Lair of the Deadly Twelve (Storm Phase Book 2)

by David Alastair Hayden

  Must be more nearby. This day … It was the worst.

  Lu Bei zipped over and tried to blast him, but the man ducked and Lu Bei flew past him. The leader recovered and started forward.

  “You’re about to be outnumbered, wizard. If you live that long.”

  “Don’t make me incinerate you.”

  The man glanced at the glowing storm sigil on Turesobei’s cheek. But he kept coming. If that didn’t intimidate them, then it could only mean one thing, they had figured out who he was. The Gawo would love nothing more than to capture him.

  “Got about a dozen buddies less than a mile away. It’d be best if you surrendered, boy.”

  The other spear-wielder joined the leader. The third sat up and grabbed his bow.

  “You’ve left me no choice.” He drew a spell strip out of his pouch with a flick of his wrist. He practiced pulling the strips out as quickly as possible, every day. The rune-decorated pouch itself was magical. You always got out of it what you wanted. A basic tool of any professional wizard.

  Here goes a year or two of my lifespan and all the years left to these three scouts. The archer nocked an arrow. The other two lowered their spears and charged. Turesobei held the strip up in front of him, between his fingers. He opened the access to the storm sigil halfway to quick-cast the spell. No other way he could get it out fast enough.

  Before they reached him, he shouted the command and the traditional version of the spell of the heaven’s wrath activated.

  A blue-white arc of electricity disintegrated all three of his enemies. The blast sent Turesobei flying backward. Thunder boomed. A hard landing knocked the breath out of him. He started to slip away. Not into unconsciousness but into the dream of the Storm Dragon.

  Chapter 22

  Turesobei soared high above the clouds, climbing and climbing until the bright blue sky turned dark blue and then almost night black. How strange. Was he about to fly into the endless dark beyond the planet?

  An unknown force tugged him back toward the earth. He plummeted like a falling star. Pain shot through his arm, then his face. Someone spoke a name. A human name.

  “Snap out of it!” a girl said. “Sobei, snap out of it!”

  With a gasp, Turesobei returned to himself and flailed, knocking Enashoma backward. He was lying behind an outhouse.

  “Where —“

  “We drug you over here,” Shoma said. “More sheltered.”

  Turesobei touched his forehead. Ouch. Where had that burn come from? Because he had cast it, he was immune to heaven’s wrath.

  Lu Bei landed beside him. “Sorry, master. Had to.”

  Zaiporo from around the corner called out, “I can see the others. They’re coming.”

  Awasa pointed at Lu Bei, hand trembling. “What — What is that … thing?”

  Lu Bei glared at her. “You and I, we are not going to get along.”

  Turesobei stood, dazed and weak. “No time to explain. How far out, Zaiporo?”

  “A few minutes. They’re approaching cautiously. Nine of them.”

  “We’d better act fast. Lu Bei. Illusion trick number two.”

  Lu Bei pounded his chest in salute. “Got it, master.”

  Turesobei drew a spell strip and cast the spell of frightening appearance on Lu Bei. The effort of even such a minor spell made Turesobei swoon and flash into the dragon dream for a few moments. The fetch took on the appearance of a small dragon, five times his normal size.

  Awasa cried out. Zaiporo clasped his hand over her mouth.

  “Shut up or they’ll hear us.”

  Lu Bei beat his wings and flew out past the ruined shrine, shooting sparks as he went.

  Awasa spun and slapped Zaiporo across the cheek. “Don’t you ever touch me again, or tell me what to do, zaboko!”

  Zaiporo closed on her. “Out here, I can do and say whatever I want. You don’t—”

  Turesobei stuck a hand out and caught him. “Can we do this later, please?”

  Zaiporo bit his lip, scowled, and nodded. Awasa clenched her fists and started to say something. Enashoma held her finger up to her lips and eyed daggers at Awasa.

  “Fine,” Awasa said.

  Turesobei glanced around. “Where are the denekon? I didn’t—”

  “No, you didn’t,” Zaiporo answered. “I herded them into the crumbling shed before you cast your spell.”

  “Excellent work,” Turesobei said. “We’ve got to get the mounts then head downhill, away from the scouts and the shrine. Stay low. And quiet. The trick is no good if we’re seen leaving.”

  They crept toward the barn. In the distance, circling the sky, the illusion-enhanced Lu Bei fired sparks and emitted high-pitched squeals. Well, not every creature could sound fearsome.

  They rounded the corner. The blast area came into sight. A charred patch of ground around a shallow crater. Three bodies burned beyond recognition. Men. That he had killed. Turesobei staggered. His gut wrenched.

  I did this. I did this. And they want me to be the super-weapon to win the war with the Gawo. To do this. Over and over. I couldn’t. I can’t.

  Awasa stepped past him. Tracked his gaze. Apparently they hadn’t looked after the blast. She turned and vomited. Enashoma spun away and ran into Zaiporo’s arms.

  Zaiporo tenderly guided Enashoma into the shed. “Get the mounts and go. Don’t look.” He went over to Awasa and crouched beside her. “We’ve got to keep moving. Or we’ll end up dead, too.” She turned so he couldn’t see her. “No time for being prissy.” He pulled a handkerchief out and gave it to her. “Go with Shoma. You can be sick later.”

  Not looking toward the bodies, Zaiporo stepped up to Turesobei. “Gotta go.”

  “I’ve killed demons before. Injured men. But killing … and like that …”

  “You didn’t have a choice.”

  “Doesn’t make it any better.”

  They rushed downhill, following the girls.

  “You’re good in a bind, Zaiporo. Did you know?”

  “I didn’t, actually. Think I’ll fall apart in a bit.”

  “Oh I’m sure you will.”

  Lu Bei flew in low, panting. He shifted back into his normal appearance.

  “That was close, master. Got too far away from you. Almost turned into a book and fell. Worked like a charm, though. The Gawo men are arguing about what to do.”

  “Hopefully they’ll think a monster did this and go on.”

  They got downhill into a patch of woods where there were only two mounts, his and Enashoma’s.

  “Wait, Zaiporo, where are your mounts?”

  “Couldn’t get any. Had to run here.” He shot a disdainful frown at Awasa. “We walked, all through the night. Couldn’t go any faster. If I hadn’t left that note saying I’d run off into the mountains, I’m sure the Kobarai would’ve caught up to us.”

  “My feet are covered in blisters,” Awasa said.

  She was wearing delicate sandals. No wonder.

  “You need some proper shoes,” Turesobei said. “Those are for trips to the park.” Two mounts. Not ideal, but nothing he could do about it. “We’ll have to double up on the denekon.”

  Enashoma took the reigns of her mount and motioned to Zaiporo. “You get in front of me.”

  They started to climb on the mount. Awasa, in a bit of a daze, headed toward Turesobei.

  Turesobei shook his head. “Nope. Won’t do. Zaiporo, you ride with me. Enashoma, you take Awasa.”

  “No way I’m riding with her,” Enashoma said.

  “And what does that mean?” Awasa replied.

  “You know exactly what it means.”

  “We’ve got to get going,” Zaiporo said. “Turesobei, if you and I ride together, it’s a lot more weight on the mount.”

  “It’s not proper for young ladies to ride with young men.”

  “You’d let her ride with you, though, wouldn’t you?” Awasa said. “I bet you already have.”

  “Her name is Iniru!”

  Zaipor
o narrowed his eyes and growled, “What you really mean is you don’t think a baojendari girl and a zaboko boy should ride together, right?”

  “Don’t you dare make me out to be something I’m not, Zaiporo. Use your head. What do you think the reaction to you and Shoma riding together will be if we encounter people along the road? We don’t want to draw more attention to ourselves than we have to. Or anger. We could get arrested even. Think about it.”

  Enashoma threw her hands up the air. “Oh fine then. Climb on behind me, Awasa.”

  She climbed into the saddle and muttered, “I bet he’d have made an exception for that k’chasan girl.”

  Enashoma shook her head. “I’m so kicking you off when get near a cliff.”

  Chapter 23

  Drizzling rain clouds brought an early nightfall. Turesobei and his companions made camp on a low hill where two oaks had grown together, their branches interlaced, providing perfect shelter along with a decent vantage point. Maybe here Awasa wouldn’t complain about the light rain incessantly, as if it were a downpour. Turesobei wasn’t sure if he’d survive her complaining another day without going crazy.

  Lu Bei scouted around the hill, flying as far out from Turesobei as possible, which was almost two hundred paces since the storm mark had appeared on his chest, more than twice as much as before. Turesobei cast a fire globe and risked raising it into the limbs so they could see well enough to set up camp.

  Zaiporo and Enashoma pulled the packs from the mounts. Awasa stumbled away, rubbing her backside. Turesobei, despite it all, chuckled. She drew a wisp of wet hair from her face. It had been coiled up into a bun at the back of her neck with looping curls coming down on the sides.

  “What are you laughing at?” she sniped.

  “Nothing.”

  “Ugh. I’ve got to go to the bathroom.”

  “Well go then. Just not here.” He pointed to some trees further out on the hill.

  “I know that much. I’m not stupid.” She chewed on her lip.

  “Then what’s bothering you?”

  “That — that thing. It’s out there. It will see me.”

  “Thing? I don’t know—”

  Lu Bei whipped around behind Awasa. “Boo!”

  She screamed and ran into Turesobei.

  “Lu Bei! Was that necessary?”

  “Sorry, master. Couldn’t help myself.”

  “Well, how about you help it next time?”

  “Yes, master. Everything’s okay. I don’t see anyone near us.”

  Turesobei pushed Awasa away. “He won’t hurt you.”

  “What is it?”

  “Lu Bei is my diary, my fetch.”

  “He’s your … what?”

  “Chonda Lu, our clan founder whose kavaru I bear … This was his diary and fetch. Lu Bei recently reappeared for … unknown reasons. He’s a mystery. He’s also a secret. No one else knows about him except my grandfather and Enashoma, and now you and Zaiporo. I only let you see him because it was necessary. You must never tell anyone.”

  “Are you sure he’s not going to attack us in our sleep?”

  “Do not speak about me so, madam. I’ve done you no disservice. And I don’t eat.”

  “Ugh. I don’t want it talking to me.”

  “He’s harmless,” Turesobei said, “and he’s my friend.”

  “He’s gross. Put him away.”

  Lu Bei held out his hands. Electricity sparked around them. He floated toward Awasa. She backed away and began to cry. With a dramatic sigh, Lu Bei climbed into Turesobei’s hands and turned back into a book. Turesobei put him back into his pack.

  Awasa wiped her tears away. “How could you let him do that to me?”

  Turesobei shrugged.

  “Well you deserved it, didn’t you?” said Enashoma, joining them. “Lu Bei is more a person than you. And he helped save your life today.”

  Turesobei began to unsaddle the mounts. “Zaiporo, see if you can get us a fire started. Please. Shoma, pull out the sleeping blankets.”

  “What about tents?” said Awasa.

  “We have only one,” said Turesobei. “I didn’t think I would need more than that. It’d be tight for two people. Four would be seriously cramped. We’ll only use it if we get caught in a rainstorm.”

  “Well I could sleep in the tent. This weather is icky. Zaiporo, set it up for me while I go to the bathroom.”

  Zaiporo cursed. “Let’s make something clear, your majesty. You’re not my boss. I’m my own man now.”

  “That’s ridiculous. Your family has served mine for centuries.”

  “Not anymore.”

  “It’s not ridiculous at all,” said Turesobei. “As far as I’m concerned, he’s free of all indenture. He can live how he wants to. And for that matter, I don’t think your tone would be appropriate even if we were back in Ekaran.”

  Awasa stamped a foot. “You need to—”

  Turesobei took her by the shoulders. “Just stop. Whatever you’re about to say will anger one, two, or three of us. Unless you want to be dropped off on your own at the next town, you’d best learn how to get along. You’re going to depend on us for your life.”

  He planned on dropping her off at the town anyway, if he could be sure that she’d be safe, but there was no point talking about it now.

  “She can’t depend on me,” said Enashoma. “I’m not helping her. She’s a spoiled brat and not worth it.”

  “I feel the same way,” added Zaiporo.

  “Enough!” Turesobei clenched his eyes shut. He tried to count to ten. He made it to five. “Look, we all need each other right now, and I’m exhausted. I may not be an expert, but I have the most field experience. I’m the leader, and we do this how I say. Anyone got a problem with that?”

  Awasa said nothing, but Zaiporo and Enashoma agreed.

  “Good. Now, I need you all to get along. A little, at least. Zaiporo, make a fire, please. Shoma screen it like I showed you and put the kettle on. Awasa, go to the bathroom. When you return, take enough food out of the packs for dinner. I’ve got to rest and meditate or I won’t be able to pull out butts out the fire with a spell if necessary. I’m shocked I’m still conscious, to be honest.”

  Adrenaline, or maybe love, was what had kept him going. Every time he quick-cast a spell like he’d done twice today, he weakened his internal kenja permanently, if only by a tiny fraction, and reduced his life span.

  Everyone started on their tasks. The fire took a while since the brush they piled was damp. His meditation proved difficult, but he tried. He kept picturing charred corpses. That required choking down emotions he didn’t have time to deal with. He had to keep this group together. Eventually, Awasa sniffling and rummaging endlessly through the packs distracted him.

  He stalked over, irritated. With a puzzled look on her face she was sorting satchels of dried dates, jerky, hard rice bread, and cheese.

  “You’ve never had to fix food for yourself before have you?”

  She shook her head.

  “And you’re not sure what you’re looking at other than the bread and cheese? You don’t know how much to get, or what to do with it?”

  She began crying. “Everyone hates me.”

  “No one hates you.”

  Enashoma muttered something he couldn’t hear, but he could guess what she had said.

  “They do,” Awasa murmured. “The worst part is I know you resent me.”

  “You shouldn’t have come is all.”

  “But I had to, don’t you see?”

  “No, I don’t.”

  He picked up a pack. “These are dried dates.”

  She sniffed and rubbed her nose. “Don’t look like it.”

  “They’re flattened and rolled out. Better for traveling.” He pulled items out to show her. As long as she was with them, she might as well learn something useful and food seemed like as big a task as she’d be able to manage. And they had everything they needed. Enashoma must have learned what to pack from Onudaka. “Jerk
y, fish and pork. Spice packets for when we have fresh game. Uncooked rice. Rice cakes. Walnuts. We eat the bread and cheese first. With some jerky. A few nuts. Got it?”

  “Turesobei, I …” She took deep breaths. She was shivering.

  “Yes?”

  She recovered and looked him in the eyes. “I’ll figure this out. I promise.”

  Chapter 24

  The land grew wilder as they rode into the lightly populated northern reaches of Ekaran Province. Another day of hard riding would bring them into Tikaso Province then two more to reach Ibintai where Turesobei planned to resupply and dump Awasa, provided he could figure out a way to be certain she’d be safe until her family came for her.

  On the second day they made camp beside a lake. Awasa complained incessantly but without much energy. She wasn’t used to physical activity. Zaiporo and Enashoma mostly stayed calm. Turesobei, thanks to his training, blocked most of her complaining out.

  He woke in the night. Lu Bei, sitting high up in a tree keeping watch, waved to him. The fire had dwindled to a few simmering coals. Light from a full Avida shimmered across the lake.

  Shivering, Awasa hugged her knees and leaned back against an elm. Tears streamed down her cheek. Turesobei dug out his rain cloak and took it to her. Before she responded, he tucked it around her then backed off.

  “Can’t sleep?”

  “No,” she replied.

  “You didn’t sleep much last night either, did you?”

  “I’ve never slept outside before.” She nodded toward Shoma. “How does she do it? Has she been out like this before?”

  Enashoma lay curled on her side sleeping as close to Zaiporo as Turesobei would allow. Zaiporo snored lightly.

  “Shoma? She can sleep through anything. She’s never been out camping before but we’ve got my father’s blood. We’re wild spirits, born travelers. We adapt well.”

  “I never imagined I’d do anything like this. It’s pretty stupid what I’ve done, isn’t it?”

  “At this point, you might as well embrace the experience. That’s why Shoma’s out here. She wanted to see the world. Even if she goes back, she will have done this once, before she’s tied to Ekaran the rest of her life.”