He walked down the stairs and to the door.
The ground vibrated faintly while the monster tromped through the city. As long as it didn't see anyone, it never destroyed anything. Some said Warrick had created the monster only to terrorize them, and that made as much sense as anything.
Just don't let it see Gram, Berig thought, pacing. Two minutes to go, two long minutes. He pressed his eye to the door's peephole. Gram appeared in his vision right on time, and Berig opened the door before he could second-guess himself. Gram motioned him outside.
With trembling legs, Berig eased the door closed. The monster roared well on the other side of the city, so loud Berig's ears were ringing
"Let's go," Gram whispered.
Berig trailed behind Gram, glancing in every direction as moonlight guided them through the dark and silent city. They walked through the business district, keeping close to buildings. Gram paused at alleys and checked that the monster wasn't looking at them. It couldn't see everything, but Berig still worried.
"Sounds like it's kinda close to the garrison," Berig whispered, tugging at Gram's arm.
"I know. Had a rough time getting past it."
The farther they walked, the closer they grew to the monster, and the more the ground trembled. The monster had to stand close to forty feet high, taller than most of the buildings. With its enormous mouth, it could swallow a man whole.
How had Gram convinced Berig to do this?
Desperation, that's how.
The Imperial Guard garrison stood directly opposite the business district, on the city's north side. Right where the monster was.
In the darkness, the monster was an enormous shadow. Its legs had to measure as large around as the oldest trees in the forest to the south.
Berig and Gram passed through the city's poorest district, and Berig realized he was sentencing himself to spending the rest of his life in a place like that. He would leave with only the bare necessities and a few silver coins. He wouldn't have any friends where he was going.
Maybe it would be better if the monster ate him.
The ground quaked, and Berig felt defenseless even with Gram at his side.
When they reached the north side of town, standing closer to the monster than ever, they stopped behind a house and waited. The beast stood right in their path. Even if they escaped it, it would make a lot of noise and wake the other Imperial Guards.
They waited and waited. Minutes passed, feeling like hours.
Thud. The monster stepped closer. Thud. It stood directly on the other side of the house. Berig leaned closer to the wall. Even Gram looked pale in the moonlight. They did not move, did not make a sound.
Thud. Louder than ever. Thud. Berig's insides turned to water. Thud. If it looked down, it would see them. Berig prayed, though he didn't believe in God. He closed his eyes, listening as the thuds grew softer, more distant.
After a few minutes, Gram nudged him in the shoulder. "Let's go, Berig."
Berig's legs felt like lead.
"Move, Berig. There's no telling when it'll come back this way."
But Berig couldn't move. He could barely think.
"Don't freeze up on me. We're almost there."
Gram tugged hard at Berig's arm. Berig lost his balance, then managed to collect his wits. Fear had always been his downfall as a thief.
Just another way he was worthless.
Don't need those thoughts right now, he told himself, following Gram and staying as silent as possible. With each careful step, Berig felt like giving up. The monster would catch them no matter what they did.
At last, they rounded a large house, and the garrison came into view. Built of stone, it had the look of a small fortress.
Between them and the garrison was a large street where they'd be exposed no matter how fast they moved. Berig looked over his shoulder. Now the monster loomed more toward the western side of the city, but it still might see them.
"Come on," Gram whispered. "You can do this, Berig."
They crossed the wide street, their steps muffled by the dirt. The giant creature was looking the other way. For now.
Thud. Berig had to turn again. The monster had swiveled its gaze in their direction. Had it heard them? Did it see them now? Thud. It stepped closer. Thud. Would it roar and wake the Imperial Guards?
"Faster," Gram whispered, tugging at Berig's arm.
Berig hastened his pace with less than twenty feet to the garrison. The building's wooden front door looked so far away, though, like something from a nightmare. The closer they got, the more it seemed to grow distant. He wanted to close his eyes.
They were feet from the door when the monster let out a bone-rattling roar. Berig covered his ears with his hands. The beast's vibrations grew stronger, closer. But Berig and Gram had reached the door. Gram pulled it open, shoved Berig through, then closed it behind them.
They stood in a long corridor of gray stone lined with wooden doors. Widely spaced torches cast flickering light against the walls.
A rustle of movement came from a nearby room. Gram opened the door to their left, shoved Berig through, then closed it softly. Heart pounding, Berig stood frozen in the dark common room.
Voices sounded in the corridor.
"What's going on out there? Monster sounds excited."
"Don't know," Gram said. "Looked outside to check, but it was too close. If someone's out there, I feel kinda sorry for them."
The other man chuckled. "Yeah, maybe a little bit. But anyone who's stupid enough to go outside at night is getting what they deserve."
"Very true. Hopefully the monster just thought it saw something."
"As long as it doesn't damage the garrison—"
Gram laughed. "No worries. I've got everything under control. Why don't you get back to bed? You've got a morning patrol."
"Good idea."
The man's footsteps faded into the distance, and a door closed. Berig waited until Gram opened the door and motioned for him to follow. They crept down the corridor, Gram's boots clunking against the stone floor. Berig remained silent, fighting his urge to sprint to the teleportation chamber.
At last, they stopped. A sign hung on the door, but Berig had never learned to read. He'd always lacked the patience, however much Liam tried to teach him.
Gram touched his hand to the door, which glowed blue before he pushed through it, Berig following. In the center of the large chamber, wide stone steps led up to a circular platform. Gram motioned for Berig to step onto this platform, and Berig ascended on trembling legs.
Once he stood at the center of the platform, he looked down at Gram, who hovered halfway up the steps.
"Well, this is it," Gram said. "Raise your right hand into the air and say, 'Riverside, outside Taren's inn.'"
"That don't seem very magical."
"Don't ask me how the magic works. Only the emperor knows that."
Berig's eyes filled with tears. "Well, this is goodbye, I guess."
"Goodbye, Berig. I'll miss you."
Berig took a deep breath and raised his right hand into the air. "Riverside, outside Taren's inn."
The world dissolved around him. His surroundings swirled, then vanished into darkness. His feet lifted from the ground. He spun like a tornado, feeling as if he'd throw up, but then the sensation stopped, and he stood on solid ground, legs wavering.
He opened his eyes. Around him were many wooden buildings lining undamaged cobblestone streets. The closest wooden sign indicated an inn; Berig knew that much. By all appearances, he'd gone where he'd intended.
Riverside. Where Berig would start his new life, his better life.
Chapter 7: New Information
Nadia's arrows all hit the targets dead center. After four years of archery training, it felt as natural as breathing. It also helped her clear her mind, allowed her to relax, and she needed that right now. She tensed with anger whenever she thought of the Order meeting.
Four years she'd lived with the imag
e of her mother dying, and it never got better.
"Nice shot, Nadia," Len said from behind her.
She turned. "How long have you been watching?"
"Five minutes, maybe ten." He smiled. "Bet you can't shoot straight when you know I'm watching."
"Of course I can," she said. She never turned down a challenge. She'd grown up around the castle guards, most of whom were men, and she'd always tried to outperform them.
Len smiled again—that annoying, mocking smile of his. Avoiding his gaze, she put another arrow on the bowstring. Her arrow tailed to the left this time, hitting the target but missing the center.
Another smile. "Just like I said. You get nervous when you know someone's watching. What's going to happen if you're ever in a real battle?"
"I can shoot perfectly straight when Varek's watching. You're the only one who gives me problems. You and your stupid smile."
"What smile?" he said, smiling again.
"You. Are. So. Infuriating." She gave him a soft whack on the shoulder.
With her bow slung over her shoulder, she stomped through the door on the southern side of the enclosed courtyard, entering the guard barracks.
The guards were eating lunch, which Nadia usually ate with them, avoiding her father as much as possible. She could enjoy gourmet entrees at dinner, when her father forced her to eat in the grand dining chamber. To kill Warrick, she'd have to live with lower-quality food.
Today's fare consisted of beef sandwiches. Simple, but one of her favorites. She grabbed one and took a seat at Varek's table. The guards were digging into their food, chewing with open mouths, talking around mouthfuls of food. She wished they'd eat a little less like slobs, but they were men after all. At least Varek wasn't too bad.
"Thought you might miss lunch," he said between bites.
"No. Len made sure I'd get angry enough with him to stop shooting."
"He has a way of doing that. If you ask me, he's still got some growing up to do. Has the makings of a good guard, though."
"Talking about me behind my back?" Len said, taking a seat at their table, a sandwich in hand. He did eat like a slob—something else that bothered her about him. How could she like him while also finding him annoying? He wasn't even handsome like Ander.
She had to stop thinking like that. Romantic feelings would only get in the way.
"Nadia?"
"What?" she asked, startled.
"I wanted to talk about what you brought up last night," Varek said.
"Do you also think I'm only seeing what I want to see?"
"Actually, I don't. If this account you described is accurate, there's something important hidden in those ruins."
She kept her voice low. "Then you'd be willing to come with me?"
"I wouldn't go that far, but I'm open to the possibility. Maybe you could look up information on Woodsville instead of White Fire, find something that way." He cleared his throat. "Besides, I'm not the person you need to convince. If you're gonna go into those ruins, you need someone who can use magic."
"So I need to convince Ander," she said. "If only he didn't seem so opposed to the idea."
"People can change their minds," Varek said. "Don't give up."
"Wait. Weren't you the one telling me to give up just yesterday?" She considered that a moment. "Well, if someone as stubborn as you can change their mind, maybe there is hope."
Varek laughed around a mouthful of food, getting some in his brown beard. "You saying I'm stubborn?"
Her face burned. "Yes, maybe a little."
"People have said worse."
After finishing lunch, Nadia went to the library to follow up on Varek's suggestion. On the way, her father stopped her. "Spending another day in the library?"
She bristled at his condescending tone. "Yes, Father."
"Well, you can't spend all day there. In case you've forgotten, we're to attend a gathering at Lord Franklin's manor this evening."
"Of course," she said. "I didn't forget."
She had forgotten, though. Compared to all her troubles, what did a silly gathering matter? Yes, it was at the home of Ander's father, who was also a member of the Order, but that didn't make it any more appealing. Most of the other nobles were staunch Warrick supporters. Warrick gave them their riches in exchange for support.
"Good," her father said, striding away. "I expect you to be ready by eight."
That gave her six hours. She entered the cavernous library, smelling the familiar and comforting scent of books. Even among the disorganized shelves, she knew where to find the books on Woodsville, most of which described the history she already knew.
Sifting through the books was tedious. After about three hours, she found a book where the author's name piqued her interest.
Cyrus Middleton. The leader of the Order throughout the Empire. He was immortal like Warrick, so he likely held extra insight on the cursed city. Suddenly eager, she flipped through the pages. Toward the end, she found a section on unconfirmed legends about the ruins in which Cyrus referenced the Imperial Guard account she'd found yesterday.
She fidgeted in her wooden chair. Cyrus believed the account spoke of White Fire. He was an ancient and respected warrior and scholar, so other people would surely believe him.
So it was that she felt in a great mood while she dressed for the gathering that evening. With her maidservant Avia's help, she forced herself into a pale blue, tight-fitting silk dress. She could barely breathe, but that was nothing unusual for a lady of high status.
And she had to admit she looked beautiful in the dress.
"Is your hair ever easy to tame?" Avia said, tugging a brush as gently as possible through the curls in Nadia's brown hair.
Nadia still winced from time to time. "I don't see why you even bother. It will be curly again before the gathering is over. Why couldn't I have gotten my mother's hair?"
"Curly hair is beautiful in its own way," Avia said.
"Why does my father insist that I go tonight? He's never made me go to one of these gatherings before. He must have some agenda."
"You are no longer a little girl. It's time for you to start living the life expected of a future high lady, which means attending gatherings like this."
"I don't want to be a high lady," Nadia said. Even as she spoke, she knew she sounded like a spoiled brat. But she had trouble voicing her true motivations. Avia would love her no matter what she said, but she would never support Nadia's mission.
Avia cared too much about Nadia.
"Whether you want it or not, it is your future." Avia set down the brush. "If I had to take a guess, I'd say your father's looking to find a suitor for you tonight.
"Tonight! I don't feel ready for marriage tonight." Nadia doubted she'd ever feel ready.
"Well, your father must think it's time."
Nadia's stomach twisted with panic. "I hope he chooses Lord Ander. I wouldn't mind being married to him. Most of the other lords are horrible people."
"Don't judge people so harshly, Nadia."
Nadia resented the recrimination in Avia's tone. "They support Warrick. That makes them horrible people."
"The world is not divided into good people and people who support Warrick. Nor is it divided into bad people and people who oppose Warrick. People are more complicated than that. You should give everyone a chance until they prove you wrong."
Unless they prove you wrong by killing you.
But Nadia didn't voice her disagreement, not with one of her few friends. "Maybe you're right. After all, there might be a lot of bad things about aging, but it does bring you wisdom."
"I'm glad to help in any way I can."
Chapter 8: The Smuggler
After two days of hard travel, crossing small mountains, Markus and Rik arrived at Levine. They'd put Woodsville behind them, calling it a fun adventure—or at least Rik had.
A river flowed at the west side of Levine, separating the city from the dangerous Plain of Storms. The plain's fearsome stor
ms usually lost strength when they hit the river, but some in Riverside, a city to the north, claimed to have seen tornadoes the last year or two.
In the early evening heat, Markus and Rik traveled to the docks at the river's edge, where people were busy at work, hauling boxes of cargo onto large boats.
Markus pointed at the boats. "That's quite something."
"I forget sometimes your uncle hasn't let you see much."
"Probably didn't want me to get any ideas."
Markus felt a bitter stab of hatred. His uncle had sheltered him his whole life, keeping him away from anything that might distract him from his future as an Imperial Guard. Only grudgingly had he allowed Markus to make visits to Crayden, and even then only to buy supplies or visit his friend Tomas, an apprentice blacksmith in town.
"Well, now you can see all you want," Rik said.
"For now. I still think we're gonna die on the mountains."
"No point in giving up," Rik said. "We might as well try." But there was a distinct note of worry beneath his confident front. That wasn't like Rik.
"I know," Markus said. "I just wish I could feel confident."
"We're not gonna die on those mountains." Rik put a hand on Markus's shoulder. "Trust me."
Markus stifled a bitter laugh. Trust you? You nearly got us killed.
But he couldn't stay angry at Rik for long. Rik hadn't meant any harm. He'd simply misjudged the nature of Woodsville.
They passed young dockworkers in shabby work clothes that barely held together. The wooden buildings around them looked on the verge of collapse. How could Warrick claim to make a better society when so many people suffered in poverty? He surely had the ability to improve the Empire, but he only helped those who supported him.
Markus could never serve a man like that.
At last, Markus and Rik reached a portion of the docks where the boats were smaller and the platforms emptier. A few people milled about, their clothes cleaner and more fashionable, but not much. The truly wealthy stayed away from places like this.
The docks sat beside buildings in a poorer district of Levine. Every time they passed an alley, Markus glanced into the narrow space, expecting someone to jump them. According to Uncle Theo, Levine was infested with thieves, cutthroats, and other scum. Rough-looking men watched Markus and Rik pass but didn't accost them.
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