A Summoner's Calling Read online

  “What’d you do to her?” Erryn yells at them while studying the statue. She finds icicles on it that point in an upward position.

  “Erryn, move,” Erryn hears in her mind, receiving a glancing picture of her face with hair being blown around.

  “Subject analyzed. Annihilation of target, incomplete,” a Mage speaks, reinitiating their glowing eyes that pierce through the smog.

  Erryn looks around for options. Loud thumping with clashing metal charges toward Erryn as she spots a shadow growing on its approach to her. Then a pinging sense grabs her attention. She looks up for what she thought was just for a moment. Something glints in the sky that looks to be falling toward them. Froztia, Erryn thinks, remembering her flowing hair and the upward icicles.

  She returns her attention to the coming shadow only to meet a black gauntlet hitting her jaw. After being knocked down she looks again to Gesthal standing as her thoughts freeze. No!

  Erryn moves her arm to try crawling backward, but he drags her back by her ankle. Then Gesthal clenches onto her throat, lifting her off the ground as he carries her toward the woods.

  No. This can’t be happening. Froztia, please hurry, Erryn thinks as each of his steps bring forth a memorable scream of pain furthering her panic as she tries to wiggle free. Froztia then crashes through from the top of her statue, breaking it into small shards. The pieces suspend in midair. Gesthal turns his head to the goddess as she spin kicks him in the face. The force of the impact shocks him, loosening the grip of Erryn as he flies through the gate’s wall.

  Erryn kneels, coughing for air.

  “Down,” Froztia demands as Erryn lies prone, covering her head. Froztia spins on one foot as the other foot kicks the shards at the enemy. Each one she kicks transforms into a larger size equivalent to an arm’s length with serrated edges running to the shard’s points. They travel with immense speed, flying as fast as the wind blows at a mountain’s summit. Each shard hits the surrounding mages, freezing them into ice statues. Then the mages crack and crumble to the ground, melting into puddles. However, now all the shards are used up.

  “That’s it? I hope that’s not all you got, mortal,” Froztia smiles with no sweat or loss of breath.

  “Take her out!” Vladimir demands, seeing his general and best friend, Gesthal, moving barely from her kick as more Mages and soldiers engage.

  “Okay, I can’t let you have all the fun,” Erryn gets her bow and the remaining arrows left in the quiver upon regaining breath.

  “Is that all you have?” Froztia asks.

  “Yeah, sad, I know. Though, what am I to do? Just got to make each shot count, right?” Erryn shrugs.

  “Hold on a second,” Froztia says, throwing her right hand up. A blue sparkle escapes straight into the sky beyond Erryn’s sight and passes through the clouds.

  “Seriously, who said I was ready?” Erryn sees the oncoming wave of soldiers.

  While waiting for whatever she was calling, Froztia thrusts the soldiers back with a gust of blizzard, throwing them all back with a wave of her hands. Erryn assists by shooting some of her arrows, only to discover she finally ran out. Before the soldiers to regain their march into Pinya against her winds, Froztia casts an ice dome protecting them. Then a quick reflection glimmers through the clouds and it falls through. Erryn can see a blue object.

  “What is that?” Erryn asks.

  “Our ammunition,” Froztia smiles, while Erryn remains confused.

  Just before crashing into the ground at immense velocity, Froztia places out her hand. Once it touches her, it comes to an immediate halt.

  “Holy crap. What’re you going to do with that?” Erryn eyes the ice rock’s massive size which is equivalent to the temple’s tall stained window.

  “Here you go.” Froztia punches the ice rock, breaking a third of it and planting it into the ground.

  “Wait, that’s the ammo? How does it work?” Erryn asks.

  “Just command it. Watch, ‘Arrows.’” Froztia demonstrates, and the ice rock creates arrows which push out of pure ice.

  “Wow, thanks.” Erryn attempts to resist touching them.

  “Go ahead. Pull them out. They won’t hurt you,” she assures her.

  Erryn draws one. She holds it in her hands, inspecting it to discover that, not only were they pure of ice, but they were of better quality than the ones she was using.

  “Now, if you could excuse me,” Froztia says, as she walks to the wall. The other part of the boulder lifts and floats behind her.

  Pinya Downtown : Valedent

  38

  Valedent steps into the chaos-filled the streets of downtown, accompanied by Captain Leon Ace and his crew, who agreed to give aid to the fight in Jax’s honor. However, as Valedent takes stock of the situation, he realizes that pushing the madness out was going to require more resistance.

  “Hey, I don’t want to be a downer, but regardless of my crew’s capabilities, I don’t like our odds,” Leon says.

  “You noticed that, too? If only there were someone else who could pull in more people.” Valedent tries to think.

  “Oh, I know a person. Be right back. Meet you at the entry point,” Leon says. He takes his ship crew deeper into the mountain while stepping out Roland, Liza with Kiley in hand, followed by Wark, Marie, and Kulman.

  “You ready? Where’s Leon?” Roland looks around.

  “He went to gather some possible reinforcements. Where’re you guys going?” Valedent asks Wark, Marie and Kulman.

  “Well, how do you think anybody will last in that temple if there’s no food?” Kulman smiles, which Valedent returns.

  Roland calls over a guard who salutes, “Yes, Captain.”

  “Gather all the guards from this alley and meet at the downtown entrance. We’re going to teach them what happens when they kill one of our own,” Roland instructs.

  “Right away, sir. But if I may, sir, who?” the guard asks, looking at Liza wiping her face.

  “Jax,” Roland answers.

  The guard’s eyes fill with sympathy, and he nods to Liza before heading off to gather the guard. Valedent and Roland walk point as Kiley walks in between Liza and Wark. Kiley, Liza and Wark walk behind them with Marie and Kulman alert in the back. They near the entrance where a barricade is aligned across the street, manned by temple guards.

  “Captain,” the guard from before salutes.

  “Nicely done. Now only if Ace could be as timely,” Roland sighs.

  “Um, guys,” Marie says.

  The group’s attention is drawn to a big cluster of people marching towards them. Once the civilians move out of their way, Valedent spots Leon and Mirk Lordin walking side by side, leading a large group of miners.

  Valedent greets Mirk with a strong forearm shake. “Good to see you, Mirk.”

  “Sorry to hear about Jax. We’re ready to kick these guys out our mountain,” Mirk says as the miners mumble in agreeance.

  “How nice of you guys to join us,” Roland’s words drip with contempt.

  Valedent can see the disgusted expressions among the guards’ faces. I’m going to have to change their attitudes if this is to work, Valedent thinks.

  He clambers onto a nearby wagon. “Alright, listen up. I know this is the unlikeliest crowd to band together, but for once, put your damn judgmental views aside. Therefore, we can get something fouler out of our town before it’s destroyed.”

  More people start stepping in to join the crowd as Valedent continues. “Right now, a summoner is defending our home while everyone topside is too pigheaded and shaken to ask for aid. Even as they’re dying, they’re failing to protect the people. I say screw them. Let’s show how their shadow of shame was only covering the sheer power within the people of downtown. Come on. For Pinya!”

  After his voice boosts their confidence, the crowd cheers, “For Pinya.”

  The group, now nearly doubled in size, is invigorated by his words.

  “Never would I have thought someone else would be doing my
job rallying this district together,” Roland folds his arms as a proud smirk crosses his face.

  “It’s like I said. When we were kids, you were always the hero for the job,” Liza smiles.

  “Oh, don’t you start that again,” Valedent shakes his finger at her as he turns to the entrance of downtown where the people wait for him. Valedent raises his right arm up and forward. The assembled throng bull rushes Vladimir’s soldiers. The civilians wield whatever they could grab, varying from brooms, pots, pickaxes, and swords with the occasional flint locks used by Leon.

  They break the blockade of soldiers who have apprehended downtown’s entrance. However, the moment is all Valedent’s army need. The miners, as well as some of the guards, pierce the soldier’s line like an arrow, splitting their forces. All this enables Valedent’s army to overrun them.

  “Go. I’ll manage things back here. No one will dare to return to downtown,” Roland assures Valedent as he nods and cheers for the rest to push on.

  Valedent and his friend near the temple as he turns to Kiley. “You stay close with Liza now.”

  “Are you going to help your lady friend? We have to save the angel, brother,” Kiley asks.

  “A lady friend?” Liza asks.

  Valedent clears his throat, “Yeah, j-just don’t worry about that. Your dad is right there. Go.”

  They leave, but Marie stays after giving Kulman a kiss goodbye.

  “Don’t you want to go with them?” Valedent asks.

  “Nah. Plus, you couldn’t hold your own if you wanted to, softy. Unless you know how to not hold back,” Marie smirks and walks past him.

  “Oh, it’s on.” Valedent accepts the challenge as electrical energies surge, coiling from his hand to his cane. Valedent dashes in between and around on-going fights, crippling the enemy upon unsheathing his sword and swinging with accurate finesse before the soldiers in battle could become alert.

  Then Valedent hears a guard who is wearing the insignia of the temple, shouting that the summoner is calling for their aid. Valedent hears her as she encourages them to take their home back. That sounded like it came from the weaponsmith’s, Valedent guesses.

  Marie dashes behind him, spin-kicking a soldier in the face that stood ready to slice Valedent in half. The soldier rocked back and forth in a daze as she swiftly sheathed her kunai pair into the soldier’s beating neck.

  “Hey, unless you want to end up dead, stop daydreaming about your ‘angel,’” Marie calls him out.

  “If she wasn’t so important to my boss, I wouldn’t care less,” Valedent denies her claim.

  “Right, whatever you say. Then stop being lazy before I tell Connie,” Marie says and vanishes into the crowd.

  Valedent moves towards the merchant district against the crowd as the harbor comes into sight. Valedent pushes through more of the crowd, where he notices some warm colors illuminating the trees canopy. He passes a smoldering boulder.

  Valedent hastens to find Erryn and sees her engaged with a group of soldiers across the square. But, she hasn’t any way of getting to her in time due to the crowd. He searches his thoughts for ideas as his off-hand lands on a square pouch.

  He unlatches the flap covering the tools inside, reaching for his poker cards. He throws one in the air like a dart. It flies past her, catching her attention as it explodes toward the top of the wall.

  Erryn looks behind her as Valedent says, “Erryn, look out!” He points above the wall.

  She starts shouting, warning everyone as boulders come flying over into the city. Valedent runs between two buildings, narrowly escaping a boulder that hits the building after him.

  A girl shrieks, surprised by his entrance.

  “It’s okay, it’s okay. I’m not one of those guys, I promise,” Valedent attempts to calm her down as he realizes it’s one of Kiley’s friends. “Wait Julli?”

  “Y-yes?” Her nerves settle enough to form words as Marie turns into the narrow alley.

  “I’ve been looking everywhere for you. Figured you turned tail and ran,” Marie jokingly accuses him.

  “Marie?” Julli asks.

  “Julli, what are you doing out here? You should be in the temple with your parents. Where are…they?” Marie asks but realizes the answer from the tears swelling up in the girl’s eyes. Then, Erryn yells the king’s name.

  The boulders stop flying, but the pounding at the gate enhances.

  “Marie, take her to the temple to Kiley. Stay with them to keep them safe. I hate to think what Wark is making Kulman do.”

  “You better not die out here without telling him. Come on, honey,” Marie extends her hand to the girl.

  “How come the summoner didn’t come over and rescue me when she saw me?” Julli asks.

  Marie looks to him, her eyes searching for an answer.

  “Well, she completely has their attention right now. So, I think she’s meant to do it. Thus, everyone can hurry to a safe place. Hence, Marie showing up when she did,” Valedent lies.

  “Really?” she looks to Marie.

  “Sure, why not?” Marie smiles as she takes her hand, and they hurry to the temple.

  Valedent watches them run as a swirling wind travels from the mountains, forming a small tornado and heading down onto the temple.

  “No,” Valedent shouts as the fighting comes to a halt. Winds swirl around it as it approaches the merchant district, causing Valedent to shield his eyes with his arm. As the winds stop, Valedent lowers his cold arm to see frost covering it as he shakes it off. Snow? Valedent ponders until he remembers meeting Froztia in the mountains.

  “Always with the grand entrances,” He shakes his head and dusts his legs, grabbing his cane from the ground as a blue ice layer covers Pinya. Valedent steps out of the alley to see Vladimir be kicked by the goddess, causing a sonic boom as he hits the tree. All Pinya cheers and laughs at the king’s misfortune as robed Razors come marching in. Oh, this can’t be good. I think he actually means business this time. Better get serious, Valedent thinks.

  Valedent unsheathes his cane. As Froztia starts kicking her shards into the robed Razors, Valedent yells, “You going to make your goddess do all the work or you going to show her what the town this has become? Let’s rid Pinya of these abominations.”

  After hearing his words and the magnificence of Froztia’s actions, the people of Pinya roar into battle. The mages summon their energized yellow orbs, throwing them in the fight. Valedent attempts to stop them as he cuts off their arms, but they quickly regenerate.

  “What the hell is this crap?” Valedent asks in frustration. Then, it becomes immobile as ice creeps forward from its back. Without hesitation, he slices the mage’s head clean off with his keen blade. Its body shatters like glass into tiny shards. After the Razor falls, he sees Drotonic with his staff and book, casting rejoining with Erryn as she notches another ice arrow from an ice boulder next to her.

  “Hey, Valedent!” She waves as he gives a charismatic hello gesture with his fingers to his brow. At least she’s alive, he thinks, moving to the next opponent. She continues shooting more robed Razors. Valedent spreads the word to lob off their heads until only a small number of Razors remain.

  He heads over to Erryn as he assumes the others can handle the leftover rabble, “Hey, how’s everybody doing?”

  “Good, before you showed up,” Drotonic rolls his eyes.

  “Oh, I’m great. Thanks for asking,” Valedent winks at him with a nudge as he looks around. “What of our godly friend?”

  “She’s handling the oncoming traffic and Vladimir.” Erryn indicates behind her.

  “Well, let’s go give her a hand. I’m sure they can handle it from here,” Valedent says. They’re heading to Froztia when they hear a loud roar from beyond the walls.

  “What was that?” Drotonic says as Erryn’s brows creases.

  “That’s not what I think it is, is it?” Valedent asks her as she runs to where Froztia would have been with Valedent and Drotonic right behind her.


  “Oh no, I hoped I was wrong,” Erryn says as they stop. Froztia, without a floating boulder, is surrounded by more than just Vladimir’s soldiers. The robed and armor factions of the Razors under Gesthal’s command stand beside two TEDDs while a third lies dead among the many fallen men and frost snapped trees.

  “Oh my, she’s swamped,” Drotonic says.

  “How about we help the misses,” Valedent says as he takes a step forward. But then, one of the TEDDs charges, attacking her at the same time as the Black Razors and Gesthal. She lunges for the TEDD with a fatal ice strike, but it hits her first. It sends her back to where the other half of the ice boulder Erryn was equipping her with ice arrows. They remain by the wall, watching her soar from the hit as Erryn races to Froztia.

  “Froztia, are you all right?” Erryn slides right in front of her as Valedent and Drotonic run after her.

  “I haven’t had a good fight like this for at least half a millennium,” Froztia smiles. Valedent and Drotonic catch up as Froztia elegantly gets to her feet. Erryn notices the condition of Froztia’s dress, seeing the toll the battle and Vladimir have taken on it and her.

  “I’m so sorry, Froztia. It’s all torn and destroyed,” Erryn apologizes for it, as it was so pretty before this battle.

  “Oh, that’s nothing. It’ll be fixed,” Froztia smiles. Then as Froztia’s face changes. Valedent turns to see she’s looking at Erryn’s shoulder.

  “What? Something the matter?” she asks as pain surges through her.

  Valedent lunges for her, his mind reeling from what is occurring.

  Erryn screams as a retracting chain glows red, propelling her through the air to the gate’s entrance.

  Mayor’s Mansion : Jet

  39

  Still wearing her mask, Jet leans on the wall of the dingy cell next to her friends. Jet chuckles to herself as she recognizes the metal of the bars and the cuffs are made of osmium.

  “Hey Skylar. Do you think you can find a weakness in the metal?” Kayla whispers.

  “This metal doesn’t have any weaknesses like that,” Jet answers her.