Storm

by Lauren L. Garcia

  Argent’s eyes flickered to Foley. “The bastion is empty. Stonewall and his allies have fled.”

  Ice formed in Foley’s belly. Gone. All his friends; all his extended family. A part of him had hoped—foolishly, perhaps—that the other mages would see reason and remain behind. But now they were all as good as dead.

  Like him.

  No, he told himself, shoring up his calm. You’re not dead, not yet. You stayed. You are loyal. That’s what matters.

  Talon sucked in a breath. “Then we must pursue.”

  “I have sent a group ahead to wait for them at the docks,” Argent replied.

  Foley frowned to himself. This was the first he’d heard of Kali and her cohorts’ possible destination. How did the High Commander know? The most logical way out of the city was the bridge and main gates.

  Talon seemed to feel the same. “Surely they will make for the city gates.”

  The High Commander shook his head. “No, the docks, although the bridge is well-guarded. In any case, we have the advantage. The storm is upon us and these renegades will not be as well-equipped as my sentinels.” He smiled, white and dazzling, and dread curled in Foley’s heart. “Do not fear, Commander. Sergeant Stonewall and his mage-whore will not leave this city unless in my custody.”

  He glanced to the other sentinels. “Prepare to move out. Fain, Spar, and Harper; cover our rear. Commander Talon, Captain Cobalt, and I will take point.”

  The others filed in quick but orderly lines toward the common room’s exit. Foley stood at the room’s edge, hoping but not expecting to remain unnoticed. So he was not surprised when Argent looked his way but addressed Talon.

  “What is that doing free?”

  Talon kept her voice professional. “This is Foley Clementa, Whitewater Bastion’s First Mage. He came to my aid in the detention area, when Stonewall and his squad attacked me. It was Mage Clementa who informed me of the other mages’ escape. He has proven himself a loyal servant of the sentinels and the Circle.”

  The High Commander lifted a single blond brow. “Has he? Well, we’ve no time to discuss your claims, so for now, he stays with us.”

  “I will take full responsibility for him, ser,” she said.

  “I’m certain you will,” Argent replied. A thrill of warning ran up Foley’s spine at the soft words. The others had gone now, leaving only Cobalt lingering by the door. Even so, the High Commander pitched his voice so only Talon and Foley could hear. “You should have run, too.”

  With that, Argent shoved on his helmet and strode out of the room, his armored shoulders brushing the doorframe. Captain Cobalt glanced at Talon and then hurried after the High Commander.

  Foley looked at his daughter. “Shall we?”

  In hopes of setting her at ease, he tried to keep his tone light. But his daughter had never been one to take the easy path.

  “He’s right,” she whispered. “Gods, I’m such a fool. It’s too late to run.”

  “Yes,” he agreed. He should have done many things differently and the ghost of his right hand twinged in agreement. But he’d made his choices long ago, for good, or—more commonly—for ill, so he would bear the consequences as they came.

  Because they were alone, because nothing else mattered anymore, he took her hand. “I love you, Talaséa.”

  “It won’t change anything,” she replied. “But I love you, too, Da.”

  He could not recall the last time he had heard her speak those words. Despite the danger, despite the phantom pain that probably heralded worse things to come, he smiled. “Come, child. Let’s go to the void, together.”

  *

  While the snow made Kali and her friends’ journey exponentially more dangerous, it also proved a blessing, as most folks seemed inclined to remain indoors. No onlookers spotted the group, for which Kali was grateful. But slogging through snow-covered streets was no easy task, and by the time they reached the quay, Kali’s knee burned enough to bring tears to her eyes.

  I’d have gladly carried you, Stonewall said through their bond as the group crept through the dark streets toward the docks.

  He meant the offer only as a kindness, but the idea of being toted like a sack of potatoes was worse than the pain. Besides, she wasn’t slowing them down too much; no one could keep a fast pace through this weather. I can manage, she replied.

  If there were gods, they were merciful, for the worst of the snowfall had ebbed, revealing how Seren’s light fought to break through the cloud cover. The lamps had all burned out and shifting shadows bathed the docks. Cold air, stinking of salt, fish, and smoke, slithered beneath Kali’s cloak, making her shiver and wrinkle her nose.

  The group converged in a shadowed alley near the quay, where the sheltering buildings had kept back most of the snow. Eris and Cai spoke in hushed, hurried tones before Cai slipped out of the alley, toward the docks.

  “He’s going to look for the others,” Eris whispered.

  Drake squinted through the falling snow. “The river’s not frozen, thank Tor. Still, we’ll probably have a thorny time getting upriver.” He looked at Stonewall. “Remember how to paddle?”

  “Only just,” Stonewall replied, smirking.

  Drake chuckled. “Well, this’ll be a good refresher.”

  A warm feeling gathered in Kali’s heart at the genial tone between the two brothers. However, she caught sight of Eris, looking between Stonewall and Drake, scowling. Had Eris not known they were brothers? Probably not, for if she had realized Drake was related to a sentinel—let alone that he had been one—she’d not have bothered to free him.

  “I’ve never been on a boat,” Milo said brightly. “This’ll be…interesting.”

  “That’s not the word I’d use,” Flint replied.

  “The word you’d use probably isn’t fit for polite company,” Milo said.

  “Nothing she says is,” Beacon added wryly.

  Marcen cleared his throat. “I think our greatest danger is exposure.”

  “The greatest danger,” Leal hissed, “is the lot of you not shutting up. Unless you want every city guard in the area to find us?”

  Everyone fell silent as they waited for Cai’s return. Kali’s heart raced and her breath was still short, but she forced herself to be still. Too many minutes passed while she strained to hear anything other than the drum of her own pulse and Stonewall’s soft breath beside her, but there was only the faint lapping of water against the docks. And, of course, the ever-present roar of the waterfall, which the thicker snowfall had muted earlier.

  Stonewall did not look at Kali now, but she felt him in her mind all the same: focused on the task at hand; determined to see those he traveled with safely to their goal. He was not reaching out to her, but his presence was soothing. She took a shaking breath to try and quell her nerves, and waited.

  At last—at last—Cai reappeared at the alley’s entrance – alone. Eris straightened from her crouch. “Where are the others?”

  Cai gnawed on his lower lip. “There’s a nice big skiff out there, with room for all of us,” he pointed at the docks behind him, “but no sign of Izell, Davet, or the others. And I found this.” He pulled a brooch from his pocket and tossed it to Eris.

  “This is Serla Vellis’ sigil,” she whispered, her eyes wide.

  “Aye,” Cai replied grimly. “Auda was wearing it. I saw signs of a scuffle, too.”

  Kali covered her mouth lest she gasp. Eris had told them how she’d taken over an upper-tiered woman’s entourage, so Kali recognized the significance of this discovery.

  “You didn’t see Hazel or Druce, or any of the other bastion mages?” Eris asked.

  Cai shook his head. “Not so much as a stray thread.”

  “Did you see any sentinels or city guards?” Stonewall asked.

  “No sign of either,” Cai answered after a beat. “But the snow was falling pretty thick for a while.”

  “Surely this dreadful weather would keep folks indoors?” Kali asked.

  Marc
en gave her a sad smile. “I’d like to believe that.”

  “So…this is a trap?” Kali said as dread coiled in her belly.

  The others exchanged glances before Eris frowned. “Auda and the others wouldn’t have abandoned their post unless under duress.”

  “Well, we’re sodding here now,” Rilla replied, gripping her spear. “We can’t very well turn around. If this is a trap, we’ll have to fight our way out of it.”

  “How?” Ben asked. The Assembly man had been so quiet, Kali had forgotten he was there. Everyone glanced at him and he added, “We have mages, but if this High Commander is nearby with more sentinels, I fail to see how magic would be effective.”

  “Magic just saved my brother’s life,” Flint shot back. “And Mi’s brimming with hematite. So it’s not as useless as you seem to think.”

  Ben frowned at her. “Healing one man is surely different than fighting a small army.”

  “Kali cured herself of a thrall possession,” Flint said.

  The Assembly man cast Kali a startled look, but his calm, knowing tone did not change. “Again, that seems a different application for magic than what we need.”

  “So you’re an expert on mages, now?”

  Brice lifted her hands. “Everyone, calm down. Eris, the snow has slacked off. Can you fly? We need a better idea of what we’re facing.”

  In response, Eris seemed to melt before their eyes. Even her clothes shifted, and in the next moment, a crow hopped upon a nearby crate and flew off into the night. Kali’s heart jumped to her throat and she waited—again—until Eris returned a few minutes later. She shifted back to her human form—clothes and all—and her face was grim. “At least three dozen hemies, along with several squads of city guards, waiting around the docks. The moment we step free, they’ll be upon us. I’d be shocked if they didn’t already know we were here.”

  “Shit,” Drake muttered. “Ea’s balls and bones.”

  “Some of the hemies had silver armor, if that means anything to you,” Eris added to Drake. “I only mention it because it struck me as odd.”

  Stonewall sucked in a breath. “Argent and Silver Squad. It must be.”

  “Talon and her insufferable captain are with them,” Eris added darkly. “And Foley’s skulking nearby too, naturally.”

  “Well, that explains why we had no trouble leaving the garrison,” Beacon replied.

  “Do I want to know if you saw the other mages?” Kali asked Eris.

  Eris gave her a withering look. “They’re having tea with the hemies, of course.” At Kali’s frown, Eris blew out a stream of fog. “Prisoners. Again.”

  “All of them?” Kali whispered.

  “I didn’t do a head count, but I got a general sense.” Eris’ gloved hands closed into fists. “They’re hemmed in like sodding cattle in a pen. Every one of them cuffed and collared.”

  Kali’s mouth fell open but she couldn’t speak. It was too horrible for words.

  “What of those who went with that Cipher?” Leal asked.

  “I didn’t see them, thank the stars,” Eris replied. “Though Argent did have the carriage we…commandeered.”

  “We’re fifteen in number,” Brice said. “Against over three times that. Surrounded by enemies. There’s no hope of sneaking to the skiff or backtracking to rejoin the others.”

  “Then there’s no hope of escape,” Rook said weakly, and looked at Stonewall. “We must turn ourselves in. Argent can be reasoned with, but you must first surrender to him.”

  Everyone stared at her and Stonewall frowned. “Even if surrender was an option, Argent won’t let any of us walk away from this. He’ll kill us all – and I won’t let that happen.”

  Tears trickled down Rook’s cheeks and she reached for Flint and Milo, who were closest to her. “No, he just wants the mages. Turn them over, and he’ll let the rest of us go. I promise!”

  That same sense of dread that Kali had felt now resonated from Stonewall as he stared at his squad-mate. “How do you know that?”

  “None of this matters, because I’m not surrendering to those metal-blooded idiots,” Eris snapped. “Nor am I leaving my fellow mages to their fates. You’re all welcome to take your chances, but the entire reason I came back to this sodding city was to free my friends, so that’s what I’m going to do.” She looked between Kali and Sadira. “Can you do magic on sentinels that doesn’t involve healing them?”

  Kali flushed. “I don’t know. Maybe.”

  “Maybe?” Eris spat. “They’ve taken our people prisoner – again! What will it take for you to fight back?”

  “I have fought back,” Kali snapped. “Fought – and killed. It’s not brave or noble, and I have no wish to repeat the experience – unlike you. Don’t look at me like that, Eris. None of you said as much, but I know you killed that Serla What’s-her-name, and you’re wearing her clothes.”

  “We left Vellis alive,” Eris said.

  “In this weather, it’d have been kinder to slit her throat.” Kali glanced beside her at Sadira, who radiated warmth and power. On the trip from the bastion through the city, Kali had been able to ignore the urge for more of her friend’s magic, but the mere idea of taking some of Sadira’s—even in self-defense—made her mouth water and her fingertips ache. She had to make Eris see that what she asked was too much. “Eris, my magic–”

  “Aye, your magic is so very special,” Eris broke in. “But what fucking good is it if you won’t help your own kind? Will you just lie down and accept whatever the hemies deign to give you?”

  Fury took hold of Kali, so suddenly she could not keep it from her voice. “At least I’m not blinded by ignorance and hate.”

  Eris snorted. “You always were so melodramatic. I see that hasn’t changed.”

  “That’s enough,” Stonewall interjected. “Eris, you’ve no idea the toll Kali’s magic takes on her.”

  “Stay out of this, dreg.”

  “Focus on getting to the boat,” Sadira said suddenly. “Leave the sentinels to me.”

  “And me,” Flint said, drawing a dagger.

  Brice, Rilla, and Leal chorused agreement, but Rook shook her head. “There’s too many. You’ll never survive.”

  Kali shot Sadira a curious look. “You mean to do them harm?”

  The air around the Zhee mage warmed, banishing the cold and sending tendrils of steam from Sadira’s fingertips. “I mean to make them reconsider. We need a surprise.”

  At the others’ confused looks, she glanced at Kali. “Distraction,” Kali clarified.

  Sadira exhaled. “Yes. That.” She studied Kali. “Can you help me?”

  Kali swallowed the lingering urge to take Sadira’s magic for herself. She was Kali; she was no mindless thrall, and her friends needed her help. “Yes,” she whispered.

  More plans were made, these more harried than before. As the warriors—sentinels and otherwise—readied their weapons, Stonewall reached for Kali’s pack. “Please don’t argue,” he said as he shouldered the burden along with his own. “And give me the viol case, too.”

  “No.” She clutched the leather-bound handle.

  “You can’t run and carry that.”

  “And you can’t fight while carrying that.” She pointed to both of their packs now slung over his shoulders. “And help Milo,” she added, softer. “You’re not the only one of us who can be stubborn.”

  “Too bad,” he said with a sigh. Through their bond, he added, You’re certain we can do this…? The words faded, replaced by a blur of images that Kali recognized as his memories of their first flight across the Aredian countryside.

  We will, she replied in kind. But I’m afraid for you and the others.

  Oddly, this made him smile. We’re all fighters, Kali. We’ll manage. A strange calm emanated from him, setting her more at ease with each breath. He gripped his daggers. This is why the One brought me into the world, after all.

  Such conviction, she replied, and his smile broadened.

  “Stop m
aking eyes at each other, you two,” Flint hissed. “We’ve a battle to win.”

  Beyond the bubble of warmth that Sadira cast, the snowfall had begun again, thick and silent as ever. Kali’s calm faded and she took a shaking breath. “I suppose duty calls,” she said aloud.

  Stonewall lifted his helmet so he could kiss her forehead. “Not duty.” He shoved his helmet back on. “Freedom.”

  Thirty-Five

  Stonewall took two paces out of the alley before he caught the gleam of silver in the struggling moonlight. High Commander Argent and his retinue stepped out onto the docks, moving to block their enemies from their escape route.

  Enemies. Stonewall shivered. He’d never imagined other sentinels thinking of him in that way, but then, he’d never expected to fall in love with a mage. The gods worked in strange ways.

  Hematite be damned; his guts turned to ice and his heart lodged firmly in his throat. What courage he had shored up withered at the sight of High Commander Argent, Silver Squad, and what looked like every crossbow in Whitewater City.

  Stick to the plan, he told himself. Except Eris, no one wanted any bloodshed.

  “Rook,” he said. She flinched and met his gaze, albeit reluctantly. He nodded at the group of sentinels in silver gear, standing in a neat row behind Argent. “Are they as deadly as the rumors say?”

  She nodded but said nothing, and her hands were shaking.

  What in Tor’s name was going on? But he couldn’t question her when they had a battle ahead. Even so, he kept his misgivings in the forefront of his mind, just in case.

  In direct contrast to Rook’s visible fear, Flint pointed her dagger at Argent and Silver Squad. “Bunch of polished frips. They make Beacon look like a pig farmer.”

  Beacon, who was helping Drake support Milo, cleared his throat. “First of all, that was rude and uncalled for. Second—and it’s just a suggestion—but it’s probably not wise to antagonize the deadliest sentinels in Aredia any more than necessary.”

  Flint grinned. “Oh, I’m just getting started.”

  They were about ten paces from Argent, Talon, and the others. None of the sentinels who had flanked Stonewall’s allies had moved, likely waiting on their leader’s command to strike. Stonewall raised his hand in a signal to stop. He felt Kali’s presence in his mind, though her focus centered on her own magic. Still, he tried to communicate. Ready?