Dark Empathy by Archibald Bradford (inspiring books for teens TXT) 📕

with so many digs going on it’s easy for the smugglers to move their product. In the last few years the black market here has really gotten out of hand.”

They all fell into silence for a minute as worried thoughts filled their heads.

“You’re... careful right?” Cordelia worked hard to keep her voice steady as she expressed her concern.

Oldeera squeezed her thigh reassuringly.

“Always. But don’t fret honey, you remember Miranda Holt? She arrived in the city a few days ago, and is hunting for the source of these weapons. She is one of the finest operatives I’ve worked with, so she’ll get it done.” Her eyebrow rose and one of her antennae dipped down to meet it; “Until then though, no more shortcuts through the slums.”

Cordelia rolled her eyes.

“I didn’t go into the slums! Just... near them.”

Sensing the beginnings of a potential lovers’ quarrel, and feeling very distinctly like a third wheel, Rebecca quickly took her leave.

As she walked home she found that she couldn’t stop thinking on the Hornet queen’s words.

More than anything in the world, she wanted to be part of the Aegis, to be part of that world, but in her entire life she had never even seen a lost-tech weapon.

So to hear a Hornet queen talk so casually about arresting people who actually wielded them was a mite intimidating.

Chapter 14:Vohan

Despite Olena’s curse, or perhaps because of it, the memories of Cheri’s smiling face had hung over Adrian like a cloud for the last several days; all he ever thought about was how she should be there with him.

Or that he should be with her.

He did what he could around the village to try to feel useful, mostly busywork that the Amazons gave him to keep him occupied given that they were far more capable to attend to their various chores.

Most days he wandered listlessly, trying, and failing, to find a reason to keep going beyond simple revenge.

Carrying a stack of towels to the hot springs for the use of the bathers there, he came upon Alcaia on her hands and knees next to several frames of rough wood.

She was molding stiff clay into solid rectangles almost large enough for Adrian to lie down on, pressing the substance as tight as she could around the wooden structures.

After he set the towels down on the covered shelves beside the water he looked to the dozens of bowls of clay kept warm in the shallowest part of the spring.

“What are you doing?” He asked dully.

He wasn’t curious, not really.

Alcaia frowned as she took in his expression, gauging his interest as she paused in her work.

“I am making Vohan. When we eventually find the men responsible for our losses, as I have sworn we shall, we will need protection.”

He blinked as his fog of grief lifted slightly, his natural curiosity raising its head and his brow furrowing as he puzzled out her intentions.

“Ceramic shields? To combat the heat of lost-tech weapons?”

She nodded and smiled at his interest, glad to see he still had some life left in him, if only for the moment.

“We learned much from the Valkyrie, but this is something we were taught by the Golems, long ago. The clay is stubborn though; we would not normally do this in the winter...”

“I don’t understand, won’t it be too brittle? Not to mention heavy?”

She chuckled.

“Yes! And no! The wood inside gives it structure and after it is fired we reinforce it with layers of cedar bark and strips of leather. They are not meant to last forever, though in truth nothing is.” Her smile faltered somewhat as she dwelled on her fallen warriors, but she shook it off as she continued; “We use them for mobile cover, setting them on the ground and bracing them as a bulwark against our foes. A human could not carry one, but the Saenga are strong.”

“I’ve never heard of them.” He mumbled as he considered one of the odd shields.

“It is not a tactic we employ often, even during the ancient conflict. We prefer to stay mobile, to attack rather than defend. But when your enemy chooses where and how your battle is to be fought you must adapt. Hopefully we won’t need them, but I will not see any more of my people die due to my foolishness.”

Though still drowning in his own grief, Adrian was a good man, and he opened his mouth to comfort her, to tell her it wasn’t her fault, but the words died on his lips when he saw her face close off with a mask of determination.

Somehow he knew she would not appreciate it.

The stoic woman had long since accepted the responsibility of leading her people, the good and the bad.

“How can I help?” He said instead.

She smiled at him but shook her head.

“There is not much left to do beyond shape and fire them, both things requiring the strength of an Amazon I’m afraid.” The corner of her mouth twitched as if she were hiding a smirk, and her words turned artless; “If you are looking for something to do though, Olena-Elda was asking after you.”

He frowned at her suddenly disingenuous behaviour, feeling very distinctly as if he were being set up in some way.

“Right, I’ll… go and see what she wants then?”

“That would be best. Thank you, Aegis.”

She waved him off with one clay-covered hand before setting back to her task.

Puzzled, but with his curiosity still piqued, he went in search of the Witch.

In the end though, it was she that found him.

“Oh good, you’re not curled up in a useless ball.” Her voice sounded close behind him, causing him to flinch; “I have a job for you.”

Though he frowned at her brusque address he set it