The Bone Mask Trilogy: (An Epic Fantasy Boxed Set), page 102
She sniffed. “So? That’s always been true.”
He had to smile. “Well said.”
“Can you help me? I can make it worth your while.”
In the shadows and with the grime on her face, it was hard to gauge her age but she was hardly old enough to...but then, what had he been thinking just a moment ago, about life and hardship? Maybe she was. But he still gave a gentle shake of his head – and not just because he’d invariably hurt her, even if he were to take up her offer. Or anyone not a dilar, for that matter. “Not tonight.”
He walked on.
Small footsteps followed and something tugged on his cloak. He turned. She stood glaring up at him. “I meant something else.” She lowered her voice. “Fire-powder.”
“I see.” Now that was a different proposition all together. “And you’re offering it in exchange for what?”
“I’ve been looking days now, for anyone to come and help me but no-one agrees. They’re all afraid,” she said. “You have to help me. You’re strong enough, right?”
“I might be.”
“It’s the blue-cloaks. They’ve hurt my little brother. I know which ones too; they have lions on their clothing. I want you to help me punish them,” she said, her voice hardening. “I have the fire-powder, we found it after the attack. The barrels were mostly shattered but they had rolled away from the fire.”
“Show me,” Kanis said. A stroke of luck – finally.
“Thank you, sir!” The girl pulled him back to the boarded house, then passed it and headed into the wreckage. She weaved through the piles of stone and hunks of wood before pausing at a darkened doorway. “He’s in here,” she said, then stepped within. “I have a lamp.”
Kanis followed her. Light from the moon behind him did not penetrate far. “Little girl?”
Lamplight bloomed, revealing a pair of Ecsoli masks, cloaks concealing their breastplates but their gauntlets appearing bright. Something knocked him into the room, then his legs were whipped out from under him.
Pinned to the stone floor, he twisted his head.
The girl stood in the corner, eyes wide. One of the masks turned to her, flicking a dismissive finger. She scurried through a door without a backward glance.
Kanis cursed, even as he fought the pressure on his body, the force jamming his bones into place.
But just like on his ship, he was powerless.
Caught another one, then, have we? The Ecsoli voice spoke within his mind, as they had before.
A second voice sneered. Too easy – this one must be pretty stupid. How stupid are you, pale-face?
Kanis cursed. “Let me go and see how stupid I am.”
Laughter.
No, he’s not stupid. They just love their precious fire-powder. And this looks like one of the ones from the ships.
Then kill him and dump him somewhere already.
You don’t want his bones?
Why? They’re no use to us.
Kanis frowned. What were they talking about? Did they want human bones? He growled, even as a shadow loomed.
What is this? A third voice – deeper, impatient.
We’re just deciding what to do with this one, Lady Bethana.
That’s not your job, Xanus – leave such things to me.
Kanis gave a short cry when the room spun as his body was flipped over. Light blinded him for a moment but still he could not move. He obviously wasn’t much use to the Ecsoli; he had to break free before they confirmed the fact.
The new Ecsoli, her blue cloak open to reveal a breastplate without symbol, was tall as a man and the bone on her gloves had been painted red, as if covered in blood. She held a finger over his face.
Now, learn a lesson, Xanus. She said, turning back to one of the men. If this fellow here understands acor enough to be wandering the city at night and to seek it out, then we can use him to find other rats, don’t you think? Please tell me you have not suddenly become stupid? You showed much promise back home.
Xanus’ voice was full of shame. You are right, of course, My Lady.
That is usually the way of it, yes. Don’t let your disdain for these people blind you to the possibility of using them. To Kanis, her voice was quieter. Unfortunately for your friends, if you have any, you’re about to give them away. Now do hold still – otherwise I’m going to hurt you, and I shouldn’t have to do that should I? A grin entered her voice. After all, it would be almost boring to have to do so.
Chapter 35.
Sofia herded the youngest toward the door, calling for the older ones to wake others. Notch already waited outside, leading the trail of fleeing children into the dark. Emilio helped with those inside and Guingera spoke with Metti. By his face, his efforts to convince her to leave weren’t going well.
Sofia joined them. “Metti, we have time.”
“No, dear. Mine is now – go, take care of my son, take care of the others.”
“Your son?”
Guingera nodded at her, then took his mother’s hand. “You said they have yet to pinpoint the location.”
“I will slow everyone. Better that I wait here and surprise them.”
“Let me,” Sofia said. “Argeon has an idea.” He didn’t – yet – but there was no need to share that. “Guingera, can you lift her?”
“Of course.”
“No, you must flee,” Metti rasped.
“On my word,” Sofia told the big man.
She closed her eyes. It didn’t block out much of the chaos caused by swirling blankets and whispers and waving, and Argeon was always close. How exactly could she explain? The Ecsoli masks were like hornets buzzing around the streets outside, pushing against the screen of smoke Metti had cast around the building and garden. Spreading the screen wouldn’t work. The Ecsoli had already guessed at the likelihood of Metti being located in the centre of bone-made smoke. And if they started a door to door search in the general area, they’d have no trouble finding them, screen or no.
No, she needed something sharp.
Something that would make them think twice before reaching out again.
Maybe...the ‘smoke’ screen. Would it work? Like in the Bloodwood, with the fire? She couldn’t spirit-walk, not without knowing where the Ecsoli were, but why couldn’t she use the smoke? It wasn’t real, but maybe she could fool them into thinking it was. After all, there was a link – they were probing the screen.
“Argeon, can you help me?” Sofia murmured.
He was well-aware of the buzzing, as she thought of it, pestering the smokescreen – prodding and scouring for a weakness. And Metti’s screen was buckling at the edges, as her grip began to fail. Sofia pictured what she wanted – a dark wreathe of the smoke-screen flashing across the city to slam into a scrying Ecsoli, where he’d collapse, wracked by a fit of coughing.
And there was a pulse from Argeon – he understood.
Sofia focused on a single Ecsoli; his buzzing formed a more insistent tone, then twirled some of the smoke around her hand then flung her arm forward. The spear of smoke shot along a path and her awareness followed, flashing through dark streets, stone walls, firelight and furniture and glass in windows and finally into a dim-room where the blue-cloaked man sat on a stool.
The smoke struck his mask.
It wasn’t truly smoke, of course, but to the Ecsoli, it must have appeared so because he shook his head, then coughed. And continued to cough as he stood, rasping Old Anaskari words. He tore his mask free, face screwed up as he hacked, the sound seeming to tear at his very throat. His colouring was Anaskari, perhaps a little more tanned, dark hair and dark eyes – now wide with panic. All in all, little different to anyone she might have passed on the streets.
Sofia flinched when the man hit the floorboards, still rasping and struggling for air. Then he grew still. But she had to keep her heart hard. No pity. They brought war within them; they killed first.
She returned to the smoke screen, twirled another line of smoke around her wrist and paused. There, an Ecsoli whose probing was slight but close to breaking through. She hurled her ethereal spear. This one did not travel far – it struck a figure slipping through the garden, opposite Notch and the line of children.
The Ecsoli hit the muddy earth with a splat. His wracking coughs continued as Sofia coaxed another line of smoke free and flung it at a third invader. The man’s buzzing search faltered where he had been pacing in a small room overlooking the harbour, as he too, clutched at his throat and tore at his mask.
She took more smoke and sent it after another Ecsoli.
And another and another until her shoulder ached. And finally the probing on Metti’s smoke screen halted. She could not discern voices, but the very air in the city was thick with warnings, as the searchers gave up.
For now.
Sofia opened her eyes. “Now.”
Guingera lifted Metti, who was breathing hard, and left the hideaway with a heavy tread. Sofia collected the last of the bones where they stood beside Metti’s armchair and followed.
Outside, Emilio was waving them toward an alley, ushering a few stragglers into the shadow. Sofia signalled for him to wait and ran toward the opposite end of the garden. There. A dark shape lay across the earth, blue cloak open and white breastplate catching the moonlight. A Bear Claw was carved into it. Just how many Houses had come to Anaskar? The Ecsoli lay still.
She glanced around the garden. Only the dark sentries of trees and neat piles of rubble. She hauled the man onto his side with a grunt, then worked the buckles and straps, freeing the twin pieces of bone. Next, she wrapped both them and the last pieces of Metti’s haul in her cloak.
Then she ran for Emilio.
“What is that?” he asked when she joined him.
“Bone. Where are the others?”
“On their way to the Harper – Notch is leading them.”
“Good. Metti?”
“Not far behind them. The Ecsoli?”
“I’ve thrown them off the trail for a while at least.”
“You must be feeling a strain – you are doing so much for everyone, My Lady.” He reached for her hand. She took it and he squeezed. “You will tell me if you need to rest, wont you?”
She swallowed, glad for the mask. “I will.”
“Good.” He pulled her along the alley, detouring clumps of rotting garbage, and took her back toward the Harper.
***
The lights were dim when they returned to the inn. Once Metti was placed in a warm bed and Guingera set to watch over her, a bowl of something hot on the table beside them, Sofia found herself pushing open the door to Seto’s upstairs room, her haul of bone in hand.
Her father turned from a desk cluttered with papers. “Sofia.”
She dumped the bone and rushed into his arms. “We found Metti. She’s recovering here.”
“You have done well, I will see her soon. What of the bone?”
“There’s what Metti had and more in the cloak.” Sofia lifted it. Her father accepted the package, spreading it across the desk. The breastplate and mask were stark in the light, claw symbol clear. Next were a few hunks from a spine, smaller chips that may have been pieces of teeth and even a few shards of what could be rib bones.
“It might be enough,” he said. “With what Captain Medoro found and all of this, for two Suits.”
“Do we need more than two?”
“We do – they are of use to any Anaskari; I believe they require no contract but that of blood.”
“Father, about the suits...”
“The carving of them?”
“Yes.”
“I learnt much in the palace.” He paused. “I believe we can approximate the Ecsoli suits. And we have Osani and Argeon to guide you. That is more of an advantage than I first thought.”
“How so?”
“There are few contracts among the Ecsoli. Most seem to use their masks and suits like mute, thoughtless tools. Few are truly old, like Argeon.”
Maybe that would make some difference, but still... “There are so many of them.”
“At least a hundred Ecsoli from four Houses I could identify and three times the number of Tonitora across those Houses. But we will use that to our advantage.”
“How?”
“Even in the short time I spent there, I noticed divisions. Prince Marinus, who leads, is supported by the Bull House and ostensibly by Casa Leo but I suspect they and those Ecsoli without symbol are plotting something.”
“You couldn’t learn what it was?”
“No. I placed the search for Oseto’s acor store above. I know only that they have hidden or possibly taken the acor elsewhere. I have also confirmed that Marinus is searching for his brother because he greatly desires an object of power Vinezi stole – a Crucible – with which pieces of a Greatsuit can be combined. He believes it in the Celnos Mountains with Vinezi.”
“Then he too thinks Vinezi might be alive.” Sofia shook her head. Still everything came back to Vinezi. And now the Crucible too, the very item the Ecsoli had been forcing the children to search for. “Then we need to find him and take the Crucible before Marinus.”
“We do indeed. It will be a long night for all of us, Petal. I saw signs of mobilisation in the courtyard.”
“I am able,” she said.
He took her by the shoulders. “That I know. But we are all weary too, are we not?”
“Will you wake me when the others return?”
“Of course. Rest, I will watch over you.” He pushed her toward Seto’s cot. She removed her boots and climbed in, pulling the musty blankets high. She lifted a hand to Argeon, her fingers hesitating on the cool of the bone. Best not to remove him.
Goodnight, Argeon.
A faint pulse from the Greatmask answered.
She paused, blankets in hand. “Father, what about Seto?”
He turned from the bone. “Osani reports only two...senses of Chelona. It makes no sense, I fear that Osani and I have not worked together long enough for me to truly understand what he is attempting to explain.”
“Can I help?”
“Of course, but not until tomorrow,” he said, moving to the bed and placing a hand over her own. “You need to rest now.”
“Tomorrow then,” she said.
“Tomorrow.”
He moved back to the pieces of bone, reaching out to take one. She lay back and let the soft sounds of the room wash over her. She rolled onto her side, limbs already growing heavy.
Chapter 36.
When Sofia woke it was to the sound of Notch’s voice.
Wind and rain buffeted the Harper’s walls and her body gave a shiver when she pushed back the heavy blankets. Notch stood in the doorway, lamp in hand. His eyes were wide and his dark hair wet, as if he’d dunked his head in a barrel of water. “Sofia, we have to leave.”
“What? What about Flir and the others?”
“Returned, but we have to hurry. You father is holding them off.”
“Who?”
“The Ecsoli – they’ve found us. Be quick.”
“How long did I sleep?” she asked. She checked on Argeon, replaced her boots and followed him.
“A few hours – it’s dawn.” He led her down the stairs. At the bottom waited a dark yet bustling common room, filled as it was, with armed men and women passing weapons and supplies down to the basement.
Her father stood behind the bar, hands flat across the bench top. Osani glowed and the glow ran down Father’s shoulders and arms to his hands. She started toward him but Notch caught her arm. “He asked me to get you out of here, Sofia.”
Sofia blinked. He what? Her heart skipped a beat. No. She pulled free. “He needs my help.”
“I know.” Notch said. “But I promised.”
“Then stay and keep your promise.” She ran for the bar, stopping before her father. “I can help.”
“Please, Petal. I am buying you time – there are too many.”
“No!” she cried. “I’m not leaving you; let me help.”
Notch joined them. “We nearly have everyone into the aqueducts already, save for the last of Seto’s men. Flir is leading them to the temple.”
Sofia ducked down behind the bench. Father and Notch continued to discuss the escape. What was happening outside? How many were there? She had to find out before they tried to take her – there was no way Father was going to sacrifice himself for their escape. Sofia reached for Argeon and he knew, even without an image.
Spirit-Walk.
Her spirit-form stood and strode for the wall beside the Harper’s door, which had been bolted, boxes stacked against it. Ignoring a hiss from Notch, she stepped into the wall – and as she had in the Bloodwood – crept forward until the stone took on a transparency.
Beyond, the pale light lit a dozen Ecsoli, their cloaks snapping wetly in the wind and rain. White bone everywhere. The hulking forms of the Gigansi lurked beyond, two rows deep. Many of the Ecsoli had taken a braced stance and several pointed at the inn.
Yet whatever they were attempting was not working.
Sofia flitted to the rear of the inn, dimly aware of Notch crouching beside her, urging her to leave with him.
“Take her below,” Danillo said.
“Gods be with you, My Lord,” Notch said.
“And you, Captain. I know you have watched over Sofia in my absence before and I trust you will do so again.”
“On my honour,” Notch said as he lifted Sofia’s body. In spirit-form she stumbled as her senses spun, but regained her balance quickly. Notch ran with her stomach bouncing over his shoulder, disappearing down the steps. She spun after him but stopped.
The inn is surrounded, Petal. Her father’s voice echoed in her mind. You will see similar scenes on either side.
She ran back to her father. How are you holding them back?
He chuckled. With their own power.
How?
Reflecting.
I don’t know if I can do that.
It was Osani’s idea. See my hands? I have linked us to the inn; it is now a mirror. Whatever force the Ecsoli use is directed back at them. He paused. A scream rose above the storm. There. One has pushed too hard. They are trying to tear the Harper down but it is no use.
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