Chapter Six Hundred And Nineteen – 619

Chapter Six Hundred And Nineteen – 619

We hold here! Hold it, or else we lose the district entirely!

Kossryn, Captain of the Watch, rode down the line on her Avum. Her sword was high and her armors scuffed, but they had survived the enemys initial thrust into Birchstone. The city gate had fallen, but then it had not yet been truly repaired. The watchtowers themselves were still slag, and much of the wall itself. There was nothing to stop the bastards from charging through the breach.

Hundreds of the Watch died to their golden blades, cut through just as easily as the laborers hauling stone. The people had run, funneled toward the district gate as fire rampaged across the streets. Many more had died to panic than enemy Skills, but the how meant little to the bodies strewn across the cobblestones. Smoke clouded the skies now, and though it was mid-morning the city remained shrouded in false night.

Above, the smoke split into concentric rings to reveal a bright blue sky. Through those gaps, sunbeams filtered through, warm and bright as summer, as the tromp of heavy boots echoed across the chaotic streets.

They had come.

They marched through ash choked streets, across burning courtyards, but they remained untouched by filth or flame. Their armor was white, but their cloaksthose told the true story. were stained by the blood they spilled. Two thousand, four thousand, eight. Ten. Ten thousand Inquisitors, the least of them advanced to high Journeyman Tier.

Many were bathed in the golden glow of the sun, while others wield swords of flame, and a few at the front shimmered with a radiance that was blinding to look upon. Those were the Inquisitors, possessed of far greater powers than any among the Watch.

Her only hope was the wall at her back, unbroken and layered with defensive enchantments. All that remained of her battalion stood strong before the locked and reinforced inner gates. They could not let the redcloaks into the next district. Too many citizens crowded within. The fires would Bile rose in Kossryns throat, sharp and acrid, but she muscled it back down. She would not falter.

Kossryn gritted her teeth at the redcloaks approach, the leather interior of her gauntlet grown slick with sweat. She tightened her grip on her sword, lifting it one more time. For Birchstone! For Red Shield!

Others took up her battlecry. For Birchstone! For Red Shield!

The redcloaks surged and the Watch met their charge with the clang of steel and flash of discharging Skills. Dwarven voices roared defiance, and the Inquisition met them with sunlit flame. Kossryn slapped aside an Initiates blade, scoring a strike against their groin and bringing another to their knees. All along the line, the Watch held.

Enough.

Kossryn had barely registered the voice when she was blinded. Darkness consumed her vision, followed closely by the savage pain of melting high steel armor. She shrieked, unable to bear it, but the molten metal clung to her no matter how furiously she cast off parts of it.

We waste time, said the voice again.

A roaring note cut through the fog of her pain. The voice spoke again, but Kossryn couldnt make out the words. All she felt was heat.

And then nothing.

They are defeated, Lady Chosen! Bellar cheered as he marched from the front lines. He was spotlessly clean, as were all those blessed by the Light, and he flashed her a broad smile. Your power turned them to little more than char, Lady Imara, and those that remain have scattered, soon to be picked off by our forces. You have taken the first district.

We waste time here, she said.

The moment those bells began ringing, Forge Knights had appeared to usher the nobles to saferooms. The Hinterlord himself had never returned. Thinking fast, Felix had shrouded all of them in his Abyssal Skein and followed Laurs directions to get them away from the ballroom as quickly as possible. That, however, was where their paths diverged. The Chanters had left to contact their scattered team, and Felix and Vess were tasked with securing a path to the fault in the wards that Laur was so certain ofa path that grew more crowded the further up the palace they traveled.

Felix listened a while longer, fingers twitching as they waited. Tzfell had told them of this storage chamber and suggested it as a meeting point for their team. I cant sense many more guards in the halls nearby. One, maybe two butwait. No. They left too.

Where are they going? Pit asked.

I dont know. To defend the Clan Hold gates?

Those gates were strongly defended. I doubt the Hinterlord would divest himself of his private army just to give the Hold a few more defenders. Vess was pacing now. Where could they be going?

Either way, its good news for us. Our friends path will be clearoh. A weight lifted from Felixs chest. Theyre here. Same floor, closing fast.

They had to wait a minute or two, but soon there came a familiar rhythmic knocking on the thick door. Felix suppressed a disbelieving laugh before unlocking and opened it enough to let Beef, Evie, Harn, and the two Chanters into the cramped room.

Shave and a haircut? Felix asked.

Beef grinned. The guy was draped in a long dark cloak that only kind of hid his massive horns. Two bits. Heard it in a really old movie once. His grinning stopped as the door shut. Whys it so dark in here?

Up your Perception stat, Harn said. Whats the move, kid? I dont wanna be locked in here long.

We find the weak point in the Undermounts wards, we go in. The Claw is set?

Yeah. Set em up nice with their escorts and all our supplies. Beef put a little fear into the smugglers though. Should keep em on their toes should any of em get ideas.

Plus, Hallows Multipede is waiting for them on the other side.

Good. Felix grunted. Laur?

The Elven Chanters face was flushed and his hair was a mess, but he straightened his robes before striding to the door. Follow me and please move quietly. The weak point is above us.

Abyssal Skein!

The cold, oily touch of Felixs Void Skill settled on them all, driving a shiver from most of them. Especially Yintarion.

I dislike that greatly, he said with a basso rumble. It feelsunnatural.

Learned it from eating a Void beast. Its not natural, but its our best defense. Felix looked at them all. Ill hold Abyssal Skein as long as I can, but everyone that has one, use your Stealth Skills. After flaring his Perception for a moment, Felix unlocked it and pulled it open. Lead on, Laur.