The Sword of

Elseerian

By Ben Hale

Text
Copyright © 2013 Ben Hale

All
Rights Reserved

To my family and friends,

who believed

And to my wife,

who is perfect

Table of Contents

Prologue: The Dark Realm

Chapter 1: Burned

Chapter 2: Secrets and Truth

Chapter 3: Survival

Chapter 4: The Guild

Chapter 5: Mother

Chapter 6: Guarded

Chapter 7: Reunion

Chapter 8: Undercurrents

Chapter 9: Knots

Chapter 10: Forbidden

Chapter 11: Cassiopeia

Chapter 12: Leverage

Chapter 13: Rage

Chapter 14: The Power of Fear

Chapter 15: Centaurus

Chapter 16: Trained by a Swordsman

Chapter 17: The General

Chapter 18: The Melee

Chapter 19: Archives

Chapter 20: Tentative

Chapter 21: The Book

Chapter 22: Recollection

Chapter 23: Entity

Chapter 24: Refuge

Chapter 25: Ally

Chapter 26: The Sundrop

Chapter 27: Brokins

Chapter 28: Orion

Chapter 29: Threat

Chapter 30: Ice

Chapter 31: Leaders of Light

Chapter 32: Unfamiliar

Chapter 33: A Mother's Secret

Chapter 34: Corporal Marks

Chapter 35: Firefight

Chapter 36: Sister

Chapter 37: The Vaults

Chapter 38: Ancient

Chapter 39: Survivor

Chapter 40: Derek's Story

Chapter 41: Christmas

Chapter 42: Escape

Chapter 43: Alone

Chapter 44: Frozen

Chapter 45: Taken

Chapter 46: The Purpose

Chapter 47: The Sword of Elseerian

Chapter 48: The Master

Chapter 49: Desperate

Chapter 50: Unmasked

Chapter 51: Released

The Chronicles of Lumineia

Author Bio

Prologue: The Dark Realm

Ducalik tumbled into the Dark as the portal to Lumineia
closed behind him. Rage coursed through his frame as he rose to his feet—but he did not give voice to
the seething hatred and fury. Instead, he turned and watched the last point of
light evaporate, plunging the landscape into eternal night.

The Dark curled around him, swirling and tightening to the
point of suffocation, but Ducalik's lip curled in a sneer. I should have
been ready. But he knew he could not have known the portal would be opened
several months early.

Sensing his cooling hate, the Dark swirled closer, and
Ducalik reached out to it. The shape of a spiked muzzle formed in the black
mist, invisible even with Ducalik's enchanted eyes. He caressed the head, and
the Dark issued an audible rumble. Fleetingly he wondered how many organisms
made up the fraction of Dark in his hand. He wasn't aware of a number high
enough, and the Dark consumed the entire planet he stood on.

"I know," Ducalik growled. "But if they
opened it once, they will open it again."

His twisted mind considered what he had learned. The Lord of
Chaos had been notably absent, confirming what he had suspected for ten
thousand years. Draeken had been vanquished. Ducalik was disappointed. He'd
wanted to kill the Lord of Chaos himself. The surge of hatred caused him to
taste bile. Now he would never have the chance to punish Draeken for trapping
him in such a place.

The instant Draeken had first sent him through the portal
the Dark had assailed his mind. Jagged whispers had cut into his consciousness
and torn into his thoughts with frightening brutality. It found his love
towards his mate, and his anguish at her betrayal. It fed on both, and used his
guilt to force its way deeper.

Everything he'd ever done was laid bare in blistering
detail. Every heinous act, every tiny mistake, all were stripped from his mind
and shown to him—over
and over again—until
guilt threatened to vomit from every pore in his body.  Then it inhaled his
fears and twisted his mind to make them reality.

In the void of light he felt the presence of monsters
approach, their hairy arms reaching for him. Their steps shuffled as if from
every side, causing his whole frame to cringe and quake. The Dark pressed in on
him, and seemed to crush his body and soul. He fought for breath and screamed
through tears of agony and terror.

Throughout the torture the Dark whispered for him to
succumb, to yield his mind so that the pain of his existence could end. He
wished for death in the same moment that the Dark found his hatred.

The images of his banishment flashed before his eyes. The
tremendous victory over their rival barbarian tribe, where Ducalik had called
on his foes' own bodies to aid him. Enemy soldiers had turned aside and, at his
command, slain their brothers, fathers, wives, and children. Covered in the
glorious blood of his destroyed enemy, Ducalik had turned to find revulsion on
the faces of his tribe members. The chief had banished him before the warblood
had dried on his body. His mate had been the sole one capable of speaking on
his behalf, and she had turned away . . . in shame.

The Dark relished the memory, but recoiled at Ducalik's
response to it. Hatred and fury roared to the forefront of his mind. Nausea and
guilt were replaced with bitterness and rage, and the Dark withdrew. The
momentary freedom cleared his thoughts, and Ducalik was surprised to realize
that days had passed.

Absolute darkness oppressed his vision as he climbed to his
feet. He turned his head, and cast vision spells on himself, searching for any
light. There was none. No sun, stars, or moon were in the sky, and without them
reflected light failed to illuminate the ground. There was only the oppressive
weight of the Dark, which hovered at the edge of his consciousness, and touched
his skin with its infernal weight.

He felt a flash of fear—and
the Dark didn't hesitate. Ducalik crumpled to the ground in anguish, clawing at
his ears as the whispers sliced into his mind. Time passed in writhing pain,
and countless times he almost yielded. Then the Dark found the betrayal again.
His mountain of hatred and anger once again forced the evil murmurings out.

The pattern repeated again and again, and was the sole
reason Ducalik did not succumb. In his lucid moments he fought and learned,
until he understood the true nature of the Dark, and the limitless organisms
that formed the black mist. Their supreme consciousness could consume a world's
inhabitants, but he was the Master of Flesh. After millennia of agony .
. . he mastered the Dark.

The face of his mate's betrayal only burned brighter as time
passed, until it was seared into his mind. She may have been long dead but his
yearning to punish her did not abate.  Then he recalled another face in his
memory.

Standing beside her, the chief of their tribe had looked
upon her with covetous eyes. With Ducalik banished he would have taken her for
his own. They would have borne children together, and generations of their seed
would have lived without ever knowing Ducalik's name.  The only way to hurt
them would be to kill every last one of their descendents, until their very
blood was erased from existence. And if their seed touched every soul . . .

I will have no choice.

His hate surged as he dwelled on it, but he reminded himself
that his time was approaching. The ten-thousand-year anniversary of his
imprisonment was just months away. Only then could the portal be reopened.

At his will the Dark swirled around his form, and carried
him to the top of the nearest peak. Twenty thousand feet off the surface he
broke free of the mist, and the night sky exploded into view. Stars and
constellations unfamiliar to Lumineia greeted him. Their light failed to
penetrate the endless Dark that blanketed the planet.

One feature dominated the view. Huge and forbidding, a
vortex sat where the sun should have been. Its center was a blackness that
rivaled the Dark. Light curved and bent before being sucked into the hole. He
had no idea what it was, and neither did the Dark, which had resided in the
realm for much longer than he.

Ducalik shivered as he hovered in the sky. Without the Dark
he would have frozen in seconds—but
even it couldn't stop the cold this high. As it had since the beginning, the
Dark sustained his body. Now as he looked out over the unending stretch of
Dark, he thought of the months that remained until the portal would be opened
once more.

In the few minutes that he'd returned to Lumineia he'd
sensed the sheer vastness that the races had swelled to. The Dark tightened
around his body, sensing his rising anticipation. Ducalik's words sounded loud
in the empty night.

"Soon, my friend, there will be much for you to consume
. . ."

Chapter 1: Burned

Dread filled Tess as she watched the cloaked ones gather
around her house. Just as Iris had warned, they had come to make her a martyr
to their cause. Her death would become a reason for the mages to go to war
against the non-mages of Earth—because
they would make it look like non-mages had killed her.

She knew from experience that each of them would be powerful
with their magic—too powerful for her to defeat on her own. And with her unknowing
parents sitting downstairs, her options were fading fast.

Her heart heavy in her chest, she scanned the men in the
shadows, searching for them, counting. Ten became twenty, and then thirty—and
still they massed. Then three strode into view from her backyard, and she knew
they had already surrounded her home.

From within her darkened room she watched, and struggled to
see a way out. She had only minutes before they attacked, and knew what would
happen when they did. They wouldn't hesitate to slaughter her parents along
with her. Her house would then be destroyed so there would be no evidence to
reveal their actions.

They were Harbingers. Men and women who had joined in a
single purpose, to bring magic out of hiding in a way that would let them conquer
the non-magical nations of earth. Chosen for their talent or position, they were
masters of magic with a disposition for arrogance and violence.  They wouldn't
balk at killing a fifteen-year-old girl.

She swallowed and realized that she couldn't do this alone.
Steeling herself for what was to come, she sent a fast message to the girl who
had warned her. Gifted despite her youth, Iris was a techno mage with the power
to manipulate any live signal in the air. They had met three months ago when
Tess had gone to her first term at Tryton's Academy of Magic. Iris had been her
roommate, and had saved her life multiple times over the course of the quad.

Knowing Iris would get the message to Hawk, she dodged out
of the room and raced downstairs. She slid to a halt in the living room.
Unaware of what gathered around the house, her mother was curled up on the
couch, reading, while her father worked on his laptop.

"Um . . . Mom, Dad?" Tess said. She tried to still
her shaking hands as she searched for the words to warn them.

They turned to face her, and frowned in unison at her
expression. "Is something wrong?" her dad asked.

Jack rose to his feet and moved fluidly around the couch.
Kate was only a step behind him, her brown eyes intense as they bored into Tess.

"What's going on?" Kate demanded.

Tess opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. In
her head several statements rushed to be voiced, but they all got clogged in
her throat.

I'm sorry, but I have been lying to you.

I'm a mage, and for the last three months I've been at a
school that taught magic.

There are people outside that want to kill me because I
am the oracle.

Oh, and you aren't really my parents.

They stared at her, and she stared back. Just as her dad was
about to say something the lights in the house winked out. The TV popped and
faded, leaving the room dark. Jack grunted in annoyance.

"I'll check the breakers," he said, but Tess
reached out and caught his arm.

With the darkness to hide behind she finally managed to speak.
"Dad, it's not the breakers. I don't have time to explain everything, but
a group of people are doing this—and they are here to ki—hurt me."

The words came out in a rush, tumbling over themselves
before bursting from her lips. She felt her dad's arm go rigid under her hand.

"Kate," he said quietly, "get your guns."

Tess froze at the word. She knew her dad worked in the
military, but little else about his profession. Her mom couldn't have been more
different. She was an elementary school teacher, one of the most tame professions
imaginable.

Jack pulled Tess toward the front door and fumbled with the
handle for the coat closet. Finding it, he yanked it open. A moment later he
found what he was searching for and there was a crackling noise. Light filled
the hallway as he tossed a handful of green glowsticks toward the front door.

"Dad—"

"Not yet," he said. His voice sounding muffled
with his head in the closet.

Then he stepped into view with a shotgun in his hands. Tess
was shocked. She had no idea there'd even been a gun there—and then she noticed
the weapon. When she was younger he'd taken her clay pigeon shooting. They had
used a smaller 14 gauge shotgun, long and sleek with only a couple of shells in
the chamber. This shotgun was black, stocky, and its chamber was as long as the
barrel.

He shoved shells into it and pushed her back to the living
room. "Kate, you take the back," he said. His voice was surprisingly calm
as he yanked a couch around so it faced the front door. It scratched across the
floor as if made of lead.

Her mom had similarly placed glowsticks at the rear entrance,
and had turned the other couch to face it. She was kneeling behind it. There
was a loud click as she slid a loaded magazine into her assault rifle. Beside
her a trio of other weapons rested within easy reach, along with several other
items.

"Is that a grenade?" Tess asked.

"Yes, honey," her mom said, and pulled her down
between the sofas. "Now get behind the couches. They're reinforced with
steel plates."

Tess crouched, speechless, as her dad reached under the sofa
he'd just moved. In quick succession he withdrew a pair of grenades, a large
pistol, and the gun Tess had learned on. Then he pulled another gun from a
concealed holster at his back.

He threw a glance at Kate as he checked the clip.
"Where's the extra ammo for the eagle?"

"Under the bookstand," she said. She armed her
weapons and laid out a row of ammunition.

He reached under the bookstand and grabbed a box of shells,
and then another. Placing them next to him, he set about loading the various
weapons before him. The speed and familiarity of their actions caused Tess to
come out of her stupor.

"How many guns do you have?" she blurted.

"Only what we need," Jack said without looking at
her. Clicking an ammo clip into one of the spare guns, he placed it in easy
reach. Then he caught up the shotgun and laid it over the couch, its huge
muzzle pointing toward the door.

"Ready," he said. A heartbeat later her mother
said the same.

"Tess," Jack called over his shoulder, "You
probably have twenty seconds to tell us what's going on."

She wasted five trying to put a sentence together. Then she
said, "Um . . . I can do magic, and the people outside want to kill me for
a prophecy they think I am supposed to fulfill."

Her dad turned to face her, his expression fixed. Kate just
kept blinking, and then said, "Uh . . . could you repeat that,
please?"

Just as Tess opened her mouth the front and rear doors
exploded. The blast of fire sent kindling and shards of glass billowing into
the living room. They embedded into the back of the couches and walls. The next
moment cloaked figures strode inside.

The shotgun blast and the assault rifle sounded overly loud
as her parents fired, and staccato bursts of light spit from their muzzles,
lighting the room. Men screamed and fell, surprise and shock written on their
features. Another pair died before a stone mage pulled dirt from under the
ground. Puncturing the floor, it lifted a shield of rock to close off the
hallway. Sparks scattered off its surface as Kate unloaded controlled bursts of
gunfire into it. In seconds another stone mage blocked the front door as well.

Tess raised her hands, ready to call on her own magic, but
the cloaked figures withdrew, taking their injured and dead with them. In the
lull her dad dropped his shotgun and picked up one of the pistols. He racked
the slide as her mom reloaded her rifle.

For a long moment there was silence, and then a blast of
fire struck the house. Walls trembled and windows shattered. Decorations and
pictures fell to the floor, their glass tinkling into pieces as they impacted
the hardwood. A moment later another blast of fire struck the opposite side of
the house. Then the fire came in a continuous stream.

"Watch her," Jack barked, and bolted for the
stairs.

Kate picked up the gun that Tess had used before and shoved
it into her hands. "Watch the front. If anything moves, shoot it."

"But—"

"Just do it, Tess, I don't have time to argue,"
she said.

Before Tess could respond Jack came pounding down the
stairs, his expression one of confusion. "They've lit every side of the
house on fire," he said. He blinked a few times, as if he were trying to
shake an impossible image from his mind. "They don't appear to be using
conventional weapons. Any luck getting a signal out?"

Kate jerked her head in the negative, her face tight with
worry as she thumbed her phone. The house began to heat up as the fire broke
through the outer wall. It spread across the ceiling and floors, surging as if
led by an intelligent mind. Jack darted to the fire extinguisher but Tess intercepted
him.

"Dad!" She yelled to be heard over the
crackling flames and snapping timber.

"What?!" he growled as he pulled the pin from the
extinguisher.

"Do you feel the heat?" she asked. The desperation
in her voice caused him to pause.

Confused, anger, and a trace of fear twisted his features,
but he shook his head. He turned to face her with fire consuming the walls
around them. Smoke and ash had filled the room yet the three of them stood in a
void at the center. Outside the circle the lamp shattered from the heat, its
top burning through as it fell onto the floor.

"What's doing this?" Kate demanded.

Tess took a breath. "Me."

They stared at her, bewilderment written on their faces.
Tess held their gaze, and then she had an idea of what to do. She took
advantage of their stunned expressions to take over.

"Dad, throw your grenades into the kitchen. The gas
lines are probably about to blow anyway, but the explosion will be bigger. Mom,
do the same. Then stand next to me."

They continued to stare at her. Jack held a gun in one hand
and the fire extinguisher in the other. Kate had a pistol pointed at the floor.
Both had shallow cuts on their faces and arms, but neither seemed aware of
them.

"Go!" Tess barked.

They glanced at each other, at the raging fire, and then at
Tess. Then her father reached for his grenades. "I hope you know what
you're doing, Tess."

Me too, she thought.

Each of them tucked a gun into their concealed holsters and
then gathered their grenades. Once they'd rejoined Tess, they exchanged a look.
Their uncertainty only caused Tess to grit her teeth. This was her only chance
to get them out alive.

Then she realized she'd forgotten something. Panic engulfed
her as she screamed for her pet grend. "Stel!"

Reflecting red in the firelight, a small metal cat appeared
at the top of the stairs and leapt down. Rebounding off a wall, it morphed into
a necklace and coiled around Tess's neck. Despite the inferno, the metal
intelligence did not seem to feel the heat. Her parents stared at her with
astonishment written on their features.

"Do it," she said.

They looked at each other for a long moment, and then pulled
the pins at the same time. "Four seconds!" Jack shouted at the same
time Kate yelled, "Frag out!"

For a long moment Tess looked at the fire that was consuming
her home. Then she looked up and used gravity magic to blast a hole all the way
to the roof. Fire engulfed the hole as soon as it appeared. A single star could
be seen at the center, its light dimmed by the swirling flames.

Three

"Hang on," she yelled, and then wrapped her magic
around them. Both went rigid in shock as their feet lifted off the carpet. To
their credit, neither of them cried out.

Two

Tess flew them through the hole in the ceiling, her hands
out to maintain the heat shield on both sides. They passed through her bedroom,
which was hardly recognizable for what it had been. Her desk had disappeared behind
a mountain of flames. The wallpaper was tearing off, curling away into sparks and
ash as the sheetrock blackened behind it. Her bed had been closest to the
outside wall, but it was melted and misshapen. The sight disappeared as she
carried them into the attic.

One

She reached the roof and then gathered her power, readying
them for what she knew was their only chance. Purple lines streaked into the
visible spectrum as Tess hovered just under the blazing rafters.

"Tess . . .?" Her father said in a rising
tone.

Zero

The house exploded in massive concussive blast, incinerated
in an instant as the grenades and the gas lines detonated each other. Walls and
furniture were ripped apart, shredded by the shockwave. The foundations cracked
as unrecognizable pieces of house embedded into the yard and trees. When the
walls on the first floor disintegrated, the portions of the roof that were
still intact collapsed, sending a wave of sparks and cinders billowing outward.

The Harbingers closest were knocked away. The rest shielded
their eyes from the glare or moved to help their companions. As sirens sounded
in the night the Harbingers slipped from view. Their work finished, they
evaporated into the night.

Chapter 2: Secrets and Truth

Tess watched it all from above. An instant before the explosion
had torn through the house, she'd launched them straight up. Heat and sparks
washed over their feet before they were swallowed by the night sky. Shielding
their eyes from the blast, the Harbingers had not noticed the three figures
floating five hundred feet above the burning house.

Although relief at their survival was prominent, Tess felt a
plunging sadness. She watched her childhood home burn. Every memory she had
revolved around that home, along with every possession. Now it was all gone.
She felt sick.

Her dad coughed at her side. Reluctantly Tess turned to face
her parents, expecting to see anger and confusion. Instead she saw worry on
both their features. Her mom kept twitching, as if she wanted to flail about in
the air. Her rigid self control kept her limbs in check. Her father just gazed
at her, unflinching in the fact that he was flying hundreds of feet above his
burning house.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you," she said in a small
voice.

Her dad didn't blink. "Ice cream. Now."

Tess sighed, and turned them toward the ice-cream parlor
that her dad favored, The Sweet Treat. Ever since she was a kid her parents had
taken her there as a reward for things—like when she had almost given a
concussion to a bully who was teasing disabled kids. It was also the place they
went to talk about difficult things, like when her grandfather had died.

No one spoke as Tess flew them above Richmond. She kept them
high enough to avoid power lines and scrutiny, which wasn't hard due to the
cloudy night. Still, by the time they were nearing the shop Tess was beginning
to tire. She'd flown three friends at once before, but it had nearly killed
her. She brought them down behind the building and her dad took charge. He
adjusted his gun in its holster so it was out of sight, then he strode down the
alley toward the front door.

Tess followed, her eyes downcast. Her house was gone because
of her, and she wasn't looking forward to the upcoming conversation. Then she blinked
and straightened. After the way her parents had reacted, she wasn't the only one
with secrets. As she stepped into the shop she automatically moved to the seat
they always shared.

It was after ten, but the shop was still open, and would be
for another hour. Built in the seventies, the building had most of its original
architecture. High stools sat next to the counter, and small tables filled the
space. The original owners still worked the counter, and the elderly couple
smiled at her dad when he ordered three bowls of vanilla ice cream, no
toppings.

Tess winced. It was worse than she thought. The one time he
had ever ordered vanilla for them was when she'd failed out of the lowest level
math. No flavor and no toppings was the recipe for lots of talking. She sighed,
and sank into her usual seat in the back alcove.

As if it were an afterthought to the shop, there was a small
recess at the rear of the building. To get to it you passed the counter and
turned a sharp corner, then went down a narrow hall. The space was too small
for anything but a single table and a few chairs, but the artwork on the wall
was stunning.

It rested on the north wall, and displayed darkened streets
layered in fog. Old fashioned cars and people appeared to move through it, the
fog curling around their feet. The art was lit with a backdrop of soft light
that came from the streetlamps, headlights, and an open window, all of which
were real, and drew power from a plug near the floor. The points of light were
shrouded in mist, but gave enough light to fill the scene. Dimming and
brightening, the lights seemed to fight the night's fog.

The image spoke of a simpler time. With her house gone and
her future uncertain, Tess found a part of her missing her simple life before
she'd gone to Tryton's Academy of Magic.

Her mother sank into a seat across from her, and stared at
her without blinking. Neither of them spoke until Jack placed the three bowls on
the table. Collectively they each took a bite. Then her father skewered Tess
with his gaze.

"Talk," he said.

She felt a flash of anger. "Why don't you go first, Dad?
Where did all the guns come from—and Mom? Since when do you know how to throw a
grenade?"

Her words came out in a harsh whisper, but it didn't provoke
her parents. Instead they glanced at each other. Then her mom sighed and
relented.

"I don't understand what happened tonight, but it's
time she knew. Tell her, Jack."

He passed a hand over his face, weary and worn. For the
first time he appeared old to Tess. The white streaks to his black hair had
always seemed distinguished before. Then he placed a finger on the table and
looked between them, his gaze searching.

"There have been enough secrets. Tonight we put our
cards on the table—but," he flicked his finger into the air, "we hold
nothing back, and we guard each other's secrets as we would our own." He
stared at Tess until she swallowed and nodded.

"Good," he said, and leaned back. "Tess, you
go first."

She frowned, but didn't argue. "Three months ago they
tried to kidnap me. I tried to fight, and almost destroyed a street."

"With what?" her dad asked, and folded his arms.

She threw a glance down the hall. Seeing no one, she ignited
a ball of flame in her hand. Her parents jerked at the sight, and she
extinguished it before it was noticed. "With my magic," she said.
"Since then I have been at Tryton's Academy of Magic learning to control
it."

Her dad's eyes bored into hers. "How long have you been
a mage?"

Tess's eyebrows shot up. "What—how do you know about the
mages?"

"Because that is part of what I do," he said with
a sigh.

"You knew about this?" her mom demanded.

"Not exactly," he replied. Then he shook his head,
and said, "Tess, what I am about to say is highly classified, and could
land me in prison for sharing. However," he flashed a wry smile, "you
apparently already know something about it so the CIA won't have grounds to
charge—"

"You're a spy?" Tess interrupted. She knew he'd
worked for the military, but she'd never dreamed he worked for the CIA.

"Of sorts," he replied. "Your mother was as
well. That's actually how we met."

"Mom?" she asked. And Tess thought that she
had secrets.

"I'm sorry we didn't tell you, honey," Kate said.

"So the guns, the weapons, all of it was because of . .
. what you did?"

They nodded in unison, and then her father said, "My
agency tracks and gathers intelligence on foreign countries, and up until two
years ago that was all I did. Then I was promoted to a position high enough to merit
learning about the mages. A handful within the agency have such positions, but
even they know very little."

"So you spy on the mages?" Tess demanded.

"Hardly," he said. "That's reserved for the
Mage Investigation Office. From what I've heard they can't seem to gain credible
information. Anytime they get close it just seems to evaporate. We know that
they—you—exist, but not much beyond that." Then his gaze narrowed. "We're
getting off topic. How long have you been a mage?"

"I found out the day they attacked me," she said
defensively. "Before that I thought I was just stuck in summer
school."

"What was that . . . thing," her mother asked, and
pointed to Tess's necklace.

"A grend," Tess said, and then whispered to the
steel creature, "It's okay, Stel, this is my family."

The necklace rose from her neck and seemed to sniff the air.
Apparently deciding that it was safe, it morphed into a small bird and soared
around the room. It paused to examine the fogged art. It hovered close to it,
and a small light blossomed above it, as if it were trying to decipher what the
image portrayed.

"What's a grend?" Jack asked.

"An energy intelligence," Tess replied. "It's
like a sentient piece of magic. They choose to bond with someone and stay with
them. It's like a pet." Tess heard a sound in the shop, and said urgently,
"That's enough, Stel. I promise you can come out later."

The bird issued an annoyed chirp but obediently flew back to
her neck. A moment later it had returned to its former shape.

"How could you have been a mage in the first place?"
Jack asked, interrupting whatever Kate was going to say. "One of the
things we do know is that children from non-mage parents can be mages,
but their magic usually manifests from an earlier age."

Tess swallowed, unsure if she wanted to reveal the truth.
Sidestepping that, she said, "Magic can be partially or completely bound.
Mage parents typically use a partial binding so their children can use simple
magic growing up, but not enough to inadvertently cause harm. Sometimes a
parent can bind a child's magic completely, in which case the binding breaks
close to their sixteenth birthday."

"So your magic," her mother said slowly, "was
bound? By who?"

Tess took a bite of her ice cream, which had started to melt
as it sat forgotten. The cold in her mouth had no impact on the heat she felt
rising to her neck. She didn't want to answer. She wanted to lie, or avoid the
question so she didn't have to face it. Ever since she'd found out she'd
avoided thinking about it. Now the truth stared her in the face. Then she
recalled something that Hawk had said to her.

Truth shared becomes truth believed.

She'd questioned Hawk before about why he told her so much.
That had been his answer. At the time she'd wondered why he didn't hold back like
they did in the movies or books. For better or worse, Hawk's treatment of her
had elicited a great deal of respect on her part—and trust. If he could risk
telling her everything, then she could risk trusting her parents.

Swallowing the ice cream, she raised her chin and fought to
get the words out. "They said that . . . that you . . . weren't my real
parents."

Her mother blinked in shock. Her dad sat back in his chair
as if he'd been struck. Guilt washed over Tess, and she continued, "They
said they placed me with you because your daughter had lung problems, and died
soon after being born. Don't you remember how I recovered so fast? Didn't you
ever question it?"

"Do you believe it?" her mother asked. She didn't
meet her gaze.

On impulse Tess reached across the table and clasped her
mother's hand. "Whether or not it's true, you are my parents, and I
couldn't ask for more trusting ones." A thought crossed her mind and she
gathered the moisture from the air into her free hand.

At her direction the water rose and changed shape, until it
formed a reasonable likeness of Kate and Tess, gathered in an embrace.
Unwilling to leave him out, she added more liquid until her father wrapped his
arms around both of them. Her yearning to let her parents know what they meant
to her flowed into the liquid, until the girl in the center began to cry. With
a burst of power she pulled every bit of warmth from the water, freezing it
solid in her palm. The ice figurine's features glistened with emotion and
frozen tears. Gingerly, she slid it across the table and placed it inside her
mother's hand.

"You are my parents—I don't care what the truth
is."

Kate's eyes were moist as she clasped the ice statue. Then
she asked, "Where do we go from here?"

"I don't know," Tess said. The doubt was evident in
her voice.

"You are my daughter," her father said, his tone
rigid. "And I trust you—both your statement of who you are, and who you
choose to be. Now, all of this does not explain why those men came after
you."

Tess fumbled with her answer, unsure of how to explain the
larger view of who she was. She was saved from answering as another figure
entered the alcove. Tall and well built, his hair was black but streaked with
red. The black leather jacket he wore made him appear more menacing than usual.
At first glance he looked in his late thirties, but Tess knew him to be much, much
older.

Tess breathed a sigh of relief and rose to her feet.
"Hawk, how did you find us?"

He flashed a smile that conveyed relief at her safety. But
his eyes held a simmering anger at the attack. "Who else? Iris got me the
message and told me where to find you."

"And who are you?" her father asked. He and her
mother rose in unison to face him. Tess noticed that both had palmed their
guns.

"This is Hawk," Tess said quickly, "and he's
a friend."

"Sit," Hawk said with a disarming smile, and settled
into the open chair. "There is more we need to discuss, starting with what
your daughter hasn't told you."

Chapter 3: Survival

Sinking into a seat, Hawk said, "We don't have much
time, so I'm afraid I will have to be somewhat blunt."

"By all means," her father said, and folded his
arms. "I prefer the direct approach anyway."

"Excellent," Hawk said. "The world you live
in is based on a lie, that magic does not exist. Over the last six thousand
years the mages have gone into hiding to avoid the wars that they had caused.
Your daughter is the one meant to unite the two worlds, and bring the mages
from their self-imposed exile."

"How?" her dad said. "How can our
daughter do this?"

Hawk didn't comment on the emphasis."Because she is a
unique mage, and can do every type of magic. She is an oracle, and a very
powerful one at that."

"Is that how she can . . . fly?" her mother asked.

Hawk nodded. "Among other things. For now, I'm afraid
the rest of your questions will have to wait. It's imperative that I take Tess
to her school immediately. The ones who came after her think she is dead, but
won't for long. Once they figure out she survived, they will come after her
again. Her school is the only safe place for her right now—ˮ

Her father and mother were both on their feet, but her dad
managed to speak first. "No one is going to take our daughter from
us."

His tone sounded like a threat, and his eyes flashed with
the hint of violence. Tess's mother responded in kind.

"Why would she be safe with you and not with us?"
her mother demanded. Her hand casually slipped to her back again, and wrapped
around the hilt of her gun.

"Mom—"

"No, Tess," she barked at her. "This is not
for you to decide. We are well trained to protect you, and will not hesitate to
eliminate any threat. Jack, we should go. Whatever is going on here we can
figure out once we get her to a safe house."

Kate drew her weapon and pointed it at Hawk. Tess leapt to
her feet at the same time Jack drew his weapon and also pointed the muzzle at
the surprisingly calm Hawk.

"You will have nothing to do with my daughter—or my
family," he growled. "And I never want to see you again. Is that
clear?"

"Dad!" her voice was a harsh whisper, and she
threw a nervous glance down the hallway.

"Not now, Tess," he said. His gaze didn't shift
from Hawk. "Is that clear?" he repeated.

"Jack, do you wish your daughter to be with you? Or
alive?" Hawk's words were quiet as he met Jack's unflinching expression.

"Both," her mother said fiercely. "Let's go,
Tess."

"But—"

"Now!" They barked in unison.

Tess stood frozen between the opposing forces. How could she
even begin to express that she agreed with Hawk? To say so out loud would
betray her parents, but at the same time not speaking might get them killed.

She turned to Hawk, hoping that he would solve it for her.
His expression was expectant as he met her gaze. With a start she realized that
Hawk was once again allowing her to choose for herself.

From the moment she'd met him, Hawk had been forthcoming in
every respect, and consistently prompted her to make choices on her own rather
than decide for her. For better or worse, he expected her to decide her own
fate.

"No," she said, turning to her parents. They
blinked at her, their eyes widening. Tess took advantage of their surprise.
"This isn't like anything you are used to—no matter what you did for a
living. The mages that destroyed our home have proven their willingness to kill
on numerous occasions. I have witnessed it, and I won't see you die because of
me."

"But Tess—"

She rounded her dad, afraid that if she stopped she wouldn't
be able to continue. "No, Dad. They can melt your guns into pools of
liquid metal, and snap your bones with a gesture. They are prepared to unlock
an army that was built to destroy all life on this planet—just to ensure they
are obeyed."

Her mom had lowered her gun, and her expression was wounded.
"Honey, we can protect you."

Tess cringed at the note of doubt in her voice, but forged
ahead. "You can't. I know you will do everything in your power . . . but
it won't matter. Everything you think you know, every tactic I assume you have
been trained for, will mean nothing when you come up against them again."

Her tone had gradually quieted, but her need to express the
truth only made it more intense.

"You will not survive, and I could not live with myself
if you died because of me. This is not something you can do right now, and I
need you to understand that." She raised her chin. "Hawk is right. I
need to go with him."

Her dad had lowered his gun, but his expression betrayed the
conflict he felt. Anger, worry, and fear battled for supremacy on his features.
Then he tightened his jaw and reined them in. His gaze flicked to Hawk, and he
ground a single word out.

"Why?"

"Because you are aurens—or
non-mages," Hawk said, his expression apologetic. "And the ones who
came after Tess want to make it seem like non-mages killed her. As long as she
is outside a mage city they will continue to come for her."

"Why can't we simply disappear?" Jack asked.

"There is nowhere to go," Hawk said. "They
could track you using technology you don't know about, and magic you have never
heard of. It will only be a matter of time before they find you—and when they do . . ."

He gestured at the ice figurine that Tess had made, and a
current of fire issued from his hand. In seconds the ice had melted into a pool
of steaming liquid.

Her dad locked eyes with Hawk, and the tension seemed to
mount. Finally her dad issued a furious grunt. Without taking his eyes from
Hawk, he asked, "Tess, does he speak the truth?"

"Yes," she said.

"And do you trust him?"

"With my life."

Her dad faced her, and there was a deep anguish in his eyes.
"Then I will concede—but only until the threat has passed. Are we agreed?"

Tess was torn by her father's agreement, and could see the
damage she'd done in his eyes. Then she recalled he worked for the CIA, and
wondered if this type of thing was normal for him.

"No!" her mom burst out. "There's no way I
will agree to this! How can he expect us to just let her go after what's
happened?"

"I don't think we have a choice," Jack said
wearily.

Kate tightened her jaw, but didn't argue. Tess could see the
defiance in her eyes, and it sent guilt blossoming within her.

"I'm sorry, Mom," Tess said. "I wish there
was another way."

Kate’s fierce gaze transferred to Tess. Then she wilted. "Me
too," she whispered.

"I promise to call every night," Tess said, and
threw Hawk a look expecting denial. Instead Hawk nodded.

"If you don't," her mother said, "I will find
you. I don't care where you are."

Tess thought of the secret mage city of Auroraq floating in
the sky. In the face of her mother's anger she was inclined to think that no
amount of magic would stop her.

Tess moved to embrace her. "I love you, Mom," she
whispered into her ear.

"I love you too, my daughter," she
whispered back.

They separated and Tess moved to hug her father. The embrace
was rough, as if her dad was unwilling to let her go. "Sorry about the
house," Tess said.

To her surprise he issued a tense laugh. "It's not the
first that your mother and I have left in ashes," he said. "And don't
worry. Anything truly valuable we keep elsewhere."

Tess grinned, but on the inside she felt only turmoil. Who
were her parents? The revelations in the last few hours had left her reeling.
As she contemplated them, her dad turned to Hawk.

"So what happens now?"

"I have one of my men outside. He will take you to a
safe place within the city. Then the two of you need to return to your normal
lives. For the time being he will stay with you to keep you safe."

"Is he a mage?" Jack asked.

"Of course," Hawk said. "And someone I trust.
He is a Rayth—a
soldier, like your country's Special Forces. I am confident that, given your
interrogation skills, you could get information out of him. That will be
unnecessary. I have instructed him to answer anything you ask—within
reason."

Her dad gave a small smile. Tess caught a wealth of insight
from his shift in expression. Anticipation at getting some answers, confidence
that he would know how to ask, and the steely determination necessary to break
someone were all evident in that single look.

Then Jack reached for his wife and drew her to his side.
Tess was struck by how normal they appeared, standing there hand in hand—and
how fragile. Would she see them again? Would the Harbingers go after them to get
to Tess? She shivered, and forcibly removed those thoughts.

"Be safe," her parents said.

"You too," Tess replied.

Their faces rigid with emotion, they stepped from the alcove
and disappeared from view. Tess waited a full minute before she rounded on
Hawk. "Who's going to protect them?" she demanded.

"Breaker," he replied.

Tess sighed in relief. In the previous term the talented
stone mage had been imprisoned by the Harbingers, manipulated into summoning
Hawk to a trap, and then watched Hawk blast the Harbinger base into oblivion.
Of anyone that Tess knew, he would be the most cautious and prepared. He was
also the father of her friend, Rox.

"Will they be safe?" Tess whispered.

"I can't promise they will," he replied quietly.
"But I can promise I will do my best to keep them so."

Tess blew out her breath and turned to him. "So where
to now? The next term at Tryton's doesn't start for another few days. Am I
supposed to just hide under a rock until it does?"

Hawk shook his head as his eyebrows knit together. "I
think it's time you learned more about what we do."

"Who's we?"

He led the way from the room, and once they were outside he
answered with a question. "Do you recall me saying that you weren't the
only one trying to prevent a war?"

"Of course."

"In light of recent events I think it's time you met
the others."

"Who?"

"The Guild of Light," he replied. "It was
founded by me, Commander Braon, your ancestor, Siarra Elseerian, and a few
others. It has endured time, wars, and countless attempts to destroy it. Its
purpose is to guard the peace, and prepare."

"Prepare for what?"

His gray eyes held her fast. "You."

Chapter 4: The Guild

Tess climbed into the air above the dark stand of trees. As
with every time she flew, her heart thumped with excitement. The moment was
dampened by her tumultuous emotions. She'd chosen a side contrary to her
parents—right after telling them they weren't her parents.

When they had departed the shop, Tess had felt a piece of
her heart tear free. She would have given anything to stay by their side.
Seeming to sense her mood, Hawk had remained silent as they walked to a darkened
stand of trees to leave the city. Hawk had shifted into his true form as Tess
hovered a few hundred feet up.

As she pondered the events of the last few hours, she was
struck by an odd sense of tumbling downhill. Four months ago she had been
steeling herself to take summer school. Then she'd learned she was a mage—and an oracle, gone to a
mage school floating in the sky, and fought a battle alongside rock trolls against
an evil from another age. Yet it didn't feel like the conflict was ending.
Instead she felt as if the world was rolling down a mountain, and picking up
speed toward a precipice.

She shivered as a chill breeze flowed past her. Then she
caught sight of a massive shape rising among the trees below, and a moment
later two great wings unfurled. The phoenix launched itself off the ground in a
whirlwind of sparks. Feathers of burnished gold, red, and orange were muted in
the dark. Still, the impression of raw power shimmered across the regal body.

At the end of the previous term—less than two weeks ago—Tess
had finally learned Hawk's true identity. He was Newhawk, the druid from ten
thousand years ago—and Reiquin, his joined one. They had fought in the Second
Draeken War alongside her ancestor, Siarra Elseerian. Two-thirds of the earth's
population had been slain in the single battle, but Draeken had ultimately been
defeated.

Follow me. Hawk's voice resounded in her head as he
led the way skyward, but he didn't say any more. For an hour they flew in
silence, rising higher and higher toward the north. The breeze carried a crisp
chill, contrasting with the drafts of warmth from Hawk. Faded white clouds
dotted their passage like giant cotton balls. Nothing broke the stillness, and
time passed slowly.

They had been flying toward a massive dark cloud for some
time. Huge and forbidding, it nevertheless bore no rain cascading beneath it.
Tess smiled as she recognized it for the city of Auroraq.

Come close to me, Hawk advised. Techno mages have
a field to stop unexpected visitors, but it is not designed to detect me.

Tess recalled how Iris had once mentioned something similar,
and swerved closer to Hawk. At that proximity she could feel the heat radiating
off the feathers, causing her to wonder how innate his magic was.

The cloud enveloped them in silence, and Tess felt as if
they had crossed an invisible barrier. A shield of intangible energy passed
over them, causing the hair on her neck and arms to stand on end. It was gone
before she could examine it. A few seconds later a stone cliff came into view.
Hawk banked his way upward and began to change shape. Shrinking and shifting,
he became a man just as he reached the wall that bordered the city.

He sailed over it and landed on the opposite side dressed as
before. Tess alighted next to him, impressed by how smooth his transition had
been. Her lips twitched as she realized he'd probably done it a thousand times.

It had only been three days since she'd left, but the city
felt different somehow, darker and shadowed. She hoped that was just her
perspective. The first time she'd arrived at Auroraq she'd come in a glass
sphere launched by a tornado. Soaring above the mage city she'd thought it
beautiful and full of light.

Shaped like the petals of a flower, four points extended
from a circular section known as Sentre. A towering structure pierced the sky
at the heart of the city. Boasting sixty-three floors, the Spirus contained the
Magtherian, and held most of the offices that governed the mage world.

Tryton's Academy of Magic filled Southpoint, and aside from Sentre,
was the only place she had been. This time Hawk had led her to the very tip of
Westpoint, so she examined the elegant residences with interest.

One home was built entirely of colored water, while the one
across from it was a multi-level house nestled in the branches of a giant tree.
Adjacent to it, another house was fashioned of white granite and quartz, but
the stone shifted into different shapes as they passed.

Lit by lamps hanging from purpose-grown trees, the street
would have felt warm and inviting under normal circumstances. Instead it left
Tess feeling like eyes were watching from every shadow. She sighed, knowing it
was impossible for the Harbingers to have tracked their path. Still, her
nervousness did not abate.

"May we speak as we walk?" he asked.

"About what?" Tess asked. She fell into step
beside him as he led her down a darkened street.

"The Second Draeken War," he replied. "There
is much we need to discuss."

She grunted. "Is this about how the Harbingers took the
Sword of Elseerian?"

"Yes."

"What are we going to do about it?"

"Before we discuss what to do, it is important for you
to understand what we face. For now, hold your questions until I finish the
tale."

There was a rumbling sigh, and then Hawk began,
"Roughly twenty-six thousand years ago, Draeken was born at the end of the
Age of Oracles. Although we did our best to learn of his upbringing, Siarra and
I discovered little about his life leading up to The First Draeken War. The
little we do know was that he was as gifted as an oracle, but troubled.

"By means that are unknown to me he opened a portal to
another realm, and began to create an army there. As it neared completion, he
set out in search of the generals who would prepare the way for his advance—and
lead his forces. Stealing powerful artifacts from throughout the world, he
further cursed them, and then used the items to subvert four individuals. Over
time these creatures become known as the four horsemen.

"The First Draeken War began with his invasion, but
ended early. Without explanation the entire fiend army disappeared. We credit a
hero named Lakonus for the feat, and it is believed that he managed to close
the portal, sealing the army back where they came from. It is widely accepted
that the victory cost him his life. Ten thousand years passed, and the war was
all but forgotten. Then the signs began to occur once more.

"Siarra warned the races to gather. She then set out
with another hero on a journey to slay Draeken. Forced to unite, the races of
the world defended their lives, and many thousands died . . .

The tone to Hawk's words had become bleak, and Tess
swallowed as she imagined witnessing the war. It seemed inconceivable that the
man beside her had been through such a conflict, and had lived to tell about
it. Then Hawk continued with a sigh.

"There are hundreds of stories I could tell about that
war, but only two are important at this time. Siarra's brother killed Draeken,
once again closing the portal. The fiends disappeared as they had before. Their
leader was gone . . . the army was not. It has been long rumored that the sword
used to slay Draeken, the Sword of Elseerian, can unlock the portal again after
ten thousand years."

Tess shook her head. "But when the portal was opened by
Ranson, only a few thousand fiends came out. You made it sound like Draeken's
apprentice, Ducalik, had killed them."

"Yes," he said. "But the question is . . . how?"

She shuddered. "You mean the Dark."

"In all the millennia of my life, I have never
witnessed such an evil," he said. "And it's imperative that we
understand the enemy we face. To that end I believe there are a few assumptions
we can make about the Dark.

"First," Hawk said. "Since the fiends and the
Dark both came through the portal, it would seem that they coexisted in the
other realm. It would further make sense that the Dark was the source of power
that created the fiends."

"I thought Draeken created them," Tess said.

"It was believed that he did," Hawk replied,
"but the nature of how he did was never discovered."

"Perhaps that's for the best," Tess replied.

Hawk conceded the point. Then he said, "The question
then is, why did the Dark not emerge during the two Draeken Wars?"

Tess looked at the homes they were passing, considering his
question. "Was Ducalik present in either conflict?" When Hawk shook
his head, Tess said, "Then it would seem the reason for the Dark's
expansion and Ducalik are related."

"That's the conclusion I came to," Hawk said.

"But if Draeken harnessed the Dark to create the fiends,
why didn't he use it before? He would have, wouldn't he?"

Hawk cocked his head to the side. "If he could,
yes, which implies . . ."

"That he couldn't control the Dark," Tess said.
Her chest had gone tight at the realization. "So Ducalik did—"

"What Draeken could not," Hawk murmured.

"So what do we do?" Tess asked. "Once the Harbingers
release Ducalik it will be too late. Ducalik himself said what would happen:
'The Dark will consume the planet'.'"

"Hope is not yet lost," Hawk said. "Our
advantage right now is time. My sources say that they will wait until the ten
thousand year anniversary before opening the portal once more. That gives us
until shortly after Christmas until they will enact their plan."

"That's it? Four months?" She felt a chill
unrelated to the wind as she said it. Again she had the odd feeling of the
world were tumbling toward a cliff. "So right at the first of the
year?"

"Mages don't count time like aurens," Hawk said.
"But the event will take place around the auren New Year, correct."

"But the Harbingers already have the Sword," she
said.

"Then it's imperative that we retrieve it before they
can use it. If we control the Sword, we stop the war. Failing that, closing the
portal will be our only option."

"Are you certain that the horsemen are dead? And
Draeken?"

"Yes—but I cannot say whether our foe will create more.
That is why you and I will fight this from two directions."

"I won't be searching for the Sword?"

"Leave that to me and the Guild. We will use every resource
to discover more about their plan, and find the Sword. You have other tasks,
ones that may prove far more important in time.

"In the last few months you have learned much, but
there remain magics to master. While you do that, your task will be to find
four items, relics that may tip the balance." He grunted in amusement and
annoyance. "Your roommate certainly has a penchant for finding
information."

Tess gave a sour laugh. If anyone could find things out, it
was Iris. Still, she wanted to fight—especially with how close the Harbingers
had come to killing her parents.

"So I'm supposed to go to class and do research?"
The sarcasm in her voice caused him to stop and face her.

"Do you feel it coming, Tess?"

She thought of her sense that the world tumbling was downhill.
Her lips tightened into a thin line. "Of course. That's why I want to
fight."

"I have no doubt you will get your chance," he
replied. "But I need you to think. At every turn the Harbingers have been
ahead of us. They have infiltrated the Magtherian, auren governments, and civic
organizations. They have killed hundreds that have defied them—and then covered it up. In
spite of our best efforts we have been unable to ascertain their reasons for
doing so—or exactly who is part of their organization. Rest assured we will do
everything in our power to retrieve the Sword before it can release Ducalik—or
the Dark. But . . . what happens if we fail?"

"We will have to fight them," Tess said.

"And?" Hawk prompted.

"We must be ready for that," Tess said. Her
eyebrows knit together.

"When a battle looms, you gather your forces," he
said, "and prepare your leaders." He stared at her meaningfully.

"You mean I need to be ready," she said,
and then sighed. "But what are these relics I need to find? And what do
they have to do with any of this?"

"I don't know," he said. "I just know that you
will need them."

Tess frowned in confusion. "I don't understand."

He pulled into a shadowed alcove between two trees and
touched a rune on his cloak. Utter silence blanketed the area. The rustle of
leaves, the sound of birds, all was gone in an instant.

"What did you do?" Tess asked. Her voice sounded
overly loud without the ambient noise.

"It's a muffling spell," Hawk said. "After
recent events I thought it was prudent we speak without the chance of prying
ears."

"Is this information that important?"

"It is," Hawk said.

The shadows lit his features in an odd pattern, making his
words seem even more serious. Tess swallowed and nodded. "Tell me."

"Siarra's mother, Ianna, prophesied of you. What I
share now represents the entirety of my knowledge regarding your role. Anything
else I know is based on assumptions that Siarra and I put together."

"Why would this be so important?" Curiosity burned
in her voice.

"Because it gives us clues as to what you must
do," he said.

She nodded in the shadows. "Let's hear it."

Hawk's voice took on the ring of solemnity. "In an
age of suspicion and corruption the fiends will be released once more. Marking
the end of our line a young woman will be born. At her touch magic will be
unbound, and be known again as truth. She is the only one who can ultimately
defeat the darkness . . . and unify the world. She will be . . . The Last
Oracle.”

Tess felt an icy wind curve around her torso as her heritage
was mentioned, but Hawk was not finished.

"In truth I know little of her time. It is far in
the future, too distant for more than glimpses—but I have foreseen that she
will need help from us. Four talismans she will require. The Crest of the
Oracle is the first, the thief will steal the second, and the troll king will
bear the third. The fourth she will have to find on her own, for I know not its
location."

Hawk fell silent and Tess didn't respond. Such a small
statement, and yet there was a wealth of information in it—and the weight of
responsibility. "So Ianna knew about the Dark?" she asked first.

Hawk hesitated, and then said, "Perhaps. I must admit I
never considered that when Ianna mentioned the darkness she was speaking
literally."

Tess avoided the part about her destiny, for now. She had
heard the gist of it from Hawk before. Instead she turned to the second half,
the part about the help Tess would need. "Four items I will require?"
she quoted. "That's not much to go on."

"I know," Hawk said. "Siarra and I spent
years trying to figure out what they were. I will send you a message with the
little we put together, but I don't know if it will help. We came to believe
that only you would be able to puzzle out the answers."

He frowned, and then added, "For now you should focus
on the first, the Crest of the Oracle. Siarra was very specific in that regard.
The other items will be easier to find if you gain the Crest and unlock it
first."

Tess released a long sigh. The subtle reminder of her
calling, along with the specific assignment, had eased her inclination to
fight. "I will do as you ask."

"Good, then it's time you met the Guild," Hawk
said, and released the muffling spell.

The ambient sounds burst across her ears as they stepped
from the tree's shadow. A moment later he turned down a side street of crushed
white stones that led between two houses. The one on the left looked abandoned,
and was by far the worst on the street. Bordered by the empty house on one
side, and a high hedge on the other, the path led to the backyard of the home.

A hedge circled a small garden in one corner, and wrapped
around a towering oak. Hawk stepped through the only gate and strode to the
back of the tree. Then he summoned fire to wreath his hand and placed it
against the trunk. There was a groaning of wood in response, and then the roots
began to move.

Rising and twisting, the roots of the tree lifted out of the
ground to form an arched opening. A set of stairs descended into darkness
beneath it. Hawk gestured for her to go first, and when she did, he followed.
Of her own accord she lit a ball of flame as the roots ground to a close behind
them, plunging them into darkness.

Tess glanced at Hawk, but he motioned her forward. The
staircase was a spiral of old gray stone, giving the feel of a castle's turret.
She touched the wall at one point and found it to be clean, but weathered with
age. After a few more rotations the stairs came to an end facing a wide, ironbound
door.

Light spilled from the opening onto the stairs, and Tess
stepped through into a large, castle-like hall. Illuminated by a quartet of
massive iron chandeliers, the hall boasted a roaring fire and countless tables
and chairs, several of which were occupied. Spotting her, a girl bounded to her
feet and closed the distance in a rush.

"Tess!" Iris exclaimed as she enveloped her in a
crushing hug. "I'm so glad you made it—and look, there is someone you
should meet—"

"Iris," Hawk interrupted. His tone held a warning
that Iris ignored.

"—Your mother!" Iris said.

Chapter 5: Mother

Time froze as Tess watched a short, striking woman rise from
a chair by the fire. Her hair was blonde, contrasting with Tess's brown, but her
features were unmistakably similar, and sharply beautiful. Dressed in a rather
simple, light colored dress, the woman shifted self-consciously, betraying her
nervousness.

"Is it true?" Tess asked haltingly.

The woman swallowed as several emotions passed over her
face. Then she nodded. "Yes, although only by blood, not by deed."

Tess was vaguely aware of Hawk chastising Iris for blurting
out information that she wasn't supposed to know, and Iris ignoring him as she
talked into thin air. Others in the room had gone quiet. In her peripheral
vision Tess searched their faces, but did not recognize any of them.

All these thoughts flittered through her mind as she stared
at her birth mother. What was she supposed to think? What was she supposed to
do? The moment had been thrust upon her like a sledge hammer to her chest, and
she couldn't seem to gather a conscious thought to speak.

"I know this is . . . sudden," her mother said,
worry beginning to crease her eyebrows at Tess's silence.

Tess opened her mouth to respond, but no words came out. Was
she even breathing? She couldn't be sure. It felt like everything in her mind
had frozen in shock, rigid with disbelief. As if from a distance, Hawk stepped
between them.

"Alice, Tess, come with me. Iris, you stay here. You
can talk to Tess later." He then gestured to Tess and led her down a hall.
Alice followed behind them.

Although she knew them to be underground, the corridors
still felt like a castle. Torches were bracketed in the walls, their flames
white and smokeless. On either side ensconced doors were closed, their wood
equally as old and faded as the stone around them. After descending another set
of stairs, Tess quickly became aware that the subterranean building was larger
than she had anticipated.

Hawk came to a halt and opened an ironbound door which led
to a small receiving chamber. A white fire burned in the hearth, warm and
bright. A trio of paintings graced the other three walls, but their surfaces
did not move, revealing their age. Most of the paintings in the mage world had
been enchanted to include a memory.

Tess sank into one of the four high-backed chairs that were
in the room. Once Alice had also sat, Hawk said, "Tess, I'm sorry for how
you were told about Alice. I intended on preparing you tonight to meet her
tomorrow. I don't know how Iris found out."

"It's Iris," Tess said, as if that explained
everything.

Hawk grunted, but didn't disagree. The glint in his eye
betrayed how furious he was. It should have been a consolation, but it wasn't.

"She's been through a lot in the last few hours,"
Hawk said to Alice, "but be honest with her. She deserves the truth."

Alice nodded, and then Hawk departed, leaving them alone.
Tess stared into the fire, unable to meet her gaze. After a moment of silence
Alice said, "I'm sorry you found out like—"

"Why did you give me up?" Tess blurted, and then
regretted it. And where did the anger come from? She had given zero thought to her
real parents since she’d been told she had them. If anything she'd denied the
truth to the point of forgetting it. A frown spread on her face. Realizing her
expression could be misconstrued, she let out a breath and smoothed her
features.

"It's a long story," Alice said.

Tess leaned back into her chair and gestured to her.

Alice gave a small smile and turned her gaze to the fire.
"When I first met your father he was handsome, charismatic, and extremely
popular. He flew for the Tryton's Tempest team, and dominated the league when
he was captain. Within two years of graduating we were married, and I got
pregnant soon after. Three months later I discovered that he wasn't alone when
he worked late.

"I assumed, as any wife would, that it was another
woman, but when I followed him it was far worse. My husband—your father—was a Harbinger.
Rumored to exist, the group had been plotting to take over the auren world for
some time. From what I overheard that night they had begun to succeed.

"Once I understood what my husband was involved with I
fled to our home, and for five months lived in terror that he would find out
that I knew. I considered leaving, but I had nowhere to go. In that time he
sensed me pulling away, and sought to know why. Two weeks before you were due
to be born I couldn't stand it any longer, and I confronted him.”

Alice shuddered, and passed a hand over her face before she
could continue. "I had never seen him so angry, and I feared for my life.
He said the Harbingers were going to ensure that mages lived the way they
should. He said mages were destined to rule the aurens. I screamed that I would
leave him . . . and he went quiet.

"He stared at me as if he were afraid, as if my words had
hurt him. I knew then that he had a design for our daughter. I demanded the
truth, and he shared it. From his own father he'd learned that he was a direct
descendent of Siarra Elseerian, and that he believed you were going to be the
oracle of prophecy. I pretended to be mollified, but inside I was sickened. His
expression was dark with anticipation, and I had no doubt that his intentions
were for you to join him. I pretended to listen, but inside I was terrified.

"The moment he left the house I ran—but your father had
told his friends to watch me, and so they followed. Fortunately for me Hawk had
been tracking my husband for some time, and saw me leave. He helped me to
escape, and advised me to raise you in hiding. I disagreed. I wanted to
confront my husband again, and force him to see the truth. I left you with Hawk
and went back to convince your father to escape with me."

"Why?" Tess asked. She'd gotten lost in the story,
but couldn't imagine why she would go back.

"Because I loved him," Alice replied. The fire
reflected in her eyes as she said it. "And I hoped I could persuade him to
forsake the Harbingers." Her eyes hardened. "He turned me over to his
friends . . . who stripped me of my magic."

"They can do that?" Tess asked. Her eyes widened
at the thought. She couldn't imagine going back to walking now that she could
fly, or seeing nothing after everything she saw with her mage sight. On impulse
she blinked into her mage sight and scanned Alice. None of the colors she'd
learned to associate with magic were present.

Alice bobbed her head once. "It's the most severe
punishment of our people, and reserved for killers, rapists, or child abusers.
Your magic is taken, and then you are cast down to the auren world. After that
you are watched, and if you commit similar crimes you are executed. It doesn't
happen often. There are only a handful of mages with the power to take magic
like that, and one of them is a Harbinger."

Tess fell silent at that information, and stared into the
fireplace. Hawk had been insistent that the mage world was the way everything
was supposed to be, and Tess believed him. They had never talked about how
mages dealt with justice, though.

After a few moments Alice resumed her story. "After
they took my magic they left me somewhere in Florida. Within days Hawk arrived
and helped me find a likely family for you. Their own daughter died soon after
birth, so your replacement was deemed a minor miracle. We both knew that if I
raised you the Harbingers would know. They never stopped tracking me, and I
worried for your safety. Afterword Hawk brought me here, and I have been
helping the Guild ever since."

Tess looked to her. "Why didn't you ever come to find
me? I am sure you could have if you wanted to."

Alice sighed and looked away. "To be honest I was
afraid to—for myself as well as the threat of giving you away. Hawk kept tabs
on you, and so I knew that your adoptive parents were doing well. And when you
came to Tryton's I wanted to let you get settled before I confused you with my
presence. I'm sorry that I am doing it anyway—but you should know that I am
proud of you. I never imagined how powerful you would become, and there is so
much I believe you could accomplish."

Tess wanted to believe her, and to embrace this woman as
part of her family, but she couldn't get her body to respond so readily. She
compromised by nodding slowly. "I . . . understand your story, Alice . . .
but I need to think. Until five minutes ago I didn't even know that you were
alive."

Alice visibly withdrew at her comment, but nodded. "We
can meet here after breakfast. Your room is up the stairs and four down on the
right. I believe you are sharing it with your roommate from Tryton's."

"I'll see you tomorrow, then," Tess said, and rose
to her feet. In three quick steps she was out the door and leaning against the
wall.

How was she supposed to deal with this? She had a family,
and very good one. She had no doubt that her parents loved and supported her.
Now this woman had exploded into her life with the force of a bomb. What did
she want? How would her own parents react when they found out that Tess had met
her?

She felt a sudden yearning to talk to her mom, to ask her advice.
On impulse she rushed up the stairs and down the hall to the door Alice had
indicated. No one answered her knock, but Tess could faintly discern someone
arguing inside. Relieved to hear Iris, Tess opened the door and stepped in.

The chamber was small and homey, and contained another white
fire glowing in the hearth. The room held two pairs of bunk beds, and had the
feel of a ski loft. Iris sat on the floor by the fire, talking into thin air.

Dressed in black jeans, a blue, button-up top, and her customary
leather jacket, Iris's clothing was stylish and well-fitted—and veined with
faint purple lines. Although Tess had never asked her, she was fairly certain
that Iris's clothing helped focus her magic. Even her hair had purple in it,
and the color was vibrant against the black.

"Iris," Tess breathed, and moved to sit next to
her.

"Hang on, guys," Iris exclaimed toward the fire,
her eyes glazed over. "No Wanda, you can't connect the urtian with the
sound infused resatone. If you don't believe me try it—and enjoy it blowing up
in your face."

Tess grinned and felt like she was home. Iris was a techno
mage, a powerful one. Like all of the mages that bore her ability she was
constantly distracted by the endless stream of information. On numerous
occasions Tess had gotten the impression Iris was watching YouTube or playing
video games—without so much as a Smartphone. Still, the girl had saved Tess's
life, and had been an enormous asset during the last term.

"Hey Tess," Iris said, but her eyes kept flicking
to the side, as if there were other things she wanted to do. Abruptly she burst
into a laugh and then reached under the bed next to her. "I almost
forgot," she said, "I wanted to show you something I have been
working on."

What she pulled out resembled a beanie, but it had what
looked like a threaded purple tail out the back. The material of the hat was
ink black, and bore a distinctive purple swirl down the side.

Iris sighed as she put it on, and for the first time looked
fully at Tess. "I've been working on this for years, but still can't make
it function the way I want."

"What is it?" Tess asked. She was slightly
disconcerted by the full attention from Iris.

"The hat is anti-magic, and I got it from a friend of
mine in the unknowable school. The threads on the back break the hat's
shielding, and allow me to choose when I want to connect to the nets. It's not
perfect yet, but it helps me have a conversation without distractions." A
frown creased her features. "It also dampens my magic—but sometimes that's a good
thing, right? So what's up?"

Tess grinned in relief. She desperately needed someone to
talk to, but abruptly decided that it couldn't be Kate. She couldn't imagine
saying, Hey Mom, I'm sorry I told you that you aren't my real mother, but hey,
I just met my real mother. Even in her mind it sounded like a slap in the
face.

"I need to talk about Alice," Tess said.

Iris nodded. "What do you want to know?"

"Can you keep a secret?" Tess asked.

Iris frowned. "When I need to, although I don't like
to."

"From here on out anything we talk about stays between
us," Tess said. As an afterthought, she added, "Or Rox and
Derek."

They were her other good friends at Tryton's. One was Iris's
brother, the other was a water mage that had proved her trust.

"Do you want me to call them?" Iris asked.
"They are at the Guild now."

Tess hesitated, but felt a flash of gratitude that Iris had
not already done so. In the past Iris had demonstrated a willingness to act
before asking. She had even gone so far as cancel a class, just so Rox could
meet up with them. Granted it had been important, but this time Tess decided
against it.

"It's late," Tess said, "Let them
sleep."

Iris stabbed a finger at Tess. "Does this have to do
with Hawk's conversation with you outside the Guild?"

Startled, Tess laughed in chagrin. Of course Iris had seen
it. She hesitated as her uncertain parentage assailed her, and then jerked her
head in the negative. Perhaps she wasn't ready to talk about Alice. She needed
to figure out her own feelings first. She relented with a sigh.

"Maybe we should talk about Alice later," Tess
said. "And speaking of Hawk, there is something else we need to figure
out."

"So then what's the secret?" Iris asked. Her eyes
sparkled with interest.

"Hawk wants me to find four objects. Apparently they
are supposed to help us." She shared what Hawk had said regarding the
artifacts, and then added his suggestion to focus on the Oracle's Crest first.

Iris's eyes widened in surprise, and Tess felt a flash of
triumph. It was probably the first time she had succeeded in telling her
something she didn't already know.

"That's it?" Iris asked.

All the suppressed anger, helplessness, and confusion boiled
over in an instant, causing Tess to snap.

"I just watched my house blow up—told my parents what I
am—and that they weren't my parents—and then told them I had to leave. After
all of that, I find out my mother is alive and my dad is a Harbinger. What do
you mean, that's it?"

"Feel better?" Iris asked, unfazed by the heat in
Tess's tone.

Tess issued a bark of laughter at the absurdity of
everything that had occurred in a single day. Iris just stared at her with a
quizzical expression. Then Tess sighed. "Let's just get started."

"What exactly do you want to know?" Iris said, and
the purple line in her clothing flickered.

"Everything," Tess said. "But let's start
with the records at school. Let's figure out of if there is any connection to
Crest there. Do you think you can get to them?"

Iris laughed.

"Oh, and Iris?" Tess asked. Iris's expression
momentarily cleared. "If you find anything about my birth parents in
there, let me know, would you?"

For once serious, Iris nodded.

"I'll get started now," she said.

Tess sighed, "Thanks Iris—but
don't hack any secure files just yet, alright?"

Iris shrugged apologetically. "Too late."

Chapter 6: Guarded

Jack felt a numbing rage as he left the ice-cream shop. He
kept his hand intertwined with Kate’s. Despite all his training in weapons,
tactics, and human behavior, her touch kept him grounded more than anything
else. The moment they stepped into the night, a man moved to join them.

"I'm Breaker. Come with me," he grunted, and then
gestured for them to follow him.

As he silently fell into step behind the man, Jack's mind went
into motion. First, he examined the interchange with their guide. The man was
short and stocky, and bore an odd tattoo of a brown knot near his right
shoulder. He did not move with grace, but rather with a halting step, as if he
preferred another means of travel. The movement was in direct contrast to his
eyes, which displayed wariness and caution. Directed outward, they were
constantly scanning for possible threats. The evidence that the man had
military training was unmistakable, yet Jack couldn't discern a pattern that
would reveal where.

He analyzed the previous conversation next, and sifted
through Hawk's and Tess's faces for manipulation or deceit. As before, he saw
no hint of guile or deception in either one of them. There was no sign of
psychological manipulation of any kind. A slight frown creased his features,
but his mind was satisfied so he moved on to the real issue.

His daughter was a mage—and perhaps not his daughter at all.
So far, she had displayed an ability over heat, water, and telekinesis, but
Hawk had implied that she could do a great deal more. During the contact with
the hooded assailants Jack had witnessed men control fire and earth. To his
recollection he had seen no conventional weaponry of any kind.

Despite that, their tactics had revealed a great deal. They
had breached the house simultaneously from two sides, indicating superior
training and communication. They had entered with the obvious intent to harm
and damage, which suggested a chilling familiarity with violence. Last, they
had withdrawn upon encountering resistance, and subsequently sought to destroy
the house. It was obvious they had meant to kill Kate and him as well, not just
Tess.

His lips tightened, but he suppressed his burst of anger. At
this stage the emotion would not be helpful. Instead he reviewed the conflict a
second time, and realized that despite their obvious power, conventional
weapons had hurt them. He had no way of knowing if they had been killed, but he
could clearly recall the spray of blood as his rounds had struck their targets.

Filing away the information he'd gleaned, he turned his
focus on their guide. "Where are you taking us?" he asked.

"To an apartment near where you work." Breaker’s
voice was gruff as he replied, and he kept his attention on the dark street.

"How do you know where I work?" Jack asked.

Breaker didn't smile. "Because Hawk has been watching
Tess since she was born. Get in."

He gestured to an older car and withdrew a key from his
pocket. Unlocking the vehicle, he slid inside and started the ignition. Jack
took the passenger seat while Kate slid into the back. The moment they were
inside Jack sought to engage him in conversation.

"Hawk said you're in the military?"

"Yes."

"What specialty?"

"Suppression."

"Suppression of what?"

"Conflicts."

"Why aren't we using an invisible flying car? Or don't
you use them?"

"No."

The answers were too curt for Jack to read into. He couldn't
tell if it was Breaker's training that caused him to answer that way, or his
personality. In spite of Breaker’s reluctance to speak, Jack had noticed two
additional things from the interchange. First, he suspected that Breaker had
been ordered to answer, probably by Hawk, and second, humor had no effect on
him. Switching tactics, Jack tried a more direct approach.

"Will you answer everything I ask?"

Breaker's lips tightened. "Yes."

Kate jumped into the conversation. "Where is Hawk
taking Tess?"

"Tryton's."

"And where is that?" Kate asked.

"It varies."

Kate flushed in anger, but Jack glanced back and she bit
back an angry retort. "Breaker," Jack said. "Please keep in mind
that everything we know has been upended in a matter of hours, and we aren't
the type to go to sleep until we understand the situation. Our daughter is not
who we thought, and she is gone without the ability to help us understand,
which leaves us with you. Also, if you don't stop being so vague, I'm fairly
certain my wife will put a bullet into your brain. She will not think twice
about finding out on her own, I assure you."

He allowed just a fraction of the strain he felt to seep
into his voice, just enough for Breaker to feel a sense of empathy. Then there
was a loud click as Kate racked the slide of her pistol, chambering a round
into the gun and adding a note of agreement to Jack's statement.

Breaker looked into the rearview mirror, his gaze as hard as
stone. Jack had no doubt who would win. Kate had always had an uncanny ability
to show her unyielding spirit in a single look. After a moment of tense silence
Breaker grunted an ascent and began to speak, his eyes returning to the road.

"Tess is going to Tryton's Academy of Magic, which is
located in the mage city of Auroraq. As the capitol of our world, Auroraq
floats at twenty thousand feet and is in constant motion over North
America."

Jack struggled to digest that information. Then he asked,
"Will she be safe there?"

"As safe as is possible," Breaker said. "But
right now the Harbingers control much of our government. We don't believe they
will harm her there. If they did, it would be counterproductive to their
aims."

Worry for his daughter dumped into Jack’s veins, and he
paused to gain control of it. The dark streets of Richmond slid by as he looked
out the window. None of his extensive training had ever taught him how to
handle such a shift in reality.

"Aren't you afraid I will pass all this information to
my agency?" Jack finally asked.

Breaker glanced at him, his eyes appraising. "No."

"Why not?" Kate asked.

"Because they would want to know the source of the
information, and I don't think you are ready to turn your daughter over to
them."

Breaker had them, and his raised eyebrow showed that he knew
it. Jack settled into his seat and fell silent. He had no intention of
revealing his knowledge to the CIA, but that left him with a different
question. What was he going to do?  He couldn't just return to working his
active case files like nothing had occurred.

He issued a grunt of irritation. The agency would know that
his house had been destroyed, and would no doubt want an explanation for how he
had survived, not to mention who had done it.

"What am I supposed to tell my superiors about my
home?"

"One of our people altered your address within the
agency database," he replied. "They will hear about a gas leak that
ruptured in the suburbs, but will not connect it back to you. To my
understanding you have never had someone from your work visit your home?"

Jack shook his head, and he looked back at Kate. Both were
stunned at the tactic. It was plausible, and would no doubt be successful.
Still, it suggested that someone within the agency worked directly with Hawk.
The word traitor came to mind, but for some reason it didn't linger. In
just the last few minutes Jack had come to believe that the mages—or at least
this group—held interests similar to the American government.

Throughout the conversation a part of Jack's mind had
tracked their route through the city, and true to Breaker's word they came to a
stop next to an apartment building around the corner from Jack's office.

They disembarked and Breaker led them through a back
entrance and up a flight of stairs. He stepped into a shadowed alcove that
appeared like any other section of wall and withdrew a rusted bolt from the surface.
In his hands the bolt morphed into a key. Then he led them up the back stairs
to the highest apartment. Reaching the top, Breaker flicked the key into the
hole and touched the door. There was a click, and then the door swung
open to reveal a surprisingly spacious apartment.

He stepped in, but waited until the others had followed
before flicking on the light. Then he closed the door behind them. Without a
word he strode to the kitchen and pulled an amber bottle from the fridge. Grabbing
three glasses, he stepped into the living room and placed them on the table. Sinking
onto the couch, he poured a drink for each of them and took one for himself.

"We don't drink," Kate said.

"Neither do most of us," Breaker said, and took a
swig. Noticing their hesitation, he added, "It doesn't have alcohol, if
that's what you're worried about."

Jack shrugged at Kate, and then picked up the glass. He
hesitated, and then took a sip. The liquid was rich and thick, almost the texture
of an ice-cream shake, and it changed flavor as he swallowed. Starting out with
an unidentifiable fruit, it quickly altered into a tangy, almost
strawberry-like taste, and then shifted to a lingering sweetness. In seconds it
rejuvenated Jack from the weariness he'd pointedly ignored for the last hour.

Resisting the urge to fill his glass a second time, he
placed it on the table. The glass hitting the wood sounded loud in his ears as
he settled into a seat. He stared at Breaker for a full minute while he
considered which of the thousand questions he should start with. Since Kate had
already asked the most important, he settled on the second most.

"What can we do to help our daughter?"

Breaker's grizzled face almost split into a smile. Almost.
"Our government, the Magtherian, has always hovered in the background of
auren affairs," he said. "To that end we have strategically placed
technology mages throughout the governments of earth. Their primary role is to
maintain the secrecy of our people.

"Hawk takes that a step further. We have a few of our
own techno mages placed where they can help prevent conflicts, and maintain the
peace."

"What are techno mages?" Jack pounced on the term
at the same time Kate spoke.

"So you work for the mages? Or Hawk?"

"To be honest, both," Breaker said, addressing
Kate's question first, "but the mage government does not know that."
He shifted to Jack. "Technology mages can manipulate any live signal, such
as phone, internet, radio, satellite, etc. They can also craft their own, and
can manipulate various items using a diminished form of electricity."

Jack's eyes widened as he realized the implication of that
one statement. Every form of communication, especially encrypted, could
theoretically be hacked in seconds—without a computer. He felt a chill course
down his spine. All the security that he relied on within his profession could
be stripped away with barely a thought. Breaker must have read his thoughts in
his expression.

"Don't start thinking that mages are unstoppable,"
Breaker said with a grunt. "Mages vary in skill as much as aurens do.
There are only a handful in the world that can crack your agency’s computer
network. There are plenty more that spend their time playing online
games."

His statement helped assuage Jack's concerns, but not by
much. "Do you have a techno mage in your family?" he asked.

Breaker growled. "Hawk may be willing to risk
everything on your trust, but I am not. Don't ask about my family."

Jack frowned, but nodded. If anything, the warning sounded
like a father protecting his children. Sidestepping the conversation, he swept
his hand to Breaker, "So what can I do if you have people within the my agency?"

Breaker regarded him for a long moment, and Jack felt like
he was seeing him for the first time. Then he shrugged and released a rough
breath. "The Harbingers that came for Tess have infiltrated nearly every
level of the Magtherian, and we still do not know the extent to which they have
control. Limiting their influence would be invaluable."

"You want him to spy on your people?"
Kate's eyes flashed. "Right after you tell us they can control the digital
sphere. They will kill him if they find out."

"I won't say it's not dangerous," Breaker said.

"What about me?" Kate asked, and flashed a
challenging look at Jack. "Don't think I am going to go back to teaching
if our daughter is in trouble."

Breaker issued a gruff laugh. "Even if she isn't of
your blood, she certainly has your grit."

Jack caught Kate's arm, but addressed Breaker. "We'll
talk more in the morning. Nothing needs to be decided right now."

Kate seemed about to protest, but a warning look kept her
silent. Breaker drained his glass and pointed down the hall. "Take the
largest bedroom at the end." With that he rose and strode from the room.

Kate rounded on Jack, but he motioned her to silence. Rising
to his feet he led her to the room Breaker had indicated. Once inside he closed
the door and turned to his wife.

"Are you sure you want to do this?"

Kate's features were as hard as he had ever seen. "If
our daughter needs help, we help her."

Staring into her unflinching gaze Jack knew there would be
no convincing her. Sighing in exasperation, he relented. "What do you
suggest?"

"Let's start with you getting into the Mage
Investigation Office. We can figure out where I can go from there."

Pride in his wife warred with his rising worry for her
safety. It seemed inconceivable that his family could emerge unscathed from
what he suspected was coming. "Fine," he said quietly. "What are
you going to do until I find you a way in?"

"Train," Kate said, her eyebrows pulling together.
"Magic or not, I'm not going to let my daughter be taken away from me. I'm
confident Breaker can help me prepare to fight his kind."

Jack did not envy Breaker. "I will do what I can,"
Jack whispered.

Abruptly she hugged him. The tightness of the embrace caused
a well of emotion to tighten in Jack's throat.

"I'm afraid too," he murmured.

And he was. He already knew the exact place where Kate would
fit best. He'd seen a message on his desk just a couple of days ago from the
MIO. It was putting together a task force, one that would need someone with
Kate's skill set. But did he really want to tell her? He knew without asking
that she would leap at the opportunity—but
he also knew it would put her in harm's way.

And likely get her killed.

Chapter 7: Reunion

Tess and Iris didn't make it very far. Between the late hour
and the day's events, Tess succumbed to sleep soon after Iris had delved into Tryton's
files. She awoke stiff and on the floor. Rubbing her eyes, she groaned and sat
up.

"Iris?" she asked, but her friend was asleep as
well. She jerked awake as her name was called.

"Stivering sandiborts!" she blurted and lurched to
a sitting position. Her purple-streaked hair was in wild disarray as she stared
at Tess.

"What does that mean?" Tess asked as her yawn
turned into a laugh.

"What does what mean?" Iris stretched.
"Shower? Or breakfast first?"

"Shower," Tess said after a moment’s thought. She
hoped it would ease the soreness from her body.

Iris jerked as if she had been slapped, and her eyes
narrowed at the wall. Then she began a prolific chewing out of someone for
waking her. Tess grinned and assumed that meant she got the first shower.

She was about to ask where to find one, but held her tongue
when she noticed a small side door. She climbed to her feet and strode to it.
To her surprise, it led to a private bathroom. She blinked at the amenity, and
fleetingly wondered how the underground castle had been built.

Then she realized that she had no clothes. Nearly everything
she owned was in ashes with her house. She turned to Iris, interrupting her.

"Mind if I borrow some things?" she asked.

Iris waved a hand at the pile of clothes next to her bed.
Tess flashed a grateful smile and selected a pair of jeans and a shirt. Then
she released an explosive breath. First order of business was to restock her
closet.

The surge of sadness at the loss of her home was unexpected.
She reminded herself that they had survived, and that was what mattered.
Suppressing her guilt, she stepped into the steaming water. For a long time she
let the heat strike her, willing it to wash away her fatigue and confusion.
Long after she was clean she reluctantly stepped out. Shivering at the
temperature, she got dressed in the unfamiliar clothing.

"Your turn, Iris," she said as she entered the
room.

"Took you long enough," Iris said and skipped into
the bathroom. Tess waited for her to finish and then they both went in search
of food. As they stepped into the hall Tess was once again struck by how
ancient the corridor felt.

The stone floor had been worn smooth by centuries of passing
feet, and the walls were grey with age. Wrought iron brackets held the white
flame torches, and were shaped in elegant arches that spoke of another time.
The doors they passed matched the hallway, their wood wrapped with burnished
metal and thick studs.

"Where did this place come from?" Tess asked.

Iris cut off her conversation with Keisha to answer.
"I'm not sure," she said. The annoyance in her voice caused Tess to
grin.

"Haven't cracked the Guild archives yet?"

"I can't even find them," Iris growled.

Tess frowned at that. Iris had never responded that she'd
found a barrier. "Hawk might not want his information found," Tess
said.

Iris fell into incoherent bursts of angry comments, and Tess
didn't interrupt. Five minutes later they were entering the meal hall, a
vaulted, cavernous space with enormous windows dominating the walls. The view
out one side was of a sloped hill descending to a river. Fishing boats cruised
on its surface while men cast their nets.

The opposite side looked down onto the castle courtyard.
Sentries strolled on the battlements while a man worked with a horse below.
Above the courtyard the blue sky stretched away, broken by lonely clouds.

The view was distinctly medieval, as if someone's memory of
the hall had been enchanted into the windows before the castle was buried. Tess
was struck with the same question, where had the Guildhall come from?

A handful of people sat at the various tables. Engrossed in
their quiet conversation, few noticed Tess and Iris as they moved to collect
their food. Tess joined them and scanned the group to see if Alice was among
them. She wasn't.  Tess wasn't sure if she was relieved or not. She did hope
there would be another chance to talk to her. Countless questions floated
through her mind as she followed Iris to the large, steaming cauldrons.

Built with a slit in both sides, the cooking cauldrons
resembled the ones at Tryton's, only much older. Tess gathered several cubes
and balls of distilled food onto a plate. Placing it into the slit, she sent it
through. A blast of steam burst out of the top and a moment later her plate
clattered out the opposite side. Now full of eggs, toast, bacon, and cereal, it
looked and smelled delicious.

Iris argued into thin air as they strode to an enormous oak
table and sat. From her comments it sounded like she was trying to get
information from someone. Famished, Tess ate in earnest, but stopped when she
heard a pair of voices call her name.

"Tess!" Derek and Rox yelled in unison. Stepping
through the room, they hurried to join their table. Tess rose to embrace them.

"Glad you made it," Derek said. "Give us a
moment and we'll join you." They collected their own breakfast and
returned. Then they plopped into seats across from Tess and dug in.

"I heard what happened at your house," Rox said.

Tess's lips thinned at the memory and she nodded. "Iris
warned me in time."

Iris didn't appear to notice the comment, but Derek flashed
an appreciative grin toward her. Derek was Iris's brother, and a talented stone
mage. His hair was brown and unruly, but fit him well. His eyes were equally as
brown, and were typically bright with humor. His smile bore a hint of mischief,
and was his best feature.

Rox was different in many ways. With shining red hair Rox
was stunningly beautiful, yet never seemed to be aware of it. Confident to a
fault, she had been Tess’s friend since their first water class together. She
had also taught Tess how to surf—by enchanting the water into a board.

Tess continued sourly, "They didn't leave much
behind."

Rox blinked and looked her up and down. "Are you
wearing Iris's clothes?"

"Not much choice."

"Then we have to go shopping. Her clothes don't really
work for you." The disapproval in her voice caused Tess to smile.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Iris demanded.

Rox laughed. "It means purple is more your color,
Iris."

Iris's scowl eased and she turned away, muttering under her
breath. Her eyes glazed as she started talking to one of the students she
tutored. From her words it sounded like the girl was in India.

Tess turned to Rox, "When did you get here?"

"Last night after Iris," Rox replied. "Derek
spotted me in the hall and said you guys were probably eating." She
grinned. "Glad to see Iris is back to normal."

Derek laughed. "It's Iris." Then his brow furrowed
and he turned to Rox. "What brought you here anyway? I thought your dad
wanted you at home over the break. He seemed overprotective after . . . what
happened."

Tess thought that was an understatement. Rox's father was Breaker,
a highly skilled battlemage that worked for the Magtherian. He'd also been
kidnapped by the Harbingers, tortured, and then used as bate to try and kill
Hawk. After his rescue Rox had described him as "justifiably
paranoid."

Rox made a sour face. "He didn't want me to leave, but
Hawk asked him to keep an eye on Tess's parents. I guess he didn't think I
would be safe at home, because he hid my mom and little brothers somewhere in
South America."

"Don't worry about them," Iris said distractedly.
"Brazil is nice this time of year."

Rox issued a deep sigh. "I wish I knew how she does
that."

"It's Iris," Derek and Tess said in unison, and
all three of them laughed.

"But seriously," Derek said once the humor
subsided, "Any word on the Harbingers? They have the Sword of Elseerian,
but what now? They can't use it for four months."

Tess shook her head. "I don't know. All I know is that
the Guild is trying to get the Sword back before they can open the portal
again."

Rox frowned. "Anyone ever feel like Hawk knows a lot
more than he lets on?"

"Of course he does," Derek said. "He's been
alive for a long, long time."

"True," Tess agreed. "But more importantly, do
you think he knows anything more about Ducalik?"

Rox shuddered, "Like how he can make darkness stronger
than light?"

Tess thought back to the portal that Ranson had opened, and
the fiends that had come out of it. She and her friends had been victorious in
battle against them—but only because they had been lucky. She felt a chill as
she recalled how Ducalik had exited the portal, and had summoned the Dark. One
by one it had subverted the will of those present, taking their minds and
controlling their flesh. Tess could still hear the bodies thudding to the
ground as their own allies slew them.

She felt a flash of gratitude that Derek had knocked him back
through the portal—right
after Tess had kissed him in order to get him to focus. She flushed at the
memory, and wondered if Derek thought about that moment. Then she had a thought
that caused her to twitch.

"Wait," Tess said. "What if the Harbingers don't
know about Ducalik?"

"How could they not know?" Derek asked. "They
opened the portal."

"Ranson, Drake, and the Thin Man left before the fiends
came out," Rox said, using their nickname for the Harbinger techno mage.
Her eyes widened as she realized what Tess was saying. "And no other Harbingers
survived the battle."

Tess shook her head. "So unless they stuck around to
watch . . ."

"They might not know about him," Derek finished.
"Iris, do you know if they stayed, or had any way of seeing what happened?
Iris?" He grunted in annoyance and bumped her.

"What?" Iris asked. "What did I miss?"

Derek repeated the question, to which Iris snorted
derisively. "Of course they did. The Thin Man left a few monitoring motes
behind, but they were destroyed in Hawk's fire."

"So do you think they know about Ducalik?" Tess prompted.

Iris blinked and her gaze focused. "I . . . don't think
so—Malik, not now. Go stuff a chicken or something. I need to go. Benson, you
too. I'll get back to you later—So you think the Harbingers don't know about
him?"

The rapid-fire shifts in her speech would have been hard to
keep up with if Tess wasn't so used to it. "What if they don't know?"
Tess lowered her voice. "What would that mean?"

Derek let out a slow breath. "If we don't get
the Sword of Elseerian back in time, then Ducalik will be the first thing out
of the portal. I can imagine only one scenario if that happens. Ducalik kills
the Harbingers and releases the Dark."

"I don't know . . ." Iris said, her eyes distant.
"I get the feeling that whoever this mysterious Master of the Harbingers
is, he has planned for everything."

"Even my escaping?" Tess demanded. "You think
he meant for me to escape with my parents?"

"We thought they were trying to kill you last term, but
it turned out they just wanted the public to know about you," Rox's voice
was somber.

Tess flushed. "They meant to kill me this time.
There's no way they intended for me to escape."

"But what if they had a plan in case you did?"
Derek said. "What if they have planned every contingency?"

"How can someone do that?" Rox asked.

"It's like Stratos, or chess," Derek said, his
brow furrowed in thought. "Whenever I play I start by imagining the board,
and then plan what I will do based on what my opponent does. It's something I
learned from my roommate and his Braon Orb."

"You can't beat Commander Braon," Rox said.
"No one has—not when he was alive, and not when they put his mind into a
Stratos memory orb. Everyone knows that."

"Hold on," Tess said. "Are you saying that
the Master has planned for everything we are doing? If that's true then it
won't matter what we do." She hated the cold knot that had formed in her
gut. Was it possible he had prepared for her to escape the trap at her home?

"But how could you plan for Ducalik?" Rox scoffed.
"No one has even heard of him—and even Iris can't find anything about
him." Iris frowned at that, but Rox gestured to Tess. "Preparing for
an unknown disciple of Draeken is different. It's not like making plans based
on what you can see."

In that moment Tess realized she had never called her
parents the previous night. She uttered a pained sound. "My mom is going
to kill me. I need to call her."

"But she's here . . . " Iris said.

"Not that one," Tess growled in exasperation.
"My mom. For now Alice is just a person I don't know." Then
she realized that her omni-glasses had been in her house when it had exploded. She
groaned. "How am I supposed to call them? My glasses are gone."

"I have a second pair you can have," Derek said,
and rose to his feet. "They're in my room."

Iris shook her head and pulled her beanie from her pocket. "He
can give you the glasses later. For now you can use my hat." She said it
with a distracted grunt and tossed it to her. "Just think what you want it
to do and it will take care of it."

Tess threw a grateful glance at Derek. "Can I use yours
for school?"

He grinned and nodded as she left the dining hall. As she
stepped into the hall she placed the black beanie on her head. Assuming it
would be like her omni-glasses, Tess focused on the numbers that would call her
mom. She jerked when it was answered on the first ring.

"Hello? Tess?"

The voice sounded odd, as if it was being inserted into her
head rather than speaking in an audible format. Still, it was a relief to hear
her mother's voice.

"Mom? Can you hear me?"

"Why didn't you call before?" she demanded.
"We were worried."

"Sorry," Tess cringed. "I fell asleep. It was
a long day."

There was an explosive release of air, and then her mom
replied in a calmer voice. "Are you safe?"

"Of course, Mom," Tess said. "Are you?"

There was a moment's hesitation. "I think so."

Tess noticed the pause and pounced. "What does that
mean?"

"I'm joining your father at work. We are going to try
to discover the Harbingers plans from this side."

The statement caught her off guard. Her parents were joining
the fight? But they weren't mages. She felt a tremor of foreboding at the idea
of her parents being discovered. She forcibly drove the thought aside before it
could linger.

"Please don't tell me you are going to fight them, Mom."

"Of course not," Kate replied. "You father
gathers intelligence. That's what he does—and what he's doing now. I will be
helping in a . . . different capacity. We should be fine."

It didn't sound like they were going to be fine at all.
"Promise me you will be careful," she said.

"That's my job to demand of you," her mom said
with a tight laugh.

"Then let's promise each other—"

"I've got to go, honey," she said in a rush.
"I have to qualify on the thousand yard range. Call me tonight, would you?
I love you. Bye!"

The line went dead before Tess could respond, but just
before it did she'd heard a gruff voice barking, "Oliver, get back in
line. We don't have time for you to be chatting on your phone."

Tess felt a chill blow through her despite the glowing fire.
Were her parents going to be killed because of her? Before she could consider
it further Alice appeared at her side. Tess nodded to her, "Er . . . do
you want to join me and my friends?"

"I'd like that," Alice replied.

Tess forced a smile and walked with her back into the hall.
She introduced Alice to Derek and Rox, and then tried to keep the conversation
going. The effort was complicated in that her mind kept returning to the same
question.

What were her parents up to?

Chapter 8: Undercurrents

"Be safe at school," Alice said to Tess.

They stood on the threshold of the Guild hall, and were departing
to Tryton's for the new term. Most of the last few days had been spent
rebuilding Tess's stash of personal belongings. Not for the first time, Tess
felt a rush of gratitude for Hawk's generosity in covering the expense. It did
make her wonder, though, where he'd earned it.

Iris had come with them out of courtesy, but Tess found
shopping tedious. At least Rox had enjoyed it. By the time school was about to
start Tess had a decent set of things to work with. But she would have taken
shopping over saying goodbye to Alice.

The moment was awkward, and Alice shifted uncomfortably, as
if she wanted to give Tess a hug but wasn't sure how the motion would be
received. Tess pretended not to notice. A couple of conversations with her
hadn't been sufficient for Tess to embrace her as part of her life. She already
had good parents; she wasn’t sure if she wanted more.

"I'll be careful, Alice," Tess replied awkwardly,
and then turned to Hawk. "Are you still going to tutor me?"

"Of course," he said. "But I won't be your
only tutor this semester. I have also convinced the school to make an exception
in the standard class limits."

"What sort of exception?" Tess asked.

"As you learned last term, the school allows three
magic courses and three non-magical courses, like History of Magic. I have
petitioned the school to allow you six magic classes. At first they were
reluctant, but I convinced them that in your case, it was necessary."

He gave a wry smile. "I'm afraid that you will still
have to take History of Magic, though. The school directors apparently didn't
want the oracle to be lacking in historical knowledge."

"What classes did you sign me up for?" Tess asked.

"You can find out through your glasses. I don't want to
risk you being late. Your class schedule isn't the only thing changing at the
school this term."

Tess was taken aback but Hawk wouldn't say any more. Alice
shot him a surprised look, so at least Tess wasn't the only one in the dark.
Resigned, Tess said her goodbyes and departed with her friends. She waited
until they had exited to the street before turning to Iris.

"What did he mean, changing?" she asked.

"How should I know?" Iris asked.

The annoyance in her friend's voice was unmistakable, but
Rox didn't seem to hear it.

"How can you not know?" Rox demanded. "Last
term you hacked into the private director’s messages for fun."

"Well I can't this term, alright?" Iris said, and
lapsed into muttering under her breath.

Tess looked to Derek with a questioning look. He merely
shrugged, but there was a tightness to his eyebrows that suggested a deeper
concern. The silence prevailed as she fell to pondering.

When had Iris not been able to do something? How often had
she even used the word can't? From the moment they had met Iris had demonstrated
a blatant disregard for rules and regulations, but now she seemed frustrated
and confused. What had happened?

They strode through the streets of Westpoint until they
reached a hovering boat. Climbing onto it, they were lifted a few feet off the
water’s surface and then carried east. Soon they reached the center of Auroraq.
Towering trees greeted her as they left the residences behind, but the shaded
and cultured gardens did little to abate her tension.

The massive trees of Sentre boasted hundreds of high-level
bridges, platforms, and overlooks within their branches. Known as the treeways,
the multi-tiered walkways connected directly with buildings. Gurgling streams
and rivers coursed beneath it all, adding their sweet murmur to the
environment. At many points the water flowed vertically out of the river to
create sparkling arches over pathways and rivers.

Yet amidst the strands of light penetrating the canopy, the
people walked in haste. Features were somber or tight with worry, and their
gait suggested a subconscious urge to avoid contact. Conversations were
subdued, eyes were devoid of ease, and even their proximity to each other
demonstrated the subtle air of uncertainty.

"What's wrong with everyone?" Rox asked.

"Last night the Magtherian released the news about the
attack on Tess," Iris said, her voice somber, "and the Harbinger
murders. They are saying that the auren governments have begun to assassinate
known mages."

Derek frowned and pulled a small orb from his pocket.
Gesturing to it, it activated and several symbols appeared, floating away from
its surface.

"What's that?" Tess asked.

"A news orb," Derek replied without looking up. He
manipulated the runes and a figure swirled into position above the orb. It
showed an officially dressed woman talking in somber tones. Speaking on behalf
of the Magtherian, she began listing the names of those that had been killed by
aurens. It was evident that her emotions were real.

"That was lazed last night," Iris said.

Tess felt a tremor spread through her body. Hawk had told
them previously that the Harbingers had been systematically infiltrating every
branch of the Magtherian, as well as auren governments. The ones that had
refused the invitation to join their organization had been killed. The deaths
had been kept quiet by the Magtherian—apparently until now.

"And Ranson took over the council," Derek said.
"They must feel it, even though they don't know who he is."

"Like birds before a storm," Derek said. He stared
at a foursome of women who huddled close and cast suspicious glances at the
others in the park.

"How could it change so fast?" Tess asked.
"It's only been a week since our term ended—and it wasn't like this
before."

They disembarked and resumed their conversation.

"Maybe people are just trying to get used to a new
high chancellor."

"Maybe," Tess said, but her unease settled deeper.

A few minutes later they spotted the Tryton's Arch. Marking
the separation between Sentre and Southpoint, the large span sported the Tryton's
crest on its keystone. Rising to a point, a dragon and a phoenix breathed fire
around a sword. In this case the fire was real.

Glowing with inherent light, the arch stood at the beginning
of the Scholars Way. Giant statues of scholars looked down on the parents and
students heading to the school. Garbed from their respective eras, the large
figures held everything from books to weapons in their hands. Tess had always
assumed they were past directors of the school.

Tess and her friends fell into step with the mass of people,
and again she was struck by the change in behavior. At the start of the
previous term the students had been excited and talkative. Parents had been
casual and the atmosphere relaxed. This time couldn't have been more different.

Teenagers, mothers, and fathers congregated into tight knots
of shuffling people, and there was a subtle mark of separation between each.
Even the younger brothers and sisters seemed to feel it, and remained at their
parents’ side as the group quietly worked their way onto Southpoint.

Many of the people recognized her. Their eyes went wide, but
no one approached or spoke to her. She normally would have felt relieved, but
it actually heightened her concern. Seven days ago she'd practically been
mobbed when her identity had become public. Now they steered clear of her. Despite
the gap, curiosity burned in their eyes.

They reached the massive crystal-topped Star Hall and filed
in. As she had the first time, Tess paused on the threshold. The blue sky from
the exterior had been replaced with a view into space. Planets, moons, and a
handful of glowing suns soared through the heavens. Galaxies, star systems, and
thousands of stars stretched across what should have been the ceiling.

Despite the grandeur and eternal nature of the amphitheatre,
it was not the focal point of the enormous hall. In the base of the shallow
bowl, an illuminated pillar rose thirty feet like a white stage. Wrapped in
concentric circles, all of the benches faced it, and were fashioned of polished
black granite. There were hundreds of benches in the enormous bowl but it felt
packed. As soon as Tess and her friends found a seat a person flew up the side
of the pillar and began to speak.

"Welcome to Tryton's Academy of Magic. My name is
Director Grayson, principle administrator for this school. Before we release you
to get settled, I would like to address the recent news from the
Magtherian." He paused, and his voice became somber. "A student of
this school, our very own Oracle, was attacked just a few days ago."

Tess shifted as she felt the weight of thousands of eyes.
She did her best to keep her gaze on Grayson, and tried not to blink.

"It has been further revealed that this incident was
not isolated, and that many of our people have been slain by aurens."

Tess wasn't surprised at the easy acceptance of the lie, but
she felt a burst of anger. How could the Harbingers deflect blame toward the
non-mages so easily? She felt the urge to rise and shout the truth, but
hesitation stole her tongue. How would she appear if she did? Would she seem
unreliable? Or crazy? Or confident? She had the sneaking suspicion that if she
alone spoke out against the Harbingers, they would twist her actions and use it
against her. The moment passed too quickly, and her words of defiance remained
unspoken. She vowed it would not remain that way.

"We at Tryton's are greatly troubled by these
announcements, and have added extra enchantments and security to our school.
Rest assured that your children will be safe here."

A murmur swept the crowd. In spite of Grayson's
reassurances, there was a note of doubt in the sound. More than once she caught
people staring at her. To her surprise she saw blame more often than fear. Her
brow creased in annoyance, and she resolved to find out exactly what the
Magtherian had said about her.

" . . . are also happy to announce a change to a
long-standing tradition here."

Tess returned her attention to Grayson, who seemed to be
making a valiant effort to change the mood. Tess automatically looked to Iris.
She shrugged, as perplexed as the rest of them. Frowning, Tess turned back to
Grayson.

"For decades the students have gathered during the
mid-quad break for the Magic Melee. To those new to the school, the Melee is a
game that allows the participating students to practice their skills against
each other.

"In light of . . . recent events, we feel it best to
expand the game into a more official program. Instead of an open format at the
dorms, the Melee will take place in the stadium. Students will be allowed to
form teams of fifty, and will compete against each other in short conflicts
within a specially designed arena. As it has in the past, the Melee will take
place during the mid-quad holiday, and the games will begin on Friday morning. We
look forward to seeing all of you in the new Melee."

With that, the director wished them good luck and stepped
off the stage. Tess rose to her feet with the rest of the assembly, but turned
to her friends instead of the doors.

"What do you think that was about?" she
said quietly. She threw a glance around her to ensure that they were not
overheard.

"I'm not sure," Derek said. "The tradition of
the Melee traces back to the school's founding, and it has never been official.
What do you think, Iris?"

Iris threw her hands in the air. "I don't know
everything." The three of them stared at her, but she whirled and stalked
away.

"Derek?" Tess asked, but he shook his head.

"I've never seen her like that," he said. His
voice was worried enough that Tess felt concerned.

"But why the change in the Melee?" Rox asked.
"Do you think it's really just about a game?"

"I don't know," Tess murmured, and recalled Hawk's
words. Was this his doing? If so, what was his intention?

As they left Star Hall, Tess wished she didn't feel such
turmoil.

Chapter 9: Knots

Tess stepped out of Star Hall and said goodbye to her
friends. Then she headed to her dorm. As she went she searched the deepening
gloom for Iris. She frowned when she did not see her. Since the moment they had
met, Iris had been strange, quirky, and almost annoyingly aware of
everything—but she'd rarely been angry.

Worried, Tess took to the skies. She launched herself into
the air and flew south. In moments the school buildings came into view. She
climbed higher, and scanned the shadowed ground, wondering where she had gone.

Shaped like a giant circle, Tryton's Academy of Magic
boasted twelve distinct buildings for the individual schools of magic. The
school for music, sound and light comprised the north end of the ring. Fire,
mind, and air encompassed the east side of the arc.

The water, earth, and plant schools covered the southern
side of the ring. Animal, body, and healing magics were taught on the west.
Only the Unknowable Magics were not taught within the circle of schools. The
rarest magics, lightning, memory, and anti-magic, were collectively taught at a
black building outside the ring.

Dominating the center of the massive circle, a collection of
enormous trees stretched hundreds of feet skyward, and circled a small lake at
their center. Countless cabin-like rooms were nestled in the oversized branches,
and housed the four thousand students of Tryton's each term. By the end of her
first quad the trees had become Tess's home, and her refuge.

Her concern increasing, Tess flew toward the dorms. In a
hurry, she flew over the treetops rather than through them. Descending once she
was over the lake, she swooped toward the back porch of the cabin that Iris and
she shared. At two hundred feet off the ground, cabin 313 had was one of the
highest in the dorms. It surprised her to recall that when she'd first stood on
the porch she'd been scared of heights. Now she flew onto it like it was
normal.

Alighting on the balcony, she ducked inside and found Iris
sitting on her bed, staring at a wall. She was also wearing her magic dampening
beanie. For the first time since they had met, she was wearing no magic
enhancing threads.

"You ok?" Tess asked, and moved to sit across from
her.

Iris didn't respond for a while. She just stared at the wall
as if she hadn't heard. Just when Tess was about to ask again, Iris released an
explosive breath.

"No," she said, "I'm not."

"Do you want to talk about it?" Tess asked.

Iris jerked her head no, and then blurted, "I feel
blinded. Ever since I warned the rock trolls the Harbingers were coming, their
techno mag has been blocking me at every turn. At first it wasn't too bad, but
since the attack on you it's gotten worse. I can barely think without a mental
intrusion. It's why I have been using the hat. It's the only time I get some
peace."

She growled and clenched her hands. "I just don't
understand. It feels like they are watching me all the time. It's maddening—I
mean, you've never felt that, right?"

Tess felt the urge to scowl and smile at the same time. That
was exactly what she felt whenever Iris had known impossible things, but the
more pressing matter was the scrutiny.

"Can they hear us now?" Tess asked. There was a
trace of alarm in her voice.

Iris sighed. "Of course not. I blocked everything in
the room, including myself. She stabbed a finger at her odd beanie.

"But how?" Tess asked, puzzled. "How can they
get past you like that? I mean, you are the best I've ever heard of. There
would have to be hundreds—"

Iris slapped her forehead so hard it left a welt. "Of
course!" she burst out. "—But how, they didn't have more than a
handful before—and they couldn't have recruited so many. I know enough mags I
would have heard about it—but then where? Where is he getting them . . .?"

Iris's mouth fell open in surprise, and her eyes flicked to
Tess. "Do you know what this means?"

Tess’s expression must have betrayed her confusion, because
Iris jumped off the bed and began to pace. Her words tumbled from her mouth as
she stalked back and forth.

"This makes sense, actually," Iris said.
"From the beginning I have been tracking a supreme technology mage, and
Keidon is the best of us all. If he now has the authorization from the high
council—which we know is corrupted—it means the entire technology bureau is
under Harbinger control."

"You mean Keidon, the head of the Mage
Technology Bureau?" Tess asked.

She'd met him once on a tour of the high council room. He
was tall and thin, and could very possibly be the Thin Man that they knew as
the Harbinger's primary techno mag.

Iris stopped midstride and bounded to her bed. "I think
so—but what to do about it? I can't beat the whole department. There are
hundreds of master techno mages. It would be like going up against an army . .
."

Iris leapt off the bed and embraced Tess. "I've got
it!" she shouted. "—but who, and where, and I will have to be
discreet . . ."

"Iris? What are you planning? Iris!"

Tess sighed and gave up as Iris fell into incoherency. The
conversation had done little to ease Tess's mind, but at least it had helped
her roommate out of her despair. Resigned to her ignorance, Tess decided that
whatever Iris was doing, it would help in the end. Abruptly she was exhausted, so
she began to dress for bed. Collecting clothes from the bags that had been
delivered for her, she changed and slipped under the covers. For a long time
she listened to Iris chatting excitedly with several people at the same time.
The next thing she knew it was morning.

She awoke bleary-eyed but refreshed. Rising, she was shocked
to discover the changes to their room. Both memory paintings had been
appropriated and were the focal point above Iris's desk. Names and lines
blanketed the area around them. Scribbled in shining purple ink, they flickered
brighter and then faded as Iris paced in front of them.

"Did you stay up all night?" Tess asked.

"Oh good—you're awake," Iris said, and darted to
her side.

Her eyes were red-rimmed but focused. Her beanie was gone
and her clothing was back to its usual magic enhancing threads. She twitched
with excitement, and didn't wait for a response.

"We are doing it! In a week we will be able to start it—if
I can just wrap the lag and gres the static . . ." she bit her lip, and
then launched into a discussion with someone named Julio.

"Iris!" Tess raised her voice to get her roommate's
attention. "You need to sleep. It's almost time for classes." She
gestured to the soft light streaming through the back open window.

"Oh, you're right," Iris said, and then laughed.
"I'll send a message to my professor telling him to excuse me. Have a good
night!"

She jumped into her bed and mumbled to herself as she traced
a rune onto the wall. Everywhere her finger touched, purple energy sparkled,
leaving a visible energy trail on the wall. Then she donned her beanie and was
out.

"Er . . . good night?" Tess said, but Iris was
already asleep. Tess grinned. If Iris was that excited things couldn't be that
bad. Chuckling under her breath, Tess rose and took a brief shower. It was only
after she dressed and stepped to the back door that she realized Iris had said tell
her professor, not ask. Shaking her head, Tess summoned Stel from where he'd
been roaming the room. The creature changed from its dog form and coiled around
her wrist, chirping its readiness. Tess then stepped to the balcony rail and
leapt over it.

She glided down in the dawn light and then banked her way to
the meal hall. For the first time since she had fought the Harbingers she felt
a thrill of excitement at flying. Every day since had been full of confusion
and strife, making the inherent joy of flying feel unnatural. It brought a
smile to her face and she performed a few flips before landing. The smattering
of other flyers laughed when she did, and some followed her lead. Once down,
she strode into the meal hall and jumped over the railing.

She flew to the bottom floor and gathered a plate. Then she
selected a couple of waffle cubes, one of whipped cream, and another of
strawberries. Last she added cereal and milk. She sent it through the magic
cauldron and collected the newly filled plate on the opposite side.

Students on all sides quieted and craned to get a better
look at her, but Tess didn't make eye contact. Ignoring the attention, she
weaved her way through the trees that had been shaped into tables and chairs. Arriving
at her usual table she sat across from Derek. It was only then that she noticed
there were two new occupants sitting next to him.

"Shorn?" she asked. "What are you doing
here?"

He flashed a smile. "Breakfast, same as you."

Derek's mouth was full, but he tried to explain anyway.
"Hh wunts fo moin our memee feam."

Tess turned to Rox. "Translation?"

She grinned. "He wants to join our team for the Magic
Melee."

"Isn't it a bit early to start that?" Tess asked,
and took a bite of waffle.

Shorn shook his head. "I'm not the only one. A few of
the older kids are trying to create an unbeatable team." He smirked.
"I figured you and your friends were the ones to recruit, though."

Tess wasn't sure what to think about that. The previous term
the Tempest captain, Drake, had turned out to be a Harbinger. For most of the
quad Tess had thought Shorn was the spy. Not until the last day did she learn
he wasn't. After months of suspicion it felt odd to be seated across from him
like they were friends.

Avoiding his gaze, Tess gestured to the other boy eating
next to Derek. "What about you?"

"Oh . . . I'm Warren, Derek's roommate," he said.

The boy was handsome enough, but he seemed awkward and out
of place, like he would have been more comfortable sitting alone.

"Nice to meet you," Tess said.

Derek swallowed and asked, "Where's Iris?"

"She stayed up all night and went to sleep as I
left."

"Hm, it's been a while since I've seen her do
that."

"She's done it before?" Rox asked.

Derek smirked. "Only when she had a problem she couldn't
solve."

At that moment a flurry of small objects filled the hall.
Multi-colored and tiny, they swept around the room like dust in a storm,
ultimately settling on the students. A four sided blue knot swirled around Rox
and then landed on her shoulder.

"Awesome, my first knot," she crowed. "And it
looks like I jumped two levels. What about you, Tess?"

A matching knot hovered next to her shoulder. It must have
decided she was the intended recipient because it landed on her. "Looks
like the same," she said, smiling at the accomplishment. A moment later
two more knots soared to her. Red and dark purple, they were both seven sided.

"Woah," Derek said. "Those are almost
master's knots."

Shorn whistled in appreciation and held up his own seven-sided
purple knot. "Nice. What did you do at your exams?"

She flashed a chagrined smile. "I figured the truth was
out about me, so I didn't hold back."

Derek caught the brown knot before it could land on him.
"Huh, I got a six. At least that means I am no longer an apprentice."

Warren caught a gray knot but didn't comment on it. Shorn
then made a sour face. "I guess I didn't go further in air," he said.

"What do you mean?" Tess asked.

"You only get a knot if you advance," Shorn said,
and folded his sleeve back to reveal a four-sided sky-blue knot attached on the
interior. "I still have the one I earned last quad though."

"I wonder what Iris got," Tess said as she noticed
an eleven-sided purple knot floating around by itself. A moment later it soared
out the doors.

"Wait," Shorn said. "Does that mean you are
in advanced flight with me?"

Tess shook her head. "I am supposed to practice fire,
grav, and water on my own. I have six magic classes and a history of magic this
term."

"Good luck with that, but at least I will see you in
air magic." He flashed a wide grin. "And you should try out for Tempest.
With Drake graduated I'm the captain now. I can also tutor you in advanced
flight if you need it."

Tess caught a tightening expression in Derek's face, but
when she glanced at him he was focusing on finishing his meal. Even though he
wasn't looking at her it felt like his attention remained on her. For some
reason she recalled the kiss they had shared.

With the Dark stealing Derek's mind, and Hawk already
controlled, Tess had kissed Derek to snap him out of it. With his help, they
had temporarily defeated Ducalik, and forced him back through the portal.
Privately Tess had thought about the kiss before. She couldn't decide if the
sparks she'd felt had been due to the desperation of the moment, or something
more. Still, she needed Shorn's help, and the sincerity in his face was
undeniable.

When a battle looms, you gather your forces.

Hawk's words came to her mind, so she impulsively decided to
accept his offer. At the very least he could become an ally. Besides, Derek
hadn't made any other overtures toward her, so perhaps it had just been a kiss
between friends?

"That sounds good," she said to Shorn, hiding her
confusion with a smile. "Thank you."

"Great," he said, and flashed a dazzling grin.
"Meet me Wednesday night at the stadium. We can practice a little before
the tryouts on Saturday."

She smiled at him as he departed, but when she turned back to
Derek he was already rising. "Got to go," he said. "Can't be
late for class you know."

He smiled at her, but it lacked the characteristic warmth.
As she watched him go, she wondered if she had erred.

Chapter 10: Forbidden

Tess left her first plant class on Wednesday discouraged and
tired. Professor Rodriguez had been insistent that no one left until each
member of the class had made a rose blossom. Tess had been second to last to
accomplish the task, a fact for which she received a variety of looks. Most she
could interpret readily enough.

Wow, I would think the Oracle could do it.

Is she even trying?

Don't worry, it's harder than he makes it look.

Tess growled deep in her throat, wishing she didn't have so
much scrutiny. In every class students watched her progress like a hawk. If she
succeeded early, it was because of who she was, as if she'd only succeeded in
meeting their expectations. If she struggled, she received mixed reactions.
Some obviously looked down on her. Others were more curious or understanding.

Few had gathered the courage to ask about the attack her
home, but many wanted to know what she could do. She'd taken to referring them
to books on oracles, such as The Oracle's Sight: Ancient Oracles Examined, or
The Complete Guide to Oracle's and their Magic: Twenty-Second Edition.
Occasionally when she was annoyed she would refer them to, Unique Oracle Magics
and How to Avoid Them, by Scair D. Kat.

She saw a trio of students headed toward her. Their
expression gave their intent away, so she pretended not to notice them and
leapt into the sky. Letting out an explosive breath, she activated her glasses
and turned her attention to the next item on her list. Dinner, and then her
first earth class. She smiled to herself as she noticed a small note attached
to her schedule. Derek had suggested meeting him early at the earth school so
he could show her around. She sent a quick reply and then hurried to the meal
hall.

It was mid-afternoon, so only a handful of students were
eating. Her thoughts on Derek, Tess listened to Iris talk to the wall while she
ate. Iris was abnormally intense in her conversation, even for her. Tess didn't
interrupt her, and left before the rush of students arrived. Saying goodbye to Iris,
she stepped outside and took to the air. In moments she was hundreds of feet
above the dorms.

She drifted far above the dorms, her gaze on the students. Then
she sighed and flew to the earth building. Like a miniature mountain, its bulk
dwarfed the water and plant schools to either side. Spotting Derek, she
alighted next to him.

"Missed you at breakfast," he said.

"Sorry," she said. "I had a lot on my
schedule."

"With six power classes I don't doubt it," Derek
said sympathetically. "But are you ready for earth magic?"

Tess shrugged and followed him through the titanic doors.
The interior of the earth school was much like she had imagined. Corridors and
passages curved through the mini-mountain, twisting into a labyrinth of layers.
Classrooms and practicum rooms abutted the wide tunnels, and resembled intricate
underground caves.

"What's in there?" Tess asked, and gestured to
small black door at the end of a corridor.

"The forbidden magics," Derek said. He came to a
stop and gestured to her. "Someone like you might get permission to study
in there, but you may not want to. Even graduating students are rarely
permitted inside. Every once in a while I see upper level masters go through the
door."

"I didn't know there were forbidden magics," Tess
said.

"Every school has a few banned spells," Derek
replied, and resumed his pace. "But I would say that the earth school has
some of the worst."

"Like what?" Tess asked. In spite of his tone, she
was curious.

He glanced around, but no one was within earshot. Derek
lowered his tone anyway. "I have only heard of a couple, but the worst
creates a guardian."

"That doesn't sound so bad."

He flashed a faint smile. "The spell involves pouring
liquid stone magic into a living creature. Over time the magic takes the place
of living tissue. From what I understand, the transformation was so painful
that only a fraction survived."

She was appalled. "Why would anyone do such a
thing?"

"Because the process enhances most natural faculties.
The ones who lived became immensely powerful, and could turn into stone at
will. That's why they were called guardians. They became living sentinels that
protected the royal and wealthy."

She shuddered. "They did that to people?"

"Mostly animals," he said. "But people too.
When the world discovered how they were being created, it sparked a war that
destroyed a lot of mages—and four oracles."

Surprised by the shift in conversation, she asked,
"When was that?"

"The Age of Oracles," he said, his brow furrowed
in thought. He raised a hand to forestall her next question. "I don't know
much about it, but you might want to read up on it in your free time. The few
books on that period describe an interesting time in our history."

"What's free time?" she asked with a sour grunt.
"I have six magic classes, history of magic, and tutors for fire, gravity,
and water. I am studying so much that my dreams are filled with me sitting at a
desk or trying new spells—and
we're only three days into the term."

"Don't pull that on me," he said with a laugh.
"I know you love it."

She grinned. "Of course I do. It's magic."

"Then let's get you started on earth," he said.
His smile became smug. "I think you will find that it's the best."

She doubted that it could compete with the sheer freedom of
flying, but didn't voice her opinion. Smiling, she followed him to her first
earth class. Before a curve took the door out of sight, she threw a glance at
the black door.

She felt oddly like she had awakened to find herself not
where she'd fallen asleep. Until that conversation she'd thought that magic was
good, and meant to help people. Now she wondered if perhaps it had a darker
side.

And what that darker side was capable of.

Derek led her to the Intro to Earth Magic class, and then
left for his own class, Theoretical and Advanced Application of Entity Creation.
When she exited an hour later he was already there.

"How was it?" he asked.

"Disappointing," she replied. She shook her head
when he raised an eyebrow. Annoyed, she waited until they were outside before
explaining.

"They told us to shape a pile of sand into a
house." She blew out her breath. "Who knew that moving dirt could be
so hard? And why did the professor have to sniff like that, like he expected so
little?"

He laughed. "That's just Professor Marko. I wouldn't
worry about him. And keep in mind that earth magic is difficult because its
energy comes from its form. It makes it powerful, but much harder to
manipulate. How'd you do?"

"What's below awful?"

"Atrocious?"

"That would be it."

"It couldn't be that bad," he said.

"My house—which looked like a doghouse—exploded."

"Then it was that bad."

She hit him in the shoulder, causing him to chuckle.
"How many times have you worked with earth magic?"

"Including today?"

He nodded.

"Once."

He laughed. "Give it a few weeks and I am sure you will
be crafting stone golems in no time."

Tess recalled the golem he'd created when the Harbingers had
first opened the portal. "Is that hard to do?"

He shrugged. "Not really. The spell is fairly simple in
fact. The problem is the creatures mass. The larger it is, the harder to
create. Level five stone mages can typically make one the size of garden gnome.
I think it's even part of the exam."

"You made one as big as yourself when we fought the Harbingers
and fiends," she said. The appreciation in her tone elicited a wry grin.

"It's one of the spells I practiced," he said.
"I never really cared for the shaping of doors and walls and such."

"Will you teach me?" she asked.

"Do you need to ask?"

She laughed. "Fine, but I need to get to the stadium. I
will see you tomorrow?"

His characteristic grin lost some of its luster, but he
nodded. "See you then—but watch your back, Tess. I still don't know if
Shorn can be trusted."

She agreed, and left him standing outside the stone school.
A moment later she took to the air. She landed on a terrace extending out from
the mountain and used it to launch herself south. Flying fast, she did her best
to put Derek's expression from her mind.

Did he care for her as a friend? As the oracle? Or something
more? She wished she knew the answer. It would at least make it easier for her
to figure out her own feelings. Had that kiss meant something to him?

She issued a frustrated grunt, and decided that figuring out
guys was harder than figuring out magic. Annoyed, she tried to put Derek from
her mind. In spite of her effort, she found a small smile touching her features
when she thought of him.

Chapter 11: Cassiopeia

She landed next to the gigantic shield that protected
spectators from the game. Faint and shimmering, it allowed her to pass through
if she moved slowly enough. Once on the opposite side she dropped to the shelf
that held the team headquarters. Shorn heard her arrival and turned to face
her.

"Right on time," he said. A wide grin spread on
his features. "Are you ready to practice?"

He reached for the liquid silver board hovering beside him
and shoved it toward her. She jumped onto its surface and glided away. Leaning
into a tight circle, she came to a halt facing him.

"Are you ready?"

He grinned, and hopped on his own board. Sliding to a stop
next to her, he said, "I see you have already been on a board. Who taught
you?"

"What do we do first?" she asked.

His eyebrows pulled together when she sidestepped the
question, but he didn't comment on it. "First let's go over the makeup of
teams, and then common tactics."

He crouched onto his board and rocketed toward the far end
of the arena. His sheer speed took her breath away, and she hurried to catch
up. She glided to a stop beside him.

"This is one of the stars," he said, and swept a
hand at the tight ball of fire hovering next to his shoulder. "Most teams
consider it the focal point of their defenses. You will often see the captain
retreat here to speak in person to lieutenants, change tactics, or regroup after
an attack. Of course, our helmets have techno charms so we can talk to each
other throughout the game."

"Can't the star be taken?"

"It can, but it doesn't happen often because teams
focus so much on it. If you ever do grab one, you have to fly it to the
opposite end of the arena and pass it through the goal." He gestured to a
circular alcove behind them that would be the goal for the opposing team.

"Just be ready to fly fast when you do," he said.
"Players light up like a beacon when they steal the star. Your opponents
will converge on you faster than you can blink."

She recalled what Drake had said about detonators. "Don't
teams lay traps around their star?"

He nodded. "It's a common tactic. Detonators, or bombers
as they are sometimes called, condense fire into tiny balls and enchant them to
float. It doesn't matter how close you put one to the star, it will push the
bomb out ten meters. You can't protect it that close."

"Why don't players surround the star with traps
then?"

"Time," he said. "Detonators can fashion a stable
trap in about sixty seconds—if they're good. By the time they surrounded the
star the game would likely be over. It was one of the earliest tactics, but was
abandoned within a couple of years."

"Got it," she said.

She swirled her board, anxious to get going. The last few days
had created an oppressive weight on her shoulders, and flying on her board felt
like the first time it had faded.

"Next we have the Watcher," Shorn said. "He's
a strong fire mage that guards our star. Most teams use one, but we use two
that position themselves on opposite sides of our star."

"What makes them different from Strikers?" Tess
asked.

Shorn nodded. "Strikers can do the fire gauntlet spell,
making them able to attack without having to draw flame from a source. They are
also more nimble and quick thinking. Watcher's have a source," he pointed
to the star next to them, "and can usually see their opponents coming.
Watchers are valued for their ability to dodge. If the Watcher is eliminated,
the star can be stolen."

Tess ignited the fire onto her arms and sealed the spell
into gauntlets. "Is that what I should try out for?"

Shorn grinned. “If you can do that on your skin, then yes.
How's your aim?"

"Care to find out?"

His grin widened. "Sure, but pay attention to what I
do. Speed flyers have two primary responsibilities. We try to steal the star on
offense, but most often we are the defense."

"How do you defend if you can't eliminate a
player?"

His answer was to turn away and twist his hands into a tight
circle. A miniature tornado blossomed into view and sped like an arrow away
from them. It lasted several seconds before dissipating.  Then he turned back
to face her.

"We use tornado spells, blasts of wind, and speed to
distract and throw the other team off balance. Our team employs one of the most
common tactics, and pairs a speed flyer with a detonator. The speed flyer draws
in an opponent and the detonator hits them. It works well—especially when I use
wind to force a player into a trap my partner has laid."

"So I try to knock out the speed flyers and detonators
to get a star, and you try to stop me?"

"That about sums it up."

She gathered more fire into her gauntlets. "Then let's
go."

His smile widened. "Catch me if you can," he said,
and rocketed away.

She laughed and sped after him. Balls of fire streaked from
her arms as she sought to hit him, but he was fast. Some of her missiles
got close, but not close enough. He banked and spun into elegant barrel rolls,
avoiding her attempts with ease. Then he swerved behind a planet to avoid her.

She followed him . . . but he was gone. She slowed and
scanned the area, trying to find a clue as to where he'd gone. Nothing
presented itself, so she began to accelerate. Then she heard a rising whistle
from behind her, and realized that he'd circled the planet to come from behind.
She whirled, but he was too close. He blew past her and sped away, the grin
evident on his features. She issued an irritated grunt and leapt in pursuit.

Her hair billowed behind her as she chased him. A horizontal
tornado propelled him faster than she was able to go, so she took the cue from
him. She'd only had one lesson on air magic, but she'd taken to it almost as
well as gravity. Turning her hands behind her, she dropped the fire from her
palms and gathered the air.

She cast a simple but effective wind spell, and felt the air
current funnel around her arms and out her hands. She poured her magic into it,
and the response was instantaneous. Like she'd stomped on the gas pedal, her
board exploded forward. In seconds she began to gain on Shorn.

He threw a look back and his expression shifted to humor. He
banked into a long turn that followed the end of the arena, and then curved toward
the center sun. She kept with him, and approached to within ten feet. She
grinned in triumph . . . and then he jerked away.

His tornado whipped to the side and his body leaned almost
horizontal. The maneuver turned him like he'd bounced off a wall, and sent him
speeding in another direction. She tried to follow, but her straightforward air
spell didn't give her the same agility. She skidded like a car on ice, and by
the time she managed to regain control he was gone.

"Alright!" she called. She released a resigned
laugh. "I give up!"

He appeared around a moon and sped to her side. He braked to
a stop and laughed. "Already? But you were doing so well."

"Don't patronize me," she said with a scowl.
"How did you do that tornado?"

"The tornado is one of the strongest air spells,"
he said. "And they don't teach it until level six. What makes you think
you can do it?"

"Try me," she challenged.

His lips spread into a grin. "Later, I promise. For now
we should cover more about tactics and basic maneuvers. It will help you in the
tryout. Once you make the team I will teach you the cyclone charm."

"So you think I have a shot?"

"Of course," he said, and then frowned. "I
mean, you are the Oracle."

"Is that why you suggested I join the team?"

"No," he said hastily. "I just thought . . .
that you would enjoy . . ."

His consternation was sufficient for her to let the comment
slide. "Don't worry about it," she said. "What's next?"

He appeared relieved and gestured to the ball of fire that
represented the sun. "It's widely believed that whoever controls the sun,
wins the game. For that reason, most games begin with a skirmish as both teams
try to 'win the sun'. Depending on the constellation, other planets are
considered valuable as well."

"The constellation is the orientation of the planets,
right?"

He nodded. "The one we are using now is Cassiopeia,
hence the W shape. Each one has advantages and disadvantages, and some are
weighted to one side."

"What happens before each game then? Does someone flip
a coin?"

"Not exactly," he said with a laugh. "The
constellation is announced seven days prior to a game, and the sides are chosen
at random. Three days preceding a game each team must divulge the makeup of
their team, how many fire versus how many speed flyers. We are allowed
twenty-six on our roster, but pick twenty for each game. Once selected it can't
be changed—even if someone gets injured."

"What about penalties?" Tess asked. They were hovering
near the sun, and she was glad for the respite. She hadn't realized how much
exertion it took to fly and fight.

"Like any sport there are a number of fouls. Physical
contact, board slapping, and flying boardless are some of them. There is also a
list of spells that are not allowed, but we will get into those later. I have a
class soon, but I will show you a few maneuvers that will help you on
Saturday."

She agreed, and for the next thirty minutes he demonstrated
some of the common tactics. The arrowhead, the bait and switch, and the unseen
noose were easy to understand. Others were more difficult, such as the elusive
fire, the broken nose, and the crooked elbow. By the time they were done Tess
was ready for a break.

They dropped off their boards and flew back to the ring of
schools together. Two hundred feet above the dorms they parted. Tess watched
Shorn fly away with an odd worry in her stomach.

She had no doubt that the game's training would help her,
but was it the best use of her time? The levity of the previous hour had
departed as quickly as it had come, leaving her counting the days until the
Dark reemerged.

She hoped she was doing the right thing.

Chapter 12: Leverage

The Swordsman peered down from his ledge, and scanned the
large house for the hundredth time. At two in the morning and with clouds
obscuring the moon, he'd been forced to cast his strongest vision spell to be
able to see. He tracked back and forth, searching for signs that his
information had been accurate.

A part of his mind questioned why he was giving up lucrative
contracts to help the Guild. First Hawk had asked him to guard the oracle last
quad, which he'd done successfully, and now he was off on a mission to find out
why the high council members had voted for Chancellor Ranson to become high chancellor.

Unseen in the darkness, his lips curled into a sneer. Even
without being paid he would take every opportunity to kill Harbingers. In
recent weeks it seemed like the chances to kill them were increasing in their
frequency.

His tactical mind took over and analyzed the acceleration to
the Harbinger's actions. The reason for that was obvious—they were drawing
close to their end goal, whatever it was. If all they wanted was power they
could have just taken it. Now that they controlled much of the Magtherian they
had enough power to defeat even the auren armies. But then why did they want to
open Draeken's portal?

—A movement caught his attention, and his whole mind zeroed
in on the cloaked man doing a sweep of the back yard. He was obviously a
sentry, but for what? Hawk had implied that three of the council members had
been forced to support Ranson. He hadn't known why.

Former High Chancellor Anderson, as well as Chancellors Gerik
and Souza had been adamant against Ranson from the beginning, yet all three had
voted Ranson into the position of high chancellor—and supported the measure to
bring magic public. It had been a complete reversal of their previous position.

Even now, they remained stalwart in supporting Ranson's
designs. The implication of leverage had been obvious to the Swordsman even
before Hawk had spoken of it. The subsequent conversation had led the assassin
to his current location above the large house.

The sentry went inside, so the Swordsman slipped off the
ledge. He fell fast, but he moved faster. An air board of liquid black flowed
out of his boots and coalesced beneath his feet. Like ink pouring from a pen,
it shimmered into a short, tapered arrow. The air board wasn't exceptionally
fast, but it was agile. On a normal night the highly illegal object helped him
get close to his targets. Tonight was no different.

Like a shadow on the breeze, he banked out of his fall and
dodged the faint purple lines that indicated techno mage warnings. For the
thousandth time he felt a flash of gratitude for his secondary skill. He was
proud of his talent with body magic, but his secondary had saved him just as
often. The ability wasn't enough for him to manipulate signals like a full
techno mage, but he actually considered that a good thing. It kept him focused.

He slowed as he neared the house, and rode an air current toward
the smokestack. Slipping behind it, he allowed the darkness to swallow him. He
disengaged the board and landed on his soft-soled shoes with barely a whisper.
Then he waited.

This part of Los Angeles was more affluent, but not in the
celebrity style. Houses were large, and sat on comfortable one acre lots. Trees
and abundant vegetation grew in manicured rows. This neighborhood in particular
had a higher than average percentage of mages, and it was easy to pinpoint
which homes belonged to them. The plants, gardens, and lawns were immaculate,
yet one never saw someone operating a lawn mower or hedge trimmer. Even in
auren communities, mages couldn't resist using their magic.

The Swordsman had tracked one of the Harbingers to this
street, and it hadn't been difficult to identify which was his. Three mage
homes stood on the block, and were marked by flawless yards. Only one of them
had sentries. In his private opinion it wasn't the best place to stash your
leverage. He sniffed in disdain. He had expected better.

The door opened below him as the guard exited to check the
yard once more. Techno magic was useful at detecting intruders, but it could
always be tricked by talented mages or special artifacts. Trained human eyes
were harder to fool, hence the sentries. Still, the man below was unprepared
for the Swordsman.

The assassin stepped off the roof and cast a strength spell
on himself. In half a second he landed thirty feet below, and cushioned his
landing in near silence. The guard whirled as the Swordsman landed behind him,
demonstrating that he had a sound amplifying spell cast on him.

The Swordsman was quicker. Dropping his strength spell, he
cast a speed charm and closed the distance before the man's eyes could widen.
Drawing his black sword, the Swordsman plunged it into the guard's chest. The
flash of fire that had gathered on the man's hands winked out as he died, and
the Swordsman caught him before the thump could alert the others.

One down, three to go.

The Swordsman slid the body under some bushes and then sped
to the door. Releasing his speed spell, he cast an agility spell. A tingling of
energy filled his limbs as it took effect, and he waited for another guard to
show up. None exited the door. Satisfied his attack had not been heard, the
Swordsman eased the door open and ducked inside.

The interior was dark, but not totally, so he darted into
the empty room on his right. The desk, cabinets, and chairs identified it as an
office, but the absence of personal items revealed it lacked an owner. The
Swordsman frowned, but moved on. He stepped into the hall at the same time a
man came out of the kitchen.

They saw each other at the same moment, and both reached for
weapons. The hoodless Harbinger gathered balls of water in his hands, but the
Swordsman pulled a stubby stock from a holster inside his cloak. He raised it
at the same time the man lifted his hands.

Smoke burst out of the stock, and shaped into an ethereal
crossbow. The Swordsman fired even as it solidified. The bolt struck his foe in
the throat an instant before he could release his spell, causing the water in
his hands to fade into mist. Choking, he went down with a crash. The Swordsman
tapped a rune on his crossbow that drew the bolt back to him, and then dived
over the couch as footfalls sounded on the stairs.

Two men rushed to investigate. The flyer arrived first.
Soaring around the bend he rolled into a flip that landed him next to the body.
The other was right behind, and was already gathering fire into his hands. The
Swordsman was tempted to put them both down with his crossbow, but the second
man's wariness dissuaded him.

"He's dead," the flyer hissed. "Sweep this
floor. Check every room."

The Swordsman took the initiative. He might have been able
to kill them with his crossbow, but if he missed they would still be across the
room with magic in their palms. Besides, he preferred his sword anyway.

With his agility three times the norm, he drew his sword and
leapt over the couch. Two steps and the fire mage spotted him. He cried out a
warning and launched a fireball. The Swordsman dodged to the adjacent wall, and
ran sideways along it. The ball of flame passed below him, and the moment it
did, he returned to the floor.

The fireball struck the opposite wall and ignited the
curtains. Red and orange washed across the room with the bursts of heat. Before
another could be launched at him, The Swordsman dived feet first toward the
piano. His body passed between the bench and the keys, and he disappeared in
the shadows underneath.

A larger fireball struck the instrument as he rolled out
from under it. It erupted in flames in an explosion of off-key tones. The
Swordsman shifted direction, and stepped to an end table. Using it as a
springboard, he leapt into a high, twisting flip, and landed at the fire mage's
side.  Unprepared for the proximity, the man tried to turn his spell on him,
but couldn't bring it to bear.

The assassin's sword cut into his chest, causing him to cry
out in pain and crumple. He fell from view, revealing a refrigerator streaking
toward The Swordsman. On instinct he flattened himself against the wall,
avoiding the appliance by inches. It struck the piano in a shower of sparks and
sound. The Swordsman dropped to the ground as a washing machine flew toward
him. The wall he'd been standing against shuddered as the heavy object collided
with it.

The Swordsman rolled backwards as it crunched to the floor,
but instantly leapt on top of it. Bouncing off its surface, he launched himself
directly at the stove flying toward him. With his enhanced agility, he caught
the top edge and used the contact to swing his legs up and over. Now moving
feet first down the hall, he kicked the gravity mage in the chest.

Metal screeched on metal as the stove hit the dryer in his
wake, drowning out the umph from the gravity mage. The Swordsman kept his
poise as they fell together. The gravity mage did not. The man cried out as he
attempted to catch himself, but the snap of his wrist was audible even over the
growing fire.

The Swordsman had lost his sword in the scuffle, so he
dropped his agility spell and amped his strength. Snatching the man's cloak, he
raised him to the wall and slammed him into it. Sheetrock crunched and the
studs cracked from the impact, stunning the man enough that the Swordsman could
turn him around and draw a thin, black cord from a pouch at his side. With a
flick he sent it coiling around the man's wrists.

The man screamed as the anti-magic binding tightened on his
broken bone, but the Swordsman didn't have time for anything else. The living
room was flooded with fire—and if he didn't find the leverage fast it would be
gone. Ignoring the bellowing Harbinger, he retrieved his sword and then leapt
into the blazing room. With his magic still active he jumped to the second
floor balcony that overlooked the living room. Then he released his strength in
favor of speed.

He rushed through the rooms, but each of the bedrooms was
empty. They even lacked beds. In the second to last he found what he'd sought, and
it caused him to skid to a stop. Two children stared up at him with frightened
eyes. They whimpered and huddled together, galvanizing the Swordsman into
action.

"I'm not going to hurt you," he whispered as he
knelt beside them. "I'm here to help."

"Did Daddy send you?" the older asked.

He examined the strengths that bound them. "Who's your
father?" he asked.

"Chancellor Gerik," they said in unison.

"Then no," the Swordsman replied. "But I need
you to be quiet for a minute. The fire is going to reach the gas any second,
and I need to get you away from here."

The older girl nodded and wrapped her arm around her sister,
who had begun to cry. The Swordsman ignored them both. At best he figured they
had two minutes before the fire reached the gas lines in the kitchen. Then it
would be too late for any of them.

He reactivated his strength charm and yanked the chains from
their mounts. Metal screeched and stone shattered as the brackets were pulled
free. Then he picked them both up and carried them into the hall. The living
room was now flooded with fire, and it had spread to the kitchen and the
entryway. Sirens sounded in the distance, indicating that the neighbors had
panicked. The Swordsman looked over the balcony, but saw that the Harbinger was
gone.

Out of time, he reentered the room and darted to the small
bed adjacent to the window. Without releasing the two girls, he kicked the
mattress up and then threw himself toward it. Glass shattered as his body
carried the mattress through the window. The girls screamed in his ears as they
fell, but the Swordsman twisted so his feet were downward and activated his air
board. It took its shape at the last second, and brushed the grass as he banked
them away.

Accelerating into the sky, he soared past the cliff from
which he'd surveyed the house. He turned back when the house exploded behind
him. Erupting in a ball of fire, the house all but disappeared in the ensuing
flames. Windows and walls shattered outward, and the roof was engulfed in the
billowing flames. Even from their distance he felt the shockwave and heat.

The Swordsman curved them away from the sight. Then he
shifted his burden so he could don his omni-glasses. A moment later he was
connected to Hawk, and the man's face shimmered into view a few feet in front
of him.

"I found the leverage," the Swordsman said.

"And?" Hawk asked.

"It was Chancellor Gerik's daughters," he replied.
He managed to keep the surge of anger from his voice, but Hawk did not.

"What about Souza and Anderson?" Hawk demanded.

"There was nothing else at the house," he said.

"You mean the other kids?" the older girl asked,
drawing the assassin's attention.

"There were other kids in the house?" the Swordsman
asked. Before the thought had finished he'd banked his board in a tight circle
to go back.

"No," the older girl whispered as her sister
started to cry again.

The Swordsman had a sinking feeling as she stared into the
eyes of the young girl. "What did they do?"

"They . . . killed Chancellor Anderson's wife and
Souza's husband. Then they took Anderson's daughter and Souza's son two days
ago. I don't know where they went. They told us they were going to kill me
tomorrow so my father would listen to them."

"What did they say?" Hawk asked.

The Swordsman had to swallow the blossoming hate before he
could answer. "They are killing their families, Hawk."

There was a long silence, but Hawk's expression sent fear
down the Swordsman's spine. When he spoke his voice was laced with caged fury.

"Get them to the Guild refuge in Oakridge. I will meet
you there."

"Where are you going?" the Swordsman asked.

"It's time I spoke with Ranson," Hawk said.

The Swordsman had been trained to kill, but he'd never seen
such anger on another human being. The sight sent fear coursing through him. He
removed his glasses and then turned their path toward the mage city in Colorado.
He wished he could be there to watch Hawk confront Ranson.

At the same time he was glad he was not.

Chapter 13: Rage

Hawk's anger roiled like lava, hot and churning. The
individuals he passed in Auroraq gave him a wide berth and scurried away. He
barely noticed their wariness. Stalking through the dark streets, he made his
way to Northpoint. Reserved for civic buildings, Northpoint also housed the
high council members and the various department heads of the Magtherian. Hawk
only had eyes for the largest home.

Broad and sweeping, the high chancellor's home was imbued
with swirling water and air magic, creating an ever flowing elegance and grace.
Knit into walls of light blue and white, the energy curled and twisted into
intricate columns and spires.

Sweet melodies cascaded through the immaculate gardens,
adding to the cadence of the shallow brooks. Unwilling to deviate from his
course, he left the curving path of sparkling white and stalked through the
greenery.

Leaves and flowers blackened at the heat of his passing.
Scorched footprints remained in his wake. Behind his rigid expression the
emotions of a phoenix raged. Twice he passed guards, but he sucked the heat
from their bodies and left them shivering on the ground, alive, but unable to
cry a warning.

He left the front gardens and strode to the door of solid
light. Two steps away it opened of its own accord, and a woman addressed him.

"I'm sorry, but the high chancellor is not available .
. ."

Fear stilled her tongue, and in the resulting quiet, he
said, "It is a matter of life and death."

The darkness to his tone was evident, but the simple phrase
could not be ignored. She slipped out of sight and returned a moment later with
High Chancellor Ranson. While she was gone Hawk used his magic to examine the
depths of the home, and saw that only two bodies were present, and both were
walking toward the front door. At the sight of Ranson's smiling face Hawk's
rage erupted.

The blast of fire shattered the enchanted door into wisps of
fading light. The explosion launched the woman out of view, but her shrieking
cries could still be heard. Ranson was not so fortunate. His body tumbled into
the formal receiving room. Burns streaked his arms and small fires rose from
his clothing.

As he rose to his feet the mask of civility was gone,
leaving behind the rage of a Harbinger. "You dare to come into my home!"
Balls of purple light sparked across his arms as he prepared to fight.

"If you harm the defenseless, you face the ones
bound to protect them."

Magnified by Reiquen's fury, Hawk's voice reverberated
throughout the house, overpowering the screaming woman and the faint sounds of
pounding feet. Despite himself, Ranson flinched and took a step back.

"You must understand why—"

Hawk's blast of fire shredded the receiving room. Glass
walls exploded outward, and the enchanted stairs of air and water cracked from
the concussive blast.

"There exists no cause that warrants harming an
innocent!"

Liquid fire cascaded off his shoulders like a cloak as Hawk
stalked forward, launching an unrestrained inferno at his adversary. Ranson
tried to flee. Raising furniture and broken sections of wall, he blocked the
brunt of Hawk's assault, but the weak barriers were no match for the pouring
flames.

Ranson was backed into a corner. With panic spreading across
his features, he turned and slapped the wall. A blast of air launched him
aside, causing the boulder of fire to miss him by inches. It crashed through
the space where he'd been standing. Abandoning his efforts to fight, Ranson
weaved his way through the massive home. Half flying and half running, he
fought to stay ahead of the inferno.

Roaring flames billowed behind Hawk as he pursued. The
bitter taste of vengeance was hot on his tongue as he seared every inch of the
building as he passed. Enchanted or not, the walls and ceiling shuddered in his
wake, their magic crumbling into ash. Ten steps later Hawk caught up with his
quarry.

Desperate to escape, Ranson caught the fleeing woman and
threw her back toward Hawk. She stumbled and shrieked as she fell toward the
devouring flames. Despite his fury, Hawk swept the fire toward the adjacent
wall. Stone, wood, and sparkles of magic detonated outward, revealing a
sweeping pond at the rear of the house.

Without breaking his stride, Hawk caught the woman's arm and
tossed her into it. Her scream ended as she splashed through the house's fire
lit reflection. Momentarily delayed, Hawk reached the open door to find Ranson
already in the air. The high chancellor paused and threw Hawk a sneering
expression.

"You will die for what you—"

"You will not flee!"

Hawk roared at his adversary, and then spread his arms wide.
Bellowing his hatred at the man, he ignited all the oxygen in a massive dome
over the crumbling house. Ranson's eyes widened as he saw his escape being cut
off. An instant later the dome of fire began to shrink. Ranson tried to force
his way through but fell back, crying out at his burns.

He glanced at Hawk, and tried again. And then again. The
third time the searing heat blackened his skin and left him tumbling to the
grass. Hawk closed the distance and caught the man's shirt.

"It was the Master's order!" Ranson screamed,
struggling to break Hawk's grip.

"But you followed it!" Hawk roared into his
face.

Ranson began to beg, and Hawk discarded him in disgust. Then
he raised his hands and a sword of pure yellow fire gathered in his palms. As
it turned almost solid he placed the tip against Ranson's heaving chest.

"You have committed crimes worthy of death," Hawk
proclaimed. "And for that I provide the justice you are due."

Ranson held his wounds as words tumbled from his mouth,
pleading for mercy. Engulfed in the thrall of Reiquen, Hawk leaned into the
blow . . .

A blast of yellow light caused him to turn, and then a
crackle of thunder spread across the sky. The clear night darkened in an
instant, and a blanket of rain crashed into the dome of fire. Spitting and
sizzling, the fires began to dissipate.

Hawk sensed the presence and turned to face it. Thirty yards
away a figure stood wreathed in yellow energy. He wore a cloak of black, but
the hood had been thrown back. Despite the proximity, Hawk couldn't seem to get
a look at him. Every time he peered at his features it seemed he jerked to the
side.

"That's enough, Hawk," the man said mildly.

"I suppose you are the Master?" Hawk asked, and
raised his sword.

The figure nodded. "You have accomplished what I need
for the evening. You may go."

As he finished the statement Hawk became aware of the
tumultuous sounds of approaching men and women. Footsteps pounded across the
paths of the smoldering house, splashing through the puddles created by the
sudden downpour. Voices called to each other, organizing, seeking.

Hawk snarled his hate, his tactical mind urging him to
retreat. "What makes you think I have done your will?"

The figure seemed to smile even though Hawk couldn't see it.
"Because I planned it, Hawk."

Hawk gathered his magic once more and turned to slay
Ranson—but he was no longer there. Foreboding chilled his anger as he realized
the damage he'd inflicted on the high chancellor's home.

Since Ranson was gone, he spiked heat into the fire sword,
causing it to burn white, and the supreme blue. Then he yanked his arms forward
and hurled it at the shadowy figure. There was another burst of yellow magic,
and impossibly, Hawk's sword missed.

"As I said," the Master murmured. "You may
go. Unless you wish to reveal yourself to the hundreds of battlemages that are
about to arrive . . . ?"

"We will finish this at a later time," Hawk said
evenly.

"I look forward to it," the Master replied.

Reluctantly, Hawk withdrew into the raging storm. As the
shadows enveloped him the storm began to abate, but when he looked back the
Master was gone. An hour later he heard the news that an auren missile had
struck the city and almost killed the high chancellor.

He knew then that he had been used.

Chapter 14: The Power of Fear

"Can you repeat that?" Tess asked.

"The council is reporting that an auren missile struck
the city," Iris repeated.

Tess sat bolt upright and rubbed her eyes. "Are you
sure? How is that possible?"

"It isn't," Iris said matter-of-factly.
"That's why I don't believe the report."

Tess massaged her forehead, confused and angry at being
woken. "Wait, you just said that a missile hit the high chancellor's home.
Is it true or not?"

Iris jerked her head in annoyance. "Of course it isn't
true—but the high chancellor's house was destroyed. Look," she
touched one of the paintings above the bed. The scene of three young women in
Africa crouched over a glowing purple object changed to an entirely different
view.

The once regal home was in ruins. Walls, columns, and towers
had been torn to shreds by something supreme. Despite the battlemages fighting
to contain them them, fires still raged in its depth.

"Why would they give such a blatant lie?" Tess
said. "Unless . . ."

She darted to the balcony and launched herself skyward.
Rocketing upward, she faced north, wondering if she would see could see it. She
came to a stop when she spotted a column of white smoke rising in the darkness
of Northpoint. Her stomach plummeted with her as she returned to her room.

"It's true," Tess said when she landed. "Something
was attacked in Northpoint. You can see the smoke from here."

Iris frowned. "That can't be right. There is no
possible way a missile could penetrate the cloudwall. The high chancellor's
home must have been destroyed by other means."

"So why say the aurens did it?"

Iris shrugged. "Maybe they don't want to admit they
blew it up themselves."

"Wait," Tess said. "We know the Harbingers
want to open the portal so they can take over the auren nations, right?"
Iris nodded, so Tess continued, "What if this is just another piece of
getting the mages angry enough to go to war? Do you think they want the entire
mage community to go against the aurens?"

"It would be hard to do," Iris said skeptically,
"The mages have been peaceful for centuries. It would take a lot for us to
collectively want the same thing the Harbingers do."

Tess felt a chill. "So this is just the
beginning?"

"Of what?"

Tess didn't answer as she lay back down. Iris didn't say
anything else, and after a moment she was muttering under her breath to someone
in England.

Tess tried to fall back asleep, but it refused to come. Her
mind buzzed for two hours before she gave up with a sigh. Rising, she padded
outside and flew to the roof of her cabin. With the first hint of dawn lighting
the horizon, she withdrew her glasses and called her mom.

"Tess? Is everything alright?"

"Yeah," Tess replied. "I think so. How are
things on your end?"

"You sure you aren't in danger?"

"No more than usual," Tess said with a sigh.
"But can I ask you something?"

"Of course, honey."

"You and dad are working for the CIA now, right?"

"Yes. Where is this going?"

Tess pressed on. "Would you know if a missile had hit a
mage city?"

There was a moment of silence. Then her father's voice
filled the line. "What's this all about, Tess?"

"I'm just curious," Tess replied. "You don't
have to tell me if it's classified. I don't want to get you into trouble."

Her father's reply was the most serious she had ever heard from
him.

"We are beyond classified at this point. If you know
something, you need to tell me."

"The Harbingers are saying an auren missile struck the
city. I'm fairly certain it's a lie, but I saw the smoke myself."

There was a whispered conversation, and then her dad said,
"There has been no attack that we are aware of. Frankly, I don't think
it's possible. The investigation office I have joined isn't even aware of
techno mages yet. They still think they're plagued with computer glitches and
software problems."

"What about another country?"

"To my knowledge no one knows as much as we do.
Everyone is in the dark, so to speak."

Tess sighed and admitted what was bothering her. "Hawk
thinks they are trying to start a war, Dad. What if they want the entire mage
community to be on their side. Do you think the mages could be manipulated into
joining the Harbinger's purpose?"

"People react poorly when they're afraid."

His voice was solemn enough for her to believe him. "So
what do I do?"

Her dad was quiet, and then he said slowly, "You
prepare to fight. When the time comes, someone will need to stand up and say
no."

Tess blinked in surprise. "You don't want me to stay
out of it?"

There was a lengthy silence, and then her dad said, "Of
course we do, but we don't seem to have much control, do we? As much as we
dislike it, we have to trust that you are in good hands. Besides, would it work
if we told you to leave it alone?"

Tess swallowed the knot in her throat. "Probably
not," she admitted. She hated the sound of resignation in his voice. Had
they given up on her?

Jack released a lengthy sigh. "Hawk and Breaker have
told us a lot about you and your calling. I don't think we have much choice but
to accept your participation. Just don't get killed, or your mother will have
my head."

"It's true." Kate's voice was faint.

"And don't worry," her dad said. "We are
working with Hawk from this end. So far we have identified a handful of Harbinger
plants within our armed forces—and my own office."

"What have you done with them?" she asked. She
felt a trickle of fear sink into her gut.

"Nothing yet," he assured her. "But your
mother got accepted onto our task force, and is training with them. She will
help take them down if it becomes necessary."

"What's a task force?" Tess asked.

There was a crackle as the phone changed hands. "Nothing,
honey."

Tess's mind was drawn back to the mages she had fought with,
and she swallowed at the idea of her parents facing them.

"These aren't like normal men and women," she
warned.

"We know," her mother said. "Breaker is
giving us additional training."

"Kate," her dad said in the background. "He's
waiting for us now."

"I love you, Mom," Tess said.

Kate and Jack echoed the sentiment. Then the line went dead.
For a long time Tess held her knees and watched the sunrise, lost in thought. Seeming
to sense her mood, Stel melted out of his necklace shape and turned into a
badger. Waddling around her, he nuzzled against her leg. Absently she petted
his neck, considering how to proceed. Hawk and her father had both told her to
prepare to fight. But how to go about doing it?

She mulled several options, but settled on two. The new
Melee would be an excellent forum to work with other students, and Tempest
would present opportunities to connect with other schools, as well as practice
fighting in the air. She let out a slow breath, and realized she had no idea
what she was doing. With fear and doubt spiking through her, she jumped down
from the roof and prepared for her day. Then she walked with Iris to get
breakfast.

Whatever she was going to do, she had to do it fast.

Chapter 15: Centaurus

"You ready, Tess?" Parker asked.

It was only a day since the high chancellor's home had been
attacked, and the gossip had spread like wildfire. In spite of the rising
tension, the students of Tryton's had turned out in mass for the Tempest
tryout.

Tess swallowed her nervousness and climbed onto her board to
wait. She watched the raging game as anticipation curled in her stomach. Fire
exploded across the arena as players sought to strike each other down. Speed
flyers zipped past, dodging to avoid the multitude of traps and launched
flames. Some succeeded, other did not. Their clothing singed and their boards
colored black, the ones that hadn't survived were carried back to the game
shelf by their boards.

This quad Shorn had elected for a brawl over a skirmish.
Players were allowed to come in and replace those that had been burned. The
rotating squad fought the regular school team, which didn't have substitutes.

In fifteen minutes, only two of the school team members had been
eliminated. Parker was one of them. Affable but quiet, the boy was from the
southern United States. His skin was dark, and his accent was slight. After
he'd burned out he had taken over directing the flow of students wanting to try
out for the Tempest team. A girl on a blackened board cursed as she returned to
the shelf. Another was quick to take her place.

Tess threw a glance at the large crowd. Was it just her
imagination, or was it more subdued than in the last quad? The attack on the
high chancellor's home was only days old, and Tess could see many of the
students peering into news orbs rather than focusing on the game. It had only
been a week since school had resumed, but it felt like a lifetime.

"Tess . . .," Parker said in a rising tone.

She jerked her head to focus, and then bolted away from the
shelf. She was immediately assailed by a flyer in blue. She ducked, and then jerked
to the side to avoid the second blast. She tried a flip to shake him, but he stayed
with her. He stood on the back of his board and exploded after her.

Then she spotted another blue flyer cruising to cut her off.
Recognizing they were working in tandem, she ducked, grabbed both sides of her
board, and rolled to point straight down. Corkscrewing toward the floor of the
arena, she avoided a fireball by inches. Heat washed across her face, but she
didn't let up.

This constellation was filled with planets, creating a labyrinth
of hiding places and retreats. Several of the smaller planets were broken, as
if some force had exploded from their interior. The gaping holes were steeped
in shadow, and provided a good place to hide. Spotting one, Tess pulled out of
her dive and headed for it. At the last second she saw the black ball inside and
swerved away.

Then an idea crossed her mind and she spun to face the hole.
A moment later the flyer in blue curved in pursuit. Both launched attacks at
the same moment. The boy's attempt flew over Tess's shoulder, singing her
cheek. Hers struck the side of the hole. The blast of fire ignited the trap,
and caused a geyser of fire to explode outward, washing over her pursuer in an
instant.

The crowd roared as the boy's board turned black and headed
for the team shelf. Tess didn't wait around and rolled over a smaller planet
and then under a larger one. Then she poured on the speed and flew toward her
own star.

She hooked up with a flyer in red halfway there. Recognizing
her by the stream of blond hair, Tess called out, "Sophia! Is there any
sort of plan?"

Soph, as she preferred to called, shook her head and jinked
past a trap in her way. "Not that I know of. Want to do a bait and
switch?"

Tess grinned and nodded. "Lead the way!"

Soph sped in front of her and then turned in a tight circle toward
the outer wall. Dropping low, she flew under the lowest of the planets. A blue
flyer saw them coming and turned in their direction.

"Here we go," Soph called in a rising tone, and
banked upward. Tess did the same. In seconds the blue flyer was on their tail.

Tess stayed with Soph as they weaved between the planets.
Twice she dodged to avoid blasts of fire, and then Soph pumped her arm and
plummeted through a gap between a planet's moons. Tess maintained her
direction, and swerved to avoid another ball of fire. It struck a planet's surface
and exploded. Tess barrel rolled to avoid the ensuing flames. She threw a look
back just as Soph rose into view again—behind the blue flyer.

Tess whirled and raced directly toward the opponent, who
recognized the trap. Catching the front tip of his board, he rocketed straight
upward. Tess and Soph followed suit, launching balls of fire at him. Tess's
attempt grazed him, causing him to evade harder, but his path took him into a
blast from Soph. Just before it struck he launched four attacks in quick
succession.

The four balls impacted at a gap that Soph and been flying toward,
leaving her no place to go. She tried to brake and turn away, but she couldn't
move fast enough. One of the fire balls caught her across the legs. She laughed
in chagrin and waved to Tess as her board turned black and headed toward the
shelf.

"Good luck, Tess!" she called.

Tess didn't get a chance to answer. A pair of blue flyers
had witnessed the action and were coming after her. Tess called on the wind and
accelerated away. Rising above the multitude of planets, she sought to get away
by sheer speed. One of the pursuing flyers did the same, and accelerated after
her.

She threw a glance backwards and recognized Shorn. The sight
didn't cause her to relax. His face was a mask of determination and
anticipation. Accelerating as fast as she dared, she swerved back and forth to
keep her path unpredictable. Shorn kept pace with her, and shifted to her
right.

Sensing the trap, Tess nevertheless dodged to the left—and
then plummeted through a gap in the asteroid belt. She was forced to slow as
the obstacles thickened. A moment later she broke free and turned toward her
own star. Her path was blocked by Shorn's companion, who had flown to the
bottom of the asteroid belt. Twin traps were in his hands, marking him as a
detonator just before he hurled them toward her.

The black balls flew in her direction, pulsing with
suppressed power. An instant later the detonator launched fireballs after the
traps. Tess desperately sought for a place to escape, but there was nowhere to
go. Shorn blocked off her escape route with blasts of air as the first trap
exploded beside her. She jerked away and flew toward Shorn, hoping to slide
past him.

He shook his head and launched a tornado directly at her,
forcing her back. With nowhere to go and only seconds before she was out, she
launched a fast volley of fire at them both. Shorn managed to evade, but one of
her attacks struck the detonator in his shoulder.

He growled as his board darkened underneath him, but his
traps had done their work. Fire exploded in the confines of the belt and enveloped
her, cutting off her vision. On instinct, Tess cast a heat shield but it proved
to be unnecessary. The heat was drawn into her board and it turned black.

"Nice try, Tess," Shorn said. He grinned and sped
away.

Since they'd both been hit at the same time, she and the
detonator glided toward the bench together, creating an awkward moment until
the boy grunted. "Nice aim, Tess."

"Thanks, Brig," she replied. "You too."

The boy cast a surly grin in her direction but didn’t say
any more. They reached the shelf together and stepped off their boards to allow
others their turn. Out of breath, hot, and dissatisfied with her performance,
she landed next to Parker, who flashed an appreciative grin.

"Two kills and an assist," he said. "Nice
job."

Tess managed a smile and retreated to join the others that
had been knocked out. Soph tilted her head in praise.

"You did more than the rest of us before you got
burned," she said. "You should make the team handily."

"That's nice of you to say," Tess said.

Soph's eyes flicked over her shoulder. "Hey, check out Kyle,"
she said.

Tess turned and watched him perform a triple corkscrew into
a sweeping back flip that took him behind the two red players pursuing him.
Rotating his arms backward, he launched twin jets of flame that propelled him
forward. He blew between them like they were standing still, and both were
engulfed in the fire trails.

Soph whistled in appreciation. "Wish I could do
that."

"I'm sure if we make the team, he will teach us,"
Tess said.

A few minutes later the tryout ended and Shorn soared to a
position above the shelf. He gestured to a one of the players in blue, who
obliged him with a sound amplifying spell. Then Shorn turned to address the
spectators and players.

"Excellent job, everyone. As usual, we will be posting
the four players that made it in the meal and leisure halls."

As the students began to file out, Shorn dropped to the
shelf and kicked off his board. His eyes twinkled as he approached Tess.

"I must admit, you impressed me," Shorn said.

"I just hope I make it," Tess replied.

He turned his back on the rest of the players and then
winked at her. "You'll find out soon enough." He flashed a grin as he
departed.

Tess released an explosive breath. She'd never been on a
team before, and she found the prospect exhilarating—and nerve-wracking. Why
couldn't Shorn have told them now? Sighing, she removed her red cloak and
placed it with the others. Then she flew through the shield. A handful of
people had waited for her, but Mike and Laura were the first to her side.

"You are a gold mine, Tess," Mike said.

Laura's agreement was almost fervent. "You're
perfect!"

Tess laughed. "It's good to see you too. How much did
you earn off me today? And did you bet for—or against me?"

Mike feigned a wounded expression. "We would never
dream of gambling—ˮ

"For," Laura said, "And plenty."

Mike and Tess laughed in unison, and Tess felt a rush of
gratitude for their friendship. The couple had taken Intro to Flight with her
last quad, and they had been friends since. Both were quite skilled, but had no
desire to play the games. They preferred counting the odds, and doing it
together. Tess could not recall a time where either of them had been without
the other. Then Iris, Rox, and Derek joined them, interrupting her thoughts.

"Do you think you made the team?" Rox asked.

"Did you see her bait and switch?" Iris exploded.
"And two kills!"

"I thought you didn't watch this game," Derek
said. He smothered a laugh as his sister rounded on him.

"Attractive boys on boards," she said sharply.
"How often do I need to remind you that I am a female?"

Derek put up his hands to placate her. "Alright, I was
wrong. You can watch it as much as you like."

She fell to muttering under her breath as Laura nudged Tess.
"What?" Tess asked, and then turned to look where Laura was
indicating.

The group fell silent as they witnessed the planets begin to
move. The sun, stars, planets, and asteroids of the constellation Centaurus
groaned in protest as they were moved lower into the arena. Vast doors opened
in the stone on either side and allowed the celestial objects to file in. In
minutes the arena was empty.

"I thought they only moved the planets before a
game," Laura said.

"They do," Derek said, his brow furrowing.

Iris shook her head. "Then why do it now?"

The answer came as a handful of cloaked teachers strode onto
the ground at the base of the arena and set to work. Whole trees blossomed into
view, rocks appeared and hardened, and small forts ballooned into shape. Piles
of rock and scattered trees littered the ground, creating a labyrinth of
twisting paths and hiding places. Small hills and valleys gave the new terrain
a realistic feel, and fortified buildings dotted the space. A moment later the
huge bubble shield that had protected the crowd flickered and faded from sight.

"What is it?" Rox asked.

"It's a battlefield," Derek replied evenly.

Tess blinked in realization. "The new Melee," Tess
said. "This is where they want us to fight."

"But the Melee isn't for five weeks," Rox said.
"Why are they doing this now?"

Mike issued a grunt. "Look at Grayson. He's over there
talking to a couple of other teachers. I would bet anything they are planning
what they want the Melee to look like."

"Of course they are," Laura said. "They've
put a lot of planning into this. Besides, when Hawk suggested the idea to the
school—"

Tess whirled to face them. "How do you know about
Hawk?"

"It's our business to know," Mike said with a
shrug. "Hawk is the leader of a secret organization dedicated to
protecting the peace between mages and aurens."

"You don't tell anyone about it, do you?"
Rox demanded.

"Of course not," Laura scoffed. "I did say it
was secret, didn't I? We only manage the betting for those who already know
about the Guild."

"Wait," Tess said. "Hawk is the reason for
this new Melee?" she turned to Iris, who nodded.

"I thought you knew," Iris said apologetically.

Tess’s stomach felt heavy as she turned back to the changing
arena. Like adding a crucial piece to a puzzle, she now understood the reason
behind the Melee. Hawk wanted to prepare much more than just her.

He wanted the entire school trained for combat.

Chapter 16: Trained by a Swordsman

The next few weeks passed quickly, and Tess felt a steadily
rising tension within her, like a chain tightening to the breaking point. She
wondered which link would snap first. She suspected it would be one of her
classes.

Every day was a blur of classes, tutors, homework, and
Tempest practice, which was quickly becoming the only thing she did not dread.
She hardly noticed the colors of the school changing to fall until Derek
pointed it out to her. Tess had felt a twinge of guilt when he did, because
she'd been forced to turn down his invitation for a fall picnic. She had too
much on her schedule to think about him, even if she wanted to.

Rubbing the ache in her neck, she donned her glasses and
checked her schedule for the hundredth time. The symbol for a new tutor
appeared, and she activated her compass to know where to meet him. Numb with
fatigue, she slowly climbed into the air, not really caring who the tutor was
or what his subject would be.

She thought of Iris as she flew, and wished her roommate had
found out something about the Crest. Tess had taken to asking her every
evening, and last night she had snapped.

"I'll tell you when I find something," Iris had
responded. "Now stop nagging me or I won't get anything done.

Tess sighed, and tried to the put the encounter from her
mind. Iris was right. She would tell Tess when she succeeded. It was just that
Tess felt like nothing was progressing. Hawk had said nothing about the Sword,
and Iris had found nothing Oracle's Crest. Tess would have started searching on
her own, but knew it would be a waste of time. Iris worked far faster than she
could.

Grunting in resignation, she followed the gold filament her
glasses displayed to the library south of the stadium. At one time the ancient
castle had represented the entire Tryton's Academy of Magic. Relegated to the
position of school library, the building was rapidly fading into obscurity due
to the rise of techno mages. It seemed few students had a desire to read a book
anymore.

The moment she stepped inside her glasses led her downstairs
to the lower levels of the fortress. She'd never been in this part of the castle
before, but she wasn't surprised to find it filled with books. Odd circles and
runes were carved into the floors, walls, and even the ceilings, but were faded
with time and covered with tall bookshelves.

Turning the last corner, she entered a chamber similar to
those she'd passed—but its contents were vastly different. Rectangular in
shape, the chamber was the size of a school gym. Rusted brackets were mounted on
every inch of wall space, and the floor boasted several large circles. Old wood
railings bordered the rings, and she vaguely recalled they were training
circles.

The moment she entered her gaze fell on the single occupant.
Tall and slender, the man wore a black shirt, dark pants, and an odd cloak. She
blinked as she stared at it, unable to identify its enchantment. Then she met
the man's gaze. His eyes were a forbidding grey, and seemed to bore right
through her.

The man's expression inspired caution, so when she joined
him inside the nearest ring she kept her distance. After a moment's hesitation,
she asked, "Are you my tutor?"

The man didn't move for long enough that she considered
repeating the question. Just as she opened her mouth he exploded into motion.
She flinched in surprise, and by the time she'd blinked he'd crossed the
distance and placed a sword at her throat.

"Lesson one," he said mildly, "is to be wary.
The wise warrior has open eyes."

She was breathing hard, both in disbelief at how fast he'd
moved, and the edge of steel at her jugular. "How did you do that?"

His sword disappeared, causing her to flinch again. "I
am the Swordsman, and I will be your tutor today. To answer your question, I
used a speed spell."

"What's a speed spell?" Tess asked. Her heartbeat
had regained its normal rhythm, but she still had to force the question out.

"Body magic encompasses a broad spectrum of spells,"
he said. "But they essentially fall into two categories. Draining spells
weaken your enemy. Enhancement spells increase your own abilities, or that of
an ally.

"A speed charm increases response time, acceleration,
and muscular speed. I have been informed that you do not have the time to
master body magic, so I will focus on the most useful spells. If you can learn
them, you should be able to learn the others on your own."

"I didn't think I was studying body magic this
term," she said.

He shrugged. "Mastery is gained from the acceptance of
opportunities. If you don't care to use this one then you are free to go, and I
won't waste my time."

"No," she said hastily. "I would rather learn
when I can. What's first?"

"Lesson two," the Swordsman replied. "Never
place two enhancement spells on the same person."

"Why not? Wouldn't that make them stronger?"

"You should know by now that every magic has its
weakness. Healing magic cannot create energy, it can only help a person heal
themselves. Techno mages see all live signals, so they struggle with
distractions. Fire magic is volatile, and difficult to control, and so on. The
weakness to body magic is temptation."

"What do you mean?"

"Casting an enhancement spell is like a drug. With such
a spell active you will be able to perform feats of strength, speed, and
movement unlike anything you have ever experienced. You can enhance your
vision, healing, or even your senses. If you apply more than one, it can be
intoxicating—and causes a withdrawal effect when the spells are terminated. It will
leave you shaky, weak, and confused. Doing so repeatedly can lead to
addiction-like symptoms."

The Swordsman's expression was sufficient warning for her to
take his words seriously. "I understand. What happens now?"

He flashed a slight grin and swept his hand at the circle.
"You practice. Normally this is the point your professor would tell you to
use your magesight, but we will skip that. In most cases, you will need to call
on your power of instinct. There won't be time for you to think about what you
want, use your mage sight, and then cast a spell. Just like with stone and
healing, body magic is more of an innate sense than a visual one. Are you
ready?"

"I think so," Tess replied.

"Then stand in the middle of the training circle and
jump to the ceiling," The Swordsman replied. "And don't use your
gravity magic."

Tess stepped to the middle and looked up uneasily.
"It's over thirty feet high," she said. "How am I supposed to do
that?"

"Take a deep breath and use your magic to feel the
energy in your muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Draw more energy into your
legs, your stomach, and your arms. When you feel ready to jump, don't
hesitate."

Tess bent her knees a little and did as he suggested. She
closed her eyes, and tried to feel the energy within her body. It was easy to
feel the strength in her muscles bunch and gather, as if they wanted to do
more. Adding her magic was a different matter. She hadn't realized before, but
her magic was used to gathering in her chest and arms.

Spreading it to her feet felt like pushing against an
unfamiliar dam. She strove to push the energy through, and a single drop
coalesced near her waist and melted into her muscles. It sent a spark of heat
through her. Taking that as a sign she was doing things correctly, she pushed
harder.

Drop by drop her magic trickled into her muscles. She
marveled at the resulting surge of strength. The dam that held her magic
gradually allowed more through, but retained its resistance despite her effort
to dispel it. After another few minutes she grew frustrated, and opened her
eyes.

"I think I'm ready," she said.

The Swordsman gave a curt nod. "Then jump."

She did, and for a split second felt a surge of might. It
was like striking a pure note on a musical instrument, and her body responded
with perfection. She felt her feet leave the floor, and her body lifted upward.
The result was disappointing. She doubted she'd gotten more than a few feet off
the ground.

Granted, it was higher than she could have jumped. The one
time she'd played basketball the kids had said she jumped like a T-Rex. Jumping
had not been a frequent occurrence after that.

"It was good—for a first attempt," the Swordsman
said.

"When would I use this spell?" Tess asked. "I
can fly."

To emphasize her point she kicked off the ground and floated
in a lazy circle around him. His look of disapproval was all the warning she
received. Then he leapt across the distance and caught her throat in his free
hand. Startled, her magic evaporated as he slammed her into the ground. She
fought for breath as he withdrew.

"Do you know the answer to your question?"

His tone was mild, but it didn't stem her anger. "You
didn't have to do that!" she yelled. She sat up, rubbing her back.

"Do you know the answer?" he pressed.

She thought she did, but she waited until she was on her
feet to say it. "Knowing the spell means I know what someone else can
do."

"You are half correct," he said. "Should I
demonstrate the other half?"

"No," she said hastily. "Give me a moment to
think."

Small fires had begun to course up her arms, but she quelled
them with a calming breath. She wondered how he would have responded if she'd
tried to scorch him. Staring into his unflinching grey eyes she had a sneaking
suspicion that she would have ended up on the ground regardless.

He was waiting, so she tried to think of another reason to
learn a strength spell. She considered various theories until she settled on
one that sounded plausible.

"Because jumping isn't the only thing you would use a
strength spell for," she said, "And I can't give someone else
gravity, but I can cast a strength spell on them."

He flashed a brief smile. "Correct, on both counts.
Now, jump again."

She gathered herself and tried again. This time she had to
ignore the throbbing in her back as she sought to collect more energy into her
muscles. She was pleased to realize that her previous magic had remained in her
legs, so it was a simple matter to add to it. After a full minute she jumped
again, and managed to get about six feet off the ground. She landed in a
crouch, and discovered that the landing was easier as well. Her magically
enhanced form apparently provided auxiliary benefits.

The Swordsman nodded in satisfaction but before he could
respond, she asked, "Why did you have to grab my throat like that?"

He regarded her with an odd expression for a moment. Then he
said, "I believe that demonstration teaches best. On numerous occasions my
instincts have saved my life, but my reflexes were honed in a ring similar to
this one. Without them I would have been dead a long time ago."

She wanted to ask what he did, but didn't get the chance.

"You have learned enough of a strength spell," he
said. "Release your magic from your legs before it begins to tire you. You
will have to practice more on your own. Next we will review agility and vision
charms. An agility spell is much like strength, but its power does not actually
come from your muscles. It is more about balance, precision, and your nervous
system working in perfect harmony."

He took two steps to the wall and ran straight up it. As his
momentum slowed he jumped into a spinning flip that carried him back to the
floor. He rebounded off it and leapt to the training circle railing. His feet
barely touched it before he launched himself into an almost casual double front
flip and landed on the two-inch railing on the opposite side.

He slid off it and caught the railing with one hand.
Although the bar was only waist high, he swung himself under without touching
the floor and twisted into a standing position at his former position. Tess’s
eyes widened at the speed and grace to his movements. If the motion took any
exertion he gave no sign.

"An agility spell enhances the harmony of your body
with your environment. As such, it is a spell that heightens your nervous
system more than your muscles. When done correctly, it will be like enchanting
your entire body with muscle memory, and you will be able to move with fluidity
and grace. Auren athletes call it the zone, but they merely feel a glimpse of
what the true spell can do. The trick is duration. The stronger the spell, the
longer it will have an effect on you.

"For the sake of time, I am not going to do more than
demonstrate the agility spell," he said. "When you wish to practice
it, use your gravity magic to keep yourself from falling. If you do that, you
should be able to practice without injuring yourself too severely."

Tess would have liked to practice under his direction, but the
Swordsman had already moved on. "Last is vision," he pointed to a
sign at the opposite end of the chamber. It appeared newer than the other
objects in the room, suggesting that he'd placed it there himself.

"A vision enhancement spell will allow you to see into
the distance, as well as in the dark. This spell can take time to master; eyesight
is something most people take for granted, and rarely consider. Just add your
magic into your eyes, and will yourself to see the sign. When you can
read it from where you stand, you are excused."

Turning on his heel, he strode toward the door.

"That's it?" Tess asked. "Aren't you going to
teach me more?"

He paused. "I've taught you a year's worth of spells in
an hour. When you master them, I will teach you more. There is no reason for me
to sit around and hold your hand. You aren't a child."

"Wait," she said. "I thought you were going
to teach me how to use a sword." She gestured to the weapon on his back.

He burst into a laugh and caught the hilt that extended down
past his right waist. Drawing it in a fluid motion, he raised it to her.
"Your body is the weapon, Tess. This is just a tool that makes it more
deadly."

"But why do you carry one?" Tess asked.
"Isn't it a bit . . . primitive?"

For the first time he hesitated. Then he shrugged, and said,
"It goes with my occupation."

"And what is that?" she asked, surprised at the
darkness that had risen in his eyes.

"Mage assassin," he said simply.

She blinked, but could not bring herself to look away. His
response sent a chill through her body. "Why would Hawk have someone like
you train me?"

"How should I know?" he replied. "I am
trained to kill, quietly and in cold blood when necessary. It's not a skill I
thought appropriate for an oracle—but Hawk saved my life once, so I help when
he asks. Besides . . . it usually gives me a chance to kill some old
enemies."

"The Harbingers," she stated as her intuition
triggered.

A mask of anger swept across his features, but it was gone
as quickly as it had come. "I would even stoop to guard duty to kill
them."

Her stomach tightened, and she gestured to herself.
"Me?"

His gaze locked on hers for a long moment. Then he nodded.

"How many times have you saved my life?"

He shook his head. "What's more important is how many Harbingers
I've killed while protecting you."

She saw the rest in his eyes, and her chill sank deeper into
her tissues. She steeled herself and asked, "Would you have killed me if
paid enough?"

"No," he said. "I don't kill innocents."
The tension in her chest eased, until he added, "But I'm not the only
assassin in our world."

"What should I do if they come after me?" she
asked.

"Run," he said simply.

"You don't think I could defeat them?"

His gaze held her in check. "If I could kill you . . .
then others could as well. Watch your back, Oracle."

The door closed behind him, leaving her to her fear.

Chapter 17: The General

Tess collapsed into her chair at dinner and stared at her
plate. Rox had to nudge her twice before she looked at her.

"What's up?" Rox asked.

"I feel like I'm sprinting a marathon," she said.
"How can teachers give so much work in just six weeks? I've had to shape
light into a replica of a rock, shape a rock into a flower, and try to get a
mouse to eat a flower—and that's just today. That doesn't even include my
homework from air and sound. If air wasn't so easy I'd be dead."

Derek's expression was sympathetic. "There's a reason
they don't allow students to take so many power classes. How's your history of
magic class going?"

"Ah," Tess groaned. "I have a paper due next
Tuesday. When am I supposed to get that done?"

"At least the mid-quad break starts tomorrow—and the new Melee begins,"
Derek said. "You can take a break from your studies."

"So I can use more magic? I can hardly fly anymore."
She snagged another bite and rose to her feet. "I'll catch up with you
tomorrow," she said, her voice muffled with the food.

"Good luck with your paper," Derek called as she
walked away.

Tess threw him a grateful look before discarding her plate
through the blue cleaning cauldrons. Then she trudged out of the meal hall and
up to her room. She didn't even realize until halfway up the stairs that she
was walking rather than flying. For once regretting the height of her cabin,
she stepped into the air and flew up to her room.

Once inside she lay on her bed and released a long sigh. How
could she possibly accomplish everything being placed on her? Her seven classes
were enough to steal her joy of magic—and they didn't include everything Hawk
had asked of her.

She stretched her shoulders, trying to alleviate the
perpetual tightness that had sunk into them. Her weariness seeped into her eyes
and refused to budge. Promising herself she would study in twenty minutes, she
succumbed.

She dreamed of flying in the Dark, alone and afraid.
Whispers clawed her ears, seeking to overpower her. Despair filled her frame,
and she fought to rise. With all her courage she rose above the black shroud,
but her heart plummeted when she realized the truth.

The Dark stretched to the horizon in every direction,
unbroken by mountain, cloud, or light. She was thirty thousand feet off the
ground but the Dark had no end. Even without seeing it, she knew the Dark had
accomplished Ducalik's promise. It had consumed everything on Earth.
Desperately she sought for some sign of survivors, but there was none—or at
least nothing that could be helped.

Creatures prowled the Dark, their souls gone, their minds
controlled. Human or animal, they were all beasts, wild and deadly. They
congregated far beneath Tess, hungry for her blood. Instinctively Tess knew
that they sought her because she was the last human alive. Her friends were
gone—dead or Darkened.

Abruptly cords of black streaked out of the Dark and caught
her legs. She screamed and sought to break free, but her own despair was too
strong. More bands of Darkness coiled around her like muscled arms, pulling her
in, whispering the truth . . .

She had failed.

And the world had ended.

—Tess jerked awake to find her vision clouded. Panic joined
her fear, until she realized it was just tears. Fighting for breath, she
struggled to control the tide of emotions. She wiped at her eyes and was
ashamed to find her hand was shaking.

Was it a vision? Was that her future? She shuddered, and
rose from her sweat soaked bed.  Stepping into the shower, she let the steam
and heat fight her dream until her fear had settled into a cold resolve. She
refused to accept that future.

She looked to herself first, but knew that there was nothing
more she could add. Her schedule and effort was already beyond anything she'd
ever done. She cast about for other ideas and thought of her friends. As if the
scene had zoomed out, she caught a glimpse of the entire school, and realized
that their victory wouldn't hinge on her or Hawk.

It would happen because enough people stood together, and
the only way to accomplish that was to prepare them. She breathed a slow breath
as she realized that was exactly what Hawk must have understood, and was the
reason for the Melee. She issued a grunt of frustration. She'd intended on
skipping it to get more work done, but after her dream she didn't think that
would be best.

She dressed quickly and flew down for breakfast. Dawn had
yet to break, but there were already a couple of students in the meal hall. She
nodded to them as she ate, but avoided contact. The moment she was done she
flew to the stadium. If she arrived early she could do some of the practicum
from her other classes, and not fall too far behind.

The cool air blew past her, causing her to shiver. As she
passed the earth school a flicker caught her eye. Curious, she turned toward
the mountain and alighted on its summit. A small circle of stone stood with a
statue in its center. Three walls of rock cupped the figure, making it all but
invisible from the outside.

The statue stood tall and stared through the gap she'd
entered from. He was carved out of white stone, but his armor was fashioned of
black rock. It had obviously been added after, and yet it fused together as if
it had been cut from a single source.

His hands and forearms were encased in massive stone fists,
and his feet were layered in stone boots. His torso bore a breastplate of
interlocking pieces, and the rest of his body bore angular sections of stone to
protect it. Only his head and face remained free of protection. Oddly, his
features were the most intimidating.

The statue was ancient, that much was clear. The stone had
been weathered by time, and sections of one leg had crumbled away. Tess circled
the statue, but paused when she found the plaque. She read the inscription
aloud.

"General Telorik, Warrior, Creator, Father."

She sat on the small bench ensconced in the side of the
alcove, enjoying the moment of solitude. For a while she just sat and thought
about everything on her shoulders, wondering. Twenty minutes later the silence
was broken as Shorn flew into the space.

"Tess?" he exclaimed in surprise. "What brought
you to the General?"

"I spotted him on my way to the stadium," she
replied as she stood. "Do you know who he was?"

Shorn shook his head. "No one does. A couple of my
friends in the earth school said there are a number of rumors, but none of them
have any basis in truth."

"Then what brought you?"

He shrugged. "It's one of the few places in the school
that you can truly be alone. It's only easily accessible by flyers, but most
flyers don't know about him anyway." He jerked a thumb at the statue.

"Solitude isn't common at Tryton's," she said
sourly.

"I know," he said with a sigh, and leaned against the
wall.

The catch to his tone was slight, prompting her to ask,
"Is something wrong?"

He hesitated, and then said, "I guess I just feel . . .
anxious. I can't explain why." He pushed off the wall and stepped to the
gap in the wall. Leaning on it, he looked out over the school grounds. "And
I don't think I'm the only one that feels it."

She joined him, and looked down on the crowd of students
walking to the stadium. From their vantage point, Tess could see that they
walked slower than normal, and their conversation was subdued.

"What with the missile attack, the aurens killing
mages, and the attack on you, it just feels . . . chaotic. Do you know what's
happening?" Shorn asked. "I mean . . . you're the oracle,
right?"

It was the first time that she could recall him openly
calling her by her title, and she didn't know how to respond. She met his gaze,
and wondered if she could trust him. He'd been Drake's second in command with
the last quad's Tempest team—and Drake had turned out to be an integral member
of the Harbingers. She hadn't seen Drake since he'd helped Ranson open the
portal.

"Have you heard from Drake?" Tess asked.

"What does he have to do with this?"

"A lot," Tess said.

"So you do know what's happening?"

Tess looked away. "Yes," she said quietly. "I
think I do."

Shorn was quiet for a while. "But you can't tell
me?"

"I don't know if I should," Tess replied.

"Oh . . .," he said, and the hurt in his voice was
evident.

"It's not because I don't trust you," Tess said.
"I just don't want to start a rumor. Enough people have died
already."

"People are dying?" There was alarm in his
tone now. "But the Magtherian said only a few mages have been killed by
aurens."

She sighed and turned back to him. "That's a fraction
of the truth."

"Do you know this because you are the oracle? Or
because—"

"No . . . yes . . . maybe," she said. "It's
not because of that." She fell silent, struggling with what to tell him,
and how. "I know because of what I have witnessed," she said.
"And what I feel."

"What do you feel?"

"That the world is headed for a threat it can't
withstand," she said.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

She stared into his eyes, wondering if she should speak the
truth. But hadn't Hawk said she needed to prepare the other students? The first
step in doing so was trusting them, wasn't it? Recalling a conversation with
Hawk about her magic, she blinked into her magesight and looked at Shorn.

She recognized purple and a faded light blue immediately,
identifying his magical talents. Upon further inspection she saw a coiling
green that she knew represented turmoil, as well as an orange that she'd
learned meant a temper. Most importantly to her, there was a thread of white
throughout him, indicating honor.

"The end," she finally said, and decided she
should trust him, at least a little.

He frowned. "The end of what?"

"Of light," Tess said simply.

Shorn opened his mouth to respond, and then closed it. Then
he looked away, his expression tightening. Tess hoped that indicated he
understood what she meant. She swallowed when she recalled her dream, and knew
that was the best way to describe what was coming. But saying it out loud made
it feel worse.

It made it more real.

Chapter 18: The Melee

Tess dived behind a tree, narrowly evading the barrage of
energy orbs. Gasping for breath, she peeked at the advancing students. She
nodded in satisfaction, and pushed off the ground an inch before flying into
the fogged region of the Melee.

The floor of the arena was gone, and in its place five
distinct regions had been crafted. The lake dominated the center. As if it had
been plucked from a mountain, its waters wear clear and full of fish. Tall pine
trees grew on its bank, and lilies floated on the still surface. Surrounding
the lake region were four distinct climates.

One corner was all rock. Piles of reddish stone culminated
in a miniature plateau that was the highest point in the arena. Columns of
craggy rocks surrounded it like sentinels guarding a camp.

Adjacent to the rocks was a forest. Extending out from the
trees at the lake, the pine trees gave way to oak and poplar. Thick underbrush
filled the forest, making it difficult to see into its darkened interior.
Animals and small rodents moved through it, and were marked by their blinking
eyes or swift movement.

Opposite the forest was tundra. Occasional trees dotted its
surface, their branches dusted with white. Real snow materialized fifty feet up
and drifted down to join the snow already on the ground. The last corner was
obscured by fog, but the tops of trees were just visible.

All the regions contained a fort of some kind. The water
refuge stood on an island at the center of the lake. The rock building was a
bunker at the top of the plateau. A glimpse of strait lines indicated that a
building lay within the darkened forest.

Unlike the others, the building on the tundra was highly
visible. It was also larger, and more fortified than the others. Invisible
within the fog, the mist region hid the last fort, and was her destination.
Tess flew through the trees and fog, squinting to see. When she spotted the
fort she flew up the side and alighted on the top. "Looks like they took
the bait," she said to Shorn.

"Good," he said, and threw a glance at Derek.
"You were right."

Derek grinned. "Warren was right. I'll take third team
and see you in fifteen minutes."

"We'll hold them off until then," Shorn said, and
Derek slipped from view. Ten of their original fifty went with him. Shorn then
turned to Tess. "We've lost twenty-three, so it's going to be close. Are
you ready?"

Tess gave a curt nod. "I'll take the left flank."

"I'll hold the center. Kyle, take the right."

Tess gathered the remaining members of her team and slipped
into the trees. As they moved into position she was struck by how much the
Melee had changed. Nearly the entire school had turned out to watch the Friday
and Saturday games. Although it wasn't a tournament, the winners of several
contests had vied for a chance to play each other. The directors had relented,
and whoever won this engagement would join the other top-ranked teams tomorrow.

Tess was grateful that Shorn had requested to be assigned
with her and her friends. With most of the Tempest team as part of their squad,
they had yet to lose a contest. What surprised her was how quickly some of the
teams had excelled. Many kids came to watch, but the respective squad leaders
were there to learn. In just two days the disorganized conflicts had evolved.

At the end of every contest rankings and results were posted
in the meal and leisure halls, and had quickly become a focal point of the
school. Victorious squads gained instant notoriety, and their leaders as well.

Tess frowned as she slid into her position. More than once
she'd gotten the impression that the Melee had become a battle, even if the
directors insisted it was still a game. Each successive engagement felt more
and more like a war. Some were brutal affairs with kids painting themselves in
camouflage and assaulting the other squad's position in a frenzy of magical
attacks. Squads had proven early if their leaders had any brains at all.

The only bright note was the diminished attention on Tess—to
a degree. Shorn had led them to two victories already. Derek and his roommate
were part of that success. Derek was smart and quick thinking, and Warren was a
huge fan of Stratos. Although he wasn't a very good player, he made up for it
by his brilliant strategies.

Tess just wished it wasn't having such an impact on the
school. In her last quad the Magic Melee had been something fun and harmless.
Now it was getting serious, and she wasn't certain she cared for the change.

"Tess?" Rox asked.

"Yeah," Tess said. "Just thinking about how
serious this has become."

Rox sighed. "I miss the fun too."

Tess didn't respond. Is this what Hawk had intended? Turn
the school into battle training? How could he have even gotten the directors to
do it? There was no way that the parents and professors would have . . .

People react poorly when they're afraid.

Her dad's words came back to her in a rush, and she realized
the truth. Hawk was retaliating. The Harbingers were spreading fear in order to
prepare a war. Hawk was using that same fear to get the Tryton's students
trained for the coming conflict—and in a way that the Harbingers wouldn't
protest. They would want the Tryton's students prepared as well. Tess twitched
as she realized that for once, the Harbingers and the Guild shared the same
goal. The only difference was which side they wanted the students to fight on.

"Here they come," Lisa whispered. "Flyers
first, as they said."

Tess used her recently learned light spells to shroud
herself, Rox, and Lisa. She wasn't good enough to make them invisible, but it
was enough to obscure their forms. Only a careful observer would see them.

Then they waited. The first thirty minutes of today's game
had been leading up to this moment, and Tess wasn't about to fail in her role.
The squad they were playing against was the Wraiths, one of the other
undefeated squads. This was mostly due to their general's precision tactics.

Each game the boy had gathered his entire army into the
highest fort in the arena, the stone refuge. He would then fiercely defend the
top of the plateau from any attempts to take it. Then he would send his flyers
as scouts as he systematically swept the arena. His strategy had been effective
enough that other squads were adopting it. Kids had even taken to calling it
Jake's Gambit.

Warren, Derek, and Shorn had put their heads together and
come up with a counterattack. It was risky, and depended greatly on Derek's
skill with his team. Made up of six earth mages, three light mages, and one
body mage, the team was the sole chance they had at defeating the Wraiths.

Shorn had led them into a calculated retreat. Acting unsure
and desperate, they had fallen back when under the Wraith's advance, and had
retreated into the fog region of the arena. In order to make it believable,
they had sacrificed almost half their team as they fell back. With only four
casualties, the Wraiths were advancing with confidence and had followed them
into the fog.

Tess gathered an orb of fire magic into her palm as the
flyer scouts appeared in the mist. Soaring just out of range, they scanned the
scattered trees, searching for the position of their foes. She waited until
three more appeared before shouting her order.

"Now!" she barked, and launched her energy
orb.

True offensive spells were strictly forbidden in the Melee,
so the only way to tag someone was by striking them with a pure energy orb.
Unable to cause more than a minimal burn, her fire orb struck the lead flyer in
the chest. Her team took out the other three with deadly accuracy.

Beside her, Mike and Laura argued over which had won their
most recent bet. It sounded like Laura had, but Mike stubbornly refused to
admit that she had better aim. Grinning to herself, Tess ended it.

"Laura, excellent job. Mike, you need to work on your
aim."

Laura laughed under her breath and stabbed a finger at Mike.
"See?"

Before Mike could protest the rest of the Wraiths appeared.
Confident that their flyers would warn them, they advanced in a ragged line,
magic already lit in the palms. Her tension mounting, Tess slid deeper into
shadow and counted the seconds. The five on her team did the same, and silently
they counted down.

On the opposite end of the Wraith formation Kyle bellowed a
command, and a flurry of orbs split the fog. Despite their greater numbers the
Wraith's faltered. Then they returned fire. Tess and her team unleashed a
barrage of magic orbs into the left flank, taking two down before they could
react.

At the center of the line Jake ordered his own attack, and
his team charged, launching balls of energy into the fog. In seconds Tess and
her team were overwhelmed. Mike and Rox were struck at almost the same moment,
followed by Lisa. Down to three, Tess was forced to withdraw.

Come on, Derek, she thought. She launched another
pair of orbs and ducked behind a large stone. Laura and Tom dived to her sides
as a massive volley impacted the stone. All three of them were breathing hard.
Tess knew what was coming and growled. Then she had an idea that would buy them
some time.

"Tom, hold your position," she said. "When
they take you out we'll detonate a trap here."

Without waiting for a response she gathered several magical
orbs in her palms and stuck them to the back of the rock. Then she grabbed
Laura and retreated once more. Tom sighed in resignation but didn't argue.
Casting orbs over the rock, he waited for them to attack.

A moment later the Wraiths dodged out of the fog and struck.
From both sides they assaulted the space behind the rock, catching Tom several
times. Wincing as the energy balls exploded across his body, he collapsed. A
handful of Wraiths stormed the makeshift barricade. By unspoken accord, Tess
and Laura exploded their traps in unison. Purple and red light erupted at the
stone, enveloping the Wraiths in a burst of energy. Out of the fight, they sank
to the ground.

But it was too late, and the Wraiths were too many. Forced
to retreat, Tess fell back to the small hut that was the fog refuge. Together
they flew to the top and joined Shorn, Lisa, and Kyle.

"Any sign of them?" Tess asked as she ducked
behind the parapet.

Kyle jerked his head in the negative. "He's late."

"He'll be here soon," Shorn said. He peeked over
the parapet. "Here they come. Get ready."

Tess again moved to the left side and pulled magic into her
hands. The purple orbs pulsed as she held them, and on Shorn's order they rose
to defend themselves. At least thirty Wraiths launched a furious volley,
forcing Tess to duck.

Tess knew that they were no match for the Wraiths, not
outnumbered as they were. She clenched her jaw and hoped Derek would get there
in time. Rising just long enough to throw, she caught a glimpse of two Wraiths
going down. Struck in the back, they were out so fast that none of their
companions saw where the orbs had come from.

Grinning, Tess began to toss orbs indiscriminately over the
battlements. As fast as she could she threw them in the rough direction of the
Wraith line. Shorn and the others followed suit. Remaining behind the parapet,
they were temporarily safe from the Wraith's positions.

Then Tess heard a shout of protest. Rising just enough to
get a look, Tess saw that over half of the Wraiths had been tagged. The
remainder must have realized where the attacks were coming from, and had turned
to fight Derek's team. Covered in dirt from tunneling beneath the arena floor,
Derek's team leaned out from rocks and trees to attack.

"Advance," Shorn barked.

Leaping off the battlements, Shorn threw orbs as fast as he
could make them. Tess and Laura took his left side, while Kyle flew on his
right. Caught between them and Derek's forces, the Wraiths dissolved into
confusion. Some attacked Derek, some tried to defend against the flyers. None
escaped.

In less than a minute a furious Jake was tagged by Laura,
and the Wraiths were defeated. Tess, Shorn, and Derek had all been taken out,
but there had been enough left of their squad to finish the Wraiths. As Jake
sank to the ground, the magically enhanced voice of Director Grayson filled the
arena.

"Congratulations, Tigrons, you are the victors."
There was a hum that released every tagged player from the binding. Tess
removed the inert bracelet that had held her still and strode to Derek.

"You were late," she said.

"The dirt was solid clay at one point," he said,
wiping the mud from his face. "But we got the job done."

Tess grinned and wished Iris had decided to join them. For
some inexplicable reason she'd disappeared, and Tess hadn't seen her since
Friday morning. She sighed. Tomorrow was Tess's sixteenth birthday, and she was
supposed to spend it at the Guild with Alice. Then she was to train with some
of the Guild members before returning to school.

She grunted in annoyance, wishing she could remain and keep
playing the game. As much as it had changed, it still offered a welcome respite
from her overwhelming schedule. She just wished she could savor the feeling of
victory, even if it was just a game.

Then she noticed the other students. In the first few
engagements the students had congratulated each other after each conflict, and
the spirit of unity had prevailed in spite of the disparate teams. Today the
Wraiths and Tigron squads ignored each other or cast baleful glares.

The pride of their victory dissipated as she witnessed the
change the Melee was having. She knew that the students needed to be prepared
for what was coming, but her doubt refused to budge.

What would be the cost?

Chapter 19: Archives

While the games of the Magic Melee continued Saturday night,
Iris strode through the doors to the library and came to a halt in front of the
massive bookshelves. Derek followed her in and closed them behind himself. Then
he moved to Iris's side.

"Are you sure this is necessary today?" Derek
asked. He was rubbing a healed burn from his encounter with the Wraiths.
"I want to get back to the Melee."

"Just give me an hour to set things up, and then you
can go," she said. "Then I can keep watch myself."

She was wearing her beanie so she could focus, and resisted
the urge to take it off. She knew without checking that there were hundreds of
pressing messages she needed to look at. Unfortunately she didn't have the time
to work on them. Tess had asked for information, and that was exactly what Iris
was going to find.

A grunt of exasperation escaped her throat as she looked at
the rows and rows of books. In spite of the things she'd set into motion she'd
been unable to breach the Mage Technology Bureau. Now run by Harbingers, the
Bureau had no idea that they were expending so much energy just to block her.
Iris estimated that at least thirty master level mages were being employed just
to keep her and her friends out—a fact that she would have been proud of,
except it had stopped her cold.

Since the start of the quad she had been blocked at every
turn. Everything from the monitoring motes to the director's messages were
being enchanted with increasingly complicated protection charms. Given enough
time she had no doubt she could break their systems, but time was exactly what
she lacked. Even with the rapidly growing resources she had begun to gather it
wasn't enough. She doubted it would be until it was too late.

"You know," he said, "you're almost normal
when you wear that hat."

Her lips thinned in annoyance. "I'm not as bad as
Mom," she said tersely.

"True," he said. "And I hope you never
are."

His expression softened her heart. "I would have been,
without your help."

He smiled at the comment and gestured to the books. "So
why are we doing this on the mid-quad holiday?"

"So no one is here," Iris said. "Not many
students use the library anyway, but from Friday until tomorrow it's pretty
much deserted—especially
with the Melee going on."

Derek issued a resigned sigh. "And everyone who didn't
go home is at the Stadium. Even Tess is leaving tonight to go to the Guild,
getting to know Alice and training with Hawk. It is her birthday tomorrow,
after all." He sniffed, obviously annoyed.

"You can give her your gift later," she said, a
trace of annoyance in her voice. "But why didn't she go home to her parents?"

"Hawk said the Harbingers are still looking for a
chance to catch her out of a mage city. As long as she is here, she is supposed
to be safe."

Iris frowned, but didn't comment on the doubt and concern in
his voice. "Are you ready?"

Derek shrugged. "I'm just supposed to keep an eye on
the door. How hard could it be?"

Iris stabbed a finger at the door. "Warn me if anyone
is headed this way. Use that trick of yours where you listen to the vibrations
in the ground. I will need at least thirty seconds to conceal my work."

"I know what I'm supposed to do, but what about you?
You didn't exactly tell me what we were doing here."

"We're here for information," Iris said. "Now
stop talking so I can focus."

Derek issued an annoyed sound but lapsed into silence. Iris
turned to the first row of books and peered at the first one. She'd tried
repeatedly to find information about the Oracle's Crest on the mage net, but
for the first time in her life the mage net had failed her. She had found bare
morsels of information regarding the four objects Tess needed. Eventually she'd
decided that she needed to look elsewhere. Then she'd had an eye-opening
thought.

What if the library wasn't entirely on the mage net?
After some searching, she'd decided there was only one way to find out. In the
hope of avoiding detection, she'd waited until the mid-quad holiday six weeks
into the quad. Between the Melee and the holiday, she hoped she could get
things in motion undisturbed. She'd used most of her time in the last three
weeks preparing, and she didn't want to get caught.

Activating the techno threads connected to her beanie, she
checked on the three spells she had created to do the necessary task. A fifty
foot blob of pale purple faded into her vision and floated a few paces from her.
Stretching to the ceiling, it passed through the bookshelves like they weren't
even there.

She checked the exterior of the blob first. It had taken her
weeks to weave enough memory charms to create such a thing. Most techno mags
had several memory charms floating around them, and used them as reservoirs of
information. A reservoir this large would be too taxing for her to maintain
once it was full—and it would be far too noticeable. It would be like the
Library of Congress following her around. The sheer energy drain to hold that
much would have also made her catatonic, hence the creation of the exterior
reservoir.

Satisfied that it was complete, she gave it a mental nudge
and pushed it into the floor. A handful of threads extended out the top as it
lowered, and she attached three to the fireplace. It was as good a place to
hide the energy sources as any, and few techno mages would notice them behind
the brightness of the flames. She adjusted the remainder of the strands to
float through the room in random directions.

Steeling herself, she removed her beanie for scant seconds
to check her work. A cacophony of voices, text, and signals instantly bombarded
her. One floated a few feet away, flashing bright red with urgency—

"I'll get to you later," Iris snapped to Uri.
"I know you need my help—yes Malik, I also know you are having trouble
setting up the coreless, but you are the only one—no guys, I can't play
Warcraft right now. No I won't be on later—I'm right in the middle of
something. Seriously, some of you are thirty years old, you don't need me to
hold your hand—ˮ

She blew out her breath in exasperation and several messages
reacted to her outburst. "Of course it was my idea, but we are doing it
together—then get Isaac to help, he's great at setting up coreless—fine, but I
have to go. I will be back on in a few hours."

Ignoring the loud protests, Iris crammed her beanie on and
sighed in relief.

"How's it going?" Derek asked dryly.

"Didn't I tell you to shut it?" Iris snapped.

She checked her second spell. The techno shroud was still
weak, but it would get stronger with time. She had copied and then altered the
basic auren code that the NSA used to shield their files. Adding her own touch,
she shaped the enchantment to act like a giant blanket for any techno mages
that would look toward the floor. It wasn't perfect, but few techno mags spent
time in the library anyway. Like her, they viewed it as obsolete. She just
hoped the shroud would keep the knowledge reserve from being detected.

Her shroud sank through the floor and the enormous memory
reservoir faded from her sight. She could still spot it if she squinted, but
any other techno mag would most likely pass right by without being aware of its
existence. Nodding in satisfaction, she turned to her last spell.

She teased one of them out of her jacket, where it had
curled up to wait. Threads of purple cascaded from her jacket like smoke, and
solidified into a flickering fire shape. As it became aware of the mountain of
knowledge contained within the books of the library, it began to twitch and
emit an excited whine.

It wasn't a techno grend because it lacked a corporeal form,
but it was pretty close. Her enchantment was an information wisp, and it was
hungry. She'd never seen anything quite like it, so her needs had necessitated
the creation of a new enchantment. She just hoped it worked.

Drawing one of the stray threads that connected to the
reservoir, she attached it to the wisp like a leash. Then she released it.

The wisp leaped to the first book and disappeared into its
depths. There was a rustle of papers, as if someone was thumbing through the
book. The leash brightened into the visible spectrum as the knowledge within
the book was sent into the reservoir.

Iris sighed in relief as the first bits of knowledge
filtered into place. Far beneath her, the memory reservoir flickered slightly
as it accepted the knowledge. A few seconds later the wisp flowered out of the
book with a satisfied hum, and then sank into the one next to it.

Iris was pleased. Her information wisp pushed the boundaries
of what techno mages could do, and she had been unsure of its success. Now that
it was working she felt a rush of satisfaction, and called forth the other six
wisps that she'd created. She leashed them all and set them to work. The seven
wisps flitted from book to book, barely pausing at each volume before moving
on. In moments the knowledge within the library began to thread its way into
her reservoir.

"What are those things?" Derek said, causing her
to jump.

She spun to find him at her side. "I told you to watch
the door."

"I am," he said, and gestured to the great oak
doors. A stone golem the size of a bowling pin stood next to the portal. A few
feet away there was a distinct golem shaped cavity in the wall.

Iris sniffed. "They are absorbing the knowledge of the
library into my own reservoir."

"Why? Don't you think all of this is on the mage net
already?"

She shook her head. "I always assumed it was, but there
are subtle gaps in stories that aren't on the net. I am hoping to find the
omissions here, so I created a few enchantments to absorb it all. Once
everything is absorbed, I will be able to scan through the information as if I
had a separate, private mage net."

"And you think this will help Tess?"

"If we find out about the Crest, or the other three
items, yes."

"Good," Derek said. "She needs it."

Iris noticed the glint in his eyes and frowned. "You
should tell her how you feel."

He flushed. "I don't know what you're talking—"

"I'm not blind, Derek.”

"You don't see everything," Derek retorted.
Spinning on his heels he strode toward the back of the hall. "I'm going to
place sentries at the other doors, just in case."

Iris watched him go with a twinge of regret. Derek had done
so much for her when she'd been younger. Without him she would have been lost
in her magic, and probably died young. Maybe if she could get Tess and him
together it would repay him for taking care of her.

But she doubted she would ever understand people like she
did techno signals. She issued a troubled sigh as she watched her wisps work.
It would take a couple of days for them to absorb enough in the library for her
to start searching the information. She hoped to have some answers soon. If
not, then she had no idea where else to look.

Unwilling to accept defeat, she took off her beanie and
turned her attention to her other projects. One in particular needed help.

Her army was growing . . .

Chapter 20: Tentative

Tess strolled with Alice through the underground garden of
the Guildhall, trying to think of something to say. The walls had been
enchanted with a stunning view, and the ceiling bore floating clouds. The
brightness of the sun rivaled the real thing, and warmed Tess's skin.

In the distance she could see grain growing on farms, their
tall stalks bending with the breeze. On the other side the hills steadily rose
until they gave way to a mountain range. Trees dotted the hills, and streams
wound their way through them, terminating at a lake in the valley. One of the
rivers ran right adjacent to the castle, and she realized it was the same one
that was visible from the meal hall. Once again, fishermen cast their nets into
it, their voices calling to each other as they worked.

The sides of the garden were stone battlements, giving the
impression that they stood on an overlook abutting the side of the castle. The
scene was so real that Tess could have sworn she felt a cool afternoon breeze
touch her cheek. In spite of the air of reality, only the flora was real.

A trio of small trees grew in the center of the garden. They
spiraled around each other without touching, like dancers in the center of a
square. The largest bore white leaves that hung in a large canopy over the
other two. Red leaves adorned one of the smaller ones, while blue graced the
branches of the third.

A walkway of stones wound around the trees, while a variety
of plants abutted the battlements. Several would have been at home in an auren
garden, but others were more exotic, like the Slumbering Snap. It looked like a
broken stump of a dead tree, and had a hole at its base that looked perfect for
a small animal's den. Professor Rodriguez had demonstrated what would occur if
an unsuspecting fox or badger took up residence there, and it wasn't pretty.

Across from the Snap, a large bush bore thousands of thorns.
At its center a single flower blossomed. White and blue in color, it was shaped
like a large head of lettuce. Inside she knew that a special herb grew that the
healers favored. Named for the man that had braved the thorns to give it to his
beloved, the Vinoth Rose would die the moment its thorny branches were cut,
making it difficult to retrieve without magic.

"Do you like your birthday present?" Alice asked.
"I know that showing you this place isn't really a gift, but shopping when
you are confined to the Guild is a challenge." She sounded hopeful.

Tess nodded. "It's beautiful."

Alice smiled. "Before my magic was taken I was quite
skilled with plant magic, but I did not visit this garden until after my power
was gone. I wish I had. It has quite a collection of rare specimens."

"Hawk said you could do four kinds of magic," Tess
said. "What were the others?"

"I was a split-quad mage," Alice said, her tone
sad. She reached out to a purple blossom growing from a vine. The leaves
retracted as the flower opened. "Aside from plant, I could do earth,
water, and anti-magic."

"Really?" Tess raised an eyebrow. "That's not
common, right?"

"No."

Alice said it with an edge of harshness, and Tess realized
they were discussing the power that her mother had lost. She blinked as she
realized how tactless that was. Shying away from the topic, she asked,
"Can you share with me what your youth was like?"

Alice turned to regard her, and then slowly shook her head.
"I'm afraid it's not a very bright story. I would like you to hear it, but
at a later time. I can tell you that my parents were actually aurens."

Tess was surprised. "Really? So we were both raised by
aurens?"

"Perhaps, but that is where the similarities end
between my youth and yours."

Tess fell silent, and pretended to examine a row of vines.
Instead of leaves it grew dark hands with sharp claws. She recognized it as a
Spoked Crawler and kept her distance. It was another that Professor Rodriguez
had demonstrated to the students. The remains of the unfortunate rat had been
sufficient warning for her and her classmates to stay clear of it.

She hated the uncertainty that she felt around Alice. She
had hoped that spending more time together would ease that, but she felt like
her effort was failing miserably. Kate and Jack had been the best parents
anyone could hope for, and having Alice join her family felt wrong somehow. On
top of that, she still hadn't told them about Alice. She just couldn't seem to
find a way to say, hey, I finally have my birth mom and my dad is one of the
enemy.

"I'm sorry if I made you worry." Alice forced a
dry laugh. "I didn't mean to make it sound so bad."

Tess turned to face her. "I guess I just want to understand
you better."

"I hope that will come, in time," Alice said. She
shook herself and forced a smile. "My past is why I wanted so much for
you. I wanted to make sure that you grew up to realize your potential. There is
such power in you, Tess. I want to see its impact on the world. I have no doubt
that mage and auren alike will choose to follow you, given the chance."

Tess was surprised at the intensity to her words. "You
really believe that?"

"Without question," Alice said. "The real
test will be if you are ready when the time comes. As you know, the prophecy
regarding your role is well known, and highly debated. I'm sure there are many
who will try to use you for their own ends. That is why it's vital that you
recognize who your allies are. It's the only way you will survive."

Tess thought of Hawk and nodded. "Hawk has trained me
well."

"I certainly hope so," Alice said.

Tess thought of another question, and asked, "What was
my father like when you met him?"

"Before he was a Harbinger? Varson was arrogant, but
powerful, much like . . ." she paused, and seemed to try and find someone
to compare him to, "Chancellor Gerik," she said finally, and issued a
strange smile, "although without the charisma."

Tess started when Alice named Varson. "You know what
happened to him . . . right?"

Alice nodded. "When Hawk rescued Breaker, Varson tried
to fight. Breaker said he died with the rest of his Harbinger force. When he
discovered Hawk's identity, he was a fool to fight him."

Her tone was controlled, making it difficult for Tess to
discern if she was relieved or disappointed. Tess was just glad that she knew.
She wasn't sure she would have had the courage to tell her Varson was dead.

"Do you regret his death?" Tess asked impulsively.

Alice met her gaze. "I regret his choices."

They were quiet for a while as Tess contemplated the
information about her father. Then she realized the tone she'd used when she'd
described the chancellor.

"Do you not like Chancellor Gerik?"

Alice's expression made her reply seem harsher. "He
cares much for the attention and praise of others." She hesitated, and
then added, "I've always thought that Gerik was too slick, too
overconfident."

"Did you know him?"

"I passed through Tryton's before he did," she
said with a shrug, "but everyone knew who he was. Seeing him in person was
. . . electrifying. I suppose that's why I didn't like him. He was too
comfortable with the attention and constant praise. There was this subtle air
of arrogance that pervaded every look, every act. I doubt many people saw it.
They couldn't see past his charming smile and blue eyes."

"He's charismatic for sure," Tess said. "But
I've never seen him like that."

She nodded, as if she'd expected the comment. "After
his wife was killed by aurens—"

"What?" Tess was stunned. She'd known the woman
had died, but not how.

Alice nodded. "They were on a holiday trip in
Australia. I believe there was a shooting on a neighboring street, and a stray
bullet took her life. I don't know if Gerik blamed the aurens or not, but he
lost much of what made him strong."

Tess fell to pondering that. Before she could ask more they
were interrupted by Leah, who appeared in the doorway. "Tess? Hawk wants
to see you for your next training."

"Go," Alice said with a tight smile. "I will
see you after."

Tess nodded. Unsure of how a hug would be received, Tess
pretended to be lost in thought as she walked from the room. On the way she
wondered why the story about Gerik lingered in her mind.

Chapter 21: The Book

Two weeks after the break Tess met with a new tutor, a
Japanese woman named Ritsu, in the practicum rooms at the base of the fire
school. For an hour she helped Tess with her light homework, and then stayed to
demonstrate several highly advanced fire spells. All were charms that Tess had
never even heard of. Intrigued by the entity spell, Tess had remained behind to
practice it.

She drew more heat from the fire source at the end of the
practice room, and then added it to the growing flames. Each previous attempt
had exploded without warning. More than once she was grateful that the fire
practice rooms had been built so well, or she guessed she would have been
punished for property damage. As it was, the thick stone walls were blackened
and scorched.

The fire in front of her gradually shaped into a wolf.
Claws, teeth, and fur appeared in vivid flames, and the wolf raised its head to
look at her. Tess felt a surge of triumph—and then it exploded.

Tess growled as she shielded herself. When the inferno
subsided she blew out her breath. On impulse she turned to the liquid iron
door.

"Do you know what I am doing wrong?"

Lips pushed out of the metal's surface, and then a nose and
eyes appeared. "Of course," the door said. As always, its voice
sounded metallic and heavy.

"Why didn't you say so?" Tess snapped.

"It is not our role to teach a lesson that has not been
requested," the door said. Then it sniffed. "You don't need to yell
at us."

"Sorry," Tess said.

The doors lips curved into a faint smile. "Be not
encumbered. You are not the first student to express displeasure at us. I am
certain you shall not be the last."

Tess shook her head. "Perhaps, but you have helped me
before and did not deserve my reaction. I am just frustrated with myself."

"The spell you seek to master is difficult, and beyond
your years," the door said. "And yet you are learning quickly. What
you lack is simply the mind to create."

"Ritsu said the same thing," she said, unable to
keep the annoyance from her voice. "I still don't understand what that
means."

"Your departed master said it well, that a magical
entity requires a will. I will say it a different way. A magical entity
requires a purpose to compel it to be."

"Have you seen this spell before, then?"

"I am such a spell," the door rumbled.

Tess blinked in sudden understanding. "And your purpose
is to protect the students as they master fire."

"You speak the truth," the door said. It sounded
amused. "Before your fire entity will become, it must first understand why
it must be. It is purpose that drives living things, not the fact that we
exist."

Tess nodded her head in gratitude. "I believe I
understand, thank you."

"Good luck, Master Tess," the face said, and
withdrew into the door.

Tess turned to the fire source at the end of the practice
chamber, lost in thought. What purpose would she give? To her surprise she
could think of many, but settled on play. It was the thing she missed the most,
so at that moment it was the most poignant to her. Drawing the fire from the
source she fashioned it into a dog.

This time when she shaped the legs, she imagined them
jumping and dodging, and propelling the fire animal after a thrown ball. The
tail she pictured wagging in joy, and the tongue hanging out the side of the
mouth. Drops of liquid fire fell off the newly cast animal, sizzling when they
struck the stone floor. When she was done, she smoothed the head with her hand
. . .

And the fire dog nuzzled against her palm.

Tess grinned as the fire entity jumped around her and
sniffed the room, searching for something to do. Stel dropped from her arm and
joined him, also in dog form. The two sniffed at each other, one metal, one
fire, and then must have decided to be friends. Together, they romped around
the room, searching for interesting scents.

A moment later it returned to Tess, and pretended to bite
her hand. Then it rolled onto its back and begged for his tummy to be rubbed.
Stell mirrored the movements. Tess laughed, and complied with both requests.

"Well done," the door said, its lips pushing out
to speak.

"You know, I don't even know your name," Tess said
to the door.

"We are the Ironguard,” the door replied, “enchanted
and placed in service over five thousand years ago."

Now that she understood the spell, Tess had a flash of
intuition. "And how many mages were involved in your creation?"

"Many," the door rumbled. "But perhaps you
should dismiss your new friend. You have visitors and I cannot allow them
inside while you are practicing."

"Visitors?" Tess asked, and reluctantly dismissed
her spell. The dog faded into ash and smoke as it sniffed her foot.

The face sank back into the door as it swung open. Iris and
Derek stepped in. Iris was wearing her beanie again, and Derek had a physical
book in his hand.

"What's with the book?" Tess asked.

Iris spoke before Derek could. "I have tried several
methods to getting the information you asked for, and so far I turned up
this." She gestured to the book.

"It talks about the Crest of the Oracle," Derek
said, and handed it to her. "I marked the page."

Tess opened to the location near the back and found the
passage. As she read, her eyes widened. Then she snapped to look a look at her
friends.

"How did you find this?" Tess asked.

Iris looked smug. "I searched every normal channel and
found nothing, so I turned to something more . . . ancient."

"You read a book?" Tess asked.

Iris snorted. "Of course not. I scanned the library and
enchanted a memory reservoir. From there it was easy to search for the
information. It turns out that there is quite a bit of information in the
library that has never been added to the mage net."

The omissions suggested intent, and Tess considered who
would have done it. Deciding it didn't matter, she said, "So the Crest of
the Oracle was a pendant that was handed down from oracle to oracle?"

Derek nodded. "Looks that way, and the last time it was
seen was on the neck of the Atlantis oracle. That's when this book was written.
It also implies that the Crest contains something more. It says 'the oracle's
knowledge is contained therein'."

"But that was six thousand years ago," Tess said
in dismay. "Who knows where it ended up after that?"

"I think I might," Derek said. "Important
people from that time were placed in elaborate tombs. If we could find hers, it
might contain the crest."

"You think it would still be intact?" Tess asked.

Derek shrugged. "It's worth a shot."

Tess turned to Iris. "Is there any record of its
location?"

"None," Iris said flatly.

Derek cocked his head to the side. "That might be a
clue by itself," he said. “The tunnels below the Spirus contain artifacts
from throughout our history—but there are still rumors about what is down
there. The absolute lack of information on this might mean that this particular
piece was never recorded. Anything recorded tends to have rumors about it
eventually."

"Meaning the tomb was never moved?" Tess asked.

"Or it's gone," Iris said.

"Let's hope not," Derek said with a frown.

"If it's buried somewhere, how are we going to find
it?" Tess asked. "Atlantis was sunk ages ago, and I wouldn't know
where to even begin looking."

Derek's brow was furrowed in thought. "Maybe we can
start with things that are equally as old. To my knowledge there are only a few
things that are as old as Atlantis—the school library and the high council
chamber in the Spirus."

"And the Recollection," Iris said. "There are
several things there that are ancient, like the monument from The Second
Draeken War."

"What's in there from the right time period?"
Derek asked.

Iris's purple threads flickered and her eyes glazed over.
Then she rattled off a handful of items. "The Memory of the Sea, the Staff
of Diamond, the Great Sentinel of Mages, the White Dawn—"

"The ship?" Derek asked, and Iris nodded, frowning
at the interruption.

Tess remembered exactly what they were talking about.
Amongst the hundreds of artifacts from throughout the magical history, there
had been a whole ship. Complete with a mast, sails, and ancient rigging, the
ship had been unlike anything Tess had ever seen.

"The ship is that old?" Tess asked.

"It is," Derek said with a growing smile.
"And the White Dawn was the Oracle's vessel."

"How do you know that?" Tess asked.

Iris's eyes were flicking back and forth, and then abruptly
they focused. "He's right. The White Dawn was the oracle of Atlantis's personal
transport."

Tess was doubtful. "You think it might have clues to
the tomb's location?"

"I don't know," Derek said. "But it's a place
to start looking."

Tess considered the suggestion. It seemed harmless enough.
The Recollection was open to the public, and she doubted the old ship was
heavily guarded. All they would have to do is sneak aboard when no one was
looking and get a closer look. She shrugged.

How much trouble could it cause?

Chapter 22: Recollection

In the end they decided to wait until after dark, just in
case. The following night they gathered with Rox and, at the last minute,
Shorn. The five of them sat in the bushes outside the Spirus, waiting until
long after the tower had emptied of people. At the appointed hour Tess nudged
her roommate, who had fallen asleep early.

"It's time to go, Iris," Tess whispered.

Iris rubbed sleep from her eyes and yawned. "This is
stupid to go so late," she said. "There is no reason we couldn't have
gone when it wasn't the middle of the night."

"I don't want the Harbingers knowing what we are
doing," Derek insisted. "And since the high chancellor is a
Harbinger, the Spirus is like their lair."

"Derek's right," Shorn said, causing Derek to
blink in surprise. "If the Harbingers don't know about the prophecy, we
don't want to tip our hand."

She threw Shorn a glance, and felt a rush of gratitude that
they had decided to bring him along. Rox had suggested it, and after some
resistance from Derek, they'd decided to include him. After the Magic Melee it
seemed they had all grown to trust him. He now knew most of what they knew,
except for a few pieces that Tess had purposefully left out, for now.

"Fine," Iris grumbled. "Let's get
going."

"Did you seal the motes?"

A crease formed on Iris's forehead. "Of course I
did," she said. "I did it before I fell asleep . . . in the bushes."

"Eight weeks ago you could hardly work," Derek
said. "How are you able to do so much now?"

"They had an army of techno mags," Iris said
hotly. "What did you expect—stop playing Destiny, Julio. I don't have time
for you to be distracted. Yes, I know it's awesome—and not out yet. Do you want me to demote you?
I swear I will . . ."

Derek shrugged and gestured toward the Spirus. "Ladies
first."

"How chivalrous," Rox said sarcastically, and
stepped into the circular courtyard that surrounded the Spirus. The others
followed suit.

Piercing the sky, the Spirus rose to sixty-three floors
above Sentre. Currents of glass flowed throughout the white granite of the
structure, evoking a sense of prestige and authority. The bulk of the interior
was dedicated to the governing body of the mages, collectively known as the
Magtherian. Only the first two floors were open to the public.

Grand, sweeping arches and twisting columns supported the
Spirus, leaving an almost uninterrupted view into the Recollection. Weapons,
orbs, and other magical artifacts from mage history filled the interior to
overflowing.

One was a giant statue that was almost fifty feet tall. Its
head brushed the ceiling. Lit by glowing light, enchanted weapons, orbs, and
odd objects dotted the floor or floated in the air, and were visible even from
the exterior. On the opposite side, Tess caught a glimpse of the ship that was
their goal.

The group strolled across the stone courtyard that
surrounded the Spirus. Then they casually turned toward it, as if they were
curious about the Recollection. The lights inside were dimmed due to the hour,
and there was no sign of anyone walking within. Striding under a sweeping arch,
they walked into the shadows from the various displays.

"Are you sure we can't be seen?" Tess asked.

Iris shook her head. "All the motes have been sealed.
We have thirty minutes before the enchantment will be noticed. There's nothing
I can do about people though."

Shorn took the lead. "I'm on it." He turned his
head slowly and swept the room with his gaze. Then he nodded. "No spots of
air movement to indicate a guard or other person. Like I said, the Recollection
is deserted at night, and it isn't locked or anything. Only the displays are
protected."

"Then why do I feel like I am breaking and
entering?" Tess said in an undertone.

Rox threw her a look of agreement. "Let's just see what
we can find, shall we?"

"Remind me why we didn't tell Hawk about this?"
Tess asked.

"We are just going to take a look," Derek
reasoned. "There shouldn't be any danger."

Tess nodded, but couldn't shake her unease. Together, the
group worked their way through the hundreds of displays until they reached the
ship, and by unspoken accord stopped to examine it.

The hull was gray and weathered, but retained a sense of
regality and poise. Close up Tess realized that it was larger than she'd first
thought. No less than seventy feet in length, the ship curved to a raised prow,
and flattened to two tapered points in the back. Underneath, the hull was
divided, leaving a length of air down the bottom center.

Purple threads wove themselves through the wood, indicating
that at one time the ship had been imbued with gravity magic. The charms were
barely visible, and Tess had to squint to see them. The single mast stretched
upward from the center of the vessel. On the ship’s flanks, great curving
spirals pointed toward the empty sail. Tess could sense the latent air magic within
them, and suspected that in its time, the vessel had been significantly faster
than traditional sail boats.

Derek shrugged and led the way to the ladder. He snatched
his hand back when Iris called out a warning.

"Hang on!" she whispered with harsh intensity.
"I still need a second to disarm the curses."

"The ship is cursed?" Tess's eyebrows shot up.

Distracted, Iris didn't respond. Shorn answered for her.
"All the artifacts here are equipped with enchanted traps to dissuade
intruders, but some carry more than others. I would think something like this
carries minimal curses. It's not like a powerful sword or anything."

Iris issued a satisfied grunt and her eyes cleared. "As
far as I can tell it only had a few techno warnings that would alert the
battlemages of tampering. They're disabled now, Derek."

"What's the punishment for this," Tess asked as
she flew up to the deck. Climbing the ladder, Derek was right behind.

"Minor infractions are usually just a warning,"
Rox answered as she climbed over the rail. "At least, that's what my dad
has told me. If we damage the ship, though, we'll be in trouble."

"Let's not break anything," Iris said acidly.
"I don't need a warning—or
worse—on my
record."

What would the public think if they found out what I'm
doing? Tess's eyebrows knit together. She didn't want to know. She had
enough scrutiny to deal with as it was.

"Eyes open everyone," Shorn said. "And make
sure and look with your mage sight."

Derek threw him an annoyed glance, and Tess interpreted the
look to mean he didn't like how Shorn assumed the lead like that. Regardless he
didn't argue, so Tess let it slide as well.

They split up and set to work. Shorn flew upward and
examined the mast. Derek took the rear and poked his head into the spiraled
wood that pointed toward the sail. Iris went to the front while Rox and Tess
ducked into the two holds. As they entered, Tess sparked a flameless torch in
her palm and tossed it upward. She added a few more until the ship's hold was
well illuminated.

"Why don't you look here," Tess said. "I will
take the other side."

Rox nodded, and stepped into one of the cabins on the side.
Tess strode through a short passage and entered the starboard hull. Adding
several lights to the environment, she began her search with the largest cabin
near the front of the ship.

Evidently it had once been the captain's quarters, but it
now lay empty and hollow. Even the shelves on the walls had been removed,
leaving only a faded map that was embedded in the wall. Tess blinked into her
sight but found nothing, so she moved on.

Crew quarters were on both sides as she walked toward the
aft section of the vessel, but they proved equally disappointing. At the far
back she found the kitchens. A glance showed that it had long been cleared out.
Annoyed, she returned to Rox's side of the ship.

"Anything?" Tess asked.

"Dust and more dust," Rox replied. "It looks
like this side has guest and leisure quarters. The chamber at the front is
quite large. It even has a closet and a second, private bedchamber."

"Sounds like the Oracle's personal quarters," Tess
said. "The other side has the captain and crew quarters. Let's take
another look at the oracle's . . ."

She trailed off as a wisp of purple light passed by them. It
slid along the wall and then darted into one of the rooms. A moment later it
reemerged and moved to the next. Tess caught Rox's eye and shrugged.

"Iris?"

"Iris," Rox agreed. She grinned and led the way to
the oracle's private chamber.

Tess peeked into her mage sight and scanned the interior,
and then scanned it again. Finding nothing, Tess gestured upward. "Let's
see if anyone else found anything."

They emerged on the deck, but the others had also come up
empty-handed. Only Iris was still busy, and a trio of wisps returned to her as
Derek showed them the air swirls. To Tess they resembled jet engines, and she
wondered how they had worked.

Iris returned to their side. "I scanned every inch of
the ship and haven't found anything on the surfaces. With Tess's help I think
we can make a lightcast model later, if we want."

The disappointment in Iris's expression was evident, and
Tess felt the same. Of any location Tess had thought the oracle's own ship
would have something. With little time remaining, Derek suggested they
examine the exterior of the hull itself. It was a weak suggestion and everyone
knew it, but no one disagreed. As they stepped to the ladder Tess tried one
last time with her mage sight.

Blinking into her vision, the world became awash in colors.
Inch by inch she looked into the interior of the ship. Walls, wood, and her
friends changed into their unique energy signatures. Frustrated, she scanned
the ship again—and then she saw it.

Like a star had winked when she looked at it, she noticed a
tiny white object embedded deep into the mast. She squinted to get a closer
look. "Guys," she said. "Take a look at this."

Derek had already thrown a leg over the rail, but he
returned with the others to Tess's side. "What do you see?" he asked.

"There's a ball of energy in the mast," Tess said,
and pointed to it. "Anyone else see it?"

One by one they shook their heads. Then Iris asked,
"What color is it?"

"White."

"That doesn't make sense," Rox said. "There
is no white magic."

"But I see white in people sometimes," Tess said.

"Does it look like the same white?" Derek asked.

Tess squinted at it. "No," she said. "I've
never seen anything like it. It's much brighter than anything I'm familiar
with."

"What if . . . it's all the magics?" Shorn asked
slowly.

"What do you mean?" Rox asked.

"Well, only Tess can see it," Shorn said.
"And white is used to signify the combination of magics."

"I didn't know that all the energies could be combined
like that," Tess said. "Iris?"

"It could be," Iris said. "There are a couple
of references to 'the white light' in the ancient texts I have been scanning.
My guess is that Shorn's probably right."

Tess shrugged and reached to the mast. Bending the wood the
way she had learned in her plant class, she sank her fingers into the mast.
When her elbow reached the outside of the pole, she touched her goal. Her
fingers tingled as they came in contact with the pure energy. Tentatively she
extended a little further and then wrapped her fingers around it. When nothing
happened she carefully removed her arm.

The white ball of energy faded as she pulled it out, so by
the time her hand appeared it was gone. Inside it, she was stunned to see a
silver pendant with a simple stone on the end. Marked with the symbol of magic
the concave triangle had a circle at its center. It could have passed as a
trinket at a flea market. It warmed at her touch, but she saw no visible sign
of latent enchantments.

Her friends gathered around her, eager to get a look at
their prize. Collectively they froze when a rumbling crack sounded within the
Recollection. In an instant they extinguished their spells and dived behind the
railing.

Tess peeked over it, and scanned the darkened area for signs
that they had been discovered. She spotted movement, but not where she had
expected. Her eyes widened as she saw the giant statue shift. Stone crumbled
off his body in great flakes, and crashed to the floor.

The holes revealed a polished steel skin on the interior.
Almost liquid in texture, the material was smooth and shiny. The steel shifted
as if it wanted to move, and more rock broke free. Then the entire frame
flexed, and shattered the rest of the stone layer that had encased it.

The steel giant rose to its full stature and turned toward
the ship, its eyes glowing orange. The entire floor shuddered when it took its
first step, and then a second. Then it accelerated into a sprint toward them.

Chapter 23: Entity

The steel giant reached full speed in three steps. Heedless
of the enchanted artifacts in the way, it plowed through the display cases.
Enchantments lit up as they were activated, protecting the relics from harm.
Enshrouded in protective spheres of energy, they were knocked spinning aside as
the steel figure thundered toward the ship. A cacophony of shrieking alarms erupted
as they were set off.

"Move!" Derek bellowed.

Taking his own advice, he leapt off the ship and sprinted
aside. Tess threw the amulet around her neck. Then she caught Iris and Rox and
launched them out of the way. Shorn threw himself off the opposite side of the
ship. A heartbeat later the steel giant crashed into the boat.

The ancient wood snapped like a piece of chalk, and the boat
exploded into shards of broken kindling. Dust billowed outward, enveloping the
nearby displays in a haze of dirt and splinters. Torn from the boat, the mast
flew aside and shattered on one of the arching supports.

"What is that thing?" Tess yelled as the steel
giant began to extricate itself from the pile of wood.

Derek appeared at their side, a streak of blood on his
cheek. "It's a steel entity, the largest I've ever seen. We need to get
out of here before . . ."

There was a tinkling that overpowered the sound of bending
metal and shrieking alarms. The next moment a wall of purple light began to
descend, closing off every point of egress.

"Go!" Shorn yelled.

Ten feet away he lifted Rox and streaked away. Propelled by
a cyclone, he continued to accelerate as he sped toward the closing gap. Tess
gathered her magic, wrapped it around Iris and Derek, and then exploded after
him. She threw a look back and watched the steel giant come after them. Ahead
the rapidly descending shield was just feet off the ground.

Panic engulfed her and she angled their flight so they were
flat on their backs. With her shoulders scraping the ground, she propelled them
faster than she ever had—and just managed to shoot the gap. She breathed a sigh
of relief as the shield closed into position.

The steel giant struck the magical barrier with the force of
a bomb, and the wall of purple magic shuddered—and
then cracked. Sparks exploded from all four sides. Capitalizing on the weakened
enchantment, the giant reached both arms up, and brought them down in a
crushing blow. Splinters of magic exploded outward as the barrier shattered. In
silence the steel giant's head turned toward their fleeing forms, and then
began to accelerate once more.

The very air seemed to quake as the giant figure came after
them. Each footfall sank into the courtyard, sending a quiver that went to
Tess's bones. Ringing like a bell struck by a sledgehammer, the booming steps
accelerated in pursuit.

Tess's instinct was to climb into the air, but she knew that
she didn't have time to do so. Her ascent wouldn't be fast enough while she
carried her friends. Her only choice was to head into the trees and hope she
could get enough room to escape into the sky. Wearily gathering her power, she
turned and dived into the towering trees of Sentre.

She caught a glimpse of battlemages flooding the
Recollection before Tess and her friends disappeared into the shadows. Then she
was weaving between trunks, walkways, and branches, and it took all her
attention not to collide with them.

"Do you think we lost him?" Iris asked.

There was a great rending and crashing as the giant smashed
into the trees. Even enchanted as they were, the trees were flattened as the
steel giant impacted them. Tree by tree their thunderous rending filled the
air—and then abruptly it stopped.

"What's happening?" Derek demanded.

"We're dead," Iris said flatly. Her eyes were
glazed, indicating she was watching something else.

"What do you mean?" Derek demanded.

"It's changing form," Iris said, fear thick in her
voice.

Tess banked them upward until she could see through a gap in
the branches. The giant had dropped to the ground and his steel body was
shifting. Shoulders and arms melted into legs with large claws. His torso
tapered and lengthened, and his head morphed into that a cat the size of a semi
truck.

"Remind me why we didn't invite Hawk?" Iris asked.

"That doesn't help, Iris," Derek snapped.

The steel cat turned to face them, and surged into a fluid
sprint.

Shorn appeared from on its flank and launched a burst of air
at its head. The metal glowed red with anger, but the metal cat didn't slow.
Undeterred, the massive steel feline continued to slip through the trees toward
Tess.

Coils of earth appeared as Derek joined the fight. Whipping
up from the ground they wrapped around its legs. They snapped before they could
get a solid grip. Tess flew straight up as the creature closed. Sliding to a
stop, the cat jumped after her, reaching for her form with its massive claws.
Tess twisted and spun, and sent currents of fire at the enormous creature. Her
friends joined in the attack.

Fire, stone, water, and static energy poured into the
cat—but he shrugged the blows off like they were no more than gnats.
Relentless, the creature surged after Tess. Her desperation mounting, Tess
streaked through the trees with Iris and Derek at her sides. Throwing a burst
of power into her magic, she gained a measure of space.

"What do we do now?" Tess gasped for breath and
landed them on a high platform.

"The battlemages will be here any minute," Shorn
said, alighting next to them. Rox stumbled from the hard landing. "We have
to get out of here."

"What do you suggest?" Derek asked, and stabbed a
finger at the massive cat shrieking at them. They had only seconds before it
reached them again.

"We can't lead it back to the school," Shorn said.

He was breathing hard from the exertion of flying two. Tess
knew the feeling. Flying extra people was like carrying a piano up a staircase.
She had a sinking feeling that escaping to the sky was not an option. If it
could change into a cat, it could probably morph into a bird—or even a dragon.

"Look out!" Rox screamed.

On instinct Tess leapt into the air, and carried Derek and
Iris with her. With a grunt of effort, Shorn caught Rox and lifted her again.
The cat burst into view from below. Higher and higher it leapt, matching Tess's
path yet moving much faster that she was. The massive metal jaws reached for
them, yawning open. Tess yanked her legs up as they snapped shut where her feet
had been.

There was a groan of metal as the cat crashed back to the
shadowed ground. Then Tess had a sudden thought. The creature had come for her.
Each time it had sought only her. Even when they had all attacked it had come
for her.

The amulet.

Iris had said that the Sentinel of Mages was as old as
Atlantis. Its purpose must be to guard the oracle's pendant. With a start she
realized what she had to do. It was risky, and she didn't want to risk her
friends in the attempt.

Before it could come after them again, Tess deposited her
friends on a high overlook in an undamaged tree. "Get out as soon as it's
clear," she said in a rush. "I will meet you at Tryton's."

Ignoring the protests, she dived away. A heartbeat later the
cat appeared behind her. Fear dumped into her heart as the cat pursued her, and
she poured magic into her wake. Fire coiled with air and twisted into a cyclone
of power, propelling her forward. She flew just fast enough to stay ahead of
it.

Gathering her courage, she spotted a likely clearing and
dived to the ground. The moment her feet touched the earth she summoned every
bit of power and shaped a gravity shield around herself. The cat exploded from
the dark, teeth bared in a vicious snarl. Its arms and claws extended toward
her—but it bounced off her shield and fell to the side.

The damage had been done, and the spreading cracks in her
barrier were enough to drive her to action. Fighting her mounting terror, she
threw her consciousness into the cat's mind. The creature faltered as Tess
touched its mind, and she flinched from the unbridled rage.

Protect the crest!

The entity's scream crushed Tess's will, and she flinched.
The cat morphed back into the giant and stepped to her ball. Then it raised its
hands and slammed them into her shield. Tess screamed as her magic exploded
outward. The giant raised its arms for the killing blow, and Tess knew it was
her last chance.

With all her might she extended her mind to that of the
entity—and fought to impose her will. Fleetingly she recognized the same
magical signature as the ball that had hidden the pendant, but the thought was
brief and could not stay.

She was fighting for her life. Three feet from her skull,
the massive steel fists vibrated with the effort to crush her into oblivion.
Her will collided with the titanic resolve of the entity, and both sides
strained for supremacy.

Tess felt like she was shouting over a voice of thunder,
screaming to make herself heard. The weight of the giant's will was brutal and
supreme, but she fought back. Part of her mind recognized that someone had
attacked the giant's back, but she couldn't afford a shred of attention. If she
did her life would be forfeit.

With every ounce of strength she gathered a new thought and
sought to replace the entity's purpose. Based on her terror and desperation,
she couldn't think of anything better. Decibel by decibel the steel giant's
mind calmed, and she clawed for more. She shuddered with fatigue but refused to
relent. She knew that if she gave in the steel giant's purpose would return
with a vengeance, and her life would be extinguished.

Seconds spanned an eternity, but finally, gloriously, she
placed a new purpose within the mind of the entity.

Instantly the giant straightened. A metallic whine issued as
it folded its arms and seemed to turn solid. Whereas before the giant had
appeared almost liquid, it now stood immovable and rigid, like a sculpture in a
park.

Tess collapsed to her knees, and Derek was the first at her
side. His eyes were wide with surprise. "You changed its
purpose," he said, his voice full of awe.

"I didn't think there was another way," she
mumbled as he helped her up.

"You can only do that if your will is greater that the
entity's creator," Derek said.

Shorn landed beside them and stumbled to his knee.
"Right now it doesn't matter what she did. We need to leave. The
battlemages are filling the forest."

"She can't fly us to Tryton's," Derek said.

"Then let's go to the Guild," Iris said.
"It's not far from here. If we can get there, Hawk will keep us hidden
until tomorrow."

"Do it," Tess said. She was leaning heavily on
Derek, and felt a surge of gratitude for the strength in his arms. "After
what we've done I don't think we can afford to get caught. Iris, can you . . ."

"Already done," Iris said, and flashed a smug
grin. "No monitoring motes will show that we were here."

Tess threw a look back at the steel giant as they left but
it stood firm, its arms folded. Supremely powerful, relentless in pursuit of it
purpose, it stood immovable.

And waited.

Chapter 24: Refuge

Tess and her friends stumbled into the Guildhall to find a
dark haired man sitting by the fire. He rose to greet them, and then noticed
the dirt and bloodstains.

"What happened?" he demanded.

"It's a long story," Derek said, taking the lead.

Tess allowed him to place her on a couch as he talked,
grateful that she didn't have to explain. In a rush Derek described the events
of the evening, but pointedly left out the part about their goal.

The dark haired man's lips creased in disapproval, but he
reached into his pocket and withdrew a small, origami dragon. Without taking
his gaze from the group, he said, "Leah, please meet me in the main
guildhall. We have guests that need your attention."

Lettering appeared on the dragon's flanks. Then it flapped
its way down a hall and disappeared.

"I'm Janson," he said. "And why don't you
tell me what you left out. What were you doing there in the first place?"

Derek and Shorn exchanged a glance, and responded at the
same time, "Nothing."

"Hm," Janson said. "Let's keep it that way,
shall we? But your answer won't hold up if any motes spotted you."

"They didn't," Iris assured him, but she was
distracted, and her eyes were glazed as she spoke to three different people.

Janson shook his head doubtfully but gestured to a woman
that had just entered the room. "This is Leah," he said. "She
will tend to your wounds. Perhaps it would be best if you stay here for the
night while we sort this out."

"That's what we were hoping for," Derek admitted.

Janson offered a faint smile. "Wise choice," he
said, and then turned to the paper dragon flying next to him. "Summon
Hawk, and inform him of what occurred here." He paused, and then added,
"But first, get Alice."

The dragon dipped its head and darted toward the staircase
that led back into the castle. Tess could have sworn it faded from view before
the dark claimed it.

"Hawk will be back in a few minutes," Janson said.
"You can wait for him here. Tess, I believe Alice would want to hear what
happened."

Before Tess could respond Alice burst into the room, anger
and worry on her features. "What happened? The battlemages are all over
Sentre."

Tess's friends all looked to her. Releasing a sigh, she
said, "We were trying to find something for Hawk."

"What could be so important that you would risk the
Harbingers?" Alice demanded.

Janson coughed. "Perhaps we should wait for—"

"No." Alice rounded on him. "She's my
daughter. He has no right to send her anywhere alone. There's nothing more
important than keeping her safe."

"We were just taking a look at something in the
Recollection," Derek said, his voice defensive. "We didn't think
there would be any danger."

Alice turned her gaze on him, causing him to flinch. "I
take it you supported her in this fool venture?"

"Hey," Tess said, her anger giving her strength to
rise. "We were working together, and at least we got what we were looking
for."

Alice blinked, and abruptly there were tears in her eyes.
"Would it be worth it if you had been taken?" Her words were a
whisper, and for a long moment there was only silence.

Guilt assailed Tess, and she strode to her side. Hesitantly,
she touched Alice's shoulder. "We retrieved what we were after," she
said quietly.

Alice turned and looked up at her, curiosity burning in her
expression. Just then Hawk strode into the room, his eyes blazing. His very
presence assumed command before he spoke a word. In a rigidly controlled voice,
he said, "Tess, come with me. The rest of you remain here."

"Hawk," Alice said, her eyes imploring.

"Allow me to speak with her first," Hawk said
quietly, and reluctantly she nodded.

Tess followed Hawk from the chamber and into a small
receiving room down the hall. The moment the door closed he turned to her.
"Tell me exactly what happened."

Tess did, and held nothing back. When she came to the part
about the steel entity Hawk went rigid. She paused, but he motioned for her to
continue. She finished by telling him about altering the steel giant's purpose.
At the last second she decided against sharing the new one. She didn't want him
to think she was a coward.

Hawk sank into a chair when she stopped, and stared at the
tiny glowing fire. Abruptly tired, she took a seat across from him. After a
long pause, Hawk asked, "Are you certain your involvement cannot be
traced?"

"I trust Iris," Tess said.

"As do I," Hawk said, and then turned to face her.
He motioned to the pendant that was visible on her neck. "You have been
more fortunate than I had expected."

She glanced down at it. "I didn't think it would be
there," Tess said. "And I certainly didn't think there would be
something guarding it. I'm sorry for what we did."

Hawk surprised her by smiling. "It's not you that I'm
angry with."

"Then who—"

"I'm angry with the person that created the steel
giant," Hawk said, and then brushed the topic aside. "But it does not
matter now. You have proven yourself quite resourceful, thank you."

Tess was curious, but her fatigue didn't allow for her to
pursue the subject. "What now?" she asked. "There are still
three items to find."

"Focus on unlocking the pendant for now. Even with help
I doubt you will find out about the other three until you figure out the
Oracle's Crest."

"Iris said that it contained all of the oracle's
knowledge," Tess said. "Is that true?"

"I believe so," Hawk replied. "But I cannot
say for certain. It was created so only an oracle can unlock its secrets."

Tess accepted his comment, and then asked, "Why didn't
you want to speak in front of the others?"

He put his hands together. "You are the only soul I
have told about that artifact. Even the Guild is not aware of your mission, or
the details surrounding the prophecy. In time I am sure Janson and Alice will
know, but I have learned from experience that a secret remains a secret because
it is not shared."

"Should I have not told my friends?" Tess asked.

"Only those you trust to help you," Hawk said, and
then passed a hand over his face. "But perhaps we can continue this
discussion in the morning. Not showing up to your classes tomorrow will arouse
suspicion, and you will need rest to arrive on time."

He rose to his feet, and Tess did as well. "Have a good
night, Tess," Hawk said.

Tess nodded, too tired to say any more, and stepped into the
hall. Plodding to the room she'd used before, she looked forward to the numbing
bliss of sleep. She reached her room and found Alice pacing outside it.

She looked up as Tess approached. "Are you certain you
are alright?" she burst.

"I'm fine," Tess said, and yawned.

In spite of the concern on her face, Alice flashed a tight
smile. "I'm sorry I got so upset," she said, her eyes dark and
inscrutable with concern. "I just worry about the pressure Hawk is putting
on you. Are you sure you're up to it?"

Tess nodded. "I'll be fine. I just need some
sleep."

Alice let out a breath, and hesitantly reached up to touch
Tess's cheek. "You are destined for great things, Tess. I just want to
make sure you live to see it."

"I will," Tess said.

Alice swallowed, and turned away. On impulse Tess caught her
arm. "Um, Alice? Would you like to have breakfast with me?"

They had spent Tess's birthday together, and she had felt a
marginal lightening of their relationship. In time perhaps they would be close,
and time was easier to give than an open heart.

Alice turned back with a smile on her face and moisture in
her eyes. "I would like that, daughter."

"Thanks," Tess said, and then hesitantly reached
out to her.

Too choked up to speak, Alice reached out and gave her a
hug. It was awkward, as if Alice was unused to the motion. Given the situation
Tess supposed that was to be expected. When they separated, Tess said,
"Goodnight, Alice."

Alice echoed the statement, and then turned and walked away.
Tess released a sigh of relief and slipped into her room. Iris wasn't there
yet, so Tess climbed under the covers fully dressed. In seconds she was out.

Chapter 25: Ally

Hawk stepped off the path and strode into the shaded park.
The small area was empty except for six giant oak trees placed in a wide
circle. Grown together into a single, interwoven canopy, they shrouded the
twilight sun and cast the park into shadow. A strand of water swirled up each
trunk and joined in the center of the trees. From there they fell as a tinkling
waterfall into a small pond.

Hawk took a seat next to a man on one of the three glowing
benches. Without looking at him, he said, "Chancellor Gerik, thank you for
coming."

"How could I not?" he replied. "You rescued
my daughters—for which I could never express sufficient gratitude."

"They are children," Hawk said. "They should
not have been involved."

"Perhaps, but those who took them obviously cared
little for their age." He turned to Hawk, "Is this about the steel
giant? Do you know something about it?"

Hawk shook his head and kept his face neutral. His
expression strained, Gerik sighed and looked away. Hawk threw him a measuring
look. In the span of weeks he'd gone from lively and charismatic to drawn and
weary. Two years ago the spark to his blue eyes had caused many to support his
appointment to the high council, the youngest ever to sit on the ruling body. Now
he sat hunched and dark circles slumped under his eyes.

"You weren't the only one targeted," Hawk said.

"I know," Gerik said with an angry grunt.
"Everyone on the high council is missing at least one member of their
family. I am fortunate mine have been returned alive. Chancellor Anderson has
seen his wife and son delivered dead to his doorstep. They only have his
daughter to control him now. He shouldn't have resisted so much."

"Why haven't any of you reported this to the public?"

"What good would it do?" Gerik said. His voice was
resigned. "Ranson and the Harbingers have people in every branch of the
Magtherian. By the time we realized how much they had taken over it was too
late."

"Do you know what he is after?" Hawk asked.

"To control the aurens," Gerik said. "Why
else would he be telling them his home was struck by an auren weapon? Or pass
the vote to bring magic public? With the vote decided, the people are looking
to the manner they should come out of hiding. Now Ranson is using the attack,
the murders, and the conflict to stoke the people's fears into anger. If he
succeeds, the revelation of the mage world will result in the death of many
aurens."

"That is not all he seeks," Hawk said.

Gerik turned to face him. "What else does he
intend?"

"He has the Sword of Elseerian."

Gerik's face turned white, making him appear even older.
"He wants to use Draeken's army? But the fiends would slaughter the world.
It's what they were created for."

"The fiends are gone, Chancellor," Hawk said
quietly.

"How can you know that?" Gerik demanded.

Hawk told him about the events following the Sword's theft,
and how only a few thousand fiends had exited the portal.

"And once they were destroyed . . . nothing came out?
If that's true then we have nothing to fear."

Hawk hesitated. Was there any potential danger to revealing
what truly lay behind the portal? He wasn't certain there was, but he couldn't
plan for what he did not know. Either way, Hawk needed an ally in the Spirus,
and Chancellor Gerik would be invaluable.

"The fiends may be gone . . . but the source that
created them remains," Hawk said slowly.

Gerik's eye cleared in an instant as he stared at him.
"What source?" His voice had become hard and brittle.

"I believe that Draeken used an entity known as the
Dark to create his army."

"What do you mean . . . the Dark?"

"After the last of the fiends emerged, another figure
came through the portal. He called himself Ducalik, servant to Draeken, master
of flesh and the Dark. He brought forth the fog."

"What did the Dark do?" Gerik asked. His gaze was
distant and calculating.

Hawk felt the urge to shudder as he recalled the power.
"The Dark extinguished every light, and then robbed my allies of their
reason. They became  . . . Darkened, and sought to kill those who were still
fighting the intrusive fear." He didn't add that it had even overcome him,
and almost forced him to kill Tess. He also didn't voice that the few that had
survived the encounter were still Darkened, and their consciousness appeared
gone forever.

Gerik stared at the waterfall in front them, his gaze
unfocused. "How . . . powerful do you believe this Dark to be?"

"According to Ducalik, the Dark would consume the planet."

Gerik released a long sigh and appeared to gather himself.
"Then we cannot allow the Harbingers to keep the Sword. The anniversary of
Draeken's defeat is only two months away. If they release this evil, auren and
mage alike will be extinguished."

"That is why I wanted to speak with you," Hawk
said.

Gerik frowned at him. "You want me to join the
Guild."

"I do."

Gerik turned away and didn't respond. Then he said, "I
am aware of the Guild—and that you are the Guildmaster—but only because Ranson
has sought to destroy you."

"The Guild has existed for a sentenium," Hawk
said. "And its sole purpose is to protect the peace between aurens and
mages. We have faced a number of threats, but none compare to Ranson and the Harbingers."

"I will consider your proposal," Gerik said.

"Spoken like a politician."

"Like a cautious man," Gerik corrected. "My
children were taken the last time I disobeyed him."

"When you decide, don't use the mage net to contact me,"
Hawk said. Reaching into his cloak, he withdrew a folded paper crane. Of its
own accord the bird flew to Gerik.

"An origami message?" Gerik's eyebrows shot up.
"That's an old one."

"That's exactly why we should use it," Hawk said.
"Technology mages can't track it, and a light bending spell will keep it
from being spotted. This one has been enchanted to find its way back to
me."

Gerik pocketed the crane and smiled. "You are cunning,
Guildmaster, I give you that." He rose to his feet. "I will contact
you soon."

"Don't delay," Hawk said. "We don't have much
time."

Gerik nodded and turned away. Before he'd gone ten steps
Hawk stood and called after him.

"One more thing," Hawk said, causing Gerik to
turn. "Have you ever seen anyone giving orders to Ranson?"

"You mean like a superior?" Gerik asked.

Like a Master. Hawk nodded.

"Never," Gerik replied. "But then, Ranson has
never cared for one." His brow furrowed. "Are you saying there is
another greater than he?"

"I am," Hawk said.

"Then we truly have reason to fear," Gerik said.
"Ranson is dangerous enough. I cannot imagine one more powerful than
him."

"They call him the Master," Hawk said. "And
it's possible that he wields a unique magic."

"A unique?" Gerik exclaimed in surprise. "Of
what kind?"

"I know not," Hawk said. "The color and power
are unknown to me."

"That is puzzling . . . and disturbing." Gerik
said. "I'm sure you know how dangerous unique's can be."

"I am aware."

"Then I will keep my eyes open," Gerik said, and
inclined his head. "Watch your back, Guildmaster."

"Chancellor," Hawk said with a curt bow.

Gerik turned and slipped away, leaving Hawk alone in the
park. A moment later Ritsu dropped from her perch above them.

"Do you trust him?" she murmured.

"For now," Hawk said. "If we don't find out
where the Harbingers are keeping the Sword, we are all lost. Gerik has the
motivation and the position—and he has always sought to serve our people."

"He didn't bring anyone else," Ritsu said.
"So it appears he trusts you."

"Let's just hope he decides to join us," Hawk
replied.

Ritsu merely issued a grunt of agreement. Hawk didn't
respond, and after a minute she departed. Hawk remained in the park until
darkness had swallowed it. Then he evaporated into the night.

Chapter 26: The Sundrop

Tess left her tutoring with Janson worn, sore, and cold. The
water mage had taught her numerous powerful water spells, many of which had
involved ice. She shivered, and drew heat from the sunlight to warm herself.

The quad was coming to close faster than she could keep up
with, and there remained only days before the final exams. The weather had
turned cold, and a few flurries of snow had drifted onto the grounds. She knew
it was just the season, but the temperature seemed to reflect the fear in her
heart.

She passed a knot of students gathered around a news orb. By
the sound of it they were replaying an older report about the steel entity.
Even though no one knew who had been involved, she felt her gut tighten as she
passed. The incident had dimmed the attention on her, but she wasn't sure that
was a good thing anymore. At first she had been relieved, but now she worried
about the impact of so much conflict.

Students of Tryton's couldn't seem to recover from one
revelation before another was thrust upon them. First her identity, and then
the revelation about mage murders, followed by the attack on Ranson's home, and
that didn't even count the changes at the school itself. When the news broke
about the steel giant the students had begun to realize something was amiss.

She saw it in their eyes as they talked about the latest
incident, and heard it in their whispered conversations. They were smart and
had been taught to be perceptive. Instead of looking at the individual events
they were looking for connections. The battle between the Guild and Harbingers
had spilled into the public eye, and the students could sense the rising storm,
even if they didn't understand its source.

She hoped the novelty would wear off when the Magtherian
managed to move the steel giant, but so far that had proved impossible. A small
army of gravity mages had tried to lift it, but it had remained resolute, its
arms folded as it stood tall. Despite the concern that it would reactivate,
spectators flocked to see it, and stood gawking as battlemages and officials
struggled to relocate it.

The real positive note was that the incident had taken the
Harbingers equally by surprise. Without reliable monitoring motes the
Magtherian had been unable to provide an explanation as to what had happened.
Their best guess was that the ancient entity had been accidentally activated
and had sought to carry out its purpose. Because Tess was an oracle, not even
the highest of earth masters had been able to discover its new purpose.

She wished she could get back to it and change it, but the
deluge of attention had made that impossible—and she wasn't certain she could.
Although her friends had enquired as to what Tess had done she'd shied away
from answering. The purpose she'd given had come in the conflict, confusion,
and fear of the moment. She had no desire to share her moment of terror.

The memory of the giant trying to crush her flashed across
her vision, and she twitched. Then she shoved the thought from her mind. She
didn't have time to dwell on it. There was far too much for her to do. With an
effort, she turned her attention to the next item on her schedule. For the
first time in a while, it was something she looked forward to.

She quickened her pace and turned toward her room. Pausing just
long enough to get Iris, she made her way to the front of the school. A thrill
of anticipation coursed through her, but she remained on the ground. After all
the homework she'd had, she needed to conserve her energy for the game.

Every spare second since the tryout she'd spent in the
stadium practicing Tempest. In a matter of weeks she'd learned the game,
practiced strategies, and become part of the team. It was an experience both
exhilarating and confusing. On the one hand she had made new friends among her
teammates, on the other she'd had little time for Derek, Iris, and Rox.

She sighed, and reminded herself that she couldn't place all
the blame on the team. Between her studies, homework, and all the tutors, she
felt like there was no room for anything else. She hoped that getting out of Tryton's
might alleviate the tension she felt, at least temporarily. Not for the first
time, she reminded herself that she should be working more on the Crest. She
had yet to unlock it.

In spite of the upcoming game at another school, Tess
couldn't shake the prevailing fear that had continued to mount. It was the last
weekend before finals, and only days until the end of the term. Time seemed to
be hastening, and now the deadline to finding the Sword was just weeks away.
She felt an anxious tightening in her stomach at the idea that the Harbingers
were setting up something major. She thrust the thought aside.

She needed a break and she knew it. Releasing an explosive
breath she launched herself into the air and let the breeze soothe her mind.
She wished she had time to float, but if she didn't hurry she would be late.
Reluctantly she flew straight to her room. Collecting her things, she coaxed
Stel into remaining behind. Grend's were not allowed in the game, and the metal
intelligence wouldn't sit with Iris during it. Then she flew Iris and herself
to the center of Auroraq.

She tried to act normally as she saw the lingering
destruction from the steel giant's path. Some of the trees were still down, and
a handful of the enormous footprints still needed to be repaired. It was the
first time Tess had seen it in person, and she felt the gaze of hundreds of
officials as she passed it by. She knew her presence on that night was not
known, but that did little to alleviate her tension.

To the side of the governing tower, a smaller building lay
nestled in a stand of trees. Tess landed them next to it and joined the
collection of students there.

"Glad you could make it," Parker said. "And
it's good to see you too, Iris."

Iris grunted but ignored him. She was too busy wiggling her
fingers in the air as she manipulated signals. She'd chosen not to bring her
beanie this time, and had snapped something about needing the extra resources.

Parker grinned and turned back to Tess. "You ready for
the game?"

"As ready as I'll ever be," she said with a sigh.
After fighting with a clan of rock trolls against the Dark itself, defending
her home against the Harbingers, and battling an ancient steel entity, the game
seemed . . . tame. "How are we getting there anyway?"

"Brokins is in the south Pacific Ocean, so we will be
taking a sundrop."

"A what?"

"A sundrop is like a plane, only it flies much
higher."

"So it's a plane?"

He shook his head, trying to find a way to explain.
"It's like a tornado launcher, but larger. It's for intercontinental
travel." His eyebrows pulled together. "You've never ridden on
one?"

His tone made it sound like he was surprised that the oracle
hadn't done it. "No," she said curtly, and then turned away to find
Shorn approaching her.

"Ready to go? Did you bring your guest?"

She gestured to Iris who was arguing with a tree, her eyes
glazed over.

"Good." He then raised his voice and called to the
gathered team. "Let's go everyone." He turned on his heel and led the
way through the door and down a wide flight of stairs. At the bottom the steps opened
into an enormous corridor. Well over fifty feet in height, the tunnel extended
in both directions to the extreme edges of the city. Pinpoints of light could
be seen in either direction, indicating that they stood in the center of a hole
that bored through the underbelly of Auroraq.

Dominating the space, a massive teardrop of glass pointed
east. Transparent and expansive, the sundrop bore stubby wings on the sides
that were also made of glass. Inside, the floor was opaque, and was the color
of blue sky. No engines adorned the ship, and it appeared to be lacking a
cockpit. Much like the terra trains, the sundrop held chairs and couches in
place of cramped seats.

"Who flies it?" Tess asked. She lifted off the
ground and soared toward the door in the side. The friends of the other
teammates who couldn't fly used the grav lift, but like Tess, the other flyers
disregarded it.

"A techno mage," Shorn said.

"Like a pilot?"

Shorn shook his head and jerked a thumb above them.
"The Sky Agency is housed on the seventh floor of the Spirus. Among other
things, they guide all the sundrops."

Tess landed at the top of the stairs, joining Iris as she
floated to a place beside her. Apparently hearing the conversation, Iris said,
"The sundrops are enchanted to fly a specific route, so the Sky Agency
just keeps an eye on them to make sure nothing happens."

"Do they ever crash?" Tess asked. It was unnerving
to think that the plane she was boarding had no pilot. Still, she entered and
took a seat on one of the couches.

"It couldn't if it tried," Iris said with a
tinkling laugh. "The entire floor is imbued with gravity magic. The worst
it could do is slowly sink to the surface.

Tess's mind was drawn back to the tornado launcher that had
been sabotaged—with her in it. That incident had nearly killed her friends, and
had been perpetrated by Drake. Her lips tightened into a thin line at the
memory, making it difficult for her to shake her lingering anxiety. A moment
later the door was closed and the sundrop began to accelerate.

Veins of purple glowed on the sides of the tunnel,
brightening as the sundrop surged forward. In moments the walls became a blur
of dark rock and purple magic. Then suddenly they burst through the cloudwall
and into the afternoon sun.

Tess blinked at the brightness, but the glass had already
darkened several shades. She turned and squinted behind them, and noticed that
just as with the air boards, the sundrop emitted a vapor trail in its wake,
making it appear as if their passage was a plane. Clouds blew past them as they
continued to accelerate. She snorted in chagrin. She recalled the times she'd
seen a plane streaking through the sky, and had wondered how it moved so fast.

"Hey," Parker said, drawing her attention away
from the view.

"What?" Tess asked bluntly.

Parker shifted. "Sorry about . . . earlier. Sometimes I
forget you aren't like the rest of us students."

Tess stared at him, and then released a sigh. "Me too,
Parker. Don't worry about it."

Parker grinned, and then turned away as a girl asked him
something. Iris took his place, her eyes wide with excitement.

"Do you have any idea how many techno spells are
placed on this thing? So far I've seen a directional charm, a drogan enchantment,
a prastel spell, and a rolastian charm—and that's not even including the
anti-tampering spells."

Tess laughed. "I have no idea what you are talking
about, but I wish I could see it."

Iris's eyes took on a dangerous look. "Why can't
you?" she murmured, and slid into a seat next to her. "I mean, no one
else can do gravity and techno magics—but you aren't just anybody. With my
help, you could see it all in no time. I bet you could even—"

"I wish I could, Iris," Tess said. "But I am
overwhelmed as it is, and I don't think I'm ready for the distractions that
would come with it. If I got distracted like most techno mages I think I would
start failing my classes."

Iris blinked and withdrew an inch. "If you don't like
techno magic, you can just say so."

"That's not what I—"

Iris had already risen to her feet and departed. Without
looking back she strode to the other side of the sundrop and chose a solitary
chair. Tess made to follow her but a couple of her teammates intercepted her
course.

"We have an idea about our four-point maneuver,"
Will said. "Got a minute?"

Tess forced a smile. "Sure," she said.

They launched into a discussion of how Brokins School of
Magic favored the Oritz defensive layout, and how Tess's dual fire and wind
ability could break through it. Tess listened and responded, but most of her
attention was on her roommate. Due to space limitations, each player was
allowed to bring just one friend for the game. Tess had chosen Iris, but now
wished she'd gone with her first instinct and invited Derek. The occasional
hostility between him and Shorn had made her reluctant, but now she thought it
would have been fine.

The hour passed quickly, and Tess did the best she could to
relax. This term was being anything but mundane, and she found herself envious of
the other students. They speculated about the Magtherian reports as if they
were distant events, and segued directly into classes and girlfriends. Tess
almost laughed as she heard it. To her the mage world was deadly serious, and
school was about trying to prevent a war, not hanging out with friends. Worried
about her roommate, she tried to relax as the hour passed.

She was pulled from her thoughts as the sundrop tipped
downward. They descended quickly, but the vessel stayed mostly level throughout
the decline. Soon they were just a hundred feet off the Pacific Ocean, and then
fifty. Tess began to feel nervous as she saw the water begin to react to their
passage, and she imagined the sundrop shattering on impact, sending glass
shards through its occupants.

"Where's the city?" Tess asked. There was still
nothing but ocean in every direction.

"Just ahead," Parker said, and grinned at her
discomfort.

Tess felt a flash of annoyance at him, but didn't get the
chance to act on it. Ahead of them, a whirlpool had appeared in the ocean.
Curling in ever faster circles, the small whirlpool sucked down into the water,
creating a dark hole into the depths.  Then it shifted sideways.

Like a slanted underwater tornado, the whirlpool created a
tunnel that bored into the water at a casual slant large enough to accommodate
the sundrop. A moment later they flew into it.

Visible through the glass exterior of the sundrop, the
swirling water calmed, until it resembled the surface of a pond. Tess was
stunned. As far as she could tell, nothing held the water at bay. There was no
thick plastic, like in an aquarium, or anything else keeping the water in
place.

Ahead, Tess spotted an underwater object that resolved into
clarity as they approached. She gasped as she realized it was a massive dome of
air that rested on an underwater island. The city of Brokins wasn't on the
water.

It was under it.

Chapter 27: Brokins

They began to decelerate as they approached the dome, and a
moment later burst into open air. Tess's gaze was drawn upward, and she saw the
entire dome was well beneath the surface of the ocean.

They had entered Brokins close to the underwater island's beach.
The sundrop swept into a banking curve that left it pointing back to the sea,
and then settled into a hover off the ground. As the students began to
disembark, Tess gazed at the secret city in wonder.

The city of Brokins was almost as large as Auroraq, and was
built on a pinnacle of rock rising from the depths of the Pacific. The dome
that protected it was an enormous bubble of smooth water. Sunlight streamed
through the water and into the city, dampened only slightly by its depth from
the ocean surface.

The center of Brokins was built like a tiered cone. Rising to
a point, the tower displayed mostly blue and silver coloring and was supported
by great, sweeping arches. The top of the water dome had been left open,
allowing seawater to fall into a large waterfall. Cascading onto the tower, it
split into three branches. The trio of rivers created a network of smaller
waterfalls that coursed over and through buildings on its way to the bottom.

The various levels of the city carried an air of pristine elegance,
and were fashioned of a mixture of coral overlaid with water. Residents wore
blue or silver cloaks, and strolled through meandering walkways that crisscrossed
the city and curved between waterfalls. Reservoirs of seawater dotted the
tiers, and each was filled with an abundance of plant and animal life.

Bridges arced their way across the streams in a graceful
counterpoint to the rivers beneath, connecting the various tiers, buildings,
and gardens. Statues of liquid water stood wreathed in light amidst the paths,
adding to the atmosphere of the city.

Marked by a quartet of smaller towers, the school of Brokins
was easy to locate on the northern arc of the city. Dominating almost a third
of the space, the school mirrored the architecture of the city, yet was
separated from it by a meandering wall of water that connected to the dome.
Fish swam directly from the ocean into it.

Brokins School for Mages was shaped like a giant eye. A
stadium similar to the one at Tryton's dominated the center. Buildings of
coral, shells, and dark stones surrounded it. Sloped and rolling, a wide section
of grounds ringed the school, and was filled with underwater and surface flora.
A small forest grew thick across one point, while a lush garden grew across the
opposite end. At the extreme ends, small inlets contained sandy beaches. Waves
rolled like a breaking surf onto them, unperturbed that they were hundreds of
feet underwater.

Despite the grandeur of the city, it was the region outside
the dome that drew Tess's attention. On all sides the ocean had been visibly
brightened, allowing for an unprecedented view of the sea's denizens. Schools
of fish swam around a vibrant coral reef that grew just outside the dome.
Several dolphins played and careened above the city, disappearing from view as
they jumped into the air above.

Bright colored fish swam through the aquatic ferns and
tendrils of coral plants while stealthy reef sharks hunted in their wake.
Stingrays glided across the sandy bottom, and an octopus lurked in the shadows
nearby. The stunning display was panoramic and backlit by an ambient light, giving
it an almost aquarium feel.

"What's the dome made of?" Tess asked. She stepped
out of the sundrop and glided to the beach.

Parker flew to her side. "Come and see for
yourself," he said, and led her closer to the dome. "Touch it."

She hesitated, and then reached out to the smooth surface.
To her astonishment her fingers passed right into the material. She flinched
away, and her hand came away wet.

"It's aquaglass," Parker said with a laugh. He
reached out and shoved his hand right through the barrier, causing a pair of
striped fish to dart away. He withdrew it and wiggled his drenched arm.
"It's incredible, isn't it?"

She followed his example, and inserted her arm into the
water. It felt like plunging her hand through the surface of a lake, and she
had a brief sense of vertigo that it was sideways. On impulse she pushed her
face into the dome wall. Water washed over her and she tasted salt. She
withdrew and dried herself with a wave of her hand. Then she dried Parker's
hand.

"Thanks," he said.

"What's it made of?" Tess asked in wonder.
"It feels like water. Shouldn't it be solid?"

"Aquaglass is water," Parker replied.
"Have you ever seen how water seems to have a solid surface to it? Like if
you put a few drops on a penny and it makes a bubble? Aquaglass is a charm that
enhances that natural bond. It sounds simple, but I understand it's an
incredibly complex spell."

The octopus slid out of its hole in the coral and began to
hunt. Tess gestured to it. "Do the fish ever pass through the aquaglass?"

"Not really," Parker said. "The nature of the
enchantment creates a slight current. They kind of get shocked if they
do."

"How does that work?"

"How should I know?" Parker said, his voice
amused. "I'm not a water mage. You can ask one of the Brokins professors,
though. They are renowned for their water mastery."

"You guys coming?" Shorn called, causing them both
to turn.

The rest of the team had already gathered their boards and
were hovering in the air waiting for them. Parker grinned and jumped into the
air with Tess right behind. A couple of the other players tossed them their
boards as they approached.

"Enjoying the sights?" Shorn asked.

"You could have warned me," Tess said.

"And given away the surprise?" He laughed.
"Not a chance. But we need to get going. The game starts in an hour."

Tess glanced around for Iris, but saw that the other
students from Tryton's were gone. Then she spotted them walking down a path toward
the stadium. Iris stalked in the middle of them, and didn't look back. Tess
felt a flash of annoyance and decided to ignore her for now. She had enough to
deal with already.

"Let's go," Tess said. For the first time in a
long time, she felt a touch of excitement. "We have a game to play."

Thirty minutes later Tess was donning her white team cloak.
She felt a flutter in her stomach as she did. It was the first time she'd ever
worn a team uniform. She found it to be both exhilarating and sobering. It
didn't help matters that her mind was a tangle of contradicting thoughts.

Iris was prominent in her mind. Tess struggled between annoyance
and regret toward her, and couldn't seem to resolve how to handle the
situation. Underlying every thought, her knowledge about the Harbingers had a
nasty habit of cropping up at inconvenient times. Since she'd arrived it kept
reminding her that she needed to get to know students and teachers from
Brokins. Hawk had said repeatedly that they needed allies outside of Tryton's.

Despite her convoluted emotions, she felt a rising sense of
worldly anxiety about the impending game. A part of her wanted to prove that
she was deserving of her spot on the team. It may have been a game, but if she
burned out early there would be many who would likely lose faith in her.

Her hands shook, so she clenched them into tight balls and
tried to breathe her emotions out. It didn't help, but it did distract her. Iris,
the Sword, Tempest, allies, the thoughts bombarded her, demanding her
attention. She jumped when a hand settled onto her shoulder.

"You alright?" Parker asked.

Tess sought to calm her rapid heart rate and forced a nod.
Then she shook her head.

"Don't worry about it," Parker said, and settled
into a seat beside her. He was already dressed in his cloak, gauntlets, and
gloves, and had his helmet in one hand. "I nearly puked before my first
game."

"How long did you last?" she asked.

"I burned out in sixty seconds," he replied. He
flashed a wry smile. "I got better."

She opened her mouth to respond, but hesitated. She threw a
glance around the chamber but no one was paying attention.

"Can I be honest with you?" she asked quietly. If
anyone would understand, it would be him. And she did need allies.

"Sure," he said. His smile faded as he seemed to
hear the seriousness in her tone.

"The reason I was stung before . . .," she began,
and then sighed. "I just feel the weight of everything, you know?"

"I do," he said, and his characteristic smile was
gone. "I don't think I've told you, but I'm an only child, and my parents
were aurens. They didn't find out until I was older that I was a mage."

"What happened?"

"I went to dive into a pool and floated up to the roof
instead."

"Oh."

He smirked, but it held no humor. "Yeah. A mage came
within an hour and told my parents I carried enough magical blood to be a mage.
I thought my dad was having a heart attack."

"So what's wrong?" she asked. His tone was darker
than she would have expected from the story.

"They were terrified others would find out,"
Parker said quietly. "For a while they forbade me from practicing. My
older brothers were jealous, and knocked me around whenever they could. When I
defended myself with magic I was punished. When I didn't I got hurt. I didn't
show up for my first term at Tryton's and a mage came to find out why. My
parents were adamant that I not attend, but I went with him. I haven't talked
to them since I came to Tryton's."

He withdrew a small letter from his pocket. It was sealed in
a clear container to keep it from being damaged. "Someday I hope to return
home and give them this, to let them know I turned out alright. I don't know if
it would make a difference after all this time, but I want to give it to them
anyway."

"I'm sorry, Parker," she said. "Families
should never do such a thing." Was mine so abnormal?

He shrugged and grinned, but it seemed forced. "I just
thought you should know that I have something to live up to as well, and it
isn't easy trying to prove yourself to parents that don't even want to know
you."

His comment hit home, and she swallowed at the sudden knot
in her throat. Then Shorn stood up and addressed the team, ending their
conversation.

"Stick to our strategy," Shorn said, "and we
should be fine." His gaze swept the room. "We represent Tryton's. I
know you won't let me down."

The team gathered their boards and swept from the room,
excited and ready for the game. Tess caught Parker's arm. When he turned back
she said, "Thanks, Parker."

"For what?"

"For telling me what I needed to hear," she said.

He grinned, and she was grateful to see it was genuine.
"Let's scorch 'em," he said, and donned his helmet.

She grinned, and joined him as they walked to the great
doors that swung open as they approached. A rising roar swept the stadium as
they exited onto a porch that overlooked the stadium. Unlike at Tryton's, the
team shelves were located at the two ends of the stadium, and were elevated to
the height of the stands.

Spreading out before her, the constellation Orion waited for
them. Three suns formed a belt across the center of the arena. Large planets
were fixed in space around it, and were positioned to look like legs, arms, and
the head of a hunter. Their exit had brought them out to face the feet of the
formation. Smaller planets, asteroids and a single comet floated and drifted
under, above, and through the figure, presenting an ever changing battlefield
for the game.

A cacophony of emotions swept through her as she looked down
on the tremendous crowd. At this point she was certain everyone knew who she
was. She had no doubt everything she did would be scrutinized after the game.
Along with her team she smiled and waved, and buried her uncertainties where
they wouldn't show.

"Brokins and Tryton's students," a voice boomed,
"Take your positions."

Shorn gave the traditional salute and then kicked his board
off the shelf. It tumbled downward, but he leapt after it and smoothly landed
on its surface. Banking out of the fall, he headed for the Tryton's star. The
crowd cheered as the rest of the team followed suit. Tess was near the rear,
and it gave her the chance to collect her resolve before she tossed her board
off and dived after it.

She caught the board with her feet and swerved after her
team. As she'd been trained, she took up a position at the back of the starting
formation. Her teammates glided into a spherical shape around their star. All
the fire mages stretched their arms to it, preparing to gather their magic.
Tess did the same, and hoped the tremble in her arm was not visible to the spectators.

In the stillness before the whistle, she tried to calm her
racing heart.

Chapter 28: Orion

The whistle blew, and their formation disintegrated in a
burst of movement. Wind flyers bolted toward the belt of suns for the
preliminary reconnaissance. More than one team had lost because the opposing
players had assaulted early. Their first job was to warn the fire mages if the
other team did that.

Tess sucked fire onto her forearms, but did so cautiously.
Shorn had repeatedly said that he preferred them to be a few seconds late over
having a hasty spell blow up in their faces, an accident that could decimate
their team. Still, she finished fourth out of the flyers. Kyle sealed his spell
a fraction behind her, and flashed a grin at their timing. All of them listened
to the reports coming from the speed flyers up front.

"Detonators are moving to lay traps below and behind
their star," Brig said.

"And on the right flank," Julian said. "It
looks like they are going for a left sweep. Speed flyers coming in now."

Shorn called out their orders in response, using the helmet
coreless link to speak to those not present. "Parker, take Kyle, Tess, and
Lisa up the right flank. Take the high road and go for the belt. If they are
going to abandon the right sun, take advantage of it. Speeds, drop to the deck
and make them think you are trying for their star. Try to distract them while
our detonators get their traps into position. Detonators, you know what to
do."

Their team burst into motion, and Tess followed her
lieutenant. As the newest member of their team, she took up the trailing
position in the diamond formation, and guarded their backs. This early in the
game it was unlikely there would be anyone behind them, but she took her role
seriously and constantly checked their wake for signs of pursuers.

In the lead, Parker swerved hard to avoid a coasting planet
and dodged its rings as it rotated. Then he accelerated between two larger moons.
Passing the center of the arena, he rolled into a dive that headed straight for
the right sun.

"Incoming on the right," Parker yelled, and
stabbed a finger at a similar quartet of flyers racing to intercept them.
"Lisa and Tess, flank from below. Kyle and I will engage."

They split, and Tess followed Lisa around a swirling blue
planet. They hugged the outside wall before arcing underneath its moon. In
unison, they stepped on the back of their boards and pointed upward. Above them
Parker and Kyle were hard pressed from the four in blue. Their leader must have
decided to eliminate them before going after the girls.

Blasts of flame closed the distance from both sides as
everyone fought for an advantage. In the span of three seconds four fireballs
grazed Parker and Kyle, with each getting closer than the last. Then Lisa and
Tess struck from below. Tess launched a ball of fire at the underside of one
board. She missed, but it caused the blue flyer to flinch away as it streaked
past him. Lisa took advantage of the boy's reflex. Her blow struck true, and
the boy's board was enveloped in fire. He shouted a warning as his board turned
toward the Brokins bench.

The other three turned to see what was occurring, but that
was a mistake. Parker and Kyle struck from the front at the same time Lisa and
Tess attacked from below. Caught in the middle, the Brokins players unleashed a
barrage in both directions. Tess swerved apart from Lisa as a torrent of flames
blossomed toward them.

"Shears!" Lisa yelled, and released a blast of
fire below and toward Tess.

Tess obeyed the order, and cast a wide line of flames from
her right gauntlet. The two columns of fire combined below and between them,
creating an arrow that closed on the rearmost foe. With nowhere to turn, he was
caught as the V shaped flames tightened on him like a pair of scissors.

Kyle took out a second with a trio of blasts. Desperate, the
last flyer unleashed a barrage of fire as he swerved and twisted to avoid
getting burned. It was obvious he was headed to gain allies, but they never
gave him a chance.

The four of them pummeled the surrounding space, preventing
the blue flyer from returning toward his star. Giving up on escape, he whirled
and targeted Lisa, the closest to him. Lisa swerved twice, but her leg exploded
in flames as she was hit. A heartbeat later the blue flyer was struck
simultaneously by Tess and Kyle.

"See you in two minutes," Lisa said as her board
turned away.

Tess called to her as she left, "Good idea on the
shears!"

Lisa grinned before a planet obstructed her from view.

They regrouped after she was gone. "Good job,"
Parker said. "The detonators should have their traps in place, and it
looks like the speed flyers managed to distract them. Take up positions around
the suns and stop them from getting any fire."

Tess accepted the order and found a position above a planet.
For the next twenty minutes Tess fought to keep the Brokins players from
capturing the suns. With so many fire sources both teams had an abundance to
draw from. Streams of fire and explosions filled the space, making it
impossible to avoid being burned.

Then Tess was caught from behind and eliminated. Most of
their team had already been knocked out at least once, and one player had been
hit three times already. Evenly matched, Brokins was faring about the same. Two
minutes later Tess returned rested and ready for more.

Lisa was out for the second time, so Shorn ordered Tess to
rejoin Parker and Kyle. Arriving in time to intercept an opponent that was
pursing Parker, she blasted him from behind and then slid to a stop next to
Kyle. "How are we doing?" she asked.

Kyle jerked his head. "They've gotten better since last
time."

Out of breath, Parker slid to a stop beside them. "No
one seems to be gaining ground, so it looks like we are in for a long
game."

"Isn't there something we could do?" Tess asked.

"Want to go for their star?" Kyle asked. He flexed
his fingers in anticipation.

Tess laughed. "Won't they expect that?"

"Not from you," he growled, "and not this
early in the game. People usually only go after the star if most of the other
team is gone. Besides, haven't you been practicing wind? If Parker and I can
knock out the traps and occupy the Watcher, could you come from above and take
it?"

Parker turned to her, his eyebrow raised as he waited for
her response.

"It could work," Tess said. "But I'm not as
fast as the speed flyers. Once I take it they will be all over me."

Parker shrugged. "Let's do it. Kyle, hit them from the
right and try to knock out their traps. I'll follow and feint a move toward the
star. When you see an opening, Tess, take it. We won't last long so don't
hesitate."

Tess nodded and turned away from them. Leaning back, she
sent a surge of power into her board and it exploded upward. As she neared the
top of the arena, she had to dodge the comet. Then an idea struck her and she
swerved into the comet's trail. White light enveloped her, making it difficult
to see—but equally difficult for the opposing team to spot her.

The comet bounced off the top of the arena shield and sped toward
the Brokins star. She twitched as a series of explosions sounded. She eased her
path so she could peer out of the white light. She ducked back as three traps
exploded at the same time.

The ensuing fireball was massive, and engulfed the entire
side of a planet. Skirting it, Parker and Kyle burst into view, and released a
torrent of flames from their gauntlets. One of the defenders was caught
unaware. He shouted to his allies even as his board turned toward the Brokins
shelf.

Two wings of four attacked Parker and Kyle, leaving only the
watcher to guard the star. Parker burned one opponent before getting caught in
the rain of fireballs. Kyle shouted and corkscrewed downward before turning toward
the blue star. Instead of aiming for the mass of Brokins players, he launched a
quartet of fireballs at the traps around the blue star. The move was suicidal,
but it had the desired effect. The Watcher soared away from the exploding traps
and sent a furious barrage of fire at Kyle.

Kyle dodged and flicked, amazingly avoiding being struck for
the precious seconds that Tess needed. As the comet passed the star, she darted
out and grabbed it. Then she ducked back into the comet's trail. Just as she disappeared
from view Kyle went down under a hail of fire. The Watcher nodded in
satisfaction, and then turned back to the star he was tasked with protecting.
He froze, and then bellowed to his friends.

In seconds the entire team was after her. Knowing they would
realize where she'd gone, Tess dropped out of the comet trail and surged her
magic into wind. Answering her call, the air around her pressed into her back,
driving her forward at twice her normal speed.

Her breathing accelerated as she added a coil of fire into
her wake. She sped faster, and she hoped it would discourage pursuit. The blue
speed flyers appeared behind her, and shouted to their team. In seconds a wave
of blue gathered, howling and speeding after her. Threads of flame closed the
distance and passed her by, placing traps ahead of her. She stood on the back
of her board and exploded upward.

More fire threads reached out to cage her in. Desperate, she
banked between a trio of planets and reached the center of the arena. She
slowed as she encountered the furious battle raging between the two teams. A
stray blast of fire almost caught her, and she rolled upside down to avoid it.

She spotted the trap in her path at the last second, and on
instinct sent her own fireball into it. The explosion sounded loud in her ears,
but she used the resulting smoke to change direction again. She came out facing
a pair of blue flyers. Crying out, they sent a hail of fireballs at her. She
swerved up, and the fireballs exploded on the surface of a planet at her side.

Desperate to catch her before she could return to her side
and end the game, the blue flyers focused their whole attention on her.
Explosions of fire filled the air, detonating on planets, asteroids, and in the
air close to her. She jerked and dived, searching for a place to escape. Then
they found her.

Marked by the gold sweeps on his shoulder, the blue captain
lifted into her path. Flanked by two girls, they released an unstoppable volley
at her. She banked so hard her board went sideways, missing the cascading fire
by inches. Then the blue captain drew closer and leveled the entire might of
his gauntlets at her.

The explosion cracked the very air and engulfed Tess, a
planet, and it's moon. Then it was siphoned off by her board, which turned
black beneath her. The star under her arm pulled free and zipped away, headed
for its home. Tess emerged from the fire and smoke angry at herself. Alone, she
soared toward the Tryton's bench.

She threw a glance at the scoreboard, and was surprised to
see the blue team down to just nine players. Tryton's still had fifteen on the
field. Glancing back she realized the discrepancy. The Brokins team may have
caught her, but their desperation had come at a price. Her Tryton's teammates
had been quick to take advantage of their focus, and had attacked from every
flank. The battle had decimated the Brokins team, severely weakening their
ability to battle.

Many of the flyers that had been burned would only be out
for two minutes, but that was more than enough time for Shorn to lead a full
assault on the Brokins base. Tess grinned as she realized that she'd had a hand
in the impending victory.

For the first time she heard the noise from the crowd. Like
she'd pulled plugs from her ears, she realized the deafening volume coming from
the stands. Families and adults were on their feet, screaming and shouting. The
ones in blue were yelling in protest, but the ones in white were giddy with
delight. Some dressed in white had even lifted an enchanted banner that blared,
The Oracle fights for us!

Tess felt a surge of pride, and couldn't stifle the wide
grin. With her board black and burned, she felt like a victor. Joy suffused her
frame, causing her to look upward at the enormous dome of water that rested
above the city. She saw her surroundings with new eyes, and they were
incredible . . .

—Then she spotted a dark shape in the water to the west. She
blinked, and peered toward it. Even with the enhanced clarity around the city
it was barely discernible in the murky distance. It loomed round and dark, and
had a distinct auren feel. She felt a tremor of fear seep into her gut as she
sensed that something was amiss.

An idea crossed her mind and she cast a vision spell on
herself the way the Swordsman had taught her. Like she'd put on a pair of
binoculars, her vision focused into clarity, and the truth resolved into
frightening reality.

A mile out from the city a submarine glided into view—and it
wasn't alone. Four other submarines were slowing to a stop at its side, and the
hulls of an armada pierced the ocean above them.

Tess felt a tingle of foreboding spark across her skin, but
she did her best to convince herself that it was nothing. They must be an auren
fleet performing war games or something. But the dread refused to budge. Cold
and hard, it solidified into the pit of her stomach . . .

And then the torpedo doors of the submarines began to open.
Sliding out of view, they revealed dark holes that pointed directly at Brokins.
Before she could move ten torpedoes exploded into sight.

There was no mistaking their target.

Chapter 29: Threat

They closed the distance fast—faster than Tess though
possible.

"Shorn!" she screamed.

Hearing the panic in her voice, he swerved his board around
and met her gaze. Across the arena his eyes were questioning, and then they
went wide as he looked past her, and saw what she had seen. Summoning the Tryton's
players with a single word, he abandoned his assault on the opposing team and
rocketed to Tess's side. By the time he reached her the torpedoes had covered a
third of the distance.

The Tryton's team was a babble of confusion, but Shorn took
command and stabbed a finger at the threat. "We don't have time for
questions. Roe, get everyone that's burned off the shelf and evacuating the
city. Tell Parker to make sure the Brokins directors know what's going on.
Brody, get to the other Brokins captain and have him help the teachers with the
evacuation. Tess, Kyle, and I will do what we can to stop the first wave. Move!"

Tess kicked off her board and discarded her helmet as she launched
herself toward the incoming torpedoes. The referee blasted his whistle at the
penalty, but the sound died away, indicating that he'd seen what was coming. The
stands dissolved into confusion and screams of panic as others noticed the
threat.

Kyle joined Tess and Shorn as they passed through the Tempest
shield and entered the city. "Twenty seconds!" Tess yelled, and
poured her magic into speed. The three of them reached the outer wall before
the torpedoes, but not by much.

"Turn them on each other!" Kyle shouted.

Taking his own advice, he reached toward the lead torpedoes
even as she skidded to a stop at the aquaglass. Purple threads of light pierced
the water and closed the distance. Catching the torpedoes, he pushed them
together.

The explosion was sudden and deadly. Fish and coral were
charred, the aquaglass rippled and cracked. Tess and Shorn looked at each other
and then followed Kyle's lead.

Purple strands of light reached for the remaining torpedoes
and slammed them into each other. Tess flinched as each one detonated. Closer
and closer they came, until all but two had been destroyed. The aquaglass dome
was lined with cracks in its liquid surface, and water cascaded through the
countless gaps. At the last second Tess managed to crush one of them, and it
detonated close. The damage was nothing compared to the last torpedo.

Tess desperately sought to destroy it in time—but it was too
late. Shorn dived into her, knocking her aside as it pierced the dome. A dull
shriek filled the city as its engine lost the ability to propel itself. Then it
detonated.

Aquaglass shattered, buildings were incinerated, and a
torrent of flames cascaded over them. Instinctually Tess shielded herself and
Shorn, but even through her shield she felt the searing blast. It was the first
time she'd felt heat since learning the heat shield, and it scared her to the
core.

When the fireball evaporated they climbed to their feet.
Tess blanched as she saw the carnage. Nearby buildings were shredded and
burning. The dirt was scorched, pockmarked and broken. And the aquaglass dome
was on the verge of collapse. Fully a quarter of the barrier showed signs of damage,
and the blast had left a gaping hole. Seawater roared through the gash like a
broken fire hydrant, flooding the entire area.

"I'll find Kyle." Shorn had to yell to be heard
over the water. She nodded, and he jumped into the air. "Do what you can
to slow the breach!"

Tess staggered to her feet and flew to the break. The water
burst through the hole and thundered fifty feet before slamming into the
ground. The torrent erupted into mud as it gouged into the soil, washing out
the supports of a burning building higher up. The sheer power from the deluge
was frightening.

She didn't know how to do an aquaglass charm, so she did the
next best thing. Starting at the edges, she began to chill the water. The
shards of ice were swept away before they could grow. Gritting her teeth, she
tried again.

She yanked the heat from the surrounding area of aquaglass,
freezing it solid. Then she reached out to a large piece of coral a hundred
yards away. Purple magic blossomed from her hands and closed the distance. Like
hundreds of hooks, they latched onto the rough surface. Digging underneath it,
she tore through the material until she felt a section the size of a car
weaken. Abruptly it snapped free.

Tumbling into the vortex of water it was sucked into the
gap—where it stuck fast, slowing the water to a hundred hissing streams. The surrounding
aquaglass that she'd frozen trembled and cracked, threatening to burst. Even as
the fissures blossomed across its surface, she gathered her magic and sucked
the heat from the makeshift cork.

Ice expanded and thickened, closing holes, gaps, and
solidifying the plug into place. Warmth flooded her frame as she pulled it from
the water, but she ignored the wave of weakness and cast her spell again, and
then again. Impeded by the salt composition, the water nevertheless froze solid
as her magic took effect. Foot by foot the entire spread of aquaglass turned to
solid white. The sounds of rushing water were gradually replaced by the groan
and creaking of ice.

Tess felt a rush of relief as she wearily dropped to the flooded
ground. The moment her feet touched she collapsed into the muddy pond. Panting
from her effort, she forced herself to rise and examine her work.

Encapsulated in clouded ice, the coral plug poked through
the wall. All around it rainbows of ice arced to the ground. A jagged twenty
foot ring of white circled the hole, preventing it from breaking further.

But the repair only blocked a portion of the damage. Smaller
holes and breaks blossomed across an entire side of the dome. To her dismay,
some reached to the very top of the curve. Water spurted from them, and coursed
down the interior of the dome like water on a car windshield. By the time it
reached the bottom it had become a flood.

A splash caused her to jerk to the side, but it was only Shorn.
Exhausted, he stumbled to a landing next to her.

"Kyle?" she asked.

"Burned pretty bad, but alive," he gasped. "I
got him to a healer. Nice job on the plug." He gestured to it.

"It's not going to hold for long," she said.
"What's going on?"

Her need to understand burned in her voice, but he shook his
head. "I don't know. It's too far out for the techno mages to get much.
All they've been able to figure out is that the aurens think they are attacking
an underwater terrorist base."

"They're American?" She felt betrayed.

"Does it matter?"

She rose to her feet. "Of course it matters," she
said heatedly. "We could talk to them, tell them who we are."

He shook his head. "They don't know we're mages. We
can't just reveal our whole world to them."

"But there are thousands of people down here,"
Tess all but shouted. "What are we supposed to do?"

"They have started an evacuation," Shorn said.
"The Brokins officials and the Magtherian have ordered everyone out. The
sundrop is too small and would be spotted, so they're opening an old terra
train under the city. It hasn't been used in a while, so it will take some time
for them to get it going."

"How much time?" Tess demanded.

"At least an hour," Shorn said.

A distant whine interrupted her reply, and she turned in
time to see another volley of torpedoes launched. "I seriously doubt we
have an hour," she said.

"I'll take care of them," Iris called. She sloshed
through the water on her way to join them. "But there isn't much I can do
about the planes."

Shorn frowned. "What are you going to do?"

Iris ignored him, and clenched a fist at the lead torpedo.
It burst into a ball of muffled white. "They have a self-destruct ability,"
she said as she pointed to the next in line. "I'm just activating
it."

"Iris," Tess breathed. "You're
incredible."

Shorn echoed the statement while Iris glared at Tess.
"You should have brought me with you. It's chaos up there, and I had to run
to get here. Do you have any idea how much I hate to run?" She shuddered.

"I know, Iris," Tess said. "I'm sorry. I sort
of panicked."

Iris sniffed. "If you knew techno magic, you could do
this yourself."

"Don't you think I know that?" Tess said, and
rubbed her forehead. "I'm very aware of how much I rely on you."

The heat in Tess's voice caused Iris to grin. "As long
as you know it."

Iris threw her a glance, and Tess interpreted it to mean
that Iris had forgiven her. Before she could respond Iris turned away to answer
someone else.

"No, Uri, you can't gather your gear. Get out before
you drown—you too River. I can see you throwing your stuff into a bag. Yes, I would
leave my stuff behind if my life depended on it—don't take that voice with me .
. ."

Tess suppressed the burst of laughter as her roommate argued
with Brokins students to get out. Even as she spoke Iris tightened her fist at
torpedo after torpedo, destroying them with barely a thought.

Shorn caught Iris's eye as the last was destroyed.
"What did you mean about the planes?"

Iris stabbed a finger toward the surface above the
submarines. "It's a carrier group. In this case we have an aircraft
carrier, three cruisers, and five destroyers—in
addition to the subs. Look at their hulls, they are moving toward us."

"What do they intend to do?" Tess asked.

"They are going to bomb us, of course." Iris
grunted in annoyance. "Am I supposed to know everything?"

A loud crack caused them all to turn toward the plug.
Water burst from a thin gap that now stretched around the frozen coral, and it
was spreading. In seconds another crack appeared, and then another.

Tess's stomach went rigid with fear. The seal wasn't going
to last long, and neither was the dome. The damage was too widespread. She
cursed herself for not thinking of Iris before, but how was she supposed to
know that the auren weapons had a self-destruct? Unbidden, Hawk's words came to
her.

You must learn now, so you are ready when the time comes.

Guilt assaulted her for not learning techno magic earlier, and
for not bringing her roommate with her. She clenched her jaw and thrust it
aside. She could dwell on her mistakes later—if
she survived. For now she needed to deal with what was happening.

"Anything we can do?" a voice asked.

She turned to find a mass of flyers soaring toward them.
Dressed in blue and white, they banked their boards to a stop beside the three
of them. The captain of the Brokins team jumped down and pulled off his helmet
to reveal his Japanese heritage.

"Katsuo," he said, and offered his hand.
"Kyle said you could use some help."

"And your professors let you come?"

Katsuo coughed and shifted. "We didn't exactly ask.
Besides, they're so overwhelmed they can hardly move."

Lisa flipped her black hair. "They should be able to
help—even if they are Brokins flyers."

The teasing in her tone caused Katsuo to grin, but Shorn cut
in. "Anyone with fire magic, get up to the dome and draw the heat from it.
The ice will seal the cracks before they spread further. The rest of you try to
get ahead of them and find the holes. Show them where to go. Tryton's take the
northwest quadrant, Brokins the southwest."

Katsuo donned his helmet, and barked, "Do what he says.
Don't forget there are a lot of people depending on us."

Taking his own advice, he leapt onto his board. As his team
scattered, he curved back to them. "I'll reseal the hole. We don't want a
sloppy Tryton's job now do we?" He laughed and sent a burst of speed into
his board, sending him to the break. Then he set to work strengthening Tess's
handiwork.

A sheet of ice spread across the aquaglass as the Tempest
players worked. Bubbling and spurting leaks were frozen and left encased in
white. The water running down the aquaglass ebbed as its source was cut off.

"Well that worked fast," Iris said.

Tess turned as panicked footfalls sounded behind her. A knot
of city officials and Brokins professors raced down a path accompanied by a
trio of flyers above them. The man in the lead stopped at the water's edge,
keeping his feet clear of the water.

"What happened here?" he demanded. "Who did
this?"

"An auren torpedo broke through," Shorn said,
"but Tess managed to seal it before it could do too much damage."

The man dismissed his comment with a wave. "Whatever
you have done, it is outside your authority. Get to the evacuation with the
others. We will handle it from here."

"Director Souta," the woman at his side said,
"perhaps they can help. They are quite skilled with—"

"No," Souta barked. "Get them out of here before
they get themselves killed."Thompson, take over for the students on the
dome. Rita, lead these kids to the rest of the students in the lower cavern.
Shinobu, go with them. Make sure they get there."

Tess felt a surge of anger, but Shorn caught her arm.
"Most of it's done already," he murmured. "Leave it to them to
wrap up."

His quiet murmur was sufficient to still her tongue, so she
joined the other students—who were complaining loudly—as they gathered next to
the woman. One of the flying professors remained behind with her, and he
descended to greet Tess.

"Oracle," Shinobu said, and inclined his head to
her. "On behalf of our city, I would like to thank you for your quick
actions." His accent was Japanese, and his tone conveyed respect and
gratitude.

"I didn't do it alone," Tess replied.

"So I hear," he said. "And they deserve
praise as well." Then he raised his voice to address the grumbling Tempest
players. "If you will accompany us, we will take you to the terra train
below."

"And hurry, please," Rita said. Worry lined her
features as she glanced up at the damaged dome.

"But we can help," Katsuo called.

"Why put us underground?" another Brokins player
yelled.

There was a chorus of agreements. Ignoring the complaints,
Shinobu turned on his heel and led the way up into the city. Iris badgered
people that were not present, and Shorn's attention was on quieting his team.
Tess couldn't stop looking behind her. Would the ice hold? Had they done
enough? Had she done enough? Guilt seeped into her heart. Then Shinobu
came to a halt in front of a tunnel.

Hundreds of families were being guided into it by harried officials
and teachers. Children cried in fear, echoing the terror on their parents’
faces. A professor of sound magic bellowed at them to slow down. His magically
amplified voice barely kept the crowd contained.

For the first time Tess felt the sense of dread and panic,
and realized that these people were fleeing their city and leaving their lives
behind. They were desperate to escape the imminent destruction of their homes. Then
the first bomb fell.

And the city trembled.

Chapter 30: Ice

Cushioned by a hundred feet of water, the explosion rattled
the top of the aquaglass dome. Every face lifted upward, their expressions
tight with fear. An unnatural stillness swept the crowd as the salty rain began
to fall.

They screamed when the next bomb hit. This time a brick
sized piece of aquaglass broke free. It disintegrated into mist, allowing a thin
waterfall to plummet into the city. A heartbeat later another bomb exploded,
causing two more waterfalls to appear.

The crowd panicked and surged forward, carrying the
officials with them. Rita and Shinobu backed away, their expressions shocked.
Neither of them moved as the crowd forced their way into the tunnel, rushing
for the safety below.

Tess's gaze never left the top of the dome. A chill swept
across her skin and she knew there was not enough time. A few more bombs and
the dome would burst like a bubble, allowing the sea's might to collapse onto
the city. A handful with the right magic would survive.

Thousands would not.

She delved into her farsight, hoping to see them survive,
but her whole frame shuddered at what she witnessed in the next few minutes.
The city would be crushed, and the bodies of mages would float away. She saw
her teammates and Iris among them, their faces still and relaxed, their arms
listless at their sides.

Tess gasped and snapped back to the present. She still
couldn't go beyond a few minutes with her farsight, but for once she didn't
want to see any more. Desperation and fear washed over her as she witnessed the
dome crack further, and the thousands of people pushing to get into the
caverns.

The men in the crowd exchanged a long look. Fear,
understanding, and then regret passed over their features. Then they nodded to
each other. One by one they stepped out of line, allowing their wives and
children to proceed without them. She knew by the knots on their shoulders that
only a handful of them were water mages. Their expressions sober, they stood
aside and waited for the end.

Mothers clasped their hands before gathering their children
and departing. Kids began to sob, perhaps understanding the sacrifice being
made. Many of the teenage boys voluntarily remained behind with their fathers.
They stood mutely, their bravery and courage warring with their terror. One boy
couldn't have been older than fourteen. He stood by his father, his eyes on his
feet. His shoulders flinched every time the ground quivered.

The next bomb struck, and a piece the size of a truck
disintegrated. A rising roar swept the city as the great cascade in the center
doubled in size. It struck the peak of the city, furious and punishing. Tess
knew others would join it, until the entire dome lost integrity. The water
would strike with more force than any bomb. Buildings, people, and everything
else would be crushed and tossed like leaves in a hurricane.

Nothing would remain.

Tess looked at the resignation on the faces of her
teammates, at the fearful acceptance of what they could not control. Their
bravery brought tears to her eyes as they allowed the families of Brokins to
escape, knowing they would not. Then she spotted an object on the ground.
Discarded and torn, a sign from the Tempest game lay in the dirt, half buried
in water. Its flickering text was still readable.

The Oracle fights for us.

The sight turned her fear into rage. Coursing and hot, it
flooded her with a will to do something—anything to stave off the slaughter.
Her gaze rose to the top of the city. Shaped like a gigantic cone, the
buildings of Brokins rose to a point several hundred feet above her. A great
waterfall fell from the top of the crumbling dome and split as it struck the
peak. Through the torrent Tess noticed that the top of pinnacle had snapped off
from the mounting force. The stunted piece was flat, and perhaps just large
enough for a person to stand on . . .

The idea formed in her mind, and in the same instant she
kicked off the ground. As soon as she was clear she placed her board under her
feet and launched herself forward. Ignoring the protests from below, she weaved
through smaller waterfalls on her way upward, gathering her magic as she went.

Another bomb stuck, and she dodged the trio of waterfalls
that appeared. Alone, she angled her path to the tower at the center of Brokins.
She kicked off her board and dived into the main column of water, using her
magic to bend it around her. Landing in the center of the torrent, she rose to
her feet and plunged her hands into the water falling at her sides. The force
of the cascade nearly brought her to her knees, but she cast a strength spell
on herself and stood her ground. Then she closed her eyes and summoned her power.

The waterfall began to freeze. Shards of ice slammed into
the ground and spread. Then it exploded upward. Streaking up the waterfall, the
ice froze every inch of the falling water, turning it into a massive icicle.

Her magic reached the dome and expanded. The transparent
aquaglass faded to white as it froze solid, hardening like concrete. Sweat
blossomed across her frame as the heat was funneled through her, and turned
into tongues of flame off her shoulders. Feverish from using too much magic,
she fought to defy her mounting weakness.

She knew it was not enough, but she refused to allow doubt
to overcome her. Then
she felt another touch of magic on the column of ice—and then another. She'd practiced enough with
them to recognize them by their magic. Parker and Lisa were first, but in
seconds several more joined them. Then the Brokins Tempest team arrived.
Collectively they pulled the heat from the dome.

Tess felt a surge of pride and gratitude that threatened to
overwhelm her, and she fought to contain it. Despite the assistance, she knew
that it was her magic that anchored the rising ice. Without her the cold would
recede, and the city would be swept away. Pouring her emotions into her magic,
she strove to greater effort.

A muffled thump indicated that another bomb had
landed, but it sounded distant and weak. Tess heard the sound and pushed
harder, snarling as her body threatened to quit. Crystals of ice bonded and swelled,
devouring the surface of the dome, driven by her will.

Brokins darkened as the ambient light was cut off, casting
long shadows behind every building. Another bomb struck, but its impact was
barely measureable. A moment later the ice touched the base of the city and
solidified into place.

Darkness crowded her vision, but she refused to stop. Still
she poured her magic into the column of ice, and the dome gradually thickened.
One foot, and then two, she forced the water to harden and fill every vulnerability,
until the city of Brokins had gone dim and her strength failed her.

The ice in her hands was as white as pure snow when she
broke them free. A wave of nausea washed over her, causing her to collapse to
her knees. Shorn and Parker caught her shoulders and pulled her out of the
column of frost. A faint smile creased her features as she dimly saw her
handiwork.

The pillar and dome resembled a giant white umbrella. The
ice was over two feet thick and as strong as reinforced concrete. It was even
more dense at the top, where the ice pillar had first touched it—and where the
bombs impact would be greatest. As if it came from a great distance, she heard
a dull rumble as another bomb exploded above the city. It wouldn't hold
forever, but it would hold long enough for the people to escape. She released a
great sigh of relief.

This Oracle does fight for you.

Chapter 31: Leaders of Light

Hawk descended a long spiral staircase into the depths of
the Guildhall. Turning onto an unobtrusive corridor, he strode to the end. He
came to a halt before an ancient statue of a man bearing a shimmering white
staff. Regal and proud, he was dressed in simple garb from a simpler time.
Carved with great care without chisel or hammer, the piercing eyes, sharp nose,
and flowing beard conveyed a sense of strength, wisdom, and unflinching resolve.

"The way is clear to those who seek peace," Hawk
said quietly.

The rasp of grinding stone sounded loud as the statue
inclined its head, and then slid to the side, revealing a secret tunnel behind
him. Hawk slipped into the new corridor and followed it to the spacious chamber
at its end. Other statues of former guild members lined the walls of the room,
but Hawk only had eyes for the four men and women sitting at the oval table.

Hawk nodded to each of the guild leaders in turn. "It
was good of you to come on such short notice," he said.

The black haired man, Janson, gave a curt nod. "How
could we not? After what happened at Brokins it's clear the situation is
deteriorating." He released a troubled sigh. "Do you know more about
the attack?"

"There are others things we need to discuss
first," Hawk said.

Hawk flashed a weary smile at the man. Tall and sleek,
Janson was the strongest of the bunch, and had been appointed a captain of the
Rayths before the Harbingers had taken over. Many within the battlemages
considered him the greatest water mage in centuries, but he was also quite
skilled with air magic.

Leah leaned in. "Then it's true? Gerik responded?"

"It is," Hawk replied.

Leah sat back with a sigh of relief. As one of the few
healers within the guild, she was also the best, and the oldest. At fifty-three
she still looked young. Her talent had only solidified with time.

"So where did Gerik say the Sword is?"

Ritsu was straight to the point, as usual. Born and raised
in Japan, she had developed a great love for her more ancient elvish ancestry.
She was unmatched with traditional blades in the guild but she favored the
katana, the evolved version of the elvish katsana. She was also extremely
talented with light and fire magics. Hawk had wondered before who would be
victorious in battle between Ritsu and the Swordsman. Perhaps it was best that he
didn't find out.

The last member of the guild leaders remained quiet. Not
young or old, Zephanik, or Zeph as he was known, was a native South African. Talented
with both plant and animal magics, a rare combination, he supervised research
in the African jungles. He was known to be soft spoken and reserved, and huge.
Standing at well over six feet in height, he was the largest human member of
the Guild.

With their gaze on him, Hawk withdrew an origami crane from
inside his cloak and released it into the air. It flapped its wings and soared
around the gathered members. Ritsu gestured to it.

"Clever to use the crane," Ritsu said. "In
this age it would be much harder to track."

"As I'd hoped," Hawk said.

"Quit stalling, Hawk," Janson said. "Where's
the Sword?"

Hawk gave a troubled sigh. "Gerik's message is short,
but to the point. He overheard Ranson speaking with Drake, and they mentioned
the lowest levels of the Spirus."

"The Vaults?" Zeph's eyebrows shot up.
"That's bold of him to place it there."

"Perhaps not," Janson said. His expression had
shifted to thoughtful. "The Harbingers took control within days of
stealing the Sword, and the Vaults are the most secure place in the
world."

"Do you have the authority to go down there?"
Ritsu asked Janson.

Janson jerked his head. "I have clearance in the first
three subterranean floors. Below them, a special contingent of battlemages
guard the Vaults."

"Could you confirm it's there?" Leah asked.
"Or where it's located?"

Janson frowned. "I doubt they recorded it anywhere. If
they did, it would have been immediately recognized. The Sword of Elseerian is
not just any artifact."

"Tell us about the Vaults," Hawk said.

Janson nodded, and didn't hesitate to divulge information
that would lead to his exile if discovered.

"There are six floors below the Spirus. The first contains
the bulk of the battlemage corps and is dedicated to training, offices, and
barracks. The second is the headquarters for the Rayths, while the third houses
the office that protects Auroraq. The next three are known as the Vaults. It's
commonly accepted that security increases the further down you go, but I have
never been below the third floor."

"Even as a captain?" Zeph's rumbling voice was
curious.

Janson nodded. "The Vaults are guarded more than
anything else in our world, and contain artifacts and relics from throughout
our history. Some are quite powerful, and dangerous. I am not even privy to all
of the defenses placed down there."

"If it was you, where would you have put it?" Hawk
asked.

"The sixth," Janson said. "The rooms down
there hold the most lethal items, so even the guards do not have permission to
enter most of the rooms. It would be the safest place to keep an object from
prying eyes."

"Then the question remains, what do we do?" Leah's
hands were intertwined as she considered her own question.

"Could someone steal it?" Ritsu asked.

"The fourth floor was successfully breached only
once," Janson replied. "And most believe that was by a member of the
guard. To my knowledge no one has ever succeeded in taking something from the
bottom two levels."

Hawk's lips twitched, but he didn't mention that he knew who
had perpetrated the first incursion. Instead, he summed up the situation.
"So the Sword is probably hidden somewhere on the lowest floor, and is
likely to remain there for another four weeks."

"When it will be used to open the portal," Zeph
finished.

Hawk nodded at him, his expression sober. Then he turned to
Ritsu. "Could you accomplish the mission?"

She fingered the hilt of her sword, but her features were
doubtful. "I . . . don't think so," she said. "At least not
without killing anyone. Stealth and infiltration aren't my areas of
expertise."

Hawk released a sigh and accepted her answer with a nod.
What she said was true. She was not trained for that type of work. She had
proven herself in battle, but breaking into such a place required an entirely
different skill set . . .

"What about the Swordsman?" Hawk asked.

"The assassin?" Leah's voice was laced with
disapproval. "Why would he do it?"

"Because he hates the Harbingers," Zeph growled,
"perhaps even more than we do."

"He's a killer, not a thief, but he does have the right
abilities," Janson mused. "And as he is not part of this Guild, he
is—"

"No one is expendable," Hawk said. "The only
reason we would send him on this mission is because we believe he could
succeed."

Janson took the rebuke in stride. "If anyone could, it
would be him. But I want to make it clear, his chances are slim—at best."

"Ritsu?" Hawk asked. "What do you
think?"

"I agree with Janson," she said with a sigh.
"He's the only one that would have a chance."

"Then we are decided?"

Four heads nodded in agreement, and Ritsu added, "We
are probably inclined to do this now, but I suggest we wait until the quad
break at Tryton's next week. Many parents, students, and soldiers have time off
during the week. It won't lighten security much, but the slightest change could
make the difference."

Janson gave an approving nod, and Hawk agreed, "I will
get in touch with him. Now we should move on to the other matter."

"There's something else?" Leah asked.

"Two, actually," Hawk said.

"The Oracle?" Janson guessed shrewdly.

Hawk nodded. "She and her friends managed to procure an
item I asked her to retrieve. As you are aware, the resulting damage was . . .
extensive."

"That's an understatement," Janson said. "The
Recollection looked like an energy bomb had struck it, and the path through the
treeways was shocking. They are still working on the damage. The Oracle should
have contacted us."

"There was no way she could have known about the
entity," Ritsu argued. "Not even the Magtherian knew it was
one."

Hawk was grateful for her comment. She worked in the Spirus
research arm, and had studied most of the artifacts in the Recollection, as
well as a few from the Vaults. She would have known if the statue was an
entity.

"And it was huge," Leah added. "I didn't
think it was possible to create an entity that large. Did she really change its
purpose?"

"She did," Hawk said.

Hawk didn't show it, but he was quite proud of the oracle's
feat. He'd known the woman that had created it, and to overcome her will was
beyond impressive.

"For those who don't know already, she took refuge here
after the incident," Janson said. "And we got them back to the school
the next morning. It appears that their involvement has not been
discovered."

"Yet," Ritsu said. "I understand the Mage
Technology Bureau is still searching for evidence."

Hawk flashed a wry smile. "I believe we can count on
Tess's friend to keep her safe in that regard. That girl has proven her resourcefulness
on several occasions."

"Hopefully," Janson said, but his voice remained
doubtful.

"Why haven't they moved the entity?" Leah asked.

Ritsu issued a bark of laughter. "Because they can't.
Whatever purpose the oracle placed on it, no one has been able to break it—or even hear it."

"That's not surprising," Zeph said. "You can
only hear an entity's purpose if you have the same field of magic. Only another
oracle would be able to hear a purpose placed by Tess."

"What's the point in bringing this up, Hawk?"
Janson asked, and turned to face him.

Hawk released a troubled sigh. "The attack on Brokins
last week makes it clear that the Harbingers are accelerating their plans—and it's working. Mages are
turning to anger, and many parents are putting pressure on the High Council to
act. They don't feel safe anymore. We are running out of time, and we have to
consider the possibility that we won't recover the Sword before they intend to
use it."

He released a troubled sigh. "The High Council voted to
take magic public, and now they are making the people believe that action will
be one of conflict. We cannot allow that to happen. Unfortunately, there is
little we can do beyond what we are already doing.

"However, I believe we need to increase our tutoring of
Tess when the next quad begins. This week she will have finals, and next is the
quad break. After that we should begin. She has demonstrated an ability to
absorb magic and knowledge as easily as you and I draw breath. She needs to be
prepared to lead our world when the time comes."

"You think we should put more pressure on
her?" Leah said, her voice was concerned. "Don't you think she has
enough burdens to carry? When she came in after the Recollection incident she
was worn down—and not
just from the battle."

"If she is capable of more," Zeph rumbled.
"Then we should push her."

"Just don't say I didn't warn you," Leah said.
"If the girl breaks she will be useless, and all will be lost."

The others agreed with both of them, and the decision was
made. "Now to the last topic," he said. "The Dark."

Janson turned to Zeph, who had been working on techniques to
fight Ducalik's power. "Any luck?"

"None," the big African said.

"I have another idea," Hawk said slowly.

Ritsu leaned in. "What are you thinking, Hawk?"

Hawk began, "We know the Dark absorbs most known types
of energy, making it impossible to strike at Ducalik directly. However, the
Dark also subverts people to its will, so we will be unable to go after Ducalik
personally. We were fortunate Tess's friend knocked him back through the portal
before the Dark could spread. I doubt we will be so lucky next time."

His eyebrows pulled together in thought. "I believe
that if we fail to stop the portal's opening, we will face an enemy we cannot
reach, let alone fight. At that point, it is likely the Dark will gradually spread
until it has consumed the globe."

"So what do you suggest?" Janson asked. "If
we can't fight the Dark, or fight in the Dark, what's left?"

"We get someone who's comfortable with absolute darkness."

The silence stretched for a long moment until Ritsu blinked
in realization. "You mean the dark elves."

"I do."

"But they haven't been seen in decades," Leah
said. "And who knows if they would even help us."

"They might be the only ones not affected by Ducalik's
magic," Janson countered. "So I would say it's a tactical risk."

"But who would go?" Zeph said.

"Me," Hawk replied.

"We can't risk losing you," Ritsu protested.
"And that deep in the ground you wouldn't be a phoenix. You would just be
a man."

"Do you think I am without power in this form?"
Hawk asked. There was a timbre to his voice that caused Ritsu to flush.

"That's not what I mean, Hawk. I just know you are uncomfortable
underground."

"That may be true," he said. "But I am
unwilling to risk any of you—or anyone else in the Guild." He flashed a
wry smile. "The dark elf queen knows my true identity, and they have not
forgotten how we fought together in The Second Draeken War. I believe I can get
them to listen."

The other four Guild leaders looked at each other, and then
relented. Hawk gave a grateful nod. "I will seek them out and return in
two weeks. Zeph, continue your research, and pull every available light mage
from within our ranks. Leah, keep working with the remaining three that have
been Darkened. I know their minds are gone, but if you can heal them, we may
have a shred of hope."

He turned to Janson, but the man had already raised his hand
to forestall his order. "I know, keep spying on the Harbingers from within
the battlemages’ ranks."

"And I will continue seeking allies among the other cities,"
Ritsu said. "I've already scheduled a trip to gather artifacts in
Europe."

"Remember," Hawk said, "if we gain enough
support we can force the Harbingers into the public eye. At that point the
general populace will most likely support us. The Harbingers only operate from
the shadows because their goals would not be accepted by the people—but that will change if
enough mages become angry."

"After the Brokins attack many already are,"
Janson said, his tone dark, and the others nodded in agreement.

Hawk didn't remind them that they were running out of time
again. Each of those present knew it already. Drawing their attention to him
one last time, he said, "There is one more thing I wish for you all to do,
when the time permits. I wish for you to find a moment where you can personally
train Tess. Even if you have already done so, I would like each of you to visit
with her in the coming weeks."

"I will go first," Janson said. "I have an
assignment at the school anyway."

"Be discreet," Hawk warned. "The Harbingers
know who I am, but may not know about the four of you. Don't let them isolate
you. We've lost too many already."

Ritsu looked away as the other three nodded, but Hawk felt a
twinge of guilt. Her brother had been killed by the Harbingers less than a
month ago.

"Then we are adjourned," Hawk said.

All five stood, and said in unison, "The light will
prevail."

Hawk's gut tightened. Their vow had been placed by Siarra
herself when she had helped found the Guild. Hawk had thought she'd shared
everything she knew about what was coming. Had she known about the Dark? Or was
it just a coincidence? Either way he knew that the time had come for the Guild
to fulfill its purpose.

And for him to fulfill his own.

Chapter 32: Unfamiliar

Tess wrapped her jacket tighter around her shoulders,
warding off the rain. Then she drew some of the surrounding heat to warm
herself. It didn't seem to matter, and she shivered. The pattering of rain on
her back seemed impervious to her magic, but she knew it was just her mood.

Annoyed, she accelerated. In her wake the two flyers that
Hawk had assigned to guard her struggled to keep up. She knew she was being
callous, but she couldn't muster enough concern to slow down. Numbed by the
events of the past week, she flew toward Richmond on memory.

The week following the attack on Brokins had been somber and
quiet, and the mood was reinforced as many of the homeless students transferred
to Tryton's. A pall had fallen over the city of Auroraq as they had arrived,
and individual accounts of the attack began to emerge.

The students came with an aura of uncertainty and fear, but
were welcomed by the Tryton's directors. Since Tryton's was almost at maximum
capacity, the school had asked for volunteers who would be willing to allow a
third person into their dorm. The number of volunteers had far outweighed the
number of students requiring space. Tess and Iris had been among those to offer
their room, but had not been selected.

The quad finals at the end of the week had made it worse,
but the directors had insisted so the students took their tests anyway.

With ten exams (Hawk had asked that she test in Fire,
Gravity, and Water in addition to her six power classes and History of Magic)
Tess had struggled to stay focused. Her task was made difficult by the whispers
and looks that lined her path. The news orbs had been quick to spread what Tess
and the Tempest players had done, and the ensuing attention had been
significant. It was nothing compared to what she received from the Brokins'
students.

Everywhere she went they would mob her, expressing their
gratitude. She did her best to accept the attention without letting it go to
her head—an easy feat
in that she felt guilty about what had happened.

She couldn't shake the nagging feeling that she should have
prevented it. The doubt had sunk into her soul, making it difficult to
concentrate or even think. She couldn't explain why she felt it, so the guilt
went unvoiced to her friends. Of anyone, she would have most liked to talk to
Hawk, but he hadn't responded to her queries in days.

The lights of Richmond grew as she descended toward them,
but all she cared about was seeing her parents. Despite her yearning to see
them she stayed high, allowing the rain and dark clouds to obscure their
approach. Only when her glasses indicated they were directly above her target
did she drop. In a rush she dived several hundred feet, and only pulled out
when the rain soaked roof of an apartment building came into view.

Jerking out of her dive, she alighted easily, and was
followed by her guards. Well trained, they darted away and circled the roof,
ensuring no one was present. Tess restrained her impatience. They were just
following Hawk's orders, and she couldn't blame them for that.

Once they were finished they turned to the rear of the
building and jumped down to a metal staircase that connected all the rear doors
of the four-story building. Her heart in her throat, she knocked on the door.

It was opened immediately, and her mother engulfed her in an
embrace. Tess hugged her back just as fiercely.

One of the guards coughed, and murmured, "We should get
inside, Oracle."

"He's right," Kate said.

Tess frowned in annoyance, but allowed herself to be pulled
into the interior of a somewhat drab apartment. Beige wallpaper covered the
hallway, and the carpet looked to be a remnant from the seventies. It made her
sad to recall the home she'd grown up in, the one the Harbingers had destroyed.
Her mom seemed to notice the scrutiny.

"At least it's clean," she said.

Her gaze flicked over Tess's shoulder as the guards closed
the door and remained next to it. Her eyes sparkled and her lips thinned, but
she didn't comment. Jack appeared at the other end of the hallway and closed
the distance in two steps.

Tess hugged him and wished she never had to let go. All the
uncertainty, all the cold dread dimmed in his fatherly embrace. Tess felt the
urge to cry but reined it in.

"It's good to have you home," he said as he pulled
away.

"It's a nice place," Tess said.

"Don't sugar coat it," he said. "It's
awful—but it's close to our work so it's easier to protect ourselves from any
Harbingers that might be watching us."

"Have they attacked you?” Tess asked. Worry seeped into
her voice.

Her mom intercepted the question. "How about some hot
chocolate? I'm sure it was cold on your . . . flight down here."

Tess agreed, but held her mom's gaze. She wasn't about to be
dissuaded so easily. Her dad guided her into the living room as her mom
prepared three mugs. When she returned Tess couldn't resist taking an immediate
sip. It was hot and delicious, and warmed her to the core. Just being in her
parents presence made her feel whole. Fleetingly, she wondered why that didn't
occur with Alice, but maybe that was just a time thing.

After a second sip, she asked, "Do you want to go
first, or shall I?"

"You first," her dad said with an easy smile.
"But keep in mind that Breaker has kept us apprised of the
situation."

"So you know about the attack on Brokins?" Tess
was surprised. For some reason she'd expected them to be in the dark. Because
of finals they had hardly spoken since before the attack.

Her mom gave a tight-lipped smile. "We know from both
sides. After all, it was our government that sought to destroy the underwater
terrorist base."

"Yeah," Tess said, and looked away. "I still
can't believe it was the United States."

"Don't blame the U.S.," her dad said. "The Harbingers
were behind it."

That was news to Tess, and she threw a sharp look at him.
"How could you know that?"

He released a troubled sigh. "They manipulated the
satellite imagery coming into the CIA. We saw a pattern of vessels traveling to
and from a location out in the middle of the ocean. After we did a subsurface
scan and saw the base—"

"You were behind it?" Tess demanded.

Kate jerked her head. "No, Tess. The CIA as a whole. Your
father and I found out about the attack only a day before it happened. We might
have been able to stop it—but we didn't even know it was a mage city. For all
we knew it could have been a forward terrorist base. There are still plenty of
non-mage threats we have to deal with."

Tess's anger didn't subside in spite of their logic, and she
took a sip of hot chocolate as she seethed. Her dad took advantage of the
silence.

"Perhaps it would be best if I go first?"

Tess grunted her ascent, and her father began.

"It's been three months since our house was destroyed
and Hawk has moved us twice since then. With his help I managed to transfer to
the Mage Investigation Office, and Kate got onto the—"

"Do you mind if I tell my side?” Kate asked.

Jack acquiesced with a nod, his eyes reflecting surprise.
Then he continued. "Most of my new job has been monitoring suspected
interference from mages in our government's activities, and training my team to
do the same. With Breaker's help I managed to identify several techno mages
working undercover within our organization. We took great caution in
transferring them to other locations."

"Didn't they resist?" Tess asked.

His lips twitched. "To say the least, but if they had
argued too much it would have given them away. We made it look like a promotion
to another field, but it was more of a lateral move to a position where they
would have less influence."

"But they can monitor signals in the air," Tess
said. "Does it matter where they work?"

"It does," Jack said. "We use what's called a
faraday cage, which is a metal mesh that blocks signal transfer through the
air. With some subtle direction from Breaker, I have ordered ours to be
reinforced."

Kate issued a burst of laughter. "Jack's bosses think he's
brilliant."

He frowned and threw her a glance. "They do, but I
can't exactly tell them that I have a high level informant in the mage
military."

"Where is Breaker?" Tess asked, and looked around
the apartment. "I was looking forward to seeing him."

"Breaker stayed with us until the attack on Brokins.
After it occurred he was recalled with the rest of the Rayth and battlemage
corps."

Tess was taken aback with the knowledge that her parents had
gained in the recent weeks. The blocking of techno mages, the reference to the
mage military, it all sounded odd coming from her parents. And where did her
mother fit into all of this? She clearly had a role, but her reluctance to
share only piqued Tess's curiosity.

"What else can you tell me?" Tess asked.

Jack sipped from his steaming mug. "Once we managed to
remove the Harbingers from our office, we have begun to search further out.
It's . . . disturbing how many officials have been corrupted by the Harbingers."

"That's how they initiated the attack on Brokins,"
Tess guessed.

"It is," he replied. "They simulated
satellite imagery, phone intercepts, and even video recordings of informants.
The only way to do that on such a scale is to have a presence in every
branch of government. In three weeks I have found fifty-four Harbinger agents
within the CIA, FBI, and the armed forces." He hesitated, and then said,
"I believe the attack on Brokins was set in motion months—or even years—in
advance."

Tess leaned back, struck by the ramifications of that
insight. How big had the Harbingers become? Was there anything that would stop
them? Then a question crossed her mind that chilled her to the bone.

"With so much influence, what else could they do?"

Jack's gaze was leveled on her. "I doubt there's anything
outside the scope of their power right now."

Tess closed her eyes in defeat. How could they possibly win?
The Harbingers had been setting this up for much longer than anyone had
realized. They clearly had the ability to all but control the auren world, so
why have them attack a mage city?

Blame.

The word resonated in her mind. Since the vote to take magic
public the Harbingers had used ever increasing blame tactics to foster strife,
confusion, and anger. Culminating with the attack on Brokins, each event was
intended to amplify the rising conflict.

But how much tension did they want to create? How much would
it take for the mages to retaliate out of fear? Then she had a terrifying
thought. What if the attack on Brokins had succeeded? What if the city had been
destroyed, and thousands of mages killed? Her intuition triggered and she knew
exactly what would have happened. The entire mage world would have called for
war, and the Harbingers would have been happy to oblige.

"It's late," her mother said, pulling her from her
thoughts. "Perhaps it would be best if we get some rest. We have all week
to catch up."

Tess wanted to protest, but instead she rose to her feet. As
she trudged to the bedroom her mother indicated, she wondered if her family
would ever return to being just a family. Would they ever sit and watch TV,
oblivious to the threats all around them?

Glad to find a bathroom adjacent to her bedroom, she changed
and brushed her teeth, and found a measure of solace in the mundane acts. Then
she hugged her parent's goodnight and climbed under the covers. In minutes she
was asleep.

She dreamed of the Dark, and witnessed it spread across the
globe, one continent at a time. One by one she watched her family and friends
fade into its grasp, until she was left alone, and the Dark came for her . . .

Chapter 33: A Mother's Secret

Tess awoke to the smell of pancakes and bacon. Instantly
famished, she climbed from her bed and padded into the kitchen. Her mom turned
at her approach and gestured to the table.

"Have a seat. It's almost ready."

"What's with all the fancy food?" Tess asked.
Their breakfasts in the past had mostly involved the toaster.

"Jack already left for work, so I thought you and I
could spend the day together, just us girls."

Her mom slid a pair of pancakes onto Tess's plate and added
a side dish with the bacon. The precision in her handling suggested that her
mom was nervous, and her voice bore a trace of earnest vulnerability that she
had never displayed before. The combination sparked Tess's curiosity.

"What's up, Mom?" she asked, and poured syrup on
her pancakes.

Her mom placed her own plate on the table and sat down.
"What makes you think something's wrong?" she asked.

Tess skewered her with a look until her mom squirmed.
"Fine, there is something I want to talk to you about—but not here."

"I'm glad to see it worked," Tess said. She took a
bite to hide her smile.

"What worked?"

"That was the look you give me."

Kate laughed in chagrin. "And so it does work."
She then cocked her head to the side and peered at Tess as if it was the first
time she'd seen her.

"What?" Tess asked after swallowing.

"You're just more . . . grown up . . . than I had realized."

Tess shrugged. "Isn't that the way it's supposed to
happen?"

Her mom issued a sigh and turned to her breakfast. She
didn't respond to the query. Confused, Tess lapsed into silence. When they
finished their meal her mom pulled her into the hall.

"We need to hurry if we want to be back by the time
Jack gets home."

"Where are we going?" Tess asked. She donned her
jacket and followed her mom.

"Storage," her mom said.

Tess blinked in confusion, but her mom didn't explain
further. Together, they paused at the rear threshold of the apartment, where
the two guards remained. Apparently they had taken shifts, because they both
looked rested.

"I'm sorry, Oracle," the first said. "We have
specific instructions not to let you leave without us."

Kate folded her arms and stared them down, causing them both
to fidget. Tess looked away so they wouldn't see her smile. Her mother's stance
and look reminded her of the steel entity, and privately she thought that the
mage guards didn't stand a chance.

"We can't," the second said. He tried to keep a
sense of authority, but it wilted in the face of Kate's glare.

"The rest of the week you may accompany us," Kate
said, and the bite in her voice caused them both to flinch. "Today you will
let us go alone."

They looked at each other, and by unspoken accord stepped
aside. Kate led Tess to the door and unlocked it.

"Just don't say we—"

Kate threw him a withering glance that silenced him. Then
without another word she left. Suppressing the urge to laugh, Tess followed her
outside. She knew from long experience what her mother's look could accomplish,
and it was nice to see it leveled on someone else.

Tess followed her mom down the stairs and to a nondescript
car at the back of the lot. Getting in, they backed out and turned onto the
rear street. Kate took several odd turns but their general direction was south.
Each time she glanced at her mirrors.

"Watching for someone following us?" Tess asked.

"Always," her mom replied easily.

"How far are we going?"

"It's only thirty minutes away," her mom replied
as they turned onto the interstate.

Tess fell silent. She'd never seen her mother behave this way.
Throughout her entire life Kate had been composed and resolute, but loving. Now
she appeared worried and nervous almost to the point of fear.

Unsure of what to say, Tess looked out the window. It was
the end of November, and Christmas decorations were in full swing. Everything
from shops to telephone poles were decorated with garland, wreaths, and lights.
Tess blinked, and realized that she'd completely forgotten about Thanksgiving.
Had she really been so busy? Or did the mages not celebrate it?

She sighed, and felt a longing for the turkey dinner and
stuffing. Every year Kate bought cranberry sauce, and they teased each other
about eating it. So far no one had, and it always ended up in the trash with
the bird's bones. The image of previous years was poignant in her thoughts, and
she wondered if it would ever be that way again.

Twenty minutes later they descended the off-ramp into a
seedy section of town. Trash littered the sidewalks, and there was more steel
in the windows than glass. Multiple layers of graffiti blanketed the walls,
making it difficult to decipher what had originally been written. Several
people sat or walked on the road, and were dressed like gang members. They eyed
their car as it passed, the glint in their eyes measuring how much it was worth.

After ten minutes of twisting turns her mom turned off the
main road and followed a pockmarked alley that was hardly more than gravel and
weeds. They turned at the back of a warehouse, and then bumped over a set of
railroad tracks before entering the rear of a long-term storage facility.

"You weren't kidding about the storage," Tess said
as they parked. Her mom flashed a tiny smile, but it was tight with nervousness.

Tess got out and looked around herself, surprised and
curious. She stood in a small section of gravel behind a long, squat, brick
building. Its roof was faded sheet metal, and had the distinct look of a
storage facility roof, the type where people stored boxes and furniture that
didn't fit in their house.

The small expanse of dirt had evidently once been connected
to the front side of the storage facility, but the drive up the side was choked
with weeds growing higher than the building. The weeds had also surrounded the
gravel area, making it invisible from anywhere except the gap leading to the
train tracks.

Kids had obviously discovered the hide, and their colorful marks
layered the bricks. All the doors leading into the storage rooms had been
broken into, but her mom didn't go to any of them. Instead, she led Tess around
to the end of the structure and into the piles of weeds.

Grass and branches scraped the building as they pushed their
way to another door. With all the vegetation it was impossible to see the door from
the front or the rear of the building, but it was also painted to look like
faded bricks, further making it difficult to spot. Unlike the other doors, this
one was securely locked.

Withdrawing a small device from her pocket, Kate passed it
around the right edge of the door. A series of muffled clicks followed it, and
when the last one ticked she unlocked the doorknob with a standard key. Then
she used a second, stranger key to unlock a keyhole hidden in the brick at the
side.

Kate glanced back and saw Tess's wide eyes. "The door
is triggered to destroy everything inside if it isn't opened correctly. I can't
allow the hardware to be found by criminals."

Tess shook her head, the questions threatening to burst as
her mom swung the door open. Together, they stepped into the interior and her
mom closed the door behind them before turning on the light.

Tess gasped as the guns were illuminated. Banks and banks of
weapons, ammunition, and other gadgets lined the walls. Bullets the size of her
fingers filled one slot, and beside it a long-barreled gun rested. Some were
handguns, and could have fit into a purse. Others were shotguns or assault
rifles, and one was even a—

"Is that a rocket launcher?" Tess asked.

"It is," Kate said quietly.

"Is this all Dad's?" Tess asked. She leaned in to
peer at a series of different grenade belts.

"No," her mom said.

Her tone caused Tess to look at her. "Then whose—"

"It's mine," her mom said. She tapped a chair in
front of a worktable and took a seat across from it. "I think it's time
you learned who I was before you were born . . ."

Chapter 34: Corporal Marks

Twenty Years Earlier

Lance Corporal Kate Marks jumped out of the helicopter and
rappelled to the ground. The moment her boots touched the dirt she unclipped
and raised her gun to her shoulder, scanning for hostiles. The helicopter
banked east and joined the second chopper carrying the wounded and dead. Both
hugged the ground as they departed.

When no threats appeared Kate lowered her assault rifle and
shouldered her gear. Then she set herself into a jog that would eat up the distance.
Her target was three klicks out, and she only had thirty minutes to arrive and
set up.

Dirt and sand formed hills and shallow valleys in every
direction, unbroken by tree or building. The Libyan sun beat down on her with
scorching intensity, creating waves of heat and sand rippling across her
vision. She checked her bearings and drank water frequently, keeping herself
hydrated.

Most of her attention focused on her surroundings, scanning
and rescanning for potential hostiles. The rest of her mind was drawn to her
mission orders. Like most military ops this one was explained like it was meant
to be simple, yet she knew from experience that it rarely worked out that way.
She had the scars to prove it.

This mission was a prime example. The marine recon team had
encountered heavy resistance where there wasn't supposed to be any. They had
lost some good men, two of which were their sniper and his spotter.
Unfortunately that meant they were shorthanded to complete the op—which was where she came in.
She wasn't a marine recon sniper, but she did have the requisite skill set.

Her radio clicked, pulling her from her thoughts.

"Marks, what's your ETA!" a voice
whispered, harsh and angry.

"Five minutes out," Kate said. She crested a rise
and saw the village in the distance.

Lieutenant Pearson cursed into the radio, and then
whispered, "That's five minutes too long, corporal. Come straight south
to the beacon."

"Understood, sir," Kate said, and picked up the
pace.  A moment later she spotted the blinking light that indicated her goal.
Turning her footsteps toward it, she approached the edge of the abandoned
village.

Built sixty years ago, the village was nothing more than a
few dozen crumbling structures pointing to a mosque at the end. A barely
visible road wound its way through the center before continuing east to
Tripoli. At this point they were only six miles from the Tunisia border. Beyond
that was Algeria, which was where the intel said their target was traveling to.

Karim Zwalik had been involved in a handful of bombings and high
profile assassinations in the last few years, but his most recent hit had
involved a group of suicide bombers and a U.S. military base in Algeria. Seven
marines had been killed, and the incident had drawn the interest of the CIA.
Its subsequent investigation had found that Zwalik had ties to other terrorist
organizations and the Libyan government. Upon learning that he would be
traveling between Tripoli and Algeria—with three American hostages—the CIA had
decided to act. Relations between the U.S. and Libya were poor, necessitating a
covert op.

Only one vessel was in range to carry out the strike within
the necessary window, a marine ship performing exercises in the Mediterranean.
Satellite imagery of the region had revealed the abandoned village, and
intelligence had suggested it as a location for the assault. Within an hour the
USS Striker had dispatched their force recon team to the village.

But several of Karim's men were already there.

The marines had taken out the detachment before they could
radio a warning, but not before taking several casualties. Lance Corporal Kate
Marks was the only other sniper on board the Striker. Against Lieutenant
Pearson's request, she had been ordered to join the recon team and provide
cover fire for the extraction.

It was an opportunity she'd wanted since she'd joined the
military, but marine recon units were closed to females. In the last two years
she'd applied anyway and been turned down—twice. Despite her stellar marks in
distance shooting, her gender had kept her from joining a recon platoon.

She buried her nervousness under resolve as she reached the
outer buildings. Corporal Lars stepped out to greet her.

"Captain's waiting for you," he growled.
"He's up the stairs on the second level." Then he turned and
disappeared into the sandy alleyway.

Kate took the stairs two at a time but dropped into a crouch
as soon as she reached the top. Three men turned to look at her. Distaste
dominated their features, but Lieutenant Pearson managed to keep most of it
from his voice.

"Lance Corporal Marks," he said. "You're with
me. Sergeant, inform me if the convoy is spotted."

He then crawled away from the broken window and stood up.
Stepping into a darkened side room, he turned to face her.

"I have been informed that you have the necessary skill
and experience for this mission, and that you have been in combat before. I also
understand that you have received two combat medals." He grunted, leaving
no doubt what he thought of her record.

"But make no mistake, Marks, your presence was not
requested, nor is it wanted. Your spotter is sick, and my spotter was killed
with my sniper. I do not have someone to spare with the proper training to act
as spotter for you. You will have to make do on your own."

As the Lieutenant spoke Kate studied the man. Lean and
well-built, Pearson was not overly muscled or cocky. The few times she'd seen
him he'd been focused and wary, even aboard the Striker. She had never seen him
laugh, or even smile. His men respected him, that much was clear, and he
trained as hard as they did. The few times she had seen him off-duty he still
behaved like a lieutenant in the marines.

She fleetingly wondered what had caused him to be so driven.
Perhaps the military was a heritage thing for him, or maybe he'd lost his
family so his career was the only thing left. In any case he was skilled and
cautious. In the given situation he would view her as an asset, not a member of
his team, and attempt to minimize her as a variable to the operation.

"Our intel says that Zwalik will be traveling with a
team of twenty," Pearson was saying. "We have buried claymores and C4
on both sides of the road and will detonate when he's in the kill zone. My
teams are placed in flanking positions within the buildings, and will move in
to engage any survivors.

"The hostages are in the second to last vehicle. Alpha
team will move in as soon as the kill zone is activated. Tear gas and flashbangs
will be used when the road is blown. Throughout the engagement your call-sign
will be overwatch. You are to position yourself in the mosque tower and prepare
to fire. Under no circumstances are you to fire unless expressly ordered to do
so. I will not risk a trigger happy girl killing one of my men by accident. Are
we clear?"

"Crystal, Sir," Kate said. She kept her gaze
focused and full of steel, knowing she had no choice.

Lieutenant Pearson nodded in satisfaction. "Satellite
imagery puts them at eight minutes out. You have five to get into position and
set up your gear. Dismissed."

Kate saluted and turned to leave, but the lieutenant called
her back.

"One more thing, Lance Corporal. If you give our
position away or get any of my men killed, I will personally ensure that
you are court-martialed and removed from the Marine Corps. There is a reason
females are not allowed into the force recon program."

"I understand, Sir," Kate said, and then slipped
from the room.

Collecting her bag from where she'd left it, she hurried
down the stairs back into the sun. Although it took more time, she jogged
around the perimeter of the village rather than through it. She didn't want to
risk leaving footprints that could be spotted—or
accidentally tripping the explosives. Dressed in faded fatigues, the soldiers
she passed were well hidden, and stared her down as she passed. Their silence
was more of a rebuke than complaints would have been, but it only served to
strengthen her resolve.

She reached the mosque and found the stairs winding upward
inside the tower. Broken plaster and peeling paint greeted her as she ascended,
and within a minute she was at the top. The walls around the east window had
crumbled, leaving an opening twice the intended size. Heat and sand billowed
into the dome and swept out the opposite side.

The tower provided an excellent vantage point, but the
opening would allow others to see her as well. In a rush she collected some
rubble and slid it into place, forming a makeshift wall that would make it
appear a sniper was present. Then she descended one level and unzipped her bag.

As good as the top vantage point was, it was incredibly
exposed, and would be the first place anyone would think a sniper would be. The
second highest room had a smaller opening, but one that formed a broken V at
its base. It's wasn't quite ideal, but it pointed in the right direction—and it
would be less obvious. It went against the training manual, but in this case
she trusted her instincts more. With two minutes before her five were up, she
laid out the pieces to her M40A1 sniper rifle.

She assembled her weapon with practiced fingers and clicked
the scope into place. Then she laid out a sniper's blanket and snapped the bipod
into position. The slide glided shut just as her radio chirped. "Marks,
I don't care if you are ready or not, get out of sight or I will shoot you
myself."

Kate kept the surge of anger to herself, along with the
retort that she still had thirty seconds. Reclining onto the blanket, she
shifted her legs and arms until she'd settled into a comfortable position. Her
heart was racing from the anticipation and exertion, so she took several slow
breaths to ease her nerves. Then she put her cheek to the stock and looked
through her scope. She'd already zeroed it to 500 yards, so she adjusted her
bearings from there. The dust cloud on the horizon exploded into view,
revealing a convoy of trucks and SUV's headed their way.

"Convoy sighted," she murmured. "Two klicks
out."

"You've got the high eyeball," Pearson grunted.
"Call it as you see it."

"We don't need her to—"

"Cut the chatter Harris."

The lieutenant's voice was low but it sounded louder, and
the other soldier fell silent. Kate's lips thinned in annoyance but she held
her tongue. At least Pearson wasn't a complete waste. They had been stationed
on the Striker for several weeks together, so she knew most of Pearson's team.
Like all recon soldiers, they were smart and lethal.

Most of the soldiers were veterans of multiple combat tours,
and had the scars and grit to prove it. She couldn't really blame them for
their attitude toward her. To them, she was an unknown quantity. They didn't
know her skills, or how she would react under duress, and so would seek to keep
the situation controlled. The fact that Pearson had allowed her to assess the
advancing convoy spoke volumes of his professionalism and intelligence. As
she'd guessed before, she was an asset to him, and he would use her as such.
She just hoped she didn't fail.

Drawing in a slow breath, she reported as the vehicles
materialized. "Lead vehicle is a truck with a belt fed .50 cal mount. Two
men in the cab. One on the gun. Second vehicle is an SUV. Windows are too dark
to make out occupants. Third and fourth are both trucks. Four men each. The men
in the back have . . . assault rifles and RPG's. They are standing and alert.
Recommend maintain cover until killbox is triggered."

"Confirm rec," Pearson whispered. "All
positions, confirm your position. When the killbox is triggered, you are
cleared to engage targets of opportunity."

There was a smattering of curt affirmatives. Once
everyone had reported in, Pearson said, "Alpha Team, give us a five count
prior to detonation. Marks, can you confirm which vehicle contains the
hostages?"

"Wait one," Kate said, and adjusted her scope.
Through the bouncing cars and sunlight reflecting off metal and glass, she
scanned for any indication of hostages. "Negative," she replied.
"I cannot get a line of sight over the leading vehicles."

"Wallace," Pearson whispered, "Skirt the
outer building and see if you can get an angle on the rear of the convoy."

A moment passed as Wallace hustled to a different vantage
point. When he responded he controlled his breathing. "Affirmative, second
to last vehicle contains two men and one woman in the back seat. All three have
bags on their heads. Wait one," there was a pause, and then he added,
"Possible additional vehicles in second convoy. Can you confirm,
overwatch?"

Kate slid her scope off the vehicles and squinted, trying to
make out what lay deeper in the dust cloud coming off the first convoy.
"Affirmative," she replied. Her heart sank. "Second convoy is
headed by an APC with possible .50 cal—make that two APCs." Her heart sank
as she called it out. An Armored Personnel Carrier was on par with a tank in
armament, and could be filled with up to twenty soldiers.

She'd paused to count the other vehicles. Then she said.
"I count seven gun-mount trucks and two SUVs further back in the dust
cloud. A third APC brings up the rear. I estimate . . . a hundred and twenty
men if all of them are full. Sixty seconds until they reach the village."

There was a smattering of profanity as the soldiers
collectively realized what they were facing. Pearson barked an order and they
fell silent. After a moment of static he began to issue orders.

"Rodriguez, take both our AT4's and get to high ground
in one of the south buildings. Prepare to eliminate the first two APCs.
Wallace, advance to Finch's position but take his grenades for your rifle.

"I have requested gunship support but it's fifteen
minutes out. I say again, fifteen minutes until air support arrives. When the
killbox is activated, Rodriguez, Wallace, and Marks will target the APCs and
50s. Alpha team, you will be extracting the hostages under fire. Get them out
of the vehicle and under cover on the north side of the village. We'll hold our
positions until the chopper arrives. They will provide cover fire for our
extraction. All units, prepare to fire. Marks, go to one."

Kate switched her radio and then heard a click as someone
else switched frequencies. With the convoy approaching fast, Pearson didn't
waste time.

"Without a sniper this mission will be scrubbed. Marks,
confirm operational readiness."

Kate didn't hesitate. "Affirmative, sir."

"I certainly hope you're as good as I've been
told," he growled. "Return to six and stand-by to fire."

Kate returned her radio to the team channel and then took
several slow breaths as she methodically checked her gear. Rifle, ammo,
posture, scope, she checked them all and then slid a long bullet into the
open breach. She levered it closed and lined up her first shot. Last she
thumbed the safety off.

Even with ear protection the click sounded loud in her ear.

Chapter 35: Firefight

"Five."

Alpha team began their countdown as the first truck entered
the street, and the soldier's voice was barely audible. The truck's mounted gun
swiveled across the buildings, searching for threats.

"Four."

The other vehicles filed in after it, their open windows
allowing the Arabic voices to reach Kate's ears.

"Three."

The marines clicked their radios, signaling their readiness.

"Two."

Kate pulled up the slack on her trigger until it reached the
breaking point . . .

"One . . ."

—The
street disappeared in fire and sand, rattling every building as the C4 and
Claymores detonated. The marines exploded into action. At the edge of the
village flashbangs and tear gas were launched through the hostage vehicle windows
and flooded the interior with light and smoke. Alpha team ripped the doors open
and yanked the hostages out. Choking and flailing, they were half dragged into
the nearest building. An instant later Rodriguez launched an AT4 antitank
missile.

The lead APC in the second convoy erupted in flames and
shards of metal. A second later the one behind it followed suit. Then the
marines opened fire. Bullets tore into the stumbling survivors of the first convoy,
killing them as they struggled to bring their weapons to bear. Kate shot her
target in the chest as he grabbed the grips of a mounted gun. Then she targeted
and killed another.

The marines eliminated the survivors of the ambush with
brutal efficiency. Fifteen seconds after the initial detonation the vehicles
were crushed and their occupants killed. The two APCs at the head of the second
convoy were no more than smoking craters.

The surprise faded with the rev of engines as the rest of
the second convoy broke formation and sped toward the village. The last APC
braked and slid to a stop in the center of the line. The other trucks and SUV's
slid sideways as their drivers stopped them in a ragged arc to both sides of
the APC. Seventy men piled out of vehicles and opened fire, using their cars as
barricades.

The .50 caliber guns stitched lines across the old buildings,
tearing through the bricks like they were made of paper. Rodriguez bellowed as
the entire building collapsed under him. Other marines dived for cover and
shouted across the radio. Pearson's order cut through them all.

"Marks, take out the fifties!"

"Targeting now!" Kate shouted. Taking a shallow
breath, she blocked out the sounds of explosions, gunfire, and the screams of
dying men. She focused until the only sound in her ears was her heartbeat and
the feel of her gun against her body.

It was seven hundred yards to the nearest truck in the
convoy, and she'd missed her first two shots. By then she'd gotten a measure of
the range and wind. Controlling her breathing, she gathered every ounce of
slack from the trigger. A hair pull between the beats of her heart sent the
bullet exploding out of the barrel. Racking the slide, she turned to another
target . . .

Her first target screamed in Arabic as he fired the enormous
mounted weapon. Blocked by the gun assembly and the truck's cab, there was nothing
in view except his head—which disappeared as her first bullet struck. His body
tumbled into the back of the cab, lifeless. Thirty feet to his right the next
mounted gunman was struck in the chest. She killed two more and then swung her
aim to the opposite side of the APC. By then some of Zwalik's men had begun to
notice.

"Taking fire," she yelled.

Large caliber bullets flew past her location as several
mounted weapons targeted her. In seconds they zeroed in on the highest level of
the tower, shredding through the bricks and plaster, sending dust and grit
tumbling down on her. A small part of her brain wondered if it would collapse,
but she didn't stop shooting. Brass tinkled to the side as she ejected the
spent round, and then automatically added another into the smoking breach.

With the smell of gunpowder and dust in her nose, she
targeted the last mounted truck. "Mounted gunmen eliminated," she
yelled. "Targeting APC."

Her first shot struck the metal shield that guarded the gunner,
who flinched through her scope. The bullet impacts had tapered off above Kate's
position, but the remaining shooter had figured out where she was. Bullets
exploded through her level, searching for her. Bits of rock pummeled her face
and body, showering her in sand and chunks of brick.

She cursed as her second shot went wide. Breathing through
the curtain of dust, she aimed on the man ducking behind the APC's mounted gun.
She fired, and a split second later the bullet sparked off the side of the gap—but
ricocheted through. Blood sprayed and the man collapsed into the APC. The
bullets striking her position died away.

"APC fifty is down," she said. "Seeking
targets of opportunity."

Amidst the rattle of gunfire, Pearson's voice filled the
radio. "Finch, take out the SUV on the side. Porter, get Rodriguez out of
the building. Wallace, have your team target the—take cover!"

The RPG rocket streaked across the gap and struck a two
story structure. Fire and chunks of rubble geysered into the air as the walls
were torn asunder. Bereft of support, the building groaned and teetered, and
then collapsed. Walls and roof crumpled and disappeared into smoke and dust. Before
anyone could react another trail of smoke closed the distance and struck the
building adjacent to Pearson. The entire structure shattered as the warhead
detonated.

"Retreat to rally point Bravo," Pearson bellowed.
"All teams, fall back. Marks, Harris, covering fire!"

Kate had found the pair of men with RPGs. Blinking through
the haze, she sighted on the one raising his weapon to fire. His body folded in
half as her bullet struck his midsection. She racked the slide as fast as she
could and filled it once more. She fired at the same time the second RPG surged
from its mount. He spun out of view as his shoulder swallowed her bullet. Then
Pearson's building exploded in a shower of sand and flames.

The first floor rippled, launching a pair of marines through
the back wall. As the largest structure in the village, losing so much support
was catastrophic. Stone ground on stone as it tipped  . . . and then it fell toward
the street.

"Out! Now!" Pearson bellowed, his voice
harsh and pained. Kate pulled her eye from the scope to see two marines stumble
into view, dragging a third. All of them appeared to be wounded.

Other marines limped into view as well. Several provided
covering fire as their friends lifted their fallen comrades and humped them
west, away from the convoy. One of them paused and fired a grenade from his
assault rifle. It arced high and long, and came down on one of the SUVs. The
men behind it were blown apart.

Bullets filled the street in retaliation, causing anyone in
view to dive for cover. Kate kept firing, trying to give the men a chance to retreat
to a more fortified position. Her furious volley caused the remaining gunmen to
stop targeting the street—and aim for her.

Bullets closed the distance and peppered the tower, erupting
in puffs of dust and rock. The longer range weapons tore right through the weakened
bricks, threatening the walls with collapse. Several found her window and
sailed over her back. She winced as one grazed her shoulder, sending a searing
heat across her skin.

"Marks, get out of there!" Pearson yelled
into her ear.

She ignored the order. If she stopped firing the retreating
men would be pinned down. She knew it—and knew that Pearson knew it. Aiming for
a group of men with long barrels, she shot them all.

Then she spotted Zwalik.

She recognized him from the brief she'd read on the way in.
Leaning out the back of the last APC, he held a pair of binoculars to his eyes
and a radio to his ear.  Blood covered his cheek and poured from a wound in his
arm. He didn't seem to notice. His face was white with fury as he screamed at
his remaining men.

"Primary target spotted," she yelled.

Then she saw the man beside him. Raising an RPG to his
shoulder, his aim was straight at her tower. It was too late to switch targets,
so she pulled her trigger. The instant she did she caught her gun and rolled
toward the stairs. She heard a rising whine as she fell through the gap—

The tower exploded above her, throwing her tumbling down the
stairs. Hot shrapnel tore into her left shoulder, and her sleeve darkened with
blood. Dizzy and half-conscious, she dragged herself away from the rubble
raining down the stairs. Debris pummeled her, but she forced herself to
continue.

She tried to stand, but was unable to get to her feet. Her
mind screamed at her to move, so she pulled herself with her good arm, gasping
as the movement shot pain down her opposite shoulder. She'd retained a grip on
her weapon, so she pulled it to rest next to her.

Her breath came in ragged gasps, but she fumbled with the
weapon to check it for damage. The scope was broken, but it was otherwise fine,
so she slid herself into position. With shaking fingers she reloaded the
chamber. Blood remained on the slide as she slid it home. Without the scope she
couldn't see far, but at that point it didn't matter. Zwalik's men had charged
the village.

From thirty feet up she could see Pearson dodging down the
street to a downed marine. Hefting him to his shoulders, he sprinted back for
cover. Blood coursed down his forearm, and there was a hitch in his step.

"One minute until the gunship arrives!"
Pearson roared. Pain and determination filled his voice in equal measure.

"Relocated to lower position." Kate forced the
words out. Pearson collapsed behind the smoking truck at the head of Zwalik's first
convoy. He threw a look up at her.

"Marks, keep them off our backs," he yelled.
Wincing, he caught the offered assault rifle from the wounded man beside him
and raised it to fire. Two others followed suit. As one, they fired on the
ragged charge. Kate joined them.

She fired as fast as she could load the rounds. Her left arm
trembled each time she lifted a bullet and placed it in her gun. The blood on
her fingers made it difficult to grasp them. Her shoulder screamed in agony at
each movement.

Below her, Pearson and his remaining men unleashed a
devastating volley of rounds, only pausing to reload. Wallace triggered his
underslung grenade launcher and took out two in the ensuing blast, but they
kept coming.

Screaming and firing from the hip, they advanced at the
marines. In her heart, Kate knew the truth. There were too many. They would
overrun the marines, and then come for her. She loaded another round with
regret in her heart.

The thumping of rotor blades was faint at first, but quickly
rose in volume—and the terrorists heard it. Most of them turned and fled,
undoubtedly familiar with what it heralded. The marines and Kate made short
work of the remainder. Relief and exhaustion flooded her as she lifted her head
to watch.

Zwalik's men reached their vehicles at the same time the
AH-1 Supercobra did. White smoke engulfed its stubby wings as it launched a
quartet of missiles, obliterating their vehicles in fireballs. Sweeping down
the line, its 20mm cannon stitched a lethal line through the trucks. Several
exploded as their gas tanks were hit. Some of the men knelt and returned fire, screaming
as death was rained down upon them. Their bullets only sparked off the surface
of the armored attack helicopter. Large retaliating rounds tore them to shreds.

The remainder of the terrorists fled to the APC. As the
chopper was busy it began to accelerate away, bumping over Zwalik's body in its
haste. The Supercobra swiveled in midair and released another pair of rockets
at the APC. Metal screeched and rent as the personnel carrier exploded.

Alone, the chopper hunted through the wreckage and billowing
smoke, seeking any surviving terrorists. As it did Kate heard another chopper
approaching, a bigger one. It landed next to the mosque tower and medics piled
out. A moment later a shuffling footfall came up the stairs behind her. Her
heart leapt into her throat and she drew her service pistol from her hip. Then
Pearson came into view.

He grinned at the sight of her pistol. "You did good,
Marks," he said. There was a grudging respect in his eyes.

She lowered her gun. "Is a force recon thanking a
woman, sir?"

He grunted. "Thanking a marine sniper," he
corrected.

He stooped and helped her to her feet. She sucked in her
breath as the pain in her shoulder and back spiked. Together, they limped their
way to the chopper and climbed aboard. A medic attached a field dressing to her
shoulder as the helicopter lifted into the air.

She looked at the smoking destruction they were leaving
behind, already fighting to forget the carnage.

Chapter 36: Sister

Kate fell silent, and Tess didn't speak. Her mind was a
jumble of confusion. Who was this woman? How had she hidden herself for so
long? Could she even call her mother?

"Why tell me now?" Tess found herself saying.

Kate met her gaze. "I wanted you to understand—to
understand me. I have accepted that I am not your mother by birth, so I want to
be your mother by choice. I couldn't be that if you didn't know who I
was."

"How many . . ."

"Did I kill?" Kate finished. "Sometimes I
wish I knew. Thirty or so in that battle, a few others in previous engagements.
What I do know is that seven good marines died that day, but five lived because
of me."

She stood and stepped to the wall, where a long barreled
rife hung. She rubbed her thumb on its stock, and said, "This is the rifle
I used in the service. They let me keep it after what happened."

Tess didn't know what to think. She stared at the weapon
that had been used to kill in the Libyan Desert. Part of her felt enormous
pride in her mom, but part of her wondered if their relationship would ever be
the same.

"So how does Dad fit into this?" she asked.

Kate smiled. "Our CIA contact for that fight was a man
named Jason. I suspected it was a cover ID, and I was right. When I got back
Jack told me the truth, and we have been together ever since. A couple of
months later he proposed, and we got married soon after."

"And your . . . daughter?" It felt weird to be
talking about it like that, but Tess couldn't very well say it was her anymore.

Kate released a deep sigh. "I had three miscarriages
over the next few years, and when we got pregnant I was told to stay in bed. The
marines allowed me to stay home for the duration of my pregnancy, which was
very difficult. There were several times that I thought you—our daughter,
wouldn't make it. Then she was born with lung problems and we were told to
prepare ourselves for her death."

Kate spoke with a detached air, just like she had described
the firefight, but the hollow ache in her eyes was evident.

"I slept in the hallway," Kate continued. "I
pulled a chair from a waiting room so I could look into the NICU. Jack stayed
with me, and used his credentials to keep them from removing us." Kate
broke off and looked away. "She was so tiny, so . . . fragile. I watched
her throughout the night. I was afraid if I fell asleep she would be dead when
I woke up." She turned away, visually fighting to rein in her emotions.

Tess was stunned. With everything that she'd been dealing
with, she'd never considered what her mom had been going through. Kate had learned
that not only was her daughter not her own, but that her real daughter had
died. Tess's throat tightened as she understood what her mother had been
enduring in silence.

Tess rose to her feet and hesitantly approached her mom.
Kate turned to face her with tears welling in her eyes.

"If motherhood was decided by deeds, than you have proven
yourself a hundred times over."

Tears cascaded down both their cheeks as they embraced. Kate
whispered into Tess's ear, "They never let me hold her."

Tess tightened her grip as they both cried, and was
surprised to realize that they were the same height. In her arms, her steely
mother wept for the daughter she had never known. Her body shook with wracking
sobs as she was overcome by mounting grief.

"I'm sorry I'm not her," Tess murmured. The
tightness in her throat made the words difficult to say.

Her mom squeezed her but didn't respond, and for a long
moment they just held each other. When her grief had faded her mom finally
separated.

"Please forgive me," she said. "I didn't mean
to break down like that."

Tess wiped the moisture from her own face. "I think
it's okay to cry at least once a decade."

Kate laughed and shook herself, regaining the resolve that
Tess had known so well.

"So what happened to Pearson?" Tess asked.

"He retired a few years ago," Kate said, "and
we're still friends. He won't admit it, but in his after-action report he said
that I was 'worthy of being a recon sniper'." She laughed to herself. "Jack
told me what it said."

"Can I meet him?" Tess asked.

"I would like that," Kate replied.

Her mother's smile was tentative, as if she was unsure where
their relationship stood. Tess felt as if everything that she'd counted on had
been stripped away to reveal a more brutal reality. Deep down she recognized
that there was no going back, that Kate would never be the same mother.

But Tess was a different daughter. Kate the mom had been
perfect for Tess the unsuspecting girl. Now that Tess was a mage, maybe Kate
the soldier would be the mom she needed. She smiled to herself as she felt
something shift inside her. Their relationship hadn't been broken, it had just
been reforged into a stronger bond.

Then an idea crossed her mind, and Tess said, "Hang
on."

Ignoring Kate's curious expression, Tess donned her
omni-glasses and sent a message to Hawk, hoping he would respond. To her
surprise she got a reply within a minute. She nodded to herself and activated
the compass that would take her where she wanted to go.

"Would you like to see the grave of your
daughter?" Tess asked.

Kate swallowed hard and blinked at the sudden moisture in
her eyes. She nodded. "Do you know where it is?"

Tess smiled. "Hawk said it's just outside the city. I
can take you to it."

"Can we go now?" Kate asked.

Together, they left the armament behind and stepped outside.
Tess waited for Kate to re-arm the door and then they headed to the car. Once they
were on the road, Tess guided her through the traffic until they reached a
cemetery north of the city. When they got out Kate took Tess's hand. She
squeezed it and nodded.

"I'm ready."

"This way," Tess said, and led the way up the
stone path.

Gravestones dotted the hillside on either side of them,
their white surfaces shaded by the protective canopy of great oak trees. The
midday sun filtered through the branches, lighting the cemetery and giving an
almost hopeful air to the hillside. Collectively it made the November chill
almost warm.

With the magic of her glasses guiding her, Tess led them to
a quiet gravestone next to a small tree. On its surface she was surprised to find
her own name.

Tess
Oliver

Beloved
Daughter

Indomitable
Spirit

Kate knelt and touched it. "Did you know about
this?" She gestured to the name.

Tess shook her head. "I didn't know it existed until I
sent Hawk the message in your storage unit." She didn't add that it was
creepy to find a tombstone with her own name on it. But she figured it wasn't
for her anyway.

They remained by the gravestone for over an hour, talking
about what the girl might have been like. At one point Tess called her a
sister, and the description stuck. Like concrete had shifted, she settled into
her new place within her family. The thought brought a smile to her lips.

When they left for lunch Tess noticed that her mother's step
was lighter than before. Her smile came easier, and the steel that Tess had
known for so long seemed to have returned to her eyes. When it did, it reminded
Tess that Kate had avoided talking about her own role since their house had
been destroyed. She asked about it as they ate lunch.

"Let's eat outside, shall we?" her mom replied.

They gathered their food and moved to a shaded spot under a
tree. Tess found a seat on a picnic table and watched the kids climb through
the bright blue tubes. Her mother sat beside her.

"So what have you been doing?" Tess asked again.

Kate gave a small smile. "What I do best."

"Teaching the second grade?" Her comment elicited
a laugh.

"No," Kate replied. "I should say what I did
best before you were born."

"You're back in the military?"

"I joined a task force that your father's office put
together."

"What does a task force do?"

Kate chewed and swallowed before answering. "We are a response
team in case the MIO needs one. If we have a mage that's a threat, it's our job
to go in and neutralize it."

"You mean kill," Tess said flatly.

"If necessary."

"How many threats have you neutralized? And who were
they?" Tess didn't like the turn in the conversation. Was her mom
attacking innocent mages? Or Harbingers?

"We spent a month just training and working together as
a team, but in the last two weeks we have eliminated two. Both were killed by
the entry team. And before you worry, Jack has privately confirmed each with
Breaker before we did anything. If they weren't with the Magtherian, then we
knew they were Harbingers."

Tess was relieved to realize Breaker had been involved.
There was no way the man would allow anyone to wantonly go after mages. He
worked for the mage military after all.

"How did you get onto the team?" She wondered if
it included a resume like a normal job.

"Hawk."

"He transferred you from elementary school teacher to
CIA sniper?"

She laughed. "Not exactly. He had the connections to
give me a shot, which is like a tryout in sports. I had to make the team on my
own. At first the team leader was skeptical, but after a few hours on the 1000
yard range he had no choice. I shot way better than the other guys."

Tess grinned at the mental image of her mother out shooting
a bunch of jocks. "Was that all?"

"There was also a written exam, a psychological
evaluation, and a physical combat test."

"Like karate?"

"Something like that," she said with a smile.
"My bruises lasted for a week, but I managed to pass it—barely." She
sighed. "I should have kept up my training like I did with my rifle."

"When did you practice shooting?"

"After you were born I managed to get a job at the CIA
with Jack. While you were little I shot every day, but that proved difficult
after a while." She grinned. "You were quite perceptive for a
five-year old, and began to ask questions that were difficult to answer. I
decided a career change was in order, and found a job as a teacher. I'm afraid
I let my skills slip by the time you were a teenager."

Tess recalled when the Harbingers had sought to kill them.
"You reacted well enough when they attacked our home."

Kate's eyes darkened with anger. It was a look Tess had seen
before, but had never realized that a skilled marksman lay behind it. It gave
her an oddly comforting chill to realize that her mom was going after the Harbingers.

They finished their meal and returned home, and Tess was
grateful that their conversation shifted to easier topics. Tess took the
opportunity to share everything about Tryton's, including friends, classes, and
her personal training. Kate absorbed it all. Her father arrived as Tess was
describing Iris, who was surprisingly difficult to explain.

"What's so funny?" he asked as he hung his jacket.

"Iris," Kate said.

Tess laughed, and her mom joined in. Jack just shook his
head. "Did you girls have fun today?"

Tess and Kate locked eyes, and Tess said, "I think we
did."

"So you liked her bunker?"

"You know about it?" Tess was surprised. For some
reason she'd gotten the impression that it was a secret.

Jack smiled and kissed his wife on the head. "There is
very little I don't know about her."

"Or I about him," Kate said.

He laughed easily. "True, which reminds me of
something. Tess, I wanted to remind you not to share the information about my
job. Strictly speaking it's highly classified. I don't fancy a decade or two in
prison, hmm?"

"I promise," Tess said.

"Good," Jack said. "Now, what's for dinner?"

Tess and Kate looked at each other, and then back to him. In
unison they said, "Pizza?" They laughed together, and thirty minutes
later there were enjoying a large pepperoni pizza.

The night devolved into stories, laughter, and the sharing
of secrets. Tess demonstrated what magic she could within the confines of the
apartment, and her parents continued to divulge information that was either
classified, or previously kept from her.

Throughout the evening Tess got the distinct impression that
all three of them avoided speaking of the building conflict. Talk of Hawk, the
Harbingers, and the battle at Brokins went unspoken. For one night they were
just a family, together and happy.

But that happiness faded as she stared at her bedroom
ceiling. Four weeks remained until Draeken's portal could be reopened, and they
still had no idea where the Sword lay hidden. It felt to her that despite their
efforts the conflict was escalating.

An hour passed, and then two. Tess continued to stare at her
ceiling, unwilling to fall asleep. She couldn't tell if it was her oracle
insight or just her intuition, but she felt like once she did the calm would be
over.

When she did sleep she slept uneasily, and her mood
prevailed in her dreams. Upon waking she was disheartened to see that the
frivolity of their family had abated. They talked about the Harbingers over
breakfast, and her mom took her to a private training facility so they could
practice together. By tacit agreement none of them spoke of Tess's sister, or
the previous night's levity.

The week passed quickly, and Tess did her best to stay
focused.  By Sunday night she was anxious to return to Tryton's and continue
her training, yet she wished she could remain. In many respects the week with
her parents was the most real of any she could think of.

As she said goodbye a deep regret settled into her core,
instilling a fear unlike any she had experienced except when the Dark had
assailed her. The foreboding was cold and hard, and gradually overtook her
hope, unshaken by her efforts to dislodge it. It felt like the last time she
would see her parents.

If felt like the storm had begun.

Chapter 37: The Vaults

While all the students were home for the school break, the
Swordsman began his mission. After much effort he found a vantage point from
which he could plan his assault. Then he waited. Fourteen hours passed after he
maneuvered himself into position, and he hardly moved throughout that time.
From his hide he could see all the way to the bottom floor of the Spirus Vaults.

Unlike the other levels of the tower, the subterranean
floors were not accessible to the public. In place of gravity lifts, the routes
into and out of the guarded levels were older style wind lifts.

Shaped like a massive cyclone, white vapor spun in a tight
corkscrew all the way to the bottom of a massive shaft. On the outside edge of
the swirling air, one could stand and be carried gradually to the six levels.
The closer one moved to the center the tighter the air spun, and the faster one
descended. Adjacent to the down lift, a secondary shaft swirled in the opposite
direction, lifting mages to the main floor of the Spirus.

The wind lifts themselves were the Swordsman's first
obstacle, as they could be deactivated or reversed in case of need. If he were
discovered the battlemages would turn both columns downward, preventing him
from escaping while allowing soldiers to flood in.

The first of the underground floors housed the bulk of the
battlemage corps, and was involved primarily with training. Two thousand mages
rotated through the level on a daily basis, training, receiving orders, and
reporting missions.

Staffed with mages from every school, the battlemages
represented both the army and the police force of the mage world. The soldiers
within would be skilled, but not as formidable as the mages that were stationed
on the next level.

Level two was comprised of the elite branch of the
battlemages, the Rayths. Named for the legendary cats that roamed the Evermist
swamps, the modern soldiers were just as lethal. Few were appointed into their
ranks without at least two level twelve masteries.

Below their headquarters was the Shield of Auroraq Office.
Tasked with protecting the floating city, specially trained mages controlled
the cloudwall and the height of the city. Due to the importance of their work,
a separate contingent of battlemages guarded them at all times.

The next two floors contained magical secrets from throughout
earth's history. The Staff of Ages, the Xorilik, and even the depleted amplious
were said to reside within its walls. Every surviving artifact, weapon, or map
that was too dangerous for the public Recollection was held there.

The last level was the most curious, because no
substantiated rumors existed about its purpose. Some said it held the fabled
Maruk. Others said it was used for magic experiments, or contained nearly
extinct creatures. The Swordsman knew one thing for a fact—it was guarded more
than any of the other levels. That alone was reason enough to suspect the Sword
of Elseerian's presence.

If he was honest with himself, the Swordsman was
apprehensive about this mission. To be caught inside the Vaults would mean
instant banishment—and the stripping of all his magic. The thought caused him
to shudder and think of his younger brother.

Robert had been born without magic of any kind, an extreme
rarity for children with two mage parents. Despite their closeness in youth,
the Swordsman's magic had been a wedge that Robert had been unable to overcome.
Two years after the Swordsman had enrolled at Tryton's Robert had disappeared.

The Swordsman's lips tightened as he recalled the moment
he'd come home to find his brother gone. He'd searched for him, of course, but
to no avail. Wherever he'd gone, he had chosen to live among the aurens. The Swordsman
hadn't seen him since, and suspected that he had died as an auren.

The Swordsman shifted his weight, annoyed at himself for
getting distracted. It was a luxury he couldn't afford, especially on this
mission. To occupy his mind he counted the guards again.

Six trios of guard rotated on the lifts, and their path was
always the same. Up the ascending lift, down the descending shaft, they
repeated the process several times per hour. They were well trained, and stood
with their backs to the wall, allowing the slower air to gradually move them up
and down. Every spot on the shaft was visible by at least one set of guards.

To complicate matters, the two shafts were filled with
monitoring motes, meaning the Mage Technology Bureau could see every angle. In
the three thousand years since the Spirus had been built no one had breached
the lowest Vaults, in spite of a handful of attempts.

The Swordsman watched the descending guards from his vantage
point on the ceiling. Imbued with an almost daylight brightness, the domed
ceiling in the shaft was only broken by an ornamental trio of spikes that
descended from its center. The Swordsman had used an enchanted wedge to split
the stone, creating a tiny crevasse in the middle of the spikes.

Due to the brilliance of the ceiling, no one ever looked at
the light. Even if they did his form would be impossible to spot inside the
center fixture. But the position had its disadvantages. Because of the glare,
he'd been forced to cast a vision weakness spell on himself. It had kept him
from being blinded, but made the task of finding a hole in the guards’ rotation
difficult.

The Swordsman had waited for hours, but was content to wait
more. Patience had always come easy to him, so the time did not concern him. He
ate and drank without leaving his hide. At one point he dozed for a couple of
hours and then resumed his watch. An hour later he spotted what he needed.

The time was just after midnight, and the change of the
guard had caused several of the soldiers to bunch next to the first level.
Chatting and laughing as soldiers were prone to do, it gave the Swordsman the
opportunity he'd been waiting for.

Without hesitation he slipped from his hide, wrapped himself
in his cloak, and dropped. In preparation for this mission, he'd had the
enchantment on his cloak altered. For the moment it appeared vague, white, and
shrouded in fog. Like a wisp of smoke, he plummeted down the center of the
shaft.

He blew past the chatting guards in a fraction of a second,
and passed any monitoring motes just as quickly. Like a blob of vapor that had
fractured off the corkscrewing lift, he fell where the lift spun the fastest,
and where the support for passengers was nonexistent.

The corridors to the various levels blurred past him, and
billowing air flowed through his clothing, chilling him to the bone. From the
moment he'd let go, he'd discarded all thought of consequences, the fall, and
his brother. In their place his mind focused on one thing, counting.

One . . . two . . . three . . . four. On the count of
four he flared his cloak and bent his knees. At the same time he dropped his
eye weakness spell and cast his most powerful strength spell in his core and
legs. Then he braced for the impact of a two hundred foot fall.

He struck hard, eliciting a grunt of pain as he rolled to
absorb as much force as possible. Limping to the side he wrapped himself in his
cloak, calling on its magic to return to shadow.

His body faded into darkness as a single guard turned to
look down the shaft. Seeing nothing to interest him, he turned back to his
companions. A moment later the group separated and the new guards fell into the
rotation.

The Swordsman smiled in the depths of the shaft. Human
weakness was the best one to exploit. He dropped his strength spell and cast a
healing enhancement on himself as he waited. It wouldn't work as fast as
healer's magic, but it would have to do. By the stabbing ache in his leg, he guessed
he'd sustained a hairline fracture from the landing. The wound would slow him
down, which was something he could not afford if he was discovered. Still, it
wasn't too bad considering he'd fallen so far.

He gave the spell thirty minutes to work, and took advantage
of the time to reassess his new position. He stood below level six, in the shadows
at the bottom of the lift. His position was further obscured by the turning
vapor, which dissipated as it hit the floor around him.

A trio of guards rotated to the bottom, their feet passing
above his head. They stepped off at level six and strode away, the sounds of
boots striking the stone fading with them. Satisfied, the Swordsman moved on.
The pain in his leg had reduced to a dull ache, allowing him to move
unhindered. He moved one step at a time, cautious and wary.

The fog was still dense enough he had to push his way
through it, but he didn't force it. There were sure to be monitoring motes even
this low—especially this low—and if he were spotted now his attempt would be
over before it began.

He came to a halt next to a shallow opening in the stone
wall. Designed as an escape for the wind and solid vapor, it satisfied the same
purpose for him. He slid into the gap and worked his way until he found a steel
barrier that led to a maintenance room. The room was dark, so he dropped his
healing spell and cast a light magnification charm. His eyes tingled as the
room brightened.

The Swordsman eased his way to the door and examined it. Its
position could only mean that it led to the sixth level. The purple lines
around it indicated warding against intrusion. He pulled a black stone from a
hidden pouch and set to work.

Fused with techno warnings, the door also bore a handful of
sound spells. If the door was opened without disabling them, they would emit a
high pitched shriek that would alert everyone up to the battlemage
headquarters. They were also interlocked, meaning if one didn't possess the
disabling key all would be activated as if just one was tampered with.

He held the black stone to the bottom corner of the door and
activated it by touching a rune. Ink magic poured from inside it, blotting out
the sound trap placed there. It didn't deactivate it; it merely encapsulated it
with its magic. Once that was done, he slid the black stone around the exterior
of the door, doing the same with the other traps. Last, he covered the sources
of techno magic. Like a coiling black snake, the void of light wove through the
traps, blotting them out.

Next he donned a pair of black spectacles. With his
magically enhanced vision and the enchanted viewer, he blurred the metal door
into its basic elements, allowing him to see through it. The enchantment was
highly effective for seeing behind wood or metal and was one of his most useful
tools.

He checked both directions to ensure they were clear. Then
he touched a second rune on the black stone. In an instant every trap around
the door was flooded with anti-magic. Not a peep escaped. Fast yet cautious, he
slid the door open. Then he darted through and gently closed it. He took his
finger off the mark on the stone, allowing the spells to activate once more.

The down time would have been only a few seconds, but if
they were good, the sentries would come and verify it. The Swordsman took the
next few seconds to scan his new surroundings, looking for a place to hide.

He stood in an enormous, vaulted corridor. At least thirty
feet in height, the tunnel extended away from the lift into darkness and was
interspersed with intricate columns down its center. Ancient carvings graced
the exterior of the pillars, as if mythical creatures stood together in support
of the ceiling.

The air smelled musty and old, indicating the route was
rarely traveled. The ground was rough-hewn rather than smooth, and appeared to
be carved from the rock itself. Doors of varying sizes dotted the hall, with
some almost touching the ceiling. They too appeared older, their wood graying
from age.

A cascade of footfalls echoed faintly, causing the Swordsman
to dart behind the nearest pillar. In seconds two guards appeared and went
straight to the maintenance door. The one wearing purple-veined gauntlets waved
his hand, disabling the traps. Then he opened it and checked the room. Once
satisfied it was empty they searched the corridor.

Their thoroughness caused the Swordsman to frown. The
implication of further such diligence did not bode well for him. He silently
scaled the pillar as they approached him. Reaching the ceiling, he wrapped
himself in his heat shielding cloak.

A light from below caused him to peek out from under his cover.
The second guard had lit a fire falcon within his hand. Tossing it into the
air, the miniature firebird flapped to gain height, and then soared between the
columns, searching.

The Swordsman had seen the spell before, and it was one of
the reason's he'd purchased his cloak in the first place. He'd been discovered
the last time the firebird had been used and didn't want a repeat of that event.
He tightened the cloak around him and thought cold thoughts.

Sparks and tongues of fire cascaded off its wings as it
approached, lighting the area. It circled the column the Swordsman was using,
and flew within a few feet of his head. Then it passed on. The Swordsman maintained
his position for another fifteen minutes before the guards relented and
dissolved the falcon. The hall was plunged back into darkness as the spot of
light faded into ash. Oddly, the guards departed in the opposite direction from
which they'd come, and headed away from the descending lift. Their path
suggested that another route led to the ascending lift.

The Swordsman waited another five minutes, and then slid to
the floor. He kept his eyes wide as he worked his way down the corridor.
Several times he spotted blots of purple to indicate the location of a
monitoring mote. Each time he climbed to the ceiling and scuttled past it. The
shadow gauntlets he wore allowed him to grab and hold the darkness itself, and
the monitoring motes could not see him at that angle.

The corridor boasted numerous doors and energy barriers on
either side, and he checked each one with his penetrating vision spectacles. The
first contained an enormous gold hourglass, but instead of sand it held a
shimmering blue liquid. After that he passed three in quick succession that
held weapon displays. Even in normal vision the enchanted artifacts glowed with
imbued magic.

The value of such items held no sway over him, except for a handful
of swords that hovered on a rotating display. He resisted the urge to break
into the rooms and test their balance. His own sword was more than adequate,
and he couldn't risk being caught.

He reached the end of the corridor and paused. His forward
path didn't continue, but it intersected with a matching corridor that went in
both directions. Equally as large, the new tunnel had a slight curve. He turned
right first, and it soon became apparent that he now walked in a great ring
that circled the center lifts. Gradually it curved clockwise until he estimated
he stood exactly opposite the entrance corridor.

He stopped when he reached a corridor that extended back
toward the center. Considering his options, he turned into it, and followed it
back to the wind shafts. He wasn't surprised when it ended at the ascending
lift.

It was a good layout, and resembled a giant wheel with only
two spokes to its center. To get out of the Vaults would require circling
halfway around the ring to reach the exit corridor. It also explained why the
two guards had not returned to the lift that had brought them.

Marking the location of his escape, he withdrew from the
greater security of the lifts and searched the remainder of the doors in the
exit corridor. When he reached the ring, he again turned right and checked the
other half of the circle. One by one he looked through the doors with his
enchanted spectacles.

One was filled with what looked like tiny stars. Another
held only a brown rock the size and shape of a fist. It quivered when he looked
at it, so he didn't linger. The door after that was much larger, and hid a room
filled with water. Massive dark shapes moved through the liquid, causing him to
flinch and turn away. Next held only a book, and after that a small silver
pendant hanging from a statue's neck.

At each room he was left disappointed. There was absolutely
no evidence that the Sword of Elseerian had been moved there. Dust lay in front
of many of the doors, implying it had been some time since they had been
opened.

Then he found an additional corridor extending out from the
ring. For now, he bypassed it, and completed checking the circle. When he
reached the entrance corridor he turned back. He returned to the only offshoot
that extended out from the wheel.

The differences in the walls were immediately apparent.
Smooth rather than rough, the tunnel appeared far newer, and clean. No dust had
built up in front of any of the doors, and the quantity of the monitoring motes
increased significantly. It took him an hour to check every room.

He paused at the large portal at the very end. If the Sword
wasn't inside, it meant it was higher within the complex, or not in the Vaults
at all. He peered through the door with his spectacles first, and was surprised
by what he saw.

Huge and cavernous, the room on the other side was a
sprawling cave. It was difficult to make out details due to the thickness of
the door, and everything appeared blurred through his glasses. Shelves lined
the room, and enchanted objects filled them to overflowing. A handful of gigantic
columns stretched to the ceiling. There was also an enormous object lying
across the floor. It extended toward the door, further blocking the view. He
squinted, but it was impossible to discern what it was. The Swordsman frowned.
He was going to have to get a closer look.

He checked the door. Black and rough, it was evidently imbued
with anti-magic. Anything but his spectacles—which used the flaws in the metal
itself—would be ineffective. He shrugged and leaned close to the center of the
door, where a large sphere extended. Runes, symbols, and numbers filled its
surface, and he recognized it for what it was, a combination lock.

He cast a hearing spell on himself and set to work. The
sphere spun freely as he worked it, moving like it rested in a bowl of water.
He verified each symbol in sequence, and then moved on. Even with his enhanced
hearing the mark of success was muffled. Like water filling a glass, he heard
the shift. Then he watched as one of five empty cylinders around the door began
to glow.

He started again, and over the course of the next hour
managed to find the correct sequence. As he had with the maintenance door, he
disabled the sound traps as well as the nearest monitoring mote. Then he dodged
through and reactivated them. The moment he was inside he spun—and froze.

Facing a dragon.

Chapter 38: Ancient

He stared at the massive jaws, open and ready to tear him
asunder, but the creature did not move. After a long moment he realized the
dragon was fashioned of polished black stone, and slowly released his held breath.
Opaque eyes stared at him, daring him to move.

He did, and eased a step to the side. His heart hammering in
his chest, he took another step and examined the statue from his new
perspective. Smooth and sleek, the gigantic creature appeared even larger than
he'd read about, and the detail was stunning.

Spikes protruded from the end of its tail, and its huge
claws appeared to grip the stone floor as if they had tightened into it. Its
jaws bore teeth that were as tall as the Swordsman, and were wrapped in double
rows through the enormous mouth. The sheen from them made it clear they were
razor sharp. A trio of horns protruded from its skull, and swept back and up.
The only difference between the statue and the real thing was the lack of
scales.

The Swordsman had no doubt it was not truly stone. The
posture, the form, it was too visceral, too . . . organic, and yet it was
undeniably fashioned of rock. He swallowed as he mentally listed the
possibilities.

The dragon could be a guardian, a magically suffused living
creature that could turn to flesh at will. He doubted that, as the enchantment
to do so had been lost for eons. It had also never been done to a dragon . . .
as far as he knew.

The more likely possibility was that it was a sentient. Much
like the golems created by stone mages this was entity—yet much more complex. Rather than one purpose
it would have many. It would have taken fifty stone mages a hundred years to
create such a creature, and it had undoubtedly been done a long time ago.

The Swordsman took another step, but the dragon remained
still. With great effort he tore his gaze from it and looked at his own position.
As he'd seen from hall, he found himself in a massive chamber. Gold, weapons,
and enchanted objects lined the walls.

The Swordsman's gaze flicked between the dragon and the
objects as he fought to contain his fear. Without moving, he peered around the
room, straining to find what he sought. He enhanced his vision further, but
still didn't see the Sword.

Then he spotted it. Behind the dragon's haunches, a large
pedestal sat with a unique blade floating above it. Wreathed in white light,
the black weapon was at odds with its display. He leaned forward, and was just
able to make out the distinctive dragon carving on its surface, as well as the
blue gem on its pommel.

Satisfied, he eased the pressure off his foot and moved it
forward. The sole of his shoe touched, and he gradually placed more weight onto
it. Smooth, fluid, and painstakingly slow, he skirted the black dragon and
approached the pedestal. Twenty feet from his goal his foot slipped on a piece
of dust, eliciting a barely audible scrape.

Sweat blossomed on his forehead and he swung to look at the
dragon. His tension did not ease when it didn't move, and after a full minute
he resumed his pace. Step by tiny step, he checked for signs of monitoring
motes or other traps. Ten feet from the Sword he heard a deep, raspy growl.

He froze, but the damage had been done. A great trembling
shook the cavern as the dragon shifted. Stone ground on stone as its joints moved,
and its tail scraped the ground. Despite the hardness to its body, the dragon
moved like flesh, fluid and graceful, elegant and deadly. The claws tore into
the floor as it turned, and its massive neck stretched and whipped around,
searching for him.

In a single heartbeat the Swordsman realized two things. The
dragon had known the moment he had entered the chamber—and that it had waited
until he was far enough in that there was no chance of retreat.

The dragon swung his titanic head toward the Swordsman.
Obsidian eyes stared at the intruder, unblinking. Then they tightened into
furious slants and its jaws opened. Its roar caused the Swordsman's bones to
quake inside his body.

The Swordsman dropped his other spells and cast strength,
speed, and agility on himself. His muscles tingled with power as the spells
took effect. The flood of magic sharpened his senses, heightening the fear that
galvanized him into action. Faster than he could blink the dragon's jaws
reached for him.

He leapt to the side, and the massive teeth snapped an inch
from his chest. Before the dragon could withdraw the Swordsman bolted. In four
long strides he reached the Sword of Elseerian. Without slowing he reached out
and caught the hilt—but his hand passed right through it.

In an instant of clarity he knew the truth. He had been set
up—not by Hawk—but by someone else. Perhaps Ranson had known it was an
illusion, and had intentionally leaked the information to Gerik, or Gerik himself
was a Harbinger. Fury blossomed within him as he realized that once again, the Harbingers
had sought to kill him.

His rage and fear battled for supremacy. Both propelled him
into motion. The titanic stone dragon coiled at the door, seeming to recognize
that the Swordsman sought to escape. It bellowed its fury, rattling the objects
on the shelves. Then it dashed toward him.

Like a snake strike it exploded from the door and bit the
air, but the Swordsman had dodged again. With his body tingling from the
assortment of spells, he drew his sword and swept it at the dragon's face,
scoring a line across its muzzle as he leapt back.

The dragon recoiled from the scratch, and swept its enormous
tail across the floor toward him. The Swordsman darted behind one of the
pillars, and allowed the stone column to take the brunt of the assault. It
shuddered from the blow, but cracks spider-webbed across its surface. Sensing
what was coming, The Swordsman sprinted to a different column.

The first pillar exploded as a second strike landed.
Oversized chunks of debris pummeled the area, and he had to use all his skill
to avoid being crushed. The tail appeared in his peripheral vision, rushing at
his side. On instinct he slid to a stop and jumped backwards over it. Twisting
into a tight angle, he threaded the gap between two gigantic spikes. He sucked
in his breath as one scored him from shoulder to elbow, slicing his shirt and
several layers of skin.

He rolled when he landed, and risked adding a healing spell
to his already charged body. The pressure on his lungs increased as they tried
to sustain the energy pouring through him, but a welcoming numbness swept
through his shoulder. The moment of pain, though, had brought a touch of
clarity.

The dragon had withdrawn its tail and was crouching low, its
stone muscles bunching into knots as it prepared to lunge. The Swordsman swept
his gaze across the debris strewn battlefield and made his decision. Then he
surged into motion.

He dashed toward the broken pillar at the same instant the
dragon's maw streaked toward him. Coiling his body, The Swordsman rolled his
momentum onto one foot, and then launched himself into a high forward flip. The
jaws clamped shut below him as he flew sideways over its huge head.

The Swordsman landed on the floor and lunged behind an
intact pillar. Furious at its miss, the dragon wrapped a massive claw around
the column and tore it from its place. It snapped like a dried stick. The
entire cavern shook from the force of its removal and clumps of rock rained
down as it came free. The dragon roared and tossed it aside, shattering an
entire wall of shelves and magical artifacts.

But the Swordsman was not there.

The moment he'd landed he bolted for the first broken
pillar. Using the base like a springboard, he jumped as high and as far as he
could. His leap carried him over the dragon's bulk and toward the door. He
slammed into the ground with brutal force, cracking the floor. His previously
wounded leg twinged as he did, but he could not afford to slow.

The dragon whipped his head in the Swordsman’s direction and
issued a thunderous roar. The Swordsman yanked the door open as the dragon
streaked after him. Just as he dived through the door its jaws clamped shut on
his cloak, tearing it in two. The Swordsman caught the door and swung it closed
before the dragon could come after him. Magically enhanced bolts slid home, and
he reached for the sphere to reset the lock—but he froze as he saw what waited
for him.

Thirty battlemages stood in an arc facing him, and others
were appearing behind them. Shouts rang out, echoing through the tunnels as The
Swordsman's presence was reported. Magic blossomed into view as the enraged
soldiers prepared themselves.

The Swordsman saw no escape. There was no way he could get
past so many, even with his body enhanced as it was. By now the wind lifts
would already be directed downward, closing off his sole point of egress. They
would take him, and then strip him of his magic. In the span of a day he would
go from being the Swordsman . . . to an auren.

He could fight, but then he would die. He knew it to his
bones. There would be no escaping if he fought them. Alone and outnumbered amongst
a highly trained enemy, it was the end. Sword in hand, he stared at them as
they shouted for him to kneel. He shrugged in defeat.

And then opened the door.

The Swordsman leapt aside as door exploded open. Bereft of
the extra support from the bolts, it was no match for the dragon that had been
driving against it. Its open maw burst forward like a semi-truck exploding through
the wall.

Battlemages cried out and jumped back while the stone mages
tried to calm the dragon. Brown light closed the distance and struck the black
surface, trying to subdue and contain it. Enraged, the dragon withdrew, and
then lunged at the tiny opening. The adjacent walls tore open as the massive
creature crashed into it, raining debris onto the panicking battlemages.

The added space allowed its shoulders and forearms through,
but its hind legs and wings had gotten wedged. It roared and clawed the ground,
nearly shredding a pair of soldiers that hadn't been quick enough. Its smooth
black skin was marred with thousands of scratches and chips, making it appear
almost grey.

Realizing it could not force its way through, it withdrew a
second time. The Swordsman bolted from the corner just as the entire end of the
corridor shattered. A rock the size of beach ball struck him in the back. He
winced and stumbled, but kept running. Ignoring the scattering battlemages, the
dragon came for him.

The Swordsman ran like never before. His magic coursed into
his legs, fueling his lightning fast stride. Each step covered several yards,
each motion was flawless. A battlemage appeared in the gloom and ink poured toward
the Swordsman. He leapt and twisted, and soared over the anti-magic bonds. He
landed and continued without slowing. Behind him, the dragon accelerated in
pursuit.

The breadth of the corridor trembled as the great creature
forced its way down the tunnel. The vaulted ceiling was barely sufficient for
the dragon to pass, causing its wings to scrape on the walls and roof. But the
great pillars that lined the center were another matter. The dragon plowed
right through them.

Stone crunched and burst into dust and rubble, showering the
fleeing battlemages. Shouting for aid, the men and women guards dived for
cover. Some opened vault doors and stepped inside to avoid being crushed. His
breath raspy, his whole body focused on speed, the Swordsman kept his eyes
focused ahead, and his ears behind. His skin tingled with fear as the sound of
shattering columns came closer, until his shoulders cringed from the proximity.

He risked a glance back—but wished he hadn't. The jaws
reached for him, snapping shut mere feet from his fleeing form. A pillar
flashed past him, and it detonated a second later as the dragon went through
it. Then the Swordsman saw the end of the corridor.

Unwilling to slow, he curved in a great arc that would carry
him to the ring's inside wall. So fast was his run that he was forced to jump
onto the wall and run sideways to complete the turn. The dragon reached for him
with its fore claw, but it clenched on empty air.

A tremendous crash sent a shudder down the ring, and
the Swordsman again glanced back. As agile as the dragon was, it hadn't been able
to make the turn, and had skidded into the inside wall of the ring. The dragon
recovered quickly, and was already accelerating. A bellow of sheer rage issued
from its maw . . . and a sucking hiss followed.

The Swordsman's heart sank as he realized what was coming,
and knew in that moment there was no way he could outrun such powerful sentient.
Then he spotted a large gilded door on the side of the hall and made his
decision. In a flash he darted around the nearest pillar and took refuge in its
shadow.

He slid to a halt as a torrent of blue fire erupted from the
dragon's mouth. It struck the Swordsman’s pillar and wrapped around it, melting
the stone into slag. Liquid rock dripped to the floor, glowing red and
steaming. Fifteen feet of column shrank as the tremendous heat stripped the
outer layers.

The Swordsman wrapped himself in his shredded cloak and cast
a cooling spell on his body. In spite of the double protection he felt his
cloak crumble, and his exposed skin burn. He fixed his gaze on his goal and
forced himself to wait. The instant the fire cut off he exploded into
action—and darted to the side.

Whipping his sword from his sheath, he cut the bottom hinge
of a massive door. Sound warnings erupted in a cacophony of ear-splitting
shrieks as the metal split. Anti-magic chords burst from secret holes, seeking
to ensnare him. Ignoring them he streaked upward. Scaling the wall with his
shadow gauntlets, he felt the tremor as the dragon came after him.

Tracking the dragon's position by sound, he didn't spare it
a glance. He bounded up the wall and cut a second hinge. Below him, the door
began to bulge, and water spurted out the sides. He reached the top at the same
time as the dragon's claw found him. The claw tore through the flesh of his
side, gouging deep at the same time his sword sliced through the final hinge.
In an instant several things happened.

The twenty-foot door exploded outward, driven by a tidal
wave of water at its back. It struck the opposite wall and was held fast by the
massive wave that hit it. With nowhere to go, the water split into both
directions. Bloodied from the newest wound and shaking from the effects of his
magic, the Swordsman pulled free of the dragon's claw just before the wave
struck them.

Unprepared for the force, the dragon went down and tumbled left,
bellowing its rage at being thwarted. The Swordsman was knocked into the wall,
and felt his arm snap. Pain blossomed through him as he fell right, and the tumultuous
water rose to embrace him. Sucking in his breath, he managed to activate his
air board.

The Swordsman landed on the water and it took all his skill
to stay upright. The water was so high there was no place to fly above it. Half
flying and half surfing, he struggled to stay out of the churning water. Twisting
and banking, he swept past three pillars before the force of the water began to
deplete. Catching the side of a pillar with his good arm he dismissed the board
and looked back.

He flinched as the dragon's head exploded through the water pouring
from the doorway. With the torrent bursting across its shoulders, it roared at
its quarry—and was abruptly knocked down as a massive dark shape came through
the opening.

Dark green in color, the creature had thick, muscular arms
and stunted legs, yet bore a tail like a crocodile. Its head was shaped like a
tapered boulder, and boasted a pair of horns protruding from a spiked plate of
bone on its head. It slammed into the dragon's side, leading with its horns.

Stone chipped and cracked, and the dragon bellowed in pain.
Then it turned on the newcomer. The ancient sea creature was half the size of
its opponent, but there was enough water still in the corridor to give him an
edge. Swirling and clawing at each other, the two titans grappled for
supremacy.

The Swordsman turned away as a blast of fire turned into a
mountain of steam. He dropped to the floor and wearily began to run. Releasing
all but his healing and speed spells, he limped to the corridor that led to the
shafts. Within a minute he had hurried down its length to the wind shaft and
leapt to the center of the floor.  He was not surprised to see its direction rotating
towards him. He was surprised to see the hundreds of soldiers standing
at the various levels.

"Stop him!" someone screamed.

A thousand points of magic lit in unison—but were never released.
Before anyone could react the Swordsman withdrew a black object from his side
and tossed it straight up. In an instant all the lights in the shaft were
snuffed out, plunging everyone into darkness. Battlemages shouted and yelled as
they sought to reverse the spell, but their calls were drowned out by a rising
shriek of wind.

Billowing and sweeping up the shaft, the tremendous gust of
wind abated at the same time the Swordsman's object reached its apex and began
to fall. Then it struck the ground and all light returned to its place.

But the Swordsman was gone.

Chapter 39: Survivor

"Did you have a good break?" Derek asked.

They were eating breakfast the first day of the new term.
Tess had returned from the quad break late the previous evening, and so hadn't
seen anyone except her roommate. Shorn, Warren, Derek, and Rox were already
eating when Tess sat down at their usual table. Iris was the only one absent
from the table, and had rushed to meet a friend after waking.

"It was alright," Tess answered. She wasn't sure
if she wanted to tell them what her parents did for a living yet.

"You missed the welcome speech," Derek said, and
then pointed toward the door. "But you're just in time for your knots."

A flurry of multicolored knots flooded the dining hall,
searching out their recipients. Tess was confident that she had passed her
courses. Every one of her friends had gone up at least one level, and each
received due praise as their knots arrived. Then Tess received hers.

Floating toward her, a collection of distinct knots came to
a halt in front of her, waiting to be picked out of the air. She hadn't taken a
fire class, but its knot was the largest.

"Finally a master, huh?" Shorn grinned. "It only
took two quads?"

"She took a nap," Derek said.

Tess laughed and admired the ten-sided red knot in her
hands. Next to it a nine-sided purple knot floated, and she felt a flash of
gratitude that Hawk had driven her to take the extra tests. The exams may have
been brutal for those two days, but it had been worth it. She'd never felt such
a sense of accomplishment.

"Technically you have enough of a mastery to graduate
now," Rox pointed out. She was looking at her own five-sided blue knot.

"She's right, you know," Derek said. "You can
graduate with a knot of eight, or as a four year journeyman."

She grimaced. "That's not the way it works for me. I
will just get more classes until I have mastered them all."

"You make it sound like you want out."

She sighed and shook her head. "It's not that. Magic is
incredible. I just wish I could sit back and enjoy it. Studying and learning
every waking minute takes some of the joy out of it—and after the attack on Brokins I just feel
more pressure."

"You know why you can't," Rox said. "There
just isn't time."

Shorn agreed, so Tess released another sigh. "I know
guys. I have to go, though. I will catch up with you later."

Tess rose to her feet amidst their goodbyes and moved to
wash her plate. Then she took off and flew up to the front door. Pausing only
long enough to open it, she launched herself out and up.

The Swordsman was first on her schedule, and she was anxious
to learn from him again—in
spite of her concern. The previous time he'd tutored her had been a harsh dose
of reality. She'd practiced whenever possible, and hoped that her growth would
prevent further bruising. She smiled to herself, recalling how her mother had
reacted when she'd cast a spell on her.

She flew over the empty Tempest stadium as lazy flurries of
snow drifted down from the sky. She shivered at the chill, and pulled some heat
to warm herself. Then she descended toward the castle. Nearing the ground she
spontaneously flew into a flip and landed at the great doors. She knew the
movement was an outward expression of her inner attempt to release her tension.
It didn't work.

Tess entered the ancient oak doors to the smell of dry paper
and dust. She smiled and decided that the library was her favorite building at
Tryton's. Striding forward, she walked between the enormous bookshelves that
lined the great hall. Just as every time she'd been there, a huge fireplace
cradled a glowing fire.

She blinked as she spotted movement, but her spark of
caution proved unnecessary. The fluttering sound turned out to be a wisp of
purple magic moving from one book to another. Her brow creased in thought,
wondering what it was. A moment later it climbed out of a book like smoke and glided
to the next in line.

Tess shrugged and moved on. She strode past mountainous
bookshelves and descended to the base of the castle, but the training room was
empty. She stood in the center of the room, wondering if this was part of her
lesson. After five minutes she checked the time, and then her schedule, wondering
if she'd gotten the time mixed up. Then she noticed the compass blinking.

She activated it, and her omni-glasses guided her back up
into the castle. Confused, she followed it to the glass ceilinged room at the
top. Its walls were lined with books, and it boasted twin fireplaces, one on each
side. Upon entering, she was surprised to find Hawk sitting in one of the
chairs.

He looked haggard and worn, as if he hadn't slept in some
time. His normally pristine clothes were rumpled and flecked with dirt and
soil, and his eyes bore a tightness to them that was striking.

"What happened?" Tess asked.

He laughed. "Do I look that bad?"

"I didn't mean . . ."

"Oh, don't fret yourself," he said, and waved her
to a seat. "It's nothing that destroying our enemy won't fix."

"What's been going on?" she demanded. "I
thought I was supposed to be meeting The Swordsman this morning. He was
supposed to tutor me more on body magic."

Hawk looked away, worry creasing his expression. "He hasn't
returned from a mission."

"What mission?"

His gaze met hers. "We received information that the
Sword was being kept in the lower levels of the Magtherian. I sent him to
retrieve it. He never came back."

A flurry of questions struck her mind as Stel climbed off
her arm and stretched. Then he jumped to the floor and landed in cat form.
Issuing a soft meow, he began to prowl the room. She watched him slink around
the armchairs and bookshelves, her mind on the Swordsman.

"Did they capture him?" she asked.

"I don't know," he said with a sigh. "I do
know that the battlemage corps was mobilized against an intruder. Apparently
the subsequent damage was . . . significant."

Tess's thoughts turned to her lesson from The Swordsman, and
his occupation. She could think of just one other person who could cause such
havoc, and he was sitting in front of her.

"Do you think he was killed?"

Hawk shook his head, but didn't respond to her question.
"My contacts are trying to ascertain exactly what happened. The little I
have been able to glean is that a dragon sentient and several hundred mages
were involved."

"What's a sentient?" Tess asked.

"A sentient is a more complex version of an entity,
which—as you have
learned—is dangerous
enough. A sentient is far more difficult and time consuming to create because it
bears many purposes, not just one or two. The result isn't as powerful as a
true guardian, but it is still quite formidable. This is especially true in
this case."

Tess recalled what Derek had said about Guardians. "I
thought guardians were forbidden," she said.

"The spell of which you speak is forbidden, and for
good reason. Pouring liquid magic into a living creature is more likely to kill
it than create a guardian. Even if they do survive they will be changed
forever. The knowledge of how to create one has been lost for eons."

She recalled how intimidating the Swordsman had been during
their lesson. "I still have a hard time believing that anything could beat
him," she said.

"Me as well," he said ruefully. "That's why I
sent him. Unfortunately his fate is not known. But we should move on to our
discussion today."

"Are you going to tell me where you've been?"

"I was seeking allies," he said. "Against the
Dark."

"Who?"

"I will tell you if they accept."

She grunted, but didn't prod any further. If there was one
thing that Tess knew about Hawk, it was that he rarely withheld information.

"So what is the purpose of today?"

"It's rather simple really," Hawk said. "I
would like to get an idea of your progress."

"You want to know about my classes?"

"And your tutors. I wish to understand how proficient
you have become. If you will, please include your progress on the Oracle's
Crest."

She released a troubled sigh, and said, "My classes are
going fine. Air was my best last term, and I received a five-sided knot for it.
I assume that's because it's so close to fire and gravity?"

"That's correct," he said, and motioned for her to
continue.

"Earth is—in the words of Professor Terok—acceptable.
Derek has helped me a great deal with it, and he is a large reason why I
haven't bombed the course. Plant is difficult for me. I doubt I would have
lasted long without Zeph. In one hour with him I learned more than my entire
term in class. Where did you find him anyway?"

"He's a friend."

When it was evident that Hawk wasn't going to say more, Tess
said, "Animal magic has been difficult, and I didn't receive a knot in it.
I did manage to keep from bombing to a lower level, but not by much. I think a
tutor for that would be a tremendous help."

Hawk shifted uncomfortably. "I had hoped to tutor you
in that myself. In my former life I was quite gifted with animals.
Unfortunately I was detained elsewhere. I will do what I can to give you an
hour or two this term."

Hawk didn't need to add that if they didn't get the Sword,
there might not be a term. It was in his eyes. Tess twitched at the worry she
saw there, but did her best to finish with her summary.

"On the other side of the circle, light has probably
been my second-best class, and I have earned a four-sided knot. Ritsu was of
tremendous help in that—but she is stunning with fire. She only showed me a few
things and I spent weeks trying to learn them. Where did she learn those
spells? They were far superior to what the fire professors do."

"Just because the fire professors don't show it, don’t
assume they aren’t capable of much more. However, in this case the source of
Ritsu's knowledge was me."

"Wow, okay. I can't wait to have you tutor me on fire again."

He gave a small smile and swept a hand to her. "And
sound?"

She grimaced. There was a reason she had saved it for last. “I
managed to do a passable job with audible sound magic, but inaudible is another
story. This quad they've moved me into a basic inaudible course."

"Don't feel bad," Hawk said. "Sound magic is
frequently like mind magic. Audible and inaudible sounds don't always connect
in the same person. Not to say you couldn't do it, it would just take more time
for you to learn."

"So I really can do all magics? Even techno
magic?"

"Of course. The only question is how long it would take
for you to master. The combination of all energies is what makes your farsight
possible."

She grimaced. "Speaking of which, I do practice my
farsight." She didn't mention how little she had. "I can see into the
future, but can't go beyond a few minutes of time. I assume that's not
enough?"

Hawk shook his head, his expression one of sympathy.
"Your magics make you powerful, your farsight makes you unique. That is why
it's so crucial for you to master."

"I just wish I had more time to study it," Tess
said with a sigh.

"Time is a curse as much as it's a blessing," Hawk
said.

She blinked, but it seemed the comment was not directed at
her. Before she could ask further, he asked, "And the Oracle's
Crest?"

Tess watched Stel turn into a squirrel and climb the
shelves. "Nowhere," she said. "Iris hasn't been able to find
anything else about it." She touched the amulet on her neck.

"Have you tried to unlock it yourself?"

"Of course," she said. "Every night, but if
there are any hidden enchantments I haven't found them yet. I've used
magesight, and every type of magic I know. Nothing cracks it." She issued
a growl deep in her throat. "I don't even know what I'm looking for."

Hawk regarded her for a long moment. "I have faith that
you will succeed in time."

I hope. "I'll keep trying," she said.

Hawk's forehead creased like he was worried, but he shifted
topics. "How about history of magic?"

She shrugged, grateful for the change in topic even though
it didn't dispel her guilt. "We have been reviewing the Second Draeken War
for the last couple of months, and it's disturbingly fascinating—especially
considering the phoenix in the book is a friend of mine. Was the war really
that bad?"

"Two thirds of the world's population perished in seven
days. In modern day terms, it would be roughly four billion dead in a
week."

Tess shuddered at the haunted glint in his eyes. "I'm
sorry, I didn't mean to make you remember it."

"It's good to remember, if only so we don't have to
repeat it. I can't imagine a worse war."

"Can I ask you a question about that time?"

"You may."

"We learned about you a little bit, and the others of
your kind. My professor said that phoenixes can't die from age. They are just
reborn with all their previous memories. But what happened to the others?"

His face went rigid, his eyes glittering with bitterness and
rage. Fires blossomed across his frame as his jaw clenched. Tess recoiled, but
Hawk managed to rein it in.

"My apologies," he said. "It is a dark
memory."

"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to."

He sighed, and the fires on his arms faded, leaving the
armrests of his chair blackened. "After The Second Draeken War, I returned
to my family's nest until I had reached maturity. Once I had I began to travel
as a man, and helped to rebuild the races. To my surprise it pleased Reiquen
greatly to serve them. By the end of our second century together we were truly
of one mind.

"The next few thousand years passed quickly for me, and
once again the world was threatened, this time by pride and greed. I believe
you have heard the true tale of Atlantis?"

"Some of it," Tess said.

"I spoke out against the war between the mages and
aurens, but was ignored. Anger has always been an issue for my phoenix side,
and at the time I didn't respond well. I began to attack the mages that were
slaughtering the aurens. I was careful to punish only the ones who were
willfully killing the aurens. Among those slain were relatives of the mage high
council." He sighed and looked away, his tone darkening.

"They sought revenge on me, but in my foolish pride I
thought myself impervious to their efforts. Pride was always a trait that the
dragons and my kind shared, to their ultimate demise—and perhaps ours as well."

"What could they have done to you?" Tess
interrupted. How could anything kill someone as powerful as Hawk?

His eyes flicked back to hers, causing her to flinch.
"Everything has an opposite, and so they created one for a phoenix. They
created an iseonix."

"What's an iseonix?"

"Much like the dragon that lurks in the base of the
Magtherian, they enchanted snow, ice, and frost into a gigantic sentient, one
capable of tremendous power. It took them generations to complete, and the
talents of many mages. When the creature gained consciousness it was unleashed
on my kind. Eight phoenixes died that day, and I alone survived."

"How many icebirds were there?"

"One."

She shuddered, awed and terrified of such power. "You
destroyed it?"

"As my family was killed around me, Archeantial struck
the killing blow. The resulting blast of ice tore her asunder. I was spared
because she flew in front of me before the iseonix exploded."

"Could one be created again?"

"The ones that created the creature did not survive,"
he said. His voice was deathly calm, and Tess shivered.

Hawk shook himself and forced a smile. "I am sorry that
our session took such a turn. If you will, please refrain from telling that
story to anyone—including your friends. It is not one known to the world, and I
wish for it to remain that way."

"Then why share it with me?"

His eyes bored into her. "Because your ancestor helped create
the iseonix."

Tess was speechless. He had once mentioned that there hadn't
been an oracle in six thousand years—which coincided with the time period of
Atlantis. Did the previous oracle really destroy Hawk's family?

"Why tell me that?" Tess asked softly.

"Because it's important for you to recognize the impact
of your choices. Oracles tend to be good, but the few that have switched sides
have almost destroyed our world. What one receives in life is not what defines
a person, but rather what they do with it. It is your choices—not your
gifts—that will determine your impact on the world."

"I will not forget today's lesson," Tess said.

His smile was sad. "Our survival may depend on
it."

Seeming to sense her somber mood, Stel returned to her arm and
morphed into a bracer, warming her wrist. Nodding to Hawk, she rose to her feet
and departed with a heart of stone. Hawk had become like a grandfather to her,
loving and protective. How could he be that way when her ancestor had destroyed
his family?

She stopped in her tracks, her intuition sparking. Hawk had
mentioned only one phoenix by name—and had described her as a female. She'd
even blocked the blast of ice that had threatened his life. In her gut the cold
truth settled and refused to budge.

Tess's ancestor had killed Hawk's mate.

Chapter 40: Derek's Story

The next week was a blur of classes, tutors, studying, and holiday
decorations. From the start of the quad Tryton's had transformed into a winter
wonderland. The air became cool, and snow blanketed the grounds. Ice crystals
filled the trees and giant snowflakes floated around. To the dismay of the
students, they were prone to joining in any snowball fights. Nobody emerged
unscathed when they did.

Frosted garland hung inside the buildings, and bells tinkled
out holiday melodies from within them. Enormous Christmas trees were grown
inside of buildings and decorated with all manner of enchanted objects. To the
consternation of many teachers and students, the doll decorations enjoyed
singing at each other—but in different songs and different languages. Sound
mages became quite popular for their ability to silence them, granting their
friends a temporary reprieve.

Apparently there was an ongoing competition between the mage
schools during Christmas, with each trying to outdo the others with their
decorations. The light school was by far the most eye-catching, and boasted millions
of tiny flickering lights that would dim and brighten in ever changing
patterns.

The water school created a host of ice sculptures. Some were
over a hundred feet tall, while others could fit in one's hand. The best was a
series of moving ice sculptures that were ice-skating on the walls and ceiling
of their entrance hall. They were probably intended to drop snow on passing
students, but some enterprising prankster had altered their enchantment. Now
they threw ice balls like bombs on unwary students.

Not to be outdone, the fire building was wreathed in
harmless flames that changed color according to the hour. The plant mages had
an edge, and provided self-filling mugs of hot chocolate.

Despite the pageantry and grandeur, Tess felt a sense of
desperation behind it all. The mage world was still reeling from the
destruction of Brokins.  Refugees from the destroyed city had clogged Auroraq
and other mage cities. Since the mages had gone into hiding there had never
been such turmoil.

To make matters worse the current of anger was mounting, and
it was obviously building toward a breaking point. Many were clamoring for the
High Council to intervene, and saying they had already voted to bring the mage
world public. Amidst the snow and swirling magic at Tryton's, Tess saw a
desperate desire to calm things down. It did not succeed.

Quiet and worried, students walked between classes, the
mischief and delight that usually abounded during the season noticeably absent.
Tess felt the loss the hardest, and every day that passed she felt her heart
tighten. On Christmas Eve Tess couldn't stop thinking that only nine days
remained until the Dark was released.

Then she received the news that her parents weren't coming.

"What do you mean you can't make it," Tess
demanded. "This is the one time of year that parents are allowed into the
school—mage and auren."

"I know, honey," her mom said. Her voice was full
of remorse. "I really wish we could. We just discovered where the head Harbinger
techno mage has been working—and it's in the White House. We have to act fast
before he realizes that we know. Breaker managed to get here and he's been
working with us. We have no choice."

Tess felt like her world was crumbling. She hadn't spoken to
Hawk since he'd told her about the iseonix. She couldn't unlock the Crest, and
she only had nine days left. She had been counting on showing off her school to
her parents, and on the moment of brevity it would provide. Deep down she
desperately needed a reprieve from her rising worry. She doubted there would be
another chance.

"Mom, I need you to come," Tess pleaded.

Her mom was silent, and when she replied it sounded like
there were tears in her eyes. "I have no choice, Tess. This is the big one
we have been waiting for, and if I bail on the assignment I will lose my slot
on the team. We can't afford that."

Tess understood that when she said we, she meant
their entire effort. It didn't help. Tess was on the verge of snapping in half,
and there was no one to turn to.

"Ok, Mom," she forced the words out. Even to her,
her voice sounded hollow.

"We will save your presents for the next time you visit."

It'll be too late, Tess thought. "Fine. I love
you."

They said their goodbyes and hung up. Tess did so with
regret. It felt like her last thread of hope had been clipped at the end of the
phone call. She released a long sigh and then sucked in an icy breath. The cold
was bracing, and she did it again.

With a twist of her torso she dropped off the branch and
flew away. She'd just finished her plant magic class when she'd gotten the
call, and had stopped on one of the school's highest branches to talk.

Restless, she turned in one direction, and then another, but
couldn't decide where she wanted to go. She knew she should get started on her
mountain of homework, but didn't feel the inclination to do so. After a while
of drifting a thought crossed her mind and she turned north. Ten minutes later
she walked into the World Room.

Organized to represent the earth as a whole, the chamber was
massive, vaulted, and filled with all manner of plants. Real trees grew inside
and pointed toward the light streaming through the large windows at the
ceiling. What started as etched paintings in the wall turned into waterfalls
and streams that flowed across the floor. An entire corner of the room had a
quiet snowstorm whitening the trees.

"Are you lost, dear?" a voice asked.

Tess turned to find Eden behind her usual desk. As the
gatekeeper to the directors, Eden had been the one to first register Tess for
her classes. She was old, and bore white hair that was at odds to the steel in
her eyes.

"Just needed a place to think," Tess said.

"Most students use Star Hall for that," Eden
replied.

Tess shrugged at the suggestion. Star Hall was beautiful,
but right now she needed solitude, not beauty. Eden regarded her for a long moment
through her stylish spectacles. Then she pursed her lips and stood.

"I think I'll take a walk," she said. "These
old bones need to get out."

Before Tess could reply Eden strode to a door and left. Tess
smiled at her absence, and said, "Thank you, Eden." Then she sighed
and walked to the center of the chamber, where the statue of her ancestor
stood.

She hadn't realized until that moment that was where she'd
intended on going, but upon facing Siarra's stone features she felt a sense of
relief. She touched the amulet on her chest, and rubbed it, wishing it would
reveal its secrets.

"What would you have me do, Siarra?" Tess
murmured. "The world stands on the brink of a war it cannot survive. Mages
have been manipulated into thinking the aurens are ready to attack, and the Harbingers
are about to release the Dark."

She looked away, and whispered, "How am I supposed to
lead them? I'm just sixteen, and can barely do magic. I can't even unlock the
Crest. You founded a school which has endured for nine thousand years. You invented
gravity magic. Surely you would know what to do."

The statue was silent. Unmoving, the stone eyes looked past
her. Tess wondered how Siarra would be faring in her place. Perhaps then the
war could be averted.

She sighed and turned away from the statue, abruptly annoyed
that she was talking to an inanimate object. Choosing a granite bench, she sank
onto its surface. The material was spongy, like a comfortable couch at her home
before it had burned. She reclined on its surface and stared at the vivid
detail in the ceiling.

Five minutes passed, and then ten. Eden did not return, and
Tess didn't feel inclined to leave. The solitude of the chamber lent a
semblance of peace that she'd not felt in some time. Then she remembered what
the room was called, and her despair returned in full. This was the World Room,
and she was failing it just as much as the real thing.

"Tess?"

She jerked to a sitting position to find Derek standing a
few feet away. "Derek? How'd you find me?"

He flashed his lopsided grin. "Who do you think?"

"Iris." Tess said it like it was a curse.
"How many monitoring motes does that girl have?"

"Don't be mad at her," Derek said. "I wanted
to know where you had gone."

Tess looked away. "I wasn't in the mood to talk."

Derek didn't take the hint. Instead, he sank onto a seat beside
her. "But it's Christmas Eve. You are supposed to be with your family."

"My family couldn't make it," Tess said, unable to
keep the bitterness from her voice.

"Your parents aren't your only family," he said
quietly.

"I barely know Alice if that's what you—"

"It wasn't." He released an exasperated breath.
"I was talking about us."

"Oh," Tess said.

She felt a rush of warmth at his words. It didn't erase her
tension, but it did warm it enough for her to speak on it.

"I'm drowning, Derek," she said. She couldn't look
into his brown eyes, so she looked at the statue of the Siarra. Her stomach
rigid, she continued.

"We haven't gotten the Sword. I can't unlock the Crest.
On top of that the mages are about to go to war. What more can I do?" she
demanded. "In nine days the Harbingers enact their plan—and then it's
over. We'll have lost."

"It doesn't matter," Derek said.

She rounded on him, "What do you mean, it doesn't
matter? What have I been working so hard for?"

His gaze narrowed at her. "It doesn't matter because if
you keep acting like this, they have already won. Don't you see that your
friends are worried about you? All you do is study and practice. You haven't
surfed with Rox in weeks, you hardly eat with us anymore, and you don't seem to
care about anyone. The only way I do get to see you is if I schedule a
tutoring session and you come to learn. Even then you are so focused on
practicing that you hardly speak to me."

Stung, her voice rose. "How does any of that matter
when the world is about to—"

"It matters because it's who we are, Tess—and I don't
mean just you and me. Like it or not we are soldiers now, but soldiers don't
just fight to win, they fight for freedom. They fight so that their family and
friends can celebrate birthdays, friendships, and holidays. Don't you
see? If you let them rob you of what makes you human . . . then you have
already lost.

"I know I can't understand the burden you carry—but I
can understand what you feel. You feel like if you fail the people you care
about will suffer, maybe even die. You feel like you are on the verge of
snapping in half, and think you can't stop—even for a moment. If you do then
everything will be gone."

"How can you know that?" Tess said. He sounded
like he'd lived it.

He released an explosive sigh. "Because my parents have
been gone for a long time, Tess, and I'm responsible for my sister."

Tess was stunned. In spite of all the time they had spent
together, Tess had never heard Derek or Iris say ten words about their home
life. She never would have expected this.

"What happened?" she asked.

"My dad left when I was eight," he said. "One
night he was just gone. The way my mom acted I think it had been a long time
coming. She still fell apart though. She's a techno mag like Iris, and she
stopped caring enough to focus. She just sat there in her chair and stared into
space, watching TV or playing mindless internet games. In a month our savings were
gone and we had to move away from Auroraq. We ended up in a tiny apartment in
Florida, living like aurens.

"Iris couldn't do anything, she could hardly pay
attention. Young techno mags are difficult, even more so when they are
talented. The aurens called her autistic, and put her in special classes. She
ignored them, and the school sent a letter telling us she needed to be held
back. My mom tried to get a job, but could never keep it for more than a week
or two. After each firing she slipped further into that stupid brown chair of
hers."

"What did you do?" Tess whispered.

"What could I do?" he said. "I quit school
and got a job."

"But you were nine."

"So? I had no choice. I found a man that did pools for
a living, and convinced him that I could dig the holes faster than he could. He
didn't know I was using magic, he just knew I could dig a pool in a day and it
cost him less than a tractor. At night I worked with my sister, and tried to
teach her to focus. Then I slept for a few hours and woke up at five to clean
our house, do the laundry, and prepare meals for the day. As soon as Iris was
at school I went to work."

"How did things change?"

His gaze was distant. "They didn't for a while. Iris
started to get better around twelve or thirteen, and she began to help some.
She was a master already, and began to tutor kids. Within a year she was
earning half our income just from teaching. The auren school thought she was
going nuts, and reported her to the state. Then they came to take her.

"Iris intercepted the message in time and we left. Even
then she had no qualms about breaking into secure networks." He flashed a
grin. "We were earning enough by then that we could afford to live in a
mage city, so we moved to Ruik in Wyoming. There I was able to use my magic
freely, and managed to find work at a creation company that built homes and
shops. With the extra money we put our mother into a home that takes care of
rigid techno mags.

"A couple of years later I turned 16 and could have
gone to Tryton's. I wanted to stay home and wait until Iris was old enough, but
she wouldn't hear of it. She took on more students and forced me to come. It
turned out she'd been saving a portion of her tutoring money each month, and
had enough for my first year."

He released a conflicted sigh. "We came to Auroraq
together, and she stayed with a friend while I went to school. When she was old
enough she joined me, but to this day she covers our school expenses by
teaching classes."

Derek fell silent, and on impulse Tess took his hand. The
contact fell warm and comforting, and sent tingles up her arm. How could she
have not known this? She counted Derek and Iris among her closest friends, and
yet she had been so caught up in her own burdens that she hadn't stopped to
think about others.

"I'm sorry," she finally said.

"Don't be," he replied, and met her gaze. "My
life was the crucible that made me who I am. How can I be sorry for what it has
taught me?"

"I mean about not knowing. I should have been a better
friend."

"You are a great friend," Derek said. He flashed his
characteristic grin. "It's just not something Iris or I talk about much.
It's kind of a downer."

She laughed at the tone in his voice. "That's putting
it lightly, don't you think?"

His eyebrow peaked. "I can't change the circumstances
of my life, Tess. I can only control my response to it. I work so that I can
spend time with the people that mean the most to me—like you. Do you understand now?"

"I think so," Tess said, and meant it. The cold
weight that had settled into her heart seemed to have dissipated—to a degree.
She doubted it would ever be gone entirely, but at least now she could focus on
other things.

At that moment she became aware of his proximity, and the
earnestness to his eyes. Their hands were still intertwined, and she felt a
burst of heat that had nothing to do with magic. She felt a desire to kiss him—and almost did. At the last
second she was a coward.

"Good," Derek said. He swallowed as if regaining
control of himself, and pulled her to her feet. "Because we have some
errands to run."

"What errands? I still have homework to do."

He dismissed that with a wave. "It's Christmas Eve. I'm
sure your teachers will understand. You're already blowing through this school
faster than anyone in history. Besides," he skewered her with a glare,
"I bet you haven't bought anyone gifts yet."

She blanched at the realization. How could she forget such a
thing?

He issued a bark of laughter and pulled her toward the door.
"Then let's go. We still have a few hours before the shops close on
Sentre, and I am seeing a particularly nice gift in my future."

"Are you going to pick it out?"

"Of course," he said with an airy laugh. "Why
do you think I came to find you?"

She stopped him. "Thanks, Derek."

He grinned. "Anytime," he hesitated, and then
added, "Don't tell Iris I told you. She doesn't like people to know. Now
let's go."

Tess allowed herself to be dragged to Sentre and to its
festive shops, grateful that Derek hadn't let go of her hand. For the first
time in weeks the chill in the air didn't seep into her skin. Caged within her,
her worry continued to remind her of how much time she had left.

For now, she ignored it.

Chapter 41: Christmas

Tess awoke Christmas morning groggy but actually excited.
Iris was already awake and sat crouched next to the five-foot Christmas tree
that had appeared in their room overnight. Beneath it were a bundle of
presents. Tess recognized only one of the wrapped packages, the one she'd
purchased the previous evening.

As with all the gifts she'd purchased, they had been wrapped
by the store and a seeking charm had been placed upon them. The shopkeepers had
assured her that they would all find their way to their intended recipients.
Iris had only opened one, and was staring at the orb with a confused expression.

"What did you get?" Tess asked.

Iris jumped and whirled to face her. "You don't have to
startle a girl," she said crisply.

"Sorry," Tess said, and then repeated her
question.

It was odd, Tess couldn't help but view Iris differently
after what she'd learned, like she was more mature. Still, Tess had promised
not to say anything, so she did her best to talk normally. Iris was good enough
at picking up on cues that Tess didn't want to give her knowledge away.

"It's a Braon stratos orb," Iris said, and held it
up so Tess could see it better.

"What's a stratos orb?"

"Stratos is like chess, but more strategic. It was a
game invented twenty years before the Second Draeken War. If you'll recall,
Braon led the defenses at Azertorn. What you may not know is that he was
selected primarily because of his skill with Stratos."

Tess had moved to the floor and was examining her presents,
choosing which to open first. Nearly everyone she knew had sent her something.

"Why is his face in your orb?" Tess asked.

"After the war they started enchanting memory orbs to
include more than images." She gestured to the painting on the wall above
her bed, which showed Iris flying in the sky with Tess. "The orbs were the
precursors to the paintings," she said. "But back then they were used
to capture an aspect of someone's identity.

"They can't hold an entire persona inside them.
People's minds are too complex for that, but you can have a specific feature
charmed into the orb. These days the charm is used primarily for Stratos."
She gestured to the orb. "Braon is the most valuable because he has never
been beaten."

"Never?" Tess raised an eyebrow. "It's been
ten thousand years since he lived. Surely someone has defeated him."

Iris shrugged. "Siarra once said that Braon's strategic
mind was actually a kind of magic—a unique. I suppose that's why he's so
good."

The way she said unique struck Tess as odd, like it was a
title. She was about to ask but decided against it. "Who gave it to
you?"

"Warren," Iris said with a frown.

"It sounds like a pretty expensive gift," Tess
said. She thought back to Warren's behavior. Did he like Iris?

"Too bad I don't play Stratos," Iris said, and
tossed the orb onto the bed. She grunted in annoyance and muttered under her
breath, "Now I have to figure out something to get him."

Tess smothered a laugh and turned to her own gifts.
Selecting the one from Derek first, she unwrapped it to find a large chunk of
metal. Irregular and craggy, it bore a shallow depression in the middle that resembled
a small cave.

"What is—"

She was interrupted as Stel burst from her arm and slipped
into the hole in the middle. Cooing loudly, it turned into a kitten and nuzzled
against the glistening metal.

"Nice," Iris said. "He wouldn't tell me what
he was working on, but he did a good job. You needed a grend home anyway. Stel
can't sit around like a bracelet forever."

Tess felt a rising sense of gratitude at the thoughtful
gift. "Do you like it?" she asked the metal intelligence.

Stel poked its metallic furry head out of the hole and
rumbled a satisfied purr. Tess grinned and used her magic to float it onto the
stand beside her bed. Then she turned to the one from Iris.

"They're just spectacles," Iris said. "But I
made them myself, so they have some extra features you might like."

Tess donned them and expressed her appreciation. Iris glowed
with pride and then turned away to tell someone off for interrupting her
Christmas morning. Tess set aside the ones she'd been borrowing from Derek and
put her new ones in her case. Then she opened the rest of her gifts.

Rox had given her a pair of stylish shoes that were
specifically enchanted for water mage surfing. Hawk's package contained a tiny
red car. Tess tried to figure out what it was, but ultimately set it aside.

Alice had sent her a gift as well, and she felt a moment of
chagrin that she hadn't thought of her. Inside the package was a tiny glass
memory orb with all the magics swirling inside it. Distinct colors curved and
touched, and lazily drifted around each other.

Once they had finished with their presents they dressed and
Iris stepped to the door. Tess caught her arm. "Do you want to fly with
me?" she asked. Her roommate lit up and jumped to the rear doors.

"Any chance to fly is welcome," she said.

Tess felt a twinge of regret, and promised herself that she
would fly Iris more frequently. Joining her, Tess gathered her magic and jumped
off the back balcony. Iris crowed with delight as they glided toward the lake,
and Tess swung them into a few twists and turns.

When they landed, Tess said, "Let's make this a daily
thing, shall we?"

Iris sniffed. "It's about time."

Tess grinned, and said, "And I want you to teach me to
do some techno magic."

Iris lit up, and launched into a description of how to send
mental messages using the auren networks. "It's the single most useful
trick," she said.

Tess tried to keep up, and promised that she would try to
practice it when she had more time. Bearing a large smile, Iris opened the door
to the meal hall, which was full to the brim with chattering students showing
off their presents. Tess gathered a plate of strawberry topped waffles and
bacon before heading to her usual table. Warren intercepted Iris, and stammered
a question about the Braon orb. Tess hid a smile at Iris's consternation and
sat across from Derek and Shorn.

"Merry Christmas guys," she said.

Shorn was talking with Rox, but turned to answer at the same
time as Derek. "You too, Tess." Then he turned back to talking with
her.

"How can you say it's better?" Shorn asked.
"Air surfing is in the air."

Rox jerked her head, an easy smile playing on her lips.
"But in water surfing you make your own board. I can control the wave and
the board."

Derek grinned and made a subtle gesture toward them. Tess
blinked, and then tilted her head in understanding. How much had she missed in
the last few weeks? Shorn was sitting quite close to Rox, and the proximity
didn't seem to bother her. Instead her eyes were bright and she seemed to be
smiling more than usual. Tess tried to recall if she was currently dating
anyone, but couldn't remember seeing anyone since Wilson the memory mage had
tried to alter her memory.

After a minute they joined Derek and Tess as they talked
about their presents, but it was frequently interrupted by other students stopping
by their table. Parker, Kyle, and Lisa visited to express their greetings, and
several of Tess's other teammates, squadmates, and classmates did the same. To
her surprise, Katsuo from the Brokins team waved to Shorn and Tess as he found
a seat.

Tess almost managed to forget about the Harbingers and the
Dark, and left breakfast to join in a massive snowball fight on the school
grounds. Only the water mages came out unscathed, and the entire group moved to
the leisure hall.

"Can I show you Stratos?" Warren asked Iris as
they entered.

Iris groaned but finally relented. "If you stop asking
I'll give you thirty minutes."

Warren beamed and led her to one of the game tables. The
rest of them collapsed into the couches nearby. Unwilling to let the peaceful
mood fade, Tess tucked a leg under herself and asked Derek about his past
pranks. The afternoon passed quickly, and Tess laughed and talked with her
friends for the first time in months. It felt oddly healing, like easing a dull
ache.

The peace and calm endured into the evening, and Tess spent
the bulk of the time watching parents arrive and join their children. She
missed her own, but she couldn't deny the closeness she felt to her friends.

Warren kept trying to teach Stratos to Iris, but Iris kept
trying to talk to other techno mags. Warren would just sit quietly, staring at
Iris until she returned her attention to him. Derek and Tess smothered laughs
every time, and even more when Iris glared at them. For once Tess's thoughts of
the rising conflict were distant, and she breathed in the moment with desperate
lungs. She only wished her parents had been able to make it.

As dusk fell she felt a pair of eyes on her, and turned
toward the front doors. She caught a glimpse of someone stepping back into the
snow, but not enough to recognize who it was. Her thoughts turned to the
Swordsman, and she felt a pang of worry on his behalf. She hoped he'd made it
out alive.

Chapter 42: Escape

The Swordsman counted the minutes, waiting for what he knew
would be his sole chance to escape. Weeks of waiting and watching had led to
this moment. To escape the lower tunnels, he'd used a cyclone spell. The dangerous
enchantment had been his only option when he'd been trapped at the base of the
wind lift. Released from its bindings, the cyclone had shredded the wind lift
and carried him brutally to the ceiling. Designed to lift much more than a
single person, it was never meant to be used indoors.

The cyclone had thrown him violently upward, and had crushed
him against the roof. His survival had been due to the numerous spells he'd
cast on his own body. Hooking a grip on the ceiling, he'd held on until the
wind dissipated. Then he'd eased himself back into his initial hiding spot—the
stalagmite that doubled as the light fixture for the shaft.

The moment he was out of sight he'd been forced to dismiss
his spells. While thousands of mage soldiers sought for him, he'd huddled in
the dark, trembling and sick. The shakes had subsided in hours, but the
weakness had lasted a week. His burns and broken arm had taken even longer to
heal.

He nibbled on the last of the reserves he'd stashed in his
hiding spot, grateful that he'd had the foresight to pack the rations. He'd
thought he would need them while waiting to get in, but now they kept him alive
until he could escape.

Throughout his three weeks he watched the battlemages scour
the lifts, the tunnels, and Vaults for signs of him. His own clothing made
tracking by magic impossible, and he'd temporarily disabled the monitoring
motes and lights when he'd ascended the lift. Even the Rayths had no idea where
he went.

Unfortunately for him they tripled the security on the
entrance to the tunnels, and continued to increase the patrols within the lifts
and corridors. He doubted they would lighten security anytime soon, and he was
getting hungry.

Reluctantly he'd settled on a different course to escape. To
do so required him to be in peak condition, so he'd been forced to wait and
conserve his energy until he was ready. He leaned at the edge of shadow and
watched the cart roll its way from the main gate and onto the lift. With great
care he timed his drop, and then leapt.

Enhanced with an agility spell, he caught the trailing lip
of the reinforced cart and used it to throw himself underneath its blocky shape.
He dropped the agility spell and used a strength spell to grasp the underside
of the cart.

The two guards in front of it did not turn around, and the
Swordsman nodded in satisfaction. He had not been heard. The cart contained
some of the less valuable artifacts from the lower tunnels. Each week it was
escorted up to a higher office in the Spirus, where mages were allowed to study
a variety of items.

Upon its exit and entry the cart was scanned carefully to
ensure nothing extra was on it. He'd dismissed it early as an option to escape.
Instead it carried him deep into the Rayth headquarters. From within the cart's
shadow he watched the feet of guards shuffle and step aside as they passed.
Magical barriers were taken down twice to allow the cart through, and after the
second he searched for a place to ditch his ride. It came when the shapely legs
of a female mage strode past them. The battlemage leading the cart stopped to
chat, causing the Swordsman to grin. He released his grip and rolled away into
the darkness. Wrapping himself in his damaged cloak, he watched the woman
reject the man's advances and move on.

The other guard laughed when she had departed and clapped
his friend on the shoulder. Then they took the cart into the recording office.
The Swordsman knew from his previous research that the cart’s contents and
exterior would be scanned again before returning the objects to their
respective vaults.

The Swordsman’s attempt to escape through the Rayth barracks
was daring—and only possible because of the holiday. Half the soldiers would be
home with their families, and most of those that remained would not be as alert.

To his surprise the captain at the desk walked out with the other
two. From their conversation it sounded like they were getting some holiday
drinks and would then return to their work. The Swordsman took advantage of
their lapse and darted into the office.

He was already deep within the Rayth headquarters, so the
men undoubtedly thought their vigilance was not as necessary, especially on
Christmas. Alone, The Swordsman delved into the notes that were accessible only
to someone within secure offices of the Magtherian. In seconds he found the
information on the Sword. His eyes widened as he noticed several key messages.

One came from High Chancellor Ranson's office, requesting
that a certain sword be moved to an undisclosed location outside the city. The only
reference to its new location was an allusion to an ancient volcano important
to Greek mythology. The other messages were to and from the head of the Mage
Technology Bureau, Keidon.

The Swordsman frowned. He'd hoped to get a clue as to who
had betrayed him. Then he noticed another message. It requested a Rayth unit be
dispatched to discover why some of their spies in the auren government had disappeared.
The message specifically requested three 'special assignment' Rayths to carry
out the mission. The note implied that someone else was attacking Harbingers,
and he resolved to ask Hawk about it.

The Swordsman heard footsteps, and immediately dimmed the
enchanted orb. Just as its light faded the soldiers reentered the room. Having
been gone less than a minute the captain and his men returned to their labors.
Wrapped in his cloak, the Swordsman clung to the rough hewn ceiling twenty feet
above them. Once he was certain they were not aware of his presence, he began
to climb.

Without a strength spell only a supreme rock climber could
have made the passage. Even with the spell, his fingers and arms ached from the
effort when he finally dropped to the floor on the opposite side of the
chamber. In a burst of movement he darted into the walkway that led to the
barracks.

On either side small sleeping chambers were darkened due to
the hour. Snoring and rustling came from the many bunks, and the Swordsman
strolled past on cat's feet. Reaching the end of the corridor, he cracked the
door to reveal the kitchens, dark and empty, as was the cafeteria beyond. His
stomach grumbled as he saw the bowls of distilled foods. He thought of his
timetable and shrugged. He had time. Shouldering the door open he strode to a
stack and collected a plate.

Gathering the ingredients for a sandwich, bacon laced
potatoes, and cloud cake, he sent the plate through the enchanted cauldron. He
caught the finished product from the opposite side and nonchalantly began to
eat. On the way to a table he paused to prop open a small metal hatch against
the wall. Then he sat down.

Two minutes later the doors burst open and battlemages
flooded the room. They kept their distance, wary after the last time they had
tangled. To a man they gathered magic in their palms. A captain stepped out from
their ranks, fire whips in both hands.

"We knew you couldn't have escaped, and so it was only
a matter of time before you appeared. I must say you surprised us by returning
deeper inside, rather than attempting the outer gates. You were a fool to enter
our own headquarters. You must know that."

The Swordsman calmly swallowed his bite and then reached for
the cloud cake. "Do you mind if I finish? I'm partial to the cake and
eating distilled food isn't quite as good."

"A final request before we strip you of your powers and
banish you? By all means," the man said with a sneer. "Enjoy your
cake. It's the last you will ever have."

The Swordsman shrugged and took his time. Just when he
thought the captain would burst from impatience, he swallowed the last morsel
and stood. "I'm afraid you'll have to clean my plate. I have an
appointment to get to."

"You insolent—"

The Swordsman dived to the side. With his most powerful
agility spell active, he used a chair as a springboard, touched the top of a cooking
cauldron, and dived feet-first into the hatch he'd left open. His departure was
so swift that not one spell was launched in his direction.

The Swordsman smiled as he fell. He'd known the moment he
left his hiding place that they would find him. When he'd entered the meal hall
he'd estimated he had at least a minute before they showed up, plenty of time
to satisfy his hunger.

The trash chute led directly to a ball of fire that would
incinerate him, but several vents along its path allowed for exhaust to escape.
Spotting the first, he slammed his hands and feet against the walls. He
screeched to a halt next to the opening. Grasping its lip, he levered himself
out and dropped into open air. Screeching sentries erupted in a cacophony of
warnings as he passed through the barrier.

The fissure he entered split Auroraq's base, and provided
air to the tunnels below the Spirus. Ingress was impossible and was constantly
monitored. He'd looked into it prior to making his attempt on the Vaults.
Egress was another issue, and since they already knew he was escaping his
discovery was irrelevant. Activating the air board from his boots, he flew into
the cloudwall before any pursuit could be mobilized.

He had a message to get to Hawk.

Chapter 43: Alone

Hawk rose to his feet as he read the note, a rush of relief
flooding him at the Swordsman's escape. In spite of the man's occupation Hawk
considered him a friend. He would never have forgiven himself if the Swordsman
had been stripped of his magic and banished because of him.

His elation faded as he gathered what he considered his
options. Although the Swordsman hadn't known where the Harbingers meant, Hawk
had known instantly. His instincts rang with certainty, and he prepared himself
for battle. The question was, who should he take with him?

It was Christmas day and everyone was home for the holiday,
so leaving immediately would have its advantages. There was a strong
possibility that some of the Harbingers would be home as well. They still made
an effort to keep up appearances. At the same time Hawk was loath to take his
forces from their families and into battle—on Christmas. If any of them did not
return . . .

No, he shook himself. He couldn't bring himself to
risk that, so his thoughts turned to Tess. From Siarra he'd learned that this
was something that she was meant to do, so he should take her with him.
She was also powerful enough that she would stand the greatest chance. Nodding
to himself, he strode from his private home in Auroraq and headed to Tryton's.

It was late, but he kept to the shadows anyway. After what
he'd done to the High Chancellor's home the battlemages would still be
searching for him. It would not do for them to attempt to catch him. He kept
his pace casual, as if he were just out for a nightly stroll, and managed to
avoid any undue attention.

When he reached Tryton's he slipped past the enchantments at
the gate and headed toward the dorms. On the way he passed knots of students
celebrating the holiday. As the only day that parents could freely visit
Tryton's, many families had elected to spend the day on the school grounds.

Numerous children were crafting snowmen, which their older
siblings cast spells on to make them fight each other. Snowballs flew thick in
the air, and landed indiscriminate of teams. Parents protested when they were
struck, but they were smiling and soon returned to their mugs of steaming
chocolate.

Christmas music floated on the breeze, and came from several
sources. The distinct songs somehow managed to meld together into a melody both
beautiful and unique. Hawk felt a pang of sadness at the sight, and missed his
beloved.

He reached the dorms and strode around the lake in search of
Tess. On impulse he checked the meal hall, which was full of revelers and
cookies frosting themselves with candy canes as spreading utensils. He didn't
see her, so he moved on to the leisure hall.

He scanned the interior of the hall, and after a moment
spotted her. She sat with a group of friends near the stratos tables. Steam
from her mug obscured her smiling face. She sipped from the mint-chocolate
straw and then laughed at something her friend had said.

The view caused Hawk to pause and reconsider his course of
action. Was he so ready to rip her from this moment of peace? Happiness and
comfort radiated from her expression, causing his heart to soften. Prophecy or
no, he couldn't bring himself to do it. Before he was spotted, he retreated
from the hall.

Outside he let the snow fall on his face, considering his
choice once more. He could probably handle it by himself. He was a phoenix
after all. Suppressing the sliver of doubt, he departed the school. Ten minutes
later he was winging his way east.

He flew hard and used magic to speed his travel. It was
almost on the other side of the world, and he flew with the night. It was still
dark when he passed above the Black Sea, and soon his destination came into
view. Towering over its sister peaks, the tallest mountain in Europe pierced
the sky. As he neared, it became clear that the single mountain bore two
summits.

Layered in ice and snow, the mountain was virtually
inaccessible for aurens in the winter. Known for its brutal winters and heavy
winds, it was a popular site for climbers in the summer. Avoiding the lower
level cable car, Hawk flapped hard in order to gain the height he needed. As he
neared the summit, he became more cautious.

He circled the peaks, searching for sign of his goal. It
didn't take him long to spot it. Nestled in the saddle between the two peaks a
roaring white fire blazed. The surrounding ground had been cleared of snow and
ice, leaving a wide, comfortable region of cleared rock.

A wall of stone rose on the north side and abutted the
incline that rose to the higher summit. Both helped to shelter the fire from
the freezing gusts of wind. Opposite the wall, a single structure had been
erected. Obviously built by mages, the architecture was sweeping and bright, as
if the earth had burst from the ground and solidified into place.

A dull light reflected off an object in the fire. His eyes
pierced the distance, and the image clarified to that of a long, slender blade.
Recognizing it as the Sword of Elseerian, he used his heat vision to check for
anyone in the vicinity. He hesitated when he saw no one, but he could not
resist taking advantage of the lapse. He banked toward the summit and alighted
near the fire.

His intuition pinged when nobody appeared to engage him, but
he didn't hesitate. His greater form melted away until he stood as a man, and
he strode to the fire. Reaching his hand in, he yanked it back when the icy
flames froze a line of blue across his skin. Frowning in annoyance, he swept a
hand to diminish the fire—but a rumble from the greater summit caused him to turn.

Snow and ice cascaded off the peak and tumbled downward like
an avalanche—except it stopped short of reaching him. Rising from the summit,
the massive wings lifted into the air and beat a single stroke downward.

Hawk recoiled from the blast of icy air, chilled to the
bone. His heart sank as he saw the great maw and enormous head rise with the
wings. The scars across the snow-white form were unmistakable, and marked its
eye, wing, chest, and back. Filled with gray ice, the wounds appeared dark
against the frost covered body.

Dread and fury surged into the forefront of his thoughts as
he recognized the killer of his nest. Unable to stop himself, he took a step toward
the icebird—but the iseonix was quicker. Sweeping its wings toward Hawk, it
sent a hurricane of frost at him.

In phoenix form he might have been able to withstand it, but
not as a man. The magical snow curved around him and solidified at his feet. The
chill sank into his tissues, tendons, and bones, holding him fast as the ice
climbed up his body, entombing him all the way to his chin. His teeth
chattering in his skull, he strained to bring his might to bear.

"Saraaq!" a voice barked.

The tumultuous frost came to an abrupt halt, and when the
snow cleared Hawk saw the massive creature's toothy jaws a foot from his nose. Like
an unholy mix of a frost dragon and a phoenix, the ice blue eyes burned in
fury. Its maw opened wide, and the iseonix issued a thunderous screech of fury.
For the first time in six thousand years, Hawk felt fear climb within him.

"Return to your nest, Saraaq," the voice said.

The iseonix reluctantly turned away. With a single flap of
its enormous wings, it flew back to the greater summit of the mountain. Upon
reaching the peak, it spread its wings wide and settled its bulk onto it. Then it
wrapped its wings around the top and extended its great head onto the peak. Even
when Hawk knew where to look, he could not discern the icebird's shape.

"I'm disappointed, Hawk," Ranson said. "I
expected you to put up a fight."

Hawk jerked his head to look at the speaker. Shivering, he
chose not to respond.

"And where is our dear oracle?" he said. "I
was expecting her to accompany you.” The hood turned to the side as he
considered Tess's absence, and then he shook his head. "I did so want her
to be present for my victory."

"You are a fool . . . to think you can . . . defeat
her." Hawk forced the words through chattering teeth, unwilling to admit
defeat.

"In five days I will gain my army, and you will be
dead," he said. "But first I would like you to watch her die. Then I
will not restrain Saraaq. I admit I am tempted to watch you two fight in the
air, if only for my own amusement."

"I would destroy him!" Hawk snarled.

Ranson laughed. "Nine of your kind could not
destroy him before. What makes you think you alone can survive, let alone kill
him?" He waved his hand. "No, I think I will just let him freeze you."
He stepped closer and added, "It's his favorite thing, you know. He likes
to freeze someone so solid that his war shriek shatters them into bits of ice.

His lip curled into a sneer. "That will be your fate,
Reiquen. Your flame will be extinguished and you will die as nothing more than
flecks of frost. It is a fitting fate."

Ranson chuckled to himself and turned away. Hawk couldn't
gather enough strength to retort. Shaking inside a pillar of ice, he felt the
hand of death on his neck. Ranson paused and turned to the iseonix.

"If he freezes before the others arrive, send him to
oblivion." Then he stepped onto a shimmering air board and flew into the short
building's opening.

With frost climbing onto his cheeks, Hawk stared at his
ancient enemy and fought to stay alive.

Chapter 44: Frozen

Classes resumed in earnest following the Christmas break,
and in the span of days all the decorations disappeared. The only thing that
remained was the snow and a few stubborn snowflakes that had refused every
effort to capture them. The auren new year approached with little fanfare.

Tess had heard nothing from Hawk—or the Guild, a fact that
caused her constant worry. A week after Christmas she left her light class and
jumped into the air. Ten feet off the ground she subconsciously slowed. She
swung back and forth, trying to ease the tension she felt. It did not abate.
Why wasn't Hawk contacting her? He'd gone off on his own before, but this time
she felt a foreboding deep in her blood.

She wished Stel was with her, but the grend was still
enjoying Derek's present, and hadn't wanted to leave. It surprised her to
realize how much she missed having the creature warming her arm or neck.

"Did you have a good holiday?" a voice called to
her.

Startled, she spun in a tight circle. Surprise and rage
burst across her frame as she saw Drake floating twenty feet from her, casually
standing on an air board. In an instant, fires blazed across her arms.

"I wouldn't," Drake said casually, and tossed her
a glass orb.

On reflex she caught it. Then she recognized Hawk. Encased
in ice, his lips were blue and he was shaking. Alarm warred with her anger.

"What did you do to him?"

"Me? Nothing," he said. "The Master was ready
for him this time."

"He's going to die like that." She ground the
words out.

"That's the point," he said.

Her rage caused fire to cascade off her shoulders. "How
can you say that? Hawk has never done anything but help people."

"He's a phoenix," he countered, "a dangerous relic
from a dead age. The world does not need or want him."

She wanted to argue with him, to scream and pour her magic
at him until it burnt him to a crisp, but she knew it would be useless.

"What do you want, Drake?"

"It's time you met your destiny," he said. "I
need you to come with me."

"That's not going to happen."

Drake shrugged. "I will make this simple. If you come
with me, you will have a chance at keeping him alive—at least for a couple of
days. If you don't, he will freeze to death by tomorrow. It's your
choice."

"Where are we going?" Tess asked.

"To where it all began," Drake said, "Xshaltheria.
Now, let's go. It's a long trip, even with boards."

He pulled a large ball of silver from his pocket and tossed
it to her. Before she could react it stretched and flattened into a sleek air
board. He banked his board away and flew toward the cloudwall. Tess didn't
move.

She knew it was a trap, that much was obvious, but what
could she do? If she didn't go Hawk would die. They wouldn’t stand a chance
without him. Growling under her breath, she made her decision.

Drake's back was turned toward her, so Tess pulled an object
from her pocket. Knowing she had only seconds, she whispered a quick phrase and
dropped it. Then she accelerated toward Drake as fast as she could. By the time
he'd turned around she was by his side, so he didn't see her spectacles fall to
the school grounds.

"Let's go, Drake," she barked. "But don't
expect me not to kill you if I have to."

He laughed and sped away. "I'm glad you like my
present," he said, and gestured to the board. "I should say it's a
present from the Master. He wanted to make sure you made it to our destination."

Tess almost kicked off her board and destroyed it right
then, but she kept her anger in check. Whatever the source of the gift,
apparently she would need it. Without a word they flew through the cloudwall
and left Auroraq behind.

Their boards were fast, much faster than anything
Tess had flown on before. The Atlantic ocean slid by beneath them as they
crossed. An hour passed, and then five, and then she lost track. Drake showed
no signs of slowing as they reached the western shores of Europe. He tried
several times to engage her in conversation, but she refused to respond. She
even refused the food he offered her, and after a while he fell silent. When he
wasn't looking she ate a distilled sandwich. It tasted like chalk, but she
wasn't willing to eat anything Drake had touched. She drew moisture from the
air to drink.

Tess considered her silence a protest of everything Drake
represented. To her satisfaction, he was visibly annoyed by the time they neared
their goal.

"You know there's a lot we can learn from each
other," he said.

Tess flashed him a scathing look and didn't respond. Drake
sighed, and gestured to the twin peak mountain they were approaching.

"Welcome to the ancient forge of Xshaltheria," he
said. "The forge itself was destroyed in an eruption ages ago, and the
remains were buried by the mages so they wouldn't be discovered. Now the
mountain is just a tourist attraction for aurens in the summer.

Tess had no idea where they were, and she did her best to
keep the interest from her eyes. From basic geography she knew they were
somewhere in southeastern Europe, or possibly western Asia. She mentally cursed
herself that she hadn't paid more attention to geography in middle school. Who
knew she would need it like this?

Releasing an irritated sigh, Drake led the way toward the
mountain's summit. After a moment's hesitation, Tess followed him. She was
resigned to being held captive, but it didn't stop her from paying attention.

The greater of the two peaks looked jagged compared to the
other. Spikes of ice extended downward like sharp angled icicles. Right at the
top there was a curving section of ice that vaguely resembled an angular head.
She wondered if the shape was natural or if it had been carved by someone.

The saddle between the summits was large and filled with
snow. At its center the snow had been cleared to allow a blazing white fire to
burn. Glittering in its depths, she recognized the Sword of Elseerian stabbed
into the ground.  Twenty feet to the side of the fire the mountain bore a
natural windbreak, a flat wall of stone. Ice and snow had been peeled back until
the bare rock was in the shape of a thirty foot door.

Opposite the stone door, a small structure stood. She peeked
into her magic sight and saw that it contained little more than a set of stairs
that descended into the mountain. As her sight penetrated the space below her
eyes widened.

Halls, corridors, and rooms filled the upper levels of the
mountain. Marked by spots of warmth, hundreds of people filled the secret
chambers. By the size and breadth of the complex she suspected it to be the Harbinger
lair. Blinking back to normal vision, she returned her gaze to the fire.

Then she noticed the pillars of ice near the flames. Two figures
were encapsulated in solid ice. The one holding Hawk was obvious, since its
base was twenty feet across. Nothing less would have been able to hold a
phoenix in check. Her chest went rigid as she realized who was in the second
one.

"Alice," she said aloud.

"I'm glad you found your tongue," Drake said.

"Why is she here?" Tess demanded.

"You don't think your father would just let her go, did
you?" Drake said. "We've been watching her for a long time. He wants
her to see his triumph. A simple note from you drew her out of the
Guildhall."

Tess felt sick, and desperate. "Listen to me, Drake.
What your Master thinks is behind the portal is gone. Draeken's fiends
were—"

"Oracle," Drake interrupted, and pointed to the
ground. "Ranson would like to speak with you."

Tess swallowed her words and descended to the knot of Harbingers
that had exited the stairs. For the first time they did not shroud their heads.
The display did not calm her fear, it fueled it. The only reason to disregard
caution is because you stood on the verge of victory.

"Oracle," High Chancellor Ranson exclaimed. He
stepped from the others and came to greet her. "We are glad you have
come."

"You didn't leave me much choice," she snapped.

"True," Ranson conceded. "But there is
someone else that would like to speak with you more than I." He stepped
aside and allowed another man to take his place.

Tall and well built, the man had glittering black eyes that
drilled into her, haughty and arrogant. Across the right side of his face an
ugly scar rippled and knotted his skin. The mark was unquestionably from a
horrendous burn, one that even a mage healer had been unable to repair.

"Oracle, this is your father . . . Varson," Ranson
said.

"Welcome home, Tess," Varson said.

Tess was stunned to silence at the name. They had never met,
but she knew who he was. He had been the one to imprison and torture Breaker.
Breaker had said he'd been killed.

"This is not my home," Tess spit the words at him.
"And you are not my father."

Varson didn't blink. He just stared at her with his black
eyes. "I had hoped you would learn your true place, but perhaps I allowed
you to be with the aurens for too long. Your mother—"

"Is dying," Tess snarled. "How can you do
that to her? You already took her magic and banished her. "

"She deserves so much more," Varson replied
coolly. "And we will make sure that she receives her reward."

"Did she do that to your face?" Tess asked. She
was angry and wanted to hurt him, but with so many Harbingers around she didn't
dare use her magic. "I think it has improved your features."

Varson's lip curled into a sneer and his gaze flicked to the
other pillar of ice. Tess blinked, and realized that Hawk was the one that had
scorched him. She felt a burst of pride for his effort.

Perhaps afraid that Varson would lose his temper, Ranson
stepped in front of him. "Why don't you check on them?" he said, and
gestured to Alice and Hawk.

Tess didn't know if he meant it or not, but she darted to Alice's
side first. Only her head protruded from the ice. Her hair was covered in snow
and her skin was almost white. Tess would have thought her dead except for the
breath coming from her blue lips.

Then she spotted a rope of red coiling through the ice, and
realized why she hadn't been killed yet. She reached out and touched Alice's
cheek, and winced at the chill she felt there. Casting a challenging look at
Ranson, she sent a current of warmth into Alice—and
the thread of red that was keeping her alive. Alice shuddered, and then her
eyes fluttered open.

"Tess?" she croaked. "You need to . . .
flee."

"I know," Tess said, her heart caving in to the
guilt. "I will."

Alice shivered and closed her eyes again. Rage surged
through Tess’s frame. She'd just found her birth mother, and refused to watch
her die. Several wild ideas flitted through her mind, but they were suicidal
and she knew it. She clenched her jaw and forced her anger into a tight bottle
inside herself. She was going to need it later.

She moved to Hawk. There was no thread of red keeping him
alive, but she guessed that was intentional. With his own magic he was probably
doing that anyway. The ice holding him was much thicker than Alice's. As with
her, only his head protruded. His black and red hair was frosted with snow, but
Tess noticed it was thicker, indicating he had been there longer. His face was
blistered with frost. Tess touched his cheek and hope abandoned her.

Then she felt a flicker of warmth. Faint red suffused her
features long enough for him to whisper four words.

"Can't reach . . . heat below."

Tess gathered what heat she could and sent it into his body.
His eyes flickered open, and she saw gratitude in them before they closed
again.

She whirled on Ranson. "They're dying. You have
to let them out."

"Their fate is sealed, Tess," Ranson said.
"Just as yours is. Now, you can either come inside . . . or remain out
here with them. It's your choice."

Tess folded her arms and glared at him. Ranson merely
shrugged. His gaze flickered over Tess's shoulder as he said, "Saraaq, if
you please."

She turned her head—and her courage evaporated. The jagged
icicles she'd seen were just the wingtips of the largest bird she had ever
seen. Lifting itself free from the peak, it turned its frost covered head toward
her—and she realized what it was.

"An iseonix," Tess breathed.

"The iseonix," Ranson corrected. "He
took quite a beating when he destroyed Hawk's family, but managed to survive
long enough to be reborn. He still bears the scars though."

Before Tess could move the icebird lazily opened its jaws
and issued a blast of cold. Ice erupted from the ground at her feet and climbed
up her body. Tess threw her arms downward in an attempt to stop it but the ice
caught her fists and ascended. Her teeth began to chatter as the cold penetrated
the heat shield she'd been using to stay warm.

"Add some ink to her bindings," Ranson said to Drake.
"I don't want her getting out before tomorrow night. The Master wants her
to see it."

Drake nodded as Tess said, "Ranson, Draeken's fiends
are gone. You are going to release something else."

"The Dark?" Ranson's smile was pure evil.

"We didn't think . . . you knew . . ." The cold
seeped deeper into her body.

"My dear naive Oracle . . . we're counting on it."

Chapter 45: Taken

Iris caught the thread, isolated it, and then disregarded
it. Spotting a curving stretch of intertwining threads, she pulled them to her
and cast a sourcing charm. Like a beacon of light, she saw that its source was
the top of the Spirus. A moment later the charm confirmed her theory.

—An invitation to play World of War craft cropped up on the
lower part of her vision. She shut it down instantly, along with the subsequent
request to play Halo 6, the unreleased version that the techno mages had been
playing for a month now. On impulse she sent a note back to Riley and said
she'd play later, if she could.

"Where's Tess?" Derek repeated the question.

"I said I'm working on it," Iris said.

"Do you want your beanie?"

"No, Derek, I need the extra resources,"
she said. The rising annoyance in her voice was evident, and her brother backed
off.

Her tracking charm finished its work and came back negative,
causing her to frown. She'd spent months placing her own monitoring motes all
over the school and city, as well as discreetly tapping into the school's
monitoring motes. Even with all of them, the results had come up empty.

"She's not on the grounds now," Iris said.

"We always meet for lunch after our water class,"
Rox said. She sounded worried.

Shorn nodded. "And then she comes to Tempest practice.
We have a game in two weeks. She wouldn't miss our practice."

"Are you sure she isn't in your room? She might just be
sick," Derek said.

Iris grunted in irritation. "She's not in our room—do you want me to say it
again? She's not in our room."

—Her playlist finished, and she absently flicked her wrist
to switch to a different channel. Prior to Pandora radio she'd had to create
her own radio stations, now she just had to modify the Pandora feed, which was
easier. A song by Incubus came on, and a stray thought lowered the volume into
a background.

Her attention on the music lasted half a second, and she
dismissed the thread entirely and returned to scanning the school motes. She enacted
one of her new cracking spells on the school scheduling department and watched
its threads split open, spilling sparks of light that were bits of information.

Snatching an image of Tess from her own memory, she
fashioned a makeshift charm and set it loose. The tiny bubble of light swirled
around the spilling schedules until it found Tess's. Then it streaked away.
While it linked with the motes that were located along her schedule, Iris
flicked her gaze back to the interlacing thread from earlier.

Masked as a simple work message for an obscure technology shop,
the thread was actually a heavily shrouded Harbinger message. Fashioned from
more than a thousand distinct threads, the true message lay within layer upon
layer of shrouding enchantments.

As a rule the more magic applied to a message the brighter
it would be. Keidon had discovered a trick whereby enchanting an empty message
created a dim thread that was a fraction the size of a normal message. Wrapping
thousands of such notes together created an interlacing shroud around the true
message—which was already enchanted to prevent intrusion—

"—No, Riley," Iris barked, "I can't check out
the new liquid core sniper rifle."

She sliced the incoming thread before it could distract her
further and returned her attention to the Harbinger thread. The problem was
that after Keidon had learned of Iris's intrusion, he'd begun to hide alarm
charms inside the empty messages. Between the heavy signal protection spells,
the shrouding, and the hidden sentries, the message was all but irretrievable.

Pulling several threads from less important projects, she
gently wrapped them around the Harbinger thread and set them to work.

"Sorry Malik," she said. "I need the extra
threads—yes I will help you with your laz mission later."

"—I found something." She spoke in the same
instant that the Tess seeking charm came back. "She walked out of her
light class and was met by . . . Drake?"

Every one of her threads spun to a halt as her surprise
interrupted them. Then they went back to work.

"Drake is back?" Shorn asked. His eyebrows
shot up. "That can't be good."

"You think?" Derek said. "Iris, what did Tess
do . . .? Iris?"

Iris was deep in her magic, and watched Drake and Tess fly
out of view. Just before she switched to a different monitoring mote she spotted
a tumbling object fall to the ground. She jumped up from their dinner table
without a word. She recognized the falling object as the glasses she'd made for
Tess. Iris had already dispatched a seeking charm to find them. They had been
on Tryton's but not with Tess. She inwardly kicked herself for not
investigating their location further.

Part of her mind heard her friends’ demands for information
as they followed her, but too much of her attention was already invested into
other spells—and her homework assignment that was due tomorrow. Her Unraveling
Professor didn't seem to care that Iris knew more about the subject than he
did. Annoyed, she sent a screeching charm to enact at three in the morning at
his house. He lived alone, so she doubted it would bother anyone but him, and
his cat.

—She followed the faint traces that her glasses had emitted
at her request, and their source proved to be inside a snowdrift.

"Look in there." Iris pointed.

Rox twisted both hands into fists. Her motion flattened the
snow to the ground, revealing the sleek glasses that Iris had made for Tess.
Derek picked them up.

"Didn't you make these for her?" he asked, turning
to Iris.

"Yes," Iris said distractedly. She took them from
him and cast a sifting spell that would pull the most relevant information to
the forefront of her attention. An audio recording leapt to the front and she
turned it on. Drake's voice started mid-sentence.

" . . . where it all began," he said. "We are
going to Xshaltheria . . ."

"She recorded it?" Shorn asked. "That was
smart of her."

"She left her recording on all the time," Iris
said. "It made it easier for her to do her homework." She muted the
audio and listened to the remainder by herself. Confused by the ending, she
listened to it a second time.

"Where's Xshaltheria?" Rox asked. "I thought
it was an ancient dwarven forge that Draeken used."

"It was," Derek said. His brow was furrowed in
thought.

—Iris received the source message again and growled under
her breath. The eye she'd placed on Tess was still not connecting—which was
impossible. She'd specifically enchanted it to be accessible anywhere on earth.

"Iris, can you run a trace on Prometheus?" Warren
asked.

Iris blinked, and her surprise caused several pending request
enchantments to work their way into her consciousness. Once she'd dismissed two
and replied to one, she said, "Stop distracting me, Warren, or I will
regret letting you into the group."

"Wait," Derek said, "he's right. See what you
can find about him."

Iris shrugged and altered a previous charm that was
searching for the recipe of KFC's original chicken. It was faster than creating
a new enchantment and she'd only started the charm out of curiosity. True to
what she'd heard, the recipe had more mage shielding than the NSA.

"What does this have to do with Prometheus?" Rox
asked while Iris was busy.

Derek’s eyebrows were pulled together in thought.
"Auren lore has roots in the magical history of Earth. In Greek mythology
Prometheus was a Titan that stole fire from the gods and gave it to humans.
Because of his betrayal he was chained inside a volcano and left to
suffer."

"Get to the point, Warren."

Derek gestured to Warren, who said, "Prometheus is
derived from his last name, but his first name . . . was Draeken."

"How's that possible?"

Warren shrugged, obviously uneasy with all the attention.
"Greek mythology arguably comes the closest to revealing the truth about
mage history. All you have to do is substitute gods for mages and Titans for Verinai.
Every power of the 'gods' was simply magic. Zeus is regarded as one of the best
lightning mages to graduate from Tryton's. Apollo was light, Ares was a body
mage with a talent for weapons, etc.”

Derek cut in, and Warren looked relieved. "Everything
about the Greek culture revolved around revering the mages that resided with
them. There was even a rock troll clan that lived in Sparta for a while. It's
where the Spartans gained their legendary skills."

Rox shook her head. "Wait, you said that Draeken was a
Verinai? I've never heard that term before."

Warren answered when Derek gestured to him. "Thirty
thousand years ago there was a guild of mages called the Verinai that ruled
pretty much everything. A council of five oracles kept the balance between the
Verinai, the other mage guilds, and the non-mage kingdoms. It's referred to as
the Age of Oracles.”

"What made the Verinai so powerful?" Rox asked.

"The Verinai could do multiple kinds of magic—but not
like today. Back then they were almost as powerful as the oracles—and they
considered themselves superior. One of the oracles betrayed the others, and
with the aid of the Verinai, sought to take control. They didn't account for
the tide of anger that swept the kingdoms when the truth of the Verinai's
abominable spells became public. The ensuing war killed four oracles and the
entire guild of Verinai."

Rox blew out her breath. "So the Titans were the Verinai,
who were killed by the mage guilds, but where does Prometheus fit in?"

"That's where the history books have it wrong," he
said. "He didn't try to give fire to the aurens, he sought to take
it. The symbolism of the fire is liberty. Draeken wanted to take away the
people's ability to choose. It's what he tried to do in the First Draeken War—and what the Harbingers are
trying to do today. He was chained in the ancient forge of Xshaltheria. I'm not
sure where it is today."

"Mount Elbrus," Iris said.

While her friends had been talking Iris had finished several
spells, including her trace charm on Prometheus.

"Where did you get that?" Warren demanded.
"They don't teach that in History of Magic."

"Google," Iris said.

"And you believe it?" Warren asked.

"As you said, auren legend is based in truth,"
Iris said acidly. "And I confirmed it in my unpublished library archives.
Besides, you all know that Google is run by mages."

"What do you mean, unpublished—"

Derek raised his hand to interrupt Warren. "I trust
Iris. The question is what do we do? I think it's safe to say that the Harbingers
are going to open the portal there—which means the Sword is probably there as
well."

"The Guild," Iris said. "We can report what's
going on to them."

"Are you sure you want to include them?" Rox
asked.

"You want to take on the Harbingers by ourselves—without Tess?" Iris demanded.
"We need their help."

Derek frowned, but conceded the point. "Let's go. I
doubt we have much time left. Shorn, you coming?"

Shorn had been remarkably quiet throughout the conversation,
and he jerked when Derek called his name. "Yeah . . . I don't think we
have a choice."

On impulse Iris put a redirect charm on Shorn's glasses in
his pocket. Following Christmas Tess had told Warren and Shorn everything, but
it never hurt to be cautious. Then she nodded. "I already notified the
Guild. They are expecting us."

Rox's face was determined."Then let's go. Tess has
saved our lives enough. It's time we returned the favor."

Iris agreed, but was distracted by one of her spells tugging
on her mind. She turned away and listened to the four words that her charms had
managed to get out of the Harbinger thread. She frowned, but kept the
information secret. Reenacting the charm, she sent it to attack the thread from
a different angle. Then she fell into step beside her friends.

By unspoken accord they quickened their steps.

Chapter 46: The Purpose

They found Janson in the street outside the secret
Guildhall. Ritsu stood at his side, pacing. When they approached the two guild
leaders whirled to face them, but relaxed when they saw who it was.

"You shouldn't come here like this," Janson said,
frowning in annoyance. "Not in broad daylight."

Iris noticed the worry lining his features—and hers. Interrupting
Derek, Iris demanded, "What's going on?"

Ritsu glanced around them. "Not here," she
murmured.

Janson nodded and led them to a large tree. A bench sat
against the trunk, and was the center of a small, secluded garden. As Iris stepped
into the protective shroud all sound faded in an instant. Iris blinked, and
realized that the muffling spell was probably attached to the tree itself. The
immediate vicinity was clear of motes, but she cast a handful of protective
charms, just to be sure.

"Be quick," Janson said. "We have our own
issues to deal with."

"Tess was taken," Iris said bluntly, "by
Drake."

Ritsu's expression froze in place. "They're doing it
tonight. It's the only explanation."

"We don't know that," Janson insisted. "Hawk has
only been gone for—"

"Hawk's gone?" several of them demanded in unison.

Janson released a resigned grunt. "He hasn't been heard
of since Christmas day. It's not like him to drop out of contact like
that."

"We believe the Harbingers found a way to trap
him," Ritsu said. "We have been trying to discover their location for
days now."

"Mt. Elbrus," Iris said.

Janson straightened. "Xshaltheria. They're going to
open it where Draeken did."

"How do we get there?" Derek demanded.

"What makes you think you're going?" Janson asked.

There was a babble of protests and the conversation devolved
into an angry argument. Iris ignored them.

She'd cast the first spell when they left Tryton's, but it
had taken one hundred and thirty-seven breaking charms for her to hack into the
CIA system. Once she was in, she began retasking one of their oh-so-useful
satellites into position.

As if it came from a mile away, she heard their controllers
begin to shout in dismay, but she cut the audio thread so it wouldn't distract
her. In moments the view of Mt. Elbrus resolved into fuzzy white. She frowned
to herself, momentarily confused by why it wouldn't be clear. Taking advantage
of her confusion, a query charm burst into the forefront of her thoughts,
demanding attention.

"Harris," she barked, "I told you that you
were cut off for a week. You barely lasted a day." She crushed the query
and sent it back in screaming pieces.

The lapse in attention had allowed others in, and she dealt
with them as fast as she could. She wished she had her beanie, but knew its
dampening effect would also slow her abilities—and
right now she needed all of them.

Casting a trio of augmenting charms on the auren satellite
software, she managed to break through the techno shroud that someone—most likely Keidon—had placed on the summit of
the mountain. In seconds the scene resolved into clarity.

—Every
charm and thread she commanded spun to a halt as they felt her shock. It took a
full three seconds for her to recover.

"They're doing it now," she exclaimed. "With
the time difference it's dawn there, and Ranson is pulling the Sword from a
fire."

Interrupted, everyone turned to face her. "How can you possibly
see that?" Janson growled.

Derek opened his mouth to respond, but Iris's irritation
boiled over. Stepping forward, she slapped Janson, hard. Stunned, Janson
recoiled. Everyone fell silent at the unexpected blow. Then anger surged across
Janson's features—just
as Iris's spell took effect.

Janson's eyes widened as he saw what Iris had seen, and his
fury died on his lips. "She's right," he choked the words out.
"The Harbingers have Hawk, Tess, and Alice encased in ice on the summit,
and Ranson just stepped out. There's no way we can get there in time."

"They have Alice too?" Ritsu cursed.

"How do we get there?" Shorn demanded

"It's on the other side of the world," Janson
groaned. His eyes had unclouded as Iris's spell faded. Helplessness and anger
had taken its place. "Even in our world there is nothing that can travel
that fast."

"So it's over?" Derek growled. "They die, the
Dark is released—and
we've lost? I refuse to accept that."

"Neither will I," Shorn and Rox said together.
After a moment Warren echoed the statement.

Something was nagging at Iris, and she cast a temporary
redirect charm onto any incoming messages, including her own. She knew that it
was exactly what she told her students not to do, but right now she needed
to think. The redirect charm only caused the messages to pile up. Within
minutes they would burst through, clamoring for attention.

Iris took advantage of the moment to listen to the message
Tess had left for them. It ended, and she listened to it again. The phrase at
the end made no sense.

"Don't let me die," Tess had whispered, and
then there was a crackle as she'd dropped the glasses.

It was a strange message to leave, especially considering
that Tess had proven her bravery time and again. And her tone was at odds with
the statement. Intense and rushed, it sounded like a warning, not a pleading
request. Perhaps it was a message intended to . . .

—The
realization struck her like a thunderbolt. The redirect charm broke and
messages bombarded her, but for once in her life they went unnoticed.

"Let's go," Iris barked.

She turned on her heel and bolted from the tree. Truthfully
she didn't care if they followed or not, but after a minute their rapid
footfalls slapped the ground behind her.

"Where is she going?" Janson demanded.

"Who knows?" Shorn said. It sounded like he was
grinning.

Derek issued a grunt of anticipation. "She only does it
when she has an idea."

Iris barely heard them. She hated to run, but right now
every second counted. A few minutes later she crossed from Westpoint onto
Sentre, and headed straight for her goal. She slid to a halt in the newly made
clearing . . . and looked up at the steel giant.

With its arms folded and the almost liquid shine to its
skin, the giant had withstood every attempt to move it. In the end, the
Magtherian had decided to leave it where it was. Unwilling to risk a second
'incident', they had placed massive chains of anti-magic across its shoulders
and feet, binding it to the ground.

"This?" Janson growled as he stopped beside her.
"You think this thing will help? The entire Magtherian couldn't move it.
What makes you think you can?"

Iris ignored him. Gathering every signal in the air, she
fused them together. Messages from mom's to their sons, business partners to
clients, and other notes bonded until they appeared in the physical spectrum.
The blinding display solidified into the shape of Mt. Elbrus. Glittering and
spinning, the white lines shone bright.

"Iris . . .?" Derek asked in a rising tone.

Then Iris said aloud, "Don't let me die."

There was a groaning of metal as the steel giant bowed its
head. Unfolding its arms, it grasped the black chains that bound it to the
ground and ripped them apart. Shards of ink magic filled the air as the
bindings disintegrated. Then the giant crouched and jumped into the air—and changed shape. Arms and
body melted into a pointed bird, and tightened into a shape resembling a
sharpened arrow. The wings flapped once, and the steel bird exploded from
sight. In less than a second it pierced the cloudwall and disappeared from
view, and the boom of a sonic echo rattled the air.

Shocked silence resounded in the clearing, and then Derek
asked, "That was the purpose she placed in it?"

Iris nodded. "She said it at the end of her
conversation with Drake. At first I assumed she was pleading, but then I
noticed her tone was wrong. I guessed it meant the giant. I think she didn't
want anyone to know how scared she was when it was trying to kill her."

"Can it get there in time?" Rox asked, her eyes on
the cloudwall.

"It might," Ritsu said. "An entity's magic is
only limited by the creator's power—and
its purpose. If its purpose is to keep Tess from dying, her own need will drive
it to greater speeds."

"So what now?" Shorn asked.

"We follow," Janson said. "Even if we can't
arrive in time, we might be close enough to offer aid."

They nodded in unison, and one by one left the clearing
behind. Iris remained the longest, her heart tight in her chest.

"Protect my friend, giant," she whispered.

Chapter 47: The Sword of Elseerian

The cold seeped into every molecule of Tess's body. Every
bone, every muscle, burgeoned with a dull ache that screamed for relief. With
her magic she could feel her blood slow and begin to freeze. Crystals of ice
coursed through her heart and limbs like shards of agony. Every breath felt
like her last.

She moved her head as much as she could, fighting to keep
warm. Her gaze flicked between Hawk and Alice, who looked like she was just
barely alive. Every few minutes she saw a touch of warmth radiate through Hawk,
indicating that he was still alive. With all the frost and snow on him she doubted
he would last much longer.

Then she had realized what Hawk had meant. It had taken her
several hours to figure it out, and she cursed herself for not understanding earlier.
In the end she made the connection to Draeken's ancient lair and saw the truth
about the mountain she was trapped on. The mountain was a volcano, and far
below her was a compressed reservoir of molten lava.

Tess had reached out with her magic, but had not even gotten
close. Time and again she extended her will to reach the heat, but to no avail.
After what seemed an eternity she spotted something unexpected.

Someone else was doing the same thing.

Another entity was gradually working the lava tubes that ran
to the summit. It had already sealed the main vent far below. Doing so had
forced a build-up of pressure inside the volcano's depth, a pressure that was forcing
the searing liquid higher.

The lava tubes that surrounded the Harbinger complex were
huge, with some over thirty feet in diameter. Whoever was doing it had
tremendous power in regards to fire . . .

She swiveled her head to look at Hawk, but he remained
encased in ice. On impulse Tess reached her magic out to the entity that was
closing a hole in a lava tube. The gap acted like a natural relief valve, and
was preventing the lava from ascending higher. The other's magic was attempting
to seal the right half, so she started on the opposite side of the jagged gap.

The hole was thousands of feet below her, but was just
within her reach. It felt like she was trying to grab something that was at the
far extent of her fingers. She touched it twice with her consciousness before
she managed to put a burst of magic where she intended. The gap began to seal
as they worked together, and the lava pouring from it gradually closed off as
the liquid hardened into solid stone. The anti-magic to her bonds dampened her
effort, but the distance was too great for it to siphon her whole effort.

Tess felt a sense of familiarity to the other's magic, and
with it became certain it was Hawk. He may not have been able to communicate
with words, but a section of rock heated in a curve that resembled a smile.
Hundreds of yards above, Tess smiled back.

I hear you Hawk.

The pressure of the lava mounted, ever so slowly building to
the intended breaking point. Each foot that it rose, Tess was able to draw more
heat into herself. As she did she was careful to not allow it to touch the ice
that held her. She didn't want to give her actions away. Over time the feeling
returned to her hands and feet.

She bit her lip not to scream, and fought to hold her sanity
together. Desperately she sought for something that could stave off the
frostbite that had covered much of her feet and fingers. Recalling the
Swordsman's comment about healing, she cast a healing spell on herself, and
breathed a sigh of relief as her magic numbed her extremities. This time the
numbness was not caused by lack of feeling. With renewed zeal she forced her
magic deep into the earth, and helped Hawk close a leak that had burst lower
down.

The pressure mounted.

The difference was gradual, but Tess could feel the
mountain's interior issue a tremor. She prayed it wouldn’t give them away.
Several times Harbingers came to check on them. She got the impression that
even when no one was present they were being watched. She just prayed she could
figure it out in time to save Alice. The only time she'd reached out toward her
she'd felt only an icy cold. She was terrified that Alice was already dead.

The long night passed as she and Hawk worked in tandem,
building the mountain's slumbering might an inch at a time. A few times her
fatigue got the best of her and she fell asleep. She would doze until the cold
woke her, whereupon she would recast her spells and try again. Dawn was a
welcome sight, but not what it heralded.

As the sun crested in the distance the Harbingers began to
enter the clearing. At their appearance Hawk's magic took on a sudden urgency.
Tess followed suit. With its current pressure she estimated the volcano would
erupt soon—but not soon enough.

Cloaked figures exited the structure and approached the
white fire. One by one they came out until they stood ten deep in a half circle
facing the great stone door. As one they removed their hoods. Ranson stepped
from the center of their ranks and strode forward.

"Harbingers," he said. "We have fought and
died for this day, to see the release of Draeken's might upon our world. First
we thought we would use the fiends, but now we have come to know that something
greater lies in wait for us, the Dark. With its power we will be unstoppable. Soon
we will use it to enforce our laws, and remove the plagues that the aurens have
unleashed upon Earth."

Tess craned her neck, searching for the Master. If he was
present she couldn't identify him. Catching her eye, Drake flashed a malicious
smile. Varson just stared at her, his glittering black eyes cold. Then Ranson
called her name.

"The Oracle has come to witness our victory, as the
Master has requested," he said. He strode to face her and leaned in so no
one could overhear him.

"Welcome to your death, Tess. I assure you, it will not
be pleasant."

Tess stared without blinking into the eyes of her adversary.
She poured every ounce of her rage into the fire building far below them.
"I will live to see you die," she snarled.

Ranson laughed, and moved to stand in front of Hawk.
"It's a pity," he said, "but it seems Hawk is about to die
anyway. At least Saraaq will finally have his revenge." He chuckled under
his breath and moved to stand in front of Alice. He sniffed in disdain and
tapped the ice. "You are dying poorly," he said. "You need to
last until the Dark is released. Then we will allow you to give up."

The venom in his voice was apparent, and Varson shifted in
the front of the crowd. His expression made it clear he felt the same. Frozen
and on the verge of death, Alice did not respond. Tess felt a tumult of
emotions at the sight, a rising desperation among them.

Was she really watching her birth mother die? After
everything she had learned, all the power she had gained, it was infuriating to
be so helpless. With no other recourse, she strove to place more magic into the
volcano at her feet, fighting to bring its hidden might to bear.

The curve of the sun broke the horizon, bathing them all in
light. The great iseonix shifted as the sunlight struck it, releasing a shower
of snow. Ranson moved to stand in front of the white fire, his steps taking on
the pace of solemnity. Reaching into its flames, he caught the hilt of the
Sword and withdrew it from the ground. The fire flared, and then extinguished
as it was withdrawn.

The Harbingers didn't move as Ranson strode to the doorway
of stone and placed the tip against the rock wall. The steel striking the cold stone
sounded loud on the summit, and seemed to cause the wind to gust, as if the
very atmosphere sensed what was about to occur.

Tess unleashed all of her power into the volcano beneath
them, as did Hawk, but it didn't matter. The volcano would not erupt for at
least another twenty minutes. By then it would be too late. Her rage surged hot
within her, and she threw it into the ice that held her. The threads of
anti-magic drained the effort away before it could so much as crack the ice.

Desperately she cast about for something to do, anything
that would stop him. Helpless, she watched him plunge the darkened Sword into
the rock. A purple and black vortex exploded into view, devouring the stone
door until it licked at the edges of the surrounding snow.

For a long moment a deafening silence resounded on the
summit of Xshaltheria. No screaming fiends exploded into sight, no black bodies
clawed their way onto the mountain. Even the icy wind seemed to hold its
breath. Then a single figure appeared in the portal.

Dread overpowered Tess as the master of flesh stepped out,
followed by gust of Dark that swirled in his wake. The black cloud stretched
out and touched its new surroundings, eager and hungry. Tess shuddered when she
saw it. She knew what it could do.

Ranson stepped up to greet him. "Ducalik, I presume? We
are glad to have you here. We have released you so you may—"

His words were cut off as Ducalik raised a finger toward him.
Ranson's body betrayed him, and he collapsed, struggling to move or breath.
Several of the Harbingers sought to help, but they halted mid-step as Ducalik
pointed to them. Choking on snow and bile, Ranson stretched his hand toward his
Harbingers, begging for aid. Tess was surprised that Saraaq remained where he
was.

"I was an apprentice once," Ducalik
snarled. "I will not be one again."

"Enough," a rumbling voice said. Ducalik raised
his head from Ranson and bared his teeth.

Tess's eyes were drawn to the side, searching for the source
of the voice. At first she saw nothing. No figure strode out of the crowd, no
person stepped forward to reveal himself. Then she saw movement, and her whole
frame went rigid in numb disbelief.

Alice was freeing herself.

Chapter 48: The Master

Steam cascaded off the ice tomb as it melted, allowing a gap
for her to step through. In the span of seconds it cracked and crumbled,
leaving Alice standing alive and well. A shimmering opaque cloak blossomed from
her shoulders and fell to her feet. Without hesitation she strode toward
Ducalik.

The master of flesh sneered and reached to Alice, but she
clenched a fist and yellow light burst across her frame. Ducalik growled and
tried again, but again failed. Alice came to a halt next to the shaking form of
Ranson and looked down at him.

"You have served me well Ranson." Her voice
started out male, but by the end of the sentence it had changed to the one Tess
knew.

"Master," Ranson's voice trembled. "I thought
I was to lead—"

She gestured to Ranson's body, which emitted a loud crack
and crumpled. Tess turned away, stunned and sickened by the death. She turned
back when Ducalik growled. The Dark swirled at his command, and cascaded toward
Alice. It swallowed her whole, and Tess knew from experience that it was
seeking to subvert her will. It would augment her fears until she was left
screaming and begging for it to end. Then her mind would fade, and the Dark
would control her form.

But a moment later it withdrew, and Alice remained unharmed,
her strange yellow magic brimming across her hands.

"Who are you to withstand my might," Ducalik
growled.

"I am your new Master," Alice said. She reached a
hand toward Ducalik. He strained to fight her will, and bared his teeth as his
muscles fought her magic. In the end he succumbed, and was forced to his knees.
"You may serve me and have your revenge, or you may die where you
kneel."

There was a long pause, and then he replied. "Master."
Hate and anticipation filled his eyes in equal measure, but Alice's expression exuded
only triumph. Victorious, she turned toward Tess and strode to her side.

"It's a shame, really," Alice exclaimed. "I
had hoped to continue to use this persona for a while longer. It has been
extremely useful."

"How could you do this?" Tess yelled. "You
are my mother!"

Alice cocked her head to the side, every shred of love and
concern gone from her features. "I knew that if I raised you myself you
would be powerful—but
flawed. Only the Guild knew what it took to train an oracle to her full
potential. After all, your training was its original purpose." Her eyes
darkened. "I only wish I would have learned Hawk's true identity earlier.
Many lives paid the price until we did."

She cast a searing look at Hawk, whose entire ice pillar
shook from heat and rage. Tess could only imagine how he felt upon realizing
that Alice had betrayed them all.

Alice released a sigh. "But in the end his efforts will
be for naught. Now that he has trained you the mages will accept you as an
oracle—and look to you
for guidance."

"So I can defy you?" Tess asked. "Why not
just kill me?"

Alice smiled, but it did not reach her eyes. "The
prophecy regarding you is well known. When the time comes you will use your
influence the way you were meant to, and lead every mage into becoming a
Harbinger. We will step from hiding as we should, and will enforce absolute law
for the aurens. Without you many of the mages will likely resist me, and I
would be forced to kill them. You see? You will fulfill your purpose, and will
join the mages and aurens."

"They won't do it," Tess yelled the words.
"They will fight you."

"They are angry," Alice said, stepping closer.
"The auren attacks have killed so many." Her voice dripped with
sarcasm.

"But you were behind it all!" Tess spit the
words at her. "And you would have destroyed Brokins."

"A necessary sacrifice," Alice said easily.

Tess swallowed at the burgeoning rage and hate. "You
overestimate the people's desire for power." She hated that fear that had
seeped into her voice. "Hawk has taught the Guild well, and they will make
sure the people resist."

Alice's smile was sickening. "It won't be enough. The
attack on Brokins may not have succeeded . . . but it was not my only plan.
Mages will continue to think they die at the hand of aurens until they thirst
for war. Then they will be begging for what I have brought."

"But your magic was taken from you," Tess growled
desperately. "You don't have the power to do this."

"Did you think I told you the whole truth?" Alice
asked. "I took it from myself. Did you think the Guild would just let me
join without verifying my story? In due time I will reclaim my other
magics."

Tess was terrified now. Alice was the Master, and Tess was
just beginning to realize that she had planned for everything. She had
infiltrated the very organization that rivaled her own, and had lived with them
for decades. She had prepared every contingency, every possible scenario, and
there was nothing that Tess could do to stop her.

"But why release him?" Tess asked, anger
and desperation thickening her voice. "You've had the power to break the
auren armies and control the mage world. What possible reason would cause you
to release the Dark?"

Alice cocked her head to the side. "We could have
destroyed the aurens, yes, but their spirit would never be broken. Time has
proven that human nature defies constraints. Even with all our power, the
aurens would still fight us." She gestured to Ducalik. "The Dark will
ensure strict obedience.

"Our world cannot continue as it is, Tess. We cannot
survive. Politicians lie and line their pockets, thieves steal what they
haven't earned, and killers live free of consequence." She leaned in, her
gaze piercing. "But no more. With the Dark at our command, the people will
be subject to instant justice. If a man tries to harm another, the Dark
will consume him. If a leader attempts to cheat or lie, the Dark will absorb
him. If a boy tries to assault a girl, he will be taken.

"Won't that be better?" she swept her hands
outward. "There will be no crime, no wanton brutality, no violence or war.
Every soul on Earth will face a single choice, live their lives according to
our laws, or join the Dark and enforce the law for others. There will be no
resistance."

Tess hated that her words made sense, in a twisted
tyrannical sort of way. But it felt wrong. The taking of free will didn't seem
like a triumph. Instead it made her feel like mankind had failed.

"They will defeat you," Tess said. She couldn't
think of anything else to say.

Alice's laugh was dark, cold, and confident. "The two
of you are the most powerful mages aside from myself. Without you they don't
stand a chance. I will kill each and every one of them—unless you join me."

"I can't." Tess’s words were barely a whisper.

"You will," Alice said, her eyes hardening.
"You have no choice. Iris, Derek, Rox—even
your auren parents, Jack and Kate—I
will kill them all, and you will die knowing their blood is on your hands.
Would you like to see it for yourself before you join me? Must you watch their
life fade from their eyes before you will submit?"

Tess knew with absolute certainty that Alice would slaughter
everyone that stood in her way. Fear assailed her, and tears coursed from her
eyes, freezing into ice before they could reach her bindings. Her courage
failed her.

"Your hope is gone, daughter," Alice said as
triumph twisted her features. "And it's time to release the Dark. You have
but to call me Master to save yourself, and your friends. Make your choice
before the Dark reaches you . . . or you will be beyond even my help."

Without waiting for a response, Alice turned to Ducalik and
proclaimed, "Release the Dark." Then she looked to Saraaq and
gestured to Hawk. "Kill him," she ordered the icebird.

Tess struggled in her ice, fighting to break free. Alice
smiled and returned to Tess's side. "Just call me Master, Tess, and you
will save so many lives. It will be over." Her voice was like lethal
velvet. "Just call me Master . . ."

Behind Alice, the Dark began to spread across the ground,
reaching and coiling. Above it the massive iseonix issued a shriek and unfurled
its wings. Rage, fear, and regret coursed through Tess, fueling her muscles as
she fought for her freedom. There was no escape, and she knew it.

—A
dull whine caused everyone to turn and look upward, where a bright object
reflected in the sky. Faster than thought, it streaked toward their mountain
like a bullet, and impacted hard in the center of the clearing. Rising and
morphing, the shape changed, and rose to its full stature. The onlookers took a
collective breath as magic blossomed on their arms.

But the steel giant struck first.

Chapter 49: Desperate

The steel giant backhanded the nearest person, and then a
massive steel fist smashed Varson in the face. He crumpled, and the steel giant
plowed into the stunned foes. Snapping out of their shock, the Harbingers
attacked with a fury.

Alice screamed for the Harbingers to destroy the giant.
Already rising from the peak, the iseonix turned to the giant instead of Hawk.
Ducalik added his power, and unleashed a torrent of Dark onto it.

The ice around Hawk vibrated and pulsed, and then shattered
in a titanic blast of fire and heat. Without hesitation he turned his fury on
Alice even as he began to shift into phoenix form. The Master raised her arms
and a wall of yellow light caused the pouring flames to split to either side.

Tess gathered every ounce of hope, rage, hatred, and fear in
her hands, and surged fire into the ice around her. Steam issued forth from the
sudden cracks, and then the veins of ink were overwhelmed. Like a blast from a
gun, her bindings cracked.

Hot vapor erupted from her bindings as they melted and
poured away from her. Her shoulders and arms came free, and then her hands.
Clenching her fists, she struck at the base with a snarl on her lips. It
shattered into shards of ice, leaving her free.

Several Harbingers turned to face her, their eyes widening
as they saw her unbound. Tess didn't wait for them to recover. Gathering all
the cold and frozen moisture in the vicinity, she conjured an ice hydra. Five
necks tightened into place and extended into weaving heads.

The first to take shape opened its maw and unleashed a
barrage of icy breath at the Harbingers. Stumbling and crying out, they sought
to gather their forces—but
there was no one to come. Bodies of dead or unconscious Harbingers littered the
ground. Undeterred by the magic striking its form, the steel giant was on a
rampage, and struck Harbingers with abandon.

A body flew past Tess, causing her to duck as the man's boot
nearly clipped her skull. When she stood Varson was in front of her, unbridled
fury twisting his bloodied features. Blood poured from under his black hair and
lined his face like wicked claw marks.

"You don't deserve to call her Master," he yelled,
and sent a blast of fire at her.

She knocked it aside and struck back. Purple lines grabbed
his outstretched hands and yanked him to the ground. He snarled, and tore them
apart. Launching himself into the air, he rained fire down on her.

She cast a speed spell on herself, and dodged left and
right, steering clear of the lethal volley. She might have been able to drain
or even absorb a fireball from a normal mage, but Varson's missiles were bright
blue and sealed, preventing her from tampering with them.

The ground exploded in her wake as the balls of fire struck,
cracking the rapidly weakening summit.  Poisonous gas and ash erupted from the
growing fissures. At a glance Tess realized that the volcano was on the verge
of an eruption. She clenched her jaw. She had to deal with Varson before she
could do anything else.

Whirling, she spun a tornado of air at the next fireball. Intended
to crush her skull, the ball of liquid fire entered the tornado, slowed, and
then reversed its flight. As if released from a slingshot it streaked toward
Varson.

He sneered and absorbed his own spell. "You think you
can defeat me with something so simple?" As the brilliance to the fire
faded his eyes widened. Torn from the mountainside, a boulder the size of a car
lay hidden in the wake of the returning fireball. It slammed into him with bone
crushing force.

Varson tried to evade but it was too close, and too big. It
struck his shoulder and knocked him away. Careening out of control, he crunched
into the snow and slid toward a cliff. Tess only felt a twinge of regret as she
saw his blood slick the ice behind him. She doubted he was dead, but didn't have
time to find out. For the first time she looked at the battle being waged
around her.

Hawk was engaged in mortal combat with the iseonix. Fire and
freezing currents split the air, making contact and tearing into magical flesh.
The icebird was even larger than Hawk, yet appeared equally as fast as the
smaller phoenix. Blood curdling shrieks and war cries came from both of them as
they fought for supremacy in the morning sky.

The steel giant had demolished the Harbinger ranks, and
nothing appeared able to stop him. Grasping struggling men and women in his
hands, he tossed them off the mountain or crushed them outright. Still forms
lay in his wake, and blood darkened the snow.

Several tried to raise an arch of stone to protect
themselves. When his fist proved ineffective, the steel giant's arm lengthened
and turned into a huge hammer. Raising it high, he brought it down on the
refuge.

Crack! The stone flattened in an instant, and the
shouting men inside went silent. Its skin marked and scratched from the attacks,
the steel giant sought for other foes—and
found Alice in his path.

He accelerated toward her, his legs powering into a sprint.
His feet smashed into the ground, leaving massive footprints. He closed to
thirty feet before Alice calmly sent a burst of yellow magic at him—and he tripped.

The steel giant's toe caught on an unusually dense shard of
stone, and he went down. The ground rippled as the steel giant slammed into it.
Snow swirled away as it obliterated a drift. As it began to rise the iseonix struck.

Behind them Tess saw that Hawk had been hit—hard, and was struggling to
rise. She cried out a warning to the steel entity, but it was too late. The
iseonix curved its wings and released a devastating blast of cold at the rising
giant. Steel cooled and the giant's movements stiffened. Fighting to stand, the
giant forced himself to his knees, and then to his feet.

The icebird was drawing closer as it poured cold into the
steel giant. Its body turning solid, the steel entity grabbed a shard of ice.
Raising it high, he slammed it into the iseonix’s face. The icebird issued a
screech of pain, but it sounded more like anger. As the steel giant reached for
another weapon ice crystals formed on its body, and spread until its entire
form barely moved. Then the steel giant came to a halt, frozen and stiff.

Tess was already in motion, and was sprinting to give aid.
She never made it. The iseonix placed its huge jaws at the steel giant's side
and issued its unholy war shriek. Every single soul except for Alice stumbled
to the ground, unable to endure the horrendous sound. The steel giant's body
began to shake violently.

Then it shattered.

Pieces of frozen metal blasted in every direction,
clattering off rocks and embedding into ice. Tess raised her arm to protect her
head, and felt hundreds of pieces pepper her arm. Horrorstruck, she looked at
the spots of steel dotting the ground. They looked like drops of blood, and she
knew the steel entity was gone.

She rose to her feet and sent a ball of fire at the iseonix,
overcome with rage. It struck the icebird on the side of its great head, and
singed a line across a pre-existing scar. The iseonix turned to her and
released a blast of the coldest air Tess had ever felt.

She shielded herself, screaming in defiance of her impending
demise. The colossal cold sapped her power, her strength, and her very will.
She fought back, but knew she could not last. Every passing second she felt her
strength waning. Then abruptly the cold cut off.

She looked up to find Hawk standing in front of her. Fueled
by his wrath, fires exploded off his human form, melting the air, the snow at
their sides, and the stone at their feet. Unable to penetrate Hawk's defenses,
the iseonix's breath struck the fire shield and cascaded away.

Tess stepped to his side and added her own fire to his.
Together they kept the end at bay. Then Tess felt a creeping touch at her legs.
Glancing down, her blood ran cold when she saw the Dark swirling at her ankles.
She knew that it was stronger than her—and
Hawk. Trapped as they were they could not move, or fight. They were at the
mercy of the Dark.

It would subvert their will, rob them of their senses, and
manipulate their fears. It would seek to control them, to own their minds. In
minutes their consciousness would be gone, and they would become part of the
Dark. They would be dead, and the Dark would use their bodies and power to
expand across the Earth. Side by side, their flesh and magic would destroy
cities and armies, and help to add more people to satisfy the Dark's hunger.

It was over.

They had lost.

Chapter 50: Unmasked

"Wait!" Tess screamed.

The tone in her voice caused everyone to pause, including
the expanding Dark. Turning to Alice, she addressed her birth mother, "If
I submit to you, will you allow my friends to live?!"

The cold assaulted them from one side, and the Dark waited
on the other as the Master considered the offer. Then she gestured to the
iseonix, which reluctantly cut off its attack.

"Don't do it," Hawk growled, using the reprieve to
gather the flames at his feet. For the first time Tess noticed the bloody
gashes on his body.

"I have to," Tess whispered, and then sent a
mental message to him. Draw from the deep.

Hawk blinked, but gave no other sign that she had spoken to
him. Tess turned back to Alice. "Do I have your promise?" Just
another few seconds, she thought.

Alice's eyes narrowed. "If they too submit, I will
spare them. Any who stand against me will join the Dark."

Tess nodded and slumped her shoulders in defeat. Facing
Hawk, she said, "Please Hawk. It's better that we survive than die. As the
oracle I am meant to join the aurens and mages. If we unite with Alice it will
save millions, don't you see that?"

Hawk shook his head, but didn't respond.

"Kneel," Alice said. "Prove your
loyalty."

Not ready! Tess thought, and pretended to hesitate.
Alice quickly became impatient, and raised a finger towards them. Sweat
blossomed across Tess's forehead as she cast about for some way to stall her. Not
yet! she mentally screamed.

Can I help?

The voice touched on Tess's consciousness, and she blinked
in surprise. Iris?

Who else? I've got one of your dad's satellites trained
on your position. I've been watching since Ranson pulled the Sword.

Tess had a rush of gratitude that Iris had taught her how to
communicate with auren signals. Then she jerked as she had an idea. Just as
Alice opened her mouth to speak, Tess said, "I think there's something you
should see first, though."

Alice stared at her, her eyes narrowing. Tess used the
precious seconds to tell Iris her plan and cast more spells. Then she said,
"If you have a news orb you might want to turn it on."

Alice didn't blink, but after a moment she gestured to one
of the surviving Harbingers. The man pulled a ball from his robe and tossed it
into the air. It stopped midway to Alice and expanded like a projector screen.
The images on it caused everyone on the mountaintop to gasp.

Surprise, shock, and then rage flitted across Alice's face
as she watched Ranson pull the Sword of Elseerian from the fire and open
Draeken's portal. The words of Ducalik were clearly heard, followed by Alice
exiting the ice and confronting him. Alice then confessed her role in the
Brokins attack and exposed all the Harbinger's carefully laid plans.

Tess imagined the millions of stunned aurens watching the
same video on their TVs, computers, and phones. In seconds it would be uploaded
to the internet. Then it would be unstoppable. Those sleeping would wake up to
the news, and every citizen of every nation would turn their whole attention on
the mages. With so much scrutiny the mages would have no choice but to reveal
themselves.

The man that had tossed the orb sidled up to Alice and spoke
to her in a rushed whisper. "It's on every signal, mage and auren. Keidon
can't stop it. He thinks there are thousands of techno mages working together
to cause it. They've hacked our network. They know everything—"

The man crumpled as if struck by an unseen hand. Then the
large screen shattered. Alice spoke into the resulting stillness. "You
revealed our world now?" Her voice was a lethal calm.

Tess ground her answer out. "Stripped of anonymity you
become the enemy of every nation on Earth. As of this moment, mage and auren
alike know what you have done, and what you are attempting to do. No one will
follow you now. It's over."

Ducalik bared his teeth in a snarl, his eyes darting between
Tess and his new Master. Alice's expression was naked fury, but bore a
frightening measure of calculation. Tess could almost see her trying to figure
a way out of the situation. Then she rose to her full stature.

"You have merely demonstrated our power for us,"
she snarled. "If the mages do not submit by choice, the Dark will make
them. It is time for your decision, daughter." Yellow energy burst off her
form in a surge of crackling power, and her voice took on a thundering timbre.
"Make your choice, Tess! Make it for everyone on Earth. Show them what
they have to look forward to. Kneel . . . or die!"

Tess nodded to Hawk, and conveyed a wealth of emotion in a
single look. Side by side, they dropped to one knee. The moment they touched
the ground, the mountain quivered. The shudder rippled through the stone, the
ice, and the snow. Several Harbingers lost their balance, their eyes wide as
they looked at the ground.

"What have you done?" Alice demanded, her tone
rising with the ambient heat.

"What was necessary," Tess growled.

Stone cracked, releasing bursts of hot, poisonous gas. Tess
grasped the lines of gravity and fire that she'd sunk into the top of the
volcano over the last few minutes. Bellowing her hatred, straining at the
weight, she launched herself into the air. Hawk was at her side, pouring fire
into the crumbling rock. Bereft of its strength, the stone disintegrated as the
lava exploded toward the surface.

Chunks of sizzling rocks pierced the iseonix's wings, and it
bellowed at the sudden pain. Then Tess lost sight of them. Faintly she heard
Alice calling out orders, but she couldn't make them out. The next instant lava
geysered into view.

And Mt. Elbrus erupted in a mighty blast of heat, fire, and
endless ash.

Chapter 51: Released

Lava surged into the sky, spewing ash and massive cinders
with it. The explosion incinerated the lower summit of Mount Elbrus. Faster
than Tess thought possible the concussion blast streaked away. Whole trees were
flattened, smashed to the earth like giant toothpicks. The very air reeled from
the volcano's might.

And yet it was all directed sideways. The greater summit
remained, and had shunted the eruption through its smaller companion. The
result had erased the smaller summit and left a huge gash in the side of the
mountain. The saddle and the second peak were gone, obliterated by the force of
the volcano's eruption. Boiling lava spewed from the jagged hole and poured
down the mountain. Remaining snow burst into steam as the searing liquid poured
through it.

"Do you think they will survive?" Tess asked.

They had used the explosion to escape and had flown to a
mountainside several miles away. From a distance they watched the ensuing
destruction.

"I have no doubt," Hawk said. His voice was laced
with fatigue and pain. "They have proven themselves powerful and
resourceful."

Tess released a troubled sigh that didn't dispel her
weariness. She wasn't sure if she wanted their blood on her hands, but at the
same time it would have been easier if the eruption had killed them all. She
frowned, not liking her flash of hope that they had died.

Hawk began to chuckle, drawing her attention to him.
"What?" she asked.

His gaze fell on her. "I admit that in the last few
days I thought I would die—twice.
Between my mortal enemy, Alice's betrayal, and Ducalik's release . . ." He
shrugged. "I should have, and yet you have saved my life. Perhaps you have
saved many more with what you did."

Tess shifted uncomfortably. "I actually thought you
might be upset with me."

"For revealing us to the world?" He shook his
head. "The way things were going it was only a matter of time, and if it
had been done according to Alice's plan many millions would have perished. All
things considered I think it couldn't have been done better."

The tightness to Tess's chest began to ease, and she
swallowed against the sudden knot of gratitude and relief. "So what
now?"

"Can you help us contact the Guild?" he asked.
"You have set things in motion that will have repercussions. We will need
to move quickly to consolidate our allies."

Tess nodded, and then slipped into her magesight. Thousands
of distinct colors filled her vision and she sought the faint purple lines that
indicated an auren signal. After a moment she found one of the threads that
Iris had shown her. Hesitantly, she began to open it and cast a redirect charm.
Her actions encompassed the entirety of her knowledge regarding techno magic,
so she held her breath that it would work. She released an explosive breath
when Iris's voice sounded in the snow filled glade.

"Tess?" Iris's voice was garbled, but after a
moment it cleared up. "Nice job connecting to the satellite. It makes it
so we can speak in an audible format."

Tess had no idea what thread she'd used, so she was just
happy it was working. "We're on a hilltop a short distance from the
mountain," she said. "Hawk needs to talk to Janson." She raised
an eyebrow at him, and Hawk nodded.

"Hang on," Iris said, and after a moment her face
shimmered into view in front of Tess.

Tess blinked in surprise. "How did you do that?"
she asked.

"Just one of the many tricks of a techno mag,"
Iris said. Then the image dissolved and separated. A few feet away Janson's
head appeared facing a tree. Hawk stepped up to greet him, and the two of them
fell into subdued conversation. Tess turned back to Iris, but found Derek in
her place.

Tess felt a surge of hope and warmth at seeing him.
"It's alright, Derek, we made it out alive."

He nodded, his features twisted with worry. "I'm just
glad the steel entity arrived in time."

"Who figured out my message?"

"I did," Iris called, and Derek flashed a tight
grin. "By the time we figured out where you were there wasn't enough time
to get to you. The steel giant was our only hope."

"Well, it saved our lives," Tess said fervently.
"And so did Iris's help. How did she broadcast the projection to everyone?"

"Apparently she has been creating her own techno guild
to fight Keidon and the Harbingers." A flicker of pride crossed his
features. "She called on former and current students, friends, and pretty
much any techno mag anywhere. I think some of her teachers are even part of her
army."

Tess felt the urge to laugh. How could she have done
anything without Iris? Then her thoughts turned to the impact of what they had
done.

"Has everyone seen it?"

Derek's head was pushed out of the way and was replaced by Shorn.
"People are going nuts here. Most everyone saw Ranson open the portal, and
then watched him die. No one seems to know what to do except run through the
streets."

Tess threw Hawk a glance. "I think Hawk's working on
that."

Derek pushed his way back into view. "Did Alice really
. . ."

"Try to kill me? Yes." Abruptly weary, she rubbed
her neck. "But at least now everyone knows who she is."

"I doubt she's happy about that," Derek said.

Tess gave a sour laugh. "No, I don't think she
is."

Iris appeared again. "I wish I could have contacted you
before." Her tone was regretful. "I managed to break into part of a
Harbinger message, and it referred to the Master as a she."

"Don't worry about it," Tess replied. "I
doubt it would have made much of a difference."

"Tess?" Hawk's voice was one of warning, and so
she turned away.

He jerked his head to her, causing her to step to his side.
"What do you see in the ash cloud?" he asked quietly.

She shrugged. "A cloud of ash. What else would I . .
." Then she saw it. Her stomach tightened and she peered through the
brightness of the morning light. The change was subtle, but unmistakable. There
was a black tinge to the erupting volcano that hadn't been there before.

She cast a vision spell on herself, and as an afterthought,
Hawk too. Her stomach tight with rising fear, she scanned the summit of Mt.
Elbrus. With her enhanced vision it didn't take long for her to spot the
source.

The tremendous power of the eruption had not been channeled
by the greater summit—but
rather the iced wings of the iseonix. Sunk into the ground and encased in yards
of solid frost, the wings had kept the eruption's might at bay.

Marked by the shadowed tinge to the iseonix's wall, the Dark
seeped through gaps in the ice and touched the bubbling molten rock. Rather
than deterred by it, the sinister shadow spread across its surface and joined
the burgeoning cloud rising above the mountain.

Cinders and chunks of flaming stone faded from sight as the
Dark filled the ash cloud. The plume of gray darkened, until it became a void
of black, until nothing remained. Then the Dark seeped lower. The brightness of
the lava dimmed as the Dark followed its red currents down the mountain.

Tess felt her fear spike as she witnessed the Dark's
movements. It didn't act like fog. It moved like an organism. Large faces of
horned creatures rose from the shadow, their jaws open to devour scattered
fires and fallen trees. Giant claws burst forth from the black, and consumed
lingering piles of snow, and any points of light. Its movements were almost
gleeful as it gradually absorbed the entire mountain. Within an hour Mt. Elbrus
had faded from view. The Dark's advance caused even the morning sun to wither.

And it was spreading.

The Chronicles of
Lumineia

By
Ben Hale

—The White Mage Saga—

Assassin's Blade (Short story
prequel)

The Last Oracle

The Sword of Elseerian

Descent Unto Dark

Impact of the Fallen

The Forge of Light

—The Second Draeken War—

Elseerian

The Gathering

Seven Days

The List Unseen

Author Bio

Originally from Utah, Ben has grown up with a passion for
learning almost everything. Driven particularly to reading caused him to be
caught reading by flashlight under the covers at an early age. While still
young, he practiced various sports, became an Eagle Scout, and taught himself
to play the piano. This thirst for knowledge gained him excellent grades and
helped him graduate college with honors, as well as become fluent in three
languages after doing volunteer work in Brazil. After school, he started and
ran several successful businesses that gave him time to work on his numerous
writing projects. His greatest support and inspiration comes from his wonderful
wife and three beautiful children. Currently he resides in Florida while working
on his latest writing and business endeavors.

To contact the author, discover more about Lumineia, or find
out about the upcoming sequels, check out his website at Lumineia.com. You can also follow the author on
twitter @ BenHale8 or Facebook.