Pulling up his pants legs, Rick drew them on there as well.
“I can teach you a couple of symbols after we deal with Taranis.”
If I live, that is.
Drawing a few more symbols, Rick placed the needle back in his boot and snatched up the potion.
“What’s the plan?” Devlin asked.
Rick stood. “Get out of this tower, find the others and my sword, kill Taranis.”
“Sounds simple,” Devlin said standing.
“It’s that middle part which’ll be tricky.”
“I’ve been thinking about that,” DevIin said. “I think I might know where the others could be.”
Rick whipped his head around to look at him.
“There are four towers like this one, and one of them is empty.”
“I thought all the buildings in this city were occupied?”
“The king said no one could use that tower this year.”
Rick nodded scratching his chin. “It’s better than any idea I have.”
I had no ideas, he added in his mind.
“Let’s go,” he said.
Walking up the steps they left the secret room and reclosed the wall behind them. They snuck down the hall. Reaching the doors, Rick stopped, peeking out. A small army of guards stood out front. Some of them were keeping the people back in a wide circle, but most stood facing the tower. Rick backed up down the hall.
“I’m beginning to wonder about your king,” he whispered.
“They could be making sure no one goes in.”
“That explains a couple of them,” Rick whispered. “But there’s at least thirty men out there.”
“What’s the plan?”
“I’ll walk out,” he said using hand motions. “And if there's no trouble you walk out.”
“Great plan,” Devlin said, his voice laced with sarcasm. “What if there is trouble?”
“Then I’ll draw them away, I need you to find my black sword,” Rick said forcing a smile. “Don’t do anything stupid.”
“No promises,” Devlin said forcing a smile.
Rick strode down the hall and stepped outside.
“Halt!” yelled the captain of the squad.
Rick looked down at his stationary feet, then back at the captain. He didn’t look in the mood to joke, so Rick bit off the retort.
“Were you sent to help me?” Rick asked.
Several men looked at each other
“We were told to take you in if we saw you,” the captain said.
“For what?” Rick said with a friendly smile.
The captain swallowed and glanced around. An Angry Elementalist would be the last thing this man wanted.
“For treason against the crown,” the captain said.
“Against the crown?” Rick asked. “That’s a pretty big claim. You sure?”
“I’m afraid so.”
The men were slowly inching closer.
“What did I supposedly do?” Rick asked.
“The king declared you attacked him.”
Rick yawned. “I don’t have time for this, I’ll pay him a visit later.”
The soldiers were instantly hostile.
The captain closed his eyes. “I’m afraid I must insist,” he said raising his hand in the air.
Rick didn’t hesitate. Using Binding magic, he tethered himself to a brick on the side of a building, and was yanked out of the way moments before arrows thudded to the ground. They were no doubt coated with that annoying concoction. Flying toward the wall, he tried to open a portal. It appeared, but then fizzled out.
Not good, he thought.
Twisting around, he landed on the wall. Running along its side, he used Modi magic to alter his Elementia. This time when he opened a portal it stayed intact. Portaling into the sky, he hurtled toward the ground. Creating a portal below himself he dropped through shooting out feet first into an unexpecting marksman. The force of the kick knocked the man off the roof. The man screamed as Rick landed on his back. Scrambling, he opened a portal in front of the man, depositing him on the ground. Rolling over to his hands and knees, Rick ducked. An arrow whizzed by. He leapt off the building. He could open portals now, but the range was limited. Opening a portal in front of a neighboring building, he bound himself to its side. The soldiers were scrambling. He watched, making sure they were all pursuing. Dropping toward the ground, he opened a portal high in the sky, gaining momentum. Repeating the process, he fell again, and just before he hit the ground, he opened a portal and sailed away.
Landing on the side of a building he waited until the guards caught up. An arrow smacked the bricks next to his head.
“Long enough,” he said releasing the binding.
Falling, he created another binding on the corner of the building, twisting around it. Life never got old falling about in the sky. After he made some distance, he dropped into an alley.
“Well, It looks like I’m a fugitive again.”
He rushed out onto the street and glanced around. People crowded the streets, merchants yelled, patrons chatted, and the smell of fish wrenched the air.
“Hey, you!” called the fish merchant. “I got smacking good fish. Only two for a copper!”
Pushing past the man, Rick searched the area. Several soldiers were pushing their way toward him. Brushing dirt off his hands, Rick picked an alley at random and ran down it.
Time to lose them.
Reaching a door, he jiggled the handle. Locked. Bending down, he brought his lips near the handle and breathed essence into it.
“Unlock,” he said.
Not much left.
Click. Turning the handle, Rick smiled as the door opened. Slipping inside, he closed the door and flipped the latch back into the locked position. It was dark. Concentrating, Rick summoned a ball of light. Illusion magic was a pain this far away from its world. He was in a bedroom. An old straw bed sat in one corner, and a desk and chair sat in another. Also, there was a closed door, most likely leading to the main room of the house. Walking to it, he tried to peek through the crack.
If I could use shadow magic things would be so much easier. Blasted collar.
Trying the handle, Rick slowly began to open it. Light spilled in.
“What was that?” A woman said from the other room.
Abandoning the door, Rick ran to the bed. Sliding underneath, he extinguished the ball of light just as a thudding came from outside. The guards were at the door. Again, there was a thud.
“Someone’s outside,” a man said from the other room. “I’ll see.”
The door to the alley burst open as the man stepped into the room barefoot.
“Excuse me!” the barefooted man said. “Who do you think you are, forcing your way in here!”
“My apologies, but we are in pursuit of an Elementalist,” the captain said.
“Well he isn’t in here! Only me and my wife!”
“I’m afraid we must search the premises. The king will repair his door,” The captain said stressing the word his.
Since when did the king get to claim the entire city? Rick wondered.
Several more boots entered. Some passed by the barefooted man and entered the other room. One pair of boots headed straight toward Rick. They stopped in front of the bed and a man’s head came into view. Rick’s hand shot out, two fingers jabbing the guard’s forehead. His eyes got a distant look in them. Rick projected his surroundings, but without him. Instantly, he had a migraine.
“Anything?” The captain asked.
“No,” the guard said.
Rick refrained from letting out a sigh. He could’ve fought his way out, but he’d rather not kill men for just doing their job. A headache was a fair price to pay. Hopefully, Devlin had snuck out free and clear.
“My apologies. We’ll send a man to repair the door,” the captain said his voice drilling into Rick’s skull.
Rick lay there, his head aching as the men left and the barefooted man retreated back into the other room. S
everal minutes passed. Rick shut his eyes trying to block out the pain.
“The mighty Gemini, hiding under a bed,” the voice said.
“Go away,” Rick hissed and slipped out from under the bed.
The door to the main room flew open and the man from earlier walked in.
“You—” he started.
“Lovely home you have here, but I really must be going,” Rick said running out the door.
“Guards!”
“Why do you have to be a nuisance?” Rick muttered as he ran down the alley.
Reaching the crowds, Rick started to slow. Several soldiers were still there, scanning for him. He slipped off his jacket and kept his head down. Turning to the nearest stand, he chatted with the lady. He made his way through the crowd by stopping and chatting with different merchants anytime he felt eyes were on him. Soon the patrols thinned. Weaving through the crowd he made his way toward the next tower.
I’m half tempted to go and kill this king, Rick thought. No, that’d be a bad, Rick. I’ll just take him to another world where he’s a nobody. Kidnapping, much better.
Rick gave himself a thumbs up. Reaching the first of the three other towers, he walked in and down the hall. He pressed the secret brick and the wall opened. Walking down the steps it grew dark this time.
Interesting. Why didn’t it get dark last time?
Pausing, Rick looked back up the steps and opened a portal. One end at the top, the other at the bottom and filling the chamber below with light. Striding down the last few steps, Rick cursed. The room was empty. Stepping through the portal, he dispelled it and reclosed the wall. That left two more towers.
Walking down the street, Rick turned the corner and dove back around. Several guards rushed toward him. He glanced around and ducked behind a barrel, just in time. The soldiers ran past. Someone poked him in the side. Jumping, Rick turned to see a kid. He stared back at him.
“Who are you?” the kid asked.
Rick peeked over the barrel before sinking back down. “I’m Rick.”
“Why are you hiding?” the kid asked.
Rick grinned. “How about you tell me your name first?”
“It’s Jack.”
“Well Jack, why are you hiding here?”
“No fair, I asked first.”
“So you did,” Rick said. “An old friend isn’t very pleased with me. Your turn.”
“Why isn’t he—”
Rick waggled his finger. “Why are you hiding?”
“I stole an apple,” Jack said looking at the ground.
“Did you eat it?”
The kid nodded. “I was hungry.”
“Fair enough,” Rick said. “Where’s your parents?”
“Drunk.”
Rick had to stamp down his fury. Breathing out slowly, he gave Jack a grin. “Now we can’t have that can we?”
With that, he vaulted over the barrel. “Take me to the merchant that you stole the apple from. I’ll get it all sorted out.”
Hesitantly, Jack followed him over the barrel. He took Rick to the merchant.
“Hey! That’s—
Rick waved him down “I know. Lightning Gem will pay for the apple.”
“I heard there was a fight,” the merchant said.
“There was,” Rick said. “We’re in the middle of it still. Can you watch Jack? I’ll pick him up once everything is settled, and I’ll pay you for your trouble.”
“You’re wanting me to watch a thief?”
“He’s a hungry kid with crappy drunk parents,” Rick shot back.
The merchant shut his mouth and nodded.
“Thank you.”
Turning to face Jack, Rick squatted down. “Now you’re not a thief. Don't do it again. Once I get back, we’ll sort things out with your parents.”
Jack kicked at the ground. “Thanks.”
Straightening up, Rick looked at the merchant. “Put him to work and give him something to eat. I’ll pay for it when I get back.”
“He’s going to work, you can be certain of that.”
Waving bye to Jack, he made his way to the next tower. Walking up the steps, he strode in and a white armored fist smashed into Rick’s shoulder, shattering it.
Chapter 24
“W
hat’s the plan?” Devlin asked.
“I’ll walk out,” Rick said using hand motions. “And if there's no trouble you walk out.”
“Great plan,” Devlin said, his voice laced with sarcasm. “What if there is trouble?”
“Then I’ll draw them away, I need you to find my black sword,” Rick said, forcing a smile. “Don’t do anything stupid.”
“No promises,” Devlin said forcing a smile himself.
Rick strode down the hall and stepped outside. Devlin waited and listened. The soldiers definitely wanted to take Rick in.
For treason? Weird.
It didn’t take long for fighting to break out.
Rick can certainly be annoying when he wants too, Devlin thought chuckling.
Waiting, Devlin listened as Rick drew the soldiers away. Peeking outside he saw the coast was clear. He stood and ran outside. Reaching the crowds, he slowed. Okay, so I need to find some magical sword that Rick could summon out of thin air. Piece of cake! Not that he liked cake. Pie was so much better. What am I doing? Thinking about pie while Stella was in danger! And the others too, of course.
Heading straight for the closed tower, Devlin weaved through traffic. Merchants were yelling, and people were buying. Pushing through the crowds, he reached the tower. Who knew what this tower had been used for in the past, but now it stored boxes. Before Devlin stepped inside, he listened for any sound. Two men were talking.
Now what? Of course, there’s guards! I found a flaw this plan of yours. I can’t fight! Let’s see. I can throw my voice and run inside. But then I’ll be stuck after they come back. But if I don’t do anything Stella could be in trouble.
Mustering up his courage Devlin used his pathetic Elementia to make a clattering sound upstairs. The two men started running. Devlin caught a glimpse of them as they sprinted up the stairs. Justin and Jayden. Slipping inside, he ran down the hallway trying each door. All locked. Taking the risk, he knocked on each of them in case Stella was inside. But no luck. The sound of voices echoed from back down the hall.
“Serpent's fang,” he cursed looking back. Not enough time.
Scurrying forward Devlin tried the next door. Locked. They were drawing closer. If he’d had Rick’s power he could beat the answers out of them. Spinning around, he tried the door on the other side of the hall. Click. The door swung open on silent hinges. No time. Slipping into the room he shut the door behind him. Everything went black except for a thin beam of light coming from the bottom of the door. Devlin held his breath. No cry of alarm. They hadn’t spotted him. With his eyes adjusting, he tried making out the dark room. He was in some sort of office. Books and scrolls lined a shelf. A desk had a small assortment of papers and a leather-bound journal on top of it.
Spotting a lamp Devlin fumbled in his pockets producing his flint. Turning up the wick he struck it, sending a shower of sparks into the lantern. After several tries the wick caught, engulfing the room in light. Turning it down, he carried it to the desk.
The cover on the journal had the name Taranis at the bottom. Devlin opened it and started skimming. It had to be almost a hundred years old. The pages were yellow and brittle, and the ink faded in places. Devlin stopped at a passage that caught his eye.
A man named Rick Gemini freed me from prison, I think he might be crazy. He wants me to teach him how to use lightning magic. I told him I can’t, it’s something you have to be born with, he won’t listen. A.137.
Let’s see, he thought doing the math. It’s S.219. That makes the date eighty-two years ago! Yeah, this has to be a fake.
We met a girl today, that’s all I’ll write about her. T.137.
It then skipped to a much later date and talked about helping the k
ing. Closing the journal Devlin set it aside. He’d take it with him. Maybe Rick could explain its existence. Picking up the papers, he read them. There were only two. The first one was just a scribbled note.
The changes in history have had an interesting effect. When something important should’ve happened does not, the participant will sometimes disappear from where they are and reappear in the event’s location, sometimes hours later.
“Change history? Devlin grumbled. “That’s impossible.”
He then read the second sheet, and all thoughts of the first one disappeared.
1 Steal Rick’s bag.
2 Maybe Zaven catches him.
3 Stall and build an innocent army that might kill him.
4 Use bag as bait
5 Hopefully army kills him.
6 If not kill an element member.
7 Sow distrust.
8 Kill him while in a chamber.
9 Blow him up.
10 Kidnap guild people and weaken him.
11 Blow up friends.
“Let’s skip number eleven,” Devlin said sticking the papers into the journal.
So much happened these last few weeks. Everything from an invading army from another world, to now his friends being kidnapped. Well not kidnapped, Adam was almost thirty, only a year more and his brother would die. He didn’t want to think about that.
Adultnapped! Nope. doesn't sound right.
Captured would work fine. He wasted enough time in this room. Glancing around he wanted to make sure he hadn't missed anything. He spotted books, a ring of keys, pens, moldy bread, but no sword. Blowing out the lantern, Devlin cracked the door open and listened. The wind blew outside, barely audible through the stone. No voices. At least, none that he could hear. Sliding open the door, he peeked out. Justin and Jayden weren’t there. Closing it behind him he crept down the hall. Trying more doors, several of them opened, but no Stella or the others, and no sword. He didn't expect to find anything except for in the secret room, but it was worth checking. Reaching the end of the hall Devlin pressed the brick.
“Who’s there?” Stella asked, her muffled voice coming from the room across the hall.
Spinning around Devlin tried the handle. Locked. Of course.
Gemini- The Beginning Of The End Page 26