Chapter II. Charbourg
II
CHARBOURG
“TWENTY-SIX YEARS. MORE than twenty-six years after the fall of daysdeath, we still wondered how. Some said a star had fallen across the sea, and the smoke from its fires blackened the sun. Some said there’d been another war in heaven, the earth broken and blasted skyward by the bodies of falling angels.
Some said it was simply the will of a vengeful God. ”
The Last Silversaint steepled his fingers at his chin.
“Like most things, the truth was somewhere between.
“The Testaments named Charbourg the city where the Redeemer died. Histories said the capital of Old Talhost was once the mightiest metropolis in the realm. But centuries had passed since then, and even left to the teeth of time, Charbourg would’ve been ruins by now.
As it was, Father Time had enjoyed some help.
“As Aaron and I rode westward, the earth became more restless, that glow on the horizon only grew. And though we weren’t yet at the edge of spring, the snows had stopped falling completely.
Ashes fell from the sky now, the ground beneath us turned to rock and soot, the stench of brimstone so thick in the air, every breath was a war.
The peaks of the Zamesk loomed before us, and cresting their broken foothills, looking down on the valley that held the remains of that once-great city, finally, finally we understood.
“The earth around the Charbourg was … broken.
Great fissures radiated outward from the city walls, like cracks in a punched looking glass.
They reached down into the roots of the earth, and surely all the way to the abyss beyond.
For here was the source of that baleful glow, radiating upward with the smoke and heat and stench of hell itself.
“‘I drank Dior’s blood in León.’
“My voice was graveled, tongue dry as dust as I spoke to Aaron beside me, both of us looking down on that shattered valley, that dead city beyond.
“‘A few drops,’ I told him. ‘Nothing more. But afterward, I saw a waking dream, brother. The empire laid out beneath me. Wolves of Chastain south. Ravens of Voss east. And north, a great hand, rising above those peaks and tearing the sun from the sky.’
“I nodded to the cracks spreading outward from Charbourg’s ruins. They were many, like tributaries of great rivers running through the earth. But the worst of them, the deepest of them, the burning rivers themselves numbered …
“‘Five,’ I murmured. ‘Five fingers on a hand.’
“‘Five bloodlines.’
“‘Coincidence?’
“Aaron sighed. ‘I don’t care anymore, Gabriel. I just want my husband back.’
“I reached down to the arm wrapped about my waist, taking hold of her hand. My bride pressed closer behind me, breathing my name as the ashes fell all around us. And kissing Astrid’s cold knuckles one by one, I nodded.
“‘Then let’s go get him.’
“Charbourg was a city long gutted, but even at this distance, its bones spoke of an ancient grandeur. Great walls crumbled at its edges, broken spires reached into blackened skies. The way forward grew treacherous; jagged cliffs dropping into smoking gulfs, tumbled hills and gaping fissures and shattered plains, and at long last, I was forced to bid adieu to my brave Argent. I kissed his brow and whispered thanks, leaving him with Eclipse and pushing on with Aaron on foot, our eyes narrowed against the ash and ember r—”
“Wait.”
The silversaint raised one brow as Jean-Francois leaned forward.
“You’re saying the horses … lived?”
Gabriel frowned. “Why does that surprise you?”
“Because every other stallion, mare, and gelding you’ve mentioned during this tale is dead. I was beginning to think it some morbid jest on your part. About the only occupation in Elidaen more dangerous than Horse With a Name is Woman Who Slept With Gabriel d—”
“Can I finish this fucking story or no?”
The vampire eased back into his chair, twirling his quill.
“S’il vous pla?t.”
The silversaint scowled another moment before continuing.
“So. Onward we walked. My veins were fire, my thirst raging, and reaching to my bandolier, I stuffed the last of my sanctus into my pipe, dragging red smoke into my lungs. We were close to those broken walls now, scrabbling over shattered ground, looking for signs of our enemy. We’d no clue how much ground Voss had gained on us, nor how long ago he’d arrived.
For all we knew, the Forever King had already turned every mortal in his company, and we faced not a band of thrallswords, but hungry highblooded warriors.
“Baptiste among them.
“The earth trembled, I stumbled, and catching Aaron’s arm to stop my fall, I lost my grip on my pipe. It slipped from my fingers, tumbling into a nearby fissure, disappearing down into the starving earth. But rather than lunge for it … I let it fall.
“Cold lips on the back of my neck.
“Cold fingers entwined in mine.
“Onward, we marched.
“It was at the city’s edge we met them. Flitting through the smoke and shadows like thieves.
A haggard lad in ash-streaked leathers broke from cover, running across the broken ground and back toward the walls.
Thinking him a scout for Voss, we dashed after him, me on his tail and Aaron flanking left through the rubble.
“I’d a brace of wheellocks across my chest, but wanting no ruckus, I drew a dagger from my boot instead.
The lad cried out as it struck him in the back, sending him sprawling into the ash and gravel.
I was on him in a heartbeat, silversteel blade raised high as he rolled over, eyes wide, hand upraised to fend off the deathblow.
“‘STOP!’
“The shout was furious, familiar, enough to halt my strike. Turning, I saw a bedraggled mademoiselle standing up from cover, glaring at me in fury.
“‘Bloody well stop it!’ she cried, stamping her foot. ‘I’ve lost enough on this waltz through hell without you puncturing my last decent fuck pillow!’
“I blinked ashes from my eyes, scowling as I recognized her.
“‘Ambassador Chastain.’”
“Oh, Lord…” Jean-Francois groaned. “I was wondering when she’d rear her head.”
“I’d have been content never seeing her again,” Gabriel replied.
“But there she stood, in all her bedraggled glory.
Her once-beautiful gown was torn and filthy, her once cream-pale skin now caked in ash.
A few grubby thralls stood up from the rubble about her, hands to their weapons but no fight in their eyes.
Her little rat-dog was cradled in her arm, barking as it saw Aaron rising from a broken spur of stone, Epitaph in hand.
“Nicolette blew a strand of ash-caked blond from her face and glowered at him.
“‘Well?’ she demanded. ‘The looming is all very impressive, monsieur, but if you’re planning on murdering us, bloody well get on with it. I’ve had it up to my tits with this rot.’
“Aaron raised a brow to me. The fallen thrall groaned as he pulled my dagger loose.
“‘Oh, stop whining, Charl, and get up. You’re embarrassing me.’
“I stepped on the fellow’s chest to stop him rising, eyes on Nicolette.
“‘The fuck are you doing out here?’
“‘Is it not obvious?’ she demanded. ‘Getting as far from this desolate shit-pit as my far-less-fabulous-than-they-used-to-be boots can carry me.’
“‘You traveled with Voss?’ Aaron asked. ‘How long ago did you arrive?’
“‘What does it bloody matter?’
“‘He has my friends and daughter,’ I growled. ‘It’s a matter of life and death.’
“Nicolette looked at the greatsword in Aaron’s hands, rolling her eyes.
“‘We arrived three days back. Or nights, who can bloody tell anymore.’
“‘Baptiste,’ Aaron said. ‘Dior. Do they live?’
“‘Of course the girl lives,’ she spat. ‘You think Lord Voss would squander that whining little slip after the price he paid for her purchase?’
“‘And Baptiste?’
“Nicolette shrugged. ‘He was alive a few hours back. Now? Who knows…’
“Aaron gritted his teeth, looking toward the broken city. I drew my silversteel blade.
“‘Start talking, mademoiselle. As if your forever depended on it.’
“Nicolette pursed her lips, shushed her growling hound. ‘Three days, as I said. Lord Fabién set his thralls to it as soon as we arrived. Working among the ruins in the central district. They assembled not long ago, and we took our chance to disavail ourselves of the Forever King’s hospitality. And before you ask, I know not what he’s doing, and nor do I bloody care.
I have heard enough of prophecy and destiny and insanity these last few months to last my eternity.
I would be gone from this place, Chevalier, and if you’ve anything left of your wits, you’ll be gone too. ’
“‘And why’s that?’
“She looked at me like I was moonstruck.
“‘He knows you’re coming, you bloody fool. He wants you there. He wants you!’
“Nicolette pulled her dress into rough shape, smoothed back her wind-struck hair.
“‘So. If you’re set to feed us blades for breakfast, on with the bloody show. Otherwise I’d appreciate you tiptoeing right the jollying fuck out of my way.’
“She glanced again at the greatsword in Aaron’s hand, dropping into a tiny curtsey.
“‘S’il vous pla?t.’
“‘Gabriel…’
“I met Aaron’s desperate eyes. And easing my boot off the thrall’s chest, I nodded.
“‘Merci, mademoiselle. Go with God.’
“‘Oh, fuck him!’
“With no backward glance to the Chastain cadre, Aaron and I were off. Stealing through shattered walls, dashing among broken spires on that blasted city’s edge.
Ashes were piled thick in the quaking streets, and even with paleblood eyes, the smoke and dark were damn near blinding.
Shadows danced with the earth beneath us, figures flickering at the edges of our eyes, vanishing like ghosts.
On we ran, stumbling, desperate, my thirst almost forgot beneath the cold fear in my belly.
Patience. Dior. Baptiste. Aaron. The only people I had left in this world that mattered, all now poised on the edge of this blade.
I knew not what we’d find in the dark ahead, save an ending.
“And toward it we ran.”