“Rocks this far down should not be warm to the touch,” the scholar stated feeling the surface of the wall. “The other side is surely the tower.”
“Then how do ye propose we get in?” Nog asked as he sat upon a nearby boulder.
“Many of these tunnels were built with a hidden entrance, usually only opened from the inside.” Dalar said as he continued his inspection. “But many had fail safe’s on the outermost side incase an emergency required entrance from the outside. Typically,” he paused, finding a small crevice that did not seem quite right and rather out of place. Dalar put his hand into the fissure and found a small, mechanical lever waiting for him. “There would be a lever hidden where none would figure to look.” The scholar smiled, pulling the cold metallic device.
The rough sound of stone grinding upon stone echoed through the cave. Dalar feared its scream would alert the entire facility of the party’s presence. The soft glow of everflame peaked through a widening gap in the wall as the way in appeared before the men.
“Here we go.” Nog stood up, axe already in hand.
“We make for the top of the building,” Dalar whispered as he withdrew his pistol. “Quick and quietly. We will not engage in combat unless we must.”
“Understood.” Issac and Stonefinger agreed.
“Good. Let’s go.” Dalar nodded his head, signaling for Nog to take the lead.
Dalar stepped through the gap in the cave wall, joining the Stonefinger in the small grotto on the other side. Two everflame lanterns burned bright on either side of a short, but steep stair; illuminating the small space the party now stood. Without hesitation, Nog darted up the stair and peered over the lip of the upper landing into the building beyond. Dalar released his breath when the Stonefinger gave the all clear. The scholar took the steps two at a time, taking Nog’s place on the steps as the burly man walked out onto the landing.
Looking to his left, Dalar noted there was another flight of stairs that ran upwards. Nog apparently took note of them as well. Sweat formed in Dalar’s palms as he waited as the gruff little man disappeared around the bend where this new flight of stairs met the main floor. Moments passed before the bearded face peaked around the wall and motioned for them to follow. Dalar waved down to Issac, giving him the all clear, and the two men followed after Nog.
They turned the corner to the next flight of stairs, ever watchful for Imperial guards. Dalar thought it strange they had been able to enter the building with not so much as a single troop to investigate the noise. In fact, the scholar found the silence of the building to be rather unnerving. He sensed Nog felt the same, for his eyes seemed ever alert, searching and waiting for an ambush. Yet, there was none sprung. No one showed to challenge the party as they ascended to the upper echelons of the tower.
When they reached the upper landing, they still had not encountered any form of guard.
“Which door?” Nog whispered to Dalar as they stepped into the hallway that grew out of the stairwell. Dalar had not anticipated having to decide on which door they would have to choose to find Katherine, and he felt himself falling into a state of uselessness.
“She was on the western balcony,” Issac whispered. “Right?”
“Aye,” Dalar agreed, realizing where the man was headed. “We just have to figure out which way we face.”
“Then we can figure out which room the lady is being held in.” Issac smiled in agreement. The lad took off down the hall, only going a few feet to reach the first crenellated window. Moments later he returned, broad smile across his face.
“We’re facing west. The lady should be in the first door, there.” Issac pointed to the lonely door beside them.
“Nog,” Dalar turned to the Stonefinger. “How do we proceed?”
“Ye two on either side o’ th’ door,” He said. “I’ll take th’ middle.”
Dalar didn’t feel the need to debate the idea.
“Ready?” Nog mouthed when both Issac and Dalar were in position. Both men nodded ‘yes’.
Dalar held his pistol high, loaded with electrokineticly imbued ammunition. He braced himself for the raucous noise that was about to follow as the Stonefinger lunged towards the wooden door. Dalar thought it a funny sight to see the stocky man speed headlong into the door, letting the weight of his body break the wood off of its hinges. Both Issac and Dalar rushed into the room after Nog.
“Del Morte be damned!” Dalar cursed.
“Where is she?” Issac sounded worried, on the edge of panic.
“Here,” Nog said. He was standing by a wardrobe at the foot of a canopied bed. “She went here.”
Dalar and Issac converged to where Nog stood. Looking into the wardrobe, they found a gaping hole that led to a flight of stairs that descended into the bowels of the tower.
“More stairs?” Issac groaned.
“Aye.” Nog sighed, stepping into the wardrobe. As before, Dalar and Issac followed, taking a quick check of their rear to ensure no one had come to investigate the noise.
As they neared the bottom of the stair, they heard a sound they did not expect to find here; the sweet, shrill laughter of children. The men slowed their pace as they stepped onto the lower landing where a door greeted them, this time slightly ajar. The glow of everflame peeked through the crack. Nog pushed the door open with the blade of his axe revealing a scene Dalar would recall for the rest of his days.
The door revealed a wide space, littered with cots and cribs. There were dozens of children ranging in age. The oldest looked to be no older than two, while the youngest were mere weeks. Attending them were a handful of women, all dressed in black uniforms with a golden cog upon their breast. They simply stared at the three intruders; they did not move to raise the alarm, they just kept taking care of the mewling babes in their arms.
“You are here for the woman.” One of the attendants stated, voice thick with the northern accent of Syntar.
“We are.” Dalar stepped forward, hands held wide to show he meant no harm.
“You will not have her.” The attendant stated. “She is ours now. But we will not fight you. We will not raise the alarm. We are for the children and the children do not need to see such things. You can try to save the woman, but he has her, and he will not let you leave with her alive.”
“Thank-you.” Dalar said. “Issac, stay here and make sure they keep true their word.”
“But…” Issac protested.
“Do it.” Dalar ordered. “If any of them try to raise the alarm…shoot them.” It pained Dalar to give that order, but he needed to. Harming women went against all he had been raised to believe, but he could not allow the risk.
“Fine.” Issac readied his pistol.
“Let’s go scholar.” Nog said, heading for a door on the opposite side of the room.
Dalar followed after him, heart racing. Somehow he knew the next room they entered would be Katherine; the next stage at the end of this stone tunnel would find Dalar facing a fear he wished to never have faced – a world of violence.
As the two men neared the end of the tunnel, they heard the shrill scream of a woman and words of anger. Dalar and Nog looked at each other, knowing that time was running out. They broke into a sprint with their weapons at the ready. All of Dalar’s apprehensions and fears fled as he sped the final leg of this dank tunnel; Katherine’s sobs and screams echoing in his mind.
The two men burst into a wide chamber. There were dozens of large turbines aglow with bright blue light. To their right the last signs of a legion of troops marched into the plains of the isle. Off to the left was an array of tables, all adorned with leather restraints. In the far back corner was a group of electrokinetics in white lab coats, busy at work on something atop a table. Despite all of the sights to be had, Dalar’s focus was on the center of the room.
There she was, strapped to a table with a man in a black uniform atop of her. She was crying as the man forced himself into her time and again. A rage built in Dalar’s chest seeing his old frie
nd violated in such a way.
“Enough!” He yelled, forcing his mind and concentration into a mighty blast of invisible force, ripping the man from Katherine and sending him tumbling across the floor.
“Ye shouldn’t ‘ave done that mate.” Nog said, readying his axe as the group of electrokinetics looked away from their work at the sudden interruption. “Ye go get the lass, I’ll take care o’ them.” And with that, Nog Stonefinger rushed headlong across the room at the group of kinetics now coming at the two men.
Dalar wasted no time and ran towards Katherine.
“Dalar!” She cried when she saw him. “Please, he’s gone Mad!”
“Hush Katherine,” Dalar said, working at the leather straps. Tears streamed from his face as he saw the blood and bruises forming on her lovely face. “We’ll get you free from here.”
As he worked the straps, the scholar took a quick glance to see how Nog was faring. To his surprise, the Stonefinger was holding off the worst the kinetics could throw at him. He had already managed to cleave one, and dismembered another.
“Get away from her.” A stern voice threatened.
Dalar looked away from Nog’s battle and turned to face the man he had thrown from Katherine. The man had slicked back white hair, and wonderfully ornate pyrokinetic lenses.
“No.” Dalar refuted. “You stay away from her.” The scholar raised his pistol. “We’re taking her with us.”
“I think not.” The kinetic hissed.
The grip of Dalar’s pistol gradually grew hotter and hotter, searing the soft flesh of Dalar’s palm. The pain became too much, forcing Dalar to drop the weapon.
“Now, you die.” The man moved his hands with a quick motion, generating a ball of fire that sped towards the scholar.
Fear gripped Dalar for an instant, before he reacted on instinct. Just as with the hibagon on the fringes of the Narn wood, Dalar reached out his hand and, using his mind, deflected the ball of fire.
“You…” the man said, impressed by Dalar’s feat. “I have searched my whole life for one of your abilities, after a run in I had as a child aboard an airship.”
Dalar’s flesh crawled as he realized the incident he recalled as a child. This was the boy he had blasted aboard the ship; this was the boy all along.
“I am impressed.” The kinetic said. “But I must kill you.” With a flourish he generated another ball of fire, this time moving too fast for Dalar to react.
Grabbing hold of Katherine, Dalar pulled her to the floor just as the ball of flame soared overhead. He watched as the condensed energy flew into the far turbine, erupting its pipes and glass enclosure.
With great effort, Dalar lifted all the nearby tables with his mind’s eye. He strained to toss them at the kinetic he faced. But the man was far too skilled for such a weak attempt. The kinetic simply stepped aside or caused the tables to erupt in a bout of fire.
“Dalar…” Katherine’s voice was weak. Dalar fretted, the colour in her skin was paling faster than he could deal with the threat of the kinetic.
The scholar looked to Nog again, who now had managed to narrow his foes down to one. It was clear the battle was far from over, but it certainly hung in Dalar’s favour.
“Dalar,” Katherine said again. Dalar looked down upon her beaten face and noticed she was holding his pistol.
Without hesitating, he took the weapon from her weak grasp and fired at the pyrokinetic. Dalar had always been a poor shot, and now was no exception. Every round missed the intended target, though they managed to bury themselves within the glass of another turbine.
“Not so good with the pistol eh?” The kinetic mocked with an evil grin.
A plan formulated in Dalar’s mind. He needed the turbines to explode, he realized. Their blast would be large enough to disorientate his foe, and still give Dalar and Nog the time needed to escape.
“Nog!” Dalar screamed. “Run!”
“Where do you plan to run?” Dalar’s foe asked.
“Away from you.” The scholar forced his mind to blast the other man again, sending him flying through the air.
Dalar rose to his feet, hoisted Katherine over his shoulder and headed for the door they had come. Being the stronger of the two, Nog took Katherine from Dalar when he reached the doorway.
“Let’s go!” Nog shouted heading back into the tunnel.
“There’s one thing left I need to do.” Dalar stated. He turned to face the chamber again. The pyrokinetic had was only now starting to rise to his feet, and Dalar was not about to give the chance to do anymore harm. With his last bit of mental energy, the scholar reached his hands out and willed the large electrical turbines to rupture.
The blast was something else. Glass and electricity burst into the large chamber. Above, the sounds of explosions could be heard resonating through the stone. As Dalar fled after Nog Stonefinger, he had to wonder how large the device was he had destroyed, or even its purpose. The blasts set the nursery into chaos as Dalar and Nog rejoined Issac.
Large blocks of stone broke through the ceiling, tumbled all around. Dalar panicked. He needed to get the four of them out of there, but with the tower collapsing above he did not know what to do.
“Back to the chamber!” He shouted over the din of falling rocks and cracking floorboards. “We should be able to get out the way that legion was marching!”
To Dalar’s great relieve, the chamber was built of sturdy material and only now beginning to stress under the weight of the collapsing tower. Dalar could not see the pyrokinetic, but he did not take the time to properly search for the man either. All Dalar could think of was that large, gaping entrance to the interior of the island.
The rainfall was light, nothing more than a soft drizzle. Gossimer stood next to his guardian, the mechanical golem called Nine, at the head of the mechanized regiment. They stood central amongst the three battalions that formed the fighting force of the Alliance; Pozians to the left, Valvians to the right, and the Grubben delegation made up the rearguard. Before the assembled stood the tall, majestic airships patiently waiting for their passengers.
Gossimer stifled a yawn with the back of his hand. He did not get much sleep, for he had been busy preparing the cortex-powered constructs for war. Late in the evening, word had come down the Di Delgan forces would be arriving in the morning and that all should be ready to ship out upon their arrival. The orders were sound, but that kind of last minute preparation sent panic, and anger, through the veins of both Gossimer and his commanding officer Abraham.
But, they were able to pull it off. All the golems were powered up with no issues. The machines were outfitted with large shock prods to use as spears against the men of the Imperial Order. Select few of the constructs, chiefly those of single digit numbering, were given shields of steel and silver for added protection. Gossimer thought the sight of so many armed constructs was both beautiful, yet, terribly frightening at the same time.
Now they stood in the open grounds of west block with the rest of the Alliance forces. The view of the amassed troops and artillery sent chills down Gossimer’s spine. The flags and banners of the regiments, and their respective provinces, all hung limp, sodden with the rain. Yet, the sight still inspired the young lad.
In all his young life, he had never dreamed of being thrust into the heart of battle. He had been schooled as a child about the history of Wynne, all of the great battles fought over its soil. Unlike the other boys his age, Gossimer never found himself at play as a soldier in one of the daring sorties; Gossimer had always been more focused on his duties serving the Valvian councilors.
Yet here he stood. It was rather surreal to Gossimer, and he doubted he would ever truly believe he was a man of war until his first battle. But, so do all who stand on the cusp of the unpredictable chaos of war.
“Men of the Alliance.” A voice boomed over the field. Lucian Margoux, the great Valvian general, stepped onto the deck of his flagship, the Magellan, with arms raised. “Today we come together as one unif
ied voice – a voice that has chosen to not let the inadequacies of the Grand Council of Wynne stymie justice. A voice that has chosen to speak out against the tyranny and violence that Syntar has allied itself with. I, of course, speak of this so-called Imperial Order of Wynne!
‘Many of you have not faced the same woes we Valvians have for the last three years. Yet, here you are, now ready to bring about an end to the disease that has plagued my people. You are here against the mandate, and wishes, of the council. Pozians, Grubbens, you risk your lives for us Valvians when others would not. For that, I am forever in your debt.
‘In a short time, our Di Delgan allies will join us. Once they are here we will take flight and demolish this Order, and work to setting Syntar right once and for all!”
A cheer burst from the lips of the soldiers. Gossimer felt a stirring of pride in his heart, but, just as his silent wards, he did not lend his voice to the cheering. Lucian ushered his hands, calling for silence.
Just as he was about to speak, a long, solemn horn blew in the distance.
“Men, the Di Delgan’s are here!” Lucian proclaimed to more cheering.
“Ser Gossimer,” Nine said with his ever flat, electronic voice. “The one called Nine suggests you ready yourself.”
Gossimer didn’t need the golem to tell him as much, for the horn-calls were too slow and ominous to be calls of arrival. There was a foreboding note that lingered with each blast.
“Nine…” Gossimer was cut off as a sudden blast in one of the warehouses shattered the joy of the assembled military. “Del Morte be damned, what is going on?” Gossimer yelled as two more blasts shook the foundations of another building.
Whistles shrieked loud in the air, calling troops to form up. Panic gripped Gossimer’s throat as debris descended from the sky.
“To me, constructs!” Abraham hollered as the Alliance forces streamed into the cover of nearby buildings. “Gossimer, take half the regiment ‘round the far side of building A4 and see what you can see!”
The Spark Page 42
