The Sorcerer's Destiny (The Sorcerer's Path) (34 page)

Miranda dived away as the two titans thrashed, destroying buildings and crushing everything in their path. Stout beams snapped like twigs as the two dragons fought and clawed, but the outcome was never in question. Sandy clung to the dragon’s back with a grip it had no chance of shaking loose. Runes flared with a brilliant blue light along Sandy’s forelegs as she sent a powerful surge of electricity into her foe’s body, stopping its heart and struggles in an instant.

“Sandy, praise the gods it’s you!” Miranda cried as she struggled to her feet.

Arrows and crossbow bolts arced over her head and bounced off Sandy’s scales as Miranda ran toward her friend. Sandy growled, Miranda skidded to a stop, and spun to face the soldiers and mages rushing to what they thought was her defense.

“Stop, she’s a friend!” Miranda splayed her arms wide trying to wrap them around Sandy’s neck. “I’m so glad you’re okay.”

“I am better now,” Sandy acknowledged. “The coastal side of the town is pushed back to the second wall and quickly retreating to this position. The east and south walls are being overrun and falling back to the second wall now. They will lose it soon as well. I will go and try to pull some of the dragons away and steer clear of the city as best I can. Humans seem to have problem distinguishing one dragon from another.”

“Thank you, Sandy, just be careful.” Miranda turned to the mages and soldiers. “Spread the word to the others not to target the glowing dragon, and be prepared to get our people through the gate.”

Miranda watched the orange flames and black smoke stab at the sky as her beloved city, her home, burned and was ravaged by inhuman invaders. Her eyes traveled to the strange ships flying above the city hurling fire and lightning and imagined the people dying with each flash and concussive blast. Her tears rained onto the bloodstained cobblestones as if to extinguish the flames of her crumbling city.

***

Raijaun saw Sandy take to the air after defeating one of the dragons trying to destroy the gate. Her runes flared brightly as she conjured powerful winds to aid her flight and launched harassing attacks at the dragons wheeling about over the city. He smiled at her cleverness and skill as several dragons chased after her and gave the mages defending the city a much needed respite.

It was difficult to see the farthest lines of battle as more than half the city burned, but it was clear that the humans were in a fighting retreat to the magical gate. With more than half the remaining dragons distracted by Sandy, the greatest problem in getting their people safely through the gates were those flying ships that continued to rain down destruction from beyond the range of most of the wizards’ spells.

Looking at the sky, Raijaun began gathering power to him. Anyone with the ability to see into the ether would find themselves blinded by the gold and silver amalgamation of Guardian and sorcerous energy burning around his form and spewing arcs of arcane energy like the spray of a cascading waterfall. Gale-force winds whipped around his form as ominous clouds rolled in like an avalanche across the sky.

***

Daebian felt the wind pick up and saw the wall of clouds forming as he directed his crew to destroy the city he once called home without the slightest bit of remorse. He reveled in the destruction, finding a sort of dark poetry in the chaos he helped unleash. He turned his eyes from the death and flames back to the clouds. The rolling vapors had massed, taken on a sort of solidity, and begin racing toward him and his ships.

“Tobias! Those clouds have the stink of my brother all over them. Put our arse to the wind and make for the sea!”

“Aye, sir!”

Tobias spun the ship’s wheel as others pulled levers and signaled the other vessels using flags and flares. The crew grabbed ahold of whatever fixed object they could find as the cloudbank struck with the force of a wave, lifting them and propelling the ships along its face. The stern of Daebian’s flagship lifted higher than the bow, putting the vessel at a steep decline and forcing crewmen to cling for dear life. Tobias and his two operators fought to control the pitch and avoid flipping end over end. One ship failed to do precisely that, and the stern continued to rise until it could no longer maintain the precarious balance and tumbled, spilling crew into open air as it fell and shattered against the sea’s surface.

A second ship managed to regain control before suffering a similar fate when a dragon, caught in the same unnatural storm, lost control of its flight and smashed into the aft deck, killing the operator and destroying the controls. The dragon flailed in the tangling lines as the ship plummeted, sharing the same fate as it and its crew.

Daebian peered through squinted eyes and saw Eva, a rope wrapped three times around her waist securing her to the mainmast, fighting to maintain the concentration required to work her magic. He was unsure exactly what she was doing, but from the way the ship eased in its wild bucking and rolling, he surmised she was enacting some sort of ward at the ship’s stern.

The cloud pushed them farther out to sea like a piece of flotsam until North Haven was a speck on a distant shoreline. The roiling cloud wall slowed, became more vaporous, and Daebian and his fleet found themselves lost in the midst of a dense fog. The strange mists quickly dispersed, and Daebian made a quick count of his ships. His tally came up five ships short from his original number until he spotted a speck in the distance coming to rejoin the armada. He had lost three ships today thanks to his brother and one to the wizards during the first hour of battle.

“Well played, little brother.”

“What was that, sir?” Tobias asked as he shook the cramps out of his hands caused by the death grip he held on the wheel.

“Point us back to shore, Tobias.” Daebian turned when Tobias failed to carry out his command. “Tobias!”

Daebian felt the stifling weight of dread drop over him like a frigid, wet blanket. Nothing moved on the deck, not even the breeze. It took only a moment for him to find Zyn looming as dark, powerful, and malevolent as Raijaun’s cloud.

“Your father was not in the city. Where is he?”

“I do not know, master. I cannot imagine what would have kept him from this battle. It would not surprise me if he managed to get himself killed. The man has a significant lack of foresight.”

“No, he is not dead, but his absence is disconcerting. We do not like surprises like these gates the humans used to flee our righteous justice. Why did you not inform us of their existence?”

“Why did you not pluck it out of my head with the rest of my thoughts?”

Daebian cried out as a sharp pain lanced through his brain.
“Do not be impertinent, slave!”

“Master, I meant no such thing! I meant only that I could not tell you for the same reason your all-knowingness did not discover it in my mind. I did not know about them. I know I cannot keep secrets from you, great master, and would not if it were possible.” Daebian felt the pain lessen as he braced himself on hands and knees near the Scion’s feet. “We are returning to the battle now to slay our enemies.”

“The battle is over, for now. Most of the humans escaped through their gates to the city called Brelland. You promised me a leader of unparalleled ability yet your wretched brother defeated you and destroyed some of my ships. I allowed you to keep your pet wizard as a reward for your cleverness. Perhaps I should revoke it for your failure.”

A thin line appeared across Eva’s forehead and blood trickled down her face.

“Master, she was the only reason this ship survived my brother’s magic! If you kill her now, she will be but one of many dead this day. Surely the lives of your servants and this vessel are worth keeping her until the races are properly crushed and subservient?”

“Perhaps you are correct,”
five of Daebian’s crew collapsed lifelessly to the deck,
“but examples must be made. Do not fail again, slave.”

Zyn vanished, the oppressive pall lifted, and things moved once more. Eva wiped her brow and stared at the blood covering her hand. Daebian strode briskly to the main deck and helped Eva untie herself from the mast.

“Are you all right?”

Eva wiped the blood from her fingers onto her sleeve. “I think so. What happened?”

“Just a visit from one of our lord and masters.”

“I take it he was displeased.”

“I think it is the duty and desire for gods to be displeased. It is the only time they are happy.”

“Daebian, what is going to happen to me after this war? Your father said the Scions will kill everyone who can wield magic.”

Daebian laid a hand on her shoulder. “I won’t let that happen.”

“Can you prevent it? They are gods, Daebian.”

Daebian snorted and waved a dismissive hand. “The gods suffer from the same weakness as my father. They are blinded by their own power and feelings of invulnerability. It is what has probably gotten my father into whatever bind he now finds himself and how I have been able to hide some of my thoughts and memories from our masters. I have no doubt they could find and tear out whatever they wished from inside my head, but they think so little of people like us and so highly of themselves they do not bother to probe that deeply. They have blinded themselves to all but the most obvious things.”

Eva smiled and pressed against Daebian. “You think more of yourself than any man or god I ever met.”

“Yes, but my faith is far better earned.” Daebian turned and shouted. “Tobias, turn us around and lead our ships back to North Haven!”

“Aye Aye, Admiral!”

CHAPTER 17

As she had promised the irate merchant and crowd of frightened citizens, Miranda was amongst the last groups to pass through the gate. Raijaun was literally the last to cross over, singlehandedly holding the gates against a horde of creatures and several dragons as the final group made their way through. His last spell obliterated everything for several blocks, slew hundreds of ravagers, and destroyed the gates. As his magic created a powerful vortex in North Haven, pulling the gate pillars from Brelland into itself before violently exploding, Raijaun stumbled through and braced himself on hand and knee. He shuddered from the pain and exhaustion and fought to steady his breath.

Miranda ran to his side as he knelt gasping. “Raijaun, are you okay?”

He swallowed and nodded. “I will be fine, thank you.”

“Miranda, thank the gods you are safe,” the Duchess cried as she ran to embrace her daughter.

“I am glad to see you safe as well, Mother.” Miranda saw Jarvin step away from his contingent of Blackguards. “Your Majesty.”

“Lady Miranda. I too am pleased to see you well. Forgive my anxiousness, but I would speak with you and your commanders as quickly as possible.”

“Of course. I would like some time to see to my people.”

“I understand, but please be swift. There are urgent things we must discuss.”

“I know how urgent our situation is!” Miranda snapped. “My home was just destroyed and my people slaughtered!”

Mellina held her daughter close. “Calm yourself, child. We have all lost our home, and we will lose even more. Everyone will, so we need to hold ourselves together.”

Miranda sniffed loudly and pulled back her tears. “Forgive me, Your Majesty. I know your concerns are just as great as mine and even more encompassing.”

“There is nothing to forgive. I would think rather poorly of you if you were not so concerned. I will await you and your people at the castle. My chamberlain will meet you and show you to me when you arrive.” Jarvin stepped over to where Raijaun was now getting to his feet. “You must be Raijaun. It is a pleasure to finally meet you.”

“The honor is mine, Your Majesty.”

“Please, call me Jarvin. Will you be well enough to join us? Your input is invaluable.”

“I will recover.”

“Good, I will leave you all to your recovery and see you shortly.”

Miranda went to Raijaun’s side. “The Scions know about the gates and are going to try to destroy them. We must warn Southport.”

“I already have. I saw the increased efforts of our enemy to destroy them and informed the Headmaster to take additional measures to protect them.”

“Of course you have. Mother and I need to see to our people. Can you manage on your own?”

“I have become adept at doing so. I will make my way to the castle soon.”

Scores of healers, priests, and Chosen aided Brother Thomas and his people with the numerous wounded while Brelland’s officers worked with the North Haven army to combine their forces and get them settled into barracks tents to rest. Miranda and the Duchess quickly conferred with the citizens’ leaders and ensured they were taken care of before riding to Castle Stonemount to meet with the King and his council. The mood was somber within the castle as people tried to put on stoic façades while they desperately tried to understand what was happening. The King’s Chamberlain said little as he led Miranda, the Duchess, Allister, and Aggie to the council chamber. Alex and General Brague were already seated with the assembled lords and representatives of the common people.

“Lady, Duchess, you are right on time. Is Raijaun with you?” Jarvin asked as they entered and took their seats.

Miranda answered. “I had hoped to see him here already. Perhaps he needs a few minutes longer.”

“Of course. We can discuss the more mundane aspects of the battle in North Haven and our defenses in the interim. General Brague and your young commander have already apprised me of some of the greater details of the battle, but I would like them to inform the council of our enemies’ tactics.”

General Brague stood and cleared his throat. “Our enemy came at us from the sea in ships capable of sailing through the air. Our wizards and heavy weapon crews had hoped to pluck them from the sky when they drew near enough, but somewhere near a dozen dragons attacked the city and defended the vessels while they unloaded their army. The ships holds must have been packed to the rafters with the creatures and dropped what we estimate to be thirty thousand ravagers onto the docks and into the harbor where they clamored out of the ocean and assaulted our seaward wall. In less than an hour, our army was forced off the main wall and to our second line of defense.”