Chapter Forty Eight
The Evacuation
ELSA
Even the fastest mode of transportation, Tracy's Crossing Points, seemed to feel far too slow for Elsa. Granted, she was feeling incredibly anxious and jumpy, which wasn't totally unusual for her. But this time it wasn't unwarranted. The entire League of Sorcerers is in danger.
The moment Tracy opened the second Crossing Point that led out to Swynvort, Elsa was the first to leap out of it. Before her feet touched the ground, she was already looking around.
They had teleported from the city of Korynes to the pantry of Swynvort Tower, which had quite a few sorcerers lounging about in it. They all looked up the moment the senior members of the League stepped out of the portal of purple mist. Amongst them were new allies, such as Venetia and Monco.
"Gud to see you back." Venetia said to Elsa with her mouth full. "Quite a stunt you pulled back at the prison. Thought we weren't ever gonna see you 'gain."
"Listen," Elsa grabbed her by the shoulders. "I need to find Vonco, Cornelius, Holli - you know, the ones in charge while we were gone?"
"Oh, them. They're up at some throne room or something like that."
Elsa knew which room she was talking about. "Come on." She beckoned quickly to the rest, who followed hot on her heels.
"What's going on?" Venetia shouted after them, but Elsa and the others were already gone.
Sprinting up two steps at a time, Elsa ascended the spiral staircase with the swiftness and grace of a dancer. Arriving on the floor she wanted, she sprinted down the stone-walled corridor, bumping into sorcerers who were passing by. The way their numbers were exponentially increasing, there would soon be no more room in Swynvort to walk. She uttered apologies as she ran, while the others kept pace right behind her.
The Throne Room had been the office of the Sixth Pilgrim, Ingrid Grendstav, the villain who had manipulated and blackmailed Elsa into working for her. Memories flooded back into Elsa as she burst into the room, but she hurriedly stashed them away for a more convenient time. Not that any time has ever been convenient lately.
Vonco, the nearest to the door, whirled round when the door swung on its hinges and slammed against the wall. The boy who could travel through shadows looked to be in a casual conference with a few other of the more senior members of the League.
Cova, who could communicate with animals to do her will. Rikhard, a close friend of Vonco's who could become invisible. Cornelius, a young man with frightful strength, and finally, Holli who was known as the "witch doctor", a girl barely over nineteen whom Elsa sometimes felt guilty for involving in dangerous missions. Florie's absence was painfully noticeable, and Elsa remembered receiving the report a couple of months ago when Florie had been gunned down by the Blue Wolves while trying to rescue other sorcerers. Even now, it still brought tears to her eyes.
"You're back!" Vonco exclaimed when he saw Elsa and the rest. "We-"
"Listen," Elsa cut him off. "The League is in grave danger. We need to evacuate Swynvort immediately."
"What?" Holli squeaked from her corner.
"Evacuate Swynvort? That's ridiculous!" Cova exclaimed.
Cornelius, who didn't speak very often, shook his head incredulously.
"What happened?" Vonco asked.
"No time to explain, pal." Tracy said. "Short version, we' ve been compromised."
"The Blue Wolves and God knows who else will be coming after us with everything they've got." Janus added. "We can't let them box us in the tower. We have to evacuate. Now, before it's too late."
"Evacuate?" Holli sounded anxious, and rightfully so. "But how?"
"The Crossing Zone." Maui said. "We're gonna load everyone into the Zone using Tracy's Crossing Points."
"Somehow." Tracy muttered under her breath, drawing sharp looks from Elsa and the others.
Vonco scratched his nose. "We could split up, go to different sectors and get them moving."
"Have them all form queues." Rikhard suggested. "Queues that snake down the stairs and towards the training hall."
"We'll have to station marshals along the lines to make sure everything goes smoothly." Cova said. "I'll rally a couple of the others."
"Do all that." Elsa agreed. It seemed that things had run quite well under the senior League members while the Warriors had been away. "Make sure everyone only takes what they need. Anything else they came with that's not necessary, they can leave behind."
"Got it, boss." Vonco said and briskly jogged out of the room, followed closely behind by the others.
"What about us?" Deirdre asked.
"We'll need to hold them off." Elsa said grimly. "Blue Wolves, bounty hunters, brown cloaks, whoever the Crimson Order decides to throw at us. We need to buy Tracy more time."
"Wait, we're really serious about this?" Tracy held up her hands in defence. "You're asking me to teleport eight hundred sorcerers into the Crossing Zone?"
Janus glanced at her. "Unless you can come up with another way of evacuating Swynvort, that's all we've got right now."
"So what do we do exactly?" Maui asked.
I don't know. Elsa glanced round helplessly. That's the painful price of being the leader of the League of Sorcerers, I suppose. "We need to choke the entry points." Elsa said off the top of her head. "Block them, hold down the fort as long as we can, and then retreat once Tracy has the sorcerers safely in the Crossing Zone."
She glanced round at her small band. Tracy would be busy with the Crossing Points, so that only left Janus, Deirdre, Maui and herself. How best to split up? Before she could further rack her brains, Janus came up with a solution.
"I'll take Venetia with me and block off the west entrance." Janus said. "The rest of you hold the line at the south entrance of the tower, where the main attack will likely take place." He regarded Deirdre, Maui and Elsa. "You three hold them off there. We just have to stall and then retreat once we're certain Tracy's done with most of the sorcerers."
"Leaving you and Venetia alone to deal with the rest?" Elsa asked, a hint of anxiety in her voice.
"We'll be fine. We only need to hold them off long enough for Tracy to work her magic."
"Yeah, assuming I can make it work," Tracy looked thoughtful. "Three Crossing Points in the Crossing Zone. Maybe four, max. Bloody hell."
"Do it." Elsa nodded at her. "We'll fall back to you when we can't hold on any longer."
Cursing under her breath, Tracy ran off to start the back-breaking task of teleporting the sorcerers to the safety of the Crossing Zone, leaving the remaining four Warriors in the Throne Room.
"I should go find Venetia." Janus said, following suit. "I'll regroup with you after we're done."
"Do you really think we'll pull this one off?" Deirdre asked when Tracy and Janus had gone. "We've been in tight spots before, but this one's really stretching it. Eight hundred sorcerers to evacuate and probably a small army coming against us."
Maui puffed out his chest, confident as usual. "We can."
"I sincerely hope so." Elsa pursed her lips. In truth, she didn't know if they would be able to pull it off. They'd been in many battles before, but not one like this. The fate of the entire League of Sorcerers now rested upon their shoulders. The stakes were higher than ever now, and Elsa could feel the added pressure like a deadweight.
She rolled her shoulders and exhaled. She glanced at Deirdre. "Ready?"
Deirdre sighed. "Can I say no?"
"Probably not." Elsa motioned for Deirdre and Maui to follow her. "Let's get to the south entrance."
JANUS
Finding Venetia was way harder than it should have been. In retrospect, Janus probably should've anticipated that finding a single target in a sea of frantic, scrambling sorcerers was going to be a difficult task. Even for someone who was as fast and lithe as he was, it took him too long to push and squeeze through the thronging crowds who were trying to get to the training hall while being jammed in the corridors of the tower.
When he did find Venetia, she was already near the front of the line where sorcerers were queued and eagerly awaiting their turn to escape into the safety of the Crossing Zone, courtesy of Tracy's conjured Crossing Points.
"You've got to be kidding me." Venetia hissed when Janus told her he needed her help. "I'm almost out of here!"
Janus knew that there was one card he could play, though he didn't like using it. "Are you really going to let me die alone out there after I risked my ass to come back to Stormtide and save you lot?"
"Aww, hell. Why you gotta put it like that?" Venetia grumbled and stepped out of the line as Janus pulled her away by the arm. "What do you want from me?"
"Backup."
"For?"
"We need to hold down the fort. Protect the west entrance and buy the rest enough time to escape. But I can't do it alone. I need someone with your abilities." Back in the prison, she'd told him what her powers were, and he figured that they would come in rather useful now.
Venetia sighed sharply, shaking her head as Janus dragged her away from the training hall. "If I die out there today and don't get to enjoy my newfound freedom, I'm gonna be really pissed."
"I'll keep that in mind."
Once away from the corridor, Janus led Venetia into one of the rooms and closed the door behind him, away from the eyes of the rest of the sorcerers.
"I'm confused." Venetia balked as he dropped his backpack and began stripping off his shirt. "I thought we were gonna save the world or something, not climb into bed. What would your girlfriend say?"
When Janus didn't respond, Venetia went on. "So this what you mean by holding down the fort? I didn't think you liked me that way."
"I don't." Janus pulled the shirt over his head in one swift motion and dropped it.
"Then what are you doing?"
"If we're going to fight whoever's out there," he bent over and undid his backpack. The black mask sat at the very top of the folded pile. "I'm going to need my gear."
"Ah. That makes more sense." Venetia watched as he tugged on his tight fitting blacks, and fitted on a few holsters with blades in them, and a quiver on his back.
He put his hand on his pants and glanced at her. "Give me a moment?"
"Oh. Right, right." Venetia flushed and turned away.
Janus changed within a blink of an eye, fitting another two holsters on his thighs and calfs, and he laced up combat boots with astonishing speed. Another two blades went into compartments on his boots, and a full belt of pellets and other small gadgets went around his waist, complete with a katana in a scabbard by his side.
"Wow." Venetia said when she turned round to see Janus in his mercenary gear. "Gotta say, your little superhero costume does strike fear into your enemies."
"It's not a costume." He clicked the mask into place and his voice became deep and mechanical once more. Pulling the hood over his head, he motioned over at his backpack. "Pass me my bow."
Venetia reached inside and pulled out a few separate parts. "This? It's broken."
"It's not broken." Janus took the parts from her and began assembling his take down recurve bow with a practiced quickness. When done, he brandished his primary weapon.
Venetia looked impressed. "What did you say you used to be called again?"
"Prometheus."
"Challenging the omnipotence of the gods." Venetia mused. "Cool."
"Didn't think you knew the story. Come on." He beckoned to her, leaving his civilian clothes and empty backpack on the ground. There was no time for housekeeping right now.
He led the way down the corridor leading to the west entrance, and was thankful to find it empty. Thus far. "Stay close." He warned her as they approached an unlocked door cast in iron a few centuries ago. Undoing the latch, he nocked a single arrow. He took one last glance over his shoulder at Venetia, who nodded in acknowledgement with some measure of trepidation evident on her features. Here goes.
Gently, he used his foot to push the heavy door open a fraction. And then another fraction. Still nothing. The coast seemed to be clear and quiet. Too quiet for his liking.
And then all of a sudden, his suspicions were warranted. From the blind spot at the side of the door, someone grabbed his wrist and pulled the bow and nocked arrow upwards. Two figures in grey bolted and forced their way into the tower, a man doing his best to keep Janus off balance and the other - a woman - hurriedly bolting the door behind her.
Venetia was stunned, having not expected an ambush at such close quarters. She was frozen to her spot, watching as the two assailants entered.
Instinctively as he was bulled back into the tower, Janus dropped his bow and arrow, and threw his body backwards. He pulled his attacker along with him and hurriedly rolled on top of the man before they could fall. Both men hit the ground, and Janus pulled back a fist to deliver a straight jab to the face.
"Woah, woah, cool it." Hansel lifted both hands in defence. "So much for doing the right thing, eh sis?"
It took Janus a moment to register Hansel's slightly chubby, red face. He kept his fist clenched and wound up, and glanced over his shoulder at Gretel. "What's going on?"
"Get off him and listen to us." Gretel said, both hands raised as well.
"Just say the word." Venetia glanced at Janus.
"Not yet." Janus said, and Venetia lowered her hands cautiously, all the while staring at Gretel who inched past her to get to where Janus and Hansel were. He stood up. "Talk."
"We were hired." Gretel began. "Hired to assist the Blue Wolves in taking the League of Sorcerers down. And we weren't alone."
"Eight more bounty hunters and assassins are headed your way." Hansel grunted, getting to his feet. "The one who brings the bodies of the Snow Queen and her friends gets paid a hefty sum and the rest go home with nothing."
"Who hired you? The Crimson Order?"
"Yes." Gretel said.
"They're kinda desperate to see you all go down." Hansel said. "Ten bounty hunters on one job is a little overkill if you ask me."
"Not if the League is the target." Janus glanced at him cautiously.
"Either way, we know what we've been tasked to do." Gretel said. "No prisoners. But both of us couldn't let them burn this place to the ground with all of you inside it."
Janus raised an eyebrow behind his mask. "And why the sudden change of heart? Aren't the Witch Hunters all about hunting sorcerers?"
"Sis let her little feelings get the better of her again." Hansel grumbled. "Something about a moral compass and you lot not being an evil bunch."
"You have your Snow Queen to thank for that." Gretel said sourly, looking a little sheepish. "I suppose not every person with magic out there is worth hunting."
"And what about the money?" Janus knew enough to know that soldiers of fortune valued payment over morals, most of the time at least. Then again, here he was, working with the Warriors now.
"Yeah, sis. What about the money?" Hansel said.
"Shut up." Gretel scowled at her brother before rounding on Janus. "I just thought it a courtesy to warn you and your lot. Goes against everything I was taught to do, but I'm letting my feelings cloud my judgement on this one."
"Interesting." Janus wasn't entirely surprised. So apparently Elsa had convinced Gretel that the League wasn't a target worth hunting. How she'd managed that, Janus didn't really know. Probably something to do with her soothing voice of reason and heart of gold. "So where does this leave us?"
"I don't know." Gretel said sourly. "But it's in your hands now. Our job here is done."
"I still say this was a waste." Hansel mumbled. "Think of how much more food and supplies we could have stocked up with the money?"
"I said shut up."
"What if I could offer you a job?" The idea had just come to Janus' head and he had spouted it off without a second thought. There was no time for second guessing himself, not now at least.
"You?" Hansel snorted. "What? Are you gonna pay us more than the Crimson Order?"
"No, but I know somebody who can and will." Janus said. "Queen Anna of Arendelle." He didn't know that of course. It was just something he'd thought of to rally the two Witch Hunters to his side. If there are more bounty hunters on the way, God knows I need as much help as I can get.
"The Queen of Arendelle's hiring mercenaries now?" Gretel looked wary. "I don't buy it."
"She charged me with protecting her sister, the Snow Queen." Janus said. In truth, Anna wasn't paying him of course. This was something he was doing of his own accord, but he didn't feel the need to include that bit. "And I'm sure she'll be happy to pay you each a small fortune if you help me keep Elsa and the League of Sorcerers safe."
Hansel looked intrigued, perked up at the mention of a fortune. "Help you, how?"
"Hold off the other bounty hunters. Buy the League enough time to evacuate."
"Evacuate where?"
"Doesn't matter. Are you going to help me or not?"
Gretel tapped her nose, and glanced over at her brother.
"A small fortune, sis." He sounded all in. "Think about-"
"Quiet." Gretel cut him off, and turned to Janus. "You're sure she'll pay?"
"She's an honourable queen. Of course she will." Janus answered confidently, staring back into her eyes. He didn't know for certain that Anna would, but that was something he would sort out later when the time came. One problem at a time first.
"Fine." Gretel said. "Against my better judgement."
"Wait, so they're working with us now?" Venetia looked incredulous. "Just like that?"
"Just like that." Janus said tightly, and turned to Hansel and Gretel. "Tell me what you know about the assault."
Hansel snorted. "The Crimson Order hired eight. Mercenaries, bounty hunters and assassins. Some of the best in the business, from what we heard. They're all coming here, but we got a head start and came here to seek out a good opening. If they're as good as the Crimson Order thinks they are, they'll hit the entrance here."
"The Blue Wolves are going to storm the main entrance." Gretel added. "We didn't see the entire force, but it's big. Big enough to be a small army."
"Damn." Janus muttered. A small army. He'd anticipated something like this, but not on this scale. Hans must have gotten back to the Crimson Order with the news and the High Priest must have convinced Uxzas to authorise this assault. He's desperate to finish us off with one killing stroke without risking us escaping again.
"We all heard about the escape from Stormtide. Quite a stunt you guys pulled. Still think the League's gonna win this time?" Hansel asked.
"We don't need to win." Janus gritted his teeth as he picked up his bow from the ground where he had tossed it. "We just have to hold off long enough for everyone to escape."
"Yeah, whatever. As long as the queen's paying." Hansel said nonchalantly.
Gretel grunted. "So where do you want us?"
"Here." Janus said. "Like you said, they'll have to come through here or the south entrance of Swynvort Tower. These two are the only ways in, and the other side's already covered."
"What, you've got enough people over there to handle a small army?" Hansel chuckled.
"Elsa's taking care of that." Janus didn't know if he was trying to convince his new allies, or himself.
He was still learning to let her go and throw herself into danger in spite of his better judgement. Everything inside him was protesting, wanting to protect her from danger, but it was quite clear to him now that Elsa wasn't that sort of girl. She could take care of herself, with or without him. And that was the hardest fact that he was still trying to accept.
Gretel raised an eyebrow. "Leaving your little girlfriend to fend for herself?"
"You've seen her in action. She can take care of herself. Better than I can." Janus said, and felt his instincts stir within him. They're here. Internally he shook himself from the cobweb of worrisome thoughts and he tightened his grip on his bow.
