Blackstone (Book 2)

by Honor Raconteur

  Rune, Markl, and Ryu Jin Ho were already waiting, feet dancing impatiently. He lengthened his stride, catching up quickly. Rune waited until he was almost within range before spinning on his toes and starting off in a ground-eating lope for the bridge. The rest of them caught up quickly and matched the pace, more or less forming a V with Wolf as their anchor, watching their backs.

  They ran silently, conserving their breath. Their footsteps echoed on the stone bridge. The scent of the sea was strong here, the breeze coming off of it colder, and Wolf was glad of it as his body heated up quickly from the exertion.

  From the pace Rune set, it kept them from speaking, but it didn’t stop Wolf from thinking or praying. He mostly prayed. Every worst case scenario that his mind could conjure flashed through his head, and he prayed every time that they wouldn’t come to pass.

  But mostly, he prayed that Siobhan and the rest would reach Winziane safely and that Goldschmidt would not fall.

  Of course, no one (but Tran) could run for hours without being completely winded. They stopped when they had to, walking, getting their air back, and then when they were recovered enough to do so, they went back to running. Doing that bought them an extra hour of time so that they arrived on Robargean soil just before noon.

  Rune lost no time in going to the channel, scooping up a flask of water, and then leading them straight to the pre-built path. This one was larger than they really needed, but they could hardly stop and build one that was more appropriate for their smaller party. Rune apparently had been coached by Grae how to make the right adjustments, or so Wolf assumed by the boy’s muttering to himself in high speed mathematics.

  Their new Pathmaker paused right before he activated the path and said over his shoulder, “Ryu Jin Ho-zhi, make sure you only step on the stepping stones. If you put a foot off of it, I have no way of knowing where you’ll end up.”

  Ryu Jin Ho gave him a grim nod. “I understand. I will put my feet only where you step.”

  “Good.” With that warning issued, Rune tipped the flask and put the first drop of water on the stepping stone. The pathway instantly lit up in soft blue light, the stones glowing in the ground.

  Wolf knew from personal experience what happened if someone fell off the pathway (Denney had taught that lesson to all of them) so he was very careful where he put his feet. Ryu Jin Ho was directly in front of him, and he kept an eye on the man, ready to grab him and yank him back if he fell.

  They went through without losing anyone, thank mercy, and arrived safely in Stott.

  Or what was left of Stott.

  For a bare second Wolf was half-convinced that Rune had done something wrong and put them back on Orin’s soil, outside of Channel Pass, as the resemblance was uncanny. There were no signs of life, not even of birds or insects. The main gates hung crookedly, the streets empty, the very air so still that the silence was almost crushing.

  All around the outskirts of the city were traces of battles—ruined wagons and handcarts, discarded weapons, and the graves of the fallen, shoddily done as they were.

  Ryu Jin Ho was the only one that dared to speak and shatter the silence. “Should we return briefly to the bridge and leave behind a message?”

  “There’s no need,” Rune responded, voice hollow. “They’ll use a different path and go directly to Winziane. They won’t see this.”

  Wolf blessed that fact right now. Hardened as he was to violence, a sight like this still made a lump form in his belly. But the rest of his guild were not like him. Channel Pass had saddened and angered them, and they weren’t on friendly terms with that city. Stott was a place that had always welcomed them. His guild would not take its destruction well.

  “Let’s go,” Rune urged them, already moving for the path that lay further ahead.

  Wolf caught Markl’s eye as they moved to follow Rune. Markl’s eyes were red from unshed tears, fists clenched in anger. He understood the man’s feelings well. If there had been a target readily at hand to blame for all of this, then they’d have taken the man down without hesitation. But there wasn’t, and their task was to relay the message of the danger ahead, and hope to prevent the fall of their own city. As hard as it was to see Stott like this, there was also nothing they could do here.

  They went to the last path of the day, the one that would take them directly to Goldschmidt. Once again Rune did his job admirably and brought them through without incident. After the last two incidents where they’d arrived at a ruined city, Wolf half-feared that Goldschmidt would be the same. But his fears proved groundless. They left the path, their home city spread out in front of their eyes; it bustled with traffic, sounds, and the mix of every nationality going about on about their own business. The gates were wide open, letting traffic through, and there wasn’t a hint of danger hovering about the place.

  Markl let out a noisy breath. “They haven’t gotten here yet.”

  “Then there’s hope,” Ryu Jin Ho said, jaw set in a determined way. “Let us go. Quickly. We do not have much time.”

  They moved with alacrity, Wolf taking lead, as he was the one that best knew where to go and who to talk to. As this was their home city, there was no need to flash their guild crests or stop to talk to the guards. Wolf waved hellos to the dozen men that guarded the gate, receiving calls of “Welcome home!” in return, but they did not stop. Or at least, they tried not to, but one man detached himself and caught Wolf’s arm, dragging him to a halt.

  “Wait, Wolf,” Tarik commanded, planting his feet. He was shorter than Wolf, but massively built, with the strength of two average men. Even Wolf would be hard pressed to win a wrestling match against him. “Where are you coming from?”

  “Saoleord,” Wolf answered shortly.

  “Then do you know what’s going on out there?” Tarik threw a hand out, gesturing toward the dense traffic shoving their way past. “Half of these people say they’re from either Stott or Channel Pass. We’ve been hearing wild tales about an army, an army of all things, that came in and destroyed their cities overnight.”

  “The army exists.” Wolf’s mouth felt as if had bitten into a rotten lemon saying those words. “Really, it’s a mob that’s as large as an army and it’s set on pillaging and looting every major city it can reach.”

  Tarik’s blue eyes went wide, his tan skin going almost white. “Mercy preserve us. Where did it come from?”

  “Orin.” Wolf realized that talking to this man wasted precious time, but it might also save them later. Grabbing both shoulders, he said intensely, “Tarik, they’re coming this direction. You’ll get precise orders later, but right now you have to prepare to defend the walls. Get hot oil up there and stones and archers so that you can fight off anyone that tries to scale them. Be prepared to close the gates at a moment’s notice. We brought someone from Saoleord who knows how to fight off an army, but it’ll take time to speak to Darrens and get the orders back to you. Do what you can while we’re talking to him.”

  Tarik was a seasoned member of Teregraph Guild, and was directly in charge of the security for the east section of Goldschmidt. His words carried weight. If there was anyone in this part of Goldschmidt that could get things unofficially moving, it would be him.

  He grasped Wolf’s arm in a reassuring hold. “I’ll do that. I’ll send word to the other sections to do the same. Go find Darrens, quickly.”

  “My thanks.” Wolf clapped him on the shoulder before moving on, almost having to use force to get past the clog of people near the gate and into a more deserted street that would let them navigate toward the center of the city faster.

  Even on these side streets, there was quite a bit of traffic, so conversation between the group was challenging. Wolf had to duck in, around, and between carts going both directions, and only slowed his pace enough to make sure that everyone kept up. They were halfway to their destination when it occurred to him that he should have asked Ryu Jin Ho if there was anything else that Tarik could do while waiting on Darrens’ official orders.
Well, likely it would take hours to pull together what Wolf had suggested. Tarik might not be able to manage much more than that even if he knew about it.

  Wolf was constrained to a half-trot because of the denseness of the crowd. It frustrated him, making him irritable to the point of punching random things, but of course it would just block the way more if he let his fists fly. Instead, he constrained his temper and focused on finding any gaps in between the people.

  It seemed to take hours, but in fact was closer to thirty minutes before they finally came to Blackstone’s main compound.

  Every major guild in the four continents seemed similar to each other. Oh, the architecture might be different, and the layout, but the basic function of it was the same. There was always a huge, well-guarded gate to get through, and then a smaller building that housed visitors temporarily until they could be collected, and a much larger place beyond that housed all of the main offices. There were storerooms, warehouses, training yards, barracks, guest quarters, and main residences for anyone that belonged to the family. To the uninitiated, it looked as complex as a labyrinth and no one friendly enough to provide either a map or a guide.

  Which was precisely why Wolf had had to go with this group. He had been in and out of this place multiple times in the past decade he lived in Goldschmidt. He might not know it like the back of his hand, but he knew where Darrens’ office was located, and that of his right hand-men. If he couldn’t find one, he’d find another.

  As it happened, the two men standing guard at the iron black gates were ones he knew well. He’d fought with and against them several times. They were as much friends as enemies, depending on how much they all had to drink that night. So they automatically gave him a friendly wave, even as their postures went taut, ready for a fight if he was bringing one.

  Wolf waved them down, not slowing his pace as he said, “I bring messages directly from my guildmaster. We have information of the army that’s coming this direction.”

  Tollak and Varg gave each other alarmed looks and demanded in near unison, “You know about that?!”

  “Where’s Darrens?” Wolf asked impatiently. He didn’t have time for stupid questions.

  “Not sure,” Varg admitted, frowning as he looked over his shoulder, toward the main building. “I heard that he was calling for an all-hands meeting with the higher-ups. I’d guess in the main meeting hall. If not there, someone is bound to be in there that would know.”

  Good enough. Wolf fidgeted in place as they quickly unlocked the gate and pushed it open. With a quick stride, he slipped through, going in almost before they could clear the path so people could enter.

  The bustle of the city didn’t compare to the compound. Wolf couldn’t go two steps without knocking into someone. Ryu Jin Ho, Markl, and Rune all clasped each other’s wrists in a firm grip to make sure that they didn’t lose anyone just going from the gate to the main door of the meeting hall. Wolf’s impatience, already thrumming and pulsing like a live thing, was just about at the breaking point when he finally put his hand on the wooden door and pushed it roughly inside.

  There were rows of chairs on the left and right hand side, leaving a clear space in the middle for the speakers to stand in. Otherwise the room was empty of furniture, and only the light from the windows and the lamps hanging overhead illuminated the place. Wolf found to his relief that Darrens, his wife, and most of the guildmaster’s main men were already gathered. Darrens was in the middle of the room, apparently stalking back and forth as people gave him information, but upon their entrance the Guildmaster of Blackstone stopped dead.

  “Wolfinsky!” he said, tone mixed between relief and surprise. “I’ve been trying to reach Deepwoods for the past week. Where have you been?”

  “Saoleord.” Wolf stepped far enough inside that he could half turn, his good hand gesturing to the man standing quietly behind him. “This is Ryu Jin Ho-zhi of Saoleord, a strategist. He’s come to help us deal with the army coming our direction.”

  Darrens automatically inclined his head to the man. “Greetings, sir. I’m Gared Darrens, Guildmaster of Blackstone and ruler of this city. Please, come sit and talk with me.”

  Ryu Jin Ho bowed, arms to his sides. “I would be pleased to do so.”

  Darrens’ gaze cut back to Wolf. “Army? That’s confirmed?”

  It was Markl that answered. “We haven’t seen it with our own eyes, but we’ve seen the destruction left in its wake. It has razed Channel Pass and Stott almost to the ground. The only thing left was the stone skeleton of the cities.”

  A black thunderstorm swept over the guildmaster’s expression. “Are they coming here next?”

  “Here or Winziane,” Markl confirmed. “We believe here, as it’s closer and a more direct approach.”

  Several voices offered up muted prayers. Wolf silently joined them.

  Darrens strode over to where Ryu Jin Ho sat and took the chair next to him, sitting sideways so that he could face the man directly. “Master Ryu Jin Ho, Wolfinsky called you a strategist. Explain to me what that is.”

  “It means I know the strategy of war,” Ryu Jin Ho explained with one hand splayed, a feral light in his eyes. “It means I know how to train men and women to fight as a unit, as an army, and outmaneuver my opponents.”

  Rubbing a rough hand over his face, Darrens looked away for a moment. “You know how to fight and lead armies. We certainly need someone with that skill, but how did you know to come here so quickly?”

  “A student of ours, Man Fei Lei, saw the signs of this months ago. He convinced Siobhan-jia of the direness of the situation. She came to us and asked for help. We all hoped to come in time to divert the disaster.” Ryu Jin Ho let out a sad sigh. “I fear I have come to you too late. Now we do not have time to train as we should.”

  “We know nothing about war. We’ve never fought one.” Darrens seemed, in that moment, completely lost. Wolf was surprised to see it because in all the time he’d known this man, Darrens had never once been uncertain about anything. Even when Lirah went missing last year, he’d known what to do to find her again. “Even when Siobhan and Man Fei Lei came to me and tried to convince me of the possibility, I couldn’t even imagine it. Now that I’m faced with it, still, it seems more like a nightmare than anything else. I…Master Ryu Jin Ho, I am glad to see you. We’ve been debating all morning what to do. What can we do?”

  Ryu Jin Ho gave him a confident, encouraging nod as he said, “There are many things we can do. Hope is not lost yet. We must act quickly, however, and work with everyone if we are to succeed in protecting this city.”

  “I welcome your help and advice. Where do we start?”

  “A map of the city, a list of its defenses, and a knowledge of its defenders is what I need before I can answer that question.”

  “You have it,” Darrens promised immediately. Turning to his wife, he said, “Kari, help me gather all the information. Bring it back here.” With that order issued, he asked, “Where is Siobhan?”

  “Winziane,” Rune answered. “We did not know where they’d go, so we split up ta send warning ahead ta both cities.” Rune shifted from foot to foot, body slowly turning toward the door, his body language making it clear he wanted to leave. “Guildmaster Darrens, if ya don’t mind, I’d like ta go to Winziane now and tell them what’s happening here.”

  “That’s wise,” Darrens allowed. “Master Hammon, Wolfinsky, have you learned strategy while in Saoleord?”

  “Some,” both men allowed.

  “Then you’re staying. I need you here to help us. Master Rune, I know you’re running out of daylight. Go. Tell Siobhan I want her back here as soon as possible. I need both Pathmakers just in case things go wrong and I have to evacuate the city.”

  Rune nodded understanding, spun on his heel, and sprinted out of the room so quickly air spun in his wake.

  Wolf slapped a hand to his cheek and mentally ordered himself to focus as people started arriving with maps and such in their hands. Siobhan
had commanded him not to fall. He intended to keep that promise, but he had no intention of letting Goldschmidt fall either. Not on his watch. Not if he could help it.

  After seeing Channel Pass’s destruction, Siobhan half-feared that Winziane would be the same. They arrived at the other end of the path to find that the city thrived with its usual bustle of activity. One could believe, watching the traffic back and forth, hearing the din of noise, and feeling the vibrant life pouring from the place, that there was no threat of destruction hanging overhead. It was like what had happened in Channel Pass was only a dream, a nightmare, and one best forgotten.

  Oh, if only…if only that were true.

  As she climbed off the cart, she caught sight of Hyun Woo’s expression and paused, her feet not quite touching the ground. “Hyun Woo-zhi? Is something the matter?”

  He gave a sour grunt, brows furrowed as his eyes roved over the city. “A pretty place but it will be hard to defend.”

  Siobhan paused and really looked at the place, trying to see it the way he did. Winziane sat on a flat plain, surrounded by lakes on all sides, with one estuary that led directly to the sea. Its location was perfect for trading and for craftsmen of all types, as they had most of the resources they needed readily at hand. Of course Winziane had a wall around it, but it wasn’t anything large or impressive. Only the insane would try to attack the city. It was one of the largest in Robarge, after all, and controlled by the most influential guild on the continent. Who in their right mind would attack it? The walls were just high enough to control traffic flow, nothing more.

  Her understanding of strategy was limited to small skirmishes between her guild and pockets of bandits, or other guilds, and the like. Wolf and Ryu Jin Ho had been teaching her about the strategy on larger scaled conflicts on the way down here, but she really only had a firm grasp on the basics. Still, even her limited knowledge let her see the problems that Hyun Woo did. “What…are the odds we can defend this place?”