Nethergeist by Nick Stevenson

Author:Nick Stevenson [Nick Stevenson]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Rising Action Publishing
Published: 2023-10-02T00:00:00+00:00

***

Through the fog of burning machinery, Adira could make out the two figures isolated under the gathering cloud. “The commanders won’t make it,” she hissed at Lars. “What’s left of the horde’s turning towards them. I think they know we’re stuffed without them.”

“Big mistake,” he hummed excitedly, a gleam in his eye. “Don’t you see? We can triangulate all our firepower on those things without worrying about supporting the energy barrier at the same time. Pow!” His palms smacked together to emphasize the point.

Adira didn’t need to be told twice. She waved her hand furiously at the company. Every veridian gun and staff quietened to a spitting fizz. Eyes stared blearily at the sudden withdrawal of the horde.

“Blind nova mark two! Raise your maces and converge your fire … now!”

Again, Asthen Magi firepower combined at a point amid the writhing flurry. The detonation was soundless. The devastation was shocking. A shredded handful of creatures fled back to the ducts, leaving a wake of charred vapour. The vast majority had become a rain of cauterized carnage. From within the grey snowstorm, two figures smeared with dirt staggered out. Adira flashed a triumphant smile as they reached the harried sanctuary of the group, but her stomach lurched when she saw Barrackus’ eyes. The once-green slits were now red, an unmistakable sign of sorcery pollution. Sheyna shot her a warning look. Doing her best to mask the fear and her Asthen senses, Adira finally allowed herself to breathe.

“Sir, you alright? Can you walk?”

He regarded her grimly. Adira shivered as though something fell had crawled across her grave.

“I abandoned all of you.” Barrackus put a dirt-streaked hand on her arm. “Won’t happen again. I don’t care what it takes.”

Lars scrutinized them wearily, then apparently decided that a somewhat breezier approach was called for. “Last one at the Fat-Eyed Centaur buys the biggest round of frothing tankards this side of the Abomination Goat’s ass! We’ve taken bigger scalps, but if this doesn’t warrant a round, nothing does.”

Barrackus’ eyes gleamed with friendly malice. “I know the place—the Centaur’s one of the inns run by our allies. I thought our people were discouraged from visiting their dubious watering holes—they don’t trust our gifts!

Sheyna snorted. “They seem to forget that without us, they’d already be dirt-tilling thralls under the Abomination’s boot.” The knotted sinews twisted into a sudden grin. “Sod ‘em. I’m so spent, I could drink their slop.”

“It’s a deal then.” Adira laughed. “And if they ban us for being sorcerers, I’ll shove the inn sign up their—”

“Point made!” Barrackus reached for his water flask. After a long swig, he wiped his mouth and deeply sucked in the acrid air. “Dare I ask, but has anyone seen our goodly Tracker?”

“Here.” The voice was right next to him. It was oddly unnerving. Andromedus stood alone and quiet. He had a habit of appearing when someone was talking about him.

“Ah, good. Okay?”

“As well as it can be, considering the circumstances.”

“He’s working on an exit,” Adira said, eyes flitting uncertainly between the two.

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