Isabella's Heiress (28 page)

“Feroz!” Sister Ignacia rushed forward as she pulled two short swords from below her cloak. She slashed and stabbed at the creature's legs, expertly avoiding the scythe and axe that swept down in response.

Emma and Taryn watched transfixed, forgetting about 
there own safety until Father Eamon grabbed both of them and pulled them into Saint Dunstan's Hill. The floors that overhung the street hid the battle taking place behind them but all Emma cared about was getting as much space as possible between her and the assassin as more screams and cries found her ears. Father Eamon pushed them through a broken lichgate and into an overgrown churchyard. Taryn and Emma stumbled towards the church as Father Eamon raced ahead and forced open the door with his shoulder.

“Inside both of you and do not leave until I come for you.”

Emma wanted to say that he should stay with them but he was already halfway down the churchyard path before she could form the words.

“Quick, Em, there's stairs to the tower. We can watch it from up there.”

Emma raced past Taryn and bounded up the stairs until she reached an opening in the wall that looked out onto Tower Street below. The view was only narrow but it was enough for Emma to see that it was not going well for the guides. There were a lot less of them than there had been when they had turned off the main street and it was looking less and less likely that they would beat this thing. Emma looked on as a mixture of guilt and fear played with her conscience. She should be down there shouldn't she? Helping? But that would be stupid, wouldn't it? All these people risking their souls so you don't have to?

Another brilliant flash of blue briefly dazzled her as the scythe found its mark again and Emma had to blink it away. They were down to maybe half a dozen guides now not including Father Eamon and Sister Ignacia but it was hard for Emma to tell, as everything was so fluid. The creature moved in on a guide that had stumbled and Sister Ignacia took her chance to move in behind it and slice at
the wound that she had opened earlier but the creature was wise to her move and brought its leg back in a sharp kick, which sent Sister Ignacia flying backwards onto the road. She wasn't seriously hurt but she was winded and the creature was now turning to face her.

“No! No!”

Taryn went rushing down the stairs and Emma went racing after her. She flung the door of the church open and flew through the yard. At the lichgate Emma caught up with her and jumped in front of her.

“Slow down. If we go up there, we put everything they have done at risk.”

“They're losing, Em! I can't just stay here!”

Emma wanted to argue, she wanted to say that they had to do as Father Eamon said but she knew Taryn was right. “Okay, we go to the end of the road and stay there but if they can't beat it what chance do we have?”

Taryn nodded and they rushed to the top of the hill. Emma stopped as she got there and took in the scene in front of her. The few guides that were left were desperately trying to distract the creature from Sister Ignacia for long enough so that Father Eamon could reach her and pull her out of harms way. They weren't having any joy but it was hampered by the leg wound that Sister Ignacia's swords had inflicted on it and its progress was slow.

Father Eamon was dragging Sister Ignacia backwards but she was a dead weight and Emma knew that it was only a matter of time before the creature reached them. One of the guides had managed to climb on to a nearby roof and was now crouching with his sword drawn back over his head in a guard position. He leapt forward off the roof and towards the creature's neck but he had barely left the red pantiles before a spindly arm swept upwards cutting him in half with the scythe. His soul completed the
journey for him but his sacrifice gave Father Eamon just enough time to lift Sister Ignacia on to his shoulders and stumble towards the nearest building. A door opened and a man rushed out towards him. Emma recognised Rodolfo as he passed Father Eamon. He was carrying a staff which he now placed directly in front of him as he faced up to the creature. He adjusted his hands so that they held it at three-quarters height and raised the staff above his head before ramming the end of it down in to the ground as he shouted something that Emma couldn't make out. The ground shook and the creature fell backwards. It regained its feat almost instantly but by then Father Eamon had got Sister Ignacia into the relative safety of the house.

In its anger it swung the scythe at Rodolfo, who ducked out of the way. The return swing knocked him sideways and as he fell, Emma could see that he was completely at the mercy of the axe that the creature was now raising above its head in readiness to plunge into the prone figure in front of it.

“Over here! I'm the one you want, not him!”

It wasn't a conscious effort on Emma's part. She just found herself standing in the street shouting at this thing that was now preparing to kill someone else in its quest for her. It froze in place before slowly turning towards her and lowering its arms.

The few guides that were left looked on aghast as Emma walked slowly backwards towards the side of the church.

“Emma! Are you mad? What are you doing?” Taryn joined the guides in their looks of panic.

“I have no idea.” Emma was completely calm and her eyes never left that of the Soul Gorger, who was now lumbering towards her with gathering speed but just as she was about to turn and run, she felt the oxygen sucked out of the air around her. A deep whooshing was accompanied
by a bright orange flash that knocked everybody standing to the floor. It was followed by a second then a third. The ground shook with every impact and Emma found herself being thrown up into the air like a rag doll.

As the dust settled, she jumped back as the creature was revealed less than six feet away from her. Its arms hung limply by its side and it released a whimper that belied its size. The dust cleared further to reveal three streaks of flame running through it and finishing in the ground below, the points of impact looking like little pools of cracked glass. It dropped its weapons and tried to pull at them but each time it touched one of the blazing ribbons, it tore its hands back with a scream of pain.

Emma felt the air return at the same time as a sharp downdraft that caused her to drop down to one knee. She covered her eyes as dirt and dust were kicked up in a stinging cocktail. The downdraft passed and Emma spat out the dirt that had lodged itself in her throat. She looked towards the street to see a woman landing in front of Rodolfo whilst the wings that had borne her there folded into her back. She lifted him to his feet as if he weighed no more than a newborn child. Then she turned towards Emma. She walked over at an unhurried pace and it wasn't until she was almost on her that Emma saw that it wasn't the same angel as yesterday. This one was taller and had a deep bronze tan. Her hair flowed around her shoulders as she walked and Emma was reminded of all the women she had grown to hate, as she had got older. On this occasion though she realised that she had a lot to be grateful to this woman for.

As she approached, Emma saw a bow slung loosely across her shoulders and a quiver of arrows hanging from her waist. Emma looked from them to the three flames that were currently causing the creature so much pain.
So
that's
what they are.
The feelings she had felt when Ambrosia had landed the previous day came back with a vengeance and she dropped her eyes to the ground.

“You need not fear it, Emma. It cannot go anywhere.”

She walked up to the creature and took hold of its hood. As she ripped it back, it let out a last agonised scream before dissolving into the air.

“Hmm…That I wasn't expecting.” The angel was she an angel or a woman? Emma couldn't decide, walked over and extended a hand down. Emma took it and found herself being lifted up by an irresistible force.

“And you must be Taryn.” She offered her hand and Taryn slowly accepted it never once taking her eyes away from the ground as her face went from pink to scarlet.

A sound behind the angel caused them all to look towards the main street. Father Eamon was walking over; his face set in a look that Emma knew probably wasn't good.

“Odysseia, I'm glad you could get here. I owe you a debt of thanks.”

“There is no debt; you have done the same for me on many occasions if I remember correctly.”

Father Eamon smiled briefly, “All the same, thank you. Emma what you did was brave but it put you at a risk which we did our utmost to avoid. Please heed my words in future.”

Emma felt embarrassed to be admonished in front of this woman; she was a woman she decided, as that was much easier than trying to tackle all the questions that taking her for an angel brought up.

Odysseia looked over at the house Father Eamon had come from, “How is Sister Ignacia? I saw her take a nasty kick just before I arrived.”

“She is well. She was winded but nothing more. She will be here in a minute.”

Emma was aware of Taryn letting out a deep breath next to her at these words.

“And who was the man that used the staff? Was it who I thought it was?”

Father Eamon nodded.

“Do you wish me to mention him in my report?”

“No. If the council have confirmation of his existence in this realm then they will want him. ‘Tis better for them not to know just yet.”

“I understand but he will not stay an enigma for long. Word is bound to reach them.”

“I know but it is better they do not know for now.”

Odysseia turned to the three flames that were still burning as brightly as when they had landed and ran her hand over the top of them. They instantly turned to ash and vanished in the air.

“How many fell?”

Father Eamon looked grim, “too many. We cannot afford to keep losing good men and women like that.”

“I agree, but we have dealt with this threat and the price they would have had to pay for its service would have been grievous. They will not send another I think.”

Father Eamon nodded in agreement. He looked around and as Emma followed his eyes, she could see people looking out of windows and now walking into the street. All eyes were trained on Odysseia, and Emma could see an uncomfortable look in Father Eamon's eyes.

“You had better leave. Word will get back of your presence here before long.”

“They broke the rules so we bent them in response, nothing will come of it I think but I will have to report to the council.”

Odysseia walked into the street and spread her wings. They extended with a muffled woof that reminded Emma
of an umbrella being opened and stopped the realms residence in their tracks. As she headed skywards, all they could do was follow her up, their mouths open.

“Emma, was that an…?” Taryn could hardly bring herself to mouth the word.

“Angel? Yes.”

“So they…”

“Exist? It looks that way.”

“Oh, my god, she was beautiful.”

Sister Ignacia emerged from the house ruefully rubbing her waist. Taryn raced over to her and embraced her guide as tears rolled down her face.

“How's Rodolfo?” Emma was looking over at the man who was now sitting on the ground outside a house that looked like it was going to collapse on him if he took his weight away from the wall.

“He will be fine.”

“What's going to happen to him?”

Father Eamon thought for a second before answering, “To be truthful, I do not know. His appearance is unexpected and I will have to speak to him and find out why he has chosen now to make himself known.”

“Why is there all this mystery over him?”

“To explain that would take more time than we have here. Suffice to say his views would be deemed heretical in certain quarters.”

Emma paused, “What happens to me know?”

“Now you go about your task as before. I agree with Odysseia on this. They will not try to stop you again, at least not by a measure such as this.” Father Eamon nodded towards where the Soul Gorger had been.

“Well that's comforting to know. All I've got to do now is pass an impossible task to stop myself from going south.”

Emma walked over to Taryn and Sister Ignacia, ignoring the looks coming her way from the people now huddled in groups and looking at her or pointing to the sky.

“How are you?”

“I'll be fine, I'm just winded. The important thing is that you are untouched. Taryn, you need to leave now.”

Taryn's face dropped “What's the point, by the time I get to the station it'll be mid-afternoon. Besides, I'm nearly done. All I've got left is to set the clock back an hour.”

“Taryn!” Sister Ignacia's face went alabaster white as the buildings around her caught alight and the bells of St Pauls tolled out a deep mournful peel.

Taryn realised her mistake too late and looked to her guide for help as mist filled the air less than ten metres away.

“What happened?” Father Eamon was racing over from where he had been talking to Rodolfo.

“Taryn let slip her task in front of Emma.” Sister Ignacia's voice was weak with resignation

“Oh, Taryn.” Father Eamon's shoulders slumped as the sky went red and the first fragments of an arm emerged from the mist.

“It was an accident. I didn't think!” Taryn's eyes were wide as she looked at the two guides.

“Stay behind me, Taryn.” Sister Ignacia placed herself between Taryn and the oncoming Gentle Men.

Emma went to stand by Taryn but she felt an arm placed firmly around her waist. She turned to see Rodolfo standing behind her.

“There is nothing you can do here, child.” His face was fixed in a grimace but his eyes were pools of pain as he watched Sister Ignacia and Father Eamon making vain efforts to protect Taryn from her fate.

“She's my friend! I'm not going to leave her to them!”

“I'm sorry, child, but you are too valuable to risk on a fool's errand. She is doomed. Her actions have condemned her.”