Following his gaze out the window, Lidea couldn’t immediately see what he was referring to until she spotted several wisps of dark grey smoke twisting above the rooftops. She stilled as her mind needed a moment to catch up to with her eyes. Beside her, Warchief didn’t seem to suffer from the same problem as he promptly spurred into action. Cracking the window open, he leaned out, his hand reaching for the ledge of the roof above.
Realizing his intentions, Lidea instinctively grasped his arm, causing Warchief to look back at her impatiently.
“There is a fire, they need to evacuate, now!”
His voice held an unusual rasp, yet Lidea didn’t cower.
“Think Warchief! The panic you cause could be deadlier than the fire.”
Comprehension flickered across his eyes, but a single look at the gathering cloud of smoke reignited his urgency.
“There’s no time! That fire is about to destroy the whole city!”
Their gazes locked as he challenged her to come up with a better idea. She tried but in mere moments, she released her grip on his arm. Knowing he was right. They didn’t have time to try anything else.
As her fingers relinquished their hold, he pulled himself up to the roof above, causing particles to rain down on her. Below the masses were still blissfully unaware of the fast encroaching fire.
How did it spread this fast?
A shrill whistle pierced the air and as it continued, more people within the crowd turned to look and point at where Warchief must have been standing. Abruptly, the whistle ceased, replaced by Warchief’s voice resonating through the silence it had left.
“Fire! Fire in the North! Evacuate, now!”
At first, nothing seemed to happen. A handful glanced northward, but for a moment, time seemed to stand still. Then the bubble burst, and chaos erupted. Shrieks filled the air, and as one, the crowd surged into motion. Lidea could only watch and hope that none would be hurt.
She could smell it now. The acrid scent of a burning city caused her breath to stagger and her senses to be flooded with memories. Visions of herself standing on the stance, mixed with her view of what was happening in the present.
A second whistle sounded, after which Warchief swung back inside and landed next to her with a loud thud.
“I signaled the men to head North. We'll likely find them at the Rabot bridge, as it's the closest.”
His words reached her ears, but she was unable to move. Still stuck in the grip of her memories.
“Lidea!”
With a jolt, his voice pulled her back to the present, and she pivoted away from the window. Warchief stood at the start of the staircase, his expression a blend of concern and impatience.
“Are you all right?”
“Everything is fine. Let’s go.”
There was no time for her to be affected like this. Cursing herself, she passed a frowning Warchief to rush down the stairs. Not giving him further opportunity to ask about it. He didn’t stay behind for long and as she opened the door, he left the building right behind her.
She almost stilled again, not immediately knowing how to navigate the hysteria in front of her.
Everywhere people were fleeing and she could hear names being called, desperate attempts to locate loved ones. Market stalls lay toppled, shopkeepers frantically salvaging their wares.
Warchief delved into the crowd, grabbing her arm as he passed her by. It felt like an exact repeat of the time he had saved her. Only this time, she could see and didn’t feel like she was about to faint. Maneuvering around the frenzied crowd, they made their way north, needing to find a way to stop the fire or at least help people get to safety.
With each step, the cloud of smoke thickened, covering the daylight until it looked as if it was night. The only illumination coming from the cinders floating in the air.
The crowd gradually thinned as they reached the channel that separated the Northern and Southern parts of the city.
Although it had been dry for days, she found herself splashing through puddles and before she could question it, she spotted city guards heaving water from the channel to flood the street. At first, she thought it to be a good thing. They were limiting the spread of fire into the southern part of the city.
That was until she noticed a line of guards on the bridge as if to bar them from crossing. Past them, she could see flames flicker in some of the buildings, but the guards just stood there.
Bewildered, she surveyed the scene and saw some of their men standing in front of the bridge, the uncertainty clear across their features
“What is happening here? Why are the guards blocking the way?”
Their heads snapped in her direction, relief reflecting in their eyes upon sighting Warchief and her.
“We aren’t sure. They just said they were ordered to not let anyone cross.”
It was Taylor who answered, his once-blond hair discolored by soot to the point that she scarcely recognized him.
“Wait, nobody? So no one can leave either!?”
The men exchanged glances, none able to give her an answer until Taylor spoke again.
"I believe they're planning to abandon the northern district, using the channel as a natural barrier."
The thought had come to her as well, but it didn’t explain why people weren’t allowed to leave. The more likely explanation was at the same time the one that she had a hard time believing.
“They are punishing them.”
Heat radiated from Warchief, his fury so tangible that it warmed the air around him. His eyes blazed causing some of the guys to step back. None of them used to this side of their laid-back chief.
Lidea observed the shift, detecting the moment his anger assumed control. His gaze locked onto the guards stationed on the bridge, and his blades materialized in his hands.
She didn’t stop him from approaching the bridge, feeling just as angry even if she displayed it differently. She wished she could join him, but knew he didn’t need her help. Instead, she looked each of their men in the eye. Needing them to listen carefully.
“We are going in. Always stay in pairs and we will swipe each area as a group. Don’t be distracted by the buildings, but focus on helping anyone alive into the tunnels.”
The metallic hiss of swords and Warchief's simmering growl echoed, informing her that he was making quick work of their little blockade. She saw some of the guys turn pale and could only imagine what they were seeing behind her.
“Taylor. I want you to take the lead once people enter the tunnels. Choose some men to help you guide them to the shelter, and to assist Crystal. There will be wounded.”
“I will.”
“Excellent. Follow me.”
As expected, Warchief hadn’t left anybody to stand against them. Corpses littered the bridge, blood staining the cobblestones beneath. Warchief hadn't waited for them, his form already vanishing into the neighborhood.
Picking up her pace, she heard the men do the same behind her, as they followed Warchief into the main street.
"Steer clear of the smoke."
She warned the men, remembering her own experience all too well. Thankfully, the flames appeared to warp unnaturally around them. No doubt Warchief’s doing. He surged ahead of them, his two curved blades still in his hands. She didn’t know where he was running to but she trusted he had a reason to forgo the outer buildings. So far they seemed deserted and the flames hadn’t had the chance to do much damage. As the fire started, most of the inhabitants must have fled.
She still couldn’t believe how it had spread this quickly.
Rounding another corner, her question was answered as they came across a group of soldiers throwing buckets of dark liquid onto the houses. The sight made her grind her teeth and Warchief looked over, his orange eyes glowing in his fury. Only accentuated by the blood spattered on his face.
“Continue straight, and you'll find Roland. I'll deal with these guys.”
Glancing at the soldiers, she knew Warchief could handle them, but she didn’t believe they were the only ones. More likely, they were part of a larger group scattered all over the neighborhood doing the same.
“There will be more. Take the advanced group with you, so you can comb through the whole area and slow the spread.”
“I don’t need any help for that.”
While she didn’t doubt his abilities, there was no way to know how many soldiers were out there. Doing it on his own, was not only reckless but inefficient as well.
Not wasting her time arguing, she turned to the men and raised her voice.
“Advanced group follow Warchief to clean up those guards spreading oil! The rest of you come with me. We will be focusing on rescue.”
She could see Warchief trying to argue back but cut him off before he could do so.
“This is not the time to act stupid. Use them and finish this quickly.”
The sternness of her tone seemed to take him aback, his gaze locked on her in silence. She knew that they might fight about this later, but didn’t care. He should know that he couldn’t do everything on his own.
“If you can’t find us, assume we are back at the shelter.”
She left no space for him to respond and started running in the direction he had pointed at.
As they went deeper, more buildings had collapsed and the sound of voices became clearer. The absence of Warchief's protective influence subjected them to the ferocity of the heat. Each breath seared her insides, leaving her feeling scorched. Eventually, they arrived at a small square, the gap between the buildings offering a semblance of respite from the fire’s presence.
A crowd had gathered at the center of it, wounded figures lay sprawled across the ground, others tending to them as they yelled hectically at each other, the fear evident on their faces.
A familiar voice sounded louder than all of them and she soon spotted Roland standing at an opened trapdoor, as he helped lower people into it. Only now did she realize where she was. It was one of the main tourist places for those wanting to visit the catacombs.
Smart man.
“Roland!”
The older man's head snapped up, relief and then disappointment flickering across his features as he scanned her group. The reason why, she could guess.
“Warchief is cleaning up the guards.”
At their mention, Roland grimaced in anger.
“Those wretches, they planned this. Houses suddenly caught fire everywhere. We tried stopping it, but there was no point. They were spreading it faster than we could stop it. After we noticed, I tried to bring everyone here, and we have been trying to find a way through the tunnels.”
Agony tainted his voice, underscoring his failure. Laying her hand on his shoulder, she tried to reassure the man, despite his confirmation that her suspicions had stoked her own fury.
“You did well. Taylor here will show you the way. Focus on getting the wounded down as soon as possible, Crystal will be able to treat them. Any capable individuals should listen to her when they arrive. You should go with them, they need a familiar face.”
“What about other survivors!?”
Pinching his shoulder, she smiled gently. Trying to consolidate him.
“Leave that to us. Now go.”
His initial concern gave way to gratitude as he embraced her and he accepted what she was saying.
“We cleared most of the area, but around Tanners Street was too bad for us to get to.”
She was grateful for that crucial bit of information and nodded in understanding, before looking over to Taylor who just nodded, not needing a reminder of his previous orders. Pointing out another couple of the men who didn’t look too well already, she ordered them to stay here and help any arriving survivors.
Looking over her remaining group, she could only hope that Warchief finished soon and would return to lend aid.
“Let’s go.”
Running toward the area Roland had pointed out, they quickly entered into what Lidea could only describe as a hellscape.
Flaming debris littered the streets, buildings had crumbled, and an oppressive shroud of smoke thickened the air. Looking at the remaining houses, there was no chance that anyone in there would still be conscious and able to reach out to them.
“Stay in pairs and be careful as you enter, most of these buildings are on the verge of collapsing.”
She didn’t think, she needed to point out the obvious, but there was no room for making assumptions under these circumstances. Assigning each duo to different structures, she watched them disappear into the smoke and flames before entering the next house.
The thick smoke engulfed her as she stepped inside, making it even harder to see as her eyes started to water. She hastily removed her shirt, leaving her in nothing but the simple bindings used to secure her breasts. Wrapping the garment around her face, she hoped to make breathing easier on herself as she moved throughout the building.
The ceiling above her sagged dangerously, a reminder that time was not on her side. Her search was swift, each room inspected as thoroughly as she could. Despite her improvised mask, she started coughing and having completed her round, she quickly retreated. Emerging into the open, she gasped for air as she tried to clear the smoke from her system before entering the next one.
In each building, Lidea was greeted by scenes of devastation. Furniture was reduced to charred remnants, walls were scorched, and windows were shattered by the intense heat. The sight filled her with intense sadness as she moved methodically. Her focus unwavering as she scanned for any signs of life. The smoke continued to assail her senses, causing her eyes to sting and her throat to burn. Her repeated coughing fits were a testament to the toll it was taking on her body. Yet, she pushed forward.
Each time she emerged, she ensured none of her men required assistance, as she handed any survivors she found to the care of others. They were all hanging on, with determined grimaces on their faces as they supported injured survivors or carried lifeless bodies. All of them were aware of the lives that depended on them. She didn’t know how long they went on for and barely registered when Warchief’s group joined their own. As time went on, the task became ever more grim as they found fewer people alive.
Entering yet another building, she found a man stuck under a supporting post that had fallen off the ceiling. With a hint of trepidation, she kneeled next to him and laid her finger on his neck, fully expecting him to be dead. A flicker of hope ignited as she noticed a faint pulse. Grasping the beam, she struggled to lift it, only to falter over and over again.
Come on.
Tears pooled in her eyes as she desperately pulled. Smoke causing her to cough more by the minute.
“Damn it!”
Abruptly, the beam was wrenched from her grasp, and she was jostled aside, and grabbed by another person who guided her from the building. She nearly convulsed, as she tried expelling the smoke from her body.
“You alright Lidea?”
Cedric's concerned gaze met hers, and she managed a feeble nod.
"I will be."
Reclaiming her composure, she pulled herself free and glanced over to find Warchief emerging with the rescued man. He was almost unrecognizable beneath a veneer of soot. Seeing her gaze, his expression turned to anger.
“What were you thinking, entering these houses alone!?”
Blinking she was taken aback by his reprimand. She hadn’t even realized that she had been working alone. As she opened her mouth to respond, a fit of coughing silenced her, tempering his fury.
“We have to go back. There is no sense in continuing.”
She wanted to protest. To say that they had to go on, but she was too rational to do so. Except for the last man, she hadn’t found any survivors for at least a dozen houses. Every moment, the buildings became more dangerous and they were risking the lives of their own men for possibly nothing more than corpses.
The idea of possibly deserting anyone, made her feel conflicted.
Feeling expectant eyes on her, she looked up to see not only Cedric and Warchief but also others who had joined the group. All wore expressions of fatigue, distress, and soot-covered weariness. Lidea knew that they would continue if she said so. But also that it wouldn’t be right of her to ask that of them.
“You are right. We did all we could do. Crystal will need our help.”
A sigh of relief seemed to go through the group and Warchief smiled faintly before repeating the order louder.
“Fall back, everyone! We are heading back!”
Looking at the destruction around her, she then looked at the castle she could see in the distance. She wondered if Morto was looking their way. Or Valerian. Despite her own problems with the royal house, she couldn’t believe they had ordered this.
“Lidea, come on.”
Warchief was waiting on her as her mind had wandered off. She nodded, looking only once back at the castle before following him back to the shelter.
ns 15.158.61.8da2
