Dowyr felt like he was being watched as he crossed the frosty Norwood streets. But then, he felt that way ever since they arrived in Norwood the previous morning. It didn’t help that most of the Company was gone, with no friendly soldiers to hide between. There were only ten of them now.

  Himself, Weynon, Garec, Elethe, Clarine, Donnan, Sirona, Alann, Boughton, and Henric. The best infiltration team they could have, and it had worked so far. Getting into Norwood was easy. A bit of telepathy and sensory manipulation work, and they were accepted within the city walls in no time. Though the walls weren’t really walls, more of a rough palisade that the Kircans had thrown up. Parasten’s cities never had walls.

  The Parastenians themselves were just as welcoming as those in Leife, though perhaps a bit more deflated in their posture. Garec had found a decent inn to use as their hideout. The Blinking Weaver, an odd name, and practically in the middle of the city. Norwood wasn’t nearly so big as the capital of Elyssanar, but the central area could have competed with it for amount of activity with all the music, dancing, shops, and general chatter. The innkeeper—a fat, balding middle-aged man with a broad smile that left his face all wrinkly—had claimed that this was hardly a fraction of the activity Norwood would normally reach. War and the winter had dulled things down. Dowyr could scarcely believe it, especially considering half of their young men had also been taken away.

  Today he was going around trying to find Kircans to read their minds and figure out where this Colonel was, or better, where he was going to be. Difficult with the bustle of such a city. Luckily, according to Elethe, there were no other Empaths in the city. They were able to detect one another with no channeling involved, though couldn’t tell how powerful they were. An odd quirk to Empaths. Henric and Donnan would have been trying to use their Emogic to try and locate the Colonel, but Garec wanted to keep as low a profile as possible, and there might be other Seducers and Ghosts among the Kircans. Mind Intruders were rare enough that it was unlikely to encounter another.

  And so Dowyr tried his best to blend in with the other Parastenians and discreetly mind-read any Kircan soldiers he noticed. Except every single one of them was apparently a nobody who knew nothing. Or rather was never thinking about anything. Somehow, he needed to find one that was important and thinking about important things, but they were probably all in important places he wasn’t allowed into. Sneaking into them using sensory manipulation would only work if there were a small number of people that needed to be channeled to.

  What he’d give to be a Class 3.

  Why wasn’t Elethe doing this? He could stay at the inn and just be channeling for her wherever she was in the city. Instead, she stayed with Sirona in their room, and Garec let her get away with lazing about. So not fair.

  As he entered a busier part of the city, he noticed a middle-aged man carefully removing a road stone and replacing it with a blue-colored one.

  Stricken with curiosity, Dowyr approached him and channeled, “What are you doing?”

  The man looked up at him and smiled. “You haven’t heard? We’re having flightstones installed on all the busy streets. They’re not charged yet, but once we get them all in place and ready to go, you’ll no longer have to worry about navigating through large crowds or wagons blocking the way. You can just fly over them. Won’t that be neat?”

  Dowyr nodded, mildly surprised someone had even thought of such a thing. If anyone were to, of course, it’d be a Parastenian. Though after giving it slightly more thought, he wondered if allowing anyone to fly over busy streets would be all that safe. And how high would the flightstones allow them to go? What if someone didn’t land before getting out of range of the flightstones?

  He didn’t want to bother the man with such questions and left him to his work. Surely the Parastenians had thought of that and had solutions to prevent any accidents. Maybe nets would be enough.

  Suddenly a young man appeared running from around a corner, shortly followed by a group of pursuing Kircan soldiers who managed to pin him to the ground right in front of Dowyr. The man let out a pained grunt and looked at him, a fire in his eyes.

  One of the Kircans noticed Dowyr watching and waved a club at him. “Piss off, you ugly whelp!”

  Dowyr turned back and ran, but only so far as to get out of sight around another corner. Norwood had plenty of corners. He peeked back at the soldiers as they arrested the man, then, hoping no one was paying attention to him, followed them. There were only four Kircans, so he began to channel and make himself disappear from their eyes, but maintained his distance in case more soldiers appeared.

  It was difficult to keep up with the bustle of crisscrossing city streets, but eventually the crowds lessened as they got closer to where the Kircans had set up headquarters. Dowyr continued to follow until the soldiers came to an inn that had a dozen more soldiers hanging around it. Too many to channel towards unnoticed.

  With a sigh, Dowyr turned back. Another dead end. But then he froze as an odd sensation came; his Emogic surged within him, as if he were bursting with it, overflowing with power. He looked back and for a moment locked eyes with the man being arrested, desperation in his eyes. The man had to be a Booster, there was no other explanation. But what did he expect Dowyr to do? Bust him out of prison? He couldn’t… no, with this much power, he could. Perhaps he knew something about the Colonel too, or someone else in the inn.

  Heart racing, Dowyr let out the Emogic boiling within himself and split it across all the Kircans. Once satisfied that he had them all, he hid past a corner and channeled to make himself disappear from their minds, then carefully went out and headed for the inn. This was too easy! It must’ve been what being a Class 3 was like, or maybe a Class 4. Dowyr couldn’t tell how much power he held. He laughed, careful to make sure no one could hear him either. To the Kircans, it would be as if he didn’t exist.

  Feeling confident, he dashed to the inn door. A Kircan stood right beside it. Dowyr made a face at him, then slowly opened the door enough to peek in and channel to another handful of soldiers.

  This door isn’t opening, and no one is coming in, Dowyr thought, making it the reality to everyone he was channeling to.

  Slipping inside, he crept forward, trying to stay light on his feet. Any noise he made might still be heard by anyone he wasn’t channeling to that might be out of sight. While it might be taken for whatever noise the soldiers were making, he didn’t want to take any chances.

  The common room of the inn had been converted into a barracks, with the bar area as a small armory. There were cots spread evenly across the floor with only a couple tables and chairs.

  “Vanov!” a soldier barked, making Dowyr jolt. “It’s time for your shift at the courthouse.”

  “Yes, Sir,” replied another soldier. Dowyr sighed with relief that he was channeling to them both. “I get a share of the women being hauled up there, right?”

  He and a few others around chuckled while Dowyr pressed on. His Emogic connection to the soldiers who arrested the man was leading upwards. Going down a hall that lay straight ahead, he came across a staircase and prepared a flow of Emogic for anyone who might be at the top. He went up, one step at a time, heart thumping. No extra soldiers were at the top, but the ones arresting the man were there, opening a cell door. One of the four soldiers—the one who’d yelled at Dowyr—walked into the cell, shoving the man inside, while the remaining three headed right for Dowyr. He sidestepped them, still invisible to their eyes, then went to the cell door. The entire second floor of the inn had been converted into a makeshift prison, with wooden doors replaced by iron bars. Rudimentary containment, all things considered. Without voidstones, a handful of different Emogicians would have no issue escaping. But Parastenians weren’t really known for fighting back and escaping their captors.

  Dowyr made it look to the soldier that the cell door remained closed as he opened it and entered. The arrested man was on the floor, but he glanced at him, a spark of hope in his eyes.

  “Already thinking you’ll be able to escape?” the soldier sneered. “You’ll be lucky to get out the front door.” He spat towards the man and just missed his foot, then turned back and made the motion for opening the cell door even though it already stood open. Walking out, he made the motion of closing and locking it. Dowyr grinned, then made sure to close the door enough to ward off any suspicion from someone he might not be channeling to.

  Turning his attention to the man, he finally got a better look at him. He looked maybe just a few years older than Elethe, and probably could’ve passed as Weynon’s brother or cousin with that same sandy blonde hair. A bit lanky though; maybe that was why he hadn’t been taken away like a lot of the other young men.

  Dowyr held a finger to his lips. “Don’t speak,” he channeled, causing the man to blink. “I can’t stop anyone I’m not channeling to from hearing you.”

  How am I supposed to talk to you then? The man thought.

  This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  “You just did.”

  The man gaped for a moment, then understanding came. There was something strange about his thoughts. Dowyr could hear a second voice in them, but he couldn’t quite make out anything it said. It made him uneasy.

  “Why did they arrest you?”

  I killed a soldier.

  Dowyr frowned. “Aren’t you a Parastenian?”

  The man looked confused. Yes, and no. That should be obvious. Are you not a Parastenian?

  “I’m from Elyssanar.” The man looked even more confused. “It’s a long story. Look, I’m trying to figure out where the Colonel is. If you help me, I’ll help you escape.”

  The Colonel? He stays at the courthouse on the Broadway. I could show you.

  Dowyr grunted. Well, that was easy. Maybe too easy.

  “How do you know he’s there?”

  Everyone knows. Did you just get here?

  Dowyr took a deep breath. None of them had thought for a second to just ask a Parastenian where the Colonel might be. Of course, they didn’t want to arouse suspicion for what they were up to in the city, but these were Parastenians. It wasn’t like any of them would ferret them out. What an absolute waste of time.

  “Whatever, let’s go. Try not to make any noise. I think you should come talk to my Captain, I bet he’ll want to know your story.”

  The man nodded and got up. I’ll follow. My name’s Gwyn, by the way.

  “Mine’s Dowyr. You’ll keep channeling at me, right?”

  Gwyn nodded. Dowyr gave a thumbs-up and peeked out the door. No guards. The Kircans probably assumed any Parastenian prisoners would never try to escape.

  They weren’t wrong, but that didn’t change Dowyr’s mind about them being complete idiots. Whoever allowed this deserved a scalding earful about proper security.

  He still maintained his channeling to everyone downstairs and outside the inn. It was amazing how easy it was. He didn’t feel tired at all. Gwyn stayed close behind as he made his way out, eyeing the soldiers skeptically. Dowyr opened the front door an inch and checked for any new faces. Channeling another couple streams out just to be ready, he went out and casually walked down the street. He maintained his Emogic almost the whole way back to The Blinking Weaver, not so much out of necessity, but simply because he could.

  Upon entering, he spotted Weynon sitting at one of the tables with Donnan. They looked up at him and then to Gwyn with consideration.

  “Need to talk to Garec,” Dowyr channeled to them, putting a tone of urgency into it.

  They stood and went upstairs. Dowyr motioned to Gwyn and followed. Garec was sitting at a small table in his room, Elethe across from him. There was a thickness in the air between them. He wondered what they’d been talking about.

  “Who’s this?” Garec asked.

  Gwyn frowned. “You’re a Voidspeaker.”

  Garec’s eyes widened. “You’re a Booster. What’s going on, Dowyr?”

  The others looked at Gwyn in surprise. Weynon especially looked enamored.

  Dowyr made sure to channel to everyone in the room, and was frustrated by how much it took to do so now that Gwyn wasn’t channeling at him. “I rescued him from prison right after he got put there. He told me where the Colonel is.”

  “Courthouse on the Broadway,” Gwyn said. “Not far from here.”

  Garec grunted. “How do you know?”

  “Everyone knows. Not really a secret since they invaded.”

  Garec looked at Dowyr questioningly. “And you weren’t able to find this out sooner?”

  Dowyr shrugged. “Not my fault people weren’t thinking about it when I channeled at them. Should’ve had Elethe do the mind-reading. She could’ve learned it.”

  Garec sighed. “Doesn’t matter. Now we know. Thank you for your help, Mister…?”

  “Gwyn, Sir.”

  “Thank you, Gwyn. You’re free to go.”

  Gwyn didn’t move a muscle. “Why are you all here?”

  “That’s none of your concern.”

  “Certainly, but you are quick to let me go so easily when I could rat you out to the Kircans, so I assume you’re here to help my people.”

  Dowyr looked uneasily between Gwyn and Garec. Gwyn looked resolute, though maybe even resigned to whatever might happen next. Garec had an unreadable expression though. Whether he might let Gwyn live or kill him, Dowyr couldn’t tell.

  “If that is what you assume, then you should feel content knowing that is the truth and it is best you stay out of our way.”

  “He’s said you’ll fail, hasn’t he?”

  Garec stared at him for a moment then leaned back in his chair. “So what? He’s a liar.”

  Gwyn nodded. “You’re here to kill the Tyrdens aren’t you? You need the Colonel to tell you where they are.”

  Nothing about Garec’s expression or posture changed, but Dowyr caught Donnan looking between him and Gwyn meaningfully.

  “Did Heaven tell you that?” Weynon asked.

  All eyes turned on him, but he didn’t notice, being so focused on Gwyn. Dowyr had to look away out of embarrassment. It was typical that a Booster would have that sort of effect on him.

  “No,” Gwyn said. “It just seems like the only sensible conclusion to what’s in front of me.”

  “Everyone out except Gwyn and Dowyr,” Garec said softly, but there was a tone to it that got everyone moving on the instant. Even Dowyr almost ran out the door despite hearing his name.

  An uncomfortable silence followed as Garec stared down Gwyn, eyes weighing. Then he signed to Dowyr, do you trust him?

  “The Kircans arrested him, and he trusted me enough without knowing anything about who I am to rescue him.”

  That’s what concerns me.

  “I read his mind. He genuinely wants to stop the Kircans. He even killed one, that’s why he was arrested.”

  Garec narrowed his eyes at Gwyn. “You killed one of the Kircans?”

  “Yes,” Gwyn said coolly. “To save a young girl from being... harassed.”

  “So you’ve abandoned the Way of Paradise.”

  “Yes. My Apex was only a few months ago. I kept it hidden because I was afraid of what others might think or how they’d treat me differently. It wasn’t long before I came to realize that the Way is… not what the world needs right now. He is very persuasive, if rather cryptic.”

  Garec snorted. “I’m not surprised. So now that you know why we’re here, what will you do?”

  “Let me come with you. I will help however I can in making sure the Tyrdens die. My people will hate me, but I can live with that knowing I played a part in saving them.”

  “What Class are you?”

  “I don’t know. Probably somewhere between Class 2 and 3. I haven’t tested my limits.”

  “He’s at least Class 3,” Dowyr channeled. “I say bring him with us. With our smaller numbers, it’d almost be like having a backup Elethe.”

  Garec nodded. “Alright then. I will allow you to join us on the condition that you listen to me and do everything I say. You have my word that I won’t order anything of you that I wouldn’t do myself.”

  Gwyn put a fist over his heart. “I swear by the Sentinels I will do as you say, or Hell take me.”

  Donnan burst through the door causing Dowyr to jump.

  “Kircans are stirred up,” Donnan said. “Barged in searching for someone broken out of jail. They looked ready te tear apart the common room.”

  Garec gave Dowyr a meaningful look.

  Dowyr sighed and channeled at Gwyn. “Gonna need you to channel at me again. I’ll get rid of them.”

  “Get everyone but the women together in here,” Garec said to Donnan. “Make sure Sirona knows what’s going on, she should be able to handle the Kircans.”

  Dowyr split his channeling as he felt his Emogic surging again and was almost giddy at the ease of it. Making sure all three of them heard, he channeled, “Make sure to line up against the walls too.”

  Carefully opening the door and glancing down the hall, he tiptoed out towards the top of the stairway into the common room while Donnan went to gather the others. One of the Kircans was shouting at the innkeeper. Preparing a number of Emogic streams, Dowyr went down and channeled as quickly as he could at everyone he spotted, making himself vanish from their minds before they saw him. There were about a dozen of them, none he recognized.

  “I harbor no Parastenian killers in my doors, good sir,” the innkeeper said, oddly calm for what he was up against. “As I said before, you are welcome to search the rooms and see for yourself, but please don’t disturb my honest patrons.”

  The Kircan sniffed and motioned to his men. They started right toward Dowyr. He darted back up the stairs, making sure he wasn’t heard, and saw the rest of his group entering Garec’s room. He made them vanish from the Kircan’s eyes too. There was nothing going on in the hall. No sound, no movement. Dowyr slipped into the room, and as instructed, everyone was standing with their backs against the walls. Still maintaining his channeling at the Kircans, he made a hushing motion, then went to Weynon and stood against the wall beside him.

  Garec made a motion to catch his attention before signing, how many?

  About a dozen, Dowyr signed, though he could have easily channeled it too. Hopefully they leave soon.

  Garec nodded.

  They waited.

  The Kircans could be heard outside the hall now, opening doors and checking rooms. Their own door opened and two Kircans marched in, looking around warily. Everyone held their breath. The Kircans saw and heard nothing. This room was empty.

  They left, and everyone let out a soft, slow sigh. Despite knowing his channeled deception would keep them hidden, Dowyr’s heart pounded in his chest.

  It wasn’t long before they heard them talking with Sirona a couple rooms down. Dowyr’s heart pounded even more for that. There was little he could do to prevent the Kircans from hurting any of the women. Perhaps he might create some sort of distraction that pulled their attention away, but that could just as easily create more unwanted suspicion for the inn.

  The talking continued for a short time, but there was no shouting, no screaming. A door closed. Footsteps in the hall.

  Twice more Kircans entered the room, different soldiers each time. One of them took a long sniff, and Dowyr’s heart skipped a beat. He hadn’t thought of altering what they smelled. But thankfully nothing came of it.

  It felt as though hours had passed by the time the Kircans left, but in reality it had maybe been fifteen minutes. Even for that long, Dowyr was amazed he had been channeling to so many people and felt no trace of fatigue.

  Once satisfied with how far the Kircans had gotten, Dowyr released his channeling and gave Garec a thumbs-up.

  “They’ll be on the lookout for you,” Garec said, looking at Gwyn.

  “Yes,” Gwyn said. “But you are leaving once you know where the Tyrdens are.”

  “That is going to be the hard part. I want to be as discrete about getting the information as possible.”

  Donnan snorted. “No kidnapping for once?”

  “No,” Garec said dryly. “I’d rather not have the entire regiment here bearing down on us, much as I think we could outrun them. We’ll need Dowyr and Elethe to get the information. Gwyn, do you know if the Colonel has a routine that involves leaving the courthouse?”

  Gwyn shook his head. “Everyone says he never leaves. He seems to have a serious contempt for the sun.”

  “What, is he a vampire?” Donnan asked.

  “It wouldn’t surprise me.”

  “I could get the teens inside,” Henric said. “We go late when there’s fewer guards, I work some Emogic, and they let us in.”

  “I can get us in myself,” Dowyr channeled to everyone, and was again annoyed at how much effort it took now that Gwyn had stopped channeling at him. “Or if not by myself, with Elethe’s help, it shouldn’t be hard.”

  Garec folded his arms and looked lost in thought for a moment. “I wish we had some way to lure him out. I don’t like having you two walk straight into a badger’s den alone. Almost prefer Henric’s suggestion, but that sensory manipulation is hard to beat.”

  “I can watch them as they go,” Donnan said.

  “No, Elethe said there’s another Ghost here. I don’t want to risk it, night or day.”

  “We’ll be fine,” Dowyr channeled. “She’s Class 3.9, after all.”

  “I can channel from here if she ever needs my Emogic,” Boughton said.

  Garec sighed. “I’ll go talk to her. But if she doesn’t agree, we find another way.”