Relics and Runes Anthology

by Heather Marie Adkins

  Bas raced after her, surprised by how fast she moved. He staggered down the steep bank, stumbling` until his feet met flat ground as he puffed to catch up with her disappearing form.

  I don’t need to worry about her running away from stuff. He spotted her kneeling by the crumpled body of the third guard. The man’s face looked ashen and leathery, but he still lived. Sera pulled off her pack and took out a small jar. Bas remembered her always carrying strange concoctions when they were kids.

  “Guard, what the hell happened to you?” Bas crouched down as the man’s washed out blue eyes met his. “What did this?” He leaned closer to hear the man’s rasping words.

  “Mist… It came out of the mist,” the man said.

  Sera shoved Bastian back. “Let me work. His wounds need tending.”

  Bas looked down at the man’s weathered form, it looked like something had drained the life out of him. “Can you save him?”

  Sera’s eyes flashed. “I’ll do what I can to help. Go get the ship, we need to get him back to the city to see a real healer.”

  Bas glanced around, there would be enough room to land the ship. Damn, he wished he’d had the sense to bring more travel dust with him, but it wouldn’t be enough to transport them all.

  As if reading his thoughts, Sera said, “Go, dust won’t work. It could injure him more. Hurry!”

  He gave her a look. “You and I are going to have a chat when this is over.”

  “Go!”

  Bas took off, struggling back up the cliff face. “Niall, we found the other guard, how close are you and Li to the ship?” he asked through his comm crystal.

  “We’re about a mile from the guard station. Spitfire thought she saw something, and I had to make sure she didn’t get her pretty self hurt.”

  Static cracked through the comm. No doubt Li probably hit him for that comment.

  “I did see something!” Liana snapped. “It was a mist thing, it had a face and sharp claws.”

  “She may be onto something,” Bas puffed as he climbed to the top of the embankment, then raced back towards the ship.

  “What are your orders?” Niall asked.

  “Keep searching but watch your backs. I want that thing put down,” Bas replied. “I’ll get the ship; Sera and I will drop the guard back to the city and then come back for you two.”

  “You left the new girl on her own?” Niall remarked. “She only just started!”

  Bas gave a harsh laugh. “Yeah, she’s working on the guard. That friend of yours is full of surprises, Li.”

  “Spitfire and I can handle it while you and blondie help the guard. If we don’t find anything, we’ll start doing a sweep of the station.”

  “Blondie?” Liana snapped. “What kind of name is that?”

  Bas disconnected and spotted the ship a few metres away. With its cylindrical shape it would get back through the clearing. He’d get on board and fly straight back to Sera. With the engines at full power it would only take about ten minutes to get back to the city. He could have a healer team ready and waiting for them.

  As Bas made his way to the ship, mist formed around him, giant balls of energy came straight at him. He ducked, pulled out his stunner and fired a blast of red light which passed straight through the mist.

  What the hells? In his decade of hunting fey he’d never seen them do something like that. He fired again, channelling his own magic through the weapon.

  A screech rang out, making his ears ring. Clawed hands formed out of the mist, black hollowed eyes stared out of a face so white it became almost translucent. It made a grab for Bastian’s chest. He rolled out of the way, the stunner falling from his grasp. Damn! He rolled again, this time drawing magic as he threw a strike at his attacker. The blast of light shot straight through it.

  Bas’s heart pounded. Even the fey didn’t possess this kind of magic. He muttered words of power, hitting the strange entity with every defensive spell he could think of but all of them seemed to pass straight through it.

  Bas scrambled up and headed straight for the ship. Maybe once inside he’d be safer. He hated to run from anything, but he knew better than to fight a battle he couldn’t win. He felt ice creeping down his spine as he reached the ship’s door and pressed the panel to open it.

  Another screech, claws cut his back, ripping through his shirt, cutting into flesh. Bas threw himself to the ground, just out the way of the ship’s door as it opened. Scrambling up, he made a run for it. Claws slashed against his back. Bas rolled over to see the skeletal face staring back at him. He grabbed his knife, slashing at his assailant. The blade passed straight through it. Claws came at him again. Bas prepared to fight back. It had to be solid to strike and he’d be ready for it.

  A blast of air sent the creature flying with a loud screech.

  Bas looked up to see Sera standing a few feet away. How did she get here so fast?

  “Move!” she yelled.

  Bas shot up but didn’t move. “What about you?” he called back.

  “Get inside the ship!”

  Bas’s jaw clenched but he ducked inside. Gods, he couldn’t just leave Sera out there. Even if she could handle herself, he doubted she’d stand much of a chance against that thing either. Bas brought the ship online and found Sera on screen. He was surprised when he saw her blasting the creature with her currents of air and it seemed to be working.

  “Sera, get in here!” He used the ship’s comm system. Sera ran towards ship, closing the door behind her. The engines whirred to life as the ship rose off the ground.

  “Stop, you’re hurt,” she said, touching his arm. “Let me tend to that.”

  “We need to find the others and get the hell out of here,” Bas snapped, shrugging her off. “Where’s the guard?”

  “He’s dead. I couldn’t save him.”

  Sera gripped his wrist. “The creature’s gone, let me tend to your wounds.”

  “Sera…”

  She put her hands on her hips, raising her chin. “You can’t fly if you pass out from blood loss.”

  Bas hovered the ship, glanced around. Whatever had attacked them seemed to have vanished. “Fine, patch me up. Then we are going to figure out what the hell that thing was.”

  4

  Sera sat rubbing ointments over Bastian’s back as she tended to the deep gashes. “Are you done yet?” He sighed, glancing down as she rubbed something else over his injuries.

  “You always were impatient,” she remarked. “Li and Niall are examining the station. This is just as important.”

  “How did you know your powers would work against that thing?”

  “I didn’t, I just reacted,” she admitted. She rubbed more ointment on, running her hands over his skin. It felt odd to be touching him again, but she knew he’d be too damn stubborn to do it himself.

  “What was that thing?” Bas muttered.

  “It looked like some kind of wraith. I remember reading about such things in stories of the old world.” In truth she’d never encountered such a creature either.

  “Must have been a fey creation.”

  Sera frowned, why did everything that went wrong in their world have to be blamed on her people? Didn’t the mages take responsibility for anything? They were the ones who polluted and destroyed things.

  “The fey don’t look like that.” She rubbed something else on and felt a smug sense of satisfaction when he winced.

  “Of course it’s fey,” Bas grumbled. “There’s different kinds, remember?”

  No, there’s not. Only Ithereals are left and even then our numbers are dwindling. Sera pulled her hand away from him, reminding herself to not let emotion get in the way. She had a mission to do.

  Bas pulled on another shirt from out of the storage compartment. “Let’s move. We’ll do what we can hear then get back to the city.”

  “What about the bodies?” Sera put her things back into her pack.

  He rubbed his chin. “We’ll take them back to the city for proper burial.�
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  “I’d like to examine them further.”

  His eyes narrowed. “Only black mages do that, and they’re forbidden in Elmira.”

  Black mages used dark magic including blood and death magic. Sera knew she had to be careful, being suspected as a black mage could get her thrown out of the city or worse.

  She crossed her arms and raised her chin. “If I run some tests, I might be able to figure out what that creature was.”

  “The alchemists will do that. You’re hunter now.”

  “If I know what they are, I’ll have a better way of defending against them.” She felt a rush of excitement at the thought of finding out what the creature was but reminded herself not to get distracted.

  “Fine, you can look but watch yourself. You’re not a full hunter yet and there are rules.”

  She smiled. “Since when do you play by the rules?”

  “I just want you to pass your training.” Bas smiled back. “But first, you need this.” He held out a comm crystal. “Don’t lose it.”

  She clipped it onto her vest and nodded.

  “Also, you and I need to be able to talk in thought,” he added.

  Sera hesitated. Speaking in thought came naturally to Ithereals but mages had to form mind links to do so. She’d have to let him into her mind and that was risky.

  Bas held out his hand. “I won’t hear your thoughts if that’s what you’re worried about.”

  She grasped his hand, felt him at the edge of her mind as she closed her eyes.

  Sera?

  Bastian, she replied, surprised how easily their minds connected.

  Good, it will be easier for us to talk now. He let go of her hand and Sera suddenly missed the feel of contact.

  Bas headed back inside the station. Sera could still feel her skin tingle from his touch. She brushed her palm against her trousers and tried to ignore it, reminding herself it didn’t matter as she headed after him.

  “What have you found so far?” Bas asked the others.

  “Nothing on the data or comp units,” Niall answered from where he stood by one of the desks.

  “Those mist things left no trace,” Liana said. “No tracks, no scents either.”

  “How do you smell so much?” Niall wanted to know. “Are you part blood hound?”

  “God knows, given how much you stink! And no, I’m just too much woman for you to handle.”

  Sera chuckled, making everyone stare at her. She knelt by the first guard. “We may learn more from these strange wounds.”

  “Bas, shouldn’t you see a healer?” Niall suggested. “You could be infected by something.”

  He waved a hand in dismissal. “I’m fine. I’ll go and scout round the perimeter then Li and I will bring the other body back here. Let’s go, Li.”

  An awkward silence followed when she and Niall were left alone. Sera focused instead on the wounds. Five marks made by talon-like fingers.

  “Are you a black mage?” Niall broke the silence.

  She stared over at him, shaking her head. “Nope, but I’m good with alchemy.”

  “Why did you join the hunters then? You’d fit in better with the other know-it-alls.”

  Sera laughed. “Alchemists bore me after a few minutes.”

  To her surprise, he grinned. “Me too.”

  Maybe he didn’t despise her – not that it mattered.

  She took a powder from her bag, one used to show energy signatures. She dusted it over the wounds, hoping something would appear.

  “Careful, the council are very picky about what we can and can’t do,” Niall warned. “Going against them is suicide.”

  “Then why haven’t you and the others reported in yet?” She raised an eyebrow.

  Sera had memorised all the guild and high council’s rules, and knew the council enforced its laws too. She thought all their stupid rules were too restrictive, but she’d abide by them whilst working this mission. She’d be careful, but she needed to know what kind of creature had caused the deaths.

  “McGregor only cares if we get the job done,” he replied. “Bas doesn’t force rules on us – except for his own.”

  “So I’ve noticed.” She waited for the powder to change colour.

  “For what it’s worth, be careful around Bas.”

  Her brow creased. “What do you mean?” She hadn’t done anything to Bas.

  “You’re the girl, aren’t you? The one he lost?” He stared at her, as if trying to read her reaction.

  Sera kept her expression cool. “We knew each other once, yes. But we were friends. Nothing more.” She didn’t want to discuss, or even think, about her past relationship with Bastian and hoped Bas hadn’t revealed how close they had been. Don’t think of the past. Nothing can change that. Plus, it’s not like Bas would still have feelings for me.

  Niall frowned. “He cared for you – a lot more than he’ll ever admit. Part of him never got over losing you,” he said. “Losing you affected him more than you know.”

  Sera looked away, feeling an ache in her chest. She prayed Bas hadn’t revealed the true nature of their former relationship. “Why are you telling me this?”

  “You have secrets, I can tell. If you’re not here to stay, then…”

  “I’ll stay. I have a job to do.” Finding the keystone would take time, maybe even months. She’d do whatever she had to do to complete her mission. “As for Bas, I have no control over his feelings. I’m here to be a hunter – he knows that.”

  “Well, just thought you should know.” Niall turned his attention back to his data tab.

  “Odd,” she muttered, frowning at the body in front of her.

  “What?” Niall glanced over.

  “The dust hasn’t changed colour. That creature has no traces of energy.” She did another quick examination just to be sure.

  “Another fey trick no doubt.”

  Sera bit back a retort. She couldn’t change people’s beliefs or how they felt. Only time could do that. She made a quick mental note to be more careful with her experiments. Revealing too much knowledge might give herself away.

  “They have energy signatures,” she corrected. “It’s like the creature was…”

  “Dead?” Niall grimaced. “Couldn’t be. The dead stay dead.”

  “I can’t explain it.” Sera shook her head.

  “We have to report this to McGregor.”

  Sera felt relieved when she didn’t have to be present to tell the guilds leader about the wraith. The way McGregor had looked at her made her skin crawl. Instead she focused on finding out what the wraith had been.

  Over the next few days Sera started training with Bastian and the others. Bas seemed keen on teaching her distinctive magic such as strikes and spell words. Sera had to read a lot about how mage magic worked and had learnt enough over the years to mimic it. She still wasn’t very good when it came to physical defence, nor did she like weapons much, but she knew she’d have to put her feelings aside to pass as a successful hunter.

  Alward appeared in her dreams that morning. “How goes your progress?”

  Sera glanced around the room with its purple glass floor and misty dark walls. “Slow,” she admitted. “I’m not a hunter. I can’t fight the way they can.”

  He chuckled. “No, you’re not. That’s why I chose you for this mission.”

  Sera sighed. “What if I can’t gain their trust?”

  “Since when do you doubt your skills?” He frowned at her.

  “I’ve never had such a mission. Perhaps someone…”

  Alward’s eyes flashed. “You have never backed out of a mission before. What’s changed? Is it Bastian?”

  “No, I’m worried. The creature that killed those guards is unlike anything I’ve seen before.”

  “Another mage creation gone wrong no doubt. The use of forbidden magics and destructive technology is what caused the war.” He leaned forward. “Find the keystone. Get as close to the Novare family as you can, do whatever is necessary. Basti
an is attracted to you, yes?”

  “Li and other Ashran operatives may seduce information out of others but I won’t.” Sera folded her arms. Yes, she’d do anything for the Ashran but not that. She’d never be able to bring herself to that.

  “Do you doubt you can find the keystone?” asked Alward.

  “No,” she said without hesitation. “Forgive me – I had a moment of doubt.” Some of the training Bas had subjected her to had been exhausting and made it harder to concentrate.

  “Good, then don’t call me again until you have something useful to tell.”

  “Why do the mages hate us?” She’d wondered that more than once over the years. War seemed so senseless despite this peacetime she knew it wouldn’t last much longer. He probably wouldn’t answer her question. He never liked speaking of mages unless he had to. She suspected because he himself had been tortured during the last war.

  His jaw tightened. “They despise any race who can challenge them. Such is the way of the mages,” he said. “They’ll never change. We will overthrow them or they will destroy themselves. Either way, their rule will end.”

  Sera woke feeling uneasy. She dragged herself out of bed and headed for the shower. Running water was something she enjoyed about being in a mage city. Living with the Ashran and moving around so much as she often did didn’t allow her such luxuries. The heat washed away some of the fatigue and aching. Fey healed fast but Sera doubted she’d reached full power yet.

  Sera pulled on leggings, a tunic dress and boots. Ithereals didn’t feel the need to cover up their bodies so much but she didn’t mind the clothes. Her back tingled as her wings itched to come out. She felt uncomfortable the longer they stayed in. Bone popped as she let them out, her long wings uncurling, they shimmered as she stretched them, waving back and forth.

  What she wouldn’t give for a quick fly around, but she knew she’d have to remain grounded throughout her stay in Elmira. She wouldn’t risk being seen by anyone unless it was necessary.

  Someone knocked on the door. “Sera?” Bastian called. “Are you up?”

  Her wings shuddered from her panic. “Yeah, just a minute,” she yelled. She ordered her wings to retract. They flashed changing from the usual pink to an almost translucent silver. Her wings reacted to her emotions. The more nervous she became the harder they were to conceal. Go back in!