he didn’t already have?
A nasty grin crept across the lawyer’s face. Breaking into a trot, then a sprint, he leaped into the air and dissolved into a flock of shrieking black birds. Whipping into a frenzy, they settled round one of the statuesque soldiers. Grasping its rocky skin, they tried to lift it into the air, but it was simply too heavy a weight.
Darting upwards to a higher altitude they hesitated for a moment then descended with the power of a sledgehammer. Slamming repeatedly against the gargorilla’s waist they broke it into two. Grabbing the topmost piece they again attempted to take to the skies.
This time it worked. Flapping and cawing, they headed westward with their prize clutched in their talons.
Charlie and her friends pushed against the flow of terrified people. There were Tremen with bags upon their backs, Humans with children upon their shoulders and Stomen heaving over-laden carts full of belongings, food and hastily gathered medical supplies.
It was by no means easy pushing through the refugees, but Charlie had miscast her Portal so that it fell a bridge away from the three towers that comprised the Whispering Heights. Gritting their teeth the three friends plunged ahead while Nibbler flew above them.
There were sudden screams and a slackening of pressure. The crowd parted as a carpet of Shades, screeching and hooting, forced their way past the defensive line of Treman soldiers. Young children shrieked in terror, old folks tottered desperately forward and terrified parents dropped their belongings in a bid to escape.
‘NO MORE!’ howled a voice. ‘NO MORE I SAID!’
A sheet of gold light sheared into one of the three towers, ripping free several flights of stairs, a couple of balconies and two of the celebrated gardens of Sylvaris. Cracking and groaning the great mass cascaded free to slam into the writhing pile of Shades.
A woman in tight-fitting clothes and black lacquered armour clambered up the rubble to strike and claw at the few surviving Shades with golden hands.
‘Marsila?’ hollered Charlie.
The Keeper, a Shade dangling lifelessly in one hand, her other arm poised to strike, paused in her efforts.
‘Who are you?’ she shouted.
‘Charlie. Charlie Keeper.’
‘Elias and Mya’s girl?’
Charlie started at the sound of her parents’ names. ‘How do you know my parents?’
Marsila nodded in appreciation as Nibbler swept low to finish her job with a wave of flame that sent the last of the Shades writhing and clawing to plummet from the bridge to the chaos that lay below. ‘We Keepers are a small community.’ She watched with a bleak expression as a distant behemoth tore down a once graceful tower. ‘Much smaller now that Bane has had his way.’
‘Marsila?’ said Charlie, noting that the lady in black appeared distracted.
The lady blinked. A ribbon of red warpaint covered her eyes and the bridge of her nose. This, the dead Shade in one hand and the stink of war upon her clothes made her appear fearsome indeed. ‘Apologies. It has been days since I slept and my mind has started to wander. What can I do for you Charlie?’
‘I need help. I need a Triad of Keepers.’
Marsila allowed a sad smile to reach her lips. ‘That has been tried already, but Hikmat, Jericha and Roxana fell within the first two hours. A Triad will not save the day. This is the end.’ She cast the Shade over the side of the bridge. ‘Make your last stand how you will.’ Marsila began to walk away.
‘Wait!’ shouted Charlie, chasing after her. ‘Wait. There is a chance. There is. I have an army waiting out of reach. I just need your help to get it here.’
Marsila fixed Charlie with a questioning gaze. Having had a bellyful of death and destruction, she was uncertain as to whether the young Keeper was telling the truth or merely waving a vague promise of hope as a final banner to rally around. She turned to Jensen. ‘Is this true?’
‘Sweet Sap, yes it is, but we need ta make a move on dis while there’s still some city ta be saved.’
‘Then let’s get to it.’
‘Before ya go,’ urged Jensen, ‘cut the bridges. It’ll slow the tide and buy those folks some time. If we can …’ Jensen’s voice faded as he stared into the distance. He staggered to the side of the bridge to grab the railing with white-knuckled hands.
‘What is it, Jensen?’
‘Me, me tower …’ He pointed towards a clutch of buildings on the other side of the city. Jensen’s beautiful tower, taller than the others, was