“What happened?”

  “Do we know who attacked us?”

  “Mayor, why have we lost tact with the vilges and towns in the southwest?”

  Kirk stood steadily, dressed in an unusually pristine white uniform of an Ice Fang; several medals adorned his chest reflected fshes of the reporters’ equipment. A sash ihird’s colors draped diagonally across his torso, and around his neck was his family’s tribal neckce. Dressed like a parade, Kirk felt ridiculous.

  Mayor Jaquan was beside him. The man’s jacket puffed out from the body armor underh, and his typically bck face paled. Despite the shock of the failed assassination attempt, he held himself with dignity, summoning an evacuation cil as soon as the order came frena. He invited reporters to a brief press ference, smoothly taking over from Kirk, but kept the young man close at hand.

  They gathered in the damaged city hall; a s of reinforced windows separated them from the busy shouts of city workers and army personnel overseeing the evacuation procedures.

  “As ht now, we know the following.” Jaquan raised a hand to calm the anxious crowd. “An unknown nation has carried out a heinous act of terrorism in our y. Thanks to the valiant efforts of the Third, the attackers were repelled, and their cursed remains now crackle in the iors. Safety and order have once again beeored to our streets.”

  “Then why is the need for evacuation?” asked a reporter. “And where is Sword Saint Tancred? Shouldn’t he be overseeing the safety of the citizens?”

  “There has been an invasion of our nds, and the sword saints and warlords are busy preparing defeo fad vanquish the Horde,” Jaquan lied without blinking. Tancred was dead, but to maintain morale, the news of his demise was kept from the popuce.

  “War is ing to Houstad?!” the repasped.

  “Where is ander Ravager?” demanded another.

  “This evacuation is merely a precaution to ehe safety of our people. The Dynast has endowed Dragena with the authority to make decisions in this matter, and I fully support her course of a.” Jaquan pced a hand on his chest. “We knew of the dangers lurking beyond the Wall.” Genuine pain fshed across his face, and Kirk thought the Mayor’s resolve wavered for a moment. But he regained his posure and tinued. “Houstad endured war before. She will do so again. The Sed is ing, and the Dynast himself has promised to be here sooner. I see your worries about the ey in your faces, and I uand and share them sincerely. But lives are more important, and material losses be pensated iime. ander Ravager is regrettably indisposed. She has left for healiation…”

  “Damn protesters!” roared a burly man whose face was covered i cuts. “Their venom drove her away. If she were here, nothing would have happened! My sister died because of…”

  “Enough!” Kirk smmed his paw against the podium, sileng potential disorder. “Every soul has the right to air their grievao the Blessed Mother. Those ‘damned protesters’ risked their necks and saved lives today. No, the ander had a reason. In her pce, her daughters and sons and the ehird bleed for you. Dare not insult our sacrifices through mispced bme. The invaders are guilty, and no one else! Sir,” he added in a warmer tone, worried that he was overstepping his bounds.

  Spirits knoarlord Dragena, on the reendation of Warlord Janine, put him in charge of unication with the locals. He was supposed to represent both the tribe and the Order, hehe ridiculous attire and a sudden authority dangerously close to that of his sister. But he wasn’t a diplomat! To be ho, he agreed with the poor man. What kind of parent was absent to protect their offspring? And the Blessed Mother is an avatar of the gods themselves; what right does she have not to be there in their hour of need? His own mom and dad, Spirit of Sorrow, please watch over them, fought to their st, giving their lives for the betterment of everyone, no matter what the bitch may believe.

  But he couldn’t let grievaurn into calls for violence. Sure, he’d have liked to give those fools who protested the presence of the Third and called them monsters a ki their collective guts, but their lives were in his care. It was his duty to protect every soul in Houstad.

  “The hero of Houstad reminds us of what is important,” Jaquan said passionately, pg a hand on Kirk’s shoulder. “Our adversaries expect us to fear and fight among ourselves. I say nay! The Recmation Army has always triumphed over barbarism, and this time will be no different!” He raised a fist overhead. “For the duration of this crisis, please report only information from official sources and help guide citizens to evacuation zones. Do you wish to add anything, hero?” Jaquan looked at him, prompting Kirk to speak up.

  “I am no hero…” Kirk began, irritated by this stupid niame. A hero would never have stood by and watched the bitch beating his sister and brother. “Others have done far more than…”

  “He’s full of shit!” the yell frozen him.

  Kaisa. She stepped closer to the crowd; through the unzipped jacket, he could see the bandage c her split chest. His sister and brother hasteo her, but the wolf hag snapped her fingers. Kirk bit his lower lip, preparing to be destroyed as she cerated him first with words and then with her as.

  “Done more, so what?” she asked haughtily. “Was it not Kirk who first took a against the robbers? Was it not he who drew the first blood and saved a cub? Where others stood, he acted a an example! If that’s not what a fantastic hero is, I don’t know, buy some gsses or something.”

  “True!” Jaquan supported the lie, and the reporters joined in the appuse. “Your humility is inspiring, Kirk of the Wolf Tribe, but by your as you earhe right to the title.”

  “Thank… you,” Kirk forced the words out, struggling against the urge to shake. posure—he o look fident in front of the cameras. “Many of you may sider me a barbarian.” He grinned. “And I am one. But the Core Lands, the life you have built here... It is worth fighting for. Our enemies seek to trample it underfoot. They will fall and scream in agony of despair as our cws drag them into the Abyss. This I promise to you. You heard the spiteful, taunting gibberish of our ehey know that in our unity we surpass anything they throw at us, so they seek to sow despair in your hearts. Deny them that. Remain rational, help your fellows in need, and if you are able, voluo join rescue or evacuation teams.”

  His brother approached Kaisa and put a paw on her shoulder, and the two exged friendly gratutions on their survival before she turo him and pyfully stuck out her to past his sister to the exit. Is she thinking this is it? The rage boiled in Kirk, overwhelming even his fear. Was this another cruel prank of hers, to raise his expectations before the bitch would drag him through the mud? Or did she truly believe that he had fiven her for the hell she had put them through, for the shattered trust and the torment she had caused them after she had supported him once? He will never, ever five her. Kaisa could rot for all he cared.

  It stung just to think that his dear brother had let go of the hatred, and the sight of on distaste instead of disgust and distrust in his sister’s eyes infuriated Kirk. How dare they let go… He inhaled and waved his paw at the reporters like the obedient puppet he was. Sacrifice. The demands came in many forms, and right now, he had to show solidarity and ce, not wanton aggression.

  “Elizabeth Macbeth of the Sights Unseen.” A reporter raised her hand. She had an ugly, barely stitched, tash on her cheek and used her panion to stand upright, but her voice was clear and inquisitive. “Our viewers and camera footage had shown that the madmen had used portals to enter Houstad. Do we know if Eugenia Mylli is involved, and what guarantees do we have that there won’t be ata the middle of the evacuation?”

  “Eugenia Mylli.” Kirk’s features ged into a frown. Rage, pure desire to rip ahat shocked him, had sparked in his chest. He had never met the Elite; his family line had never had any quarrel with her, a a single name evoked the urge to rip and tear. He coughed, buying himself time to calm down. “The Redeemer,” usiitle, helped stave off aggression, “is not involved. I swear to that. If not for Iternian assistahe losses would be greater today. As for methods of prote…” he turo Jaquan.

  “Several disruptor types of the New Breeds left their posts at the terraformation plex and joined crucial points of Houstad’s defense.” Jaquan waited for murmurs to subside. “I assure you that the plex’s defenses have not been promised in the slightest. Aempting to open a portal into Houstad is in for an unpleasant surprise.”

  “Why haven’t such methods been used before?” Elizabeth refused to let the mayor off the hook.

  “Lack of specialized New Breeds, Elizabeth. Our disruptors must to be scious to use their powers, and while they stay awake for the duration of the evacuation process thanks to the medication, prolonging that time for everyday activities is simply not sustainable for their health,” Jaquan answered. He raised a hand, stopping further questions when a figure in a tattered green suit limped into the hall, stomping heavily with his sole w leg. “issioner Zurkov! Gd you mao make it. What news from the streets?”

  Zurkov stopped; his swollen lips began f a retort, but then he shook his head, wiping sweat from his brows. “There are no more shootings in suburbs. Food rations and water bottles are being distributed, medics are w overtime. Help came from the most unlikely sources: Oathtakers, Iternians, who still deny it, migrant workers, and Bioon Gamma-18 saved lives.”

  “Even a bioon! What a joy to hear it! With allies such as these tributing to the on cause, what right do we have to falter? Now, dies alemen, I must adjourn this meeting. Immediate duties demand my undivided attention.” Jaquan and Kirk left the podium, and the mayor took Zurkov’s arm ahe man into their unusual operatioer.

  Doors slid behind them, cutting off the din of reporters’ questions and introdug the noise of w crews. Wolf Hag Sarkeesian, representative of the Alpha Pad chief overseer of the evacuation, gred at the arguing crew of people trying to solve the plex puzzle of pletely emptying Houstad within a week. In the face of the crisis, Jaquan invited even the most unsavory characters. Crude and foul-mouthed criminals of Houstad’s underworld shared tables and workstations with dignified and serious corporate operators.

  “Zone EF, sector five, bridge vermin…” Aor from Murzaliev Logistics ged from the name, “haven’t reported i. Reasons?”

  “Oh, they probably got lost pying somewhere. You know how kids are…” began a ragged woman who reeked of alcohol.

  The operator snapped his fingers, and a bde appeared he grimy neck as a figure ied silver armor towered over the recruited criminal. “Answer. Please.”

  “Hehe, they call us cutthroats, and here yoing straight for the jugur.” The woman exhaled a puff of smoke. “There’s a cache I’d like to retrieve.”

  “I will not have my subordiaint my reputation by falling behind the schedule. Call them back immediately ahem to take a shower and then ge into their uniforms befetting oruck.”

  “The hell do they need a shower and uniforms for?”

  “Just because we are refugees doesn’t mean my subordinates afford to look uable.” The man adjusted his tie.

  “We are not your subordinates!” the woman snapped.

  “It’s either that or a prisoeerwards,” the corporate operator checked his watch.

  “You drive a hard bargain,” the criminal grumbled. “Fine. Are we at least getting paid?”

  “Was that in your tract?” the corporate operator and raised a finger, stopping the furious outburst. “If not, our wyers reiate it ter. Soon you uand that Murzaliev Logistics is not without its advantages. Or punishments should you try to return to your former lifestyle.”

  “Your knee.” Maxence, who had temporarily assumed the responsibilities of Chief Medical Advisor after the former and his sed were killed iack, rose from the table and approached Zurkov.

  “Torn cartige.” Zurkov shrugged, and Maxence shoved him into a chair.

  “You may lose y, oaf.” The doctor deftly began removing the armor.

  “Far less than many have lost today.” The issioner sneered.

  “Everyone, everyone, we are supposed to be a team,” Jaquan pleaded. “ressing problems remain to be solved?”

  “Wounded,” Maxence replied, cursing at the sight of a swollen leg. “We’ve got people in the Id babies in the NICU. Over a thousand people. They will die in transit.”

  “Tough,” Sarkeesian said casually. “They’re getting into the trucks, regardless.”

  “Haven’t you heard what I said?” Maxenapped. “Our patients won’t survive without care. Mayor, I suggest we leave a skeleton crew behind to tend to those who need emergency care. Our hospitals are built like fortresses; we should be able to survive…”

  “Nah, not satisfactory enough,” Sarkeesian interrupted him. “You’ve seen the bastards in a. If their horde spills out into the streets, they and the patients die. ’t risk that. Into the trucks they go. Only the military will stay in town, and they won’t have time to check the hospitals.”

  “What if…” Kirk almost shuddered uhe wolf hag’s gaze, but forced himself to speak, anyway. Memories of the ck of doctors ier Lands burned brightly in his head, and Sarkeesian was absolutely right to want to preserve their lives. But there was a middle ground. “What if we ask Till Ingo and our stists and engio devise safer means of transportation ahe medics away in the final phase of the evacuation?”

  “They won’t be able to aodate everyone,” Maxence said quietly.

  “It’s still better than nothing. Thanks for the quick thinking, Kirk,” Jaquan praised him, and Sarkeesian nodded in cession. “What’s ?”

  “Citizens are pining about our decision to send seniors i wave. They are afraid we’re leaving our elderly behind,” the corporate operator reported.

  “I hate it,” Jaquan admitted. “But the youth is our future.”

  “We’d better not put it that way, sir, to avoid an uproar,” advised his secretary.

  “Obviously,” the mayhed. “tact the veterans and public servants iirement homes, please. Find me people who are willing to make an encing spee support of our decision. I myself will stay until the very end to lend gravitas to this a. ?”

  “I heard about the Families that run the criminal underworld.” Kirk raised his paw hesitantly. “Why are they not present here? Surely, we use their resources.”

  “Already in use,” stated the quiet man in silver armor. “There was an act that cimed the lives of their leadership, and the lower ranks immediately offered us any help possible.” He tapped his scabbard, ign Zurkov’s intense look at him and the mayor. “The former members of the Assassins’ Guild will join the defenders. On one dition. Those of us who have or adopted childreo be evacuated.”

  “A volunteer named Sitota wished to join the army, Reaper,” said a soldier of the Provincial Army. “Based on her bio, she is the mother hen of many orphans.”

  “o deny her request. Assign Sitota to guard the refugees on the road to Stormfiend,” the assassin suggested. “She and the others have finally surpassed me where it ts. I won’t let them die here.”

  “Agreed,” Jaquan agreed. “Anything else we o decide?”

  “Yes, and it is urgent!” A nervous Ice Fang in a strict business suit sprang from her seat. A badge on her chest identified her as the Chief Cultural Advisor. “There has been a terrible, unfivable misuanding. My department was ordered to abandon priceless museum exhibits and cultural relics from the temples, includis dating their existence back to the pre-Extin era, in favor of evacuating animals and pnts from the zoos and corporate prototypes! Pnts!” She spat in disgust. “Mayor, this is our... No, mankind’s history we are talking about! Statues, paintings, works of art! We ’t sacrifice them to mangy beasts and useless flowers!”

  “Are the texts digitized? Do hotos of the objects?” Kirk inquired ahead of Sarkeesian’s sharp reply.

  He wasn’t sure what ‘zoos’ were, but he didn’t o hear the expnation for resg animals. Houstad was one of the majeigineeriers responsible for reintrodug extinct wildlife species into the enviro. The cost of reiing and improving these temptes was astronomical. As for the corporate prototypes, the woman was wise not tue against them. Teology aramount tress, and schematics were rarely trusted o.

  “Most of them, but…”

  “Then they are not lost and be rebuilt ter,” Kirk assured her. “Leave them behind and…” he turo Sarkeesian and took off his neckce, handing it to her. It was made from the bones of his mother and father, but they would want it. He hoped. “ you ask our shamans to add our own relics to the museum so the civilians won’t feel like we’re cheating them by saving our sacred symbols? The shamans will probably resist the idea, though.”

  “They try.” Sarkeesian opened her maw, and her drills whirled ihe strong and, the weak obey.”

  “You ot recreate the marvels of the past!” The cultural advisor exploded. “If it were that easy, it would have been done by now! You need soul, passion, talent... These objects have inspired geions of artists and given hope to tless thousands! It’s our heritage, our responsibility to preserve them…”

  “Don’t worry, sister,” Sarkeesian said in a softer tone, giving the woman an encing pat oomach. “The Third is here, and the city has not yet fallen. Tell you what, I’ll do my best to protect it, and you give me a tour when the war is over. Promise?”

  “S-sure, but you don’t know if you’ll win…”

  “Don’t know? The state always wins! And I am hungry for battle, sister.” Sarkeesian’s eyes fshed with anticipation.