“You know I never realized that the mage council would ever be worth a damn. But here we are having them organize a city wide barrier,” Vincent shrugged. “Seems crazy but ever since I met you that’s been my life.”
“They may not be as powerful as we are but they are respectable. And you keep saying that like it’s a bad thing Vince,” Alison smiled at him. “We’ve made your life so much more fun and interesting. Think of all the people you’ve met.”
“Good and bad right?”
“Of course.”
“Yeah. I guess I don’t regret meeting the kids. They’re not as bad as Morrigan.”
“Oh come on. You love her. She’s just as much a part of our family as Brynie is.”
“Not quite on that level.”
Vincent paused as he walked and turned to face his girlfriend. She was teasing him for sure but he knew that look on her face. He could see the exhaustion in her eyes. He knew it because it was on his face, they’d started to share things like that.
Alison took his hand and led him through the city slowly. For a moment Vincent wondered where they were going but it was their path, one that they’d taken more than once. If it weren’t so late in the evening, Brynie would be right there with them leading the way. But she was back home fast asleep and with the day they’d had, she would be out all night.
As they took the familiar path to their lookout tower he relaxed. It was a place he’d made so many maps and where he’d spent his laziest days with her. Brynie had taken to it just as quickly as Vincent did. She had her own corner with a nest of books, pillows, and an old blanket that was all hers.
As they took up their spots on the edge of the watch tower, Alison wrapped her arms around Vincent’s and stared at the setting sun. “We’d ask but we doubt that you’re that positive about what’s coming tomorrow.”
“I wish I could but that’d be out of character, right?” Vincent tried to smile but it came out a grimace. “Sorry. It’s hard to even think about tomorrow.”
“It’s hard for us too. To imagine what’s gonna happen.” She shook her head. “We don’t want to think about it but we have to.”
“I talked to Monica. About the plan. We’re going to try to keep the fighting in the desert and away from the city. Every rogue that can is going to be fighting. Even if they don’t fully know why, they know that this is going to be different.”
Alison nodded. “Ryza, Stephanie, and Snow went back to Luthagen to get reinforcements. And Morrigan is going to ask her queen for aid. But Nero and his family are going to be with us. Which that’s a big deal. We mean. Dragons. Magic that doesn’t want to hurt you for being used. Their country sounds like a dream compared to what we grew up with.”
“Maybe we can visit there too. Unfortunately a country of nothing but magic is perfect for Brynie.”
“First Nerodala and now Reditus. That’s quite a few extra countries to visit Vince,” Alison teased.
“There’s a lot more world out there to see than I first thought,” Vincent sighed. “And I went and made friends in those places and now I want to see them. The old man would be laughing at me right now.”
“Whys that?”
“Because I was such a grumpy kid who only wanted to stay in the Free City. Seeing the rest of the world? Not for me. Mapping it sure, but actually going to it was too much of a pain.”
“And now look at you. Trying to be a globetrotting map maker,” she pushed at his shoulder lightly.
“And my trouble making girlfriend who helps way too many people at once,” he replied looking at her. “And my equally trouble making daughter who has to learn about everything. First hand if possible.”
“Who us? Cause trouble? We’d never,” she grinned.
“Course not. Going out into the tamed but untamed wilds. Just the four of us.”
Alison’s heart skipped a beat as she looked at the ground at their feet. She kicked her legs slowly but she could feel her demon’s voice in her head. She could see the worried look on her brother’s face. She couldn’t keep this to herself anymore.
“Five.”
Vincent blinked quickly and glanced down at her. “What?”
“There would be five of us. Globetrotting around the world.”
He tilted his head frowning, “What so your brother? I doubt we could get him away from Morrigan and Ben for long but I wouldn’t hate that. Unless you mean Blaze which sure. I bet he’d love to sample things from another country.”
She sighed and took his hand looking at it, then him. “Me,” she pointed at herself. “You,” She pointed at him. “Penny,” she pointed at herself again then motioned toward their tent, “Brynie,” and then hesitated. But she lowered his hand to her stomach and kept her gaze on him. “Five.”
“Five,” he mouthed as he held his hand against her stomach and it really sank in. She could feel his shoulders sag and he almost looked like he was looking past her. “Five. Five.” His eyes widened slightly and he stared at her again. “You’re. You’re. Pregnant?”
“Yes. We’re pretty sure.”
“And you’ve. You’ve checked. Like gone to a doctor or.”
“Yes Vince. And even Penny says so. And we tend to trust them.”
“And it’s mine?”
She rolled her eyes, “Considering we only ever sleep with you, yes Vince.”
Vincent slid backward slowly and lay down against the floor. He stared at the ceiling and blew out a heavy breath. Alison stared at him and she couldn’t help her small laugh. “You okay Vince? We’ve never seen you do that before.”
“Just. Give me a second,” he said softly and spread his arms out.
She nodded, laying her head on his chest as she lay beside him. “Take your time.”
He did and just continued to stare. She could feel his heartbeat going. She could vaguely hear him mouthing things. Somewhere in the middle of all of that, he wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close.
“We’re having a baby.”
“We’re having a baby.”
“Brynie’s gonna be a big sister.”
“Yes, she is,” she closed her eyes holding onto him even tighter. “We’re scared Vince. Scared that something will happen tomorrow.”
“Nothing’s going to happen. All of us will be okay.”
She looked up at him surprised at the conviction in his voice. He hadn’t been looking at her initially, but he was now. His eyes were steady and just looking at him, she could feel his confidence. It quieted a lot of the thoughts in her head. “Yeah. Yeah we will. Reditus or Nerodala.”
“What?”
“Which should we take our baby to first?”
Vincent laughed, “Considering our daughter is already a full blown mage and knowing my luck so will this baby, Reditus.”
“Oh come on Vince be serious,” she said laughing softly.
“I am,” he replied. “I’m doomed to forever be tied to magic. But at least I love the mages in my life”
“They love you too.”
While the sun sank below the horizon, the stars filled the sky and anxiousness filled the city. It wasn’t like the calm before a big raid or a job. And that extended doubly for those that weren’t from the city. Mainly Nero and his family.
“They’re both asleep?” Nero asked pulling aside the flap of the tent gently.
“Yeah,” Lily replied looking at Sofie and Sefirin both in their own beds. “Took awhile. They’re nervous. Scared.”
“They should be,” Nero folded his arms, tracing one of his scales. “I wish we could have sent them back home.”
“I do too. But beyond the fact that neither of them would have gone quietly, opening a portal back home would be too taxing for Dawn or Alison. Or any of us. Not to mention not many of them know where or even what Reditus is.”
“That’s true.” Nero dug his fingers into his hair slowly and Lily took his hand. She smoothed his hair back and he smiled. “Did you manage to send the message to your brother?”
“Send? Yes. Did he receive it? I don’t know. I doubt we’ll know this soon,” she sighed.
“You sent it and that’s what matters. Have to try everything. Dawn’s still laying down the preparations with the local mages yeah?”
“Yeah. She should be done soon.”
“Done now,” Dawn said as she slipped into their tent, her eyes were a tired green. But as she looked at them, they turned to orange and then to a soft pink. They each hugged and shared a kiss before she went to sit on their bed.
“How are you?” Nero asked.
“I’m not as tired physically but I am mentally. That Poppy woman was at least smart enough to help me help them. And while we worked it was like there was another presence with us. More powerful than anything I’d ever felt. It’s hard to explain. How are they?”
“Tired.”
She nodded and then looked at them “And you two?”
“Anxious,” Lily told her and Nero echoed the sentiment. “I haven’t felt like this in over twenty years.” She paused saying that and laughed covering her mouth. “I felt old saying that.”
“We are old,” Nero smiled at her. “It’s been so long since we were ready to protect our world from danger. And here we are doing it again.”
“You know I used to think you were just trouble Nemo. I’m starting to believe it now,” Lily teased.
“Oh come on that’s not fair,” Nero said pouting.
“I think she has a point luzo. You are usually tied to these things.”
“What? I’m not even from this country,” he said tossing his hands up. “I can’t believe my wives are acting like this to me. Next thing our kids will start doing it.”
“I wonder how badly they take after their father,” Lily whispered to Dawn.
“Considering they came here on their own I think his genes are very strong unfortunately.”
Nero sighed, “I can’t win with you two, can I?”
“No you can’t,” Dawn told him her eyes settling onto white.
“My favorite part of our marriage,” Lily said and kissed his cheek lightly, holding her hand out to Dawn.
She started to pull them outside when Nero winced pressing his free hand against his forehead. They both turned to him but he shook his head. “What is it luzo?”
“Silver and Emeralda have sensed something. They don’t know what it is, but Silver doesn’t like it. Something is happening.”
Lily glanced back at their kids. Taking a deep breath she nodded again, “Then let’s go. Take no risks.”
“No risks,” Dawn agreed.
Leaving the tent, they all broke into a quick run with Nero in the lead. Nero looked to the sky and saw the shadow of the dragons pass by overhead. Spreading his wings, he jumped and flew right to his partner. He landed on her back and pressed his hand against her neck.
“What is it?”
“It would be easier to show you,” she said turning on the air.
With only a few flaps they left the city behind and Nero closed his eyes seeing through hers for a moment. Far in the distance, the air was rippling, cracking open like a piece of glass. Nero scrunched up his face trying to see it clearer but then he felt it. The magic that was leaking through the cracks of the sky.
Silver halted, barely keeping them aloft. Nero looked to the side, saw Emeralda join them along with Lily and Dawn. “What was that?” Lily asked.
“It felt like Daze,” Emeralda growled. “His magic. He’s coming back.”
“I thought we had a day before he was here?” Lily looked at the two of them for confirmation.
“We did but either that was an overestimation or Daze broke out sooner than we had hoped,” Dawn shut her eyes. “Which means Sehren’s gone.”
Nero shut his eyes tightly because just thinking that hurt his heart. So he focused on what he knew and what was right in front of him. “We need to go back and warn everyone.”
The cracks in the air started to spread and a burst of the quaked out, splitting the ground and a cloud. Lily and Dawn both got on Silver’s back as she turned around, flying straight back to the city. And this time the presence of the two dragons coming back was cause for alarm.
“I’ll talk to Monica, Dawn find the mage council, Lily get Sefirin and Sofie.”
They both nodded as Nero hopped off Silver’s back, gliding down to the ground landing in front of a larger tent. Monica came out of the tent, a mug in hand as she narrowed her eyes to look at the spellcaster. “I take it you have a reason for showing up like this Nero?”
“We found a tear in the desert not far from the city. And it exudes Daze’s magic. He’s coming.”
“I thought we were supposed to have more time.”
“So did I but here we are,” Nero frowned. “We have to get ready.”
She swore hard and put the mug to her mouth finishing the contents, “Okay. Find Vince and Alison. I’ll get the Rogues together. And let’s hope we survive this.”
Nero nodded, running back through the city. He whistled softly and jumped back into the air, “Any idea where our friends are Silver?”
“Yes. The lookout tower in the center of the city. “
“Thanks. I’m on my way,” he said and his scales rushed across his body. His wings sprouted and he jumped into the air soaring over the tents. It was easy to find the lookout tower from this vantage point. He spun gaining altitude but he felt another wave of magic over him. The magic was something violent and attacked him. He almost fell from the sky.
Flapping his wings, he came down to the lookout tower and landed within it. His scales faded away and he looked at the loosely startled couple. “I take it you don’t have good news?” Vincent asked.
“Afraid not. It’s time.”
“Already?” Alison shut her eyes. “You’re right. We can feel it. He’s coming.”
Vincent looked at her and squeezed her hand tightly then looked at Nero, “Thanks for the heads up. We’ll be ready.”
With a slow nod, Nero stepped out of the lookout tower and started flying again. The city had very quickly gone into a state of commotion. People rushed from tent to tent, gathering armor and weapons. Very quickly they began to gather just outside the gate of the Free City. Mounted on horses, foot, and even a chariot for a few of them. Many of them were armed in leather armor with swords or spears. Some had bows and a decent number had guns. But they all had the same grim expressions on their faces. None of the bravado that normally came right before a job.
Monica rode forward getting ahead of the group. She held the reins of her horse tightly and looked out over at the four hundred or so Rogues mixed with the people of the city. There were a lot of them and seeing them all in one place was always a sobering moment for her. Realizing just how many people were under her command. Relied on her for safety.
Monica looked around for her people. Samuel was mounted and nervous. Fighting, open war, not his style. But she knew that he would ride to the occasion when they needed him. She looked past him and saw Semperius. The strange monk she’d found in the desert. She learned quickly he was reliable. More than that, he’d seen and done things that she couldn’t imagine. She was glad he was on her side.
But beyond them she found Vincent. A friend she’d made a long time ago. She’d face hell a dozen times over if she had him at her back. She nodded toward him and he nodded back. But then there were the mages, spellcasters, and their dragons. Just seeing these mythical creatures in front of her, she wondered if they could lose. But even they were scared of what was coming.
Taking a deep breath, she leaned back and shouted, “Listen up Rogues! This ain’t no raid like we’ve done before! This is an attack on us! Our home! Our families! Our friends! The enemy though isn’t something we’re used to. They’re monsters. They don’t get scared. They just want us all dead. But we’re Rogues, right? Do we back down to shit like this?”
“No!”
“We ain’t the best people out there but goddammit this is our home! We’ve got our lady watching over us! We’re gonna fight as hard as we fucking can isn’t that right?!”
“Yes!”
“That’s what I like to hear! Keep them away from the city at all costs and fight like hell! If there ain’t any questions let’s g-“
The ground shook with another earthquake cutting her off. Everyone turned and saw the air finally tear open, revealing a black void. Monica had lived long enough to know what the calamity looked like when it happened. This was smaller, more contained, but it still sent a shiver down her spine.
A shape dropped out of the air almost like it had been born from the sky itself. It was several miles away but even from here, it was massive. As it stood to its full, its red eyes pierced the darkness like beacons. Another series of portals exploded around the demon. Dozens upon dozens of tiny black shapes leaped out and started sprinting across the sands. And then the large demon started to walk, each step shaking the ground.
Monica turned to face the horde and drew her swords as Vincent rode Blaze up to her side. “Where’s Alison?”
“She went to make sure we could get some help. We just gotta hold down the fort and not die,” he said. “Hope she gets back soon.”
“You and me both. Is Brynie safe?”
“As safe as she can be,” Vincent closed his eyes tightly.
“What are those things?” she mumbled.
“They’ve got a bunch of names but for us, they’re demons,” Vincent said. “We’ve fought demons before.”
“We have. Though usually the order is to run away from them,” she stared ahead trying to stay calm. “And now we’re running toward them.”
“Yeah we are,” Vincent took a deep breath. “Give the order boss.”
She looked at him one more time and took a very deep breath. Raising one of her swords to the sky she screamed, “Rogues! Let’s ride!”
She leaned forward, spurring her horse forward, and shouted. Vincent was right behind her. The other Rogues shouted and raced after their leader in a stampede of hooves. The wingbeats of the dragons came through like thunder, bolstering everyone’s confidence. It was do or die and none of them planned on dying tonight.
The Harlequin Library 