“We’ve rallied the people,” Kumi said. “But there’s one consideration holding back my father’s plan. This is about keeping our city safe, and we can’t do that if we leave it exposed while we go to war. We need to keep our guards in the city to prevent more sneak attacks like the one Cadrin made.”
The prospect of a hundred guards assaulting the guild house had just dwindled to barely more than 20. It would never be enough.
I looked into the courtyard as the guards lined up to march. Their armor gleamed as they sheathed their readied weapons. Their total number stood a slim chance of taking the guild house, but if even 10 stayed behind, we would fail.
Except I couldn’t argue that they all leave. The safety of the city was at risk, especially after what had happened with the monster attacks. Besides, leaving the city unguarded could be all part of Horix’s plan.
“How many of your guards will stay here?”
“Many,” Beqai said. “Most even. Which means that your presence and that of your companions will be more important than ever. Some stones thrown into the water cast bigger ripples than others, and the people of this city only stirred when you cast yours.”
“We’ll be honored to help,” I said. “But I’ve seen how many warriors Horix can muster and how well they can fight. And those were only initiates. There are disciples and masters inside Resplendent Tears who will be more powerful than them. And we also have Horix to deal with.”
“Your Majesty!” A guard ran along the battlements and waved her arm to get the king’s attention. “Your Majesty, guild members have appeared at the east gate and are demanding entrance to the city.”
“Was the word ‘no’ not clear enough for them?” Beqai asked. “ Resplendent Tears and all its members are barred from this city until we have purged the poison from their tide.”
“They insist on coming in, Your Majesty,” the guard said.
“Then, they will get a taste of what I am preparing for Horix. Should they persist, seize them and bring them to me. They brought war to this land and now, they will feel its sting.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Are you sure they’re from the Resplendent Tears?” I asked the guard. “If these are guild warriors then they’ll have Augmenting powers. Do the guards at that gate know how to Augment?”
“No, sir,” the guard replied.
“Then I’ll come with you. And I’ll bring some backup.”
“I’m right behind you,” Kumi said.
The princess sent the messenger to rouse Kegohr, Vesma, and Faryn. They emerged two minutes later garbed for war. We followed the guard at a jog through the streets. Kegohr grinned, eager for action, and Vesma’s tight smile at me showed she was just as ready for a fight. Faryn trailed after us at a slower pace, but her expression was equally determined.
A cluster of guards stood behind the gates with their shields at the ready. Two others on the walls held their bowstrings taut and trained their arrows on the newcomers.
Relief flooded the guard captain’s face as he saw us arrive.
“There’s only two of them,” he said. “But they won’t leave. They keep talking about joining their guild brethren in the city.”
“Two won’t be a problem,” I said. “Open the gates, and we’ll have a chat with them.”
I drew my sword as the guards lifted a heavy bar from the back of the gates. I prepared to spring into action as they heaved the gates open.
Two familiar figures stood in the road outside the city. One was a tall, sturdy woman with red hair and a fierce expression. Bare arms bulged with muscle as she lowered her nunchucks. The other was a short, scrawny youth with a nervous expression and a wild mess of dark hair. Both wore plain, unmarked robes rather than the typical red robes of the Radiant Dragon Guild.
I stared at them for a moment in surprise as I lowered my weapon.
“Veltai?” I asked. “Yo Hin? What are you doing here?”
“What the hells kind of way is that to greet friends?” Veltai asked as she stomped through the gates.
Yo Hin scurried after her and waved nervously at the guards as he passed. In his current garb, no one would ever have guessed that he was a trained disciple of the Radiant Dragon just like Veltai. Or that he was one of the most innately gifted Augmenters in our guild.
Kegohr strode to meet Veltai and threw his arms out for a big back-slapping hug. But as they met she grabbed him by the neck and delivered a deep, passionate kiss. Kegohr took a step back and blinked in surprise when she finally let go.
“Missed you,” Veltai said matter-of-factly. “Now, where’s the action?”
“In Kegohr’s pants, by the looks of it,” Vesma whispered to me.
“We heard that you were on, um, on a quest,” Yo Hin said. “We asked Master Xilarion if we could come and help.”
“He said no, so we kept bugging him until he changed his mind.” Veltai slapped Yo Hin on the shoulder so hard, she almost knocked him over. “This little bugger can be annoying once he gets going.”
“Thank you, ” Yo Hin said. “I think.”
“Well, now it’s a party,” I said. “You got here in the nick of time. Resplendent Tears needs an education in how a real guild operates. ”
While we walked through the city, I told our newly arrived friends about everything that had happened since we reached the Diamond Coast. I filled them in on the details of our visit to the guild house, the attacks on the city, Kumi’s rescue, and the Qihin’s plans for war.
“So, the guild has declared war on Qihin City,” Veltai said. “And they need their heads kicked in.”
“Pretty much, yeah.”
“Sending monsters here, stealing the trident relic, and capturing the princess.” Yo Hin
