Shadow Clone Sorcery (Book 1 complete!)

El-One liked how strong he felt. The loss of speed and flexibility didn't particularly bother him. He hid in the alley, watching and waiting for his time to come. It was a cushy job. He didn't know whether it was the high mass or the bruiser specialization, but El-One was just fine sitting, waiting, and relaxing, unlike the other clones.

Well over an hour had passed since El-Prime entered City Hall. The auction was likely underway. A good deal of the guards lining the stairs and entrance had moved inside the building. However, enough still stood around the entrances to make infiltration a challenge. It wasn't an issue for the stalker clones. One had taken to the roof, and the other used a first-floor balcony. Guests had used the space to smoke their pipes, drink, and flirt not long ago. Now, they were deserted.

Initially, the clones had thought El-Prime wanted to rob the auction. It was mostly because the thought had passed through his mind several times over the past few weeks. But all of them agreed that it would be a moronic move, and they'd never get away with it. Instead, they were present to cover him in case anything went wrong, the coven struck, or he decided to rob one of the guests.

As expected, everyone in attendance had brought large volumes of crowns with them and also valuable relics, shards, essences, and art to sell or barter if their liquid funds proved inadequate. The hosts had taken charge of almost everything, but the guests and their staff had held onto several pieces.

El-Prime didn't quite know what he wanted or how he'd fence it. But the latter didn't matter since Penelope planned to leave Iskander as soon as possible. They'd unload the loot far from the city of Iskander, where its council and law enforcement would fail to find it.

Personally, El-One hoped for enchanted items that increased speed and would help balance the limitations that came with increased mass. He appreciated the shield and enchanted hammer and wanted to be able to use them better. The Haste spell somewhat covered the limitation, but it wasn't nearly enough. A couple of more ranks and Shadow Clone would gain a new mid-tier ability. All the clone specializations wanted something different. As a bruiser, El-One wished for the joys of speed and mobility.

A flashing light caught his eye. It was coming from a ground-floor window. El-One channeled Shadow Sight for a moment and caught a glimpse of a stalker, peeking from within, holding a mirror. It was the signal. El-One checked his surroundings before casting Haste and speeding forward. Casting two spells so close together gave him a headache; adding Silencing Shadows to the mix made it worse, but it was necessary. The discomfort wasn't as bad as before gaining Spellweaver, but still ever-present. He wasn't going to be much help outside of the building.

Footsteps from around the corner elevated his heart rate. Pairs of armed guards patrolled the building's perimeter on a strict schedule. There were more within City Hall doing the same. Openings between them were narrow and few, and the clones had no choice but to make the most of whatever they could get. El-Prime had instructed them to disperse themselves if detection and capture seemed imminent.

Fortunately, the directive didn't need to be fulfilled. A powerful leap carried the clone off the ground and to the high window. He just about grabbed the ledge and clung on, holding his breath. The guard patrol passed under him, none the wiser of the shadowy mass hanging overhead. Shade's Mantle stood out against the white marble even under the cover of darkness. Magical torches and braziers sent dancing lights across the walls, and he was the one dark patch among them.

"Hurry up," El-Two said. "The patrol is due within a minute."

El-One grunted, heaving his heavy body up and through the opening. He followed his fellow clone through an opening into a significantly darker service corridor. It had several nooks and crannies for them to blend in.

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"That was close." El-One sighed after two more guards passed and turned the corner. "Have you located the storeroom?"

"Yes, but it's too well guarded. El-Three and I found something better." He grinned. "There are valets waiting outside each box, carrying their master's luggage. It's stupid, I know. They trust City Hall's security far too much."

"I wouldn't call it stupid. Defences don't account for four of the same person loitering at the same time."

Esther had a rough idea of City Hall's defences. The wards and detection devices memorized all who legally entered the building and were scanned at the entrance. The differences between the clones were minor. El-Prime and she believed that they'd enter undetected and unmolested. Their hypothesis proved correct. As far as the authorities were concerned, everyone within the building was spoken for, and none had the ability or stupidity to steal from another without detection.

"You're not wrong there," El-Two commented.

The pair followed the corridor deeper into the building, occasionally ducking into alcoves, broom cupboards, and empty service areas. It helped them dodge staff, regroup, and map their future steps. It took them a quarter of an hour to find a flight of stairs to the first floor. They almost got caught at the top, but El-Two successfully redirected the approaching woman's attention using clever shadow shaping and manipulation.

El-Three was waiting for them at the service corridor's exit. He had them wait a minute and a half until a pair of guards and a servant carrying a tray of empty cups passed. When the trio moved, they crept in the same direction as all of the others. The stalker clones darted to the arcane lights, damaging enchantments wherever they could. Some dimmed, others flickered.

"Who goes there!" A man called. His voice sounded like that of a teenager whose voice hadn't yet settled on a pitch.

The stalkers successfully slipped away, disappearing into dark passages, but El-One was much too slow. He released his mediocre rendition of Silencing Shadows and withdrew Shade's Mantle under his clothes. He spun around to find Hump, Guard Captain Stefan Santana's favorite cadet, stomping toward him.

"What are you doing here?" Hump demanded.

"Getting a drink?" El-One struggled to come up with anything better.

"Does your employer know you've wandered from your position?" The young guard flipped through the stack of parchment attached to his clipboard. "I need his name and yours."

"Uh. Mister Grey?" The clone managed to get out, mind racing. His eyes darted to where El-Two had disappeared. He didn't want to take Hump out. The man had a reputation for being annoying, but he was just doing his job. "I told him that I needed a break."

"I thought you were the smarter brother," Hump commented. His eyes widened. "I apologize. Captain Santana told me about his passing. That was out of line." He tapped his clipboard. "Lukas Zaun. You're on the list, but you shouldn't be here." Hump looked El-One up and down. "You're supposed to be his guest. Why are you dressed like a bodyguard?"

"Well—" El-One's heart raced as he considered his options and prepared to dispel himself.

A sudden seizure interrupted Hump. His eyes rolled back in their sockets before he collapsed. The mass of shadows that had abruptly appeared behind him receded. It was El-Prime. The fine clothes set him apart. Lightning tendrils danced between his fingertips. Metallic black coated his hands.

"What are you staring at?" El-Prime demanded. "Hide the idiot. We've got a job, and it's going to be infinitely harder if someone finds a knocked-out guard."

"Yes, boss," El-One replied. "Thanks for the save. I was sure we were screwed."

"You're lucky I was around to save the day. But otherwise you would be. Hump already doesn't like us. No lie was going to get rid of him."

"Is he going to be okay?"

El-Prime glanced at the knocked-out young man and shrugged. "I don't know." The shadowsteel coating on his hands softened before receding under his sleeve. "It's the first time I've done this. The voltage wasn't powerful enough for that. I think."

"Got it. Hide the body. Then get to thieving."

"That can come later," El-Prime said. "There is a witch that needs to be dealt with."