by Ben Hale
Chapter 29: The City of Dawn
Erix and Rezko fought the helm until the unseen attacker snapped the rudder from the ship. They stumbled and went down and the wheel spun freely. The captain barked orders for the men to gather weapons and stand ready.
“Are you smiling?” Aranis asked.
Jack glanced her way. “Aren’t you?”
Aranis sniffed. “I’m damaged, not crazy.”
“I’m crazy, not damaged,” Sirani said, appearing behind them. Her cackling laugher caused the rushing sailors to veer away from her.
“I’m not much good without my weapons,” Aranis said.
Jack threw Inna a look and she nodded. “I’ll get her gear.”
“Make it quick,” Jack said.
They nodded and darted away. Moments later Aranis returned in her shadow cloak and twirling a ring dagger in her hand. The contrast to the slim dark elf and the formidable assassin was stark, prompting Jack to gesture to her.
“Feel better?”
“A sharp blade is always comforting,” she said, her smile visible beneath her cowl.
“I couldn’t agree more,” Jack said.
They fell silent as the Sea Dancer sailed toward the island. The captain ordered the sail furled as they neared the island and they coasted across the still waters. Sailors lined the docks, their sabers reflecting the moonlight as they stood silent. The captain and his first mate joined Jack at the prow.
“We’re in Ero’s hands now,” Erix murmured.
Something bumped the boat again, directing them to a dock jutting out from the island. The Sea Dancer scraped against an overturned hull on its way in, and Erix hissed an order. Sailors jumped across and tied them to the dock. Then they leapt back to the uncertain safety of the ship. For several long moments they stood in tense silence until Jack began to laugh.
“Are you mad?” Rezko demanded.
Jack stepped to the railing of the ship and leapt to the dock below, advancing toward the city with bold strides. Behind him the sailors cursed him and tightened their hands on their swords. Sirani giggled and leapt after him, her eight-foot form crashing onto the dock and causing them all to flinch. Then Jack called up to them.
“It could have destroyed us already,” Jack said.
“That doesn’t mean it won’t destroy us now,” Inna hissed.
“Look at the ships,” Jack said, pointing to the devastated fleet. “They’re pointed out to sea.”
All eyes turned to the broken hulls and masts protruding from the sea. Some lay on their sides, their hulls caved. But most of them had their prows pointed out to sea, their sterns to the island. Their placement suggested they had been dragged back to the island after their destruction.
“How does that matter?” Rezko growled.
“They were destroyed when they sought to flee,” Aranis said, a ghost of a smile appearing beneath her cowl.
She leapt to the dock and followed Jack toward the city, and Inna followed suit. A moment later Erix ordered a group of his men to find a replacement rudder and repair their ship. Then he gathered a group of ten and dropped to the dock, hurrying to catch up.
“Why would it bring us to the city?” Erix asked.
“More importantly, what brought us?” Rezko asked.
In the distance, the sea exploded into a geyser and a massive form burst into view. The group whirled to face it, but the darkness permitted only a glimpse as it rose into the sky, a glimpse of great wings and a tapered body. Its haunting growl reverberated throughout the city, echoing like a predator that had cornered its prey. The distinctly metallic sound resembled a steel sword scraping across glass.
“Dragon?” Inna asked, shuddering as the growl faded.
“Dragons don’t sound like that,” Aranis said.
“Rez,” Captain Erix said. “Find us a place to stay for the night. I don’t think the Sea Dancer is safe. Make sure it’s close to the ship.”
“Aye,” Rezko said, and peeled away with five of the men.
As they disappeared down a side street Jack examined the city. As he’d seen from a distance, the City of Dawn was a city of spires. Crystal and glass rose to tremendous heights, with some of the towers half the height of the great volcano.
Smaller structures dominated the coastline of the city but were equally as bright. Clouded glass and crystal formed the roofs, making each structure look like a prism. The walls were pristine, as if time itself was afraid to linger.
At first glance the city was flawless, but as they crept through the shadows cast by the spires, Jack noticed the signs of conflict. Doors hung askew, and windows were shattered. One house had a gaping hole rent in the ceiling and wall, as if a fire had chewed through the material.
They turned a corner but found the road blocked by the upper half of a spire. The lower half remained intact, but a titanic force had shorn the spire in half, sending the top crashing onto the homes below. Houses and shops were crushed beneath its bulk, flattened into oblivion by its fall.
Jack walked up to the fallen spire and peered through a crack in the wall. Inside he spotted strange machines and drawings set against the walls. The force of the landing had damaged some, but surprisingly others remained intact. On the opposite side another crack provided a glimpse of the road beyond.
“We should wait until dawn to explore the city,” Erix said uneasily.
Jack nodded, and the group cautiously retreated the way they had come. The disturbing silence of the city permeated every street, and their steps echoed against the walls like they were intruders in a graveyard. They reached the ship and found Rezko gathering the men.
“There’s a house just up the road,” he whispered. “It’s got an upstairs window that provides a view of the ship.”
Erix nodded. “Get everyone to it.”
“Sir,” one of the sailors said. “I’ll volunteer to stay with the Sea Dancer.”
“A brave suggestion,” Erix said, “but you’ll come with us. Take the first watch at the upstairs window.”
The sailor nodded and disappeared. After several tense minutes Erix brought the rest of the crew to the house Rezko had found. Once they were inside the men shuddered in relief, evidently grateful to be off the streets.
The three-story house sat close to the docks, and was higher than those around it. The main floor lay empty, with even the furnishings absent. The walls were empty and perfectly smooth, with nary a painting on them.
“It’s like no one ever lived here,” Aranis said.
Inna ran a finger against the wall, but her hand came away clean. “No dust,” she said. “How is that possible? This city hasn’t been used for forty thousand years.”
“You think someone has been cleaning it?” Erix asked.
Sirani laughed lightly and cast a simple charm. Wind swirled around the room, scrubbing the walls and carrying motes of dust out the open door.
“It was made to stay clean,” Sirani said. She yawned and then said brightly, “I get the top floor!” Then she frowned as she cast about for the stairs. “How do I get up there?”
Rezko pointed to a disc on the floor in the corner. “Stand on that.”
Sirani did as requested and stepped onto the circular space. She squealed in delight as it lifted her to the floor above. Jack grinned and followed her, pleased at the smooth transition to the floor above. A moment later Aranis and Inna joined him.
“The ancients had wondrous magic,” Aranis said.
Jack shook his head. “Ero told me that the ancients were not capable of magic.”
“Then how did they do all this?” Inna asked, sweeping a hand at the city.
“Perhaps he was lying,” Sirani said.
She darted to the other corner and disappeared. Jack made to follow but Erix caught his arm.
“I’m ordering my men to sleep in shifts,” he said. “We still have a few hours until dawn and I don’t want to risk a fatigued crew tomorrow.”
“Then I’ll see you then,” Jack sai
d.
“You’re not staying?” Erix asked.
“I’m in an ancient city that hasn’t seen a survivor in eons,” Jack said. “I’m too excited to sleep.”
Erix snorted a laugh and turned away, muttering about a mad thief. Jack stepped to the second disc and ascended to the top floor. The small space had two windows, one of which pointed to the sea. He stepped to it and gazed down on the Sea Dancer where it bobbed against the dock.
“What’s your plan?” Inna asked from his side.
“You and Sirani get some sleep,” he said. “I’m going to explore on my own.”
“You think that’s wise?” she asked.
He grinned. “I’ll return when the sun rises.”
A muffled snore drew their gaze and Jack turned to find Sirani sprawled out in the corner of the space. Without bed or blanket, she lay on the floor, sound asleep. Her snore rumbled like a lion, causing Jack to grin.
“At least she’s happy,” Inna said sourly.
Jack stepped to the window—but a shadow caused him to pull back. Everyone in the room fell silent, the absence of sound augmenting the growl that rent the air. The sailors flinched as the scraping echo reverberated into silence, and Jack stepped to the side of the window. From the shadows of the room he gazed up, scanning the sky for signs of movement. Aranis, Inna, and Captain Erix joined him, and in hushed silence they searched for the sentry.
A great shape soared above them, banking to the side and curving north. The beast was larger than the Sea Dancer, its wings reflecting the dim light. Powerful forearms extended from the narrow body, the claws snapping as it soared into a cloud. It passed into a column of moonlight, allowing a look of the creature. The arms were silver and metallic, as were the nearly translucent wings. A crimson sheen cascaded off the sentry before it faded from sight.
“It appears we know what brought us,” Jack murmured.
“A dragon,” the captain muttered. “I hate dragons.”
“I’ve never seen a dragon like that,” Aranis said.
“Then what is it?” Inna asked.
Aranis shrugged. “It looks like a machine. Perhaps dwarven made.”
“It’s not dwarven,” Jack breathed, realizing what it was.
“You know what it is,” Inna accused.
Jack turned away and smiled. “The ancients built creatures of pure energy as guardians,” he said. “It’s a construct.”
“You’ve seen one before?” Erix asked, incredulous.
“I’ve fought one,” Jack corrected, and thought of Myra, the construct that had guarded the Vault of the Eternals. “It was a woman made of pure lightning.”
“That isn’t a woman,” Inna said.
“I know,” Jack replied, a smile widening on his face. “It’s a dragon construct.”
Chapter 30: Ancient Secrets
“Are you excited?” Inna demanded.
“Of course,” Jack said.
“It’s killed thousands that came to the island,” Erix said. “I do not think excitement is the correct emotion.”
“How do we kill it?” Aranis asked.
“If it can be killed,” Jack said. “I don’t know how. Still, we don’t need to kill it. We just need to steal from it.”
“You really are mad,” Erix said.
Jack laughed and stepped to the window, “I’ll be back by sunrise.”
“You’re still going out there?” Erix asked. “Alone?”
Jack looked out the window again but saw no sign of the guardian. “The night is an ally,” he said. “And I like to work alone.”
He grinned and dropped from view. The rush of the wind was short lived and he landed on the roof below. Excitement and caution warred within him as he leapt to an adjoining roof and raced across the disturbing city. By the time he crossed the second street he heard a faint footstep. He turned to find Aranis at his side.
“You should be sleeping,” he said.
“You think I’d let you go alone?” Aranis asked.
He came to a halt and turned to face her. “Are you not afraid?”
“Death has no mystery to me,” she said. “I do not fear it.”
“Even from an ancient construct?” he asked.
Her lips twitched into a smile. “Perhaps I am more curious than I care to admit.”
“About me or the city?” Jack asked.
“Both,” she replied.
He stepped close so he could see her eyes through the smoke of her cowl. “I usually like to look a girl in the eyes when I speak to them.”
“Eyes give away too much,” she said, but stood her ground. “And anonymity is better armor than steel.”
“Your assassin trainer taught you that?”
Her lips hardened in a thin line and she turned away. “Not by intention.”
Jack stared at her, confused by the enigma of the dark elf. Aranis seemed focused and driven, capable of nearly anything, yet lacking direction and purpose. Whatever she’d endured as a youth had caused her to shield herself from everyone around her.
Jack realized that as much as she resembled Gallow in talent and inclination to kill, there was a vulnerability to her eyes that set her apart. Jack had taken an instant dislike for Gallow, but not for Aranis. She had just as much blood on her hands as Gallow—more even because she’d lived longer. For the first time he wondered why she’d really come to the surface.
Abruptly a harsh growl erupted from nearby, sending them both into the shadows on a nearby roof. Their vantage point allowed them a disturbingly close view of the dragon construct as it landed on a building nearby.
The daggerlike head swiveled about, its eyes whirring and spinning. Its claws scraped across the roof as it dropped onto the street and padded toward the water. In a burst of speed it leapt into the sea, snapping through a mast that was in its way. The beam was thick, but it sheared in two and splashed into the water.
Jack admired the sleek form as it disappeared, but the dragon exploded from the water an instant later. Flapping for altitude, it banked to the side and aimed for the spires. It weaved through them and disappeared, releasing a final haunting growl. After several moments Jack stepped out of the shadows and dropped into the street. In a whisper of movement Aranis alighted next to him.
“The resemblance to a dragon is striking,” Jack murmured.
“But which came first, the dragon or the construct?”
Jack threw her a sharp look. “You think the ancients made dragons?”
She swept a hand at the city. “Our people have other records of the ancient race, and their disturbing attempts at creating life.”
“Let’s not get caught, shall we?” Jack said, uncertain of the implications of her words.
“I never get caught,” she replied.
“Except by me.”
Her lips tightened. “I permitted the capture.”
Jack grinned and crossed the street. For the next few hours they worked their way through the city. Jack kept his senses tuned above but the dragon did not reappear. As they advanced through the city the clouds drifted away, allowing moonlight to bathe the city.
The buildings of the city proved to be frustratingly empty. Jack had hoped to find an abundance of relics from the ancients, but most of the structures didn’t even have furniture. The sheer emptiness of the City of Dawn was both curious and haunting, but as Jack continued to find nothing he grew frustrated. Then they found the prison.
The building sat on the upper side of the city. Unlike those around it, the walls were fortified and high, suggesting it was meant to keep something inside. Jack and Aranis exchanged a look, and by tacit agreement slipped through the open door.
The interior was a sprawling collection of structures. Jack entered the largest and found the interior to be lined with strange equipment, some of which glowed with faint magic. Jack peeked into a smaller room and saw a window on the opposite side which looked upon a cell.
“They observed prisoners?” Aranis asked.
&
nbsp; Jack moved down the line and saw that each of the cells was different, with the coloring and writing suggesting distinct occupants. He frowned as he spotted the text on one of the doors. The lettering was in ancient script, and he brushed the rune. A flicker of light flowed from the lettering, turning into the image of a gnome with the words Specimen 7 glowing above it.
“What were they doing here?” Aranis asked. She stepped to the next one and brushed the rune, her lips tightening when the image of a dark elf appeared.
“It appears you are Specimen 13,” he said, stepping to her side.
“I’m glad the ancients are dead,” she said, her tone dark.
They exited and Jack motioned to the other buildings. “Perhaps the Mind Vault lies in one of them.”
“This was a prison for the living,” she said. “I doubt they kept anything of value here.”
“There is nothing here,” Jack said, irritation coloring his tone. “I was hoping for more than empty buildings.”
Abruptly she turned to face him. “Is Skorn an ancient?”
His lips twitched into a smile. “Why would you ask that?”
“I’m not a fool,” she said. “You seek to stop an adversary by learning about the ancient race, and Ero’s appearance in Azertorn cannot be coincidence.”
Jack grinned. “Skorn wants to summon his people, and is building a beacon for that purpose.”
“The Necrolith.”
“You really have been listening.”
She glanced back at the disturbing building. “I find I’ve gained a desire to kill him.”
“You and me both,” Jack said.
They slipped out of the prison and made their way into the streets of the city. Light touched the horizon, heralding the coming sunrise. Aranis paused in the shadow cast by a statue in a square.
“Dawn approaches.”
“I think we should climb a spire,” he said, pointing the towers at the center of the city.
“Why?”
“Sometimes the best view is the one from above.”
“And the most dangerous when a dragon is about.”
He grinned. “Think you can keep up?”
