Adept Story, Chapter Three B

I decided to extend Chapter 3, and so it is here as two separate parts:


Clearing her thoughts, Siona hurried after them. As she walked into the street, she was unprepared for the scene before her. She stood in a wide street on a slight incline, the midday light shining brightly on the cobbled road. Buildings, most at least two stories tall, lined the street. This appeared to be a mercantile district. She glanced down the street; Lynx and Raven were already heading down the hill, joining the throngs of other citizens going about their daily ritual. She jogged to them.

“Where are we going?” Siona asked.

“A meeting,” Raven answered. She obviously had a specific location in mind.

Siona wanted to follow Raven, but her instincts told her to run and hide. She had no business being in the streets of Alandon. She would be caught again, and then sent back to work at another plantation—or worse.

“It’s all right,” Lynx said, leaning toward Siona. “There’s no need to be frightened.”

Siona fidgeted despite herself. She could not help looking around her at all times. “The city is just so big,” she said, “and there are so many people.”

“Exactly,” Lynx replied. “We blend in perfectly with the crowd.”

The road curved to the right ahead, intersecting with another street. Raven continued to stride purposefully ahead. “But what if someone attacks us?” Siona insisted. “Or what if someone sees me?”

Lynx chuckled, disregarding Siona’s obvious discomfort. “Siona, you are safe with us. Besides, who is going to recognize you? You were twelve when you were kidnapped, and even though you don’t seem to have noticed, you are a woman now. You don’t even look like an orphan child anymore.”

Siona looked down at herself. The clothes she wore did fit better than the outfit she owned at the plantation, but they still hung loosely on her. She still was rather diminutive, and having Leon towering over her made her feel even smaller. He did have a point, though.

“I suppose your right,” Siona said, mostly to mollify Lynx. She did understand what he said, though. None of the other people walking in the street with them bothered to look at them, let alone attack them.

“What did Raven mean when she told Karissa she was the Watcher?” Siona inquired, changing the subject.

“Karissa is watching over us as we speak,” Lynx said, gesturing upward. “Whenever a group of us travels in the city, one of us is assigned to be the Watcher for the group.”

“Why?”

“So that we don’t have to expose ourselves,” Lynx explained. “It’s much simpler for a thief to distract someone, even attack them, than ordinary citizens.”

Siona nodded, glancing up toward the rooftops. Karissa was nowhere in sight. How could she be watching their group? Lynx must have been exaggerating; she most likely was behind them somewhere in the street.

As they walked, she studied the people passing by them in the street. The city had not changed much in the past five years, although she expected that the slums had grown larger. More people packed the city streets daily, coming from all parts of the world to live in Alandon. Over thirty different noble families called the city home as well. With so many people, crime was everywhere, causing soldiers to police the streets where they wanted and ignore the places they were needed.

Despite everything, the residents did not appear to be an oppressed people. They went about their business as usual, just as Siona remembered. Only she had watched these people from shadowed alleyways, trying her hardest to stay hidden. Most did not even understand that not everyone in the city lived well. The poorest parts of Alandon were riddled with whorehouses and beggars. Siona recalled hiding herself behind some minor nobleman’s manor, waiting for any food scraps that were to be thrown away that day. On occasion, she could find a family who would feed her for a day, but no one dared to take her in. The Emperor’s enforcers, chiefly his own Adepts and the Royal Knights, periodically hunted down and killed part of the beggar population, and then sent off the children to the plantations.

Siona had been captured in a similar raid. She had no memories of her parents, but her older brother, Kam, had done his best to raise her. Unfortunately, he had beaten her dozens of times, especially when she had failed to bring back food for him. Life with Kam had not been ideal, but he had protected her from those who tried to harm her.

Until, of course, the Royal Knights had discovered their usual hideout. They had killed Kam and captured her, sending her off on the next prisoner carriage. Lord Irawen had paid for the next delivery, and so she had found herself at his plantation.

The Emperor’s laws had made it possible for her to be sold into a life of slavery. However, she could not turn a blind eye toward the rest of the city’s inhabitants. The excuse of ignorance did not make up refusing to see what was happening in the city.

“Lynx,” Siona began, “how is it that all these people can live so well, while others suffer?”

“Appearances can be deceiving, Siona,” he answered. “Most of the people you see here are not living in luxury. For the most part, these ordinary citizens work all day to support their families at home. Some can’t handle it and are crushed. In a city of this magnitude, there are just too many people and not enough money.”

He gazed into the distance, toward the citadel. The enormous, squarish building rose from the center of the city, a dark, ominous reminder of the Emperor’s omnipresence. “That’s where all the money is,” Lynx resumed. “The people are taxed so heavily that they barely have enough to sustain themselves.”

“And the lucky few who do manage to rise to noble status apparently forget what it was like to be a peasant,” Siona spat. She hated even the mention of noblemen.

“Now don’t be too hasty in your judgment,” Lynx retorted. “Some of the houses would like to change the way things are. Unfortunately, the Emperor does not allow that sort of talk.”

They turned into a small alleyway that passed through a break in the buildings. Siona continued to dwell on the topic of noblemen. To her, they were all the same. If some of them actually did care about the wellbeing of the lower class, why did they not act more charitable? The one act of kindness she had observed had come from House Velariel, a house of moderate importance. Lord Velariel had tried to establish an orphanage. The Emperor had allowed the project to be completed, only to send his soldiers to burn the shelter hours later.

“We have arrived,” Raven proclaimed, bringing Siona back to the present. They stood in front of a small, rather unimposing house. Raven tapped lightly on the door. A slit opened and a pair of eyes looked out.

“Ah, Lady Raven,” a man said from the other side, his voice muffled. He pulled the door toward him. “Do come in.”

“Thank you,” Raven answered, marching into the front room. Lynx waved Siona forward, then followed her inside. Both of her companions had adopted subtle threatening postures: Raven, stiff and formal, still managing to look like a queen, and Lynx, slouching yet somehow watching every corner of the room.

A group of men was seated in a semicircle in the room, which was much more spacious than the outside of the building had suggested. Seven pairs of eyes turned to regard the newcomers. Siona felt uncomfortable beneath the passing scrutiny of these strangers.

One man stood alone in corner in the back of the room. Like Raven and Lynx, he put off a dangerous air while remaining nonchalant. The only other man in the room, who had been addressing the seated men, stepped forward to greet Raven. He was a rather short, squat man, with flecks of gray in his hair. He pushed his glasses up his nose as he approached the group.

“I apologize for our tardiness, Jasner,” Raven said. “I had some business to take care of this morning.”

“No apology is necessary, Lady Raven,” the man, Jasner, replied. “Please, join us.”

Jasner led Raven toward the front of the room. Lynx maneuvered Siona toward a pair of empty chairs behind the main group. He nodded respectfully to the man in the corner before taking his seat.

“Gentlemen,” Jasner began, “this is Lady Raven, the woman to whom I referred earlier. She has been of great assistance to us in these past months, and last night, she rid the world of one of the Emperor’s plantation lords.”

The men grumbled something, but Siona was not listening. “What is this?” she whispered, leaning toward Lynx.

“This is a meeting,” Lynx replied, grinning. Siona almost smiled back at him; his constant humor was intoxicating.

“I mean, what are we doing here?” she said.

“We are here to lend our support to the rebellion,” he answered. “I’m sure Jasner will explain himself shortly.”

Indeed, the short man had begun gesturing toward Raven. Siona returned her attention to the leader of the gathering.

“Yes, gentlemen,” Jasner continued, “we now have a man of great worth and valor to lead us: Raynar Karban. He will undoubtedly free us of the oppression of the Empire after so many years.” He gestured toward Raven. “And now, with the help of the Brotherhood, our victory is assured. We only ask that you join us, my friends, in our noble cause.”

For a moment, the seated men were silent. Whatever Siona had drowned out must have been important. Finally, the men clapped quietly, respectfully. Raven nodded to them.

“We will assist the rebellion in any way we can,” she said. “We only ask that we receive our payment on time.”

“You will, my lady,” Jasner said soothingly.

Siona turned back to Lynx, intending to ask him another question, when Raven announced that they were leaving. She seems to have a knack for interrupting me before I even speak, Siona thought. She stood with Lynx and followed Raven to the door.

They returned to the street. Before Siona could speak, Raven held up a hand, silencing her.

“You may ask questions once we have returned to the safe house,” Raven said. “It is time we put you to the test.”

She turned and headed back the way they had come. With a sigh, Siona followed, Lynx close behind her.

Adept Story, Chapter Three A

Chapter 3 is complete. Enjoy.


CHAPTER THREE

Siona awoke in her bed. She rubbed her eyes, wondering why the taskmaster had not come to wake her. She closed her eyes again, thinking that maybe she had actually woken up too early.

Her eyes shot open as she remembered. She sat up immediately, realizing that she was not actually on her sleeping pallet, but an actual mattress. She surveyed her surroundings and saw that she sat in a small bedroom. The room was bare of any furniture save for the bed and a dresser standing against the wall at the foot of the bed.

Quickly, she threw off her sheets, and stood. Her shirt and trousers were gone, replaced by a white nightgown. For a moment, she began to panic, wondering what exactly they had done to her.

Calm down, she told herself. If they wanted, you would be dead already. Obviously they want you for something.

Taking a deep breath, Siona closed her eyes for a second. Her instincts told her to flee, to get as far away as possible from this strange place, but she could not. She remembered everything that had happened the night before, but none of it made sense. She needed to know who—or what—those people were.

She stepped up to the dresser and opened the top drawer. A clean pair of trousers and a shirt sat folded inside. Unlike her old clothes, these were not torn and stained with perpetual grime. She pulled off the nightgown and dressed herself, relishing the feel of the new clothing.

She moved toward the door and peeked out, looking in both directions. No one was outside. She pushed the door open the rest of the way and walked out into the hallway. To her right was a stairwell leading downward. Unsure of what she would find, she slowly descended.

She found herself in a large dining room. Square tables dotted the area, complete with four chairs apiece. In the center of the room, the man Lynx sat, eating what looked to be some kind of meat. He looked up as she entered.

“Ah, you’re awake,” he said, smiling. Like her, he wore simple clothing. Siona had almost expected him to still be wearing the black uniform he had worn the night before.

Siona approached the table. “Where are we?” she asked.

“Alandon,” Lynx replied. Siona drew in a sharp breath. “Now don’t panic. We are completely safe here.”

“This is Alandon,” Siona stated. “No one is ever truly safe.”

Lynx shook his head. “Don’t worry so much. Take a seat; I’ll find you something to eat.”

Siona took the chair across from him, making sure she had a good view of both the front door and the back doorway. He stood and moved into the kitchen at the back of the room and returned a moment later. He carried a plate with a piece of cooked meat and vegetables. He set it down in front of Siona and handed her a fork. She eyed him suspiciously.

“Eat it,” Lynx said. “It won’t kill you, I promise.”

Siona picked up the fork and jabbed at the meat. It was surprisingly tender and came away easily. She took an experimental bite.

“It’s…delicious,” she said in amazement. She began eating in earnest.

Lynx chuckled. “That’s not very ladylike, you know,” he said as she shoveled the food into her mouth. She shot him a glare and continued eating, slowing her pace somewhat.

“I’ve never eaten this well is all,” Siona pointed out between bites.

“Well, get used to it,” Lynx replied, returning to his chair. “Raven has taken a special interest in you. It seems that you are staying here for the time being.”

Siona swallowed the last morsel of the meat. “Where is Raven?” she inquired.

“She’s probably off gallivanting around the city,” he answered offhandedly. “She usually doesn’t return until afternoon.”

Siona glanced toward the window and realized that it was already past midday. “How long was I asleep?” she asked.

“We put you up there as soon as we arrived here,” Lynx said. “That was just last night. You did well, actually. I’ve seen other Adepts take up to three days to come out of the shock of their first time using a travel stamp.”

“That was that paper you used, right?” Siona asked.

“Correct,” he replied. “We use those to travel to a specific place instantaneously. The shock of the experience knocks out everyone the first time. I’ve only used them a handful of times.”

Siona started in on the vegetables, mostly beans. “I don’t really remember any of it. What happened?”

“Nothing bad,” he answered. “You went unconscious as soon as we appeared on the roof.”

“On the roof…” she said, trailing off. “Who are you people?”

Lynx paused. “I can’t tell you much, right now. Raven may have brought you here, but she does not part with secrets easily. You two are a lot alike, actually; neither of you really trust anyone.”

Siona looked away. “I’m sorry, Lynx,” she said. “I didn’t mean to offend you.”

“You didn’t, so don’t sweat it,” he said, smiling again. Siona sensed that was his reaction to everything. “Anyway, I know what it’s like in the compounds. I was there once, too. Not at Lord Irawen’s plantation, of course. I was rescued over a year ago, when I was nineteen.”

“How long were you there?”

“Four years,” he said. “I managed to lay low in the city for a while, but eventually I got cocky and tried to steal from a restaurant. The owner caught me and sold me to a plantation. I managed to break his arm in the process, though, so it was not a total loss.”

Siona nodded. Lynx really was a large man. “So, what about Raven?” she asked. “What’s her story? Why did she come to the plantation last night?”

“We were hired to do so,” Lynx explained. “We’re part of an organization that works with…special cases. We don’t ask our employers why they want a job done, we just do it.”

“But, what about those symbols she drew?” she persisted. “What were those? Why was Raven surprised that I could see them?”

Lynx chuckled. “Patience,” he said. “Raven will explain everything in due time. She’s the boss here.”

Suddenly, the front door burst open. Siona jumped, surprised by the sudden motion. A woman entered, closing the door behind her. She was not much taller than Siona, with long honey-blonde hair.

“Hello you two,” she said sweetly, smiling at Siona. “It’s nice to see you’re awake.” She moved past them into the kitchen, humming softly.

“That’s Karissa,” Lynx said. “If you think I smile and laugh a lot, wait until she starts talking.”

“I heard that,” Karissa called from the other room. She returned holding a plate containing food identical to what Siona had just finished. She set the plate on the table, turned her chair backward, and plopped down.

“I didn’t expect you to wake up for another day at least,” Karissa said, “as small as you are.” She stuffed a bite of meat into her mouth.

“You’re one to talk,” Lynx retorted. “You aren’t much bigger than her.”

Karissa shoved him playfully on the shoulder and continued eating. Siona was taken aback by their almost childish banter. She had expected them to be much more serious, like Raven had acted the night before. They were not worried that they were in Alandon, the center of the Red Empire.

“So how was your trip?” Lynx asked.

“Uneventful, as usual,” Karissa replied with a mock sigh. “The citadel is as locked up as ever. They really take security seriously. Honestly, the Emperor is nigh invincible; I don’t think he needs to worry about being assassinated any time soon.”

Siona looked at Karissa, jaw dropping. The woman acted as though the Emperor were of little importance. “You went to the citadel?” she asked.

“Of course,” Karissa said, nodding. “I’ve been there lots of times.”

“Aren’t you afraid of being caught?” Siona asked in disbelief.

“Why should I be?” Karissa replied. “I’m dressed just like anybody else walking the streets.”

“But, it’s the Empire,” Siona insisted. “The Emperor can order his soldiers to kill anyone on a whim.”

Karissa shook her head. “He could, if he ever left his stronghold.”

She turned her attention to Lynx and began a new conversation, but Siona was no longer listening. Why had they brought her here? What did they expect of her? She knew nothing about them, other than their apparent disregard for danger.

The Red Empire had stood strong for five hundred years. The first Emperor had conquered over a dozen different nations, forming them into a single, cohesive empire. When it was all over, he had returned to the city of Alandon, the greatest city built by man, and established it as his capital.

Now, the third Emperor ruled. Like his predecessors, he lived longer than any normal man, and yet no one had really ever seen his face. It was rumored that he attended court gatherings in full armor, never allowing even the richest lords to see him. Siona wondered how anyone could speak of such a man without feeling a sense of dread. Provided that he really was a man.

Siona felt as though everything she knew was now being turned upside down. As a slave, life had been simple. She worked to stay alive; there had been nothing beyond that. Before then, the same rules applied to living in the streets. As grand as Alandon was, it was not devoid of its slums. Many people were forced into lives of hardship. Siona had been abandoned when she was only ten because her parents had decided they could no longer take care of her, and had simply left her in the market one day. From there, she had joined a gang of other orphaned children. They had been fairly successful, until a high lord discovered them rooting through his garbage one day.

Sitting in this building with Lynx and Karissa, who seemed so unconcerned about the havoc they had already caused—and most likely planned to continue—was strange and alien to Siona. Yesterday, she had been a slave; today, she was not sure what she was.

“Why am I here?” Siona demanded, causing Lynx and Karissa to falter in their conversation.

“What do you mean?” Lynx asked.

“Why did you bring me here, to Alandon?” Siona said. “What can I possibly do for you people? I don’t even know who you are.”

Lynx leaned forward, resting his chin on his hand. “So, are you telling me you were more content with the life you had before?” Siona paused, taken aback. “I know this is hard to accept, especially after living like that for so long, but you are in good hands. Your life is changing for the better. You’ll see.”

Siona pursed her lips, thinking. He was right, though. Working at the plantation had become her life. That was all she was good for, and ever would be. Her chance encounter with Raven had been different, drawing Siona like a magnet.

“I know what you’re thinking, Siona,” Lynx continued. “I thought the same thing. When a person is forced to live a certain way, it becomes the only way. Such a drastic change is difficult to accept at first.”

“I think I understand,” Siona replied. If Lynx was to be believed, he had been in her situation before. One thing still bothered her, though. “But I still don’t know why you brought me. What good am I to you?”

Lynx sat back, chuckling. “That again. You sure are a curious girl.” Siona blushed, causing to laugh again. “Raven will explain. It’s her duty to tell you.”

Siona nodded, but she still was not fully convinced. They obviously expected her to do some kind of task for them. Nothing in the world was truly free. Before she could press the issue further, the front door swung open again, revealing a tall woman. Like Karissa and Lynx, she wore the traditional clothing of the peasantry, although she managed to wear the outfit like a queen. Jet-black hair fell to her shoulders, framing a beautiful face.

Seeing her in the daylight, Siona barely recognized Raven. Siona was not prepared for how breathtaking she would be. It was nearly impossible to connect her to the same woman from the night before.

She closed the door and strode to the table, standing behind the empty chair. Lynx and Karissa waited patiently for her to speak. Siona held her breath, noticing the silence that had descended on the room. Lynx had not exaggerated; Raven truly was in control here.

Finally, Raven flicked her left hand. A knife slid from the sleeve, dropping into her waiting palm. The entire piece was of one solid metal, painted black. Siona guessed that the extended triangular blade was about six inches long, leading into a hilt ending with a small metal ring. She turned the handle toward Siona.

“Take it,” she prompted.

Hesitantly, Siona took the proffered knife delicately. “Why?” she asked in confusion.

“You found that last night,” Raven said. “I took it from you to clean it. Consider it my welcoming gift.”

“Thank you,” Siona said, hoping that was the correct response.

“Mark the handle with your name,” Raven said. “That way, everyone will know that was your first knife.”

Siona nodded, unsure what the point of the knife was. She was hardly a fighter, considering her size. However, she had no intention of doing anything that might procure Raven’s displeasure.

“Now, down to business,” she said. “The meeting will be starting shortly. I see you have all eaten. Karissa, prepare yourself; you’re the Watcher today.”

“Yes!” Karissa exclaimed, jumping up and fairly running upstairs.

Lynx shook his head. “Lucky her,” he said. “I was hoping I wouldn’t have to attend the meeting today.” He stood and followed Raven to the door.

Raven looked back. “Get up,” she said to Siona. “You are coming with us.”

Siona was taken aback. “Why?” she asked.

“You will see,” Raven answered. “This is the first day of your new life. Come with me, and I will explain why I brought you here.”

She placed a hand on the doorknob and pulled it open. She stepped outside. Lynx looked back at Siona and smiled. For a moment, she almost believed that there was sincerity behind the expression. Regardless, Raven had knowledge that she wanted. She needed to know as much as possible.

And then she would leave them.

Adept Story, Chapter Two

Chapter 2 is complete. This story does not have a title yet, so I will refer to it from now on as "The Adept Story". Yes, that sounds lame, but it's not the title. So, here it is. Enjoy. Hopefully Chapter 3 will be completed by the end of the week.


CHAPTER TWO

When Siona arrived at the manor, she could see that the woman had already entered the grounds. The front gate, made of iron bars, was smashed inward, a gaping hole in the center.

Cautiously, Siona stepped through the opening, making sure not to cut herself on the jagged metal ends. An ornate cobblestone walk extended toward the entrance to the manor itself, running between two rows of cultivated shrubbery. A line of lanterns suspended from tall metal poles stood on either side of the walk. Trees and other greenery were planted throughout the yard. It was a stark contrast to the quarters Siona was used to living in.

Her nose wrinkled as a stench washed over her. Dead guards lay scattered along the path. The mysterious woman had made short work of them in the two hours it had taken Siona to reach the manor. Surprisingly, she did not feel any sadness for these men. They had been people, true, but they had been the ones who had oppressed her and her fellows. They would have been the ones who murdered in the morning, if she had not been saved.

She stepped around the bodies, breathing through her mouth and holding her nose. As indifferent as she was to the situation, she still did not like the scent of corpses. Fortunately, they were fresh, else Siona would have gagged from the smell.

She crept toward the door, wondering where exactly the woman had gone. She wanted to thank her savior, and aide her in freeing the rest of the orphan workers. It would not be right to simply leave them behind, unsure of their fate. It was night, and most of them would be asleep by now; they would not know what had transpired unless Siona told them.

A shout came from above, and Siona looked up, trying to identify where it had come from. A window on the third story shattered, a large form falling through. Siona yelped and scurried out of the way, barely avoiding the glass shards. The body crashed to the cobblestones a moment later.

Siona moved to the man, knowing he was already dead. A black knife, the handle and blade made from a single piece of metal, protruded from the man’s chest. Siona glanced toward the window, and thought she caught a glimpse of a cloaked form gazing down at her.

Determined, Siona gripped the handle and yanked the knife out of the man. Drops of blood fell on her trousers, but she did not mind. She wiped the blood from the knife on the man’s shirt, and then moved to the door. Like the metal gate, the thick wooden doors had been blasted through, little more than chunks of wood hanging from the hinges. Siona pushed her way inside.

The interior was lit by several lanterns, casting shadows across the floor. A rich, golden rug extended from the doorway to a large staircase across the room. The walls were a deep red, and several paintings depicting past lords and ladies hung between doors and lantern rungs.

Siona was taken aback by the lavishness of the room. She had never seen such beauty. It was such a waste of wealth. Siona clenched her fists, the knife pushing into her palm. She was furious at the lord of the plantation. He could have easily spared money to give the orphans better lives, but instead chose to enslave them.

She did not understand. There were only a handful of orphanages throughout Alandon, and most of those had to be hidden from prying eyes, lest they be sold out to a noble. Any one of the noble houses, even the minor ones, could fund a dozen orphanages, where they would actually be cared for.

She approached the staircase and gripped the rail, using it as a support to ascend. Despite the excitement of the situation, she still was exhausted from the day’s work. When she reached the top, her legs ached. She did not stop, though; she needed to find that woman.

She stood on a landing that ran around the edge of the room. She began walking toward a spiral staircase at the other end of the hallway, passing even more doors. What did they need all those doors for? She had never been in a house like this, but it seemed like a waste of space.

A light appeared on the staircase in front of her, accompanying a pair of voices. Her heart racing, Siona opened the closest door and darted inside, closing it most of the way. The voices drew nearer.

“Where could she have gone?” the first voice asked.

“Not sure,” replied the second one. “The manor isn’t all that big; there aren’t many places to hide.”

“Well, obviously she’s alluded us so far,” the first said. “It’s giving me chills. You saw what she did to the men outside.”

“It’s a scare tactic, Nem,” the second answered. “Once all the guards awoke, she probably realized that she was in over her head. She might not even be here anymore, for all we know.”

Siona frowned. The woman had seemed so determined; she could not have just disappeared. On top of that, Siona had seen her only minutes before, on the third story. No, she was not gone.

She simply was not allowing herself to be seen.

“I don’t think so, Jaren,” Nem asserted. “She’s an Adept. They don’t give up that easily.”

They continued on down the walkway. Siona held her breath as they passed the door she was hiding behind. In the weak light, they did not notice the partially opened door.

Siona watched as the guards rounded the corner and descended to the first floor. Carefully, she crept out from her hiding spot and resumed travelling toward the staircase at the end of the hall. Several lanterns lit the stairwell. Siona was glad for their light; she did not want to be caught alone, especially in the dark.

She reached the third floor and came into a hallway that extended to either side and around the corner. Siona stopped. She did not know which way would be safe. If any of the guards caught her, she would be killed on sight.

As if reacting to her thoughts, four guards rounded the corner to her left, nearest her. They saw her and paused, unsure what one of the workers was doing in the manner. Not waiting around, Siona fled in the other direction.

“After her!” one of the guards shouted, kicking the whole group into motion.

Why did I come here? Siona thought, panicked. I should have just gone back to my bed and forgotten this whole incident. In seconds, she felt one of the guards grabbing for her shirt. She tugged it forward, holding the excess in her hands. She dodged around the corner, breathing frantically. The hallway ahead of her was dark.

A figure detached itself from the shadows, knocking into the lead guard. The figure pushed the guard down and spun around, throwing out its hands. Two objects struck two guards in the neck, knocking them to the ground. The one in the back hesitated, allowing the figure to pounce on him. A hand darted toward his neck, and he fell.

Siona turned to her savior, only to find herself being shoved backward into the wall. The figure pushed back its hood, revealing a woman’s face.

“What are you doing?” she hissed.

Siona tried to think of something to say, but her mind was locked up. Had she simply traded one enemy for another?

“You should have stayed back there and gone to bed,” the woman said angrily. “If you had not shown up, I wouldn’t have had to save you again.”

“I’m sorry,” Siona croaked, unsure what to tell the woman.

She gasped as she felt herself rise, her feet leaving the floor. She looked at the woman, and froze. On the front of her shirt, a strange, alien symbol had appeared, as if drawn with light.

“What…is that?” she stammered.

The woman’s eyebrows shot up. “You can see it?” she demanded.

“Yes,” Siona mumbled, unsure of what “it” was.

The woman stood transfixed for a moment. “What’s your name, girl?” she asked. Her tone had become softer, more polite.

“Siona,” she managed. Hovering a foot above the floor was becoming increasing disorienting.

“Hmm,” the woman said, tapping her chin with a finger. “Could she really…?” She trailed off, realizing that she had begun thinking aloud. She locked eyes with Siona, and without any movement, the symbol disappeared from Siona’s shirt, dropping her to the ground.

“I’m Raven,” the woman said, offering a hand to help Siona up. Siona merely gazed up at her, petrified by her sudden change in attitude.

“It’s okay,” Raven said reassuringly. “I won’t hurt you. You…startled me is all.” Without waiting for an answer, she gripped Siona’s hand and pulled her to her feet. “We need to leave this place. I’ve already taken care of Lord Irawen.”

Siona stopped, drawing in a sharp breath. “He’s dead?”

“Yes, I believe I said that,” Raven replied.

Tears began to trickle down Siona’s cheeks. The man who had seen to her capture, allowed his men to abuse her and her companions, and had nearly taken her to his bed that night, was dead. She threw her arms around Raven’s neck.

“Thank you,” she cried.

Raven pushed her away. “You sure are a weepy girl,” she asserted.

“Not usually,” Siona muttered. In fact, she could not recall when she had last cried, for any reason. Now, overwhelming happiness washed over her.

At last, she regained control of herself. She dried her eyes and cheeks with a sleeve. “What about the others, though?” she asked. “What will happen to them now?”

“Don’t worry about them,” Raven replied. “One of my friends took care of the rest of the taskmasters. They should have freed the other orphans by now. Where they go from there is up to them.”

“Good,” Siona said, nodding. Despite her mistrust for the others, she knew that they deserved their freedom just as much as she did.

“Now, we need to leave,” Raven insisted. “You can cry all you want later.” She turned and headed back toward the stairwell.

“Where are we going?” Siona asked, hurrying to catch up. Raven was a half a foot taller than Siona, so she tried to match Raven’s quick pace.

“Just follow me and don’t ask questions,” she retorted. It seemed her caring moment had passed and had been covered up by her original rough exterior. Siona honestly did not mind; she was used to that kind of treatment.

In minutes, they exited the manor and returned to the front walk. Raven stopped and pushed back her black cloak, revealing a small pouch strapped tightly to the side of her waist. She flipped open the cover and retrieved a small rectangular piece of stark white paper.

“Burn building,” she said. She began to draw a pattern on the paper with her finger, lines of light trailing behind. Siona watched in amazement. Finally, the symbol complete, the woman slapped the paper onto the door frame.

“I suggest you move away,” she commanded. Siona took a few hesitant steps toward the iron gate. Raven stepped backward, pushing Siona farther away from the building.

“Activate,” she said clearly, pointing at the piece of paper. To Siona’s surprise, the paper burst into flames, lighting the wooden doorframe. The fire started to spread quickly.

“There,” Raven said, turning and climbing through the hole in the gate. “It’s finished.”

Siona followed her, but could not resist looking over her shoulder. The entire doorframe was already ablaze, and the fire was climbing upward, as if it were a living creature.

Once they were safely away from the burning manor, Raven paused underneath a tree. The leaves blocked the light from the moon; she would have been invisible if not for the flames consuming the manor. Siona took the opportunity to study the woman’s attire. In addition to the black cloak, she wore lightweight, form-fitting clothing, the color matching that of the cloak. With the hood up, Siona figured the woman really could disappear in the darkness.

A soft thud to her right startled Siona. She whipped around and saw another figure, cloaked similarly, standing in the open.

Where did he come from? Siona wondered. Aside from the few trees, there was really nowhere to hide. Maybe he flew here, just like Raven did earlier.

“Is the job finished, Lynx?” Raven asked.

“Of course,” Lynx replied. He threw back his hood, revealing the face of a young man. Disheveled hair fell across his eyes as he studied Siona. “Who’s this, Raven?”

“Don’t you worry about her,” Raven answered, regarding Siona. “I think she might be useful. Do you have the travel stamp?”

Lynx barked a short laugh. “Like I would lose that,” he scoffed. “There are barely enough of them left as it is.” He put his hand to his side and produced a piece of paper, identical to the one Raven had stuck on the house, only with a different symbol drawn on it. He moved closer to the two women and carefully laid it on the ground.

“Close your eyes, Siona,” Raven instructed. She took a hold of Siona’s left arm and Lynx’s right arm. Lynx likewise took their free arms, completing the circle.

“Whatever you do, don’t struggle,” Raven continued. “This might seem uncomfortable, but it will only take a second.”

Siona nodded in assent. However, her suspicion and panic were growing again. She barely knew these people; how could she trust them? What were they doing huddled around a simple piece of paper?

“Activate,” Raven commanded, staring at the paper. The lines of the symbol glowed, and the whole design began to rotate. As it sped up, the symbol widened, enveloping the group’s feet. Siona looked down in horror, and tried to pull free of Raven’s grip.

“Don’t struggle,” Raven reiterated. The symbol was now expanding upward, shrouding them in a spinning cylinder of light. “Think of something pleasant. It will all be over soon.”

The light now completely covered the three of them. Siona took one last look at the manor, already buckling from the damage the fire was causing. As it crashed to the ground, the light of the symbol flared. A loud crack sounded in Siona’s ears. She glanced at the two black-clad figures, and suddenly felt as if she were being pulled apart.

She screamed, and the world went dark.