Spiderhunter (Ages of Argainen Book 1)

by Robe

  As he reached the door, he saw Argain trying to break the barrier Thraun had produced. Veese stumbled forward, his doubly-wounded ankle functioning less than ever, and he rushed toward the Evil God with blade prepared to strike. Argain was aware of Veese’s attack though, and he moved aside so that Veese instead struck Thraun’s magical shield. Within, Thraun winced, the effort of maintaining the shield clearly exhausting him.

  Argain threw his arm downward and an explosion erupted at Veese’s feet, ripping the floor boards away and sending the hero across the hall. With newfound determination, Argain plunged his hand back at Thraun’s shield, and Thraun grunted, his face turning red and the veins in his neck bulging. With a deafening crack, Thraun’s shield broke, and a shockwave was sent through The Solid Coin, blasting the glass out of every window and knocking every painting from the walls. Thraun was sent tumbling, and he landed, unconscious, on the ground.

  Smirking evilly, Argain proceeded into the room. Kassidy pulled a dagger from her belt and stood over Thraun’s body, her face terrified as Argain casually walked toward her. The Evil God cackled for a moment at her boldness, and with a flick of his wrist, a magical sword appeared in his hand. He swung at Kassidy, and she barely managed to defend herself; a second swing and the weapon was knocked free of her hands. With a swift motion, Argain moved toward her and thrust his blade. She could barely cry out before the life left her eyes. Pulling his sword back, Aragin watched as Kassidy fell to the ground, lifeless.

  Footsteps raced down the hallway, causing the wicked being to turn his head and grimace. Instead of his usual basking, he forced the energy free of Kassidy’s body and absorbed it roughly, grunting as he did.

  Veese managed to get to his feet and was surprised to see what had transpired. People were appearing in the hallway to investigate the explosion, and Veese pointed to Argain. “He burned down the Great Mill and killed the boy inside!”

  The people raced in to find Argain standing in the room over Kassidy’s dead body. He looked longingly at Thraun, defenseless on the ground, but after a quick glance at the citizens running after him, he hurried to the window and was gone.

  “It was valiant of you to save those too weak to save themselves,” Balanch said. “Unfortunately, all of that valor has been for not. If they are weak, they will die regardless.” Balanch was wearing the same light suit of armor as last time, but instead of a cloak over the top of it, he wore a sweeping, black cape that flowed behind him in the breeze. Around him, most of the people Auric and Kandon had saved were now plastered to the ground with Balanch’s sticky muck. Each of them looked terrified, and with hopeless struggles, they fought against the adhesive gunk.

  Auric looked sidelong at Kandon, and the tracker began slowly ushering the two children away.

  “Tar,” Balanch said. “How effective it is against those less capable, like your friends, here.” Joan and Reon were struggling to get to their feet, but a kick to their backs sent them back to the ground where they landed on their knees, both of them wincing from the pain. “As you can see, my powers have heightened since we fought yesterday. Impressive, don’t you think?” He gestured toward the cloud of smoke behind Auric.

  “Kule,” Auric said as assertively as he could manage, “your mind has been twisted by the man you call ‘master’. You don’t have to let him control you.”

  “My master is not a man,” Balanch spat, “and he has opened my once-blind eyes to the sufferings of our world. His insight is beyond anything you could possibly imagine.”

  “You’re only saying that because he’s influenced you,” Auric continued. “Don’t be his pawn.”

  Balanch laughed. “Is that what you think? That I am a mindless being of raw power? No. My master can create mindless beings. He chose me because I am special. We share a similar understanding of the New World, and of how it should be. No one can stop us, least of all you.” As Balanch finished his speech, he raised his hand and a blast of tar spurted toward Kandon and the children. Kandon dove forward, pushing the children out of the way and taking the blow himself.

  Auric pulled his sword and dash toward Balanch. The villain laughed and drew his own weapon. The two blades met. Balanch was far superior when it came to physical confrontation, and Auric was merely holding his own, hoping he could stall his opponent long enough for help to arrive.

  Reon pulled at his binds as the sounds of metal against metal rang out repeatedly to his right. With his hands tied behind his back, he realized no amount of struggling would free him. Instead, he focused on creating a fire in his palms. Warmer and warmer his hands grew, and it wasn’t long before he smelled the nose-wrinkling aroma of smoke. A civilian ran forward to help Auric in his battle but was shot to the ground by a blast of tar from Balanch. Reon intensified the fire, and soon his whole back was ablaze. He tugged at the burned rope that held him, and it ripped free. With a quick command, he extinguished the fire on his back, pulled his gag away and rushed to Joan to untie her.

  “Hurry,” she said quietly once Reon had undone her gag and begun untying the knots around her hands. When she was able to pull free, the two stood.

  “Shouldn’t one of us run for help?” Reon asked, but Joan shook her head.

  “There isn’t time. Auric needs us,” she said, and they raced toward the battle. Once in range, Reon called to Auric, and Balanch turned swiftly to see a fireball racing toward him. Reon hurled another fireball, slowly walking toward Balanch between throws to get a better shot. Either dodging or shouldering each attack, Balanch retaliated, releasing two streams of sludge at the people approaching him. Joan gracefully evaded the one aimed at her, but Reon was hit directly. The tar knocked him over and stuck to him, making a recovery nearly impossible.

  Joan was swift; she swerved to avoid another torrent of muck as she approached Balanch, and once close to her opponent, she aimed a surprise jet of forceful water at him, hitting him in the face. Knocked off balance and drenched, Balanch was unprepared for Auric when he dove back into the fight. It was all the villain could do to keep Auric at bay while he regained his composure, and with a brisk slash of Auric’s sword, Balanch was completely disarmed.

  Auric relented slightly, expecting Balanch to surrender or retreat, but the villain did the opposite. He rushed forward too quickly for Auric to react, and with unnatural strength, he punched the leader in the gut. All breath was knocked loose from Auric’s lungs, and he doubled over.

  Standing up straight again, Balanch grinned as Auric fell, but the smile was soon wiped off his face as a crossbow bolt screamed through the air and plunged into his shoulder right where his breastplate ended. He cried out and staggered backwards, seeing Kandon crouching some distance away with his crossbow in hand. With undeniable willpower, Balanch gripped the projectile embedded within him and pulled it free. He looked at the bloody arrow in horror and then back at his opponents. Joan advanced on him, focusing herself for another stream of water. As she neared, Balanch aimed his uninjured arm downwards, and with a rushing sound, smoke cascaded around him, covering the man and allowing for his second escape.

  Joan stopped her pursuit and shouted in frustration, knowing it would have been bad judgement to follow him. For a moment, she watched the smoke drift away, revealing Balanch was indeed gone. Remembering her teammates were hurt, she rushed to Auric and quickly ensured he was unharmed, save for what would probably be a nasty bruise. When she reached Reon, she found him surprisingly calm, especially for someone glued to the pavement.

  “Are you well?” she asked, looking down at him, and he nodded.

  “We’ll get him next time,” he said casually while she drew a dull-looking dagger from her belt and carved away the muck holding him down.

  “I hope you’re right,” she replied.

  “I’ve seen you do some pretty amazing stuff,” Kandon said as he approached them, “but that guy is way scarier than we are.”

  “Yes, he is,” Joan said. “Will you make yourself useful and help us free some of these
people?” Kandon nodded and approached a young woman, promising to get her out in no time.

  They moved from one innocent to the next, releasing each one from the grime that held them down. Each was grateful, complimenting the heroes on their amazing victory over Balanch, but for the most part, they were quick to make themselves absent. The sun was nearly ready to set by the time they were leaving.

  “What happened that led to the two of you being tied up?” Auric asked as they walked back to The Solid Coin. Almost all of the smoke surrounding The Fouled Mare was gone, but a stench that was unkind to the nose lingered on the air.

  “We saw the smog and figured Balanch was behind it,” Joan said. “When we approached, a man stumbled out and told us that there were already people within, guiding others to safety, so we figured it was you. That rat surprised us, putting a sword to Reon’s neck and commanding me to surrender. He made Reon tie me up, blasting anyone who tried to help us with his tar. Once I was tied, he bound Reon and told us we were going to wait for our friends to come out.”

  “He could easily have killed us,” Reon added.

  “Where are Dalk and Ziem?” Joan asked suddenly, frowning and looking up and down the street.

  “They must be back at The Solid Coin… They must be worried,” Auric said, and after exchanging a concerned look with his companions, he hastened his pace.

  -

  “Master!” Balanch choked, falling to his knees before a man who stood commanding and nearly expressionless. Boxes and crates surrounded them, most filled with fish, others filled with bait for catching them. A fishy stench surrounded the pair, but the odor was far from their greatest concerns.

  “You are wounded,” Argain said. “Remove your garments.”

  Balanch did as he was told and pulled off his armor, then he slowly he peeled his bloody shirt from his body. The injury was fairly serious, and Argain knew that if Balanch hadn’t such impressive determination, he would not have made it back to the storage house.

  “Does it hurt?” Argain asked, running his fingers over the bleeding wound.

  “Yes. Badly,” Balanch answered, wincing as Argain’s hand made contact.

  “It is a mortal wound. It cannot kill you,” Argain said, and as his fingers left the gash, the pain left with them, causing Balanch to sigh in relief. When he looked down, the wound was gone and nothing remained but the encrusted blood.

  “Thank you, my Lord,” Balanch said.

  “How did your encounter go?” Argain said, turning away from his follower.

  “I did not kill any of them, as you instructed,” Balanch reported. “They were very distracted with saving those I had put into danger.”

  “Interesting,” Argain said. “Were they afraid?”

  “No. Not yet.”

  “And the one who wounded you,” Argain continued. “He was not one of the six, was he?”

  “No, Master.”

  “The mercenary?”

  “Yes, Master.”

  “Interesting.” Argain repeated. “The next time you meet them, kill him.”

  “I will, Master.”

  “You have done well, Balanch,” Argain said. “I was able to accomplish what I desired.”

  “You are stronger now?” Balanch queried.

  “I am, although they too are growing in power. We must be faster, swifter. Tomorrow I will sail across the sea to the South. You will remain behind for one day. Entertain our friends, but use caution. They will be furious should you meet them head-on in battle. Now, I will rest, as I suggest you do. This day has been trying, and the next may be as well.”

  17

  When the companions arrived at The Solid Coin, they were shocked to see the glass of every window had been blown out. Several people stood around, inspecting the damage. Tolsien was among them, shaking his head and mopping at his brow with a rag.

  “Tols!” Auric called and rushed to meet the bartender. “What happened here?”

  “I think that man you’re searchin’ for found you first,” Tolsien replied.

  “What happened?” Auric repeated, growing frantic as he thought about his missing friends.

  “Go inside ‘n see for yourself,” Tolsien said.

  Auric led the way as the group charged into the tavern. There were few people in the sitting area, and only Turtle was at the bar.

  “Your friends are in their room. I’m sorry,” Turtle said, and he lowered his head as they passed him.

  More concerned than ever, the companions dashed down the hallway and burst into their room. With immense relief, they saw Dalk, Ziem, and Veese were all well and sitting around Thraun. A sickening feeling hit them collectively when they saw the tear stains on Thraun’s face, and they knew what must have happened.

  “You’re safe,” Dalk exclaimed when he saw them. “We worried when you didn’t show at the meeting place.”

  Joan was immediately beside Thraun, comforting him. Auric nodded his head to the side, and he, Dalk, Ziem, Veese, and Kandon gathered to share tales.

  Veese began by briefly describing his battle with Argain, and how the Evil God had gotten hold of Kassidy. Dalk spoke next, explaining that he and Ziem had headed to The Solid Coin when no one else showed at the rendezvous. They could see something had occurred there, and they entered to discover the Evil God had attacked again. Afraid to leave Veese and Thraun alone, they stayed while Kassidy’s body was taken away.

  Once Dalk had concluded his part in the events for the day, Auric spoke for the others, telling of the smoke storm and how Balanch had caught them off guard again. Dalk’s eyes widened at the mention of Balanch, and Veese sat to listen, his eyes studying the floor as his mind worked. Auric finished with the escape of the villain and how Balanch was wounded in his retreat.

  “He will not give us trouble again soon,” Kandon said. “That shot was deep.”

  “I can only hope you’re right,” Dalk commented. “We need time to recuperate.”

  There was a quiet tapping on the door, and Reon cautiously answered it. Turtle was waiting outside with a tray full of dinner.

  “On me,” he said. “I heard about your little feat yesterday, and it seems like you’ve been at it again today. Thanks for protecting us.”

  Reon accepted the food graciously, and Turtle left them to dine. They ate, and several words were said about Kassidy, some offering condolence, some vowing her sacrifice would not be in vain. Without glass to form a barrier between the cold and the people within The Solid Coin, the night would be frigid indeed, so the party decided to stay in a single room and huddle together for warmth. When the others had either fallen asleep or were trying to, Joan was still muttering to Thraun, trying to offer him some form of support in his anguish. Auric approached the two and sat on the other side of the grieving man.

  “How are you doing?” he asked.

  “I miss her so much already,” Thraun muttered, his voice shaky and raw. “She was the kindest person I’ve ever met, and she was killed so thoughtlessly.”

  “She hasn’t really left you,” Auric said in his most gentle tone. “Not while you still remember her.”

  “I want to help you,” Thraun said, looking up at Auric with his red cheeks and watery eyes. “I want to join in stopping this madman. No one should have to die so young, to miss so much of her life.”

  Auric looked at Joan, and she nodded. “You must be exhausted,” Auric said. “Try to get some sleep. We’ll talk in the morning.”

  Thraun stood. “Thank you,” he said to Joan. “You’ve brought me much comfort these past hours.”

  Joan rose and led him to bed before carefully picking her way beside Kandon. She was quickly snoring.

  -

  The next morning, Auric gathered the party to the sitting area of The Solid Coin, claiming Veese had something important to share.

  “I may have discovered the motive behind Argain’s actions,” he said once everyone had settled in with their breakfast. Thraun had joined the group, making their number an
even eight. “Argain is a cautious being. We have witnessed this. He does not like to fight when he does not have to. So, why does he expose himself each night to hunt the innocent? I believe Argain is searching for and killing enhanced individuals such as ourselves.”

  “You mean he’s specifically killing people who have powers?” Joan asked.

  Veese nodded. “He put himself at great risk to attack Thraun and Kassidy. More than once.”

  “What would be the point of hunting these people?” Dalk inquired. “The threat we may pose to him? If that were the case, shouldn’t we be his main priority?”

  “Actually, I think he is harvesting their energy,” Veese said. “Argain was imprisoned for generations before emerging upon the New World again. He must be weakened. Otherwise, he would have ascended beyond our reach.”

  “Respectable argument,” Auric said. “So, in other words, if we can prevent him from slaying any more of those bestowed with magic, he will remain vulnerable?” Veese nodded in reply.

  Suddenly, Tolsien appeared next to their table. “Should I be expectin’ another explosion this evenin’?” he asked.

  “We do apologize, Tols,” Auric said. “We’re doing our best to catch this fiend.”

  “Well, I ‘ave a bit of redecoratin’ to tend to,” Tolsien said as he looked at a nearby window, void of glass.

  “Oh, take it easy on them, Tols,” Turtle called to the bartender. “They saved a dozen people yesterday, didn’t you hear? Cut the heroes of Abelenst some slack!”

  Tolsien shuffled away, grumbling, but Turtle was not finished. “Let’s have a hand to them, shall we? Without whom, all insanity would break loose in these strange times. To the heroes of Abelenst!” Turtle cheered, and soon everyone in the pub was raising their morning beverages and calling out in agreement.

  “Perhaps we should remove ourselves from public attention,” Dalk whispered to Auric, but Auric was secretly glad to be appreciated.