Chapter 9

Koji hardly registered the crossbow bolts flying at him. He only knew that he was now running forward at full tilt, and the arrows that flew at him were as inconsequential as drops of rain against the protection offered by Sylvia’s shield.

While the archers were busy reloading their weapons, Koji dashed up to the nearest enemy. Holding the rod of light in his free hand, Koji swung it as hard as he could at the man before him.

To Koji’s astonishment, his target leapt away from the attack, avoiding the strike. He then retaliated with a counterstrike from his war axe, and Koji was barely able to stop it with his shield. The impact sent a shockwave shuddering up his arm.

Undeterred, Koji thrust his staff of light at the man, catching him in the shoulder and making him stagger. Koji was about to advance when something hit him from behind. Pain bloomed in his side, and he turned his head to see another man, wielding a long handled pick standing there. Koji’s armor had blunted the strike and kept the pick from breaking his skin, but it still hurt more than he had expected.

By now, the archers had reloaded their crossbows, and had spread out around Koji so that he could not block all of their bolts.

I may have underestimated these people… Koji swallowed as his eyes darted from foe to foe, trying to find a way to win. Or overestimated myself.

“Well, boy,” The man in the naval uniform declared, walking closer with his cutlass. “It would seem that you are outmatched. I don’t know who you are or what you’re doing here, so you had better explain yourself before my people here turn you into a pincushion.”

“What do you care?” Koji challenged. “You’re going to kill me anyway.”

The man holding the cutlass looked mildly amused. “Kill you? Is that what you think we do?”

“You were going to kill her just now,” Koji gestured at Sylvia.

“A mere ploy to get her to shut up. I do have a sense for the theatrical,” the leader said. “We’re not murderers, boy. We’re just trying to make a living in this world, same as everyone else. You people with the Order are irksome, but we wouldn’t kill you just for that.”

“And the soldier outside that you cut up?” Koji was unconvinced.

“That wasn’t us. It was…” The leader seemed to think the better of saying more and changed tack. “We trussed up these guards so we could get a ransom. Then when we get paid, we’re going to skip town. There’s no future in Behalan for magic sympathizers like us, and we’d rather take our chances with the countryside than stay in Behalan and be harassed constantly by your Order.”

Koj’s eyes narrowed, but he did not relax his stance. “If you’re telling the truth, then what’s that thing back in the other room? Poison? Acid bombs?”

“Healing waters, boy. We were selling it to fund our exodus. Of course, if the Order is willing to pay our ransom, we could be out of Behalan within the week.”

“Selling items like that are prohibited by law,” Sylvia spoke up for the first time since Koji had come barging in.

“Oh, will you shut it?” The man holding the cutlass turned his head to address Sylvia. “We know it’s illegal; why do you think we’re hiding in his scrap heap? Flies in the face of destiny and all that. We’re not saints, but given all of your Order’s blustering about helping people, you didn’t help us, did you?”

Now that Koji was able to observe his opponents up close, he could see that their clothes were dirty and worn, and that the leader’s own naval uniform was dirty and in need of repairs. Hit cutlass was chipped and slightly bent out of shape, though now Koji could see a faint sheen of rippling light over its blade.

“Curious that the Order would have someone like you on their side,” the leader mused, walking closer to Koji. “To think that they have a magic caster working with them. You being blackmailed, boy?”

“I’m not being blackmailed,” Koji retorted. “And I’m not a magician!”

This caused a ripple of unease among the others.

“Don’t try to lie, boy, everyone here can see plain as day that you’re a mage.”

“Guess again,” Koji shifted his arm to show off the Magicide crystal that was set in his armor. “I’m something else entirely.”

“Hmm, are you now?” The leader mulled this over. “I know someone who would pay a hefty sum for you. How about you make a deal with me?”

“What kind of deal?” Koji asked coldly.

“You agree to come with us, and we’ll let the rest of these Order types go. We won’t harm them at all.”

Koji glared at the leader, then risked a glance at Sylvia. She was looking away from him, seemingly focused on something by her knees. In fact, none of the Order soldiers were looking at him.

“And if I refuse?” Koji asked as he strained to see just what Sylvia was up to.

The leader’s face grew solemn. “Then… I suppose things will get unpleasant. For all of us.”

Koji glanced over at Sylvia again and a faint smile spread over his face.

“No. Just you.”

Without another word, Koji slammed the end of his golden staff onto the floor. The weapon exploded into a nimbus of glaring light that blinded everyone who had been looking at him. Shouts of surprise and pain came from all around Koji.

Immediately after doing this, Koji dropped to the floor as a predicted swarm of crossbow bolts flew above his head and thudded into the walls around him.

As the outlaws were still reeling from the blinding light, Sylvia and the three other Order soldiers suddenly sprang up, loose ropes falling from their wrists. They rushed for the disoriented adversaries and quickly began taking them down, wrestling weapons from their grasp and using their armored limbs to bludgeon them into submission.

Koji rolled out of the melee and clambered back upright, just in time to see Sylvia knock out the leader with a mighty haymaker. He fell like a sack of potatoes, landing on the ground in a heap.

“Thanks for the rescue,” Sylvia said, coming over to Koji. The remaining outlaws had either been knocked out or were in the process of surrendering to the Order. “We were able to cut our bonds with a broken metal hinge that flew over when you blew the door apart. Then you kept them talking until we were ready to break free.”

“Oh,” Koji said simply. He decided not to mention that he had been completely unaware of this plan until the very last moment. “Um, no problem.”

“Looks like we’ve got eight for the holding cells,” Sylvia turned to look at the captured outlaws. “Pity about Nicolas.”

“Nico- Oh,” Koji thought back to the Order soldier who had died outside. Anger rose up inside his throat, but he forced it back down. “That guy said he didn’t kill Nicolas. Was he telling the truth?”

“We were captured by these people when we got close to the entrance to this lair,” Sylvia explained. “While it is true that none of them directly killed Nicolas, I personally did not see what felled him either. It could have been another member of their group who we did not see. Either way, I’m going to charge them with accessory to murder at least. They won’t be able to hurt anyone ever again.”

“Good. Good,” said Koji. Then he undid the shield from his arm and held it out. “This belongs to you. I, uh, picked it up outside.”

“Oh, thank you!” Sylvia beamed as she took back her shield. “This shield has seen me through a dozen fights and I’m very fond of it. You have my gratitude.”

Koji felt heat suffuse his cheeks and he looked away to try and hide the blush. “We should probably report back to the High Lords. Get them to send more people to investigate and seal off this area, right?”

“Spoken like a true member of the Order,” Sylvia said approvingly. “Then let us be off. I’ll be sure to give the High Lords a full report of what went down here today. For destiny’s true path.”

***

Koji and Sylvia stood at attention in front of the three thrones of the High Lords. The High Lords themselves were not present, having withdrawn to a more private chamber to discuss matters. Sylvia and Koji had just finished recounting the details of their mission to the shipyard to the High Lords, and were now waiting for their reaction to it. Koji had left out the part about his conversation to the cloaked figure, though he was not entirely sure why; he just didn’t think he should share that with anyone yet.

Finally, the door to the side chamber opened and the three High Lords returned to their thrones. High Lords Tristan and Eliana had satisfied looks on their faces, whereas High Lord Sampson’s face remained veiled behind his helmet.

“Well, then,” High Lord Tristan announced. “After listening to your testimonies about the mission, we have decided to declare the raid on the shipyard a success for the Order of the Unbroken Path. We are one step closer to claiming all of Behalan for humanity.”

Sylvia’s face broke out in a wide smile. “Thank you, High Lord Tristan,” she cried out before catching herself. “Ahem. Yes, thank you for your accolades.”

High Lord Eliana spoke next.

“Moreover, given the circumstances, we have decided that you, Sylvia, and you, Koji, will be placed on the same permanent team. Young man, you performed with great aplomb and dedication to the Order, despite being new to us. I know I speak for the other two High Lords when I say that your presence in our ranks means that the end is nigh for magicians and their arts in this city.”

“We confiscated all of the equipment in the shipyard,” High Lord Sampson told them. “The Order will be putting our efforts into neutralizing and disposing of it as soon as possible.”

“What was it all for?” Koji asked, curious to know if the outlaw leader had been telling the truth about healing waters.

“Our scholars are still examining it,” High Lord Eliana told Koji. “But whatever it was meant to do, it is too dangerous to destiny to keep active. I’m sure you understand.”

Koji nodded. He was starting to get the gist of how the Order worked now, and even though he wanted his questions answered, he knew better than to push it.

“In fact,” High Lord Tristan declared. “Judging by the debriefing, you were instrumental in the raid’s success, Koji Hagane. We High Lords of the Order of the Unbroken Path would like to award you with a medal of bravery for your exemplary performance.”

”What? A medal? But I don’t-”

Koji was stopped by Sylvia nudging his side with her elbow. He looked into her eyes and she winked at him, then gestured with her chin at High Lord Tristan.

“I mean, I would be honored to accept it,” Koji amended.

“Excellent. Now, upon our right as High Lords of Behalan and shepherds of humanity’s future, we hereby bestow upon you, Koji Hagane, the Order’s medal of courage and bravery. May it embolden you to serve the Order with valor in all your future endeavors.”

High Lord Eliana arose from her throne and retrieved a small golden medallion from her robes. Then she walked over to Koji and affixed it to the front of his attire, right above his heart.

Sylvia and the High Lords clapped, the applause echoing around the meeting chamber. After a few moments of this, High Lord Tristan raised his hand and everything fell silent.

“You’re doing very well, my boy. Might I ask you to hone your remarkable abilities further? Your promised salary will be delivered to you on the morrow, and since we will need to question the people you captured today, there may not be any missions for a day or two. Mayhap you and Sylvia could find a way to grow your power, if that is possible.”

”Yes, High Lord Tristan!” Koji said with a salute. He thought it fitting, given his recent award.

“Very good. You are dismissed, Koji. Sylvia, we would like to have a word with you about today’s raid. Please stay for a while further.”

Koji waved to Sylvia and walked out of the meeting chamber and into the evening sun. As he passed the Order guards that patrolled this part of the city, many of them saw the medal and saluted him.

It was a new feeling, having other, older people respect him, but Koji reasoned that he could get used to it. After all, he had earned it and he was looking forward to proving himself to the High Lords even more.

There was just one thing tickling the back of his mind, and that was the cloaked figure. He still wanted to speak to her about what she had said, but there was no way to find her now.

Maybe she would find him.

Koji sighed and found a carriage to take him back home. He was tired, and wanted a bath and then a long sleep.