by S. T. Bende
Note to self: bring wind-jackets on missions.
“The point of entry is clear.” Maja announced through my comm. Ahead, Viggo conveyed her message to Signy. The ten of us moved in a tight line, squeezing through a crack in the cliff wall and entering a narrow tunnel. It was barely wide enough for two of us to stand shoulder to shoulder, and I hoped we didn’t run into any threats that required more than a dagger to defeat. No way could we swing a sword in this space.
We’d made it halfway up the mountain when a chill raced across my neck.
“Signy,” I called. “Stop.”
“What is it?” Since she’d rounded a corner, I couldn’t see my aunt. But the tension in her voice let me know she was on alert.
“Someone’s watching us. I can’t tell if they’re in front of us, or if—”
“Aura! Get down!” Vienna shoved me to the ground. I flattened myself against the stone as a burst of light flashed from behind. Vienna had sent some kind of blast along the tunnel, and it fired at whoever was observing our team. As I raised my head, I could barely make out the silhouette of a man. He looked to be around seven-feet tall, with broad shoulders and a blade that glinted in the light. Despite his recent hit, he staggered forward, closing the distance between us at an alarming pace. Whoever he was, he wasn’t going away.
Vienna swore.
“I’ll cover you.” I pushed myself to a standing position. “Wait for my call then hit him again.”
I squared my hips toward Vienna and drew a breath. Pulling strength from the mountain, I focused on the bubble surrounding me. I expanded it until it encompassed Vienna, too. Once she was secure, I drew another breath, held out my hands, and focused on the swirling light within my chest. It fizzed like the Italian sodas I’d loved back on Midgard, with tiny sparks pinging around between my ribs. It only took a second to corral the energy into two balls, and to send them through my arms, where they waited for launch.
“Now!” I called.
A second flash barreled along the tunnel. As it moved, I fired two white beams from my hands. The light laced with Vienna’s, creating a near-blinding blast that knocked the blade-bearer off his feet. He hit the wall with a deafening crack. His spine bent unnaturally as he arched to the ground.
“Is there a second one?” I squinted at the tunnel.
“I can’t tell,” Vienna said. “Stay at the ready.”
“Do you need an assist?” Signy yelled.
“Not sure yet,” I called. “He’s not moving, so I think this one’s been debilitated, at least.”
“Maja says we’re clear,” Viggo shouted from around the bend. “And she’s sorry she didn’t see him coming. She was working on the columns.”
“That’s where her focus needs to be,” I said. “Tell her I’ll scan from here on in. I’m not as good at it as she is, but I’ll do my best.”
Viggo must have relayed my message, because a few seconds later Maja’s voice came through my comm.
“Sorry about that.” She sounded frustrated. “Are you sure you can handle the scan?”
“We need you to get those blockers dissolved,” I said. “I’ll take care of things on this end.”
“Thanks.” Maja exhaled heavily. “Let me know if you change your mind.”
I signed off, and turned to Vienna. “I’m going to check the mountain for other lifeforms. Watch my back? And be sure to tell me if you need me to switch gears.”
“Of course.” Vienna nodded.
“Should we hold our position?” Signy called from around the corner.
“Give me a minute.” I retreated inward, then sent my attention along the corridor. Other than our would-be assailant, whose lack of pulse confirmed that he was no longer a threat, I didn’t sense anyone between us and the beach. I redirected my focus forward, and double-checked before giving Signy the all clear.
“There’s a bunch of them at the end of the tunnel,” I warned. “But we’re good until then.”
“Keep me apprised,” Signy called. “Siro, let’s move.”
Vienna’s front-of-line counterpart must have followed the order. In no time we were jogging through the tunnel, making our way along the mountain. I kept my focus on the signatures that guarded the cavern ahead, occasionally withdrawing to check that we weren’t being followed. After a few minutes, the narrowing walls forced us to slow our jog to a walk. Before long, we filed through an opening so tight that my wings brushed against the rocks. Something sharp jabbed at my spine, and I shimmied carefully until I’d cleared the space. On the other side was a small-ish room—one just big enough to hold our group, so long as we stood with our shoulders touching. Viggo was directly to my right, his hand resting firmly atop his now-glowing sword.
Wait. They were only supposed to glow when we were in danger. Which meant . . .
I sent my focus behind me. The tunnel was still clear, so I checked the other side of the thick, rock wall Signy stood in front of.
Crêpes.
“You’re aware there are about twenty guards on the other side, right?” I whispered.
“I assumed as much,” Signy said quietly. “We’ve nearly reached the cavern, which means we’re about to face the guards who are holding our Opprør. We can expect them to be fierce warriors, energetic assassins, and more likely than not, completely averse to fighting fair. Be as aggressive as possible in your attack. I want you to take them out before they see us coming. Vienna and Siro, cover us as best you can. Do not hesitate to strike if you see a threat.”
“We never do,” Siro said solemnly.
Gulp.
The backside of my neck tingled, alerting me to a new danger. My stomach lurched as I scanned the other side of the wall.
“Something’s approaching the opening,” I whispered. “It’s time.”
“Ready positions,” Signy ordered. “Aura, stay back—I don’t want you on the front line.”
“I can—”
“You’re our regent,” she said sternly. “Moira, take my flank.”
A broad-shouldered warrior stepped forward.
“Move out!” Signy charged through the narrow opening in the wall. Moira followed, with Ondyr, Zara, Viggo, and the rest of the ground team close following suit. I lagged a few seconds behind, with Vienna on my heels. Before I slipped through the crack, I drew my sword. It glowed, a sparkling golden hue that illuminated the near-empty space.
“Be cautious,” Vienna warned. “In combat, the charge from our weapons is more intense than what’s emitted in training.”
“How so?” I drew my dagger, so I held a blade in each hand. Beams of light shot between the two weapons. Pulses fired up each of my arms, rocking me off balance so I slammed against the wall. I drew a steadying breath, squared my shoulders, and reset my stance.
Yikes.
“Never mind. I figured it out.”
“Get ready.” Vienna raised her palms to the opening. “If our opponents are as strong as I sense them to be, we’re in for the fight of our lives.”
I swallowed hard.
Here we go.
Chapter 17
“CLEAR THE ENTRY!” SIRO bellowed. I skirted quickly through the opening, careful to keep my back to the rocks. My gut seized as I scanned the cavern. Its walls stood a hundred-feet-high, with floor-to-ceiling energy barriers blocking the far quadrant of the room. The rest of the space was taken up by dozens of warriors fighting for control. Rafe’s älva swooped from corner to corner, their glowing swords raining blasts on the sea of black hooded guards. Several of the winged warriors fought from the ground, lashing out with spears and daggers that somehow sent fiery beams into their opponents. Ahead of me, Signy drove her sword through a figure whose shoulders were easily twice the width of hers. To my right, Zara and Ondyr tag-teamed a guy who may well have been half-giant, while on my left—
“Aura! Down!”
I dropped to the dirt. A second later something hard struck me from behind, forcing the air from my lungs on a whoosh. A heavy objec
t rolled against my shoulder as the air filled with the stench of sulfur.
Yikes.
Viggo’s legs came into view.
“Do I want to know what that is?” I asked. I lifted my head and he offered his hand.
“Nope. Just get that sword up and be ready for some kickback.”
I shifted my sword and dagger to one hand, and let Viggo help me to my feet. Once I was steady, I transferred my dagger to my left hand and looked down. I tried not to gag at the newly severed head wobbling on the ground.
“Where are we needed?” I asked.
“Maja and Syrra still haven’t gotten through the barriers.” Viggo jutted his chin at the glowing columns in the corner of the room. “But once they do, the senators are going to require coverage.”
“Got it.” Movement from my right pulled my focus, and I quickly spun toward one of the hooded figures. When he charged at me, I drew my elbow back. As he passed I stepped to the side, driving my dagger between his ribs. He lunged. His hands wrapped around my neck as he fell. I wrenched my head, but his hold was too strong. My knees buckled and I dropped to the ground with him. Fire filled my lungs as he tightened his grip, and when he dug his thumbs into the hollow of my throat, pain exploded inside my head. I withdrew my dagger, fully intending to stab my way out of certain death. A flash from above forced my eyes closed, and it was only after the cloak of sulfur assaulted my gaping mouth that I dared open them again.
Viggo stood beside me. His sword dripped with my attacker’s blood.
“These blades are no joke.” His hand trembled slightly.
“You okay?” I quickly jumped to my feet.
“No worse than usual.” He transferred his weapon to his other hand, and shook out his arm. “We’d better move.”
“Already on it.” I dodged a blast of älva fire and darted across the cavern. On the way, I managed to take out one of the smaller guards—it was death by impaling, a disturbingly easy defense with my highly charged sword. The fact that I’d just taken a life left my gut roiling, but I kept my focus forward and continued running. I’d nearly reached the glowing columns when someone cried out from behind.
“Arugh!”
Twenty feet away, Viggo fought off another impossibly large guard. Light pulsed from his sword as he swung it overhead. A clang echoed as Viggo’s massive blade clashed with his opponent’s considerably smaller one. The disparity didn’t slow his attacker. Instead, the guard clutched his sword in one hand, and used the other to level Viggo in the gut.
I swore as Viggo doubled over. The guard raised his arm, clearly intending to drive his sword through my boyfriend’s back.
But I wasn’t about to let Viggo die.
I threw my weapons to the ground and raised my palms. With a cry, I summoned beams so thick, my arms burned with the effort of forcing them out. Pain lapped at my skin as the energy made its way down my arms before ripping through my hands in two intense streams. When the light hit Viggo’s attacker, he flew across the cavern. His head met the wall in a crack so fierce, it echoed throughout the cavern. As his body crumpled to the ground, I scooped up my weapons and raced to Viggo’s side.
“That was close.” I panted as I ushered him toward the relative calm of the columns. The guards seemed to be staying clear of the light. Whether they wanted to protect themselves from the blockers, or keep their captives isolated, I couldn’t tell. Either way, it worked to my temporary advantage. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah.” Viggo wiped his forehead with his arm. “Guess I owe you one.”
“Let’s both stay alive and call it even.”
“Deal.”
“Maja.” I spoke into my comm. “Where are we on the columns?”
“Nearly there,” she grunted. “The last column’s the strongest.”
“Cover me?” I mouthed to Viggo.
He moved in front of me and raised his sword. I quickly scanned the room, my heart leaping as I ran a headcount. Somehow, the odds had shifted slightly in our favor. Though the ground was littered with bodies, most were clad in the hooded garb of our opponents. And while the fight still raged around me, I was able to make out Signy, Ondyr, Zara, and Rafe, each holding their own against the massive guards. Thank gods.
Trusting that Viggo would look out for me, I turned away from the battle. I now faced the pillars holding our Opprør within their opaque walls.
“Okay.” I raised my comm to my lips. “How do I help?”
“Mom and I already disabled the emphyrs, and the three columns adjacent to the cavern walls. See how those pillars are slightly dimmer?” Maja sounded tired.
“I do now.” I narrowed my eyes at the lone freestanding column. “So, the one to my left is the target—that’s the one we’re taking down?”
“Yes. But there’s a lot going on in that cavern,” Maja warned. “You need to watch your back.”
“That’s Viggo’s job. Gotta give him something to do.”
“I heard that.” The clang of metal on metal punctuated my partner’s words. I glanced over my shoulder to find him driving a guard to the ground with his sword. The assailant fought hard, but Viggo delivered a swift front kick to the chest that knocked him down. He raised an arm, and Viggo quickly relieved him of his sword-hand.
Nice.
“You all right?” I called.
“Work fast, Glitre.” Viggo turned to square off against another attacker.
With a nod, I focused my attention on the freestanding column. I opened my protections just enough to admit a handful of the angry bees, and I carefully blended them with the light that pinged around in my chest. Once I had the mixture under control, I pulled two balls into my palms and dropped into a fighting stance.
“Okay, Maja.” I raised my fists to the column. “Talk me through this.”
“The base is the weakest point,” she said. “Direct everything you’ve got about three feet from the ground. Mom’s going to hit the same spot from the back, and I’ll come in from the side.”
“Be careful, Aura.” Syrra’s melodic voice came through the comm. “If the pillar falls on you, its charge will be enough to knock you unconscious at best. And at worst . . .”
“Got it. Avoid the falling column.” I tilted my head to my shoulder, eliciting a solid crack. “Say the word.”
“Now!”
On Maja’s command, I opened my hands. Energy shot through my palms, the full force of the blend striking the column so hard it shook. A sea of screams broke out inside the cell, and I hoped our efforts weren’t hurting the senators. I withdrew slightly, angling my beams so they bore down on the column. Hopefully this would ensure any fallout would hit the ground . . . and not our Opprør.
“Give me more, Aura!” Maja called through the comm.
I gritted my teeth and focused on upping my attack. My arms trembled as another wave shot through them. “How’s that?”
“It’s too light,” Maja shouted. “Go darker!”
Crêpes. My teeth clamped onto my bottom lip as I re-opened my bubble and let more darkness in. Black bees greedily swarmed the ball of light in my chest. They attacked from all sides, piercing its surface and sending white-hot shards ricocheting off my insides. I stumbled, shutting off the streams in my hands and clutching my chest to halt the pain. But the contact only made it worse—my fingers were like branding irons that burned through my skin. I dropped to my knees. The sensations were too intense to withstand.
“Aura!” Viggo’s voice was muted—he sounded as if he were underwater. “Hold on, I’ll be right—”
Clangs echoed through the chamber, the clash of swords resonating throughout the tension-filled space. A fresh jolt of pain rocked my chest. I balled my hands into fists and dug them into the ground. The room spun in a dizzying circle as I forced myself up. No matter how badly felt, I could not stop moving. Maja and Syrra needed me. The Opprør needed me. And, if the clanging from behind was any indication, Viggo could use an assist. Fast.
The room was a light-fill
ed blur as I squared my shoulders to the column. I prayed the bees would behave before sending a jolt through my arms.
Gods willing, it wouldn’t break me.
“Yes!” Maja’s voice pierced my focus. “Whatever you’re doing is working. Do you see that crack?”
At the moment, the only thing I registered was a carnival-like whirl that was fast giving me a migraine. But I’d take Maja’s word for it.
“Do it again,” she ordered.
It took everything I had to hold my control over the darkness inside of me. But I did as Maja instructed. Then I did it again. And again. For a seeming eternity, I shot beam after beam at the base of the column.
Boom!
The thunderous sound rocked the cavern. I hurriedly stepped aside as the column shifted, then leaned precariously forward. We did it! My heart leapt as the column wobbled. It was going to fall! Any second now it would . . .
Oh, gods.
Fear pierced my gut as I registered the pillar’s trajectory. It was aligned with the spot where I’d just been standing. And directly behind me was—
“Viggo, look out!” I spun on one heel and sent a fresh beam at Viggo’s attacker. He staggered backward, his blade falling from his hand as he tripped over a rock. I leapt toward Viggo. Pain pierced my shoulder as the bone connected with Viggo’s hip. He exhaled loudly as I shoved him out of the column’s path. We hit the ground hard, tumbling in a tangle of limbs and still-exposed blades. And though I distinctly felt each cut against my flesh, I kept us rolling for as long as I could. Gods willing, it was enough to clear the falling pillar. I had no intentions of dying in this cavern.
“Arugh!”
A surge of screams broke out as we slowed our roll. I turned my head right before the column crashed hard against the rocky ground. As it landed, it struck a cluster of guards, and the ensuing boom brought my hands to my ears. A jolt shot through the remains of the pillar, lighting the guards up like fireworks. Their cloaks burst into flames and their spines arched in what looked to be utter agony. No sooner had they crumbled into smoking heaps than the entire cavern was filled with the sulfurous odor I’d come to associate with their death. If their scent was any indication, Was there any way they might be from . . .