“You don’t have any embarrassing stories you want to share?”
“Plenty,” Hannah replied. “But someone has to keep watch, and I figured they all deserved a night off.”
“I guess you’re watching out for everyone, huh?”
Hannah nodded. “I just want to hold the fort down until Zeke gets here.”
Everyone was there because of Ezekiel, so it made sense that Hannah would feel responsible for everyone. And that included making sure no one was conflicted, worried, or upset. With that many people—that many powerful people—shit could very easily get out of hand. Not to mention, Hannah didn’t know most of them. Their meeting depended on Ezekiel’s wisdom, which she trusted more than anything.
“So, what did you want to talk about? I assume you didn’t approach me to crack a joke. You seem…tense,” Hannah stated, looking at Arryn.
The druid smiled. “It’s weird. I always imagined meeting you and trading insults and jabs.”
Hannah smiled. “Oh, trust me. It’s not too late for all that.”
We could be sisters, Arryn thought with amusement. “Good, because I don’t want you to get the wrong idea about what I need to say. I’m not weak by any means.”
“If you were, Zeke wouldn’t have chosen you out of all the people in Irth.”
“Fair assessment,” Arryn accepted. “Regardless, I just wanted to say thanks.”
Hannah looked at her with momentary confusion. “What for?”
Arryn grinned. “You don’t know anything about me, do you?”
“I received a list of names and locations. All I know is you’re a druid—though you don’t really look like Laurel—and that you’re pretty damn strong.”
“That’s probably because I’m adopted. I was born and raised in Arcadia until I was nine.”
Hannah’s eyes widened in response. “You’re an Arcadian. That makes more sense.”
Arryn nodded. “We weren’t nobles, but we weren’t shoved off in the Boulevard and treated as badly as you and Parker, either. We were middle-class, and comfortable because my father worked for Adrien. Actually, Elon was my father’s best friend. Gregory and I were also best friends when we were younger.”
“You know Gregory, huh? I would kill to have known him as a child. He’s an awkward, nerdy little shit…and I love him. Truth be told, the Bitch and Bastard Brigade would never have made it this far without him,” Hannah confessed. “He’s pretty badass.”
It warmed Arryn’s heart that he hadn’t changed. She knew that he was here somewhere, but he had spent most of the night aboard the Unlawful doing some sort of repair work.
“He was a badass when we were kids, too, in his own geeky way. Anyway, Elon betrayed my father by telling Adrien that my family was plotting against him. My father hated Adrien and what he’d done to Arcadia. Elon thought that if he talked to Adrien himself, he could help my father get out of trouble, but it sealed my parent’s fate instead.
“And while I hated him for that for years, Elon later saved not only my life, but the lives of everyone in Arcadia and the Dark Forest. It wasn’t my place to pardon him for what he did to Gregory, but I did for what had happened to my family.”
Hannah’s brows furrowed. “Last I saw him was when he betrayed Gregory and tried to kill all of us. I’m glad to hear he turned himself around. What happened after he told Adrien?”
“Adrien sent the Hunters. Long story short, my mom was killed, my father was imprisoned, and I was taken in by the druids. They let me grow and train with them, which I was grateful for because I had made myself a promise that I would go back and save the city from Adrien once I was strong enough. I didn’t make it back in time—but you did.”
“Sorry you missed that opportunity,” Hannah replied. “But believe me when I say that bastard got what he deserved. I didn’t send him on his way gently.”
Arryn smiled. “Good. I’m glad to hear it. I didn’t send his daughter off gently either. I may not have been able to take Adrien down myself, but I sure as hell got to take her down. That was just as rewarding, considering what she was planning to do. She was even worse than her father. He was a tyrant, but she was a serious psycho.”
“In that case, I guess I should be thanking you, too. Thanks for saving the city…again.”
Arryn sat there watching the crowd with Hannah for a few moments. “I still wanna get you in the Versuch pit.”
Hannah looked at Arryn, and her eyes flashed red. “You think you can take me?”
Arryn’s irises turned from brown to green as the whites of her eyes changed to black. “Not sure, but I’d love to try.”
Both girls laughed.
“Once we figure all this out, we’ll have to settle the debate once and for all,” Hannah declared.
Still smiling, Arryn nodded. “I can’t wait.”
As they silently sized each other up, Abbey left the fire and walked over. “Did I miss the memo about the private conversations among Arcadian ex-pats?”
“Don’t tell me you’re an Arcadian too?” Hannah inquired. “I thought you were with the Storm Callers?”
“Guilty of both, I’m afraid.”
“Let me guess,” Arryn said. “Hunters killed your parents too?”
“Actually, my dad was a Hunter.”
Hannah’s and Arryn’s jaws dropped.
“But that was a long time ago. He married an Unlawful, if that’s any relief. It’s kind of a long story. Enough about that. I’d prefer someone told me what the hell we’re doing here.” Abbey’s hand instinctively rested on the hilt of her sword.
“Fair enough,” Hannah agreed. “Let’s grab the others.
They stood in a circle away from the laughter and warmth of their friends.
Five women.
Five leaders.
Five warriors.
Different in strength and style, they nevertheless shared the same resolve—to protect Irth and those who lived there. To bring Justice to the innocent and the guilty. To carry out the work of the Matriarch.
Hannah was sure in that moment that they could accomplish anything.
“Look,” she began. “We don’t know each other well, and I trust that you know what you’re doing. But Zeke only asked for you to come, not your teams. If any of them can’t take what’s about to happen, I need to know.”
No one spoke. Hannah stared each woman in the eyes and sensed their commitment. She could tell that they had been through hell with their companions, and were willing to do so again.
“Good,” she continued after a moment, taking their silence for an answer. “Then I think it’s best that we start preparing.”
“I thought you said the old man didn’t give you any specifics?” Arryn asked.
“Even without specifics, we can prepare,” Abbey interjected. “A well-ordered crew is valuable against any threat. We don’t know its shape, but there’s a storm on the horizon. We’d be fools not to ready ourselves.”
“I agree with the sailor,” Astrid said. “We can spend time sparring together, learning each other’s skills. There are some potent tacticians here, so we could plan for different scenarios.”
“Exactly,” Hannah agreed. “And, while Zeke didn’t tell me much, it’s not like we’re completely in the dark.”
“What do you mean?” Julianne asked.
“Well, I’ve known Zeke for a while. The last time he needed me, it was to fight a deranged Kurtherian with an army of Skrima at her beck and call. But whatever this is, for him to ask us all to assemble it must be far worse. I mean, he’s the oldest magic user alive, and he’s been in Hyrrheim fighting alongside Lilith—the smartest being there is. They ended the Age of Madness, for fuck’s sake. And they need our help—all our help. I’ll admit that scares me shitless.”
“Nothing in Irth could be that bad,” Julianne chimed in. “Which means it must be otherworldly. We’ve all dealt with the Skrima, but their attacks have been scattered and relatively small in scale.”
“I’m not sure ‘small’ is the word I’d use,” Astrid murmured.
“Compared with the end of the world it is,” Abbey answered.
“But that makes sense,” Astrid said. “You killed their leader, did you not, Hannah?”
“I killed Laughter, and based on what Lilith told me, she was the one who turned Hyrrheim into the hell it is now. But I know little beyond that. I mean, the Kurtherians are advanced beings. All our magic is a result of their technology, and Laughter had thousands of years there to let her madness fester. She’s dead, but there’s no telling what she left behind. Zeke told me that Laughter’s second in command is preparing for some kind of invasion, and that he has a powerful new ally. But that’s not much of a description. ”
“Whatever it is, we’ll kick its ass together. Their asses?” Arryn looked thoughtful for a moment before shaking her head and giving a dismissive wave. “Whatever. All the asses. We’ll kick them all.” Arryn winked. She was one of the youngest in the crew, but her confidence inspired everyone. “I mean, come on… Just look at us. We’re pretty badass.”
Hannah smiled. “Zeke has never failed me before. If he’s called us together, it’s because we can overcome anything.”
“Not quite anything,” the voice boomed, and everyone except Astrid jumped at the sound.
Beside them stood Ezekiel, his eyes glowing red.
“Zeke?”
“You did it. I knew you would, my faithful servant.” The old man was smiling broadly, which was something Hannah hadn’t seen before. A brown hooded robe covered most of his body.
“This is the Founder?” From Astrid’s tone, it was clear he was not what she had expected.
“The one and only.” Ezekiel laughed. “And you are the Wellspring Knight? I’ve heard a lot about you. All of you, really. Warriors of Irth. Defenders of the realm.” He laughed again. It was a scratchy sound.
“Enough theatrics, Zeke. I did what you asked,” Hannah retorted. “Maybe now you can tell us about this ominous threat.”
“The threat…” he started, scratching his beard. “Well, that’s going to be a little disappointing, I’m afraid. I haven’t been completely honest with you.”
Hannah. Julianne’s voice was clear in her mind. Something is wrong here.
“Oh, yes. Julianne, the Master Mystic,” Ezekiel murmured aloud. “Something is wrong here. Here in Irth. This whole fucking planet is wrong. It’s been given everything. Every advantage, every privilege—and yet threats always arise, don’t they? Even if there were no rifts, no hell to invade, no beings from beyond the stars, Irth would find every way to screw it all up. I’ve seen it all, spent my life observing Irth’s calamities. Spilled my blood trying to save the people. But Hyrrheim…Hyrrheim finally showed me another way. The only way.”
Hannah couldn’t comprehend what Ezekiel was saying. The man in front of her sounded nothing like her mentor, and the other women could feel it, too. She could sense Arryn reach into the natural world around them, readying for danger. Abbey’s hand hadn’t left the hilt of her sword.
“Zeke, what are you talking about?” Hannah asked.
“The future,” he responded. “The Laughing Queen had it all wrong. She wanted to invade this place. Wanted to rule Irth, as if the miserable shits here could be ruled. The Patriarch couldn’t rule them. The Matriarch couldn’t rule them, with all their petty problems and power grabs. Hell, Bethany Anne left for the stars after making everything right, and this bumbling race ruined all she had worked to restore, but then Hyrrheim showed me the way. Laughter’s work there ravaged the place, but her deeds made it pliable. It’s like soft clay. It only requires hands strong enough to work it, and it requires some new material. Which is when it hit me. Irth—it can’t be saved, but it can be salvaged. It has all the material I need and it’s ripe for the plucking.”
“Zeke, listen to me.” Hannah’s voice wavered as the man who had been like a father to her laughed. “I don’t know what happened to you over there, but we can help you. Please, let us help you.”
“Help me?” He somehow smiled even wider. “You’ve already helped me. Your new friends would have caused me no end of trouble had they been left to their own devices. So much power spread throughout Irth. But now, gathered here in one place, you can be dealt with all at once. And then nothing will stand in my way.”
“Dealt with?” Arryn’s voice was sharp. Hannah could feel the girl’s power building.
“Here,” he said raising his hands skyward. “Let me show you.”
Before Hannah could move, Ezekiel clapped his hands, and the world went to hell.
The moonlight that had illuminated their conversation dimmed suddenly, as if a storm cloud passed overhead. But Hannah had spent enough time with nature magic to feel a storm when it appeared. This was something else entirely.
A muddy film spread across the sky, like a blanket between them and the heavens. Before Hannah could make sense of it, it started to drip down around them, and within seconds, their castle on a hill was completely surrounded. The air grew still, and the sounds of the forest disappeared. The castle and mountain on which it stood were covered by a luminescent dome.
“Zeke!” Hannah shouted. “What the hell is this?”
“Isn’t it obvious? I thought I had trained you better. This is the end of the world.”
As he spoke, a familiar tearing sound filled the air. The rift opened behind Ezekiel, and it tore at the fabric of space with an intensity Hannah had yet to see. Behind it stood a hoard of Skrima, their hungry screams preceding their charge.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Parker gripped his spear tightly as the world went dark and the rift opened. Something very bad was happening. A moment earlier he had watched in surprise as Ezekiel appeared, and now the biggest rift he’d ever seen was dumping all of hell onto them. A chill ran through him as he saw the creatures pour through.
“Scheisse,” Karl cursed. “This was supposed to be a conversation. I thought the end of the world could have waited until tomorrow.”
“You’ve fought these things?” Dustin asked, the shock clear in his voice.
“Aye, an’ from the looks of it, yer about ta get the same opportunity.”
The five women stood near the rift with Ezekiel. When the Skrima appeared, they sprang into action.
Parker stood with the others—the people who’d been through so much with these women. And, it seemed, were about to go through a whole lot more.
Vinnie stepped to Karl’s side. “We have to help them.”
The rearick nodded, and the men took off.
“Help them?” Parker shouted after. “But they’ve got Ezekiel and Hannah. I’m more worried about the ones getting past them.”
Karl and Vinnie were already too far away to hear him, but when he spoke it was clear the others were paying attention.
“Parker’s right,” Vitali growled. “We can’t let those Skrima outflank us.”
Bast and Cleo exchanged a glance.
“Race you to them?” Cleo asked.
Bast’s response was to bolt toward the Skrima. Cleo followed right behind her. They charged toward the enemy at inhuman speed, Etheric energy coursing through their legs.
“They’re damn fast,” Dustin observed, gripping his staff, his eyes suddenly glowing a bluish-green. “But so is lightning.”
At his words, a bolt of lightning struck a Skrim. Thunder rumbled as the creature fell, its body smoking.
Bast and Cleo reached the cluster of enemies, each crashing into their mark.
Aysa glanced at Garrett. “Hey, rearick, I hope that axe of yours is sharp. You’re going to need it.”
Garrett raised his weapon. “Better than those bloody rocks o’ yers.”
“Prove it.”
The two headstrong warriors joined the fray. Aysa delivered fierce, strategic blows with her bolas while Garrett cut a wide swath with his axe, chopping the creatures’ legs out from under them.
To Parker’s l
eft, Marcus took down the enemy with his magitech rifle while Vinnie was doing whatever the hell kind of magic he did. Parker hadn’t quite figured that one out, but it made the ground ripple. Vitali was taking full advantage, using his sure footing to end the stumbling Skrima.
Parker let his spear do the talking. After two years of killing Skrima, it was like it had a mind of its own. But he was glad his new allies weren’t green when it came to killing the red monsters.
That was the good news. The bad news was obvious when he risked a glance up at the rift. The Skrima were appearing even faster than before, with no sign of stopping. All the skill in the world couldn’t hold off an endless horde, and any hope of containment was fading fast.
Wind whipped the Founder’s long white beard, sending the folds of his robe billowing in every direction. Hell had come to Irth at his bidding and now rampaged around him. His maniacal laughter was all but drowned out by the sounds of the elements and of the horde of bloodthirsty Skrima that streamed through the rift.
For the first time in a long time Hannah stood with her mouth wide, shocked and confused. Ezekiel, her anchor in this stormy sea of a shitty world, was now a weight determined to drag her into the depths. All that she had believed to be true had been turned upside down in an instant, and her mind, even enhanced as it was, struggled to make sense of what the fuck was happening.
The roar of a Skrim broke her out of her trance, and the beast was on her before she knew it.
The magician hit the ground with a thud, air exploding from her lungs. A scream filled her ears, and the hot breath of hell’s own covered her face. Hannah tried to twist the thing off of her, but it had an ox’s weight and a single-minded desire for her utter destruction.
She pushed all thoughts about Ezekiel from her mind, willing the energy of the Etheric through her body and toward her hands. She needed a sharp blast right now!
The Skrim moved faster than she expected. She’d had years of experience with closing rifts and fighting these bastards, but Hannah had still underestimated him. It was like none other she had ever faced. Its head snapped back, then blurred forward.
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