Alain pointed east and led the way toward one wall of the compound, the small group running across open spaces as they tried to put as much distance as they could between themselves and the telltale far-talker. But when they reached the warehouse nearest the east gate they ran up against a barrier of lights outside. Crouching in the shadows of the last warehouse, Mari tried to make out what was beyond the lights. “They’ve got to have people there.”
“Yes,” Dav agreed. “That’s the plan. They opened the gates to encourage you to try to run out, but they’ve got the lights set up to blind you as you come and sharpshooters with rifles behind the lights. I was hoping they hadn’t gotten things ready yet, but that’s why they’ve taken a little while to come in here after you. You kept getting away every time they had you, so this time they were going to have every exit covered before they went in. They’ve got orders to shoot on sight,” he added.
“We’ve noticed.” Mari sighed heavily. “How do we get past them? Anybody? Any ideas?”
Alain studied the lights. “I can muster enough power to blow one of the lights if placing a small fireball there would do it.”
“One light wouldn’t be enough,” Alli replied in a grim tone. “Besides, if they figure out we’re here they’ll come charging in and nail us all.” She gripped her rifle. “I could shoot out some lights here and hold them off while you guys run—”
“No, Alli!” Mari snapped. “Your chance of surviving would be zero.” She slumped against the warehouse wall. “Too bad we can’t just walk through walls until we get past them.”
The other two Mechanics exchanged puzzled glances as Alain shook his head. “One small hole, perhaps,” he said, “but then I would be unable to do another. There has been too much effort tonight.”
A new voice spoke then, one which Mari recognized instantly.
“Then perhaps a friend can help.”
Mari stared at the robed figure standing in the shadows nearby. “Asha?”
Alain was on his feet, too. “Mage Asha. You have found us. I did not sense you near.”
Amid the blood and fire of the night, Asha’s cool Mage voice sounded even more bizarre than usual. “I have worked hard to improve my ability to hide myself, a necessary thing when the Mage Guild seeks my death as well as that of my friends. As to finding you, how could I not? Even if the fires and destruction on your track were not easily seen, the being of my friend Mari has been blazing in my mind for the past few weeks as if to blind me.”
Mari rounded on Alain, all thought of their desperate straits momentarily forgotten in her sense of humiliation. “You said she couldn’t tell!”
“I said she could not tell what we were doing! If your feelings were more intense—”
“It’s the same thing!”
“Uh,” Alli interjected hesitantly. “I don’t really understand what this argument is about, but if this Mage can help us escape I really think we ought to get going as fast as possible.”
Mari took a deep breath. “You’re right. The first priority is to get under cover so we have time for more planning without worrying about being surprised.” She eyed the warehouse next to them. “Where’s the door to this thing? Nobody knows? We can’t go running around looking for it and maybe running into assassins on the way.” She looked at Asha. “Alain is exhausted from helping us get this far. Can you get us though this wall? Please?”
Asha raised one eyebrow the barest fraction. “You need only ask, friend Mari.” She turned and beckoned. Another robed shape appeared and that Mage turned to face the warehouse wall. A moment later that solid wall showed an opening large enough for each of them to scramble through in turn. Inside, the darkness of the warehouse was dimly lit by reflections through high windows of the Mechanic lights outside the gate.
Mechanic Dav shook his head as the hole vanished. “I wouldn’t have believed it.”
“Believe it,” Mari muttered. She leveled a finger at Alain. “You and I have some things to discuss later. Alone.”
Alain held up his hands to signify defeat. “Whatever you wish. If we survive.”
Asha came close, staring at Alain’s left hand. “What is that ring you now wear? A promise ring? I know of them. You have wed her. Now I understand the intensity of friend Mari’s bonfire.”
Alli stared at her. “Mari has a bonfire?”
“Will everybody stop talking about my bonfire?” Mari gazed threateningly at the small group. Even Asha’s eyes widened slightly as she stared back. Mari focused on the third Mage. “Who are you? A friend of Asha’s?”
The hood on the robes came back to reveal the expressionless face of a middle-aged man. “We have met before,” he said, the lack of emotion in his voice giving no clue as to how that meeting had gone.
“We have?” Mari stared at the Mage, trying to remember where she had seen him.
“Yes,” the Mage said calmly. “You tried to kill me.”
Mari gave Alain a startled look. “Did I have a reason? I must have had a reason.”
“I was trying to kill you.”
“Well, there you are.” Something finally clicked in her memory. “In the alley in Palandur. You’re the Mage I shot.”
The male Mage nodded. “And, when you could have slain me, refrained. Then you gave me a bandage and instructions on how to use it until a healer could preserve my life. I did not understand why any shadow would do such a thing. I did not understand how a shadow could save something that is real. The Mage Asha and I spoke of that and many other things, for she is my niece.” Mari looked from the tall, gorgeous female Mage to the dumpy male Mage, wondering how they possibly could be that closely related. “In speaking with her, I came to realize that I could give my loyalty where I choose, and that the feelings I had been fighting for so many years were to be welcomed instead. When I learned that my Guild sought Mage Asha’s death, I did not hesitate to renounce the authority of our elders.”
Asha gestured toward the male Mage. “This is my uncle. In Palandur I sensed that he was injured, and would not leave without him. This I learned from friend Mari. Do not leave anyone behind.”
“Well… yeah,” Mari said, embarrassed. She smiled reassuringly at Asha’s uncle. “I’m honored by your trust and grateful that you chose to help Asha. I’m not always this stressed, by the way. What’s your name?”
“I am Mage Dav.”
Two Davs in their small group. Nothing was going to be easy this night. “All right, Mage Dav. I’m glad to meet you. This is Mechanic Alli and Mechanic Dav, and Mage Alain, of course.”
Mage Dav looked at each of them, not showing any trace of gladness or other expression.
Mari glanced at Alli and the other Dav. “I know it doesn’t look it, but he’s being very polite by acknowledging that you exist.”
“I’ve known Senior Mechanics who acted like I didn’t exist,” Alli remarked. “Hey, Mage Dav. Welcome to the revolution.”
Asha indicated her uncle. “In the confusion as the Mages attacked you in Palandur, I was able to reach my uncle and take him to a healer. It did not surprise me to learn that Mari had aided him even while fighting for her life. Mage Dav and I had to hide while the healer worked his art, but my uncle is strong and quickly recovered enough to travel. I said we would find you and join you, and we have. Our timing appears to be fortunate.”
“You might say that.” Mari gazed around the group again, surprised to realize that there were now six people total. Mechanic Dav, getting his first good look at Mage Asha, appeared to be in a state of stunned nirvana.
Mari was easily the youngest person in the group, except for Alain who was only a little younger than she, but all were looking to her for leadership. How did that happen? When did I become the leader in a situation like this? Me, the crazy woman with the bonfire that has now reached blinding levels of intensity. They’re probably picking it up back on Urth and wondering who I am. All right. The daughter of Jules has to figure a way out of this mess or the revolution ends here. “Mechanic Dav, what are the Mechanic assassins going to do once they have all of the exits covered?” It had finally occurred to her that these were the Guild assassins Professor S’san had warned her of back in Severun.