Free The Storm's Own Son (Book 2) by Anthony Gillis Page B

Firio squeaking, "Shouldn't we wait..."
    He gripped the copper snake over her eyes. He felt a sense of draining, of something like a kind of spiritual venom, trying to sap his power. Trying, he thought, but the venom was far, far too weak to succeed. He found a clasp, strong and locked, and pried it apart with his bare hands. He removed the band. The woman's eyes were wild and unfocused, both in confusion and adjustment to the sudden light.
    Next he did the same with the band around her mouth. She let loose a sudden burst of wild, incoherent words, then laughed. Then just as suddenly, she seemed to sink into exhaustion.
    "Talaos..." said Firio, nervously.
    He ignored him and ripped apart the clasp on the manacles. Then he took a step back. The power faded in his hands as he felt tired at last. Before him the woman stirred. Seeing her better, he guessed she wasn't much older than him. She was very haggard. She looked around, seeming unfocused, shifted stiffly and made a sound as if the movement hurt her. Then she stared down at her wrists. She rubbed them and winced. She looked up into Talaos's eyes. Hers looked confused and afraid. Then it seemed as if nerves caught up with her, and she fell unconscious.
    Behind Talaos, the Madmen stood silent, except for Firio. He crept forward to Talaos's side. "You know she must be someone who can work magic, right?" Firio asked.
    "I'd assumed so, yes," answered Talaos.
    "So... wouldn't you think it was risky to let her go?"
    "She was imprisoned by the followers of the Prophet," answered Talaos, without further explanation.
    "Well, does that mean she's not bad herself?" Firio whispered uncomfortably.
    Talaos ignored him, and used Firio's device to open the last door. Firio picked the lock, and the room behind was empty.
    "Let's go, men," he said, lifting the woman over his shoulder.
    As they gathered everyone, Vulkas took the time to smash the remaining bronze heads, those that had been stored on the shelves.
    They made their way back out, carrying sacks of books and the prisoners with the seemingly voided minds. Imvan cradled the little girl in his arms. Firio, for whom carrying an adult was a task beyond his strength, helped the young man walk.
    "Thanks..." the man said in a weak voice as they went.
    Upstairs and out in the main room, they found the four people who'd been chained to the pyre. They were now sitting propped up next to the door. Their burns had been crudely bandaged. They were two men of middle years, an old woman, and a young man in his late teens. Their eyes were as blank as most of the prisoners from the cells.
    Outside were the Wolves, reduced, Talaos saw, to about sixty. They stood guard all around with weapons ready and watchful, uncertain expressions. Talaos and his Madmen placed the newly freed prisoners alongside those from the pyres, then stepped outside to join the Wolves.
    The sky was black overhead, the wind tossed, and rain still poured in sheets.
    Coming their way across the plaza at the head of a long column of men in the blue of Aledri was General Nissas. He did not look pleased.
     

 
    6. Shelter
     
    Nissas approached across the plaza with hundreds of men behind him. Elsewhere in the city, allied troops could be seen fanning out, looking for remaining pockets of resistance. The rain continued to pour, and the wind roared.
    When Talaos thought the general was within distance for him to speak, though beyond what it would be for most people in such weather, he called out in his thundering voice, "Is the city taken?"
    The general's voice in reply could not be heard over the wind, but when he got closer, he roared, "Talaos, have you gone mad?"
    "Besides being one of the Madmen?" he replied, voice rising above the wind.
    Nissas scowled in reply as he closed on Talaos. He held his blue cloak close about him in the rain, but threw the hood back, and there was fury on his face. Around him, his troops fanned out, facing Talaos's men. The general threw back his