Chapter II: A Moment’s Sanctuary (Cont II)

“Do you have another blade?” Adelia turned, a nervous smile on her face.

“Sure,” Blackheart said, wandering over to the wall and tossing her a small bronze short sword. “Take care of that, would you.”

“Sure thing,” Adelia said, testing the blade’s balance.

“Why’d you want it?”

Adelia sighed, “The person I’m running from, he is not someone that either of us can kill. He’s after me because he needs something from me that I will give him if he catches me, and I don’t want to give it to him. But he is not alone.”

Blackheart eyes narrowed, “Who’s he got working for him?”

Adelia, “Right now, outside this very city, a horde of warriors trained in sword fighting await his orders. But they cannot enter the city or the guards will be alerted of the attack. He wants to keep the fact that he walks the streets a secret.”

Blackheart tried to follow desperately, “From who?”

“The Council of Watchers,” Adelia replied.

Blackheart coughed, “I don’t believe in magic or most of the religious hoodoo people try to preach, but I know that the Council of Watchers cannot interfere with mortal business, nor magical for that matter. They have no say in what happens so why would he need to hide?”

Adelia sighed. “Listen,” she commanded. “He doesn’t want anyone to know he is here. If the Palace is alerted, the Azurat army will attack. Already, they are very suspicious of the recent catastrophes surrounding the walls to the city and their early warning towers.”

“I heard they were destroyed in a storm.”

“He destroyed them. The Palace doesn’t know what’s going on so they spread that story. But they’re watching, trying to figure out what’s going on. And if they find out, everything we know will be destroyed.”

Blackheart paced, trying to take it all in, “How so?”

Adelia sighed, “He and his army won’t be stopped by Azurat. The army is too weak to take on his. But if a battle takes place, he will be delayed in his pursuit and evil is very impatient.”

“What pursuit is that? You?”

“No, I’m just a stepping stone,” Adelia replied. “He is looking for a key, a key to Cion Sky.”

Blackheart laughed, the cavern’s roof spilling sand. “Now I get it. I saved a lunatic,” he chuckled scornfully, “A lunatic who believes that there is a guy wandering the streets searching for a key that will allow him to enter Cion Sky, the fabled home of the Council of Watchers?”

“YES!” Adelia looked down at the ground, “I know it sounds crazy, but he is searching for the key. And the key is somewhere in this city. That’s why he is keeping a low profile. You see, the man who is searching for me is Baen Fior.”

Blackheart stared at the shamed Adelia, not believing what he was hearing, “Are you telling the truth?” He felt the amulet glow on his chest. “The myth about Baen Fior is true, then? He exists, he is here, and he is looking for YOU!?” Blackheart looked to the sky. “Why? How do I pick em?” He looked at the gleaming amulet and sighed, “Defective.” He looked back at Adelia. “Anything else you need to tell me?”

Adelia looked to the ground again, “We’re not safe here. They’re coming for us.”

Blackheart’s eyes narrowed in thought, “They? But the army can’t enter the city, can it?”

Adelia moaned, “Not them!”

Blackheart felt a shift in time once more as Adelia drew her sword. He stuttered as he recovered from the shift, “Then who?” The sound of a tile spring being loaded and the sound of a mass of multiple bodies falling from above caused Blackheart to spin and draw his blade.

Adelia swallowed hard, “THEM!”