The Sorcerer's Dragon (Book 2) (18 page)

“You think the Sorcerers are at war with each other?”

“There’s deception going on. No one does that unless they have something to gain.”

“Even with we stand still though, the Sorcerers will find a way around us.”

“Not necessarily. For plans this elaborate, there must be rules involved. I think the Sorcerers might not be as powerful as everything thinks they are.”

“We won’t know for sure until we meet one.”

“Hey,” Milo said, pointing over their heads. They looked up to see the grate slowly being removed.

“What would you do right now normally?” Alicia asked Remi.

“I would get out of here,” Remi sighed. “Thinking Olivia had a change of heart or Kace came to our rescue somehow.”

“Could be a trap.”

“They won’t kill us,” she said. “Well, at least you and me. Milo’s expendable to them.”

“Wonderful,” he mumbled.

“So what do we do?” Alicia asked.

“Let’s see where this leads,” Remi said. “It’s pretty quiet out there.”

“Ladies first,” Milo said, and Remi launched herself upwards with a burst of energy pumping through her legs. She landed outside and landed in a crouch, surveying the area around her. The winds were still blowing the dust around, but otherwise, there was no sign of life, including who had removed the grate.

“Come on,” she whispered loudly. She moved out of the way and allowed Alicia to come through the hole with Milo over her shoulders.

“Okay, I’m good,” he said, wiggling in her arms. She let him down on the ground and he brushed his shoulders off. “That’s so embarrassing.”

“It’s dead,” Alicia said as Remi unsheathed her eidolon from her hip and held it out in front of her.

“It’s like the army moved out completely,” she said. “But…why?”

“There’s no one here?”

“Well…there is…I think it’s Kace.”

“I don’t know why hearing that just scared me,” Milo said.

“No, it’s justified,” Remi replied. “Knowing what he is now…this can’t be chance. But if we want any kind of answers, we should see what he wants.”

They traveled through the streets slowly, keeping their arms up high to shield their eyes against the gusts of wind and clouds of dirt that flew at them. Once they were close to the energy signature, they decided to take some stairs up a clay house nearby. They would end up on the roof a couple houses away, giving them the space to see if he was in his right mind.

Remi stopped a few steps from the top, her eyes peering over the top of the roof. Kace was standing tall in the distance with no expression on his face. Remi kept moving forward and Alicia and Milo stayed close behind her.

“If you sense any danger,” Remi said. “Turn into a dragon and get out of here.”

“I’m not leaving you,” Alicia said. “We need each other.”

“I was hoping you’d say that,” Remi chuckled nervously.

Kace still didn’t move a muscle.

“Alright,” Remi sighed. “Let’s see what he wants.”

“I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you,” he said as Remi approached cautiously. She noticed that Alicia and Milo stayed back by the stairs, ready to make their escape if necessary. Though she was sure that Alicia wouldn’t leave her behind, she wouldn’t blame her if she did.

“So you know that I know,” she replied.

“Yes.”

“So what are you?”

“A person. Just like you. We’re no different than anyone else except in how we were created.”

“You were designed to protect me?”

“Yes and no. I pretty much do what I’m told, but it’s not because I lack free will. I believe in my master’s vision.”

“Your master is one of the Sorcerers?”

“He is. But I don’t want to speak on his behalf. I would rather he tell you everything himself.”

A pillar of light shot out from the skies behind Kace, and Remi was shocked not at how bright it was, but how she recognized it. She had seen Sages do something similar, in order to summon their Sage robes while intimidating the enemy. Did the Sages get their abilities from the Sorcerers? And what would that mean if they did? What battles and events throughout history were crafted and guided by their hands? And for what purpose? To what end?

When the light faded, a teenage boy appeared with dark green hair that fell over his face in long strands. His frame was thin but he wore a dark green cloak that similar to the Sages but the material was a lot more durable. Instead of it flowing around when he moved, it hugged his body. The fabric was stiff and starched. There were buttons and belts strapped all around the uniform and various symbols were emblazoned into it. His eyes were dark and distant and his face was angular. He looked serious, but due to his age, not that intimidating. He had to be no older than thirteen.

But what concerned her most was what her eidolon was telling her.

Even when she pointed it straight at him, caring little if it was seen as an act of aggression.

It told her nothing.

“Are we to fight?” he asked, his accent thick and throaty. She lowered her eidolon.

“I had to see if I could sense how powerful you are.”

“You eidolon is an extension of yourself. It won’t tell you anything that you can’t understand yourself, and I am nothing that you can begin to comprehend.”

“You’re trying to scare me.”

“No,” he said, putting up his hands in surrender. Kace stepped to the side so that his master was the one standing in front of her. “That is not my intention. All I want to do is talk. I have many questions.”

“Why would you ask questions?” she asked. “Aren’t you one of the Sorcerers?” She couldn’t be sure if he was or wasn’t, but she saw no harm in asking.

“I am,” he said, folding his hands together. Her eyes widened as she felt a wave of fear shudder from her head down to her toes. Though he gave her no reason to be nervous, the anxiety was there all the same. She fought against it, but she was sure her internal struggle was more than visible.

“What is your name?”

“I want my answers first, and then we will see if giving you my name is worth it. I’m sure you will be inquiring about me in the outside world if I let you go.”

“Have something to hide?”

He laughed. “You don’t scare easily. That’s what I like about you. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t things out there that you shouldn’t be afraid of. No matter how harsh your childhood was, there are those that have been through worse.”

“I’m sure, but I’m not going to act any different than how I feel. If I’m not scared of you, then that’s what it is.”

“I’m sorry, this conversation has gone along a path we have little time for. I’m here because I’m curious. I’m intrigued on how you’ve gotten this far considering the odds against you.”

“My journey has been controlled,” she said. “So I wouldn’t say it’s all been on my own.”

“I see,” he said. “So you believe that someone is manipulating your path.”

“I don’t believe it. I know it, and I don’t appreciate it.”

“I’ll have you know that I’m not the one that’s been guiding you.”

“I know,” she said. “I’ve felt my Sorcerer. He doesn’t seem nice.”

“I’m sure he’s not.”

“You don’t know who created me?”

“I have my suspicions, but that is another conversation.”

“What’s your involvement in all this?”

“Like you, I’ve been looking for my time to intervene. I think that time is now.”

“Why?”

“Because I see potential in you and your friend, Alicia. After all these years, I think that I may be able to make a difference in the status quo, but unfortunately, if I put my hand into their games, it will set off a chain of events that will be detrimental to everyone. And I fear that any safety nets hovering above you will be lifted. You will be hunted and executed posthaste.”

“Then why get involved?”

“Because the reward could be phenomenal, should it all go according to plan.”

“And what is that end?”

“We don’t have time to discuss that here,” he said, looking out to his left. “I cast a spell that transported the entire city’s population far away from here so that we wouldn’t be interrupted, but as a result, I have gained the attention of my colleagues. One is on her way right now.”

“Really?” she asked, staring out over the horizon. She could see nothing, and the city was just as dead. “I’m surprised she isn’t here now. Can’t you teleport?”

“I’m keeping her back with barriers…which she will destroy very soon.”

“Then what is the point of this conversation? A pep talk to keep me going forward?”

“No, I want you to come with me,” he said. She didn’t expect that.

“Where? Where can we hide?”

“Not here,” he said. “But I have a place. We can talk more there, and should your motivations align with my own, we may be able to join forces. I could even train you if you like.”

“How can I trust you?” she asked, staring directly into his eyes.

“You can’t right now. But either way, you must make a decision of whether you’ll go or stay.”

“And if I stay?”

“I don’t know what will happen to you. You might be killed. You might not. I’m not sure what her motivations are.”

“This Sorcerer that’s coming…who is she?”

“We are almost out of time,” he said, his eyes quivering. “I need an answer.”

“I…” she turned to Alicia and Milo who were doing their best to listen to their talk. She glanced at Kace whose eyes were cast to the floor. “Where is Olivia?”

“Transported with the rest of the Cimmerian army. She wouldn’t be coming with us even if you wanted her to. I’m sorry, but I couldn’t allow it.”

“I know,” she said. “Tell me. What’s your name?”

“Casimir. And the Sorcerer coming to intercept us is Ember. But we must conclude here. What is your answer? She has just broken through my last barrier.”

“We wait,” Remi found herself saying. Casimir wasn’t surprised or scared in the least.

“Then that’s what we will do,” he said, plopping down onto the dirty roof with his legs crossed.

“You’re fine with this decision?”

“If we’re to work together in the future, we must do what is best for everyone. To gain your trust, I will defer to your judgement on this one.”

“I take it she’s not as strong as you?”

“Oh, she’s ridiculously powerful,” he said.

The whole house underneath them suddenly shook, as if a giant had punched in one of the walls. The vibrations were so violent that it knocked Remi off her feet. Kace fell to one knee as he scowled and looked from his left to right.

Remi lifted her head slowly and behind Kace and Casimir was their opponent.

She was wearing a cloak similar to Casimir but her head was nearly bald. The little that showed was bright orange, and her eyes were as green as emeralds. Her lips were pursed tight as she strode forward, her hands encased in diamond gauntlets with large spikes sticking out from each knuckle. When she was half-way to Casimir, the spikes extended into long claws.

Casimir smirked and leapt to his feet, so gracefully that Remi didn’t even see him move.

Ember stopped in her tracks.

“What are you up to, Casimir?” she asked, her voice distant and haunting.

“I’m leveling the playing field.”

“You know that your plan has already been evaluated and discussed. We knew this day would come.”

“Then you won’t be surprised by anything that happens next.”

“No, I won’t,” she said confidently as she put up her forearms into a defensive position. She took off running toward Casimir and he stood there waiting for her when Remi intervened.

She couldn’t help herself.

She had to know where she stood.

Remi appeared behind Ember and brought her eidolon down upon the back of the Sorcerer’s head, putting all the strength she could muster into the blow.

But her eidolon shattered.

And it had barely hit the Sorcerer’s scalp.

What hurt more was that Ember didn’t even miss a beat. She kept running toward Casimir and they both vanished when they were only a couple of steps away from each other. Remi fell to one knee panting heavily from the blow her shattered eidolon gave to her spirit. Kace rushed to her side.

“Are you alright?” he asked.

“I don’t know,” she said. “Guess I’m no match for her.”

“None of us are. Better to let Master Casimir take over.”

“Where are they now?”

“In some part of the city probably, exchanging blows.”

“Have you seen them fight before?”

“No, but I’ve seen the Master train. We are really no match for them.”

“How does someone get that strong?” she groaned as he helped her to her feet. Seeing that it was safe, Alicia and Milo rushed to their side.

“We should probably leave,” Milo said as Remi scanned the skies.

“No, not yet. We’ve finally got to see two of the Sorcerers. I want to learn everything I can about them. No matter how little that information is.”

“I can take us up,” Alicia said, stripping off her clothes and throwing them to Milo. She began transforming when the house shook once more. Remi kept herself steady and searched the roof for one of the Sorcerers. Casimir appeared out of thin air at the far end, walking toward them casually.

“She hurt me,” he said calmly as he approached them with a confident stride. “But she should be occupied for a few seconds. What is your—”

He was interrupted as a shriek pierced the skies. They all looked up to see a rain of warriors dropping from the clouds, appearing out of thin air. They were all outfitted in ragged clothes and none of them had much muscle to them, but their countenances were full of rage.

“Get out of here,” Casimir said as he vanished again. The rain of warriors fell onto the roof and started running toward them the moment the soles of their feet hit solid ground.

Remi unsheathed another eidolon and met the first warrior. He wasn’t even looking at her as they engaged. It was like he was just staring off into space, and yet, he still managed to duck under Remi’s swing, uppercut her in the stomach, grab her hair and then knee her in the face. Remi fell onto her back as he quickly ran over and kicked her in the stomach. Remi grunted as she slid to the edge of the roof.

She swiped at his legs but he leapt into the air and she missed. She jumped to her feet and swiped at his chest but he back flipped away as another warrior took over for him and leapt into the air to kick her. She activated her armor form to take the brunt of it, but to her surprise, the warrior’s kick was strong enough to send her over the edge.

Although the fall didn’t hurt her in the slightest, she was still shocked by how much power these grunts had. She deactivated her armor form and scrambled to her feet. She heard a roar above and saw that there were dozens of warriors climbing all over Alicia in her dragon form. She couldn’t see Milo from where she stood, but she was sure he was hiding somewhere.

Remi sucked her teeth and ran forward just as a warrior landed in front of her and roundhouse kicked her in the face. Her face slammed against the clay house and she kept spinning along the wall, barely missing the warrior’s follow-up kick. Remi summoned her eidolon again but this time she made sure it wasn’t so big.

Holding it like a dagger, she lunged toward the warrior as she heard another land behind her. She couldn’t hit her assailant at first, but she used the energy she had in reserves pour into her speed, and not her stopping power. Eventually, as she picked up in speed, she was able to nick the warrior, and then after a couple more seconds, she was able to lodge the dagger in his temple.

But she wasted no time. She wretched the temple from the warrior’s head and turned to attack the second, receiving a punch to the face as a result. She shook it off and kept swiping until she was able to thrust it into the warrior’s chest. A surge of energy went from her new artificial arms into the hilt of the blade and it became her normal purple Falchion, growing large enough to protrude out his back. Remi pressed a foot against the warrior’s abdomen and pushed it off of her blade. He fell onto his back and didn’t back up.