Sky Raiders (40 page)

“What happened here?” Twitch moaned.

“You only get one guess,” Jace said.

“I know it was Carnag,” Twitch said. “But what did it do?”

“Those trees aren’t supposed to be white, are they?” Cole asked.

“No, it’s unnatural,” Mira said. “I also can’t imagine it’s easy to strip away the walls of a house without knocking over any furniture. We better take a good look. We might find some clues about what we’re dealing with.”

She started down the main street of the town. They
passed a large tree propped against a sagging building, soil-clotted roots in the air, leafy limbs on the road. A section of the town was a smoldering field of charred rubble. One side of the tallest building still standing was crusted with pink coral. A granite boulder lay in the middle of a shop, having apparently crashed through the wall. For one stretch the street undulated, like a stormy sea that had paused, leaving an abnormal pattern of swells and troughs. Half of one house was gone, sheared off cleanly so as to reveal a perfect cross section of the inside, like a full-size dollhouse.

The street ended at a reedy lake. Drowned buildings poked out of the foul water for another hundred yards.

“The town is totaled,” Cole said. “How big is this thing? It looks like a giant had a temper tantrum. What can’t Carnag do?”

“Some of this might have been done physically,” Mira said. “But a lot of it had to be shaping—the lumps in the road, the coral, the house neatly sliced in half. Maybe all of it was shaping.”

“So it’s a semblance and a shaper,” Jace said.

“Kind of makes sense,” Mira replied. “It’s made out of shaping power.”

“How powerful are you?” Twitch asked.

Mira laughed softly. “I had some talent. Nothing like this. Don’t forget what Declan told us. This is unrestrained shaping energy, free from my limitations. It’s probably much more powerful than I could ever be.”

Cole ran both hands through his hair. “How do we fight something that can blast the ground out from under us, chop us in half, crush us with a boulder, then grow coral on us?”

“And that’s just for starters,” Twitch added.

“I don’t really know,” Mira said. “We use everything we have. We hope my connection to Carnag can be an advantage somehow. Remember, it can’t kill me without killing itself.”

“I still worry Declan could be using us,” Jace said. “He might just want Carnag gone, whatever the cost. He might have purposefully sent us to our deaths. If you get killed, Carnag gets wiped out too, and Sambria has one less problem.”

“Maybe,” Mira said. “But it’s something I have to do. It’s my power.”

“You’re not to blame,” Jace said. “You didn’t turn your power into Carnag. Whoever took your power is responsible. Blame your dad. Let him figure this out.”

Mira took a deep breath. “This may be hard for you to understand. I’m not doing this just because I feel guilty. That power is part of me. Like a lost limb. Worse, even. Like a lost piece of my actual self. I’ve wondered for years if I could ever get it back. I knew it might never happen. But this is my chance. It matters enough to me that I’m willing to die trying. If you want to watch from a distance, that’s fine. This town shows how scary Carnag can be. If you want to run away at top speed, I’ll understand.”

“Sometimes I feel like you’re trying to get rid of us,” Cole said.

“I kind of am,” Mira admitted. “This is my risk to take. Not yours. I can live with getting myself killed.”

“Technically, you can’t live if you get killed,” Jace pointed out.

“You know what I mean!” Mira snapped. “My life is mine
to risk. I can’t stand the thought of bringing you all down with me.”

“We volunteered for this,” Jace said. “You didn’t make us.”

“He’s right,” Cole said.

“I know,” Mira said. “But you don’t have to keep volunteering. Sky Raiders run from danger. It’s what we know. It’s how we’ve gotten this far. But this time we’re heading right at the danger. We’re tracking it down on purpose. And I’m not going to run.”

They all contemplated that in silence.

“You might need us,” Cole said. “You might not survive without us. Jace is pretty good with that rope.”

“I sure am,” Jace said. “Don’t try to get rid of me ever again. I’m done having this conversation. If you’re determined, I am too. I see the town. It’s a mess. We knew this thing was powerful. But I won’t abandon you.”

“If it goes really bad, we can still try to run,” Twitch said. “You know, last minute. I’m not quitting now.”

“What about you, Cole?” Mira asked. “You’re not even from here. You have friends to find. Do you really want to get killed fighting my shaping power?”

“I don’t want to get killed,” Cole said. “I promised my friends that I’d find them, and I’m going to keep that promise. Your father has my friends as slaves. His laws led to us being taken from our world. You want to overthrow him. Doing that would be the surest way to help my friends. It all starts with you getting your powers back. I’m with you, Mira. Not only because I need to help Jenna and Dalton. You’re my friend too.”

Mira wiped at her eyes. “Okay. I’m grateful. It’s not that I want you to leave. I just feel so responsible.”

“We get it,” Jace said.

“Where did you kids come from?” a voice interrupted.

They all jumped and whirled toward the speaker. An older man with a long white beard was coming their way down a side street. He wore dirty work clothes and walked as if he might be a little arthritic.

“Didn’t mean to startle you,” he said. “I’m wondering what news you’ve had.”

“We came from the northwest,” Cole said. “Things are quiet that way. The towns have evacuated.”

“We were mostly evacuated,” the old man said, drawing closer. “Some of the men stayed to fight.”

“You saw Carnag?” Mira exclaimed.

The man shook his head. “Not me. I weathered the attack down in my root cellar. I’d seen a town the monster had hit. It leaves some of the buildings untouched. I’ve lived here all my life. Decided to take my chances hiding out.”

“What happened to the men?” Cole asked.

“No sign of them,” the old man said, his voice quavering. After a moment, he regained his composure. “You’re the first people to happen by since Carnag visited five days ago.”

“Any idea which way the monster went?” Twitch asked.

“Looked like the fiend doubled back the way it came,” the old man said. “I didn’t see it, mind you, just signs of its passage. That’s been the pattern. Carnag ventures out farther every time, but falls back between forays.”

“Are you all right?” Mira asked. “Do you need anything?”

“I have plenty,” the old man said. “A whole town’s supplies. The worst of it should be behind me. So far there have been no reports of Carnag hitting the same place twice. What brings you this way?”

“Family emergency,” Mira said. “We better get going.”

“Need provisions?” the old man asked.

“We have enough,” Mira said. “Thanks, though. Keep safe.”

“You too, young lady.”

They returned to the autocoach. Mira instructed Bertram to go around the pit in the road and then continue to the southeast.

The autocoach trotted ahead through the night. Whenever he jerked awake, Cole peered out the window, half-expecting to see a monstrosity charging at them. But all he saw was the countryside under the dull light of a reddish moon.

“No star,” Mira said one time after he looked outside.

“No?” Cole asked.

“I haven’t seen my star since we fled through the cloud-wall,” Mira said.

“I guess that means nobody can trace us,” Cole said.

“No enemies and no help.”

“Is it almost morning?” Cole asked.

“Not yet,” Mira said. “Try to rest.”

“What about you?”

“I’m trying too.”

Just after sunrise, they heard the pounding rhythm of an approaching gallop. A quick look revealed a lone legionnaire racing along the road from the opposite direction. Jace got his rope ready.

“It’s one guy,” Mira said. “He’s probably not here for us. He may just ride by.”

The horseman slowed as he reached the autocoach. He looked like a teenager, though he might have been twenty. His uniform was disheveled. “Whoa!” he called. “You people need to turn around right away!”

Mira ordered the autocoach to stop.

“What’s the problem?” Jace asked.

“Only the biggest threat in Sambria,” the legionnaire said, panic behind his eyes. “How did you get this far without catching on? Carnag is just beyond the next hill.”

His insides squirming with anxiety, Cole instantly turned his attention to the road ahead. He saw where the lane disappeared behind the next rise. Everything looked quiet and normal.

“Is it coming this way?” Mira asked.

“I’m not waiting around to find out,” the legionnaire said. “I was part of a scouting party with eleven other soldiers. Good horsemen. I’m the only one who got clear.”

“Did you see it?” Mira pressed.

“Glimpsed it through the trees,” the legionnaire said. “It’s gigantic, I can tell you that much. Hard to speak to the details. The others wanted a closer look. They got it all right.”

“You abandoned your unit?” Mira asked.

“We’re a scouting party!” the young legionnaire protested. “Somebody has to report back. It might not be too late for you. Turn around.”

Jace looked at Mira. “What do we do?”

“Take him,” Mira said.

The golden rope lashed out, bound the soldier’s arms to his sides, and yanked him off his horse. The legionnaire hit the ground hard, his pinioned arms unable to help break his fall. The horse whinnied and reared, then settled down.

At first the legionnaire could only cough and wheeze. “What are you doing?” he finally managed.

“We’re on holiday,” Bertram replied. “My grandniece and grandnephews are helping me take in the countryside.”

“Let me go!” the soldier cried. “Do what you want, but don’t hold me here!”

“Play dead, soldier!” Mira ordered. “We have nothing to fear from Carnag. We work with it. Keep your mouth shut, or we’ll make you a sacrifice.”

The legionnaire mostly obeyed. Cole heard faint whimpering.

“Do you have some of that tea?” Mira whispered to Twitch.

“It isn’t warm,” Twitch said. “But I’ve kept some of it in water since we left Gerta’s place. It should be pretty potent.”

“Give him some,” Mira instructed.

“Feel this?” Jace asked. The rope creaked as it tightened.

The soldier cried out.

“I can make it much tighter,” Jace said. “Our friend here has a refreshment for you. Drink it, and we’ll let you live.”

“How do I know it isn’t poison?” the legionnaire asked as Twitch climbed down to him.

“Because there are easier ways to kill you,” Jace said. “For example, I could squeeze you to death.”

The soldier let out an anguished groan.

While Twitch gave the tea to the legionnaire, Cole leaned over to Mira. “If the legionnaires are scouting this thing, does that mean your father isn’t directly involved?”

“Probably,” she said. “Unless he’s keeping it secret from his own people, which is possible.”

“What . . . what . . . what was that stuff?” the legionnaire asked, his words slurred.

“Herbal tea,” Twitch said.

“Not bad,” the soldier said contentedly. “Am I sinking? Feels a little like . . . like I’m . . .” The legionnaire sagged.

Twitch snapped his fingers by the legionnaire’s ear. “He’s out. Might have been an extra-strong dose. The tea looks really dark.”

“Good,” Mira said. “We can’t have him in the way. In fact, I don’t want to risk leaving him here. Tie him up and we’ll bring him.”

Jace pulled some spare rope from the storage compartment. After binding the soldier’s wrists, legs, and arms, it took all three boys to drag him up into the autocoach.

“I wonder if I should ride the horse,” Mira said. “It might be good to have the extra speed and mobility.”

“Go for it,” Jace said.

Just then Mango fluttered down to the window. “I’m not sure if this is good news or bad, but Carnag is just up ahead.”

“We know,” Mira said. “Where have you been?”

“It’s been hectic.” Mango sighed. “I’m keeping track of many things.”

“Did you see it?” Mira asked.

“I didn’t want to get too close,” the bird said. “It’s big. And noisy. I heard people crying for help.”

“Thanks, Mango,” Mira said.

“On the bright side, I helped bring some assistance,” Mango said.

A guy on a flying disk swooped alongside the autocoach. “Better late than never,” Liam announced.

“Liam!” Cole exclaimed. “I thought you said you’d be too busy to help out!”

Liam scrunched his face apologetically. “I know. I didn’t want you guys counting on me. But I got bored.”

“You’re here because you were bored?” Jace asked.

“Why not? I like how nonchalant it sounds. You want the whole story? We had to flee Cloudvale, and Declan is settled in his new hideout, so I figured they could spare me. I’m here with permission.”

“How’d you find us?” Mira asked.

“You didn’t think Mango was only spying for you?” Liam chided. “She reported to some of my other birds so I could keep track of your progress.”

“Kind of a shady gift,” Mira said.

He placed a hand over his heart. “I did it to be helpful. Promise.”

“Do you know anything new about Carnag?” Cole asked.

“I haven’t had a close look yet,” Liam replied. “But I can feel it more clearly than before. It’s just throbbing with power. I’m no slouch at shaping, but I can’t imagine my power burning half so bright. This won’t be easy. What’s the plan?”

Nobody answered.

“We’re kind of making this up as we go,” Mira said.

“Might be all we can do,” Liam said. “Nobody has ever confronted anything like this. Tell you what. I’ll hang back and watch how it goes, study Carnag for weaknesses. That way you’ll have somebody in reserve.”

“That’s really brave of you,” Jace said.

“I’m being strategic!” Liam complained. “Who’s going to save everybody if this goes bad? You?”

“Is anybody else coming?” Jace asked.

“I tried to talk Asia into joining us,” Liam said. “She’s too set on defending Declan. But an old friend of yours is on his way. Well, more of an acquaintance. Barely even that. He’s on your side, though.”