The Unearthing (Book I of the Tebel Chronicles)

Chapter 36

The world was black above them as the storm clouds swirled around. Debris from the forest flew around in the wild wind and Cyan's hair whipped her face angrily. Across the broad roof they could see a figure standing in the midst of the weather, his arms held high. His cloak flapped around him making him unrecognizable. Around the edges of the wide roof were large, elaborately decorated marble bowls of earth, fire, water, plants, and stone. A large decorated wind vane stood in proxy for wind and a marble and gold statue of a stallion represented the manipulation of animals. Cyan realized that from the entrance of Noring at the top of the pass, one would be able to see the main areas of study represented on the marble main building.

Cyan tore strips from her tunic and bound Kael's bleeding hands, ignoring his protests. 'Now what?' she asked.

'We stop him,' said Kael. But his face was white from the blood loss and pain.

'You aren't in any shape. And I will be useless . . . bad planning that Brae and Jess aren't here.'

'Nevertheless, we must try,' said Kael gritting his teeth as Cyan pulled the bandage tight.

'Let's do it then.'

Kael grinned through his pain. 'At least we know you can fight.'

'Only left-handed today. Don't think that will help too much here,' she said grimly.

As they approached the cloaked figure on the other side of the roof, the thunderous roar became deafening. Kael's face seemed to drain of any remaining blood.

'Cyan,' he gasped, 'the rivers.'

She looked up and saw torrents of water heading down the mountains towards Noring.

'Noring will be swept away,' she said, 'everyone will drown.'

'I have to stop that,' Kael turned back towards the stairwell exit. 'Cyan, I'll send help – but you need to try and distract him. I need to stop the rivers somehow before we lose Noring completely.'

'But –'

'Cy! You can do this! Braeden will help you.'

Kael threw his sapphire hilted sword to Cyan and took hers. 'That's a better sword than your practice one.'

'Kael, I – '

'You can do it – I will send Jesse and Braeden as soon as I free them from below.'

'Kael! Listen to me. You can't stop the water on your own. Get the water manipulators to assist you.'

Kael nodded. The figure had noticed them now, but was too far away to do anything as Kael left the roof. Cyan could just make out the sounds of swords clashing and fighting below. She gripped Kael's heavy sword and made her way towards the figure. He laughed maniacally as he recognized her.

'Of course it's you!' he shrieked.

'Master Evan?'

The Skotonian history Master whipped his arms around as debris from the breaking roof flew at her. Cyan ducked and rolled away, but one clipped her forehead. Blood poured into her eyes and her body ached from the effort. Her legs shook as she stood again and Master Evan laughed insanely as he sent more rocks flying at her. This time she was ready and she cut them down swiftly, wincing at the impact on her hand. Curse Greyton! She was surprised that her left hand was this dexterous. She hadn't done much work at getting it skilled.

'You can't stop me, you know?' the Master said suddenly. 'I know you once thought you could, but I'm so strong and I've seen you are weaker than you used to be.'