Chapter 9
“When faced with an opponent larger than yourself, use your cunning, your magic, and your fleet feet.”
-Anonymous
IfollowedOss through the gateway, eager to leave the guard’s company and visit a place of magic. A power misunderstood and vilified my entire life, until now. I had never been allowed to let my explorer heart free. Trapped within a stoned city didn’t allow for many adventures other than running from thugs or hiding from police.
As we passed the guards, I remained alert. I didn’t trust them not to stab me in the back and shove my body through the portal. No one would contradict the guards’ story if they claimed the creatures below caused my demise and that of the rest of my party.
A low thrum rolled through my body, vibrating my bones. I licked my numb lips and took long, slow breathes with each step closer to the gateway. If my body didn’t shake apart in the next few steps, I would be entering a new city for the first time.
“What’s wrong?” Justin frowned. He pressed his left hand against my back, guiding me through the gateway and onto the stairs below.
“Do you not feel that?” I glanced at the others, but they showed no awareness in their expressions. How could they not experience the same punch of power? The air smelled of ozone and magic, even the untalented should feel the tingle against their skin.
“Feel what?” Oss asked.
I stared at him for several uncomfortable minutes, waiting for him to tell me he was joking. The other members of my group gave me the same blank stare.
“The magic. The smell in the air, the tingle on your skin. The magic!” I gestured wildly, trying to encompass the entire city. In return, I received an eye roll from Oss, a supportive, if clueless, smile from Thorne, and a condescending pat on the shoulder from Justin. I didn’t scream. I’m not ashamed to say it was a close thing.
I sighed. No sense trying to educate them when they couldn’t even feel the energy rolling across their bodies. Ruthlessly ignoring what that said about my magical power, I rushed forward. “Let’s get going. Buster doesn’t have all the time in the world.” I didn’t truly believe Buster had as much time as everyone thought.
“You might be feeling more from the city because the Gear Master lived here for centuries and you are sensitive to his magic,” Justin theorized.
“Maybe,” I agreed, more to get everyone moving forward than because I thought he was right. If the magic would settle down a little, I would appreciate it more. I lifted my trembling hands and shook them out. Nothing.
“What are you doing?” Oss asked, a smirk lifting the right corner of his mouth.
“I thought maybe I could loosen the excess magic.” I blushed after I heard the ridiculousness of my words.
“My marks are absorbing some of it,” Oss said, lifting his hands. “Maybe that’s why I’m not feeling it as strongly as you.” The key shapes embedded into his hands glowed faintly in the dim lighting.
“Possibly.” I smiled, relieved. At least Oss was feeling it at some level. Maybe I wasn’t a magical freak after all, despite what my childhood tormentors said. Some memories from the orphanage stuck with me, no matter how long ago they happened. I wouldn’t say I was traumatized, but it wasn’t a good situation.
No one spoke again until we reached the first landing, too immersed in our thoughts and, for some of us, first impressions. The tower’s silence pressed upon me, heavier than the magic. “Where is everyone?”
“I don’t know.” Oss’s quiet voice echoed. “There were plenty of people here last time. They hovered around like flies.”
“If they were flies, what does that make you?” I teased.
I ducked the blade flying at me. It embedded in the wall with a decisive thud.
“Stop that!” Justin snarled. “You could’ve hurt him.”
Oss laughed. “Marbrey is too fast to be caught by one of my daggers. He’d have to be old and infirm to get stabbed.”
I retrieved the blade and tossed it back at Oss who caught it with a quick snap of his fingers.
“You two are insane,” Thorne scolded.
We shrugged in unison. He wouldn’t be the first person who said that. He was the first who cared if we were stabbed or not. I would speak to Oss privately about curbing our worst habits at least when around our lovers. Or ex-lovers. Oss didn’t want to scare Thorne away. The nervous glance he flashed his lover was louder than words and three times as poignant.
Despite Oss’s statement about his previous trip, the tower appeared deserted.
“Hmm.” We didn’t technically need anyone to greet us, but still, it was strange.
“Let’s go outside so we can get our bearings.” Oss pulled the map from his pack.
