Gardiani In The Train

After two months, nothing happened after all. With very little in between Vernacieux and the next town, bandits didn’t have many hideouts set up, so it just left monster attacks for everyone to contend with. That was fine for everyone though. The variety of creatures made sure no one got stuck into any fighting habits, and although everyone had gotten used to fighting other people, no one liked it.

It was becoming increasingly apparent that Adaeze and Carter were growing closer. Even Yuliya and Skylar were making jokes about it. Ogun had started putting great amounts of distance between himself and Carter.

Not just Carter. He was giving most everyone the cold shoulder. It was a complete reverse of the guy who had brazenly pushed passed any bit of hesitation and pulled me into the group. It seemed as if the one who cared about everyone was missing.

Whenever we fought bandits he seemed to be at the head of the pack, but during monster attacks, he wasn’t into it. Skylar approached me once and warned that eventually he would get someone hurt if he didn’t put himself into the group more.

I was riding one of the horses with Skylar while Ogun kept ahead of everyone. Yuliya and Esther were on the drivers bench.

“So, I’ve been meaning to tell you something. Two things actually.” She was twirling one of her iconic pigtails.

I never like sentences that started like that. “Oh boy, here we go.”

“What?” She shouted defensively.

“This is going to be awkward no matter what it is.” I said teasingly.

“Well… Fine! I won’t tell you.” She puffed out her cheeks.

“No I want to know now.” No response. “Come on tell me!”

She laughed, apparently teasing me back. “Fine ok. So first, I was kind of interested in you when we first met. That cute comment I made before? Not just a comment.”

I was stunned. “Uh…huh?”

“But,” She glanced behind her. In Yuliya’s direction. “I think I’m leagues more drawn to her.”

It took me a moment to process, but then I nodded. “Oh that? We know.”

Her face turned red. “What?”

“Yeah, we all-well I don’t know about Ogun, but just look at that brooding face.” We both laughed. “We were just waiting on you guys.”

Skylar smiled.

“While we are on the topic, I was interested in you too.”

“Oh I knew that. You were so painfully obvious, I think I knew before even you did.” She looked at me smugly.

It was my turn for my face to turn red. “Aaaah…”

“I thought that was cute too. However,” She gestured behind us. “Leagues more?”

I instantly thought of Esther. “I’m pretty sure, yeah.”

She took a firmer grip on the reins. “Just a heads up.” She spurred the horse to go faster. “She’s half-dwarf too, so she’s like two hundred.”

Once again processing what she said, I took a long time to realize what that meant. “Wait what?” I shouted, to which she laughed.

A few days later, we were close to the next city according to Esther’s estimations. Carter was more on edge however because we had only four more days before the Forbidden Week arrived. I’d grown accustomed to the man facing everything bravely, so his fear was especially palpable.

One night, as we were sitting by the fire, his eyes kept darting from side to side.

“Carter.” He didn’t respond. “Carter.” Nothing. “Carter!”

He reached for his scimitar so fast that his bowl of stew hadn’t even spilled yet.

“Relax!” I put my hands up in a calming motion. “This creature really scares you doesn’t it?”

“The Sitoq isn’t merely a creature. It is nightmares given form.” He managed to let go of his scimitar and retrieve his bowl. “It is fast, strong, and repulsive.” He spooned more stew into his bowl and took a large bite. “I would choose to fight anything else, but that I would drop all weapons and flee from.”

Esther sidled up next to me. “I take it you’ve seen it in person?”

Nice assist Esther! I was curious too!

“Indeed. It snatched my mentor right before my eyes.” We waited for a couple moments before he began to monologue about it.

“I was still in my youth. I was learning about the world, and the world was beginning to learn me. I had just finished my first job alone. To hand deliver a monster egg to a renowned technologist, I believe. There was a smuggler ring that wanted the monster egg for a lord in the area. He was famed for keeping monsters as exotic pets. I fought them off and left the egg at her lab, where her security took it from there. It was the day before the Forbidden Week, and I had heard from many people not to perform work or duties during this week. As I rushed home, I spotted my mentor leaving from the Collection building. He had apparently taken a job and was planning on completing it that night.”

I noticed Esther fidgeting ever since he mentioned the technologist.

“I urged him not to go. To respect the custom. He refused, stating that such superstitions weren’t real. As I was pleading with him, we heard a screech from about, and down it swooped. He pushed me as one of the tentacles tried to grab me, and was taken himself. I immediately went into the branch building and didn’t leave for the whole week. His body was never found, and five more people were taking in that city. Ever since, I have respected the week, and any other local customs.”

A shiver ran down my spine. Undoubtedly, it could possibly be killed. But it sounded like it was so dangerous and feared because that was what was hard to do.

“Umm,” Esther slowly raised her hand. “When was this?”

Carter cupped his chin. “Well I am currently a hundred and seven, so perhaps ninety-three years ago?”

She groaned. “That was probably me.”

He tensed up. “The Sitoq?”

“No!” She flailed her fists in frustration. “The technologist. I experimented with monster eggs back then. I wanted to test if certain monsters were derived from humans. I found some connections, but not much.”

Carter let out a breath. “So we crossed paths long ago and didn’t even know it.”

I turned to Esther. “What things haven’t you experimented with yet?”

She put a finger to her lips. “Well I haven’t tried to tackle flight for the flightless yet.”

I laughed, and even Carter chuckled a little. We went back and forth a little more before we went to sleep.

We came down to the wire, but the city was within a day’s time from us, and we still had a day and a night to travel. Our superstitious friend was on a horse ahead of us and seemed to be relaxing knowing we’d make it in time. I was in the back of the wagon with Esther, Abel, and Adaeze. Skylar and Yuliya had the reins this time. We were joking about something when we heard a crash to our left. The trees were shifting violently, as if they were the ones moving themselves.

“I think those are treants attacking someone.” Skylar called back.

“For that many, it must be a large group.” Esther agreed.

I looked forward at Carter. He was also looking in the direction of the commotion. I could see from his profile that he was getting anxious, even conflicted. If we went to help, we’d be cutting it close, even be out when the Sitoq became active.

I shouted ahead to him. “Carter! What do you want to do buddy?”

He looked back at me, panic in his eyes.

If he chose to abandon whoever it was, we’d follow him. I didn’t want to force him into something that terrified him.

To his credit, he pulled the rains, veering his horse toward the attack.

I smiled. “Ok everyone, we’re going to go help!”

As we drew closer we realized that it was a whole caravan of people who were being attacked. It looked as if they took this road to get to town faster, but treants had taken up residence here. We had the chance to learn about them briefly back in Belle Reve.

“I’ve wanted to study one of these to see how they can move!” Sofiya shouted. Esther looked at her excitedly. “Me too!”

We got close enough that we could run the rest of the way to protect the cart and horses. Yuliya created a pillar and used it to propel herself forward, blasting stone spikes into the legs of the nearest treants. Already we could see five of the carts were blasted to pieces in the attack. Bodies were strewn throughout. Survivors were running for their lives, attempting to board the other carts that were still functional and dodging the branches swung at them.

Ogun came riding in and fired at one of the treants with Zeke’s break stick. It barely did anything, so he switched to his spear. He thrust it into an arm that grabbed one of the survivors, but it did minimal damage as well. When he tried to pull it out, it was stuck fast.

The treant roared and attempted to grab him, but quick thinking from Yuliya knocked him out of the way. It grabbed her instead and lifted her high. His horse fled behind us.

The rest of us had gotten close enough that we could help, and the first thing I did was send some water blades flying at the arms holding them. Yuliya and the survivor fell onto the wreckage of a destroyed cart. She cried out in pain, as a large piece of wood was sticking out of her leg.

Skylar ran over to retrieve her and pull her to safety while the rest of us fended off the treants. Slowly, the remaining carts of the caravan began to collect the survivors and flee down the road. A piece of treant arm fell on top of a fleeing cart and was taken away. Soon the treants began to realize that we were a real threat to them and focused on us, leaving the caravan alone. We slowly retreated to our own horses and wagon, but the treants were beginning to overwhelm us. It was also becoming dark.

Suddenly a screech sounded from the sky. A giant eyeball creature with tentacles and wings came swooping down and latched onto a treant. It attempted to left the struggling creature, but when it couldn’t it decided to devour it here. One treant continued chasing us while the rest turned their attention to the new enemy. We mounted up and rode to the nearest city. Sofiya and I send blades of water and wind at the pursing treant, cutting it’s legs out from under it. It fell to the dirt, and then was immediately attacked but the Sitoq.

It was about an hour before we heard from the Sitoq again. The city was in sight, and so was the beast. It came swooping down and grabbed Carter by the arm.

Without hesitation he drew his scimitar and swung it at his arm. At the same time I shot a pressurized blast of water into it’s eye.

It roared in pain and released him. Without the support from it’s grip, his swing rotated his whole body and the blade sliced through the tip of one of it’s tentacles. It fell into Esther’s lap, who’s face became a mix of revulsion and curiosity.

The Sitoq flew away, wailing.

The city gates flew open for us, with a guard waving us forward. They started closing it as soon as we crossed the threshold. It rattled a bit before there was a frustrated roar that receded into the night.

We all breathed heavily, running through what just happened.

“Well now you can say you faced your fear Carter.” Abel said.

We all burst into laughter, except for Ogun who was already trotting his horse down the road, and Carter, who frowned.

“No. Never again.” He shook his head adamantly.

This earned even more laughter.

Ahead of us on the road were all the carts from the caravan. A group of people approached from it. At the head of the group was a balding middle aged man.

“Oh thank you! You wonderful people! A piece of a treant fell on one of our wagons. Please take it with out gratitude!”

Two of the people behind him were carrying a slightly charred piece of wood. It had a faint green glow to it.

Esther got excited. “Oh I could make something out of this!” She grabbed it under one arm and carried it off to our wagon.

Ogun chose this moment to come back. He hopped off his horse, and was pulling the break stick from his back when Skylar marched over and snatched it from him.

“I didn’t realize it before because I assumed someone stowed it for me, but this is Zeke’s isn’t it? Who said you could use this?” She raged at him.

He tried to take it back but failed. “What’s the big deal? He’s dead and I needed a new one.”

Skylar delivered a well placed punch to his face and sent him sprawling to the ground. “It’s the only thing I have left of the three of them! That’s the big deal!” Instead of breaking down in sorrow, she had fiery tears in her eyes. “And you endangered Yuliya! What were you going to do against a treant with a break stick and a spear? She had to come save you after you stupidly got your spear stuck! She’s injured because of you!”

Abel had to restrain her.

I stepped in front of Ogun and faced Skylar. “This one is on all of us. We knew he was using Zeke’s break stick and didn’t say anything. Please don’t just be mad at him.” I tried to mediate, but Skylar didn’t even look at me.

“You all probably thought I gave him permission to use it, didn’t you? That’s not your fault, it’s his!”

Abel dragged her off behind the wagon.

Ogun felt at his face. “What am I supposed to use?”

Adaeze hit him with her harshest glare. “Shut up. You should have asked.”

Esther came up to him. “I agree with Skylar, but you’re right, you do need one. I’ll use the treant wood we just got and some supplies in the city to make it. I’m not used to making break sticks, so you’ll have to settle for the quality it is.” Her eyes were cold as she gazed down at him.

He looked away, and after a moment muttered a thank you.

The citizens around us started to disperse since the drama was over. The nearby guards were still whispering. I caught snatches of their conversation, wondering if they should do anything since it was technically one person attacking another. Eventually they just returned to their posts.

I clapped my hands and tried to get everyone’s attention, but Carter cut me off.

“Why hasn’t it attacked us yet?”

“What?” I asked, confused.

“The Sitoq.”

Yuliya called from the back of the wagon, pain tinging her voice. “Maybe because of up there?” She was pointing to the sky.

We all looked up and saw cloth and tarps stretched between the rooves of the buildings. Something was applied to them, because they all sparkled like a cloudless night sky.

“It’s beautiful.” I said. I put a hand on Carter’s shoulder and felt him rapidly relax.

One of the guards came over. His armor looked very different from what we were used to in the city state regions but still looked imposing.

He removed a cloth that was covering his nose and mouth. “Welcome to Beyalan, The City of Night, trade capital of Azmiria. You western folk bring a lot of interesting goods through here, so you are usually welcome, but don’t cause any problems, alright?” He seemed friendly enough, but I could tell he took his job seriously.

The people from the caravan was still in front of us, awkwardly waiting.

“Oh I am so sorry about what just happened. I’m Taiyo and this is Carter and Esther.”

The man waved his hand. “No need! We have a large caravan. We often run into disputes as well. My name is Gerard. What business do you have in Beyalan, may I ask?”

I hadn’t thought about what our next move would be once we reached the next city. “To be honest we don’t have any particular business here. We plan to go east, but everything along the way is most by situation.”

“We do need to get funds for this country.” Carter suggested.

“That’s true. Maybe taking some jobs at the local branch first?”

The man got excited. “Oh are you Hands?”

We all nodded, surprised by his enthusiasm.

“If that’s the case, I think I provide work for you! Please, come to the main cart!” His group led us to the caravan.

I hadn’t noticed before, but there was a really long string of carts attached to each other centered in the caravan. When I got to look at the parts connecting them, I realized it was almost like a train. We boarded it and made our way through each cart. Many of them had goods in them, but near the front were carts that were designed for people to occupy. Nowhere to sleep, just benches after benches. In one of the front most carts was enough room for a desk. The man sat down, his entourage proceeding ahead to the front most cart.

“I lead this caravan. We are mostly comprised of those who have lost their homes to either war or monsters. We travel the five empires assisting those in need with trade and aid. We are currently on a route that takes us through this empire, Azmiria, and the next two, Ankaran and Ostanya. After that we’ll turn north back into Kasmiren. We have wanted to stop atrocities as we come across them, but don’t have the ability to defend ourselves, let alone fight for others. We would be willing to put in a contractual job at the Collection building for your services from here to Ostanya’s eastern border.”

It was honestly a tempting offer. We’d have the best guides we could in the area, access to whatever skills the people in the caravan had, and the large number would scare off most monsters.

“Can we get back to you? We can’t leave anyway until we get medical attention for our friend and some other things.”

The man bowed slightly a few times. “Of course! We will be in town for a few weeks anyway! We will be selling some of our supplies, taking on other supplies, and helping those who want to stay find work and housing. Our caravan will be staying right where it is now, so this is where you will find us.”

We said our goodbyes and hopped off the train. Abel was bringing our wagon up to us so we waited for him, then all walked together. Sofiya was in the back of the wagon with Skylar and Yuliya. Adaeze was walking with her brother further behind, pulling the horses.

We walked through the streets for a bit before finding an inn. The city had way more colors than any of the settlements in the city state regions. Carpets, banners, wall art, and plants decorated the whole area. Some balconies had vines hanging from them, and further ahead we could see a fountain spewing water into the air. When I asked Esther and Carter about the difference, they said it was due to both this being a trade center, and the fact that it was part of a country, so some of the worries that each individual city had where we were before were spread equally across the empire here, allowing for more peace of mind for cultural pursuits.

Skylar took Yuliya and Sofiya to go find a clinic, promising to be back soon.

Inside the inn, instead of benches, there were piles of blankets and rugs arranged around many tables. In the back was the counter, and to the left were the stairs that led up to the second floor.

I realized that now that I wasn’t living so much on the edge, I was noticing more about the places I visited. Or maybe the beauty out on the street inspired me to open my eyes more.

Abel went up to the counter to reserve us some rooms while the rest of us waited. I could overhear different conversations from around the room. It wasn’t too late for people to be here, but it was late enough that this likely wasn’t what it looked like at the busy hour. In the corner to my left I overheard them talking about suspicious moves from the Palvena Empire in the north. Troops were being amassed along the border for a training exercise or something. To my left I heard them talking about a trafficking ring that was discovered operating in the city. Supposedly the city guard only arrested some patsies for the organization, so the main group was still at large.

Abel came back with five keys. “Ok, we can split up how we want, but these are the rooms we have. Two on the first floor down that hall to the left, two on the second floor, and one in the attic. The attic is the only one that has one bed in it, so someone will be rooming by their self.”

Ogun stepped forward and stuck his hand out. Abel gave it to him and then he left the group.

“Ok, how are we dividing up the other four?”

Carter grabbed Adaeze by the hip and took a key. “We will stay on the first floor.” He said, then led her off.

Esther took a key for the second floor. “I’ll take this key for Sofiya and I. Maybe save the other first floor key for Skylar and Yuliya? Even with a healing elixir, stairs will hurt her for a while.”

Abel nodded. “Sounds like a good idea. Well Taiyo, looks like we’re rooming together.

I patted his arm. “Sounds great man. I’m so tired, let’s go now before I crash here.”

We followed Esther up the stairs and found our rooms. Her’s was at the back of the hall, and ours was two doors down. We said our goodnights and entered our rooms.

I immediately plopped down on the bed nearest the door. Abel kicked off his boots and sat on his bed.

After a few moments of silence, Abel spoke.

“Do you think I’m brave?”

I turned so that I could see him. “Of course I do. I’ve seen you when we’re in a fight.”

“I don’t mean while fighting. I know if it comes down to it I can fight. I mean our whole situation. Being stuck here. Away from our families. No guarantee we’ll make it to your little shikigami and get home.”

I sat up. His expression looked anguished. “I still think you’re brave. You wake up every morning and press on just like us. You could just give up, lay in bed all day, and die right there. But you don’t. Every day you’re facing the situation we’re in. I think if that’s not bravery, I don’t really know what is.”

His face relaxed a little. “I think I needed to hear that man. Thanks.”

I grabbed my pillow and threw it at him. “If you don’t get any sleep it won’t matter how brave you are though.”

He laughed and threw it back. “Ok man I got it.”

The next morning we found Skylar helping Yuliya hobble around on the first floor. She grumbled about not being able to see the city yet, and Skylar chided her, saying they would get to see it soon enough. Carter and Adaeze were still in their room, so I called them out while Abel went to get Esther and Sofiya. Adaeze went and got Ogun for us. When we were all assembled I laid out the offer from Gerard. Everyone was in favor of the idea.

“This is exactly what we should be doing.” Ogun said, slamming a fist into his other hand.

On one hand I wasn’t surprised that he was into this plan, but on the other I worried about what Carter had said to me once about him being a protector or a destroyer.

“So we’re just waiting for them to finish their business here?” Sofiya asked. When I nodded she got excited. “Esther! Let’s explore the city and find a library! I’m sure they have one!”

Esther clapped hands with her. “Great idea! I’m sure their selection has changed since I was last here. But can you read them?”

Sofiya blinked a few times. “I’ve been able to read everything after we started doing jobs.”

The rest of us otherworlders looked at each other confused. We took it for granted, but we were able to read everything without studying the writing.

Carter chuckled. “It took you all this long to realize that?”

Yuliya squinted her eyes at him. “What did you do?”

He took a rock out of one of his bags. It was a speech stone. “It is quite expensive, but I had six speech stones enhanced to include reading, then replaced your stones as you slept. I’m surprised not even Sofiya noticed.

She rubbed the back of her head. “I guess we were all still in the mindset that if we looked at words it’d be natural that we could read it so we didn’t notice it when we could again.” She chuckled shyly.

“Anyway,” I got the conversation back on topic. “We’ll be with the caravan to the eastern edge of the five empires. For now, until they’re ready to move out, we’ll enjoy ourselves in Beyalan.”

There was light applause as most everyone was excited about the chance to just relax. Ogun wasn’t too happy with the wait, as he went back upstairs to go to sleep. Esther and Sofiya immediately went out, and the Skylar-Yuliya duo retreated back to their room. This left Adaeze, Abel, Carter, and me.

“I’m still a little tired after last night, so I’m going to just sleep today away. If anyone needs me, you know where I’ll be.” She excused herself and went to her room.

Carter let out a relieved sigh. “Excellent. I would like some advice from you two.”

Abel and I exchanged suspicious looks.

“Please accompany me in the city.”

We left the inn and asked the first person we found directions to the market. Once there, Carter turned around and looked at us. “I would like to buy Adaeze a gift, but I don’t know what she would like.”

Abel laughed. “Wait is that it?”

“Yeah, you made it seem serious.” I added.

The lizardman cleared his throat. “Forgive me, I must explain. For lizardfold, it is common to provide a gift to those you have the intention of marrying.”

“Marrying?” We said in unison.

“Indeed. Will you help me in this endeavor? Or do you not approve of me taking the hand of Adaeze?”

“How could you ask that!” I said angrily.

“Of course we approve!” Abel was just as upset.

Carter was taken aback. “I apologize. I won’t question that again.”
I nodded in approval.

“But where do we start?” Abel asked.

“That is what I am coming to you for.”

I scratched my chin. Lately a little hair had been coming in there. “I mean, we don’t know Adaeze any better than you do.”

“You do not?” He looked confused.

“The first day we met you was the first day we met her.”

He hummed in thought. “We having your opinions still couldn’t hurt.”

We began perusing the various stalls around the marketplace. Sometimes we entered a shop on the fringes. As we passed one particular stall Carter stopped. On the table were various pieces of jewelry. He reached for a golden and amber gemmed piece.

“Mister, that is an amazing choice let me tell you. In the empire of Kasmiren, I was set up in one of their markets and a man walks by. He saw my jewelry and tells me he wants to buy. I ask him which one he wants and guess what he says.” He paused for effect. “All of them. All of my wares. He turns to the man beside him and tells him to deal with me. It turns out he was the emperor himself! He was looking for a gift for his empress, and decided all of my jewels would do. Unfortunately his attendant didn’t have quite enough. I told him as much, and guess what he did.” Yet another pause for effect. “He breaks off a piece of the jewels in his royal cover, and hands it to me. He says I can keep that and all the coins. So you know what I did? I took the coins, bought a bunch of jewel mines, workers, and made a hair ornament out of the jewel he gave me. That very piece! Amazing huh?”

Carter didn’t say anything. He just stared at it.

“Uh, sir?”

I walked up beside him. “What are you thinking?”

Carter turned his head only slightly. “That this would look beautiful in her hair.”

Abel and I exchanged looks. “I think you found a winner.”

He handed the man his bank disc and told the man to list any price, which just about made money symbols appear in his eyes.

Afterward, on the way back, Carter told us that it cost him half of everything he had saved, but he got the better deal. We arrived back into the inn later in the day, and Carter went straight to his room. Never to be seen again for the rest of the day.

The following morning, most of us were having breakfast together when Adaeze and Carter joined us. My eyes wandered up to her hair, and right there attached to a bunch of her dreads in the front was the hair ornament. Abel and I shared a big smile, then shared one with Carter.

A week and a half had went by when Esther came to me one night after dinner. I was about to enter my room when she called out to me.

“Do you have a moment Taiyo?” She was fidgeting with her hands.

“Of course? What’s up?”

She smiled awkwardly. “Well, there has been this little café that I have been interested in going to, and I was wondering if you’d accompany me tomorrow?”

“Of course!” I answered before I had even processed the question.

She smiled warmly then went to room without another word. No goodbye. No goodnight.

In a way it was strange, but I also found it endearing. I knew I’d have trouble going to sleep normally, so I opened the window, picked a spot that I could see through the clothes above, and continuously shot a stream of water through until I became tired.

The next morning, I was waiting in the dining hall waiting. I was wearing the clothes I had been transported in, being the best ones I had. I was brushing out my hoodie when she came down the stairs.

“Are you ready?” She asked.

I looked up and forgot how to speak for a moment. Her typical side tail was gone, and instead she wore her hair loose. She was wearing a white sleeveless blouse with a simple silver necklace. She had black pants with a small dagger strapped to her right thigh. Her black shoes completed the look.

“Uh..” I couldn’t get any words out.

She giggled and approached me. “I don’t understand uh.”

“You’re very pretty today.” I said bashfully.

Her face erupted in red. “Is that so?” She stroked her hair, looking away slightly.

She grabbed my hand and dragged me out of the inn. I caught Skylar’s and Yuliya’s eyes on the way out. They both had smug looks in their eyes and their hands in front of their mouths like they were keeping from laughing.

We walked through a part of the city I hadn’t been in yet. She was still holding onto my hand, pulling me along, but I didn’t mind. I once again took in the beauty of the city. The street was packed with people, and there were various animals and monsters moving through the center pulling wagons and cards. Though the air itself was frigid, in the sunlight it felt like it was summer. I looked up at the clear blue sky. The cover from during the Forbidden Week was pulled back today. Apparently it wasn’t attached to the buildings themselves like I thought. A technologist three centuries ago designed it to deal with the sunlight that often became too harsh in this area. He had made one for each of the other cities in what the locals call the Sun death strip. It retracts to the city walls when not in use, but when they deploy it, there are poles throughout the city that it rests upon, and it keeps the sun from roasting everyone. There is legend of a monster that was so powerful, it drew the suns rays to this strip to smite it. Supposedly it is buried somewhere under the ground, which has turned mostly to sand due to the heat. It was another technologist that suggested using it to ward off the Sitoq too.

I looked at Esther. I wouldn’t have been surprised if it was her. She has gotten up to so much already based on what we’ve heard from her.

Suddenly she yanked me to the side, and into a shop.

“Oh.” She said disappointed. All the tables were full with patrons. “I guess not today.”

I pulled her hand again, leading her outside. “Well, do you have somewhere else in mind?”

Her face lit up again. “I do actually! Follow me in here.” We dipped down an alley. “I sometimes come down this way to-” Someone jumped out of the shadows and covered her mouth, grabbing her and dragging her further in.

“Esther!” I rushed for her but another man grabbed me and covered my mouth. I tried to separate us with water, but I was still tired from the night before. I struggled as hard as I could as they dragged me to a hole in the ground that Esther had disappeared down.

“Put him to sleep already!” Growled the man holding me.

I was shoved forward, then something hit me in the back of the head. I fell forward into the hole.

I woke up with a blindfold over my eyes and my hands and feet bound to something. Probably a chair. I didn’t move at first. If they didn’t think I was awake, I could probably learn something.

“…if we take the guy and sell him to a slaver?” Man A was saying.

“He seems kind of scrawny though. Maybe one of those fight rings for fodder? They need people for that all the time right?” Man B replied.

A third man grunted. “That all depends on if we can even get out of this country. I got word that it’s going to happen soon. May already be in motion.”

Footsteps entered the room. “Ok I tied her up again. I don’t know how she keeps getting out, but I used chains this time. If she breaks out of those, I’m done.” He sniffed loudly. “Hey he’s awake. You guys realized that right?”

Two of the other men cursed.

“How much did he hear?” Mad D asked.

A pair of feet appeared at the bottom of the blindfold. “I don’t know. How much did you hear?”

I felt a blow to the side of my face. The blindfold came off. In front of me were four men. All of them looked unsavory, but one of them looked part dog or something.

“I heard that you are screwed.” I said with a pained chuckle.

That earned me another punch. “Well I say we kill him.”

Man B came over and pushed Man C to the side. “We can’t. He could have some use. We haven’t investigated yet. Let’s see who searches for him at least.”

“Hmph.” Man C trudged off.

I noticed the sound of rushing water coming from somewhere in the walls now that they were quiet for a moment. I would work at setting up my escape before I went all in.

“With a laugh I said. “I’ll give you guys a chance. Return the woman to me, and let us go. Do that, and I will let you off the hook.”

The three men howled with laughter.

Man A wiped a tear from his eye. “Oh man, I’ve never met someone who didn’t plead for their life before. I hope we get more like him in the future.

Man B picked up the blindfold, shoved it back over my eyes, punched me for good measure, and left with the other two.

The third punch got me good and I fell unconscious again.

I woke up again and took a second to clear the fuzz in my head. Clearly these were the traffickers that I overheard the men in the inn talking about. I strained my ears but still heard only the water in the walls. I tried to visualize the water, and after what felt like hours began to see the flow of the water. It almost felt like a type of echolocation. With my sight unavailable, I started picking up scents too. It smelled like sewage. I hated using nasty water, but when your life is on the line you can’t really complain. I watched my wire map image of the water as I used it to grind away at the walls intentionally. I first brought it right up against the room’s wall, then I worked it down under the floor. As I was doing this, one of the traffickers came in.

“Still out?” It was Man A.

Strangely, I was able to see his frame as water. I suppose the duress of the situation made it easier for me to harness this ability. He approached me and I could see his hand reach out to me. I kept my eyes closed and my head limp as he lifted my head up by my hair and pulled the blindfold down.

“Hmm…” He examined my face before returning the blindfold and letting my head drop down. “No fun. I’ll go play with the girl. Maybe I’ll tell her you’re dead. Watching them despair is always fun.”

As he turned around to leave he froze in his tracks. He reached for his face and began to scream.

Hearing him threaten Esther caused rage to bubble up inside me from somewhere I wasn’t aware of.

I heard the voices of the other men from somewhere else in the tunnels, followed by pounding feet. Man A dropped to his knees, still screaming, and fell to the side.

From below me, I willed the water to shoot up in three pressurized jets, cutting the ropes binding me along with my hands. I could see the water looked more like gas on Man A. With a start I realized I caused the water inside him to boil. If I could do that, maybe I could make it freeze. I willed some of the water to coalesce in my hand as a long sabre, then freeze solid. It was so cold in my hand, but I didn’t care. They were coming.

I heard sniffing at the same time as a pair of feet walked into the room. I willed the water in the one to start to freeze. It was presumably Man D, because I heard a howl that was cut short. Another man entered and crashed right into him.

“What are you doing?” Roared Man C. It took him a moment to realize that the arm of Man D broke off cleanly when he knocked him over.

“What is this? What are you?” He screamed at me. He took a few steps toward me as Man B came in. I heard a sword slide out of it’s sheath.

I snapped my ropes and rushed forward. Man C was swinging from up high, so I barreled into him with the right half of my body, thrusting the ice sabre into Man B as I did. He dropped instantly, snapping the ice blade as he went down.

As I backed off of Man B I slashed upward and caught his neck. He grabbed it with his left hand as he continued to swing his sword. I barely had a stub of a sword in my hand so I began deflecting his blows with high pressure water. I could tell the man was losing strength because his swings were losing their vigor until finally he collapsed onto the chair I was sitting in, crushing it under his weight. I finally removed the blindfold and thawed the ice that was stuck to my hand. I continued to warm it as I proceeded through the tunnels. Every so often I closed my eyes and visualized all the areas of water and called out to Esther. Eventually, I heard a muffled cry. I closed my eyes and saw a silhouette if water in the room to my left. I ran forward and burst through the door. There she was, tied up with chains, dirty, and a bruise on her cheek. I froze part of the chain and then kicked it, smashing it to pieces. She jumped into my arms, sobbing.

“What did they do to you?”

“They… They just hit me and shoved me through the hall a few times, then tied me up here. I cut the rope a few times, so they chained me to this pipe.”

I helped her to her feet and pulled her along as we made out way out of here. As we entered the hallway a fifth man I didn’t know about came down from a set of stairs at the end of the tunnel calling to the others.

“It’s started! They’re here!” He spotted me. “How did you get out?” He drew his sword, but I made the in his hand boil, causing him to drop it. I froze his legs too so he couldn’t move them. “Ah! What did you do?”

“Who are they? What’s started?” I asked. The anger in me removed any trace of kindness from my voice.

He picked up on it right away and began to talk. “We were sent from Palvena to cause trouble here to distract the city for when they invade! They are invading now! Please don’t kill me!”

I pulled Esther along passed him, only thawing his legs when we got halfway up the stairs.

We were inside a storage building when we crested the top. Outside we heard chaos. I turned to Esther.

“We need to run as soon as we get outside. We need to get our bearings, and then we need to find the inn. Chances are, they might be safe since the western entrance to the city is more to the south overall.”

She nodded. “I’m ready.”

I slowly opened the door to peak outside. Except for a few people running to the east, the streets were deserted. The fighting hadn’t reached this area yet. I ran out to the west, Esther following close behind. We zigged and zagged through the streets trying to desperately find something familiar. The whole time, the sound of fighting kept creeping closer.

We passed a street, and for a moment something caught my eye. Doubling back, I noticed a fountain. The fountain from the first night we were here, I realized.

“This way!” We turned down the street and when we reached the fountain, and explosion erupted to our right. All along this street Beyalan soldiers were pushing back Palvenan troops. Right now they were just trickling in, but it was only a matter of time before they started to overrun the area. Down in the direction of the inn we saw Carter and Adaeze, fending off a few soldiers, while Skylar and Sofiya loaded Yuliya into the wagon. We ran as fast as we could, and by the time we reached them we were completely exhausted.

“They’re here!” Abel shouted from the inn door, carrying all of our bags. A sword came flying to me and I caught it. It was my rapier. I looked over and saw Ogun. He mounted his horse, ready to go at any moment. I noticed the caravan carts were already here. Refugees from the city were being loaded into the train. From the front, Gerard leaned out.

“I am so glad to see you two well!” He looked forward, then back to us. “We are going to start heading out to the east gate! I pray you can escape with us!”

I waved at him to go, then turned to the others. “Let’s just go guys! We can’t do anything for this city!”

Without even a moment to agree, everyone jumped on the wagon and horses, and raised after the caravan. As we progressed through the city, we saw more and more of it getting overrun by Palvenan soldiers. Some of the city guard had hopped onto the train, and some on horse back formed up alongside us. The gate ahead was heavily defended by Beyalan guards, some of the horsemen stopped following us to join their brothers on gate defense.

I looked at the faces of everyone in the wagon. Skylar and Yuliya were holding each other tight, while Sofiya was checking over her sister’s leg. Abel was guiding the wagon, occasionally looking back and Esther and me.

Esther had been holding my hand since we got into the wagon. I pulled her into a hug as I looked back at Beyalan. The beautiful city we had just begun to appreciate was burning as we made our way further east.

“Is it just me, or is our escape from this on an even grander scale than last time?” Abel looked at Skylar. “Not to discredit the sacrifices from that time.”

“It’s definitely worse.” I called back. “It was more than about twenty dead this time.”

We pulled over at a watering hole with the caravan. The city guards that had escaped with us were consulting each other off to the side of the water. After some heated words, two of them remounted their horses and sped off further east.

“Where are they going.” Yuliya groaned.

Skylar hopped down from the wagon. “Probably to go warn the nearest two cities. The Palvenan soldiers were in the streets too fast for that to have been a typical siege. They most have plotted and had spies inside to lower the gate.” She grabbed as many canteens as she could find. “I’ll be back.”

I jumped down as well and walked over to the guards. They were all jumpy, as they grabbed their blades when they heard me approaching.

“Ah, you.” It was the guard from the west gate.

“What are you going to do?” I asked.

They all looked at each other. “Well, for starters we’re going to escort this caravan to Denirli. After that, we’ll probably be folded into their guards.”

“What about the people who escaped as well?”

“They will have to make that choice on their own, son.” He put a hand on my shoulder. “I’m glad you have a chance to see more of the beauty in our country. It could have ended much differently had we not been in control of the gate.”

We consulted with Gerard after that. The plan was to drop off any of the survivors who wanted to stay in Denirli, then immediately move on.

After resting for the night, we did just that. Along the way to the next city Esther finished Ogun’s break stick. He immediately named it Shatterstock, citing that break stick had always been a stupid name and he was glad to have a reason to call it something else.

When we offloaded the survivors and pressed on, we heard that the Collection branch in Beyalan was also destroyed. The same punishment leveraged against Belle Reve was applied to Palvena. I didn’t want to imagine what that would do to the people on that scale. At least as a nation they had a military to deal with increases in monster threats, which was the only silver lining of this tragedy. They might be forced to pull their army back and deal with threats at home.

As we headed east, I reflected on how quickly something that must have taken decades to build and thrive was reduced to ash. I held Esther in my arms, thinking it was the saddest thing I could imagine.