Techromancy Scrolls: Adept (29 page)

I couldn't hold my tongue anymore. “What is it? We have made it to our destination.”

Then Celeste shook her head but Bowyn answered for her, “Too easy. Why the shadows, and why the signal fires. We saw no signs of ambush and no signs of the shadows in the morning, they had already bugged out. Like Treth, there are no travelers on the road this close to the keep.”

The rest were nodding their assent then he sighed. “But it is no matter once we are within the walls of Far Reach.”

We approached Far Reach, there was a huge cobblestone courtyard in front of the main portcullis. It had to be almost a half mile across and a quarter-mile deep. By the layout, it looked to be where they held market, but it was empty. Not a single person could be seen in the entire expanse. I started getting an uneasy feeling as well. As we approached the gates, we could see guards in the towers in the purple and crimson of Far Reach.

Celeste brought us to a halt, halfway across the courtyard. She said, “Stay here Laney. They have not sent an escort to challenge us for some reason.” She started forward slowly on her own. She was almost to the gates when they started raising. Goliath was uneasy and I looked from Celeste to the gates to the guards above.

Something was wrong, the guards weren't watching her. I reached into my tool pouch, pulled out my spyglass, and looked through it and gasped. Verna, who had sidled up to me on her mount, heard my gasp and snatched the spyglass from my hand and looked. She muttered, “My god!” The guards were long dead, they were strapped to pikes, holding them up to look like they were manning their posts.

I yelled out to Celeste as she dismounted and kept walking toward the gates. “Celeste, it's a trap!” Then all at once, where there had been nothing at all, I felt enormous amounts of magic energy, as men and women stormed out of the keep on horseback, and on foot. None wore the colors of Far Reach, and almost all of them were gathering magic.

I was aware of amber energy crackling along my body as I watched at least a hundred men bearing down upon my Lady, a man at their middle blazing like the sun with yellowish blue energy. The blood drained from my face as I recognized him. He was one of the men in my nightmares.

Celeste was awash with her own power, rippling with emerald fire like I had never seen it before. With a mighty slash of her sword, the ground in front of her erupted in an earsplitting explosion of power and debris and a massive wall of emerald fire roared up between her and the approaching rogues.

By the gods, I have never seen such power! Where had that come from? She, like me, was not a very powerful magic user.

The enemy pulled back and the mounted riders paced the length of the flames as Celeste mounted up and galloped toward us yelling, “Retreat!” Some of the men on foot paused in confusion, looking at the horsemen and other footmen who were staring at something or shielding their eyes.

We were already moving as fast as we could back toward the bridge as Celeste was joining us. Bex was yelling to her in confusion, “Why have they stopped pursuit?”

I looked at the daft man and pointed back. “That wall of fire bars their path!”

Verna started laughing and Celeste's serious face broke into a small smile as she said, “An illusion. I don't have that much power, but I can pull off a little illusion like that, which only magic users can see. It felt like most of them were rogues.”

I blinked at her then relaxed the hold on my own power and the world around me dulled and I looked back to see our pursuers pacing back and forth watching us go, but there was no flame. Then a couple men ran unharmed through the space the flames had been. That was enough for the magic users to understand the diversion, and they charged through and after us. I almost chuckled. If we lived, I needed to have Celeste teach me how to create illusions like that. It was quick thinking on her part and it allowed her to escape.

The ground exploded to our left and my power snapped back up around me. I could feel the magical assault. They were slinging vast amounts of energy at us. The archers were all riding side saddle facing backward firing off volley after volley from the huge quivers on their saddles. Some pursuers were falling to their shots, but most of the arrows were being batted away mid air by violent magic.

Celeste and Tennison stayed to the back of our group, doing something with their magics together, deflecting some of the incoming magic. Brenda's horse was hit and she tumbled to the ground to be almost instantly hoisted by her belt to the saddle behind Lady Beth as she rode past. I yelled to Celeste over the sounds of galloping horses, clanging of armor, and explosions, “What can I do to help?”

She didn't look back at me. “Keep the Duke and Duchess safe! We can hold them off at the bridge for a while!” I nodded to myself and urged Goliath on and we flanked the coach with the others. Forming a protective ring around it.

Some tin plates from the supply wagon shot out and started to orbit around me. All my weapons began to rise and I put a damper on my emotions and the plates clattered to the cobblestones. I could taste something dark... and could smell ozone building as we crossed the bridge. Lightning struck the road in front of us from a suddenly darkening and roiling sky, sending stones and debris flying like deadly projectiles. Our group pulled up short.

I looked back. Celeste and Tennison had stopped as they exited the bridge and they dismounted and were hurtling raw energy across it. It was a choke point! That was Celeste's plan! But then I saw that man who was glowing with yellowish blue power clench his fist to the sky and yanked in a downward motion. Another bolt of lightning struck between my Lady and Tennison. They went spinning to the ground, pummeled by a spray of rocks and excess energy.

I turned on Goliath and charged back, Verna was yelling at me to come back. The two Techno Knights were stirring on the ground as the enemy charged across the bridge. I dove off of Goliath, drew Anadele, and stood in front of my knights, looking at the oncoming horde. I was beyond terrified. I could taste the dissipating electricity in the air.

Celeste looked stunned, blinking on the ground. She turned her bloody face toward me, then the horde. She was trying to say my name. The man at the center on that white stallion looked like he was tiring, but he snarled and reached for the sky again. Oh, dear lord.

A little voice in my head was telling me that energy was energy. He was about to hit us with the power of the heavens. Could I use that power in some way? I wished I had more training. I looked up to the churning clouds, then bellowed a challenge as I thrust Anadele into the ground, one hand toward the sky as the man's bolt of searing power came down to destroy us.

The cascade of pure electricity that was meant to kill us all was drawn into me. I was engulfed by it, and more pain than I could ever have imagined lit me up inside. Time had slowed to a standstill as I stood inside the torrent of power, burning. My gear was glowing with the runes of the spirit elemental charms the Gypsies had gifted me with. I had to use the power, not be consumed by it, I told myself.

I was grounding the energy like I was taught, then pulled Anadele from the ground through the pain, and thrust her forward. The energy arced through me and my sword, which was glowing white hot. The lightning struck the deck of the bridge, blowing a gaping hole in it, and showering the oncoming enemy with debris and melted stone. A few fell, screaming. I gasped and stared at my hand where my sword was cooling. My gauntlets were destroyed and Anadele's hilt was sizzling my flesh. I couldn't let her go. I could smell burning hair and flesh, I was sure the rest of me didn't fare too well either.

Celeste looked up from the ground in a surrealistic pantomime of my nightmare. “Laney, run!” Then she stood shakily to her feet as Tennison did. “Get the Duke and Duchess to safety! We will hold them off as long as we can here!”

I looked at her then the bridge, which was starting to crumble as the rogues retreated to the far side. Their leader slumped on his horse in exhaustion, he was glaring at me, yellowish blue energy sparking from his eyes. He pointed his sword at me menacingly.

I took a step to follow Celeste's orders and almost fell, my legs were wobbly. I put a hand out and steadied myself on something. Celeste's horse, Canter. I couldn't focus to see where Goliath was. I grabbed the reins of Celeste's charger with my one good hand, and pulled myself into the saddle and urge the steed on. Goliath would do Celeste better in battle.

I rejoined the group and said in a hoarse voice, “We need to get the Duke and Duchess to safety.”

The Knights were all dismounting and drawing their swords. Verna said, “You can travel faster in a small group. Laney, you take the Duke and Duchess to safety in the supply wagon. That gives you three magic users. Bex, Brenda, Beth, and Bowyn escort! Take the porters and coachman with you.” A tiny irrational portion of my mind that wasn't terrified for Celeste almost laughed at the fact they were all B names.

Kristof tapped Bex's shoulder and took his backpack and electrified sword, then his shocking gauntlet as he pulled the lever to charge it as he geared up. I swallowed, this meant Kristof actually appreciated Bex's ingenuity and was going to use it in the battle against magic users.

Then Verna looked at the rest and growled out, “Let's show this trash the fire of Wexbury!” The others growled back in assent as they ran to the side of my lady, the archers giving cover fire. I blinked, not one even hesitated. They were our Knights, our protectors. I fought back tears and looked at Bowyn. He nodded fiercely once as the Duke and Duchess were lifted into the wagon, then we were heading north as fast as the wagon could travel.

I looked back to see men on horseback crossing the river to engage our Knights, who were outnumbered ten to one. I stopped a sob and let my anger build. I grabbed Anadele and tore her away from my hand. I looked at my crispy flesh, which now had the Gypsy charms from the gauntlet and my sword's hilt burned into my skin. I put her in her scabbard and rode closer to the wagon, I would not let Celeste down. I felt like I was leaving her to her death.

We rode hard. Lady Beth asked over the pounding of hooves and the sound of wheels on cobblestones, “How did you do that Laney? You were engulfed by that lightning yet you still live.”

I shrugged and said, “Someone once told me that energy is energy, whether it is magic or electricity. I just used myself as a conduit.” I held up my burned hand and flexed my fingers painfully. “There was a price.” She stared at my hand then just looked ahead as we charged down the highway.

When the horses pulling the wagon were exhausted, we abandoned it and set the horses free. We took supplies enough for a couple days, and we all doubled up on the horses. The Duke and Duchess took Canter, so I rode with Bowyn.

I was silent, then he looked back, and with surety in his voice said, “She will be back. Celeste is too stubborn to die, and she is tougher than you might believe.” I just nodded and then watched the horizon. We saw the Monolith a couple miles to the west when we slowed.

We rode up beside the Duke, and Bowyn said, “We need to give the horses a rest or they are done.” I noted they were all glistening with sweat and frothing at the bit.

Fredrick said, “Agreed.” He looked toward the monolith. “We can reach it by dark, we can find a defensible position there with the Monolith at our backs.”

We dismounted, watered the horses, and started trekking across the stony grasslands toward that impossible structure. Lady Beth and Sir Bowyn started looking at the grass as we walked, resting the horses. They nodded to each other. Lucia asked, “What is it?”

Bowyn shrugged. “Someone was through here a day or two ago. See here?” He moved some grass aside and we saw a shod hoof print.

She asked, “Rogues?”

He shrugged back. “Maybe maybe not, most rogues and marauders don't have shod horses. But they have apparently sacked Far Reach so it isn't a given.”

The Duke hissed, “Well if we can get back to Flatlash and Wexbury, they won't be holding it for long!” There was a fire in his eyes and a promise in his voice. It was the fire of Wexbury. We would liberate our allies!

We mounted our horses again and rode slowly toward the Monolith, which continued to grow more imposing, more awe-inspiring as we approached. We reached its base and we all just stared up at that man-made stone surface, eroded over the centuries. How little we know compared to the Before. I felt so... humbled?

Then I tilted my head. I could taste... amber was dripping from my eyes as the entire structure glowed blue to my eyes. I murmured, “They have somehow reinforced the stone with a web of iron, lending it strength. Good lord, their engineers were so far beyond our modern capabilities.”

Fredrick startled me when he spoke beside me. “It is not stone. It is a man-made material that incorporates stone. They used it everywhere. It is similar to brick or mortar, but much stronger.” I blushed. I knew so little, and when others spoke as if it were common knowledge, it reminded me of the separation of classes in our village. Then he smiled. “Reinforcing it with iron is inspired. I shall have to share that with our Techromancers and scholars if they don't already know.”

We gazed out at the horizon and Sir Bowyn announced, “Our shadow is back.” I looked and saw him on a rise over a mile out. Father Sol was about to dip below the horizon when the man lit the first signal fire. Shit!

Bowyn looked at me almost apologetically then said loud enough for us all to hear, “Alright, we need to set up camp for tonight before we head north. I mean to bypass Treth, as things did not feel right there, and their signal fires went not only south, but north. We need to ration whatever food we have, Flatlash is a five days ride.”

He looked around stopping his eyes on me then Beth. “Those of us who can hunt, we need to supplement our rations.” We nodded, then everyone went about setting up camp. Making sure the Duke and Duchess were the most protected. The sun set and Bowyn said to the other knight, “Beth, take Laney and see if you can't rustle up some game. We'll have our rations worked out by the time you run out of twilight. Then we'll eat and rest. Double watch tonight.”

It was almost comical, we all spun as one, to a voice in the darkness, “Salutations Wexbury. I may be able to help with supplies.” All of us had weapons drawn, even the porters were holding carving knives. The Duke had a long slender blade in his hand, and even Duchess Lucia had pulled a blade, from who knows where, and she stood in a classic fencing stance. My hand ached as I held Anadele toward the threat.

We all lowered our weapons and all of us bowed our heads except Fredrick and Lucia when Duke John of Flatlash limped into view on a crutch made of a tree branch. Even battered and bloodied, the man exuded strength and had an almost royal bearing. His black and green garments were dirty and blood soaked. His mane of wild red hair draped over his shoulders, and his legendary handlebar mustache framed his pained smile.

Fredrick stepped up to him and they clasped arms as the Lord of Wexbury said with enthusiasm, “Salutations Flatlash!”