No Fixed Address

The frost encroached further with the wind picking up the leaves once more; but Donovan thought he could make out a shape or two within the shadows.  They had slowed down after Amelia had called out but they were just shadows.  Diving deeper, he could see the bright flame of Amelia but that seemed to be all.  Only at the very edges of her aura could he detect even a hint of a shadow.  The whirlwind move forward suddenly, encircling Amelia in a vortex of leaves, frost and dirt but she didn’t cry out and even though it pained him, he did not draw her back into the cave.  The noise was unearthly and it howled around the entrance to the cave and around the trees; it sounded pained almost, Donovan thought.

Amelia kept her hood up around her in an effort to keep most of the debris that managed to escape the vortext out of her face.  At first it had been farther away but it had slowly started to close in on her.  In the remaining light she began to see faces in the vortex.  She let the top layer of reality fall away and there they were; the shadowy figures that she had seen retreating on the wind.  Now that they were closer, she thought she could make out rudimentary faces.  Her amulet of protection started to glow and emit it’s on aura which highlighted the wispy features and she gasped.  It couldnt’ be.  She shook her head and ripped off the amulet, it wasn’t going to hold them back much longer and she was sure if the vortex closed on her, she’d be shredded just like Erik.

“You have been warned!”  She shouted loudly, hoping that Donovan could hear her and realize she was still alive.

She tossed the small stone on the ground, raised her staff up high and then brough the butt down as hard as she could upon the amulet.  There was a blast of energy and light and she felt the vortex explode outwards and the Shadows flee with it.  Without wasting a second, she took the opportunity to half jump and fall backwards into the mouth of the cave.

Donovan was rammed over by Amelia tumbling back into the cave, breathing heavily and smelling of the winter cold.

“Woah,” she said, “I can’t believe that worked,” and then pushed her hair back to smile down at Donovan.  ”Did you see them too?”

“What on earth did you do?” He asked just amazed that she was safe; somewhat safe, he could see she had not escaped completely unscathed – there were several small cuts on her face and hands.

“I broke one of my protective amulets,” she replied, “I wasn’t quite sure what would happen but I’d hope it’d distract them for a second.  I don’t think its killed them, maybe if we’re luckily it hurt then a bit.  Maybe sent them back but the wind’s died down completely.”  She scanned off into the distance but she couldn’t see them within a close distance. “I think they’ve gone. “

“Was the amulet working against them?”  he asked.  “It’s not a very powerful charm.”

“I think they were frightened of it, at least initially,” she replied, getting up off Donovan and offering a hand up to him. “But it wouldn’t have held them back much longer.  They were inching closer and closer, the eye of the vortex was closing in on me.  If you had pulled me out, I may have been ripped apart.”  Amelia reported back so calmly Donovan thought, she had a very deep strength that he would have to trust in if they were to get some leverage over these Shades.

“Are you alright?”  He asked as he picked leaves out of her hair, then held her chin to check if the scrapes on her face needed any more attention.  They were all superficial, but she was right, the vortex would have ripped her apart.  So much for their good plan.

“I’m a bit cold,” she replied, “and shakey from the adrenaline, but I think I’m fine.  That was so weird, I swear I could see faces in the vortex.”

“I think they are mainly shadow but that’s no reason for them not to have some sort of shape you can recognize,” he replied.  ”It was hard to see them from my perspective, still all shadow.  Did you have a better image than before?”

“No, the fact that they had faces wasn’t the weirdest part,” she said shaking her head, “At first they just looked shapeless, but as soon as they were within the aura of the amulet I could make out more details. They have to be near us, or something.  But I swear on my honour one of them looked like Erik.”  Donovan studied Amelia’s face; her cheeks red from the cold with the scratches from the vortex but her eyes were clear and bright, focussed on him.

“You must be sure of this,” Donovan said quiety, “no tricks of the light or seeing things that were not there.”

“Upon my honour as a member of the Vanguard, Donovan of Armagh, I swear it to be true,” she said, swearing a formal oath.

“Oh my dear girl,” he pulled her in close, wrapping his arms around her shivering frame, “you’ve done well.”

“You wouldn’t think it, with that tone of voice,” she replied laughing a little, teeth chattering.

“Aye,” he said and then pulled away so he could see her face, “but that has nothing to do with you.  This is very unsettling but what you’ve told me and something Farro said about Erik’s woulds has given me a lead to go on.  But if my hunch turns out to be correct, it will be a very tough truth to come to terms with.”  He kissed her forehead and then turned inwards to the cave.  ”Come let us prepare camp for the night and get a fire going, I can feel the cold still radiating from you.”

Further into the cave, a rudimentary camp appeared.  There were deep indentations in the walls where a bedroll could be laid out.  There were four such holes, stacked like bunk beds on either side of a central hearth where a fire could be built.  Amelia set about starting a fire with her flint and kindling.  There were stacks of dry wood close by that would help them keep warm during the night.  Donovan found the well at the back of the cave and set about preparing a simple soup with some bread in their packs for a simple but warm supper.  Amelia was glad for the tiny flames in the gloomy cave and nursed the fire until the larger logs started to crackle and throw off larger flames.  She started to feel the cold ease out of her clothes and she could peel off some of the outer layers of her cape and jacket.  She got Donovan to clean the small wounds on her face as she had no mirror.  Donovan then prepared the simple soup while Amelia dealt with the cuts on her hands.  They were slight and would heal soon but it was a very real introduction to the dangers that they face.  They sat together at the edge of the fire, watching the cave entrance through the haze of smoke and flames.  Amelia had a blanket draped around her shoulders and hugged the warm bowl of soup to her chest for a bit before eating it.  The cold from the vortex had really seeped into her and was only slowly giving up its hold.

“So do you think it was Erik?”  asked Amelia after they had finished their meal.  She walked up wrapped in the blanket, still wanting to preserve as much warmth after the events of the day.  Donovan was going to take the first watch; even though he didn’t think they could get in through the Guards, he didn’t want to be caught asleep.

“There are very old and strange magics,” he replied, “their knowledge somehow lost or forgotten over the years.   Some, I know, we hoped would never again be unleashed upon the world but I suppose no matter how far you bury or how far you’ve rooted out the last vestiges of their knowledge some still remains and is found.”

“But why would anyone want to find it?  Why would anyone want to bring the dragons forth?” Amelia asked aghast, “I know there are bastards in the world but this would destroy all of it!”

“Some may want that, some may have been corrupted by the darkness that we can never completely surpress, some may think they can control the powers that bring form.  They are all forms of madness, in a way, but that is what happens,” Donovan replied.  ”You will no doubt meet them; they can be the most charming and wonderful people to the rest of the humanity, but you will be able to see through them; their auras will be tinged with red and purple, maybe even fading into blackness.  You must be wary of them; some may know you are a Guard from the moment they set eyes on you, others will not be able to see you but either way, you must be watchful at all times.”

“What should you do when you meet these people, I mean, do we…” Amelia trailed off, uncertain of how to phrase the question.  Donovan turned to face his student.

“If they threaten us, yes, but it is not our job to clear the world of those people who do bad things.  We would bring more harm and indeed attention upon ourselves,” Donovan replied.  ”Sometimes it feels like you should remove them from this plane of existence but you must resist the temptation to.  There have been Guards who’s own bright flame has darkened when they went down that path.”  Amelia tried to hide a yawn but failed and Donovan chided her for still being awake.  ”You’ll be awake soon enough.”

“Good night Donovan,” she distracted him for a moment with an warm embrace before parting sleepily and heading towards her bedroll.

Donovan watched her retire back into the cave.  The days events had certainly taken their toll and he hoped she’d sleep well.  He looked back to watch the stars and the night unfold.  He knew he had to contact Carmichael as soon as possible with the information that Amelia had risked her life for but he was sure that they’d be watched upon their journey.  At least, he believed, the Shades would only attack at night as they had done with the Ravens.  Though they were growing more powerful as they had sought them out in the near darkness that evening.  They would have to move quickly and be within a protected shelter before dusk each day.

With what Farro had said to him about how Erik succumbed to his wounds, Donovan was sure that they were indeed, Shades.  It was an ancient magic – one that they had safely thought had been eradicated many millenia ago.  Donovan only recalled scraps from what he had read about the formation of the Vanguard.  The reason why he couldn’t see the Shades normally is that their aura had been cancelled; the normal bright flame of the Guards had been extinguished by their killers; those evil enough on their own or corrupted by fissures from the other world.  He’d have to ask Amelia how she actually saw them fleeing the scene of the murder of the Ravens.  He worried that there were more Shades – the shadows of murdered members of the Vanguard – corrupted and twisted from their original forms and noble nature.  They might be waiting for Guards that would never come or would start to be targeted individually.

Donovan pulled out the latest book of his journal and recorded their efforts and observations thus far on the journey.  He wanted to be in a safer location before reporting to Carmichael, even though it felt like the Shades had withdrawn, something had tried to force its way inside this waystation.  The Vanguard was being encroached upon from various angles, perhaps they were all from the same source but there was no way to tell until they were attacked.  He moved away from the cave entrance to sit by the fire and get conformable for the long night.  Amelia was tucked away in an alcove, her head barely visible buried deep in her bed roll.  Donovan sat staring at the cave entrance, occasionally searching for things by looking through to the shadows or even further but everything was very quiet.  He was glad when his shift was up and he could wake his young student to take her turn.

“Thanks,” she said sleepily as he handed her a cup of strong, black tea, “how was it?”

“Very quiet,” Donovan replied, “don’t go outside the entrance though, I don’t trust the night.”  Amelia nodded and walked to the front of the cave with her tea, wrapped up in her coat and cloak to look at the night.  She looked back at her teacher, already settled into his bedroll and falling asleep.  Her life had completely changed in the blink of an eye and she found herself on a dangerous path far from all she had ever found familiar and normal.  Yet the feeling of drowning and new knowledge wasn’t so frightening any more as the skills she now used without second thought.  It was one of these feelings that was tickling the back of her mind as she stared out into the darkness.  And there it was, there was literally nothing out there, no sense of life other than the minutest insect.  There was no noise and no animals for at least several miles around.  She wondered if this was an affect of the protection from the cave but she felt that was not something that would bother animals.  This was far more hostile and threatening, something dark and powerful.  Amelia walked to where she could feel the tingle of the membrane of power that kept them safe from prying eyes and evil forces.

“Erik of Hanover,” she whispered to the night, “show yourself.”  She waited patiently not moving from her position to see if her hunch was correct.  She shifted her sight to see slightly beyond the world to its shadow.  Slowly a dark form approached, it was merely a shadow at first but through some effort of itself or from the power emanating from the cave to repel him, she could start to discern the face she saw in the vortex.  It was pained, unnatural and grimacing from anger and back to pain in the blink of an eye.  It didn’t or couldn’t speak but merely stared at Amelia from its side of the barrier.

“Erik of Hanover,” she bowed her head, “I am sorry for you and the pain you suffer.”  The spectre merely continued to look at her with its shifting expressions.  Amelia took the time to look at it from every angle and level of perception she could to see if there was any kind of weakness or ability to detect its presence.  It was a shadow upon a shadow it seemed.  Almost imperceptible until confronted with something that it once could pass, something that once was a fundemental part of them when they were alive.  ”Erik I wish I could let you rest. Tell me how you can find peace?”  The spectre merely tried to press farther against the barrier, Erik’s features becoming more twisted and angry…or Amelia thought suddenly, very hungry.  ”Oh no.”  That was it, she felt, they were attracted to those energies that used to sustain them, the life of other members of the Vanguard.  They’d be able to hone in on anyone of them at any time.  They lived in the shadows and would be able to see them from miles.  She turned away from the horrible deformed face of the Guard she used to know and went to sit by the fire and wait until dawn broke.

There was no way out of the city but to walk it; the infrastructure of London had completely shut down following the earthquake.  Parts of the road were buckled and collapsed, Victorian watermains had burst; parts of the underground were reported to be flooded or collapsed in completely.  It took several hours for Amelia and Donovan to escape the city but Donovan wanted to go through the centre to assess the damage.  They stalked like silent shadows through the devastation, observing what could be repeated elsewhere in the country or worse yet, the world.  St. Paul’s cathedral’s dome had a giant crack but still stood; though the Gherkin close buy had many of its windows shattered.  It had rained glass and Amelia and Donovan’s heavy boots crunched over what had fallen.  It got a little better the farther they got from the Tower; it seemed it had been the epicentre of the quake.  Though other fragile and older buildings hadn’t even been able to withstand what had shook them and various old pubs and listed buildings were nothing more than heaps of rubble.  In Trafalgar Square, Nelson’s column had toppled into the fountains but there was still one proud lion staring out from the debris, defiant against London falling down around it.

Police and volunteer forces were out in strong numbers; many crowded around Parliament, the various museums housing historical treasures and art from several centuries.  The Royal Standard was flying over Buckingham palace as the Queen returned to the capital to meet with the Prime Minister and discuss how to address the nation.  London hadn’t seen this much damage since the Blitz.

There were crowds of people around either staring in horror, fear or just in simple disbelief.  There were others calling to those trapped in some of the debris, helping those who needed first aid or simply consoling those who looked lost and afraid.  The air was still so chilly and many were shivering while working, hands white with the cold.

“I wish we could help them,” Amelia said quietly.   Donovan nodded but reiterated that there would be more events like this and even worse if they didn’t do their duty.  Amelia nodded in mute agreement but the part of her that had once been concerned with this world was very wounded and ached for her adopted city.  She silently vowed that she’d find out who caused this damage, if it was indeed linked to the Lock being broken as they believed, and would do all she could do have them punished.  London needed to have justice.

Donovan and Amelia had left in the late evening under the cover of darkness but by dawn they were reaching the outermost limits of the city.  They had walked slowly at first but then picked up their pace as the worst of the devastation was left behind.  They stopped for a few minutes to eat and drink but Donovan pushed them on, wanting to reach a safe house before night fall.  They also had to check some caches and stores on their way which would taking them vereing away from the safe house.

“I don’t fancy us being out in the open quite yet at night,” Donovan said as he scanned the horizon.  “There is too much uncertainty.  I hate not being able to see the face of my enemy.”

“It’s very strange to have an enemy,”  Amelia finally said when they were moving again.  The weak light from the winter sun was filtering through the bare branches of trees, casting flickering shadows an her teacher.  “It’s not something I’ve had before, really.”  Donovan’s head dropped forward, it was so easy to forget the times.   He dropped back to walk beside her, even though the path was narrow and so Amelia took the opportunity to casually link her arm in his.  Donovan was always suprised at the easy affection she gave to him.  It was a different time but this aspect of it he very much enjoyed and appreciated.

“I don’t know how to explain the mindset,” he said after a moment, “it is not something you can teach but that you learn on your own.  But what you must remember is that they, whoever they are at this point, will want to harm you as they did the Ravens and Erik.  You must not hesitate if you think you can strike them.”

“But we don’t know how yet,” she replied.

“Then you must not hesitate to run and get somewhere safe.  You have your map and you’ll be able to see them,” he said and then instructed her to see through the surface reality.

“Ahhh,” she said picking up a few points of light.  They weren’t exactly like what Guards showed up like but they were a solid imprint of warmth and light.  Guards’ images would waver like candle flames but these were like glowing eyes in the darkness.

“You will be able to gain access to them as it is your nature as a guard.  These caches, byways and Houses are mostly left empty so there would be no one to answer the knock,” continued Donovan.  “But until we know what is going on, you must promise me to not hesitate and attempt to get inside if I tell you to.”

“What about you?”

“I have more experience and I am your teacher; your protection falls under my responsibility not mine under yours,” he said firmly.

“That’s a bit rubbish,” she replied defensively, “how am I supposed to learn anything?”

“Oh you will, there are other dangers on this path that we’ll have to deal with when they arise,” Donovan laughed, “but in all seriousness, if these beings were able to attack Erik and the Ravens without us knowning until the very end, they are capable of seriously harming us.  I have other skills to draw upon at this point whereas you may not.”

“This is so weird,” she muttered.  “I know this all to be true and have half formed memories of them but I still sometimes can’t believe it all.  Even though I can see beneath all of the trees, grass and rocks to some other reality and am carrying a great ruddy dagger at my hip.”

“It’ll get less strange, I promise,” he replied.  She smiled up at him and gave him an awkward hug, considering all their gear and weaponry.  He allowed himself to give her a brief kiss on the forehead before parting from her side to scout ahead once more.

The day passed without much comment; they both were constantly on the look out for danger.  Occassionally Donovan would point out tracks or some other article of interest.  When they finally approached one of their first tasks – a small store of weapons and other supplies, it looked undisturbed and still well protected.  Donovan expected as such, it was far too small for a raiding party or hostile group to take notice of.  The next store was slightly larger but still undisturbed.  Donovan checked the log book; the last Guard to pass through the small waystation had been in 1923.

The light was growing thin and they were a few miles away from the place where they’d rest for the night.  It was another small waystation but enough for them to make camp.

“It’s a small cave, really,” Donovan said consulting his map, “but its an ancient place.  Not many people would enter it, I guess to other people it would seem quite creepy. Some become tourist attractions like Stonehenge and others stay nestled in a patch of wood for centuries.”

“Have they always been protected or is it something the Guards did?”  Amelia asked, intrigued by these ancient spots.

“Some of them have always had a power against darker forces.  Most of the time we amplify them with charms buried within them or what the more powerful members of the Guard can weave around them.  Once they are enfolded in the tapestry of the Vanguard’s power they’ll stay safe unless compromised.  Astyages, I imagine could weave one in, that is his power.  He can draw upon the powers of this world and weild it, change it and manipulate it for certain purposes.  George was the same; very old and powerful magic.”

Donovan pointed out to the more thickly wooded area they were approaching.  It was only a mile or so away with the sun setting behind it, covering the ground ahead of them in shadow.

“Donovan,” Amelia said suddenly with a hint of urgency in her tone, “the air, the cold, its dropping too quickly to be natural.”  It’s like the night the Raven’s were killed, that edge on the cold.  Donovan drew his sword and his eyes clouded as they pushed passed reality.  Amelia gripped her staff tighter and peered through it as well.

“It is exactly like before,” Donovan agreed, “something wrong on the air.”

“They move on the air,” Amelia said whipping her head to face east and pushing herself to see far into the distance.  She couldn’t quite see them but she could sense that they’d be coming.  ”We have to run, Donovan, they’ll come quickly.  I know they are going to come.”

“Then go,” he grabbed her hand and pushed her in front of him, “keep following the path it’ll lead you straight there.  I”ll be right behind you.”   They would only need a couple of minutes at the rate they were running; even with no sleep and walking all day.  The air kept growing colder and burning their lungs nonetheless.  Suddenly the wind picked up as well; the autumn leaves rustled and started to rise, swirling around their footsteps and trying to block their sight of the path ahead.  Amelia knew it could only be moments ahead as the beacon that drew her to it was growing stronger.  She could still hear Donovan’s heavy steps only seconds behind her.

“There!”  She cried out as she saw the mouth of the cave; but there was something slightly wrong with it.  “Something’s tried to get inside!”

“Get in! The seal was never broken, it’s still safe,” Donovan shouted.  Safer than it is out here anyway, he thought to himself.    He could see his breath again, as it had been those nights he had been on Guard.  It was almost as cold, though there was no snow.  Amelia ran full tilt into the cave mouth, she could feel the barrier set up to keep all those who were not a part of the Vanguard at bay push against her before letting her pass.  Moments later Donovan was beside her, breathing heavily but still focussed.

“What can you see?”  He asked, his eyes already clouded over.

“Nothing, but they are there, I can feel it,” she replied.  The rocks suddenly shuddered and heaved as if being pounded from above or shaken from below.

“Shadows, they want to force us out but I think this will hold fast,” Donovan stated.  They stood facing the outside world, bits of dust and debris dislodged from the roof of the cave but nothing else happened.  The shuddering eventually stopped but Amelia and Donovan could still sense the presence; the air was almost brittle from the cold and they both shivered in the near darkness of the cave.

“I don’t like it, I don’t fancy them, whatever they are hanging outside the entrance all night,” Donovan grumbled.

“What if we give them a feight, something to draw them out?”  She suggested.  The light was fading fast now and soon it would be completely dark.

“I don’t like it but at the same time, I don’t know how we’ll draw them out so we can see them,” Donovan replied.  ”We need to know what they are before we can figure out a way to kill them.”

“I’ll go,” Amelia stated dropping her pack and grabbing the climbing rope tied on the outside.  ”Wrap this rope around my waist.   If I’m hurt you can pull me back through.  I can’t do the same to you.”

“Aye,” Donovan gritted his teeth.  She was right, it was the best option though he would have rather been the one to take the risk. Even though Erik looked to have put up a fight, his wound would not heal.  If Amelia was hurt there was nothing he’d be able to do.  But this was their job, see the face of the enemy so they all would stand a chance in defeating it. “Keep a careful eye.”

“They are going to be quick,” she gripped her staff tightly, sheathing the dagger for the moment.  Her hands were white on the staff and her face set.  ”Dammit, dammit,” she grumbled.  Before either of them could say another word she pushed though the barrier and exited the cave.  Donovan could see a frost slowly descend over the forest and hear things start to freeze.  Whatever was going to happen it was going to happen in seconds.

“Halt!”  Cried Amelia, “I am of the Vanguard and consider your actions as hostile.  You are warned that any further attack or attempts upon the lives of my fellow Guards will be met with equal force with no quarter.”