by Keri Arthur
Again the wind battered the globules right and left, protecting us even as it deepened the river of stone running along the canyon’s floor.
A third barrage came; again it amounted to nothing.
Then the stone under my feet shuddered. I leaned over the parapet and looked down. There was no light, no glimmer, but dark water was running from the base of the wall, and a cavernous hole had appeared where there should have been solid stone. While we'd all been watching the sky, the bipeds had assaulted low with concealed globules.
But I wasn't the only one who'd noticed; an order was barked and the water that had been pumped up to the storage tanks behind us was immediately released. As more globules lit the predawn skies, water poured into the decade-old channels and flooded down the wall. The first wave hit the area of wall that was being eroded; steam rose, but the stone continued to melt, a dark swirl washing through the clear water as it hit the canyon floor and raced toward the nearest crevice.
“Donal,” I screamed, hoping he'd hear me over the howling of the wind. “The base! We need more water at the base of the wall.”
The water flooding the length of the wall immediately switched direction, racing in from the left and the right, rising in speed and force until it formed waves. They crashed into the holes the globules were creating; steam exploded from all three and the flow of black water stopped. I placed a hand against the wall and gathered stone and earth, pressing it into the holes, repairing the breach as best I could.
The assault once again stopped. I stared uneasily at the distant forest, knowing they were out there, knowing this wasn't the end of their tests despite the growing light of day. I clenched my fists and wished I could simply order the earth to destroy them, even if such an order might mean the end of me. But the restrictions on the earth around the bipeds’ base prevented that possibility—not surprising given they now knew they faced at least one earth mage.
The minutes ticked by. Sweat trickled down my spine despite the coolness of the air. I hated being up here, hated being able to do nothing more than watch. We had to find a way to neutralize both the bipeds and their weapons, and we needed to do it soon. Water had successfully extinguished the globules, but the tanks only held a finite amount. More could be pumped in, but that took time.
And time was the one thing we didn't have much of.
A minute passed, then two, then five. Fear pounded through my veins and the stink of it stung the air—though it wasn't mine alone.
Overhead, thunder rumbled and lightning crackled across the storm-clad sky, an echo of the tension assailing the man who could control both, perhaps.
Another minute slipped by.
Then they hit us.
Hard.
Globules sprayed out of the forest, a fierce rain of spitting yellow-green. The wind flung them left and right until the canyon was awash with rivers of stone. The barrage kept coming, filling the skies with its evil and battering the wall of wind with increasing intensity.
Despite the best efforts of the wind and Donal, some got through. They not only hit the curtain wall but also the walkway, eating swiftly through the stone and then dropping into the rooms immediately underneath. Screams rose, horrid screams, as men and women were hit and burned. As an evacuation order went out for all areas under the walkway, I pressed my hands against the wall, pouring every ounce of energy into strengthening and repairing. Nothing I did seemed to make much difference. The wind’s fierceness was waning, and too many globules were causing too much damage now.
Once again thunder cracked overhead, then lightning splintered down, hitting the forest and setting it alight. At the same time, rain hit the garrison, a force so fierce it drowned me in an instant. The wind sent it scuttling in multiple directions, dousing the globules swiftly and efficiently.
As the fire caught hold in the forest, the barrage ceased. The rain's force immediately lessened and the howling wind fell silent. I spun and raced along the wall, ignoring the protests of my aching head and trembling limbs as I leapt over gaping holes and multiple bodies. Just as I drew close to Donal, his strength gave out and he collapsed. I lunged forward, thrusting my arms under his, and took the brunt of his weight as he fell backward. Pain ripped through my shoulders and my legs buckled. I swore but went with the fall, my knees smacking hard against the stone. But better them than his head.
For several seconds, I didn't move. I couldn't move. My head was pounding, my breath was little more than ragged gasps for air, and there were dark spots dancing in front of my eyes.
Thick smoke filled every breath and momentarily blunted the stench of burned flesh and fear. I hoped like hell the fire burned the bipeds as thoroughly as they’d burned us, though I doubted it would actually stop them. But a reprieve, however brief, was welcome.
I wearily looked around. There were bodies, and bits of bodies, everywhere. Between the regular garrison troops and the scout teams, there'd been close to seventy-five people manning the weapons and keeping watch on the wall, but a good third of those appeared to be down. At that rate of attrition, the bipeds would wipe the garrison out in a matter of days.
Medics were already treating the worst of the wounded in situ while others were being stretchered away. No one as yet worried about the dead or those who were barely recognizable as human.
Bile rose and I swallowed heavily, trying to control the strengthening urge to just get out of here. To run.
But if we didn't stop them here, Divona would be their next target. If I was sure of anything, it was the fact that this assault was little more than a test run. A means of discovering what we were capable of.
Now that they knew, far worse would come.
I glanced around at the sound of approaching footsteps and couldn’t help frowning. “What are you doing away from your post, Sage?”
“What do you think I'm fucking doing?” Her voice was tart. “I was ordered to help.”
My frown deepened. “Who told you I needed help?”
“Who do you fucking think? You two are the captain's precious pets.”
I didn't bother biting back or explaining just why the captain was so keen to keep us alive. I simply didn't have the energy.
“Fine—you can help me get Donal back to the bunkhouse. Grab his arms.”
She did so. With his weight off me, I was able to climb to my feet. My knees were bloody and raw, but that was nothing compared to the destruction that lay around me.
I moved to Donal's right, slipping my good shoulder under his before locking arms with Sage. Between the two of us, we were able to drag him off the wall and down the stairs. A number of globules had soared into the courtyard, but they hadn't hit anything important and the rain had stopped them burning too deeply. Those holes were already being filled. The garrison might have been hit, but there was little panic—everyone was still doing their job.
As we stepped onto the walkway that led around to our bunkroom, the earth began to tremble and her anger pulsed through my feet. I hoped the cause wasn't the bipeds doing what she'd said was impossible—burrowing under both the chasm and the wall—but I simply couldn't risk stopping to ask. It was taking all my concentration—all my strength—to keep going.
As we neared the entrance into our room, Sage said, “What happens after this?”
“What do you think happens? We're soldiers. We go back to the wall and we fight.”
She snorted. “I think tonight has already proven the uselessness of that.”
“So what would you rather do? Run?”
“And you don't? I'd figured you to be smarter than that.”
“If they break through here, Divona will be next. And if she falls, there'll be no safe place to run.”
“I won't be running into Cannamore. I'll be grabbing passage across to Gallion and getting well away from this godforsaken place.”
“And how do you plan to do that? Aside from the fact you're stuck here with the rest of us, passage isn't cheap, and all your assets were seized
when you were convicted.” I couldn't help the sharp note in my voice. I really wasn’t in the mood for her nonsense right now. “Donal's cubical is on the left, just inside the door.”
Once we'd gotten him onto his bunk, she stepped back and said, “I don't need money because passage has already been paid for. I just have to show up.”
I rolled my shoulders, trying to ease the ache. “If you prebooked a means of escape out of Divona, you either weren’t very confident of your thieving abilities or simply a rotten thief.”
“In this particular case, I’d say both are true.” She shrugged. “Anything else you need help with?”
“No. Go rest.”
She snorted. “As if anyone is going to rest knowing those bastards are out there.”
She moved past me, but as she did, something hit my side and pain flared. I frowned and glanced down; caught the flash of silver sliding away from my body.
A knife.
A goddamn knife.
Sage was Vin’s assassin.
That’s what the earth had been trying to tell me.
The blade hit again and was once again thwarted by Marttia’s sheer vest. I swore and lashed out with a clenched fist, but Sage was faster than me and ducked the blow. Again the knife hit; this time, the blade slithered down to my thigh and drew blood. I swore again and dropped, sweeping a booted foot around, trying to knock her off her feet. She jumped over the blow and came after me, the knife a blur as she cut and parried, her face intent. I twisted, blocked with my own knife, and ducked her blows, but my strength was low and my reactions slowing. Then she switched the knife from her right hand to her left and punched hard. I pulled back but not fast enough; the blow skimmed my chin and sent me failing backward. I hit the partition wall and somehow remained upright, looked up to see the blur of approaching steel, and threw myself sideways. I hit the ground with a grunt and felt the immediate response of the earth. I ordered her to rise, to lock the other woman in stone, and then scrambled away. Soft laughter followed.
“Not so tough now, are you, Princess?”
I didn't answer. I didn't have to.
In utter silence, a two-foot wide trunk of deadly intent rose behind Sage. Multiple branches of stone swiftly sprouted from it and lashed around her body, pinning her arms to her torso and immobilizing her legs. She screamed for help and fought to escape, but no one came to her rescue, and for the same reason why she’d chosen this moment to attack. There was no one near to help.
And no escape for her.
Not from the stone.
Not from me.
Not from the death that would soon hit.
I leaned against the partition wall, shoved my knife away, and then hugged my knees close to my chest. Everything hurt and my vision blurred. Unconsciousness loomed, but as much as I wanted to give in to its unfeeling embrace, there were questions that needed answers.
Sage soon realized the uselessness of fighting and growled, “Fucking release me.”
“What's in it for me if I do?” I replied evenly. “Nothing but death, I'd wager.”
“I'll give you the name of the person who hired me.”
“I already know that.”
Her skin was pale, almost ashen, but it wasn’t in response to my reply. The stony fingers that held her so securely were drawing ever tighter across her chest, and her breathing was now little more than short, sharp pants. But viciousness remained in both her expression and her voice. “If you knew, why didn't you stop me?”
“Because while I knew an assassin had been employed, I wasn't sure who it was. Tell me, was Dravan working with you?”
Her snort was filled with contempt. “As if.”
“But it was you who told him my court nickname and who needled him into attacking me, wasn't it?”
“If I answer your questions, are you going to release me?”
Which was answer enough. “No. I'm going to sit here and watch the earth squeeze every last drop of air from your lungs.”
“You ain't got the—”
I flicked a finger upwards. Stone flowed from her chest up her neck and then across her mouth and nose, cutting off her air. Her eyes went wide and she screamed, a muffled sound that didn't last long. As death claimed her, I closed my eyes and let unconsciousness do the same to me.
I woke to the awareness of being in bed rather than on the floor. I was also being watched, but there was no threat in the sensation and the earth was silent. I drew in a deeper breath and sorted through the various scents within it. The only person currently in the bunkhouse was Donal—and he was in my cubicle. And given I no longer wore the vest that had saved my life, had more than likely stripped me.
I opened my eyes. He’d swung the small desk chair around and was sitting on it backward, his arms crossed on the backrest. His skin had lost its ashen color, and though faint shadows remained under his eyes, he nevertheless looked far stronger than he had last night.
“You should be resting rather than watching me.”
“I find watching you very restful.” A smile teased his lips. “How you feeling?”
“Probably the same as you.”
“I didn’t have to protect myself from an assassin after expending all my energy repairing the wall. The bitch deserved the death she got.”
Maybe she did and maybe she didn’t, but at least for the moment, I didn’t have to keep looking over my shoulder. “Is she still a life-size ornament in your cubicle?”
“Yes, because the stone locks her to the floor.”
I grunted, touched the wall above my head, and asked the earth to release her. She pulsed in response and, a heartbeat later, there was a crash from the other room.
Donal tilted forward; his frown turned into surprise. “She just hit the ground and shattered.”
I blinked. “Literally shattered?”
“Indeed. I had no idea human flesh could actually become stone.”
“Neither did I.” And it just made me wish I knew more about the earth power. Turning flesh to stone would certainly be a very handy weapon against the bipeds. “What time is it?”
“Five in the afternoon.”
“And the bipeds?”
“No sign of them, but they’re out there.”
“Waiting for night, no doubt.”
“Night, and their main force. They’re only a mile or so out from the Wild Lands now.”
I raised an eyebrow. “The wind can track them?”
He hesitated. “No. But it can track the location of both the concealment shields and the areas that it can’t traverse.”
I grunted. “Once the two forces come together, we’ll be in trouble. You and I haven’t the capacity to keep them at bay, Donal.”
“I know. I’ve asked my father to send reinforcements, but it’s going to take them a couple of days to get here. The distance is simply too far to bridge over the course of twenty-four hours.”
Meaning we had to hold them off for at least that long, and I really wasn’t sure it was possible. Not given we’d barely survived what was little more than a probing attack.
“I need to go get the sword, Donal. It’s our only hope.”
What I was going to do once I got it, or how I was even going to achieve that, I had no idea. The earth might be on my side, but Cannamore’s elite never would be.
“That may be true,” he said, “but the wind is still advising patience—”
“The longer we hang around here,” I cut in, “the deeper the danger grows for the rest of Cannamore. Time isn’t on our side, and we both know it.”
“Agreed, but moving too soon might be as disastrous as waiting. At the very least, we should wait until a reply comes from Gigurri.”
If a reply came from Gigurri. It was rather ominous that there’d been no response from them as yet despite the urgency of Marttia’s request. Still, Donal was once again right. Now was not the time to be making rash decisions—and I certainly hadn’t spent the last twelve years plotting my revenge to waste it a
ll with hasty action. “Has Hilgar had any success breaking down the acid tubes or finding a counter?”
He shook his head. “Aside from water, no. She’s been talking to her counterparts in Divona, though, and it appears both water and platina wire might nullify it.”
I raised my eyebrows at the edge of excitement in his voice. “And this is good because...?”
“Rodestat's fence and much of her rooftops are made of a mix of platina wire and iron.”
“Which won’t protect the walls from either the acid globules or the bipeds themselves. They'll just tear through the wire fence or scramble up and over it.”
“Except that the fence can be electrified. If those bastards touch it, they'll fry. And that will give us time.”
But not much, I suspected. Still, even a few hours extra was better than nothing.
I shifted and stretched, trying to ease some of the niggling aches. My thigh twinged and the area around it felt tight—a result of being sprayed with wound sealer, I suspected, which meant a medic had tended to the wound rather than a healer. That wasn’t really so surprising given the healers had far worse to tend to than a rudimentary knife wound.
The earth murmured a warning and I looked around to see Marx walk into the room.
“Ah, good, you’re both awake.” He crossed his arms and leaned against the outer wall. “I can guess what happened with Sage, but you’d nevertheless better make a report.”
I did so. When I’d finished, he swore and said, “If you hadn’t taken care of the stupid bitch, I most likely would have.”
I raised my eyebrows. “Even I know the military doesn’t believe in an eye for an eye.”
“Except in exceptional circumstances. These times are certainly that.” He studied us critically for a moment. “The commander and Marttia wish to speak to you both ASAP. I’ll arrange for Sage to be removed—”
“That will simply take a broom,” Donal said. “The princess broke her when she disconnected the stone locking her to the floor.”
“Broke?” Marx briefly looked over his shoulder and then added, tone dry, “Remind me never to get on your bad side, Nyx.”
