"Bring it," Jarod commanded. "We'll take it back to the Order and have it disposed of properly."
Aiden nodded and hefted the large tome. Leah glanced about the room, and frowned.
"Where did Kerris go?"
"He did something as he died," Daron said, shivering. "The shadows came up and consumed him."
A heavy silence filled the room. They glanced at each other in unease. Daron still could hardly believe what he'd seen, and would have sworn it impossible, but after seeing corpses walk again, he had to admit there were things he knew little about.
"I don't know about the rest of you," Jarod said, glancing about, "but I've had enough of all of this. Let's get back up to the surface and leave this unholy place."
A half an hour later the well weathered group arrived at the western gate. Light had begun to blossom to the east as they staggered to the surface. Jarod had made a simple splint for Aiden once the'd returned to the surface, scavenging some lumber from a crate he smashed in the back of an alley, binding it with strips of cloth torn from his own shirt. Aiden complained of the cleanliness of it, but Daron could tell it wasn't meant in earnest.
They found Tel amidst his small remaining group of guards conversing with a tall man in a flowing black duster that nearly swept the ground. Daron could just make out twin pistol grips jutting from a wide belt lashed about his waist. Tel waved and urged the group over, his face breaking into a beaming grin at the sight of Jarod and Aiden.
"It is splendid to see you alive, my friends," Tel nearly shouted as they approached. "The city is safe, thanks to our benefactor here." He gestured to the stranger standing beside him, who watched their group with sharp steel eyes that missed nothing. The gaze was uncomfortable, but Daron forced himself to meet it and nod. Leah stiffened beside him. She tensed as if to bolt, but Daron put a hand on her back, trying to comfort her.
The man bowed respectfully to the group, and then grinned. It was a stark contrast to the dour demeanor he'd had just moments ago. It looked energetic and heartfelt.
"It is a pleasure to meet you," he said. "Tel has spoken highly of you all. Especially you, Daron," he said, inclining his head once again. "It seems you handled yourself quite well after the untimely demise of Captain Dax. Until we arrived, at least. Were it not for you, our services likely would not have been required. Recapturing a city is a much different beast than defending it, so for that, you have my thanks."
Daron was unsure how to respond, but the man swiveled to face Leah. He could feel her shock as the mercenary bowed again. Daron kept his hand on her back, weighing options. What would he do if the man pressed her bounty right here?
"It is also good to see you again, daughter," the man said.
Daron felt his jaw drop and saw similar looks of shock on Jarod and Aiden's face. Daughter?
Leah looked flummoxed beside him, her mouth working wordlessly. She took an unconscious step back, and then shook her head.
"It has been far too long, hasn't it?" he said pleasantly.
"You're her father?" Daron asked when he'd found his voice. For a moment a look of anger flashed across the mercenary's face, but it was swept away by the cheery smile that didn't quite touch his eyes. The man was dangerous, Daron realized, and not just because he was the leader of a group of mercenaries. There was something feral and cold behind the eyes.
"I have not seen her in over a decade," he admitted. "I have been looking for her for quite some time." His tone held the slightest hint of steel to it. No one had paid Arix Company to hunt Leah down, Daron realized. Her own father had been seeking her out. He frowned. Hadn't she told him her father was a merchant of some type? Was that yet another lie she'd told?
Tel waved a hand dismissively. "There is time enough for reunions soon," he announced. "Our fair city has a much more urgent need. If Thomas would be so inclined, we should see to her defense."
"Yes," Thomas said, his eyes never leaving Leah's face. "By now my men should have secured the city. I will meet with them and see how fares your fine city. We'll talk again soon, Leah." He bowed once again and spun, coat flowing behind him as he walked away. Leah shivered beside him.
"Decent man, that one," Tel admitted. "Though it will cost the council a train load of gold. We'll have to do some damage control with the council, though all accounts are we fared better than we imagined."
"I watched hundreds of men and women give their lives for this city," Daron said coldly. "Including Captain Dax. We're poorer for having lost them, Justice."
"I meant no disrespect," Tel said, bowing stiffly from the waist. "And I mean no slight to those we lost to keep this city. I was expressing joy that there is still a city left to keep, Justice Daron."
Daron regarded the man for a moment, and then nodded.
Jarod stepped close to Daron and Leah, keeping his voice low while Tel continued on.
"You two should find an inn somewhere and rest," Jarod whispered. "There isn't much more to be done here that I can't handle. I'll find Brynn and get everyone together soon. Meet back at the Order when you can. Don't come by river. Her father will be expecting that." Jarod gave Daron a quick wink then turned back to the conversation at hand.
Jarod had finally made his decision about Leah, it seemed. Excusing them to leave and telling them to meet back at the Order was practically a command for them to run, as far as Daron saw it. He bowed respectfully to the group and grabbed Leah by a hand, leading her off north.
"My father," she breathed once they'd gotten out of earshot. "That explains so much."
"I thought you said he was a merchant," Daron said as they walked.
"That's what my mother had always told me. He was always gone away on business trips when I was young, before she took me away from him. Now I think I understand why."
"He'll be looking for you," Daron said. "As soon as the city is secure, he'll come for you. We have to leave today."
Leah paused, and turned to Daron. She regarded him for a moment, head tilted to one side, a knowing smile growing on her face. She leaned in and pressed her lips to his, warmth flooding into him. He blinked, startled, and then relaxed into the kiss. It was delicate, almost questioning. When Leah broke away she was smiling at him. He couldn't help but return it.
"To the Order, and then," she grinned. "After a bit of sleep. You're about ready to drop." She started walking again, leaving him behind. He scrambled to catch up, his thoughts suddenly going blank. He felt himself grinning stupidly, but suddenly didn't care.
He got them rooms at the same inn he'd dropped the refugees from Mediya off at. It took a few minutes to negotiate the common room as he was stopped every few steps by some of the townsfolk they'd rescued, expressing their heartfelt thanks. Tired as he was, he couldn't ignore them, and spoke with each that reached out for him. Leah watched with amusement from the far side of the room, and after their shared moment earlier, Daron couldn't help but match her exuberance.
After dropping a small handful of coins onto the wooden counter for two rooms, Daron and Leah headed upstairs. He fitted his key into the lock and paused. Leah leaned against the wall between their rooms, fixing him with a deep smile. Her eyes glistened as she regarded him in the hallway.
"I don't think I ever really managed to say thank you," she said, her voice thick with emotion. "And tomorrow we'll be off running again."
"I wouldn't have it any other way," Daron said. She watched him for a moment, and then nodded, detaching from the wall and unlocking her door. With a final glance at each other, they vanished into their respective rooms.
They'd sleep for a few hours, Daron decided, and then leave during the night, hopefully staying ahead of her father. He shrugged out of his clothes, leaned his blade against the wall near the head of the bed, and was asleep almost instantly.
Chapter 27.
Sammet sprinted through the darkened streets, the din of battle falling distantly behind him. He spun around a corner, flattening himself against the building, straining to hear anything above the sound of his pounding heartbeat. He'd managed to get away from the slaughter by some stroke of luck, and had been running ever since. The sight of the well trained mercenaries threshing his force down like wheat was still etched into his memory.
He craned his neck around the corner. No one had followed him. He allowed himself a grin. He was a survivor, through and through. He'd been paid well by Kerris, so he had a bit to live on for a while, though the bulk of his commission hadn't been rendered. Better to be alive than rich and dead.
An electric streetlamp gave the only light, thrusting from the ground across the corner near a winery. The shadows were deep here, easy enough for him to hide in until the battle was complete. Sheathing his sword, he hunkered down in the darkness and closed his eyes, breathing easy.
The streetlamp buzzed. Sammet opened one eye. The electric hum grew in intensity, pulsing at his ears in time with the thump of his heart. With a flash, the light faded away, leaving a single pinpoint of faint yellow light. He blinked at the afterimage left behind.
The darkness about him grew. What had been the depth of night grew even darker, far deeper than he'd ever thought possible. The barely visible lines of the buildings faded away, leaving him stranded in a pool of unmarred blackness. His heart began to race again as he threw himself to his feet. He backed away, but instead of the solidness of the wall, he stumbled through nothingness.
"Sammet," a voice hissed, deep and alien, like the grinding sound of steel being rent apart. Other voices joined the chorus, each calling his name with piercing agony. He clapped his hands over his ears, but the voices rang crystal clear in his mind.
"Sammet," they called. The man slumped to his knees, tears streaming down his face. He could feel warmth on his palms, but pulling his hands to his eyes showed him nothing, not even his hands. He cried out wordlessly, but no sound issued forth.
"He has failed, Sammet," the original voice said. He felt a presence draw close, but saw nothing. "Kerris has failed in his task."
"Who are you?"
"We are those who watch, Sammet. Soon we are those that move."
"Leave me alone!" Sammet screamed without words.
"You have work to do, human. Rise."
Pain lashed through him, coursing through every fiber of his being. Sammet collapsed to a ground he couldn't see, body contorting in agony. It vanished as abruptly as it came.
"Rise."
He struggled to his feet, sobbing uncontrollably in silence. In the absence of everything, he could make out dozens of flaming red pinpricks of light. Eyes. Eyes that were focused unblinkingly on him.
"You must complete his task. If you do not, you will be given agonies that mortal flesh has never dreamed of. You must complete our task."
Tears streaming uncontrollably, Sammet nodded to the darkness. He was a survivor, after all.
Chapter 28.
Leah awoke some time later, the room filled with twilight. She stifled a yawn and stretched, muscles protesting and back popping as she rose. She shrugged herself back into her borrowed clothes, pants from Brynn days before and Daron's jacket. Belting her sword on, she slipped out of her room and locked the door behind her.
Daron answered his door a few moments after her knock. He looked well rested, despite only having a few hours of sleep. He smiled as she slid into the room. Though the common room of the inn was lit by electric lighting, the sleeping quarters only had simple oil lamps. Daron struck a match from the box on the table, and gently coaxed the lamp to life. Flickering shadows danced across the room. She dropped herself onto the bed while Daron took a seat at the table.
"What is your plan, Lord Justice?" Leah asked with a grin.
"We'll head north of here a ways on foot," Daron said. "We'll catch a train to the capital. There's a direct rail from there to the Order. It's not as quick as going by river boat, but they'd expect that."
"How long do you think it will take?"
Daron scratched at the couple day growth of beard filling his face. Leah tried to picture him with a beard, nearly giggling. No, he'd have to take care of that as soon as possible, she decided.
"Two weeks, give or take," he admitted. After the last few days, traveling positively wonderful to Leah. She nodded as Daron gazed out he window as the sun waned to the west.
"What do we do after that?"
"From there, I'm not sure," he said, shaking his head. "The important thing is to get you away from your father. After that, we can think of what to do next. Hopefully by now the gates are open."
Daron nodded, belting his sword to on hip and crossing the room to the door. He threw it open and paused in the threshold.
"Are you ready to do this?" he asked quietly. Leah turned and stared into the spluttering flames of the lantern. The flames flickered as if it were nearly out of fuel, but she could see that it was nearly full.
"Yes," she said simply. She meant it to the core of her being. Whatever came next, she was ready to meet it.
He nodded, and then gave her a reassuring grin. "Turn off the lantern on your way out," he said, stepping out into the hall.
Leah rose from the bed and paused. Lifting one hand, she concentrated. The flame jumped up and out of the top of the lantern, lazily zipping through the air into her outstretched palm. It quivered there, dancing as if alive between her fingers, before sinking through her skin. Warmth prickled through her arm.
She spun, a slight smile gracing her face as she left the room.
This is a work of fiction. All characters, organizations, and events portrayed within are either products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously.
end.