“Well, I think that just about does it,” Draccus said.
“How do we keep it contained once we summon it?” Cadi asked. “Or better yet, destroy it?”
“I intend to try mage-fire against it. I know little that mage-fire cannot kill, magickal beastie or otherwise. There are also instructions for a binding on the plinth. I will incorporate that into the summoning. Even if the mage-fire doesn't work, the creature should still be bound within the Labyrinth once more and we can take time to figure out how to destroy it,” Kellin said. “It would be best if the three of you went beyond the bounds of the modulators.”
Draccus walked to the modulator nearest the entrance and lowered the section of shielding blocking them in. “Out you go, then.” One by one, the Magisters filed past him.
“This won't be forgotten,” Viktor said. Draccus gave him another slightly mad grin.
“Nope, I 'spect not. I certainly won't forget it.”
Cadi frowned at the odd statement as she and Rolf passed through the gap in the shields. She turned to face the Dragon.
“You're brave. I'll give you that,” she said and then, more softly, “Thank you.” Cadi paused a moment before continuing. “Do you… do you have any last requests?”
“Dos mere, but Dracos here already knows my final wishes. He will see to things.” Draccus replied. His look turned sly. “However… if you're offering… how about a kiss for good luck?”
Cadi rolled her eyes, trying to keep the tears from coming. She'd misjudged this man, this hunter who should have been her enemy. He had honor. She nodded, stepping towards him. “I think I can manage that.”
He bent towards her. Up close, Cadi could see the deeper gold flecks in the Dragon's golden eyes. His kiss was gentle but confident. He kissed her a second time, more deeply and Cadi's hand involuntarily tangled in his curly hair. Draccus gave a throaty, pleased growl. Behind her, Viktor gave an impatient one. Draccus chuckled, leaning into Cadi.
“Dos mere,” he whispered before stepping back into the chamber and activating the final modulator, sealing Kellin and himself inside and leaving them to watch from the outside. The Dragon carried on a muted conversation with Kellin, then knelt before the Captain, wings unfurling as he did so. Draccus bowed his head and Cadi saw his skin ripple. A gap opened in his back, between the wings.
Cadi could hear Kellin speaking, his words unintelligible. The Captain reached down, thrusting his hand into the bloodless wound in the Dragon's back. Cadi whimpered, though Draccus didn't seem bothered by the intrusion. Beside her, Dracos was murmuring in soft Argosian. Kellin pulled his hand out, clutched in a fist. As he did so, the Dragon's body tumbled forward bonelessly, wings splayed out to the side.
Still speaking, Kellin laid an object on the low table and when he drew away, Cadi could see it was a small square- the chip that contained the Old One's essence, his soul. Kellin willed one of his bracers into a stout mallet and brought it crashing down on the chip, smashing it to pieces.
“Synmerra, friend,” Dracos said beside her, slipping back into Common.
Within the chamber, inky fog was gathering. It grew thicker and coalesced into a towering form. The beast walked upright, like a human. It had a massive head, like an aurochi, with long grey horns shading to black at their sharp tips. Shaggy black fur covered its chest. It had human hands, but they were tipped with long claws in place of blunt fingernails and its feet were the heavy broad hooves of an aurochi. Red malevolence burned in its eyes. The minotaur bellowed and Cadi could see that the bovine muzzle was filled with sharp teeth, reminding her of the ghilan of Xibalba, whose equine muzzles housed equally sharp teeth. It focused on Kellin and bellowed again.
Kellin collapsed the mallet and raised his hands and in the next instant, the minotaur was encased in purple mage-fire. Mage-fire burned faster and hotter than regular flames. Normally it was a greedy thing, eagerly consuming all it was offered. The beast bellowed again, reverting to fog and extinguishing the flames. The fog roiled against the stasis field, but couldn't go further, stopped by the binding Kellin had created or by the overlapped shields created by the modulators. The fog grew darker. Hidden from sight, Cadi heard Kellin's voice calling out. The fog drew together again, as the minotaur regained its corporeal form. It bellowed at the Captain, even as he engulfed it in mage-fire again. The creature dissolved and this time the fog descended upon the miner. There was a sharp cry and when the beast reappeared, there was nothing left of Kellin but a fine mist and the bracers he'd once worn.
Seeing the Magisters for the first time, the minotaur bellowed and charged them. The field flared bright blue when it hit, but held firm. Rolf yelped as all four scrambled back from the field. The minotaur backed off and charged the field again. The shields held firm once more, but this time a great deal of sizzling and sparks accompanied the bright flash of blue.
“I don't think the field is going to hold much longer,” Rolf said, voice shaky with fear. Cadi agreed.
“Loki! Help us!” she cried out. In response, a desert hot wind whipped down the corridor, past the Magisters and the hunter. It passed through the stasis shields as if they were nothing and the chamber beyond erupted into an inferno that burned so hot they could feel the heat even through the protective shields. The minotaur's enraged bellow turned into a sharp wail of agony. Clearly, Loki's fire could hurt the beast where mage-fire couldn't. The wildfire burned brighter and hotter, driving the group further away. After several long minutes it winked out. Beyond the stasis field, Draccus' body and Kellin's bracers were gone. There were only dark scorched marks on the floor to suggest where they might have once lain. Of the minotaur there was no trace. The modulators remained unscathed, but Cadi suspected it was more by Loki's choice than their ability to withstand the deity's fires. Something was still moving in the chamber, however. Loki, in his human form, strode from the smoky haze, passing through the shield as if it weren't even there, feathered cape fluttering around him. Viktor growled at his approach. Cadi put a calming hand on his arm.
“Viktor, meet Loki. He's my guardian.” Turning to Loki, she said, “Thank you for helping. Is it… gone for good?”
The raven-man nodded. “It is. There's no more taint of sacrificial magick here. I burned it away, along with the anchors that chained it here. It's gone and won't be coming back, but that might not make no nevermind now. This city is falling apart. The riots are much worse now.”
The Magisters took off running back to the front. They spilled out of the mine entrance to the sound of the disaster sirens. Throughout East Ward, fires raged and they could see smoke rising from dozens more in the other Wards. A series of explosions knocked Cadi off her feet.
Cadi flinched as more explosions rocked the city. Dracos had vanished in the confusion, once they were free of the mines. Viktor had checked in, to see where they should head next and the report from Jupiter was grim. The Crows, and the Magisters themselves, had been overwhelmed by the sheer fury of the riots. Beyond the Rim Wall, she could see the looming Argosian flagships. She watched in a growing horror as the lead flagship locked its main ion cannon into firing position. Cadi knew that the Argosian Empire had little use for the tiny skycity with its excessive criminal element, but she couldn't believe they were willing to simply destroy the population.
Come. I can take you away from here. Loki's voice sounded in the Magister's mind and the firecrow winked into existence, shifting to his human form. Cadi shook her head.
“No… no. This is my city, this is my home. I'm not going to abandon it, even if no one else will care that we are all gone. I'm not leaving.” She gave a soft, shuddering sigh, thinking of all they had just gone through, in an attempt to protect the city. It all seemed so pointless now.
Loki cocked his head to the side, regarding her for a long moment. He turned abruptly and walked off, disappearing as he did so. Cadi sighed, struggling to keep the tears she wished she could shed from falling. She turned to look at Viktor and Rolf. At least the three would b
e together at the end. It was a small comfort.
“What… is… that..?” Rolf asked, alarm filling the young wolf's voice. Cadi and Viktor looked to what held Rolf's terrified gaze. Fire spread along the top of the great Rim Wall, a massive curtain streaking to circle the entire city. The flames undulated like a living thing and, as the circle came close to completing, a huge serpentine head lifted up, roaring a challenge to the great flagships. The fire-serpent roared again, spitting laval rain at the lead ship.
* * *
“What in the name of Holly is that?” Commander Barnardsson whispered.
“I don't know and I don't care!” Admiral Salisson barked. “Raze this godforsaken city to the ground!”
“Aye, Admiral. Cannon ready. Commence firing.” Barnardsson's voice had regained its professionalism. The gunnery officer snapped out a 'Yes, sir', but before he could activate the ion cannon, the doors to the flagship's bridge hissed open and a man wearing a silvery-grey uniform emblazoned with the Technomancers sigil walked in, accompanied by the Kraken's Chief Technomancer, Alarius.
“I wouldn't do that if I were you,” the stranger said. “Stand down or I will make this ship stand down. I assure you, you do not want that, Admiral.”
Behind him, Alarius shook his head and mouthed the word 'listen'. Salisson grimaced, but nodded to the gunnery officer who took his hands away from the console.
“What is the meaning of this?” he growled.
“All in good time, Admiral. All in good time. At the moment, you have a more pressing problem.” The man walked down into the bridge, past the Admiral and stood facing the windows. He barely acknowledged the liquid fire that pattered off the flagship's shields, his attention fully focused on the serpent filling the view.
Greetings, strange one. I have no quarrel with you. My name is Mercurius, Patron to the Technomancers of Argoth.
The serpent's jaws closed with a sharp snap, the head swaying slightly side-to-side as it contemplated the ship.
I am called Wildfire. I claim this city. It is mine. I will defend it.
I do not know you, Wildfire, nor do I think that truly your name. It fits you well though. A slight grin played across the Great One's face as he regarded the fire-serpent. Jericho has never had a Patron before. Why do you now claim this city of criminals?
It can be more than it is. It has been a haven for the outcasts and the misfits. That is all I am now, all I was before as well. I have a chance to be something other than I was. I have no place here, so I will make my own. And I will protect it! At this, the snake reared up, roaring another challenge to the ships.
Peace, brother. I have no quarrel with you. Mercurius turned back to the Admiral, the slight grin still upon his lips. Oh, he liked this one, he did. They could be friends. “Power down the cannon. Back the ships off to twice the distance they are now. Prepare to aid and assist the city. You'll know when it's advisable to send the strike-fighters in.”
By this time, Alarius had filled the Admiral in as to who the mysterious man was. Silasson nodded, jaws clenched. The Admiral didn't want to aid the city, lawless abyss that it was, but he wasn't going to defy the orders of the Great One who protected the Argosian fleet. He began barking out his own orders as the man disappeared.
Mercurius reappeared hovering in the air before the fiery drake. The serpent's eyes narrowed and it snorted, smoky tendrils issuing from flared nostrils. A warning rumble built, shivering the Rim Wall with its force. Chunks of rubble and rock, loosened by the serpent's challenges, rained down into the city and the ocean far below.
If you keep that up, you will do Silasson's job for him. The ships are no longer a threat to the city. Please, forgive us. It is not in our nature to use force when peace will work just as well. The Kraken's admiral was perhaps not the wisest choice to send to this city. His hatred of Jericho is well-hidden, but runs deep. I will negotiate with you on the behalf of my children.
What I broker, not even the Emperor will negate. You have something infinitely valuable to my Technomancers. What we offer is assistance now and assistance for the future. With the proper guidance of a Patron who cares, I have no doubt at all that Jericho can become a great deal more than it is now.
Will you speak with me and let the ships assist? No strings attached. I promise. Mercurius said.
Very well. We will speak. The firedrake lowered its head to just above the tail, which had started to solidify into darkness. Meter by meter the serpentine body cooled, glowing at points like dying magmal embers. When the transformation finally reached the weredrake's head, what remained was a massive obsidian statue ringing the city entire, the head raised watchfully above the tail, mouth gaped open slightly in a silent challenge.
With a flash and a rumbling crack, the light left the statue's eyes and a feather-clad figure stood perched atop its head. Mercurius drifted down to alight next to the one who called himself 'Wildfire'.
Once his newly-claimed city was safe from the approaching airships, Loki turned his attention back to Cadi and grew alarmed by what he found. His charge was hurt, her pain dulling the link between them.
That speaking will have to wait. Loki said. My companion is injured.
Loki disappeared, reappearing where he had left Cadi. He found the mine area in shambles, large chunks of debris littering the area. It was pinned under two of these that he found Cadi, her left arm and right leg fair crushed. Viktor and Rolf were trying to free her, but they were having little luck in lifting the rubble. Cadi herself was unconscious. The Dashmari backed off as Loki approached. The raven-man lifted the boulders that had given the wolves such trouble, carefully setting them aside. He frowned down at his charge. Her life-force was weak, fading quickly.
Loki gathered Cadi's broken body in his arms, the feathered cloak falling around her. Healing wasn't a gift of his. He couldn't save her. He'd saved her city at least, the city she'd refused to leave. He wasn't completely sure it was worth it. Cadi had freed him from eons of confinement and this was his repayment? He was pretty sure that he was the cause of the rubble that had crushed the Magister. Loki was surprised to find tears stinging his mismatched eyes. They disappeared before they could slip too far down his cheeks, burned away by the growing heat of the demi-deity's skin.
Movement from the wolves brought Loki's attention back to the here and now. He looked up to find the one called Mercurius approaching.
Here you are. Mercurius stopped before Loki and knelt down beside him. She means something to you, yes?
She does. Loki said. She didn't want to leave the city. That's what prompted me to claim it. She helped me and I have no way to repay that.
Perhaps I can help with that. Mercurius took Cadi's limp form from Loki. You can follow her, yes? Loki nodded. The link he'd formed with her would let him find her no matter where she went.
Good. We'll see you later then.
“Wait! Where are you going to take her?” Viktor interrupted, protectiveness etched into his aggressive stance. “And who are you? What are you?” he asked, turning to face Loki. “You're not a guardian.” The Argosian Patron gave the wolf a placating look.
I am going to take her to be healed. My children are good at that. She'll be fine, don't worry. When she is better, you can come and see her. With that, Mercurius disappeared, bearing Cadi's body away with him and leaving Loki to deal with the unhappy Magisters.
You're correct. I'm not a guardian. Well, not the kind you're thinking of. I am the one who just stopped those flagships from destroying this city though.
I am called Loki. I am from a place that no longer exists and I have no home here, so… I decided to claim this city as my home to protect. I regret the destruction I caused, but… Cadi's injuries aside… it seems better than letting the whole city be dropped into the ocean, yes?
“Wait…,” Rolf said. The young wolf looked confused. “You mean… we have a Patron now? The Jerachi?”
I mean exactly that. And now we have a city to stabilize. The Argosians will b
e sending help now. We need to make sure they can land safely, so… let's get to work. As soon as I know Cadi is well, I will let you know.
The Dashmari exchanged a look, one part skeptical and one part hopeful. If Jericho truly did have a Patron now, a deity who cared, what might that mean for the residents? How might it change them for the better? Loki disappeared, as Viktor checked in with Jupiter. The Magister had grim news for them. Neither the Magisters' Commander or his second had checked in. No one had seen them in several hours. That left Viktor to take over command, at least temporarily. He told Jupiter to relay the message that Argosian ships would be arriving with aid and that the Magisters and Crows should do what they could to assure that the soldiers weren't attacked.
After a short time, heavy-cruisers from the Kraken and Tengu descended upon the city. True to Mercurius' word, the ships did not attack. Those that could, landed at available paddocks. Those that could not flew into the city and hovered long enough to discharge their cargo of soldiers and supplies.
The soldiers joined with the Crows and mercenaries of Jericho and worked to reestablish control. Several of Mercurius' Technomancers, along with their own contingent of technosoldiers, joined with the Magisters and Artificers of the city to begin rebuilding what had been lost. Within the hour, the pandemonium had died down, the fires raging in the city put out and the citizenry organized to begin sifting through the wreckage and rubble of the city.
Obsidian Alcatraz: An Evalyce Novella Page 6