthy of death," Hawk proclaimed. "And for that I provide the justice you are due."
Ranson held his wounds as words tumbled from his mouth, pleading for mercy. Engulfed in the thrall of Reiquen, Hawk leaned into the blow . . .
A blast of yellow light caused him to turn, and then a crackle of thunder spread across the sky. The clear night darkened in an instant, and a blanket of rain crashed into the dome of fire. Spitting and sizzling, the fires began to dissipate.
Hawk sensed the presence and turned to face it. Thirty yards away a figure stood wreathed in yellow energy. He wore a cloak of black, but the hood had been thrown back. Despite the proximity, Hawk couldn't seem to get a look at him. Every time he peered at his features it seemed he jerked to the side.
"That's enough, Hawk," the man said mildly.
"I suppose you are the Master?" Hawk asked, and raised his sword.
The figure nodded. "You have accomplished what I need for the evening. You may go."
As he finished the statement Hawk became aware of the tumultuous sounds of approaching men and women. Footsteps pounded across the paths of the smoldering house, splashing through the puddles created by the sudden downpour. Voices called to each other, organizing, seeking.
Hawk snarled his hate, his tactical mind urging him to retreat. "What makes you think I have done your will?"
The figure seemed to smile even though Hawk couldn't see it. "Because I planned it, Hawk."
Hawk gathered his magic once more and turned to slay Ranson—but he was no longer there. Foreboding chilled his anger as he realized the damage he'd inflicted on the high chancellor's home.
Since Ranson was gone, he spiked heat into the fire sword, causing it to burn white, and the supreme blue. Then he yanked his arms forward and hurled it at the shadowy figure. There was another burst of yellow magic, and impossibly, Hawk's sword missed.
"As I said," the Master murmured. "You may go. Unless you wish to reveal yourself to the hundreds of battlemages that are about to arrive . . . ?"
"We will finish this at a later time," Hawk said evenly.
"I look forward to it," the Master replied.
Reluctantly, Hawk withdrew into the raging storm. As the shadows enveloped him the storm began to abate, but when he looked back the Master was gone. An hour later he heard the news that an auren missile had struck the city and almost killed the high chancellor.
He knew then that he had been used.
Chapter 14: The Power of Fear
"Can you repeat that?" Tess asked.
"The council is reporting that an auren missile struck the city," Iris repeated.
Tess sat bolt upright and rubbed her eyes. "Are you sure? How is that possible?"
"It isn't," Iris said matter-of-factly. "That's why I don't believe the report."
Tess massaged her forehead, confused and angry at being woken. "Wait, you just said that a missile hit the high chancellor's home. Is it true or not?"
Iris jerked her head in annoyance. "Of course it isn't true—but the high chancellor's house was des
troyed. Look," she touched one of the paintings above the bed. The scene of three young women in Africa crouched over a glowing purple object changed to an entirely different view.
The once regal home was in ruins. Walls, columns, and towers had been torn to shreds by something supreme. Despite the battlemages fighting to contain them them, fires still raged in its depth.
"Why would they give such a blatant lie?" Tess said. "Unless . . ."
She darted to the balcony and launched herself skyward. Rocketing upward, she faced north, wondering if she would see could see it. She came to a stop when she spotted a column of white smoke rising in the darkness of Northpoint. Her stomach plummeted with her as she returned to her room.
"It's true," Tess said when she landed. "Something was attacked in Northpoint. You can see the smoke from here."
Iris frowned. "That can't be right. There is no possible way a missile could penetrate the cloudwall. The high chancellor's home must have been destroyed by other means."
"So why say the aurens did it?"
Iris shrugged. "Maybe they don't want to admit they blew it up themselves."
"Wait," Tess said. "We know the Harbingers want to open the portal so they can take over the auren nations, right?" Iris nodded, so Tess continued, "What if this is just another piece of getting the mages angry enough to go to war? Do you think they want the entire mage community to go against the aurens?"
"It would be hard to do," Iris said skeptically, "The mages have been peaceful for centuries. It would take a lot for us to collectively want the same thing the Harbingers do."
Tess felt a chill. "So this is just the beginning?"
"Of what?"
Tess didn't answer as she lay back down. Iris didn't say anything else, and after a moment she was muttering under her breath to someone in England.
Tess tried to fall back asleep, but it refused to come. Her mind buzzed for two hours before she gave up with a sigh. Rising, she padded outside and flew to the roof of her cabin. With the first hint of dawn lighting the horizon, she withdrew her glasses and called her mom.
"Tess? Is everything alright?"
"Yeah," Tess replied. "I think so. How are things on your end?"
"You sure you aren't in danger?"
"No more than usual," Tess said with a sigh. "But can I ask you something?"
"Of course, honey."
"You and dad are working for the CIA now, right?"
"Yes. Where is this going?"
Tess pressed on. "Would you know if a missile had hit a mage city?"
There was a moment of silence. Then her father's voice filled the line. "What's this all about, Tess?"
"I'm just curious," Tess replied. "You don't have to tell me if it's classified. I don't want to get you into trouble."
Her father's reply was the most serious she had ever heard from him.
"We are beyond classified at this point. If you know something, you need to tell me."
"The Harbingers are saying an auren missile struck the city. I'm fairly certain it's a lie, but I saw the smoke myself."
There was a whispered conversation, and then her dad said, "There has been no attack that we are aware of. Frankly, I don't think it's possible. The investigation office I have joined isn't even aware of techno mages yet. They still think they're plagued with computer glitches and software problems."
"What about another country?"
"To my knowledge no one knows as much as we do. Everyone is in the dark, so to speak."
Tess sighed and admitted what was bothering her. "Hawk thinks they are trying to start a war, Dad. What if they want the entire mage community to be on their side. Do you think the mages could be manipulated into joining the Harbinger's purpose?"
"People react poorly when they're afraid."
His voice was solemn enough for her to believe him. "So what do I do?"
Her dad was quiet, and then he said slowly, "You prepare to fight. When the time comes, someone will need to stand up and say no."
Tess blinked in surprise. "You don't want me to stay out of it?"
There was a lengthy silence, and then her dad said, "Of course we do, but we don't seem to have much control, do we? As much as we dislike it, we have to trust that you are in good hands. Besides, would it work if we told you to leave it alone?"
Tess swallowed the knot in her throat. "Probably not," she admitted. She hated the sound of resignation in his voice. Had they given up on her?
Jack released a lengthy sigh. "Hawk and Breaker have told us a lot about you and your calling. I don't think we have much choice but to accept your participation. Just don't get killed, or your mother will have my head."
"It's true." Kate's voice was faint.
"And don't worry," her dad said. "We are working with Hawk from this end. So far we have identified a handful of Harbinger plants within our armed forces—and my own office."
"What have you done with them?" she asked. She felt a trickle of fear sink into her gut.
"Nothing yet," he assured her. "But your mother got accepted onto our task force, and is training with them. She will help take them down if it becomes necessary."
"What's a task force?" Tess asked.
There was a crackle as the phone changed hands. "Nothing, honey."
Tess's mind was drawn back to the mages she had fought with, and she swallowed at the idea of her parents facing them.
"These aren't like normal men and women," she warned.
"We know," her mother said. "Breaker is giving us additional training."
"Kate," her dad said in the background. "He's waiting for us now."
"I love you, Mom," Tess said.
Kate and Jack echoed the sentiment. Then the line went dead. For a long time Tess held her knees and watched the sunrise, lost in thought. Seeming to sense her mood, Stel melted out of his necklace shape and turned into a badger. Waddling around her, he nuzzled against her leg. Absently she petted his neck, considering how to proceed. Hawk and her father had both told her to prepare to fight. But how to go about doing it?
She mulled several options, but settled on two. The new Melee would be an excellent forum to work with other students, and Tempest would present opportunities to connect with other schools, as well as practice fighting in the air. She let out a slow breath, and realized she had no idea what she was doing. With fear and doubt spiking through her, she jumped down from the roof and prepared for her day. Then she walked with Iris to get breakfast.
Whatever she was going to do, she had to do it fast.
Chapter 15: Centaurus
"You ready, Tess?" Parker asked.
It was only a day since the high chancellor's home had been attacked, and the gossip had spread like wildfire. In spite of the rising tension, the students of Tryton's had turned out in mass for the Tempest tryout.
Tess swallowed her nervousness and climbed onto her board to wait. She watched the raging game as anticipation curled in her stomach. Fire exploded across the arena as players sought to strike each other down. Speed flyers zipped past, dodging to avoid the multitude of traps and launched flames. Some succeeded, other did not. Their clothing singed and their boards colored black, the ones that hadn't survived were carried back to the game shelf by their boards.
This quad Shorn had elected for a brawl over a skirmish. Players were allowed to come in and replace those that had been burned. The rotating squad fought the regular school team, which didn't have substitutes.
In fifteen minutes, only two of the school team members had been eliminated. Parker was one of them. Affable but quiet, the boy was from the southern United States. His skin was dark, and his accent was slight. After he'd burned out he had taken over directing the flow of students wanting to try out for the Tempest team. A girl on a blackened board cursed as she returned to the shelf. Another was quick to take her place.
Tess threw a glance at the large crowd. Was it just her imagination, or was it more subdued than in the last quad? The attack on the high
chancellor's home was only days old, and Tess could see many of the students peering into news orbs rather than focusing on the game. It had only been a week since school had resumed, but it felt like a lifetime.
"Tess . . .," Parker said in a rising tone.
She jerked her head to focus, and then bolted away from the shelf. She was immediately assailed by a flyer in blue. She ducked, and then jerked to the side to avoid the second blast. She tried a flip to shake him, but he stayed with her. He stood on the back of his board and exploded after her.
Then she spotted another blue flyer cruising to cut her off. Recognizing they were working in tandem, she ducked, grabbed both sides of her board, and rolled to point straight down. Corkscrewing toward the floor of the arena, she avoided a fireball by inches. Heat washed across her face, but she didn't let up.
This constellation was filled with planets, creating a labyrinth of hiding places and retreats. Several of the smaller planets were broken, as if some force had exploded from their interior. The gaping holes were steeped in shadow, and provided a good place to hide. Spotting one, Tess pulled out of her dive and headed for it. At the last second she saw the black ball inside and swerved away.
Then an idea crossed her mind and she spun to face the hole. A moment later the flyer in blue curved in pursuit. Both launched attacks at the same moment. The boy's attempt flew over Tess's shoulder, singing her cheek. Hers struck the side of the hole. The blast of fire ignited the trap, and caused a geyser of fire to explode outward, washing over her pursuer in an instant.
The crowd roared as the boy's board turned black and headed for the team shelf. Tess didn't wait around and rolled over a smaller planet and then under a larger one. Then she poured on the speed and flew toward her own star.
She hooked up with a flyer in red halfway there. Recognizing her by the stream of blond hair, Tess called out, "Sophia! Is there any sort of plan?"