Charm gave a snort of amusement and fell into step beside him. “So, I’m supposed to simply crack the stones and throw them out of the ship right?” he asked and looked down into the bag with a skeptical expression.
“Essentially. Oh, and Lutheron says you have to tie yourself into the ship, too,” Shade said as he dropped down into his pilot seat and began the pre-flight check.
“Tie myself into the ship?” Charm asked, sounding incredulous.
“Yep, he is afraid you will jump ship, literally,” Shade replied and nodded toward the cargo area. “There is rope back there. Get strapped in, oh shadowy one, it’s going to be a rough ride.”
“I wish you wouldn’t say things like that. Whatever happened to the calm and collected Christian that was so well spoken and was never accused of being insane,” Charm sighed and began to walk back toward the cargo bay.
“His father killed him and I buried him,” Shade said quietly, ignoring the look Charm cast back over his shoulder.
*
Shade swallowed heavily as the aura increased over the city. “I asked for this,” he reminded himself as he flew toward the stone walls. Tears were beginning to fill his eyes as the oppressive cloud thickened around them. His heart was beating so hard against his chest he found himself wondering if he could actually fly through it.
“I hate you so much,” Charm whispered from near the door. The rogue was tied into the ship with three ropes that attached to various objects near him. After long consideration they had decided that in a fit of panic he might cut one rope, but surely not three. It had been Shade’s idea to add the chain around the ankle just for good measure. As far as he saw it, that was a twofold blessing. On one hand, it would prevent Charm from jumping if the ropes failed, and on the other hand, Shade held the only key. If Charm was too upset after this flight, he could wait until he settled down to release him. The rogue could, of course, pick the lock, but it would take time to do that, which gave Shade a head start on running.
“Don’t feel bad. I’m not liking myself too much at the moment, either,” Shade muttered as the aura of fear increased again. The steady pulse was like a second heart beat now as the magic coursed through him. Run, run away, run, it chanted through his mind, relentless and cold. He swallowed heavily and glanced back at Charm. The rogue was huddled by the door now and no longer standing, but still had the bag of stones clutched tightly in his gloved hands. His face was drained of all blood and he seemed to be trembling, but as far as Shade could tell he was still capable of thought and hopefully, of action. “We are just about to the wall now, Charm. Are you ready?” He had to force the words out through clenched teeth and hoped the rogue could understand him.
“Yes, I’m ready, you crazy bastard. God, I hate you and every insane plan you come up with. First you try to blow me up and now this shit. You aren’t right in the head, Shade, and after this you won’t get another chance to kill me, I promise you that,” Charm said, his voice rising in hysteria.
“A simple, “yes,” would have sufficed,” Shade replied and flicked the music crystal that rested on his dash. The quick drum beats of the Firym music pounded through the ship and Charm shrieked and nearly fell from the doorway. Shade scrambled for the crystal. The drums were sending his already fragile nerves over the edge. “Bad idea, bad, bad idea,” he said, finally managing to grab the crystal once more. He deactivated the magic and threw it back behind him into the ship and shuddered. “I won’t be able to listen to drums for a month,” he mumbled to himself. The walls of Eldagar were looming closer now, almost directly below them. The pulse of fear increased again and Shade let out a nervous laugh in response.
“I hate you, you crazy bastard. I hate you, you crazy bastard,” Charm began chanting softly behind him and Shade laughed louder in response.
“Oh, you are really going to hate me when I pick up the pace here. We have to do this low and fast Charm or it won’t work,” Shade said quietly but the rogue’s chanting didn’t falter at his words.
Shade watched as the wall passed below them. He took the ship down to the street level, scarcely high enough to fly. “Now, Charm, start throwing them.” He thought he heard the sound of crying or whimpering behind him but didn’t spare the time to look. He had to trust that Charm would do as they had planned. Right now, he needed all of his attention to fly through the cramped city without crashing.
A startled howl of fear behind him made him laugh again as he recognized a goblins voice. The rogue was still chanting his new mantra, but he was doing his job. He pulled carefully on the controls and maneuvered around an over-turned wagon. Ideally, he needed to spread the goblins as thickly as he could throughout the city. He needed them scattered, but he only had a short time to do it.
He wasn’t sure how the Blights would react to the goblins presence but guessed it would be violent. This plan rested on the fact that the goblins and the Blights shared instincts and would both run to the same hiding spots. He needed them to reach the Blights, but he couldn’t give the creatures long together. If the Blights killed the goblins and moved away from the area it would be a failure.
More howls came from the back door as Charm continued to cast the creatures from the ship and Shade began making his way toward the Fortress at the far end of town. He hadn’t told Charm about this part of the plan but judging from the continued chanting of the words crazy bastard it wouldn’t lower the rogue’s opinion of him any.
“Half-way done,” Charm called up to him, his voice still frantic.
“Save about five,” Shade called back loudly and turned down a trash strewn street to continue dropping their living weapons.