The Monstrous Citadel by Mirah Bolender

Author:Mirah Bolender
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tom Doherty Associates

15

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A few days later, with the walls of Amicae towering ahead again, something white-hot seared through Laura’s finger.

“Ow!”

Laura shook her hand with a snarl of pain. She felt as if she’d touched a hot stove. She had half a mind to pull off her ring, but already the feeling had died down to smarting.

“Anything wrong?” Cherry looked back while her horse continued its slow, steady pace.

“Nothing. Just this stupid ring.” Laura twisted it ruefully. “Maybe it caught on something.”

“I think that was magic,” said Okane. He rubbed his own hand, as if he’d been zapped too. “The rings are amulets, right? All Sweeper amulets are rigged for something. Like the ones on our belts affect the ones in our shoes. I think something else affects these.”

Few spells can actually be utilized. A flicker of memory: Clae striding through a train, carpetbag held fast. I put one on the Eggs, sends an SOS to my amulets.

“An SOS,” she muttered.

Cherry frowned. “Is someone in trouble?”

“The armory. Okane, Amelia said the armory sends a signal to Sweeper rings.”

Okane looked horrified, and he had every right to be. The armory had Clae and Anselm inside it.

“You’re not going to that place, are you?” Cherry said suspiciously. “You told us you were going straight to your investigator, before any other bullshit comes up. If you’re right about who’s involved, you need help immediately. Don’t make any stops.”

“The armory has all of the Amicae Sweepers’ magic equipment inside it,” said Laura. “If something happens to it, we’re not the only ones sunk. The entire city could be in danger.”

Cherry crossed her arms in a huff. “In that case, we’re going with you. Your boss can wave a gun around all she wants, but I’m faster on the draw. She’ll have to think twice before threatening you.”

“- - -’d do that?” said Okane, surprised.

“I’m taking this escort job seriously.” Cherry sat straighter in the saddle, eyes narrowed. “Now what is that?”

It looked like the entirety of the Ranger district awaited them in the city’s doorway. Rangers and horses milled around in an angry cloud. One of the closest Rangers sat on a scruffy pony, her face marred by burn scars. Cherry obviously knew this one; she trotted up beside her and asked, “What’s going on?”

“I’m not coming back to Amicae anytime soon, that’s what’s happening,” said the woman. “They’re kicking us all out. No Rangers allowed for the foreseeable future.”

“Can they do that?” Laura gasped.

“Sure can. We’re technically only satellite citizens,” said the woman.

“That’s never been an issue before,” said Cherry. “What’s started this?”

“Rumor has it that the mobs are recruiting us,” said the woman. “It’s a load of crap, but this is the same place that bought the idea of walls being impervious to monsters. Common sense really isn’t fashionable here.”

“Well, I’ve got a job to finish,” said Cherry. “We’re getting in.”

“Good luck,” said the woman. She gave them a mocking wave as they passed.

The other Rangers didn’t try stopping them. They grumbled and parted slowly, so before long the group had made its way to the front.

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