Storm Breakers

by PT Hylton

  As she stepped toward the wall, she heard a deep voice from above.

  “Unworthy.”

  A stone fell from the top of the wall and crashed down next to her, missing her by inches.

  “What the hell?” she yelled up at them.

  Another voice spoke from the top of the wall. “Unworthy.”

  This time she was ready. She spotted the rock as it fell, and she stepped out of its path.

  “Seriously, you’re starting to piss me off. Stop it!”

  The voices paid her no heed. This time two people spoke the word together and two stones fell. Abbey had to press herself against the wall to avoid them.

  “Okay, I’ve had about enough of this shit.” She reached up, grabbed a crack in the stone a foot above her head and channeled the magic necessary to make her as light as a feather. Then she pulled hard and shot upward.

  “Unworthy.” This time three stones fell, and one nearly hit her square on the head. She grabbed the wall and pulled herself to the right, narrowly dodging it.

  She scurried up the wall, using her hands to stay upright and pushing herself upward with her feet. Each step took her ten feet higher due to her reduced weight, so it wasn’t long before she reached the top. Grabbing the edge, she gave one last heave and pulled herself up.

  She shot ten feet above the wall, gradually returned her weight to normal, and landed in a crouch.

  Five Stone Shapers including Tomas stood along the top of the wall, stones in hand.

  Abbey glared at them. “Thank the seas your aim sucks.”

  Tomas stepped toward her. Surprise was clear in his eyes. “You are worthy.”

  He held something out with a shaky hand. A black sash.

  Abbey took it.

  He blinked hard as he looked at her. “I don’t know how you did it, but you have mastered the Way of Stone. You’ve passed the test.”

  She slipped the sash over her shoulder. “Thank you. Now my friends and I would like to see the council.”

  He hesitated only a moment before nodding. He gestured toward a walkway behind him that led away from the wall. “Please come with me. You and your guests are welcome. The city of the Horg is right this way.”

  ****

  Abbey’s friends were waiting for her near a large archway of stone at the end of the walkway. A guard stood on either side of them.

  Clemens grinned when he saw her. “What did I tell you? Didn’t I say she’d make it?”

  Hekla rolled her eyes. “Yes—you wouldn’t shut up about it.”

  Elliot stared at the black sash. “Holy shit, they made you a Stone Shaper.”

  “I guess. I passed their test.” She looked at Tomas. “Am I a Stone Shaper now?”

  The old man frowned. “I tried to tell them it was an idiotic way to test people. Just hand them a stone and see if they can shape it. But no. ‘It needs ceremony,’ they said. ‘It needs danger.’ You’ve proven the system can be gamed.” He paused for a moment, eyeing the sash. “In answer to your question, you have the sash, which means you’re entitled to all the rights of any practitioner of the Way of Stone.”

  Clemens let out a whistle. “Nicely done, boss. Seems we can’t take you anywhere without you picking up some new magic.”

  “I repeat,” Abbey said, the exasperation clear in her voice, “I don’t actually know stone magic. I just passed their dumb test.”

  Tomas led them through the archway and they made their way up a long stone staircase.

  “Let me ask you something,” Abbey said as they climbed the steps. “In Kaldfell, they say that Gren is filled with giants. Any idea where those stories came from?”

  Tomas chuckled. “Fear and suspicion, I suppose. We’re no taller than the people of your lands.” He paused for a moment. “Although the courage it took to survive the Time of Madness here was gigantic. My mother told me stories of those days.”

  In Arcadia, it was called the Age of Madness. In Holdgate, they called it the Mad Days. It all boiled down to the same thing, Abbey knew. A time before magic when insanity ruled. Creatures possessed with a remnant of the madness of those times still lingered deep in the mountains of the Kaldfell Peninsula, or so Abbey had always heard. Other places, too.

  Tomas continued, “Times have always been tough in Gren, but those days were the worst. My mother and a handful of her friends fought to keep people safe, and it wasn’t easy. In fact, their base of operations was these caves. They couldn’t shape stone, of course. They made do with the natural caves. Poor primitives! Ah, here we are.”

  They reached the top of the stairs and stepped out under the open sky. It was dark now, and the stars shone brightly overhead. They were in a city; a city surrounded by massive stone walls on all sides.

  “Welcome to Horg,” Tomas said. “Let’s take you to see the council.”

  ****

  The council was led by a woman named Sika. Tomas and three others filled the remaining positions. They sat on large stone seats, not unlike thrones, listening intently as Elliot explained that Magnus had been lying to them for years. When he was done speaking, they sat in silence for nearly two minutes.

  Abbey and Elliot exchanged glances. Abbey was beginning to understand that slow was just the speed they did things here, but that didn’t make it any less annoying. Her friends’ lives were at stake. Still, she forced herself to remain quiet as she waited them out.

  She spent the time thinking about the roasted hare and mushroom stew she’d been promised but still hadn’t received. If anyone heard her rumbling stomach, they gave no indication.

  Finally Sika spoke. “I fear we have done Gren a great injustice. Our desire to remain comfortable in Horg blinded us to the evil of Magnus and his followers.”

  The other councilors grunted their agreement.

  “Then you’ll help us?” Elliot asked.

  “Of course,” Sika responded. “We cannot let this disobedience stand. I propose that we drag Magnus and his followers back to Horg and force them to remain here for the rest of their lives. What say you, Council?”

  Again, grunts of agreement answered her.

  “A Stone Shaper’s place is here among the rocks and the ice,” Tomas said. “Not on the coast. We never should have let them go.”

  It was all Abbey could do not to laugh out loud. She couldn’t believe how easily they’d convinced these people. Not only would they be returning to help their friends, they’d be bringing an army of Stone Shapers with them.

  “That’s wonderful,” Elliot said. His voice faltered when he spoke, as if he couldn’t believe what was happening. “I suggest that we stay here for the night. We can leave in the morning and head to Ammaas. We’ll be there by tomorrow afternoon, assuming you have horses hidden away somewhere.”

  Another long silence.

  Then Sika spoke. There was a bit of tension in her voice this time, though she still spoke slowly and thoughtfully. “We do not have horses ‘hidden away somewhere.’ What use would we have for horses? And your suggestion of leaving tomorrow is simply ridiculous.”

  Abbey took a step forward. “Maybe we didn’t explain this well enough. This is an urgent situation.”

  “We understand. It will only be a few weeks before we can move toward Ammaas.”

  “A few weeks?” Abbey struggled to keep the anger out of her voice. “My friends will be dead in days, not weeks.”

  Tomas raised a hand to silence her. “Moving an army of Stone Shapers is not simple. We must plan. Strategize.”

  She could see in their eyes they weren’t going to budge on this point. “Fine. Then guide us to the way out. We’ll go save our friends and wait for you to show up when you get around to it.”

  Sika chuckled and turned to Tomas. “Old friend, didn’t you explain the rules to them?”

  “I tried,” he answered. “They’re not the best listeners.” He turned to Elliot. “You’re outsiders, and outsiders who have seen Horg can never leave. We’re willing to waive that rule if you hel
p us fight Magnus, but we’re not letting you leave before we do. For all we know, you’d run to Magnus and sell him the information that we’re coming.”

  “That’s insane,” Elliot growled. “I came here to ask you to fight Magnus. Why would I warn him?”

  Tomas ignored the question and turned to Abbey. “And you wear the black sash. That means you have all the rights and responsibilities of a Stone Shaper. We saw what you did when you walked the Path. Consider yourself drafted into our army.”

  “You’ve got to be kidding me.” Abbey’s expression grew hard.

  Sika stood. “We’re done here. The guards will show you to your quarters. You’re free to move about the city, but don’t try to leave.”

  Abbey kept her hand on her sword, but she knew it was pointless to fight. How many Stone Shapers were in Horg? Thousands? No, better to bide her time.

  A group of five guards led them to a stone home near the center of town. It was sparsely decorated, but it had enough beds for all of them.

  When the guards left, Hekla turned to the others. “I’m beginning to think coming here was a mistake.”

  “No shit,” Abbey said. “I don’t know about you, but I’m not sticking around. We’ve got to act fast. That’s our advantage. These Stone Shapers probably take two hours to put on their pants in the morning.”

  Elliot nodded. “Agreed. What’s our first move?”

  There was a knock at the door.

  Clemens sighed. “How much you want to bet that’s the guards again?”

  He opened the door, and Elliot and Hekla both gasped.

  The man standing in the doorway was not a guard. He was a bit shorter and a lot more muscular than any of the Stone Shapers they’d seen.

  He spoke in a gruff voice, but it carried a more urgent cadence than the Stone Shapers used. “I’m not sure why you idiots came here, but I can help you find your way out.”

  Elliot stepped forward. “What are you doing here? We heard you were in the mines!”

  The man scoffed. “There aren’t any mines. That’s a story they tell to keep this place secret. Aren’t you going to introduce me to your friends?”

  Elliot turned to Abbey and Clemens. “Abbey, Clemens, this is Ragnar.”

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  The only thing keeping Benjamin from hurling fireballs at the Stone Shapers on the docks was the knowledge that they could sink this ship in mere minutes. Those people controlled stone, which they could use to pierce the hull. Then they’d be quite literally sunk.

  The guards had been standing near the ship for almost an entire day now. Ever since Benjamin had killed Edvard.

  Now the sun was setting, which made Benjamin nervous. The first group of Stone Shapers had attacked the previous night. Would they do so again tonight?

  “What do you think they’re waiting for?” Melwin asked him, not for the first time.

  Benjamin stared down at the men and women. They wore stone armor, just like Edvard’s. After seeing what one man could do with that armor, he wasn’t anxious to face off against three dozen people wearing it.

  One thing was clear: these guys were not here simply to intimidate them. Benjamin could practically feel the tension coming off them.

  These were soldiers ready for battle, but to touch on Melwin’s point, why weren’t they attacking?

  “Best guess? Maybe they want to give Syd and Abbey a little more time to find the Tall Grass Raiders before they tear us to shreds. The fact that they’re here tells me they aren’t willing to wait much longer.” He turned toward Melwin. “How about you? Any theories?”

  Melwin thought a moment before answering. “Could be they want to get their precious Queen of Storms off the ship safely. Maybe they’re waiting for something that will help them do that.”

  Benjamin chuckled. “It’s as good a theory as any, but if they’re waiting for Dahlia to make a move, they’ll be waiting a long time. I just checked on her, and she’s out like a candle dropped in the sea.”

  A sailor named Klaus walked past, ignoring Benjamin’s greeting. He wasn’t the first person that day to fail to acknowledge the blacksmith.

  “Be straight with me, Melwin. What’s going on with the crew? I understand them being nervous about the battle, but this feels personal.”

  Melwin smiled weakly. “Promise you won’t throw me over the side?”

  Benjamin crossed his arms. “I never make promises I can’t keep, though I promise not to throw you over the side for what you’re about to say.”

  “Fair enough.” He paused, considering how to begin.

  “Tell me, damn it.”

  “Okay, look. The first few days, they accepted you as leader because Syd put you in charge. But with everything that’s gone wrong since then… We’ve got an Arcadian serving as de facto captain, and three Barskall serving as Storm Callers. Some people are saying, maybe the sea isn’t happy. They’re thinking that maybe the sea would be more apt to protect us if we put a Holdgatesman in charge.”

  “I see. And is this one of those situations where ‘some people’ actually means you?”

  Melwin held his hands up. “Let me remind you that you promised this conversation would not result in my being thrown over the side. But for the record, no. For some strange reason I’m starting to like you, Arcadian.”

  Benjamin glared at him. “Wish I could say the same about you.” But he couldn’t keep up the glare. He broke into laughter.

  Melwin nodded toward the Stone Shapers. “I was honest with you. Do me the same courtesy. Do we stand a chance?”

  “You sure you want the truth?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “The amount of stone they’re wearing, they’ll probably take us out without losing a single soul.”

  Melwin thought for a moment. “I changed my mind. Lie to me.”

  “Benjamin!” The shout came from the crow’s nest. Even though they weren’t at sea, Benjamin had thought it wise to keep a sailor stationed there for the bird’s eye view of the situation. The topside man was pointing at something behind the guards.

  Benjamin squinted at the spot for ten seconds before he saw it.

  It was a torch being covered and uncovered, creating a strange pattern of flashes.

  “Holy shit,” Melwin whispered. “It’s a signal.”

  It took Benjamin a moment to understand, but then he got it. The flashes of light the stormships used to communicate with each other on the open sea—this was the same code.

  Stone Shapers wouldn’t know that code, which meant the message was coming from a friendly.

  “What are they saying, Melwin?”

  The stormship sailor watched the flashing lights for a long time. Then he turned to Benjamin. “It doesn’t make sense.”

  “What doesn’t?”

  “The lights. The signals were designed to communicate simple messages. It’s not a perfect language. What they’re saying can’t possibly apply to our situation. I must be reading it wrong.”

  Benjamin stared at the lights, wishing he had learned even a little of the signal protocol. “Give me the literal version. Don’t try to interpret it.”

  “Okay. They say to lower our sails due to heavy winds, but that doesn’t make sense. Our sails are already down.”

  Benjamin cursed under his breath. He was starting to understand. “Anything else?”

  “Yes, they’re asking if we are prepared for battle. Then they say the thing about the wind again.”

  “What were the chances a blacksmith would end up dying on a stormship?” Benjamin muttered. He grabbed Melwin by the shoulders. “Okay, we need to do this quickly and without alerting the Stone Shapers. I want every bow we have in the hands of someone who knows how to use it. And I want everyone else to prepare to fight off anyone attempting to board. Most importantly, I want everyone to hold on to something. It’s about to get windy. Tell me when it’s done.”

  Benjamin watched as Melwin spread the word. To the crew’s credit, they remained nonchala
nt enough that the Stone Shapers on the docks didn’t notice anything. They also responded quickly.

  In less than five minutes Melwin was back at his side with a lantern in his hand. “We’re as ready as we’re going to be, sir.”

  Benjamin spread his feet a little and braced himself against the rail. “Give the signal, Melwin.”

  The stormship sailor hoisted the lantern, blocking the light with a shield, then moving it away repeatedly in a complicated pattern.

  The Stone Shapers on the docks stared at the lantern. They knew something was happening, but that was fine with Benjamin. The more they focused on The Foggy Day, the less ready they’d be for what was coming at them from the other direction.

  “Hold onto your ass, Melwin,” Benjamin said. “It’s time for battle.”

  Melwin extinguished the lantern, gripped the rail with both hands, and waited.

  For nearly a minute, nothing happened. Then everything did.

  A sudden gust of wind slammed against them. Even though Benjamin had prepared for the blast and was gripping the rail, he almost lost his footing. The wind felt like a hammer. His hair blew back with such force it felt like someone was pulling it. The wind stung his eyes and made breathing difficult. He thought he might drown on wind.

  The Stone Shapers fared much worse. At least half of them tumbled off the dock into the chilly water below. The rest of them stumbled around in chaos, trying to figure out what was happening.

  Benjamin glanced over his shoulder and saw that the two men on the pillars at the edge of the harbor had been knocked from their perches by the wind.

  The chaos only lasted a few moments. Before long, the guard had shaped a waist-high stone wall between them and the wind. They crouched behind it, and slowly the wall began to move forward as did the men and women behind it.

  The wind ceased as quickly as it had begun.

  Benjamin quickly realized his opportunity. The Stone Shapers had their backs to The Foggy Day.

  “Archers!” he cried. “Aim at any body part not covered in stone. Draw!”