The Panids' Children_The Panids of Koa

by Lee M Eason

  Panic broke out anew and the rush for the gates increased as several crashes reverberated from nearby buildings and a double set of doors burst open. Despite the confusion and the distance Jenna and the others instantly recognised the eight-foot figure that stumbled onto the scene and began heading in their direction. They saw Ren leading another Adept to bar its way. Lewen began struggling through the throng to join them shouting at Jenna and Aaron to get to safety. The two were torn between wanting to help and escape. Ursa saw them hesitate and quickly headed over.

  “I want you both out of here. It’s after…” she broke off but Aaron caught the look in her eye and nodded.

  “Come on Jenna,” Aaron urged but she was still looking in the direction that Lewen had ran.

  “He’ll need our help,” she said desperately taking a step in his direction.

  Aaron grabbed her arm and made to follow Ursa. “Come on!” he shouted as she resisted. “We have to go. Lewen knows what he’s doing. We don’t. We’d get in the way,” He added trying to make her see reason. Eventually she nodded but still managed one last desperate look in Lewen’s direction as they ran to the main gates.

  Exhausted The Second of The Three made its way forward sweeping its sword in wide clumsy arcs at the fleeing figures before it. People ran in blind panic. Ren managed to flatten himself to a wall but the Adept with him was knocked over. He managed to throw himself clear as the huge sword swung at him and scramble to his feet. The creature turned to follow his movement and focused its failing will yet again. The impact hit the Adept full in the back and sent him sprawling into the snow. Ren saw his chance, spoke the words of power and levelled blows that hammered at The Second. Its footing was swept away. It fell heavily on the snow and lost its sword. Ren sent it skating. Injured and tired from its previous confrontations The Second struggled to gain its feet. Ren spoke again his words drawing what little heat there was out of the air and the body of The Second. The snow crackled and popped as the temperature plummeted. With effort The Second struggled to its feet, confused and unable to function properly. It bent over, clumsily groping about for its sword. Lewen arrived in time to knock it further out of reach. The Second drunkenly swung at him but Lewen evaded the blow and with a turn swung a fire iron striking The Second across the face. The blow caused it to stumble again as its body struggled to cope with the paralysing cold. Lewen resisted the urge to deliver a second blow, frostbite already burning his exposed hands. He backed away from the growing pool of frost, ignoring the pain, ready to act should the creature get back onto its feet. All the time Ren continued to speak the words that chilled the air. The Second made some efforts to raise itself off the ground. Exhausted and groggy its strength failed and it collapsed. Ren drove the temperature down and Lewen stepped back cautiously as the painful chill reached him. The Second became still its breathing growing shallow until finally it stopped. Its skin turned pale and snow settled on its surface. Lewen looked to Ren, waiting for confirmation that the creature was dead.

  “Keep back from it,” Ren warned. “The air around it will freeze the blood in your veins.”

  “It is dead isn’t it? I mean it looks dead,” Lewen called trying to detect any motion or sign of its breath, his own billowing in the night air. At last confident it was dead Lewen turned and walked over to Ren. “Where are the Academy guards?”

  “Something terrible must have happened at the main buildings.” He pointed. “Look the sky’s orange.”

  “Was it after Jenna?” Lewen glanced back at the body.

  “I can’t be sure. But yes. From what we’ve been told that would seem like the best conclusion.” Ren answered.

  ***

  Gwen looked across the sea of heads that bobbed in conversation or craned to look at the opulent surroundings about them. She walked with Carrick and Kara down the central isle of The Grand Hall past slender iron pillars that rose, tree like, into the air, fanning at their tops into a pattern of intricate design that supported the high glass ceiling. The glass walls flooded the room with brilliant light, which in turn reflected off gilt work and polished marble. The space seemed to shimmer and glow. Cleverly woven formfields and fountains maintained a comfortable temperature despite the Amarian climate.

  “I’m not comfortable being in here with all this glass,” Kara muttered. “Not after those explosions on the ships.”

  “It’s the palace. Security is tight. The place will have been checked and rechecked and then checked again. Especially if The Empress is going to be here.” Carrick noted several of the remaining Adepts and other Order members positioned around the room, each deep in concentration. “Have you picked up anything?” he asked his sister.

  “I’ve done a general sweep. When we sit down I’ll be able to concentrate better.”

  “I thought they would’ve had the sense to ask for our help straight away,” Kara noted. “They must at least be aware of how good you are at snooping.”

  “Is that a compliment?” Gwen asked. Kara looked at her blankly in response.

  “Never mind,” Gwen rolled her eyes. “They’re a bit precious about that sort of thing. A matter of internal this and that.”

  “Now’s not the time to be touchy about asking for help,” Kara said dryly as they reached their seats. “And what did you mean about compliment?”

  Even sat they had a good view of the vast gathering for the memorial service. Kara watched the doors as a steady stream of people entered. She’d subtly released some of the natural forces that focused and held her form field, allowing her to shift shape with ease should the need arise.

  The hall was full. A timepiece struck the hour and a great set of doors opened. Expectation spread silence, with each mellow chime. The final note of the last strike faded to nothing. A single cough broke the hush. At the perfect moment a fanfare of trumpets split the air and to the resonant pageantry of a great organ the Empress, resplendent in state dress, emerged in to the mass. As one the assembly stood, heads bowing as she processed with solemn dignity. The effect on all was palpable. There was another fanfare as The Empress ascended the steps to the fabled Diamond Throne of Amar and addressed the assembly. Kara listened for a while and then looked at the faces of the people amongst them, catching sight of Mia Sara, who sat seemingly unmoved by Essedra’s words. The Empress finished and as convention demanded, bowed to the throne before sitting. In turn the assembled dignitaries, ladies and gentlemen settled into the hushed echoes of the hall. Erass led the rest of the proceedings. Speaker followed speaker their voices resonant in the great space.

  “Carrick,” Gwen whispered. “Focus on the second entrance up from the throne.” Her brother quickly did as he was asked, subtly touching the minds in the area. He searched for long seconds. Then shaking his head whispered back. “I’m not getting anything. What is it?”

  “I’m not sure,” she said uneasily. “Something nebulous, a slight peak in the field around there. Almost like a… a pre echo of something.” She focused again tracing the very particles of energy along their myriad paths of existence. Searching for a sign, the meanest hint and there it was! Something faint, hidden in the background noise of the field. She raced her mind along the path suddenly recognising it as a lead for a transport opening. It had been forming for hours making its detection almost impossible but it was definitely there something was coming!

  Gwen stood, urgency gripping her. Her sudden movement created a stir in those sat nearby, some heads turned in annoyance at the disturbance. The speaker continued unaware of anything except the words in front of her. “The Empress!” Gwen shouted raising the alarm. This time all heads turned and the speaker broke off.

  The Empress’s guards moved to surround her drawing swords, automatically looking for an attacker. “No, no!” Gwen was shouting. “Get her out!” She clambered over the people in front of her. “Get her out now!”

  Someone nearby screamed. Several people were already out of their seats, confused by the sudden turn of events.

>   “The second door!” Carrick shouted. “Damn it, the second door!” The Adepts faltered not fully understanding what he meant. “Gwen, don’t get too close!” he yelled, urgently focusing his will as he scrambled after his sister.

  Panic began to break out. People searched for the danger as they stumbled to escape from an unseen threat. More guards rushed into the hall. Carrick shouted again pointing to the door. There was a blinding flash. Then a boom as the air seemingly tore open. Those at the door were instantly vaporised. Seats and bodies were flung across the hall. The room erupted in terror. Gwen reached the Empress. Bodily throwing the guards out of her way she grabbed the startled woman and transported.

  Carrick focused his will. He pushed at the transport point trying to collapse it. But the breach was being held open by at least ten others. The Fury stepped through, an exotic being of savage field energy. Kara transformed. The form field pushed at the limit of her abilities and knowledge, A Panid’s Child, the only thing with a hope of standing against an Elemental. Those in the hall now fled from two apparitions.

  The ground beneath the feet of the Fury became molten. It swept an arm to its right, shearing through a column. Slagged stone sprayed onto the terrified crowd. People climbed over each other in desperation to escape the burning vision, towering eight feet over them. Stunned Adepts and the other Talents struggled to counter the forces caused by the very presence of the Fury, their senses overwhelmed by the cacophony of noise and light it created. Stonework became molten at its touch. Magnetic arcs pulled and tore at the iron columns and framework of the great windows. Glass cracked and shattered sending shards in all directions. People fell and were trampled, soldiers and some of the Adepts themselves had to scramble to safety to avoid being crushed as the terror stricken crowd clawed and fought for the exits.

  Mia Sara had managed to climb to the top of a granite monument. She directed blows at the Elemental, struggling to come to terms with the sight before her. Each hammered into it, showering energy and sparks from its mass like a hammer on an anvil. The Fury shrugged them off, slowly and awkwardly making its way to the throne. Unobserved, Poltack another Adept was working his way through the chaos towards Mia Sara. The Fury ripped at the wreckage of the throne and its platform. The stone of the floor fused, cloth vaporised and wood became a bonfire. The air around it vibrated and shrieked. Its original target gone it should have returned but those controlling it were angered by Mia Sara’s attack. It turned in her direction. Arcs of energy rippled out from its arms and body cutting through floor, columns and flesh to get to her.

  Carrick struggled to reach a place where he could concentrate, bodies were everywhere, the noise in the hall was deafening. He had to push his own fear aside to focus. Nothing had prepared him for this. How could it? He collapsed the space between himself and a large statue. Reappearing on it, he had to grab at the marble to keep his balance. Yet another commotion caught his attention and he looked in time to see Kara desperately bounding her way on four powerful legs through and over the crowd. People threw themselves bodily out of her way as she headed right for Mia Sara. For a split second he wondered what she was doing but then realised Poltack had attacked Mia Sara. She was pinned to the monument unable to move.

  Poltack was rigid with concentration. Uttering the words that directed his use of the field, his eyes flickered fearfully between Mia Sara and the advancing Fury. He would only have to hold her for seconds more and she would be dead. Mia Sara fought to free herself as the Adept struggled to hold her. He only had time to freeze in dumb realisation as Kara leapt, flattening him to the ground forcing the air from his lungs and knocking him unconscious. Kara spun to face Mia Sara, hackles raised into foot long spines down the full length of her back. She curled back lips, displaying an array of dagger like teeth and roared her challenge. Mia Sara flinched, her arm rising in a reflexive attempt at protection. Kara leapt, clearing her and the monument to collide with the Fury. She knocked it onto its back. Her teeth clamped onto its searing shoulder, slicing deeply. Thick neck and shoulder muscles bulged as she shook the Elemental savagely. Its limbs thrashed about it in a ragged storm of light and sound. Her fear and anger reverberated in her chest and out across the hall following the last of the fleeing people. The Fury was attempting to gain a hold on her as she shook it. Energy peeled off it in ribbons, whipping and lashing at Kara’s tough hide. She knew she couldn’t allow it to get a hold on her - it would crush her to death.

  “The floor!” Carrick bellowed urgently at Mia Sara. “Break the bonds… the bonds in the flooring!” He gestured with his hands. “We might be able to trap it!” His words carried across the devastated hall. Mia Sara quickly grasped what Carrick was attempting to do. She skilfully focused her will and field energy on the floor beneath the thrashing monsters.

  Kara was starting to tire. She changed her footing dragging the Fury as she worried it. Her only hope was to keep it disoriented but its hands found her mouth and gaining a grip heaved to prize her jaws open and break them. She could feel the muscles starting to tear. The pressure it exerted was immense. A fist of panic began to grip her stomach but then the ground gave under foot. Raking her claws down its chest she climbed on to the Fury. It faltered realising what was happening and released its grip on Kara. The Elemental attempted to brace itself as the altered floor began to act like quicksand. Kara reared up and sunk her teeth deep into its throat. The pain in her jaws was excruciating and she screamed out in agony. The Fury was forced yet again to divert from its efforts and attempt to grapple itself free of Kara.

  “Jump! Jump!” Carrick was shouting urgently. The words slowly penetrated the pain and exhaustion. Kara released her grip and was immediately thrown back by the Elemental. Carrick pushed and the Fury sunk deep into the destabilised stone. It heaved against the crushing pressure. Mia Sara ceased her disruption of the stones form field and they became solid, fusing the Fury in place. Almost immediately she had to refocus to prevent the stone from melting under the Fury’s own energy. Kara had struggled to her feet. Assuming her own form, she was unable to take her eyes off the flailing Elemental. She unsteadily tried to back away as it shrieked with anger, wildly thrashing at the ground in its attempts to free itself. Somewhat diminished, the forces that surrounded it still lashed out destructively. The creature itself continued its wild attempts to rise. Despite Mia Sara’s determined efforts the stone around it was beginning to crack and pop as it gradually became molten.

  Carrick was shouting again, the strain in his voice snapping Kara’s attention away from the struggling creature, shocking her into movement. She got a grip of herself and willed her legs to move towards him. The air was suddenly filled with the groan of buckling iron. A shower of dust rained down onto the floor as a huge section of stone blocks shuddered and began to lean. Carrick braced his will further on the supper structure behind him and heaved, straining with all his ability. The wall leaned alarmingly seeming to teeter on the edge of balance while, on the opposite side of the hall, girders and metal groaned and buckled under the redirected strain they had to bear. Glass etched with cracks that skittered and spread in jagged runs. Mia Sara had resumed her blows, fighting her own exhaustion, focusing on the Fury’s head to weaken the forces that maintained it. With a grunt of effort Carrick finally caused the wall to over balance and with a deafening rumble, tons of masonry crashed onto the Fury rupturing its form. The ground shook and the air filled with suffocating dust that spilled out across the city in a boiling cloud.

  ***

  “So what do you want to do now?” Jac asked lounging on the large cushions that counted for chairs. Kellim did not answer but continued pacing the small room given to them. Both Jac and Bryn recognised the signs that Kellim was ready to move on.

  “I say we go after Naicarn,” Bryn suggested. “The others are safe enough for now.”

  Kellim was about to own up to his earlier decisions and plans when a knock sounded at the door. Jac answered it and invited Maga in.

&n
bsp; “You have news?” Kellim said concerned by Maga’s expression.

  “The Orders at Naddier and Amar are being attacked,” all three started. She held up her hands to block any questions. “As well as the previous explosions at Amar there has been further destruction. The Academy at Naddier, the Adepts Complex and The Royal Palace in Amar are being attacked simultaneously. May I?” Maga gestured at the bed, Jac nodded. She sat aware of the questions the men were framing in their thoughts. “I should say first that the people you care about are all safe and well for the time being.”

  “That at least we can be thankful for,” Kellim said with relief.

  “So what’s happening?” Jac asked impatiently.

  “Many powder weapons like those used on the ships in Amar have destroyed much of the main academy buildings at Naddier while at the same time The Second of The Three has attacked your own Adepts’ Buildings. Segat is responsible for the powder attacks but I am unable to see who directs The Second of The Three.”

  “Was he after Jenna?” Bryn asked. Maga nodded.

  “Your people there seem to think so. The Second of The Three is dead,” Maga was unable to hide the regret in her voice. “Thankfully he has failed in his attempt to reach her. However, she is now unsure of her safety. And I would be inclined to agree. The rest of The Wandering Children who chose not to join us here may attempt to reach her. Their minds are still closed to me and so we must assume that whoever is manipulating them is still in control.”

  Kellim turned to Bryn and Jac. “I’d feel a lot happier if both of you were with Jenna. The luxury of waiting out the snow is one we can’t afford for much longer. It would seem the college is short staffed and not as well protected as I’d hoped. If there is a possibility of more attacks we may be forced to reconsider where the best place is for Jenna, especially if she’s having second thoughts herself. I wouldn’t want them to try anything rash on their own.”