The Windcaster [Fantasy/Adventure | Featured | Complete ]

Chapter 38: Duties to the Kingdom

"But Enlil–!"

"Enlil can look after himself." Mommu towed her along. "We will be nothing but a hindrance to him; look for him once we are safe – come!"

She followed him down the winding tower steps, deeper and deeper into the heart of the royal palace. She was lost; the darkness swallowed everything in front of her eyes and she had nothing to guide her except for the steady, light tap-tap-tap of Mommu's boots against the marble stairs. As they wound round and round, deeper and deeper, she lost all sense of orientation. They were probably somewhere beneath the Singing tower of the palace, where Wind messages are sent and received.

Mommu didn't light a candle in case their movements could be seen by the assailants. As though treading on thin glass, they made their way to the bottommost level.

Footsteps reached their ears. They both stopped; Tia strained her ears, attempting to locate the sound.

It was several storeys above, but it was getting closer to the top of the staircase.

"Run!"

They raced down the corridor, their footsteps echoing against the marble walls. She couldn't think: the faces of all those poisoned or killed up in the dining hall danced through her mind. The smiles and laughs of the trainees she had known rang in her ears and flashes of memories of her interaction with them came unrelentingly.

Ki's infuriated face as she shouted at Enlil for his presumptuousness.

Kingu reprimanding Master Enki as the flamboyant Caster made melodramatic gestures.

Sin watching stonily on as Nintu pranked Nisroch.

Tia's breaths came in quick gasps as she squeezed her eyes shut. To her sensitive ears, the sound bounced back even louder. She knew the invaders were getting closer to their escape route. Her muscles ached, crying for rest. Mommu pulled on her wrist but she couldn't run any faster.

She felt the collision before she heard him; his footsteps were nearly silent. For the second time that night, a hand clamped on her mouth as she screamed; but it didn't come quick enough. Her shrill voice echoed down the corridor.

"They would have heard that." She immediately recognised the deep voice, which was agitated; her heart skipped a beat.

"Master!"

"I am sorry, Master!" Tia blurted out, mortified.

"That matters not now. Listen to me, Tiamat, Mommu."

They fell silent. Blood still drummed in Tia's ears. She could hear the footsteps, still moving several storeys above them but getting closer. Master Anu must also be aware, for there was a new urgency in his voice.

"You two must flee Capital at once. Dernexes will fall tonight, and any Windcaster found left in the city will be slain."

"But our army... They are still in Gwent!"

Tia could hear the grimace in the Caster's voie.

"I will Sing to them as soon as I can. If I am quick, I can get to the palace tower before the Mawlinese."

"But why is Mawlin invading Dernexes? I thought it was Gwent that–"

"There is no time to explain, my child, but take this."

He pressed something thick and heavy into her hands.

"What is this?" Tia ran her hand over the object. It was leather-bound and smooth; she could feel the old, worn pages between her fingers.