Fortifications

[Nox]

Nox hoped Ivan knew what he was doing. The best they could hope for was getting out a live for a little while. The Atharim wouldn't stop hunting them unless there was some serious power behind them. But even being the Ascendancy hadn't stopped the Atharim. Aria had lead them into the depths of hell and she came out burnt and charred just like the rest of them. No one got away clean on that.

Nox wasn't delusional, he wasn't anywhere near Ascendancy in power. But he wasn't going to let some Atharim lacky come at him because they thought he was dangerous. He was only dangerous because they made him so. He'd never killed anyone with his power, he used it to help them and they still came after him.

Cruz was outside with Nova, Christian was standing back near the porch, he couldn't see the weaves lining the yard, but he knew they were there. He knew the safe places. We'd outlined everything together. Ivan could see if he looked. Nox hoped he looked and didn't just walk and think.

Cruz waved then yelled, "Dad's downstairs. I had to take the wall down he wanted to go in."

Nox nodded. "Thanks Cruz. Keep practicing and you'll get it."
I said. He appeared to be practicing some water wave dancing thing on the outside, but Cruz was playing with water, for him it was easier to manipulate and it was benign if he screwed up. He was getting good at the impractical weaves. Manipulating complex patterns of water and spirit. They didn't do anything, but they weren't hurting Cruz, and he wasn't hurting anyone.

The walls around the estate were solid rock ten inches thick. It had taken weeks to erect the ten feet high walls with smooth edges on either side. Cruz had to redo many sections as he learned to perfect his weave. He went on like Aurora did about the chemistry and physics of it all. I listened and nodded but it didn't help, I just knew how. It was like an old memory, one you don't really remember but it's there. It was hard to explain.

"Outside is hard to defend, but between the walls, and the alarm system Cruz and I set up outside they can't sneak up on us unless they know where things are. Dorian had a decent arsenal before I came, it's since gotten better when I came home from America."
Nox said as Christian opened the door.

"I'm leaving to check on Sage. Do you want me to tell him anything?"

I smiled. "Just let him know we'll talk when he gets home."


Christian nodded. "He'll be pleased to see you are home. He didn't like you turning yourself in like that."

"It had to be done."


Christian laughed. "He's a..." Christian paused and looked at Ivan and thought better of his word choice. "You know Sage, he has his ways." He was a hacker. He did things against the law on a regular basis. We didn't need to have the one secret weapon on our side in jail. Not that a screwed up kid with no computer in his head was much help, but that hopefully will be fixed before much longer.

Nox took Ivan downstairs. "I've reinforced all the walls down here with an iron based rock, it's the best I've got to counter those weapons."
He called out from the entrance of the room with the wall removed and the tunnel he and Cruz had dug with the power. Well mostly him, Cruz's earth skills weren't as well defined as his other elements. "Hey Dorian. Ivan's here."