Ascended

Eveth still hadn’t woken up.

Val had been pacing when I came into the house. “What happened?!”

“She’s Touched.” I laid her down on the floor, “Winey experimented on his assistants. He infected them and then tried to cure them.” I shook my head, “She must have turned and used her magic to create icicle knives to kill Winey and Wrega…” I stopped when Val’s face was covered with horror instead of shock. “What?”

“How could she have learned how to use her magic that well in that short of time?” The redhead looked over at the woman I’d just put down.

“That’s a good question.” Fyga sat up and pulled her hands out from behind her back. There was something both off putting and natural about her shining blue eyes looking at us.

“You were faking.” I reached for my sword.

“Wait!” The black-haired woman held up one hand. “Fighting a Bokor Master isn’t a way I’d like to die…” She stood up, “But! I think the two of you might be a little more reasonable.”

“”I’m a Bokor Master.” Val started pulling out her sword.

“And I’m really a Human.” She shook her head as she held up her hands. “Do you really want to fight me, or are you going to listen to what I have to say?”

““What could you possibly say that would be worth…”

“I’ll leave if you let me go.” She interrupted. “This place is going to get leveled and I’d rather not be here when it is.”

“You’re Touched, why should…” Val began.

“So is he.” Fyga pointed at me, “A you’re letting him stand behind you.”

Val looked over her shoulder at me, then turned back to the Touched. “He’s proved I can trust him there.” Her eyes narrowed, “You haven’t.”

“How about this?” Fyga spread her hand, “How about I tell you who is working with the Master here in town?”

Val and I looked at each other but before we could answer, she continued.

“What if I told you that there is a team of miners that are digging a tunnel to connect to the cave that the Master is staying in?” Fyga crossed her arms.

That changed things. It was one thing if the Zombies were going to be attacking from the gate, but no one was expecting them to pour out of the mine.

“We can’t promise that Master James will let you go.” I shook my head.

“Sure you can.” She smiled sweetly, “Once the Bokor is in the mine, I’ll be able to slip over the gate and you’ll never see me again.”

“It’s too risky.” I shook my head, “We’re going to be fighting an uphill battle as it is. Plus if what you’re saying is true, then I’d imagine that Felge is involved.” I saw her try to keep surprise off of her face, “So why else would we risk having to fight you in a few hours?”

“Because you need those few hours.” Her eyes got brighter, “You could fight me now and maybe win, or…” Fyga looked over at Eveth before looking back at us, “You can let me go and use that time to get more of these Humans out of here.”

I looked at Val. My Bokor training was screaming at me to attack, but what she said made sense. We had a limited amount of time and while Val and I should be able to take her, there was no telling how many other people she would kill and Eveth would probably be first on that list.

I could also see Val struggling with the decision as well. Master James wasn’t going to like it, but that was a problem for another day.

“I’m going to need more than what you’ve already said.” I shook my head, “Telling us that the Zombies are going to be coming through the mine and that Lewiu is involved isn’t enough.”

“How many Chosen has the Master brought?” Fyga held up one finger, “A map showing where the tunnels are.” She held up a second finger, then looked at Eveth, “And where the crystals I took from Winey are hidden.” She held up a third finger. “I think that should be enough to buy my freedom.”

“That’s…” I looked at Val and she nodded, “Fine, but you take me to the crystals first.”

I had a feeling that there was some way that we could weaponize the crystals to help the humans fight back, though that was exactly what the Touched didn’t want. I was also accutely aware that as soon as we got outside, it would be very difficult for me to keep her contained if she decided to run. But it felt like a risk worth taking.

Fyga held out her hand, “Shake on it.”

I grabbed her hand and shook it.

“Good.” She pointed at her goggles on my belt. “I’m going to need those.”