Tales of the Vangen: The Black Ministry's Betrayal (Book 1)

Chapter 65: A Shadow of a Thought

Libro stood at the top of Gate Tertius when his ears suddenly began to pop. Seconds later, an intense heat washed over him, followed by an earth-shattering rumble. He turned just as a massive corona of light burst open, bathing the sky in searing bright light, the city doomed to shadow.

An angry wind sliced past stinging at Libro's skin. It burned as hot as the forge. He closed his eyes, but the afterimage still burned in his vision. The trembling in the air turned into a dull roar as the corona swelled higher and higher.

Hands began to clutch at Libro. Someone was screaming, barely heard over the howling terror in the sky.

And then the light began to fade. The wind died. The heat gently lapped away until, with a final wink, the sky returned to normal.

Libro opened his eyes, his vision a blur of colors and shapes. A heavy weight lay across his chest. He reached down, his fingers finding the tappings of armor. Someone had fallen on top of him.

Slowly Libro's vision returned. The smear of gray and red focused back into Lady Kent. Her helmet was gone, no doubt blown off from the explosion, her hair a mess of tumbles around her head. Her eyes were squeezed shut, hands trembling as she gripped white-knuckled against Libro's lamellar.

Libro searched around. Civis lay blown off his feet just a couple yards back. He was sitting up now, looking warily in the direction of the explosion, rubbing at his eyes.

"My Lady, it's okay. You can open your eyes now," said Libro. His voice sounded hollow and dry as if the burning wind had sucked out all the moisture from him.

"What in the seven hells was that?" Lady Kent gave a hesitant breath as she stifled back a sob.

"I...I don't know," Libro looked off in the direction of the explosion. Far to the west where the buildings rose in height sharply, he could make out the charred remains of buildings surrounding a crescent-shaped crater. Pillars of smoke rose above the ruins.

"The Temple," said Civis. He was up on his feet now, using the wall as leverage to stay upright. "It's gone. It's bloody fecking gone."

"Captain," Libro croaked. He helped Lady Kent to her feet before moving in for a closer look. His stomach dropped the moment he did.

"Goddess no," said Libro.

"What happened? What's going on, Libro?" Said Civis.

"It was a heart," Libro dug his hands into his palms, trying desperately to hold back the tears. "Had to have been. It took the whole damn temple."

"You can't be serious. There's no way." Civis got warily to his feet.

"See for yourself!" Libro jabbed a disbelieving finger. "It's gone! It's all gone! Those fecking Ministry bastards blew the temple to the seven depths of hell!

"Please, boy, calm yourself." Libro felt a hand on his shoulder. Lady Kent appeared, her eyes rimmed in red. The skin of her cheeks were raw with windburn. "This is no time for hysterics!"

"This is every time to be hysterical! You don't understand the magnitude of what just happened! The very existence of the Empire is at stake here!" Libro brushed Lady Kent aside as he stormed towards the Palace.

"Where are you going?" Civis yelled after him.

"I'm going after Captain Dux!"

"You can't just leave. The Captain ordered us to stay here and protect the Palace.

Libro turned abruptly and pointed towards the courtyard, where the shattered iron bull lay defeated. "Well, it looks pretty protected on my account. Unless the rebels have another giant hiding somewhere, I don't think they're getting in. We've done our damn jobs."