Lightning Tracks

by A. A. Kinsela

  ‘Sleeping on your watch is not a good look.’

  Nick blinked and focused on Cal’s amused face. ‘I haven’t been to bed yet,’ he said.

  Cal’s grin turned wicked. ‘Neither has Artemis.’

  Nick’s cheeks heated up. ‘It wasn’t...we weren’t...um...’

  ‘Calm down. I know what you were both up to. I just ran into Xanthe.’

  ‘Has she arrested Julian?’

  ‘Not yet.’ Cal sat down beside Nick. ‘When I told you about Julian, I didn’t think you’d stick up for me. That was really...unexpected.’

  Nick studied Cal for a long minute. Cal had taken a huge risk when he’d challenged Nick in front of the Bandála recruits, and he’d done it knowing he might not survive their vengeance.

  ‘You assumed that when I found out what you’d done, I’d think you were no better than Julian, didn’t you?’

  Cal nodded.

  ‘Well, you’re not a bit like him. For starters, you’ve got far superior taste in friends.’ Nick pointed to himself. ‘And secondly, you are way more fun to hang around.’

  A slow smile spread across Cal’s face. ‘Thanks.’

  ‘Anytime.’

  Cal tilted his head towards the council chamber. ‘Is Artemis in there doing her thing?’

  ‘The handwriting analysis? Yeah. Is she an expert or something?’

  ‘Or something.’

  Nick wondered what Cal specialised in. He was no ordinary soldier. He didn’t have the build or the look of someone capable of brute force, but he’d be able to beat most Yándi warriors with skill alone. Nick remembered his first impression of Cal – that slim, unassuming boy on the ridge whose quiet stature harboured a subtle danger.

  ‘What’s your specialist area, Cal?’

  At first, Cal didn’t answer, just squinted into the morning sunlight as it spread across the plaza. Two little kids capered past, sneaking furtive glances at the crows that leered like snipers from the sundial.

  ‘I’m a tracker,’ Cal replied.

  ‘You mean you search for people?’

  ‘That’s part of it.’

  ‘What’s the other part?’

  ‘The part after I catch them.’

  Nick frowned. Then his eyes widened as he understood what that meant. Cal was an assassin. A real assassin. Like Alexander.

  No, Nick thought, not like Alexander. Not one bit like Alexander.

  He looked Cal over, as though seeing him for the first time. His lean build, his straight posture, his habit of hiding behind his ruffled black fringe, his burnt-gold gaze that was always alert, his steeled silence in the face of danger. Was this who he really was? Or was it the mask he had been trained to wear?

  He was watching Nick now with wary regard. Nick had seen this expression on Cal’s face before, when he’d revealed how Julian had blackmailed him. It was a look of anticipated rejection.

  ‘Right. Well. I’m bloody glad you’re on my side.’

  Cal gave a small, relieved smile. ‘Me too.’

  A contingent of Bandála soldiers marched across the plaza towards them. Nick caught sight of Julian amongst them.

  ‘That’s our cue,’ he said, and went into the main chamber.

  ‘Xanthe’s here already?’ David asked.

  ‘Yep. Along with Julian,’ Nick replied.

  Artemis continued to work, her quill scratching the paper like a seismograph needle. Valerius tidied the documents around her into rough piles. Nick stood to one side with Cal as Kráytos and another large Bandála soldier led Julian into the room.

  Xanthe held up a document and said, ‘He had this in his pocket.’

  Valerius opened it and scanned the contents. He glanced at David then handed the document to Artemis, whose quill began flicking across the paper.

  ‘Who wrote the reassignment orders?’ Valerius asked.

  Julian didn’t respond.

  ‘Answer the question, Julian,’ David growled, his knuckles turning pale as he gripped the back of a chair.

  When Julian still didn’t speak, Xanthe said, ‘We know where you were last night and who you were with. What we don’t know is why.’

  Julian’s glacial stare flashed to Nick. It was only a glance, but it sent a rattling shiver down Nick’s spine.

  ‘Artemis, are you finished?’ Valerius asked.

  She handed over the two reassignment orders. ‘Whoever did this is an expert,’ she said. ‘They’ve done a very good job of making it look as though Rayámina wrote these documents.’

  ‘Could Commander Julian have written them?’

  ‘It’s possible, but I couldn’t say for sure.’

  Valerius turned to Julian and held up the reassignment orders. ‘These documents are proof that you left the aqueducts unprotected for several hours on two separate occasions,’ Valerius said. ‘As a senior officer in the Bandála, you are responsible for the city’s security and the public’s safety. You will stand trial before the Auremos Council. Until then, you will be held in the vaults.’

  ‘Take him below,’ David ordered through gritted teeth.

  As Kráytos steered Julian out of the chamber, David and Xanthe gazed at one another. Nick knew they were having a silent conversation that no one else could understand.

  ‘I’ll call a meeting and make the announcement,’ David said, sounding grim.

  ‘Make what announcement?’ Nick asked.

  ‘Our security has been breached. As of this moment, Auremos is under strict curfew.’

  Chapter 32: The amphitheatre

  Nick spent the morning in his apartment with Cal, Artemis and Jinx, discussing the events of the last twenty-four hours.

  ‘Did you really know Cal was a deserter, Jinx?’ Nick asked. ‘Or did you just make that up?’

  ‘Of course I knew. Mum and Dad talk about Council stuff all the time, mostly when they think we’re asleep.’

  Amaránta slid a platter of crispy ribs and sliced sourdough in front of them, and they fell on the food.

  ‘Thanks, Amaránta,’ Nick said through his mouthful of meat. ‘This is incredible. You are by far the best cook in the entire city.’

  She sneaked a glance at him, smiled, and hobbled out of the room.

  ‘So...you’re okay with that, Jinx?’ Artemis asked. ‘About Cal being a deserter, I mean.’

  ‘Yep. And you too.’

  Artemis coughed. ‘Wh-what?’

  ‘I’ve known for ages about you.’ Jinx flicked a bread crust at Nick. ‘Took gumbrain here a lifetime to figure it out, though.’

  Cal and Artemis stared at Nick and repeated in unison, ‘Gumbrain?’

  Nick tossed a rib bone into the fire. ‘Jinx, are you ever going to learn to shut your gigantic mouth?’

  ‘Are you even allowed to call him that?’ Cal asked.

  ‘I’ll call him whatever I like,’ Jinx replied. ‘He can’t do anything about it.’

  ‘I’d be careful if I were you,’ Artemis said with a smile. ‘He might have a bit of power to play with soon. And he might use it.’

  Jinx snorted. ‘I’d like to see him try.’

  ‘Ah, hello?’ Nick said with a wave. ‘I’m sitting right here, you know.’

  Just as they were polishing off the last of the crispy ribs, a deep drumming rumbled across the city. Jinx straightened as if someone had shouted her name. Nick went to the window and saw the Market Square merchants and customers gazing wide-eyed at the sky.

  ‘What’s that noise?’ Artemis asked.

  ‘It’s the call to a Bandála meeting,’ Jinx said.

  Lightning cracked over the mountains, illuminating the swollen slate clouds.

  ‘Must be the curfew announcement David mentioned earlier,’ Nick said. ‘Does anyone know where we have to go?’

  Jinx nodded. ‘The amphitheatre. Come on. I’ll take you.’

  They scooted downstairs and across Market Square, which was already half empty, then they passed the council chamber and turned onto a road leading north. Nic
k had never been into this quarter before. He recalled the view from the beacon tower, of fresh stone and bright flags. In this part of town, the gardens were trimmed and the houses clean, with doors and shutters that actually worked. Some entrances even had polished iron knockers in the shapes of wombats or tree frogs.

  Shouts of ‘Kári!’ and ‘Nallindéra!’ followed Nick wherever he went. He skittered from side to side in alarm as people reached out without warning to slap his back or give his shoulder or hand an encouraging shake.

  ‘You’re as popular now as my dad, gumbrain. How’s it feel?’

  ‘Awful,’ Nick replied with a scowl.

  A huge amphitheatre the size of a football stadium reared above the rooftops. Bandála soldiers dusted in red ochre stood in the highest archways, beating drums with large wooden hammers. Nick wormed his way through the bottleneck of people, following Cal’s messy black hair, which was just visible a few metres in front. Artemis was right behind him.

  ‘I hope Rayámina doesn’t expect everybody to fit into the amphitheatre all at once,’ she cried above the din.

  She squealed, and Nick spun around, but he couldn’t reach her through the crowd.

  ‘Artemis? Are you alright?’

  ‘Someone stepped on my foot. Go ahead. I’ll meet you in there.’

  An archway opened to Nick’s right, with dark corridors branching off like the underbelly of a football stadium. He stumbled sideways as somebody bumped him. Everyone kept inching along the main thoroughfare, shuffling and colliding and speculating about what the announcement might be about.

  Nick spied a gap. Just as he was about to rejoin the scrum, someone snared his jacket and yanked him into an alcove. His back slammed against the wall and his arms were pinned to his sides.

  ‘Hey! What—?’

  A firm and filthy hand clamped over his mouth. He struggled, his shields running hot over his skin. He saw dark masks and hoods, then the glint of a knuckle duster a split second before it rammed into his temple. His head snapped aside, his focus shattered. His shields vanished like smoke in the wind.

  Then everything went black.

  Chapter 33: Julian’s revenge

  Nick opened his eyes to hazy darkness and the gagging stench of horse manure. He heard frogs croaking and the distant laugh of a kookaburra. A fire crackled nearby. He listened for the familiar noises of the city, but all he heard was bush sounds.

  Feeling began to return. It started as a gradual throb across his temple then morphed into pounding waves that battered the whole left side of his skull. He waited for the initial burst of pain to level out before attempting to sit up, but he found he couldn’t move properly. His hands and feet were tied, and a thick cover was draped over him.

  ‘Looks like he’s awake,’ a familiar voice said, but Nick was too groggy to place it.

  When the cover was dragged off, he saw a fading sunset between the trees. The air was freezing. He shivered.

  ‘Gods, he’s a right mess, ain’t he?’

  Another familiar voice. Nick squinted up and saw a squashed nose, grimy hair, and black-toothed sneer.

  ‘I thought I left you tied to a pole somewhere, Felix,’ Nick said.

  Felix knelt down and leaned in so close that Nick could smell his rancid breath. ‘I got a lot to square with you, you shifty runt.’

  He raised a fist. Nick braced for the blow, but someone caught Felix’s arm and said, ‘Back off.’

  Felix hulked away and squatted next to the campfire. A grey uniform took his place.

  Nick stared up and gasped. ‘Miles?’

  ‘You sound surprised to see me,’ Miles said.

  Nick pushed himself into a sitting position. He fingered his forehead and found it crusted with dried blood. ‘Miles, what are you doing?’

  ‘What am I doing? I think the question we should be asking is what are you doing?’

  ‘I don’t know what you’re talking—’

  ‘The Arai, Nick. I’m talking about letting that mileskúlos traitor into our ranks.’

  ‘You mean Cal? Is that what this is about? You don’t want him to join the Bandála?’

  Miles crouched down so he was eye to eye with Nick. His expression was so full of loathing that Nick had to stop himself from looking away.

  ‘I want to know why you think you need him so much,’ Miles said.

  ‘I told you. He’s my friend.’

  ‘Yes, a friend with an assassin’s training. How convenient. I want you to tell me what you’re really planning. I want the truth.’

  Nick swallowed. ‘I’m not planning anything.’

  ‘Don’t lie to me, Nick.’ His voice was quiet and dangerous. ‘You’re up to something. You’ve been conspiring with Cal and Artemis for weeks.’

  When Nick clenched his teeth, Miles nodded and smiled. ‘That’s right. I know about her too.’

  ‘It doesn’t matter. They’ll both be initiated into the Bandála soon. Rayámina decided on that yesterday.’

  ‘The day before, actually. You’ve been out cold for fourteen hours.’ Miles jiggled a small leather flask. ‘With a little help from something extra.’

  Nick’s mouth fell open. He glanced at the glowing horizon, which was getting brighter by the minute. What he’d thought to be sunset was in fact sunrise.

  Miles scratched his pale, unshaven chin. ‘Here’s what I think, Nick. I think you need the Arai recruits. You need to make sure they’re accepted into the Bandála ranks so that they’ll be there to help you when you’re ready to challenge Thanos. Am I right?’

  ‘But...I thought that’s what the Bandála want me to do.’

  Miles glowered at him. ‘Want? We don’t want you to pretend you’re loyal. We don’t want you to use us to overthrow Thanos and then take the city as soon as you have control of the Arai.’

  ‘No! That’s not what I—’

  Miles snapped the copper Bandála disc off Nick’s neck and spat, ‘You don’t deserve to wear this.’

  ‘Give that back!’

  Miles pocketed the necklace. ‘You won’t need it where you’re going.’

  ‘Why? Where am I going?’

  ‘Where you belong. Korelios.’

  Nick gulped. ‘You’re an Arai?’

  ‘Definitely not.’

  ‘Then why are you doing this?’

  ‘Because you’re going to destroy the Bandála!’ Miles cried, surging to his feet. ‘First you ally yourself with two spies. Then you arrange to have Commander Julian arrested. What’s next? Open the gates for the Arai?’

  ‘That’s crazy! Why would I help the Arai when Thanos wants me dead?’

  Miles stopped his furious pacing and leaned over Nick. ‘Because you intend to take his place. Because you want to control them yourself. And if you give them Auremos, they’ll follow you like a turning tide.’

  ‘I would never do that.’

  ‘Yes, you would. Commander Julian figured you out ages ago.’

  ‘He figured me out? Miles, do you even know what Julian was doing the night he reassigned the guards on the eastern wall?’

  Miles straightened and replied, ‘Of course I do. He was meeting with General Alexander.’

  Nick wanted to strangle Miles for this betrayal. ‘You...but...how can you do this if you knew?’

  ‘Thanos is building an Arai force stronger than anything the Bandála has ever faced. If we hand you over, that might distract him for a while and give us time to prepare for what’s coming. Right now, the Bandála is nowhere near ready to face an army that large.’

  ‘Miles, if we do it my way, no one will even have to fight.’

  ‘So you do want to control the Arai.’

  ‘No, I want to disband them.’

  ‘Don’t be stupid. No one is powerful enough to disband the Arai. Not even a king.’ Miles drew a deep breath and looked towards the horizon. ‘Commander Julian knows that. He’s sacrificed a lot to protect the people of Auremos. One day, the Bandála will realise how much he’s done and t
hank him for it.’

  If Nick wasn’t trussed up like a doomed goanna, he would’ve pounded some sense into Miles. ‘How can you believe that bullshit, Miles? Julian’s not handing me over to the Arai because he’s noble. He’s doing it to start a war!’

  Miles gave Nick a sardonic smile. ‘He said you’d say that.’

  Nick wanted to scream. He wanted to rip his bindings off and ram them down Miles’s throat. ‘You’ve sworn allegiance to the Bandála! You can’t turn me over to the Arai!’

  ‘I can, and I will.’

  Miles unsheathed his hunting knife, and Nick flinched.

  ‘Relax. Nothing’s going to happen to you until you’re across the border.’

  He slit the ropes around Nick’s ankles, but not his wrists, then he hauled Nick to his feet and pointed towards a river that meandered between some redgums. ‘Go and relieve yourself. And don’t bother trying to swim away. That’s the Defender’s River. Korelios is on the other bank. Besides,’ he said, gesturing to the bow and quiver by the fire, ‘you wouldn’t make it that far anyway.’

  Nick skidded down the dirt slope to one of the river redgums and undid his belt, which was tricky with his hands tied. He wondered if anyone knew where he was. The Defender’s River was hundreds of kilometres long. It could take the Bandála weeks to find him, and by that time he’d probably be dead. He shivered.

  When he was finished, he knelt beside the river, gulped a few mouthfuls of water, and washed the blood off his face. His head still throbbed, and it was getting worse by the minute. Over his deafening pulse, he heard horse hooves pounding the ground.

  ‘Get moving,’ Miles said, hustling Nick up the river bank.

  When he saw Julian dismount, Nick dug his heels into the ground, forcing Miles to stop as well. How the hell had Julian escaped the vaults?

  ‘Listen to me, Miles. If Julian is telling the truth, which he isn’t, then wouldn’t Alexander be here to meet us?’

  ‘I said move!’

  ‘Julian’s the one who wants to destroy the Bandála. He’s the traitor, not me!’

  Miles shoved Nick forwards. Nick stumbled, straightened, met Julian’s cobalt gaze, and said in a shaky voice, ‘You’re not going to hand me over to Alexander, are you?’