Chapter 55: Enclave XXV

Chapter 55: Enclave XXV

Ephiras expression barely changed. But the palpable bloodlust she emitted slackened, and an expression of puzzlement played across her brows.

Before anyone could do anything to throw us back into chaos, I pulled an alchemical potion from my bag and threw it towards her. A flash of nerve-scalding white brighter than any sun exploded outward from the shattered bottle filling the once-dim room. My throw was intentionally short and my companions shouted, confused and alarmed. Despite shielding my eyes with my sleeve, my vision was still fraught with a purpling after-image that faded to bruise green.

I rushed forward and tackled Ephira into the parlor, careful to cushion her head from the fall. My wrist jarred painfully against the floor, pinioned between the back of her neck and the cool wooden slats.Read latest chapters at nov(e)lbin.com Only

What the She sputtered.

I clamped a hand over her over her mouth and whispered in her ear. Persephone is moving against you.

She immediately stilled, confirming my suspicions. It was pure unadulterated conjecture. There had to be another motive. Seeing how wealthy Mifrals estate wasalmost irresponsibly so, with troves of wealth sitting out like the beginning of a dragons hordeit didnt make sense to break into the place to acquire a single sapphire. I still didnt have the whole picture yet, but Ephiras presence here had not been a mistake. The hypothesis was beginning to form in the back of my mind.

Im working it from the inside. I continued, sparing a panicky glance over my shoulder.

And you think Ill just let you go, after youve made a fool of me? Ephiras grip on my arms tightened to a painful squeeze.

Think of all you stand to gain. Ill make reparations. I swear it. We had seconds. Maybe less.

Greed and pride warred in her expression, greed eventually winning out. And what do you propose? Ephira asked.

I told her.

Shear stumbled into the room, still concussed.

In the end, I didnt have to tell her to make it look good. Ephira pulled back a fist imbued with electricity and punched me in the gut.

----

It was far from a glamorous escape. Ginger blew out the back wall of the parlor with an explosive charge. Unable to hide the pang of regret at the expending of resources, I threw down two bottles of molten smoke, leaving only one remaining.

My air magic wasnt nearly fine-tuned enough to manipulate all of it, but I could capture enough that it formed a black moving cloud around us, maneuvered to block the view from ranged attackers and pursuers.

We sprinted across the artificial turf of Mifrals estate, still weakened and sick from the effects of the gravity field while a half-dozen guards chased after us, equally weakened and sick.

I spared a glance back at the gaping hole in the wall wed escaped from and wished I hadnt. Ephiras feet were planted firmly on the edge. Her arms outstretched. A massive disk of blue-white electricity formed above us. Lightning struck with a roaring boom, over and over, each strike a near miss that tossed sod into the air, showering us with detritus. A few bolts landed perilously close to my feet, as if Ephira was going out of her way to remind me that there would be a part two to our conversation.

We were too clumped together.

Jorra tripped, almost going down, and I used the opportunity to slow down and hoist him up. Then, I opened a window in the smoke, revealing Shear.

The bolt of lightning struck out immediately and pierced Shear through his back. The mans shirt ripped open, pale Lichtenberg figures crossing his spine. His left boot flew off as if forcibly expelled from his foot and he collapsed, body rolling limply in the dirt.

Gingers swearing increased in volume and propensity, but he picked up speed rather than slowing down. Despite the franticness of the scene, Id been waiting for it, and committed Gingers reaction to memory. There was no emotional jolt when Shear was hit. The dwarf didnt even consider stopping to grab him. His reaction was one of pure fear and nothing more.

The fact that they were new colleagues was likely not an act then.

There was a feeling of an unbelievable amount of static that built through the left side of my body the second before another jagged bolt of lightning struck the ground before me. I lost my footing and fell into a roll, shoulder throbbing.

I fought the urge to turn around and glare at Ephira. She was going overboard in terms of selling this. Any more enthusiasm on her end and she wouldnt be pretending.

We closed on one of the grates that lead down into the sewer. I gathered the smoke around us to make it dense as possible. Jorra opened the grate and Ginger prepared to enter.

Get the gem where it needs to go, I yelled at him. Well draw them off.

Well do what? Jorra gawked at me.

Itll be fine. I reiterated. Ginger didnt have to be told twice. Sparing me a glance of respect, he lowered himself into the grate and slid down the ladder into the sewer below.

The sound of guards shouting through the smoke grew closer. I replaced the grate.

We managed to get out of Highpoint before everything was locked down. I had no doubt that Ephira had run interference, or at least waited to call for additional backup.

Still, a small group of guards from Mifrals faction pursued us doggedly. We had made fools of them, and theres few things that motivates a man more assuredly than pride.

Because I knew it was coming. He straightened his robe with a scowl. Thats the point youre trying to make? That its better to leave me in the dark, so I react more genuinely and dont give your plans away?

Not at all. I countered. Leaving people in the dark has burned me too many times already. Think about it. I pushed you from the back, when you werent expecting it. The second time, I pushed you from the front. You didnt need to have the exact same thing happen twice to react correctly. The point Im making is that Im used to seeing shit go sideways. Its always in the back of my head, how many ways even the simplest things can go wrong. And nothing about that situation was simple. I didnt know what would happen at Mifrals estate. But I recognized the potential shit-show that it could have been and prepared accordingly.

Jorra mulled that over. The stiffness in his posture marginally faded.

So, you really didnt know.

No. Gods. What a mess.

I circled the small temple, taking in the various carvings, using my spark for light. The relief of a raven was prominently featured. Ravens flying across landscapes, ravens consuming other animals. They were always positioned so the head was horizontal in perspective, a single dark eye staring out at the observer.

My whole body is shaking. Feels like it wont ever stop. Jorra said it as a joke, but I heard the fear in his words.

It just takes time. I told him. No one had been there to tell me how these things worked, and walking someone else through it felt like righting old wrongs. Your body is crashing. You never realize how much energy youre using while the adrenaline is pumping through your system, and as soon as its gone everything feels magnified. The gravity field probably didnt help, either.

Jorra groaned. That thing was the worst. Wait, so what happened exactly? He looked at me suspiciously. Did you make it go off?

Gods no. I shook my head. My stomach still felt like hell.

Next time you want to steal something, leave me out of it. Jorra shook his head. All that work and nothing to show for it.

Not exactly I was cut off by the sound of wood striking metal. A torch lit from behind us.

I spun.

An infernal stood outlined in the dim light. She was about a head shorter than me and held a wooden practice sword in her hand.

You know, I heard the disturbance outside. Her voice was a familiar. All those guards, shouting about a couple of thieves. She circled us. Then I come back, and, lo and behold, a couple of folks Ive never seen in this temple before talking about stealing. That cant be a coincidence, right?

Sure it can, Jorra said. Lots of things can be a coincidence.

Its not. I admitted easily. Jorra made a choking sound. How have you been, Bell?

Bellarex stopped mid-stride. She pointed her practice sword at my neck. How do you know me?

I took off my mask. There was no point in hiding my face. Shed seen Jorra unmasked, and it would be easy enough to connect the two of usand I needed her to trust me.

The human! Bell exclaimed.

I awakened a second element. Ralakos pointed me your way for help with training. Im sure your father told you about it.

Yes! Bells smile faded as quickly as it appeared. But, Im not sure how that has anything to do with stealing.

Well, I glanced at Jorra, In my culture its common to provide a gift to a new teacher.

You stole something for me? Bell looked horrified.

Of course not. More like borrowed, to show you in person. I said carefully. Cant let you keep it. Thatd be wrong and all, but

I reached in my pocket and pulled the sapphire from the safe out. Jorras jaw dropped. Placing it carefully on the ground, I rolled it across the floor to her.

Wait, what? Didnt you give it to Ginger? He whispered to me.

I shrugged. Well talk about it later.

Bell dropped her practice sword immediately, suspicions forgotten, and took them gem in both hands. She looked past it towards me, her smile returned at full-blast.

I have so many questions. Bell said.

I coughed to hide a laugh, remembering all too well how extensively shed interrogated us after the test in the previous life.

Somehow, I thought you might.