Mythic (NaNoWriMo14)

Chapter 36 - Reclamation

It wasn't until the early hours in the morning that the war ministers finally released Cayden to sleep. 

They themselves were only subsisting of ley-infused candles, but those often sacrificed physical precision for a sharp mentality. As a ley guard, Cayden couldn't afford that. He expected two hours sleep, tops, before he was called upon again, so it was a pleasant surprise to have a sandman Mythic knock on his door as he flopped onto the covers.

"Lay down," said the Mythic, fiddling with a pouch at his belt. "I don't exactly have much time to work with, but I'll give you a deeper sleep than you'd get otherwise."

"Don't I feel special," said Cayden, drifting off as the lightest touch brushed his eyelids. 

The next time he opened them, morning sunlight was streaming through his windows. 

Cayden sat up in a panic, wondering if he's slept through something important. He kicked the covers off, his feet already on the floor when he noticed the cardinal beside the sandman Mythic. 

"At ease, ley guard," said the cardinal. "We have scouts with eyes on the Unbounds. We allowed you to sleep until you were needed with half an hour to prepare."

"And this is that half an hour?" said Cayden, pulling on his boots. 

"Yes," said the cardinal. 

Cayden belted on his sheathed sword. He'd missed that weight around his hip. 

"Done," said Cayden. The sandman had done well. His body had been cleansed of every trace of lethargy, every ache and pain he'd gathered from the journey to Leristith except the ones he carried in his thoughts. "Is the phoenix in his quarters?" 

The cardinal's face collected from its surprise. "I--uh, no, ley guard. The phoenix is with the masters, being taught how to attune his ley to the portal."

"Take me to him," said Cayden, suppressing a groan. They were still going with that stupid, moronic plan that made his job harder than it needed to be. Then again, maybe the Unbounds wouldn't attack today. Maybe they'd wait. He figured his bad luck should have worn itself out by now, but he doubted it. The damned stuff seemed endless. 

He appeared to have found the one cardinal who didn't argue with practical requests. They led him through the Mythic portion of the city, now almost completely deserted. Cayden caught sights of white robed Order members shuffling bewildered Mythics into carriages and away to wherever they'd evacuated them to. 

Imagine if they were trained, was all Cayden could think. We could nullify the Unbound's numbers so easily. What's a hundred Mythics when you have three times that number? 

Yet these Mythics weren't trained. They weren't tested. They were babysat by the Order and lived a life of leisure and against the Unbounds, Cayden knew they didn't stand a chance. Neither was Nazine, but he at least had Cayden. There were just too many Mythics for that to be a practical solution for them all, so they were herded like cattle. Magical, mystical cattle. 

That should be able to defend themselves, thought Cayden as they entered the halfling family's training grounds. 

Like the rest of the Mythic quarters, it was empty. He thanked the cardinal and continued on his own, following the sound of song through to where Nazine usually trained. It was the only fireproof room in the place, and he figured they weren't about to change it up. 

Cayden walked through the archway and was greeted by the violet-skinned Mythic. 

"Welcome, ley guard to the phoenix," she said. Cayden took note of the other two Mythics currently working with Nazine by singing at him. Nazine's aura rose and fell with their voices. "I, in addition to my two sisters, will be assisting you with the phoenix today."