| was before,” he said precisely, “was nothing. I was useless.” “Not true.” Tafa shook her head. “If that were true, Barnabas would never have enhanced your abilities. “Barnabas fights from his heart, Gar. His abilities… they aren’t him. He could be in that body with the strong bones and the speed and all of it, and he still wouldn’t be able to do what he does without his belief. That’s why he chose you. Because you have that, too. Not because he thought you’d hit the hardest when he upgraded your body.” Gar realized he was shaking. Ever since he’d left Luvendan he’d been the weak one; the fragile one. Everyone he’d met looked him up and down with contempt. In his work he’d held the uneasy position at the top of the ladder, ordering people around who could have easily killed him—and had often wanted to. Leaving that physical weakness behind had been everything he wanted. And yet… “I’m more afraid now than I was when I was weak.” The sentiment made no sense, but it was true. Tafa nodded. “That’s what the red is. It’s fear. You fear and hate weakness because you believed it defined you. But it never did, Gar. You could be what Barnabas is, but until you accept what you were, you never will.” He said nothing, and she moved toward the door to give him some privacy. “What is Barnabas?” Gar called after her. “You say I can be what he is |
the generals responded promptly and with force. A missile hurtled through the trees. Barnabas swore and tackled Gar sideways, pulling his coat over his head. There was a moment of searing heat, then the missile finally hit the ground a few dozen yards away. It landed just in front of the city walls and exploded in a shower of dirt and stone. The response from the Jotun town was instantaneous. Several cannons belched smoke and fire, and munitions arced overhead. From amongst the trees, Barnabas heard the soldiers roar as they charged. “Between a rock and a hard place,” Barnabas said succinctly. A mech appeared first, crashing through the trees on a series of heavy, spidery legs. Barnabas ran, taking a bounding leap and pushed off a tree to land on the mech’s top. He drew back his fist and punched down with all his might, significantly denting the metal. Still, it appeared that wouldn’t be the best strategy. He frowned. You could try opening it, you know. I’m sure it’s locked. Just try it, Shinigami urged. Barnabas rolled his eyes and hauled on the handle of the top hatch, which opened so easily that he lost his balance and nearly tipped off the side of the mech. Men. Shinigami scoffed. A soldier popped up through the now-open porthole with a rifle, scanning around. You see, falling off the side was useful. Barnabas clawed his way up, grabbed the barrel of the gun, and used it to haul the soldier |
