Page 14 of The Study of Storms and Magic
“Actually, storm energy has a measurable weight,” Heil said from Thunder’s back. “A filled orb is one pound heavier than an empty one.”
Interesting. Thinking about it, he didn’t know a lot about the orbs. “How much energy is in an orb?”
“Enough to power one cotton mill for eight hours.”
They chatted and eased back into their travel routines. Annika and Endre were escorting them back to the border of Sitia, and no one minded. They’d become good friends over the season.
One day turned into six and then twelve. Day thirteen started out the same as the others. Except, when they neared the crossroads at the border of Military District 7, they encountered a large patrol of soldiers blocking the way south.
“Stop the wagon,” Annika ordered. “Stay here. That includes you, Zethan.”
He was riding on Smoke but pulled up alongside the other horses.
The agents rode over to the leader of the patrol—a captain, if he correctly remembered his Ixian military insignia. Zethan counted fifteen soldiers.
“Trouble?” Zo asked.
“Hard to tell. They’re wearing black and red, which are the Commander’s colors,” he said.
“That’s a good thing,” Heli said. “We have his permission to be here.”
“Unless he changed his mind,” Zo said.
Ah, there was the pessimist he knew and loved. Since Zohav had been flirting awkwardly with Heli, which was adorable, she had been happier. However, Zethan was glad she still maintained her Zo-ness.
The patrol was too far away for him to hear what they said to Annika. The captain pulled a parchment from his pocket and handed it to her. She unfolded it and scanned the text. Endre moved his horse closer so he could read over her shoulder.
“Endre is scowling. That can’t be good,” Zohav said.
Annika handed the parchment back to the captain. They returned to the wagon.
“What’s going on?” Zethan asked.
“The Commander has ordered us back to the castle. Captain Lorton will be escorting you to the border.”
Not the best news, nor the worst. Yet a pang echoed in his chest as he realized he would miss the couple.
Then Annika leaned forward and whispered. “The orders are fake. The soldiers are not legit. However, we are outnumbered. Endre and I will fetch help. Play along until we return. Understand?”
His heart squeezed as fear spiked through him. Zethan glanced at Heli and Zo. Both stared at Annika with wide eyes.
“Understand?” She repeated.
“Yes,” the trio said in unison.
“Goodbye,” Annika said louder. “It’s been a pleasure working with you. Thank you for keeping our citizens safe from the blizzards.”
Endre nodded, giving them all a don’t-do-anything-stupid glare. Before Zethan could blink, the two agents spurred their horses east as the patrol surrounded their wagon. One man pulled the corner of the tarp back.
“Stop,” Heli called to the man. “That’s dangerous you could?—”
“Shut up,” Captain Lorton said. “Hurry, Beet.”
The man pulled out an orb. Two others stretched a long…rope? No. It was a leather strap attached to two wooden stakes. They positioned it across the road and hammered the stakes on each end into the ground.
Comprehension clicked when the man placed the orb in the center of the strap. It was a slingshot! And it was aimed at Annika and Endre! Zethan stood in his stirrups and yelled at the soldiers to stop.
But everything happened so fast. The orb was launched. Zohav screamed. The sun glinted off the glass as it spun in the air. A sudden gust of wind blew it off course. A thud sounded, and the wind died as fast as it had arrived. The orb slammed into the earth, releasing an explosion of energy. Dirt flew, glass shards turned into lethal weapons, and a concussion of power boomed strong enough that it thudded against him.
