by PT Hylton
“Young Storm Caller,” she said. “It seems you are in a great deal of trouble.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Dahlia glared down at Dustin. “I know you’re new at this, but you did pass your Testing, right? You do know that your primary usefulness in a fight is Storm Calling? And that Storm Calling requires seawater?”
Dustin looked around, scanning the ground and seeing fallen militia members everywhere. Anger boiled up inside him. How many people had Dahlia, Tor, and their crew killed this day? How many decent Holdgaters had met their end because of these greedy bastards?
He turned back to Dahlia. “Did you seriously fill a wagon with seawater?”
“We had to water seal it first. We’ve been planning this for a while. Just in case we had to move against Holdgate.” She glared down at him. “I didn’t think the day would come so soon, though. Thanks to you and your Arcadian girlfriend, we had to move a little quicker than we’d planned. It’s a shame.” She waved toward the bodies on the ground around them. “If not for you, these people could have lived a few more years. Ah well.”
“You’re not going to survive this, Dahlia,” Dustin growled. “Holdgate has seen you for what you truly are.”
Dahlia smiled. “Indeed. That’s why I’m going to burn it to the ground.” She turned toward the street and yelled. “Randall?”
The first mate of Thunderclap trotted over to her. “What is it?”
“Be a dear and kill this young Storm Caller while I destroy the city.”
Randall nodded. “All right.”
Dahlia’s eyes began to glow. She seemed perfectly relaxed standing in a few inches of seawater in the back of that wagon. The rain abruptly stopped, and a hard wind began to blow.
She’s trying to spread the fire, Dustin realized. She wasn’t just threatening to burn down the city—she was actually trying to do it!
Dustin looked up at the wall where the Storm Callers were stationed, wishing he could signal to them to fight her, to bring on a heavy rain. He didn’t know what they were doing up there, but they were apparently too far away to fully understand what was going on.
The first mate stalked toward Dustin, his sword held in front of him.
Dustin lowered his staff, pointing it at Randall.
Randall chuckled. “You going to fight me with a stick?”
“Nah,” Dustin said. “I’m a Storm Caller. We prefer to use magic.”
He pulled the hook on the back of the staff, and a wave of blue energy burst out of the end. The energy slammed into Randall’s chest, knocking him onto his ass. He didn’t get back up again.
Dahlia blinked, and the glow in her eyes dimmed. “You are full of surprises, young Storm Caller.”
Dustin set the end of the staff on the ground and gripped it. “You have no idea.”
He couldn’t wait any longer, and he couldn’t count on the Storm Callers on the wall. He was going to have to act now if he wanted to save Holdgate.
Dustin closed his eyes and called the storm. He called the rain, pulling on the energy in the ground beneath his feet. He found after a moment that he could even feel the tide pushing and pulling somewhere to the east. As the raindrops began to fall onto his skin, each one focused him, allowing him to draw a bit more energy.
Then, suddenly, the energy pulled back.
Dahlia. She was fighting him. Her energy was fighting his.
She spoke through gritted teeth. “How are you doing that?”
Dustin didn’t answer. Instead, he worked harder, shaping the energy into rain even while he was using it to stop Dahlia’s wind.
“There’s no seawater,” Dahlia said. Her voice came out in a weak groan. “Where are you getting all that power?”
Dustin risked opening his eyes for a moment. He felt a bit of the power slip away, but it was worth it for what he saw: Dahlia’s eyes were squeezed shut, and cords of muscles were standing out on her arms.
She was struggling.
Dustin closed his eyes again and redoubled his efforts. After a moment, he felt Dahlia’s grip on the power slipping.
Something slammed into the side of Dustin’s head, and he cried out in pain. He opened his eyes and realized he was on his back. Randall stood over him. He was rubbing the knuckle of the fist he’d just used to punch Dustin.
“You’ve got a hard head,” he said. He picked up Dustin’s staff and gave it a close look. “Fascinating. A magic stick. What will they think of next?”
Dahlia looked at Randall, her eyes alive with fury. “I had him. You didn’t have to do that!”
“Apologies, ma’am.” He pointed the staff at Dustin. “But you told me to kill him, and I always obey orders.”
****
Abbey, Benjamin, and eight sailors sat in their small boat, madly paddling for shore.
“They tricked us,” Abbey said. “I can’t believe we fell for it.”
“In our defense, they are Storm Raiders,” Benjamin said. “It’s not crazy to assume they’d come from the sea.”
“Which is exactly why we should have seen it coming,” Abbey replied.
Benjamin pulled on his oar and let out a grunt. “The only way I can figure it is they snuck ashore somewhere outside town, one small ship at a time. Then they approached from the east side of the city while our attention was facing west toward the sea.”
Abbey shook her head in frustration. “No one ever said they weren’t smart.”
They reached the shore, and Abbey and Benjamin took off for the center of town, the sailors close at their heels. The other boats were landing quickly, and their occupants leaped onto the docks and followed, eager to join the fight.
The fog appeared to be lifting, and Abbey saw a building was on fire up ahead. It started raining a few moments later.
“Nice work, Storm Callers,” she muttered.
She ran toward the fire, her eyes fixed on the blaze. It would take a hell of a lot of rain and a hell of a lot of luck to put that thing out.
The militia was spread throughout the streets, and it was clear they weren’t doing well in this battle. Despite Syd’s best efforts to prepare them, one day wasn’t enough. The crew of Thunderclap was making quick work of the barely trained forces.
Abbey saw Benjamin run up to one of the Thunderclap crewmen. The sailor stood a head taller than the Arcadian.
“Well, if it isn’t the blacksmith,” the crewman sneered. “Good. I could use a new sword.”
Benjamin smiled. “I’m happy to share mine with you. Tip first.” His eyes turned black, and his sword burst into flames.
The crewman was too stunned to mount a defense as Benjamin charged and ran him through with his fiery sword.
The blacksmith spun toward another Thunderclap crewman and dispatched him just as quickly.
Abbey stared for a long moment. She’d never seen her father when he wasn’t holding back. It was a thing to behold. With him on their side, they just might stand a chance.
She heard a familiar voice shout and turned toward the sound. She saw Dahlia standing in a wagon, Storm Calling. Nearby, Randall, first mate of Thunderclap hovered over Dustin, who was flat on his back on the ground. Randall was holding Dustin’s Storm Caller staff, the one her father had made, and was pointing it at Dustin.
Abbey’s eyes widened. She knew what that staff could do. It was designed primarily to knock people back, but at that range, it would be deadly.
She charged Randall and dove at him, wrapping her arms around his body and tackling him to the ground.
He let out a surprised shout as he slammed onto the cobblestone.
Abbey wasn’t going to let up just because she had him down. This guy was eight inches taller than her, and his arms were thicker than most men’s legs. She punched him in the face with her left fist, then her right. She threw punch after punch, pummeling him, not wanting to give him a moment to recover.
With a groan of frustration, he grabbed her by the waist and pushed her off him. She rolled as she lande
d, and she quickly sprang to her feet and drew her sword.
Randall squinted at her like she was crazy, then laughed as he drew his weapon. “Are you serious right now? I could squash you like a bug.”
“No offense, but I’ve heard that before.” She rushed at him, feigning a strike at his midsection. When he moved to block it, she went for his head.
He just managed to block the blow.
“I can’t help but notice you’re not laughing anymore,” Abbey said.
Randall growled, then he charged.
An image flashed through Abbey’s mind of fighting Olaf in her father’s shop. That fight hadn’t been that different from this one. Randall was certainly more skilled, but he relied on his size and his strength, just like Olaf. And that Abbey could handle.
She took a step back and easily parried the strike, hitting the tip of Randall’s blade with her sword. She made a counterstrike, swinging for his neck, but he somehow managed to stumble out of the way.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Benjamin helping Dustin to his feet. The Storm Caller looked a little shaken, but he picked up his staff and shut his eyes.
Abbey realized the rain had stopped, and the wind was whipping hard against her. She glanced up at the Magistrate’s building and saw the flames were licking the neighboring structure, driven by the wind.
Damn it all, Abbey thought. Dahlia is going to burn down the city!
Randall raised his blade again and grimaced at her. “Let’s finish this.”
Abbey started to reply but paused as she saw someone creeping up behind him. “You know what, Randall, you’re not even worth my time. You’re just a lackey. It’s your bosses I’m interested in. Isn’t Tor supposed to be the greatest swordsman in the land? Where is he, anyway?”
Randall smiled. “You’ll never get the chance to find out. I’m going to—”
He fell to the ground, blood pouring from the wound in his neck.
“Hey, thanks,” Abbey said to the man who’d stabbed Randall.
“No problem,” Olaf said, his sword raised. “Just remember, I saved your life. So, that kinda proves I’m a better swordsman than you, if you think about it.”
Abbey’s eyes narrowed. “It doesn’t prove that at all. Just because… Wait, I’m debating this with you now? Go kill some Storm Raiders!”
Olaf smiled, gave her a mock bow, and ran off.
Abbey scanned the area, trying to figure out where her help was most needed. Syd and Benjamin were engaged with Storm Raiders, but both were doing fine. The militia was actually rallying with the help of the new arrivals. But Dustin… he wasn’t looking so good.
He was gripping his staff, but not like he usually did when he Storm Called. His back was hunched, and he seemed to be using the staff to support himself.
She turned and looked at Dahlia. The woman seemed to be having a much better time of it. She looked perfectly relaxed, and blueish-green light poured from her open eyes. A Thunderclap crewman stood in front of her wagon, protecting it from any would-be attackers.
The rain was completely gone now, and the fires were spreading.
A voice spoke in Abbey’s ear. “Remember when you said this felt like cheating?” She turned and saw Jarvi standing next to her, holding out the shocker, her father’s old weapon from his Arcadian days. “I think it’s time to cheat.”
She took the shocker, but she wasn’t sure what Jarvi wanted her to do with it.
“I’ve done some tests,” he said. “That shocker likes water. A lot. And that Storm Caller appears to be standing in about three inches of it.”
Abbey nodded and turned toward the wagon. Maybe it was time for this weapon to finally do some good.
Sword in one hand and shocker in the other, Abbey charged the wagon. The man guarding Dahlia saw her coming and raised his sword, but Abbey stabbed him in the arm, and he dropped his blade. Her next strike finished him.
Dahlia noticed Abbey approaching the wagon, and her eyes widened. “What are you doing, you filthy Arcadian?”
Abbey smiled. “I’m using filthy Arcadian magic.”
She sank the shocker into the water, and Dahlia jerked once and collapsed. The smell of lightning filled the air.
Abbey tossed the shocker back down to Jarvi, then she started to climb up onto the wagon. Before she could, something slammed into her back, sending her reeling to the ground.
She looked up and saw a Thunderclap crew woman glaring down at her, holding a mace.
The woman raised the mace, preparing to bring it down on Abbey’s head, but Abbey was faster. She sprang forward, driving her sword through the sailor’s stomach.
Abbey turned back toward the wagon. To her surprise, Dahlia was trying to stand. She crouched shakily as she put her weight on her staff.
No. She wasn’t trying to stand. She was trying to Storm Call!
Dahlia’s eyes suddenly glowed blue-green, and a thick fog materialized, obscuring Abbey’s view of the battle around her.
Arms reach into the cart and grabbed Dahlia, lifting her to the street. But was it Storm Raiders or militia members who had her? The fog was too thick to be sure, and Dahlia was disappearing into it.
“Abbey!” It was Dustin. “Get over here. Quickly.”
Abbey kept her eyes fixed on the fog where Dahlia had been a moment before. She wanted to pursue the Storm Caller, but there was a desperate urgency in Dustin’s tone.
“Listen to me,” he said, his voice weak from exhaustion. “I couldn’t figure out why the Storm Callers on the wall weren’t helping. Then I remembered. We haven’t seen Tor.”
It took Abbey a moment, then she got it. “Shit.” She had a choice to make. Pursue Dahlia or try to stop Tor.
“Abbey, he’s going to kill them.
She thought for a moment, then she turned to Jarvi. “Dahlia’s trying to escape. Find my father and Syd, and make sure that Storm Calling witch doesn’t make it out of the city.” She spun back toward Dustin. “You see what you can do about quelling these fires. I’ll go after Tor.”
She turned and dashed toward the wall without waiting for a reply.
****
Abbey raced up the steps toward the top of the wall. If Dustin’s suspicions were correct, there wasn’t a moment to lose.
It was raining hard now. They’d managed to stop Dahlia, and it appeared the militia and The Foggy Day crew had the Thunderclap crew well in hand. They’d stopped the Storm Raiders. All but one.
The most important one.
She reached the top of the stairs and froze. What she saw made her gasp.
Tor stood alone on the top of the wall, his bloody sword in his hand. He was looking out at the sea. The fog was gone now, and the sun was rising over the city. It was still dark over the water.
The bodies of six Storm Callers lay dead along the top of the wall.
He glanced back, saw Abbey, and chuckled. He turned back toward the sea. “You know, I was sort of hoping it would be your father. I’ve always suspected there’s more to him than meets the eye.”
“It runs in the family.” Abbey’s voice shook with anger when she spoke again. “You’ve lost, captain. We took out your Storm Caller and your crew.”
He turned back to her at that, genuinely surprised. “The boy defeated Dahlia?”
“We did it together. The people of Holdgate.”
Tor scoffed. He gestured at the column of smoke rising behind her. “And yet the city burns.”
“Not for long. The buildings can be rebuilt. You haven’t destroyed anything permanently.” She shook her head, truly disgusted at this man. “What was it all for? All this death?”
Tor thought about that for a moment before answering. “Call it a test run.”
Abbey bristled at that. “A test run for what?”
“I needed to test my theory. I’ve been a Storm Captain a long time, but I’ve never attacked from land. And I’ve never attacked a city as fortified as Holdgate. It’s sad that I lost my ship and my crew in the p
rocess. And if Dahlia’s truly dead… Well, I’ll believe that when I see it. But if she is, that’s a greater loss than all the others combined. Still, it was worth it to know how my plan will play out when I attack my real target.”
Abbey was barely able to contain her rage. All this killing was practice? What the hell was he talking about? “I don’t understand. If Holdgate isn’t your real target, what is?”
Tor let out a laugh. “Haven’t you figured it out? A heavily-fortified, land-locked city with magical defenses? My target is Arcadia.”
Abbey gritted her teeth.
He held up a hand. “Don’t get me wrong. It won’t be easy. But with my Barskall army, my fleet of ships, and my other allies across the sea, I believe we can do this. I…” He trailed off as he looked at Abbey. “My dear, did you know you’re shaking?”
“Yes, in fact, I did.” She raised her sword and charged.
If Tor was surprised, he didn’t show it. He smoothly stepped into a defensive stance and raised his sword. He deflected Abbey’s attack with the flick of a wrist.
“Not wise,” he said.
He thrust his blade, quick as a flash. Abbey spun out of the way, but the blade bit into her left arm, cutting the skin.
Tor gave his head a slow shake. “I imagine a girl like you is used to winning sword fights with her speed. Am I correct?”
He struck again, and she barely managed to deflect the blow.
“I’ll bet all the boys rely on their strength to beat you, and that’s how you catch them off guard.” He didn’t even sound out of breath.
Abbey tried a feign to the left, but he didn’t fall for it.
“Sadly, you’ll find that’s not the case with me,” Tor said. “I never assume. I test my opponents and find their weaknesses. Only then do I commit myself to an attack.”
He lunged, thrusting his sword toward Abbey’s chest. She dove to her left, again narrowly avoiding his blade.
Tor tisked softly. “I’m afraid you’re not going to beat me, dear. You simply don’t have it in you.”
Abbey struggled to catch her breath, holding her sword in front of her, carefully watching him for any sign he might strike. She hated to admit it, but a tiny part of her thought he might be right. She wasn’t going to give up, but the inevitable outcome was becoming clearer. She’d given her all, and it wasn’t enough. She’d come damn close, but this bastard was going to defeat her.
