Kier's scream of rage cut through the air at the same time two of the soldiers' spears did. One slipped through the smoke, barely missing his head as he ducked under it. The other clattered off of the doorframe while he and Rivian raced free of the room. "What the gates are you doing here?" he shouted past the yelling of the soldiers.

"They caught me at the meeting point!" Rivian shouted back.

Sedgewick summoned his magic to his hands and blasted at the fastest soldier behind them. He crumpled to the ground, tripping the living one behind him.  "What were you doing there so early?"

"I was trying to warn you! We had to move the ship further away from the village. An Onryx patrol got too close and spotted us. It was only a matter of time before the others realized they were gone."

"Well, I think it's safe to say they figured it out." They swerved around a corner but skidded to a halt when two more soldiers came into view. Sedgewick jerked his head toward Rivian, who raised an eyebrow and his still-bound hands at the same time. The essantium lining his cuffs bound his magic as well as his movement. "Just me then." Sedgewick spun his magic into a fireball and ducked under the blow of the first soldier. He blasted at the man's stomach, burning through his clothes and sending singing flame through the links of the soldier's armor.

Rivian caught the second soldier's swing on the metal of his cuffs. The chain linking them cracked apart and scattered. He flung his weight into the soldier's stomach, using his unbalance from striking the cuffs to topple him to the ground. His fist connected with the man's jaw and he went slack. "Not just you."

"You still can't cast anything." Sedgewick grabbed him by his wrist, and the chase began again. They burst onto the bridge, only to be greeted by fifteen more of Onryx's guards blocking the other side.

Kier followed behind them, more of his men flanking him on either side and blocking their retreat. "Well, well, 'Alchemist'. You put up a decent chase. More than I expected from an Abreylian child and a Peak's man."

"It's not done yet," Sedgewick snapped even as soldiers from both sides of the bridge drew closer. If Rivian didn't have those blasted cuffs blocking his magic, or, gates, if Sedgewick was just alone, he could have tried to break through the lines. But having to protect Rivian and fight his way out made everything more deadly. His eyes frantically scanned the bridge, landing on the crates that had yet to be discarded and then on the raised stone of the bridge's tower. "How good are you at climbing?" he asked Rivian under his breath.

"Not good enough to like whatever you have planned," Rivian whispered back, his voice rising nervously in pitch.

"Remember that time I took you along to fight those witches at the docks?" He nodded toward the crates.

"Kill the Abreylian and keep the Peak's man for questioning," Kier ordered.

Rivian paled. "I'm regretting rescuing you now."

"Rescuing me?" But Rivian was already running, and the soldiers on both sides charged. Sedgewick summoned his magic, submitting to that thrum of energy that was as much a part of him as his soul.

Then he thrust it at the crates.

One launched into the soldiers in front of him, sending half of them flying backward and crashing into the stone bridge. He whipped the spell around to the second crate and did the same behind them. Sedgewick's brow began to sweat, but he refused to let that raw surge of power lessen. This was the most important part.

Rivian leapt off the bridge and onto the third and final crate. He wavered, nearly losing his balance and careening off the side into the watery grave below. Sedgewick's breath stopped then escaped in a gasp as Rivian righted himself. The crate wobbled through the air, and seconds later, he was letting go and latching onto the rim of stone surround the bridge tower, shimmying across to the safety of the other side.

Sedgewick let the crate drop. It hit the side of the bridge, shattering and sending pieces down to the water below. The still-remaining soldiers regathered. Their weapons gleamed in the light and death shone in their eyes.

"Kill him!" Kier shouted. He must have survived the throwing of the crate, but now the Onryx captain clutched his arm in pain. "Close the gate!"

Whirling away from Kier, Sedgewick summoned his magic again. The tips of his fingers tingled from the amount of energy he'd had to channel in such a short time, but he wasn't at his limit yet. Fire ignited in his hands. Past the bridge, the gates of Creststone groaned and drew slowly together. He threw himself into a mad dash for the exit. His fireball shot out, swirling in front of him in a blur and singing the legs of anyone who got too close. There wasn't time to deal out death, but the scream of pain when fire hit their legs kept the soldiers from drawing closer.

An arrow zipped past his ear right as he reached the other side of the bridge. Rivian leapt to the ground beside him, his breath escaping in frantic pants. They raced for the swiftly shutting gate. A second arrow sailed over Sedgewick's head. The gate was close, so close. Sedgewick threw himself into the run, slamming each step down and pushing himself forward with every movement. Rivian outpaced him, but that was fine. The gates were too heavy, too slow, and soon they'd be out and away—

Pain sunk its teeth into the flesh of his leg. Sedgewick staggered, collapsing to his knees. Spots gathered in his eyes but he managed to jerk his head around to see an arrow protruding from his leg.

Arms grabbed him, giving him a shake and tugging him up. "Master Sedgewick!"

"Oriv...Rivian!" Sedgewick's voice wobbled half in pain and half in fear. "Run, you stupid, idiotic—"

"I'm not leaving you here!" Rivian shouted back. He slung Sedgewick's arm over his shoulder and started dragging him alongside him.

Blood pooled from the wound in his leg and every movement sent another bolt of pain sailing up his body. The gate loomed before them, taunting them with its creaking of closing wood. Blinking away black spots, he cast his gaze around for something, anything to give them an advantage. The fortress was bare. No crates, no tables, not even a nearby staircase or ladder. Only the door creeping closed to seal them to their deaths. Sedgewick stumbled forward, but then the pain lent him clarity. "Rivian," he croaked out.

"We can make it." The boy gritted his teeth and half-picked him off the ground while struggling forward faster. Another arrow hit the ground beside them and the footsteps from behind pounded too close.

"Lad, please."

"Shut up!" But the words were stained with tears, not anger.

The gate closed with a boom that echoed over the noise.

Summoning his remaining strength, Sedgewick pushed away from Orivian, sending the young mage stumbling back. He nearly collapsed again, but some force stronger than pain held him barely upright. "Wait!"

Kier waved his good arm, and the charging soldiers stopped. He stepped closer, his jaw grit with the pain of his now-bleeding arm. Dark eyes simmered in animalistic bloodlust barely-leashed. "Done with your chase, mage?"

"You're not to touch the boy."

"Your wound must be getting to your head because you're in no position to bargain. I'll kill who suits me."

"We know you'll have me," Sedgewick said, fighting back the wheezing of his breath. He cracked his neck and continued. "The question is how many of you I'll kill before you do. How many more you're willing to lose."

Kier jerked his chin and an arrow sailed through the air. Sedgewick's magic shimmered and shot out, catching the arrow mid-air and burning the projectile on contact. "You are not. To touch. The boy," he growled, his pain magnifying the sound into something dark and unstable. "I didn't tell you my name earlier. I will now. I am Sedgewick Alverdyne of Abreyla. Minister and Master of magic. I killed the Wizard of Crathos. The Blood Witch of Ivyburrow, and the Hellmony Sisters. I stood against Garrus Queenslayer and lived. And I swear by everything above and below this world that if you harm that boy, I will see you suffer." Blood continued to seep from his wound, but if he let the fuzziness of his head overwhelm him now then all would be lost.

Kier's lips curled. "I don't make bargains with Elberic scum. Shot them again! Double the arrows!"

Death flew through the air. Sedgewick's magic met it, ripping down each arrow he could spot, but another took to the skies to take its place. His vision blurred, and one slipped past his defenses, heading straight for—

The cry of horror died in his lips as Sedgewick saw the final arrow stop short of Rivian. A silvery glow encircled it that could only be formed of magic.

"You are too impatient, Captain Kier," the owner of the spell said. He stepped from the shadow of the bridge's entrance into the light of day. An elderly fey, one whose black hair was now nearly claimed by a silvery-white the same shade as his magic. "I return here to chaos when I left with order."

"Master Calrock, we have him."

"You would have him dead. And you are wasting your arrows." He smiled a cool smile. "Hello, Master Alverdyne. I've heard tales of you of late. I look forward to us making a closer acquaintance, once your blood loss finishes its work."

Sedgewick growled and lashed out with magic. The spell that it was supposed to be wavered and left only a wave of weak magic that rolled against Calrock's ward with no effect. Then it all was too much. His knees wobbled and he would have hit the ground had not Rivian caught him. Curses carried into his ears, but Sedgewick couldn't make out their meanings. Calrock's deep, hollow voice penetrated his ears one final time

"Take them both to the Obelisk. I have work to begin."

***************

Author's Note: Well, I took a break to write the next chapter of Magic's Memories, but we're back! Did everyone see their capture coming? What does Calrock have planned for Sedgewick and Rivian?

Current Word Count: 10,882