Free Darkness Falling: Soldiers and Slaves by R. R. Willica

power. Lifting each one in turn to check for flaws, Wini was satisfied that her treasures had survived the ages.
    Carrying the box by a small handle at the top, she went back out into the wind. Searching along the northern wall she found what she was looking for; a crack in the building that was large enough to hold one of the stones. Once it was in place she moved to the west wall, and all around the building finding places to hide the globes. When it was done she returned to her room. She placed the fifth globe on the floor beneath her feet. The sixth she held above her head until it began to hover on its own. Releasing it she watched as it floated up to rest against the ceiling.
    Raising her hands to shoulder height, she felt the swirl of energy that pulsed through Rau'Tesche-Awn. She had chosen this place for a reason; it was here that energy converged, and although the strength had waned with the life of the city, it was still strong enough for her purpose.
    “Let it be,” she said in a firm voice. “By the Light surrounding, by the Tides and Air, I stand to defend.”
    The globes flared into life, spinning slow at first but quickly gaining speed.
    “No malice shall enter here.” She commanded.
    Forcing the energy outward, it was enough that she was nearly lifted from the ground. In a flash of light and a crackle of thunder the small spheres were absorbed into the building itself. For a moment the glow of energy emanated from the walls before they returned to their usual mundane appearance.
    Lowering her arms, Wini sighed, feeling like the old woman she was. It would have to do. Petor wouldn't care about the sick and dying. If he came here he would see she had gone, but the stones would offer some measure of protection against his fiendish plots. That was all that mattered.
    CHAPTER SIX
     
    Impyra slowly opened her eyes.
    Her arms and legs ached from laying on the cold and rigid floor. There was a window across from her and she could see the sky was ablaze in pink and orange and red. Sunset already, the whole day was gone. Her mind awoke faster than her body, spinning to bring her into this new place. The last thing she remembered was trying to make the truck disappear so that they could escape. It seemed as if she had succeeded.
    Sitting up, her head swam in protest, but she shook it off and forced herself to stretch. As her hand hit the light streaming in she saw her skin color was gone. Gasping, she pulled her arms in and bowed her head, letting her long hair fall over her face like a curtain of crystal.
    “You're awake,” she heard Sheyra say from somewhere behind her, but she didn't turn to look. “I was really starting to worry.”
    “I'll be fine,” Impyra spoke quickly, uneasy in knowing that they had seen her this way.
    The young woman sat down beside her and offered her a small pouch. “I hope you don't mind, I found it in your bag. I had two pieces.”
    Taking the bag in a jerky motion, Impyra looked inside to see short strips of dried meat.
    “It was a gift,” she said. “I don't mind.”
    She took a piece for herself and practically inhaled it. Her body absorbed the energy and she had another piece.
    Below the window a darkness began to detach itself from the shadows. Impyra jumped until she realized it was Brosen, also waking up. He sat up and stretched, blinking the sleep from his eyes. When he saw she was sitting up his face flooded with relief.
    “This means you're going to live, I hope,” he said.
    “For now, yeah,” she nodded. “Hungry?”
    He walked over and took the bag before sitting across from the two women.
    “Before we move on from here you're going to have to answer a few questions,” he said, examining the piece of meat he'd pulled from the pouch.
    “Fine,” she said.
    She knew it had been coming, but it didn't make it any easier.
    “What happened to your skin and hair,” Sheyra spoke first, her eyes tracing the line of Impyra's head in amazement.
    “I'm