The Eternal Blade Saga Book 2, Chapter 33: The Escape

We only had a moment to gather anything that was important to us.  Everything of value to me was already on its way to the bank for safe keeping so I didn’t bother with my quarters. At this point, the fire had almost consumed the entirety of my room. As the others ran to gather their possessions, I ran into the kitchen and grabbed the first bag I could find which turned out to be an old potato sack. I turned it upside down, shook out the starchy root vegetables, and they went tumbling all over the floor behind me.

As loud thudding on the roof from Ariella rang out above us, I sped for the fireplace mantle where the memories of our other two founding members were displayed. Unceremoniously, I swept them off the shelf and dumped them in the bag. Time was not on our side and I knew Rhys and Sir Fendall would have understood.

The fires started on either side of the hall were now growing closer to the main chamber, feeding on the wooden framing, paneling, and any other flammable item it could reach. I felt my heart break as I watched our home devoured by flames. Everything we had built together would soon be reduced to ash. Was this how my aunt and uncle felt as they watched their home burn to the ground? Were they even alive to witness it? The smoke was becoming unbearable. It was almost thick enough to chew and every breath I took resulted in coughing. I covered my mouth with my sleeve to try to filter the air, but it didn’t help.

“You uh, have a little—.” Alena quietly pointed at the edge of Clarkus’ breastplate where some soft material was peeking out.

The charr glanced down and nonchalantly stuffed it back underneath his armor. I pretended not to notice his collection of socks haphazardly stuffed underneath as I approached the group. One in particular I recognized. It was a thick, beige woven sock that once belonged to Liliana Greyfeather, one of our fallen comrades. I wouldn’t have been surprised if it was the very one she had accused Clarkus of stealing when I had returned from Orr and found them arguing in the main chamber. Regardless, the small garments had sentimental value and it really wasn’t my place to judge.

Clarkus returned to his duty and tossed aside the last plank onto the pile of debris. “You sure about this, Commander?” the charr asked as he flashed me an uneasy glance. The vertical slits in his bright green eyes widened as he looked at the bundles resting against our front door.

“About this, yes, I’m sure,” I replied, pointing to the large hole in the floor. “When Rhys, Sir Fendall, and I began renovating this place, we discovered a few caverns beneath us and decided to take advantage of their existence. We dug out tunnels in case we needed to leave in a hurry.”

Seren peered over the edge into the uncovered dark hole in the floor. “Is it safe?”

“Safer than being burned alive,” I replied. “Safer than—out there.”

Tossing the hammer to the floor, Clarkus uttered a deep grumble. “Doesn’t look very big.”

“It’ll be fine,” I assured him. “There’s plenty of room for all of us if we go one at a time and it’ll take us right out to the bay.” The sickening crack of a beam splitting under its compromised state from the fire rang out behind us. Startled, we all glanced back. “We need to go before this this place comes down on top of us. Come on!”

As quickly as we all could, we carefully climbed down into the dark space. I went last, making sure everyone got in okay before lowering the potato bag into the hole and climbing down after it. Feeling along the top of the rough, earthen wall, I found a torch and flint Sir Fendall made sure to secure it there in case it was needed. I lit the torch and passed it up to Tuborg who led the way forward while I stayed in the back.

I had taken no more than two steps when a whisper snuck its way into my ears again, calling to me and beckoning me to come. I shut my eyes and willed the voice away. Leave me alone, I begged, but it persisted. Resting a hand on the passageway wall, I leaned almost my whole weight against it. I was tired and the whisper knew. It grew louder, echoing in my head and throwing my thoughts into chaos. I fought with all my might to regain my concentration, and for a brief moment I was able to cling to clarity. I pushed myself away from the wall. The voice faded away and I was left with my own thoughts again.

I turned to go, but stole one last glance at the wall, remembering what lay in rest on the other side: a dark force, sleeping while it waited to be reunited with its master. It could never return to Dhuum’s hands though, nor anyone else’s hands. If it ever returned to the realm of the dead and found its way into his hands, the Ender of All would be free to exact his revenge on those who were responsible for imprisoning him. I could not let that happen, and if that meant I had to lay my life on the line to stop that from happening, then so be it.

I pressed ahead to join up with the others and I found them stopped a short distance ahead.

“Another swim?” Seren groaned.

“Better than the flames,” Clarkus said. “Though, I hope this is the last one for a while.” The large charr’s shoulders trembled as he let out a huff.

“It’s not a long swim,” I said. “Once we hit the bay, Tuborg and Alena will circle around west. Seren, Clarkus, and I will circle east. Remember to let them into the courtyard. We make our move after they get the surprise we left for them.”

With a quiet order, Alena set her flesh golem to rest back into the earth. “What about Dee and Salara?” she asked.

“They will find us,” I assured her.

Tuborg extinguished the torch in the water and tossed it aside. “Are you sure we cannot count on the Vigil for aid?”

“Absolutely not,” I replied with a sharp wave of my hand. “We cannot let anyone else get involved if we can help it. The more who know about the blade, the more it and we are in danger. We’re on our own.”

Unease filled the air and I didn’t need to see their faces to know their dissatisfaction of my order not to get help. But that was the way of the blade’s warden. I couldn’t risk bringing more into our circle of truth.

“Then so be it,” Tuborg said. He extinguished the torch in the water and tossed it to the ground.

“Surface slow and quiet,” Clarkus warned. “We don’t want them to know where we are.”

One by one, we donned our rebreathers and entered the cold sea water to begin our swim out to the bay. Bubbles flowed behind us in our wake. The water was so cold that it bit through my attire, my skin, and through to my bones. I forced myself to keep moving despite the stiffness settling into my limbs.

As soon as the passageway opened up into the bay, we breached the surface slowly as Clarkus had suggested, so as not to make much sound. I wiped the water from my eyes and looked upon our home. The sun had nearly set and night was settling in, giving way to the light from the rising orange flames as they lapped hungrily at the structure.

A dark figure moved quickly on the hall’s roof and then scaled down the burning structure and took refuge near a collection of stone planters. They looked out to the water to where we were and raised her hand. I returned the gesture to Ariella and then sharply waved to the western shore. Without hesitation, the norn woman was on her way, staying within the shadows as she moved.

As I treaded water with the potato sack lodged under one of my arms, I turned myself towards the others. “Alright, you know where to go. Remember, don’t make a move until it happens. It’ll be soon so we need to get in place quickly.”

“Be careful,” Alena said as she bobbed in the water.

“You too,” I said. “All of you, be safe. May all of our gods be with us tonight.”

Our group split as was planned and we all went on our ways.

May all of our gods be with us tonight.

I wanted the words to still have meaning, but after Grenth’s revelation, the declaration felt empty, meaningless. But the others didn’t know what I did. They still needed to hear the words and the comfort they could offer.

Seren, Clarkus, and I swam as swift and as quietly as we could for the eastern side of the hall grounds. The looming island of the Deverol Gardens offered us cover from above and we sought refuge in the space beneath its open underbelly as we made our way towards the shore. I motioned for Seren and Clarkus to halt as I peered around a boulder. The beach appeared clear so the three of us started our way up the hill, using foliage and shadows as cover as we waited for the fire to reach the bundles of explosives left waiting for our enemies at the front door.