Angel of Storms (Millennium's Rule, #2)(160)

“I’ll take you back to the others,” Tyen offered.

Baluka shook his head. “I have almost no magic left, so I won’t be of any help. We killed the Raen much faster than I anticipated, so the rest of the fighters must have plenty of magic to spare. Go back and tell Frell and Hapre to lead them, and see if we can get rid of a few allies as well. I need to look for someone.”

“Rielle?” Tyen guessed. “She’s not here. I only sensed one other.”

“She’s strong,” Baluka reminded him as he turned to hurry away. “You might not have been able to read her mind.”

“Balu—”

“Go back,” Baluka tossed over his shoulder. He moved to a door, pushed it open and glanced around the room beyond. “The allies don’t know what they’re taking on. If the rebels finish them off before I get back, take everyone to safety then return for me.” He paused to look at Tyen. “That’s an order.” He turned away and broke into a run.

Tyen took a step to follow, but a scream from the hall brought him up short. Returning to the doorway, he took in the scene again. In moments it had changed from order to chaos. The allies had skimmed from the dais to positions all over the hall, and more were still appearing. The rebels, having spread into a line to attack them, had been forced into smaller groups. Some were holding their own easily, but others were outmatched. As he watched, a pair buckled under the onslaught from five allies who had surrounded them. They sank to the floor and lay still.

He stared at them in horror. His only achievement–nobody being harmed in the battle–had been shattered in a moment.

It was too much to hope for. Well, I can still fulfil my promise to Baluka–get as many of them safely away as possible. Moving out of the world, Tyen skimmed back into the hall. Baluka might be right about the rebels’ strength, but scattered like this they were at a disadvantage. It would be a terrible irony if they killed the Raen only to be slaughtered by his allies.

Arriving within the smallest group of rebels, he created a shield around them.

“Head for Hapre’s group,” he ordered.

With his help, they forced their way towards the largest group of rebels. It was not easy. The Allies were determined to keep the rebel scattered. They had arrived holding plenty of magic and anticipating a fight. Forcing a way through to the larger rebel group took a great deal of magic. As the two groups joined Tyen looked around to decide who to help next. Another isolated group now lay crumpled on the floor. Their attackers were joining the allies surrounding five rebels stranded at the far side of the room.

Tyen was about to skim to their side when he heard a familiar voice behind him.

“Tyen.” Hapre’s expression was grim. “Leave them,” she said. “We have to go now.”

“But I can—”

“We’re almost out of magic. Do you have enough to unite everyone and take us through six worlds?”

He looked around the hall. A line of allies stood between him and the other isolated groups, many of them familiar from his scouting. The strongest of the Raen’s supporters stood ready to fight him.

“You can come back,” she told him. “If you travel fast. If anyone can do it, you can.”

He drew in a deep breath and nodded. Her expression softened a little, then she turned away to shout at the rebels behind her.

“Come closer! Link hands!”

A pause, then the larger group shrank as all within it backed towards her and Tyen, pressing close on all sides. Hapre grabbed his hand. He took hold of the arm of another rebel.

“Where is Baluka?” Hapre asked Tyen quietly, mouth close to his ear.

“Looking for someone. He said to take everyone out if he didn’t get back in time.”

“Do it, then.”

He pushed out of the world.

The place between was full of shadows. The allies were following. He considered what might happen if they attacked while in one of the six dead worlds, and his blood turned cold.

We have to outrun them. Drawing on his store of magic, he propelled them through the place between, constantly increasing speed. He didn’t bother stilling the air below them in the world of darkness, pushing away so fast he barely had any sensation of being there. Closing his eyes as the brightness intensified, he used other senses to know when he reached the next world and immediately took them onward. The next world was a flash of green. The one after barely glimpsed. No heat touched them in the one after and though water surrounded them as they passed through the last, all they felt was a faint touch of moisture.

He didn’t stop in the ruins, but pushed on, slowing when he’d taken them five worlds away, when he sensed no more shadows in the place between. They arrived on a small island in a jewel-green sea.

He reached as far as he could and took magic in, leaving what was close by for the fighters. Hapre looked as if she was about to speak. He gave her no chance.

“I’m going back. Don’t wait,” he said. “They’ll be following our trail.” Then he pushed out of the world.

He backtracked. In the next four worlds he gathered more magic. Just before reaching the ruins he felt the presence of others. Allies? They halted as he approached. As he passed them they tried to catch and hold him, but none of them were strong enough. They did not follow.

He plunged through the six worlds so quickly they flashed by unfelt and barely seen. The hall formed around him.