Magic Below Paris Complete Series Boxed Set (Books 1 - 8): Trading Into Shadow, Trading Into Darkness, Trading Close to Light, Trading By Firelight, Trading by Shroomlight, plus 3 more

by C. M. Simpson

  Marsh could understand how that must have gone down.

  “And?” Gustav prodded.

  “Well, Henri said...” Jakob swallowed, his eyes darting to Zeb and Gerry as though seeking help. When he didn’t find any, he cleared his throat and continued. “He said working in the fields wasn’t what had saved their lives, and they said fighting didn’t put food on the table, and Henri said being a caravan guard most certainly did put food on the table.”

  He stopped, staring at Gustav’s face, but the captain just waved for him to continue, so he did. “The other guy poked Henri in the chest and asked what good putting food on the table was if someone else got to share the meal with his wife.”

  Gustav looked at the ground and shook his head. “And it was on,” he finished as though that was what Jakob had been going to say.

  “And it was on,” the man agreed, looking thoroughly shamefaced.

  Gustav rolled his shoulders and looked at the cavern ceiling. “Right. We’ll let them sleep,” he said and was stopped by the look on Jakob’s face. “What?”

  “Gonna have to let them sleep, sir. The healers kind of put them out. Pretty sure not even Marsh could wake them.”

  Marsh stirred and Roeglin laid a hand on her arm. “That wasn’t a challenge.”

  She shook him loose but stayed where she was as Jakob stared anxiously at Gustav. The captain took another long breath and nodded. “I get it. In the meantime, we’re needed. Grab your gear. Roeglin, make sure they get to the meeting hall on time. Marsh, you’re with me.”

  8

  Nick of Time

  The rest of the team reached the meeting hall at about the same time as Tabia and her impi. If they were surprised to see that this shield and spear were mostly women, none of them showed it—and Marsh thought it might be a good thing Henri hadn’t made it.

  That man would not have been able to keep his mouth shut, Roeglin agreed, and we’d have been picking his ass up a second time.

  Better than kicking him when he’s down, Marsh told him, although the thought was tempting.

  When everyone had gathered, they moved out. There was a small settlement a four-hour run from the wall. It was a full day’s walk—from both the wall and the Grotto proper.

  Are you going to be okay? Roeglin asked when they discovered they’d be moving at the jog for the journey, and Marsh bared her teeth.

  I’m always okay, Ro. You know that.

  The look on his face said he didn’t know that, but he didn’t argue with her, falling into line behind Zeb and Gerry instead. Gustav took the lead, and Jakob took up the rear.

  “Henri’s going to be pissed he missed this,” he muttered, and Marsh laughed.

  “Maybe he’ll learn not to pick fights with the locals,” she suggested, and Gustav gave a snort of disbelief.

  “I doubt it.”

  They hit the wall. After that, there wasn’t time for argument or talking.

  “We’ll keep watch from here,” one of the rock mages told them, and Marsh watched enviously as they had the rock carry them up above the shrooms and then form alcoves around them.

  Looking up, the only way she knew where they were was because she’d seen them disappear, and then the impi was moving and she dropped into the pace, looping her arm through Roeglin’s.

  I’ll scan the way. She gave him no chance to approve or disagree, tweaking the shadow strands and then seeking what life might be lurking in the cavern around them. It was both a relief and a worry when she found nothing in range of either. The next two hours brought more of the same.

  Although she saw the usual array of creatures and some stray moutons, there were no more shadow monsters in range. Marsh breathed a little more easily, aware Roeglin was relaying the news to Gustav as they ran, even though none of them spoke.

  “Heads up,” Roeglin murmured, breaking her concentration. “We’re nearly there.”

  Marsh was torn. On the one hand, she needed to be alert to her surroundings. On the other, this was where her scan was most needed.

  “How would you be able to tell?” Roeglin asked her, his voice a persistent distraction, and she had to admit he had a point. She might be able to tell the life signs, but unless there were shadow monsters acting on their own, she wouldn’t be able to tell a human villager from a human raider.

  She dropped the scan and glanced up toward where a dim glow of light showed where the lip of the sinkhole was. As she did, she noticed vines hanging over the edge. Not vines. She stared at them. Those hung too straight and too long, their dark lengths silhouetted against the gleam of sunlight.

  “Incoming!” Gustav’s full-throated roar showed her Roeglin was on the ball, as did the hand curled around her bicep steadying her as they began to run.

  They followed the impi as it broke from a jog to a sprint and bolted toward the village.

  Shamka had been named for one of its founding families. Usually a place of orderly industry, it was in severe disarray when the impi arrived. This time the raiders had not brought shadow monsters, but that did not mean...

  Marsh tucked herself in an alcove and reached out into the cavern. Seeing what she was doing, Roeglin stood guard, making sure she wasn’t disturbed as she looked for what they all needed to know. The shadows showed her clusters of fighting men and women, as well as a small group of human lives moving a short distance from the fighting.

  “There!” she shouted, trying to lunge past Roeglin. He caught her and stopped her.

  “I’ve got them.”

  In the shrooms at the edge of the village, Mordan shrieked a challenge and Marsh had a quick impression of her moving into a swift run.

  Hunt with me. The kat’s demand was too much to ignore.

  I come.

  “Don’t you...” Roeglin’s voice faded as Marsh selected a patch of shadow beyond him and bounced to another under the shrooms, following the kat’s path.

  “Deeps be damned and shagged!” echoed in her wake.

  Marsh ignored him. No doubt he’d have something to say about it later, but right now there wasn’t a thing he could do to stop her. Marsh bounced through another set of shadows and found herself running with the kat.

  There, was followed by, Mine! as the kat tagged the mages she would kill.

  Mine! Marsh echoed, selecting two more. These had started to move away from the rest, and Marsh remembered that they liked to have mages on either end of any portal they opened.

  Maybe that’s what I’m doing wrong.

  Focus! Roeglin’s shout brought her out of her head in time to see the raider coming toward her through the trunks of another stand of calla. Marsh didn’t hesitate. She drew the light out of the calla shrooms and dumped it over his head, intensifying the heat she found there.

  Don’t set the cavern on fire. Roeglin sounded alarmed.

  “Fine!” Marsh retorted, leaving the heat where it was and pulling a sword from the shadows. The raider screamed as the light engulfed him. He fell to silence as Marsh drove her blade through his throat. So much for getting clean.

  Don’t make me come over there.

  I’m kinda busy, Ro, Marsh argued, but she was already trying to find the mages. They’d moved while she’d been dealing with their guard.

  But not far enough. They’d stopped to position themselves on one side of what would be a new gate. Marsh watched the shadow swirl as they drew its outline with their hands, linking their magic with the magic of the other pair of mages.

  What are they planning to bring through there? Roeglin’s question was breathless with horror.

  It doesn’t matter, Marsh told him. It’s not happening.

  Mordan snarled her approval and sprang. Marsh’s vision blurred with the sensation of power and movement as her teeth closed over her target’s throat.

  Marsh! Roeglin’s voice pulled her out of Mordan’s head. They’re getting away.

  No, they’re not. But Marsh was grateful for Roeglin’s intervention. When she was done with this, she was
going to find Alois and get him to explain familiars to her. In the meantime...

  She charged out of the shrooms, catching the closest mage by surprise and burying her blade deep in his side. He drew a shocked breath as she pulled it clear and ended him. The other mage dropped his end of the gate and turned toward her, lightning crackling over his fingertips.

  Marsh pulled a shield between them, and his hand slapped hard against it. Before he could pull it away, she folded the shadow around his fingers, enclosing his hand in darkness and holding it there, and then she thrust her sword into his chest, too.

  Kicking him off the blade, she turned, looking for more.

  They came out of the shrooms behind her, their faces contorted with fury. Marsh backed up, catching her heel on one of the corpses she’d created and pitching over backward. With a shout they were on her...or they would have been if a spear hadn’t lanced out of the darkness pinning one to the other.

  Two crossbow bolts followed, and they lay still. Marsh scrambled to her feet.

  Zeb hurried forward, positioning himself to defend her if anyone else came before she could get there. “Do I get dinner too?”

  “And me?” Jakob asked, reloading the crossbow.

  Marsh gave them both an exasperated look.

  It’s only fair, Roeglin chipped in, and she rolled her eyes.

  Not helping, Ro.

  Before she could answer either of their questions, another group of raiders came charging out of the shrooms. Marsh drew a short rain of lightning onto their heads. “Are we even yet?”

  Both men shook their heads. “Nope,” and “They’re not edible,” were not the replies she was looking for.

  “Next time, I’ll let them reach you.”

  Zeb pretended shocked disbelief. “You wouldn’t!”

  “Want to make a bet?”

  “I’d kick your ass.” Gustav had arrived. On his heels were another dozen raiders. The captain kept running, passing Zeb and Jakob as they cut down the lead raiders and drew their swords to meet the rest. Roeglin and Gerry arrived shortly afterward and helped them take down the last two.

  Sounds of fighting carried from the village. Screams followed as Mordan roared, and someone laughed. “Sic ‘em, kitty! I’ll fight with you any day.”

  Marsh bolted back toward the town, the boys running with her.

  She’s okay, Roeglin reassured her. I’m here.

  Marsh wasn’t so sure.

  You forgetting who’s been playing with shadow the longest?

  And you still can’t do what I do, Marsh snapped back and was immediately ashamed of herself. I’m sorry.

  Roeglin didn’t sound worried. I deserved that.

  He went abruptly silent and Marsh raced forward, heading for the last place her mind knew he’d been. To her surprise, he was still on his feet, but he was busy, fighting three raiders with no sign of Mordan or her new companion.

  I told her I could handle it and that she should go save the children.

  “Why don’t you pick on someone your own size?” Marsh demanded, wading in and lashing out at the nearest raider. He turned, bringing the blade around in one fluid movement and she was forced to back-pedal.

  Up close he looked a whole lot bigger than he had when she’d been charging in. Looking down at her, he grinned. “Who were you yelling at, short stuff?”

  Marsh danced back, blocking his next swing and deflecting the thrust that followed.

  “Who you calling short, you great sack of shit?”

  He tutted, coming in fast and forcing her to one knee as she brought her shield up to block his next stroke. Shadow or no, that blow jarred its way down her arm. She tried to reach him with her blade but couldn’t find an opening. He shuffled back a step and set his boot against the shield’s lip, pushing against it.

  Marsh pushed back, angling the shield up, but she didn’t have the strength to move him. “The Deeps dammit!”

  He pushed again, but she was braced enough not to go over.

  “You need a hand?” Roeglin asked, and Marsh tried to work out a way of regaining her feet that didn’t involve surrendering her shield.

  “Yes,” she admitted, gritting her teeth as her opponent’s blade came down before she could get both feet under her.

  “Do I get dinner?”

  This time, the blade came in sideways, and she barely blocked it in time. It left her vulnerable, and she barely moved her head in time to avoid being kicked.

  “Fine!” Marsh watched as her opponent pivoted away to block Roeglin’s attack. “Sonuvabitch!”

  She came to her feet in one fluid movement, her blade leading. This time, her opponent was committed to his attack on Roeglin and couldn’t come around in time. He fell, pulling her sword out of her hand. “Son of the Deeps!”

  She pulled another from the shadows and whirled, trying to find the next threat, well aware of Roeglin watching her with an amused expression on his face. “You—”

  Gustav’s voice interrupted her. “Is this a private temper tantrum or can anyone join in?”

  Well, there was no need for him to sound so...so Deeps-be-damned ADULT!

  Roeglin started laughing, releasing his blade to the shadows as he dropped to his knees. He was laughing so hard it sounded like he was crying. Marsh stared at him in consternation, then looked at Gustav. The Protector captain had a slightly bemused look on his face.

  He pointed at Roeglin. “If you’ve broken him, you’re going to have to fix him.”

  Roeglin doubled over, howling.

  Marsh looked at where Zeb and Gerry were standing. They met her gaze and shrugged.

  “We didn’t do it,” Zeb told her.

  “Yeah,” Gerry added. “Don’t look at us.”

  “You still owe us dinner,” Jakob added, and then looked at Roeglin. “And him, too...for driving him crazy.”

  Roeglin stopped laughing. “I’m not crazy.”

  “Whatever you say, Ro.”

  Marsh ignored them, turning slowly as she surveyed the land around them. “Where’s Mordan?”

  That was enough to erase the last of the levity from their faces.

  Roeglin came over to stand beside her. “Why don’t you check your link?”

  Oh. Marsh did exactly that. She found the kat’s mind purring with contentment as a dozen human children snuggled against her.

  “You’re all going to need a good scrubbing,” a male voice said, and Mordan turned her head and yawned, displaying her fangs.

  He put his hand on one hip and cocked his head, his eyes flaring green. “Don’t you show your fangs to me, young lady!”

  Mordan laid back her ears and hissed at him. Several of the children around her gasped and then giggled, several mimicking her and hissing at the man before them. Marsh hurried, weaving her way between the houses. She’d almost reached them when she was tackled to the ground.

  “For the Shadows-Forsaken Deep! I’m on your shadow-sucking side, you gormless, Deeps-be-damned sonuva—"

  “Shadow Mage Leclerc! That is quite enough.” Gustav snapped out. “Luthando, let her go.”

  He paused. “Before she decides to gut you with whatever she pulls out of the dark.”

  Marsh found herself abruptly let go and scrambled to her feet, backing away from the warrior who had tackled her. She blushed red, seeking her connection to Mordan. The kat was still surrounded by children, but she had rolled to her feet.

  “Yes,” Gustav told her. “You had better go and tell Mordan you’re all right.”

  “Thank you, Captain.” Marsh saw him open his mouth to say more and decide against it. “Get going, Leclerc.”

  She didn’t wait to be told twice but hurried to where Mordan was waiting. Having heard her being dismissed, the big kat had lain down again, letting the children crowd around her. When Marsh arrived, she saw strangers clearing bodies away.

  The raiders were carried out of sight behind a row of stone buildings, but the bodies of those the townsfolk knew were carried gen
tly to the town center. One little girl watched the progress of one and stood up. Mordan stretched out and lifted her gently by the collar of her tunic, setting her between her forepaws.

  “I want my momma,” the child whispered, and the kat curled a paw around her and tucked her against her chest. Mordan rested her head on the girl’s head and regarded Marsh with an unhappy stare. The girl buried her face in the kat’s fur and cried.

  “Dan! What did you do?” Marsh asked her, hurrying past the man watching the kat and kids.

  He settled a heavy hand on her shoulder. “Saved my daughter and my sons,” he said, then added, “Saved me too.”

  Marsh looked from the kat to the man and then at the bodies in the square. “How many did you lose?”

  He shook his head, looking up at the cavern ceiling and biting his lip. His reply was barely louder than a whisper, but it carried. “Too many.”

  9

  Battle Losses

  There were no showers in this town, but there were some hot springs enclosed by a sturdy building of stone. They rinsed off in tubs before entering the pools and scrubbing themselves clean, Marsh admiring the way the water was siphoned away before it had time to become truly dirty.

  When she was clean and once again dressed, she joined Roeglin and Gustav at the edge of the square. Mordan followed, looking thoroughly disgruntled at having her second bath for the day but clean. Marsh laid a hand on her head.

  Mordan gave a soft rumble and leaned against her leg, surveying the square. Anxiety tinged her thoughts, and it didn’t take her long to find what she was looking for—one small figure sitting quietly beside one of the shrouded bodies on the ground.

  Without asking Marsh’s permission, the hoshkat walked over to the child and lay down beside her. The girl’s tear-filled whisper reached them all. “I want her back, kat.”

  Mordan rested her head on the girl’s knee and Marsh swallowed hard.