“Charm you don’t understand.” Shade began, but Charm cut him off with a sharp gesture and continued toward the ship in a ragged but determined walk.
“You don’t understand Shade.” Charm said pointedly. “Every secret I have tried to protect has been revealed, and keeping my oath to the Guardians by helping you protect this city is the only left that I might be able to do with what life remains to me. I am going with you. I know how to load the guns, I remember from our previous flights. I can at least be useful in that respect.” Charm’s rang loudly in his mind, and was filled with so much anger that Shade knew there would be no arguing with him. His mind was set and Shade didn’t have the time to try to change it. “It’s better than staying here and being killed by my former comrades for nothing more than being a Guardian.” Charm added bitterly.
“So be it.” Shade whispered and let out a sigh as he looked toward Lex once more. “Tell Jala I will buy her what time I can. Help her get the people to safety. The Academy would be the best choice the wards there are the strongest in the city.” He called loudly. With a final nod to Grim he stepped upward into his ship and staggered forward as Grim followed him up the stairs and pushed him toward the pilot seat.
“Grim! What are you doing?” Shade demanded as the priest calmly closed the door to the Spell Hawk and slid his sword back into its scabbard before turning to face Shade.
“Helping you with every ounce of my power just as we agreed. I will warn you though with what I am doing today Syrah better grow up to be the most well-adjusted and mentally stable woman in all of Sanctuary. That is the only way things will be even between us.” Grim replied coolly as he moved to take a seat in the front of the ship. “Give me control of the guns and explain quickly how they work so you can focus your full attention on flying. I have a feeling you are going to need it.” Grim ordered without bothering to give Shade time to object.
“You realize what I’m doing is like declaring Kevala’drin on three separate nations at once right? My ship has wards against teleportation on it to protect from others invading it, but that works both ways. It means no one can teleport off of it either. The Barllen on the outside will just increase that. This flight is a one way ticket and this ship won’t be landing Grim, it will be crashing. I can’t win against those odds no matter how good I am. All I can do is slow them down before they reach the city, and hope it gives Jala enough time to evacuate more people to safety.” Shade explained in an overly calm voice. It seemed so strange to be discussing the death of his beloved ship so casually. His ship was really the last thing he could truly say he had, but then if the ship crashed Shade sincerely doubted he would around to mourn its loss.
“You do recall me saying I wanted every last one of the flame hearted bastards dead right?” Grim returned with a smile. “Now show me how to work these guns and let’s get this over with. Rivasa, Nerathane, and Morcath chose this fight. Let’s be the first to make them regret that decision.”
“The ammunition on my ship is different than most. I’ve designed all of it. The Morcath Spell Hawks will have some of the same ammo, but not all of it. The Barllen rounds in particular are unique.” Shade began as he realized he wasn’t going to talk Grim out of dying with him either. “Charm will keep the guns loaded in the back so all you will have to worry about is aiming. There is a rune on the control panel in front of you that will link you mentally with the weapon systems or if you prefer you can simply use the view screen. The runes for the separate ammunitions are color coded depending on what it is. The Barllen is the black rune, use it sparingly please.” Shade finished and slowly sank down into his seat.
Lovingly he ran a hand across the dash of his Spell Hawk and swallowed heavily as he leaned toward the pilot’s controls. “You and I have had some beautiful times, Love, but this is the last dance and this is the one that counts the most. I know you are banged up right now, and I know I have been neglecting you, but for today I need you to ignore that. I need you to fly like the day I built you. There are a lot of bastards up there that are going to believe they can catch you, but I know what you can really do, and I need you to show them no matter what condition you are in. I’m sorry for this, Love, but this city and those people are worth more than both of us.” he spoke the words so softly that he was certain neither of his friends could hear him until he looked up and found Grim watching him with a thoughtful expression.
“This ship is the center of your world isn’t it?” Grim asked softly as he drew his hands back carefully from the controls and slowly looked around the Spell Hawk as if he were seeing it for the first time.