Ebudae stood and placed her hands on the table. “Because I read lots of books.” Wispy tendrils of smoke emitted from her mouth as she spoke. Her voice echoed off the walls ominously.
Just as quickly as the flames had appeared, they were gone and the room was back to normal. Ebudae sat down and tried to ignore the estate’s disgust with the less than impressive statement. If it had a face and a palm to put it in, it would have done so. However, everyone else in the room seemed impressed, even Pelya who knew most of her tricks.
“So we have to break through the wards?” Captain Zephan asked, shaking off the effects. “Is the door locked?”
“We make it a point not to cross magical wards to see if a door is locked,” Pelya said wryly. The weaponmaster chuckled again along with a few others.
“I’ll make you pay for that statement, young lady.” The captain waggled a finger playfully at her. “We’ll just assume the door is locked then. So now the question becomes who to send.”
“Pelya and I are going,” Ebudae insisted. “We know the area and we insist on helping to fight our own battles.”
“No. Definitely not.” Captain Zephan slammed a hand down on the map. “I will not risk it.” Nearly everyone agreed.
“It doesn’t matter. We’re going anyway.” Ebudae didn’t care what any adult had to say at that point. “I am an adult now, albeit a young one. I am also a very powerful wizardess in my own right. While I realize that Pelya must answer to her father and that her father answers to you, she is my best friend and my protector. The two of us have a system of combat that relies on both of us working together, so I need her with me.”
The captain’s eyes filled with anger and she opened her mouth to continue the argument, but Sir Imbra spoke first. “She’s right. Both young women must go.” The captain’s anger refocused on him. Before she could say anything, he clarified his position. “They were involved in the actions that caused this situation. While their reasons were noble and they accomplished great good, it created trouble for many others.”
The anger left Captain Zephan’s eyes. She folded her arms and listened along with everyone else.
“You wish them to grow up to be responsible young women and it is time to do so by allowing them to accept responsibility for what they’ve done. They want to handle the problem and that should not be discouraged.” Sir Imbra gestured at the people in the room. “You will not be able to solve their problems for the rest of their lives, so allow them to learn how to solve them on their own. There are extremely capable people here to go with them. Appana and I will be by their sides the entire time.” He indicated the priestess.
“I agree,” Frath said. “The danger involved clasps my heart and would weaken it, but I agree that they need to go. I will be with them as well.”
Grinkin jumped in. “And me.”
“I think a small infiltrating group will be best,” Commander Coodmur said. His voice filled the room. “I will accompany them as well. Our primary task will be to clear a path and secure the safety of any evidence and prisoners. The secondary task will be to arrest Thanzin. A squad should follow us in to clear out anyone we might miss.”
“It’s a good plan,” Lieutenant Abereen agreed. “Captain Pumosa can have units cover any escape from the street. They won’t be expecting an attack from below.”
Captain Zephan looked around and found no dissenters. “Very well then. I don’t like risking Lady Ebudae and Pelya, but it is a good proposal. Let’s get the details set and implement the plan. Time is wasting.”
Chapter 27
It took a couple of hours to hash everything out. The party that would be entering the ruins stood at a secret door in the basement of Pallon Estate. A squad of twenty-eight Guardmembers was waiting behind them. The basement was large, but it was still a tight fit.
Pallon Estate didn’t like so many people using its secret tunnels, but understood the necessity for Ebudae’s safety. It could understand what people said and, after the meeting, realized that Master Thanzin and the Blavoci holdings in Dralin posed a very real danger to Ebudae.
Captain Zephan and Lieutenant Abereen were there to see them off. “So the plan is for the seven of you to overcome the wards protecting the doors to the Blavoci Estate,” the captain said, summarizing things. “Then you break in and sweep each level up to the estate. Your goal is to get to Thanzin as fast as possible while preventing anyone from destroying evidence. The squad will come in behind you and secure each level behind.”
“Captain Pumosa will begin infiltrating the rest of Blavoci’s holdings at the same time,” Lieutenant Abereen said. “We know what to expect and every squad will look for passages leading to lower levels. There are wizards with each that have spells to find secret doors.”
“We need evidence though,” Zephan reiterated for the hundredth time. “Without it, the courts will eat us alive for this action.”
“Don’t worry,” Commander Coodmur reassured her, also for the hundredth time. “We’ll get it. Now quit talking and let us have some fun.”
The captain pointed at him. “You keep those girls safe. That’s more important than anything else.”
“They’re women,” the weaponmaster clarified. “And I’m expecting them to keep me safe. Quit being a mother hen.” He gave her a mock salute and headed down the passage before the captain could do more than put her hands on hips and huff.
Sir Imbra practically jumped into the passage, he was so eager to go. Appana followed directly behind.
“I’ll keep them safe, Captain.” Frath saluted her and gestured for Pelya and Ebudae to go ahead. Grinkin followed them, making the seventh member of their party. The squad that followed in single file was Captain Zephan’s best. If everything went well, Thanzin wouldn’t know what hit him.
The weaponmaster stopped at an intersection of tunnels. “Which way?”
Ebudae and Pelya headed to the front. “We’ll lead,” Ebudae told him. With a single spell, she lit a row of torches in a rack along one of the walls and left them for others to pick up and carry. The weaponmaster raised an eyebrow at the yellow-green color, but he grabbed one. To the right was a different set of stairs the girls had never taken, but Pallon Estate informed her that it would be the fastest way and in a few minutes, they were at a pair of ancient brass doors tarnished by centuries.
“Do you have the keys?” the weaponmaster asked.
Ebudae faced the group and smiled mysteriously. She held her left hand in the air, pausing for dramatic effect. Everyone watched with baited breath. Ebudae snapped her fingers and the doors slowly opened. Then she winked at the weaponmaster and walked through. Pallon Estate approved. “Show off,” Pelya whispered, smiling as she caught up. Ebudae winked again.
Pelya stopped at a rock wall directly in front of them, arching up to the wall of the building high above the doors. Ebudae did not stop. Pallon Estate told her that it was an illusion anchored by magical wards, cast by one of her ancestors.
She heard gasps from the others as she walked through. Ebudae turned back after reaching the street beyond. In the dim light of scattered luminescent plants, it looked like a natural rock had fallen from the ceiling above. She and Pelya had been that way before without ever giving it a second glance.
Pelya was the next out, eyes wide. “I never knew that was there.”
“I know, right?” Ebudae agreed in amazement.
The weaponmaster was the next through. Even in the light of his torch, the illusionary rock looked natural. “That’s a neat trick. Can we get back through?”
Pallon Estate informed her that they could. She would also be able to remain in contact with the estate no matter where she was in Dralin or the ruins below. “Yes,” Ebudae said. “If we need to come back this way, just look for that rock and everyone here will be able to get through to the safety of the estate.”
Sir Imbra and the rest of their seven had come through and were looking back at it. Frath and Grinkin had torches that they held hig
h. It still wasn’t enough to see far. Appana tapped her staff on the ground. The resulting light that emanated from the crystal was nearly as bright as day. It caused everyone to shield their eyes.
“Do you think you should announce us like that?” Frath asked, squinting at it.
“My apologies.” Appana dimmed it. It was still brighter than all three torches combined, plus those of the squad members who had passed the illusion by that point. “It keeps slochunds and other vile beasts away.”
“It also draws in the most evil beasts so I can slaughter them,” Sir Imbra said happily.
“That would interfere with our plan,” the weaponmaster pointed out. “Let’s not get into any unnecessary fights before we accomplish our mission.”
“I didn’t know there was such a thing as an unnecessary fight,” Sir Imbra said innocently.
Ebudae listened to them as she followed Pelya down the wide avenue. The warrior had sharp eyes for danger and always took point when they were together. Frath moved next to Ebudae, holding his torch high to give them light. Ebudae liked the company and smiled at him. He returned the gesture.
“Hey! Where do you think you’re going?” Sir Imbra called out after them. “I always take point.”
“Pelya always takes point,” Ebudae corrected over her shoulder. “This is our territory.”
“Fine, but I’m joining her.” The knight dashed past Ebudae and walked next to Pelya. He drew his sword and rested it on his shoulder. “I bet I can knock a slochund further than you,” he boasted.
“I’m not taking that bet,” Pelya replied. She had her light adventuring sword, preferring it to the heavier one she normally wore. If she needed both, she would toss it from her right hand to her left and draw the other.
“Wise of her,” Appana said from behind. She and Grinkin had taken up the rear while the weaponmaster came up on the other side of Ebudae. The priestess had a smirk on her face.
Grinkin looked miserable. He kept tugging on the bottom of his chain shirt and fiddling with the hilt of his sword. Ebudae was worried about him.
Frath also had his chain shirt on. Commander Coodmur had brought it that morning, waking Frath by dropping it on his head. For all these people were dangerous, they always seemed ready to play around or make a joke. Ebudae liked how it relieved tension and even made the adventure fun. Perhaps the fact that they were about to either kill or be killed made the humor vital.
Halfway to the Blavoci estate, a group of nine creatures called tallachi approached the group from between some buildings on the side of the avenue. They were heavyset cat-like creatures that ran on four legs and had long trailing tails. Mottled tan fur covered their bodies and they hunted by sense of smell, being nearly blind. They also smelled bad like most of the carnivores in the ruins.
“I’ll take the eight on the left,” Sir Imbra told Pelya. “If you’re not done with the one on the right by the time I’m finished, I’ll give you a hand.”
Pelya’s lips twisted in amusement and she shook her head. “I have a better idea.” She reached into a pouch on her belt and grabbed out a runeball. Ebudae made hundreds of the magical balls for their little trips and they had become a vital part of their equipment. Both girls had taken the time that morning to prepare in full adventuring gear.
As she threw it, Pelya uttered a key word that activated the ball. Her aim was perfect and the runeball landed a foot in front of the nearest.
Multicolored lights sparkled and sizzled for twenty feet to both sides of it. Wherever the lights touched fur, it caught fire. It also emitted a sweet smelling odor that would interfere with their ability to smell for a few hours. The result was that the tallachi squealed in pain and ran away as quickly as possible.
“Where did you get that, young lady?” Frath demanded. “You’re not supposed to take runeballs out of the armory of magical items. I’ve never even seen those.”
Ebudae put a calming hand on his arm. “I make them. We use runeballs in our explorations and try to avoid fighting whenever possible.”
Sir Imbra stared after the retreating figures that had almost disappeared into the gloom. “That seems like a silly idea to me.”
Appana disagreed. “It seems like a wonderful idea to me.” She moved to Ebudae’s side. “Runeballs are very difficult to make and require strong magic. Where did you learn it?”
“They’re easy for me to make and I read a lot of books on the subject.” Ebudae didn’t like the woman’s suspicious look. “We need to hurry. This whole thing is coordinated.”
The priestess didn’t like that. “Very well. We’ll discuss it later.”
“Oh no we won’t.” Ebudae gestured for Pelya to hurry. Luckily, her friend got the hint and took the lead once more. Sir Imbra caught up immediately.
The rest of the trip was uneventful and it didn’t take them long. All of the shabby streets were wide in the area with the exception of alleys long forgotten by any rogue. Their footsteps echoed against the crumbling buildings.
No one was around the iron double doors when they reached them. “I don’t see any wards,” the weaponmaster said. It was Ebudae’s turn to take out a runeball. She threw it and said the activation word when it had flown through the air far enough. The air filled with lavender light the same as Ryallon’s moons let out when they were both full. The light reflected off numerous runes inscribed into the doors, walls and ground. The runeball stayed in the air at the exact location it was when Ebudae spoke the word, but it wouldn’t last long.
Sir Imbra let out a low whistle. “That’s a lot of protection.”
“That’s an impressive spell,” Appana said. “If you truly made these runeballs, Milady, you are an exceptionally powerful wizardess, especially for one so young.”
“Don’t judge me,” Ebudae replied in irritation.
“It’s hard not to, but I shall make the attempt.” Appana gave a slight bow. “I’m not sure how I would judge you anyway. Are you powerful before your time or are you lying to us?”
Pelya turned and put her face directly in front of the priestess’s. “She is not a liar and her power is none of your business.”
The priestess didn’t back down, choosing to raise an eyebrow instead. Sir Imbra and Gilron separated them. “Peace. We work together,” Sir Imbra said. “All else may wait until the mission is accomplished.”
“How do we get through them?” Grinkin asked. He was becoming more desperate with each passing moment.
“Well, I can deactivate all of the small ones with runeballs, but the large one covering the double doors is extremely complicated and immune to anything I can do.” Ebudae sighed. It would take days to figure out that ward.
“Go ahead and get rid of the small ones,” Frath told her. “We’ll figure out the other.”
“We will?” Gilron asked. “That’ll be very clever of us, won’t it?”
“Has anyone every told you that you drip sarcasm when you speak, Sir?” Frath asked.
“Nope.”
Frath shook his head in playful disgust while the weaponmaster put on his most innocent face. Ebudae took out one of the balls she had made to destroy wards. It would probably take a few. There was a limit to what they would handle. She threw the first at the ground and said the activation word as it left her hand. As it hit and began negating the wards, she grabbed another and threw it at the wall. She threw one on the ground further away and another at the wall on the other side of the door.
Each one sizzled, popped or fizzled out quietly depending on its strength and purpose. Ebudae wasn’t as good of a shot as Pelya, but her aim was true. The only wards left were the big one on the door and a couple of smaller ones that couldn’t be removed without triggering the big one. Then the runeball that illuminated the wards disintegrated, its power used.
“Very impressive.” Appana didn’t press more than that and the words were filled with respect. “The ward on the doors is beyond my abilities as well.”
“Well then, I guess it’s my
turn, unless anyone else has the ability to get past it?” Sir Imbra asked, sheathing his sword. When no one volunteered, he walked to the door, leaving them to follow. The sergeant in charge of the squad spread his troops out in a semi-circle, ready to go in after the strike group.
The knight dropped to his knees a few paces away from the door and began praying to Reanna. Appana leaned her forehead against her staff and prayed as well. Everybody gave them both space.
It seemed to take a while, even though it was but a minute of prayer. At the end of the prayer, Sir Imbra shouted “Reanna” and jumped to his feet. A shaft of light appeared from above, seemingly coming from nowhere and everywhere. It hit the knight and disappeared within him. Sir Imbra ran at the door and slammed his right fist into it with all the strength of his body. At the last second, the light he had absorbed gathered at his fist. It released upon contact.
The door exploded inward and the walls blew out to the sides in an explosion of white light veined with sickly green tendrils. Everyone but Sir Imbra and Appana covered their ears at the deafening sound. Dust filling the air caused everyone to cough.
They stood there for few moments trying to gather their wits and let the dust settle. Sir Imbra turned around and placed fists on his hips. “My mother told me that it’s always polite to knock. Do you think they’ll answer the door?”
Commander Coodmur was the first to answer. “They would have to be able to find the door in order to answer it.”
The knight looked over his shoulder. A large stone fell from the top of the jagged opening. “It seems to be missing. Pity.” He held his arms out to the side in a gesture of helplessness. “Shall we go in anyway?”
“I think we shall.” The weaponmaster walked to the knight’s side and they made to enter.
“Wait!” Ebudae yelled. “Gather close to me. Quickly now.” Pelya joined her side, but everyone else exchanged confused glances. “Now!” she shouted. They gathered around close. “Relax your minds and bodies. Do not resist.”
Ebudae Page 30
