They were escorted outside, Semari and Parth needing shaking into some semblance of consciousness before they could manage walking. Semari was still oblivious, happily clamping herself to Stathis and letting herself by dragged along. It made for slower walking, having to drag her along with every step, but at least it meant Semari wasn’t getting into any more trouble. Hakara was speaking to Janaxia, the two conversing in low tones, going silent whenever any of the guards got too close. That left Stathis to manage both Semari and Parth, the latter of whom needed prodding every few steps, as she turned to stare up at the sky or got distracted by random greenery they passed.

They passed through the city, currently dark and quiet, before coming to a vast wall, visible only as a deeper blackness ahead of them. Something moved, the sound of wood on stone as a door scraped open. Despite the low light, Janaxia moved easily, aiding Hakara and stopping her walking into things. Stathis was now carrying Semari as she had fallen asleep, and Parth was at least pretending to be less drunk now, managing to walk along without stopping every few steps.

The low light revealed no more than the rough shapes of buildings in a crazed variety of styles, with stone step pyramids next to pits sunken into the ground between circular domes and narrow pointed spires. Countless hymns, chants and prayers echoed about, a group of robed shapes bustling past, followed by a cloud of sweet-scented incense and the tinkle of bells.

Their destination was a large block of a building, a featureless surface of smooth, black stone, marred only by a single entrance. Guards stood by the entrance; none were obviously armed, but if they could fight like Semari, that wouldn’t matter.

Inside, they walked on a raised pathway, lit by dull white magelights. Sunken pits on either side were filled with training equipment, training dummies and spinning wooden pillars. The entire complex seemed to be cut down into the bedrock, precisely engineered hallways cut at exact right angles, every room neatly rectangular. Probably dwarven work, they were good at being so neat and orderly. Even what passed for artwork was neat and regulated, shapes of geometric precision put into cubic niches along the wall or tapestries depicting stark black lines on plain white backgrounds. Semari twitched and mumbled something, before falling back into a doze, Stathis slinging her into a more comfortable position over her shoulders.

They were escorted to what was undeniably a cell, albeit a nice one – a stone slab was lifted to allow them access, and then dropped back into place with a loud crash, sealing them in. At least it had several beds, and a mage-light embedded in the ceiling. Stathis dumped Semari onto a bed, where she promptly curled up, comfortably dozing.

Hakara incanted, a magical force lifting Semari up and suspending her in the air. She didn’t wake up, twitching slightly in her alcoholic stupor. She kept incanting, more runes and glyphs appearing around Semari.

‘What are you doing to her?’

‘I was discussing matters with Miss Janaxia, and she suggested that it might be possible to further probe Semari’s soul and discover what is causing the resonance.’

‘Really? I didn’t think she was that good at magical theory.’

Janaxia sniffed, loudly. ‘You are aware that I can hear you, Stathis? I may have spent less time poring over dull, dreary books than Hakara, but I am from one of the greatest lineages of magic in the world and do have some knowledge of such matters. If we simply provoke the events that caused her initial problem, then we may discover something useful.’

‘You mean zap her and see what happens, don’t you?’

Hakara answered. ‘We have previously seen that Semari is able to recover from lightning reasonably quickly. I do not believe it will do any permanent damage, and we could learn much from it.’

Stathis sighed. ‘Do we need to tie her down or anything? She’s not going to like it much.’

‘This seems to be something of a recurring theme for you, Stathis. I seem to recall that you restrained me in such a forceful manner, not long ago. While I am not averse to such things, I would rather be asked first, and perhaps taken to dinner as well? Although in this case, I believe her suspension should limit her activities, as long as we remain out of arms reach.’ Janaxia had taken position as far away as possible – not a great distance, given the size of the room, but definitely outside of Semari’s grabbing range.

‘I was worried about you, it wasn’t for fun!’ Stathis approached Semari, gently tapping her shoulder. ‘Semari? You awake?’

‘Guh? Wassit?’ An eye slowly opened, as Semari grumbled and awoke.

‘Hakara is going to try zapping you and see what happens.’ Stathis took the bracer off her, prompting another drowsy grumble. As she stepped back, a zap of lightning shot from Hakara’s hand into Semari, making her twitch for a moment. It must have been pretty mild, Semari only grumbling and twisting in mid-air, as Hakara made some notes. The bracer sparked slightly as a dark force came from Janaxia and snatched it out Stathis’ hand.

‘Interesting. It seems there is some sympathetic resonance present.’

Semari shuddered. ‘Ow. Like, maybe less of the zaps?’ Another bolt shot from Hakara into the bracer, and then arced into Semari. ‘Ow!’ She twisted, moving with a sudden burst of energy, trying to gain any traction to escape, unable to move when held in empty air.

‘Fascinating. The energy is absorbed and redirected. I don’t suppose you know what you’re actually doing, Semari?’

‘Getting zapped mostly! Let me down!’

‘This is fascinating. You appear to be channelling ambient energy, somehow absorbing it into yourself. Although the electricity is unusual. I have heard of those descended from gods and dragons that are able to cast magic through intuition rather than knowledge, although in this case it seems to be less “magical” and more, ah…’

Janaxia filled the blank. ‘Corporeally violent, perhaps? Although even those of such parentage normally pay some heed to standard magical practice. And are rather less robustly vigorous than this sample.’

‘While we are on the subject, Miss Janaxia, I would like to ask you about your own magical prowess.’

‘Oh, I think this is the time to focus on Semari.’ Janaxia flung a bolt of dark energy at Semari, hitting her in the chest and sending her tumbling end-over-end. ‘Such a delightful experiment. Maybe if you hit her with a more powerful bolt, it might reveal something?’

‘An interesting idea. I wonder what her capacity is? There must be some level of conversion efficiency, there’s probably a maximum amount she can absorb.’ A spell-circle sparked into life around Hakara and lightning crackled into her hand, making her hair stick out at crazy angles.

Stathis pushed her arm in the middle. ‘Hakara, don’t get carried away!’

The lightning died away, although her hair stayed blasted out. ‘Yes, of course. Sorry, Stathis. Now, Miss Semari, if you could just hold still a moment.’ Hakara reached out and touched the bracer, lightning snapping out, again and again. The bracer started to glow white-hot as more and more power struck into it before it started sparking over to Semari.

‘Ow ow ow! Quit it!’ Semari flailed in the air, still out of reach of anything. Then a distant bell started to chime and Semari’s body went tense, eyes burning white with power. Hakara applied more energy, until Stathis gently tapped her on the shoulder and she stopped. Semari spasmed again, her body jerking in pain, more lightning surrounding her in a bright white corona, blinding bright to look at.

Her voice rang out, loud and resonant, voice sounding angry and proud. ‘Break the sky, call the fire. Free me! The spear of heaven is caged. Justice be done, the wicked shall be punished!’ The lightning was starting to scorch the ceiling and floor now, stone charring black. Another bolt of dark energy shot out from Janaxia, Semari twisting in the air, catching and hurling the bolt back at her. Janaxia was hit, flying backwards and smacking against a wall. The spell around Semari shattered, Hakara wincing from some feedback. Semari kept hovering though, body rigid and taut, energy coursing around her arms and chest.

With Janaxia dazed, the bracer fell from her hand, hovering in the air before it flew towards Semari and smacked against her chest, burning white with lightning. Then cold blue light washed out, followed a moment later by a black, burning silence as both Hakara and Janaxia attempted to dispel the magic. The lightning winked out and Semari collapsed to the ground, as Janaxia ducked behind a bed, her clothing melted away.

Stathis went to check on Semari – aside from the electrical burns, and being unconscious, she seemed fine, although her hair was scorched and singed. She slowly came to with a loud groan, the bracer falling to the ground.

‘You see anything this time?’

‘Fuck me, that was creepy. And you were really mean, Hakara!’

Hakara was scribbling down notes, answering without looking up. ‘My apologies, Semari, but what you are doing is fascinating. I’ve heard of monsters that are able to perform similar feats, but never a person.’

‘Could you, like, maybe not pump me full of zaps? It hurts, quite a lot, when it’s that much.’ Semari shuddered as a torrent of lightning passed through her, blasting and scorching the wall. ‘Yeah, lots of clouds and storms and lightning, saw something in there. Whatever it is, they’re pissed. Guess they want me to, like, beat somebody up? Bit more guidance would be more nice though.’

Stathis nodded. ‘Yeah, this tends to be the way with mystic dreams and stuff. Remarkably light on actual useful bloody details! Any idea what’s in there? Maybe it’s your mother, or an ancestor or something?’

‘Hey, I might have ancestors, that would be cool! Maybe they’ll give me bitching sweet powers or piles of gold or something.’ She shuddered again, still sparking faintly. ‘Could do with actually, like telling me stuff though!’

Janaxia emerged from behind the desk, clothing mostly reformed, tweaking it into place. ‘Those from beyond the veil are often cryptic. Or so I am told; my ancestors mostly have the common decency to remain around, without being quite so hard to decipher. Like Great Aunt Calpurnia, who has few compunctions about communicating any failures she may perceive in others.’

‘Right, so, did you find out anything, other than that Semari doesn’t like being electrocuted?’

‘Well, I, for one had no idea that Hakara was quite so skilled at incapacitating someone and then tormenting them with electricity. I didn’t realise you had such predilections.’ Janaxia was looking far too interested, Hakara just looking confused.

Stathis repeated her question directly towards Hakara, getting an answer this time. ‘Semari has some unusual abilities.’

‘I know I don’t know much magic stuff, but you can use slightly more complex language than that.’

‘Sorry, Miss Stathis, I was trying to think of appropriate terminology. I think she has somehow fused with an elemental nexus or suchlike. Quite how she is refining the power to fuel herself, or how the feat was achieved without her blowing apart from the infusion of power, I am still unsure of – further study would be needed. She has resonated with something nearby though. I would surmise that…’

Stathis continued. ‘…something is trapped or bound and wants out, and seems a bit pissed off about the whole thing, and is using Semari to channel itself because they’re similar somehow?’

‘Uh, yes, precisely.’

‘So, is this a “Janaxia” sort of thing, or something less apocalyptic?’

‘I really do wish you would stop casting such aspersions upon me.’ Janaxia was now fully dressed in heavy, formal-looking robes, although still tight at the chest and baring her shoulders.

‘Remind me of what happened in Fort Verinal? With that weird monster thing in the basement, and you were acting weird and suddenly learnt new spells. And it was sealed with ancient magic, behind doors only you could open?’

‘That was one time, and simply a coincidence! But yes, Hakara, do tell us more of what strange bond Semari has fostered. Some petty spirit bound by ancient magic, no doubt.’

‘It is quite potent, whatever it is. With more time, and repeated application of sympathetic energy, it would be possible to attempt to trace the connection, and divine more of the entity. Or attempt to try it forth deliberately. Given the strength of the sympathetic connection, I would predict that the entity is bound within a living being, and that, due to the law of sympathy, is attempted to connect to Semari. So perhaps there is an element of kinship there, or the bracer is responsible for creating a link.’ She raised a hand, already crackling with lightning, ready to continue her testing.

Semari stood up, shaking her head. ‘Does that mean zapping me more? It really hurts!’

Janaxia finished adjusting her clothing. ‘Really? I have heard it can be quite stimulating, although have not personally had occasion to indulge. Nevertheless, is there nothing you can tell of this being?’

‘They are close by, and the bells call to them. Semari somehow has a connection to them. I am unsure how, but there is a connection there. Fascinating, really, to have a soul altered in such a fashion.’ Stathis forced herself not to look at Janaxia. ‘The power doesn’t appear, um, demonic or tainted – it is purer and more celestial in nature. Although it may still try to possess Semari somehow, to try and control her into freeing it.’

‘OK. So, Semari, try to keep an eye out for anything controlling you. Reckon it’s worth freeing it?’

‘It seems powerful, whatever it is. And may have been bound for a reason, especially in a place such as this.’

‘Can we do anything to protect her?’

‘Yeah, I don’t want to get possessed and go weird. Might end up like Janaxia, but less weedy.’ She punched the air a few times.

Janaxia finished fussing with her clothing. ‘Although far less stylish, attractive or useful. Is some form of warding circle perhaps needed? If we were to keep her suspended in mid-air, then she would be unable to escape.’

‘We’re not doing that, at least not yet. Let’s get through this trial and stuff first. If we don’t zap her again, then do you think she’ll be safe?’

‘We may wish to keep her under observation and take immediate action in the event of a relapse. Semari, has the entity tried to bargain or contract with you, or control you at all?’

‘No, just, like, shouted a lot. Sounds pissed. Although I guess if I was trapped in some creepy endless storm, I’d be pissed as well. Maybe they want to be freed?’ Semari twisted uncomfortably. ‘How about we just run? I don’t like this, Stathis. I don’t like people hunting me.’

‘Well, they seem pretty intent on hunting you down, so if we can get you off, then it’s an end to it. Worst case scenario, Parth grabs you and runs.’

‘What about you?’

‘I’m surprised and mildly flattered you care. I’ll sort something out. They seem pretty big on the “letter of the law” here, so I don’t think they’ll do more than be angry at me unless I break the rules.’

‘Hey, you could blame Janaxia, say she tricked us with her sexy demon wiles!’

‘I’ll bear that in mind, but hopefully things won’t come to that. Janaxia, are you OK with this?’

‘I will be discussing terms with you afterwards. This is quite an undertaking, and I appear to be invaluable to your cause. Unless you wish to accept whatever sentence they will hand down? So a little more courtesy towards my good self would be wise.’

Semari looked browbeaten and dejected, although that might have been an aftereffect of the electrocution. ‘Sure, whatever. Can I sleep now?’ She fell backwards onto a bed without waiting for a response.

‘Hm. That was rather less satisfying than I imagined. Still, one hopes that she will learn to be more courteous in future. Now, it is rather unfortunate that we do not know the full scope of their laws, but I believe I can make out the basics. Through here, see?’ She pointed through a narrow slot in the wall that Stathis hadn’t noticed. Through it could be seen a large hall, clearly a court of some kind, with podiums for the speakers. Along the far wall were huge stone slabs, inlaid with indecipherable curves and marks. ‘I will have to try and study them closer, but it appears to be fairly comprehensive, if rather archaic. And with a high chance of devolving into a duel, which seems rather crass, but I suppose such things are inevitable.’

‘If Udaipur is involved, that’s going to be risky, he’s good. Better than Semari, I think.’ Surprisingly, there wasn’t a snarky comment from Semari, still sprawled on the bed, eyes staring at the ceiling, a hand still sparking with electricity.

‘That may be problematic, but I’m sure we can arrange matters to our convenience. And less transparently than your own efforts against Larrik. While I appreciate that such things are not your forte, it was all rather thrown together and a bit tawdry. If you will engage in such things, perhaps aim to do so with a little more style?’

‘Just try to keep Semari alive, OK?’

‘I will try. Although I hope she, and you, will be suitably grateful. I do feel you take my efforts for granted sometimes.’

‘You know that’s not true, Janaxia. This is something that only you can do. Those robes are fancy – they a court thing?’

Janaxia spun, letting the robes twirl out, showing off the deep crimson lining, bright against the black outer layers, blood-red against night-black. ‘Yes, they seemed fitting. Quite commanding, are they not? Although I have made a few modifications. The waistline was quite unflattering, and a few tweaks around the neck and bodice have made some marked improvements. I suppose it was designed for rather more rotund gentlemen. So, if everyone could try and look relatively innocent, no doubt it would improve Semari’s chances.’

‘Do you know who we have to actually convince?’

Janaxia squinted through the slit. ‘It appears it will be made of the masters of the city. Although it will likely be easier to make an argument based around precise points of order rather than actual “innocence”, as Semari is doubtless guilty of something deserving of punishment.’