Chaos Broken

by Rebekah Turner

  ‘It doesn’t matter what I believe,’ I said. A wind whipped around us and I felt the power that surrounded Laeonder circle me, pulling tight. ‘What matters is that there’s someone else who believes in what I can do.’

  Still feeling the connection to the ley-lines, I pulled one of my daggers and sliced deep across my palm. Pain ripped down my arm and blood dripped to the ground. The magic already surging through me sensed the blood and went supernova. Inside a deep core of my mind, that other magic beckoned, with sickly-sweet promises of great power. Of never having to bend my knee to another. Of being worshipped as a god. The blood magic I’d swore I’d never touch.

  I waited until my will trembled against this onslaught, until I began to see an image of just how powerful I could become. Of those who would crawl across the ground to me, just for the chance to cower at my feet. Sucking in a deep breath, I slammed the door shut against it. A piercing scream of loss echoed through me and I fell to one knee, dropping my dagger. I wasn’t going to lose myself in the swirling void of chaos magic. I just needed the attention my temptation would bring.

  Thunder rolled around us and rain splashed in all directions. A flash of light cast the landscape in bright relief and I flung an arm up to protect my eyes. When the light faded, I blinked my vision clear.

  ‘Lora Blackgoat.’ A voice rumbled behind me. Turning, I saw the Defiler standing behind me. A sword of fire flared in his hand, stray raindrops hissing when they touched the blade. He levelled it towards me and the fire blazed with a radiant power.

  ‘Your time has come.’

  Chapter 40

  The Defiler hadn’t changed since I’d seen him last. His face was haggard and he wore ancient knight’s armour, filmed in grey dust. Coarse black stitches had sewn his eyelids shut and cursed words marked his forehead.

  ‘You were warned, Lora Blackgoat,’ he announced. ‘You are filled with the abomination of blood magic, cursed with a power greater than any other before you. A power you were warned against. A warning you have chosen to ignore. Now you will die.’

  ‘Wait.’ I held up my bleeding hand. ‘I beg your forgiveness, but I need your help. The citizens of this city need your help.’

  The Defiler hesitated. ‘I do not understand.’

  ‘I tried summoning you the right way.’ I dropped my hand. ‘I used the summoning spell in the Alderman grimoire. But you didn’t come.’

  The Defiler’s head tilted to the side. ‘I heard someone try to summon me. Only the words were…confused.’

  I winced. ‘Maybe I didn’t read it right, the words were kind of hard to make out. But I had to get your attention, by any means necessary.’ I nodded at Laeonder. ‘This man uses thaumaturgy magic.’

  The Defiler raised his sword, small licks of fire spitting out. ‘This system of magic, while unseemly, does not threaten the very fabric of The Weald. Nothing compares to the destruction you would seek to savage upon this refuge.’

  I pressed my hand against my chest and felt the blood soak hot through my shirt. ‘This is my city. I would die for her. This man would destroy all of that. I had no choice but to summon you this way.’

  ‘Enough of this.’ Laeonder made a motion towards the Defiler. Power surged through the air, ruffling my hair as it shot past me and the Defiler’s solid body was shoved back an inch, his feet leaving a deep skid in the road.

  ‘You shouldn’t have done that,’ I murmured. ‘You’re gonna make him mad.’

  ‘No one can defy me.’ Laeonder’s narrowed his eyes at the Defiler. I mentally crossed my fingers, hoping the two of them were going to go for it. But the Defiler did nothing and Laeonder turned his attention back to me. ‘And I will have justice done here today.’

  I smelled burning and a glance down told me my legs were on fire. With a lingering connected to the ley-lines, I extinguished them with a word, but then my arms were alight with a billowing flame. I smothered them as well, but it was harder this time; my power was wearing thin. Desperation set in, curdling my insides.

  ‘You were cursed after failing to protect The Weald’s citizens,’ I told the Defiler, pointing to Laeonder. ‘This man has also committed these crimes. How can you just stand by and allow this city to fall?’

  ‘It is not my place,’ the Defiler said. ‘This is not my battle.’

  ‘Useless son of a —’

  Then the fire was all around me and heat scorched my throat, choking me. But as quickly as it had appeared, the furnace was gone. I fell to the ground, coughing and gasping. My skin was scorching hot and I sucked in clean air in gulping breathes through a raw throat. Struggling to my feet, I saw Roman grappling with Laeonder and realised the nephilim had flown in to save me, breaking the High Grigori’s concentration.

  Laeonder rolled free of Roman and got to his feet, Kalin’s sword in hand. Roman did the same, chest heaving and had only a moment before the four Thesma Regulators fell upon him. He struggled, but with four against one, they soon had Roman on his knees, arms pinned behind his back and a dagger pressed tight against his throat.

  ‘Do not kill him,’ Laeonder commanded. ‘Not yet. He is to be made an example of. I intend to prove his wings are a mark from the Pit, not a sign of the divine.’ He nodded his head towards Roman’s wings. ‘They will look very nice, framed on my study wall.’

  Both Harken and Thesma Regulators began to spill from the compound. High up on the wall, crossbows lined the battlement and the courtyard filled to capacity with those watching me get my backside well and truly kicked. The Defiler just watched, and frustration gripped me. I had been so sure, so convinced the Guardian of The Weald wouldn’t be able to refuse to expel or kill Laeonder. After all, he had threatened to end my life, just because he thought I would do great harm.

  Roman’s eyes met mine. ‘Are you alright?’

  ‘Not dead yet,’ I answered, voice strained.

  ‘Soon to be remedied, ‘ Laeonder said. ‘Rather than burn you, I think I’ll let this blade drink from the blood of this wretched city’s supposed heroine.’

  ‘You mean hero,’ I snarled. Laeonder lunged forward with his sword, but I was ready. Grabbing hold of the last dredge of fading magic, I willed the Defiler’s weapon to me. The move took the Defiler by surprise and his sword came easy, smacking into my hand as I dropped low, levelled the fire-blade out.

  When Laeonder stabbed Kalin’s sword into my side, a freezing cold swept through me and a sour taste flooded my mouth. Triumph flared in Laeonder’s eyes, then faded to confusion. He stared down at the burning blade I’d thrust into his chest cavity and the blood pouring from his armour.

  ‘No,’ he whispered.

  I pushed the Defiler’s sword of fire in further, twisting as I went. Blood spilled from Laeonder’s mouth and he slumped to his knees. I withdrew the blade and stepped back, giving a small scream as Kalin’s sword came free from my side, pulling the flesh painfully.

  ‘This isn’t over.’ Laeonder made a feeble grasp for me.

  I placed a boot on his chest and pushed him back. ‘The hell it isn’t.’

  He sprawled back on the ground, limbs twitching. I took an unsteady breath, my hand gripping the Defiler’s sword tight. I looked up at the horde of nephilim in front of me.

  ‘Who’s next?’ I shouted. When no one answered, I glared over at the old knight. ‘Why didn’t you help me?’ I winced as pain roared through me from my wounded side. ‘I summoned you to help me. This man was going to destroy this city. I was trying to stop him. That’s why I broke your damned rule about using blood magic. It was the only way to get you here.’

  The Defiler gestured towards the sword. ‘Lora Blackgoat. You have passed the test and have been found worthy.’

  I blinked. ‘Say what?’

  ‘The Sword of The Weald has chosen its next defender.’

  ‘Eh?’ I pressed my free hand against the deep wound at my side, slippery blood spilling over my fingers. Then Roman was there, helping me stay upright.

  ‘My dues ar
e finally paid,’ the Defiler whispered. ‘The next Defender of the Weald has been chosen.’

  A glimmer of understanding wove through my pained consciousness. ‘Me? No. No.’ I tried to drop the flaming sword, but my fingers didn’t seem willing to open. ‘I’m not taking your job. Forget it.’

  I pulled away from Roman and stumbled towards the Defiler. But the closer I got to him, the fainter his outline became and the brighter the flaming blade grew in my hand.

  ‘Peace at last,’ the Defiler whispered, then his body dissolved with the falling rain.

  The sword’s brightness dimmed and I blinked down at it, numb. Looking around for Roman to explain things to me, I spied both Thesma and Harken Regulators outside the compound, along with Grigori priests, still behind the walls. All watched with shocked faces.

  Roman faced them and raised his hands, wings sweeping up with the movement to their full span. ‘You were all witness to this. We welcome the new Defender of the Weald. A nephilim female. One of us. Sworn to protect The Weald, as we all do.’

  Many of the nephilim Regulators, both Thesma and Harken, began to kneel in the mud, bowing their heads. My eyes dropped to the sword in my hand and I groaned.

  ‘Oh, come on.’

  Chapter 41

  ‘Tell me you have the rings.’

  Crowhurst gave me a panicked look as I stopped running to pat down my corset. We were both horribly hung over, as it had been someone’s stupid idea to go out for celebratory drinks the night before his wedding. Of course, that stupid idea was from the best woman, who was also responsible for the rings.

  ‘I’ve got them here somewhere,’ I murmured, beginning to feel a little worried.

  Crowhurst groaned, rubbing his pale face. ‘If you’ve lost them, Cloete’s going to kill me.’

  ‘They can’t be far.’ I tried to remember where I’d seen the two gold bands last.

  ‘Lora!’

  We both turned to see Sabine racing down the street, waving her hands. She dodged a cart loaded with chicken cages and rushed around a group of rowdy cloth-capped men on their way to work. She stopped in front of me, panting, her face flushed.

  ‘You…forgot…’ She held out her hand, showing me two rings in her palm.

  ‘Ahh, yes.’ I took them with a grateful look. ‘Thanks for that.’

  Crowhurst hopped from one foot to the other. ‘I can’t believe you forgot the rings.’

  ‘I’ve got them now.’ I winked at Sabine. ‘Thanks.’

  ‘That’s what I’m here for,’ Sabine grinned.

  ‘You’re still coming, aren’t you?’ Crowhurst asked her.

  ‘Of course.’ Sabine gave him a shy smile. ‘I’ll be there soon.’

  ‘Don’t be late,’ I told her, then grabbed Crowhurst’s arm and we hurried on towards Avalon Square.

  ‘Nice girl,’ Crowhurst puffed. ‘How’s she working out as your new housekeeper?’

  ‘Really good.’ I tucked the rings in a pocket and patted them to reassure myself they were there. ‘It’s nice to have someone else in the house.’

  ‘I thought Roman would have moved in by now,’ Crowhurst said casually.

  I trotted around a small flock of honking geese in the street. ‘Mind your own business, why don’t you?’

  ‘Please.’ Crowhurst snorted. ‘You asked me nearly fifty times last night if I really wanted to go through with today.’

  ‘Marriage is an important step in life. I was just checking if you were sure.’

  ‘Of course I’m sure. When you meet the one, you get sure pretty damn fast or you risk losing her.’

  ‘Huh.’ I stopped talking as we entered Avalon Square. The weekend markets were on, sweeping away any signs of the executions that had happened there, the air filled with laughter and smells of spiced meat. Colourful tents overflowed with fruit and vegetables, and colourful flags fluttered from street lamps. We jostled through the crowds, heading towards the church of Kianna. A narrow, unassuming building, it sat beside the massive Harken Clock Tower, across the square from City Hall in all its white-stoned, opulent glory.

  We stumbled up the stairs, my chest burning from all the rushing and my stomach roiling from the roast lamb roll I’d eaten in the early hours of the morning in a misguided attempt to sober up. Inside the church, people milled about, feet shuffling against the colourful tiles of the floor. A head priestess waited at the altar and frowned when she spied Crowhurst, gesturing for him to present himself to her, now. Crowhurst winced and hurried off.

  Someone spoke behind me. ‘I was about to send out a search party for you.’

  Turning, I saw Seth behind me, grinning. Dana was with him, and she gave me a little nod before turning away. Crowhurst hurried off towards the head priestess, muttering his apologies.

  ‘You look a little pale,’ Seth said to me.

  I swiped a hand across my sweaty forehead. ‘Late night.’

  ‘I heard.’

  ‘Kianna’s tits,’ I growled. ‘Stop acting like you know everything, Seth.’

  ‘But I do.’ Seth rocked back on his heels.

  ‘Honestly, you have the nosiest spies in the city.’ I paused. ‘How’s the petition for City Treasurer going?’

  ‘Slow, but steady.’

  ‘Uh huh.’ My eyes skirted around the church, suddenly spying Gideon and Orella sitting towards the front. Gideon’s wild mop of hair had been brushed neatly to the side, while Orella wore a blue scarf. When I’d greeted them off the boat, I’d been shocked at how much smaller Orella had appeared, as if she’d shrunk while away. But she’d been in good spirits and I hadn’t heard any more chest-wracking coughs, so I’d held my tongue, just happy to see her.

  Blackgoat had been in reasonable shape by the time Gideon returned. Nicola had not only paid my fees, but gave a royalty rate on the profits from the play. I hadn’t gone to see it myself, but the street presses had announced it a great success. I wasn’t sure if this was due to Roosen’s talent, or the fact that the subject of the play was the newly declared Defender of the Weald. A title I was still protesting, mind you. The sword of fire was securely sheathed back at Blackgoat, mounted on the wall in Gideon’s office. I had no idea what I was supposed to do with it, nor what duties I was supposed to fulfil. But the nephilim following Casper and Roman had announced they would support me in my role, and I supposed that was a good start.

  Unfortunately, most of Blackgoat’s new clients now wanted to deal with me and I’d quickly promoted Grubber and Cloete to help Crowhurst and myself keep on top of matters. Gideon himself had been more than happy to take a back seat, though the office was still considered his.

  ‘You’d better go.’ Seth pointed to where Crowhurst was frantically gesturing at me. I hurried to join him, waving at Gideon and Orella as I passed. Gideon gave me a wink and Orella narrowed her eyes, as if she knew exactly why we were late and whose fault it was.

  Looking around, I tried to spot Roman, but couldn’t see him anywhere.

  ‘You’ve still got the rings, right?’ Crowhurst whispered to me as I stood beside him.

  ‘Give me some credit, it’s been five minutes.’ I patted the pocket again, suddenly feeling the gravity of the situation. I usually went to more funerals than weddings, so this was a nice change. A flicker to my left drew my attention and I spied Roman standing away from the pews, near one of the alcoves that housed statues of Kianna’s various lovers of legend. He smiled warmly at me and I grinned back.

  It was still startling to see Roman’s wings out in the open, and I now could spot several nephilim in the crowd, those who had openly declared their independence from the Order to follow Roman. After Laeonder had fallen, the Thesma Regulators had voted among themselves on what action to take. Some returned to Thesma, while others, sensing the beginning of a new age for nephilim, had stayed in Harken, while the Grigori appointed a small group to talk with Roman and Casper. The death of Fowler had struck a shattering blow, given it had been by one of their own. Now they were willing to t
alk change in Harken and new parameters with the nephilim.

  My eyes trailed back to Roman, thinking on Crowhurst’s jibe about him moving in with me. At the moment, Roman and Casper were renting a place in Applecross, both working with other nephilim who wanted to leave the Order, helping their brothers decide what role they would play within Harken now. I thought about how nice it was to have Sabine in the house. How Nicola’s baby didn’t scare me quite so much anymore, even to the point where I’d babysat a couple of times. Not to mention Gorath asking me to be his new baby’s godmother. Naturally, I’d gotten drunk and said yes. After I’d sobered up and assured Gorath and Manika I really had meant it, I’d had the realisation I was now enmeshed in a big, extended family. And it wasn’t so bad.

  My gaze still locked with Roman, I mouthed the words that had been so hard for me a few months ago. They weren’t hard for me now, and my heart melted when his smile broadened in response. I no longer felt unworthy of Roman’s love and devotion, because I understood myself now. That I was a better person with him by my side, and that he helped me to see there was a balance in all things. Light and Dark. Order and Chaos. I felt whole with Roman and knew I was worthy of him.

  And everything after?

  Soft flutes started up as Cloete appeared across the room, cloaked in a sweeping veil of white and purple. Beside me, Crowhurst exhaled and I watched my friend approach us, pride filling my chest.

  Everything after, I would take one step at a time.

  Thanks for reading Chaos Broken. I hope you enjoyed it.

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