The Heartstone Saga

by Archibald Bradford

  “What are you doing out here?” She eventually asked.

  A reasonable enough question, but their response was anything but.

  “Who’s asking?”

  At the rude response her scales mottled red with irritation and she glared at the pugnacious teen that so challenged her.

  Trog’s respected strength and courage, but they didn’t respect bluster and arrogance.

  “I am. What are you doing out here?” She repeated flatly.

  “None of your business.” He sneered at her.

  “Yeah, why don’t you just pretend you didn’t see us, and we’ll pretend we didn’t see you?” The wannabe fister suggested, then looked her up and down; “Shouldn’t be hard with your weird magic trick.”

  At that point she noticed the bags around them; not rucksacks for hiking or camping, but actual cloth sacks.

  She kicked at one of them and the faint jangle of metal greeting her clawed foot.

  “Hey, leave that alone!” Fister ordered.

  The Chameleon looked to each of the four of them and came to the only conclusion that made sense.

  She couldn’t suppress a hiss when she voiced it.

  “Why? It’s not yoursss.”

  The most aggressive and largest of them stood and shook his head at her.

  “It is now. Mind your own business.”

  Though world-wise, Kriss was still young, and so she didn’t handle the situation as well as she otherwise might have.

  “I’m making it my business.” She kicked the bag again, harder this time; “Return what you took, or I will.”

  The problem with teenage boys is that they think they’re invincible, and with their leader standing up to her, the others united behind him.

  “You might be a monster girl, but there are four of us.”

  “Four scrawny little thieves.” She snapped back immediately; “Four children, taking what isn’t theirsss.”

  Tension mounted ever higher at the blatant accusation and out of the corner of her eye she saw one of them trying to angle around behind her, a thick branch in his hand.

  She shrugged, raising the hilt of her blade to more easily get a grip on it, deciding that it was past time for her to draw the weapon.

  “You want to threaten me with a stick? I hope you are willing to accept the consequences.”

  They were little more than children, but after listening and talking, she could plainly see the mean streak in them and had no qualms about possibly using her weapon.

  But while she was distracted by the improvised cudgel, the aggressive one pointed an odd black stick of his own at her.

  A moment later the Trog seized up when blue lightening shot into her and a moment after that she collapsed to the ground, her minute scales presenting every colour imaginable as her body reacted to the shock.

  She heard footsteps and felt the presence of the four teens around her.

  “What are we going to do with you then?” Fister asked while gnawing at his lip.

  Meanwhile, down at the river Tora waited, happily splashing her feet to stay cool in the warm sun.

  Chapter 20:

  Longinus

  It had been a few days since Nameless started work at the auction house, and if it weren’t for that constant edge of fear he felt from the girls whose hearts he handled he would be greatly enjoying himself.

  Bringing monsters and humans together was what the Empaths were created to do, and he swelled with pride with each successful match-up, the monster girls joyful smiles alone nearly enough to sustain his soul.

  It was a bit of wishful thinking, but Nameless couldn’t help but imagine all the girls who would now find bond-mates because of him.

  Despite the sense of fulfillment he was finding with his work though, it still seemed to him as if he’d been sidelined.

  He couldn’t quite account for it, but whether it was the journey east into the Sansee or working with the task-force in Algrade, it always seemed like he was at least near the center of things.

  Now the center of things seemed to be Volka, and she was far too often absent from his side.

  Usually one or two of the girls would come with him to help out with the work at the auction house, Erica being a constant while Nina, Milly and Ophelia took it in turns as they kept at their respective training.

  After helping Baron and Ginger close up for the day, Nameless, Milly and Erica headed home.

  Despite their new assignment, every day Nameless and his bond-mates anxiously waited for news of another attack or word of a Tenebrae in need of saving, and each day that went by without it added to the knot of anxiety living in their bellies.

  So they did their best to alleviate the stress, whether that be with intensive training and discipline, or with stolen moments of passion.

  And they weren’t the only ones.

  The private rooms upstairs in the auction house were pretty much in constant use and more than once they had overheard cries of ecstasy while walking through the streets of Garland, tamers and Aegis operatives alike striving to help their agitated monster girls find relief.

  Because as horrible as the constant fear was for their human companions, it was so much worse for the monster girls: death was preferable than the utter blackness that Jonathan brought.

  Today though there was a different sort of distraction.

  Every major road in the city inevitably found its way to Divinity Square and the Bastion beside it, with numerous side streets weaving laterally to connect them like a Drider’s web.

  As they were emerging from one of those side streets they caught wind of a commotion ahead.

  “What’s going on over there?” Nameless wondered aloud.

  Erica’s tail swished behind her with her agitation and her ears twisted on her head as she sought to hear whatever it was.

  “Something big! Let’s go and see!” She urged them.

  “Wait Erica!” Milly called, but gave up immediately as her bond-sister disappeared into the gathering crowd of people coming out of their homes and businesses to investigate.

  Tired from a long day of work, Nameless sighed and took hold of his Minotaur’s hand.

  “Come on baby. We better check it out, whatever it is.”

  They chased after the curious cat, pushing through the crowd of onlookers to reach the edge of one of the main boulevards.

  They caught up with her again, but there was no time to chastise her as they took in the sight.

  Volka, you better get over here. Something big is happening.

  Nameless repeated Erica’s words from earlier as he reached out to the Valkyrie.

  It was a moment before she replied.

  Is there a crisis my love?”

  He shook his head, though she couldn’t see it, and communicated to her what he was seeing.

  A host of Antlion soldiers were marching through the boulevard, approaching Divinity Square in lockstep, their booted feet sounding a unified crunch every half second of their march.

  I don’t know if it’s a crisis, but it is definitely something.

  From the grim looks on their faces, the ant girls hadn’t come into the city to sightsee.

  Once she absorbed his concern and the image causing it, her reply was succinct.

  I will be there as soon as I can.

  “Come on.” Nameless tugged at his bond-mates; “We should get to the Bastion, if that isn’t where they’re headed then I’ll eat Milly’s hat.”

  “You will not.” The big cow huffed; “I love this hat!”

  By taking a shortcut through the side-streets the three of them were able to arrive at the square shortly before the Antlions, linking up with Nina and Ophelia when they got there.

  The Gigas had once again been grappling with the Amazons, this time a mixture of Saenga and Brael girls, and had a little bruise under one eye that the studious medic was fussing over.

  Before Nameless could ask about it though, the Antlions arrived.

  All around
the square people watching in bemusement and some concern at their military discipline.

  They were armed with tall shields and short spears, with short and broad-bladed swords hanging on their hips.

  Much like Oldeera’s hive the individual Antlions were lithe and athletic, though they had well-defined muscles on their shoulders and biceps from their no-doubt rigorous training.

  At their front marched their scowling queen: she was fully two feet taller than her warriors, taller even than Milly, with breasts to match her size and a full booty, though both were covered with thick chitinous armour.

  A pair of antennae protruded from her short brown hair while she wore a circlet of beaten iron on her brow, at the center of which shone her deep red heartstone.

  “Are they here because of Volka?” Milly asked, her grip on Nameless’s shoulder tight.

  He shrugged in her grip, knowing as much as she did, but the Empath sent a silent call out to the Valkyrie to see how far away she was, just in case.

  Nina planted herself in front of him and shook her head.

  “I doubt it. Those girls are looking for trouble.”

  From the irate expression on their leader’s face Nameless had to agree, so he and the girls withdrew into the training grounds to join up with the waiting Aegis as the monster girls marched through the square directly towards the Bastion.

  The Antlion Queen led her soldiers into the courtyard before the massive structure where they fanned out in two neat ranks to occupy the place. Word had reached the Bastion of their approach and the full council was waiting for them on the steps, most of them frowning at the military display.

  The imperious queen lifted her chin as she took in the assortment of Aegis personnel that had come out of the Bastion to greet her, while behind her the soldiers’ march halted with one last unified crunch when they assumed their formation, standing twenty abreast and two rows deep.

  Seconds after the sudden silence filled the place, the queen spoke.

  “The Aegis has failed in its duties.” She proclaimed loudly, accusingly; “And now my daughter is in grave peril. You are to help me save her.”

  Not a great start to a conversation.

  Give them credit, Booker and the other councillors maintained neutral expressions at her words.

  “I’m sorry to hear about your daughter.” Margaret Bloom said, leaning heavily on her cane; “But I’m afraid we have a long list of missing girls.”

  “That is why you fail.” The queen snapped.

  To annunciate their ruler’s displeasure the forty soldiers at her back rapped the hafts of their spears against their shields.

  Once the unified clatter subsided, the headmistress of the academy tried again.

  “We are now facing a crisis worse than any we have ever seen. It is the stance of the Aegis to ask for the cooperation of all monster girls until we can resolve it.”

  “Cooperation?” The Antlion Queen declared flatly; “You seek my cooperation when my daughter’s life is imperilled by your negligence?”

  Aegis Booker scratched at his eye patch in agitation.

  “This isn’t getting us anywhere, why don’t you come inside and we can sit down and discuss this?”

  Again the Antlions slammed their short spears against their shields, this time much harder.

  “I will discuss nothing! You will do your duty and you will save my child!”

  The standoff lasted for several seconds, the flustered councillors struggling to find a way to placate the angry queen.

  Then a familiar golden aura washed over them all as a glowing Volka flew overhead and landed between the angry monarch and the council.

  The Antlion Queen’s mouth fell open slightly and she let out a slight gasp as the Valkyrie stood before her, eyes awash with golden light.

  “You demand much, mighty queen. Yet you offer little. Not even a name.” Volka’s words were stern.

  The various insect breeds all had similar hive-like structures, each led by a queen, every one of which behaved, and was treated, as royalty.

  But once upon a time they all followed the Dominars of the Valkyrie into battle, and that allegiance was not so easily forgotten.

  The ant-girl was taller than the winged angel, but her posture was suddenly cowed.

  “I-I must find her.” She said pitifully, for the first time displaying an emotion other than self-righteous anger.

  A distraught mother, desperate to protect her child.

  “Then cease this pointless display.” Volka cast her hand towards the phalanx of warriors; “And help us do so. Time is everything in war, something you should well know.”

  With that she turned and swept towards the Bastion, her wings folding to her back as she took the steps into the building two at a time.

  Not for the first time, the men and women of the Aegis council threw each other uncertain and unhappy looks at the way Volka had so readily usurped their authority. But she had meant what she said in Lipton Falls, and it seemed to all present that the time of exclusive human leadership within the Aegis was at an end.

  At Volka’s silent invitation, Nameless and his bond-mates followed her and the Antlion Queen inside, the angel leading them into one of the large briefing rooms on the main floor.

  Happy or not, the Aegis council soon joined them.

  “I... apologize for my abruptness. My name is Julia Antonia Longinus. My daughter is Avita Antonia Longinus; she has been missing for several weeks now.”

  “And why is that a failure of the Aegis?” One of the councillors asked, trying and failing to keep his tone neutral.

  The queen’s eyes flashed with anger.

  “Was it not you that kept a secret from the rest of us? I have heard of the Chimera Evadne and your unsuccessful hunt for her. Or did you think no one would notice when she slaughtered an entire town?”

  There was no hiding the accusation in her tone.

  And Booker couldn’t argue with her about Evadne, because she was right, the Aegis had kept the secret in hopes of preventing a panic.

  Given the ever growing number of refugees flooding the city, that plan had blown up in their faces.

  Queen Julia turned away from him to address Volka again.

  “Please Dominar, please help me find my child.”

  “Where was she last seen?” Booker asked with a frown, trying to get to business.

  One of the Antlion’s antennae twitched at another question from a human, but she answered.

  “My Avita was establishing a new colony in the mountains south of Algrade. From surveying the area she suspected that there was a system of caves beneath the rocks and wished to exploit it. I was leery of her decision to leave my side so young, but I could not deny her ambition, nor could I deny her birthright.”

  “Understandable.” Margaret Bloom said sympathetically; “And the countryside in that area is mostly unoccupied. On the surface at least. Much too rocky.”

  The queen swallowed and wiped away a sudden tear.

  “She was not ready. I should have... she was not yet at the stage where she could produce her own soldiers, only workers. One day all word from her stopped, so I sent some of my legionnaires to find out why.” She had to take in a breath to steady her nerve before she finished; “They found her colony in ruins, all of the tunnels collapsed and no trace of her or her workers.”

  Heavy silence filled the room as the seven foot tall ant bowed her head and clenched her fists in helpless frustration.

  Milly reached out, as only Milly would, and pulled the enormous woman into a warm hug.

  At first Julia made to push her away, but instead she held her tight for a long embrace as she shed a few more tears for her missing child.

  “Thank you, Minotaur. For your kindness in my moment of weakness.”

  Milly shook her head firmly.

  “It isn’t weakness to be sad. Or afraid. We’ll find your daughter. I promise.”

  As the Minotaur made the ill-advised pledge, Booker loo
ked like someone shoved a lemon into his teeth and squeezed it.

  One of the things both Grant and Miranda had told Nameless and his girls on more than one occasion: never make promises on the job, because all too often they simply can’t be kept.

  “Were there any signs of a struggle? Blood? Bodies?”

  “No. But for an Antlion to collapse her own colony? It makes no sense!”

  Margaret Bloom scratched at her scarred cheek.

  “Maybe she found a better location? Or her workers struck groundwater in their digging and were forced to abandon it. Maybe they found those caves and decided to occupy them.

  “None of that would explain why she never contacted me!” Queen Julia exclaimed.

  “We speak too much of hypotheticals.” Volka shook her head; “We must deal with what we know. Queen Julia, can you lead us to her colony?”

  The Antlion nodded.

  “It took weeks for my workers just to locate her original digs. They are there now, excavating them and I would know if they found anything. But I could not just sit and watch while my daughter could already be-”

  Her hand moved swiftly to cover her mouth, forbidding herself from giving voice to the unthinkable.

  They all gave her a moment to regain control of herself, Milly silently taking the queen’s hand in hers to once again support her.

  “Her colony is still the best and only place to start an investigation. You need trackers of some kind.” Booker mused.

  “I know a couple.” Nameless volunteered, but immediately regretted it when the entire council turned on him; “Ah, assuming the Aegis can spare them.”

  It was very clear that more than one of them wanted to demand what the rookie Aegis member was even doing there, but none of them dared in front of his Valkyrie.

  Somehow oblivious to the awkwardness in the room, Volka dipped her chin in acknowledgment.

  “Bruti and Jan. Which means Miranda and Grant.”

  “That ties up an enormous amount of manpower for one missing girl!”

  Queen Julia wrenched her hand out of Milly’s and wheeled on the councillor who’d spoken, looking about ready to murder him.

  “She is not a missing girl! She is a queen of the house of Longinus!” She snarled; “I would have you kneel before her, even if I have to sever your legs myself to make it so!”