Decius, Valron, and the high magi all stared at her as she climbed the stairs and strode into the ring of thrones. She stopped a few paces away and looked them over, and then her attention turned to Caina. Caina returned her gaze. The high magus looked a few years older than Talmania, somewhere in her forties, though it was sometimes difficult to tell the age of sorcerers. If the woman was in her forties, she had taken care of herself, and she looked strong and vital. The vision of the valikarion showed the sorcerous auras around her staff, her rings, her earrings, and several other items concealed in her robe.
For a moment no one spoke.
“Good morning, Aunt,” said Seb at last, smiling.
Aunt? Seb had told Caina that he and his twin sister Calvia had been raised by another of Laeria’s sisters after they escaped from Talmania. Which meant that this woman was most likely Ariadne Scorneus.
“Sebastian, dear,” said Ariadne, and she kissed him on the cheek. She sounded like Talmania, but her voice lacked Talmania’s cold edge. “I am very glad to see you are still alive.”
“I’ve had something of an adventure, I fear,” said Seb.
“You can trade Scorneus family anecdotes later,” said Decius, his voice full of scorn. “Though I’m sure this proceeding will have to wait until the Widow deigns to grace us all with her opinion.”
“Widow?” said Ariadne. She turned an amused gaze in Decius’s direction. “I will have you know that my full name is Ariadne Scorneus Hegemonar Ildimer Maraeus. Though if we are to address each other by nickname, Decius, I have heard the battle magi and the Lictors have a few choice ones for you.”
“Wait,” said Seb. “Maraeus? You got married again?”
Ariadne smiled at him. “I did. I wanted to invite you to the wedding, but you disappeared, and…”
“Enough!” said Decius. “What are you doing here?” Hatred all but radiated off him.
“Really?” said Ariadne. “You don’t know? That is disappointing and a little worrying. I am a high magus and am therefore entitled to attend any meeting of the high magi of the Magisterium. I hope you would know that.”
“How did you know we were meeting?” said Decius.
Ariadne shrugged. “One of Valron’s militiamen told me. He suspected you were about to do something foolish and thought you required counsel.”
Ah. That was why Valron had sent his men away before they entered the Motherhouse. He had wanted them to summon Ariadne, who apparently had enough influence to check Decius’s more questionable decisions.
“I knew you were plotting behind my back,” said Decius.
“That is an accusation unworthy of you,” said Valron, his voice hardening. “By the law and custom of the Magisterium, all magi can attend any meetings beneath the Great Dome, and the high magi are required to attend councils deciding criminal cases of sorcery if possible.”
“See?” said Ariadne. “As usual, the Praesar is the voice of reason.” Her gaze turned to Caina again, and Caina caught a glimpse of puzzlement there. “What is going on?”
“The matter is simple,” said Decius, pointing at Sophia. “The girl has arcane talent. She is to be enrolled in the Magisterium, and this foreign noblewoman,” he gestured at Caina, “is blocking the matter.”
“Well,” said Ariadne. “Just who are you, then?” She leaned a little closer, tapping a finger against her thin lips. “You look a great deal like my sisters and my niece.”
“Her name is Caina Amalas Tarshahzon Kardamnos,” said Seb. “And she is my half-sister.” Ariadne’s black eyebrows climbed up her forehead. “It seemed that my mother wed again before she disappeared.”
“Yes, I know,” murmured Ariadne. “Count Sebastian Amalas, the poor fool. Laeria met him while he was Lord Governor of Outer Ulkaaria. I thought they had both been killed by Istarish slavers fourteen, fifteen years ago.” She shook her head. “It seems they had a daughter first.”
“As touching as this family reunion is,” said Decius, “there are more urgent matters.”
“Yes, the girl,” said Ariadne. “I assume she doesn’t wish to join the Magisterium?”
“No, my lady,” said Sophia. “I swore to Lady Caina as her liegewoman, and I wish to accompany her to Iramis, so I may be trained as a loremaster.”
“A loremaster of Iramis,” mused Ariadne. “I imagine those words haven’t been heard in the Motherhouse for years.” She turned back to Decius. “I don’t see what the problem is. Let them go. The Padishah adopted Caina Kardamnos as his sister, and there’s no point in jeopardizing our relationship with Istarinmul over one initiate.”
“No,” said Decius.
Ariadne gave an exasperated sigh. “You’re really going to be mulish over this?”
“Mulish? Do not patronize me,” said Decius. “I am the First Magus of the Magisterium, and this decision is mine. The girl will join the Magisterium.” He smirked at Caina. “And perhaps in repayment for your intransigence, I will make sure her training is as brutal as possible. Or perhaps I’ll take the girl as my newest mistress…”
A look of pure revulsion went over Sophia’s face.
“The poor girl,” said Ariadne. “I imagine most of your mistresses had similar expressions.”
“You might know me as an enemy of the Magisterium,” said Caina, looking at Decius, “and today, I have had all my worst opinions about the Magisterium confirmed. You are willing to damage the Empire’s alliances to slake your pride, and you are threatening a young woman who would be in your care. It seems the ancient valikarion were right to terrorize the magi if you act so reprehensibly and without regard for consequences.”
“See reason, First Magus,” said Valron. “If you continue on this course, you will lead the Magisterium to its final ruin.”
Decius showed his teeth. “Perhaps. But I shall preside over the ruins.”
“Fine,” said Ariadne with exasperation. “You are the First Magus, and we are not. Which we are not likely to forget since you seem incapable of going more than three sentences without shouting that fact. Perhaps a compromise can be worked out.”
“There is no compromise,” said Decius. “The girl will be enrolled, and Caina Kardamnos and Kylon Kardamnos executed for interfering in the work of the Magisterium.”
“Yes, let’s kill the Padishah’s sister,” said Ariadne. “Can you imagine how the Emperor will react to that news? Or Lord Corbould Maraeus?”
“Your new father-in-law,” said Decius. “I’m sure you will sway him to your opinion…”
“My new father-in-law already hates you, Decius,” said Ariadne. “He hated you for years before I ever met his son. If you give them an excuse, they will push you out and appoint someone else in your place.”
Decius scoffed. “The high magi of the Magisterium elect the First Magus for life, not the Emperor.”
Ariadne smiled. “Are you unfamiliar with the art of politics? When the Emperor expresses his displeasure, and you suffer an unexpected fatal accident, the high magi will promptly elect your successor. Really, Decius, I know we can’t stand each other, but I’m trying to help you here.” She waved a hand at Caina. “This situation? This is a loaded crossbow pointed at your face, and if you don’t handle it properly, it’s going to go off. I suggest you find a way to compromise.”
“I will permit Lord and Lady Kardamnos to leave Artifel,” said Decius, “if the girl remains behind.”
“Absolutely not,” said Caina. “The First Magus has just stated, in front of witnesses, that he intends to molest Sophia and sabotage her training. I cannot in good conscience let my liegewoman come under the power of such a man.”
“Perhaps the time has come to summon the high magi and hold a vote on the office of First Magus,” said Valron.
Decius turned his smirk towards the Praesar. “You would lose that vote, and you know it. Some of the high magi still appreciate the benefits of my leadership.”
“Yet once they learn how disgracefully you have conducted this entire affair, the
risk to which you have exposed the Empire,” said Valron, “maybe more of the high magi would realize the time has come for a change in leadership.”
“There’s another matter,” said Ariadne, pointing at Caina. “That sword. That’s a valikon, isn’t it?”
“It is,” said Caina.
“And she claims to be a valikarion,” said Decius.
“She is a valikarion,” said Valron. “The First Magus attempted to use a mind-dominating spell on her, and it simply didn’t work. I’ve never seen anything like it. The valikarion knights of old were immune to mind-affecting sorcery.”
“So not only did you attempt to use a mind-altering spell without a proper Imperial writ,” said Ariadne, “you attempted to use it on a valikarion. And after the Emperor and Prince Nasser have reaffirmed the Pact of Iramis.”
“The Pact of Iramis?” said Caina. Nasser had been negotiating a treaty with the Emperor before she had been taken to Ulkaar, but Caina had been paying more attention to her impending wedding to Kylon.
Ariadne gave her a cool look. “During the Third Empire, the Emperor wished to exercise greater control over the magi. He negotiated the Pact of Iramis, allowing the valikarion to travel the Empire in search of sorcerers who misused their power. Naturally, the Magisterium opposed this, and so when the magi took control during the Fourth Empire, the Pact of Iramis was abrogated. Then Iramis burned, and the Fourth Empire became the Fifth, and the Pact was moot. But given the rampant abuses of the Umbarian Order, Emperor Alexis wished the help of the valikarion in bringing the Order to heel, and so restored the Pact of Iramis a few weeks ago.” She turned her gaze back to Decius. “The relevant point is that the valikarion now have the right to investigate crimes of sorcery within the Empire…and you just attempted to break into the mind of a valikarion.”
“And that is why I must remain the First Magus,” said Decius. “I alone can protect the magi from the abuse and false accusations of the valikarion. Look at this woman. You can see the seething, irrational hatred for the Magisterium on her face. If left unchecked, she will render all manner of fraudulent accusations against us. The rest of the valikarion will do the same. I…”
He fell silent, blinking, and Caina saw the idea cross his expression.
“But perhaps you are right, Ariadne,” said Decius. “Perhaps there is room for a compromise here.”
His sudden change of heart made Caina suspicious.
“What manner of compromise?” said Caina.
“You are a valikarion,” said Decius. “The Pact of Iramis has given you the authority to investigate crimes of sorcery within the Empire. Well, there is a crime you can investigate.”
Ariadne frowned, and then comprehension flashed over her face. “You mean the murders?”
“The peculiar suicides,” said Decius.
“They were obviously murders,” said Valron.
“Suicides,” said Decius. “Suicides hang themselves.”
“Let me guess,” said Caina, looking back and forth between the First Magus, the Praesar, and Ariadne. “The First Magus has been arranging ‘accidents’ for his opponents.”
“Not at all,” said Decius.
“The Kindred of Artifel will no longer accept your contracts,” said Ariadne.
“And one of the suicides was a supporter of mine,” said Decius. “Hiram Nilas. Also Secundus Camwallen, as it happens. As you have pointed out, Valron, my support is thin enough that I’m not going to start murdering my own loyalists.”
“Perhaps you should explain,” said Caina.
Decius gestured. “Ariadne, please. Do enlighten our guest. I know how much you enjoy explaining things.”
“In the last two weeks,” said Ariadne, “four of the high magi of Artifel have committed suicide in their towers.”
“What’s strange about that?” said Caina. “Given the burden of guilt the high magi carry for their numberless crimes, I’m surprised they don’t kill themselves more often.”
Ariadne’s lips thinned for an instant, but she kept speaking. “All four high magi hanged themselves. But before they hanged themselves, they each took a dagger and slashed open their palms. With the blood from the wound, they wrote a message upon the walls.”
Caina felt a chill. “What was the message?”
“A single word,” said Ariadne. “Clean. That was all. Just the word ‘clean.’ Written in blood on the wall in the rooms where they hanged themselves.”
“Suicides,” said Decius.
“Suspiciously similar suicides,” said Caina.
“You can see the reason for concern,” said Valron. “The similar method suggests murder, not suicides. We fear an Umbarian agent may be inside the city, using sorcery to induce his victims to commit suicide in such a…grisly fashion.”
“But these four suicides were all high magi,” said Caina. “They would have experience defending their minds from sorcerous intrusion. If an Umbarian magus powerful enough to overwhelm a high magus and force him to commit suicide was inside the city, he would be doing more.”
“Possibly,” said Ariadne. “There may be some other cause. And if the Umbarians are behind these suicides, then this may be a precursor to a larger attack. Or the Umbarians may wish to promote internal strife within the Magisterium.”
“So, valikarion,” said Decius, his tone making the word into a curse. “You wish to compromise, then we shall compromise. You call yourself a valikarion? Then execute your office! Find the cause of these peculiar suicides, and I shall let you, your husband, and your friends depart Artifel. I will even let you take the girl. She can be taken to Iramis and trained in the barbarous superstitions of the loremasters, rather than learning sound arcane science in the Motherhouse.”
Caina said nothing, her mind chewing over the situation. The offer seemed ludicrous on the surface. She knew nothing of Artifel and only a little of the internal politics of the Magisterium. Despite its (many) flaws, the Magisterium was good at presenting a unified front to outsiders, at least until the Umbarian Order split away. Almost certainly Decius was negotiating in bad faith. Caina’s first impulse was to refuse.
And yet…
Perhaps this was her best chance to get out of Artifel alive with Kylon and the others. Caina was good at this kind of thing. She had unraveled mysteries like this before. And her abilities as a valikarion gave her a significant edge. Even powerful magi had to cast spells to sense the presence of arcane forces. Caina could detect their presence with a glance.
“Then swear,” said Caina. “Swear, in front of these witnesses, that you will keep your bargain.”
“Very well,” said Decius. “I, Decius Aberon, First Magus of the Imperial Magisterium, swear in the names of Cursus, Markoin, Tethys, Minaerys, and all the gods and goddesses of the Empire, that if you successfully find the cause of these suicides, I will permit you, your husband, and all your retainers and liegemen and liegewomen to depart for Iramis. Additionally, I will release Sophia Zomanek from her obligation to enroll in the Magisterium as an initiate.”
“These are acceptable terms,” said Caina.
“See, Decius?” said Ariadne. “Compromise isn’t so hard. Perhaps you should try it more often.”
“You can assist Lady Kardamnos in her inquiries, Ariadne,” said Decius. “Since you are so certain these suicides are murders.”
Ariadne gave Caina a wary look.
“That…is acceptable,” said Caina. “It would be helpful to have a guide familiar with Artifel.” And with the Magisterium’s internal politics. It was likely an Umbarian agent had induced those four high magi to commit suicide. It was also just as likely that someone within the Magisterium had decided to eliminate some rivals.
But was Ariadne anything like Talmania? Caina looked at the woman and saw a sorceress, saw what her mother had hoped to become, and a wave of revulsion went through her. That was irrational, and she knew it. Seb respected Ariadne, and Caina trusted Seb’s judgment. Yet when Caina looked at Ariadne, she saw both he
r mother and Talmania…
No. She could not think this way. Caina had to keep a clear head if she was going to get out of this. That meant accepting all the help she could find. Including the assistance of Ariadne Scorneus…who apparently had enough standing among the high magi to oppose Decius Aberon to his face.
“However,” said Decius, “Lord Kylon, Sophia Zomanek, Sebastian Scorneus, and that Caerish fellow in the black coat and the Ulkaari woman…”
“Ilona,” said Ilona.
Decius ignored her. “They will remain here in protective custody within the Motherhouse.”
“Absolutely not,” said Caina.
“Lord Kylon is a foreigner and a former enemy of the Empire,” said Decius. “We cannot allow him to wander about the streets of Artifel. Suppose he takes the secrets of our defenses back to the Assembly of New Kyre?”
“I am a noblewoman,” said Caina. “You do not expect me to wander about the streets of a strange city without attendants?”
Decius’s mouth twisted, but he nodded. The rules of social custom were often more powerful than laws. “Very well. You may take two people.”
“Sophia Zomanek,” said Caina. She wanted to keep Sophia where she could see her, lest Decius attempt some treachery.
“As you will,” said Decius.
Caina looked at the others and started to draw breath to demand that Kylon accompany her.
“You should choose Markaine,” said Kylon.
Caina blinked. “What?”
Morgant looked at Kylon, raising one eyebrow.
“As much as it pains me to say it, I would not be as of much use to you in this sort of work as Markaine would,” said Kylon.
“It’s nice to be appreciated,” said Morgant.
“He’s more familiar with Artifel than I am,” said Kylon, “and he’s more devious than I am.”
“I'm afraid that Lord Kylon is correct,” said Seb. “Markaine would be well-suited for this sort of business.”
“I quite agree,” said Morgant.
“And you gave your word to see her safely back to Iramis,” said Kylon. “I’ve seen the lengths you’ll go to keep your word.”
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