Chapter 25
Twenty-five
Edwin
I ran.
That was all you could do when a Wrath hit.
Run and hold on to whatever you could if running didn’t get you away from the water fast enough.
We had a very short window—about twenty minutes—to get to higher ground.
Which sounded like a lot of time until you were in this throng of people and animals, all panicked, all running for the same destination.
Then you realized the streets leading up were clogged, people packed in like sardines, frantic to get up, up, up but also getting in each other’s way in the same breath.
Then there were the animals, who had also sensed what was going on.
Multiple people had cut their carriage horses and mules loose so as to give them a chance.
The animals were fighting their way forward as well, some of them half rearing because they were uncomfortable being pressed against on all sides.
I ran, even though I wasn’t a runner, because my life depended on it.
I clutched my planner to my chest, trying to keep my feet under me.
If I fell, I’d be sucked under this wave of people and trampled for sure.
That scared me more than the water since the threat felt more immediate.
The alarm bell for the town clanged, sounding louder with every step, more urgent as if to say Run, damn you.
Captain Rowan ran in front, acting like a trailblazer, and I tried to stay right on his heels.
Sir Pedan was right behind us, keeping people from tripping over us or shoving past. Princess Helena ran to my right, already sweating under the weight of her dress and her desperation to move, her own knight protecting her flank.
Prince James did an awkward half run in the middle with us, the fastest pace we could manage with so many people around, slowing us down.
I saw him lift his signet ring to his mouth, was confused for a split second, then remembered—the royal signet rings were mage rings.
They were connected to each other, and the court mages, to be used in emergencies.
Emergencies just like this one. He spoke into it as we moved, because of course he could give orders without becoming winded, even at this pace.
“I need mages down here now,” he barked, his voice a gestalt of anger and worry that came across as hard. “Retazo’s Wrath incoming, we’re seeing all the signs. Get them down here before the seawalls give up entirely!”
I heard bits and pieces of a reply but could only catch one word in three, despite standing next to him.
Between the roar of the seawater, the alarm bell, and the panicked cries of the people around us, I was amazed I could hear him.
Then again, he was yelling into the ring, likely in a bid to be heard.
Then I heard it—the rushing sound of water as it crested the top of the wall.
I dared a glance over my shoulder and could barely see between two people’s heads but was far enough up a steep street to get something of a bird’s-eye view.
The water poured over the top, the masonry only a small impediment.
Retazo have mercy, once it fell, nothing would stop the great wave from washing out the entirety of the market.
And the wall was going to fail. I couldn’t even see the stones anymore. Under my horrified gaze, the water came flooding in.
I’d read depictions of Retazo’s Wraths in some of my books, and I could always tell when the author lived near the coastline. The ones who didn’t described the wave as a cresting wall of water that formed and crashed overhead, making it impossible for people to escape. Only part of that was right.
In truth, Wraths were more like this, where the water just kept rising, with swells showing an even stronger push of water was coming in our direction. If nothing was done, the entire market would be flooded in minutes. The drains were hearty but would take time to handle this deluge of water.
A strong arm looped around my waist and hauled me in closer.
“Don’t look back, Edwin!” Prince James pulled me forward. “We’re not far enough up yet, keep running!”
He was right. We were nowhere near far enough up yet, and there were people behind us, too. Not many; we’d been at the wall when this started, so everyone else had a head start in comparison. Still, we weren’t the last, and for everyone’s sake including my own, I had to get higher.
I didn’t look back but I could hear it, the rush of water gaining on us. Those who got sucked underwater during a Wrath very rarely lived to tell the tale. Terror beat against my heart, my adrenaline-fueled legs propelling me upward even though my calves had begun to ache.
Ahead, I could see the crest of the hill in sight, saw so many people running past it, trying to make way for those of us still struggling up. If I could just reach the top, I would be perfectly safe—
Something wet and icy cold rushed around my ankles. My breath froze in my chest. The leading edge of the water had reached us.
We hadn’t run fast enough.
Princess Helena let out a very unprincesslike curse and a squeak.
Prince James swore aloud but didn’t stop moving, just hustled us both higher. “Run, run, we’re almost at the top!”
We were—it was so close I could almost taste freedom. If we could just reach it before the rush of water trapped us, then we’d be fine. My calves burned like a fire, but I pushed my body forward, telling my legs to suck it up. Rather this than dead!
Finally, finally, I reached the top of the hill, my shoes soaking wet and slippery on the cobblestone, but I kept my footing. Barely.
A cheer went up from the people already on the hill and I was perplexed for a moment. Why cheer?
Oh, wait, the mages! The mages must be on scene!
I turned sharply, nearly lost my balance, and clung to Prince James’s arm as I looked frantically about.
Even to my layman’s eyes, it was obvious the mages had arrived.
Multiple overlapping shields sprung into place, forcing the seawater to a dead halt.
The magical shields were iridescent—hard to see at this range—but their effect was obvious.
All the Wrath’s swells were abruptly checked, forced to a stop against the shields’ surfaces.
Little spurts still forced their way through—I could see the spray—but it was nothing compared to the deluge of water that had been pouring in before.
Horrified, I watched the water level rise against the shields, like a glass filling.
The water was so high, in fact, that it topped the tallest building, the clock tower.
If even one of those shields went, the city would be consumed.
Between one breath and the next, like magic, the wall of water pressing against the shields slowly started to drain away in a gradual retreat.
I had no idea what the mages were doing, but it was effective.
The water no longer loomed oppressively.
It would most likely take a couple of hours for the sea to fully settle—the Wrath was nowhere near over—but we were no longer in immediate danger. Relief staggered me.
Despite the quick reaction of the mages, ample destruction still awaited us.
Multiple buildings had slid off their foundations, ruined carriages were tossed on their sides, and obvious signs of things floated about in the water, like barrels gotten loose from a store.
The damage was already awful, spreading out over the entire market area.
The water hadn’t climbed all the way up this hill, though, so it hadn’t taken out the entire district, at least.
Shit, all the wooden buildings and vendor setups on the street had been washed away. Even a few brick buildings were teetering. If the full amount of water had hit, nothing of the market would still exist.
I checked on the people still coming up the hill, but they were all safe too; wet from the waist down, but all right. Sir Pedan was helping one lady all the way up the hill.
Prince James demanded into his ring, “Royce? Answer me, dammit, Royce!”
“I’m here, I’m fine, we’re all on the rooftop of the hospital. The water didn’t reach us.”
Phew, so the second prince wasn’t harmed.
“I can’t talk, I’ve got patients to help. Just send someone with a boat to fetch me at some point. Oh, and send food.”
Prince James snorted. “Yeah, you’re fine if you’re demanding things. I’ll send you relief and help as soon as I can.”
“Thanks.”
My thoughts spun like mad, trying to remember just how much damage the last Wrath had done.
There had been a ripple effect along the coastline for miles and miles in either direction.
I had a feeling we’d been caught in the middle, and I hoped it hadn’t been worse in other areas.
The majority of places along the coastline weren’t proper towns, just fishing villages with very limited shielding in place.
Prince James must have been thinking along the same lines, as he lifted the ring to his lips once more. “I need a status check on the rest of our coastal towns. Let’s make sure we don’t have casualties. Get mages out there to drain the water if necessary.”
This time, I heard the reply better. “We’re already on it, Your Highness.”
“Thank you.” Dropping his hand, he looked about, first at me, his eyes asking are you all right?
I gave him a nod. Wet, but all right.
Then he turned his head to the left, checking on Princess Helena. “Okay?”
“I am, fortunately. But James…” Her eyes scanned the area below us. “There’s so much debris, so much…and everyone’s displaced now.”
Based on the depth of the water, much of my neighborhood was affected.
My parents’ office was likely under water at this point, as well as their house.
I hoped and prayed no one had been home.
I’d have to find my family in all of this, make sure they were alright, and had somewhere to go if their house had been hit like mine.
They were well versed in how to handle a Wrath, though.
I trusted in their good judgement. I’d just feel better when I got to hug them.
My house had probably been hit too. Located a little lower on this very hill, three streets over, the image of what my first floor must look like traumatized me to the extreme. My library on the main floor was surely trashed by now.
Nimus preserve me, my books.
I hid the thought behind a grimace and resolved to think of that later.
As quickly as the water had risen, it had started to retreat on this side of the shield, no doubt due to the sewage pumps and drains, not to mention the dozen mages working on scene.
I was relieved, because it would give us access to our homes again, but this wouldn’t be the work of an hour.
It might take them until tomorrow to fully drain the water out of the lower market area.
“Helena?” Prince James asked. “You look upset.”
“I am livid. I will punch Victor dead in the mouth.”
I truly hoped she did. Someone needed to.
I stood there, shaking, my calves still on fire, puffing for breath because I wasn’t used to running uphill, and so heartsore I just wanted to curl up somewhere and cry. Prince Victor had cost me my home and my library, and I wanted to punch him myself.
I needed to verify my family’s safety first, but honestly, staying here and implementing the plan we had for disasters would work in my favor. I’d find my family immediately if I stayed here, assuming they were here. If not, I could verify they weren’t part of this disaster.
Plus, I couldn’t leave all of this on Prince James’s shoulders. That would be entirely unfair. I knew how much work we were looking at, and we’d be lucky to get sleep the rest of the week.
“James,” Princess Helena added firmly, “I’ll help with this.”
“I’ll accept all help. Fortunately, we have a disaster plan already in place.” Prince James turned to me and said, “Operation Brown Pants.”
I gave him a firm nod. “I’m on it. I’ll organize relief up here. Will you go down with the soldiers?”
“Yes. Hopefully everyone made it out, but I’m worried about the ones who didn’t, and it’s not safe enough to allow people to stay in the area.”
“I understand. I’ll touch base with you later.”
It was my turn to work now, wet as I was. I’d been displaced from my home like many of the people around me, but I could always retreat to the palace staff rooms and sleep there. They didn’t have anywhere else to go.
Well, they did, thanks to Prince James’s planning. It was my job to tell them so.
I lifted an arm above my head and called out, “I’m Edwin Grantham, Prince James’s secretary! He has a relief plan for disasters in place. If any of you need shelter until your homes are rebuilt, please head toward the inns I’m about to list off!”
Hopefully we had enough places to put people.
I was about to find out.