by Jamie Davis
Nils had already collected a list of creatures that he believed would give him everything needed to conquer the world. And now they stood at a cave opening much larger than the others. He bristled for more.
Movement inside. Something squirming in the inky blackness. He could sense a malevolence behind the curtain of darkness that repelled even him.
He turned to Gorim, but the man was several feet away, as if afraid to approach the larger cave.
“What lives in here, Gorim? I sense its power. It far exceeds anything else.”
“That is the Chimera, Nilrem. The greatest of our beasts. It possesses nearly limitless power but also holds an equivalent power to destroy. Once unleashed, it must bring an end to everything it sees. It is the one creature I beg you not to take.”
“Can I not control it, same as the others?”
“No,” Gorim said. “You cannot. The Chimera can be summoned, but never controlled. It is a creature of such destructive power that only the Fell can exert any control at ll. Come, let us walk back and you may finish choosing from among the others.”
Nils looked back over his shoulder at the gloaming. He still couldn’t see the creature within, but he sensed it trying to communicate. Infecting him with an unfathomable thirst for destruction and death.
Kane shuddered and walked closer to Gorim.
“We’ll leave that one where it is,” Nils said.
Nils named off creatures as they walked back to the cavern entrance.
Gorim muttered his occasional approval. Once finished, Kane looked back at the cavern and then to his companion, whose face was still hidden in the shadows of his hooded robe.
“I am ready to unleash this army on my enemies, Gorim. Tell me the next steps.”
“When you return to your world, you will open a gateway between this world and yours. We will send the army through to you. Once there, they will fall under your command for as long as you need them.”
Nils smiled, picturing the beasts tearing through Durham’s band of rebels. There would be nothing left of them by the time his new army was finished with them—
A sudden, familiar pull on his mind and Kane was falling backward.
Then he was standing in his apartment, his hand on the orb.
“You found what you were looking for, Nilrem?” asked the Fell in his mind.
“I did, master. I am ready to bring final destruction to my enemies.”
“Good, then stand back and I will bestow upon you the power to open a portal between worlds, so that you can bring your chosen army here.”
Nils stepped backwards.
Again the black forked lightning reached out from the ebony globe and struck him in the chest. His back arched, body blazing with power.
Then everything went black.
CHAPTER 28
Winnie got up and stretched.
She looked around the room searching for Danny, and smiled when she saw him outside. He’d been up before her every day this week, helping wherever he could at Fort Brick. Maria told her yesterday during one of her breaks that Danny had attached himself to the small company of middlings who’d signed up with their rebel army. He trained alongside them whenever possible, and even took guard shifts when they were assigned to the wall.
He would be heading to the dining hall soon.
Winnie walked to the window, looking out over the grounds below. Switching to the magical spectrum like always, she saw the faint blue glow of the force field that lived in a dome over the hospital.
She looked into the distance, trying to see where it hit the woods, past the sandbag-reinforced brick wall. Their first line of defense, stopping any mundane or magical creature who might try to access Fort Brick.
A trio of magic techs maintained the field at all times. Others could be added to reinforce it if they ever came under attack.
Winnie pulled on a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt, thinking about the day.
The chanters had been practicing using magic with hand-to-hand combat to enhance the effectiveness of both. Garraldi and Maria told Winnie that they were impressed with everyone’s progress. They were making plans, and Winnie had to approve them.
She also had to talk to a small group of menders—the magical healers who had joined them as medics—and go over the day-to-day routines, versus emergency procedures.
Winnie put on a smile before she opened the door. She couldn’t afford to let anyone see the doubt that wanted to creep behind her eyes.
Her people needed a victory.
Winnie stepped into the hallway. A pair of sentries smiled as they came to attention outside her room. They followed her throughout the day—another security measure put in place for her ever since the Garbarian attack a week before. “Good morning Don. Janice. Ready for today?”
Winnie started walking down the hallway and the guards fell in behind her.
“We were born ready,” said Janice. “What’s the plan?”
The guards had been with the team since the initial assault on the camp. They’d been part of Cait’s original team. Since then, they’d become a trusted part of the group Garraldi called the Ring—his circle of security around Winnie and any others in need of twenty-four-hour protection.
“Today we see if our little army is ready for action.”
“I like the sound of that, Winnie,” Don said.
And she did. They needed to depose Kane from his self-appointed throne. Put the people back in charge of their destiny. Winnie had called a breakfast meeting to announce her plans to the command team. She was nervous, but also eager to get started. They’d been cooped up for too long.
When Winnie arrived in the dining room, everyone was already waiting.
Conversation stopped.
The room felt thick with anticipation.
Her stomach was already rumbling from the smell by the time she spotted the bacon and eggs. The constant use of magic kept her drained, and it was hard to stay fueled.
Winnie smiled at the room then piled food onto her plate.
She took a seat between Danny and Elaine.
Victor, Morgan, Tris, Garraldi, Cricket, and Maria were also at the table. These were her closest friends and confidants. They trusted her, but Winnie wanted them to be as excited about her plans as she was.
It was time to reclaim their country.
There was only one thing to be sure of first.
“Maria, how are the recruits? You and Garraldi have been drilling them nonstop off and on for almost a month now. Are they ready?”
“About as close as we can get them given our constraints”
Garraldi nodded. “The most promising thing we’ve been able to do is integrate the new chanter spells that you and the others have developed with a few tricks of our own. The recruits are going to give some big surprises to any conventional army force they encounter. But honestly, I don’t know if that will be enough to overcome a force of professional soldiers.”
“What about the middling recruits? Have there been issues between the groups? They’re going to have to fight together in what is to come.”
Maria said, “Danny would know better than us.”
“I think you all should stop thinking of them as separate units,” Danny said. “They can’t use magic while they fight, but they’re all highly motivated to make up for it. They came here to side with us because they didn’t believe in what Kane was doing to the chanters. They deserve credit for that. They’ll fight when it’s time.”
“Good to hear,” Winnie said. “Because we’re taking the fight to Kane tomorrow morning.”
A moment of silence as the room drew her in.
Victor finally spoke. “Where’s the target? What are we attacking?”
“The Baltimore Armory. Maria and Garraldi need more hardware. Plus, we’re sure to continue to gather recruits, so it makes sense to resupply. If we can weaken the forces holding the city closest to us, it’ll send a message to Kane that we’re coming for him. Maybe it will make h
im negotiate a peaceful way out.”
Elaine shook her head. “You’re fooling yourself if you think Kane will back down. He’s always been driven by something … some sense of purpose that pushes him to do what he does. He won’t change now.”
“Your mother’s right, Winnie,” Cricket said. “He’s unleashed magical monsters. It’s obvious that we’ll have to root him out of his sanctuary by force. He’ll never willingly surrender.”
“Then we’ll have to crush him,” Winnie said. “Morgan, you were working on a hack to access the city’s defense network. How’s it coming?”
“I’m in.” Morgan grabbed a small laptop from the floor and lifted the lid. “There’s an old direct data line running underground from here to the city. Our access is in the basement. Once I tapped into that, getting into the city’s Red Leg systems was easy. I can turn perimeter cameras on and off, set them to loop the video, whatever you need.”
“Have you given any thought to what we should call ourselves?” Tris asked. “We need a name for our army, something that people can believe in, and talk about when they can’t get away from the news. You know it will happen.”
“I’ve been thinking about that,” Winnie said. “What do the rest of you think?”
Maria said, “We need something to tell the recruits they’re special. That all the work they’re doing—getting knocked into the dust and getting back up—it’s paying off and being recognized.”
“Dusters.” Winnie smiled. “We should call ourselves Dusters. It’s perfect.”
She looked around at all the smiles and nods.
“I like it,” Cricket said. “Makes us sound scrappy. It’s definitely something we should put out on our daily communications with the other cities. They can start discussing us in their local areas, especially in those places where we control the news. A name will give the people something concrete, a unifying thought and concept to hold when they think about what we’re doing.”
“The troops will like it, too.” Garraldi grinned. “Too bad we can’t have patches made.”
“Yeah, we don’t have much in the way of uniforms,” Maria said. “Everybody’s wearing whatever they brought, which for some isn’t much.”
“I’ll see what I can come up with,” Cricket said. “Let me talk to some of my contacts up in New Amsterdam. Maybe we can work something out.”
“It will help with morale,” Maria said.
“Is morale low?” Winnie asked.
“Everyone’s spirits are high, but that will change over time as we take casualties. Little things will hold us together.”
Winnie looked at Cricket. “Maybe we can have a treat for the troops by the time we get back from the Baltimore raid.”
“I’ll see what I can do, Winnie. You know I’ll get it done if I can.”
“I know you will, Cricket.” She scanned the group. “Well that’s it then. We’re the Dusters. Pass the word and we’ll move out early tomorrow.”
“I think you should address them before we go, Winnie,” Elaine said.
“I’m not much for speeches.”
“Your mother’s right, Winnie,” Garraldi said. “It doesn’t have to be much of a speech. But everyone deserves some words of encouragement and a reminder of why we’re fighting. They’ll hang on every word, whether you think it’s worthy or not.”
Other people made speeches. She was Winnie, a teenager, not the leader of an army. Except that she wasn’t just Winnie. Not anymore.
She’d taken over the operations of Sable bosses across the country, then turned her charm running forces into a rebel army that was now the only opposition to a pure evil that wanted to kill them all.
“I’ll come up with something.”
“Good,” Victor said. “The Dusters deserve to hear from their warrior queen before they march off to battle.”
CHAPTER 29
The sun was still deciding to rise when Winnie found herself standing on the steps of the main building at Fort Brick, open mouthed, heart pounding, seconds away from addressing the troops.
Companies were fanned in front of her, vehicles nearby ready to take them all into the city. She grazed the faces, all of them waiting.
Word had spread that she was planning to speak to everyone before their big assault on Baltimore’s defenses. Danny said that everyone was excited to hear what she had to say.
That didn’t make her any more comfortable, or slow her heart.
Her hand drifted to the pocket of her leather jacket. She’d taken the time to jot some notes. Just enough to keep her from floundering, or looking foolish.
She looked out at the troops in the early morning light, knowing the paper was useless. She bit her lip and took a step forward.
“I guess the word has spread. You know we’re all Dusters.”
Winnie waited for the cheers to die down, then continued.
“We’ve been knocked down by the bullies running this government one too many times. Now we’re dusting ourselves off and taking the fight to them.”
The cheering grew louder. This time her mouth teased a smile.
“Today Nils Kane will taste our retribution. We’ll raid his stronghold and take everything we can grab that isn’t nailed down from his armory.”
Winnie descended a single step.
“We’re all feeling the same things: worry, excitement, fear … the fear of letting others down. All of that is natural and none of us are different. But let’s turn that worry and fear into the weapons that will bring the Director down. Then maybe we can get this planet breathing again.”
Another step.
And then another. And as she took that third step, Winnie reached back over her shoulder and pulled Excalibur from its scabbard.
“I took this from under Kane’s nose while he stood and watched me. He thinks I stole this from him, but the truth is that it always belonged to me. Now it’s the Duster’s symbol: proof that we can reclaim what is ours. We can take back our cities, our homes, and our lives. There is nothing he can do to stop us.”
A final step.
“Dusters … Are. You. With. Me?”
Dus-ter, Duster, Duster …
The chanting filled her.
She smiled, waving the sword overhead until her arm was on fire.
Still, the people cheered louder.
She turned to Danny, standing with the group of leaders behind her.
“How was that?”
“Perfect, Win. You did it. They were with you before, but they’re fully behind you now. Listen to the cheering.”
Winnie glanced out at the troops, still chanting while their officers herded and loaded them into trucks and cars.
“It’s certainly loud.” Winnie looked down at her sword. “Can you put this thing away for me? I can never get the damned sword back in the sheath after I draw it.”
Danny laughed, then took the sword from Winnie and carefully slid the blade back into its sheath.
She turned to face him. “You know why you have to stay.”
“I know you said that someone needs to hold down the fort. But I still think Cricket and your mother can do just fine.”
“It’s different for them. You’ve been training with the troops. They respect you. You’ll be in charge of the company we leave behind to guard things while we’re gone. There will be a full complement of Tris’ techs. If we maintain the shield, we can hold off an army.”
Danny looked away, took a breath, looked back. “I just don’t like you going out to fight without me; that’s all.”
“Garraldi and Victor have my back, and I’ll have all the adult chanter elites. And with Kripke, Bullock, Frannie, and Parnell, there’s not going to be much in the way of magic or mundane forces I need to be afraid of.”
“There will be bullets flying at some point. People will get hurt, maybe killed. I don’t want one of those people to be you.”
“Kane has tried to kill me plenty. He found out the hard way, it isn’t easy.”
He leaned forward, hugged her for less than she would’ve liked, then let her go. “Be careful. I’ll be here when you get back.”
“I will.”
Winnie waited three seconds, one too long, then turned and trotted down the steps to join Garraldi, the chanter elites, and her security team in one of the two vans that would lead the convoy from the grounds.
She looked over at Garraldi in the driver’s seat. “Everyone loaded and ready?”
“Looks that way. Maria’s getting the last company loaded now.”
“Then let’s get moving.” Winnie said.
The van started forward, leading the convoy of vans, cars, panel trucks, and two tractor-trailers. They drove through the entrance then down the lane a short distance to the edge of their force field.
Garraldi stopped until an opening appeared in the blue-tinted field across their path, then accelerated through it.
The other vehicles followed.
This was the first time Winnie had been outside the fort in days. The new world slapped her at first. But then she was tickled.
Plants had been green and growing inside the force field. Flowers bloomed. Sun shined hard from a clear blue sky. Here, a few hundred yards outside camp, orange dust boiled the air. Plants and trees were the color of mud.
But that only meant that the world was hers to repair.
The first explosion BOOMED behind them.
Winnie whipped around, looked back down the lane to the fort.
A ball of fire erupted from a van in the convoy’s belly.
People leaped from the burning vehicle, many on fire.
A missile streaked by and slammed into the two tractor trailers.
“We have to turn around,” Winnie shouted. “We have to go back.”
Garraldi shook his head. “We can’t. There’s no room on this road to turn around. We have to get out. We’re sitting ducks in these vans. Get out. Now!”
People were fleeing. Garraldi was already halfway out his door.
Winnie looked forward.
Scads of army vehicles were racing towards them.
The tank in the lead had a large gun barrel, its turret aimed right at their van.