JAN WAS PLEASED at how quickly her group settled in at the Vermillion Temple. The Coruscalli was on the move and if the Arbiters were going to catch Morgsten in the act, they did not have time to waste.
Niercel was delighted that Jan took her up on her offer to stay at the Vermillion Temple.
“Your presence will be better appreciated here, among friends,” Niercel said when Jan and her companions arrived. Jan did feel more comfortable amongst her peers, but she still did not disclose her true reasons for maintaining a presence in Kalvatin.
Jan was still uncertain whether or not she should drag Niercel and the Kalvat Arbiters into the Coruscalli investigation. Morgsten was an esteemed man in Kalvatin. If Niercel knew of Jan’s suspicions regarding Morgsten, she would certainly want to bring them to light. Making such bold accusations public would only further escalate tensions between the Arbiters and Thaumaturgists, as well as between Kalvatin and the rest of Lythril.
Jan felt guilty at keeping crucial information from the Kalvat Arbiters. In a way, they were her Arbiters. As Grand Arbiter, she presided over all chapters of the Arbitrary Order of Lyth. And Niercel was an old friend. It was not easy withholding information from someone Jan admired as much as Niercel, but perhaps it was for the best. There were simply too many factors involved.
As dean of the Institute of Thaumaturgy, Morgsten was the physical embodiment of Kalvatin’s pride, a symbol of its pursuit of arcane wisdom and mastery. As skeptical and wary as the other three kingdoms were, no one had ever accused Kalvatin of trying to conquer the world with its studies of the arcane.
An unsettling feeling crept over Jan as she followed the recent events that had led her to Orsela. The Coruscalli was brazen and cunning. It was almost as though the cult wanted someone to challenge Kalvatin tradition. An Arbiter would be the best choice, since the Thaumaturgists did not always see eye to eye with the ancient order of peacekeepers, and not just any Arbiter, but the Grand Arbiter.
Well, Jan was not going to be the one to make the mistake of offending the Kalvats. Declaring Kalvat magic a tool to bring about the destruction and subjugation of the world would be like kicking a hornet’s nest. The Board of Thaumaturgists had undoubtedly waited for years for the Arbiters to come forward with such an accusation. Such a bold confrontation could potentially lead to war, something the Coruscalli would no doubt take immense joy in. How devious Morgsten was to make a target of his own people!
Jan recalled what Talon had confided in her, how the Firebringer was said to be a construct of the Ancients. If Morgsten had his way about it, Kalvatin would be at war with the other three kingdoms of Lythril, and Lythril would be at war with Astraeyu Nouvi. All the while, the true threat would be hidden in the shadows. While the people of the world waged war with their neighbors, the Coruscalli would be free to continue their search for the Firebringer unhindered. Jan could not let that happen, even if it meant keeping fellow Arbiters in the dark about the Coruscalli.
As Jan pondered over how to confront Morgsten without dishonoring Kalvat tradition and risking war with Kalvatin, another thought occurred to her. Morgsten wasn’t untouchable. If he could be made to be seen as the traitor he was, he could be banned from the Institute of Thaumaturgy and possibly even exiled from Kalvatin for his crimes. The Arbiters would then be free to try him as they saw fit. The only problem remained was how Jan was going to obtain irrefutable proof of Morgsten’s involvement with the Coruscalli.
“You’ve been awfully quiet.”
Jan jumped at the sound of the voice. In her reverie she had become unaware of her surroundings, dangerous for someone who had recently survived an assassination attempt.
Niercel looked down at Jan from where she stood. Jan did not even know when Niercel entered the office. She scolded herself for being so caught up in her thoughts.
Niercel leaned against the desk, and said, “Don’t worry. We will find the one responsible for hiring that assassin, I promise. An enemy of the Grand Arbiter is an enemy of the world. You have my full assistance in this, as well as every Arbiter here. Just say the word.”
“Thank you, Niercel. I know I can always count on you.” Jan said.
“Speaking of the assassin,” Jan continued, “have you been able to learn anything from the man we captured at the masquerade?”
Niercel averted her gaze, a trace guiltily. “He’s dead.”
“What? When did this happen?”
“A guard found him dead in his cell this morning, just before you arrived. His throat was cut, killed instantly. Whoever did it certainly knew what they were doing. I’m sorry, Jan.”
“Don’t apologize. It wasn’t your fault.” Jan’s mind reeled as she processed the new information. The assassin was dead, murdered in the dungeons of the Vermillion Temple, which could only mean one thing. “It must have been someone on the inside,” Jan said, not liking the idea that one or more Arbiter could not be trusted.
“I’ve already considered that,” Niercel replied. “As much as it unnerves me to think that one of ours might be working for the enemy, we can’t discount that possibility. There were no others with access to the dungeons during the time of his incarceration. The guards on duty report nothing out of the ordinary, but they are subject to further questioning, nonetheless. Only an Arbiter could have opened the door to his cell.”
“This is troubling.” Jan thought that maybe they could learn something from the assassin. She wondered if the man was an agent of the Coruscalli or if he was merely an assassin hired by Morgsten. Since someone had gone through a lot of trouble to have him killed, the latter seemed likely, but it would require more than one day’s time in order for Morgsten to find someone within the Arbiters willing to work for his cause. The Coruscalli was involved in the assassination attempt. Jan had no doubt about that, but if an Arbiter murdered the assassin in his cell, it meant that someone from within the Arbiters was also involved with the Coruscalli.
Jan realized Niercel was talking during the time she was thinking. Niercel finished what she was saying and looked to Jan for an answer. Puzzled, Jan only stared at her old friend. The incident reminded her sharply of their days together at the Academy of Arcane Justice. It always felt like Niercel was more adept at being an Arbiter back then, too.
She hoped that Niercel was never aware of just how much she had admired her, but Jan was not the only admirer Niercel had. Niercel was always the brightest student in their class, and she could best any of their colleagues in arcane combat. Her mastery of the arcane rivaled even that of the Kalvat sorcerers, only Niercel’s goal was to nullify such dangerous magic before it could be used for evil. Everyone strived to be more like Niercel, even those students who were jealous of her many skills, and her beauty. As Jan regarded Niercel, she believed that Niercel’s years spent keeping the peace in Kalvatin had made her even more attractive, if that was even possible.
Her platinum blond hair was cut short, but it had not lost its luster. Her icy blue eyes were as piercing as ever, perhaps even more so. Ten years of combating dark magic in a land that revered sorcery had given Niercel an edge that Jan didn’t remember seeing before, but she supposed Niercel’s job was not always easy. The Thaumaturgists seemed to enjoy making the Arbiters’ duties more challenging. Jan had only been in Kalvatin for a few days, and she was already beginning to grow weary of the politics and traditions Arbiters were not allowed to interfere with.
“Are you still with me, Jan?” The sound of Niercel’s voice brought Jan back to the present. She realized Niercel was staring at her and felt a blush coming on.
Jan struggled to hide her embarrassment and said, “I was just thinking on all that has happened lately. The world is becoming a dangerous place for Arbiters.”
“The world is getting more dangerous for everyone. We’ve been having problems with rogue mages in Orsela.”
Now paying full attention, Jan latched onto Niercel’s words. “What sort of rogue mages?”
“
Oh, the usual types. They fancy themselves Thaumaturgists, but the truth is they can barely cast a simple spell without harming themselves, or others.” Niercel spoke of the subject as though it were nothing out of the ordinary. “Usually these aspiring Thaumaturgists are more of a nuisance than anything, but recently they’ve been getting bolder, and more organized. They have even formed a group and started staging demonstrations in the streets. On two occasions we’ve been called in to dispel the disgruntled mages before they could do any real harm.”
“What are these mages so worked up about?” Jan wondered how Niercel could discuss such a topic so casually. She supposed Niercel had seen things in Kalvatin that no other Lythrillian citizen would believe.
Niercel gave a wry smile. “What do you think? Most of these mages once tried to gain admission into the Institute of Thaumaturgy but were turned down due to their ineptitude at working magic. Naturally, they would hold a grudge against the Institute for crushing their dreams.”
“You’re saying these mages are holding demonstrations against the Institute?” Jan could hardly believe it. Not only was a secret cult of fanatics targeting the Arbiters, but a group of rogue mages was protesting the Institute of Thaumaturgy.
“Simply outrageous, isn’t it?” Niercel placed both hands on the desk and leaned forward. “The Institute is the most prestigious establishment in all of Kalvatin, almost a sacred site for a nation that reveres the arcane. That’s precisely what the Thaumaturgists want everyone to believe. Many people outside of Kalvatin believe the Institute commands the respect of every Kalvat citizen, but the reality of it is that the Institute has made many enemies over the years.
“The Arbiters, of course, have been at odds with the Institute on numerous occasions,” Niercel continued, “but what many people don’t realize is that the lower-ranking mages are often resentful and downright hostile toward the Thaumaturgists. These mages rarely ever act on their hostilities or make the effort to band together to form an organization, but recently all that has changed. The current problem exists with one such group. They call themselves the Ignoble Ones, and lately they’ve become a real nuisance.”
“Has anyone been hurt in these demonstrations?” Jan asked.
“So far, no, but I fear our good fortune will not hold out much longer. The Ignoble Ones are pests. We need to put a stop to their activities before they become a menace.” Niercel grew serious as she spoke. Jan imagined they must be a real threat to cause someone as levelheaded as Niercel such worry. She wondered if these Ignoble Ones could have anything to do with the Coruscalli. The appearance of rebel mages in Orsela seemed too convenient to be mere coincidence, but according to Niercel, mages of low rank had always held a grudge against the Thaumaturgists.
“What does this splinter group want?” Jan dreaded hearing the answer, already suspecting what it would be.
“The Ignoble Ones believe they can govern Kalvatin better than the current Board of Thaumaturgists,” Niercel replied, shaking her head in disbelief. “Poor fools. If they were not good enough for the Institute, what makes them think they can serve on the Board? Most of them can barely conjure flame without setting themselves on fire.”
“Oh, my.” Jan stifled a laugh at the image of mages running around, their robes on fire.
Niercel’s features softened and a smile returned to her face as she watched Jan try to hide her amusement. “Truth be told, I’m more concerned about the Ignoble Ones injuring themselves than anything. They’re really not very skilled at sorcery.”
Maybe the Ignoble Ones were not a splinter faction of the Coruscalli, after all. From what Jan had seen, the Coruscalli wanted only the best, highly skilled warriors and sorcerers to swell its ranks. These outcast mages sounded like the laughing stock among their peers. Still, something had convinced them to take a stand. Vying for control of the Board of Thaumaturgists was no laughing matter. Something about the situation roused Jan’s suspicion, but she could not yet explain what it was.
“I’ll make sure to keep an eye out for the Ignoble Ones while I’m in Kalvatin,” Jan said.
“That would be most appreciated.” Niercel seemed genuinely relieved to have a helping hand in this matter. “Maybe admonishment by the Grand Arbiter will be enough to get those fools to see reason.”
Jan doubted everything would be solved so easily. She might be the Grand Arbiter, but that title no longer commanded as much respect as it once had, especially where matters of the arcane were concerned.
Chapter Eleven
MORGSTEN’S PLAN TO eliminate the Grand Arbiter had failed, but it mattered little in the grand scheme of things. While the Arbiters were kept busy in Kalvatin, the Coruscalli was free to continue their mission unhindered. Morgsten’s agents might not be any closer to unearthing the mysterious Firebringer, but not having to worry about constant interference from the Arbiters was a boon in itself. The Overseer was wise to bring the Grand Arbiter to Orsela. Morgsten now realized that it was foolish of him to ever doubt the Overseer’s wisdom.
As if summoned by his thoughts, the door opened and the Overseer stepped through, a cloud of darkness against the shadows of the room. Only the mask was visible in the dim light.
“Lord Overseer,” Morgsten began, “your plan to invite the Grand Arbiter to the masquerade was a success.”
“It was. Unfortunately, you failed to hold up your end of the bargain.”
Morgsten faltered. If the Overseer was disappointed in him again, it would not end well. After regaining his composure the best he could, he cleared his throat before speaking.
“I beg your pardon, my liege, but it wasn’t a complete failure. The undercover agents we had in place at the masquerade all managed to escape.”
“Except for the one apprehended by that accursed Outlander,” the Overseer said.
Again, Morgsten felt his resolve waver. He had not expected an Outlander to be traveling with the Grand Arbiter. To form an alliance with an Astraeyu Nouvin was a feat formerly unheard of, but January Sterling was unlike any Grand Arbiter that came before her.
“As per your orders, I have dealt with the assassin already,” Morgsten said. “My connections within the Arbiters here in Orsela have proven quite useful, but I find the current situation most troubling. We must tread carefully with January Sterling. I can’t believe she brought one of those savages to Orsela with her.”
“I think we now know how the Grand Arbiter learned of the Coruscalli’s presence in the Labyrinthine Archipelago,” the Overseer said. “The Outlander is an Astraeyu’s Talon. Doubtlessly she knows all about the Coruscalli and our search for the Firebringer.”
The Coruscalli had kept its existence hidden for years by remaining in the shadows of Astraeyu Nouvi. It made sense that the Outlander would know of the Coruscalli’s activities in the north. Morgsten ground his teeth as he thought of the losses they suffered in the Labyrinthine Archipelago. Because of the Outlander’s meddling, the Arbiters now held the power to activate the Firebringer instead of the Coruscalli.
“Why would an Astraeyu’s Talon want to forge an alliance with the Arbitrary Order of Lyth?” Morgsten asked.
“The reason behind the Grand Arbiter’s partnership with the Astraeyu’s Talon is not important,” the Overseer said. “The fact that the Outlander made such a show of rescuing the Grand Arbiter could work in our favor, however. While this Black Talon might have saved the Grand Arbiter from a would-be assassin, the truth remains that she managed to sneak weapons of her own into the party.”
“Of course,” Morgsten said. “Why would an Outlander be armed at such a prominent social function, unless she intended to cause provocation herself?” It would look suspicious to the unsuspecting bystander.
“Most people do not even realize a movement like the Coruscalli exists,” the Overseer said. “To those individuals, having an armed Outlander in their midst would be more of a threat. Such an incident could even reflect badly on the Arbiters, since the Outlander is a
guest of Arbiter Sterling.”
“Although the swordswoman travels with the Arbiters, she is certainly not an Arbiter. She is a savage from the harsh northern lands.” As far as Morgsten was concerned, she was little more than an animal. Some animals could be trained, but one as feral as an Outlander could never be fully domesticated. Maybe he could use that to his advantage.
Morgsten knew the Arbiters were on his trail. They were probably trying to devise a way to force his hand even now. If he could provoke the Outlander into making a move against him, he could implicate the Arbiters in a plot to assassinate the head of the Institute of Thaumaturgy. He smiled to himself at the idea of making that infuriating Grand Arbiter look like the villain. Provoking an Outlander shouldn’t be that difficult, especially one with the temperament required for an Astraeyu’s Talon.
“The Outlanders have been harassing the Coruscalli for centuries.” The sound of the Overseer’s voice brought Morgsten’s mind back to current matters. “The Coruscalli are at the top of Astraeyu’s Will’s list of criminals.”
“That the Outlanders have a justice system is laughable.” Morgsten doubted the savages even understood the concept. “They are pirates and witches, feral beasts every last one of them.” At the masquerade, he could tell it was all the swordswoman could do to keep from killing the assassin she’d apprehended. It would be easy to get her to slip, to revert to the violent instinct that drove all Outlanders.
“I think I have an idea, a way to expose the Outlanders’ knowledge of the Firebringer and the Prophecy of Fire without drawing any attention to the Coruscalli.” Morgsten knew the Outlander would take the bait if he tried to implicate Astraeyu Nouvi in a plot to activate the Firebringer and drive the people of the Four Kingdoms from the world. The savage would not be able to resist.
Tears of the Sun Page 16
