The Heartstone Saga by Archibald Bradford (short novels in english .TXT) 📕

overcome her fear of fire, and though she still cherished the comfort of her gourd she much preferred being at Booker’s side now that she did not fear being out of it.

Especially now that there was no one to carry it around anymore; Tiana had apologized to her profusely about it, but Juni didn’t resent her choice.

“Right about what?”

He paused at the door to the council chamber, shaking his head slowly as his hand moved to the handle.

“About war. The entire time I’ve served the Aegis, every step of the way, the path forwards was clear.” He shook his head as he pulled the door open; “It wasn’t always easy but-”

Whatever he was about to say was forgotten in the face of what awaited him in the room.

Margaret Bloom was staring at him, her eyes and mouth wide and her scarred face slack. She was held aloft by an enormous spear, impaling her from behind, her cane lying useless next to her swaying feet.

A moment after Booker opened the door the spear was jerked out of his oldest friend’s back, causing her body to collapse to the floor to join those of the rest of the council.

Her killer turned to him, and he knew her well.

His Amazon was skinnier than he remembered. Leaner. With a black band of Chimera blood smeared across her face to accompany the pools of ink that were now her eyes.

But there was no mistake that it was her.

“Yana.” He gasped hoarsely in recognition.

She had drawn her spear back, intent on killing him too, but the utterance of her name gave her pause.

Booker needed it.

The shock of Margaret’s death was enough to drive out everything else as he tried to reconcile what his eyes told him to be true with what his heart told him could not be true.

“Master! Get back from her!”

Juni’s shriek pulled him back into the present moment where he belonged just in time to duck below the Tenebrae’s thrust.

Booker and Yana had trained together for thirty years. He was an extremely talented hand-to-hand combatant to begin with, and having her to practice with honed him into a terrifying monster amongst men.

Yet he was not a real monster.

He defeated Yana exactly one time, and that was only because she was arrogant and he was reckless enough to sacrifice an eye to do so.

And he was also much younger then.

So the older and wiser Booker slammed the door to the council shut and braced himself against it, a temporary barricade between him and the Amazon as his mind scrambled for the means to save her.

His eyes locked on his Undine’s fearful face.

“Juni! Get word to Armstrong! We need his-”

The door jerked hard against him as the Tenebrae within snarled at them, knocking him to the floor of the corridor and driving the air from his lungs.

Yana’s next kick took it down entirely, Booker’s efforts barely buying them a few seconds.

But it was long enough, because she wasn’t the only monster girl in the corridor.

Every pipe on that floor of the Bastion suddenly burst as an Undine called for water.

__________

Nameless and his family regrouped at their apartment so that he could finally eat lunch, and so that Nina could eat a second lunch, but after Volka returned from meeting with the council they had a lot to talk about.

Once she brought them up to speed, the Valkyrie took Nameless’s hand in hers.

“I am sorry Husband, if my behaviour today puts you in an awkward position.”

He squeezed her palm with his fingers, then shook his head and once again opened his heart to show her nothing but love and support.

“You do what you need to do baby, and I’ll have your back no matter what. I didn’t join the Aegis for the sexy uniform. I joined because I thought it would be the best way to help. If a better way comes along, I have no problem losing the duds.”

“But what of your oath?”

“When I spoke the Aegis covenant it wasn’t to swear allegiance to an organization, it was a promise to uphold the words themselves. And as far as I am concerned no one knows what that should mean better than the angel who was there when they came up with them. Besides, I doubt they’re going to kick me out just because my bond-mate gave them a stern talking-to.”

“One they deserved.” Nina threw in as she finished the last of the little sandwiches that Ophelia had made for them.

Milly nodded firmly in agreement.

“Honestly, it sounds like that Booker guy got a little big for his britches today, calling you in like that!” She noted indignantly.

Ophelia tittered into her hand while Erica groaned.

“Milly! You don’t have to talk and act like you’re wearing your hat all the time!”

They all shared a bit of mirth, but it was short lived as they dwelled on the sudden uncertainty of their career paths.

“It would be a shame to have wasted all of that training.” Ophelia suggested.

“All that matters is that Evadne gets dead.” Nina disagreed; “After that, you lot can ditch the uniforms and the duties and we can all go back to Kettering.”

Ophelia stretched her arm out and hugged the Gigas from the side.

“You don’t like it here in the city? There is certainly more culture to take in!”

“The shower here sucks.” Nina shot back; “And if by ‘culture’ you mean those fuck-heads at that party, I’ll pass. Besides, we had a lot of great sex in Kettering.”

Not for the first time, Nina’s straightforward attitude helped them overcome any uncertainty, and they finished their meal without any more debate.

“Can we talk about a certain pissy Troglodyte now?” Erica suggested; “Because I reeeally wanna.”

Nameless sighed and shook his head.