by TurtleMe
“What about Helen? Didn’t she visit you?”
“She stopped by earlier but didn’t stay for long. Why?”
Helen hadn’t told her either, for the same reason that nobody else had told her. It was better if she didn’t know—there was nothing she could do about it anyway.
“What’s going on, Arthur?” Her liquid brown eyes peered into me, searching for an answer. It was the same look she always gave our family when she knew we were hiding something from her.
“Mom…” I began.
There was nothing she could do about it, but she still had the right to know.
“The troops are a lot farther away than planned, and there is no sign of our soldiers backing down.”
“What? That can’t be right. What about all of those explosives placed throughout the underground passages?” She seemed on the edge of panic; her eyes darted around the room, jumping from one wounded soldier to another, than back to me.
I shook my head. “It seems like one of the captains decided against the plan. They’ve gone with Trodius’s original strategy.”
My mother’s knees buckled. I caught her and eased her to the ground, but she suddenly looked ten years older.
“Don’t worry, Mom.” I smiled, trying to look as bright and reassuring as I could, but she only gazed fearfully up at me, her face pale. “I’m here now—we’re here. Sylvie and I are going to go out there. I’m sure Dad and the Horns are still kicking ass right now. I’ll make sure they get back safely,” I assured her, trying to get her back up on her feet. “I promise.”
225
Dim Tunnels II
MICA EARTHBORN
If any one aspect of Vildorial seemed unchanged, it was the mages scurrying about the Earthborn Institute as if the world was on fire and only they could put it out. Not far from the mark now, maybe. Though, perhaps the guards didn’t used to look on with quite such attentive suspicion, nor did they finger their axes and shortswords so nervously.
“Don’t worry, brave soldiers, this little sprite is with Mica and won’t cause any grief.” One of the guardsmen made to break off and provide an escort, but I shooed him away. “These halls are well known to Mica, and she doesn’t need a guide to find her team!”
Cheeks blooming red under his ruddy beard, the guard stopped and stammered out an apology before returning to his post.
If you asked most any dwarf, the Earthborn Institute was the finest magic school in all of Dicathen. It had been founded by the Earthborn clan hundreds of years ago and had been managed by the Earthborns since.
I had spent my formative years within those marble halls annoying my family and terrifying my professors. Even amongst the Earthborns, who were considered unusually talented at magic among the dwarves, I had always been considered a genius. Few dwarves could manipulate gravity, and none could do so with my level of proficiency. It’s a wonder you’ve stayed so humble, Mica dearest.
The halls were quiet, it being rather late and most of the students and staff having already retired for the evening, but I knew that the team would be waiting to hear about the night’s hunt. Oberle, following closely behind, seemed to grow more quiet and nervous the deeper into the school grounds I led him. The tunnel bumpkin is more scared here than he was back at the bar. How odd.
I heard the team even before opening the iron-bound door that led to our shared quarters. It sounded as if they were arguing, though I couldn’t make out the words. Eyes rolling, I pulled open the door, grabbed Oberle by his collar, and dragged him through.
“—forgotten why we’ve been sent here, Mr. Gideon—”
“—I do with my own time while not directly assisting in the war effort is none of your damned business—”
“—operation is essential to preventing the Alacryan army from making this a three-front war—”
“—done everything that has been asked of me, and will continue to do so, but I am an inventor, damn it, not a diplomat, and I—”
“Shut it!” A red-faced dwarf, his blond beard quivering with irritation, stomped between a middle-aged elven woman and a gray-haired human. “That’s enough! By the stones, if you two don’t quit your bickering, I’ll bury you both, consequences be damned!”
The room’s occupants fell into a shocked silence. The old man looked apoplectic, too outraged to even respond. The elf’s multi-colored eyes fell to the floor, but I could sense her mana seething within. From a seat nearby, a young, curly-haired human was peeking out from between her fingers. Leaning against the far wall, a second blond dwarf, identical to the first, seemed to be having a hard time keeping from bursting into a fit of laughter.
“Glad to see everyone getting along so well,” I chirped, dragging Oberle into the room and pushing him down into an empty chair. There was a brief pause as everyone realized that I had joined them, then each burst into a rapid fire explanation, speaking over each other and making it impossible to hear any one of them.
“General, I must protest to the extracurricular activities of Mr. Gideon—”
“Your attendant seems to think that it is she who is in charge of this investigation—”
“Cousin, you’d better have brought us actionable news, because my axe won’t stay sheathed much longer—”
One by one, they cut off their explanations. I gifted them my sweetest, most innocent expression, which told them if they didn’t stop speaking immediately something uncomfortable was likely to happen.
“Thank you all for waiting up. Dear Cousin, Mica does indeed bring ‘actionable news.’ Everyone, this is Oberle.” I waved toward the miner, who seemed to have lost the ability to move and sat, frozen, staring out at them all. “Oberle is a fire salt miner who has become embroiled in the Alacryan insurgency entirely by accident, and he has agreed to take us to an Alacryan camp he recently delivered goods to in order to make amends for his past mistakes.”
That got their attention.
“Oberle, this wizened human here is Artificer Gideon, master inventor and chief science officer to the Council itself.”
The old man stepped forward excitedly. “Fire salts, you say? Why, it just so happens that one avenue of my research here in Darv—”
“And this,” I said, speaking over the human, “is my attendant, Alanis Emeria.” The elven woman bowed respectfully.
“These roguishly handsome dwarves are my cousins, Hornfels and Skarn Earthborn.” The laughing dwarf by the wall waved cheerily, but his twin only glared at Oberle.
“And let Mica not forget the infant child that for some reason Gideon has insisted upon endangering by bringing her along, Emily Watsken, previously of Xyrus Academy.”
“I’m not an infant!” Emily declared sulkily.
Moving from his post by the wall, Hornfels hopped over the back of the couch and settled in next to Emily. “So what have you learned, Cousin? As Skarn said, our axes are eager to see some action. We’ve been skulking through the streets for weeks.”
The promise of progress focused the group. Skarn stalked around the couch to stand behind his brother while Gideon took a seat next to the smoldering fire and Alanis moved to the side, standing uncomfortably still and straight.
I proceeded to explain my discoveries, prompting Oberle to fill in the details where necessary. The group then discussed the plan for moving on the Alacryan camp.
“It is clear than Emily and I were brought along for our brainpower, not our combat prowess. We would be nothing but a liability down in the tunnels, an object which you must protect. Anyway, I have already communicated the Council’s desires to the Earthmovers’ Guild, and Emily has shared her design for the monitoring of mana flow with the Earthborn Institute.
“Now,” Gideon paused and shot Alanis a dark look, “I will spend the time you are away researching the fire salts mined from under Vildorial. I believe there may be a number of combat applications for this mineral beyond its use in dwarven forges and to warm the deep tunnels.”
“General Mica,” Alanis said
immediately, “I believe it is imperative that Artificer Gideon and his apprentice oversee the work at the Earthmovers’ Guild. The planning there is essential for the defense of Sapin, which the Council made very clear. Gideon—”
“Will be as much a liability at the guild as he would an asset,” I interrupted. “Famed Gideon may be, but the Earthmovers are prideful and will only be insulted if a human stood over their collective shoulder and attempted to micromanage them. So long as they are fully aware of their task—and understand its urgency—then Mica is fine with Gideon pursuing his pet project while we are away.” To Gideon, I added, “Clan Lastfire may be of assistance, and you can explain to them why their youngest son has vanished while you’re at it.”
“Then what shall I do while you are away, General?” Alanis asked stiffly.
“Mica would like Councilor Buhnd’s taskforce to assist us in the assault. Though unlikely, it is possible that we will face a retainer, perhaps even a Scythe. It is known from General Arthur’s original report regarding the Alacryan forces’ movements through Darv that a Scythe made its way through the portal, though this Scythe never appeared on the battlefield. Thus, the creature must be considered still at large. Should we find this Scythe, Mica will deal with it, but more soldiers to handle the Alacryan forces would be better. Then, please send a scroll to the Council, explaining what Mica has found.”
“I will see to it immediately, General.” Alanis bowed deeply, her blonde pony-tail spilling over her face, then left the room at a brisk walk.
“We’ll be coming with you.” Skarn’s tone made this a statement of fact.
“Yes, Cousin. Oberle will lead Mica, Hornfels, Skarn, and whoever Buhnd’s taskforce can spare into the deep tunnels to this hidden grotto.”
Oberle’s voice was choked and raspy when he broke his silence, saying, “You—you want me to go with you? I—um—I had assumed that I’d be just… just giving you directions. Or something.”
“Oh no, friend Oberle, you are Mica’s guide now, and you will not leave Mica’s side.” I smiled sweetly at the young dwarf and batted my eyes while letting free just enough of my power to make him squirm in his seat.
“Well then, I need to get my beauty sleep if we’re off to kill Alacryans tomorrow,” Hornfels said, heaving his stocky frame up from the couch.
“It’ll take more than sleep to make you a beauty, Brother,” growled Skarn.
“Look who’s talking,” Hornfels quipped back.
226
Carried Back
ARTHUR LEYWIN
Sylvie and I left the protection of the Wall and looked out at the battle. Many more archers and mages were positioned on the ground, closer toward the bloodshed. The noises of battle seemed much louder on this side of the Wall.
I looked back at the thick metal gates closing behind us, filled with regret, seething with rage.
‘We’ll find out who was responsible for this later,’ my bond said comfortingly. ‘Right now, it’s our duty to help win this battle and keep everyone safe.’
Giving her a nod, the two of us walked forward. I tuned out the shouts and cheers of the soldiers around us. I wasn’t a hero, nor did I wish to be. It was impossible to be everyone’s hero. It’s inevitable that I’d let some people down—hell, I’d already let a lot of people down.
Not every human, elf, or dwarf could be equally important to me, and that's a fact that I had accepted long ago. I was here to serve my role, to help end this war, but it wasn’t for world peace or to save mankind—it was so, one day, I could lead a comfortable and happy life with the people I loved and cared for.
Walking through the lines of bowmen and conjurers, most of whom were launching arrows or spells at the rear line of the beast horde, I could hear mutters around us. Soldiers nudged their colleagues nearby to get their attention; hundreds of gazes turned towards us.
“You should at least acknowledge them,” my bond said, noticing the stares.
“Focus, Sylvie,” I admonished. “Let’s do what we came here to do first. We can worry about troop morale after.”
The ground felt like wet tar, gripping and pulling at my feet as I trudged forward with my bond by my side. I couldn’t shake off an unsettling feeling that made my chest tighten and my breathing to become quick and shallow. The veil of night and the crowd of combatants hid the answer to a question that I grew more and more afraid to ask.
Brandishing Dawn’s Ballad, I dove into the thick of the battle underneath the shower of spells and arrows, Sylvie right behind me. My bright teal sword became a beacon for our soldiers, giving them hope and the strength needed to keep fighting.
Sylvie focused on defending the soldiers, shooting precise bullets of mana wherever she saw one of our men let his guard down, slaying many beasts just as they would have claimed another victim.
Corrupted mana beasts melted away before us, while behind us a wedge of soldiers formed, and always my eyes darted from face to face, looking for the familiar figures of the Twin Horns or my father.
The largest of the mana beasts started to appear. I saw the silhouette of a massive worm towering high over the battlefield, its gaping maw full of soldiers. Occasionally, blasts of fire erupted from its tip, eliciting faint screams from the soldiers, then it would dive down to scoop up more.
Gritting my teeth, I tore my gaze away, trying once again to spot my father through the dirt, smoke, and debris that had settled over the chaotic battlefield. It was then that I caught sight of another group of soldiers trying to bring down a giant monster.
It was a midnight grizzly, a mana beast that ranged from B-class to AA-class—when it wasn’t corrupted—depending on their maturity and the density of their metallic pelt, which they obtained from consuming precious ores.
By its twelve-foot height and the glimmering sheen across its spiked fur, I guessed that this particular midnight grizzly was in the AA-class. What drew my attention wasn’t the beast itself, though; it was the broad back of a soldier who fought with thick armored gloves and was taking the brunt of the grizzly’s attack while his companions made futile attempts at bringing the corrupted beast down.
I couldn’t tell whether that person was my father or not, but my feet were already moving towards that battle. With two mana-infused steps, I was within range to strike down the grizzly, but my focus was on the brawler. The soldier was in a full set of armor, including a helmet that covered his face, so I couldn’t make out his identity.
When the soldier stepped back to take a momentary breather while the beast was occupied by the other soldiers, I pulled off his helmet.
“Hey! What the hell—”
It wasn’t my father. Suppressing the urge to crush the flimsy helmet in my hands, I shoved it back on the brawler’s head.
“Move,” I ordered. It wasn’t just directed towards the man I mistook for my father, but at the other soldiers circling and striking at the midnight grizzly as well.
Being mages made them sensitive to mana, and the mana surging out of me gave weight to my command, and the soldiers quickly complied.
I knew Dawn’s Ballad wouldn’t be able to pierce the midnight grizzly’s hide, especially in its current condition, so I put the sword in my dimension ring before stepping toward the giant, metallic, six-limbed bear.
That single step carried me just below one of its razor-sharp claws as the beast struck. Grabbing hold of one of its claws, which were as thick as my forearm, I shifted my weight and siphoned mana throughout my body at the very last minute.
The result: the 6,000-pound beast was tossed in the air like a stuffed animal, twirling cartoonishly before slamming into the ground hard enough to crack it. The midnight grizzly let out a deep, piteous moan.
“Holy crap,” someone exclaimed. I turned to the soldier; his giant warhammer was dented and its shaft slightly bent from multiple collisions against the midnight grizzly’s armored pelt. He was staring at me with awe, then his eyes suddenly widened at the sight of something behind me.
/> The grizzly had rolled back up to its feet and immediately lashed out with its four clawed arms. I swayed, sidestepped, and pivoted, cleanly dodging the barrage of claws that created divots in the dirt around me.
‘Arthur, do you need help?’ Sylvie’s voice sounded in my head.
No. Keep looking out for my dad or the others. This won’t take much longer.
Frustrated, the midnight grizzly attempted to hammer down with its two top arms. Rather than dodging it, however, I held up a palm.
Utilizing the technique that Elder Camus had shown me, I created a vacuum just above my open palm and received the full force of the attack. My feet sank into the ground and my whole body shook, but it threw off the beast’s center of gravity and left it wide open. In the time it took to take another step, I had tethered the midnight grizzly’s back legs to the ground—so it wouldn’t go flying and cause casualties on our side—and condensed several layers of swirling wind around my right fist. The torrent in my hand was strong enough to make the trained soldiers nearby recoil, and when my fist landed squarely in the metal beast’s abdomen a shockwave resonated from the blow, sending some of the weaker soldiers and nearby beasts sprawling on the ground. The grizzly crumpled over, choked out a puddle of stinking black blood, and died.
‘Wasn’t that a bit excessive?’ my bond chimed in, obviously feeling the impact from where she was.
The grizzly’s coat seemed to have been affected by the Alacryans’ corruption. I had to hit it pretty hard.
Unable to even spare the time to catch my breath, I moved on to the next fight, still searching every face for some sign of familiarity. As the largest—and most visible—of the Twin Horns, I had decided to focus on finding Durden in the hope that he’d be near my father.
Despite the lack of conjurers in the front line, it proved very difficult to find my giant friend. Earth mages were more useful closer to the ground, so it wasn’t just one or two earthen spells that I spotted in the distance. Knowing Durden and his unruly strength, despite being a conjurer, I was certain he wasn’t back near the Wall with the other casters and archers.