City Of Light

by Darren Deegan

  Gareth had been on edge the entire time they’d been away from Selene. The group had to be split the way it was, that much was certain, but it didn’t mean he had to like it. That they might run into the Magi first, had filled every thought he’d had. He knew Selene, knew she wouldn’t wait to get him and the twins, she’d rush head first. His only saving grace, was that Neesha was with her, an accomplished warrior, and while he had seen little of her power, he was comforted by the fact that she had some.

  ‘Relax, these Magi won’t know what hit ‘em. When we find ‘em, they’ll wish they’d never set foot in Eitane, this is our city.’ Eric said, refraining from tossing the torch into the air.

  He saw the look on Marisa’s face, before he noticed it. The tunnel opened ahead into a large cavernous room, lit by torches, that illuminated the tunnel twenty paces ahead of them. Gareth gestured to Eric to extinguish his torch, which he did by throwing it into the stream of waste next to them. He noticed the look of excitement on Eric’s face.

  ‘Calm yourself. Reconnaissance first, we might have to back track to get the others. Don’t get too excited.’ He said, looking at Eric.

  ‘Don’t worry, I can control him.’ Marisa said, slapping Eric across the back of the head.

  ‘Wish you’d told me that before I threw my torch into that river of shit.’ He laughed a little.

  The three moved into a single file along the sewer wall, doing their best to remain in shadow for as long as possible. Gareth led them forward, creeping along the path, until they reached a few assorted large crates at the entrance. He peered over the crate, the others crouched behind him, waiting for orders.

  The room was large and appeared to be a junction room of sorts. Several streams flowed in and out of the room through four main sewer tunnels. More crates lined the walls on the far left and right of the room, and Gareth saw four Magi moving some of them around, but no sign of the children. Just as he was about to inform the others, two more Magi emerged from a tunnel leading off to the right of the junction room. He noted that the two looked more important as they were far better dressed and held an air of superiority about them.

  Gareth crouched down behind the crates and addressed the others, ‘there’s six of them. Two of them look like they might be the ones in charge.’

  ‘Six? That’s nothing, let’s go say hello.’ Eric said, removing a long dagger from his coat.

  ‘I’d feel better if the others were here, if anything goes wrong, they might hurt the children, I can’t see them in there.’

  ‘We won’t give them a chance. We can take two each, Gareth, come on, you know we can do this.’ Eric looked around to Marisa, feeling the need for support.

  She hesitated for a moment, but looked at Gareth. ‘I hate to agree with him, but he’s right, Gar, we can take them. Plus, if we leave to go find the others, who knows if the Magi will be here when we get back.’

  While he was sure of their fighting skills, and would rather have no one else fighting alongside him, he still wasn’t sure of the risk. The children might be put in harms way if they attacked, but Marisa’s point also rang true with him. The children may be moved, maybe even taken from the city, while they went to find Selene and the others. He took everything in, and weighed his options, nodding as he came to the conclusion he’d known from the start.

  He peered over the crates again for a moment and returned to the others. ‘Okay,’ he began. ‘There’s four over against the back wall, moving crates around, the other two are on the right side of the room. You two take the four by the crates, I’ll take the other two.’

  Eric nodded in excitement, Marisa removed a short sword and dagger, but said nothing.

  ‘Be careful, I’m not burying anyone today, understood?’

  ‘Aye.’ The twins said in unison.

  The thieves emerged from behind the crates, splitting into their predetermined paths, the twins headed straight for the men shifting crates around, Gareth moved up behind a pillar that gave him a clear line of sight to his first target. It appeared the two well dressed Magi had split up. The male was in front of Gareth, looking in a large wooden chest, the other, a female in similar dress, was across the small stream of waste, leafing through documents on a makeshift table.

  He looked behind the pillar to see where the twins were. They had just positioned themselves behind recently moved crates, assessing their targets, but poised for the attack, Gareth would have to move quickly. The male Magi was closest, his back turned, Gareth thought he could take down the male, then dash across the stream to the female before she knew what was happening. Timing, accuracy, and stealth would be key.

  A dagger in each hand, he moved with the stealth and grace of an assassin, one foot after the next, silent, as if he weren’t there. The Magi was unaware as Gareth closed in to striking distance, a dagger firm in his right hand, ready. It almost didn’t register with him, the room heating up, the edge of his vision becoming brighter, but it did, just at the last second. He looked to his left, four paces from his target, as a large ball of fire came hurdling towards him.

  He dropped and rolled left, and back behind the pillar he’d emerged from, the roaring ball of fire striking the back wall of the room. The wall exploded outward, fire and stone spewed across the room, taking him and the male Magi by surprise. What in the name of the gods was that, he thought, looking back behind the pillar as the cloud of dust cleared.

  The female Magi was still at the table, but she was looking at him now, her left hand held out, a small ball of red and orange fire hovering just above her palm. He had seen Neesha’s little trick with the light, being capable of knocking out the Commander, but throwing fire, that was something he hadn’t imagined. Gareth felt like the Zin had done nothing to prepare them for the fight, I’ll speak to that damned woman when I get out of here… if I get out of here.

  The flame above her hand grew in size and strength, he knew the next one wouldn’t miss. Instinct, training, experience, whatever it was, it kicked in, Gareth darted across to the male Magi, knocking the unsuspecting man into the wall. A shield is what I need. He pulled the dazed man back towards him, grabbed him by the neck and threw him in between himself and the female Magi.

  The flame vanished, and the advantage was back in Gareth’s favour.

  * * *

  The ground was damp, moss covered, and ice may have been easier to walk on, but Selene ran at a pace that would have onlookers believe the hounds of hell were at her feet. There was only one tunnel in the direction of the explosion they’d heard, she was thankful for that much at least, for nothing else would ease her mind in that moment. Light poured out from a large entrance ahead of her, she saw nothing, other than the light, as her eyes had adjusted to the darkness, having left their torch behind when they ran from the room. But sound, that she made out. The all too familiar metallic sounds of weapons clashing rang through the tunnel, there was fighting ahead, and it was in full swing.

  ‘Selene, be careful, we can't be sure who is up ahead, it may not be your friends.’ Neesha’s voice, right on her heels.

  Thirty paces from the entrance, she could make out figures. A tall woman, dressed head to toe in fine black robes, crossed the stream of waste, and disappeared off to the left. They closed in, more sounds, sword on sword, yelling, wood shattering. Selene saw five or six people fighting on the opposite side of the newly visible chamber. The fighting style of two figures was what she noticed first, the sheer brilliance of it, the two people fighting in unison, as if of one mind.

  They reached the entrance, everything became more clear, and to her left, not fifteen paces away was Gareth, alone, facing two elegant, but battle hardened Magi.

  ‘Neesha, Tom; the twins.’ She said, nothing but a whisper, as she ran towards Gareth.

  Gareth had a smile on his face as he stared down his attackers. He hadn’t looked at Selene yet, she knew he wouldn’t allow his eyes to betray him and alert the Magi to her presence. The long black robes Selene had thought th
e woman to be wearing, was a fine black leather coat, that flowed out the closer it got to the ground. Both Magi wore them, identical in every way, perfect for hiding an array of weapons, just like the coat Gareth had gotten her.

  The sound of battle resonated around the chamber, masking Selene’s approach. She had sized up her prey, they were probably evenly matched, which ever one she took, Gareth would handle the other. A flicker of light appeared, and it drew her gaze down. The female Magi had summoned fire, a small flame in her palm, but fire none the less. I wonder if I can do that, she mused.

  Without another moment’s hesitation, Selene charged the woman, with less than ten paces between them. The fire wielder would be the biggest threat, she knew, and taking her down fast would be their best chance of surviving the encounter. Five paces. Gareth looked at her, noting her target, he locked eyes on his own and leapt forward, daggers out. The male defended with a long silver sword that Selene hadn’t noticed before, and the fire wielder raised her hand to strike.

  ‘I don’t think so.’ Selene yelled, jumping high and coming down on her prey, both feet first, slamming her hard into the wall behind Gareth.

  Selene got to her feet and stepped back a few paces, coming back to back with Gareth, who had just slammed the pommel of his dagger into the male Magi’s temple, knocking him back.

  ‘Nice of you to show up, I thought you would miss all the fun.’ He said, resting his back against hers.

  ‘Oh you know me, I like to make a dramatic entrance,’ she said, taking a fighting stance.

  Both Magi had recovered, and were looking enraged, it was clear they weren’t used to people getting the better of them, mortals most of all, who were only children to their eyes. The flame wielder had yet to ignite her fire, and seemed to think better of it, removing a short sword from a sheath at her back.

  ‘Together?’ Selene said, ready for the battle that was to come.

  ‘Until the bitter end, my dear.’

  ‘Always with the optimism.’ She laughed a little.

  The Magi advanced. The female took a high guard, Selene attacked low, once, twice, three times, each parried, or evaded, the Magi was far better with a sword than she would have guessed, given her proclivity for fire. She heard Gareth behind her, his fight sounding no more fruitful than her own. The female charged, anger flaring, her sword came down swift and hard, threatening to cleave Selene’s skull in two. It was impossible to evade the blow, but she crossed her blades and blocked the sword, if only a hair’s breath from her head.

  Selene kicked back hard, sending her opponent tumbling backwards, but the Magi recovered as quickly as she’d fallen.

  ‘Switch’ Gareth yelled.

  They collapsed back to back and spun around each other, both facing the others opponent. Selene saw the male Magi was worn down, even to the point of exhaustion, Gareth had done his work, and done it well. She struck without delay, not wanting to waste a second, or miss taking advantage of the man’s current state. He parried one blow, but not the second, as her blade sliced through flesh and muscle, forcing him to retreat a few steps, grabbing the open wound on his right arm.

  She advanced, allowing him no time to recover. Swift, precise, and unyielding, she evaded his counter attacks, and sliced low, blade going straight across his inner thigh, forcing him to drop to one knee for a moment. The Magi slashed out wildly, not too dissimilar to an injured animal, desperate to protect itself from further injury. In one clean, unbroken movement, she blocked his attack, kicked the sword from his hands, and ran him through with both blades.

  Warm blood trickled down to the handles of her daggers and ran across her cool fingers. She watched as he gasped his final breath, eyes closed, as the dead weight of his body fell backwards, pulling away from the daggers in his chest. It was over, but again there was no sense of excitement, not even at the thought of being alive. Two people dead at her hands in a single night, but it was something she would have time to contemplate another day, for hell was still breaking out around her.

  She looked to the others first as two Magi broke off and ran for a tunnel at the opposite side of the chamber. The twins and Tom pursued at great speed, eager to catch their prey. Neesha was battling the final Magi, who looked like she may not survive much longer. A weight lifted; she knew within moments, the Magi would be finished and they could find their friend and the missing children.

  Quietness had fallen around her, and she realised Gareth had finished with the fire wielder. She spun to congratulate him, and saw the Magi still alive, but backed up to the wall on her knees, sword before her. He stumbled a little, but turned to face Selene.

  The smile on his face was barely visible, but it was there, as he coughed, blood coated his lips. He looked down at his chest, his hands pulled away revealing the blood soaked armour he loved so much.

  Two steps towards her was all he managed before he dropped to his knees. Selene dived to the ground, catching him before his body could collapse to the cold stone. Blood was everywhere, even with her pressing hard against the wound, there was no stopping the river of crimson from rushing through her fingers and over her hands.

  ‘No, please, you’ll be okay. You’ll be okay.’ Tears streamed from her eyes, she pressed harder to his wound, cupping his head with the other hand. ‘Neesha,’ she cried out across the room.

  More tears, they flowed without restraint. ‘Gods, if there’s any power in me, if I possess a single drop of magic, please show me how to save him.’ Her voice was cracking, but she mouthed the words as best she could.

  The female Magi laughed. ‘Foolish child, you think the gods care about your tears, or the death of an insignificant boy? You think the little power that runs in your veins can save him?’ She laughed again, almost uncontrollably.

  She ignored the Magi, she couldn’t care if the woman tried to kill her too, she didn’t want to live in a world without Gareth. His eyes dimmed, and the smile faded from his face. Selene held him close, close enough he could whisper in her ear.

  ‘Help me up, I want to die as I lived. On my feet, with a blade in my hand.’

  ‘Don’t be silly, rest, Neesha will come, she’ll be able to heal you, I know she will.’ She looked around, Neesha was still fighting the last Magi, who had proved to be more of a handful than she’d thought.

  ‘I won’t fall like this, get me to my feet.’

  ‘You idiot, why does that matter now?’ She said, doing her best to hold back more tears.

  His eyes opened wide again for a moment and he looked at her. ‘The fall is all I have left.’

  Selene sat still for a moment, considering his request, before she realised that she could no longer feel his breath on her cheek. She shot up instantly, his eyes were closed, his chest no longer rising and falling. ‘Gods, no. Gareth?’ She shook his head, but there was nothing, and she could no longer feel his heart beat as she placed her palm against the top of his chest.

  She couldn’t hold the tears back anymore, she plunged her head into the crook of his neck and sobbed uncontrollably. That was when she heard the laugh again. The laugh of the woman who had killed the only person she had ever loved. The laugh of her enemy who had taken away the person who saved her life all those years ago, taken her from the streets and given her a family again. Selene rose, eyes locked on the Magi, still clutching Gareth in her arms.

  The entire room seemed to dim. The flood of day light that had filled most of the space through the large storm grate above them, had all but vanished. A roll of thunder was all that could be heard, the sheer force of it threatened to shake the very foundations of the city. A crack of lightning somewhere off in the distance, the room filled with blue and purple light filtering down from above. Selene barely noticed the absolute terror on the face of the Magi, who’s back was so firm against the wall, it might appear as if she were part of it.

  A bolt of brilliant blue and purple lightning shattered the storm grate, passing through the chamber striking Selene. The Magi gasped, sword f
alling from her hand. Somewhere off in the corner of her mind, she thought she could hear Neesha’s screams to stop, but there was no stopping now, not while this bitch still lived.

  Her entire body crackled with the hum of electricity. It was a strange sensation, and she hadn’t fully comprehended what had happened, but she wasn’t afraid. Selene felt warm, and safe, as if nothing could harm her, as if the gods had reached down and cocooned her in pure energy.

  The respite was brief, as her attention was back on the Magi, the anger building within her, the need to remove this person from existence. Lightening arched from her body without thought. It spun, and shifted, blanketing the entire room, reaching every corner, it struck out at everyone and everything. Untamed, wild, without focus.

  Light filled her vision, it was a swirl of white, purple and blue, she could no longer see the Magi, or even Gareth, the light, the power was overwhelming. Selene had no control, and she could feel it threatening to take her, and she willed it to do it, to take her from this world.

  THIRTY TWO

  The air was warm on her face, a burnt odour filled her senses forcing her bolt upright. Neesha's head was throbbing, and she still felt disorientated from the force of the impact against the stone wall. She had thrown up a magical shield just before Selene's lightning hit her, but she underestimated her power and the shield didn't hold for long. Still, she fared better than her counterpart, who's charred remains lay feet from her.

  She pushed off the ground, her entire body ached, but she counted herself lucky to be alive. The room was filled with smoke, but had been filtering out through the massive hole where the storm grate had been. Storm grate, that should take on new meaning after today. Neesha scanned the room, forcing herself to walk towards Selene's last location, hopeful that the intensity of her power hadn't taken her life along with the Magi's.

  Scorch marks covered the walls and pillars in her line of sight as if the entire room had been close to destruction. The wooden crates that had been stacked across most of the chamber, were now nothing more than smouldering piles of ash, their contents unrecognisable. No one would guess an untrained youth could do so much, but Neesha knew it was within her. The Saend family line was strong, some of the most powerful Zin to have ever lived were part of Selene’s family tree.