Blood and Fire (Book 3)

by Marcus Alexander

  ‘Elder,’ cried Hotstepper as he neared her. ‘I seek your counsel.’

  Torn Moon glanced briefly at him, noted Charlie on his back, then returned to watching the events below. ‘Make it quick and make it concise.’

  ‘Charlie of the Keepers suggests that these “Stowyrms” are creations of Bane. She argues that they are not a finite resource but an infinite one.’

  Torn Moon stole another quick look at the young Keeper. Charlie stared right back.

  Hotstepper continued. ‘I have seen more Stowyrms arrive from the west and even though we cull their numbers they are replenished anew. I would –’

  Torn Moon silenced him with a wave of her paw. She turned to a freshly arrived messenger. ‘Handino is to fall back with his crew. Command him to present a unified front and to attack from the north. Go.’ She gestured for another waiting messenger to approach. ‘News?’

  ‘Dancing Stone requests reinforcements.’

  ‘There are none,’ replied Torn Moon. ‘Tell him to hold fast. Go.’

  Hotstepper tried to continue. ‘I would –’

  Torn Moon silenced him again. ‘I must see this with my own eyes. Show me.’

  Hotstepper and Nibbler led the way back up to higher altitudes. Once there, Hotstepper pointed to the west. ‘There, Elder.’

  Torn Moon took in the sight of the slow but steady stream of Stowyrms and growled. She looked back at her warring children, then back once more to the enemy’s line of reinforcements. With mounting tension, she began to open and shut her talons.

  ‘Bad news never travels in ones or twos but ever arrives in an unwelcome crowd.’ She paused to run tricky calculations through her mind. ‘It does not look good,’ she admitted with a grim shake of her head. She addressed Hotstepper: ‘Do you think yourself capable of stemming the flow?’

  ‘Not by myself. I need assistance.’

  ‘Don’t we all …’ Frustrated, she clenched her talons so tightly that her knuckles popped like gun shots. ‘Take Last Laugh, Thief Cutter, Rocksteady and their crews.’

  Hotstepper blinked. ‘Elder, that’s only sixty-three.’

  ‘It’s all I can afford.’ Torn Moon looked over her shoulder to see that a backlog of messengers had arrived and more were spiralling up from the battlefield. Time had expired and she had more than one desperate affair to juggle. ‘Hotstepper; little Keeper: get this done.’

  52

  The Jade Tower

  As they left Torn Moon, Charlie’s mind raced. ‘How long will it take us to fly to the Western Mountains?’ she asked.

  ‘Three hours if we push it,’ replied Hotstepper.

  ‘That’s going to be too long,’ grunted Charlie. The battle around them had reached a new intensity. The noise of warfare, the cries of the dying and the wounded, and the clash of blades filled her ears. ‘If you can get me to E’Jaaz, I can see to it that we reach the Western Mountains quicker than three hours.’

  ‘You’re thinking of opening a Portal, yes?’

  ‘Yeah.’

  ‘That won’t work, Charlie of the Keepers. You need a Triad of Keepers to open a Portal large enough for Winged Ones to use. We’re going to have to fly.’

  ‘What if you power E’Jaaz and me up with some dragonsblood?’ argued Charlie. ‘Wouldn’t that do the trick?’

  Hotstepper frowned. ‘It might work but you must remember that our blood is not a gift to use lightly or frequently. The Human body cannot take too much of it and if abused the repercussions can be fatal.’

  Charlie heard his warning but she didn’t care. She wanted to finish all of this as swiftly as possible and, besides, she didn’t think the Winged Ones would be able to hold back another three hours’ worth of Stowyrm reinforcements.

  ‘Hotstepper, look around you. Everyone is taking risks. How can you ask me not to?’

  A tangle of Winged Ones and Stowyrms clashed beneath them. The shrieks and snarls sounded harsh and guttural. The air stank with discharged electricity, blood and sweat. Hotstepper could not deny the validity of her point.

  ‘All right, we –’

  But Charlie, full of resolve, cut him short. ‘Good. Get Last Laugh, Thief Cutter, Rocksteady and their crews and meet me and Nibbler at the Jade Tower. I’ll sort out the rest.’

  Eyes blazing, she gestured to Nibbler, then clambered from her seat and jumped.

  ‘Charlie, what are you –’ she heard Hotstepper call, but his words were cut short as the rushing of wind filled her ears.

  Feeling confident in her abilities, Charlie shut her eyes and breathed deep. She could feel the sun on her back, the wind on her face and the flicker of strengthening resolve pulsing in her chest. She flexed her hands and summoned her Will, allowing it to flare around her so that she fell like a blazing comet. Opening her eyes, she saw a layer of brawling Winged Ones and Stowyrms approach from below. She fell through these, narrowly missing the spiked tail of a Stowyrm, then she was past and rushing on towards the ground. The Stomen, wise now to bodies falling from the sky, spotted her coming and hastened out of the way.

  She laughed at them.

  She opened her arms wide as though ready to embrace the ground. Her grin grew even wider as she felt her friend’s arms close round her.

  ‘I’ve got you,’ grunted Nibbler.

  Angling his wings, he pulled them out of their dive. Once they were horizontal, Charlie tore open a Portal. Nibbler tucked his wings in and together the two shot through the glowing circle to find themselves in familiar airspace over the Jade Tower.

  The building was in a terrible state. Whole balconies had been sheared clean off, walls had been pierced by projectiles and many of the magnificent windows had been shattered. But the building still stood, its jade- and turquoise-coloured flags and pennants were still flying proudly and people still guarded its gates.

  ‘Think you can drop us by the Jade Circle?’

  ‘No problem,’ said Nibbler.

  He circled the building once, dropped altitude, then expertly flared his wings so they could both alight on the large viewing balcony. Several councillors and a couple of guards jumped but relaxed when they recognized their guests. Nibbler and Charlie spared them brief nods of greeting, then pushed their way inside.

  ‘Me little Hippotomi!’ cried Jensen when he spotted her. Rushing over, he pulled her into a hug. ‘Ya nearly gave me a heart attack when that Stoman dragged ya through that Portal.’ He pushed her out to arm’s length so he could better study her. ‘Well, I’m glad ya’re safe and …’ He fell silent as he caught sight of her mangled hand. ‘Aw, no, lass. No, no, no.’ He grabbed her hand between his. ‘How did dis happen? Tell me who did dis ta ya? I’ll rip their heart out!’

  Charlie couldn’t help but grin. Jensen’s concern warmed her heart more than the memory of her missing finger pulled her down. ‘Forget it,’ she said. ‘It’s nothing I can’t sort out by myself. But, Jensen, I can’t talk. We’re in a world of trouble and I need to move fast to make sure that we succeed. Is E’Jaaz about? And is he awake?’

  Upon realizing they had visitors, Lady Dridif had moved closer. ‘He’s healed and he is awake,’ she said, ‘but he’s weak from blood loss. Wot’s the issue, Charlie, and is it something that we can help with? And while I’m being inquisitive, would ya please tell me wot those things with wings are? They look like Wyrms …’

  Feeling the need for speed, Charlie rushed through her explanation. ‘They’re Wyrms made from stone and maybe something else, and Marsila wanted to call them Stowyrms so the name has kind of stuck. The other thing is, Bane or his god is making them and even though the Winged Ones can destroy them, they keep coming, so we need to get over to the Western Mountains as quickly as possible so we can stop them. And I need E’Jaaz so we can open a Portal large enough for some of the Winged Ones to get through.’

  Dridif’s eyes grew wide as she heard Charlie speak. Deciding not to waste time with any more questions, she snapped her fingers at the captain of her guard. ‘Bring in E’Jaaz Ke
eper straight away!’

  ‘Ma’am,’ said the captain. He and some of his men hastened from the room.

  ‘How are ya going ta stop these Stowyrms?’ asked Jensen.

  ‘We’re going to crush Bane and his god,’ said Charlie.

  Jensen and Dridif stared at her, uncertain if she was telling the truth or trying to spin some type of jest.

  ‘Really?’ asked Jensen.

  ‘Really,’ said Charlie.

  Hearing the certainty in Charlie’s voice, Lady Dridif smiled grimly. ‘Good,’ she said. ‘That’s the best news I’ve heard in the last seven years.’

  ‘Ma’am,’ said a guard, interrupting their conversation. ‘E’Jaaz Keeper.’

  Charlie was horrified when she caught sight of him. He was held up, not by Treman guards, who would have been too short, but by two of the Human councillors. His face was ashen, his cheeks gaunt, and his hair, normally well kept, was in a state of disarray.

  ‘I know, I know,’ said E’Jaaz. His voice was hoarse and the chuckle that eased between his lips was dry. ‘I look like I’ve been dragged through the briar patch. Truth be told, I’ve had better days and better hangovers, but at least they got that cursed arrow out my leg.’

  ‘Are you … OK?’ asked Charlie.

  ‘The docs say I lost a lot of blood but if I rest up I should be fighting fit in a week or two.’ He paused to look out the window at the chaotic warfare raging over the grasslands. Making a wry face he added, ‘Of course, the way things are going I don’t think I’ll be getting a chance to rest up. Still, I have your friend Apple Crumble to thank for healing my broken bone. Without his talent for stonesinging, the docs say I’d be limping for the rest of … however long I’ve got left to live.’

  ‘It’s Crumble Shard,’ said Charlie, automatically correcting her friend’s name but all the while unable to believe the state E’Jaaz was in. If he was too weak to help, her plan could fall apart. ‘Listen … E’Jaaz …’

  ‘Spit it out, Charlie. I might not look fit to dance right now but you know I’m always game for mischief, so tell me what’s on your mind.’

  ‘We need to put a stop to Bane’s Stowyrms and we need to do it now. So what I want to know is can you help me open a Portal big enough to get the Winged Ones to the Western Mountains?’

  ‘What? All of them?’

  ‘No, just sixty-three of them, sixty-four when you add Hotstepper.’

  ‘Sixty-five when you add me,’ said Nibbler.

  ‘Right,’ agreed Charlie. ‘Bane has twisted his barrier against travelling but it’s still there so we need to open a Portal just outside the Western Mountains’ metropolitan border. Any closer and it won’t work. Think you can help with that?’

  They all looked at E’Jaaz.

  He shrugged one of his arms from the councillor’s supporting shoulders and, holding his hand aloft, he summoned his Will. It was feeble and flickered weakly above his fingertips. Frowning, he tried to call more but he had reached his limit. He shook his head with a grimace.

  ‘Sorry, kid, looks like I’m a little low right now.’

  Shadows blurred past the window, followed seconds later by the sound of flapping wings and the rush of wind. The tower trembled as Last Laugh, Thief Cutter, Rocksteady and their crews landed on perches and balconies. Hotstepper himself landed right on the balcony that Charlie and Nibbler had only recently used.

  Charlie turned to E’Jaaz. ‘What would you say to a little pick-me-up?’

  53

  Goodbyes

  The Winged Ones repositioned themselves so that when Lady Dridif stood on the balcony it was Last Laugh who greeted her.

  ‘Hello, old friend,’ said Last Laugh. He lowered one of his great paws so Dridif could lay her hand upon his.

  ‘Last Laugh,’ said Dridif with a catch in her voice. ‘How I’ve missed ya.’

  ‘It would appear that our Chrysalis cycle has dragged on longer than normal.’

  ‘We have Bane ta thank for that.’

  ‘And thank him we shall,’ growled Last Laugh. ‘Rocksteady?’

  Rocksteady descended to join them on the balcony. A Stoman councillor approached with two large chalices on a tray. Before he could hold these up for Rocksteady, E’Jaaz stopped him.

  ‘We’ll only need one of these,’ he said.

  Charlie looked at him askew. ‘What? One? E’Jaaz, what’re you doing?’

  ‘You’re going to the Western Mountains, right?’

  ‘Of course,’ replied Charlie.

  ‘Well, you’ll need all the Will you can summon so there’s no point in wasting any here.’ E’Jaaz gave her a wistful smile. ‘I’ll open the Portal.’

  ‘What? No, you won’t. It should take three of us to do it. Two will be a struggle but for one it’ll be nearly impossible!’ Charlie wanted to smack her head in disbelief but controlled herself. ‘And look at the state of you! You’re too tired. I felt bad enough asking you to do it with me, but there’s no way I’m going to let you do this by yourself. No way, no how.’

  Feeling the sun on his face and the wind in his hair, E’Jaaz chuckled. ‘Ah, Charlie, you’re going to become a legendary Keeper! A Keeper that playwrights will want to write about and bards to sing of … but that’s when you’re older and right now I’m an adult and you’re still a young ’un so I’m pulling seniority. Save the dragonsblood for when you need it. Really need it. It is a restorative but take too much and there can be repercussions. Last Laugh, Rocksteady, you’ll back me on this, won’t you?’

  ‘It is your choice,’ rumbled Last Laugh, ‘and your call to make. I concur.’

  ‘Not a wise decision,’ said Rocksteady, ‘but under our current circumstances I agree.’

  With no further ceremony, Rocksteady used a talon to part the flesh on his paw. He allowed his blood to drip into one of the chalices before sealing the wound with a jet of flame.

  E’Jaaz pulled Charlie into a hug and whispered into her ear. ‘You know this is the best way and if our roles were reversed you would do the same. Now get this done and should you run into the Delightful Brothers or Bane, you give them some solid payback from me and Marsila.’ He pulled her even tighter and repeated his entreaty. ‘For Marsila!’

  Releasing her from his embrace, he grabbed the chalice and held it aloft. ‘To victory, to Sylvaris and to missing friends. Bottoms up!’ With a flash of his old cheeky grin, he downed the contents of the chalice.

  He started screaming almost straight away and it was only the two councillors on either side of him who prevented him from falling. Charlie and the others looked on with horror.

  When it was done E’Jaaz pushed the councillors aside and stood upright. His skin glittered, his hair writhed as though unseen fingers were running through it and trickles of golden Will seeped from his eyes to join the halo of gold that flickered over his head.

  ‘If you’ve got any last goodbyes to say, say them now,’ he said with a voice that cracked with barely restrained might.

  Charlie grabbed one of Lady Dridif’s arms. ‘Where’s Kelko and Sic Boy?’

  ‘They’re on the battle line.’

  Charlie grimaced. She had expected as much but wasn’t any happier for having her fears confirmed. ‘Just … just …’

  ‘I’ll do wot I can to keep them safe,’ said Dridif, offering her support without being so foolish as to promise anything.

  ‘And Crumble Shard?’

  ‘He’s with all the other healers. He’s a good boy and with all the lives he’s saved he’s worth more than his weight in gold.’

  ‘OK, that’s good.’ Charlie nodded to herself. Even though she wouldn’t have a chance to say a final goodbye to her friends she at least knew they were where they were supposed to be, doing what they were supposed to be doing. Heroes in their own right.

  ‘At least I can say goodbye to Jensen.’

  She turned but he was no longer by her side. Panicked, she went to stick her head back into the Jade Chamber.

  ‘Hey
, me little Hippotomi! Up here!’

  Charlie’s mouth dropped when she saw Jensen astride Rocksteady’s back.

  ‘Not much for a chancellor ta do once the fighting starts,’ he said with a shrug and a smile. ‘Besides, I’ve given away most of me fortune so there’s not really that much left for me ta do. I’m coming with ya. Lady Dridif, do ya best ta keep Salixia safe for me.’

  ‘I’ll do wot I can,’ agreed Dridif.

  Thrilled that Jensen would be accompanying her to the Western Mountains, Charlie gazed around the balcony one last time. ‘So that just leaves –’

  ‘Me,’ said Dridif. Stepping forward, she pulled Charlie into a surprisingly strong hug. ‘Me thanks for freeing the Winged Ones and for all yer’ve done for me city. Yer’ve done me and yer parents proud. Now, wotever happens out there, remember yer’ve always got friends and family waiting for ya back here. Leaf bless ya, Charlie Keeper.’

  ‘Ready?’ asked E’Jaaz.

  Charlie nodded, took one of his flaming hands and pressed it between her own. ‘Thank you, E’Jaaz,’ she said. ‘Thank you for everything.’

  He nodded and Charlie turned to look for Nibbler. To her shock, she was suddenly plucked from the balcony and plonked between Hotstepper’s shoulders.

  ‘You can ride with our little brother another day,’ said Last Laugh. ‘But today, for battle, you will need a little more power, so ride with Hotstepper you shall.’

  One by one the Winged Ones peeled off from the Jade Tower, spread their wings wide and began to circle the building. Faster and faster they went until the wind roared past their ears.

  ‘E’Jaaz Keeper!’ roared Last Laugh. ‘We are ready!’

  Squinting her eyes against the fierce draught, Charlie glanced towards the balcony. She saw E’Jaaz blaze like a volcano, an explosion of warm yellow light and the briefest flash of a large Portal, then they were through and the Jade Tower and her friends disappeared from sight.

  54

  The Western Mountains

  The Winged Ones burst over the mountains with great cracks of thunder. Roaring with delight, they beat their wings with broad thrumming sweeps and sped past craggy peaks, jagged crests and low-lying puffs of scattered cloud. The air was crisp and, even though there was thick cloud at higher altitudes, strong shafts of sunlight lit the landscape.