Ravnica: Ravnica Cycle, Book I by Herndon Cory

Author:Herndon, Cory [Herndon, Cory]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Random House Inc Clients
Published: 2010-04-07T03:00:00+00:00

INCIDENT REPORT: 10/13MZ/430222

FILED: 18 Griev 9943 Z.C.

PRIMARY: Cons. Kos, Agrus

SECONDARY: Lt. Zunich, Myczil

Kos and Zunich found themselves under attacks, plural. Dozens of tiny, swarming, biting attacks.

“Oh, I hate these thi—Ow!” Zunich managed.

The silver “caltrops” sprang to life and skittered on asymmetrical limbs across the crumbling roof and over the wojek’s boots. Kos fought the urge to cry out as those tiny, jagged spikes drove through the tough leather around his ankles and pierced the skin.

“Keep your feet in contact with the tiles,” Zunich said. “They get to the soles of your feet and you’re crippled.”

“How do we get them off?”

“We don’t. They’ll lose interest in a minute. This is a distraction. He’s trying to escape.”

“No kidding. You sure they won’t crawl up my—?”

“Sure I’m sure,” Zunich said. “They cling to your boots, and you’re supposed to try to pick them off. That’s how they get to your hands and face, if you’re foolish. I should have recognized them. I’ve seen those things before.”

“Where?”

“Golgari bounty hunter. One of the few who has the stones to hunt above street level.” The old ’jek cursed and shook a few of the caltrop bugs free. “He’s got a way with bugs. Something of a traditionalist.”

Blood ran down to fill the inside of Kos’s boots. “They’re really doing a number on my feet, sir. It’s not easy to move.”

“Stop calling me ‘sir.’”

“Sorry, when I’m getting chewed to bits I get nervous. Old habits.”

“Grin and bear it, Kos. We’ll administer ’drops. No point in doing it now. Just keep scooting. I see him. He’s moving slowly.”

“Not as slowly as we are.”

“Confidence, Constable.”

With both agonizing caution and more than a little agony, they cleared the crest and scanned the next set of rooftops to try and get some glimpse of their prey. Finally, the lieutenant returned to Kos with the precise steps of a barefoot man trying to keep his footing on a frozen lake.

“Anything?” the older ’jek asked.

“No,” Kos said, scanning the rooftops. “I think he probably went to ground. What’s a Devkarin doing outside the Golgari quarter, anyway?”

“Welcome to wider Ravnica, Constable Kos. People don’t always stay were you put them. Still, that’s a mighty good question, and when we get down—”

“Get down!” Kos cried and tackled Zunich to the roof. A silver throwing knife appeared to materialize out of a shadow, whipping over Kos’s head and coming to an abrupt stop against stone. Kos struck at the shadow with a fist, and a second knife clattered to the roof tiles and rolled down and off the edge several steps in front of them.

The shadow Kos had struck shimmered and flashed in the light. The shadow of the hunter loomed.

“A chameleon hex?” Zunich said to the shadow. “Now that’s just cheap.”

Kos heard the figure expel a hiss as its disguise faltered and the discharging mana sent what looked like painful shocks through the elf’s nervous system. Kos already wished he had tried something more lethal, but at least he had cracked the exterior of their quarry’s camouflage.

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