The Son of Light

Chapter 3 The Treachery of Wexley

The cloaked company emerged from the culvert which overlooked the river Ärst. Between them and the culvert was a wall of unhewn stone built atop were the many structures of Asvaldr. Directly below was a 50 foot drop that would kill any who failed to cross. But the company was well prepared. Standing at the very edge of the culvert the first of the company dematerialized into a bolt of ink black smoke that shot forward fast as lightning across the gap, and onto the opposite roof, where the boy immediately emerged from a wreath of smoke fully intact and unharmed. This was die Eisenfaust's trade secret. Their method for overcoming obstacles and feats that would have been deemed insurmountable by others.

Wraithdashing or simply 'dashing' for short, was an ability that allowed for Matthias and company to cross over short distances without being seen. However this art was not all powerful and used in excess was exhausting, and could cause the body to enter a fatal shock if misused. It could not allow the user to travel in any direction more than 100 meters or 328 feet and the further the distance, the greater the energy consumption. It could not pass through walls or obstacles. Even a window with bars prevented escape with this craft. Essentially anything that could get in one's way prevented the practitioner from successfully escaping if caught.

One by one the boys dashed across the gap and onto the roof, where they ran silently vaulting over obstacles as they went. Matthias dashed and vaulted a section of roof that protruded up in front of him. The drop was slightly lower than he had anticipated, and the opposite house had a wall slightly higher than the one he just vaulted. So as he descended he prepared to round off. The moment his feet touched the bottom without hesitation Matthias launched himself forward, arms extended, body straight. As he landed on his hands he sprung his feet first into an arch. As he descended he prepared to Butterfly over the opposite wall.

Twisting his body so that he landed on his left foot, he swung punching the air, swinging his right leg, and leaping off his left foot a split second later. As he became airborne he twisted his body so that he began spinning like a cyclone up and up over the opposite wall, rolled out, and ran forward. I did it! He thought to himself. That was better than my last attempt. He thought thinking back. The last attempt had resulted in him dashing his head against a wall recieving a slight concussion. I've come a long way since then. He thought. The boys continued to free run across the rooftops dashing only when it was necessary. They had to be careful. High above them Zeppelins cruised slowly, swinging their searchlights, hunting for anything out of the ordinary, and ready to tear apart anything with their machine guns from their underbelly turrets. Lightning flashed, thunder roared, and rain fell mildly. It was slightly comforting for Matthias, almost surreal. As they neared their destination, the company slowed and Tallant held out a hand. Suddenly out of the darkness came two figures. Tallent stiffened. "Not you" he moaned. "Well its certainly nice to see you too!" came a shrill voice. Stepping closer Matthias saw who it was. Casanova Gustavo Ignatius Flambeaux, a half-blood Ghüddsche who's flamboyant and fruity Merovingian half had a proclivity for removing his professional bearing, right down to the cowardice. At his side was another boy who Matthias couldn't remember. Some colleague or something. Not looking where he was going, Flambeaux tripped and fell forward with a shrill shriek.

Tallent snatched Flambeaux's hand and yanked him up. "Get up you Blockhead. A lot of help you're going to be tonight" "Oh, hoo!" spat Flambeaux folding his arms across his chest. "If you really think that I am that Inept than perhaps you can bypass security yourself!" He had a strangely exaggerated aristocratic voice that seemed to roll everything like a pastry. It seemed a bit mocking and forced, even though it was his natural voice that he learned from goodness knows where. But his voice had a habit from being pretentious to going to a high shrieking voice that sounded somewhere in between a goose and a chicken breaking its neck whenever he got scared. "Oh Inept, that you are!" said Tallent. turning to everyone else he said.