###
“It’s no use,” said Nazim, shaking his head. He straightened up from the prone Jurgur woman. “When the astralfire expelled the demon from her, it also ripped her mind apart.”
Rachaelis frowned. “You mean…”
“Her mind is almost gone,” said Nazim. “And what’s left is falling apart. In a few hours she will die, since there's not enough left of her to keep her heart beating. I tried to see if any of her memories remained, but they were destroyed when the demon fled.” He sighed and shook his head. “We will learn nothing from her.”
Rachaelis stared at the dying woman, her mouth tight. Another person dead at her hands. First Mabignon, and now this. She remembered how Arthain had urged her to kill the gladiator during the Testing. Could the High Art do nothing but destroy?
“You should not blame yourself,” murmured Nazim. “You acted only in self-defense. And this woman chose to take a demon into herself. Her fate is grim, but she brought it upon her own head.”
Rachaelis took a sharp breath. “I know that. It’s just…”
The door opened, and Thalia stepped past the Swords .
“Well?” said Nazim.
“She isn’t one of the Conclave’s slaves,” said Thalia, “and I found out how she got into the Ring. Two Swords were found with their necks broken on the outer wall.”
Rachaelis looked away. Two more deaths, and all because someone had wanted to kidnap her.
“It appears the demon gave her supernatural strength and agility,” said Nazim. “So she scaled the wall, killed the Swords, and climbed to your window.”
“But about the wards?” said Thalia. “The Ring is layered with wards to detect the presence of demons. Every Adept in the Ring should have felt the demon the minute it touched the outer wall, but we did not.”
“I don’t know,” said Nazim. “Certainly I felt nothing, nor did any of the others. We only entered the room once we heard the sounds of struggle.”
“She wasn’t here to kill me,” said Rachaelis, voice numb. “Like the others. She had a sponge soaked in a sleeping draught.”
Thalia looked at the Jurgur woman, scowling. “And it seems that we can’t keep you safe in the Ring.”
“If we cannot keep her safe in the Ring,” said Nazim, “then where?”
“Nowhere,” said Thalia, eyes narrowed as she stared at the Jurgur. “She was in the inner Ring, surrounded by walls, wards, Swords, and Adepts, and we still almost lost her. The Ring is one of the best-guarded places in the world. If we cannot keep her safe here, then we cannot keep her safe anywhere.”
“So what do you suggest we do?” said Nazim.
“We have to strike back,” said Thalia. “We cannot simply sit here and wait for the next attack. No one ever won a war by fighting defensively. We have to find out who wants to capture Rachaelis, and why, and stop them.”
“But how?” said Rachaelis.
Thalia gave a shake of her head. “I don’t know. We don’t know anything about the Jurgurs. We don’t know why they want Rachaelis, what possible reason they might have for wanting to capture her. We don’t even speak their language. How can we fight an enemy we know nothing about?”
“Then we find out more about them,” said Nazim.
“By that time Rachaelis will be captured,” said Thalia.
Then her eyes widened, and a smile spread over her face.
“We might know nothing about the Jurgurs,” she said, “but I know someone who does. Magister, Rachaelis, I’ll be back before noon.”
She vanished in the silver flash of an astraljump.
Chapter 7 - The Alliance
It was past time to go home.
Corthain stood on the pier and watched as his porters loaded the baggage and the remainder of the wine casks onto a ship. The ship was a Callian trader heading back to the mainland with a load of spelllamps and the other low-level enchanted objects. But spelllamps were not large, and the captain had ample room in his hold. He was more than happy to take on additional paying cargo and passengers.
“Six days sailing and we’ll be home,” said Luthair. “Five, if the weather is favorable.”
“To Callia City, anyway,” said Corthain. “We’ll hire a few teamsters and take the King’s Highway back to Moiria. I’ve had quite enough of ships and islands.”
“As have I,” said Luthair. He sighed and cast a longing look over the city. “Still, it’s a pity your business filled all my time, my lord domn. All those wealthy, bored noblewomen…I could have enjoyed myself quite thoroughly.”
Corthain snorted. “Or you could have gotten yourself hung.”
Luthair grinned. “What’s life without a little risk?”
Corthain looked back at the ship. “I’ll be glad to leave.”
“At least things went well,” said Luthair. “Some fat wine contracts for the freeholders, and a joyful reunion with your estranged sister.”
“True enough,” said Corthain, smiling despite himself. Yes, the trip had indeed gone well. Better than he had expected, in truth. He certainly never would have guessed that Thalia did not hold him responsible for Solthain’s death. Still, he looked forward to leaving this city of slaves and arrogant Adepts.
He looked forward to going home.
No sooner had the thought crossed his mind when he heard a commotion on the pier. Corthain turned, old reflexes sending his hand to his sword hilt. Luthair turned as well, hand dipping into his coat, where he had no doubt hidden a knife or three. An Adept strode through the crowds, porters and slaves and sailors falling over themselves to get out of the way. Misgiving rose in Corthain, and his hand tightened around his sword hilt. Perhaps his father had decided that matters of commerce were not beneath a Magister after all …
Then he got a good look at the Adept.
“Thalia?” he said, surprised.
His sister sighed in relief. “The innkeeper at the Silver Coin said you had left. I’ve been going from pier to pier for the last hour looking for you.”
“Ah,” said Luthair, grinning as he swept into a bow. “Come to see your lord brother off, my lady?”
“Not quite,” said Thalia. “Corthain, someone tried to kill me.”
“What?” said Corthain. “When did this happen?”
“Yesterday, after we spoke,” said Thalia. “Another Adept and I were conducting screenings. A Jurgur blood shaman attacked us.”
“A blood shaman?” said Corthain. “Are you certain?”
“A Jurgur woman who cast blood spells?” said Thalia. “What else could she have been?”
Corthain shared a look with Luthair. They had seen the sort of horrors Jurgur blood shamans could unleash. The campaign leading to Dark River had been full of them.
“We would have died,” said Thalia, “but Rachaelis, the other Adept, fought her off.”
“Why would a Jurgur blood shaman want to kill you?” said Corthain.
“She didn’t,” said Thalia. “She was after Rachaelis. She wanted Rachaelis alive, for some reason. It wasn’t the first time, either. A Jurgur slave attacked Rachaelis a few days ago. We thought it was just one slave who wanted to force himself on her.”
“Considering the attack at the basilica, that seems unlikely,” said Corthain.
“That’s what we thought,” said Thalia. “And there was another attack this morning. A demon-possessed Jurgur woman broke into the Ring. Somehow she scaled sixty feet of stone wall, avoided the wards around the Ring, and tried to capture Rachaelis.”
“Urthaag,” muttered Luthair.
Thalia frowned. “What was that?”
“Urthaag,” said Corthain. “That was what the Jurgurs called someone who voluntarily allows a demon into their bodies. The blood shamans call up a demon, and a Jurgur warrior takes it into himself. The warrior gains superhuman strength and speed.”
“And usually goes quite mad in the process,” said Luthair.
“You’ve seen such things before?” said Thalia.
&nbs
p; “Aye,” said Corthain. “The Jurgur horde had numerous Urthaags among their numbers. They were very hard to kill. And you had to cut off the head right away, otherwise the demon would linger and raise the corpse as a ghoul. How did you fight off your Urthaag, anyway?”
“I didn’t,” said Thalia. “Rachaelis did. White astralfire harms demons, and she used it to destroy the demon.”
“Lucky,” said Luthair.
“Her rooms are in the inner Ring,” said Thalia. “The inner Ring, Corthain. Surrounded by walls, wards, and guards, and that…that Urthaag still nearly took her. If we can’t keep her safe in the heart of the Ring, then where can we keep her safe?”
“You cannot,” said Corthain. “You need to find this woman’s enemy and destroy him before he can strike again. And to do that, you must find out why he wants to take her alive.”
“I don’t know,” said Thalia. She took a deep breath. “Corthain…I need your help.”
Corthain said nothing.
“No one in the Conclave knows anything about the Jurgurs,” said Thalia. “No one in the Conclave even speaks Jurguri! How can we find the reason for these attacks? We don’t even know where to begin.” She touched his arm. “But you would. Corthain, you’re the Hammer of Dark River. Who knows more about the Jurgurs than you?”
“No one, that’s who,” said Luthair.
“Not now, Luthair,” said Corthain. “I cannot stay here, Thalia. I have duties at home.”
“I know,” said Thalia. “And I know that I am asking a lot of you.”
“I am not an Adept,” said Corthain. “What can I do that you cannot, that Father cannot?”
“You know more of the world than we do,” said Thalia. “Father hasn’t left Araspan in years, and neither have I. What…what do we know about tracking someone down? You’re…clever. You couldn’t go from being a penniless vanguard to a Callian domn if you weren’t clever.”
“She’s got you there, my lord,” said Luthair.
“Not now, I said,” snapped Corthain. Luthair grinned, but fell silent.
“Corthain,” said Thalia. “There is no one else. Rachaelis is my friend. And they’re going to take her, and I can’t stop them. Not by myself.”
“Rachaelis?” said Corthain.
“Rachaelis Morulan,” said Thalia. “The Adept I sponsored.”
Corthain blinked. “Aramane’s daughter?”
Thalia nodded.
“I remember Aramane,” said Corthain, voice quiet. “He was…one of the very few Magisters I could respect. And then Paulus burned away his soul and left his body caught between life and death.”
“He’s been lying in that tower room for the last twelve years,” said Thalia. “Rachaelis visits him almost every day.”
“If I get involved in this,” said Corthain, “Father will be furious. He’ll see it as a Callian domn interfering in the internal affairs of the Conclave.”
“Let him,” said Thalia. “He hasn’t been able to protect Rachaelis, either. And Father is almost always furious about something. I will deal with him.”
“Do you really think I can do anything?” said Corthain.
“I think you could help her,” said Thalia. “And I don’t know anyone else who can.”
Corthain turned. “Rikon!”
Rikon crossed to his side. “Aye, my lord?”
“You’re in charge,” said Corthain. “Once you get to Callia City, get everyone to Moiria.”
Rikon blinked. “But…where will you be, my lord?”
“Here,” said Corthain. “I’m staying for a few days. I’ll take ship to Callia City and meet you back at Moiria.”
“You’re staying here…by yourself?” said Rikon. “My lord, is that wise?”
“Probably not,” said Corthain, “but I’m not staying by myself. Luthair will accompany me.”
“I will?” said Luthair.
“You did say you wanted to spend more time here,” said Corthain. “Ask, and you will receive. Rikon. Take the baggage with you. But leave the one trunk with my weapons and armor. Yes, the black one. Luthair. Get me some paper and a pen. I’ll want to write some instructions for my seneschals at Moiria. Rikon can deliver it.”
“It will be as you say, my lord,” said Rikon. “And…good luck.”
“Thank you,” said Corthain. “And a safe journey to you.”
Rikon banged his fist against his chest in salute, and he and Luthair went to carry out Corthain’s instructions.
“Thank you, brother,” said Thalia. “This…means more to me than I can say.”
Corthain shrugged. “My domnium can do without me for a little while longer, I think. And perhaps I owe Rachaelis, as well. If had talked Solthain out of attacking Paulus, perhaps her father would not have suffered his…condition.”
Thalia frowned. “That’s not your fault.”
“Perhaps not,” said Corthain. “But as you said, perhaps I can do something about it.”
###
A few moments later Corthain watched the ship pull into the harbor.
He wished he were aboard it, leaving this cesspit of a city behind. But Thalia needed his help, and he would not turn her away, not now, not after so long.
“If I might ask, my lord,” said Luthair. “Why did you order me to accompany you?”
Corthain looked at him.
Luthair grinned. “I assume it was for my unmatched counsel and peerless wisdom, but perhaps you had something else in my mind?”
“Of course,” said Corthain. “That, and I needed someone to help carry the trunk.”
Luthair sighed, and picked up the trunk.
###
Rachaelis sat by her father’s bed.
Two Swords stood guard outside the door, at Magister Nazim’s insistence. Rachaelis doubted they would do any good if another blood shaman or demon-possessed Jurgur showed up. In fact, they would probably get killed.
On account of her.
“I don’t know what to do,” said Rachaelis.
She touched her father’s hand. It was warm, but had no heartbeat.
“The Jurgurs are trying to capture me,” said Rachaelis. “A slave, a blood shaman, and a demon-possessed woman. They all tried to capture me in the space of a week. Marvane got killed. The shaman cast a spell that ripped all the blood out of his body. I don’t know what I’m going to do. I don’t want anyone else to get killed on my account. But if I do nothing…the Jurgurs will capture me. Sooner or later. What am I going to do?”
Her father did not respond.
“Maybe I should leave Araspan,” said Rachaelis. “Go someone place with no Jurgurs. The Conclave has embassies in other nations. Maybe Talvin will let me serve there. Or would the Jurgurs follow me?”
She stared at the floor.
“What am I going to do?” she whispered.
There was no answer, from her father or from anyone else.
Rachaelis lowered her head and began to whisper a prayer, over and over again, asking for the Divine to watch over her.
Voices interrupted her. The Swords, speaking to someone. Rachaelis let go of her father’s hand and looked up, her mouth tight. Another Jurgur, come to capture her? But the Swords didn’t sound alarmed.
A moment later the door opened, and a man walked into the room.
For a moment Rachaelis thought it was Magister Arthain. He had the same lean face, the same hard green eyes. But he was a good thirty years younger than Arthain, and had considerably more muscle. He wore the sober black coat and white shirt favored by Callian nobles. A sword of antique design hung from his belt, the sort of blade that had been used during the Old Empire.
He looked dangerous. Expensive clothes or not, he seemed like he knew how to use that sword. And had used it, often. For a moment Rachaelis wondered if the Jurgurs had dispatched a well-dressed assassin to capture her, but then it clicked.
She lifted her chin. “You must be Corthain Kalarien.”
Though what he was doing here, she had no idea.
“I am,” said Corthain. “How did you know?”
“Thalia mentioned that her brother was in the city,” said Rachaelis. “Also, your resemblance to Magister Arthain is rather pronounced.”
Corthain grimaced. “So it is.”
Rachaelis had heard of him, of course, but did not know all that much about him. He had been the only survivor of the doomed attack upon Paulus and his pet demons, and had banished from Araspan after that, much to Thalia’s displeasure. He had defeated the Jurgur horde in a great battle, and the Swords had spoken highly of him, even if the Adepts had not.
But what did he want with her? Now, of all times?
“What do you wish of me?” said Rachaelis. “This is not the best time for a social visit.”
“It isn't,” said Corthain. “Thalia asked for my help. It seems some Jurgurs want to capture you.”
Rachaelis laughed. “Help? The Jurgurs almost captured me in the heart of the Ring itself. I mean no offense, but how could you help me?”
Corthain stepped closer. His hand, she noticed, was never more than a few inches from his sword hilt. He stopped next to her, but looked down at her father.
“He doesn’t look at all different,” said Corthain.
Rachaelis blinked. “You knew him?”
“When I first joined the Swords,” said Corthain. “I was…discontented. I thought the Conclave corrupt and arrogant, and wanted nothing to do with it, but my father insisted. Aramane took me aside, told me that no matter where I went in the world, I would find that men were corrupt and arrogant. What mattered was what I did about it. If I would use my position to protect people, or to torment them.” He stared at Aramane, eyes distant. “Your father was a good man.”
“He was,” said Rachaelis. “And he still is. Whatever Paulus did to him.” She hesitated. “I assume you didn't come here just to pay your respects to my father?”
“Not entirely, no. I know a thing or two about the Jurgurs,” said Corthain. “Thalia thinks I can help you.”
Rachaelis snorted. “So she browbeat you into coming?”
A smile flickered over Corthain’s face. “It is hard to tell her no. If you don’t want my help, I’ll go. But Thalia wants to help you. So for her sake, I will help you, if I can.”
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