Storm

by Lauren L. Garcia

Ben scrubbed his beard. “The sooner we find our friends, the sooner we can leave.”

  Brice shot him a knowing look. “Fear it might freeze off, eh?”

  “Stranger things have happened,” he replied wryly, and Brice and Rilla chuckled.

  Leal hissed a command and they fell silent. She pointed her spear across the courtyard, in the general direction of the bastion. “I can hardly see through this mess. That’s our destination, yes?”

  Eris frowned as she glanced around. “Kali and Drake will likely be in the garrison’s detention area, but…”

  She’d been here before, many times, but never at night, during such a heavy snowfall, and without the company of sentinels who knew their way around. The last time she had been to the garrison’s detention area, she’d been fuming and had not paid the place as much mind as she ought to have.

  “But…?” Leal prompted.

  “I’m not sure how to find it,” Eris admitted. “The garrison’s like a rabbit warren if you don’t know your way around.”

  The Sufani did not reply, but Marcen pointed toward the bastion. “Who’s that?”

  The group came to a stop, weapons raised and magic ready. Energy teemed within Eris’ veins and she tensed, squinting through the snowfall. Frozen flakes stuck to her lashes, further obscuring her vision, but eventually she spotted a familiar flash of strawberry blond hair.

  “Hazel,” she said, and rushed forward. “It’s other mages,” she added, calling over her shoulder. Her friends followed, and soon the two groups met just outside the bastion gates. All the bastion mages carried traveling packs and wore multiple layers of clothing, along with nervous expressions.

  “What in the sodding stars are you lot doing out here?” Cai asked, glancing between Druce and Jep.

  “Leaving this place, for good.” Druce grinned at them; his dark brows were already speckled with frost. “Sadira told us to meet you at the docks, but I’m not complaining to find you here.”

  “Where are the sentinels?” Eris asked.

  Hazel jerked her head in the direction of the garrison. “Sick or dead, I guess. All we know is they don’t have as much hematite as they want.”

  “Aye, so this looked to be our best chance for freedom,” Druce added.

  Eris and Adrie exchanged looks. Saving all the remaining bastion mages was not in the plan. But now that the others were here, Eris couldn’t very well deny them the chance to flee. But nor could she divide her forces any more than she already had. She glanced between her allies and realized that they were all waiting for her cue – even the non-mages. Even Leal, though the Sufani’s gaze never strayed too long from the garrison around them.

  “Auda, Izell, and a few others just left for the docks,” Eris said, pointing toward the garrison’s main gates. “There’s a carriage waiting outside. Take it. You should still be able to catch them if you hurry.”

  “How in the void did you get a coach and horses?” Druce asked.

  “Long story,” Cai said.

  “Right. I hope we’ll get to hear it.” Druce glanced at his companions, and then back to Cai, one brow raised. “You lot need any help?”

  Cai looked at Eris. “Dunno. Do we?”

  All eyes, including Leal’s, fell upon Eris again. No doubt Gideon would have urged her to keep them around, if only to fortify her allies’ numbers. More mages meant more power… but also more potential for someone to get hurt. Despite Druce’s assured expression, Eris read the fear in his eyes and the tension in his stance, and he was not alone in those feelings. These mages were not yet the fierce, rebellious allies she’d come to trust with her life; these were soft bastion folk, spurred to escape only through desperation. Perhaps they could be more one day, as she had, but not right now. Besides, Izell and the others would no doubt have a difficult time at the docks; more magical aid would probably benefit them.

  So she pointed toward the garrison’s main gates. “We’ll be fine. Go, and be safe.”

  As the bastion mages rushed off, Eris caught Leal’s gaze. The Sufani gave her a single nod, as if in approval, and then turned to head toward the garrison itself. The others followed, leaving Eris to scowl over her relief at Leal’s nod. What did it matter if Leal approved of her actions? Leal was only here because she had a personal stake in the success of this mission.

  An icy blast of wind prompted Eris to hurry after the others. As she drew closer, she spotted a group of folks emerging from the garrison: sentinels. Eris sucked in a breath of freezing air that hit her lungs like a punch as she called a warning to her allies. But there was nowhere to run, nor time. Eris’ heart beat in her throat as the others raised their own weapons.

  Leal squinted through the falling snow, and then darted forward, calling out in Sufa. An answering shout rose from the other group and several of them peeled away from their allies to race toward Leal. Only when the four Sufani were embracing in the garrison courtyard did Eris realize that she and her friends had stumbled upon Leal’s family, whom the sentinels had thrown into their prison.

  Which meant…

  Huddling in her cloak, Eris hurried past the Sufani toward a group of sentinels carrying a prone form. Kali limped after them.

  Eris couldn’t suppress a thrill of relief at seeing her friend alive and moving. “Kali!”

  The snowfall muted Eris’ voice, but Kali jerked upright, her dark eyes falling on Eris a beat later. Seren’s light, Kali looked dreadful: her hair was matted, smears of dirt and blood marred her cheeks and forehead, and the shadows beneath her eyes were darker than ever. But she was alive, thank the stars! Several other mages came behind Kali and the sentinels; Eris recognized the other bastion mages she’d sent with the Sufani, including Sirvat, no longer pregnant, who clutched a small bundle to her chest.

  Kali smiled, but the expression faded almost at once as she turned her attention back to the sentinels’—and Drake’s—burden: Milo.

  Frowning, Eris hurried to her friends, the other mages and her Assembly allies on her heels. Eris grabbed her Kali’s arm. “Come on. We’ve got to get out of here.”

  “Not yet.” Kali twisted out of Eris’ grasp and continued with the sentinels and Drake. Spots of blood dotted the snow behind them. Drake glanced up once, noted his Assembly friends, and looked back down at Milo, his face stony as the group hurried along. Leal and the other Sufani spoke in their native tongue, Leal gesticulating to the gates while Aderey pointed toward the bastion.

  Eris trotted after Kali, who was clearly struggling to keep the others’ pace. “What are you doing? We must leave. Now!”

  Kali didn’t look at her. “We will – after we see to Milo. Is Sadira in the bastion?”

  “I don’t know. I imagine.” Eris reached for Kali’s arm again. “She can catch up. Kali you must–”

  “I must help Milo,” Kali broke in, ignoring Eris’ reach and limping after the hemies.

  Eris stared at her friend. It was as if Kali spoke another language. Kali’s inexplicable love for the sod Stonewall was one thing, but why bother with the burnie? The effort of weeks of speculation and planning seemed to press upon Eris’ chest, making her breath come in short foggy gasps. She had cooperated with dregs who hated her kind. She had waited and watched and listened before storming this place. She had worked with sentinels to return to this prison! All to free her best friend in the world, who now behaved like a stranger.

  How dare she? Eris clenched her fists and her next words came out as a snarl. “Forget the sodding hemie! Or are you fucking this one, too?”

  Kali whirled around faster than Eris had ever seen, dark eyes wet and red-rimmed, and filled with her own fury. “He’s going to die without help, Eris. Stay or go; do what serves you best. As usual. But leave me alone.”

  With that, she turned to limp after the sentinels. One of the hemies fell back to offer her shoulder in support. Kali accepted the sentinel’s aid and the two women hurried after their allies.

  Their allies. Eris stood in place, buffeted by a w
ind she no longer felt.

  “Eris.” It was Adrie, supporting Sirvat and her baby. “We must get to the bastion. Now.”

  “I’m not going back there,” Eris replied, hefting her bag. “We brought you some clothes and can probably still catch up to the carriage.”

  Sirvat had bundled her baby beneath her own tunic and cloak, so they were skin-to-skin, and clutched the newborn close. “I can’t run around out there with him, Eris! It’s too cold and he’s so little. I must get him warm before I can think of leaving!”

  Adrie nodded. “Come on, Eris; let’s regroup. Maybe pick up some more warm things while we’re at it. Even Vellis didn’t have enough cloaks for everyone.”

  “The sentinels–”

  “Won’t be an issue,” Leal said as she returned to Eris’ side. “Da says they’re all as useless as wet yarn, and the commander’s locked up in the garrison. We have a little time.”

  “No,” Cai replied, shaking his head. “We don’t. We must leave now. Who knows what tricks that bitch of a commander tucked away in her armor?”

  Sirvat rubbed the bundle in her arms. “I’m going back to the bastion, just for a few minutes. Just to get him warm.”

  Eris gritted her teeth, and glanced back at Kali and the hemies, who had reached the bastion gates. Her hands stole to her own stomach, where her and Gideon’s child grew.

  The past was a lost cause; Eris had to protect the future. “Fine, but be quick; we’re leaving soon – forever.”

  Thirty-One

  Stonewall stepped inside the mages’ common room, careful not to jostle poor Milo overmuch, and glanced at Kali for direction. She pointed to the nearest table, and he, Drake, and Beacon eased forward to lay Milo atop the polished woodgrain. Beacon carefully removed the dagger and they began to strip off Mi’s gear. The sentinels’ part would be done soon, although Stonewall hated the idea of standing around while others did all the work. It was Parsa all over again.

  Kali pulled back Milo’s undertunic and studied the wound while Flint hovered. “You think Sadira can really help him?” she asked Kali.

  “She’ll try.”

  “Try?” Flint’s voice broke on the word.

  Kali met Stonewall’s gaze; he felt rather than heard the tenor of her request, so he said Flint’s name. “You know how this works,” he said when the young woman looked at him. “Give her space.”

  Tears shone in Flint’s eyes, although her face was still tight with rage. “Go fuck yourself.”

  “Flint,” Kali said calmly. “Go find Sadira.”

  “No need.” A familiar, white-haired woman entered the room, a knapsack and Kali’s viol case in her grip. Warmth bloomed out around her, making Stonewall’s fingers and toes ache with relief.

  “Kali!” Sadira set down her burdens and hurried to her friend, but stopped just short of embracing the dark-haired mage and instead looked at Milo.

  “He needs need your help,” Kali said. “Our help. I’ll do what I can.”

  Sadira’s collar and hematite torc were gone; she pulled a key from her pocket and removed Kali’s collar, letting it fall to the floor. Kali rubbed her neck, but kept her focus on Milo and the bright, angry wound above his heart.

  Sadira glanced between Stonewall and Beacon. “This will be painful. Hold him.”

  Flint sucked in a breath but Stonewall urged her to be still as he and Beacon took positions at Milo’s chest and legs. “Talk to him,” Stonewall said to Flint as the mages got to work. “Let him know you’re here.”

  Flint swiped her nose and bent to Milo’s right ear, squeezing his hand as she began whispering. Kali and Sadira closed their eyes and pressed their hands over Milo’s wound. Nothing happened at first, until Milo tensed and cried out, twisting against the table as if trying to escape.

  “Shut up, you big baby,” Flint said hoarsely. “You’re going to be fine. But if you die on me, I’ll hunt you down in Nox’s void and kick your sorry ass right into your next life, do you hear?”

  Milo cried out again and his body spasmed, thudding against the table. Stonewall braced his palms against Milo’s hips, holding the younger man firmly. Beacon and Drake did the same at Milo’s feet; Drake shot Stonewall a look that clearly said, Will this work?

  Stonewall ignored him and focused on Milo. The squad had rallied around their fallen brother-in-service, helping in any way they could. The knowledge made Stonewall’s heart swell.

  Please keep Milo here a while longer, he prayed silently, thinking of Tor’s golden, glowing eyes. He can’t be done with this life yet.

  Kali and Sadira’s faces contorted with effort, and gradually, as Stonewall and the others watched in muted amazement, the wound in Milo’s chest began to knit. Skin wove over blood and muscle as if on a loom of flesh. Stonewall’s heart began to race – not just from his recent hematite dose. Milo was going to pull through!

  But the knitting ceased. The skin ripped as if Mi had been stabbed all over again, and blood pulsed anew from the wound. Sadira sucked in a breath but did not lift her trembling hands.

  “No,” Kali muttered. Gods above, her face was pale and her cheeks had sunken against her bones, giving her a gaunt, starved look. Her eyes looked huge and black, but there was no trace of starlight within them.

  Renewed fear tugged at Stonewall. “What’s wrong?”

  “I need…” Kali’s eyes closed as she grimaced in pain. Then he heard her voice in his mind, in that silent speech. We need more help than I anticipated.

  He tried and failed to reply in kind, and instead spoke his words aloud. “What can I do?”

  Flint looked between them, panic rising in her voice. “What’s going on?”

  Kali’s dark eyes flew open and landed on Stonewall. Remember Neff?

  Tor help him, he did. His guts twisted at the memory of the Aredian hunter who’d been turned into a thrall; the man whose life Kali had stolen when he had attacked her. She had saved herself, but in doing so had killed Neff, and somehow taken his energy to use later.

  “You need…strength?” he managed. Kali nodded.

  “What in the blazing void are you talking about?” Flint asked.

  Beacon and several of the others echoed the sentiment, although Eris was oddly silent. Kali had closed her eyes and returned her focus to Milo’s wound, which had not gotten any worse – for now.

  “Kali can pull strength from one place and send it to another,” Sadira said. “Like a river flows from the mountains to the sea.”

  “Is that…safe?” Rook asked. Startled, Stonewall glanced over his shoulder at his squad-mate, who brushed snow off of her shoulders with one hand, the other clutching a bulging sack. A familiar weapons belt, sword, and two daggers were tucked beneath her arm.

  More startling, though, was the woman beside her who shook snow off a white and black hooded cloak. From Milo’s description, it could only have been Serla Natanaree who took in the scene with wide eyes.

  Rook motioned in the direction of the bastion gates. “Found her outside.”

  “You can do magic upon hematite?” Serla Natanaree asked Kali, breathless.

  Color rose in Kali’s cheeks but it was Sadira who answered. “Stand aside and let us work. And hematite is not the pollution you believe it to be.”

  “Solution,” Kali murmured. “I think.”

  The Cipher ducked her head and did as instructed. Stonewall searched her for signs of anger, fear, or distrust, but he found only confusion. Out of habit, he glanced over at Drake, who also studied the Cipher; Drake gave Stonewall a familiar look. I’ll be on my guard, too.

  Relief swept over Stonewall at the notion, although he tried to ignore the feeling – and his lying brother. No doubt he’d have to deal with Drake later, but not now.

  Flint shook her head and glared at Kali. “Can you help my brother or not?”

  “I can,” Kali replied. “I just need…” She faltered. “I’m not strong enough on my own.”

  Sadira held out her hand. “I can–”

/>   “No,” Kali broke in. She was trembling now, beads of sweat appearing on her forehead. “No,” she said more gently. “You’re helping enough. I can’t—won’t—take anything from you.”

  Pain emanated from her: at once an old wound that had never properly healed; and a newer, sharper pang akin to desire, laced with guilt. Had Stonewall not been so attuned to her, he would have missed the feelings, or perhaps mistaken them for his own.

  But none of that mattered to him as much as the one truth he’d come to realize, which washed away his own doubts and fears and granted him the strength to meet her gaze unflinching. I love you. “You are strong,” he added aloud. “Kali, you’ve fought thralls, from within and without. Surely you can–”

  “Fight the Laughing God, too?” Kali broke in. Tears trickled down the sides of her nose and his heart twisted at the fear in her voice. “No, Stone. There isn’t enough magic in the world to do that.”

  Flint made a noise of exasperation. “You need strength? Here.” She thrust out her free hand, the one not clutching Milo’s. “Take whatever you need. Just…” Her voice broke. “Just save my brother.”

  Beacon had been following the exchange with furrowed brows, but now he shook his head. “I don’t think that’s–”

  “I’ve never given two shits what you think, frip,” Flint snapped. “I’m not going to start now.”

  “You don’t have to do this,” Stonewall began. “I can–”

  But the burnie silenced him with a cutting glare. “He’s my brother. Besides, Milo would do this for me in a heartbeat. You know that.” She ripped off her glove and offered Kali her hand again, trembling like an autumn leaf. “Let me help him, for once.”

  Kali had already made her decision. Her resolve poured over Stonewall like a sheet of falling rain; any lingering hesitation was likely due to the presence of so many witnesses.

  Well, he would make it easier for her. “It’s all right,” he said to Serla Natanaree and Rook, who still looked uncertain. “You can trust Kali.”

  Kali accepted Flint’s hand and squeezed. “I don’t know if this will hurt, but I’ll stop before I kill you.”