Set in Stone (72 page)

Connor grabbed up a chunk of granite from the ground and tapped basalt. Instead of fueling his legs, it rippled up into his arm as he launched the stone.

The missile struck the big man in the knee just as he took a heavy stride. It buckled under the blow and he fell sprawling into the rising water.

He screamed and clutched at his broken leg. Stuart moved to help him, but he shoved his son aside and pulled himself onto a half-submerged granite block.

Hendry said, "Connor, I haven't met your friends."

"I'd like to introduce Verena, a brilliant Builder and one of the bravest people I've ever met."

She made a little curtsy to Hendry. "Pleased to meet you, sir."

She waved to Hamish, who grinned in reply.

Connor turned back to Keith, and decided on a plan. "Take him to the crane."

Assisted by two other Cutters, Keith limped painfully up the ramp to the western edge of the quarry where the heavy crane lowered huge blocks to the blocking yard. "So, you're going to kill me, then?"

"Whether you live or die is up to you."

One of the Cutters re-lit the torch and Connor passed it to Keith, who reluctantly took it. Then Connor turned to Verena.

"How much power is left in your block?"

"Not much. Maybe a couple minutes."

"It's enough." He took the quartzite block and handed it to Keith. "Hold this."

"What is it?"

"Legs together. Knee bent. Crouch over the stone. Small movements"

"You've gone mad," Keith spat.
"And you're going for a ride. Enjoy flying."

Verena touched the block.

A rush of air blasted Keith off the edge. He screamed and flailed his arms and legs as the stone propelled him out over the five-hundred foot drop.

"What did you do?" Stuart cried.

"He deserved to die," Connor said coldly. "I gave him a chance to live. His choice."

They watched as Keith started turning back and forth through the air and plummeting fast toward the distant ground.

"He's panicking," Verena said.

"Of course he's panicking," Stuart clenched his fists and whispered, "Come on, dad. You can do it."

Despite his anger, Connor found himself wishing right along with Stuart. He didn't really want to kill anyone.

They all watched as Keith descended in a wild spiral, the torch leaving a wake of fire behind him, until he splashed down hard into Loch Wick. Stuart laughed and raised a fist in triumph.

Hendry said, "Son, can you stop the water?"

Connor started to shake his head, but then a thought struck him and he stared from Hamish to Verena, for a moment overwhelmed by the idea.

"What is it?" they both asked together.

"I know how to do it."

"What?"

"All of it. Come on!"

He ran for Quarry Road.

Chapter 89

Cinaed dropped her cup and collapsed to her hands and knees, retching. Ellaran fell a second later in a dead faint. As Cinaed moaned and vomited a second time, Jean snatched the dagger from her loose grip and pulled a large, iron key from her belt. Then she relieved the unconscious Ellaran of her weapon.

"Why?" Cinaed gasped.

"Because you do not rule," Jean said. "You're an evil, petty woman, and I will not let you destroy this town."

"You wicked, double-cross. . ." Cinaed fell forward vomiting again.

Jean turned to the mass of townsfolk who watched silently.

"Some of you come tie up these criminals."

Only old Mhairi stepped out of the crowd. Her grandmother, who had raised her since her parents died so many years ago, squeezed her shoulder in a gesture that communicated volumes.

Then she turned to the crowd and said, "My Jean can't be the only intelligent person left in Alasdair."

Hamish's parents stepped out of the crowd, followed by several of their children. Neasa, along with Lilias' children, came with them. They grabbed the protesting Cinaed and bound her hands behind her back. That seemed to snap the spell of hesitation, and a crowd of angry villagers surged onto the rubble to help.

"No!" Cinaed shrieked. "You must obey mmmmmmm --" Her rant cut off as Hamish's mother shoved a piece of cloth into her open mouth and tied it in place.

Jean left them to the work and rushed back to Lilias. She unlocked the chains, and Lilias embraced her. Jean allowed herself a couple of seconds to enjoy one of the plump woman's legendary hugs.

"Well done, my dear." Lilias touched her head in blessing and then spoke loudly over the hundred voices filling the square.

"Listen up! We have to get out of here, immediately."

She marched for the wall gate, surrounded by her excited children. Jean flanked her with Mhairi and a limping Neasa. They couldn't force people to choose wisely. All they could do was show them the way.

As they left the square, people started following, led by Hamish's parents and the bound prisoners.

Just as they reached the wall gate, a flicker of light caught Jean's eye.

"Look!"

A torch burned atop the quarry cliff near the block crane.

Then it started to fly. Dozens of people cried out and pointed the marvel out to others. As the torch sailed over the village, Jean realized it was carried by a person.

"That's Keith," Hamish's father shouted.

Cinaed, hands bound and gag still in her mouth, rushed forward to see. Her eyes bugged wide.

He swooped back past the amazed villagers, much lower this time. He seemed to be flying backward, arms and legs flailing out behind him, the torch held in one hand.

Jean followed Lilias down toward Loch Wick as they watched Keith's flying descent become wilder. He turned and twisted crazily in the air.

He was going to crash. Jean watched in growing horror as Keith's descent accelerated. He'd kill himself if he hit the ground like that.

Luckily, he landed in Loch Wick. He struck at an angle and bounced several times like a really big skipping stone. As Lilias led the group toward the Upper Wick, Cinaed pushed her way through the crowd and blocked her path. She gestured toward the loch several times.

"Very well," Lilias said. "We'll set you free to see to Keith. But if you interfere with us again, I will not spare you."

As soon as Cinaed could speak, she shrieked, "Tallan take you all!"

Then she ran to the long stone dock that jutted into the loch. Keith was swimming slowly in that direction, grimacing in pain. Their three youngest children trailed along behind their mother.

"Come on," Lilias said, and led the way across the Upper Wick. Jean followed, as did the rest of the people of Alasdair.

Behind them, Keith and Cinaed took their children and moved back toward the wall gate and the abandoned town. Beyond the town, atop the plateau, light flashed and huge missiles sailed through the air where the battle raged.

Jean glanced up the high cliff toward the quarry and wished Hamish all speed.

Chapter 90

Anika approached Wolfram where he stood near the half-destroyed barn overseeing the escalating battle. She gave her brief report in Grandurian.

"Very good. It is now in their hands."

Dierk the Builder approached, "General, we have word. Verena and Nicklaus are up at the quarry."

Wolfram surveyed the battlefield. The Stone Rain had stopped, and the Boulders had all been subdued, although the last volley had come before the previous group had been entirely controlled. The fighting had been fierce and casualties were mounting. Worse, one of the Boulders had smashed the ballista.

Anton fought the distant Sentry, Gregor for control of the earth. Kilian had moved to intercept the Firetongue, and the two fought with elemental fury on the eastern edge of the battlefield. Everyone gave them wide berth.

The initial charge faltered under the barrage of the basalt rapid-slings, but Carbrey was massing for a second attack with his remaining Boulders in the front lines carrying massive shields. Even the rapid-slings would probably prove ineffective against them.

Hand-to-hand fighting would come next, and the Obrioners held the advantage in a full-on bash-fight.

As Wolfram considered the various redeployment options, he turned to Anika. "Take a squad and go fetch Verena and Nicklaus. I want them here. If anyone remains in the quarry, flood it."

"Send three squads down to the village. Apprehend anyone who still remains there and prepare to defend the town."

By the Tallan's blessed name, he hoped the foolish villagers had chosen the path of wisdom and fled. Be it upon their own heads the consequences if they chose not to.

Half a hundred of Carbrey's men moved north along the river road toward Alasdair. Three squads should be able to hold the town, as long as no Petralists lurked in the group.

Wolfram turned back to his captains and began issuing orders to respond to the next assault. Hopefully Anton would overwhelm Gregor soon. On that single duel hung the fate of the entire battle.

Chapter 91

Connor slowed to a stop at the edge of the ridge, at the very top of the steep switchback road that descended to the plateau. To his right, the calm waters of Loch Sholto reflected the bright morning light.

Down in the valley, battle raged. Dead and wounded littered the slope to the plateau, and Carbrey's army was just beginning a new advance, led by hulking Boulders carrying massive shields.

"Connor, wait!"

He turned as his father, Hamish, Verena and Nicklaus caught up. Stuart lagged farther behind, burdened by the heavy weight of a large granite block. The group stood at the edge of the ridge and watched the battle for a moment in silence.

Verena gripped his arm, "Connor, I have to get down there."

"It won't help." Connor pointed to the right, toward Alasdair. "Carbrey and Wolfram both promised to destroy the town. Looks like they plan on keeping their word."

On the plateau, a group of Grandurian soldiers was heading toward the road to Alasdair, while a larger force moved up River Road from the south. It looked like the two forces would reach the town at roughly the same time. Alasdair would soon become a battleground. Any villagers still there would die this time.