Chapter 436 (1/2)
Chapter 436
Chapter 434: Obscured
A child’s screa Lyra up short
We all tensed as I searched for the source of the noise, expecting to rush into defensive action Aoutfro each other between the plots of raised far with a heavy leather ball in her arled to steal it froht her arirl However, it was too heavy and landed several feet short It rolled into the path of another child, who kicked it wildly by accident, sending it careening in our direction
“Why are there children here?” Ellie asked, confused
Lyra watched the children play with a distant expression “Many Alacryan families had taken up residence in places like Xyrus and Etistin Mostly those of higher ranking soldiers They have nowhere else to go”
The ball rolled totheir distance as they stared at me nervously I tossed the ball into the air withit sailing A chorus of laughter broke out aain
When I turned back around, Lyra was inspectingto Alacrya,” she said, “there is so I’d like to ask of you” A stack of rolled scrolls and folded parch “Some of the people here have written letters to their bloods in Alacrya, but I’ve had no other opportunity to send them”
Chul snorted “Are we to be postmen now? Letter carriers for the enemy?”
“Of course we’ll take the forward to accept the stack of letters fro look
“It shouldn’t be an issue getting the reement with Chul than Caera
Lyra let out a clear, honey-rich laugh, and I couldn’t help but chuckle as well “I’ent But thank you Your assistance in this, though it reatly appreciated”
Caera clutched the letters with care for a long“Do we have a destination in mind, then?”
“Is there someplace in Alacrya where we’ll be safe?” Ellie asked in response, fidgeting nervously Under her breath she added, “I can’t believe I’ to another continent”
“Yes, I knohere to start Lyra, is there soe? I’d rather not upset your people by activating a portal to Alacrya right in front of the us to a se It was thick enough to shi+eld us fro the terass and activated it, using aether to ht in the shadows of the spreading tree limbs, and a portal appeared next to it
This time, Caera went first I couldn’t be entirely sure aiting on the other side, and I wanted a familiar face to step out of the portal
The rest followed quickly
“Thank you, Lyra,” I said, offering the retainerto a head, Regent I can’t help but feel that Agrona is done biding his ti without a plan, and even if his asuran nature someti that has happened is outside of his intentions Even his defeat here in Dicathen”
“For our sake, I hope you’re wrong,” I said, squeezing her hand fir it
As I reclaiaze drawn into the middle distance Beyond the trees, I could still hear children playing and laborers shouting, followed by the low, ht of soldiers bending the nature of their attack spells to till and water cropland, of organized battlegroups working in concert to build ho theht have starved out here, or let their situation becoain, but the Alacryans had thrived
Who could have guessed that the worona’s vicious lies to this continent would be the sa her life to the better the possibility of better days on the horizon after so long at war, I stepped into the portal
I was enfolded in treht, which took a moment to coalesce into solid shapes as I appeared at my destination Disembodied voices seeped into my awareness before I could make sense of the shapes, several different voices,
As the blurred colors took ona wall of defensive spells Obscured by several shi+elds of wind, fire, ice, and translucent panels of mana was a two-story brick estate, which in turn was surrounded by green hills and golden fields The portal had deposited us right in the middle of a finely erine-colored bulbs
He also had his weapon out, and he was scowling at the opposingChul froht like a quarterstaff, had taken cover behind Boo Caera had stepped forith her hands raised over her head and was now cal to defuse the situation
“We’re not a threat, just relax My nahblood Denoir Please, just—”
One of the shi+elds h the defensive line Her orange hair faded to yellow at the tips, fraht hazel eyes “Professor Grey?”
“Please don’t attackout in front of the others “That would make this pretty aard all around”
One by one, the other shi+elds flickered out, revealing several young nized ione cartoonishly wide at the sight of rin All around hi to Adem for confirmation of what Briar had just said
The front door of the estate slaht, wind already swirling around his fists At the sight ofinto pure shock, then relief, and finally into a grin alible ass, I nearly soileda round of unsure laughter froers “What in the Vritra’s na here?”
“I could ask you the saaze sweep across the estate’s defenders “Your prograrin faltered, and he took a turn inspecting them “A lot has happened since you left for Central Academy Why don’t you and your friends coht to es stepped aside, allowing us to approach the mansion Sylvie fell into step on ht I heard her whisper to Boo to stay in the yard The guardian bear gruis walked just ahead ofback at Chul, who kept a watchful eye on the Alacryans fro restraint
He le step, then returned to watching the Alacryan children “The signal to attack had not been spoken”
Inside the entrance hall,out from doorways and down fro
“Master Ordin, what—Professor Grey!” Aphene, her dark hair longer than when I’d last seen her at the Victoriad, was blocking off one of the hallways
Behind her, severalto hide behind her while si the little girl Penka I had met last time I was here
“Do you have all the kids frouard by Aphene’s presence
Darrin’s lips curled in a forced smile that didn’t make it to his eyes
“Marcus is around here soroup “His blood was ss really started going to shi+t”
“Briar,
I wanted to ask more questions but felt it would be best to do so in private, and so I followed Darrin deeper into the estate A trail of kids followed at a distance, slinking behind us as if ouldn’t notice a dozen pairs of pattering feet Briar followedas if she were one of us, and fully intended on joining whatever conversation followed our arrival
Sylvie took in every weapon or piece of art hanging on the wall intently “Alacrya doesn’t seem so different to Dicathen,” sheroom where he and Alaric had revealed their Central Academy plan to me My companions and I entered the room, but Darrin stopped Briar at the door
She crossed her arms and lifted her chin defiantly, but he only had to cock an eyebrow at her She deflated, flipped her hair in irritation, and shouted at all the other children to get back to their duties, herding them away
The small, finely appointed cha this, became immaterial and vanished into my core Chul moved to theand stared out, his back to the rest of us Caera, still showing the signs of wear fro ordeal with Vajrakor, eased into a plush chair Ellie did the sah she sat leas
Sylvie stayed atDarrin carefully
It’s fine We can trust him
‘Maybe, but can’t you sense how stressed he is? Things haven’t been going well for hiainst a bare patch of wall, one of the few not covered by bookshelves or drink cabinets “So, what’s the deal with all the kids?”
Darrin sighed and slumped into a chair His head slowly panned across the room as he took in each of my companions, and he didn’t answer until his eyes met mine “Civil war, Grey So sent into combat Your impact can’t be understated, either I’m told that many of your students convinced their bloods not to participate in the war because of you”
“Which is, in a e’re here,” Caera interjected, drawing Darrin’s attention
“Lady Caera, it’s a pleasure to see you again,” Darrin said, his gaze lingering on her horns
In a motion that seemed unintentional, Caera’s hand drifted up to her horns, alotten they were visible “So ti word of her Is there anything you can tell us?”
Darrin’s jaw clenched, then relaxed Standing suddenly, he went to a low shelf containing bottles and glasses and poured hiulp “Half of these kids’ parents are trapped in the Relictooth Vritra have been assaulting the portals to the second level nonstop for weeks
“Alaric has a couple people eh it’s hardly necessary The first level industry hasn’t slowed at all, even with the ascents basically shut down All I know is that the assault forces are growingto breach the second level soon”
Caera glanced at ency apparent “We shouldn’t wait then, Grey—sorry, Arthur We need to go immediately”
Darrin’s brows shot up as she said my name “So, it’s true then You’re Dicathian, like the ru with that?” Ellie asked defensively, clutching Silverlight as she looked nervously at Darrin
Darrin responded to Ellie’s disco, really, I just…I’m sorry, Grey—Arthur—hasn’t introduced us I’ler of terrified children I’ve helped hi he’s here to return the favor”
“Oh,” Ellie said, looking sheepishly down at her knees
Sparing him too many details, I quickly introduced everyone other than Caera, hom he was already acquainted
“It does sound like we need to leave immediately, but…there is a proble away froo into the Relictombs,” she said with a pinched frown
“I’ll stay with Sylvie, if that’s what you want,” Ellie volunteered, surprising me
“I don’t want to leave anyone behind, but we don’t have a choice It’ll be fastest if Caera, Regis, and I go alone” To Darrin, I asked, “Can the others stay here? Sylvie and Chul should be of great help in keeping your wards occupied”
Chul turned away fro place for another”
I began to respond when soht my attention Real me to see the wind-attribute spell with sound deviancy altering the protection cast on the door