Facing Fortune (Guardians of Terath Book 2)

by Zen DiPietro

  Will smiled. “We could make that a recruiting slogan. ‘Come for the training, stay for the spiffy stars.’”

  “Keep working on it,” she advised. They shared a moment of silence and Will’s smile faded. “You’re worried,” she observed. She wasn’t as good as Arc at distracting people with humor, but she’d tried.

  “Yeah, I am. Simply fighting an enemy would be straightforward. But dealing with an unruly mob is something else. I don’t like facing off against the very people we want to protect. We need to convince them to calm down, and avoid escalating the situation. It’s a tricky balance.”

  “It’s a big task, but I have faith in you. And whatever happens, I’ll be right beside you.”

  Will ran a hand through his hair. “Thanks, Kass. I’d prefer to do this without your blowing everyone up, but if it all goes south, at least I know you can handle that. “

  She pursed her lips. “When did I say you could call me Kass? In fact, I specifically remember telling you once that you couldn’t.”

  He laughed. “That was a long time ago. I thought I’d risk it, given everything we’ve been through. And I do outrank you.” He made a fist and gently punched her shoulder.

  “I suppose it’s okay, as long as you never call me that in front of anyone who doesn’t also have permission to call me that.”

  “How would I know?”

  “It’s an elite group. Even you should be able to remember. Just you, Izzy, and Arc.” She returned Will’s punch to the shoulder, with just a little added interest.

  She shifted her gaze to Arc, who sat on the other side of the car talking to an archer. He waved his hands in expansive gestures that seemed to illustrate a violent breeze. She wondered what that conversation was about.

  In short order, the Guard reached a station hub where they switched cars and continued on their way. After one more switch, which had been carefully orchestrated by Magistrate Trewe to minimize time and the Guard’s visibility, they arrived at the hub in Janis.

  Arc joined them for the last leg of the journey. He joked and teased, and Kassimeigh sensed that he managed to ease some of Will’s tension. Finally, the monorail slid to a smooth stop and the doors whisked open.

  Kassimeigh and Arc stepped out first, with Will just behind them. They all paused when they saw a familiar, very welcome face waiting for them.

  Huge smiles burst open and a flurry of hugs and greetings broke out.

  “Will!” Izzy squeezed him into a big hug and stepped back, grinning up at him. She tilted her head and sent him a speculative look. “The last time I met up with you at a station, I found you enjoying nude male sculpture. Is it still a hobby of yours?”

  Instead of blushing and stammering as he would have the first time they’d met, Will simply grinned back. “Actually, I’ve developed an appreciation for female portraits. Care to pose for me sometime?”

  Izzy’s eyes sparkled and a laugh burst out of her. He’d certainly changed, and she liked this more confident version. “Have your people call my people. I might have an availability in fifty years or so.”

  Will laughed. “It’s good to see you, Izzy.”

  “I’m glad to see all of you. I’ve been buried under work lately. Though I wish you’d called me for something more fun than riots and mayhem.”

  “We haven’t quite reached the rioting stage yet. That’s what we’re trying to avoid.” Will’s smile had faded.

  “Right. So what’s the plan?”

  “The shivs are meeting us here as well. A small contingent of the Guard will join them for a slow walking tour of the city. We’ll make ourselves conspicuous, but hopefully nonthreatening. The rest of the Guard remains here, hopefully waiting for a call that never comes.”

  “Okay, go out, be seen. Then what?”

  “Word will spread fast. Hopefully our simply being here will calm things down and make people think again about allowing themselves to get carried away. There have been several fistfights but so far it hasn’t escalated past that.”

  “What if our being here actually provokes a clash?”

  “You’re here to make sure we don’t. Magistrate Trewe has already made an announcement about the mana bugs, and our impending arrival. I want you to gauge the reaction we’re getting and keep me constantly updated. If we get a negative reaction, we may need to go on the offensive.”

  Izzy grimaced. “Last resort, I hope.”

  Will’s eyes met hers. “Yes. Last resort.”

  Izzy studied Will for a long moment. “Okay. Let’s find those shivs and get organized. The sooner we ease the tension, the better.”

  Kassimeigh and Will led, while the rest of their contingent fell into a loose, casual formation. They walked in pairs and trios, as if they were simply a group of sightseers.

  Shivs flanked the edges of the group. Dressed in full shoka, they couldn’t help but be intimidating. Their all-black hooded outfits allowed only their eyes to show. Kassimeigh knew from long experience that the shivs’ daunting appearance tended to have an ironically calming effect. Though a guilty heart might recoil at the sight of a shiv, a blameless one welcomed the protection implied.

  She could only hope that the people in Janis were the blameless sort. She herself felt quite comfortable among the shivs. Walking with them, she could almost imagine she was one of them. Over her shoulder, she noted Arc walking with Justin Trane. Arc noticed her scrutiny and sent her a wink. Just behind him, Carston and Izzy walked together. Izzy’s mouth was tight with concentration, while Carston grinned and winked when she caught his eye.

  As their group strolled through the town toward the site of the demonstration, citizens of Janis stopped and stared. Parents held their children close, but didn’t rush away from the wide lanes and garden squares. In the windows of the widely spaced buildings, curtains fluttered aside and curious faces appeared. Will had encouraged the troops to smile and offer greetings to passersby, but responses were hesitant and few.

  Kassimeigh and Will set a leisurely pace through the outdoor shopping plaza. Handmade crafts and secondhand goods hung forgotten on pegs, while hopeful vendors watched them pass with no concern for the colorful wares spread across the tables in front of them. Kassimeigh offered pleasant nods to anyone willing to meet her eyes. A little girl with ribbons in her hair grinned and waved as though watching a parade, until a woman scooped her up and hurried away.

  Once past the bazaar, they progressed toward the town square. As they drew closer, Kassimeigh heard shouts. She couldn’t tell how many voices there were, but so far, the situation did not sound severe. Of course, a situation could go from innocuous to deadly in a moment, so her initial impression didn’t necessarily mean anything.

  Kassimeigh exchanged a look with Will and they fell back to confer with Izzy. Arc and Justin took up the front of their procession and continued a slow march forward.

  “What do you think?” Will asked Izzy.

  She peered ahead, then returned her attention to the two of them. “The people we passed in the bazaar seemed wary but generally relieved to see us. I don’t think they’ll join in the protest.”

  “And up ahead?”

  “A big mix. Some hubris, some attention seeking, some fear, and some outrage. Many of the people are just here because it’s an exciting spectacle, not because of any vested interest. Those are the ones that will fall back quickly. The ones projecting fear and anger are the ones to worry about. They’ll be what’s left when the others shy away.”

  “Thanks, Izzy. That helps.” Will entered a message on his hand comm. In response, the shivs pulled away from the flanks and took the lead.

  Kassimeigh stayed where she was, walking with Izzy and Carston while keeping her attention on the shivs ahead. As their small contingent approached the center of the town square, the noise level dropped dramatically.

  Kassimeigh stepped to the front, just behind the phalanx of shivs. Izzy moved up with her, leaving Carston in the middle of the contingent. They entered the town
square and paused to take in the scene.

  Kassimeigh estimated that two to three hundred people were stuffed into a small area at the center of the square. The crowd faced a makeshift platform. Upon noticing the shivs, the protesters turned away from the stage to stare at the Guard. Some began backing away. Will stepped forward, just ahead of the shivs.

  Kassimeigh raised her eyebrows at Izzy in a silent question. “Some hostility, fear, worry. Very touchy,” the empath murmured tersely.

  A young, scruffy-looking man climbed up on the dais. No one had bothered to put a ramp or a step in front of it, so he hoisted himself up, then scrambled to his feet. His blond hair looked like it hadn’t been washed in weeks, and his clothes looked worse. He probably smelled terrible. But the crowd seemed heartened to see him stand up, and the noise level rose. Some people, eyeing Will’s contingent, moved away.

  “Have you come to shut us up?” the young man yelled. “Are we not even allowed to have an opinion?” Kassimeigh guessed he was maybe eighteen years old. He stood at medium height for an adult, but was thin and rangy, like a boy who hadn’t quite finished his transformation to manhood.

  Is this kid the malcontent responsible for this demonstration? Or was he the only one with the nerve to face us? Kassimeigh wondered.

  Will took another step forward, increasing the distance between him and the shivs, who stood by silently. “Everyone has the right to an opinion,” he called back. “It’s how you’ve acted on it that brought us here. You’ve created a situation that could incite people to violence. We’ve been sent by the Council to keep Janis safe. We don’t want to see anyone get hurt.”

  A murmur went through the crowd. The blond man scowled. “Then why aren’t you off saving the hinterlands? Whatever’s eating the trees is the threat, not us. We’re just citizens.”

  Will raised his hands in a conciliatory gesture. “Then you need to leave the matter to the people with all the facts. The Council of Magistrates is using all its best resources to find out everything there is to know. As of right now, there’s no cause for alarm.”

  Shouting to each other across the distance was not the ideal means of communication, but Kassimeigh was glad that Will hadn’t pressed forward. If the crowd found the contingent threatening, even the people who were here on a lark could panic and begin fighting. Though they they hadn’t found the dire situation she’d feared, achieving a peaceful resolution hinged on what happened in the next few minutes.

  The blond man stepped to the edge of his little stage, frowning. “How do we know the Council isn’t hiding something? We don’t want to find out the truth when it’s too late.”

  “Too late for what?” Will called, taking another step forward.

  “For us to look out for ourselves! If something is going to use all our mana, we need to eradicate it now. What do we care about studying whatever it is? We should get rid of it while we can.”

  Shouted agreements rang across the square, and the noise level grew. Kassimeigh glanced at Izzy, who frowned and shook her head.

  “Many of the people think this guy’s spewing entertaining garbage. But the group as a whole is getting riled up. We need to change the situation.”

  Kassimeigh considered, then pushed forward to join Will. “If we take care of the blond guy, things should settle down,” she murmured. “No one’s standing with him. Do you trust me?”

  Will didn’t hesitate. “Of course.”

  Kassimeigh dropped her backpack to the ground then slid her scabbard off her shoulders as well. She strode forward into the crowd of people. Startled, they parted. These were just frightened townspeople, Kassimeigh knew. They were drawing on the righteous indignation of the man shouting inflammatory nonsense. To stop the stupid decisions, she only needed to stop the stupid decision-maker.

  Once she made it to the center of the square, she judged the height of the little stage and decided that a modest display of skill would increase her standing with their audience. If they found her more entertaining than the man, they might shift their support to her.

  She turned away from the stage and took a step away from it. She bent her knees, then launched herself backward with explosive force. Below her, she saw the platform come into view and she reached for it. Her palms hit and she rebounded, flipping herself upright again and landing on her feet. She straightened her knee and pivoted to face the blond man. She wore the unaffected expression that Arc called her “shiv face,” implying that the impromptu gymnastics had occurred with barely any effort.

  As she’d hoped, appreciative murmurs rippled through the crowd. She glanced out and raised a sardonic eyebrow, prompting a ripple of surprised laughter. Good. She had become the most entertaining person on the stage.

  At her height, she towered nearly a full head over the blond. She used her size to her advantage and invaded his personal space just slightly, forcing him into a defensive attitude.

  “So what’s your plan here?” she asked him in a low, almost bored voice meant only for him.

  “I don’t have to answer to you.” He scowled. “We have a right to voice our concerns and to fight for our survival.”

  “Your survival is not in question,” Kassimeigh countered evenly as she edged farther into his space. “That is, of course, if you’re not an idiot. But then, you’re up here, screaming nonsense. So at this point, I’m betting that you really are an idiot.”

  As she’d intended, her insult prompted him to pull his arm back and throw a punch. Her hand snapped forward and caught his fist, imprisoning it in midair. He tried to retract it but she held his arm completely immobilized. She gave him a bored look.

  She glanced out at the crowd. With her free hand, she pointed to the blond, then rolled her eyes. Louder laughter this time.

  Kassimeigh’s combination of skill and comedy had given the shivs a chance to approach. They now flanked each side of the stage, watching her and the man. Kassimeigh smiled. She was sure the townspeople were wondering how the shivs had seemingly appeared out of nowhere.

  The crowd shifted back slightly. A glance at Izzy’s smile confirmed that the mood had changed. Now, she need only finish up. She released the man’s hand and crossed her arms.

  “I’ll ask again. What’s your plan here?”

  “We just want answers.”

  “‘We’? I only see you here, friend.” She slanted him a pointed look. “Ask me your questions.”

  He blinked. “Questions?”

  “You said you wanted answers. I’m the one to ask.”

  He looked at her, at the people in the crowd who had apparently abandoned him, and then at the shivs. His eyes flickered with some internal dialogue. “Uh, right. Questions. What are the mana things that were discovered?”

  “Some sort of bug. Looks like this.” Kassimeigh held out her hand and released a few dozen replicas, sending them fluttering out into the crowd. Hands reached out, trying to grab one, but unfurled fingers revealed only empty palms.

  A single one remained on her fingertip, and she showed it to him. The man regarded her uncertainly, then leaned closer to peer at the shiny green beetle. “That’s one of them?”

  “No. Just a facsimile.”

  “Do they destroy mana?” The set of his shoulders had eased, and he now seemed merely curious.

  “No. But it seems they consume it. However, they also excrete it. A colleague of mine was pretty offended by that. But whatever it all means, we don’t know yet. That’s up to the scientists. Maybe it will lead to some wonderful advances in technology. Right now the only threat is losing some hinterlands flora, but we have a team monitoring the situation and healing the damage.”

  She dropped her hand to her side. “You’re not in any danger. Well, unless you do something stupid right now.” She smiled just a little, giving him the opportunity to back down.

  A smirk raised half of his mouth. “I’m already feeling pretty stupid. All these people saw me get my ass handed to me by a girl.” He blanched. “Erm, I mean . . . so
rry.” He hung his head.

  Suddenly he looked younger, like a shamed child. A thread of clemency whispered to her. “Want me to clean this up?” she offered.

  “Yeah. That’d be great, if you would.”

  She stepped forward with a strength of authority that only came from the ability to back it up. She knew the crowd saw it. Whether she wore a shoka or a Guard uniform, there was no mistaking the way she carried herself.

  She put her hands on her hips and addressed the gathering. “We’re done here, friends. This young fellow . . .” she slapped him on the shoulder, maybe just a little harder than necessary, “. . . realizes he’s been the victim of viral media. He recognizes his mistake. There are people out there who enjoy frightening people. They tell lies and they manipulate for their own purposes. I can assure you that you aren’t in any danger. The Council is not hiding anything from you, and mana is not in short supply. The only thing standing between you and a peaceful life is nonsense like this.” She gestured at the crowd. “Please, go home. Or shopping. Hell, go dancing if you want. I’m available for backflip lessons, if you’re brave.”

  She heard laughter and the crowd began to disperse. She shifted her attention back to the young man and offered her hand, this time to shake.

  “Kassimeigh. And who are you?”

  “Canan Boyle. Don’t you have a last name?”

  “Ah. Right. Cabalumi.” She’d have to start remembering that people who weren’t shivs usually introduced themselves with a last name.

  “You’re a member of the Guard?” His eyes studied her uniform.

  “I am.” For now, she added silently.

  “So can, uh, anyone join up?” He looked so hopeful. Her chest contracted with unexpected pity for this boy. He was raw and vulnerable, without any direction for his obvious need to be useful.

  “How about I introduce you to the general? He’s the tall, dark one standing in the front there.” She nodded in Will’s direction.