27 – Leaving Two Forges
Mosek walks up and down
the double rows. The weakest of the Masters are upfront, pushing handcarts, the
smallest apprentices are lined up in the middle, with the strongest at the
rear.
Shaatka also walks along
the rows. “This is a good order.” She says quietly to Mosek. He gives her a
weak smile. “We learned it from your evacuations. You had minimal losses and
kept communities together. I hope we can do the same.”
Ana has taken as many blunt-tip arrows as she can. If there are guards at the tunnel, she’ll take them out as quickly as she can and as quietly as she can. If she needs help, she’ll wait and get support before she attacks.
“You plan well, Red
Shadow,” Ashke says.
“And you look like a
metal cave beetle.” She teasingly replies.
Mosek comments, “If we
leave now, it will be dark by the time we get to the tunnel exit.”
“Darkness is our friend,”
Ana says softly.
Master Brenna extends a
hand to Mosek. “I wish I were coming with you, but Master Elowen doesn’t need
me. Besides, maybe we can convince whoever comes that the school isn’t a threat
and we should stay open.”
“I wish I had your
optimism,” Mosek says sadly.
Master Ruvin
Stone-Whisper talks with Ashke, “After you are all clear, I will weaken the
tunnel so it will collapse. If it doesn’t look like Peace, then stay at Weaving
River. Tell Master Dornel I’ll miss our technique disagreements .”
Ana is a moving shadow
again, as Mosek leads the columns. This time, the sound of moving feet is loud.
Not marching boots but shuffling shoes. Putting one foot in front of the other.
On the other side of the
school, a voice calls out, “Attention. By order of the Unified Guilds and the
Priests of Durn, this facility is to be shut down, and all people are to
surrender to the Legion of Stone.”
Ashke looks back, and
Master Ruvin Stone-Whisper looks to be packing something in the arch of the
tunnel entrance.
Master Brenna's voice echos from the
school’s courtyard. “We are a school, chartered by the Guilds before you were
born. We aren’t a threat to anyone. Let us live here peacefully.”
A voice using a speaking
horn responds. “Surrender now, or we will use force.”
Ashke hears Master Brenna
yell, “Link Arms”.
A voice, old with many
years behind it, starts singing in Durask,
“We are Children of Durn
and Bruna, Born of Stone and Born of Root.”
It’s only one voice at
first, but soon more join. A verse in Durask and then repeated in Mishikwe. It
echoes down the tunnel, and some of the older Masters sing along too.
“Hand in hand we walk the
tunnels, Peace our shield and Craft our truth.”
A voice that sounds like
the Priest from the Market yells, “Stop singing that blasphemy. Legion of
Stone, do your duty.”
The tunnel roof collapses
with a thunderous boom.
All Ashke sees is dust as
his ears ring.
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