by TR Cameron
Fyre padded quickly behind the barrier and Cali scowled at him. But he’s not wrong given what happened when I tried flame. The effortless way Emalia used magic showed both her innate talent and her long practice, and she was envious of both. Okay, here we go.
She raised a hand and pictured her body as a mass of random electricity, then commanded it to travel down her arm and into her fist. Her flesh tingled as her power responded and seemed greedy for release. She focused hard and held the magic back to force it to slow into a gentle wave that deposited a little more with each surge through the full length of her limb. After fifteen seconds, she felt like there was enough to work with.
“Here goes nothing,” she muttered and released the magic, and lightning erupted from her fist. It created an instant Van De Graff generator to go nowhere but make her hair stand on end with its electrical field. She snarled and wrestled with the power to force it to move away from her and form into a cone rather than a cloud. Several minutes passed while she let the power flow and directed it to her will before she was able to maintain a continuous channel of magic aimed at her great aunt’s chest. She let it fall and closed her eyes to recenter herself after the internal fight.
Emalia’s voice was filled with understanding. “You did well, child. I warned you it wouldn’t be easy. This is a bold stride toward your goal, however.”
Cali laughed. “But I won’t use a lightning whip or anything tonight, either.”
“No, you definitely won’t. It takes far longer than that to master. But the more you work on it, the more all your magic will improve.”
She raised her hand to pat her necklace beneath her shirt. “Well, at least I have a couple of tricks hidden away. That’ll have to be enough. Besides, I can’t imagine the Malniets bringing any champions who can stand up to Fyre and I together.” With a sigh, she let her desire for additional surprises to spring on their enemies fade. “All right. Let’s go prepare, buddy, and get ourselves down to Lutte’s.”
She’d gathered the items she needed and carried them to the top floor room. Somehow, it felt right to prepare for her battle with the opposing house in the place where her parents had doubtless strategized against them.
Although, maybe not. Coming down that ladder in a dress would be a little challenging. She shrugged and set the thought aside.
Cali removed her comfortable clothes and slipped into the snug combat uniform trousers, tunic, and jacket, then tied the reinforced boots tightly. She bent and twisted to make sure everything felt right before she zipped the coat to her throat. Closing her eyes, she paused, visualized herself in battle, and realized she’d failed to account for something. While the shield charm could be hidden, if the light actually came from the pendant, it would have to be exposed. “Jenkins, please ask Emalia if the light spell requires the necklace to be visible.”
“Yes, Matriarch Caliste.” A moment passed before he spoke again. “She says that is correct.”
“Okay.” Wow, that would have been pretty dumb, Cali. Try to have more brain, please. She rummaged through the ornamental jewelry drawer until she found another chain, transferred the light charm, and hung it over her jacket. She admired the look in the mirror inside the wardrobe door. The compass symbols stood out in turquoise with red accents, and she looked very serious, as a Matriarch should. The frizzed hair didn’t help at all, though.
She found ponytail holders and bound her locks several times into a line that descended the back of her head and neck. A braid would have been more appropriate but there wasn’t time for such niceties. She selected an ornamental belt her parents had left and strapped it around her waist. The remaining globe that Invel had provided—filled with wickedly sharp crystals—went into an attached pouch. She stared into the sheaths and shrugged. “Something pointy couldn’t hurt, right, buddy?”
“I always have something pointy,” Fyre, who had watched her preparations in silence observe. He bared his teeth, and she laughed at the sight.
“That’s why Draksa are such fearsome opponents, I guess.” He looked pleased with the comment. She snagged two of the sheaths, buckled them around her upper arms, and pulled them tight so they wouldn’t slide. Again, she tested her motions and had to loosen the one on her left because it hindered her ability to swing that arm. She slipped the ornamental daggers that went with them into place, and the compass-decorated hilts reached past her elbows. They slid smoothly from their cases and snicked into their sheaths without any problem. After ten practice draws, she knew she could get them into action in only a couple of seconds.
It’ll have to be good enough. We’re out of time.
With a final pat to ensure her potions were where they belonged, she led the Draksa down the ladder to the main floor. Both Invel and Emalia waited for her at the front door. They looked at her expectantly, and she tilted her head in confusion. “What?”
Her great aunt lifted her chin and spoke primly. “As the other member of your family currently in residence in New Atlantis, it is both my privilege and my obligation to accompany you to this battle.” She grinned. “And he will join us as my escort.”
Cali’s heart leapt. “Really?” She wouldn’t have imagined such a thing would matter to her and was surprised at how much it did. They both nodded. “That’s awesome.” She snapped her fingers. “Wait here for a second.” She raced to the attic room and retrieved two items, then returned. With a grin, she approached her great aunt and pinned the house seal to the collar of the button-down top she wore under her sweater. She did the same to Invel’s dark shirt.
Their smiles told her they both appreciated the gesture and approved of the idea. She looked at Fyre, who returned her gaze with his tongue hanging out. “Are you ready to kick some Malniets to the curb, buddy?”
He nodded. “Let’s show them why it’s a mistake to mess with us.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
The walk through the streets attracted more notice than the previous one had, either because she was with unusual strangers or because more people knew of her. Faces turned as they passed and she caught the occasional comment, although they were pitched low and were unintelligible. The person she had been even a few weeks before might have cared. Now, though, that level of worry had been peeled away.
Her focus was on their destination and on what awaited them within. The outer doors of Lutte’s were again held open for her by uniformed workers, and she was guided by another to the same waiting room. The attendant inside bowed at her arrival.
“Matriarch Caliste of House Leblanc, Anyas welcomes you back and wishes you good fortune. Are you prepared or do you need a moment?” On her previous visit, Cali had made sure to get there early, either out of respect for her opponent or respect for the venue. She still had some of the latter but lacking the former, had timed her travel down to the minute.
“We’re ready. Let’s do this.” The attendant nodded and opened the door at the far end, which led to a small tunnel that connected the room to the battlefield. The familiar square chamber brought back the memory of defeating Tyrault Malniet inside the combat area delineated by the darker wood in the center of the floor. The two-story ceiling would give Fyre space to fly as long as he dodged the hanging lamps.
She pointed to the lighter wood that ringed the outside of the zone and murmured, “Don’t forget to warn them about the light spell and to shield,” to Emalia. When her aunt nodded, she concentrated her attention on the opposite doors.
They opened to reveal a swarm of people all dressed in the colors of House Malniet. They fanned out in the viewing area and flowed to both sides. From their midst, a giant of a man, easily close to seven feet tall, stepped forward. He wore plates of armor over heavy chainmail that gleamed silver. Each was etched with an image, rune, or script.
“Holy cow,” she sent to Fyre, “I don’t think I could lift that chest piece without a spotter, much less wear all that.” His emotions in reply were both amused and concerned.
The latter could have bee
n inspired by the creature that walked beside the man. It was easily twice Fyre’s size and mostly resembled a leopard in her limited experience. Its base coat was black with spots in rich gold, which made it seem like an expensive work of art that might be on display in a millionaire’s home. There was nothing static in the way it moved, however. Muscles rippled under the skin as it padded toward them and it looked like sleek death come to call.
“Are you okay, buddy?” she sent.
A low growl was his reply, echoed immediately by one from the beast. With a shake of her head, Cali stepped forward to her starting position, the Draksa perfectly in step. Their opponents mirrored them. The man’s face was hidden entirely by his decorative helm, which reminded her of the statues she’d fought on Oriceran—flat, lifeless, and menacing.
Anyas approached them. Again, she wore a more formal version of the uniform worn by the venue’s workers but this time, the long hair that had reached to her waist was piled atop her head, bound by jeweled combs, and possibly required magic to keep it in place. It was beautiful, as was she, but her sharp features made her seem stern and unyielding.
Her voice was husky as she said the ritual words. “House Leblanc has challenged House Malniet. Caliste Leblanc represents her house and has selected a Draksa to accompany her in this battle. Korota Malniet represents his and has chosen a greatcat to accompany him. This is in accordance with the laws of New Atlantis.”
A small smile appeared as she faced Cali. “Matriarch Leblanc, do you have anything you wish to say to your opponent?” She offered no reply other than a shake of her head.
Nothing I say now will make a difference. It’s up to the Malniet patriarch to end this in any way other than violence.
Anyas nodded and turned to the representative of the house that had poisoned her brother. “Master Malniet, do you have anything you wish to say to the challenger?”
A deep voice echoed from beneath the helm. “Tonight, you die, girl.”
Cali rolled her eyes and commented, “How original. I guess language isn’t one of the things their house is concerned with.” Fyre snorted and nervous laughs came from Emalia and Invel. The crowd of supporters behind her foes sneered but did not speak. And, of course, the metal face of her opponent betrayed nothing.
The beautiful woman between them backed away until she was on the perimeter, and one of her workers conjured a shield of force to protect themselves and their boss. Anyas called, “Combatants, you may begin.”
Cali sent, “I’ll work on the metal man, you deal with the animal. If you need to switch, do it and I’ll follow your lead.” A wash of approval accompanied the Draksa as he vaulted into the air. She had changed her thinking on the Atlantean ritual battles over time. At first, she’d believed staying away from magic at the outset was a tactical advantage but now, she was far more concerned with choosing the best tool for the situation and not worrying about those details.
At this moment, her choice to summon a force shield was inspired when the armored man raised his arms and dispatched twin beams that crackled with confined lightning at her face. Despite the clear mastery of the form that allowed him to keep the wild magic focused, her defense was more than adequate.
She frowned. That couldn’t have been full strength. This jerk is playing with me. In response, she launched a force blast at his feet, hoping to knock him off balance.
He made no attempt to evade the attack and the bolt struck exactly where she’d aimed it on his right ankle. The rune etched into the armored boot glowed brightly, then faded, and he didn’t move an inch.
Uh-oh. This could be a little harder than I expected.
The same thought occurred to Fyre as his first attack on his opponent backfired and almost eviscerated him. He’d gone for the kill, hoping speed and surprise would let him sink his teeth into the back of the greatcat’s neck while his foe anticipated him to use his breath weapon. It had seemed perfect until, at the very last instant, the cat rolled and slashed the air with its long claws. A scale ripped away but the rest withstood the assault.
Only because I veered away in time. If I’d kept going, it would have been over fast like I wanted, but not in a good way.
The Draksa wasn’t one to worry about past mistakes so he elevated and released a wave of frost over his foe. The cat’s quick reflexes made it seem as if his magic moved in slow motion. The creature blurred to the side to avoid the chill attack and sidled closer to Cali.
Oh, no you don’t. He dove at it again, searching for options as he closed.
His claws raked down the feline’s flank as it darted clear, and he grinned in satisfaction. The weight of it landing on him a moment later drove that positive feeling away. Frye snarled, rolled, and scraped his enemy along the ground to make him release. The tactic worked, but barely. In another second, he wouldn’t have had the room to twist and become airborne again. He circled and kept a wary eye on his foe so the cat didn’t get any ideas about shifting his attention to his partner.
Okay, what else can I try?
Cali’s options were sorely limited. If the man’s armor protected him from magic as it seemed to do, half her arsenal had effectively vanished. There was no chance of her magical sticks finding a way through those metal plates, either. She dropped and rolled to the side to avoid the gouts of flame he extended toward her from each of his hands, then bounced up and ran as he tracked her.
I should be able to unbalance him if I can get him to do anything other than ranged attacks. She angled at his ally and he stopped his assault rather than endanger the cat. Well, that’s something, anyway.
When he fired shadow beams at her face, she’d had enough. He was clearly showing off, trying to get into her head with his mastery of magic, and had begun to succeed. The only option was to quit playing his game. She called a shield in her left hand to absorb and deflect the attack. Again, it felt less impactful than she would have expected. She released her hold on her magic, let it flow through her body to increase her speed, and charged.
She crossed half the distance in a matter of seconds and drove the shield before her to catch his attacks. Without slowing, she snaked her right hand up and drew the dagger on her left upper arm. Whatever opening she saw first—to knock him off his feet with force or finesse or to stab him in a place his plates didn’t cover—she’d take it and be happy about it. A grim smile spread across her face as he took a step back.
That’s it. Get a little more off-balance, you jerkface, and we’ll end this right now.
With only a second left to go, she put her head down and committed fully to bulldozing into him with her shield and transferred all her momentum into one blow to take him to the ground. Unfortunately, the cat struck her and ruined that plan.
Fyre saw what would happen an instant before the greatcat blurred into motion, its incredible speed almost certainly magically enhanced. It raced toward Cali with its claws extended and its sharp teeth snapped, obviously aimed at the back of her neck for a kill strike. He uttered a terrifying screech in the hope that he could distract it and dove for the spot where his partner and the beast would meet. As it collided with her, the Draksa barreled into it and all three combatants were hurled in different directions.
He landed on his side and slid on the slick wooden planks but wrenched himself back to his feet almost immediately. The greatcat was off to his left and Cali directly ahead. He belched a gout of frost at the feline while it shook off the impact. It leapt upward to avoid it and the surface beneath was coated with a sheen of ice. The creature slipped as it touched down and Fyre launched himself forward. The snarling cat regained its footing in an instant, but he already slithered toward it. Another frost blast made it dodge and slip again, and it angled away to his left in an all-out effort to avoid the slippery section of the floor. Most importantly, its trajectory carried it further from Cali.
His path, on the other hand, brought him halfway to the armored figure. The man raised a dispassionate fist and expelled a wide cone of lig
htning at him. He vaulted immediately to avoid it, but the crackling energy caught him and wound around his body. Rendered immobile, he simply fell and writhed at the biting pain that snuck under his scales. His skin would resist it for a time, but that did nothing to make the agony any less.
With a scream of utter rage, Cali surrendered to the fury inside her, pushed herself off the floor, and attacked the gleaming blank-faced figure who had hurt her friend.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
The armored man swiveled toward her as she approached in a sprint. Cali poured her magic into her muscles to reach him before he managed to turn fully. The lightning attack left Fyre and the blast from his closest hand struck her. The impact was negligible and she ignored the discomfort from the electricity as it licked and bit at her face and hands and chewed at the fabric of her uniform.
She crouched and launched herself at him from a foot away and powered her folded forearms up at his chin. The blow rocked him back and he fell. She landed on top of him and shouted in pain and anger as a sharp edge on one of his armor plates cut a deep gash in her thigh.
Later. There’s no time for that now. She hauled her arm back and thrust it forward to stab her dagger into a small patch of skin between the metal collar and the base of the full-head helmet.
A shout issued from within the helm, and she catapulted away with no understanding of what had happened. She still hadn’t worked it out when she landed hard on her backside and slid to scatter the man’s supporters. Instinctively, she curled to absorb the impact with the wall. It dissipated the rage that had overcome her and she wrenched her thigh pouch open and searched for the potion within. She lifted it to her lips, opened it with her teeth, and drank it quickly. In ten seconds, she was back on her feet. Unfortunately, so was her opponent.
