"How long will that take?" Dante asked, voice coming through Leo's monitor.
"An hour. Maybe less, if Kon and I can apply pressure," Altun replied. "We're going to engage him directly, so keep the physical attackers off our backs."
"Done. Be careful," Rodrigo said.
The line went dead, and Rodrigo turned back to the monitors, his mind racing.
"I'm going to go and join her and Julian. I can't sit here, watching," Rodrigo said, turning to Leo. "Watch Giana when…"
"Giana doesn't need watching, but if you give me a comm, I'll make sure nothing jumps out behind you," she said, from the doorway, making him startle. She held out a hand expectantly.
Rodrigo took two comm pieces from beside Leo and slid one into his ear. He dropped the other into Giana's hand before folding her fingers over it and turning it to kiss her knuckles.
"Watch my back,anima mia?" he asked. "If you have time?"
"Always." Rodrigo was about to step away when she grabbed him by the front of his vest, pulled him down, and kissed him. "Be back soon."
"I'll try," he replied, kissing her once more before she let him go, and he hurried to find Altun.
They only needed to survive an hour against a military-grade assault supported by ancient djinn magic and walking corpses. Piece of cake.
42
Rodrigo arrived on the walls to find Altun standing at the center of a complex pattern drawn in chalk and salt, her arms raised, her voice chanting in an ancient language. The air around her shimmered with heat and power.
Julian stood guard over her, a rifle in his hands and two dead mercenaries at his feet. His expression focused on anything that might threaten his sorceress.
Nearby, Kon faced the burning wall, his own power manifesting as a cloud that pushed back against the green flames, trying to smother them. Sweat streamed down his face, his muscles trembling with effort, but the unnatural fire was slowly retreating. Athena was standing guard and looked ready to tear the faces off anyone who tried to mess with him.
"I can feel the djinn," Kon said through gritted teeth, his voice strained. "It's ancient and angry. It doesn't want to serve him."
"Can you use that?" Rodrigo asked hopefully.
"Maybe. If I can reach it, convince it we're not its enemy…" Kon's face contorted with effort. "The binding is strong. Unfortunately, Serapis does actually know what he's doing."
Another wave of green fire crashed against Kon's defenses. He staggered, nearly going to one knee before catching himself.
"He's pushing harder," Altun replied, breaking her chant. "He knows we're resisting. Kon, I need you to draw his attention. Make him focus on you while I work on weakening the binding."
"I'll try." Kon closed his eyes, and the temperature around him spiked. The air shimmered, heat mirages dancing across the terrace. When he opened his eyes, his pupils were blown out until his eyes were black.
The green flames responded, surging toward him with renewed fury.
"It's working," Julian reported, his rifle firing again as he dropped another attacker trying to breach the terrace. "The fire's concentrating on Kon's position. The west wall defenders are getting some relief."
Rodrigo's comms crackled in his ear, "Rodrigo, this is Silas. The pressure's easing on our sector. Whatever you're doing, keep doing it."
"Acknowledged. Hold your positions."
Through the gunfire and haze of heat, Rodrigo watched Altun work. Her face was drawn with concentration, sweat beading on her skin despite the early morning chill. The patterns at her feet began to glow with a soft, golden light.
"The consecration isn't just blocking thegul," she murmured, her voice threading through the chant. "It's a foundation I can build on. Reinforce it against the djinn's influence."
The golden glow spread outward from her feet, racing along invisible lines of power. Where it passed, the unnatural shadows and green fire retreated, and the whispers faded. The compound's ancient protections were somehow being strengthened by Altun's magic. She swayed, her face going ashen, her chanting faltering for a moment.
Julian was at her side in an instant, one arm around her waist, steadying her even as he kept his rifle trained on the approaches. "Easy, love. I've got you."
"I can't… break the binding," Altun gasped. "He's too strong, but I can block him. Keep his magic from penetrating the sanctified ground."
