Catherine nodded and Olivia walked over and gave Remi a hug.
“Take care of yourself. I’m not there to keep you warm at night.”
“Somehow I’ll survive,” Remi replied, breaking away from her. “Farewell.”
She left the two behind and she could feel them still watching her even when she was a mile away. They had to be following her still. Making sure she was safe.
Remi wasn’t having it.
Okay, she thought to herself. How do I ditch them?
Remi took off running, sure that they wouldn’t be so eager to make chase for fear of being caught. She allowed her eidolon to stick slightly out of the top of her shoulder so that she could read her surroundings. She couldn’t sense Olivia or Catherine, but that didn’t mean they weren’t near.
What was near, however, was a family of three, traveling by wagon through the forest. That was something she didn’t see every day.
She decided to head toward them, and while she ran she practiced her smiles and recited pleasantries with her voice. She only had one shot to make a good impression.
“Excuse me,” she called out when she was still several yards away. The father and husband was sitting in front of the open wagon with reins in his hand, yoked to an elderly biulo. How he was able to get one all alone and tamed must have been quite the story.
The woman and young boy in the wagon had been lying down, but now they shot their heads up and stared at her as she approached. The man pulled back on the leather reins, stopping the biulo in its tracks. The creature began picking off leaves from a nearby tree with its mouth as the man leaned back in his oak seat.
“What can I do you for, young lady?” The man was in his mid-forties and bald. He was rail thin and his wife and child were just as gaunt, and yet, they didn’t seem unhealthy. The little boy was actually jumping up and down at the possibility of having someone else to talk to.
“I was looking for some companionship during my travels,” she said, still keeping an eye out for Olivia and Catherine.
“Where are you headed?”
“Not sure. I’m exploring.”
“You’re welcome to accompany us as long as you like. We’re heading to Cimmerian.”
“Really?” she asked in surprise. She had heard of Paragons leaving their homes to go to Cimmerian but it was quite a rare sight.
“Yeah,” he laughed, waving a hand over his thin body. “We’ve been weaning ourselves off the food around Paragon in preparation for the journey. It hasn’t been easy.”
“I’ll join you for now,” Remi said, climbing into the back of the wagon. The woman shuffled over to give her room.
“My name is Zaiya,” the woman said, extending a hand out. Remi shook it and smiled once she saw the little boy.
“And what’s your name?” Remi asked.
The little boy shook his head and then burrowed himself into his mother’s side.
“He’s shy,” Zaiya laughed. “This is Ben. We found him abandoned in Terra during one of our travels a few years ago.”
“Oh,” Remi said. “Do you know what happened to his parents?”
“Not a clue,” she said. “We were out scavenging for food—you know, to get better accumulated to Terra’s produce, when we found him crying in the forest all alone. He was dirty and bit by some of the woodland creatures. We did look for a guardian of his, but after a couple of days we cleaned him up and took him back home with us. He’s been with us ever since and although he’s not my child by blood, I treat him as if he is.”
“I’m five,” Ben mumbled.
Remi laughed. “Oh my! You’re so big!”
“This is Jacob,” Zaiya said, pointing to her husband. “The kindest man you’ll ever have the pleasure of meeting.”
“Oh, stop,” he chuckled as he whipped at the reins, letting the biulo know that it was time to get moving. It took the creature a couple minutes to realize it, but once he got going, the wagon was off to a brisk pace.
“If you don’t mind me asking…why are you going to Cimmerian of all places?”
“It’s not as terrible as it sounds,” he replied. “At least from what I’ve heard. I get messages from my cousin who went to Cimmerian ten years ago. He actually loves it there.”
“What’s so great about Oblivion? Aren’t we at war with them?”
“I haven’t seen war yet.”
“Well, no, it hasn’t started yet, but it’s still coming. And we were attacked by Cimmerians recently.”
“Cimmerian is simply another place where people live. Yes, those at the top have their own political and personal motivations, and they use the lives and resources of the people for their own gain, but that doesn’t mean the people themselves are to blame.”
“But they could overthrow those at the top, can’t they?”
“No one in Paragon overthrows the King, and that’s because there’s a hope that he has the people’s best interests in mind, regardless of evidence to the contrary. Cimmerian is the same. The people hope that they will be taken care of.”
“I still don’t get what’s so great about Cimmerian.”
“Maybe you should go sometime and see for yourself.”
“But you can’t explain to me what’s so appealing?”
“You’ll just have to see for yourself.”
“I’m okay,” Remi said, ready to change the subject.
“I’ll say this,” Zaiya replied. “In Paragon, people never have to fight for anything. They think of themselves as the elite, and therefore, they never actually grow into who they should be. In Cimmerian, there might be a lot of negativity, but it also builds character in a way that Paragon can’t provide. As long as you can withstand the heat, of course.”
“Excuse the pun,” Jacob said.
“It’s okay,” Remi said, feeling a little uncomfortable.
“We won’t talk about it anymore,” Jacob said as they all fell silent. Remi sighed and took in her environment. The forest was quiet, and it was getting darker as night began to descend upon them. She felt a little tired, but she didn’t think falling sleep yet was a good idea. The family had honestly creeped her out a bit, and the last time she had been unconscious on Terra, she had ended up in Paragon. She didn’t want the same to happen to her now.
“I think I’m going to get out here,” she said to the family’s surprise.
“That’s fine,” Jacob replied as he began pulling at the reins.
“No need,” Remi said, leaping out of the wagon. Ben was sound asleep so he didn’t see her leave but Zaiya waved to her as they continued on.
Alone again, she thought as the darkness descended upon her.
She unleashed her eidolon and let it serve as her torch.
“Remi!” someone called out from behind her. She was surprised to see Ian’s smiling face. “What are you doing out here?”
“I might ask you the same thing,” she said. “It seems like I’m pretty popular today.”
“I went out for new materials after you left,” he said. She noticed that his hair was slicked, his shirt was tucked in and his vest was back on.
“Find anything good?” she asked and he sifted through the pockets on his belt. “Nothing serious. But I can restock some things. Um, what are you doing? You’re still wet.”
“Yeah,” she muttered. “It’s been so cold that it’s been impossible to dry.”
“You’re scavenging for something too?”
“No, I’m…I was heading out.”
“Without me?” he said in disappointment. She wasn’t sure what to say. “It’s okay,” he said. “I understand. It’s not like we really know each other.”
“Still, I did give you my word.”
“Don’t worry about it. Seriously. I’m okay.”
“Hey, who’s this?” someone asked from behind Ian. Remi craned her neck to see another boy. He was wearing a tank top and dirty baggy pants. His hair was caked in mud but his green eyes still sparkled from behind them.
“Remi, I’d like you to meet a friend of mine. This is Harlan.”
“Nice to meet you,” he said, giving her a curt nod.
“We can’t spend too much time together on the inside,” Ian said. “Since he lives in the countryside and I reside in the city, but we manage to find scavenging time together. He’s been my best friend since childhood.”
“Because you ass needs saving all the time,” Harlan replied. His voice was husky but light-hearted, and his demeanor was the same. It was as if he worked hard but not to the point he couldn’t drop what he was doing and hang out at a moment’s notice.
“That it does,” Ian laughed. “Although, I’ve saved yours plenty enough.”
“That’s different. That’s when I get in trouble with the authorities on the inside.”
“I’m more socially inclined,” Ian said to Remi. “And Harlan has the nasty habit of selling his mediocre crops in Virga when the merchants there have already established themselves. I have to end up calming everyone down.”
“I could calm them down too if you’d let me.”
“Yes, we all know what that means.”
“You own a farm?” Remi asked, her eidolon still being used for lighting.
“Not really,” Harlan replied. “More like a garden, but I still like seeing if I can sell my goods. I like gardening because it forces me to use a more delicate touch.”
“He has Langoran hands,” Ian said and Harlan pushed him aside playfully.
“Hey, stop that. She’s going to think I’m a Langoran. Which I’m not.”
“Then what’s Ian talking about?”
“My ability,” he said. “I have an epic grip.”
“An epic grip,” Remi snickered. “That doesn’t sound intimidating.”
“Depends on what I’m using it for. I can render a man unconscious just by squeezing.”
“Well, there ya go.”
“Don’t ever arm wrestle him,” Ian said. “Or shake his hand. You might lose it.”
“So you’re really traveling alone?” Harlan asked.
Remi nodded. “Is that a problem?”
“No, not at all, but Ian was telling me about your quest, and I was thinking that if you would have me, I’d like to go too.”
“Why? It’s not going to be fun.”
“Because there’s someone out there I need to find.”
“Oh yeah, who’s that?”
“The strongest man in the world. I need to talk to him, and maybe even challenge him. See where I measure up.”
“Of course I would like to go too,” Ian replied. “And I have one more person if you’re willing, but that requires going back to Paragon. Not to mention that we really, really need some supplies.”
“Okay!” Remi said in exasperation. “We’ll get some supplies before we go!”
“So I’m going?” Harlan asked, turning to Ian. Then he chuckled and crossed his arms. “Of course I am. Who’s going to be the bodyguard?”
“I might,” Remi said, pursuing her lips.
“Oh yeah? Shake my hand.”
“No, thanks,” she laughed and his face fell in disappointment.
“You sure you’re okay going back?” Ian asked.
“Yeah,” she said. She realized quickly that there was no way she could go on the journey alone. Perhaps the other Sage weapons were used to being alone, but she had been around others since childhood, and if there were people that loved her enough to accompany her on her quest, who was she to deny them?
“It won’t take long,” Ian promised.
Just as he finished his sentence, an arrow whistled behind him and flew right through his left shoulder.
Chapter 7 – Frontline
“Ian!” Harlan shouted as he grabbed his friend and let him down gently. Remi snapped her head around to see a group of Langorans coming toward her, but that wasn’t what scared her. It was the horrible machinations they were towing behind them.
“Catapults,” Remi whispered. “What do they need those for? I thought I was the only one they wanted.”
“Apparently not,” Ian groaned. “Can this hurt any more?”
“Shush,” Harlan said, then he turned to Remi. “We need to get Ian out of here, and there’s no way we’re going to be able to take down a force that large. In this darkness, we don’t even know how many there are.”
“Agreed,” Remi said as Harlan threw Ian over his shoulders. “Where are we heading?”
“Sage Academy,” he said. “You have friends there that can help?”
“Yeah,” she said. “At least I hope so.” Her eidolon shrieked and Remi managed to slice an arrow in half before it hit Harlan in the back. “Let’s hurry.”
The three of them took off running, and Remi’s thoughts suddenly fell on the family of three that she had left behind. Had they made it? Were they slaughtered? Or did they join with the Langorans and tell them where she had headed? Why would anyone leave Paragon to side with Cimmerian? It didn’t make sense.
“Can you get this out of me?” Ian mumbled before he went unconscious. Harlan and Remi kept running. Because the Langorans had the catapults to pull behind them, they were able to lose them easily, but it didn’t make her feel any safer.
They were still heading right for Paragon, and no one had any idea that they were coming.
* * *
“Close the gates!” Remi shouted as they neared, but to her horror, there was not one guard stationed on the wall. The entrance to Paragon was wide open, and not a single person was there to stop them. “Keep going to the Academy!” she shouted to Harlan as they ran through.
Remi turned around and threw her eidolon into the stone wall. She leapt on top it and then jumped again, willing her eidolon to vanish and reappear at her hip. She stabbed the surface in front of her, and then she performed the same action until she had scaled up the wall.
It had taken far too long, but at least she was able to reach the levers.
She ran to the first of the two pulley levers and pulled at it with all her might but it was stuck. She crouched down and rammed into it, using her body weight to push it to the side. Thankfully it worked, but there was still a second lever on the other side of the entrance.
Remi grunted in frustration, eyed the gap between the wall and took off running as fast as she could. When she reached the edge, she leapt as high as she could into the air, knowing she wasn’t going to make it.
She had to use her eidolon again to catch her fall. She slammed it into the wall’s side and began scaling up it just like the other one. By the time she reached the second lever, she could already hear the rumbling of the catapults in the distance. She glanced in the Langorans’ direction only for a moment, and she saw trees being knocked down in their path.
Remi turned her attention back to the second lever. She rammed it and finally the gate came crashing down. Depending on what the catapults were carrying, the flimsy thin steel gate wouldn’t last long, but it would give them some time.
Remi didn’t feel like getting hit by an arrow so she turned back toward Paragon and scanned the ground below. It was a long drop, but as long as she transformed before she leapt, it would be okay.
A large rock hit in her the back and she went sprawling over the edge.
So much for waiting, she thought as she willed her Sage robe to cover her. She landed on her feet hard, but at least her muscles were able to take the shock. She had made sure to land more on her human leg than her artificial one.
Once she was sure her artificial leg didn’t have any cracks in it, she took off running, heading straight for the Sage Academy. Behind her, she could already hear the first volley of boulders crashing against Paragon’s gate.
* * *
Remi jumped onto the stone platform quickly and willed it to ascend. She glanced behind her but there were no enemies yet. That would probably change within the hour.
Remi sucked her teeth as the platform rose up to its destination—the Sage Academy. She didn’t wa
it for it to lock in place. She leapt up as soon as she was close enough to clear the opening. She ran up the spiral staircase, huffing and puffing the entire way, and when she hit the main walkway, she was shocked to see how casually everyone was acting. They were sparring. They were talking and laughing. They were eating and doubling over in laughter.
“HEY!” she shouted, gaining the attention of a few. “We’re under attack!”
“What are you talking about?” someone muttered, going back to their sandwich.
“The Langorans are here!” she shouted, but even fewer paid attention this time. A hand slapped her right shoulder and she jumped up in surprise.
“Remi?” Olivia asked, carrying her sword in hand and wearing nothing but a fluffy red bathrobe. “Are you okay?”
“Livi, we’re under attack!” Remi said frantically, grabbing her shoulders. “They’ll be here any minute. We have to evacuate or fight or something. Langorans and Cimmerians I think. They have catapults that are—”
“We would have gotten word they were coming from the wall,” Olivia replied.
“No one’s at the wall. Where’s Catherine and James?”
“They left to get information about something,” Olivia replied.
“Then who’s in charge?”
“No one,” she said, taking note of the sweat on her friend’s face. “We’re governing ourselves.”
“Someone needs to order everyone out of here now! Where’s Ian and Harlan?”
“Who are they?”
“They didn’t make it?” she cried out, running down the small steps to one of the platforms facing out toward Paragon’s wall. She couldn’t see it, but if the Langorans were coming, they would be over the hill at any minute.
But where were Ian and Harlan? Surely she would have seen them on her way to the Academy…unless they didn’t know the way.
“I’ve got to go,” she said. “They’re still out there somewhere.”
“Wait, what’s going on?” Kace asked, appearing at Olivia’s side.
“Remi says we’re under attack.”
“But we haven’t heard…” Kace’s voice trailed as he saw the silhouettes roll over the first hill in the distance, trampling the flowers and grass underneath. Remi’s face fell as the small army appeared, heading straight for the Sage Academy. One by one, the students stopped what they were doing and came to look as well.
The Sorcerer's Dragon (Book 2) Page 7
