Engines of the Apocalypse

outside as there was no lock within. She pulled a crate under the window and climbed up. The window was too small for even her lithe frame to squeeze through but at least the view enabled her to glean where she was and how long she'd been out.

By the look of the sun, it was just after midday, and she was in Solnos — what was left of Solnos anyway. The storeroom had clearly been sturdy enough to survive the quake — which explained why it was serving as a makeshift jail — but outside was devastation. She was looking out onto the town plaza, which was now deserted, many of the tables and chairs upturned, plates shattered, the remains of meals scattered across the mosaic floor. There was smoke everywhere, a pall of it pouring from a jagged rent that split the plaza in two. Beside the rent was the body of a small dog.

Kali craned her neck so that she could see beyond the plaza. The destruction that the machines and the quake had wrought had flattened almost half the town, spreading as far as the second square, where, though the well and church had survived, the adjoining graveyard had disgorged its dead, many of the coffins lying broken in the sun, others half sunk in the river along its edge.

A few people were gathered around the well, cleaning and caring for the wounded as best they could. More simply cradled those who were beyond care, slowly rocking them back and forth. The only sounds were those of distant coughing and gentle weeping.

Kali sighed. If there was one small mercy, it was that it all seemed to be over. The quake had ceased completely. The strange machines, still dominated the horizon, and as she narrowed her eyes to discern the spinning objects against the brightness of the sun, she thought she could make out pulsing waves radiating from them, as if the inaudible sound they made was almost physical.

What the hells are these things? she found herself wondering once more. She had to find out. But that wasn't going to be easy in her current circumstances.

Kali considered her options. Horse had to be somewhere nearby, likely constrained like herself, and for a moment she considered whistling for him. Little would hold the bamfcat for long and, at full gallop, his armour would make short work of even these walls. She quickly rejected the idea, however, knowing that if she used the steed to instigate a jailbreak it would only confirm her guilt in the minds of her captors, however the hells they had concluded she was responsible in the first place. No, she had no desire to have her face on bounty posters all across Pontaine. It was better to get things cleared up.

Speaking of which, figures were moving towards her from the church right now: DeZantez and some fat, shaven-headed, jowly guy in fancy Final Faith robes. With him were a pair of meatheads, Faith again, who appeared to be his bodyguards. What a Faith dignitary was doing in Solnos she had no idea, but while she was never pleased to see one of Makennon's lackeys, if he was coming to sort this mess out, fine.

Kali heard the sound of a bolt being drawn back and the door opened, light momentarily flooding the room. Then fatso filled the gap, plunging it into shadow.

'I'm sorry about what's happened,' Kali began. 'but — '

'My name is Randus McCain,' the fat man said, speaking over her. 'It is my honour to be the Overseer for this region.'

Kali's eyes narrowed — she didn't like to be interrupted. What she liked less, however, was the detail she could now see on her visitor's fancy robe. The usual crossed circle of the Final Faith was present but at its centre the pattern had been interwoven with the symbol of a wide open eye. Kali felt a tug of concern. She knew the Faith hierarchy fairly well but the eye and this 'Overseer' role were new ones to her.

'Nice eye, Randus,' she said. 'What's that about, then?'

'Bring her,' the Overseer ordered the two bruisers. He moved back into the sun and the two men grabbed Kali roughly by the arms.

'Hey, now, wait,' Kali protested, struggling in their grip. Her instinct was to nut one and knee the other but the sound of sharp metals being unsheathed halted her action before it began.

Gabriella DeZantez stood in the doorway, head slightly bowed but gaze fixed on her, twin blades ready for use in her hands. Kali paused, she could see how perfectly posed for combat the woman was, how honed her muscles were, and, quick as she knew herself to be, realised that to challenge her would be folly. What affected her more than anything, though, was again the appearance of her cat-like eyes. They had an arresting presence about them — a genuine presence, that was, not the kind affected by fatso — that made her feel that, if she could appeal to anyone here, it would be her.

'What's happening?' She asked her, swallowing slightly.

DeZantez didn't answer, merely continued to stare, jaw muscle twitching. Randus McCain loomed behind her.

'You are charged with the manipulation of forbidden artefacts,' he said. 'You are to answer for your crimes.'

Forbidden artefacts? Kali thought. McCain could only be referring to the machines. So the Faith were taking it upon themselves to police Old Race finds now? They really were arrogant bastards.

'Look, I keep trying to tell you — ' she tried once more, but the Overseer merely nodded to his guards and she found herself being dragged from the storeroom.

Gabriella DeZantez stood aside as she passed but Kali sensed her immediately swing back into position behind her. Herded as she now was there was little chance of escape. Just one of DeZantez's blades could sever her spine before she managed a step.

It wasn't just the presence of the woman she sensed, though. There was more than a whiff of resentment coming from her, too. Resentment directed not at her but McCain. That was interesting and something she might be able to use when she found out what was going on. For the time being Kali allowed herself to be marched towards the church, noticing two things. The first was the fact that DeZantez faltered slightly as they came within view of the graveyard, as if someone close to her had suffered the upheavals there. The second was that Horse was chained beyond the well, guarded by more goons who had presumably escorted McCain into town. The bamfcat registered her predicament as she drew closer and began to snort and pull against his chains. Kali knew he could snap them in an instant but stared into his flaring green eyes and shook her head. Horse calmed.

Prisoner and escorts reached the church and paused. McCain turned to DeZantez.

'Wait outside,' the Overseer ordered. 'Ensure we are not interrupted.'

DeZantez protested. 'I am the Enlightened One of Solnos. My place is inside the church, where I should witness these proceedings.'

'I have given you an Overseer command, Sister of the Swords of Dawn. Need I remind you that yours is a temporary position and that our office holds jurisdiction over your own.'

DeZantez's face darkened, her hands tightening on the hilts of her blades. 'Need I remind you that your office did not, until recently, even exist. This town has been my responsibility for months and I have lost many of my people today.'

Kali noticed McCain's goons go for their own weapons but the Overseer shook his head. 'Very well. But you are to take no part in these proceedings, do you understand?'

DeZantez glared but nodded briskly. Kali could hardly blame her for her attitude. If she'd just had her authority stamped on like that, she'd be pitsed off too. The irony was, DeZantez could have whittled both goons down to a knucklebone in a second but, as a Sword of Dawn, the Faith's chains of command were sacred to her, whoever rattled them.

The interior of the church was pleasantly cool as Kali was ushered in. The wooden door was shut firmly behind her, DeZantez taking up position before it, and Kali looked around. Where she had expected some one-to- one questioning from McCain she found herself instead confronted by a number of townsfolk filing into pews as if to act as a jury. And when the Overseer stood in a shaft of light at a podium before which she, in turn, was forced to stand, she knew exactly that a jury was what they were going to be.

Hang on, she thought. Things were getting a little out of hand here. Moving a little too fast for her liking.

This was no questioning.

This was a trial.

'Kali Hooper, you stand accused — '

'What the hells is this?' Kali shouted over him. 'I've done nothing to be tried for.'

'Nothing?' McCain retorted. He pointed at the jury, raising his voice. 'The loss of this community's loved ones