by Lisa Cassidy
“You forget I’m a mage, Dashan Caverlock,” she said sweetly before summoning magic to lift her staff lying nearby and thump him soundly in the back with it. He staggered forward, teetering on the edge. Cayr launched himself out of the water to grab one of Dashan’s flailing hands and yank him in.
Laughter and cursing echoed through the night around them.
Alyx’s skin had turned blue by the time the three of them walked back to Centre Square, but inside she was warm and full of contentment. She didn’t want this night to ever end.
“If we don’t get the chance to do this again, thank you.” Cayr said as they stopped outside the eastern gate. His blond curls were plastered to his head and he was trembling with the cold, but he looked happy.
“It was wonderful,” she agreed.
“A good birthday.” Dashan clapped him on the back. “Come on, as the single Bluecoat here, it’s my duty to ensure the crown prince of Rionn gets to his bed safely.”
Cayr hesitated, and she sensed he wanted to kiss her goodnight. Dashan’s presence made her oddly uncomfortable, though, and so she made the decision for him, leaning up to kiss the icy skin of his cheek.
“Night, Cayr.”
“Night, Alyx.”
Dashan started whistling as they walked away, and Cayr joined in, singing the words to the tune. Alyx chuckled to herself, waiting until they had vanished from sight before turning to walk through the gate, ignoring the curious glances tossed her way by the militia on guard.
That night her dreams were threaded with Cayr’s singing and Dashan’s equally tuneless whistling.
Chapter 29
Alyx stood at the doors of the circular chamber where the council was sitting for its fifth day. Three hours into a session, she was doing her best to stand still and not fidget, but it was getting harder and harder as time dragged on. Dawn stood beside her. The remainder of Third Patrol was outside, stationed at the various entrance points to the Town Hall.
“Do you realise once we return it’s almost time for the festival?” Dawn murmured.
Alyx glanced around, but the chamber was large, and nobody had heard Dawn speak.
“You’re not obsessed by the dance at all, are you?”
“No, I’m just looking forward to it.”
“Have you asked Dash yet?”
“No.” Dawn paused, then, “Has anyone asked you to the dance?”
“No, and I doubt anyone will.”
“You’re quite popular these days. I wouldn’t be surprised if one of the older students asked you.” Dawn gave her a sideways look. “Someone with enough courage to ask a mage of the higher order to be his partner.”
“Don’t be silly,” Alyx muttered, trying not to blush.
“Sorry. It must be wonderful to have Cayr here?”
She couldn’t help the smile that spread over her face. “Yes. It’s been more than wonderful.”
“You were noticeably absent from dinner last night.” Dawn smiled slightly. “I take it you were with him?”
“And Dash. We were celebrating our birthdays.”
“Oh.” Dawn sounded surprised.
“What?”
“It’s nothing.” She paused. “You’ve changed, Alyx.”
“I have?” Alyx raised an eyebrow, even though she was looking straight ahead.
“Last year you mentioned Cayr’s name in every second sentence. You were counting down the days until it was time to go home,” she said.
Alyx shrugged slightly. “I miss Cayr and will be happy to go home, but I am also happy with where I am right now.”
“I’m glad.” Dawn sent her a telepathic burst of warm regard. “I hated seeing you so miserable last year.”
“I’m glad too.”
They fell silent. A little while later, the door behind them eased open and Tarrick appeared.
“Rothai wants us to swap places, Dawn,” Tarrick murmured. “The group of visitors waiting for appointments in the front foyer has grown pretty big, and he wants you to run over their thoughts, make sure none of them are a threat.”
“Will do.” Dawn slipped out quietly and Tarrick took her place beside Alyx.
“Anything noteworthy happen?” he asked.
“Nothing at all.” She sighed. “Unless you have any interest in which location would be best to provide mage assistance to the drought in north-eastern Zandia.”
The hours dragged on and Alyx’s need to fidget grew close to overwhelming. She kept glancing up at the windows set high in the wall, hoping dusk would arrive so the councillors would finish up for the day.
After her hundredth such glance at the windows, Master Yirith called for a brief break. The masters dispersed to privies or the cart of refreshments and drink that was being rolled in. Master Romas did neither, instead heading over to her and Tarrick.
“I’d like the two of you to change your position for the remainder of the afternoon,” he told them quietly.
Tarrick nodded. “Where would you like us?”
“You see the balcony that looks down over the conference table?” Romas waited for them to look and nod. “Be discreet about it, Apprentices. I’d prefer nobody knew you were up there.”
“Is there something wrong, sir?” Alyx asked before Tarrick could.
“It’s nothing, only a little inkling in my magic. I don’t want to concern the other masters, that’s all. You’ll make sure you’re not seen?”
Romas was being oddly furtive, but they both murmured agreement. Tarrick held the door open for Alyx and they nodded at the militia outside before heading up a side stairwell. Not wanting to ask for directions, by the time they located the deserted balcony, the food and drink cart was being taken away. Nobody had replaced Tarrick and Alyx on the main doors and Yirith himself was closing them.
“What’s going on?” Alyx murmured.
Tarrick shrugged, and they moved quietly towards a column by the edge of the railing. Here they could keep a good eye on the room without being seen.
“You’ve dealt with the guards?” Duneskal’s voice floated up to them.
“The room is clear,” Romas replied. “We can begin the confidential session.”
“Good.” Yirith sighed. “It’s been a long day and I for one want to get out of here.”
Alyx turned to Tarrick, eyebrows raised. What was this?
He shrugged, then gave a small shake of his head to indicate he had no idea.
“How is your hunt for the Taliath potentials progressing, Master Romas?”
Her head snapped back to the room, eyes training on Cario’s grandfather. He was sitting in a relaxed posture in his chair, attention focused on Romas.
“Successfully. Master Rothai has discovered and dealt with two Taliath potentials in the past four months. A youth in Tregaya and a young boy in Zandia.”
Beside her, Tarrick shifted slightly. She barely noticed. She’d frozen where she stood, wondering if she’d heard the exchange correctly. They couldn’t be talking about...
“Excellent work, Master Romas.”
“Thank you.” Romas inclined his head. “Apprentice Galien is currently engaged in tracking another potential in southern Tregaya, a young girl.”
Nausea and horror rose in her throat. Were they really talking about murdering young Taliath children? She shook her head, sure she must be missing some context or background. As the conversation continued, however, she came to the sickening conclusion that it was real.
The Mage Council was hunting and killing Taliath potentials.
Her father and the king had spent months, years, looking for potentials in an attempt to rebuild the Taliath order. They’d failed. They hadn’t understood why, but now it was clear.
The Taliath hadn’t inexplicably vanished from the world. They were being systematically hunted down. By the people who were supposed to be their allies.
Alyx swallowed, needing every inch of self-control she possessed to remain still and expressionless. Beads of sweat broke out of her fo
rehead, and the walls of the room suddenly seemed as if they were closing in around her.
“It’s important that we neutralise the threat Taliath pose,” Master Yirith spoke. “Should you need any further resources, Master Romas, please advise the council.”
"I still think this is a rather messy way to deal with the problem,” Walden sounded more like he’d found a hair in his dinner than acknowledging his part in the murder of children. “We aren’t even certain one exists. It’s been over a decade since we started this, and we haven’t come close to another situation like Shakar. Nor had we in the years before.”
“There was one,” Rothai said. The potent mix of bitterness and anger in his voice cast a temporary silence over the masters. Alyx had never heard anything like it before, and she was so struck she didn’t quite process what his words meant.
“A problem most definitely exists, Councillor,” Romas’s voice cracked through the thick silence. “Thousands died because a mage of the higher order was invulnerable to our magic. Until we learn definitively how Shakar absorbed Taliath ability, removing the Taliath is the most efficient way to prevent what he did ever happening again.”
“Have you considered that the longer we continue doing this, the greater the risk to the council’s reach and power?” Walden persisted. “The Zandian emperor reveres the Taliath of old. He’d probably declare war on us himself if he found out, not to mention his mages.”
“Some of us care more about the greater good than our expensive robes and ornate offices,” Yirith sounded irritated.
“Focusing on taking out the young potentials before anyone knows they’re Taliath lowers our exposure,” Romas said, and from the boredom in his tone, Alyx judged it was a line he’d used with Walden repeatedly. “And those that were trained before we started this will either die out, or we remove them when—and only if—we have the opportunity to do it without any blame falling on us.”
“Master Romas is right,” Duneskal spoke into the ensuing silence. “Is there anything we can do to assist?”
“For now, no.” Romas inclined his head. “The mage we currently have working to track them is doing an excellent job. He has a particular skillset that is ideal for that type of work.”
Alyx was focusing so hard on the conversation, trying to find out if somehow she was mis-hearing, she began picking up the unguarded thoughts of the masters. At Romas’s last comment, she caught a flicker of thought in his mind. An image of Brynn’s face.
Horror flooded her so deeply she abruptly cut off her magic, not wanting to know any more. Frantically, she tried to bury what she’d accidentally discovered; she didn’t want to know, wished desperately she hadn’t heard. Her stomach roiled, and she sucked in a deep breath, trying to calm herself.
“Quiet, Apprentice.” Romas’s smooth entry into her thoughts made her start violently. Tarrick grabbed her arm, eyebrows raised in query. She shook her head, indicating she was fine, and raised a finger to her lips. Romas was already gone from her head, but the note of warning in his thoughts had been unmistakable.
“Master Romas, you must commend this mage of yours when you see him next.”
“I will certainly pass on the council’s regard.”
Alyx wanted to run from the room and never come back, but it was vital she heard all of this.
“And you spoke of Galien? How is our young mage of the higher order progressing?”
“This is his final year at DarkSkull,” Romas responded to Duneskal’s question. “I fully expect him to take and pass the trials in the summer. His loyalty to us is assured, and he is very powerful. Galien is the weapon we need, gentleman.”
“But there is another, yes?”
“Yes, Master Walden. As I briefed the council last year, Temari Egalion’s daughter displays some promise.” Alyx was still so shocked she didn’t quite process the reticence in Romas’s voice.
“And the brother?”
“A recluse who displays no particular skill or magic at all,” Romas said dismissively.
“Very well.” Duneskal broke the silence. “Shall we turn to the issue of mage infringements?”
Alyx’s thoughts spun chaotically as the mages turned to less controversial matters. What the masters had revealed was bad enough, but what she had seen in Romas’s mind… she didn’t want to believe any of it, and wished she had never come to Tregaya.
And why was Romas allowing her and Tarrick to hear this?
The council broke up for the day a short time later. By silent agreement, Tarrick and Alyx waited until all the masters had filed out of the room and the door had closed behind them before slipping out of the balcony.
Usually, the councillors proceeded straight to dinner, and their mage guards dismissed for the evening. This had been Alyx’s favourite part of the days so far, a chance to relax and eat something with the others, as well as escape from the monotony of the council meetings.
Today she wasn’t sure she could eat anything, let alone behave normally, her fractured thoughts in a thousand places as she and Tarrick headed towards their rooms.
“Alyx, wait!” Tarrick called after her.
Taking a breath, she turned to face him. “What?”
“Are you feeling okay?” He hesitated. “You know what we just heard is confidential information.”
“You’re not upset by what we heard?”
His jaw clenched. “I’m trying to pretend I didn’t hear it, to be honest. That wasn’t for our ears.”
“Romas very clearly wanted us to hear it.”
“I can’t think why.” He threw his hands up in a helpless gesture.
“I see,” she said quietly, then summoned a smile. “I’m fine, a little tired. I’m going to skip dinner and go to bed early. With a good night’s sleep I’ll be fine.”
“All right.” He touched her shoulder. “Let us know if you need anything. We’ll probably have an early night too.”
Alyx entered her room, throwing off her heavy mage robe and tossing it on the tiny bed. She waited until she was certain Tarrick and the others would be at dinner, then opened her door a crack. The hall outside was empty. With a quick check to make sure her staff was hanging in its usual place down her back, she slipped out into the hall.
Chapter 30
The streets of Carhall were busy as everyone finished up their work for the day and headed out for dinner or entertainment. After asking for directions, it didn’t take long for Alyx to make her way to the barracks where Dashan and his militia were staying.
The officer on duty at the front desk took in her mage attire in a quick glance, and was as helpful as he could be.
“The visiting unit from Weeping Stead was invited to join a unit of the 1st regiment at the Iron Claw Inn, Apprentice.”
“Could you give me directions?”
“Of course.” He sketched a quick map for her on a piece of parchment—the inn wasn’t far from the barracks and it didn’t take her long to walk there.
The inn was full of off-duty soldiers and it wasn’t hard to pick out the distinctive blue of Dashan’s uniform. He was sitting at a large table along the side of the room, playing cards with several militia members. His jacket was slung over the chair beside him and he sat with his sleeves rolled up and a mug of ale at his right hand. From the pile of chips sitting in front of him, it looked as if he was doing well.
Alyx hesitated, not wanting to disturb him while he was clearly enjoying himself. She had almost decided to leave and go back to Town Hall when Dashan looked up. Delight lit up his face at the sight of her. He stood immediately, weaving through the crowd towards her. As he came close enough to see her expression, he paused.
“What is it?”
“Hi,” she said softly. “Can we talk?”
He was silent, reading her expression in a glance. “Give me a moment.”
Dashan returned to his chair, picking up his jacket and bending to speak to the soldier sitting next to him. The man nodded and Dashan headed back towards
Alyx. He took her hand and pulled her out into the street.
“You didn’t have to leave your game,” she protested as they emerged onto the quiet avenue. Dusk was falling and the light was rapidly fading.
“What’s wrong?” He squeezed her hand.
Alyx looked around them; the street wasn’t empty, and likely would only get busier. Turning, she led Dashan down into a dim alley between the inn and the closed shop beside it. Light from the inn windows above shone down into the alley but otherwise it was dark.
“Alyx, what’s going on?” Concern tinged his voice now. “Are you all right? Are the others all right?”
“I’m sorry.” She swallowed. “I shouldn’t have bothered you. You were having fun, I should just—”
He stepped abruptly closer to her, placing a finger over her lips and stopping her words. “What’s wrong?”
Unable to hold it in any longer, she told him, the words spilling out along with all the horror and despair she’d felt earlier. When she finished, she was mortified to realise that tears were streaking her face.
“What am I going to do?” Her breath sobbed out of her. “I had decided to become a mage… I thought I could help… but they’re no better than the Shiven, no better than Shakar. Dash, what am I going to do?”
He said nothing. Instead, he reached out and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her lightly against his chest. She closed her eyes, relaxing into his arms and willingly taking the comfort that he was offering. He dropped a soft kiss on the top of her head and gently stroked his fingers through her hair. Warmth began to replace some of the despair she’d been feeling.
“It’s going to be all right.”
“How can you say that?” She pulled back, embarrassed at her breakdown in front of him.
He met her gaze, brown eyes intense. “The Mage Council, they’re wrong. What they’re doing amounts to murder. But that doesn’t mean all the mages are bad people, it doesn’t mean you’re a bad person.”
