Ebudae (40 page)

“It’s a good plan,” Lieutenant Abereen
agreed. “Captain Pumosa can have units cover any escape from the
street. They won’t be expecting an attack from below.”

Captain Zephan looked around and found no
dissenters. “Very well then. I don’t like risking Lady Ebudae and
Pelya, but it
is
a good proposal. Let’s get the details set
and implement the plan. Time is wasting.”

Chapter
27

It took a couple of hours to hash everything
out. The party that would be entering the ruins stood at a secret
door in the basement of Pallon Estate. A squad of twenty-eight
Guardmembers was waiting behind them. The basement was large, but
it was still a tight fit.

Pallon Estate didn’t like so many people
using its secret tunnels, but understood the necessity for Ebudae’s
safety. It could understand what people said and, after the
meeting, realized that Master Thanzin and the Blavoci holdings in
Dralin posed a very real danger to Ebudae.

Captain Zephan and Lieutenant Abereen were
there to see them off. “So the plan is for the seven of you to
overcome the wards protecting the doors to the Blavoci Estate,” the
captain said, summarizing things. “Then you break in and sweep each
level up to the estate. Your goal is to get to Thanzin as fast as
possible while preventing anyone from destroying evidence. The
squad will come in behind you and secure each level behind.”

“Captain Pumosa will begin infiltrating the
rest of Blavoci’s holdings at the same time,” Lieutenant Abereen
said. “We know what to expect and every squad will look for
passages leading to lower levels. There are wizards with each that
have spells to find secret doors.”

“We need evidence though,” Zephan reiterated
for the hundredth time. “Without it, the courts will eat us alive
for this action.”

“Don’t worry,” Commander Coodmur reassured
her, also for the hundredth time. “We’ll get it. Now quit talking
and let us have some fun.”

The captain pointed at him. “You keep those
girls safe. That’s more important than anything else.”

“They’re women,” the weaponmaster clarified.
“And I’m expecting them to keep
me
safe. Quit being a mother
hen.” He gave her a mock salute and headed down the passage before
the captain could do more than put her hands on hips and huff.

Sir Imbra practically jumped into the
passage, he was so eager to go. Appana followed directly
behind.

“I’ll keep them safe, Captain.” Frath
saluted her and gestured for Pelya and Ebudae to go ahead. Grinkin
followed them, making the seventh member of their party. The squad
that followed in single file was Captain Zephan’s best. If
everything went well, Thanzin wouldn’t know what hit him.

The weaponmaster stopped at an intersection
of tunnels. “Which way?”

Ebudae and Pelya headed to the front. “We’ll
lead,” Ebudae told him. With a single spell, she lit a row of
torches in a rack along one of the walls and left them for others
to pick up and carry. The weaponmaster raised an eyebrow at the
yellow-green color, but he grabbed one. To the right was a
different set of stairs the girls had never taken, but Pallon
Estate informed her that it would be the fastest way and in a few
minutes, they were at a pair of ancient brass doors tarnished by
centuries.

“Do you have the keys?” the weaponmaster
asked.

Ebudae faced the group and smiled
mysteriously. She held her left hand in the air, pausing for
dramatic effect. Everyone watched with baited breath. Ebudae
snapped her fingers and the doors slowly opened. Then she winked at
the weaponmaster and walked through. Pallon Estate approved. “Show
off,” Pelya whispered, smiling as she caught up. Ebudae winked
again.

Pelya stopped at a rock wall directly in
front of them, arching up to the wall of the building high above
the doors. Ebudae did not stop. Pallon Estate told her that it was
an illusion anchored by magical wards, cast by one of her
ancestors.

She heard gasps from the others as she
walked through. Ebudae turned back after reaching the street
beyond. In the dim light of scattered luminescent plants, it looked
like a natural rock had fallen from the ceiling above. She and
Pelya had been that way before without ever giving it a second
glance.

Pelya was the next out, eyes wide. “I never
knew that was there.”

“I know, right?” Ebudae agreed in
amazement.

The weaponmaster was the next through. Even
in the light of his torch, the illusionary rock looked natural.
“That’s a neat trick. Can we get back through?”

Pallon Estate informed her that they could.
She would also be able to remain in contact with the estate no
matter where she was in Dralin or the ruins below. “Yes,” Ebudae
said. “If we need to come back this way, just look for that rock
and everyone here will be able to get through to the safety of the
estate.”

Sir Imbra and the rest of their seven had
come through and were looking back at it. Frath and Grinkin had
torches that they held high. It still wasn’t enough to see far.
Appana tapped her staff on the ground. The resulting light that
emanated from the crystal was nearly as bright as day. It caused
everyone to shield their eyes.

“Do you think you should announce us like
that?” Frath asked, squinting at it.

“My apologies.” Appana dimmed it. It was
still brighter than all three torches combined, plus those of the
squad members who had passed the illusion by that point. “It keeps
slochunds and other vile beasts away.”

“It also draws in the most evil beasts so I
can slaughter them,” Sir Imbra said happily.

“That would interfere with our plan,” the
weaponmaster pointed out. “Let’s not get into any unnecessary
fights before we accomplish our mission.”

“I didn’t know there was such a thing as an
unnecessary fight,” Sir Imbra said innocently.

Ebudae listened to them as she followed
Pelya down the wide avenue. The warrior had sharp eyes for danger
and always took point when they were together. Frath moved next to
Ebudae, holding his torch high to give them light. Ebudae liked the
company and smiled at him. He returned the gesture.

“Hey! Where do you think you’re going?” Sir
Imbra called out after them. “I always take point.”

“Pelya always takes point,” Ebudae corrected
over her shoulder. “This is our territory.”

“Fine, but I’m joining her.” The knight
dashed past Ebudae and walked next to Pelya. He drew his sword and
rested it on his shoulder. “I bet I can knock a slochund further
than you,” he boasted.

“I’m not taking that bet,” Pelya replied.
She had her light adventuring sword, preferring it to the heavier
one she normally wore. If she needed both, she would toss it from
her right hand to her left and draw the other.

“Wise of her,” Appana said from behind. She
and Grinkin had taken up the rear while the weaponmaster came up on
the other side of Ebudae. The priestess had a smirk on her
face.

Grinkin looked miserable. He kept tugging on
the bottom of his chain shirt and fiddling with the hilt of his
sword. Ebudae was worried about him.

Frath also had his chain shirt on. Commander
Coodmur had brought it that morning, waking Frath by dropping it on
his head. For all these people were dangerous, they always seemed
ready to play around or make a joke. Ebudae liked how it relieved
tension and even made the adventure fun. Perhaps the fact that they
were about to either kill or be killed made the humor vital.

Halfway to the Blavoci estate, a group of
nine creatures called tallachi approached the group from between
some buildings on the side of the avenue. They were heavyset
cat-like creatures that ran on four legs and had long trailing
tails. Mottled tan fur covered their bodies and they hunted by
sense of smell, being nearly blind. They also smelled bad like most
of the carnivores in the ruins.

“I’ll take the eight on the left,” Sir Imbra
told Pelya. “If you’re not done with the one on the right by the
time I’m finished, I’ll give you a hand.”

Pelya’s lips twisted in amusement and she
shook her head. “I have a better idea.” She reached into a pouch on
her belt and grabbed out a runeball. Ebudae made hundreds of the
magical balls for their little trips and they had become a vital
part of their equipment. Both girls had taken the time that morning
to prepare in full adventuring gear.

As she threw it, Pelya uttered a key word
that activated the ball. Her aim was perfect and the runeball
landed a foot in front of the nearest.

Multicolored lights sparkled and sizzled for
twenty feet to both sides of it. Wherever the lights touched fur,
it caught fire. It also emitted a sweet smelling odor that would
interfere with their ability to smell for a few hours. The result
was that the tallachi squealed in pain and ran away as quickly as
possible.

“Where did you get that, young lady?” Frath
demanded. “You’re not supposed to take runeballs out of the armory
of magical items. I’ve never even seen those.”

Ebudae put a calming hand on his arm. “I
make them. We use runeballs in our explorations and try to avoid
fighting whenever possible.”

Sir Imbra stared after the retreating
figures that had almost disappeared into the gloom. “That seems
like a silly idea to me.”

Appana disagreed. “It seems like a wonderful
idea to me.” She moved to Ebudae’s side. “Runeballs are very
difficult to make and require strong magic. Where did you learn
it?”

“They’re easy for me to make and I read a
lot of books on the subject.” Ebudae didn’t like the woman’s
suspicious look. “We need to hurry. This whole thing is
coordinated.”

The priestess didn’t like that. “Very well.
We’ll discuss it later.”

“Oh no we won’t.” Ebudae gestured for Pelya
to hurry. Luckily, her friend got the hint and took the lead once
more. Sir Imbra caught up immediately.

The rest of the trip was uneventful and it
didn’t take them long. All of the shabby streets were wide in the
area with the exception of alleys long forgotten by any rogue.
Their footsteps echoed against the crumbling buildings.

No one was around the iron double doors when
they reached them. “I don’t see any wards,” the weaponmaster said.
It was Ebudae’s turn to take out a runeball. She threw it and said
the activation word when it had flown through the air far enough.
The air filled with lavender light the same as Ryallon’s moons let
out when they were both full. The light reflected off numerous
runes inscribed into the doors, walls and ground. The runeball
stayed in the air at the exact location it was when Ebudae spoke
the word, but it wouldn’t last long.

Sir Imbra let out a low whistle. “That’s a
lot of protection.”

“That’s an impressive spell,” Appana said.
“If you truly made these runeballs, Milady, you are an
exceptionally powerful wizardess, especially for one so young.”

“Don’t judge me,” Ebudae replied in
irritation.

“It’s hard not to, but I shall make the
attempt.” Appana gave a slight bow. “I’m not sure how I would judge
you anyway. Are you powerful before your time or are you lying to
us?”

Pelya turned and put her face directly in
front of the priestess’s. “She is
not
a liar and her power
is none of your business.”

The priestess didn’t back down, choosing to
raise an eyebrow instead. Sir Imbra and Gilron separated them.
“Peace. We work together,” Sir Imbra said. “All else may wait until
the mission is accomplished.”

“How do we get through them?” Grinkin asked.
He was becoming more desperate with each passing moment.

“Well, I can deactivate all of the small
ones with runeballs, but the large one covering the double doors is
extremely complicated and immune to anything I can do.” Ebudae
sighed. It would take days to figure out that ward.

“Go ahead and get rid of the small ones,”
Frath told her. “We’ll figure out the other.”

“We will?” Gilron asked. “That’ll be very
clever of us, won’t it?”

“Has anyone every told you that you drip
sarcasm when you speak, Sir?” Frath asked.

“Nope.”

Frath shook his head in playful disgust
while the weaponmaster put on his most innocent face. Ebudae took
out one of the balls she had made to destroy wards. It would
probably take a few. There was a limit to what they would handle.
She threw the first at the ground and said the activation word as
it left her hand. As it hit and began negating the wards, she
grabbed another and threw it at the wall. She threw one on the
ground further away and another at the wall on the other side of
the door.

Each one sizzled, popped or fizzled out
quietly depending on its strength and purpose. Ebudae wasn’t as
good of a shot as Pelya, but her aim was true. The only wards left
were the big one on the door and a couple of smaller ones that
couldn’t be removed without triggering the big one. Then the
runeball that illuminated the wards disintegrated, its power
used.

“
Very
impressive.” Appana didn’t
press more than that and the words were filled with respect. “The
ward on the doors is beyond my abilities as well.”

“Well then, I guess it’s my turn, unless
anyone else has the ability to get past it?” Sir Imbra asked,
sheathing his sword. When no one volunteered, he walked to the
door, leaving them to follow. The sergeant in charge of the squad
spread his troops out in a semi-circle, ready to go in after the
strike group.

The knight dropped to his knees a few paces
away from the door and began praying to Reanna. Appana leaned her
forehead against her staff and prayed as well. Everybody gave them
both space.

It seemed to take a while, even though it
was but a minute of prayer. At the end of the prayer, Sir Imbra
shouted
“Reanna”
and jumped to his feet. A shaft of light
appeared from above, seemingly coming from nowhere and everywhere.
It hit the knight and disappeared within him. Sir Imbra ran at the
door and slammed his right fist into it with all the strength of
his body. At the last second, the light he had absorbed gathered at
his fist. It released upon contact.