Chapter 24: Taking the Fight To Them (1)

Chapter 24: Taking the Fight To Them (1)

Xerxes ran down the tower and through the corridors. He didnt bother waiting for the soldiers, who still hadnt recovered from the shock of seeing a massive burning rock descending toward them.

He raced toward the council chamber, leaving tapestries flapping in the long hallways as he accelerated past speeds that ordinary Unsighted were capable of.

When he burst into the room, the cacophony of numerous conversations made it clear the news had been reported already, at least to some degree. Mystic Aban Saddi, who Xerxes suspected slept in the council chamber, was there. So were Ninsunu, Satahsusar, Fale, and Nohem, along with other important figures in the city. Colonel Nur-Ayya was absent.

Everybody seemed to be talking at once, and about half of the people present were on the verge of yelling. Did they know about the huge meteor? Or just the first, smaller one?

Heart pounding, Xerxes rushed to the side of the room and pushed through the doors to the balcony. He looked up.

The massive meteor was still rolling through the air toward them, but it was closer. A lot closer.

Theres no time! Xerxes said. The mages in the chamber ignored him, so he yelled, HEY!Updated from novelb(i)n.c(o)m

The urgency in his tone worked. Everyone in the room quieted and looked at him.

Gesturing toward the burning ball of fire that seemed cubits away, he said, Look.

He turned his attention back to the meteor, vaguely aware of others joining him on the balcony. His heart was in his throat. It wasnt going to hit the keep. But it was going to come close. And it was going to hit the city.

By the holy Pontifarch, someone murmured.

Its going to crush Garden Terrace! someone else said.

No. Not even close. Garden Heights, probably. Maybe the Great Promenade.

Should we ready troops? Therell be deaths. Fires.

Then he saw a flash of light off to the side, and realized his father was there, and hed cast Singular Lethality.

Be careful, Dad! he said. They can stab you!

The howl behind him built into a crescendo as he forced himself to take two steps forward. Then he lurched another two steps as the fingers went slack. For a brief moment he rejoiced, thinking the Abhorrent had been slain. Until he realized it hadnt. Instead, it had let itself be dragged up the balcony.

He let go of the fingers, spun, and put his hand on his component pouch. Before he could cast his spell, Ninsunu barrelled past him, having transformed into another bestial form, this one with red, leathery skin and long black claws.

The Abhorrent didnt stand a chance. Ninsunu grabbed the creature, lifted it over her shoulder, and threw it off the balcony.

A shriek trailed behind it for about four seconds, then abruptly stopped.

Ninsunu leaned over the balcony railing. More are coming up, she growled.

Aban Saddi walked past Xerxes to join Ninsunu. He had his spell component pouch loosened, and Xerxes could hear the clink of glass vials within.

The Head Mage didnt need to cast any spell. Though a group of about seven or eight spider-like Abhorrent spawn were climbing up the side of the keep, they were no match for the transformed Ninsunu, Xerxes father, and the other mages.

However, even as the last of the bodies dropped, a roaring noise echoed out over the city that, at first, seemed impossible to identify. But as it stretched out, turning sharper and more high-pitched, Xerxes realized what it was. The cry of a living creature.

An Abhorrent.

Stepping to the very edge of the balcony, he craned his neck to look in the direction where it seemed the noise came from, but his line of sight was obscured by the edge of the keep.

What is it? Satahsusar asked. That sound?

Its an Abhorrent, Xerxes answered reflexively.