Nerys sprinted south, faster than he'd run in half a century. His powers might be ineffectual against Stalwarts, but there was more than one path to victory. The strength he focused down through his legs enhanced his muscles until he sprinted as fast as a galloping stallion. He hadn't run like this since he was a young Accepted.
He glanced back. The two Stalwarts were giving chase, and the old man ran like a gazelle. It wouldn't matter. They would never catch him. In a few minutes, he'd reach the sanctuary of the Sentinel Tower, and even the mighty Leander couldn't drag a Sentinel unwilling from that fortress. Every Sentinel there would rise up to stop him.
Nerys grinned as he ran. What a victory! His products were now battle tested against Stalwarts. Why hadn't he thought to try this before? He'd have to figure out how to add something to the marketing efforts that highlighted that even the mighty Pallian Stalwart Leander was no match for Kedo talismans.
As Nerys raced around the rear corner of the Donarr Castle, he nearly collided with a squad of imperial guardsmen.
"Ho there," the captain called. "What's all this then?" The man was a blocky veteran with a commanding voice and a grim visage.
Nerys pointed back at the pursuing Stalwarts. "Those men are bent on murder. I'm going for help."
The captain puffed out his chest. "We'll see about that." He stepped into the street and called to his men, "Form ranks."
Nerys chuckled as he ran on. He didn't really need the help, but it amused him immensely to throw one more obstacle in Leander's way. The Stalwart was far too serious. He should learn to laugh more.
#
Leander frowned as a company of soldiers moved to block his path. Curse the fool Nerys for his meddling. All he had to do was co-operate and name the conspirator. Why fight so hard to protect the traitors? Maybe he really was in league with them.
Leander would find out one way or the other, and justice would be meted out for crimes committed. The simmering fury that he'd struggled to contain since learning of Tanathos' escape yesterday boiled through him now and he barely kept it in check. Restraint was proving unproductive, and he would not allow these traitors to escape. If they pushed him to the brink, they would not like the result.
The captain of the company stepped forth and shouted, "Hold, Stalwart and explain yourself."
Leander said, "Basak, run on. I'll deal with this."
As Basak circled out around the soldiers, several of them moved to intercept him, but Leander cut them off. He planted himself in the street and said, "Captain, remove your men. You have no authority to interfere with me."
The captain said, "Where is your man going?"
"To catch a criminal."
"That Sentinel who just ran past?"
"The very one. He's in league with the forces that sparked the riots last night, so get out of my way."
"He lied to me?"
"Don't take it personal. He lied to the emperor not an hour ago."
Leander ran after Basak, who had already rounded the next corner. Behind him the captain spat out a curse. "Double time, men. We'll bring that liar to the emperor in chains!"
The soldiers broke into a run, but Leander left them far behind. As he rounded the next corner, he caught sight of Nerys disappearing around the city side of the Hallvarr Palace and realized the Sentinel's destination.
If the man reached the Sentinel Tower, extricating him would waste time Leander refused to lose. So as he ran, he called forth his Actinopathic gift. The power roared into him, so intense he shook with the influx of new strength.
With the power came all the horrific memories of his murdered family and the insanity that swept over him after their death. Coupled with his already-simmering fury, he barely refrained from unleashing his powers against the distant Nerys.
Should he do that, the gods only knew if he could ever stop. Instead, Leander focused on Basak. As the burly Stalwart ran, Leander pushed against him with each step. Basak flew forward as each leaping stride covered first twice the distance as before, and then five times as much.
If Basak felt surprised by the unexpected help, he didn't show it, and he adjusted his stride accordingly. Propelled by Leander, Basak closed rapidly on Nerys.
It was going to be close.
#
Nerys ran up the Iron Spoke and wove through the increasingly heavy foot traffic without slowing. Several people shouted angrily as he barreled past them, and he only barely avoided colliding with a courier on an imperial stallion.
He rounded the front of the Hallvarr Palace and grinned. The white walls of the Sentinel Tower, shining like a beacon, seemed to reflect and amplify the late morning light. There, sanctuary was guaranteed. He'd have all the time he needed to craft the appropriate response and deflect suspicion from the Kedos.
There had to be a way to capitalize on all the attention their artifacts were receiving. It was unfortunate their effectiveness was being interpreted in such a negative light. It wasn't the Kedos' fault someone applied their artifacts to nefarious pursuits. If only everyone could look past those deeds and celebrate together the craft so clearly displayed through the successful deployment.
He expected sales to jump next month.
Nerys glanced back and was startled to find the burly, shaven-headed Stalwart closing fast. The big man leaped impossibly far at every step. In one stride, he vaulted over a heavy laden wagon.
Nerys redoubled his efforts and focused his power to increase his speed. He couldn't falter, not this close. As he neared the tower, he spied four other Kedos exiting the building. He waved to them and caught their attention.
Even though he was still a good hundred leaping strides from the tower, he prepared to call to them and warn them of the danger. He could easily enhance his voice to cover the distance, and they would raise the alarm and provide assistance.
Before he could, something struck him in the back of the left shoulder, knocking him off his feet. He crashed to the ground and tumbled several times before sliding to a painful stop. His robes were twisted about his frame, and his skin burned from scraping against the cobbled street. His ears rang, but he heard no other sound. He tasted smoke, dirt filled his nostrils, and he sneezed.
He looked around, dumbfounded, trying to understand what had happened. His head pounded, his thoughts moved sluggishly, and everything he looked at seemed layered in thick fog. Beside him on the ground lay a Stalwart's hammer. He stared at it for two heartbeats before understanding dawned.
The cursed Stalwart.
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Rough hands grabbed his shoulders and hauled him to his feet. His legs wobbled and he would have fallen if he'd been released. He blinked a couple of times before the burly Stalwart came into focus.
"Nice try," the big man said in a surprisingly gentle voice. "Not good enough, though."
The words echoed into Nerys' head as if from a great distance, and he struggled to grasp their meaning. The Stalwart retrieved his hammer and started dragging Nerys away from the tower.
The movement jolted him out of his stupor, and his head cleared. Around them, pedestrians were staring or pointing. The Stalwart Leander was approaching fast, a look of grim satisfaction on his face.
The sight of Leander drove the first spike of fear into his heart. He dug his heels in against the cobbles and pulled against the Stalwart.
"I demand to be released," he cried, his voice weak and shaking.
The Stalwart ignored him and gave a single yank against his robes. Nerys stumbled after the powerful man, unable to resist the man's iron grip.
"Release him!"
Nerys glanced back and found the other Kedos approaching. Several other Sentinels were coming behind, and more were exiting the Tower as word spread. The sight bolstered his confidence.
He yanked against the Stalwart's restraining hand. "I might have run too slow, but so did you. Now release me."
"No."
The Kedos drew close and Nerys called to them, "Help. This man is intent on murder."
"Let him go," commanded the closest Kedo Sentinel, a hot-headed young man named Yasam. He glared at Basak and moved to intercept the burly Stalwart. He stood a full head taller, and with his thick head of black hair, he towered over the shorter man.
"Move aside," Basak said softly. He kept walking, and did not slow.
"You really are stupid, aren't you?" Yasam asked. He spoke with a thick, southern Freyarr accent. People from that mountainous region bordering Nedikat often intermarried with their neighbors to the south. By his swarthy skin, it looked clear Yasam shared that mixed heritage.
Basak kept walking. Yasam grabbed Basak's arm and snarled, "I said, let him go."
Yasam's hands burst into blue fire as he called upon his powers, but the light flickered and faded away.
Basak grabbed Yasam by the front of his robes with one hand and frightening ease, flung Yasam over his head. The young Sentinel shouted with surprise before landing on his backside several strides away.
The other Kedos cried out against the abuse, but kept a careful distance. Basak kept walking, dragging Nerys after him.
Nerys started to panic. Would they really let this brute drag him away? Leander would arrive in a few seconds. He needed help.
The ground under Basak's feet erupted without warning and flung the burly Stalwart thirty feet into the air. He didn't release Nerys, and tore a piece of fabric from Nery's robes. His arms and legs windmilled helplessly as he sailed in as low arc and plummeted to the hard cobbles. He struck with a loud thud and lay in a crumpled heap.
Nerys smiled through the rain of cobblestones. He gladly accepted the supporting hands of his friends. They turned and started back toward the Sentinel Tower where twenty Sentinels now gathered to watch the unusual event. Already Nerys's mind whirled as he worked out how to spin these events to his advantage. So much publicity in one day could be a gold mine if he could direct its focus.
"Hold!"
Leander was slowing to a stop beside Basak. The burly Stalwart stood, but he limped and one arm hung useless at his side. One entire side of his face was already darkening in an ugly bruise.
"Leave off," Nerys called, "or we won't be so gentle next time."
Leander planted his feet, his expression furious. All that anger had to be bad for his heart. He pointed at Nerys and shouted, "Surrender that man to me. He is wanted for questioning by the emperor in connection with attacks in the city last night."
Yasam said, "You lie."
"Don't push me, boy," Leander growled. "I lack the patience today."
"You lack sanity," Yasam shot back. "You will not take Nerys, not today, not ever. You cannot stand against us here, so take your bulldog and be gone or we'll chase you away."
"You openly defy the emperor's command then?" Leander asked.
"I defy you," Yasam shouted. "If the emperor wishes to speak to one of us, have him send someone with authority."
"Very well. I warned you, boy." Leander started forward, his expression determined.
"Flaming chains, you senile old idiot," Yasam cried. "I told you to leave!" He flung out a hand and glittering orange light gathered around it. The ground under Leander heaved upward, just as it had under Basak a moment ago.
Leander did not catapult up and away as Basak had. He rode the column of earth up, but remained fixed to it as if glued there. It settled again, and he rode it back down. When it sank into the ground, he stamped one foot.
The ground in front of Yasam erupted in a slanted column that smashed the young Sentinel in the chest so hard his body wrapped around it and his breath whooshed out. He catapulted away, turning a slow somersault as he flew limply through the air.
Just before he slammed headfirst into the cobbled street at the foot of the stairs leading into the Sentinel Tower, the air under him coalesced into a web of rainbow strands that gently caught him and set him down.
Nerys retreated from Leander, his fear renewed. He might have been able to duplicate that feat, but he was a fully trained Sentinel. Leander was nothing but a Pallian Stalwart, wasn't he?
The gathered Sentinels shouted their outrage, and many in the group moved to join Nerys in confronting Leander. The other Kedo member, a portly, middle-aged man named Viti stepped between Nerys and Leander, who resumed his advance.
Without a word, Viti clapped his hands together. A concentrated whirlwind exploded from his extended fingers and drove toward Leander. Nerys flinched to see the powerful spell unleashed so close and against a single person. They'd discussed ways to imbue artifacts with Viti's exceptional wind powers, but had not dared trust anyone with such destructive power yet.
He expected to see Leander's body snap under the onslaught. At the least, they'd get to watch the foolish Stalwart tumble over the distant Hallvarr Palace.
What he saw terrified him.
The wind tore into Leander, but he stood in the center of the whirlwind, unaffected. The silver hairs on his head and beard did not so much as shift with the wind.
Viti grunted and redoubled his efforts. The whirlwind roared with hunger to destroy. Leander stood calmly in the raging storm while tendrils of wind tore off of the central cyclone and whipped down nearby streets. Gusts tore hats off fleeing pedestrians and even overturned a cart filled with fruit. People shouted with fear and the courtyard emptied.
A company of soldiers advanced and Nerys recognized the captain he'd sent against Leander. He snarled with frustration. Things were getting out of control. They needed to bring this Stalwart to heel before serious damage could be done.
Viti lowered his hands and the whirlwind dissipated. He shared a surprised glance with Nerys and took a fearful step back. Nerys looked around, and the sight of a score of Sentinels moving to join them bolstered his confidence.
Leander spoke. "My turn."
He snapped his fingers and a deadly war hammer appeared in his fist. He took a single step forward and threw the hammer. His arm moved so fast, Nerys barely registered the movement before the hammer smashed Viti off his feet.
Viti screamed on the ground. Blood already soaked the front of his robes, and his shoulder and part of his chest looked completely caved in.
Sentinels dropped to the ground beside Viti and began administering healing to him. Others moved to stand beside Nerys, hands raised in unison as they formed a shimmering wall between the group and Leander.
"Stand down," Leander said. He raised his hand, and his hammer appeared there again. He pointed at Viti. "So shall be done to any who stand in the way of Justice today. Now give me the man, Nerys."
"Be gone," Nerys said, "Or we'll no longer show any restraint. Leave, or you will die here today." Around him, the other Sentinels shouted similar feelings, or taunted Leander to step forward again.
A new voice shouted above the others. The Kestrel Sentinel Durgesh moved to the front of the group. "You've finally lost your mind, haven't you?"
"Do not trifle with me today," Leander said.
Durgesh turned to the other Sentinels. "I serve the emperor on the ruling council. This man's condition has been discussed there in depth. His paranoid ravings against the Sentinels are growing wilder by the day. He's clearly slipped over the edge into senility."
"You intend to stand against me in this, then?" Leander demanded.
"Of course. It's painful to see a man once trusted fall so low." He turned to the other Sentinels and, with a sweeping gesture of one hand added, "We should pity him, my friends."
Leander slowly lowered his hammer. "So be it."
Durgesh grinned. "The old fool is finally coming to his senses." He muttered to himself, "He won't escape consequences again."
Nerys turned to help restore Viti, once again smiling. Everything was working out for the best.
#
The soldiers who had chased Leander came to a halt close to him and the captain approached the old Stalwart. "Shall I arrest that man now then?"
"No," Leander said. He placed a glowing hand on Basak's wounded shoulder and closed his eyes in concentration. The burly Stalwart sighed with relief as healing magic pushed the pain away and restored broken flesh.
When Leander finished, he turned to the captain. "There is one service I need from you."
"Name it."
"Clear this area and seal it off."
The captain glanced around. "Are there more traitors?"
"There are. We will deal with them. It will get messy. I don't want any innocent bystanders accidentally injured."
"I'll see to it at once." The captain began barking orders.
Basak rolled his shoulder experimentally and grimaced at lingering pain. "What are we to do, my Styra?"
"Summon the brethren. Full battle orders."
"You mean to take the man Nerys, then?"
Leander turned to look at the Sentinels still gathered, still throwing taunts his way. "No, my friend, not just Nerys. Today we cleanse the inner vessel."