by Ben Hale
Wrapped in scrollwork, the large archway led to a series of storage rooms. Little used and rarely visited, they harbored a secret that no one had discovered since Hawk had built it. A glance behind him ensured that no one was present. Then he touched an enchanted stone that a friend had made for him.
Sadness engulfed him as he disabled any technological monitoring motes in the area. His senior technology mage had been killed when Alice had destroyed the Guildhall on Auroraq. He'd been a good man, and had left a vacancy within the Guild of not just his skills.
Protected from being seen, Hawk flicked his fingers out. Trails of flame sparked from his hands, and threaded in ten directions. Each found a knot in the intricate scrollwork, touching with widely different temperatures. Once the last had connected, the heat lock released with an audible click and the storage rooms began to move.
The stacked chairs and desks rumbled to the side, replaced with a small, circular room. Once he stepped inside it, the entire alcove shifted back into its hiding place. Encased in anti-magic, the space would look like a pocket of dense rock to even a keen eyed observer. Bereft of furnishings, adornments, or lights, the space was little more than a rough hewn cave, a place to hide a single statue.
The sculpture was a few thousand years old, but it wasn't its age that made it valuable. This particular statue was an evokin, a statue linked to a consciousness. In this case the woman wore plain clothing from an ancient age and stood with her arms folded. Her features were flawless and were exactly the way he remembered them. Hawk brightened the room with a ring of floating fire and then greeted her.
"Hello, old friend."
The statue’s stone lips curved into a smile, and she blinked. "Hello Hawk. Why did you come to speak to me here?"
Her voice sounded gravelly and harsh, quite unlike her real voice. Without the organic tinge to the expression and form, it would have been easy to think she was someone else.
"Circumstances have made it difficult for me to be on Auroraq. I thought it best to use the contingency we planned on."
Her smile faded. "So it has begun?"
"It has," Hawk said. "The Dark has been unleashed upon our world."
"Then the oracle is your only hope. Is she ready?"
An unbidden smile blossomed on his face. "She is a living legacy to her ancestors, powerful, driven, and yet unique."
She folded her arms. "Will she endure what is coming?"
"I have prepared her to stand alone," Hawk said. His lips pulled into a wry smile. "As young as she is, I see a phoenix inside of her."
"You have grown to love her."
"Like a father to a daughter, I will mourn leaving her to her fate."
Her voice became sympathetic. "You have lived for eons of time. You could have married as a human."
"My mate was taken," he growled, his fury rising. "I would have fathered more of my kind if my beloved had not been killed by the Iseonix."
She fell silent, and the sadness in her eyes cooled his anger.
"I'm sorry," he murmured.
"One should never apologize for loving another," she said. Her tone echoed hollow with regret, but she smiled anyway. "You taught me that."
They were quiet for several minutes, while both considered their lost loves. Then he said, "I miss her."
"I'm sorry I had to ask this of you," she said.
"We both know it was the only way," he replied.
She released a rumbling sigh. "You once told me that those of the eternal flame do not view death the same as the other races."
"My beloved died in front of me," he said. The image flashed across his mind, but the pain had not dimmed with time. "My desire for revenge would have led me into a battle I could not win. You kept me from the madness of loss."
"As you did for me," she said, and inclined her head in gratitude.
A smile creased his face. "I wanted to thank you for what you have given me."
"Oh?" her rocky eyebrow lifted. "I do not recall a gift."
"I have spent six thousand years without my beloved," he said, "and for the first time that loss has been dulled. Tess has returned to me what I had forgotten."
Her stone features seemed to soften. "It has been too long since I have seen happiness on your face, and it warms my heart to see it. For all your service to this world you have been rewarded with pain and sorrow. I am sorry for that."
"At least I am not alone."
She flashed a wry smile. "Keep her safe, Hawk."
He shook his head. "She protects herself, now."
"Then guard your own life," she replied. "I would see you in the flesh before this is over."
"I will summon you when you can do the most good." Hawk replied.
"I will not have much time," she reminded him.
"I have not forgotten. Farewell, old friend," he said, and inclined his head.
The statue mirrored his motion, and then hardened into rock. Releasing a sigh, he turned and departed. He had not come with questions, but he felt he had his answers. His pace slowed by his thoughts, he retraced his steps back into the school.
He exited the bowels of Thastin to find Director Orin standing with a dozen battlemages. Magic blossomed in their hands at his appearance, and they drifted apart to flank him. Hawk stood his ground.
"I'm sorry, Hawk," Orin said. "But you are not welcome here."
"I was before you knew my identity," Hawk said quietly. "Does my form matter so much to you?"
Orin shifted uncomfortably. "Not to me, but the Trimages are afraid. I'm sorry, my friend, but I need to ask you to leave."
Hawk jerked his head. "No."
Orin blinked in surprise, and the nervous battlemages looked among themselves. Several more men rushed down the hallway and joined those already circling Hawk.
"Are you so ready to spill blood?" Orin asked. "Why defy our wishes?"
"Because you are going to need me," Hawk replied.
"What makes you think that?" Orin asked.
"Because without my help, this school will fall to Alice," Hawk replied.
"What?" Orin's eyes widened.
Hawk felt a tremor of warmth sweep across his skin, and knew that it was time. The spells he'd placed around the school and village over the last week registered the arrival of his enemy.
"Because they are already here," Hawk said. “Take me to the Trimages before it is too late.”
Orin stared at him, and Hawk could see the conflict on his face. Trust Hawk? Or send him on his way? Ultimately he nodded.
"This way."
Hawk fell into step behind him as the battlemages reluctantly moved to follow him. Students peeked out of side corridors to get a look at him, but scrambled off when he glanced their way. A few minutes later Orin led him out of the school to an inverted pyramid structure at the center of the village. The predawn glow had lit the horizon while Hawk had been inside, and the early risers were in the streets. As if he wanted to avoid their scrutiny, the director hurried Hawk to the Trimages.
Organized before even the High Council, the Trimages were a trio tasked with protecting auren ignorance. Among other things, they tracked down and silenced aurens who had inadvertently witnessed magic. They controlled a full contingent of battlemages as well as most of the memory mages in the world. Due to the important nature of their work, they were considered second only to the High Council, and had taken leadership of the mages after the Harbingers seized Auroraq.
Orin led Hawk into the council room, whereupon the three mages rose to their feet. He leapt forward, cutting off their angry protests and whispered urgently to them. When he finished the woman at the center motioned to Hawk.
"How do you know about this attack?"
"I have been tracking the Harbingers for decades," he replied. "I may not have been able to stop them from releasing the Dark, but I do know my enemy. With Auroraq gone, it was only a matter of time until they came for you."
"Assuming we believe you, how soon until they arrive?" the man
next to her asked.
"They are gathering across the lake now," Hawk replied. "If you evacuate Aberock into the school we can make a stand here. I would guess their attack begins at dawn." He folded his arms. "Or you can try to imprison me as Alice did."
They recoiled from the ultimatum, and fell into an urgent, whispered debate. Orin's expression hardened as the seconds passed, and he turned to the woman at the center.
"I recommend we listen to him. If it proves to be false, you can decide how to deal with him later."
She jerked her hand at the men. "We listen to Hawk. Regardless of our concerns, he has stood up to the Harbingers." She turned to the battlemage next to Orin. "Captain Beck, do as he says. Get everyone in the village into this castle—quietly."
"But—"
"Do it, Captain," Orin said. "You may not trust him, but if what he says is true, you have no choice."
The captain nodded and signaled his men. Reluctantly they followed him out of the castle. Orin turned to Hawk in the ensuing stillness.
"How many have come?"
"Too many," Hawk said. "But I do not believe they have brought Voidlings."
"Why not?" Orin asked. "From what I understand we could do nothing to stop them."
"That is true," Hawk said, "But for now, all of the Voidlings are being used to maintain order on Auroraq. Alice also hopes you will surrender. If you did, the rest of mages would fall as well."
"You knew they were coming," the woman stated. "Does that mean you have a plan?"
"I do," Hawk said. "They are expecting you. They are not expecting me." His eyes darkened with anticipation. "Or the ones I brought with me."
Chapter 42: Defiance
Hawk stood in the center of the village, his gaze fixed on the fog shrouded lake below. Captain Beck had been an example of efficiency, and had managed to evacuate the village without alerting the gathering Harbingers. Now the cobblestone streets were lined with several hundred battlemages, guild members, and volunteers from the school.
Built in another age, the homes and streets of Aberock were distinctly medieval on the exterior. Inside they contained every modern technological and mage advancement. The village’s position in the valley protected it from auren detection, as did numerous enchantments. Few of them provided much of a defense against the Harbingers.
Dawn broke, and the brilliant light gradually lit the lake. Then the morning mist parted, and several figures materialized into view on the water. Others appeared behind them, and then more. Row by row they advanced from the fog in ordered ranks. Gliding forward with silent intent, their number grew until they exceeded a thousand, and still they kept coming.
"How'd they grow so fast?" Orin breathed. "I didn't think there were this many of them."
"They are in power," Beck said grimly, "so dissenters join them."
"There must be five thousand," Orin said, and cast Hawk a look. "Are you sure we can do this?"
"We have to," Hawk replied.
The ranks of Harbingers came to a halt two hundred feet from the docks. A trio of men continued forward as Hawk, Beck, and Orin advanced to meet them. They came to a halt at the edge of the city, and kept their distance.
"Mallian," Orin said in dismay. "I expected better from you."
"I'm not your student anymore," High Magistrate Mallian growled. Then his eyes shifted to Hawk, and narrowed. "You harbor our enemy."
"He did not come to enslave us," Captain Beck said. "Are your intentions as noble?"
Mallian gestured to the Harbingers behind him. "We are here to ensure Thastin and Aberock join the Master. You may join by word . . . or by blood."
"We'll take your blood first," Hawk said.
The anger in his voice caused Beck and Orin to cast him sideways glances. Hawk clamped down on his rising fury. He'd prepared since Alice took over Auroraq for the day he could retaliate. Now that it had arrived his impatience mounted.
Mallian sneered. "We all serve the Master. It's time for you to learn that." He raised his hand and the Harbinger ranks drifted forward. Magic blossomed among them.
The Guild struck first.
Hidden deep in the lake, thirty members of the Guild unleashed the Alluvian. Woven by Hawk's water mages for the last two weeks, the giant beast exploded from the surface in the middle of the Harbinger army. Men and women cried out as they were launched in all directions.
Rising to a hundred feet above the lake's surface, the Alluvian's lower body remained embedded in the churning water. Its upper body resembled a man, but its head was that of a dragon with teeth of sharpened ice. Covered in icy spines, its massive chest and arms shimmered with power as they flexed. Then it lowered its enormous jaws to the Harbingers scrambling away and unleashed a horrendous shriek.
Mallian screamed in fury and half of the Harbingers surged toward the village. The rest gathered their might and unleashed a barrage of magic at the water titan. Steam erupted from the Alluvian as it smashed into the Harbingers. Men and women cried out as they were shredded, and blood darkened the water.
"What is that thing?" Orin asked as he gathered his own magic.
"Not all magic is remembered," Hawk replied. "Nor should it be."
The fire in his hands begged to be released, and he amassed a boulder the size of a house. Then he sent it barreling down the street. Harbingers dived out of the way thinking they had evaded the hex. Then the boulder exploded. Houses were shredded in the titanic blast, and the leading Harbingers went with it.
Captain Beck cast Hawk a glance as he crafted a quartet of hulking stone golems. "If you've lived for so long, why didn't you reveal yourself before now?"
Hawk threw him a look that caused him to flinch. "Because the mages tried to kill me."
Hawk turned back to the battle being joined and released his own magic. The battlemages and professors from Thastin stepped into the side streets of Aberock and engaged the advancing army, leaving Beck, Hawk, and Orin to hold the center.
"Brace yourselves!" Orin bellowed, and his magically amplified voice echoed throughout the village. "Do not let them reach the school."
Energy and magic rent the air from both sides, tearing into structures and flesh alike. Explosions rocked the village as fire mages launched a volley of curses. Stone golems joined the fray, their hardened bodies plowing through the ranks of Harbingers.
With the lake beneath them the Harbingers used its power to strike back. Water hydras solidified into shape and unleashed a barrage of frost into the defenders, freezing them to the bone. Fire and light mages added their touch to the hydras until their breath became a torrent of superheated steam and boiling water. Behind it all the Alluvian raged.
Its massive arms slammed into the Harbingers, crushing and scattering them. The return fire split its liquid flesh, slowing but not stopping the massive creature. The Alluvian released a bellow of agony and plunged into the lake. A moment later it burst into view behind them. They scrambled to get out of the way. Those that weren't quick enough were caught and forcibly drowned.
Hawk had lost Mallian in the initial assault, so stalked through the furious battle, searching for him. He found him on one of the smaller docks at the edge of the village. Mallian spotted him and yelled for reinforcements. One of the water hydras turned to strike Hawk, but he raised a shield of fire to block the torrent. Yanking the heat from the resulting steam he sent a burst of fire into the wood beneath Mallian's feet.
Mallian jumped out of the fire and shouted for aid. Reluctant to approach, the Harbingers attacked by other means. Trees tore themselves from the ground and accelerated toward Hawk, stone and water golems advanced, and countless smaller entities assaulted him. He burned them all to a crisp.
Stone melted and water evaporated, trees were left smoking husks, and other magical entities exploded into fragments of energy. Hawk never stopped advancing on Mallian. Before he could retreat, hawk flicked his wrist. A fifty-foot fire whip snapped into view, and with a deft twist he lashed Mallian across his body. Th
e man collapsed, and Hawk struck him again. Harbingers on all sides bombarded Hawk with attacks but he summoned two giant fire golems to take the blows.
"You will not defeat her!" Mallian screamed as blood dripped from his wounds.
"I will not fail," Hawk responded. His quiet voice carried a timbre that caused terror to fill Mallian's gaze.
Mallian forced himself to his feet. "You cannot fight the Dark!" The water on both sides of the dock rose up and smashed into Hawk.
Hawk pulsed the fire inside himself, and the water burst into steam. "Yes I can," Hawk said, and flicked his whip again.
This time it coiled around Mallian, binding him fast. Water surged from the lake and covered the whip, but could not diffuse it. Growling, Mallian fell. Hawk stalked to his side and rolled him over with his foot.
"It is coming." Mallian's bloody features were lit with anticipation. "And you cannot stop it."
Sensing the truth to his words, Hawk wrapped the enchanted binding around Mallian and looked across the lake. Diminished to half its size, the Alluvian had slaughtered hundreds of Harbingers. Before long it would be victorious. The battlemages and guild members in Aberock had fought with a fury as well. Although half the village had been destroyed they were on the verge of victory.
But something dark had appeared across the lake.
Gliding forward, the Voidling passed into the Alluvian and halted in the center. The Alluvian groaned as great fissures opened on its flesh. Streaks of light pierced the Alluvian as the Voidling drew in its power. The foul creature's vertical jaws widened due to the volume of energy, and its form swelled. Wounded and tearing apart, the giant water entity careened to the side and disintegrated into rain.
Passing out of the dead Alluvian, the Voidling came for the village. In its wake the underwater guild members abandoned the dying creature and lifted to the surface to fight. Hawk only had eyes for the Voidling.
The Harbingers made a gap for it, and it advanced into the pitched battle. The surviving battlemages turned their magic on it, causing it to stumble. Then it seemed to take a breath and swell as it absorbed the energy. Its smoky arm reached out and caught the nearest mage, and slammed it to the ground. The man's eyes turned black as his body turned the color of ash. The Voidling discarded him and searched for another foe. The next he turned into a Twisted, and it joined him in the assault. Together they left a trail of broken bodies as the number of Twisted grew.