Dusk Falling (Book 1) (26 page)

Though the others had no idea what he meant he meant, the girls beamed. The pleasantness he displayed prompted the elder girl, auburn hair long over wide thin shoulders, to take a step forward. “Is it true? What they say?”

“
Misa
, you shouldn’t!” The younger girl exclaimed, coming up beside her sister and tugging on her sleeve. She shook her head emphatically, twin braids knocking her on the chin.

Genlo, not too proud to dine on the floor of a prison cell, ripped into a chop. Aya did notice however he was careful to not get any on his clothing. Preoccupied with food, his normal temper was significantly lessened. He even answered the question of a child. “What?”

She stepped closer, her sister right behind her looking frightened. The elder girl, whose name was Selicia, had bright round eyes. “They say that you are the reason for all this. That you are the one the sect of Dusk Falling has been training and that you will be the cause of the destruction of the whole world.”

The Jrahda-trethen choked on the last part. Such blatant unadulterated honesty children had! He took up his mug and drank the contents down.

“That is what Felna and some of the other highers-up say. Crosshilt doesn’t like when they put things that way.” Selicia made a face to represent the Kassar’s feelings. Her sister tugged insistently on her sleeve. “Stop, Panna.”

Panna settled back with a cheeky pout.

“Your words certainly explain why this felt like a last meal…” Last meal or not, the potato chunk he popped into his mouth was sublime. He poured some more liquid into his mug and took a swig of the liquor Jrellin’s wife made.

“Our mom prepared the food. Crosshilt asked her to.” Selicia said, the brightness in her eyes then faded. “You know, you don’t really seem… like someone who’d do that…”

“And what exactly did you expect? Blood red eyes, horns?” If the ex-Hunters recognized his short description of Xiethes, they did not respond. Agemeer chewed on a chop bone, entertained by the exchange as he was with most things. Serrtin only listened to ease her boredom and to keep from thinking about the crunching sounds from Agemeer, which caused her gut to cramp. Aya didn’t much feel like eating either but took up a cup of the mystery liquid, curious as to why it made Genlo smile. It did make her feel a little calmer but not any better about what was to come.

“Certainly not someone who has friends willing to help him.” Selicia replied, displaying a keen mind for one so young. Genlo snorted but did not dispute. “The Verca cas Nemun Uralsk are bad people but you don’t seem like a bad person. Mom says not to judge by what a person looks like or their past but how they act when you get to know them. I think Felna’s wrong and that there
is
another way.”

“Misa, we should go now.
Misa
.” Panna said, looking back at the stairwell past the negator whom everyone seemed to ignore for the most part like part of the décor.

“What you’ve done is to be respected, Crosshilt said so.” Selicia said to the team with a smile that did not quite reach her pale blue eyes. The girl knew the Yashvre’s fate here with the Niredes Votalo and with the Verca. Either way was grim. Quickly Selicia grabbed her little sisters hand and bolted noisily up the stone stairs.

Genlo continued to eat as did Agemeer whose attention went to the Elfkin after the girls’ retreat. Though he was still merrily downing the bulk of all the foodstuffs, the Wulf knew the Jrahda-trethen had lost appetite. “The girl-child is most perceptive.” Agemeer mindspoke. Genlo paused, not having expected his thoughts to be interrupted. His eyes flickered to the Wulf as if confirming it was truly he who spoke. “I will admit, upon our first
meeting, I had doubts much akin to this Felna. Through our short time journeying together, I began to look past the exterior pretenses and see for myself what it was that Aya was willing to… oh, how would Serrtin put it… ‘play all the cards’ for.”

His eyes flickered to the Bren. She sat with a mug in between her hands, looking off deep in thought. He chewed while he contemplated her face, then the impromptu bandages wrapped around her shoulder and chest. There was little doubt that she would never have tangled with the likes of Xiethes if it were not for him. For a simple girl, walking away from such an encounter was impressive he was forced to admit.

Nighttime fell though the mage-globes inside the small prison cell did not dim. Two men entered equipped with crossbows and a selection of knives sometime after giving them all a start. For a moment, the thought that Crosshilt had gone back on his word went by all their minds.

But the pair simply took place beside the negator. One bent, placing a friendly hand on the man’s shoulder. He moved his lips without words and the negator smiled with a nod. Settling back as comfortable as he could, the Larren closed his eyes.

“I will warn you only once.” The wiry smaller man wearing a dark blue bandana said to the prisoners. He propped himself up on the wall across from Genlo’s cell, placing his loaded crossbow before him. “Do not try anything. If Telvim so much as twitches in his sleep, I’ll put a bolt through your head. That goes for you as well.” He included Aya in his threat. The second soldier took a seat on the negators right, crossbow in lap.

The negator’s breathing regulated and he began to sleep. Aya felt more at ease, knowing her energies were not being monitored- or at least not as closely. With how fast the deaf man fell asleep, monitoring those energy levels must be tiring work.

One sidelong glance at Genlo made the Bren realize he was thinking much along the same path but how his eyes narrowed gave her reason to think he was taking the pondering one step further. He had to be wondering if he could dodge a bolt fast enough to launch a killing spell that would take out all three before the negator would react. Yes, he would think that.

Aya however did not want to risk it. Perhaps they would have a better chance in the morning. Rested, maybe a plan would come to them.

Or a miracle, Aya thought derisively. She breathed in and let it out slowly. Her companions eventually slept and Aya meditated. Then she prayed. First to her Grandmother, who it was said Aya was most alike, then,
tentatively, she prayed to whatever God might be listening. She doubted her prayers would be heard, after all who was she that the Deities would deign to help? The mage wasn’t even sure to Whom she should pray. Were there Gods patron to deserters, to prisoners, to the desperate…?

~ ~ ~

Morning came and went. Tension and anxiety built to the point where the team thought twice about stepping too close to the bars that separated the cells. Genlo paced like a caged animal, muttering unpleasantness and glaring at any movement that distracted him from his ill humor.

The sisters Selicia and Panna did not bring food, which did not bode well since the pair seemed likely to take any opportunity to talk to the ex-Hunters and the one they called the Yashvre.

The negator was as calm as he seemed to always be though occasionally his eyes would turn toward the stairs.

Crosshilt’s presence was expected, he had said he would return by morning. It was morning yet the Kassar was nowhere in sight. A man like that, if he said he would be there, then he would be.

“If it’s my death he wants, this certainly is the way to do it.” Genlo snarled to no one in particular.

“The Kassar of the Niredes Votalo may be having doubts…” Agemeer said in a questioning voice.

“That part we already figured.” Serrtin interjected. The Yarcka was feeling much better after the nights rest but the poison’s effects she knew would be felt for days- such was the curse of her kind. “But a guy like that wouldn’t let personal feelings mar his judgment. If he said morning, he meant morning. Something must have come up that’s more… important.”

Aya looked to Serrtin then Agemeer and back. More important? Such a thing exists to the Niredes Votalo?

Agemeer came to his feet. He sniffed the air. Pacing closer to the bars, he sniffed some more. “I smell… blood.

Chapter 21

An explosion rocked the building with enough force to shake even the underground holding cells. The deaf negator strove to his feet. His eyes studied the prisoners, coming to the conclusion they could not have possibly have caused the explosion he felt. Anxiously, he stood at the bottom of the stairwell and looked up.

When the first strangled cry went up, the prisoners knew this was no mishap. The Niredes Votalo were under attack. Swordplay and shouts floated down to them.

Genlo saw a prime chance when it presented itself. Quickly he garnered the mage’s attention but she simply looked at him. Exasperated, he gestured to the accursed necklace in hopes the girl would get his meaning without him having to speak.

Aya considered doing this Genlo’s way, seriously not wanting to hurt the negator but if he could…

Hand half raised, she paused. Footsteps preceded someone in a hurry. It was Selicia. The girl looked frazzled but unhurt. “Telvim!” She called to the negator, latching onto his forearms. “We’re under attack!”

The next sequence of events passed in complete shock and silence. Selicia back stepped and hefted a flat headed mace. With a single blow to the Larren’s neck while his back was to her regarding the prisoners, she knocked him into unconsciousness. From a pocket the girl pulled a key and hastily opened the cell doors. “You have to hurry. The Kassar will be heading here as soon as he’s able since he cannot afford to have you fall into
their
hands.”

“Selicia, why are you doing this?” Aya asked, confused. Genlo had no such compunctions. He already left his cage and was standing at the stairs.

“I guess you could say that I learned to form my own opinions- just like you.” She replied with a shy smile. “The Kassar is correct in what he says about stopping the Dusk Falling but this isn’t the way. And if I don’t help you now, you’ll all be killed.”

“Who? Who is it that’s attacking?” Serrtin questioned gravely. “Did you see them?”

Selicia paused before answering. “It is the Verca.”

Genlo and Serrtin cursed separately and viciously.

“No one knows how they found us. Jrellin suspects the scouts had been followed.”

“That doesn’t matter now. What does is getting out of here and not getting caught while we’re at it.” Genlo stated, one foot on the bottom step. “Let’s go.”

“Selicia.” Agemeer mindspoke.

“You can talk! I knew it! I didn’t think you were just an ordinary wolf!”

“Yes,” The Wulf said with a patient canine smile and a nod of his head. “Do you have somewhere to go until your people can reassemble? Someplace safe? I fear you may get lost in all the confusion. Or worse, Blessed Empryean forbid.”

“I agree. You’ll come with us until we see you safely out.” Serrtin said, voice brooking no argument.

“Stay close to us.” Aya instructed.

“Wait. I can’t leave Telvim.” The girl said, gesturing toward the negator.

The sounds of fighting were closer as were the shouts and screams of those involved. They did not have time to debate.

“Don’t worry about me! It’s you they’re after!” Selicia exclaimed. Aya and Serrtin exchanged glances not wanting to leave the unarmed girl alone. “Look, once you get up the stairs, you’re going to have a lot to deal with. If you are gonna get out of here, its best you do it now. The Verca will forget about us once they see you.”

“The kids got a point. We’re going to be running targets…” Serrtin said.

“Your weapons are in the small room at the top of the stairs. Hurry! The Kassar and Jrellin will be coming! Go!”

With a glance back at the auburn-haired girl who crouched over the form of her comrade, the team headed up the stairs. They had no idea what awaited them but Serrtin felt many a degree more confident with her flamberge back in her hands. They were standing at an enclosed landing, the stairs behind them and a single opening before them.

Serrtin paced over to the only exit, pressing her spine to the wall and carefully peering out. Aya made to follow suit but was stopped by Genlo’s voice. “Aren’t you forgetting something?”

All turned their eyes to the Jrahda-trethen who stood arms crossed in the threshold of the prison cell. It was obvious the Bren had no idea what he meant so he gestured impatiently to the amulet at her neck. “I don’t plan on relying on you to get out of here.” When she did not move to comply, he growled. “Well? I think it’s been proven quite clearly I am not the one at fault here. You will remove the Seal.”

“I…”

“I don’t think so.” Serrtin butted in before Aya could speak. “You haven’t earned our trust yet. We know you were telling the truth but that doesn’t exactly mean you are our new best friend. It only proves you were right, not trustworthy. The spell stays.”

“What?!” Genlo exploded, not bothering to keep his voice down. He advanced on the mage only to be stopped short by the haft of Serrtin’s sword. She introduced the weapon between them instead of
in
him as she might have in the past.

“We can’t trust you fully. Not yet.”

“I don’t care!”

“Apparently you have a short memory span or have you forgotten the situation you got us in to?” She glared down at him.

He returned the stare. “You can be free of me right now. Just remove the Seal. I’ll leave and never cross your pass again.”

“No.” Aya said.

“No?”

“We are now on the Circuits shit-list, we plan on seeing this through to the end. It’s the only way to clear our names.” Serrtin explained, shouldering her sword.

“Seeing this through…? What the hell d-?”

“Looks like we’ll be stuck with you for a little while longer.” Serrtin said. “And the Seal stays.”

“You Gods-be-damned bitch.”

“Now, now.” The saurian responded without a show of anger but a generously tolerant smile, one she knew full-well would really grate on the Elfkin. “Better learn to control that mouth of yours if you ever want to be rid of that spell.”

Eyes narrowed to burning embers his expression reflected his fury. He looked about to do something foolish, powers or no powers.