Blade of Glass: Chapter 37

Geneve approached the temple with her head high, red locks flowing in the desert wind. She’d donned her armor for this, because challenging Vhemin without steel around your heart was foolish, no matter how many patterns you knew. She didn’t have her helm because she’d left it on the sands to signpost supplies for old friends, so she’d need to keep her guard up.

At least, I hope they’re still old friends.

The desert was uncomfortably warm, the sands radiating the day’s heat back at her. Armitage looked happy enough, his leather armor strapped on tight. If his broken arm bothered him, he didn’t let it show. His massive club was held loose and easy in both hands.

The plan was simple. Walk to the front door, knock, and enter. When they were still a klick away, Armitage pointed a massive arm at the temple. “There’s a path between the tents. Straight as an arrow. In we go.”

She nodded. “There’s only the small problem of a horde of monsters.”

“I resemble that remark,” he rumbled. “Also, the woman in the black armor. I’d be more worried about her.”

“Are there other Knights?”

“Not when I was here.” He sniffed the air. “Just her, and a bunch of other assholes.”

“You sure I can open the door?” She felt doubt stir. “How certain?”

“Pretty certain. The woman with black armor opened it first time.”

“And you went inside?” Geneve frowned. “With Nicolette?”

“Don’t know her name, but sure. Wasn’t like we had a choice.” He looked away, the untold story standing between them.

“Hmm.” Geneve checked Requiem and Tribunal. She’d put Requiem’s scabbard at her waist in a rear-draw configuration. Easier to run without getting it tangled in her legs, and she felt there might be running. While Knights didn’t run, she’d done a lot of things Knights weren’t meant to do, and besides, Nicolette was a Champion. She held Storm and Sway, and there was not even a remote chance an Adept could stand up to her. The scattergun rode on her back, and her shield was strapped to her left arm. “Distractions?”

“I could set fire to something.” Armitage rubbed his chin, keeping pace easy enough. “Since we’re raiding the place anyway, it feels like the right thing to do.”

“Raiding?”

“Yeah. We’re going in there, and—”

“I’m not a bandit, sirrah.” Geneve shook her head.

“What would you call it, then?”

“You’ve family in those walls. We’re getting them out, and while we’re there, you’re going to show me how they stole Sight of Day’s thoughts.”

“Okay, we’re liberators and guerrillas then.” He lumbered on. “I’m still setting fire to something.”

She hid her smile. “If you feel that’s best.”

“It’s just what’s done, Knight.” He picked up speed. “I’ll meet you at the door.”

Geneve let him go. The night closed in, but she could see just fine. The sands lay smooth and pale under her feet, and the Vhemin’s encampment had many burning torches. They weren’t hiding. They were waiting. 

She felt her heart pick up speed. It always did before a fight. The night smells were sharper, and her eyes picked up every movement. Calm. Center. The fight will get here without seeking it out. Geneve checked Requiem again, but the blade hadn’t gone anywhere. You’re nervous. You’re walking into a relic of the ancients with a monster, a sinner, and a cat. Your Knights aren’t with you, and a Champion lies ahead.

“What could go wrong?” she asked the night. It didn’t answer.

Fire bloomed, smoke rising. She caught movement, a surge of bodies as Vhemin ran to the disturbance. She heard the crunch of wood on bone, and a scream of pain. Geneve jogged, her armor’s weight feeling like nothing as her blood pounded in her ears. Requiem wouldn’t be denied. The blade shivered as it came free, gleaming under Cophine’s pale gaze.

As Geneve made the outskirts of the tents, something detonated in the camp to her left. She ignored it, running faster. A Vhemin loomed from the night to her right and died as Requiem took his head from his shoulders. She didn’t slow, barely glancing as she hunkered beneath her shield. A quarrel bounced off, spinning end over end into the dark.

The temple was close. She tried not to look at the spire reaching to the heavens. Geneve ignored the lack of other moons in the sky as Cophine’s brilliance stared at her. To be distracted was to die.

Cries broke out, warnings shouted by coarse Vhemin throats. She heard Armitage roar from the left. “Motherfucker!” Another crunch, wood on bone, then a body sailed across Geneve’s path. It wasn’t Vhemin. It was an armored human.

That’s a Knight. Geneve’s steps slowed, and Armitage broke free from the line of tents ten meters ahead. “You coming?”

“That was a Knight!”

“Looks like it. Hurry up.” He turned, heading toward the building. She sprinted after. They left the tents behind, making the short hundred-meter distance to the wall without meeting another soul. A quarrel landed by her feet, spitting sand as it hit. Another pinged off her pauldron, a fleck of metal marking her cheek. She barely noticed, pushing herself faster.

They made the door at the same time. Armitage slammed against the smooth metal wall of the temple, and she followed suit. Her Smithsteel screeched as she hit, but the wall wasn’t marked by the impact. Armitage pointed to the dull metal circle to her right. “Hammer that.” He moved to the one on the left, putting his big hand over the disc. Geneve didn’t understand why putting her hand on metal would do anything, but she did it anyway.

Nothing happened.

Armitage scowled. “Take your damn mitten off.”

“How did you beat a Knight?” Geneve kept talking to cover her rising fear. She sheathed Requiem, then tugged the straps on her gauntlet.

“Wasn’t a Knight.”

“He was.”

“Then he wasn’t as good as you. Hurry the fuck up!”

That can’t be right. He wore the three bands of a Chevalier. The Storm answers his call. No simple Vhemin could knock him aside like a child’s doll. She dragged her gauntlet free, metal falling to the sand at her feet. Geneve reached for the disc but felt the lance of agony in her back. She screamed, reaching for whatever it was, but her armor wasn’t flexible enough. She couldn’t reach it. 

Armitage was at her side. “This is going to hurt.” She felt the white-hot rip of flesh as he yanked something from her back. He tossed a bloody quarrel to the sand. “Put your hand on the damn disc.”

Geneve swayed. They’ve poisoned me. She put her hand on on the metal disc, leaning her head against the cool metal of the temple. Geneve heard a grunt and made the effort to turn to Armitage. A quarrel stuck from his shoulder, another from his leg, but he didn’t slow. He slammed his hand on the disc with a shout. “Ha hah, fuckers!”

Nothing happened. Again.

Geneve leaned her back against the temple so she could face the tents. She felt hot, more than just desert heat, her blood pounding. A handful of Vhemin marched on her position, crossbows leveled and firing.

Requiem swept the air before her. She didn’t remember drawing it, and the blade felt heavy in her hand. Geneve sliced a quarrel in half but heard another grunt from Armitage. The man had another bolt stuck in his chest, and a fourth in his arm. “Try again,” he urged. “Please.”

She glared at the Vhemin, then lurched toward the disc. She put her hand against it.

Nothing at first, then a low vibration touched her fingertips. A voice spoke from the wall. “SANCTUS INVESTUS EST. MAGIA REQUIRITUR.” The voice was loud, the tone hard like an angry god.

Armitage looked lost, his snake eyes searching the wall. “It didn’t do that last time.”

“No. Last time, it needed one hand. But you broke it, and it locked us all away.” Geneve spun at the voice. Pushing through the line of Vhemin was a woman in black armor. She held glass in each hand, the blades catching and refracting torchlight. 

“Nicolette,” Geneve whispered.

The Champion saluted with one sword, then swept it into a guard. “Do I know you?”

“Do something,” Armitage suggested. He sank to the ground, a slick of blood marking the metal wall. It beaded as if it didn’t want to stick.

“Me?” Geneve’s sword, mean skymetal, was unsuitable for fighting against glass, especially welded by a Champion.

“The door spoke to you, Knight. It tried to tell you something.”

“I don’t speak…” Geneve shook her head. The door’s words were gibberish. The lost madness of fallen ancients, but one word seemed like another she knew. Familiar, even. Magia.

Magic. “It needs magic!”

“Fuck,” Armitage wheezed. “And here we are, fresh out of wizards. If you assholes hadn’t been hunting them down for the last hundred years—”

Geneve gathered her strength. She couldn’t fight Nicolette. She didn’t know how to get out of this. But she knew how they could get the door open. Propping herself against the wall, she shouted, “Meri! We need you!”

The camp stilled. Vhemin cast glances at each other as they shifted from foot to foot. Nicolette gave a small smile, full of condescension. “Who is Meri?”

Geneve thought about how to answer in a way that would draw this out. To keep the Champion talking, so Meriwether could get here, help her open the door, and then they could slip inside. He’s a sinner. No, that was wrong. He was no more a sinner than she was. He’s a friend. Totally insufficient for what she asked of the man.

And insufficient for how she felt. “He’s—” 

“Geneve!” A man’s bellow cut across her words, hammering them flat. Geneve heard anger, and fear, and more than a little desperation in the cry. Nicolette turned a slow circle, stepping behind one of her Vhemin for cover. 

Her sidestep revealed two people. Armored figures, glass in hand. Geneve squinted, trying to focus, but the poison had a hold of her now. She slid down the wall, coming to rest on the ground. The world seemed far away, keeping its distance so she could die in peace.

Nicolette spoke, her voice smug. “Ah, Valiant.” She gave a mocking bow. “Come to die, Israel?”

Oh, no. No, no, no. Geneve tried to rise, but the strength was gone from her limbs. Not only would Meriwether fall, but Israel and Vertiline would die too.

If you enjoyed this, consider supporting me on Ko-Fi or hopping on my mailing list.

Miss the other parts of Blade of Glass?

[First Chapter] | [Previous Chapter] | [Next Chapter] (Live 25 October 2024)