Prologue
Two nights ago…
A figure cloaked in shadows crept through the darkened hall, his footsteps soft against the ancient stone floor. The hall, a corridor of massive black stone, had been worn smooth by millennia of passage, the red and gold-trimmed carpet running the length of the hall almost glowing in the flickering torchlight. He glanced around warily, his eyes darting to the shadows, and a thought flickered in his mind: I need to make sure no one sees me—especially Brian.
The air was cool and smelled faintly of dust and smoke as he moved swiftly, the glint of his finely crafted swords catching the light of the torches that lined the walls. He was close now, just a little farther to the gate. But as he rounded a corner, he collided with someone large and solid. His hood slipped back, revealing messy brown hair and eyes that were unlike any other—his right eye the color of blood, his left as blue as the sea, with a jagged scar cutting across the red one.
He blinked and looked up. The person standing in front of him was a mountain of a man, easily 7′6" tall. Dirty blond hair framed a war-hardened face, eyes the color of oak staring down at him. He was clad in steel-gilded armor, the light from the torches glinting off the polished surface, and two double-bladed battle axes hung from his belt.
The man’s voice was deep, gravelly, as if carved from stone. “Ash... where do you think you’re going at this hour?”
Ash swallowed, trying to mask his hesitation. “Oh, Kit, I... uh... was just going to sharpen my... bread. I mean, sword.”
Kit raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying the excuse, but his voice softened. “Right. Well, while you’re out, get me a jar of peach preserves.”
“Yeah, sure, whatever,” Ash replied, his tone still a little uncertain. “But don’t rat me out.”
Kit’s eyes narrowed but he only nodded in acknowledgment, and Ash hurried past him, making his way toward the castle gates.
Once outside, he darted through the streets, avoiding the pools of light from the street lamps, the cold night air biting at his skin. As he neared the city’s outer gate, a pair of iron doors, towering at least eleven feet high and ornately carved, loomed in front of him. He squeezed between the gap and was outside the city in moments, his heart racing.
The stables were only a short distance away. He leapt onto his horse, kicking the animal into motion, feeling the wind rush past his face as he dashed through the winding streets, the stars above twinkling brightly in the clear night sky.
By the time he reached the base of the mountain, he slowed, carefully navigating the narrow passage between the looming cliffs. Snow clung to the rocky surface, and the air grew colder with every step.
He pressed on, determined, until his eyes caught sight of a dark opening in the side of the mountain—the entrance to a cave. He tethered his horse to a nearby tree and grabbed a lantern before descending into the cool, dark depths of the cave. The walls were damp, the air thick with the scent of earth.
As he walked deeper into the labyrinth of tunnels, a glint of red caught his eye. He moved closer, the cold leather grip of his sword comforting in his hand, and he saw it—a ruby, nestled deep within the rock. He couldn’t help but smile. “Ruby. Just what I needed.”
With a practiced motion, he drove the tip of his sword into the stone beside the gem and pried it free. The ruby was the size of his fist, and he carefully tucked it into a satchel at his waist, securing it as he turned to head back.
But before he could make it far, a massive figure lunged from the shadows—an enormous stone golem, its hulking form blocking the tunnel. Ash dropped his lantern in the shock of the moment, and the flickering light disappeared as the golem swung a massive arm at him, sending him crashing into the cave wall.
Pain shot through his body, but Ash shook it off and struggled to his feet. His mind raced, focusing on the feel of the sword in his hand, the warmth of his frock coat against the chill of the cave.
Closing his eyes, he steadied his breath. The magic was there, swirling inside him, waiting for the right moment. He thrust his hand forward, feeling the warmth growing in his palm, and sent a ball of fire shooting at the golem. The blast disoriented it for a moment, and Ash took advantage, charging forward and driving the tip of his sword into the stone beast.
His magic surged through the blade, and with a final thrust, the golem crumbled into dust.
Ash took a deep breath, wiping the sweat from his brow. The danger had passed, but the ruby was his focus now. He sheathed his sword and made his way back out of the cave.
As Ash made his way back through the town, he stopped at a vendor’s stall. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out eighteen zatmari and set them on the counter. The vendor, a balding man with a quick smile, handed him a jar of peach preserves.
“Thanks,” Ash muttered, before making his way back to the castle. He quickly tried to sneak through the halls, but once again, he ran into Brian.
“Oh, hey Brian. How’s it going?” Ash asked hesitantly, trying to avoid suspicion.
Brian raised an eyebrow. “Where have you been?”
Ash scratched his head, fumbling for an excuse. “Uh, grabbing a jar of preserves for Kit.”
Brian stared at him for a moment, suspicion written all over his face. “For two weeks?”
Ash winced. “Yeah, well... you know how it is. Don’t ask, don’t tell.”
Brian sighed, but his skepticism seemed to fade. “Fine. I’ll take this to him, and you go back to whatever it is you’re doing.”
“Thanks, Brian,” Ash said, relief flooding him.
He hurried back to his lab, the ruby weighing heavy in his hand. He carefully opened a panel on the side of a massive, six-foot-tall machine covered in gears and mechanical parts, and slid the ruby into place.
With a deep breath, Ash stepped back, his fingers hovering over a button. He pressed it. The barrel of the cannon began to glow a brilliant blue, humming with power. Then, with a deafening boom, it fired a brilliant blue beam, crashing into the brick wall in front of him and obliterating it completely.
