Diffraction

Chapter Twenty-Six: Race Against Time

"One wonders if Tenegar's hound did not encourage or push the subject toward her fateful decision in the Conclave."

Streaks of crimson and fiery orange announced the dawn hours before the companions reached Aulivar's gate, despite an all-night march from the distant site of the Maul cave. Lyllithe's legs burned from exertion, but a sense of urgency overwhelmed the weariness. Everyone else seems to feel the same way, caught between eagerness and frustration.

I suppose that's no surprise. We're charging into another battle with a foe we don't know how to defeat. How do you stop a person who can't be killed?

She broached the subject once more. "Before we rush the Ministry, what do we know?"

Kristophe laughed. "You tell me. You're the one who figures out magic on sight." He noted her face and offered a smile. "I mean it as a compliment."

"This isn't magic," Lyllithe said. "She's human, I think. Her powers aren't based on the Elements, not anything I'm familiar with at least."

Josephine nodded. "I felt a chill in my spine similar to how a Soulforged senses the Fractured produced by a rift. I've never seen a Fractured human, though. Never heard such a thing is possible."

"Maybe it's not," Lyllithe replied. "Rifts happen often enough. If humans could get caught in one, we'd have more stories, more information about such things. But you reminded me of something during the fight."

"The fight none of us remember," Kristophe interjected.

"When she attacked," Lyllithe continued, "the darkness she conjured threw all of us back. But it flowed past you, Jo." An image of Josephine—blood pouring down her chest—came to Lyllithe and she shuddered. "I think that's why she attacked you first. You're the only threat immune to her power."

Josephine licked her lips and grimaced. "Something to play to our advantage, I suppose. If we can figure out how. So I guess I'm the bait now?"

Ellers chuckled. "No, I'd say we're all juicy morsels on the Bandit Queen's plate."

Jahrin shrugged. "We still know nothing. We have assumptions, and the hope that some weakness may reveal itself in the course of battle. She has the upper hand in every way."

Ellers pursed his lips and frowned at Jahrin. "And yet we're still charging into the fight?"

"Yes," Jahrin said. "What else could we do? She said she has business in the Ministry. She suspects Lord Mayor Tenegar may be involved in this conspiracy. He's the target."

"With respect," Josephine said, "we don't know that either."

Jahrin strode past merchants and farmers in line to enter the gate. He reached into a pouch and produced his Sunguard emblem. "An assassin doesn't go to the seat of government power to find a low-ranking official. Have your emblems ready."

Ellers unfastened the leather flap to which he'd affixed his emblem. "Sorry, Jo, I'm with Jahrin on this one."

The guards recognized Jahrin on sight. "Hail, Sunguards, how did your journey fare?"

Jahrin paused at the gate. "Quickly, Guardsman, did a Ministry Warden named Tera arrive or file a report?"

The guard's face lit up. "You were able to rescue her and the others then?"