Signs of a Flood

Brooding, Lucian still thought about knocking the three Wavebreakers out. But if this expedition went south, he'd end up imprisoned or worse. Reluctant, he accepted the fact that he'd join them on their stakeout.

Jaquim fell into step beside him and began whispering.
"Why did you keep your magic a secret from everyone?"

Lucian stiffened. The fewer people knew about him the better.
"Because I’d have to explain it."

Jaquim frowned. "That’s not an answer. Mages are rare, even more so outside the capital." He glanced at the others, who were wrapped up in their own conversation. His voice dropped even lower as he continued. "What even is your magic? I studied in Silere for two years, and yours breaks every rule I know. No long incantation, almost no delay, barely any recoil. To say it blunt, you’re weird. And that’s before looking at your spell!"

Lucian flinched internally. He had always been different, but hearing it still felt bad. He deflected. "Your staff. That blue crystal, what’s with it?"

Jaquim blinked at him, annoyed, then smirked. "One for one. You answer a question, I answer a question."

"... Deal."

"It’s azurite. Refined. Rytelle uses it to equip their army. Barion’s got a sword." He tapped the gem, a faint glow pulsing inside. "The crystal absorbs the recoil. Takes the backlash instead of me."

Lucian raised a brow. "And then it breaks."

Jaquim opened a pouch at his belt, showing a handful of shards. "Exactly. Which is why every mage carries backups. Every mage besides you, that is."

Lucian nodded, feeling along the scars on his hand.

"Your turn," Jaquim interrupted. "How does your magic work?"

Lucian hesitated, not sure how to explain in simple terms. "I… hear it. Magic. It’s... like a song. And how or what you play, changes it."

Jaquim frowned. "You... hear it? That makes no sense. And the incantations? You only called the spell’s name, right?"

Lucian scratched his chin. "I do that part in my head, beforehand. I weave certain sounds together forming the spell, and when I call it, the song is released."

Jaquim stared like Lucian was insane.

Before the silence grew unbearable, Calviro’s voice cut through. "Quiet now. We’re close."

~✦~

From the cover of the hilltop foliage, the gnoll camp unfolded below them. To Lucian, it looked like a crude mockery of Cacela. A stage play set, held together by mud and bones. The gnolls were sprawled about, lazing in the afternoon heat. Some lounged in the sun, while others dozed in the shade of their primitive tents. Lucian could also see the mouths of tunnels that riddled the colony, a few gnolls occasionally disappearing into their darkness.

Calviro glanced at Ivo, waiting for his nod that the wind carried their scent away. Only then did he settle down to observe.

"This is impressive," Lucian muttered, "but what are we looking for?"

"Logistics," Calviro replied flatly. "If a flood is coming, there’ll be signs. Stockpiled weapons. Packs forming warbands. A leader. They might be simple, but they’re not stupid."

Lucian squinted at the burrows gouged into the earth and walls. "What’s with those tunnels? Do you know what they’re for?"

"Some. Nurseries, storage, living dens." Calviro’s mouth tightened. "But a few… nothing ever goes in or out. Those unsettle me most."

Not willing to wait around for something to happen, Lucian took the initiative.
"I’ll get you your clues right now. In exchange, we leave, and you report to the Castellan that I fulfilled his request."

The Wavebreakers exchanged confused looks.

"I’m not done yet. If there are no signs of a flood, two of you will accompany us deeper into the wildlands. And finally, my secret stays mine. Got it? Then swear on it."

One of Calviro’s blood vessels looked ready to pop at the demand, but Jaquim’s steady reaffirmation of Lucian’s ability calmed him down.

"You get one of us," he snarled. "We’ll keep your secret regardless of the outcome. I swear on my honor as the head of the scouting patrol."

With that Lucian’s fingers closed around the black gem at his neck and he whispered the word.
"Echo."

As his vision surged, impressions cascaded through his mind. Caverns, chambers, nothing escaped his sight. Realizing how well the Wavebreakers clued their observations together, Lucian began relaying his own findings.
"Weapon chamber, cistern, food stores, nurseries, a treasury..." Then, endless tunnels. Stretching farther than his magic could carry him. His breath caught as the strain broke the spell.

The others stared wide-eyed. Calviro wanted answers, but this wasn’t the time. He settled for a grim nod.

"Disturbing how well they’re prepared. But as long as they don’t rally, there shouldn’t be a flood."

After one last sweeping glance of the camp, Calviro signaled the retreat.

~✦~

"Why don’t we wipe them out? Isn’t cutting their numbers a Wavebreaker’s duty?" Amon’s voice was eager, eyes longing toward the direction they came from.
"Not every Wavebreaker has a death wish," Calviro muttered. "That pack’s bigger than what we saw. And that’s with all the culling we’ve been doing. I won’t risk my kid brother losing more family because of a rash decision."

The group fell quiet, until Lucian and Ivo froze mid-step. "No animals." Ivo unslung his crossbow, scanning the trees.

Lucian’s hand flew to his pendant. "Echo." The spell rang outward, confirming their suspicion. "Behind us!"

The party scrambled as Calviro pushed to the new front. Sensing their cover blown, three gnolls emerged. Armored and disciplined, they were barking guttural orders instead of their insane cackles. Wielding axes and shields, these were different from the ones Lucian was familiar with.

Amon charged before anyone could stop him, chasing one into the trees.

"You idiot! Get back!" Calviro shouted, forced to meet the other two head-on.

Lucian and Ivo moved to intercept, but Lucian’s shot went wide, and Ivo’s bolt stuck into a shield. Their group dynamic shining, Jaquim flanked to the left while Ivo reloaded on the right. Lucian moved to back the ranger up when something pierced his leg. He collapsed onto one knee, blinking down the shaft of an arrow that had buried itself near his ankle. Gritting his teeth, he stifled a cry, hands hovering uselessly near the shaft.

The gnolls still pressing Calviro, he managed to roar in between a parry.

"It’s a hunting pack!"