Chapter Four Hundred And Eighty Seven - 487

Chapter Four Hundred And Eighty Seven - 487

Perched atop the crow's nest, Evie was the first to see the gleaming, red-gold Wall of Haarwatch. As the call went out and the commanders shouted down the cheers until they 'got their blighted asses moving,' Evie watched the city grow nearer.

It wasn't home. Few places had earned the title since she lost her parents, back when Magda had dragged her ass over hill and dale in search of their next meal. But Evie had lived in Haarwatch longer than many other cities, she had friends there, and her other sister ran the place. It wasn't home, but it was close.

Some of the mages released pulses of Mana into the air ahead of the leading ship, little more than flares of colored light. They were answered in turn by figures down on the gargantuan wall, ants far below that threw their own sparkles. It was a code, and a familiar one at thatshe could recognize Yan's handiwork there. He'd used similar codes with little flags back then. Evie smiled at the memory as their ship passed uninterrupted over the Wall...only noticing the shimmering shield of yellow-white energy as they sailed harmlessly through it.

Whoa. Was that always there? Evie hadn't ever flown in a Manaship before. Memories tickled at the back of her Mind, something about those bug monsters that had attacked the city once. Right. The Wretches were mostly blocked, but they broke the shielding. Got through. Evie leaned out of the gray-brown chitin basket, peering downward. Huh. They fixed the Rent. Cal must've upgraded the defenses. Wonder how much that cost.Ñøv€lRapture marked the initial hosting of this chapter on Ñôv€lß¡n.

The Wall had once been torn through by some giant, fuck-off Arcidthe Abigail or somethingand it had stomped a path of devastation across the entire Quarter. Now that huge hole had been repaired so well that Evie couldn't spot the seams. Cal had even managed to sheath the whole thing in orichalcum, the same metal that made up the rest of the Wall. That was rare. What's more, as they flew over the city, Evie saw rubble-free streets and vanishingly few structures that weren't in the midst of a full repair. It's almost like the Archon never attacked.

The rest of the city looked the same, rebuilt and repaired. Improved, judging by the new construction and proper stone roads in the Dust Quarter. As the Manaship banked into a turn, Evie could just make out the bare rectangle where once their warehouse headquarters had been. She shook her head. That didn't matter much.

Cal had built a much better one.

The air shook as all five Manaships steered toward the airdocks at the top of Haarwatch Manor. It was almost as high as the Eyrie once was, yet contained none of the snooty gilded edges. Instead, the Manor resembled a massive mansion and fortress all in one, a place intended to represent safety and security for the city. At the top of the structure were three cylindrical towers, each one a third as wide as the Manor itself and equipped with a ringed platform around the topmost levels. The ships pressed onward, slowing as their chitinous bulks approached the designating landing spots among the platforms.

"Talons, present!" Darius Reed bellowed, just as mooring lines were tossed down to the docks.

Claw members hustled forward, assembling into orderly lines that the Hand had drilled into them. Each one wore Apprentice Tier armor and bore at least one newly gleaming weapon, not to mentioned long black cloaks emblazoned with Felix's "burning eye" crest. Most of them, anyway. A core group bore dark purple cloaks instead, a badge of honor for those that survived the conquering of Ahkestria. The pride that wafted off of them stung her ears something fierce, but even Evie had to admit; they looked sharp.

Damn Affinity is more trouble than its worth, she groused. Ugh. Reed's giving a speech.

The HandCommander Reed, as the soldiers called himspoke about journeys and sacrifice and...other things, probably. Evie stopped listening after the first few words. The man liked to hear himself talk. Instead, Evie climbed up onto the lip of the crow's nest and balanced precariously on the edge, staring out over Haarwatch.

This has been the most boring week of my life. Vess and Felix go off to wage a private war on some sea monster, and I get to bunk with a clutch of mages that stay up too late. Reading of all things. Evie scowled. At least she had plenty of time to keep refining her core space, as well as grow more acclimated to her new Skills. Didn't quite hit full Adept Temper yet, though. I'd kill for a fight right now. A bit more practice and I can push my Spirit over the edge, I know it

The morning sunlight caught on something to the east, once, then again. Evie squinted, flaring her Perception for all it was worth. In the distance, just beyond the edges of the Sunrise Quarter...the flash of metal. Below, the gangplank dropped, but Evie didn't noticeall she could hear was the hammering of her heart.

"They're fightin'," she whispered, before pitching her powerful voice downwards. "They're fightin' at the Sunrise Gate!"

Soldiers were filing down the gangplank, streaming quickly off all five Manaships, but Harn and a few of the others were still there. They swivelled to follow Evie's frantic jabs.

"Burn me, they are," Atar said.

"You!" Reed shouted at a man in Haarwatch blue that was walking quickly toward their ships. "What's happening at the Sunrise Gate?"

The officious looking man took several stuttering steps, his eyes wide before he collected himself. "I...am here to speak on that exactly: the Lady Haarwatch sent me to fetch all of you. If you would come with me."

Harn grunted.

she handsigned to the man.

Evie smirked at the banked inferno within Harn's Spirit, a sound she didn't mind at all. The moment she heard the word 'assassinations' her core had gone into overdrive and her hands ached to draw her chain.

"Mount up," Zara commanded.

Bright orange eyes regarded Evie as her group approached, most of them placid except for one or two. Those she could hear a squealing from their Spirits, like a tea kettle left on. It stabbed at her Mind, aggressive and unpleasant compared to Harn's clean anger. "Enough of that," she said, grabbing the reins. The Eider bucked its head, but she flared her Born Trait, borrowing the weight of the stone at her feet. The bird squawked in surprise, and before it recovered Evie was already astride its back. "I'm in charge, see? In the saddle, holding the reins. You're listening to me now, yeah?"

The Eider bucked once more, but Evie held tight and grabbed clumsily at her at her Intent. That she meant no harm, that she was in charge. It was unfocused and weak, but Evie balled it up with her limited Willpower and shoved it at the bird. It squawked againa low, upsetting noisebefore falling silent and still.

You Have Gained A New Skill!

"Avet's teeth, what?" Evie cursed as a System notification blared into her senses.

Fauna Handling (Uncommon), Level 1!

You have proven your ability to wrangle and control fauna. Minor increase in simple control over fauna per level

"Evie? What's wrong?" Atar asked, fighting to stay upright on his own mount. His bird kept rustling its large wings. "Youare you alright?"

"Fine fine...just learned a Skill, is all," she said, still a little flabbergasted. "Never learned a Skill so easy before."

"The Chant and Harmonics affords a greater understanding of this world," Zara said, wheeling about her own Eider with apparent ease. "I am impressed, Evie. You have kept up your training."

Their guide cleared his throat, his voice or perhaps the echoes strong enough to cut through their conversations. "Esteemed guests, please follow me."

Without another word, he and his mount fell from the ledge, diving into the open air like a damn fish. Evie watched with wide eyes. She had gotten used to Manaships, but this was something else entirely.

"C'mon. Let's go kill somethin'," Harn shouted, before he too dropped into the sky.

"That is...is this safe?" Atar asked.

"Safe is overrated." Evie kicked her heels, somehow knowing that was the best way to move the Eider. It clambered awkwardly toward the ledge and tipped over. Despite everything, her guts churned with fear. "Blind gods and burning, bloody ass!"

She and her dumb bird fell like a rock.