Free The Arcanist by Greg Curtis Page B

into the usual trouble that children did. He had spent time in many of the buildings that now stood in ruins. Be they alehouses, book stores, smithies or even the brothels, he knew them all. And now they had been reduced to rubble.
     
    It was unbelievable. It was a crime. A violation of everything he knew and loved. Theria was the proud capital and only city of Therion. It was where he and his brothers and sisters had grown up. Where the Severin family based their trading concern. And all his life he had known only two things about the city. The first that it was his home. The second that it was safe. That nothing could get through the walls. But while it still might be his home, he could no longer say that it was safe. The walls couldn't keep anything out. Not anymore.
     
    But even now that the stampede had ended the danger from the beasts wasn't over. That became obvious when he finally drove the carriage through the gate and saw the first of the great beasts just standing there, helping itself to lunch from the remains of a vegetable stall barely fifty paces in front of them. No one, he noticed, was trying to do anything with it. Instead the guards were just standing there watching the great beast, and warning people to keep back. It was probably the wisest course of action. Especially when there were so many more of the beasts scattered through the city.
     
    When a mammoth stood at least fifteen to twenty feet tall at the shoulder, weighed as much as a large wagon train, had a small thicket of six foot long tusks emerging from behind its trunk, and could run like the wind when it was scared, upsetting it was likely to be a mistake. Attacking it would be an even bigger one. Still, wheeled cannon had been dragged into place, just in case. Soon Edouard knew, unless the beasts wandered out to the grasslands beyond the city by themselves, those cannon would fire. The Seven only knew what the result of that would be. He couldn't imagine that it would be good.
     
    Edouard could see many more beasts scattered around the nearby streets. For the moment they were eating peacefully, untroubled by the people all around them or the carnage they'd wrought. But then they were simple beasts, and the fear from whatever had scared them and caused them to stampede had long been forgotten. Now they were just hungry.
     
    “Stop the carriage please Lord Edouard. My sister and I need to begin our work here.” Kyriel leaned forward from her seat behind him and spoke into his ear. He had to admit that hers was a pleasant enough sounding voice to have in his ear.
     
    As requested he pulled the carriage to a halt, pushing the lever that disconnected the flywheel from the rear axle and then gently applying the handbrake. Once the vehicle had stopped he leapt out and folded down the small ornate steps, and then offered his hand to help. To his surprise it was accepted without comment. Maybe away from their Honoured Mother they weren't quite so disapproving of men. Or maybe when they had been at the temple they just hadn't wanted to accept his brother’s hand given his – then – lack of attire.
     
    “Are you sure you'll be able to handle the beasts?”
     
    Seeing the immense size of the beasts he wondered about that and worried a little for them. One or both of them might have the spark of dominion, or perhaps something that Tyrel had given them to help instead. But these were mammoths not dogs. The slightest mistake could leave them broken and bloodied. It was hard to imagine anyone controlling them. He gestured to the nearest guards as he asked, calling them over.
     
    “Quite sure.”
     
    Mara answered him somewhat curtly, seemingly annoyed by his question. As if she considered he had called their abilities into doubt. Perhaps he had. Presumably Tyrel would have given her handmaidens whatever they needed.
     
    Rather than saying anything else and risk causing greater offence Edouard turned to introduce the handmaidens to the nearby