by Frank Morin
She sighed again, and the Storm slowed and eased into a more gradual descent. The speedslings stopped spinning, and he breathed a little easier.
"If I see Shona again, I can't promise I won't kill her on the spot," Verena growled.
"Let's discuss Shona later," Connor suggested. He wasn't entirely sure how he felt about Shona, and that irritated him, but he didn't want to kill her.
"Pray none of them make any aggressive moves," she added.
"I'll cover you from the rear," Hamish said, rolling out of the Storm, igniting his own thrusters, and banking away to the left.
Connor sincerely hoped Rory didn't do anything foolish. He'd seen what speedslings could do at the battle of Alasdair, and even max-tapping Boulders had struggled under the deadly hornets. Verena and Hamish had enhanced the hornets and added exploding projectiles since then. If the Builders decided to go to war against Rory, there was a very good chance none of his company would survive.
"Circle in gradually," Connor suggested. "I want to give them plenty of time to see us and realize we aren't coming to attack."
"I see Aifric!" Jean exclaimed.
She was leaning forward over Verena's other shoulder to peer at the small force. The Obrioners had spotted them and had formed into a defensive circle.
Ivor stood at the rear of the group, his posture relaxed, but one hand wrapped in writhing flames, while the other held a globe of rippling water. Captain Rory, flanked by Tomas and Cameron, stood in the center of their tiny force of Boulders, while a Sentry Connor did not know knelt at the rear of the group, one hand thrust into the earth.
Aifric stood to one side of Ivor in her Healer robes, although as Connor watched, her face shuddered and her expression turned harder. Her smile faded to a grim frown, and one hand slipped into the pocket of her robes. He'd seen the transformation before, when she had assumed her alternate personality as a Mhortair Assassin.
He hoped she'd revert back to Aifric. She'd sworn to help him as an Assassin, but he'd rather not risk dealing with that aspect of her at the moment.
Connor then spotted another familiar face. Papil, his Pathfinder captain from his student army at the Carraig. Blonde and freckled, the gangly girl looked more mature than she had even a week ago when he had last seen her.
He stood at the front of the Storm and waved. She recognized him and the expression of joy on her face warmed his heart. He felt relieved to know at least one of his soldiers didn't hate him yet.
Connor swallowed a gulp of soapstone and water and made sure the marble was secure under his tongue. Tapping a bit of marble, he sent a jet of multi-colored flame shooting into the air. Then he switched to soapstone and pulled some water out of the air around them and sent a burst of snow crystals erupting around the Storm.
"They know who we are," he told Verena as he sat again. She had descended to just over five hundred feet. "Bank around one more time, then settle into a hover in front of them."
"Aye, General," she said with a mock salute.
"Sorry. Sometimes I forget I'm no longer a commander."
"It suits you. Just don't get carried away."
He knew better than that. Verena could easily punch him right out of the Storm if he irritated her enough. She hadn't hit him since their reunion, so he was cautiously optimistic that phase of their relationship was over, but it always paid to be careful.
"If this doesn't go well, don't use the puking dooms unless I tell you, or Ivor might seize the flames."
Verena slowed further and came around to the front of the group. She hovered at a hundred feet and slowly settled straight down toward the ground, aiming for a landing spot about fifty feet away from Captain Rory and his soldiers.
Connor definitely didn't plan to fight with fire. Ivor wielded fire with a degree of mastery Connor couldn't yet duplicate. Since Connor had ascended with soapstone he should have a solid advantage, even though he wasn't carrying a ready supply. The morning air was humid enough to provide what he needed.
He still felt convinced they wouldn't need to fight. They had too much to talk about first. Ivor and Rory moved to the front of the small group. The unknown Sentry worried Connor the most. The man hadn't moved, so Connor slipped a piece of slate into his boot. He wouldn't be able to connect with the earth until he landed, so if the Sentry decided to attack, now would be the best time.
Rory took a step forward and spoke, his voice magnified by Papil. "Connor, it's good to see you, lad."
Connor nearly saluted. Since Rory was leading an official Obrioner envoy and he was allied at the moment with Granadure, that wouldn't work so well. So he applied quartzite to his voice and replied, "We've come to talk, Captain."
Rory relaxed, just a slight shifting of his shoulders, but Connor knew him well enough to read the gesture. "Good."
Behind him, Tomas handed something to Cameron with a scowl, and Connor smiled to see it. The two loved to bet, and one of their favorite subjects to bet on was him.
Verena settled the Storm to the ground, but glanced at Connor. "Do you trust them?"
"With my life. Come on."
"I'm not sure that's a good idea," Verena said, frowning at Rory, who was approaching with Ivor, Tomas, Cameron, and Aifric. Papil remained with the rest of the tiny force, but she waved enthusiastically when Connor met her gaze. He waved back, and she grinned even wider.
"Please," he said and climbed out of the Storm, then offered his hand to help her and Jean. Neither of them really needed help, but he figured the gallant gesture was a good idea in the current, formal-ish meeting.
Connor glanced at Ivor, who trailed Rory by half a step, and Ivor gave him a friendly smile. Connor was eager to talk with his friend, and happy that Ivor had survived the explosive assault at the pass.
He extended a hand, which Rory shook with a solid grip. "I'm not surprised you showed up near the fighting, lad."
"The pass is already broken though," Tomas told Connor.
"You're too late," Cameron added. "I think Redmund was taking notes at the Carraig."
"Redmund?" That was a surprise.
"Aye," Rory said, his deep, rough voice graver than usual. "It was Redmund who somehow raised that elfonnel and led the charge through the gap."
"Poor fool," Connor muttered. He hadn't exactly like Redmund, but he still felt bad knowing that Redmund had been sacrificed.
Tomas said, "To many Obrioners, what he did makes him a hero."
"And what do you think?" Connor asked.
"Don't need to," Tomas said with a quick grin.
"We're just here for the fighting," Cameron agreed. "Captain's the one who has to think."
"He has to try, anyway," Tomas corrected.
Connor smiled. Their easy banter actually helped him relax, but he didn't let their self-deprecating words fool him. Those two were shrewd battlefield tacticians, and they absorbed more intelligence than most people realized.
Captain Rory turned to Verena then and said softly, "Builder, I'm glad to see you safe."
"Are you?" Verena asked, her voice hard.
Rory nodded. "I had to obey orders, but I can tell you now that I hated to do it."
Tomas and Cameron stepped up to flank their captain, and in unison they raised hands in the crispest salute Connor had ever seen. Their normal air of joking disrespect was replaced by unusual sincerity.
Tomas said, "Captain's right, Builder. It was worse than insulting to treat you like that after your inspiring bravery during the fighting."
Cameron added, "You've got the heart of a Fast Roller."
"She's got Connor's heart now too," Tomas muttered, his serious expression cracking to a frown. "How many heart's she's collected, you think?"
Rory sighed and glanced at them. "You know, I was almost ready to feel proud of you two."
Cameron sighed loudly. "Whew! Glad we dodged that blow, Captain. Would've ruined a perfect record."
Not even Verena could maintain her anger in the face of those two, and she smiled
and shook her head. She stepped closer and kissed Tomas on the cheek. "Thank you."
He looked thunderstruck, and for perhaps the first time ever that Connor had seen, he didn't seem to know what to say.
When Verena turned to Cameron, he was already grinning. After she kissed his cheek, he chortled, "Kissed by a pretty girl! Only thing better would be if you brought Erich along for a little bash practice."
"Sorry. Maybe another time," Connor said.
He hoped the next time they met, they'd get to practice fighting, but he feared the battle would be far too real. He hated to think of fighting these men who he respected so much.
"Has Carbrey started advancing north?" Connor asked Rory.
Rory hesitated. "My message is officially for Wolfram, lad. I also have a message for you too."
"From who?"
"From High Lord Dougal."
That shocked him. Bad enough that Shona got that letter to him in Alasdair.
"What message?"
Rory grimaced. "I have to deliver it in the presence of General Wolfram."
"Why?" Verena asked suspiciously.
"You'll understand once you hear it."
"You're not doing a great job of restoring my faith in you," Verena said.
"I know, lass, and I apologize."
"Then we'd better get you to Harz," Connor decided. "First, do you mind if I speak with Ivor and Aifric for a minute?"
"Be my guest."
Rory looked surprised. He had probably expected Connor to try questioning him further. In fact, Connor wanted to, but they'd speak at Harz, and he really needed to talk with Ivor.
As soon as Connor turned, Aifric rushed up and gave him a fierce hug. "Connor, it's so good to see you." She wore the open, friendly expression of Aifric the Healer, and he felt relieved that she had shifted back.
He returned her hug warmly. "I'm glad you came."
"Ivor invited me." She gestured to the big Dawnus, who joined them and extended a hand for Connor to shake.
"I've been hoping to find you," Ivor said.
Connor studied his friend. "I heard you're already a commander."
"Most of the senior students were recruited too."
"Are they. . ." Connor couldn't quite make himself ask if they had died in the explosion at the pass.
Ivor shook his head. "Most of the students were held in reserve. Everyone you knew is safe. Well, except for Redmund."
"I heard."
Ivor turned to Verena and extended a hand to her, "It's good to see you again, Builder."
"And you, Ivor." Verena ignored his hand and gave him a hug. "You saved my life, Ivor. I hug friends."
"Maybe when all this unpleasantness is over, you'll take me up in one of those flying wagons," Ivor said, glancing at the Storm.
"It would be my pleasure."
Ivor glanced up at Hamish, who still hovered in the air nearby, and waved. Hamish waved back and Ivor grinned, "That suit is a marvel."
"He's a marvel," Jean said with a smile.
Ivor bowed over her hand. "I'm surprised to see you here. You were Shona's servant, right?"
That was a perfect opening for Connor to ask about Shona, but Jean spoke first. "I've been Connor's friend a lot longer."
"You wouldn't have wanted to stay at the Carraig anyway," Ivor said. "With the older students all recruited, the younger students were sent home during repairs. I doubt the Carraig will be ready to resume classes on time next year."
"It was a mess," Connor agreed.
"Will you be joining Rory at Harz to speak with Wolfram?" Verena asked.
He shook his head. "Most of us will remain outside of the fortress, but I have so many questions. Everyone will want to know why you're in Granadure, Connor."
"Just tell them I'm trying to stop this war, and I've discovered some important truths I need to share."
Ivor glanced at Rory, then said softly, "Those are things I need to know."
"We'll find time to talk in private," Connor assured him. "I wish I had a chance to meet with the rest of my army."
Ivor chuckled. "My army now. Most of them report to me."
"Do you think it's possible?" Jean asked.
"I'll think of something." And Connor decided he really needed to. They deserved to know the truth. If he could convince them, together they could begin to change the evil system.
"Is Dougal in the camp?" Connor asked.
Ivor hesitated, but Aifric nodded. "He is."
Connor said, "Be wary of him, Ivor. If he ever offers you a sculpted stone, don't take it."
Ivor's expression turned troubled. "He's got one for me, Connor. He's already shown it to me."
"Don't use it," Verena urged, gripping Ivor's arm.
Connor added, "You'll be tempted to ascend through the threshold with it, and that's when Dougal will take your mind and sacrifice you the way he did Redmund."
"How does he do it?" Ivor asked.
"That's one of the things we're figuring out. We don't have time to go into it now. Just don't use one of those sculpted stones, or you're dead."
"If you have to die, that's a pretty remarkable way to go," Ivor said. Then he chuckled and made a calming gesture. "Relax, Connor. I'm joking. I'm not ready to die yet. I haven't even gotten married. My new house was furious there wouldn't be time for the wedding before I had to report for duty at the front."
"Who?" Jean asked eagerly.
Ivor smiled. "Alyth. High Lady Islay's daughter."
"You like her," Jean noted.
Ivor nodded. "It's probably the best match I could have hoped for.”
Maybe not once the truth of patronage was known.
"I can't wait to hear more about her," Connor said.
Rory joined them. "I hate to break up the happy reunion, but we've got a long way to go yet to reach Harz."
"I could call in a windrider to carry you the rest of the way," Connor suggested.
"That's not a bad idea," Rory said. Ivor eagerly agreed.
Verena gripped Connor's arm a little harder than necessary, her expression guarded. "Can I speak with you?"
"Of course. Give us a moment, Captain."
While Connor and Verena retreated, Jean informed Captain Rory that Anika received his message. While the small group discussed that, Verena drew Connor a dozen paces away.
"Connor, the windriders are a huge advantage for us. I don't want the Obrioners knowing any more about them than absolutely necessary."
That was a valid point. "They already know they fly and that Builders fly them, but let's ask Dierk to make sure not to push the wagon too hard, so they won't get a feel for how much it can do."
She considered that. "I still think they should walk."
"That'll just make it take longer. In wartime, is it better to take as much time as possible, or to hear the official messages quickly?"
"Depends on whether or not the delay would actually cause Dougal to wait before advancing," Verena admitted.
"Do you think it will?"
"Probably not." Then she punched him lightly on the arm. "Sometimes it's annoying when you're right so often in one morning."
"I promise it won't happen again."
"Don't you dare," she grinned.
"Can you call Dierk on that speakstone?"
She shook her head. "Not directly, but Hamish can go fetch him." She turned away and added, "Hamish, we're going to give this company a ride to Harz in a windrider so Rory can deliver his messages. Can you go bring Dierk here to pick them up?"
"Pastry," Hamish said, then pivoted in the air and accelerated away with a roaring of activated thrusters.
Verena sighed. "He really needs a better code word."
Chapter Twenty-Nine
“Crabs pull down any who seek to rise, but eagles soar only when spreading their wings.”
~Gregor
Hamish returned with Dierk twenty minutes later. It was clear the spectacled Builder hated the idea of giving rides to a bunch of Obrioners. Co
nnor wished Hamish could have found a different Builder for the job. Dierk was still grieving the loss of his niece, and Connor didn't blame him for his anger.
The wagon had benches built around the perimeter of the long bed, and as the company took their seats, most of them looked nervously excited. Tomas and Cameron began loudly discussing the probability of surviving a fall from various heights. Their conversation made the Longseer in the front look progressively more terrified.
Aifric leaned out of the wagon and spoke softly to Connor. "I'm going to need some more obsidian. I can't requisition any from the army when they think I'm just a Healer."
"Good point," he said as he fastened the rear gate and motioned the all clear sign to Dierk. "I'll get some for you when we land at Harz."
Dierk triggered the thrusters, and Connor retreated from the whirlwind of air to join Verena and Jean in the Storm.
Hamish pointed at the windrider sluggishly climbing into the air, with Ivor leaning over the side, a boyish grin on his face. "I'll flank them on the left."
Verena said, "We'll take the right."
The ride back to Harz went smoothly, if slowly. Dierk flew the windrider at four hundred feet, barely faster than a galloping horse, a fraction of its possible speed. From what Connor saw of Ivor, it didn't matter. Ivor grinned the entire time, and even tried to get the nervous Longseer to speak with him. The idea of actually talking with an Obrioner seemed to terrify her more.
When Verena informed the hub of their approach with Obrioner messengers, she created quite a stir. A courtyard was emptied and prepared for their arrival. As they descended toward the fortress, Connor spotted an entire company of Rumblers, led by Erich, along with Anton and a full complement of tertiary affinity Petralists. Kilian and Wolfram joined the group as the windrider touched down. Connor was surprised not to see Anika.
Verena settled the Storm nearby, and Connor hopped out and joined Rory to help ease any possible tensions. The Grandurian soldiers looked eager for an excuse to fight.
Captain Rory saluted General Wolfram smartly as his little company formed up around him, with Papil carrying the flag of truce.