People of the City

by Marshall Ryan Maresca

  “Get Maresh,” Lin said. She held up her shackled hands. “I’m useless.”

  “Got to get you out, too.”

  “Maresh, please!” Lin cried. “Look!”

  Jerinne looked up on the machine, to Maresh on the platform.

  “Sweet merciful saints,” she whispered.

  Maresh’s body had been twisted. Half his face green and scaled. One arm the size of the rest of his body. His back bent at an impossible angle.

  Crenaxin was climbing up the machine to the platform. To Maresh.

  “Come on,” Jerinne said, pulling Lin along. She had to get to him, no matter what.

  Crenaxin reached the top, and casually yanked Maresh out of his shackles, then pushed him off the platform to fall to the floor.

  “Maresh!” Jerinne screamed.

  But the Thorn was there. He had flung out his rope, and wrapped it around Maresh midair, pulling him up to the tunnel.

  “Enough!” Senek shouted. A blast of magic flew out around him, and the smoke all cleared. The zealots and monsters were all around Jerinne, drawing weapons. Closest of all was Gurond, the towering giant, though he looked dazed and groggy.

  “This is the time!” Crenaxin shouted, now standing tall on the top of the platform. “We are ready to tap open our power! Make me your worthy vessel! Bow down before the High Dragon!”

  The words slammed through Jerinne’s bones, and it took all her will to stay upright. Everyone else—the zealots, the monsters, Senek, even Lin—dropped to their knees and prostrated themselves toward the machine.

  “We are ready for the blessings of the Nine! We are ready to tap into their power. We are ready for a bright new day!”

  Jerinne moved toward Minox, forcing herself with every step. Her whole body wanted to obey Crenaxin.

  “Begin, Senek! Begin!”

  Senek stood and the whole machine began to move again. All the wheels, rings, and gimbals spun, whirling around the outside, faster and faster. Too fast for Jerinne to see. The spinning rings were right over Minox, but there was a narrow path to get to him. None to get to the men in the cages.

  Men.

  Those were children before, but now they were men, looking Dayne’s age. How was that even possible? What was this machine doing to them? What was it about to do?

  Something shifted, and Jerinne could move again. She pushed forward, shield above her head, under the spinning rings that threatened to slice her to oblivion. More than once sparks flew as they scraped the shield.

  “Can you move?” she asked Minox.

  He nodded. “But I cannot extract myself from this infernal device.”

  Jerinne grabbed hold of his waist and tried to pull him. His hand wouldn’t budge from the machine.

  “Worthy vessels!” Senek shouted.

  “Worthy vessels!”

  Blue and purple lightning sparked all over the chamber. Jerinne looked up and saw that it surrounded Crenaxin, surrounded the old men in the cages. The entire room, as the lightning struck all the grotesques as well.

  The Thorn appeared behind Jerinne. “I’ve got your friends secured away in the tunnel. We need to move.”

  “He can’t!” Jerinne said.

  “Leave me,” Minox said. “Maybe I can—”

  “Not an option,” the Thorn said. He touched Minox’s wrist and furrowed his brow. “Come on!” Then he yanked his hand away, like he had been burned.

  The lightning sparked and popped all around, forming chains of fire between each of the grotesques. All of their bodies began to shift and change. Lightning sparked back to the machine, knocking Jerinne’s shield.

  “I’ve got an idea,” the Thorn said. His rope coiled around Jerinne, up to her shield, and back down around Minox. “Hold on.”

  “What are you—”

  “This might get uncomfortable.”

  A green and red nimbus surrounded the three of them, as the purple and blue lightning exploded in fire, but none of it touched them. The light of it all was blinding, and the Thorn and Minox both screamed.

  Then in a flash, it stopped.

  Jerinne looked to Minox, whose hand was free of the machine. Both he and the Thorn were breathing hard, but the Thorn had a smile on his face. Then he looked past Jerinne and his face fell.

  “We need to move quickly.”

  Jerinne turned and saw. The grotesques were no longer misshapen abominations. All of them had become beasts similar to Gurond—monstrosities with wide jaws, spiky skin, and clawed hands. All of them looked up and howled.

  “Worthy! Worthy! Fuel for the fire!”

  Jerinne lowered her shield and raised her sword. She would get these two out of here.

  Whatever it took.

  “Come on, come on,” Dayne told the kids as they moved through the dark tunnel. “We have to hurry.”

  “Where you taking us?” one of the kids whined.

  “Why should we go with you?”

  Dayne remembered the Thorn’s inspiration to get the young baron to move. “Tomorrow is Terrentin. We need to get you home so Saint Terrence can find you.”

  “He never finds me,” one kid said.

  “I’ve never gotten a Terrentin present,” said another.

  “You’re definitely getting one now,” Asti said. “We’re getting you out of there, getting you safe, and hopefully getting you home.”

  “I ain’t got a home,” one of them said.

  “We can’t trust these guys,” another said.

  “Yeah, we can,” one kid said. “That’s Mister Rynax. He’s a tough bastard, but he’s a good guy.”

  “Telly?” Asti asked. “That you?”

  That kid stepped forward. “Yeah.”

  “Tarvis sent me to find you,” Asti said. “All of you.”

  “Tarvis is all right?”

  “He’s up at Kimber’s,” Asti said.

  “Let’s get you all there,” Dayne said. “Bet she’s got a Terrentin Eve feast planned. You all are hungry, right?”

  “Starved,” Telly said.

  “Then let’s move,” he said. He could hear echoes of thunder, deep booms of power and magic raging in the distance. He wanted to turn back, help Jerinne and the Thorn, but the kids were his charge right now. Trust in them. Protect the children.

  Asti took the point, finding the path he had marked on his way in. He led with quiet confidence, an odd calm, despite the blood on his face and hands. Dayne took the rear, expecting a rush of zealots, or even Gurond, coming to reclaim the stolen children.

  “Someone’s ahead,” Asti said. “I’ll take him down.”

  “Wait,” Dayne said. He moved a little ahead, calling out, “Drop any weapons you have, you’ll be treated fair.”

  “Dayne?” a voice called back in the darkness.

  “Hemmit?” Dayne called back.

  Hemmit came up to them, looking exhausted and haggard. “Thank every saint you’re all right!” he said.

  “Alive and uninjured,” Dayne said.

  “And you found Rynax,” Hemmit said. “And the children!”

  “Where’s the baron’s son?” Dayne asked.

  “Safe at Kimber’s,” Hemmit said. “I got him there, and came back to help you all.”

  “We’ve got to get these kids out of these tunnels,” Asti said. “You’re not lost, are you?”

  “Not at all,” Hemmit said.

  “Good,” Asti said. “Get these kids out, get them to Kimber’s. Tell her I’m on my way.”

  “What are you going to do?” Dayne asked.

  He tapped his head. “This part of my skull is screaming about going to the Dragon, and I can hear something awful happening back there. I bet the Thorn is in over his head. I’ll go pull him and the others out.”

  Dayne nodded. Jerinne was there, and
as good as she was, Dayne knew she wasn’t prepared for what was happening down here. She needed help. Maresh and Lin and Minox Welling—especially Minox Welling—needed help.

  “Get them out, Hemmit,” Dayne said. “Tell them a story about Terrentin.”

  “Got it,” Hemmit said. “Come along, all. We’re going to be free and rejoice, rejoice, rejoice!”

  “Let’s go, Dayne,” Asti said. “Time to be a hero.”

  Dayne didn’t know about that. He certainly didn’t think he deserved such a title. But people needed help. If what he understood about that machine and Crenaxin’s intentions was correct, and the Brotherhood wasn’t stopped, the whole city would need it as well.

  Chapter 20

  “EXPLAIN TO ME WHY YOU aren’t calling in every damn constable in whistleshot,” Verci asked Inspector Rainey. Not that he had any fondness for the Constabulary, including Rainey, but if any time seemed like an opportune moment to call them in, this was it. Assuming Delmin and Kaiana weren’t delusional, there was a literal army of zealots and monsters—monsters, the girl had said—beneath the city, and a giant magical machine that was about to launch some bad business. And all he was doing was following an off-duty inspector down Bridget Street.

  “Matter of trust,” Rainey said. “The Constabulary has been infested with corruption, and it ties to the Brotherhood, to Senek, to the Blue Hand, all of it.”

  “And you said Crenaxin?” Verci asked Kaiana, who was a few paces ahead, helping Delmin walk as he led them by his magical nose.

  “That was his name.”

  “Mean something?” Rainey asked.

  “Friend of mine met a bounty hunter who was looking for him,” Verci said. “I’m inclined to help her collect.”

  “I think the law might have an interest,” she said. “But if he ends up in a small box, and they throw the box away, I’m all right.”

  “This way,” Delmin said. “Toward the plaza—”

  They walked into Saint Bridget’s Square, with the rising sun right behind the church’s bell tower. As early as it was, the square was already a bustle of activity: people going to and fro, opening up their shops, getting ready for another day. Verci felt more than a little conspicuous walking in broad daylight, fully armed, even if he was with a constable.

  “Verci, what’s going on?” Kimber came up to him, leading a little boy.

  “Kimber,” he said. “I’m not entirely sure, except something terrible and magical is happening below the city—”

  “In the tunnels, missing children, yes. That reporter showed up with this boy, and left again.”

  Rainey knelt down in front of the boy. “What’s your name?”

  “Lord Aston Vollingale, son of Baron Vollingale.”

  “Sweet saints, he’s nobility?” Verci asked.

  “I know!” she said. “I was bringing him to the church; they would know what to do.”

  “Oh, very, very big,” Delmin said, kneeling on the ground in the middle of the square. “It’s all happening.”

  “What is?” Rainey asked.

  “It’s coming up.”

  “Hey!” A dirty man with a beard came running toward them, leading a large group of children. As he approached, Verci realized he was that reporter from The Veracity Press.

  “Mister Eyairin,” Rainey said. “Are you all right?”

  “Fine,” he said. “I got the kids. Came up out of a tunnel hole in the creek over there. But something—”

  “Something is definitely happening,” Delmin said. “We aren’t safe.”

  Verci did not like that particular combination of words.

  “All of you, go in the church,” Verci said. “I’ll track that tunnel. Inspector, are you—”

  Before he finished that thought, the earth shook, harder than he ever imagined it could. Everyone in Saint Bridget’s Square, Verci included, tumbled to the ground.

  He started to get back to his feet when Inspector Rainey grabbed him and pulled him back. He was about to yell at her when he saw why she had done that.

  The cobblestone had cracked, and began to open into a wide chasm across the square.

  Dayne chased Asti down the tunnel, toward the sounds of screams and grinding gears and fighting. Everything was going wrong down here.

  “I hope you’re ready to bring the fight,” Asti said. “Because it’s here.”

  “I’ll draw the fight to me,” Dayne said. “Hold them off while you help get the Thorn and the others out of here.”

  They rounded the corner, and almost fell over Lin. She was slumped on the ground, weeping next to one of those grotesques. That creature lay on the ground, unmoving. Possibly dead.

  “Lin!” he said. “Are you all right?”

  “I . . . I tried to save him . . . I . . . I couldn’t . . .”

  “What do you—” He looked at the creature. Despite its misshapen head, it was wearing spectacles. Horror and despair flooded into Dayne’s heart. “Maresh?”

  Lin nodded. “They . . . they changed him with the machine. They made him into . . . I tried . . . but . . .” She held up her shackled hands. “I was powerless.”

  “It’s not your fault,” Dayne said.

  “Dayne, this is some trouble,” Asti said, looking over the tunnel precipice. “Your girl is fighting like blazes down there.”

  “Stay here,” Dayne said. “We’ll . . . we’ll take care of things.”

  Dayne came to the edge and saw. The machine was fully engaged, and Crenaxin stood on top of its platform, surrounded in energy and light of every color. Jerinne, Minox, and the Thorn were together, pinned up against one part of the machine, perilously close to rings spinning absurdly fast. Jerinne was in front, shield high, pushing her way through zealots and beasts. The misshapen monsters had somehow transformed into great beasts with massive claws and teeth, and Jerinne was doing her best to hold them off, while the Thorn fired arrow after arrow to take them down. Both of them seemed to be protecting Minox.

  “More!” Crenaxin shouted. “More fuel for the fervent fire! Bring them to me!”

  Dayne noticed something else about the machine. The brass cages—the ones that were holding children before—held only the withered corpses of old men.

  “Bring the fuel! Bring it!” Senek shouted.

  Gurond stood in the doorway. “The children are gone! They escaped!”

  “Impossible!” shouted Senek.

  “You!” Gurond shouted, pointing up at Dayne. “Gurond will—” He shook his head. “I will make you pay!”

  “Get the fuel!” Crenaxin shouted. “Now!”

  Jerinne was fighting for her life, holding off the great-fanged creatures that tried desperately to eat her shield whole.

  “Jerinne!” Dayne shouted. “I’m coming!” He just needed a way to slide down.

  “Stay there!” the Thorn shouted. “Catch!”

  His rope coiled around Minox Welling’s body, and with a sudden snap, flung the man up to the tunnel. Dayne reached out and caught Minox, pulling him to safety.

  “Don’t you—” Minox started.

  “My head is clear,” Dayne said. “I’m very sorry.”

  Minox took that in. “Forgiven. I’m glad you reconciled yourself.”

  Asti looked to the shackles on Minox’s wrists. “Let’s do something about those.”

  “Please,” Minox said.

  Dayne’s attention was back on the floor. Jerinne was flanked on both sides, as Gurond was barreling down on her. He knew she couldn’t possibly take one of his punches.

  “Get out of there!” Dayne shouted.

  The Thorn grabbed Jerinne’s waist and flung up his rope toward Dayne. Dayne grabbed hold of it, planting his feet and anchoring one arm to the side of the tunnel. He held on as strong as he could as the Thorn and Jerinne came flying up at him, just as Guro
nd was about to slam a massive fist into Jerinne’s shield. Dayne wasn’t sure even a Tarian shield could hold up to that.

  “You good?” he asked Jerinne as she landed.

  “You?”

  “As much as can be.”

  “Minox,” the Thorn said. “You holding up?”

  Asti had removed the shackles.

  “Ravenous,” Minox said.

  Thorn pulled a sandwich out of the pack and handed it to him.

  “This was mine,” Minox said.

  “I know.”

  “There were two.”

  The Thorn looked sheepish for a moment. “I did save you.”

  After a moment, Minox nodded. “Fair.”

  “Last part of the plan?” Jerinne snapped.

  “Right,” the Thorn said, helping Minox to his feet. “I’m guessing a bunch of angry zealots are coming this way.”

  “Worse,” Asti said, looking out over the room.

  Dayne looked back to the machine, where Crenaxin was screaming.

  “They’ve been taken! Taken to the surface! Taken to the sky!”

  Senek looked up at Dayne and the others, and smirked. “Then we will do the same. Reclaim our prizes, our fuel!”

  “Yes, now!” Crenaxin shouted. “Now this city will see!”

  “Now!” the zealots and beasts shouted. “Now!”

  Senek laughed and raised his arms high. “Rise. Rise! RISE!”

  The ground beneath their feet shook, and the floor of the chamber cracked. Then the ceiling split open above them, revealing the bright blue sky. The sudden burst of light stabbed through Dayne’s eyes, and he winced, looking away.

  Then everything in the chamber—the floor, the machine, Senek, the zealots and beasts—all rose higher and higher. The stone floor rushed up at them, pipes cracking as it came, shooting steam at everyone. The Thorn’s rope coiled around Dayne and Asti and pulled them out of harm’s way.

  “Saints,” Jerinne said. “They just went to the surface. Where?”

  “Saint Bridget’s Square,” Asti said, horrified. “We have to get up there. Now.”

  He was already running, and the Thorn and Minox were right behind him.

  “Time to hold back death,” Jerinne said, running after.