City of Bards: Soul Battery, #2

By Landon Porter

With Pele suffering a bizarre mental crisis, her friends scramble to find answers.

Believing that the link is to blame, Ru seeks out a cadre of magi whose research might hold insights into its inner workings. At the same time, Kaiel, Brin and Layaka uncover more of the terrible sins the hailene visited upon Pele.

Meanwhile, a new assassin is dispatched to put an end to Vul Azan—and it's a very familiar face.

Return to the World of Ere and the lives of Pele, Ru, Kaiel, Brin, Raiteria and the other characters from Rune Breaker for the start of an all-new adventure. Witness new places, new wonders—and new threats while along for a ride every bit as thrilling as the first series.

The World of Ere: Fantasy like you've never read it before.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Paradox-Omni Entertainment
• Release date: Apr 1, 2016
• ISBN: 9781524285203

Landon Porter

Landon Porter is a billionaire industrialist who fights crime with the aid of his magic sword and faithful companion, Distraction Lad whenever he's not dating supermodels or fighting evil robot bears from the future. On a completely unrelated note, he makes up fanciful stories for a living. An avid fan of superhero comics and roleplaying games, he blends tropes from both into his works along with themes of family, hope and redemption alongside a fervent rejection of cynicism and darkness.

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Soul Battery

Book 2: City of Bards

by Landon Porter

Soul Battery Book 2: City of Bards

Copyright © 2015 by Landon Porter

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without prior written permission of the Author. Your support of author’s rights is appreciated.

All characters in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Chapter 1 – Unlikely Alliances

We need to talk. About Miss Pele.

Silhouetted as he was against the mage lights burning to either side of Domon Hall's main entrance, only a faint glimmer of Ru's yellow eyes stuck out in detail to Kaiel. Otherwise, he was just a looming shadow, tattered robe and unbound hair swishing in the cool, light breeze.

But to Kaiel's trained aural sense, he picked up inflections of concern in the other man's voice that made him seem more human than the chronicler had ever seen him. He didn't comment on that, lest the moment pass.

Not here.

Ru growled a bit. Why not?

We're standing on the threshold of a hall owned by one of the Great Houses of the richest city in the world. I don't think I have to paint a picture for you to understand the enormity of the subterfuge and espionage that goes on around here. Someone is listening. Someone is always listening.

As if I give a smoldering damn about this city's politics. Ru bobbed in the air like a piece of driftwood on the tide; the spell he maintained almost unconsciously to hover everywhere he went mirroring his erratic state of mind.

Kaiel shook his head and began a subharmonic high in the back of his throat. You don't. House Gurrai, the Clan of the Winter Willow's most gracious hosts sure as ash do. Which means Grandmother does. Which means the entire clan does—which includes Pele.

As he spoke, mist was leeching out of the thin air to curl around his feet in swirls of complex patterns. It continued to build until it had become a disc that encompassed the soles of his boots.

If something got out that could be used against her... well I imagine the link would consider that doing her harm if it's political harm.

As expected, that drew another growl. Very well. If not here, then where?

Fly with me. Kaiel said, increasing the pitch of his subharmonic. The disc of mist rose, lifting the chronicler into the air with it.

If that's what you call flying. Ru muttered, floating after him. Whatever spell this is, it is slow and inefficient.

Kaiel resisted the urge to roll his eyes. The bardic traditions don't focus overly much on rapid transit. It rather defeats the purpose of meeting and learning from people in your travels when you're flitting about far above their heads.

Heh.

This time, Kaiel did roll his eyes. Then he took a moment to look around. His slow and steady flight path had taken them away from the House Gurrai grounds and they were now flying over the yawning chasm between it and a neighboring mesa. We're free from anyone's eyes and years now. What did you—

He had to come up short as Ru swept around him with his superior flying speed and maneuverability, bringing them nose-to-nose with one another.

First of all: Did I or did I not hear you say that you would hear if Miss Pele called for help. Where were you when the attacked?

Kaiel maneuvered his spell around the irate mage and kept his gaze on the cityscape moving beneath them. The Gurrai grounds connected to a number of upper-class residential and mercantile sections of the city as well as the west side of the long, narrow crescent-shaped mesa called the Thinking Rock, home to many of Harpsfell's houses of learning, from libraries and general education institutions, to dojos and spellworking academies. On the southern end of the Thinking Rock lay his destination: The Bardic College of Harpsfell, a sprawling campus situated on a sliver of mesa that broke away from the Thinking Rock several millennia before.

That's what you wanted to talk about? In case you haven't been paying attention, there are more important issues—

I know very well that there are more pressing matters regarding Miss Pele. Ru broke in brusquely. But this is integral to those matters. If you had been there—if you had seen—then I would not have to relate these things to you.

More inflections of concern and urgency; neither characteristic of the Rune Breaker Kaiel knew. Then again, it had been months since their paths last crossed and then, they hadn't had any reason to speak one-on-one. My apologies. Say on.

Ru let out a rude grunt, which sounded a great deal more like the Ru Kaiel was familiar with. "No, you say on. Where were you?"

I did indeed plan to put out an ear—as it were—to make sure Pele didn't run into any trouble. But Loreman Ridsekes said there was no need; that he was going to shadow you personally. I trust the Loreman with my life and those of my friends, so I didn't object.

This mentor of yours never appeared. said Ru. Not when the beast attacked. Not when Miss Pele's so-called brother almost pulled us into conflict with a druid. Not when the assassin was revealed.

Kaiel ducked his head. So I gathered from Pele's account. That's why I'm going to speak with him on the matter now. I would say you should feel free to join me, but we both know that the lack of invitation wouldn't stop you. He drew in a lungful of the chill air of a Chordini winter. In the meantime, tell me what I should have seen during the fight.

Silence followed for a few moments, presumably as Ru gathered his thoughts. Finally, he began with a question. You know how she fights? You've observed her. I'm certain you bards would label it tranquil fury, but that tranquility is only on the surface I assure you. More importantly, however, she is always so damnably selfless when non-combatants are involved. As inefficient as it is, it is at least predictable.

There wasn't a long pause before Ru said predictable, but it was enough to make Kaiel wonder what word he was about to say.

Right. Pele fights... well heroically. Forgive the bardic flair. What's your point?

Because most of the fight today was all about her and her brother. She didn't think to clear the surrounding traffic, gave no notice to the handler of the beast, and I heard not a word when I was trying to kill it. If not for a wagon load of men almost falling to their deaths, she would have allowed me to slay the thing. You understand the significance, yes?

...Yes, I do. Kaiel frowned. Collateral damage wasn't in Pele's lexicon as far as Kaiel knew. If she had anything to say about it, even the mounts of enemies were spared. ...but she did save the men in the wagon.

Ru snorted. Ordered me to. But not the cerato pulling the wagon. I saved that on my own initiative and dislocated my shoulder for the effort. At any other time, Mother Hen would have doted over me the rest of the day, but once I healed, I heard nothing of it.

Below, the Bardic College's campus was sliding into view. The golden onion dome of the central tower was dimly lit, its reflection acting as a small moon that shed light over the main courtyard and the surrounding galleries. The lesser towers, each constructed in the architectural style of a different time and place, fanned out behind it, surrounding the Soujinai Amphitheater, the gardens, and the College's airdock. Paths, green spaces, and academic halls filled in the remaining space, with mage lights clearly defining the myriad winding ways from the air.

Kaiel slowed his pace. That doesn't seem like Pele. But then, she was off-kilter. Brin told me about what happened with the airship.

You don't know the half of it. muttered Ru. "I don't fully understand it myself. I am used to her not being the gawky, naive creature she is in every other situation in combat, but on the airship, that side of her, the rage, seemed to come and go as it pleased.

She seems to have noticed it too. She asked Vul Azan if such a thing was normal for dragonsired.

The chronicler shook his head. "She could have asked me: of course it isn't. Why didn't she ask me? Even if he really is her brother, I'm still the more trustworthy of the two of us."

Ru shook his head and followed as Kaiel turned his flying disc in the direction of the far eastern end of the campus, a vast, rugged expanse of green space where land had been parceled out for a number of small villas. You seem to be under the impression that she's thinking clearly. She's afraid of what is happening, Arunsteadeles. And she is seeking any source she can for answers. If Vul Azan hadn't proven himself far more trouble than he was worth, I believe she would still be speaking to him now.

She has a better head on her shoulders than that. What could scare Pele of all people that much? Kaiel said, more to himself than his companion. And you say this started when she decided to force herself to ride the airship?

After a measured silence, Ru said, It became a concern then. Miss Pele has always had... strange moods. You recall how she lost herself completely against Bashurra the Crevasse. And there are other times when she is... different... not in the sense of her abiding rage, but fits and flashes of other emotions she then finds herself confused by—if the link can be trusted that far. Those are more fleeting though, and rare as well.

Kaiel touched down. His disc dissolved into vapor on a brick path, before a wrought iron gate built into a tall, brick wall. The gate's locking mechanism was a complex machine as well as a work of art forged into the shape of an iron lotus blossom. Beneath it was a brass plate with spellworking symbols etched along the edges.

So you suspect Pele's mental stability is in question? Loreman training should have allowed him to state the idea calmly and without his own worry leeching in. In the moment, he didn't care.

Ru hovered to a stop just beside him, shoulders squared, eyes staring a hole into the bricks on the road. Indeed. And I believe I know the cause.

That made Kaiel turn fully to look at him. Excellent. If we know the source, it will make devising a solution much easier. What is it?

The Rune Breaker, the self-described deadliest being in a world where most things at least held the potential of lethality, raised his gaze to meet Kaiel's. With no magic at all, Kaiel felt as if he might be knocked to the ground by the weight in those baleful wolf-eyes. When Ru spoke, it was with all his darkness, but edged with an uncharacteristic lack of pride.

Me.

All Kaiel could do was blink and take a step back to look the dark wizard over. Excuse me?

You heard me, you feckless charlatan. It's me. She's been bound to me with the link for more than a year now. My darkness is seeping through, corrupting her—driving her mad.

Well someone is mad here. Kaiel muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose. Ru, you can't actually believe—

Ru straightened his back and thought he only hovered a scant few inches off the ground, loomed over the chronicler. "You can't actually believe it isn't me. Of all the people Miss Pele knows, you are the one who should know better. My evil is elemental. Legendary. You spoke the words yourself not so long ago: only the most evil souls seek out the Rune Breaker. Do you ever wonder why that is? I never did before—I never cared. But what if there is a reason?"

Kaiel snapped out of his shock and heaved a sigh. What other reason does there need to be beyond only monsters and madmen wanting a weapon they think will let them conquer and destroy? Struggle as you might with the fact, but Pele's right: you're a man, Ru. A mortal man under an incredible spell. There's no such thing as 'elemental' evil.

Beyond the gate, the shadows cast by the mage lights along the path swayed and warped until they formed a cylinder of inky black. Nonetheless, that incredible spell warrants study to make sure its many, many mental and emotional components aren't malfunctioning... Both men broke of their conversation to watch the swirling mass as the voice of Traceren Ridsekes came echoing out from its core.

The shadows then broke and dispersed like dew before the dawning sun, revealing the Loreman himself, now dressed more simply in blue house robes with white panels draping his shoulders and a white belt. ...or that they aren't doing something sinister by design.

Loreman Ridsekes. Kaiel turned away from Ru to face his mentor. I'm sorry to disturb you, but...

The loreman shook his head. First of all, when no one else is around to care, you can call me Trace. I think that even if you haven't earned all your pips, you've earned that, what with having a hand in ending three Kaydan demons on a single walkabout.

He raised the three middle fingers of his right hand and waved them in a short arc in the air, generating a sound not unlike a finger ran across the rim of a wine glass. Something in the heart of the lotus mechanism went chunk and the iron petals began to slowly rotate. After seemingly random degrees of motion, a petal snapped down into a hidden recess and the rotation reversed until another petal did the same, causing the mechanism to turn the other direction. After half a minute of this, the final petal engaged and the lock opened, hidden devices causing the gates to swing open on their own volition.

Second, Trace said, motioning the two men forward, You're not disturbing me. I would have sent for you in a few hours, but I suspected you would come here on your own. He raised an eyebrow at Ru. "Though I didn't expect this unlikely alliance. Not from what you've said and written about the Rune Breaker."

Before Ru could say something caustic to that, the big man turned and headed up the path beyond the gate. Come on. No point in standing out here when there's a warm house and warmer hard pear cider in walking distance.

Kaiel was quick to follow, but Ru waited and watched the gate start to close behind them before floating along.

The walk to Trace's home was a short, serpentine trek over mosaic white and blue stone tiles. A pair of ten-foot hedges flanked the way and blocked line of site to the house and grounds. Not long after the gate was out of sight behind a curve in the walkway, the hedges gave way to a small plaza with the same tiles as the walk and a fountain, left empty for the winter. Miniature fruit trees; cherry, plum and pear were arranged around the plaza, screening paths to other parts of the grounds and neatly framing the house proper.

It was a handsome home; two stories tall, and built from wood with stone panel embellishments and smoked glass in the windows. A wooden porch ran the length of the first floor. While no manor house, it still spoke of the wealth and taste loremen and loreladies enjoyed.

Trace made the same sign he used on the gate mechanism, this time resulting in a higher tone. A click sounded from the door's lock and the loreman pushed it open for his guests. Welcome to our not-entirely-humble abode, gentlemen.

'Our'? Ru asked. He crossed the threshold into immediate and conspicuous warmth. The entrance hall had a wood panel floor covered with sumptuous rugs, and was decorated with cherry wood furniture and two sets of full plate armor designed for a hailene. A decorative bronze shield hung over an arch at the end of the hall, a white enamel sunburst of Hessa adorning its face while two naginata were crossed behind it.

Me and my wife. said Trace, gesturing to a set of double doors off to the right, just before a set of stairs leading to the upper levels. As you can see from the décor, she's a templar of Hessa, the Goodly Morn... and rather serious about it.

Ru eyed the armor and the long-bladed spears behind the shield. And a hailene.

Trace pushed open the double doors to reveal a study; the walls lined with books, a large hearth blazing, and a sizable circular table covered with a mess of papers and books. Will that be a problem? Nothing in his voice betrayed whether or not he cared if it did or not.

Sister Magdalene is from Te'raan originally. Kaiel cut in before Ru could insult his mentor's wife. She wasn't raised with any of the unfortunate beliefs many hailene harbor.

She'll also not be in residence for another week. added Trace. An envoy from the Temple of Dawn in Spinar is making the trip up for Wintercoming and the head priest there wanted to make sure they were in the best hands possible.

He crossed the room to the table and set about moving piles of books and scrolls out of some of the upholstered chairs set around it. But this isn't a social call, I gather. You're worried about Pele's brother.

Yes, but beyond him, we're worried about Pele herself. Kaiel went to help his mentor while Ru perused the room's bookshelves, examining the titles. While he helped, he related to Trace his and Ru's collective observations.

Hmm. Trace said, stowing one last armful of books on a bench by one of the book shelves. You're right to say this isn't something that happens to dragonsired. But I think you're both wrong in suspecting she might be slipping into madness. Unless the link spell is far different from every other mentalism, it wouldn't register these episodes as being a separate but related mind. Ru would be able to perceive the change as it happened.

From where he hovered, leafing through a book on archaeological finds from before known history, Ru looked up and made an unhappy noise. That is actually correct, now that you mention it. I've experienced a previous master losing his mind. I did indeed perceive every slip. He snapped the book closed and shot a glare at Kaiel. "That is my primary concern: I do not wish to be bound to someone going mad again."