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Chapter 2:

Out of the Frying Pan

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First the wounded lady, then the Ahrman, now this? A hooded woman dragged him off the streets of Khalm and into the aqueducts below. He wrinkled his nose at the stench and kept walking. The raw sewage didn't seem to bother the hooded woman leading the way.

Aiden peered at the woman sauntering through ankle-deep filth, her cloak dangling above it. With a longbow and a quiver full of arrows strapped to her back, the hooded woman quietly navigated the aqueducts.

“Why're you following her, Aiden?” Quinn whispered, sitting upon the young man’s shoulder.

“She saved you from that bird monster. I... think she's here to help?”

“She's going to get us in deep trouble, that's what she's going to do.” Quinn scrambled to the top of Aiden's head. “Hey, you! You used a Rebirth back there, didn't you? The Rebirth of Invisibility. Who are you?”

The woman remained silent.

Annoyed, Quinn covered Aiden's eyes with his furry hands and ears. “Stop following this broad, Aiden. I don't trust her.”

“Cut it out, Quinn! I can't see!”

The woman paused. “What is your age, young man?”

“Don't answer that,” Quinn advised.

“I'm fourteen, ma'am.”

“And you’ve lived here that long?”

“I...”

“Stop letting her interrogate you, Aiden,” Quinn interrupted. “We don't know who she is or what she wants.”

“She's not trying to kill us, and she doesn't scare the heck out of me like that Arhman.”

She glanced over her shoulder, her twisted hair dangling from under her hood. “Where did you see an Ahrman?”

“Back where you found us, almost. He...”

“Listen you!” Quinn snapped. “You'd better start telling us who you are or we're leaving.”

“You seem to be aware of the Rebirths. Are you also aware of the danger young Aiden is in? The Ahrman will surely hunt him down if he finds out who he is.”

“And your people won't?”

Rebirths? Your people? Aiden pulled Quinn off his head by his long ears and looked him in the eye. “What are you two talking about?”

“It's...nothing, Aiden,” Quinn shrugged.

“Sounds like a lot of something to me. Why are you keeping things from me all of a sudden?”

“I'll tell you later, I promise. First, we need to ditch this woman and get out of town.”

“If we exit here, we'll be on the outskirts of Khalm,” the hooded woman said as the river of sewage ended and concrete began. She walked over to a ladder leading to the surface. “Stay here while I see if it's safe.”

As she climbed, Quinn turned to Aiden. “Quick, now's our chance to lose her.”

Aiden kicked off his boots. “I'd rather stay with her, Quinn. Besides, you're kind of indebted to her.”

“Pish! She only killed that flying thing to gain our trust before she stabs us in the back. I’m sure of it.”

“I don't think so Quinn. I'm a good judge of character.” Aiden tapped a boot against the concrete, knocking the sludge off. “I hope mister Laul isn’t too mad at us. I think I broke the wagon and everything.”

As he slid a boot back on, Aiden noticed his right hand was glowing. He opened it wide and saw the same image that the injured woman had. “Quinn...” A steady aura formed around the object, intensifying by the second. Aiden covered his eyes as the sword lit up like a cold sun. Encompassed by light, the object shattered into tiny fragments, vanishing like shooting stars as they hit the floor.

Aiden's eyes widened. His hand was back to normal again with no sign of the object. “Quinn! Did you see that? What – what was that?”

“Aiden,” Quinn gasped. “I – I think you destroyed a Rebirth...”

A lantern light shimmered through the darkness. A watchman making his rounds. Bloodthirsty beasts roaming in the darkness kept him behind Khalm's gated walls. Few ventured out of town after sunset. Even fewer these days. The hooded woman waited until the watchman's light grew dim before crawling out of the aqueduct. There was no time to explain her infiltration of the city to the watchman.

The fewer eyes laid on her, the better. Using the Rebirth of Invisibility on three people at once proved daunting. The faint script sprawling in the palm of her hand made that clear. It would be hours before the rune was fully charged again. It was a gamble she had to take. She only hoped it proved prosperous.

A sudden movement in the shadows beckoned her attention. She reached into her cloak and unsheathed a short sword in time for it to cross with another; an action that caused her hood to slip.

“Eh?” said the top hat-wearing Ahrman. The double blades of his sword deadlocked with his opponent's weapon.“Haven't I killed you already?”

“That was my sister you murdered, Ahrman!”

“Oh, I see. Twins,” the Ahrman looked the woman over and grinned. “Almost. Well, you murdered my pet, so that should make us even.”

“Where is she?!”

“Why? Do you want to die by her corpse?”

“I'll see you dead for this!” The woman broke the sword deadlock and kicked her opponent back.

The Ahrman shifted his feet like a dancer, regaining his footing. The woman grimaced. Her armor was as light as her short sword. She wasn’t prepared for this fight. Cunning, fast on their feet, skilled swordsmen; the Ahrman fighters weren't anything to scoff at. And if he killed her sister he must have a deadly Rebirth at his disposal. Just thinking about her death stoked a fire in her heart. But she couldn't allow her rage to lead her.

“Looks like today was a good day after all,” the Ahrman boasted. “I came here for one Rebirth, but now I've found three.”

She dashed forward. The sound of steel rippled through the night. Her short sword met his blade. Breaking the deadlock, the Ahrman coiled behind the woman. As he brought his sword down, the woman blocked his attack with her weapon. She rose her heel, striking the Ahrman in the jaw.

The woman moved like a spinning wheel, alternating attacks between her sword and cloak. The Ahrman deflected several strikes but was overpowered by his opponent’s spin kicks. His hat sailed off his head. He staggered for a moment, catching himself before he fell to the ground.

Sword drawn, the woman moved swiftly. Her blade sliced through the Ahrman's suit, barely missing his chest. She coiled around for another kick which the Ahrman easily ducked. She attempted another but her opponent snagged her incoming ankle.

Small sparks danced on his fingers, lighting up the night. “After chasing after your twin for so long I was beginning to think all of you were cowards. Unfortunately, it's time I switched dancing partners.”

Her eyes narrowed. “The Rebirth of Lightning...”

She tried to pull her leg free, but it was too late. A great amount of lightning surged through her veins. Stunned breathless, the woman staggered to the ground. It was enough power to kill an average person, but she was beyond average. There was no defense against a Rebirth that powerful. She had to act fast or tonight would be her last.

Wiping blood from his lips, the Ahrman collected his hat from the snow. “I'll be on my way after I fry that Rebirth out of you.”

“Leave her alone!” shouted Aiden.

The Ahrman peered over his shoulder. “And if I don't?”

“I – I'll – ” Aiden paused, fighting the urge to run. He shifted his gaze to the woman as she lay moaning on the ground. She saved Quinn and tried to protect them. Leaving her to die was the last thing on his mind.

The Ahrman turned to the young man, his right hand crackling with lightning. “Why am I not sensing the Rebirth of Blades anymore?”

Quinn jumped out of the aqueduct. “Aiden, run! You have to get out of here! He'll kill you!”

“I'm tired of running from him, Quinn! We have to do something!”

“You can't stop him if you're dead, Aiden!”

“Just be quiet!” the Ahrman said, flinging a wave of lighting at the pair. The shock knocked them both to the ground. Dazed, Aiden tried to shake the ringing out of his head. He looked over at Quinn lying face down in the snow. The smell of burnt fur filled the air.

“Quinn?!” he exclaimed, crawling over to his friend. He was so still. And his chest, it wasn't moving. Tears of rage swelled in his eyes. He held Quinn tightly and sobbed. “...Quinn...please..open your eyes...”

“I want that Rebirth!” the Ahrman said, grabbing Aiden's shoulder.

Aiden clenched his teeth. The sound of his voice stirred his emotions. He didn't want to hear the Ahrman's malicious voice. He wanted to hear Quinn's playful laugh, his cheerful voice. Just one more time. Particles of light enveloped Aiden's body and extended from his right arm.

“What are you doing!” the Ahrman urged, noting the blue light surrounding the young man.

Aiden spun around, his dark eyes were devoid of life. “You killed my friend!”

He drove the blade of a newly created longsword into the Ahrman's chest, forcing it deeper until it pierced his back. The startled look in the Ahrman's eyes shifted to anguish as Aiden retracted the sword. The Ahrman fell motionless to the frozen ground.

The light around Aiden abated; his weapon vanished. Aiden dropped to his knees. He closed his eyes as his body fell next to the Ahrman.