by C A Ardron
Lynx nodded, ‘will do.’ The limber teenager bounded away and right through Dove’s barrier, his hands already sizzling with flame.
Falcon took a moment to watch him. His light, crimson armour and faintly striped Feline mask seemed underwhelming for the amount of tiny, fiery missiles buzzing through the air. His blond hair was visible, but Falcon thought he’d still be fairly unrecognisable to the likes of Jackal. As time went on the Sarpien general would probably work it out, they’d just have to make sure Lynx was ready for when the day came.
Falcon massaged her neck as she faltered her way over to Dove. Reaching the healer’s side, she gave a great sigh. ‘I’m tired, you’re late and he’s eager – this is a recipe for disaster.’
* * *
Lynx gasped as a tall, blue-armoured Reptile warrior swung at him with a giant sword. Jumping back, his back arched to avoid the shining blade.
He called up some more fire, grinning as it burst from his palm in a furiously burning sphere. His new soul partner was making this too easy.
Lynx threw it at the Sarpien, only watching for a second before turning to his next opponent. He blinked, finding open air where he could feel hostility.
He cried out as a fist connected with his face. Lynx wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with a grimace. Stealthed, of course, he should’ve remembered that.
Lynx thought back to Fire Tiger’s lessons and concentrated, fuelling his power through the air, letting fierce flames rise up from the floor and forcing his invisible opponent away.
He heard a deep, feminine chuckle and the blaze before him wavered as a warrior dove through. For a moment Lynx saw the woman’s lithe shape in the flames before she lunged into him.
Letting his grip on the fire-ring go, Lynx grabbed hold of the Sarpien as he went down and brought his legs up, throwing her off him with the Cat-Flip.
Lynx spun on the spot and drew his new short sword. He’d held swords before in the practice hall, but this one felt different. It had a lightness and balance he’d never experienced before.
He paused, seeing a tall warrior striding towards him. Lynx’s eyes widened – he knew her. It was the green Sarpien who’d been in Trine’s tunnels back when Jackal had captured him.
Lynx took a step back, his fingers fidgeting on his sword hilt and a fireball growing in his other hand.
‘You reek of inexperience, child,’ the Sarpien told him. ‘You don’t have the skill to face me.’
Lynx’s face set. This was just another Sarpien, it’d be fine, just another Sarpien.
He gasped, stumbling away as a brilliant white orb crashed into the green warrior’s back.
Swallow lurched to one side, losing her balance for a moment. She turned with a hiss.
‘I have the skill,’ Dove’s voice rang out, determined and angry. ‘Face me.’
* * *
Dove kept her eyes on the Predgarian traitor but noted when Falcon finished her breather and stalked past to continue her duel with Tigermoth.
Dove decided to keep an eye on her. It made sense Falcon would single out the silver warrior, but it could also be easy for the Avian to get overwhelmed by the numbers.
She reached for Falcon’s emotions as Swallow strode to her. Falcon was scared and weary. They needed this to end, Falcon’s tiredness combined with her tight nerves was dangerous, she couldn’t afford mistakes when facing a Sarpien general.
Swallow stopped a few feet from her. ‘You want to face me, White Dove? I’m the best there is.’
Dove gave the slightest shake of the head. ‘I’ve met the best, Green Swallow – you’re not it.’
Swallow gritted her teeth. ‘Let’s see if you deserve those runes on your arms.’ She dipped a hand into the small pouch at her waist, bringing out a handful of dark, glittering powder.
‘It’s amazing what can be done with magic,’ the Sarpien hissed. ‘It can heal wounds, mask scents and auras, intoxicate the mind and even raise the dead.’ She spun in a circle, dropping the powder around her.
The circle was the most basic form of casting sigils, Dove knew that, but the rank smell of dried, rotted flesh rising from the shimmering dust told her the substance wasn’t fake.
The colour of it implied the dark arts but Dove remembered her lessons. Casting dust mixed with flesh or blood meant protection for summonings. Swallow wasn’t just dabbling in black magic, she was a sorceress.
Dove clasped her hands together a moment before drawing them apart, miming out the shape of a long stick.
She drew on the power of her medallion, calling up her weapon. The white-metal staff materialised in her hands and she glanced at the gleaming dove mounted atop it, the bird’s transparent crystal wings stretched wide.
Dove smiled at Swallow, noting the woman’s surprise, but it was Falcon’s reaction she was really smiling at. The woman was stunned.
You have a medallion weapon? Falcon asked.
Of course I do, Falcon, all warriors do.
Huh.
Hush now, I’m busy.
Swallow began to chant, a black skull materialising in front of her.
Dove’s lips twitched in a knowing smile, she knew that one. Beginning to chant as well, Dove drowned out the sound of Swallow’s words, concentrating on nothing but her counter-spell. It became ready for release as the skull began floating towards her.
Dove whirled her staff, unleashing the power. She allowed a playful smirk to settle on her lips when she heard Swallow’s breathy gasp of surprise.
‘Very good, Swallow,’ Dove complimented. ‘It’s a very nice casting circle, but after all these years I can tell the difference between an illusion and the real thing.’
‘As you wish,’ Swallow grated. ‘If it’s real you want!’ She crossed her hands at the wrists.
Dove’s eyes narrowed as grey mist surrounded the woman. She began to mutter under her breath, beginning a summoning.
Another floating skull appeared, but Dove saw the inky black nimbus surrounding it, its ruby eyes alive and aware. This one was real.
‘Your arrogance is your undoing, White Dove. You deal with illusions well, but you’re in no position to fight the creatures summoned from the void.’
Dove registered the words but wasn’t focused on them. She finished her spell as the sinister apparition began to speed towards her.
She could feel the pure nimbus surround her and then the presence of the being she’d called on for aid.
The white hawk zoomed forwards from the brilliant light, talons raking forwards and beak open to intercept the demonic skull.
Dove held her breath, lending the noble creature her own strength as it collided with its enemy.
The scuffle was over within seconds and Dove nodded in satisfaction when the skull puffed out of existence.
‘What?’ Swallow screeched, ‘how did you do that? You must have a casting circle to summon such things. Why did it not consume you?’
Dove allowed the snowy hawk to fade back into the ether. ‘White magic doesn’t have the same consequences of the dark arts, Swallow. The beings which serve the Light have no wish to destroy the ones summoning it.’
Swallow began to reply but Dove was done with this, she had to help Falcon, the woman had fallen.
Dove took her staff in one hand and extending her free arm, fired an arc of white energy at the Sarpien. Swallow dove to one side, sprawling out on the tarmac and Dove spread her wings, lifting off the ground.
Her eyes sought out Falcon, there were too many Sarpiens – where was she?
Chapter Twenty-Five
Falcon’s shoulders heaved, her arms and legs were shaking. Her hands clutched at the tarmac underfoot, trying to find leverage to pull herself from the ground.
She crawled backwards away from Tigermoth and her shining blade, letting out a small yelp when her back hit something.
Glancing up she saw the thick blue plates of a heavy warrior, his sword broad and long.
Falcon grunted as his gauntleted fingers reached dow
n and wrapped around her throat, forcing her up.
‘Hold her,’ Tigermoth ordered, a sizzling ball of electricity growing in her hand.
Falcon’s eyes darted but couldn’t see Dove or Lynx anywhere. If she didn’t do something, she’d be waking up in the coercion chamber.
Falcon shuddered, she wasn’t certain she had any more to give. She tried to summon up something, from deep within her.
Her eyes drifted shut as she heard the snap of ice and gritted her teeth, giving a moment for the sphere to form spikes before letting the surge run through, blasting outwards.
Falcon let out a strangled cry, the blue warrior’s clutch being forced from her neck as he was hurled backwards.
Her eyes opened when she heard Tigermoth’s squeal of pain. The Sarpien was holding the side of her face, blood dripping between her fingers.
Falcon planted her feet, trying to recover and drew her twin daggers. ‘Well, Tigermoth,’ she said, trying to sound as if she wasn’t almost dropping from tiredness. ‘Looks like someone’s finally marred that face of yours.’
Tigermoth’s scream of rage was barely human. Falcon made ready as the Sarpien charged, brandishing her blade.
Falcon’s mouth fell open as her sight was obscured by bronze armour and huge brown feathers.
Hawk descended, kicking the Sarpien in the face with a well-aimed Sky-Talon. He turned, giving Falcon that cheeky grin before rushing in to follow up his attack.
‘Not that different to the first time we met,’ he reminded her, his sword clashing with Tigermoth’s.
Falcon snorted and turned her attention to the Sarpien behind her. Now she was face to face with him, she could see he was a Reptile.
Falcon eyed up the bulging eyes on his helmet, ‘Blue Chameleon, by chance?’
Chameleon chuckled. ‘Well met, Silver Falcon. You’ve managed to bloody my general, not many can say that. Maybe I should be taking orders from you.’
‘Please tell me that wasn’t a bribe.’
The Sarpien chuckled again and swung at her, the long blade whistling down. Falcon leapt back out of range, she couldn’t match him with her daggers or claw, but she was too tired to make this a Power duel.
Lynx, you busy?
The young Feline spun on the spot several yards away. Falcon breathed in when she saw the size of the fireball growing in his hand and winced when it flew through the air. She retreated further, watching as it struck Chameleon in the back.
‘Ouch,’ she muttered. ‘I would not want to be on the receiving end of that.’
Falcon’s head shot around as several Sarpiens cried out, hurled through the air by a large aura burst. Judging from the brilliance of it, Falcon guessed it was Dove’s work.
She moved into the Side-Claw as a grey Feline lunged in her direction and sliced at the Sarpien’s chest with the Talon-Slash.
‘Retreat!’
Falcon turned slowly on the spot as the Sarpiens began to flee, some of them stealthing on the spot. Retreat? Why? It wasn’t like they’d been losing. Suspecting a ploy of some kind, Falcon spread her wings, flapping her way into the sky.
Hawk joined her. ‘What’s up?’
‘Just making sure they’re really leaving.’ She felt out their auras, they were all heading off. What was Tigermoth thinking? She came all the way to West Sector, another sclithe’s territory - then decides to leave halfway through the fight? What was this even in aid of?
‘Who’s the red? He’s pretty good.’
Falcon glanced at her partner.
‘The way he was throwing fire about I’m surprised he’s not an elemental.’
‘Give it time.’
‘Huh?’
Falcon sighed and dove back towards the ground. Lynx had done better than she expected, but Lion would explode when he found out. Maybe she could at least stop the captain from taking it out on the boy.
She landed lightly upon the road and furled her wings as Hawk joined her.
‘Hawk! I’m glad you’re okay, I was so worried.’
Falcon glanced at the bronze warrior as he stared at the Feline, his mouth open. Slowly, he mouthed the word “Jay.”
‘You…got your medallion? But I thought you were at least four months away from that.’
‘Um…’ Lynx said.
Falcon stepped forwards and placed a hand on the boy’s shoulder. ‘You did well, Lynx. I’m sorry your first battle had to be something like this. Shall we go inside?’
Dove joined them on the way in and gestured for them to come to the kitchen. ‘Falcon, disarm for me.’
‘How come?’
‘I want to take a proper look at you.’
‘I’m fine, Dove.’
‘Disarm.’
Falcon sighed and did as asked. As the light faded, placing her back in her familiar denim and leather, she let out a harsh gasp, knees buckling.
Hawk rushed forwards to catch her and half-carried her to a nearby chair.
‘That’s what I was afraid of,’ Dove sighed. She stroked the side of Falcon’s head. ‘You need to rest, Falcon, you’re ready to drop.’
‘I’ve barely had time to catch my breath since Central Sector. I’ll be okay in a minute.’
‘Where is everyone?’ Hawk asked. ‘They can’t all be on patrol.’
‘There’s been trouble,’ Dove explained. ‘The rogue, Komodo Dragon has attacked Central Sector and a Unician candidate has gone missing from the temple – and so has Martial Eagle.’
Hawk frowned and grabbed an apple from the fruit bowl. ‘You think there’s a connection?’
‘We’re not sure. There has been speculation – all of it bad. All spare Predgarians have been sent to bolster the Central Sector unit.’
‘Well, guess that explains why it’s so quiet around here. What was with those Sarps though? They had blue snakes on their arms, they weren’t Jackal’s.’
‘Who knows,’ Falcon shrugged.
‘They may have been here for you, Falcon,’ Dove told her. ‘Tigermoth did call you out personally.’
Falcon grimaced. It was a possibility, but she’d not wanted to think about it.
‘Who’s on patrol?’ Hawk asked, taking another bite.
‘No one, I’m afraid,’ Dove replied. ‘Captain Golden Baboon has asked Lion to go to the Dakkonin temple, to try and secure aid for the city and to see if they might have any involvement in the candidate’s disappearance.’
‘Oh yeah, that’s right,’ Hawk said, snapping his fingers. ‘They were up to no good yesterday, weren’t they? Well, I think I’m up to a patrol. Since Falcon’s tired why don’t I take Lynx out, show him the ropes?’
Falcon shook her head, ‘not a chance.’ She smiled when Lynx’s shoulders slumped. ‘Disarm for now, you won’t be needing that armour again till Lion gets back.’
‘Hold it,’ Hawk said, throwing the remains of his apple in the bin. ‘Lion does know about Lynx, right?’
Falcon threw a glance at Dove and then Lynx, a fiery red pillar surrounding him as he deactivated.
‘Oh, Light no,’ Hawk groaned. ‘You two are gonna get suspended for the next year, you realise that?’
‘We had no choice,’ Dove told him. ‘There were twenty Sarpiens out there, and Tigermoth was threatening to kill people if we didn’t come out.’
Hawk sighed and shook his head. After a moment he began to laugh. ‘We really are screwed as a unit, aren’t we? Lion keeps pissing Jackal off, you’re gifting medallions to people early and Falcon’s going off on her own to fight Sarpiens.’
Falcon winced, trust Hawk to open his big mouth.
‘What?’ Dove exclaimed. Her sparkling eyes turned hard as she gazed at Falcon. ‘You said you were going to Baboon for help!’
‘Yeah,’ Falcon said, staring at the table. ‘Sorry.’
‘Sorry? That’s it? That’s all you’ve got to say? Hawk could’ve died!’
‘I couldn’t.’
‘Why?’ Dove barked.
Falcon shuddered, she’
d never heard the healer so angry. ‘Because I-’
‘This is unacceptable behaviour, Falcon! You endangered your partner’s life by going alone – not to mention your own! Do you think you’re so invincible you can-’
‘I thought there’d be Emissaries!’ Falcon’s breath came out in short, sharp bursts as she glared at Dove. The woman had finally fallen silent, her eyes wide. ‘I’m sorry,’ Falcon whispered, her voice harsh and raspy, ‘I really am. I made a mistake, and I know I’ve done Hawk wrong. When I learned Green Python had set me up like that, singling me out, I was certain there was more to it. I expected at least one Black Emissary to be waiting for me today – or at the least the rest of the red sclithe’s Elite. I went in there intending to do my best to get Hawk out but I had to go in alone…because I was sure I wasn’t walking away from it.’ Falcon’s eyes lowered to the ground. ‘Hawk’s life was already in danger, I couldn’t risk anyone else’s.’
She looked up as Hawk placed a hand on her shoulder. ‘You were gonna give up, weren’t you?’ he asked. ‘To get me out, you were gonna go with them without a fight.’
Falcon shook her head, wanting to deny it but the tears were already welling in her eyes.
‘Oh, Falcon,’ Dove sighed. ‘You really are impossible. When will you learn you’re at your strongest when you’re with us?’
Falcon swallowed. ‘I know you’ll always be there to watch my back, but not against the Black, you can’t.’
‘But there weren’t any Black today,’ Dove pointed out. ‘All you did was make things harder for yourself.’
Falcon gave a soft laugh. ‘Yeah, I was so sure I knew what was happening, but Python just wanted me dead. After the last few months it was kinda refreshing.’
Her head shot up at the sound of the reception door opening and swinging shut. Reaching for her medallion, she activated.
‘Lynx, armour on,’ Hawk whispered.
Lynx nodded and grabbed the coin at his chest.
Falcon noted he was chewing his lip nervously. She let her claw unsheathe but paused when Lynx did the same.
‘You have a claw?’ she whispered, frowning at him.
‘Well, you do,’ he objected. ‘It’s really cool.’