The Shattering Song (Song Magic Book 2)

by Imogen Elvis

  Master Talor’s eyes widened, and he leaned forward in his chair. “No one in Mizra is meant to know about them,” he said. “It would cause mass panic if they knew, and goodness knows we have enough trouble without that. How do you know? Who did you tell?”

  “I saw them.” Briar’s heartbeat picked up at the intensity in his face. “And what they did to the farmland. Some of the children were in the Osman Order house with me. I haven’t told anyone about them.”

  “You’ve seen a lot, it seems.”

  “Are you sending magicians to help the farmers?”

  “Not yet.”

  “Why not?” Briar’s mind filled with images of what she had seen, the dust blowing over the dead fields, the desperate woman begging the exhausted soldier for help, the old farmer in the town and his tired determination, and the people working in the fields, trying to salvage something from the destruction. “They need our help.”

  “We’ll send help in time. But right now, we need to deal with the threat to Mizra first. If we send all our magicians out right now, people will realise the danger. And that just complicates everything. We will aid the farmers. But not until we’ve destroyed the threat.”

  Destroyed the threat. Did he mean that they would attack the children? Kill them? Briar swallowed hard. Ava was with them. “But-”

  Master Talor’s eyebrows drew together. “We can only deal with so many things at once. And right now, I want to talk about these rogue magicians. You say they took the catcher and gave it to their master. Who is he? What does he want?”

  This was the moment when she had to take a leap of faith. Briar licked her lips. “He wants power,” she said finally.

  “What kind of power? Over the Order? Is that why he wants the catcher, so he can use it to bring us down?”

  Briar shook her head. “Not exactly. He wanted the catcher to make sure no one could use it to stop him.”

  “He’s a magician?”

  “And a strong one.”

  “So, if his goal isn’t the Order, then what?” Master Talor leaned forward in his seat, his eyes boring into Briar’s face. She tried not to squirm under the intensity of his gaze.

  “He wants the throne.”

  “The throne.” Master Talor sat back, shaking his head. “I doubt it, especially if he’s a magician. He’d have no chance of ever achieving that. If someone were trying to take the throne, we would have noticed.”

  “It depends who tries,” Briar countered. “People don’t notice, because he’s smart. He makes everyone see him as a helper, someone to be leaned on in a time when everything is so uncertain. He’s the one creating order, leading people to trust him to the point where they hand him everything without him ever having to reach for it.”

  Master Talor’s eyes narrowed. “Be careful who you accuse.”

  This wasn’t the time to be careful, not any more. This was the time to speak the truth. “You must have seen how people turn to him. I haven’t been in Mizra for a day yet, and already I’ve heard rumours that the ruling council would be willing to break the rules for him. He has more power inside the court than he should. I doubt he sits back and lets others lead the song council either. The ruling council thinks this is their own idea, but he’s the one pushing them to do it by pulling the right strings, creating the right circumstances.”

  “This is a ridiculous accusation. Why would Sachio need to do any of that?” Master Talor stood and paced the room, his brow creased in thought. Despite his claim that this was ridiculous, he seemed more thoughtful than angry. “He is one of the most powerful magicians in the country.”

  Briar clasped her hands together, laying them very deliberately in her lap. “That is true. But he could have been the king, and he truly believes that he should be. Even you, as one of the song councillors, have to bow to the wishes of the ruling council, and they bow to the king. For a man who was on the verge of holding all that power, how could he be satisfied with what he has now?”

  “How do you know?” Master Talor swung round to face Briar again. “How could you possibly know this is the truth?”

  “I was his captive for a while before I managed to escape. I learnt a lot in that time.” Briar bit the inside of her cheek. She still had the scars from the shackles, a constant reminder of everything that she was fighting against. “I know it’s my word against his.” Briar shook her head, her throat tightening. “I know I’m just a novice, accusing one of the most powerful men in the Order. I know that no one in their right mind would believe me over him. But I can’t stand back and let Master Sachio just take what he wants without trying to do something to stop him.”

  Master Talor paced up and down in silence, his hands clenching and unclenching at his sides. Briar’s eyes followed him, her mouth dry, her heart beating like a hammer. She had so little proof of what Master Sachio was doing, only the links in a chain of logic. If Master Talor didn’t believe her… Briar’s fingers curled. He had to believe her.

  After what felt like a lifetime, the master sank into his chair again. Instead of the anger that Briar expected, Master Talor looked tired and worn. “I don’t want to believe you,” he said. “But too much agrees with what you’ve told me. The ruling council trusts Sachio implicitly. The song council looks to him for guidance. Everyone accepts his advice without question. To think he could take advantage of the king’s condition for his own gain-” Master Talor shook his head. “It’s unthinkable.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “He can’t be allowed to continue.” The master heaved a heavy sigh and dragged his fingers down his face. “But I can’t just accuse him. Who would believe me? And I doubt you have an army behind you.”

  “We don’t have an army just yet, but I do have friends,” Briar said. “If we work together, we have a much better chance of stopping Master Sachio.”

  “Are you suggesting an alliance?” Master Talor raised an eyebrow.

  Briar attempted a casual shrug that felt more like a tense body twitch. “There are so few of us who know the truth. If we band together, we have a much higher chance of achieving something.”

  “If I were interested in joining you and your friends, what would you suggest?”

  She should have been prepared for this. Briar thought quickly. “I would suggest you meet us, somewhere anonymous, somewhere we can share information. We’d tell you everything we know, and I’m sure there are details you know that we don’t. If, of course, you were serious about helping us.” How terrible it would be if this were all an elaborate trap and they made a time and place to meet, only for Master Talor to send a patrol instead.

  Master Talor nodded approvingly. “Cautious. Good. Name your place.”

  Just like that? Briar blinked. “You’re willing to trust us that much?”

  The hint of a smile lurked around the corners of Master Talor’s mouth. “I’m more than capable of taking care of myself, novice.”

  Of course. Who, other than a Nameless One maybe, could really threaten this master of fire song? But where could they meet him? It wasn’t like Briar knew many places in Mizra. Lara’s house certainly wouldn’t do. The only other place she knew of was the inn. That would have to do.

  “Can you meet us in The Gilded Pony, tonight? It’s an inn,” Briar added when Master Talor raised a questioning eyebrow.

  The eyebrow descended again, and Master Talor nodded. “I’ll find my way there.”

  “Thank you.” And Briar meant it, from the bottom of her heart. Master Talor was the first person she had dared to talk to about Master Sachio, outside of her friends, of course. To have him believe her and put enough trust in her to agree to meet with them, that was more than she could ever have hoped for.

  “No, thank you for telling me the truth,” Master Talor’s voice held a note of sadness. “I wish it wasn’t this way. But, as you said, we need to band together. People trust Sachio. One more push and I think they would make him king.” He shook his head. “I wish we had more time to talk. I�
�m sure there’s a lot more you could tell me.”

  “I’ll tell you everything I know when we meet tonight,” Briar promised.

  “I’m counting on it.” Master Talor stood. “Mistress Arloa can show you out.”

  “It’s alright. I know my way.” Briar scrambled to her feet and lowered her head in respect. “Thank you, Master.” She kept her head bent until Master Talor left the room. Only then did she straighten, her head spinning with everything that had just happened. She did it. Master Talor believed her. Briar gave a shaky laugh and dragged a hand over her face. She had to tell Kade.

  Mistress Arloa was nowhere in sight as Briar left the study and hurried back down the empty corridor, letting herself out of the Order house. The sun, which barely peeped over the roofs of the buildings now climbed toward the peak of the sky. It had to be mid-morning at the very least. Her meeting with Master Talor had gone a lot longer than she’d anticipated. No wonder he hadn’t been able to stay longer.

  Briar scanned the street, bursting to share her news. Would Kade be here? Or was she to wait for him? A smile broke over her face as she caught sight of him, half-hidden by the trunk of one of the large trees nearby. Kade looked out over the rest of the square, his arms folded over his chest. He didn’t seem to have noticed Briar yet. She hurried towards him, her steps eager and quick.

  “Kade.”

  “Are you alright?” Kade turned as Briar approached, worry evident on his face. “You were in there for so long that I thought you were never coming out. What happened?”

  “It worked.” Briar’s voice came out breathless with excitement. “He believed me.”

  “He did?” Kade’s eyes searched her face. “You persuaded Master Talor to believe Sachio’s trying for the throne? That he’s a traitor?”

  Briar nodded. “He agreed to come and meet with all of us tonight.” She hesitated. “I asked him to meet us at the inn. I hope that’s alright. I wasn’t sure where else we could possibly meet with him.”

  “That’s more than alright.” A grin spread slowly over Kade’s face. “No one’s ever believed us before. You’re a miracle worker.” He took Briar’s hands.

  “I didn’t do much.” Briar’s cheeks heated, but she held his gaze, smiling shyly. “I just told the truth and was lucky he was willing to listen.”

  “You did more than that.” Kade looked at Briar earnestly. “Thank you.”

  There was something almost too intense and heartfelt about his gaze. Briar couldn’t find the right words when he looked at her like that. So instead she asked, “Have you found out anything helpful yet?”

  “I haven’t tried,” Kade admitted. “I thought it would be better for me to be here when you came back, rather than leaving you to wander around an unfamiliar city in search of the inn. There’s plenty of time for us to go together.”

  Kade had waited for her? Briar’s heart warmed at his thoughtfulness. “I appreciate it. I wouldn’t know which way to go first. So, shall we go and talk to some people then?”

  “I know where we can start.” Kade released Briar’s hands and led the way across the square. “I will need your help, though.”

  Briar fell into step beside him. Her heart soared, and she couldn’t keep the smile off her face. Maybe they actually did have a chance of finding enough people willing to listen to them, to support their cause. Perhaps the world wasn’t quite as in Master Sachio’s grasp as he liked to believe it was. This felt like real hope, at last.

  From the tree-lined square, Kade and Briar followed the central road a short way, before finally turning down a wide cross-street that led them into what Briar could only assume was the shopping district. The warm, yeasty smell of bread wafted from the open door of the baker’s store. Across the street, bunches of lavender and cloves hung in the window of a herbalist. Next to that was an elegant little store that sold fine hats, gloves and other assorted accessories for women. It was this shop that Kade made a beeline for.

  “What’s the plan?” Briar asked.

  “I thought that maybe you could pretend to be looking for a hat or something?” Kade sounded suddenly uncertain. “Ladies tend to gossip when they’re shopping. I thought maybe you could get information from the shopkeeper that way?”

  “I don’t know much about shopping.” Briar twisted her fingers through the chain around her neck. She’d never had enough money for that. “I’d probably do better in the herbalist’s if I’m honest.”

  “If you can convince Talor that Sachio’s trying to usurp the throne, then you can definitely handle a little shopping. This should be easy, compared with that.”

  Briar shook her head, but she couldn’t help but smile. “I’ll try my best.”

  A tiny bell chimed as they entered the store. Briar stood in the doorway for a moment, taking in the shop. Shelves lined the walls, bearing hats, shoes, and scarves among other accessories. A couple of tables in the middle of the room held more of the same, laid out in the most enticing fashion, practically begging to be touched, tried on, and bought. It was exactly the sort of place that made Briar highly uncomfortable. She didn’t belong here. What was Kade thinking?

  Briar gripped her medallion tight and forced her unwilling feet to carry her towards a table draped in a display of scarves. There were scarves in every colour under the sun, some glimmering in silver and gold. Others reminded Briar of running water, or soft moss growing in the shadows of a forest. The weaving was so fine she had trouble believing that the scarves hadn’t been made by a magician. Briar ran the fringe of a pale green scarf through her fingers. It was exquisite. And exceedingly expensive.

  “Can I help you?”

  A young woman stepped out of the back of the shop. One look at her was enough to make Briar feel dowdy and plain, more out of place here than ever, despite wearing Lara’s beautiful dress. The shopkeeper’s orange dress was perfectly tailored to her figure, tucking in to make her already small waist seem even more slender. Her dark hair was pulled back into an elaborate twist that left a couple of curls hanging sweetly around her face. Her skin was pink and white, and her eyes were large and blue. She matched her shop in every way, elegant, beautiful, poised.

  “I-I’m just browsing at the moment.” Briar grasped frantically for the right words, something to draw this woman into a somewhat natural conversation. “You have some lovely scarves here.”

  A small smile tilted the corners of the woman’s mouth up. “We have the finest selection anywhere in Mizra.” She stepped past Briar and deftly whisked three or four scarves off the table, draping them over her arm, before holding one out for Briar to inspect. “This is made from pure spider silk, woven through with real silver.” In the light, the silver threads caught the light, gleaming like magic. The silk was a delicate pink, like a blushing rose.

  Briar stroked her fingertips over the scarf, hardly daring to touch something so lovely in case she should leave dirty marks. It was as soft as mist, and as light as a snowflake. “It’s beautiful,” she said tentatively, “But maybe not quite my colour.”

  “Not a problem.” The woman laid the scarf aside and held out another, very similar, but woven in a pale blue, the colour of the early morning sky. “Perhaps something more like this? We have this one with both silver and also gold thread.”

  For one aching moment Briar could understand why people would shop for such pretty, but useless things. How beautiful you would feel, wearing something so lovely, no matter whether it was practical. But there was no point in thinking about how much she would love to have just one frivolous item. What she did need to do, though, was get the woman talking.

  “May I see the one with the gold threads?” Out of the corner of her eye, Briar caught Kade’s glance, checking on her. He stood by the window, apparently bored by the whole affair, but he would be listening attentively to everything being said, of that Briar was certain. “They’re so lovely. Are they made here in Mizra?”

  “Some are. Others we import. This one, for example,” she picke
d up a scarf from a nearby shelf, “is from Tannis.” She held out a deep orange scarf, woven with delicate patterns in black and gold, spreading over the fabric like strange, exciting maps.

  “What about Beldra?” Briar asked. “Do you have anything from there?” Talking about Beldra might give her an opening to fish for information.

  The woman pursed her lips, and two fine lines appeared between her eyebrows. “We no longer import from there,” she said shortly.

  “Why not?”

  “After the prince-” She cut herself off, folding her lips. “We just don’t buy from the Beldrans anymore. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a scarf of Beldran make, if that’s what you’re in the market for.” Her voice was sharp.

  “Oh no. Nothing like that,” Briar said quickly, making her voice as soothing as she could. “I admire you. It must be a difficult decision to make, not to buy from Beldra.”

  “Hardly. I love my country, and I would never betray it like that. No reasonable person would buy from the Beldrans after the way they conspired with the prince. I’m surprised you would even ask.” The shopkeeper’s eyes narrowed, and her perfect pink mouth compressed into a thin line.

  “I apologise,” Briar backtracked hastily. “I would never imply anything like that. I’m afraid it didn’t even occur to me how that would affect you. It’s such a difficult time to be in.” She heaved a sigh that was a little more real than she would have liked. “It’s hard to know who or what you can trust, isn’t it?”

  The woman gave a smile that bordered on tired. “It is indeed. These aren’t the most stable of times. With the king the way he is, one wonders what will happen to us all.”

  “I’m sure his condition can’t possibly be as bad as all that,” Briar said.

  “One hopes so.” But the woman didn’t sound convinced. “I don’t like to listen to the rumours. Gossip is rarely right. But in this case, I have wondered-” Again, she cut herself off, as if afraid that she might say too much.