by Rachel Aaron
“But you forget,” Renaud said, folding his hands behind his back, “Mellinor has its own wizard now.”
“Being born a wizard doesn’t mean you have the skills to fight one. What if Eli double-crosses you? Did you think about that? If he decides to take the money and not return your king, do you really think you could stop him?”
“Your concern for our well-being is touching,” Renaud said, “but such matters are no longer yours to worry about.” He walked casually to the door and held it open. “You’ll find whatever provisions you need in the kitchens. If that dog of yours is half of what they say, you should be able to make it over the border by nightfall.” His smile didn’t reach his eyes. “I sincerely suggest you make all haste. I might not feel so generous tomorrow, should you be caught on our lands.”
Miranda stood her ground. “I am not one to be dismissed so easily.”
“But you are a member of the Spirit Court,” Renaud said, “and you are bound by your oaths not to interfere in internal kingdom affairs. You could be stripped of your position if you push this much further.” His smile turned cruel. “Isn’t that so, lady Spiritualist?”
It was all Miranda could do not to strangle the smug lordling with his own flowing hair. Her spirits picked up her tension and began to murmur in their gems. For a wild moment, she was on the edge of opening up and showing him the difference between a Court-trained Spiritualist and a self-taught brat. Slowly, methodically, she clamped down on the impulse. She turned and walked out of the room, but when she reached Renaud, she stopped and whispered in a low, cutting voice, “This isn’t over.”
“No,” Renaud whispered back. “I believe it is.”
Miranda stomped past him and into the still-crowded throne room, boot heels clicking angrily against the marble. The waiting masters scrambled to get out of her way, which made her feel a hair better, until she heard Renaud politely call after her: “Good day, Spiritualist.”
She didn’t give him the satisfaction of looking back.
Renaud waited until the Spiritualist was completely out of sight before he shut the door. “Are you sure that was wise?” asked an amused voice from the corner.
Renaud jumped before he could stop himself. “Must you do that?”
Coriano was already sitting on the silk couch when the prince turned, his boots propped up on the low table and his wrapped sword laid across his knees. He gave Renaud a smile and waved at the chair across from him. “Sit.”
Renaud remained standing. “You were saying?”
Coriano shrugged and put his hands behind his head. “I was just asking if you didn’t come across a little too brash with the whole ‘I might not feel so generous tomorrow’ bit. I gave you all the information you’d need to trap her with her own vows. There was no need to push her further. Old man Banage taught her how to put up a cold front, but anyone can see she’s got a mean temper inside. After that display, I wouldn’t be surprised if she really did leave tonight, just to spite you.”
“She won’t,” Renaud said. “One thing I do know about Spiritualists is that they all share the same debilitating sense of duty. If she’s been sent here to do a job, she won’t leave until it’s done.” He eyed the man cautiously. “Why do you care? I thought all you wanted was Eli’s swordsman.”
“Yes.” Coriano’s bored voice hid a dangerous edge. “But that will be hard if you flub your part sporting with something as volatile as Spiritualist pride.” The swordsman’s gloved fingers drifted gently along the wrapped hilt of his sword and he gave the prince a sideways look. “You’re not the only one who’s been waiting for his chance, wizard. If you play games with this, we will gut you before you see us coming.”
“Everything is on schedule,” the prince said, the words grinding through his gritted teeth. “You mind your end and I’ll mind mine.”
“Fair enough.” Coriano stood up. “We’re about to have company, so I’ll take my leave. I’ll be back when the flag flies, so have my fee ready. Double rate, of course, but considering you’ll be the one collecting Eli’s bounty when this is over, it hardly matters.”
“What are you talking about?” Renaud said. “You told me Josef Liechten had a ten thousand gold bounty of his own.”
“He does,” Coriano said, walking toward the servant’s door, his boots quiet as cat feet on the stone. “But that’s only if he’s brought in alive.” He gave Renaud a feral grin. “Some things are worth more than money, prince.”
“There, at least, we agree,” Renaud said, straightening his cuffs. When he looked up again, the swordsman was gone, the servant’s small door swinging shut behind him. A second later, a soft knock sounded on the door connecting the parlor to the throne room.
Renaud gathered his patience and opened it before the second knock landed. When he faced the waiting crowd of masters, his smile was the picture of sad sincerity.
“Gentlemen,” he said, “forgive me for making you wait. I had a lot to consider. I am sad to report that, for reasons of her own, the Lady Miranda has declined to aid us further.”
“You must be mistaken!” Master Oban elbowed his way to the front of the group. “She promised to help us!”
“The Spirit Court is a single-minded organization,” Renaud said gravely. “They care only for their laws and those who break them, not for the victims left behind. Honestly, we should have expected no less.”
“But,” the Master of the Exchequer clutched his ledger, “what are we to do?”
“There is only one solution,” Renaud said, “in order to save my brother. I will meet Eli and make the exchange without her.”
A swell of conversation erupted as everyone turned to his neighbor to remark at the selfless nobility of this gesture.
The Master of the Courts alone remained calm. “And, my lord, should the thief betray you?” He glanced at the Master of the Exchequer. “The bounty request has already been sent, and Council law says we cannot change it for any reason once our pledge has been entered in the official records. Your bold claim is noble, but Mellinor can hardly afford to lose our king, our prince, and forty thousand standards in one swoop.”
“That will not happen,” Renaud said, glaring at the old master. “The Spirit Court may be willing to gamble a country’s safety to catch a thief, but I am not one of their pet wizards. Though I was banished, I am a prince still, and my goal is the preservation of Mellinor. That is why, in all the world, I am the only wizard you can trust.”
A cheer erupted at this, and the old Master of the Courts was overwhelmed by the waving hands of the younger masters, who thought this was all very grand. Master Oban caught the eye of the Master of Courts and the two of them quietly retreated to a corner of the throne room.
“The tide in Mellinor is shifting,” the Master of the Courts said with a sigh when they were safely away. “I wonder if we shall like where it takes us.”
“Wizard or no, he’s a prince of House Allaze.” The Master of Security shrugged. “In four hundred years, they’ve never led us wrong. It’ll work out in the end, old friend.” He said, “You’ll see.”
The Master of the Courts stroked his gray beard thoughtfully. “I pray you are right.” He turned his eyes to the empty throne, standing high and alone on the marble dais. “We must all pray.”
CHAPTER 9
Miranda stormed into the stable yard, scattering the crowd of boys who had gathered to watch Gin eat the pig he had helped himself to from the swine pen.
“We’re leaving,” she said. “Now.”
Gin looked sadly at the pig, then pulled away with a sigh, licking his mouth clean as he trotted over. Miranda stuffed the bag of traveling food that she’d frightened out of the kitchen staff into her rucksack and slung it into position over Gin’s neck. Gin lay down with uncharacteristic meekness as Miranda clambered into her riding position.
“Get us out of here.”
The hound rose swiftly, but before he could spring forward a familiar voice called out: “Lady Miranda!
”
Miranda looked up in surprise as Marion jumped down the castle steps and hit the stable yard at a dead run. She didn’t stop until she reached Gin, slamming into his foreleg rather than taking the time to slow down.
“Here,” she gasped, and thrust her hand out. Miranda reached down and plucked the creased slip of paper from her fingers. As she unfolded it, her face lit up. “How did you get this?”
Marion grinned from ear to ear. “All important papers go to the library for storage. Sometimes being a junior librarian does have its advantages.”
“Won’t you get in trouble?” Miranda frowned. “You know I probably won’t be able to get this back to you before they notice it’s gone.”
Marion shook her head violently. “So long as the king comes back, I don’t think they would care if I raided the whole treasury.”
Miranda smiled. “Thank you,” she said. “I won’t forget this.”
Marion waved and pushed off the ghosthound’s leg.
Waving back, Miranda gave Gin the go-ahead. The ghosthound sprang forward, leaving the boys gawking as he disappeared over the gates in a cloud of dust.
“How convincing should I be?” Gin said as they jumped the final gate of the city.
Miranda glared darkly at the rolling countryside as it streaked by. “And what makes you think we’re not actually leaving?”
She could feel Gin’s chuckle through his fur. “You don’t normally lose this gracefully. The castle isn’t on fire, so far as I can see.”
“Smart aleck mutt.” Miranda smacked him good-naturedly. “You’re right, we’re not leaving. I’ll give up my rings before I let that jerk have his way.”
“What jerk?” Gin panted.
Miranda gave him the short version of her meeting with Renaud. When she finished, Gin growled thoughtfully. “Politics and gold are human vices, so maybe there’s something here I don’t understand, but I have trouble believing that an exiled prince like Renaud is really that concerned over the recovery of the little brother who took his throne.”
“My thoughts exactly.” Miranda leaned over to scratch his ears.
“What are we going to do, then?”
“That part is simple. We’re going to find Eli first.” She pointed to the left, where a thick line of shaggy conifers separated two fields. “Duck into that copse.”
Gin picked up the pace, and a few seconds later they were hidden behind the small stand of pines. Miranda jumped down and, after checking the area for any stray watchers, pressed her thumb against the fat, smooth sapphire on her right index finger. “Allinu, wake up, I need you.”
A moment later, a small, white spout of pure water bubbled happily out of the ring, forming a small pool in Miranda’s cupped hand. When the water was up to her thumb, Miranda shoved the ransom note in. “Find this ink’s source.”
“Yes, mistress,” the water whispered, and began to churn.
Miranda kept her fingers pressed as tightly as she could, though she knew it was not needed. Allinu was a mountain mist. She could stay together in a sieve if she needed to. Still, it made Miranda feel better when the water was splashing in all directions like it was now.
A few moments later, the note floated to the top, perfectly dry.
“I’m sorry, mistress,” the water said. “The ink’s been dry too long. It doesn’t remember anything.”
“I figured as much,” Miranda said, shifting the water to one cupped hand and plucking the note out. She looked at it once more before stuffing it into her pocket. So much for that.
“The paper was a bit more helpful,” the water added, almost as an afterthought.
Miranda’s head jerked up. “The what?”
“The paper,” Allinu said again. “I noticed a few rips on one side, so I asked it what had happened. Once it realized I wasn’t going to drown it into pulp, it told me about the bird. Apparently, your thief had the note delivered by falcon. In the falcon’s talons, actually, which the paper did not appreciate. Claws are very hard on paper, and—”
“Yes, of course,” Miranda said. “Did the paper say anything else?”
“I was getting to that,” Allinu sloshed, insulted. “It said, ‘At least the trip was short.’ ”
“How short?”
“Two, three minutes from when the falcon grabbed him until the falcon dropped it on some guards,” Allinu bubbled.
“That’s more like it.” Miranda grinned. “Thank you, Allinu.”
The water rose in a white mist, swirling and then vanishing back into the sapphire, leaving Miranda’s fingers damp and cold.
“Two minutes,” Gin said. “That’s a pretty big area.”
“Not everything’s as fast as you are,” Miranda said, wiping her hand on her trousers. “Coriano did say Eli wouldn’t run far. Besides, if he wasn’t close by, how could he see the signal when they meet his demands? He specifically told them to fly it from the second tower, which is barely visible above the wall.” She smiled at the castle rising over the city, less than a mile behind them. “Look, you can hardly see it even at this distance. He must be close, and when they give the signal, he’ll need to send another note to set up the trade and deliver the king. When he does that, we’ll be ready.”
She reached into the neck of her shirt and pulled out a silver pendant of delicate spirals wrapped around a large, white pearl. It was a lovely piece of work. She’d had it made especially for the spirit she kept inside, before she caught him, which wasn’t the normal order of things, but Eril had been worth it. The number of Spiritualists who kept wind spirits could be counted on one hand. Wind spirits were almost impossible to catch, and nearly as impossible to control if you did catch one. That was why she’d chosen a pendant to house him. It kept him close. A Spiritualist never forced her spirits to serve, but some spirits required more supervision than others.
“Eril,” she said, holding the pendant out. “I need you.”
At first, nothing happened. Miranda stood stone still, eyes on the pendant, until a soft breeze tangled the wispy hair around her ears. “You called?”
Miranda grimaced inwardly. Talking to a wind spirit was uncomfortably like talking to thin air. Eril, of course, took full advantage of this.
“I need you to keep an eye on the castle and all surrounding land for the next few days,” she said, careful to keep her face in the determined but slightly bored expression that worked best with flighty spirits. “You’re watching for a white flag from the second tower. The moment it flies, you’ll be looking for a bird, likely a falcon, but it could be anything, with a note in its claws. I’ll want to know where it came from, where it goes once the note is delivered, plus anything else of interest you might see.”
“Bird watching?” Eril said and sighed dramatically, blowing Miranda’s hair into her eyes. “That sounds so boring. Can’t I do something else?”
“No,” Miranda said firmly. “Don’t forget to keep an eye on all the surrounding territory—the city, the countryside, and the forest to the north where the king keeps his deer. I’ll want reports on everything.”
“All right, all right, I heard you the first time,” he huffed. “Never get to have any fun,” Miranda heard him mutter as the wind began to die down.
Miranda stayed frozen even after the air was still, a scowl etched on her face.
“He’s gone,” Gin said.
“Good,” Miranda said, giving herself a little shake. “He likes to hang around sometimes, just to see what I say about him. Gives me the jeebies.”
The hound snorted sympathetically. “How did you catch him in the first place if you couldn’t see him?”
“I used smoke,” Miranda said, untying Gin’s pack and dropping it on the ground. “But even when I could see, it took me a solid month before I managed to catch hold of a wind spirit long enough to convince him to join me.”
Gin shook his massive head. “I will never understand how you humans manage to get through your short lives being spirit blind. That’s probably w
hy the Powers gave your kind the ability to command spirits. It’s a survival mechanism.”
“We get by well enough.” Miranda pushed aside the thick branches for a better look at the castle. “It might have been a little much, sending him so early. The riders won’t even reach the Council city until late tomorrow, and that’s if they ride through the night. Then there’s the wait while the bounty is approved.”
“So what?” Gin flopped down on the thick carpet of pine needles. “I could use a break.”
“Lazy mutt.” Miranda grinned. Still, he was right. Ever since they’d gotten Coriano’s tip that Eli was in Mellinor, they’d been constantly on the move. She hadn’t had more than three hours of sleep in one stretch since she’d left the Spirit Court.
“All right,” she said, slumping down next to him, “you win. But since you got to sleep while I was searching the castle, you get first watch.”
Gin snorted, sending pine straw everywhere, but he moved to the edge of the clearing where he could lounge and watch the road at the same time. When he was settled, Miranda lay back, looking up at the deep blue sky through the tree tops. Eventually, they’d need to find a better hiding place, but this would do for now. Anyway, the sun was warm here. She closed her eyes. When Eli made his move, they would be ready. The thought made her smile, and with that, she fell asleep.
CHAPTER 10
Josef glared at his opponent, watching for an opening. The smallest twitch could show the weakness that would turn his defeat into victory. A few feet away, Eli lounged in the sunlight, leaning against the branches that hid their tumbledown stone shack and grinning like an idiot.
The thief’s eyes flicked down, and Josef saw his opening. “Match and raise,” he growled, tossing two gold standards on the grass in front of him.
