“I’ll find Aiko, Belshazzar, and the triumvirate,” I said. “You go to one of the other fires and help put it out. This is probably Niniane’s army, trying to take the city.”
Roran nodded and grabbed my elbow. He pulled me to him and kissed me hard. “Be careful,ilati.I think we’re in the place to do amazing things with the five of us.”
“I think you’re right, love. Go. Save some people’s lives. I’ll do the same.”
“Meet on the dock!” he called as we both ran away from each other.
I found the source of the clanging, as well as Dorian and Aiko. They were waiting for instructions on what to do.
“Where is Belshazzar?” I asked.
“He’s gone to see what the other bells are for,” Aiko said.
“I sent Roran to one of them. There was an explosion on the waterfront,” I said. The man who appeared to be in charge whirled to me, terror on his face. I held up my hand to stop him. “The waterfront is safe. Master Rilen is there, and we put it out.”
I gasped. “Aiko! Run to the dock, and tell Rilen to lift the water. Dorian, Roran, and I can get to the different fires and put them out that way!’
Aiko nodded as a fourth bell started clanging in the distance. He glanced that way, but I pushed him, gently, toward the water.
Yuuto appeared in a robe, looking distressed. Dorian and I ran over to him. “High Master, we think the city is being attacked—”
He nodded. “I agree. By whom?”
“Probably Niniane’s men,” I answered. “We can help, but where is the guard?”
“We only have a few on after midnight…”
“Wake all of them,” Dorian snapped. “I don’t care if they are balls deep in a prostitute, call them in. Tell them to search out the soldiers setting fire to your city. Where are Aoi and Reo?”
“Aoi lives by the water, at the edge of the wall,” he answered. “She would go to the closest bell, the second one. Reo should be at the fourth bell that was closest to his home.”
“I sent Roran to the third,” I said.
“Put this fire out,” Dorian said. “I’ll head to the second bell.”
“Do you have a place to meet?” I asked Yuuto.
Pointing, he nodded. “That way. Frontier Square. It’s large and open.”
“Get everyone out of their houses,” Bel said, walking up. “And don’t let them in the basements. Get them out; get them to water and boats.”
“Are the basements safe?” asked one of the guards.
“If you don’t mind roasting at a comfortable 375 degrees for four hours if the whole city goes up.” Even surrounded by fire, Bel was a smartass.
“The whole city?” Yuuto gasped so hard he started coughing from the smoke.
“Assume it,” Bel said. “It’s safer. I saw what happens when you take shelter from fire underground. Roast human is not appealing.”
“Uh, human?”
“Never mind!” he barked. “Just don’t let anyone underground. Dorian, let’s go.”
The two of them sped off, leaving me with the guards, the firefighters, and Yuuto. I reached up with my power and found that Rilen had a ready supply of water waiting above the city. I pulled on it and sent the water down on the flames that were behind Yuuto and eating through the buildings.
It took me a moment to soak the fire and make sure it wasn’t going to flare back up. But in that time, I could hear more bells across the city.
“Yuuto, please get the guards moving! The sooner we stop the arsonists, the sooner we can make sure the city doesn’t burn to the ground.”
