Another tremor, as if to punctuate my words.
I’d never experienced a normal earthquake. Both my home city of Hathridge and Beaufort, the city that housed Lorian Heights, were protected by environment-controlling magic. The vast domes over the cities were the most obvious indication, but the magic stretched deep into the earth, too.
So, if we were suffering from an earthquake, that meant we were dealing with something seriously bad.
When Orden reappeared next, she had Sera with her. She grabbed Patrick on the next trip... then Vanniv after that.
I was a little surprised the summoned karvensi was still around after Sera had been teleported, but hey, I wasn’t complaining.
“This is a very unusual test,” Vanniv noted.
With our group gathered, Orden turned to Sera. “You may want to dismiss your friend.”
Sera folded her arms. “Why? What’s happening?”
Orden folded her hands in front of her. “The city is under attack.”
Chapter XVII — Assault
Sera was, as usual, the quickest. “By who?”
Orden glanced toward Sera. “Monsters from the tower. I don’t know numbers yet.”
“Oh, goddess.” Patrick took a step back, hugging himself. “Is anyone hurt?”
The professor turned toward Patrick. “It’s an attack on the city; of course people are being hurt. Pull yourself together, Mister Wayland. You’re supposed to be an attuned. Act like one. Panicking will not save any lives.”
Patrick nodded, but he was still shaking. “Yes...of course, professor.”
I walked over and nudged him on the shoulder. My hands were trembling, too, but being next to each other seemed to help us both.
Sera folded her arms. “What type of threats are we looking at?”
“A broad variety of monsters, including a swarm of karvensi.” Orden turned her head toward Vanniv, narrowing her eyes.
Vanniv put a hand over his chest. “I don’t know what you’re implying, madam professor, but I have a strict ‘no attacking cities’ policy.”
“As humorous as that might be, your true self could be up there, and we can’t have you carrying information back to him.”
The stone figure stretched his wings. “Fine, fine. I understand. But Sera, we still have a deal.”
She nodded. “We do. And if you are willing to help against other karvensi, I may have a need for you again soon.”
“That would be no problem. It would be no worse than humans killing other humans, after all.”
His nonchalance at that particular idea chilled me more than I could put into words.
Sera waved a hand at Vanniv. “Very well, then. Karvensi — or, rather, Vanniv — I dismiss you.”
A glowing circle of runes appeared around Vanniv and he bowed at the waist as he vanished.
Orden turned back to the group. “Good. With that threat addressed, you should all head to the shelters immediately.”
Ugh. I did not want to go to those again, especially not after how useless they felt last time.
Marissa spoke up before I had a chance. “Beggin’ your pardon, Professor, but I’d rather be fightin’ then buried in one of those tombs.”
A little more direct than I’d have put it, but it echoed my fears about the stability of the shelters pretty well.
Patrick turned his head toward Marissa. “Uh, Mara, are you sure that’s a good idea? I know you’re stronger than the rest of us, but...”
Marissa raised a hand to scratch the back of her head. “S’not that, Patrick. I’d just rather get stabbed than crushed to death. ‘sides, better to have Orden next to us than try to run on our own, yeah?”
Patrick paled a little.
Orden chuckled. “You seem to have a misconception, Marissa. I’m not going to be going anywhere near that fight. Being a teacher does not make me equipped for battle with monsters, nor would I be in any condition to fight even if I was properly trained for it. Who do you think has been making illusions and constructs for you to fight for the last hour?”
I folded my arms. “If you made that Tyrant punch me in the nose, you owe me a clean uniform.”
The professor turned to me, grimacing upon taking in my face. “I...may have calibrated that construct a bit too strong. It was necessary to give him a degree of solidity to — never mind. It’s not important. I’m afraid I’ve already sent the Menders away to the shelter, but I could teleport you to one?”
I shook my head. “No. This is irritating,” I could hear a wheeze in my voice, “But I’m with the Marissa. I want to fight.”
Patrick turned and stared at me for a moment, then tightened his jaw.
The door to the room swung open, and Professor Teft was standing in the doorway. “Lyras, I need you now.”
Orden swung a glance in his direction, sighing. “If you insist, dear.”
Dear?
Professor Orden turned back to us. She opened her mouth to say something, then closed it, furrowing her brow. “Hrm.”
Teft folded his arms. “I don’t like that expression.”
“Oh, hush, Jonathan. The adults are thinking.”
Teft glowered at her. “Commander Bennet is waiting for us.”
Orden’s lips twitched into a harsh curve. “Let Jack wait. I need to properly direct the children.” She snapped her fingers. “Corin. When the monsters were scouting last time they were here, did any of them see you?”
I nodded. “At least one of them looked right at me.”
“Good. Then you’re not the target, which narrows the options somewhat. Jonathan, has anyone determined who is commanding the monsters yet?”
“Yes, but I’m really not sure we should be discussing this—”
“Humor me.”
He folded his arms. “Word is that Katashi has been sighted just outside the tower. He’s not attacking — thank the goddess — but if he’s present, it’s safe to assume he’s controlling the creatures that are.”
I admit I might have taken a step back when I heard the name “Katashi”. I hoped no one noticed.
Jin was looking at me strangely, though, so I’m pretty sure he saw something.
Orden steepled her fingers. “Perfect. I’m going to send you and Corin to talk to him.”