Hierarchy (Book Four of the Torrent Skies Saga)

Chapter Thirty-Four: Overtaken

Intruder alert... Intruder.. Alert. No access allowed.

The terrible inhuman screech was too loud in Katerin's mind, and she knew better than to argue. The construct could not hear her.

"Go for its legs!" Fykes yelled as he unsheathed Ahlindrion.

As the platform or the Reclaimer, or maybe both moved, a gust of wind tore through the cage where they stood, snuffing their torches and leaving the only source of light to be that of the construct's twelve, blue glowing eyes.

"Telemir, stay away from it, and don't get hit!" Katerin charged toward the creature, discarding every urge to call on her lightning. She knew better. That would only aid it. Calling acid to her fingertips, she coated her staff in the substance, and swung, slamming into the constructs legs. Light appeared behind her, and she could hear chanting, and the rough breath of Fykes and Brazen, nearby. The white-blue glow morphed, bleeding red and furious.

Intruders... Sentenced. Access denied.

***

"Watch out! Brazen called, as the constructs eyes scanned across them, the hue of color changing. The red haze meant death, and all of them save for Telemir knew it. Brazen raised his shield and prayed. He knew how to shut it down, but getting to that was no easy venture.

He expected a beam, like the ones they had faced those years ago. But what came from this construct was different. There were half a dozen small beams, and they intersected one another, sweeping high, then low, covering the full expanse of the cage. Brazen raised his shield and dove underneath the creature, happy to take his chances being crushed, if it avoided the deadly light.

***

Katerin felt the cold heat of the attack singe her skin, as she danced and dodged out of the way of the multitude of beams, she lost her staff to yet another tilt that felt as though she had no bearing whatsoever. Scrambling, she grabbed one of the constructs legs in an attempt to keep away from the edge, and was slammed into the cage wall with enough force to leave her shaking on her knees.

***

Arjiah screamed, and threw a barrier up in front of her, using her free hand to stretch it before Telemir, as well. He yelped in response, and muttered something she could not understand, as her focus pulled to her friends, and she wished she had not joined them. This was far too dangerous. We're going to be okay, she promised herself. We will.

***

Fykes took calm, practiced breaths, and clung to the underside of the guardian with Ahlindrion trapped between him and it, as the beams radiated out across the cage. Of course, he thought, as the beams did nothing to hurt the bars that had grown around and above them all. Nothing's ever... easy. He dropped from the creature's stomach—if it could be called that, and drove his sword up, slamming into some joining piece of its armor, or exoskeleton. He knew it was a useful blow, but it felt like anything but. Fighting the guardians felt like using a butter knife to till a field. There was a terrible screeching, and a repeating brrzip, as flashes of pure white light scattered out.

He heard a scream, but had to push the sound away, as he heaved his sword toward another of the constructs legs.

* * *

Katerin gritted her teeth, as the bolts tore around her. She was three more swings into dismantling the guardian's leg, before she knew she had been hit. Three little holes with perfect edges blistered along her arm. Her staff clattered to the floor, her left arm useless. That's bone? The thought was slow, as if it could not be true. No, no. Her mind disregarded the thought, but she felt herself waver, her stomach twisting.