The Calamity: Chapter 8

The Free City was more than Morrigan had thought it would be. But also, less in many ways. It was a true city on the outside, a stone wall keeping them out. On the inside though it was entirely different. It was like an arrangement of tents. But more than that. Some homes made of stone and then large ones with tents to expand on them. Entire walls made of cloth to give them shade and filter the breeze when it came.

The city was centered around a massive tower in middle. From the place she approached from see a look out, watching the frontier for anyone in need or someone bold enough to violate the rules of the city. There were four archways that served as ins and outs.

The watcher noticed her approach from outside of the city and it looked like he whistled. From her position, she couldn’t tell for sure. She approached and noted archway with its spiked gate down. Not very welcoming. Standing in front of it she raised her hat and peered up at those on top of the walls.

There were a pair of guards atop it holding rifles. There weren’t many firearms in the world now. The art was still new and hard to reproduce. Her people had long since mastered how to make such weapons and didn’t share that knowledge with others.

“State your business.”

“Where’d you come by that rifle?” She asked in return.

The guard wasn’t ready for that question and didn’t have an answer in response, at least not immediately. “This was made within our walls. Our smiths are some of the best in the world.” She’d heard that rumor but she didn’t believe it at first. Apparently, there were very capable humans out here. “State your business stranger.”

“I didn’t realize that the Free City had such strict rules upon entry. I thought everyone was welcome.”

“Everyone is welcome within the Free City. However, we like to keep tabs on everyone. On those seeking asylum and those simply wanting to trade. So, stranger. State your business. Unless you mean to hide something from us.”

Morrigan smiled and simply shook her head. “Nothing to hide guard. I am a trader of sorts. Trading information.”

The guard seemed to smile at her and nodded. “Welcome to the Free City. Enjoy your stay but don’t cause trouble. The city doesn’t take kindly to trouble makers.”

She could hear the gears creaking and the chains began to move. The gate began to raise slowly the sounds smooth as it was raised. She could barely hear it. She watched the mechanisms wondering if there was something built into the walls. But it was a simple stone and metal looking unmarred by the sound. Maybe the smiths here were that great.

She’d heard rumors about the city’s justice. She doubted them before but as she crossed the threshold something felt off. Like a wave of something passing over her. The eyes of something unknown observing her. It felt like her Queen was watching her. But this wasn’t the ice and fire of her Queen. This was something else. She actually felt unnerved.

Passing from under the shadow of the arch she hit her stride walking amongst the tents and seeing the life inside of it. There were dozens of people just at the door alone. Stands filled to the brim with silks and clothes on one half and then precious gems on the other. An equally colorful display on both halves. She hadn’t expected to see something quite like that but was impressed none the less. Further past were things like weapons and tools hanging on racks to be examined.

“Hey beautiful woman. Those are some nice assets you got there. Mind if I appraise them.” Said one man from a corner stall. He had a few blades hanging from a rack. Behind him was his shop and she could see the dark smoke coming from the top of the building.  She looked at him and lowered her hat again.

“I assume you mean these,” She said softly brandishing both blades to the light.

“Of course!” He said motioning for her to come closer. She glanced at the sun and decided that she could indulge this man. She came forward slowly. “Just from here I can sense good craftsmanship. Please allow me to see one of them.”

“I will let you see it. But only if you can trade with me information.”

“Yes yes. Anything.”

Lowering her hand to the hilt she pulled the rapier free with a soft hiss. The tip of the blade caught the light for a moment. Turning it in her hand slowly she chuckled softly. Rarely did she draw that blade without having someone in mind to kill. Turning the blade in hand she held it hilt first to the man who snatched it up early.

He held it gingerly and turned it slowly as if it were a baby. “This edge is so fine, sharp on every side. The masterwork on the guard itself. This has to be from a forgotten era. Is that a barrel added to a sword? And despite that this blade won’t bend.” He attempted to do so but of course the blade remained stiff. He even jerked his hand away sucking on a cut.

“She bites.” Morrigan added.

“That she does.” He said slowly and nodded at her.  “Where did you get a blade like this?” he asked her in reverence.

“It’s a family heirloom,” which wasn’t entirely a lie. A gift from her Queen when she joined her service. “Now I’d like you to return it.”

As if saying that was like asking him to part with his hand he took a single look at her face before rethinking any sort of idea of taking the blade from her. He turned it slowly and dipped his head to her. She grasped the hilt and turned it quickly before sliding it home. She felt more comfortable with her rapier than she did with her new blade.

“I like to think of myself as a practicing smith. Making weapons from the metals that we can mine here. They are unlike any other metal I’ve found on this land. But not a single shard is even remotely like that blade.”

Morrigan bowed her head. “Your praise is appreciated. Now my information.”

“What would you like to know?”

“I’m looking for knowledge of the Calamity. Will anyone here know of that?”

The man was silent for a long moment, pensive in facial expression. “The Calamity. A blight on humanity as a whole. The one who would know anything about that would be one of the council.”

“Council?”

“The mage council. For the sorcerers who join us and need teachers.”

“Hm,” she nodded in thought. She wasn’t excited to be interacting with mages.

“Miss.” She glanced back at him having put him out of mind at that point. “Not to sound too greedy but the other. May I also inspect that blade as well.”

Morrigan lowered her hand to the pommel of the sword and like a dog when the dinner bell was rung. It was hungry and she hadn’t had a chance to wield the blade that day. That sword would make a meal of that man in a heartbeat.

Lowering her hat, she turned around with a chuckle. “I’m sorry but this one is a little too shy.”  

The city changed the deeper you walked into it. The fringes seemed to be were all commerce and trading was being done. A little further past was food of various colors sizes. Some were being cooked over an open flame or within ovens. She felt the pang of hunger and stopped at a stand passing a gold coin in exchange for a kabob of meat and vegetables.

 Raising it she bit off one piece and the meat was savory and moist. A bit dribbled down her lip and she brushed it away with a thumb before sucking on it. She could get used to the Free City if it was all like this.

As she walked she could hear children running past her. She glanced down at them as she continued to eat. They were running toward the well in the center of the city. They shouted back and forth at one another. They even had a ball they were tossing back and forth though some were attempting to kick it to one another.

One particularly strong child kicked the ball hard enough to send it flying. The Sanguiknight caught it with narrowed eyes. Turning the orb over slowly she tossed it slowly as the children toward her clamoring for her to return it. She looked at each of them in turn and they recoiled away from her. Except for one girl with raven hair. She kept her footing and reached out with both hands.

“The ball. Can I have it back?”

Morrigan smiled and went down on one knee putting it into her awaiting hands. “Go on now little one.”

She scurried away with her friends, hoisting the ball like some sort of trophy to be proud of. Morrigan ate another piece and chuckled before continuing forward. A hand had slapped her on the back and she narrowed her eyes as she turned onto whoever dared.

Instead of a face she was met with a bare chest. Scowling she looked upward at the man who almost towered over her. His braided blonde hair contrasted with the darkness of his skin. His face was one an expressive one because his elation couldn’t be hidden from view. Hands on his hips he gave a large throaty laugh.

“Hey there stranger. Welcome to the Free City! I’m Boss.”

She stared at him blankly tearing off a hunk of meat and a pepper in one bite. She didn’t respond to him. She turned and continued with her walk away from the large man. He laughed again all smiles and bluster. “I hear you’re looking for information on the Calamity!”

She paused mid stride for a moment. She quickly weighed internally her willingness to interact with this man and her need for information. She was working under a hidden timer and her Queen would criticize her over her innate stubbornness.

Finishing the kabob, she slowly turned and pointed the stick at him. “I was told to find the Mage’s Council. Do you know something that they don’t?”

“I do not.”

She turned immediately to leave him behind.

“But I know someone who does.”

“Get to the point oaf or I’ll find it on my own.”

He laughed again and pointed at her. “Follow me and I’ll take you to someone who knows the Calamity intimately.”

He took her to the other side of the city. As they walked she noticed the looks Boss got. Some scowls, lots of waves and smiles. Children seemed to really like him. A few times he stopped to pick them up for a moment and hear what they had to say. She impatiently waited for him to finish annoyance flashing behind her eyes.

“Must you interact with everyone that comes by?” she asked.

“Well of course. The city people love me and I enjoy seeing their smiles. We’re one giant family.”

“That’s all well and good but I don’t have time for that.” She said. “I need my information so I can be on my way.”

He laughed looking at her. “You’re not a woman who relaxes are you.”

“Not when I have a mission to accomplish.”

He didn’t seem perturbed by this and simply nodded. “Then let’s make haste.”

They arrived on what Morrigan could only believe was a residential area. Where there were structures before where people set up shops or made their crafts here there were more tents. Some were stitched together with opposing colors and even cloths. Others were massive structures supported only by their pillars. Some had lights, some were empty. The people talked outside of some while others seemed to want to isolate from their neighbors.

Boss walked them toward one of the larger tents and kicked at a bucket that was on the ground. “Hey Poppy. You home?”

She blinked and could hear the sound of someone shuffling around inside of it. The front of the tent opened up and there was a red head that she recognized. Narrowing her eyes, she scowled and glanced at Boss. “This is your informant?”

The bandit looked at her with dull eyes, rubbing them slowly. However, recognition slowly dawned on his face and he swore staring toward the sky. “What kind of God is doing this to me.”

“The feeling is mutual peasant.” She said with a shake of her head and glanced at Boss. “This is your informant?” She asked again.

“No no. This is one of my men. Vince meet this lady. Says she’s seeking information on the Calamity. Is Poppy in?”

He scowled at his leader. “Yeah she’s here but she’s talking to someone. Some kids that I met on the road. Figured they’d want to meet the old bird since they’re going to become residents here for a bit.”

“New comers. Always glad for some new faces. Though difficult as that would be. We’re starting to run out of space. At least in our quadrant. We might have to start discussing an expansion.”

“Expanding is a lot of work Boss.”

“I’m aware but we can’t turn away those who seek the Free City.”

“This is all fascinating to hear but this Poppy person. Where is she? Can she give me the information I seek or not?” Morrigan asked growing more impatient.

“That woman sounds impatient.” The voice was old with laughter in her tone. “Well stop keeping her waiting. Let her in. Let me meet who is so eager to spend time with this old woman.”

Glancing at both men she shouldered past Vincent and ducked under the flap as she walked into the tent. It smelled of incense within, a sweet smoky smell.  The ground had rugs of various diamond patterns. Even through her boots she felt how soft they were. The woman looked up wearing thick robes and a hood. There were charms and jewels along it that jingled as she moved.

She was an older woman, dark skin but pale. She must have hidden from the sun for a long time. Her skin was starting to wrinkle showing her age and her eyes were small, barely open. She was missing a few teeth and her voice whistled as she spoke.

She was not alone however. There were two girls there, one with long dark brown hair that cascaded down her shoulders. The others, was shorter but her faces were mirror image of the other. One was sporting bruises on her face and bandages on her shoulder. With the four of them the place was already crowded but with Vincent returning it was cramped.

The old woman reached out toward Morrigan and she made no maneuver to get closer. The woman made a sound of annoyance and pointed toward her. “You came seeking information about the Calamity.”

“Yes. Do you actually know something or do you know someone who isn’t actually here?”

The old woman laughed and held up a finger. “I do know somethings about the Calamity. However, the person who would really know things isn’t here. He is my old mentor. Like your Queen he is old beyond years.”

She blinked in shock at that. No one had known about her heritage let alone her Queen. She narrowed her eyes suspiciously but the old woman waved a hand at her. “Oh no. I’m no threat to you. I am just old enough to remember a time in the past where you were less secretive and the world wasn’t as ravaged.”

Morrigan nodded slowly not even aware of the other three that were with her. She had eyes for the old woman. “What experience have you had with the Calamity itself?” she asked intently.

“I’ve watched it happen. From a distance, yes but it still. The way the ground trembled and the air was torn apart.” The air grew colder and darker as she spoke. In the fringes of her eyes Morrigan wasn’t looking at her. She was at a village a very long time ago.

“Trying to watch it was to have your vision warp and betray you. To try to understand what was being done was to truly question your own sanity as up would become down, buildings would invert and the few people caught inside were ripped apart like dolls.”

Morrigan forced her gaze down to the ground, reality settling around her and gasped. She felt a light stinging pain and finally noticed that she’d been digging her nails into her skin enough to gouge her palm and make her bleed.

The tent was eerily quiet, the light slowly returning to it. The older woman coughed lightly and shook her head slowly. “The Calamity is more than just the striking of some God from the sky to obliterate us humans.”

“How can it be more than that?” Vincent asked his voice softer, as if speaking about it would summon the Calamity to their doorstep and eradicate them.

The old woman gave a grim smile as she lowered her hand. The palm glowed with a fell light and it pieced itself together. A ghostly image forming against the ground starting on all fours and then righting to a hunched form. It had spines along its arms and back but a head that lacked eyes. Rows of teeth lined the inside of the mouth and a tail swished back and forth between its legs.

“What is that thing.” One of the twins asked a mix of curiosity and repulsion in her voice.

“This is what the Calamity brings to our world. It takes those killed and corrupts them. Turns them into monstrosities that were once humans.” The creature hissed as it prowled across the ground for a moment and then faded away with the release of the magic.

The other girl shook her head, “How has no one spoken about these things?”

“Because finding one is very rare and difficult. They hide away in our world, finding secluded places to exist. But certain things will stir them out of hiding and one is a coming Calamity.”

 “Can they be killed?” Vincent asked.

“I don’t know. My mentor would always hunt them though. Perhaps by now he’s had a chance to interact with one. Maybe even study one.”

“Where is your mentor? The way you speak of him he knows more about these things and the Calamity than you do.”

She nodded. “That is correct. He is much older than I and has seen more of this world change and evolve than I could ever dream of.”

“Then that’s where I shall go next. I have to speak to him. Find out as much about the Calamity and these creatures.”

“Finding him won’t be easy. He’s long since retreated from conventional interaction with people. He finds them to be too complicated I believe were his words. If you want a chance to find him, you’ll need to bring another mage with you.”

She narrowed her eyes. “Why?”

“Because mages can sense one another. Most of the time its faint but with more power its harder to stay hidden.” One of the twins said suddenly speaking up. Her voice was hushed at first but gained strength as she spoke to her. “So, if you want to find her mentor another mage would make him easier to track down.”

“That is correct.” Poppy focused in on the twins. “You two should accompany her.”

“What? Why?” the twins asked in tandem.

“Because you two are both young. Young and powerful. Especially you.” She pointed to the twin with the shorter hair of the two. “Especially you. There is no one here powerful enough to guide you to your proper potential.”

“What kind of a man is he?”

Poppy laughed. “Rude. Full of himself but that is because he is very often correct. Though I wonder if his own power is what’s made him lose so much of his humanity.” She looked sad in that regard.

“You assume I’m going to take these children with me.” Morrigan said.

“These children as you put it are going to be the reason that you remotely accomplish your goal.” She rolled her eyes. “Honestly I didn’t think the queen would make one as stubborn as you one of her knights.”

“A Sanguiknight.” She corrected almost on instinct. Just saying her new title made her chest swell with a bit of pride.

Poppy blinked slowly and nodded. “Is that right. Color me impressed. A high honor. As a Sanguiknight then you should understand the imperative of unorthodox allies. The last time I was in contact with him my master was migrating toward the Sanctum’s territory. I advise you start your search there.”

Morrgian nodded slowly. The Sanctum was a territory that she knew wouldn’t be fond of either a mage nor a Sanguiknight. Though how much they would remember members of her order she couldn’t say.

“If you’re going to the Sanctum take Vince!”

It was as if thunder boomed within the tent and everyone, even Morrigan, jumped slightly. The large head of Boss stuck through the opening to greet each of them. Placing a hand over her chest she growled in frustration and glared at him. “Why should I take him?”

“You mean why should you ask me to join.”

She scoffed in amusement. “Sure, let’s go along those lines. What could you bring to the table outside of not being able to hold you drink.”

He scowled at her. “I was born and raised in the Sanctum. I can navigate that territory better than most.”

“It’s true,” Boss added. “Vince is a great warrior and Cartographer. Makes most of the maps that we use.”

“Shut it Boss.” He said staring at the ground covering his face in mild embarrassment. But he looked away and turned toward the twins. “What do you two want to do?”

The twins blinked at him and looked between Poppy, Morrigan and finally looking at Vincent. “If Poppy’s right about us, especially my sister, then we may need to find a proper teacher. And it’s not like we have a lot of options when it comes to the job.” Her sister nodded quickly and looked at Morrigan.

“I don’t know who or what you are but I can feel power from you. Or around you is a better way to put it. You’re not a mage but something on you has a lot of magical power.” She said and was frowning heavily at that. She couldn’t figure out what it was but she knew it was something. She looked at her twin for confirmation and she nodded in return.

Morrigan looked at her with somewhat new eyes. Maybe there was something more to mages like this. “When did you sense it?”

“When you arrived outside of the tent I thought there might be another mage nearby but looking at you it became harder to discern.”

The Sanguiknight nodded slowly. The only item she had that would cause something like that would have been her blade. “This isn’t going to be some form of vacation. We’re going to the Sanctum who has a reputation for hating mages. Your lives will be in danger while we are there. If you won’t do this with conviction then don’t come along.”

Both twins didn’t seem detoured by this. She continued to stare at them to see if they would flinch away but they didn’t. So, she nodded and moved to stand but she slowed to turn her gaze onto Vincent. “I assume that if they’re coming you’ll be coming as well.”

“I got these kids here. Hate to see them die on their first real outing.”

“Then we’re done here. Come.”

“We’re not your servants. And getting into Sanctum territory is at least a two or three day ride. And we need to get supplies for it. It’ll take at least a few hours to get ready.”

“Then get ready. I’ll be waiting at the tower by sun down.” And she kept walking this time without slowing down. She wanted to start moving. Once again, she felt the same presence inside her but unlike before where it felt like eyes were watching it was like the wind at her back and a goodnights rest. She was ready to move and even excited.

“This is a strange city.”