Ventus by Karl Schroeder

Karl Schroeder / Ventus / Page 556
tunnel. One stood to challenge Jordan as he led the horses
between the jumbled stones.
"Now what?" hissed Tamsin.
Jordan was still covered with dust from their walk across
the desert. In the desert he had been able to create heat from
the mecha in dust. Could he do something else with them
now? The only way to find out was to try.
He commanded the mecha in the dust covering him to
make light. Tamsin gasped as Jordan’s body began to glow.
"Take me to the underground way," Jordan commanded
the terrified sentry. "And don’t challenge me again." The
sentry fell back, stammering apologies. Tamsin stared at
Jordan in wonder as they followed him into the camp.
Before they got to the tumbled stones, a brilliant flash lit
the sky from horizon to horizon. Moments later a deep and
sustained rolling thunder fell across the ruins. Looking back,
Jordan saw a tall spire of smoke and flame where the
subterranean Wind had been. The Swans were spiralling up
and away from the rubble.
He felt the searchlight gazes of the Swans. They were
looking for something now; he was pretty sure he knew what-or
rather, whom. "We need to get underground," he told
Tamsin. "And stay there for a while."
The soldiers around the tunnel entrance scrambled out of
the way of the glowing boy and the girl leading their horses.
Jordan motioned for a man to take the reins of the mounts, then
walked into the dark niche that housed the tunnel mouth.
"I’d love to do this to the guys at home," Jordan said.
His glow lit up the entire chamber, showing clearly the dark
slot of the tunnel. The glow was fading slowly as the mecha
lost power.
They waited, while the Swans passed to and fro