by Ben Hale
"Ronin!" Robar bellowed.
The Swordsman spun, and registered the scene at a glance. When the Soldier had gone down, Robar had closed and fired point blank. Unable to bring its own gun to bear, the Soldier had drawn a knife and engaged. The two had fallen to the ground and rolled, and ultimately the Soldier ended on top. Bringing its weight to bear, it drove the yellow knife downward.
Too far to assist, the Swordsman whirled and threw the luck blade. It embedded into the Soldier's side just as its knife began to enter Robar's chest. The force of the blow slammed it into the tree at its side, pinning it to the wood. Robar reached up and caught the luck blade hilt. With a savage yank he cut the Soldier in two. The blade disintegrated as the Soldier collapsed.
His chest heaving and his senses tuned, the Swordsman heard a rush of wind that indicated a flyer's approach. Stepping on the edge of the fading shield, he flipped it up to his hand and then tossed it into the air just as Indigo appeared.
With burns covering her side and marring her cheek, Indigo saw the shield just inches from her hand. Without hesitation she caught it and threw it into her wake with a growl of triumph. The Flyer exploded into view in time to catch the shield in its neck. Without its head, the entity of luck crashed to the ground and tumbled to a stop.
Gasping for air, Indigo landed and fell to her knees. "Thanks for the assist."
"Anytime," the Swordsman said. Gritting his teeth, he released his magic and nearly passed out from the wave of weakness. His body yearned to call on his magic again, to feel the rush of power and strength, but he fought the desire by focusing on a more pressing concern.
"You alright?" he asked his brother.
Robar watched the Soldier's body fade from view and touched the blood trickling from the shallow cut in his chest. "I'm not going to lie. I thought we were done for."
Weak and exhausted, the Swordsman sank to the ground and leaned against the boulder. "Once she cast them into solid they couldn't reshape quickly. We were lucky she split the entity into three parts."
Indigo offered a weak grin at his word choice. "Her magic has made her arrogant. The oracle should exploit that."
Robar stabbed a finger at the fading Flyer's body. "Arrogance may be Alice's downfall, but Tess won't be able to stop her the same way we killed the entities. The caster is always stronger than the entity she casts. Tess will have to find another way."
Indigo winced as she got to her feet, and the Swordsman joined her. Robar groaned but also managed to stand.
"So what now?" Robar asked.
"I hate to admit it," Indigo said, "but I don't think we can stop Alice. We'd counted on Robar's immunity extending to her. Now that we know it doesn't . . ." She shrugged in irritated defeat.
Robar shook his head. "So then what do we do? Join the war?"
"We're assassins," the Swordsman said with a jerk of his head.
"So?" Robar asked.
"So we find something else to kill."
Chapter 29: The Third Talisman
Exhausted and sore, Tess and Siarra stepped out of Siarra's refuge and into the night. After returning from the vault, they had spent the last few hours attempting to identify what the last item would be. Even with the Seeker stone they did not know what to look for other than its location on a mountain.
"I'll meet you at the sword," Siarra said.
Tess nodded, and then flew to Westpoint. She'd promised to speak to them as soon as she had answers and couldn't delay it any longer. Landing on the steps, she opened the door and stepped inside. Her parents were seated at the table, and both looked up at her entry.
"You're back," Kate breathed, and closed the distance to hug her. "Did you find it?"
"Not yet," Tess said, and moved to embrace her dad. "But the second talisman is helping." She showed them the compass and added, "I believe it's how we find the fourth talisman."
If I can figure out what it is.
They drew her to the table, where a plate had already been set out for her. Distracted by the food, she asked, "Did you cook this?"
"I used a cooking cauldron," Kate said with a grin. "I don't think I'll ever be able to use an oven again."
Her statement elicited memories of happier times, of the three of them cooking on a Saturday morning. A pang of sorrow lanced through Tess's frame.
"Mom, Dad, if I fail—"
"You won't," Jack said quickly, and placed a hand over hers.
"But if I do—"
"Why don't you tell us about the vault?" Kate asked.
Tess knew she was trying to distract her but didn't fight it. Starting with how they had found the vault, Tess detailed what she'd seen inside. Then she described activating Hawk's car to escape.
"You drove a car?" Kate asked, startled.
"Sort of," Tess responded. "It conjured a road in front of me so it was anything but normal."
Jack began to laugh. Quiet at first, it grew into a deep belly laugh that drew an angry look from Kate.
"Is something funny?"
"After everything Tess has been through, you are afraid of her behind a wheel?"
"She's sixteen," Kate protested. "She could have wrecked it."
Tess couldn't suppress a grin at the absurd turn in the conversation. "Er . . . I actually did," she said, and told them about her encounter with the elephant.
Kate looked daggers at Jack, as if Tess had just proved her point. Jack began to laugh again. "She can fly, and you are worried about her in a car?"
Kate glared at him, but her expression had begun to soften. "It is a little silly, isn't it?"
Tess shook her head. "Not really. It's a lot harder than it looks."
Kate released a snort of laughter. "After this is over, I promise we'll teach you to drive."
The reminder of what they faced ended the levity, and Tess's smile faded. Jack gave a slow nod.
"Any idea what the fourth talisman is?"
Tess looked away. "I spent the last few hours trying to find out, but the Seeker Stone can't tell me where to go if I don't know what I want. Without the right question even my farsight is useless."
"So what's your plan?" Kate asked.
"I know we need Tryton's Sword, so that's where I'm headed now. After that . . .?" She offered a helpless shrug.
"Get the sword, and then get some rest," Kate advised. "We have a few hours before the battle starts again, and you look exhausted."
"I don't think I can sleep," Tess said. "Not with how many are depending on me." Her voice quivered, and she looked away.
Kate touched her hand. "Combat carries a heavy responsibility, Tess, one that seems all encompassing. As soldiers we were trained to manage our fatigue so we could function at a higher rate."
"What are you saying?"
"That you will do more after sleeping a few hours," Jack said. "Trust us on this one."
Tess nodded and stood. "I promise I will try. I'll be back after I draw the sword."
They came to their feet to hug her. "We'll be here," Kate said.
Tess forced a smile and then departed. Trudging through the dark streets of Auroraq, she couldn't bring herself to fly. Eventually she reached the Spirus and met Siarra standing at the center of the Recollection. For a long moment they stared at the ancient sword in silence. Then Siarra motioned to it.
"Only Braon witnessed what King Tryton did for the races of my time. It was a sacrifice that surpasses any in my history."
"Why?"
Siarra turned to face her. "Because he fought the general called War, a being purposely built to lead Draeken's army. I doubt Tryton had ever faced a battle he could not win before that day, yet he did not yield. At the cost of his own life, he plunged his sword through his adversary, leaving it fused to this very rock."
Tess gazed down on the gigantic sword, moved by her words. "Why do you suppose we need it?"
"I do not know," Siarra replied. "But it is clear why it was never withdrawn."
"It requires two oracles to do so," Tess
replied, eliciting a smile of appreciation from Siarra.
"I'm impressed, young one."
"I examined it shortly after I heard about the prophecy," Tess admitted, "and saw that the magic inherent in the blade is also blended with the stone. One of us separates the stone from the blade, the other pulls back the magic in the weapon."
"Well said."
"One thing I don't know," Tess added, "is what magic is in the blade. It's white, but not the same color as the pure magic of an oracle."
Siarra's smile was the softest Tess had seen. "It is the magic of honor."
"How's that possible?" Tess asked in astonishment.
Siarra swept a hand at the many artifacts in the Recollection. "As much as we know about magic, there is much we don't understand. Even after all this time I see that mages have yet to go far beyond the standard magics."
"Like Gate magic?"
"Like emotions," Siarra said.
Tess's eyes widened. "How are emotions magic?"
"Emotions are energy," Siarra said. "They compel men and women to acts of great love or valor that far exceed their capacity. My mother used Tryton's own honor to fuel this sword, and when it pierced War the energy destroyed him, for he had no honor. In many respects, emotion is the most powerful of energies, for it drives our magic to greater power."
Tess's mind turned to Alice, and how her magic had done so much damage. Luck certainly wouldn’t be considered a normal energy, and yet it had a tangible effect on normal life. For the first time since she had stepped into the mage world, Tess realized she'd barely scratched the surface of what magic could do.
"Can we really do all magics?" Tess asked.
A knowing smile creased Siarra's features. "The true question is . . . what magics have we yet to attempt? My mother once commented that every aspect of our souls has the potential to become magic, but they await the gifted individual to discover them."
She sighed in regret. "It is an enigma for another time, however. Alice's army will reach the Stacks soon after daybreak, and this time the races will not defy her. We must focus on what we know, the talismans. I will withdraw the magic of the sword, while you re-forge the material itself."
Tess nodded and stepped to the opposite side of the blade. Then she blinked into her magesight and looked to the stone around the sword. Inch by inch, Tess separated the stone from the material of the blade. As she worked, the glass core of the weapon began to brighten, and threads of white seeped into the mithral.
Deep in the thrall of her magic, Tess fought to hold the materials at bay. After thousands of years molded together they resisted her efforts, but she did not stop. She reached the tip of the blade, and started up the other side.
The light inside the sword continued to brighten, until Tess was forced to squint. The farther she went, the more she had to concentrate on keeping the separated portions apart, and her mind flashed to the time she'd attempted to juggle. Holding multiple balls in the air was infinitely more difficult than one or two.
The distraction cost her, but she gritted her teeth and forced the stone and mithral apart. Her effort slowed as she neared the end, but she refused to quit. As the last piece separated she felt a glorious moment of triumph.
And the sword began to rise.
Drawn from the ground by Siarra, the shimmering blade lifted into the air. Inch by inch it scraped from the stone that had been its home for a sentenium, until it finally floated free of restraint. The image appeared exactly as it had in Tess's vision, causing her to smile. She allowed her magic to lapse and let out a sigh of relief—and the sword exploded.
The detonation sent Tess tumbling through the displays. Her arm cracked and the skin scrapped off before she came to a stop. Dizzy and barely conscious, she raised her gaze to see the entire center of the Recollection had been decimated. Even the protective enchantments of the displays had been no match for the mighty blast of power.
Dismay filled her as her vision swam into focus, and she forced herself to her feet. Crying out at the pain, she stumbled to the giant hole in the floor and stared across at Siarra, who appeared equally in shock.
"What happened?" Tess coughed.
Holding her side, Siarra flew over the gap and alighted next to her. "The magic in the sword was far stronger than it should have been," she said, and the guilt in her voice was evident. "It's power surpassed my effort to contain it."
"What does that mean?" Tess turned to look at Siarra as auren and mage soldiers stormed the area.
Siarra shook her head, and the look of disbelief on her face caused a sinking fear to fill Tess. Her answer only served to reinforce it.
"I . . . don't know."
"How can you not know?" Tess asked. "You're one of the best oracles in history—and a guardian—"
"I DON'T KNOW," Siarra shouted.
The timbre of her voice caused Tess to retreat a step. Instinctively she raised her magic, but Siarra visibly reigned in her emotions, and the madness faded from her eyes.
"I'm sorry," she said quietly."The honor mounted faster than I could control. I've never seen anything like it. It's almost as if the magic had found another source, one much larger than the original."
"Any chance you can repair it?"
Siarra shook her head, her eyes full of guilt and suppressed anger. Then the soldiers drew close.
"What happened?" a battlemage asked, his eyes wide.
"Nothing," Tess said. Turning on her heel, she left, unable to voice the answer.
We just destroyed the third talisman.
Chapter 30: Immortalian
Siarra watched Tess depart the Recollection. Shoulders hunched, the girl did not look back. Siarra wanted to comfort her, but couldn’t find the words. Without an answer for herself, Siarra was left to watch Tess trudge away.
She ground her teeth and lifted into the air. Then she Gated to her refuge. Alone, she considered what she could have done differently, but time and again she came up with the same answer.
Her frustration rising, she struggled to keep the seething anger at bay. Then she realized it was the madness driving it and blew out her breath. Bypassing the twelve sources of magic that ringed the room, she strode to the small ball of fire and addressed the entity present.
"Eleana, please open it."
The light entity flickered into view. Then Eleana glided behind the ball of fire and traced a door in the stone wall. It brightened to pure white and opened, allowing Siarra to enter.
"Thank you, Eleana," Siarra said. The light entity nodded and the door swung shut, leaving Siarra in her personal study.
Much like Hawk's office, her study boasted bookshelves and memory orbs, some of which had gone dim. On one wall were swords, their blades still bright and sharp while their wooden stands had worn away. The room smelled of dust, age, and ancient tomes.
She stood until her anger had turned into resolve and then moved to the cabinet on the wall. The third talisman had been destroyed, but she still had a task to perform. Selecting the sword she thought would be best, she strapped it to her back and cast several charms that would protect her. Then she gathered herself and Gated to the Immortalian's chamber.
The moment she appeared she struck with a blistering wave of fire at the Immortalian. The figure evaporated under the onslaught. Sparks burst from the threads of magic, and they faded away. Then Siarra ended her magic.
"Clever of you," she said to the empty cavern. "How long did you wait for me to return?"
The Immortalian dropped from the ceiling and landed on the charred spot of its predecessor. Dressed in a regal robe of crimson, the Immortalian's skin reflected bright, almost translucent, against the backdrop of the energy sources. The flesh beneath swirled with suppressed power.
Its features were a flawless match to Alice's, yet a distinct shift in the gaze set it apart. Instead of appearing arrogant and haughty, the Immortalian's face betrayed a disturbing serenity. Shallow gaps covered its flesh, marking the places where the magic had ye
t to knit.
"You think to destroy me so easily?" it asked.
Its female voice was clear and inviting, yet carried a sinister edge to it that repulsed. Like poisoned honey, it was meant to inspire fear and respect in equal measure. It sent a chill down Siarra's spine.
"Merely to draw you out," Siarra said, and flicked her sword.
The Immortalian's perfect forehead creased. "Why seek my demise?" it asked. "I am a shard of the Master, a splinter of perfection. When she deems me ready we will become one, and the world will no longer know fear."
"Absence of fear does not mean freedom," Siarra replied. "Your body cannot be allowed to serve her."
The Immortalian smiled sadly. "You are disobedient, and must be punished. Your death will serve to teach, so that others may know how to obey."
The Immortalian's body faded to gray and then black. Then it retreated into the shadows. Siarra hurled her sword at the light source, splitting it open and flooding the cavern with illumination—but her foe was gone.
Sensing the attack with her magic, Siarra dived forward and felt the sweep of air as something sharp passed her neck. She rolled to her feet and summoned her sword into her hand. Catching the hilt, she spun the blade and deflected the next strike.
The Immortalian fractured into a dozen images, each with a matching sword. All came at her at once, forcing her into the air. They followed her, their matching expressions bearing the same smile.
"I am sorry for your punishment," they said in unison, "but you must learn."
Siarra cast white magic and added it to her sword. Then she pulled herself into a whirlwind toward the ground. Keeping her sword out, she shredded the mirages on her way down. The moment she landed she spun to face the Immortalian. Its sickening smile did not waver as it cast a fire hydra between them.
Siarra sucked in her breath at the size of the beast. Most fire hydras were the size of a man, but this rivaled a dragon in stature. Casting a water hydra of equal size, she added legs of stone and it lifted free of the ground. Her entity slammed into the fire hydra and the two snapped and hissed at each other.
