An Empire in Runes (The Runes of Issalia Book 3)

by Jeffrey L. Kohanek

  When the first two loaded wagons rolled into camp, people gathered around them to unload the supplies they carried. It had taken Parker weeks to procure enough tents for their small army, some used but in good condition, while others were brand new. In groups of four, people scattered about the canyon floor in search of level ground before pitching the tents as they had practiced. Brock walked through the camp, offering encouragement where needed. Within a half-hour, all of the tents were in place, including the one he was to share with Wraith and Parker. The latter was the one person who agreed to sleep in a tent with the massive dog. Brock understood. Although Wraith was friendly, others felt intimidated by the former bacabra.

  While weaving his way through the busy campsite, Brock smiled at Tipper and patted his shoulder as he and Libby passed by. Those two were always together, day and night. Seeing his old friend prompted Brock to reflect on his relationship with Tipper.

  After joining the Academy, Brock had made new friends and found a girlfriend. In the time since, he had spent little time with Tipper, who now had Libby. Almost two years had passed since the two boys left Kantar. In that time, much had changed; both boys had changed. The reality saddened Brock. Although he and Tipper would always be loyal to each other, they were no longer close. Everyone needed someone important in their life, people who they could trust and count on for support and companionship. Libby had filled that need for Tipper. Ashland, Benny, Cam, and Parker now filled the need for Brock.

  A camp cook named Nandine waited near Brock’s tent as he approached.

  “Sir Brock, your tent is ready, and I left your dinner inside. Sir Parker’s dinner is inside too.” The woman’s eyes glanced toward Wraith. “Um, are we to provide rations for your…dog, too?”

  Brock patted the woman on the shoulder. “Don’t worry about her, Nandine,” he said. “She caught herself a jackaroo on the trail and ate her fill.”

  Nandine’s eyes grew wide. “A whole jackaroo?”

  “Well, she is a big dog,” Brock replied, chuckling.

  “Um, I guess.” Nandine stammered. “If you don’t need anything else, I should go and help distribute dinner to the others.”

  Brock waved her along. “I’m good. You go on and make sure everyone gets food. It’s not a hot meal, but it’ll fill their stomachs and keep them going.”

  Nandine gave a small bow and darted off toward the food wagons, passing Parker along the way. Parker gave her a nod as she sped past, his eyes landing on Brock. When he drew near, Parker addressed Brock.

  “Thanks for stopping, Brock. I needed to get off that blazing wagon. Having just returned from Wayport last night, followed by all day on the road today, traveling is taking its toll on me. While it’s better than walking, three straight days of bouncing on a wagon seat has left my backside tender and my lower back sore.”

  Brock smiled. “With Benny and Cam away, I was beginning to miss the sound of whining. I commend you for picking up the slack. If you can mix-in some complaints about being hungry, I’ll feel like everything’s normal again.”

  Parker’s face twisted, visibly considering how to reply. Not waiting for a response, Brock added. “Your food is waiting in the tent. Come in, and I’ll eat with you.”

  Pulling the tent flap back, Brock held it open to let Parker duck inside before following. Two small crates waited inside beside two bedrolls. Upon each crate rested a dried sausage, a hard roll, and a full water skin. Brock scooped the food and skin from one and sat on the crate before setting the water skin and hard roll on his lap. He took a bite of the dried sausage, chewing the salty meat heartily.

  The tent flap wiggled, and a wide black nose poked through. Two noisy sniffs sounded from the nose before the rest of Wraith slipped inside. The gigantic dog sat facing Brock with an expectant look on her face. Brock smiled, tore off a big chunk of sausage, and held it out to her. Wraith gently picked the sausage from Brock’s hand before swallowing it whole.

  “Parker,” Brock began. “I want to get your opinion on something.”

  There was quiet pause as Parker chewed and swallowed a bite of his hard roll. “Okay. I’ll do what I can,” he replied. “I know you like to bounce ideas off Benny, so I’ll do my best Benny impression for you since he’s not here.”

  Brock flashed a smile, matching the one on Parker’s face.

  “Thanks.” Brock’s face became serious. “I read something in the second journal last night. It’s been bothering me all day.” Brock paused, trying to decide where to begin. “The man who wrote the journal was recording various experiments with Infusion, including using it on living beings. The man had twelve dogs, of various types and colors. A few weeks after infusing Chaos into the dogs, they began to change. Their hair turned black. Soon afterward, their eyes turned red.”

  Parker’s eyes shifted toward Wraith. Brock had expected that might happen.

  “That’s not all. The dogs soon became wild, dangerous, and unpredictable. They began to avoid daylight, squinting and whining as if it caused them pain. When the man woke the next morning, the dogs were missing and had somehow escaped despite the ten-foot-tall wall surrounding his yard. He feared what they might do but had no means of tracking them.”

  With narrowed eyes, Parker asked Brock, “What rune did the man use on the dogs?”

  After a moment’s hesitation, Brock whispered, “He used the rune I discovered in the journal’s last week, the one that makes things gigantic.”

  Parker’s eyes went wide, flicking back to Wraith. “Bacabra?”

  Reaching his hand out, Brock scratched Wraith beneath the chin. He could feel her pleasure through their bond.

  “I came to the same conclusion,” Brock replied. “I wish it weren’t true but, wishing otherwise won’t change the facts. I think this man inadvertently created the first pack of bacabra. In the hundreds of years since, they’ve continued as a new breed of Chaos-infused animal.”

  Brock stared at the ground, forcing himself to continue. “When I healed Wraith, she was filled with chaotic energy. I collected and bound that energy into her source of Order, and her nature changed. She became a lovable, over-sized dog.”

  From the corner of his eye, Brock could see Parker nod as he spoke. “I remember. It still amazes me.”

  “Yet, the Chaos within her remains as does her gigantic size.” Brock replied before his voice fell to a whisper. “I’m afraid, Parker. I’m afraid I’ll lose her.”

  Parker responded a moment later. “Do you mean that she might die in the fight against The Horde? If so, that’s true for all of us.”

  Wraith laid down on the tent floor, curling up at Brock’s feet. He placed a hand on her back and felt the rise and fall of her ribcage through the thick black coat of hair. The steady beat of her heart thumped against his palm, begging him to see her as a natural being who had the right to live. While she had a right to exist, he now knew she wasn’t natural. Somehow, the words formed on his lips, though they barely made a sound when he said it.

  “I’m afraid I’ll lose her to Chaos.”

  CHAPTER 22

  A low rumble shook Ashland awake, and her eyes flickered open to find darkness. She flinched in pain as a book hit her on top of the head. Others tumbled down, piling onto her lap. Shouts sounded in the distance, and rapid footsteps sped past the hallway outside Vandermark’s office. After a moment, everything fell quiet. Ashland wondered what caused the rumble, expecting that it was also the reason for the subsequent commotion. Her eyes focused on the dim slice of light leaking from beneath the door as she tried to determine the time. Judging by the lack of light, it must be evening. A shadow eclipsed the dim light, stopping before the door.

  “Ashland?”

  Her heart skippe
d a beat, jolted by a spike of hope. “Benny!” she croaked. Clearing her dry throat, she tried again. “Benny! Please get me out of here!” she pleaded.

  “Back away from the door as far as you can. Try to shield yourself,” he said.

  Ashland’s mind raced. Already in the far corner of the closet, she couldn’t back away any further. Swinging her legs around, she desperately kicked a large crate into the middle of the closet. She twisted her body to curl up on the floor between the crate and the far wall with her back to the door.

  Ashland winced as thunderous explosion shook the closet. The door thumped against the crate, bouncing twice before settling. Opening her eyes, she found orange light flickering on the back wall of closet. Wood splinters and debris covered the floor. She turned her head to see the closet door just inches above her head, held up by the crate.

  The door moved aside to reveal Benny’s frantic face. The boy had a dark swatch of wet cloth in his hands, patting it here and there to smother the growing flames. Ashland propped herself up on an elbow, straining as she sat upright.

  “I’m so glad to see you,” she said with tears in her eyes. Her voice sounded hollow through the ringing in her ears.

  “Yeah. Sorry it took so long.” He patted the last of the flames away, darkening the closet. “When you didn’t show up yesterday, I guessed that they must have caught you. However, when you weren’t in the infirmary, I had to track you down. I followed Ipswitch all afternoon, expecting that she would be involved since Eldarro isn’t around.”

  He gripped a hand under Ashland’s arm, grunting as he helped her to her feet. Now able to see beyond the closet, she realized the extent of the destruction Benny had caused.

  Wincing with each step of her stiff legs, Benny helped her from the closet into what remained of the Headmaster’s office. The large wooden desk that had occupied the heart of the room had been reduced to burning shards that lie scattered about. A cool evening breeze blew into the room through an open hole in the wall where the man’s window had been. Navigating around the growing flames, Benny assisted her through the open doorway. As they climbed over the heavy wooden door that lay on the floor outside the headmaster’s office, Ashland realized that the hallway was empty.

  “Where is everyone?” she asked.

  “We needed a diversion,” Benny explained. “I had Karl use a flash bomb in the girls’ lounge. Since it’s just before dawn, we knew it would be empty. It’s just a diversion, no need to get anyone hurt.”

  “What?” Ashland replied. “You guys just rebuilt that tower last year.” She thought about the catapult incident and the damage it had created.

  “I know.” Benny grinned. “Ironic, isn’t it?”

  The more Ashland moved, the less her legs protested. By the time they passed the Dining Hall, they were both in a flat run, heading toward the Foundry.

  Benny held the door open and Ashland darted past him. He directed her over to the metalworking area. A minute later, he had her shackles pried open, freeing her from the angry embrace. Ashland rubbed at her wrist, the skin red and raw from the harsh treatment.

  “Thanks, Benny. I’ve never been shackled before,” she said. “I certainly don’t want to ever experience that again.”

  Benny nodded. “Happy to help. Now, let’s get out of here.”

  He darted across the room, stopping to grab a large basket from atop a workbench before running down the main aisle. Ashland followed close behind as he led her to the back door and out into the Foundry Yard. She glanced backward and noticed a hint of light in the sky above the mountains to the east. Dawn would soon reach the valley.

  Benny looped around the outbuilding and ran toward the furthest stall. Slowing, Ashland yanked the key loop over her head and began fumbling for the lock. When it clicked into place, she pulled one door open while Benny grabbed the other.

  “Help me get this thing pushed out of here,” he said as he ran inside.

  Benny secured the basket behind the seats and then ran around the backside of the flying machine.

  “So, we’re going to try it?” Ashland asked as she leaned into it. Surprisingly, it was quite easy to push.

  “Yes. This is our ticket out of here,” he replied.

  The flying machine rolled out of the stall and into the road.

  “Benny, I know we need to go, but will it be able to fly? I wasn’t able to complete all of the Infusion you requested.””

  “Oh, I’m sure it’ll be good.” He climbed into a seat. “At least, assuming that you completed the Power runes on the key components and the Light runes on the heaviest ones.”

  “Well, I figured I would tackle the most important ones first.” Ashland paused, her stomach protesting. “Benny, I’m starving. I haven’t eaten for almost two days.”

  He grinned, his white teeth almost glowing in the pale light of dusk. “Don’t worry. I packed food and a couple water skins in the basket, along with the canisters. Now get in!”

  Shouts sounded and Ashland turned to find people emerging from the Foundry. Spurred by fear, she climbed over the rail and sat in the other seat. Benny gave a nod, and they began to pedal.

  The flying machine whirled loudly and lurched into motion, causing Ashland to wince when the back of her head struck the wooden seat. Benny pushed the flap handles up and gravity drove Ashland deeper into her seat. Up and up they soared, along the Girls’ Wing before banking around the Girl’s Tower. Looking down, Ashland could see people below, frantically dowsing flames with buckets of water. A gaping hole marred the outer wall, almost exactly where the catapult had blasted one just a year prior.

  With the burning tower and the rest of the Academy behind them, they flew southeast over the wide lawn. Although she and Benny peddled at a comfortable pace, the ground beneath them sped past at an alarming rate. A grin spread across her face in the rush of it all. They were flying.

  In minutes, they approached the forest at the south end of the Academy lawn. Her grin widened as the coming dawn gave shape to the land below them. She was heading toward Brock, eager to see him despite the dark army that was surely coming.

  CHAPTER 23

  Wispy clouds blew past Ashland, obscuring her view. She emerged from the clouds and spread her arms wide. The view was breathtaking and left her feeling as if she could see the entire continent. She dove lower, twisting to roll about in the air as she embraced the thrill of flight.

  As she leveled off, she spotted someone else in the sky. Ashland tilted her body and banked to turn toward the other person. A smile lit her face when she realized that it was Brock. Of course he could fly.

  Brock was intently staring at something she couldn’t see. Focused as he was, he didn’t notice her approaching.

  “Brock!” she shouted.

  As he glanced in her direction, a look of terror crossed his face. He suddenly began to lose altitude, hopelessly flailing at the air as he plummeted toward land, miles below. She needed to save him but found that she couldn’t move. Fear gripped her, the horror of the moment tightening her throat. She tried to scream, but it came out as a weak squeak.

  * * *

  Ashland started, jerking awake as her heart raced. The helpless feeling of watching Brock fall to his death stuck with her, her pulse racing as she gasped for air.

  Blinking at the breeze, Ashland tried to make sense of what she saw. The flying machine shook and rattled, buffeted by the wind. Desperate fear resurfaced when she realized what was happening.

  “Benny, wake up!” Ashland shouted as she shook him.

  “What?” Benny asked, blinking in confusion as he sat up.

  “We’re crashing!” she shouted, pointing ahead.

&nb
sp; Seeing the pointed tops of a grove of pines before him, Benny’s eyes grew wide. He urgently reached up and pulled on both flap levers while pumping his pedals feverishly. Ashland felt herself driven into her seat as the flying machine made a sudden steep ascent. The contraption jolted with a thump when the wheels clipped a treetop.

  Benny eased the levers downward until the flying machine leveled. With her heart still racing from the close call, Ashland sat upright to get a better view of their surroundings.

  They appeared to be in a valley among the mountains somewhere east of the Greenway. Clumps of pines stood among the barren leaf trees, with woods covering the valley and hillsides as far as she could see.

  “We need to find a place to land,” Benny said. “We’re exhausted and need rest.”

  Ashland began to pedal, joining Benny in an effort to keep the contraption flying. She nodded in agreement. “Good idea. A little rest sounds perfect.” Her brow furrowed. “How do we land, though?”

  Benny shrugged. “We need to find a road, or something like it.”

  Ashland scanned the valley ahead as a steady stream of trees flowed past, two hundred feet below. After a minute, she spotted a break in the trees.

  “There’s a small clearing,” she pointed toward it.

  Benny looked to where she pointed, and the machine banked left before again leveling. As they neared the opening, Ashland realized that it was a field of short grass nestled in the wooded valley.

  “Will it work?” she asked as the flying machine flew over the field.

  “I hope so,” Benny said. “Regardless, we need to try.”