by David Ekrut
Jax and Daren exchanged a look. “Talking to the bear? We need—”
Taego crouched, lowering his head for Daki to reach. As he grasped the bear, Daki’s hands glowed a pale green.
“What in the thumping abyss are you doing?” Jax said, looking to the sky.
Before Daki could answer, an arrow skit along the rocks at their feet. Then another. The glow left Daki’s hands, and the bear ran for the water.
“It is not taming,” Elwin said. “We can explain later. For now, you’ll just have to trust us. Or you can stand here and let those men use you for target practice.”
“You next.” Daki took Elwin’s head without a pause.
Once it became difficult to breathe, Elwin ran for the river. He could hear Jax’s protests over the splash. Arrows whizzed in around him. He kicked and swam deeper. Ahead of him, Taego crawled along the riverbed, using his claws to propel him forward. Elwin followed several paces, then turned to wait on the others.
Graceless splashes hit the surface above him.
Jax struggled to swim lower. More arrows struck the water near him, each losing momentum after a few feet and setting adrift. His cheeks were puffed out. Panic filled his expression, wide eyes darting all around.
Elwin laughed. The sound was muffled, but Jax met Elwin’s gaze. His terror vanished, replaced by agitation that quickly became rage. Jax kicked and punched the water as he swam closer. Elwin knew enough about the man to know each of those bubble-filled shouts released a torrent of curses.
Two more splashes hit several paces up the river. First was Daren, then Daki. The large Kalicodian looked around with much the same expression Jax had displayed moments before. Jax waved to get the man’s attention. Once Daren saw him, Jax pointed to his mouth and took a deep breath. He repeated the gesture several times until Daren calmed and began breathing.
Muffled shouts filled the riverbank. Dozens of blurry figures stood above the surface. More arrows came in, but they were too deep to be harmed. Boots stepped into the river. Then a second pair. Elwin didn’t wait for more. He swam deeper.
The others caught up to him at a cobbled road, two dozen paces wide, at the bottom of the river. Above it, the water flowed in a strong current from north to south. On the other side of the red cobbles, the water stilled. Across from the expansive median, the water sped from south to north above a road of green stones.
“What in the abyss?” he said, forgetting his companions couldn’t hear him.
Each polished stone was covered in eloiglyphs. Elwin sensed the power of Earth and Water, working together. He could only stare. The entire road was crafted from the Elements and touched with complicated weaves of power to create a perpetual flow that somehow only affected the water above the stones.
He felt a pull on his arm and turned to see Jax staring at him, expectantly. Elwin pointed to his ear and shook his head. Jax moved his lips right up to Elwin’s ear. Though greatly muffled, Elwin could just make out the words.
“We can’t get through the speedway current without a boat. Once we step on that road, we’ll be swept south.”
Elwin moved his lips to Jax’s ear. “Maybe we can just wait here. They’ll give up eventually.”
Jax gave a vigorous shake of his head and pointed up. A large shadow passed overhead. And a second. There were two ships above them.
“Watch,” Jax said. “Step into the current and stay low. They can’t harpoon us while we are in the speedway.”
Without further explanation, Jax stepped onto the cobbles and lurched away. Elwin motioned for the others to follow and swam into the current.
The first moment was agony as his body pitched to the side. He fought not to flip about, pushing off the cobbles to avoid being flung into the road. He caught glimpses of his companions trailing after him. Much like him, they struggled to remain upright. However, far ahead of him, Jax appeared to be at home in the current. He glided above the road, pushing off every few seconds to steer his course.
Elwin followed the man’s lead. It took several minutes to right himself. Unlike with flying, the force pushed rather than pulled, but now that he knew the trick, maintaining direction was not so difficult.
Beside him, he could see schools of fish passing wide of the flowing stream. There was less plant life by the cobbles as well, but it clung to the slope far to the side. Now that he noticed, the embankment was getting further away by the second, and it passed so quickly, he couldn’t gauge his speed.
He focused on the power of Water around him. He had done very little with Water, but he knew he could tame it. Having gone so long without taming, the power beckoned to him. He wouldn’t know what to do with it, but he wanted to open his essence to the strength of the river. He didn’t, of course, but he allowed himself to feel the energies about him.
The power in the current was different than that to the sides. Somehow, he knew taming the moving water would take more effort than the still water. The speed of the flow lessened toward the surface. He could sense fish swimming there. One surged upward and vanished, reappearing seconds later. He pushed his awareness upward. It felt like trying to peer through a brick wall.
He probed the divide and sensed the Air. Now that he was open to it, he could feel where the air mixed with the water. Oddly, being submerged was not nearly as suffocating as being surrounded by Earth. If necessary, he could still draw Air into his essence. Focusing on the Air, the divide collapsed, and he could sense just above the surface of river. Birds skimmed the water and flew beyond his awareness. Unlike before, their vanishing was gradual.
Elwin sighed. He missed exploring his powers. And training. But he had learned something just now, if inadvertently.
Was this how it had been for the very first elementalists? It must have been. They bumbled about, seeking to understand the gifts they’d been born with. What wouldn’t he give to freely tame again?
Rough hands gripped him.
Elwin flinched as he was pulled from the current. He floated alongside Jax, who turned back to the flowing water, not giving Elwin a second glance. Jax yanked on Daren next, pulling the large man away from the road.
Daki left the current without aid and turned to help Taego. The bear was far behind, still flipping and turning. He clawed at the stones, but the touched road was impervious to damage.
Elwin moved up beside Daki and readied for Taego to pass. As soon as the bear was within range, he grasped at Taego’s front leg. But the bear turned over, and Elwin struck Taego’s midsection. Placing his feet against the stones for leverage, Elwin gripped the bear’s fur and heaved. Beside him, Daki did much the same.
The three of them tumbled from the road.
Taego thrashed his head, biting in random directions. Elwin kicked and flapped his arms to get away. Even Daki swam back. Taego swatted his claws at the ground and anyone getting close. Daki’s hands glowed a deep green. Strands shot from his palms and into Taego’s snout. The bear fell limp. Bubbles continued coming out in steady breaths.
Shaking his head, Jax came close and shouted in Elwin’s ear. “I haven’t seen the ships in an hour. Let’s go up and talk.”
Elwin nodded his agreement. “Don’t leave the water until Daki removes the … this.” Unsure of what to call the whatever in the abyss Daki did, Elwin gestured to his face.
As Jax moved off, Elwin helped Daki with Taego, pushing the bear toward the surface as he swam. After reaching to the bank, Daki returned their breathing to normal.
“Elwin, help with him?” Daki pointed to Taego. They’d left the bear at the river’s edge. Only his head was on the bank.
“Aye.”
“I will as well,” Daren said, positioning himself to get the bulk of the weight.
Jax scowled. “Thing’s rabid. Just let it drown.”
“He is not rabid,” Daki said with a grunt of effort. “He is supposed to be prep
aring for hibernation. He is cranky.”
“Well, when he eats your face, I don’t want to hear any complaints.”
They dragged Taego several paces into the high grass and left him.
“How long will he be out?” Daren asked.
“Not long,” Daki said. “A few minutes.”
“Right,” Jax said, planting his hands on his hips. “As to that. No more taming. We’re lucky the dragons didn’t pluck us from the river like a falcon hunting fish.”
“Falcons do not eat fish,” Daki said. “They prefer smaller birds and rodents.”
“Curse it all, no one cares what they thumping eat. That isn’t my point. It’s—”
“It isn’t taming,” Elwin said. “His powers come from nature.”
“The Lady Nature,” Daki corrected. “But Elwin speaks truth. The dragons cannot take my essence like they can his.” He turned to Elwin. “You are injured. Let me heal that arm before it catches an infection.”
Elwin saw his arm was bleeding. How had that happened? He could feel the sting of it now. Daki took the arm in glowing hands, and the skin knitted back together.
“Would you mind healing my leg?” Daren asked.
“Of course.”
As Daki moved to heal Daren, Jax said, “Where is this treasure trove?”
“The ruins of Abadaria,” Elwin said. “But we need to go to Iremine first.”
“Are you thumping serious? That’s your plan? The Seeker take me for a fool. I should have known better. We should just go hunting for Faragand the Red’s magical sword, while we are at it. I’m certain we can find it lodged in a rock, just waiting for the right hand to pull it out. I mean … you seem special, kid. I’m certain you are the thumping one to save us all.”
Elwin frowned. “Are you finished?”
“Yes. I believe we are finished. Good luck with your wild wyvern chase. Come on, Daren.”
“I believe him,” Daren said. “He knows those strange words that do things.”
“Every gossip in every thumping tavern we’ve been to has spoken of the Life-curse ruins of thumping Aba-thumping-daria. We’ve heard tales that great half-bull, half-man creatures roam the streets. Others claim the city is ruled by the Vampire Lords from the time of Abaddon. Do you honestly think there is something there?”
“I do,” Elwin said.
“I know you do. I was talking to the only person still capable of reason.”
“It is a city ruled by the magi,” Elwin said. “They protect the dragons slumbering there and have for three thousand years.”
“Why now?” Jax asked. “Have you thought of that? If they’ve been there for so long, why are people just now talking about this place? Seems awfully thumping convenient. If it is so secret, how does everyone suddenly know treasure exists there?”
He had good questions. People have known of the ruins for sometime. Why had the city not been explored in all this time?
Daki answered in a soft voice. “The magi have many ways of turning people away. They have wards, traps set in the road will turn a person to stone or boil their blood. Once inside the city, the magi can use incantations of illusion, allowing them to misdirect travelers. They can use telepathy to alter a person’s perception and memories.”
Jax stared at him with a blank expression.
“If you do not wish to journey with us, then go,” Elwin said. “I’d be happy to be away from your caustic mouth.”
“Caustic mouth?” Jax asked.
“I’ve warned him about his cursing,” Daren said apologetically.
“You, too?” Jax said, throwing his hands wide. “Un-thumping-believable.”
“We should go,” Elwin said. “Are you coming or not?”
“I can’t believe I’m saying this,” Jax said, “but yes. We are going with you. Once we have the coins the kid cost us, we can go our separate ways.”
“First, we need to reach Iremine,” Elwin said. “There is something there we need.”
“What is it?”
“A book,” Daki said. “There is an order of clairvoyants in Iremine, called the Farseers, who are likely to possess some of the knowledge to disable the snares in the ruins, but they will not give up their secrets willingly.”
“Wait,” Jax said, “why don’t these magi just go after the artifacts on their own? Are not they the ones trying to horde them all?”
“There are many orders of magi,” Daki answered, “and they do not all agree with the magi’s roles in the Awakening. Specifically, the Keepers of the Dragonkin mistrust those of the other sects.”
“Fantastic,” Jax said, sounding genuine. “You plan to take advantage of the discord between them. How?”
“Though they do not train extensively in combat incantations, in many ways the Farseers are the most powerful of the orders. Able to see beyond the walls of any land, the Farseers hold many secrets in ransom against the Keepers. The Farseers record the events of all magi, including details of Abadaria and its secrets. So long as the Farseers hold onto the knowledge of the aeries, the Keepers will not move against them.”
“Right,” Jax said. “I can’t imagine this order of magi will sell this book to us or that you have the coin even if they did. Do you have a plan on how to go about acquiring it?”
There was a definitive sparkle in Jax’s eyes. After all the grief he’d given the other man for being a thief, he was loathe to admit it.
He forced the words out. “We are going to steal it.”
“Really? How noble.”
Elwin wanted to punch the smug expression from Jax’s face. “It is for the greater good.”
“Looks like we are not so different after all.”
“Stop,” Daren said, cutting off Elwin’s retort. “We are ahead for now, but those ships will not be far behind us.”
Elwin looked around. The water behind them looked more of a lake now than a river. How far south had they gone?
“This is the King’s Lake,” Jax said, answering his thoughts. “Once we reach Iremine, do you have a plan on how to get this book?”
Elwin exchanged glances with Daki, who gave a slight shake of his head.
“You don’t,” Jax said with a hearty grin. “Fortunately, you’ve just acquired the company of two highly skilled retrieval experts.” Jax’s smile faded.
Elwin followed his gaze to the north. Several ships had appeared and spilled into the lake.
“There!” a man shouted. “Fire!”
Men with bows assembled at the front and sides of the lead ship. Arrows shot into the air.
Chapter 33
Beyond Duty
Anetia,
Abaddon was once just a man. And now that I can harness his essence, what do I care if he returns? Besides, if he is able to come back, we will keep him guarded and in a cell. His safety is paramount to keeping the dragons in our realm. We need them to win against the elementalists. Or are you content living in hiding?
~R., 2996 A.S.
~
“You awake?”
Feffer’s eyes opened. It was still too dark to see the hand in front of his face.
“I am now.”
“Sorry,” Petrus said. “I thought I heard them coming.”
Feffer sat up. “I didn’t hear anything.”
“Oh. Maybe it was my imagination.”
“Aye. Maybe.”
Feffer leaned back against the wall. Though they’d not discussed boundaries, Feffer stayed to the half of the room to the left of the door, and Petrus stayed to the right. They both made water and waste directly in front of the door. A small vengeance, but when those thumping guardians came for them, they’d have to step in their filth to get into the cell. After all, he and Petrus had long-since grown accustomed to the stench.
“Feffer? Would you tell me more ab
out Justice?”
“There’s not much left to tell.”
“What about your friend, Edgar? Do you think he is still in Justice?”
In the beginning, Feffer hadn’t trusted Petrus. He’d asked too many questions. After hours in the dark, Feffer understood the need to talk. Keeping up with the passing of time was impossible, so Feffer couldn’t tell how long he’d been here. It could have been anywhere between a day and a month. It felt an eternity. Talking made the darkness easier to handle, but he’d used false names for his friends and family. Even if he trusted Petrus now, the guardians could still be listening.
“Probably,” Feffer said. “I imagine he’s living with Takia and Dagio with the children.”
“That sounds wonderful.”
“Yeah. I bet he reads books all day. He always preferred a book to real adventure.”
“You miss him?”
“I do. But he had to go. I see that now.”
“Why? You never told me why he left.”
“It doesn’t matter.” Feffer purposely avoided the reason. Most people were leery of elementalists now.
“It’s all right. I understand. My guess is that he’s an elementalist. Most of them fled here early on, too.”
Feffer only grunted in reply.
“This Elizabetta. The one that came with you across the ocean. Is she also an elementalist? If she isn’t, we won’t have a chance of rescue.”
“Why do you say that?” Feffer asked.
“Did you not see how many guardians are in the square?”
“I wasn’t conscious when they brought me here.”
“Well, I’ve seen an execution,” Petrus said with obvious fear. “There are hundreds of them. It would take an army to save us.”
“Elizabetta had an army, but they are dead or scattered now.”
Feffer heard Petrus sit up. “She had an army?”
“Aye.”
“She must be nobility.”
“She is at that.”