More screams. Through the flame and the smoke there were more screams. Screams from every direction and every building. Screams of terror. The wide cobbled city square was a scene of chaos and fire. Crowds of people milled around in the street, lacking direction or even individual thought. They moved as one body, like water first in one direction and then the next, breaking and reforming as fresh nightmares assaulted them and changed their course.
The Raknesh were here.
The buildings surrounding the square were nearly all in flames. Thick columns of black smoke rose from gaping holes in the stonework and the roofs. The blazing chaos of orange and yellow roared hungrily from out of windows, as chunks of masonry crumbled and collapsed to the street, some of them crashing into the waters of the canal to hiss out their pure white heat. The canal itself reflected the blazing scene about it. The water was a shimmering image of flame and smoke but this scene was also tinged with the deep red of human blood.
As the crowd screamed and ran for an archway out of the square they were descended upon by their winged attackers once again. Groups of Raknesh swept in from the sky, shrieking their unearthly cries as they blasted towards the terrified populace. The mob attempted to reverse direction, trying frantically to escape the inevitable. The reptilian monstrosities impacted the crowd at various places, coming down like thunderbolts and crushing the humanity beneath them. Their forearm claws hacked and slashed into the people, spraying blood into the air and soaking the ground in it.
From one of the houses someone shrieked as they were hurled, with limbs flailing, from the third floor. The scream was cut short as the body impacted the stone below and slipped raggedly into the canal, leaving a bright red streak of blood where it hit. Another window shattered from the heat as flame blasted outwards, engulfing one man who stood to close. He screamed and stumbled into the chairs and tables of an outdoor café before being plucked up by a Raknesh and flown over the crowd, where his flaming, screaming body was dropped into the masses.
Blood ran in thick rivulets through the uneven cobblestones as the dark night wore on. And the violence had only begun.
In the shadows of the café, crouched Garrett. Battered and bloodied he had watched through the large glass front window as the flaming man had stumbled blindly into the furniture, and then been plucked up. Inside the café Garrett hid near the back wall behind the counter, away from the flaming light that came streaming through the window. Galen was unconcious beside him. She had collapsed about an hour ago, after they hade entered the city. Even from outside the towering smoke and flames had been visible from quite a distance as they approched overland. The front gates and been smashed open and the guard posts abandoned so there had been no trouble entereing.
Moments after they had entered Galen had simply dropped. The Dineri had finally worn off and she had just fallen. Garrett had carried her for most of the way, trying to stay to the back alleys as much as possible…. Away from the screams. Now he crouched above her as she lay on the floor of the café, her face was incredibly pale, her breathing shallow and ragged.
Garrett watched the scene in the street outside for a moment more. Then, he carefully lifted Galen up in his arms and slipped into the storeroom behind the counter. From here he went into the darkened kitchen. The backdoor was jammed shut so he carefully placed Galen down and grabbed the handle. He pressed his shoulder against the door frame then gave it a hard push. The cheap wood groaned and buckled. He let go, stood back and snapped a kick at the door jamb. The door crumpled and splintered. Another kick and the thing burst outwards, slamming against the wall before swinging back in brokenly on its hinges. Garrett swept Galen up into his arms again and shouldered out through the door.
The alley was filled with split bags of trash and metal cans. To the right was a large metal rubbish container overflowing with trash. The screams from the market square could be heard very close. Garrett stepped down the rickety wooden staircase and into the narrow alley. He started to walk to the far end, his boots splashing through wide shallow puddles of water. Numerous back doors opened out onto this alley and as he passed the reccesses of one he felt the hairs on his neck prickle and he thought he heard the scuffling of feet. He continued to walk for a few paces before placing Galen down once again and turning towards the doorway. He drew the sword he had obtained from the Raknesh's cave complex and advanced towards the doorway. "Who the hell's in there?" He called out….
No answer.
He advanced to within a few steps of the door and stepped up onto the stone threshold, peering into the depths of the doorway.
Nothing.
He moved up to the door and pressed his free hand against it.
Suddenly a hand came crashing down onto the wrist of his sword hand. The painful blow jarred the sword from his grip. As he turned to meet his attacker another powerful blow to his shoulder sent him spinning to the side. He knocked himself painfully on the stone wall and slid to the ground as a shadowy figure stood above him, sihoutted by the light of the moon. Garrett was about to attack when a booted foot pinned him in a sitting position. "Don't do anything rash brother." The figure said in a deep and calm voice. Garrett stared up at the man. "Brother?….. You are a keeper?" He asked. "Keeper Artemis, well met brother." The man said. "I'm not your brother Artemis." Garrett replied darkly. "It matters little what you think our relation is Garrett. I'm merely here to perfom my duty to the order." Artemis said. "Would that duty include crushing me?" Garrett said sarcastically, glancing down at the boot pressed against his chest. Artemis chuckled and removed his foot, stepping back out of the doorway into the alley. Garrett rose and snatched his sword up from the ground. He stepped out into the alley, holding the weapon loosely in his hand and glaring at Artemis. The keeper's face was obscured in shadow above his mouth. The man was of average build but obviously quite strong, the black cloak he wore shaped by the broad shoulders beneath. Finally Garrett sheathed his weapon. "I'm not here to harm you Garrett." Artemis said. "Oh is that what you call it?" Garrett replied sarcastically once again.
The screams from the courtyard could still be heard, mixing with the unearthly call of the Raknesh as they slaughtered their victims. "As you've no doubt noticed, things are not exactly as…. balanced as we would like." Artemis said after a particularly loud scream cut off. "Its all about balance with you bastards isn't it." Garrett said, glaring coldly at the keeper. "Listen to me Garrett, there isn't the time for this, what you and that woman have started must be stopped before things get any worse." Artemis explained hurriedly. "You must come with me to the keeper compound. This madness must be stopped." He started towards Garrett.
"Stop right there!" Garrett shouted and yanked his sword from its sheath and levelling it at the keeper. "How do I know this isn't some trick? Those things have done this to me before." Garrett glared at the man. "Show me your face Artemis." Garrett said. "Garrett what are y-" "Show me your face or I'll cut off your head and see for myself!" Garrett shouted.
Artemis stood still in the following silence. Then he slowly reached up and slid back his hood. The man's face was chiseled and clean shaven. His head was bald but marked with a light dusting of hair stubble. His blue eyes were painfully bright it seemed as they gazed down the length of Garrett's blade.
Garrett examined the man's face for a moment before slowly lowering his blade. "….. alright….. I'm sorry about that but I had to be sure." Artemis merely nodded, his piercing gaze never leaving Garrett. "We must hurry before we're discovered by those creatures. The compound is not far from here, we should get moving now." Artemis explained, moving forward and lifting Galen in his arms.
"Wait how d-" Garrett started. "There is no more time for your questions and your doubts Garrett! Things are much worse than you realize and we must act quickly! Whatever you feelings towards me or the other keepers must and will be put aside! There is too much at risk to have you second guessing the actions of wiser men than you. If you value your life then you will follow and you will help!" Artemis's voice was calm as he said this but the solid tone of his voice was readily apparent. With that he strode off down the alley with Galen in his arms. Garrett glared after him for a moment but then followed, slamming his blade angrily back into its sheath.