Commander Corby still hadn't come to see her again, and she was beginning to feel like she'd just be kept in the small bare room until she died. She was still being fed, of course, and had regular general examinations by the scientists; but no words were spoken, and the Commander was nowhere to be seen.
She hated the silence of the scientists; she would have preferred to never see them at all, even if they weren't poking and examining her every day. Their emotionless, wordless observation unnerved her and made her feel more lonely than when she was completely alone.
Finally, one day as she was throwing little handfuls of sparks at the wall, Commander Corby entered her room. He walked in just as the sparks collided with the wall, making a thud and a high pitched buzz. His gun appeared in the blink of an eye, his stance low and balanced, his eyes alert.
When he saw her sitting cross legged on the floor, staring up at him with shock, he put the gun away and straightened.
"You need to be careful with that stuff," he grumbled.
"Sorry, sir," she said, though she couldn't help smiling.
"Don't call me – just call me Mathys," he said.
She nodded, and moved to the bench when he gestured to it.
"I'm sorry I was so dismissive earlier. I believe you."
He seemed to really struggle saying it, as though he'd never used those words before. But his tone was genuine, and softer.
"You believe me?"
"I do now, yes. It shouldn't be possible... Magic. If that's what it is. So it took me a while to accept things as they are, despite the evidence."
Mara found herself grinning, staring up at Mathys as though he'd told her she was free to go.
"I went to the lab. I found the entrance, the girl's body, and the tank where the creature was kept."
She was shocked, and delighted, and terrified. Emotions rushed through her head faster than she could process them. He believes me! But Mathys was still talking; she tried to listen as her mind whirled.
"There's more, Mara. Riffolk attacked me from some other hidden room. He's alive."
Knowing Riffolk was alive terrified her. She'd suspected it, of course, after feeling the energy pulling her towards the hidden lab; but knowing for sure was different. The first thing that came to her mind was the power she'd gained after being touched by Taranos. Does he have it too? She couldn't imagine what a monster like him would do with that kind of power.
Mathys told her everything he'd seen, and was finally willing to listen to her account of events again without dismissal. She didn't tell him anything more about Taranos, nor the other Gods; she still wasn't sure what to believe about that. After they talked, he'd left her room again, promising he would stop Riffolk at all costs. Mara believed him.
Wake, child.
Her eyes flew open. Taranos hadn't spoken in a while. She sat up, completely awake.
The scientist is incredibly powerful. His mind contains secrets even I am unaware of. He has the potential to destroy Pandeia.
"No, no. No! Stop, please, stop talking!"
Mara hugged her knees to her chest, crying and shaking her head. She was already scared enough by Riffolk; why was Taranos saying these things to her now? She simply couldn't believe it. Wouldn't believe it. It wasn't fair. How did someone so evil have so much power?
"Can't you stop him?"
Not directly. Being in the physical world greatly reduces my power and strength. It is one of the reasons he summoned me in the first place. I will need your help, and the help of anyone you trust. He is simply too great a threat to be ignored. War is coming, and if he is allowed to become any more powerful, he will turn the tide.
Elana
Ermoor was a massive city. It twisted and turned into itself, never leading anywhere final, never offering a break from the lifeless paved streets. It was a never ending dead forest made from stone, metal, and false lights twinkling through the gloom. The people all looked the same, the streets all looked the same.
Observing the city from the rooftops, Elana could stare for hours without a single flicker of movement other than the artificial lights twinkling. The city was dead. Shanaken, on the other hand, was constantly alive, never a moment of stillness. And yet, the constant movement, the chaotic sense of life, gave her peace; and the utter stillness of Ermoor left her hollow and unsettled.
She'd explored the city extensively from the rooftops, and still hadn't spotted an obvious way down to where the slaves were. It was clearly somewhere in Dreadhold; the highest concentration of slaves were underneath the military district, and the fact that there were already soldiers patrolling day and night meant they could guard without raising suspicion.
Elana crouched behind a low wall skirting the roof of a building. Only a few stories above ground, she could see the street clearly. The soldiers stood guard in seemingly random places. Civilians weren't allowed in Dreadhold, and the difference between the military district and the rest of the city was jarring. Most noticeable, other than the sheer number of soldiers present, was the technology and weaponry on display.
In every other district, technology was purely for comfort and convenience; self-driving carts, street lights, heating. In Dreadhold, every piece of technology was designed to kill. There were weapons stations on every street corner. Slim beams of green light scanned every wall slowly like tiny spotlights. Every soldier carried several deadly looking gadgets on his belt, the functions of which Elana didn't want to know.
Getting to the slaves was one thing, and daunting enough. Getting them out, past all of the security measures in Dreadhold, would be almost impossible. She didn't understand most of the technology in Ermoor, and was no match for it on her own. Plus, her connection to Shadow Magic was the weakest she'd ever felt it; she could still use it, but it required intense concentration. Still, she had surprise on her side, and magic coupled with stealth would make a huge difference. Hopefully.
Soldiers walked constantly, in overlapping patterns, though when she looked closely and for a while, she noticed there were spots where they couldn't be seen by their fellows. Side alleys, building entrances, adjacent streets. The longer she watched, the more she realised it may be possible to take the soldiers out one by one. Drawing her Kaizuun, she summoned as much strength and magic as she could; it was going to be a long night.
Mara
The scientists still hadn't done any more invasive tests, nor treated her any differently. It meant Mathys wasn't telling them about her powers. He was leaving her alone far more though, and she found herself spiralling into the same depression she'd been in while living alone in Riffolk's mansion. Only now there was no wine to help her escape, and she was stuck with the horrible nightmares of Pera's death and Riffolk's abuse. She had the magic, at least, but even then she had to be incredibly careful about using it.
Days went by; how many she couldn't tell, but other than the regular silent examinations, she didn't see or interact with anyone. She slept a lot, despite her nightmares; horrible images of Pera plagued her even when she was awake, so it made no difference. She'd also given up trying to ask the scientists questions when they escorted her into the examination room.
After a while, she considered trying to sneak out; but the idea didn't last long. She had no idea where she was, how big the area was, and how many soldiers might be in the building. And even if she could sneak out, there was nowhere to go.
Other than sleeping, Mara spent a lot of time conjuring sparks and small bolts of lightning, to stave off boredom if nothing else. But she felt that energy inside her growing every day, and every time she created a spark she felt an intense rush of power.
Not knowing what else to do with the energy, she simply stuck with cascades of sparks and small arcs of electricity, always aimed at the roof so the scorch marks wouldn't be as easily spotted.
Finally, after what could have been days or weeks, Mathys walked into her room. He looked exhausted, but his voice was gentle.
"You can go, Mara. Go home
. I'm assigning a small squad to you for protection, they'll stay with you until Riffolk is found."
Her mouth dropped open. I'm free. Then the thought of Riffolk coming for her wiped the joy from her mind.
"Do you really think they can protect me?"
He sighed, and a cold fear bloomed in her chest.
"I hope so, Mara," he said, "but the Twelve Crowns won't allow any more men on such a minor task. They have other priorities."
As soon as he said it, a terrible certainty filled her; she was going to die soon. What do I do? She thought, somehow numb and terrified at the same time.
"Oh," she said.
I will protect you as best I can.
She must have jumped; Mathys frowned, looking at her more intently. But it passed, and she stood.
"There's more," Mathys said, "with Riffolk being dead—publicly, anyway—his wealth goes to you as his widow."
Mara froze, not quite daring to believe what she'd heard. Riffolk was the wealthiest man not just in Ermoor, but likely all of Pandeia. She couldn't even imagine the amount of money he had. And now it's mine, she thought, her excitement rising.
"All of it?"
"legally, yes. If he reveals that he's not dead, of course, it will all go back to him. And I'm not sure what secret plans he has in place which might stop it from going to you. There's simply no way to know with Riffolk."
Mara shook her head, marvelling. The Watson family had been struggling financially for several generations, despite remaining one of the most respected houses in Ermoor. If Riffolk's money went to her, their family would become the wealthiest overnight. She could just imagine the look on her father's face when he found out; he might finally be proud of her.
Mathys cleared his throat, bringing her back to the room.
"Of course, Riffolk will know that his money is going to be bequeathed to you. You may be in more danger now than ever."
Nodding, she thought about Riffolk's power now that he could most likely use the same magic as her. Can I tell Mathys about the magic? She thought, focusing on the image of Taranos in her mind.
If you trust him. Be careful, child.
"Mathys... there's something I need to tell you."
After she'd told him everything, he looked stricken. As though he'd seen a ghost. At first, he'd just shaken his head, frowning as though he was simply disappointed. Now, he sat as still as a statue, staring at her like she was a wild animal he'd never seen before.
"So it's real? Real, actual magic?" He finally said.
"Yes. And Riffolk most likely has it too."
"And it came from a God? Not the God, but a God?"
"Yes. Taranos."
"Why didn't the scientists see it in their tests?" He asked, but Mara could tell from his tone he was talking to himself.
"The soldiers weren't lying then. They said they saw the creature in your place... Maybe they just saw the lightning and their minds did the rest."
Mara shrugged and shook her head; it was the first she'd heard about what his soldiers reported to him. She thought it sounded logical though.
"I didn't believe any of them," he said.
"Well nobody will believe you either."
He glanced at her and flinched as though she'd threatened him with a handful of lightning.
"Well," he said, "this makes Riffolk even more dangerous. I have to send you back home, there's no way around that. My hands are tied with the amount of soldiers I can spare to guard you too. But I'm running my operations from the city, so I can stay nearby."
She blushed; she couldn't help it. Her cheeks flushed and grew warm, and she couldn't look at him directly. The offer was so unexpected and kind that she had no idea how to respond. Mathys looked uncomfortable, so she tried to move on, her cheeks flushing even more.
"What can I do if he attacks?"
"Run," Mathys said. He didn't even hesitate. "He's simply too dangerous."
She nodded. She pictured his cold eyes, his cruel smile. Running from that monster was something she would gladly do.
When Mathys dropped her back to the mansion, the guards accompanied her inside; except for one, who stood by the door servant to keep watch. Four guards were assigned to her, and the three who came inside with her followed her through the entire building until she reached the master bedroom.
Though she'd spent enough time there before to call the room her own, it now felt cold and unfamiliar. There was a quiet sort of threat she felt, sitting on the silk bedsheets; almost like Riffolk was hiding somewhere nearby.
One of the guards stood directly outside the door, and the other two entered the room with her. Their presence gave her no comfort at all. They didn't care the way Mathys did; they were just doing their job.
She asked them to leave while she had a shower and changed into new clothes. She hadn't worn real clothes since the night Pera was killed, and she'd forgotten what it felt like. Pulling a beautiful blue dress from her wardrobe, she sighed as she slipped it on and tied the bodice in place. It was tight and restrictive, but so elegant and beautiful that she finally felt herself again.
After putting on some make-up and fixing her hair, she finally let the guards back in. Both of them raised their eyebrows and looked her up and down, and although it made her feel a little less protected, a small rush of excitement filled her belly and her cheeks flushed again.
The rest of that day was spent in almost complete silence, except for the occasional curt small talk from the guards. Just after sundown, a visitor arrived. The guard outside the door brought him in, holding him by the arm, but when she recognised him he was let go immediately.
"Uncle Lewis!"
"Mara, I was so worried about you."
"What are you doing here?"
"I have some great news!"
Uncle Lewis' smile was always brilliant. He beamed through his bushy moustache, and behind his small round glasses, his eyes twinkled as though they were made from the stars in the night sky.
"The money has come through," he said, beaming.
"I did the paperwork myself!"
Mara giggled at her uncle's smile, as she always did. He looked at her with nothing but warmth, as though the guards weren't even there.
"Would you like to know how much money you own, Marmar?"
She paused, trying to think if she'd ever heard Riffolk's fortune spelled out. Even when she was little, he'd been a very private and withdrawn person. For her at the time, that had simply added to his mystery and made him more attractive, but now she realised how silly she'd been to fall in love with someone she knew nothing about. Rumours of his wealth were repeated constantly among Mara's friends, with increasingly more ridiculous numbers each time.
Remembering the girls shouting "ten thousand!" "a hundred thousand!", "a million!", before running out of numbers, she grew suddenly quiet; not only could she finally get an answer to those rumours, but the money would actually belong to her.
"Umm. Yes?"
Uncle Lewis beamed even wider, his bushy eyebrows jumping up and down. Despite everything, she giggled again. He looked expectantly at the guards in the room, who grumbled and left to wait just outside the door. Once they were gone, his eyebrows resumed their bouncing.
"Mara, you are now in possession of the single largest fortune in the entire world; twenty million crowns."
Twenty million. It was almost unthinkable. She wasn't even sure how many zeros that was. One thing she did know was that, as long as Riffolk didn't get to her, she would never have to worry about money for the rest of her life. Her family could move into a proper mansion. They could afford to go to the lavish parties and balls that were held every week. The possibilities were endless.
Mara felt like the luckiest girl in the world; it almost made marrying Riffolk worth it... almost. One thing she could do was use Riffolk's money to fix all the damage he'd caused. Rushing to Uncle Lewis with tears in her eyes, she hugged him and thought about all the good that could be done with that much money.<
br />
Elana
Breathing heavy, Elana crouched behind a large rubbish bin in a side alley. Four down, she thought, a thousand to go. She had no idea how many soldiers were actually nearby, but she had to assume the worst. So far she hadn't been seen, but it was only a matter of time before the soldiers realised their colleagues were disappearing. Footsteps echoed down the alley; another patrol. Two soldiers, by the sound of their feet. Crouched and waiting, she brought two throwing blades up from the tattoos on her palm. Her Kaizuun was still in her hand, and glancing back through the rubbish bin revealed the auras of three soldiers, instead of two. Cursing silently, she brought up another throwing blade and readied herself to attack.
Ermoori soldiers barely spoke to each other as they patrolled, only making cursory small talk at each stopping point before focusing their attention on security; to a man, they were diligently professional. Elana had to be utterly silent in everything she did. Which meant multiple enemies were a problem. She waited for them to pass the bin, hoping they wouldn't cast their eyes around too early. Her position made it easy to kill them the second they became visible to her, but noise was a problem if they saw her too soon.
There was a spell which created a cushion of shadow on the ground, dampening noise and providing protection against falls. It was designed for jumping out of trees safely without alerting the dangerous predators of Shanaken to a warrior's presence, but Elana thought it was perfect for her situation. She briefly dropped the throwing blade spell, and readied the cushion spell instead. She could only dedicate one hand to magic; she needed her Kaizuun ready at all times, not only to fight, but to bolster her connection to Shadow Magic as much as possible.
Daughter of War Page 21
