Darkness Falling: Soldiers and Slaves Read Online Free Page B

subsided.
    Wini nodded sagely. “Of course. It is common for young people to have stomach problems after the release of too much energy. Don’t worry, the more you use your magic, the less you will need to endure such pains.”
    Impyra exhaled slowly. “Magic?” She let the word roll off of her tongue. It felt heavy and alive.
    “I apologize, that is an old word for energy use,” a shadow of sadness passed through Wini's eyes, but vanished as quickly as the wisps in her aura.
    Impyra took the pause in conversation to survey her surroundings. The sick lying on their mattresses, healers moved slowly between them to administer treatment. There was a stillness which edged on comforting but also hinted at the presence of death. This was not an ordinary place, but she did not have the words to describe what she knew instinctively. The energy flowed not only around Winifred but from her, circulating the room and returning once more.
    “This is the Hospital of Mercy,” Wini said. “It is here that those too poor for medical attention come. I have evaded the eye of the Empire for a long time. You may rest for a while.”
    “I appreciate that,” Impyra said, but the mere mention of her former prison put her on alert. “I need to get out of Rau’Tesche-Awn as soon as I can.”
    “I know, but we must wait for the one who will be going with you.”
    Impyra was surprised by that response.
    “I can’t go with anyone.” The words spilled out before she could stop them. “I'm a danger to everyone and I can't allow more people to get tangled up in my problems.” She was already unhappy that she'd had to involve anyone at all.
    “Perhaps,” Wini mused.
    From somewhere outside an alarm began to sound, a monotone buzzing that vibrated the air. What few windows that remained intact began to rattle in their frames. Everyone in the room froze where they were, eyes lifted toward the ceiling.
    “We are already caught in the web, child.”
    Wini's words were gentle, yet Impyra felt the weight of reality behind them. It wasn't something she wanted to hear.
    The door to the hospital opened. Impyra turned to see a familiar face; the Enforcer who had rescued her from the Tower.
    “Brosen, you're just in time.” Wini called out.
    He nodded to her, his face solid and emotionless. “We have to get going.”
    Winifred stood, placing her hands on his shoulders to comfort him. She was shorter than Impyra had thought. Although her physical appearance was small, she dwarfed the muscular man with her power.
    “You may have given up everything here, but I believe that what you are doing is just.” Her words were reassuring even if they felt like false hope.
    “Yeah, well according to the Empire I’ve just committed high treason. Let’s go.”
    “Wait,” Impyra had always kept her thoughts locked inside her own head. That wasn't who she wanted to be anymore. “I'm not just going to blindly follow after you. You brought me here, and I'm grateful for that, but this is my fight alone.”
    Brosen glared in her direction. “I only brought you here because you asked me to. Do you think I wanted to give up everything on a whim?”
    She did not falter under his ice blue gaze. His resolve wasn't as firm as he may have believed. She could see the doubts swirling around him, a subtle darkness.
    “Yeah, I think you did. You had no reason to help me except that I asked you, and that's no reason at all.”
    “It's my job to protect people,” he wasn't going to back down easily.
    “It's also your job to serve the Emperor,” she shot back.
    The alarm blared around them. Everyone in the room stood by watching. To her surprise, the Enforcer looked away. She grinned at her victory.
    “Listen,” Wini said, stepping forward to end the discussion. “Whether or not you stay together is not the issue. Right now you both need to get out of the city.” Turning to Impyra she asked, “Do you have a vehicle or transport of any kind?”
    The young woman