Seconds later, the shrubs to the inland side of the road began to shake. Wraith emerged tail-first as she backed onto the road. In spurts and fits, she pulled her prize from the brush and onto the gravel.
Sitting beside it, she waited for Brock and the others to arrive. As he drew closer, he was able to identify the bloodied animal as a wild boar. He approached Wraith, scratching behind her ears as he rested his forehead against hers.
“Good girl,” he said softly.
Wraith’s tail wagged, and her eyes narrowed in pleasure of the attention. He turned toward his companions, now gathering around the kill.
“It appears that Wraith has caught us our dinner. Let’s see if we can find a good spot to camp. Sunset is less than an hour away, so we have to stop soon anyway.”
His friends nodded and began to filter off the road in search of a campsite.
Brock turned toward Puri and Cam. “Can you two dress the boar while I search for something to use for a spit?”
Puri bent and drew her knife, not wasting any time. Brock smiled at Wraith, giving her a hug before he went in search of a good stick.
. . .
“If this works, it’ll be incredible,” Ashland said, leaning in close.
Brock nodded and turned the page. “Definitely.”
Unsurprisingly, Benny’s curiosity drew him over. He sat on the log beside Brock. Ashland was sitting at Brock’s other side as she read along with him.
“What did you find?” Benny asked anxiously.
Benny’s curiosity knew no bounds. Brock smiled and explained their findings.
“The author of the journal had a theory about creating a permanent effect from a Chaos charge. He termed this concept Infusion, which involved the use of Order to bind the Chaos. He believed the net result would be weaker than a normal use of Chaos, but the effect would last far longer, possibly forever.”
Benny’s eyes grew wide. “Of course. It makes total sense.” He looked at Brock, excited. “Has he documented any experiments?”
Brock shook his head. “Not yet, but I’m sure that’s coming. Hopefully, we can learn more as we continue to read his notes.”
Brock looked at Benny, seeing his eyes staring blankly. Brock could almost hear the gears turning in Benny’s head as he came to grips with this revelation. After a long moment, Benny jumped up in front of Brock.
“You’ve got to find out a bit more. I want you and Ashland to see if we can make it work.” Benny’s hands waved about in excitement. “This is big, Brock. Really big!”
Brock laughed. “Okay. Okay.” He waved Benny off. “However, we’ve run out of light, so we’ll have to wait until tomorrow.”
The agony of waiting was clear on Benny’s face. Stepping over Wraith, he circled the fire in search of a spot to lay for the night. Brock smiled as he watched his friend, finding Benny’s predictable nature comforting.
His gaze scanned past the others. Tipper and Libby were lying together on a blanket, talking quietly. Cam and Puri shared a seat on a log as they stared into the fire. Parker was sitting near Benny, staring into the flames. Brock expected he was thinking of Tenzi and understood how Parker felt. He’d desperately miss Ashland if they were separated. The very thought of it made his heart ache. He put his arm around her as he kissed her forehead. Closing his eyes, he thought about the task before them.
What they were about to try was risky, perhaps more crazy than attacking the banshee hideout. It had cost them dearly, with some of his companions paying with their lives, but his plan had succeeded despite seemingly impossible odds. This time, there were six fewer people among his small group. Did that make the odds even more impossible? What might it cost them this time?
CHAPTER 56
Brock followed Puri’s finger, intensely searching where she was pointing. Careful to keep his head low, he nodded to let her know he saw the bowman. There were four of them along the top of the wall, each pacing a section. Beyond the wall stood the guard barracks, now dark in the long shadow of the tall wall. Men sporadically entered and exited that building while the other buildings remained static. A stable and a small shed lingered just beyond the barracks, totaling eight buildings within the compound.
A few minutes later, people emerged from the tunnel below the far cliff. Aligned in single file, they marched toward the stone buildings tucked further back in the holding. Armed guards walked beside the prisoners, herding them toward their destination. This process continued for a while, surprising Brock with how many people they held captive. The sun dipped below the western horizon as the last prisoners completed the trek from tunnel to the buildings. As darkness fell over the compound, all became quiet.
Brock tapped Puri on the shoulder, silently motioning for them to retreat. She nodded and he gave Benny’s cloak a tug as he turned to follow Puri. They crouched low as they snaked through the boulders back toward the trail. Once beyond view, they broke into a jog.
After running a quarter mile, they crested the rise, and their camp came into view. Brock smiled when he saw Wraith stand, her tail wagging in anticipation. It had taken him a few attempts to get her to stay and let him go alone. Even then, he could hear her whining behind him as he ran up the trail to get a look at the mine that doubled as a prison. Nearly an hour had passed since then, most of daylight expiring during that time.
“I’ve seen what I needed to see,” he announced as he drew close. “The plan remains the same. As I expected, the building nearest to the wall is the guard barracks. Just beyond is the stable. The four buildings in the back house the prisoners. I estimate about thirty guards within the compound. However, if things go as planned, we’ll only have to face a few of them.”
Parker’s gaze flicked toward the others, then back to Brock. “Are you sure we need to do this, Brock? It seems pretty dangerous.”
Brock nodded, his position was firm. “Yes. Everything we’ve seen and done thus far has aligned with the Tantarri prophecy. There’s one piece left, and this is it.” His eyes scanned those before him. “We found the journals in the Emblem Throne. We healed the wound by closing the doorway the Horde was using to reach Issalia. The last task from the prophecy remaining is for us to free the truth. What’s behind that wall is a truth that the Ministry has been hiding, holding captive.” He felt resolute, driven to do something. “I suspect that those poor people are imprisoned simply because they are Unchosen, forced to work in that mine for the remainder of their lives. I can’t leave them to such a miserable fate. Regardless of what anyone believes, being Unchosen is not a crime.”
Ashland stepped beside Brock, gripping his hand as she spoke. “I agree with Brock. Regardless of what you believe about the prophecy, we should help these people. We have the means and surprise on our side.”
“Okay.” Parker nodded. “I hope your plan works. There are only eight of us while they have at least two dozen armed guards.”
Brock smiled. “That’s where you’re wrong. There are nine of us if you count Wraith. We also have Chaos on our side.”
. . .
“Okay, Tip. It’s up to you now.” Brock squeezed his friend’s thin shoulder. “Don’t get caught.”
In the dark of night, he could barely see Tipper’s nod. “I’ve got this, Brock.”
As Tipper snuck off into the night, Brock turned toward the others.
“I assume you all remember your part in the plan. Cam, Puri, and Parker, I need you to get past the wall as fast as possible. Just be sure not to look at the light.”
Quiet responses told Brock that they knew what to do.
“Parker, how many arrows do you have left?” he asked.
“Seven.”
Brock knew Parker was running low on arrows, but he had hoped for more. “It will have to do. Try to make each shot count, and be sure to take out anyone with a bow. We can’t have arrows raining on us while we are defending ourselves against swords.”
“Don’t worry, Brock.” Parker replied. “I know what to do.”
/> Brock turned toward Libby. “Okay Libby.” He lifted his shirt, exposing his stomach. “Use your fear and charge me up.”
He took a series of calming breaths as he waited for Libby to tap into Chaos. When her eyes began to glow red, he looked down at the black rune drawn on his pale skin, barely able to be seen in the darkness. The rune glowed bright red, pulsing before it began to dim. His stomach tickled and felt queasy. The weight of his body pressing downward lessened to a fraction of what was normal, but he didn’t become overly floaty like when Ashland had used the same rune on him. He had chosen Libby make him light, expecting a lesser effect with her weaker ability. Thankfully, it worked. Although he now felt far lighter than usual, he didn’t have to worry about floating off into the sky.
“Thanks, Libby.” He set his hand on her shoulder. “Now you and Benny need to stay here with Tipper when he returns. If all goes as planned, you three can bring our packs up when the place is secure.”
Brock turned and stared in the direction where Tipper had vanished into the night. He took a long, deep breath in an attempt to calm his nerves. Everything hinged on Tipper making it to the wall and back without notice. His eyes scanned the prison wall, spotting a bowman stationed near each of the four glowlamps lighting the top of the structure. Getting past those men and the wall was just the beginning of their gambit. He prayed that the plan he and Benny had hatched would work. It had to work.
CHAPTER 57
Cameron waited beside Puri, focusing on the task before him. He found that her strength and conviction made him feel more confident.
Someone approached in the darkness, marked by the soft crunching of boots on the sand. As Tipper emerged from the night, Brock addressed him.
“How did it go, Tip?”
The white of Tipper’s toothy grin glowed in the starlight. “It’s all ready. Hit it halfway between the gate and this end.”
In the darkness, Cam could barely discern Brock nodding in response. “Good job, Tip. Now, hang here with Benny and Libby. Ashland will be back soon.”
Brock turned toward Cam, gripping his shoulder. “Okay, Cam. You’re up next. Make the shot count because you’ll get just one chance at it.”
Cam nodded and turned toward Puri. “Are you ready?”
Puri nodded, drawing her sword. “Of course. I am Tantarri. I am always ready.”
Cam hefted the sling Benny had made for him and began jogging toward the wall. He could hear the crunching of Parker’s boots to one side with Puri’s softer footsteps sounding on the other. He expected the men on the wall would hear them coming. As long as they were beyond the light of the glowlamps, it wouldn’t matter.
As Cam neared the wall, he began twirling the sling. After practicing with it for an hour, he was confident he could hit the massive target. As it spun faster, the sling began to make a whirling noise.
“Something is out there!” A man shouted from atop the wall.
The two men on the south end of the wall stood alert, bows drawn as they stared into the night. Cam hoped to be close enough to release the sling before they spotted him. As the wall drew near, he gauged the distance. Just a few more steps.
“Over there!” A man on the wall shouted, pointing toward him.
Cam gave one final swing, released his grip on the sling, and launched the heavy rock toward the wall. The moment he released it, Cam dove to the side. As he rolled in the sand, an arrow bounced off the dirt where he had been standing.
A crack sounded when the rock struck the wall. The structure shook, a shiver running along its spine before it collapsed. The south half of the wall imploded, blasting dust high into the air. Without hesitation, Cam and Puri ran into the billowing cloud of dust.
. . .
Parker slowed when he saw Cam begin to twirl the sling. Drawing an arrow from his quiver, he nocked it on the bow and began seeking a target. A man atop the wall shouted when he spotted Cam. As Parker ran forward to get close enough to take a shot, the man lifted his bow and pointed it toward Cam. Parker stopped, took aim, and fired. The man on the wall fired his arrow, staggering backward a moment later with an arrow through his chest. A thunderous crack sounded, followed by the rumble of the wall collapsing beneath the man.
Still running, Parker angled toward the gate and the part of the wall that was still standing. The two men still atop the wall ran toward the collapsed section. Lifting his bow to take aim, Parker shot at the closer man. The arrow took him in the throat, sending him tumbling off the backside of the wall. The other man slowed when he saw it happen, his eyes falling on Parker as he lifted a bow.
Parker drew another arrow and nocked his bow, firing at the man as quickly as possible. The man fired back, their arrows passing each other as they sped toward their targets. Parker’s arrow hit the man in the stomach, causing him to double over, fall to his knees, and tumble from the wall. Parker’s left shoulder involuntarily jerked backward, twisting his body and forcing him to stagger backward a step. He glanced down at his chest and saw an arrow fletching just inches from his face. It felt strange, even numb, as if he were dreaming. The world tilted and his head felt foggy. Parker blinked, trying to comprehend what was happening. He fell to his knees as everything went white.
. . .
Ashland focused on Cameron and Puri as she ran, waiting for Cam to launch the rock at the wall. When he began twirling the sling, she stopped and looked at the rock in her hand. She closed her eyes and used her fear to seize Chaos, noticing that it was easier each time she did it. A crack sounded, followed by a thunderous rumble that shook the canyon and informed Ashland that the wall was collapsing. Drawing in Chaos until she felt she might burst, she opened her eyes and poured the stored energy into the rune scratched into the stone. A familiar wave of exhaustion washed over her as the rune began to glow bright red. She averted her eyes just as an impossibly bright light burst from the rock.
Holding the bright light above her shoulder, Ashland ran toward the cloud of dust swirling above the collapsed wall. As she neared it, she wound her arm back and tossed the rock as hard as she could. Like a shooting star, the blinding light sailed through the dust cloud to land beyond the rubble.
Ashland spun about to return to where the others waited. Moving slowly, she blinked and waited for her eyes to adjust to the darkness. A shape took form in the open dirt field outside of the wall. Changing her direction to head toward it, she soon realized that it was a person lying on their side, their back facing her. She slowed to a stop and used her foot to roll the person over, ready in case they tried to attack. A gasp of shock slipped out when she recognized Parker with an arrow sticking from his chest.
. . .
Brock allowed Cam, Puri, and Parker a big lead. As Ashland ran to follow them, he stepped next to Wraith and scratched the huge dog behind the ears.
“This is it, girl. You and me.”
He hopped onto her back, landing lightly as he straddled her. With his reduced weight, he wondered how much she could feel him. He tucked his staff under one arm and wrapped the other around her waist-thick neck. Adrenaline was surging through his veins, and his heart pounded as if it might burst from his chest. He took one last breath and shouted.
“Okay. Run!”
Wraith bolted after the others. Running nearly as fast as a horse, the oversized dog quickly closed the distance. Brock watched Cam launch the sling and the wall collapse into a pile of dust and debris. He flew past Ashland as Cam and Puri ran into the dust cloud. A moment later, he and Wraith followed them into the swirling airborne debris.
Up and over the rubble, Wraith emerged from the dust into the prison compound. Brock pulled to one side, turning her toward the guard barracks. The night lit up when Ashland’s light bloomed, making it easy to see his target. As Wraith neared the building, Brock brought his feet up onto her back and pushed off. With a strange sense of lightness, he sailed impossibly far, his momentum carrying him over fifty feet to land on the roof of the barracks.
He scramble
d to slow himself, dragging his staff against the roof tiles to create resistance. Stopping at the peak, he reached into his coat pocket, pulled out a chunk of coal, and began tracing a rune on the apex of the roof. Shouting came from inside as the guards raised the alarm. Brock had expected that the rumble of the wall falling would wake them and leave little time to act.
When the Heavy rune was complete, he closed his eyes and seized onto the Chaos around him. After drawing it in, he opened his eyes and focused on the rune. It began to glow with a crimson light, pulsing before dimming. The front barracks door opened as a loud crack echoed through the canyon. Before the fourth man could emerge from the building, the roof gave.
Brock jumped from the plummeting roof as the center beam of the peak drove itself toward the ground, suddenly many times its usual weight. He launched himself out, beyond the three men who had just cleared the building, flipping as he sailed high above their heads. Before Brock even landed, he could hear screams coming from the ruined barracks. The three men who had escaped spun to face the building as dust and debris blasted from the open door. With their backs to him, Brock spun his staff to strike the nearest man hard against the head. Not having enough mass to remain stable, the recoil of the strike caused Brock to spin and stumble.
As the man crumpled to the ground, the other two turned to face Brock.
. . .
Squinting to keep the dust from his eyes, Cam slowed as he navigated his way through the airborne debris. When he heard the one of the bowmen coughing, he drew his sword and angled toward the sound. The dust cloud suddenly sprang to light, revealing the silhouette of a man trying to regain his feet. Cam scaled the pile of crushed rock with leaping strides and swung hard, his blade whirling as it lopped off the man’s head. Not slowing, Cam and Puri scrambled down the pile of the rubble and into the compound.
The Emblem Throne (The Runes of Issalia Book 2) Page 27
