onto a stone block.
“I do, actually.” Talis chuckled. “A truly hideous idea.”
He retrieved a rune from within his vest, and placed it on the ground in front of the stairwell. As he closed his eyes, he pictured Viceroy Lei’s office, cast a binding spell, and stepped on the magical ward. A shadow portal appeared, and the water slowly poured inside.
“Where does that go?”
“I’ve been very bad… I fear Mara’s father won’t be pleased at all.”
The water kept gushing stronger until it poured a river down the stairwell. But the portal kept funneling it all away.
“That’s enough water to flood a city. How long can you keep the portal open?”
“Longer than all those wizards of the Order can keep it up. They have no crystal to power their magic. I do. Viceroy Lei is going to be so angry when he hears his office and first floor is flooded.”
“You didn’t!” Nikulo grinned, and glanced up the stairwell. “He’s going to jump like he’s shat fire!”
“I’d pay gold to see that.” Talis glanced over at Mara. “I hope she can’t hear us.”
Mara raised her hands as if to say, What’s going on?
“Better to let her hear about it later, I think.” Nikulo waved to Mara.
The water slowed back to a trickle, and Talis could hear shouts echo down the stairs. Some unlucky guardsman had probably been ordered to scout the damage. Boots clapped tepidly against stone. Talis and Nikulo dragged Mara’s cocoon off to the corner, away from the line of sight.
“Let them think we’ve gone through the portal,” Talis whispered.
“Then what do we do when they come down in force?” Nikulo frowned.
“I’ll think of something.”
Nikulo shook his head and muttered something that sounded like pig’s arse . Talis gave Nikulo a two-fingered marching man’s salute (also known in some parts as beggar’s rear gushing revenge). Nikulo displayed his tongue and made an obscene gesture. Talis was about to up the insult ante when he caught sight of Mara’s disgusted face. She pointed behind them.
A quad of elite guardsmen with banded leather across broad bare-chests marched around the shadow portal. One spotted Talis, and whistled for the others to flank around. Talis grinned and motioned them closer. He was feeling feisty.
“We’re not here to kill you, young master.” The first guardsman hefted a dual-bladed great axe, and twirled it around like he was anxious to use it.
“Well then put your weapons down and find some ale at a tavern to nurse your problems.” Nikulo fingered his temple, and the guardsman’s face struggled for a moment. His eyes flipped around in his sockets and he spun around and tackled two of his allies, and they all went tumbling inside the shadow portal. The remaining guardsman fled up the stairs.
“Do you think they’re getting tired yet?” Talis contorted his lips in a gesture of doubt.
“The wizards are certainly spent. And I imagine after seeing that last guardsman flee like a donkey’s fart, the rest will find their paltry egos crushed.” Nikulo bared his teeth and clapped arms with Talis.
After waiting almost half an hour, Talis gestured Nikulo towards the stairwell. Nikulo nodded, and they stalking upstairs. Talis paused and listened. Everything was quiet above. Charna dashed out ahead of them, and they chased after her.
The temple was a wreck of charred and smoking beams. The image of the destroyed old Temple of the Sun flashed in his mind’s eye. Talis felt a knot ball up in his stomach. How could his own people do this? Disrespect the Goddess Nacrea in a way so hideous and appalling. He frowned as he scanned around the temple complex, spying the once beautiful fountain now kicked over. The water from the spring spilled around the broken base.
“At least they’ve left.” Nikulo shielded his eyes from the setting sun. The day was worn and tired, as if all the energy of the city had been expended on the assault of the temple.
Talis
“I do, actually.” Talis chuckled. “A truly hideous idea.”
He retrieved a rune from within his vest, and placed it on the ground in front of the stairwell. As he closed his eyes, he pictured Viceroy Lei’s office, cast a binding spell, and stepped on the magical ward. A shadow portal appeared, and the water slowly poured inside.
“Where does that go?”
“I’ve been very bad… I fear Mara’s father won’t be pleased at all.”
The water kept gushing stronger until it poured a river down the stairwell. But the portal kept funneling it all away.
“That’s enough water to flood a city. How long can you keep the portal open?”
“Longer than all those wizards of the Order can keep it up. They have no crystal to power their magic. I do. Viceroy Lei is going to be so angry when he hears his office and first floor is flooded.”
“You didn’t!” Nikulo grinned, and glanced up the stairwell. “He’s going to jump like he’s shat fire!”
“I’d pay gold to see that.” Talis glanced over at Mara. “I hope she can’t hear us.”
Mara raised her hands as if to say, What’s going on?
“Better to let her hear about it later, I think.” Nikulo waved to Mara.
The water slowed back to a trickle, and Talis could hear shouts echo down the stairs. Some unlucky guardsman had probably been ordered to scout the damage. Boots clapped tepidly against stone. Talis and Nikulo dragged Mara’s cocoon off to the corner, away from the line of sight.
“Let them think we’ve gone through the portal,” Talis whispered.
“Then what do we do when they come down in force?” Nikulo frowned.
“I’ll think of something.”
Nikulo shook his head and muttered something that sounded like pig’s arse . Talis gave Nikulo a two-fingered marching man’s salute (also known in some parts as beggar’s rear gushing revenge). Nikulo displayed his tongue and made an obscene gesture. Talis was about to up the insult ante when he caught sight of Mara’s disgusted face. She pointed behind them.
A quad of elite guardsmen with banded leather across broad bare-chests marched around the shadow portal. One spotted Talis, and whistled for the others to flank around. Talis grinned and motioned them closer. He was feeling feisty.
“We’re not here to kill you, young master.” The first guardsman hefted a dual-bladed great axe, and twirled it around like he was anxious to use it.
“Well then put your weapons down and find some ale at a tavern to nurse your problems.” Nikulo fingered his temple, and the guardsman’s face struggled for a moment. His eyes flipped around in his sockets and he spun around and tackled two of his allies, and they all went tumbling inside the shadow portal. The remaining guardsman fled up the stairs.
“Do you think they’re getting tired yet?” Talis contorted his lips in a gesture of doubt.
“The wizards are certainly spent. And I imagine after seeing that last guardsman flee like a donkey’s fart, the rest will find their paltry egos crushed.” Nikulo bared his teeth and clapped arms with Talis.
After waiting almost half an hour, Talis gestured Nikulo towards the stairwell. Nikulo nodded, and they stalking upstairs. Talis paused and listened. Everything was quiet above. Charna dashed out ahead of them, and they chased after her.
The temple was a wreck of charred and smoking beams. The image of the destroyed old Temple of the Sun flashed in his mind’s eye. Talis felt a knot ball up in his stomach. How could his own people do this? Disrespect the Goddess Nacrea in a way so hideous and appalling. He frowned as he scanned around the temple complex, spying the once beautiful fountain now kicked over. The water from the spring spilled around the broken base.
“At least they’ve left.” Nikulo shielded his eyes from the setting sun. The day was worn and tired, as if all the energy of the city had been expended on the assault of the temple.
Talis
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