“That’s how we’re getting out of here. It’s a skimmer. Can you please get in? We don’t have much time.” Aiden wasn’t watching the women and children, but facing the hole. He could hear one of the creatures out there and it was close. Glowby flitted outside and zipped off to the left, letting Aiden know which way it was coming.
Some of the younger women began to help the smaller children inside, but the old woman hobbled closer, squinting at him. “Awfully short to be a soldier, aren’t you? And where is your sword? Why do you have a walking stick?” Her cane came out, tapping against the fake wood of his own.
Aiden couldn’t believe his ears. Surrounded by monsters and a collapsing house, and she was making comments about his height. “Look here,” he said, turning angrily toward the old busy body. “I’m trying to save you so would you please get into the skimmer? Please?”
She sniffed at him, not looking offended so much as disapproving. “Misses Granger, this is my house that you’ve wrecked. I would hope that you would know who you’re vandalizing.” She paused, suddenly frowning even more and pointing towards the hole with her cane. “Besides, shouldn’t you be doing something about that? Get to it!”
Aiden turned and jerked back in surprise. One of the creatures had come right up to the hole and thrust its huge crab claw at Aiden. It was huge and snapped shut only a few centimeters from his head. For a bare moment, Aiden didn’t know what to do. There were people here, children that were relying on him.
Suddenly, as if from somewhere outside of himself, he calmed down and could almost hear Oya Dihya speaking to him off to the side as she’d done so many times in lessons. His grip tightened and as the claw came in at him again, he held the shield up between himself and it, stopping it cold. He didn’t want to use the push on the claw, remembering how the man had cut it off back on the ship which had elicited it to vomit acid. If that happened in here, they would all die. Instead, he brushed the claw to the side and stepped inwards towards the horrible, gaping mouth.
For just a second, he stood so close that he could see his reflection in the things black, shiny eyes. The mouth mandibles were twitching, almost as if in anticipation of tasting his flesh, but it did not freeze him. Instead, he brought his walking stick forward, his finger firmly on the fourth power level, and smashed it against the thing’s armored head.
Aiden was shocked at the result. The head of the things, armored and knobby, seemed to dissolve into a cloud of greenish-red mist and sent the foul thing flying back away from the opening. It landed almost five meters away on its back, its legs shaking and trembling in its death throes. It hadn’t even had a chance to make a sound, but it attracted the attention of several other creatures that had been coming to investigate, making them change course and head for the easy meal.
Aiden knew they had to leave now. He turned, reaching under and boosting Misses Granger up and into the ship with a nudge and a hoot of surprise from the old lady, and quickly vaulted into the now-crowded skimmer. He gently lifted a small toddler up from the seat in front of him, and then sat it on his lap.
“Hold on,” he whispered to the wide-eyed toddler, and he felt small hands cling around his neck as he quickly raised the skimmer off of the debris-covered floor, and then backed it out of the now-wide hole in Misses Granger's house. Then, as quickly as he could, he set the skimmer to rising and out of the reach of the things below.
He signed, taking a deep breath as he tried to guide his ship back towards the Ravenwood Inn. It wasn’t easy since there were so many people blocking his vision, but he managed it by flying slowly and carefully through the dark night sky.
When they arrived, the Stormdancer and the other two skimmers had already arrived and had their gangplanks down. The sharp cliffs of the plateau made an ideal docking place for the skimmers, and with the Stormdancer right over the pathway up to the Inn, its needlers made short work of any monsters trying to climb the pathway.
The people of the town were overjoyed to see Misses Granger and the rest of the people. When they landed, there were more than enough helping hands as they were lifted off and helped to seats or into the Inn itself. There were more than just townspeople that found refuge in the Inn as it looked like many wounded from Trelakor’s people were there as well.
“By the Circle, Aiden,” Gavin said, coming up to his skimmer. “What happened to you? Did you walk through some buildings to get back? Didn’t we mention to take it easy?”
Aiden shook his head, leaning back and closing his eyes. “Well, when I got there, one of the creatures had made it inside and was trying to get through the floor. I heard a lot of screaming, and I couldn’t just sit idle while it decided to eat people. So, I…uh.” Aiden trailed off grimacing at his friend.
“So, you what?” Gavin encouraged, making a come on motion with his hand. “What did you do to get all banged up like that?”
“I flew into the building,” Aiden said, wincing as Gavin groaned. “It was the only thing I could think of doing. I knew the skimmer wouldn’t take damage.”
“Yeah, but you did,” Gavin pointed out. “Stelios is not going to be pleased. I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t classify flying inside of a building as no heroics.”
“Well, yeah, I know that,” Aiden said, grinning at his friend. “But I got them out! That’s got to count for something.”
“Yeah,” Gavin said, looking over warily as Stelios finished talking to Amanda, the owner of the Inn and began striding towards Aiden’s skimmer with purpose. “I just hope it’s enough because he doesn’t look happy.”
Aiden peeked over the side of his skimmer, watching the thunderous approach of the Guard Captain before sinking back down. “Maybe I should have let those things eat me.”
“Maybe,” was Gavin’s response before he walked off to give Aiden his privacy with the Guard Captain.
Chapter 14
Stelios was not happy but didn’t stand around berating Aiden either. He stared at him for a long moment, frowning, before finally spoke. “Are you okay?” was all he said.
Aiden blinked, realizing that Stelios was granting him the respect of an equal, so he only nodded, trying to give that respect back and not act like a spoiled brat about to be lectured. “Yes, I’m just glad I got them out. I realize I put myself in danger, but there was no time to get help. I had to act.”
“I know,” Stelios said, patting Aiden’s arm companionably. “The old lady is babbling to anyone that will listen how you landed right on top of one of those things and then spit in the eye of another fifty of them. I don’t think you would be crazy enough to take on fifty of them, though, so probably some exaggeration, at least.”
“Um, not fifty,” Aiden said, laughing in relief. “Only one, but it was scary enough. I thought for sure it was going to get me.” He held up his walking stick. “Thank goodness for this thing, or it might have succeeded.”
“Did your shield protect you from the acid?” Stelios said, looking speculatively at Aiden’s weapon. “Our Armor didn’t do us much good on the ships; not even your shirts helped us against their acid.”
“I didn’t have a chance to see if it would protect from the acid, I hit the thing on the head before it could do anything. I saw what happened on the ship. It looked like when the men cut into them it either panicked them or made them angry.” Aiden paused, looking at his stick and remembering how effective the crossbowmen were. Maybe he could do something that could keep the soldiers at a distance?
“Aiden, I have to go give a report to the Duchess. She’ll want to know how things went. We’re going to stay here tonight.” Stelios looked around at the people moving around on the plateau. “We may stay here for a while and use this as a base. We need to send skimmers out along the coast and warn people, if they haven’t already succumbed, and also coordinate with towns further in so they can handle refugees. We need to learn all we can about these things.”
Aiden watched the big man walk off and climb the gangplank to the Stormdancer, headi
ng below decks. He didn’t envy the man the report he would have to give. If these things were already spreading along the east coast of Terek, they would severely hamper the fishing industry and therefore food stores. If they got into the bay, it would be ten times worse.
Suddenly, he remembered the whole reason they had come here which was to rescue Trelakor and his people. He climbed out of his skimmer and asked one of the guards if he knew where they were keeping the injured from the ships, walking off quickly when the woman pointed towards the large inn.
As he made his way inside the spacious building, most of the tables and chairs had either been moved out of the way or commandeered for the injured. The injured were a mix of townspeople, sea clan, and soldiers and Aiden was happy they’d brought several doctors and nurses with them. Some of the injuries were horrific, either caused by the great claws of the creatures or their acid; Aiden wasn’t sure which were worse, but he forced himself not to look away. It was difficult, but he gritted his teeth and walked through the room without avoiding any of the sights.
Toward the back, he found his target. Trelakor was lying on the ground with his head on a pillow. His face and one of his shoulders were covered in white and pink bandages though Aiden couldn’t see if he was suffering from further injuries due to the blanket covering him. It was also impossible to tell if the Arakuul was awake due to the bandages and Aiden didn’t want to risk waking him if he was resting.
His human daughter, Skay, was standing nearby talking to several other sea clan members who all looked to be in shock from the day’s ordeal. Aiden made his way over, watching the young woman for a few moments as she finished giving her people direction. When she turned to him, he was struck again by her piercing eyes despite how tired she looked. Some of her tight-knit braids had come undone in the battle, and he felt the strong urge to push them back into place as she looked at him with her dark gaze.
She eyed him for a long moment, then shook her head. “Is there a problem, soldier? Something I can help you with?” She arched her eyebrow and put one of her hand on her hip as she examined him. “I’m sure I don’t have enough to do right now, but if you keep staring at me, I might be able to find a stick to chase you with.”
Aiden had forgotten he was still wearing his armor and helmet. The helm did not hide his face entirely, but it would be difficult to tell who he was through its harsh, warlike features. “Oh, uh, sorry,” he said, bending down and letting the helmet fall off of his head into his hands before standing back up straight. “It’s me, Aiden. I came over to see how your father was doing.”
Skay’s eyes brightened in shock and then recognition before she stepped closer, reaching out and touching his arm as she smiled up into his eyes. Aiden could feel his pulse suddenly quicken. “Aiden? Aiden, it’s so good to see you,” She said, keeping two of her fingers softly on his forearm. “Gods, I’m so happy you all came. It happened so fast. Father tried to turn the ships to leave the harbor but it was too late, and those things were everywhere.”
“I know. We saw from above,” Aiden said, then looked down at the silent Trelakor. “What happened? We were talking to him and then he was cut off. I thought he’d died.”
“I’m harder to kill than that, boy,” Trelakor said suddenly, his mouth moving painfully as he spoke. “Gods, I could use some Seulosa right now. Skay, can you dip a mug for your father?”
Skay frowned and shook her head, stepping closer to Aiden even as she spoke to her father. “No, father, and even if it didn’t all go down with the ships, I wouldn’t. You don’t need that rot gut making things more complicated for the doctors.”
“Bah, it would deaden the pain,” the large Arakuul said, turning away slightly from his daughter.
“I will sit on you, old man!” Skay threatened, taking a step closer, her foot stomping on the floor loudly enough for Trelakor to hear. “I love you too much to let you jeopardize your healing.”
Trelakor was silent for a long moment before he turned slightly back towards her. “Can’t heal me from this, my daughter. Not my eyes. I can feel them gone.”
He reached one of his uninjured hands up in Skay’s general direction, and she took it. Aiden watched a small tear make its way down her dusky, olive skin but her voice didn’t waver. “Shut-up, Father. You’re not dead, and only dead clansmen won’t be made to work on the ship. You know that.”
Trelakor listened, his bandage-covered face not hiding his melancholy frown before he smiled bravely, nodding. “That’s true, girl.” He held her hand in his larger, scaly one before patting it with the other on that side, “very true, I’ll not disappoint. Even if I have to sit on a dock with a fishing pole, I’ll always be here for the people.”
“Even if I have to cut you up for fish bait, I’ll find a use for you,” She said, grinning sadly down at him and leaning against Aiden as she spoke. Aiden felt her slip one of her strong arms around him as she rested her head against his shoulder. He couldn’t tell if she was doing it unconsciously, but he wasn’t about to argue.
Trelakor returned the smile though Aiden knew he couldn’t see hers. “Even as fish-bait.” He paused, his voice taking on a more powerful tone. “Now, tell me how the rest of the people are doing. How many did we lose and how many are left? Where are we?”
“We’re still in the same cursed village that we sailed into, Father,” Skay said, a note of bitterness in her voice. “The Duke’s men brought us up onto a defended plateau, and I think we’ll be safe here for the time being. We’re mixed in with the townspeople and soldiers.” She paused before continuing. “We lost all the ships, Father, and probably two-thirds of our people.”
Trelakor looked shocked, and his clammy skin became even paler. “Two-Thirds? By the Deep Mother, did I hear you right?”
“Yes, Father, I’m sorry. The soldiers in their sky ships tried to help, but it was just too late. Even they died to the creatures when they tried to get who they could off of the Blue Horizon. I just hope the Duke is happy with what we’ve learned.”
“It wasn’t just us,” Trelakor suddenly snapped at Skay, “Nor will it be the end of it. Do you think this just happened in this cove? Do you not think it might be happening all up and down the coast right at this moment? It is, I am sure of it.”
“But why us, Father?” Skay cried, gripping his hand tightly, “Why couldn’t we have let another clan come and be wiped out? Or the Duke in their flying ships?”
“Why does a wave come along in the deep sea larger than the rest?” Trelakor asked softly, caressing Skay’s hand as he said the words. The answer seemed to shock Skay, but Aiden suspected it had some deeper meaning for her because she almost seemed to freeze before finally nodding. The father and daughter did not speak anymore, but after a few moments Skay dropped Trelakor’s hand and turned to go, walking quickly through the chaos of the Inn and out into the darkness.
Aiden stood for a second, uncertain what to do until Trelakor, who had rolled over as if about to fall asleep rasped quietly at him. “Go to her, Aiden. I was harsh, and she will need the comfort.”
What did it mean, what you said about the wave?” Aiden asked.
“A reminder of a lesson she learned long ago, though do not be upset if you do not find out this night.” Trelakor’s voice softened, finally drifting into a soft, heavy breathing. Aiden, knowing he wasn’t going to get any further answers out of the Dawad clan leader, turned and followed Skay, finding her out along the edge of the Plateau overlooking the ocean. Her strong arms were wrapped tightly as she hugged herself.
The two moons, Hagri and Tulugri, were out and bright on the water and Aiden could clearly see tears streaming down her face. He walked up and stood next to her, but wisely didn’t speak, instead he let her turn to him and cling, sobbing into his tunic well into the night.
***
The next morning Aiden was shaken awake and wished he’d had the instincts of a warrior so he could punch whoever it was and blame it on his reflexes. Since he didn’t, he bleari
ly opened his eyes and looked up into the smiling face of Gavin.
“Wake up sleepy head!” Gavin said cheerily. “Someone’s here to see you.”
“Meh?” Aiden said with dazzling intellect.
“Professor Reivus,” Gavin said again, throwing Aiden’s tunic at him,” He’s here, and he wants to talk to you. You’re lucky I offered to wake you. He was talking about buckets of water or dangling you over the side of the plateau, though I doubt he could have himself with those scrawny arms. He thinks he knows what these creatures are.”
That got Aiden’s attention, and he sat up, quickly pulling his tunic on and climbing out of bed. “He does? What did he say they were?”
“He didn’t say yet; he wanted to talk to all of us at the same time, so he didn’t have to repeat himself,” Gavin said, standing up and walking out of the small room on the Stormdancer where Aiden had been sleeping. “Come on, hurry up! I’ll grab us some food from the galley, but he’s meeting us in the forward conference room. I’ll meet you there.”
The Glimmer Steel Saga, Boxed Set, Books 1 - 4 Page 76
