“Arbiter Sterling,” Niercel called, “may I have a word with you?”
“Yes,” Jan said, still puzzled that Niercel would be calling on her at this time. It was the middle of the day. Niercel was usually leading a patrol around Orsela that lasted well into the evening.
Niercel entered the office but remained standing.
“Sorry to interrupt, but there is something that I feel I should call to your attention.” Niercel paused, took a deep breath, and said. “Remember that group of rogue mages I told you about?”
“The Ignoble Ones, was it? You mentioned you’ve had trouble with them before.”
“Yes, the Ignoble Ones. That’s a rather appropriate name for this group of troublemakers, if you ask me. Well, it seems they want to cause trouble again.”
Jan’s mind raced with questions. Was this the opportunity to act that Morgsten was waiting for? Were the Ignoble Ones actually a splinter group of the Coruscalli, pretending to be inept at magic as a ruse?
“In Orsela?” Jan asked. “That seems awfully audacious of them.”
“You haven’t heard the half of it. The Ignoble Ones are planning to stage a demonstration at the Institute of Thaumaturgy, of all places.” Niercel sat down in the chair in front of Jan’s desk. “I’m no lover of the Institute, but here in Kalvatin it is as important as a royal castle. As an Arbiter, I’ve sworn to defend the people, everyone, even the Thaumaturgists. It’s time we took these rogues down.”
Jan noticed that Niercel seemed upset about the prospect of facing the Ignoble Ones.
“Is the situation worse than I thought?” she asked. “Just how powerful are these mages?”
“The Ignoble Ones?” Niercel scoffed. “They are as much a threat to themselves as they are to anyone. It’s just the irony of the situation, I suppose. Having to defend the Institute, a facility dedicated to instruction in the arcane, from a group of third-rate mages is not what I had in mind when I decided to become an Arbiter.”
“Things are different here in Kalvatin.” Jan understood how Niercel felt. It was the Arbiters’ duty to protect the world from the abuse of magic, but in Kalvatin, that included protecting magic.
“You would never believe just how different.” Niercel laughed, the dark shadow from before passing from her features. Jan wondered just what sorts of things Niercel had seen while working in Kalvatin that could have changed her so much from the girl she once knew. Niercel used to be all smiles, but now it seemed as though there was always an edge, a darkness lurking just below the surface.
“The Ignoble Ones are beginning to gather outside the Institute,” Niercel continued. “If we move now, we can intercept them before things have a chance to go wrong.”
Jan followed Niercel to the door. If the Ignoble Ones were somehow connected to the Coruscalli, she hoped they could settle matters before anyone was hurt.
Chapter Fourteen
JAN WAS NOT surprised when the Ignoble Ones arrived at the Institute. The Arbiters were clued in on the time of the demonstration, courtesy of information gathered by the patrols, and arrived shortly before the Ignoble Ones began to gather in the courtyard.
The Ignoble Ones reacted exactly as Jan expected when they saw the Arbiters. They were skittish, ready to attack at a moment’s notice. Mages feared and mistrusted the Order. No doubt Morgsten’s agents had led the Ignoble Ones to believe that the Arbiters meant them harm if they refused to cooperate. The centuries of fear and mistrust would work to Morgsten’s advantage. If the Arbiters felt threatened by the Ignoble Ones, they would not hesitate to attack, leading the mages to retaliate. Jan did not want this to become a massacre.
“Don’t draw your weapons unless you feel it is absolutely necessary,” she said. “The mages are unarmed.”
“That doesn’t mean they are harmless,” Niercel countered.
“We are keepers of the peace. I don’t want it said that the Arbiters started a fight in the middle of a peaceful demonstration.” Jan noticed that Niercel scoffed at her words. A few of the other Arbiters were on edge. She hoped they were sensible enough not to cause trouble. Their task of forcing Morgsten out in the open was challenging enough as it was. They did not need the Board of Thaumaturgists intervening in their affairs.
The Arbiters approached the Ignoble Ones warily.
“Nice and easy, everyone,” Jan said. “We want to avoid conflict with the Ignoble Ones, if at all possible.”
“That depends on the mages,” Niercel said. Clearly, she had no qualms about taking the Ignoble Ones down by force if necessary. Jan began to wonder if Niercel wanted the mages to put up a fight. She wondered what happened to Niercel to make her so angry. Niercel was always so cheerful at the Academy. Jan felt a nudge at her side and turned to see Talon.
“We should keep an eye on her,” Talon said. “She might do something to make it difficult for all of us.”
“You’re right.” Jan wasn’t sure, but she thought she saw a glint of jealousy in Talon’s eyes when she spoke of Niercel. Why would Talon be jealous of Niercel? Maybe she just didn’t trust Niercel’s intentions. Jan had to admit that Niercel was different than she once was.
“We’re not here to fight,” Jan said. She scanned the faces of the Arbiters so Niercel wouldn’t feel like she was being singled out. “It would be in our best interests to settle this matter peacefully.” Talon’s eyes were still on her. Like Jan, she understood that taking the Ignoble Ones alive was top priority. If they were in any way connected to the Coruscalli, they might have information on the cult’s whereabouts. Of course, Niercel did not know any of this. If she knew there was a cult of fanatical mages bent on the destruction of Lyhtril, she would have yet another reason to despise the arcane. Jan began to see Talon’s reservation in imparting details of the Coruscalli to Niercel. She was a reliable Arbiter and a good friend, but her hatred for magic could make her a loose cannon.
As the Arbiters neared the cautious Ignoble Ones, one of the mages stepped forward.
“What is the meaning of this?” she asked. “We merely want to have a peaceful demonstration. We’re not here to cause trouble.”
“Stand down, mage,” Rhys said. “Demonstrations involving the arcane are rarely peaceful. And as far as not wanting to cause trouble, well, if that were true, you wouldn’t be here.”
The mutual reservations between the Arbiters and mages ran deep. Neither group trusted the other enough to lower its guard. Tensions were high in the courtyard. Jan could feel it in the air. Obviously, she was not the only one to notice the tension. Rhys’s brow was furrowed with concern. Talon flexed her fingers above her swords, ready to take action.
“We have orders to remove you from the premises,” Niercel said. “That is precisely what we are going to do. How we go about it is up to you.”
“Is that a threat, Arbiter?” The Ignoble Ones were getting nervous. Niercel’s reputation as a fierce hunter of arcane outlaws obviously preceded her.
“If you feel that way, I suppose it is.” Niercel was unrelenting. If the Ignoble Ones did not back down, she would use force.
The courtyard became eerily silent as the two groups faced each other down. It was like the calm before the storm. Suddenly, one of the mages raised his hand, whether it was to launch an attack or to surrender Jan did not know. The sudden movement was enough to set the Arbiters in motion. They were upon the mages in seconds, wrestling them to the ground and forcing them to yield. Taken by surprise at the use of force, some of the mages resisted and fought back. All in all, the scuffle lasted only a few minutes. Jan watched as the mages were led away. Niercel shoved the leader roughly in the back and made him stumble forward.
“That went rather well,” Talon said. “Not a single mage was injured during the altercation. You should be proud.”
“I am.” Unfortunately, Jan did not feel as confident as she should. The Arbiters settled matters without drawing their weapons, but they still used brute force to apprehend the mage
s. The Board of Thaumaturgists would frown on their use of violence, even though it was the Ignoble Ones that acted first.
“Is something troubling you, Jan?” Talon asked.
The sound of her name in Talon’s richly accented alto always made Jan shiver. She met Talon’s eyes and felt suddenly stronger, like all the world’s problems faded away.
Talon looked a trace uncomfortable at Jan’s silence. “I would like to consider myself among your friends. If there is something worrying you, you can tell me. Do you think these Ignoble Ones are in some way connected to the Coruscalli, after all?”
“That’s hard to say. All I know is that groups such as the Ignoble Ones are unlikely to stage such a demonstration on their own. Something must have motivated them.”
Jan felt eyes upon her and turned her gaze toward the Institute. Morgsten leaned on the balcony overlooking the courtyard, a smug smile on his face. When he noticed Jan, he placed a hand over his heart and breathed an exaggerated sigh of relief. Jan knew it was all an act. Morgsten was no hapless victim. This demonstation was undoubtedly his doing, some diabolical scheme to make the Arbiters look bad.
“Or more precisely,” Jan said, “someone motived them.”
Talon turned to Jan, her golden eyes flashing in the sunlight. “Morgsten,” she said. “This does seem like the sort of trap he would lay.”
“Too bad for him that this confrontation didn’t turn out the way he hoped. I only hope this hasn’t ruined our peace with the Board of Thaumaturgists.” Jan knew the Order’s relationship with the Thaumaturgists was tenuous at best. Now that the Arbiters were involved with matters regarding mages, the Board would be sure to watch their every move, all courtesy of Morgsten.
Chapter Fifteen
THERE WAS A soft knock on Jan’s door. It had been a long day and Jan was in no mood for visitors, but she gave them permission to enter anyway. When she glanced up from her desk, she was surprised to see Niercel standing just inside the doorway.
“I’m sorry to bother you again, Arbiter Sterling,” she said. “I just wanted to offer my sincerest apology in person.”
“What are you apologizing for?”
“I fouled up,” Niercel replied, her eyes downcast. “Because of my response to gossip on the street, I could have jeopardized your reputation among the Kalvats.”
“There’s no need to apologize for that,” Jan said. “Kalvats are, by their nature, suspicious of Arbiters. What happened today was only a sharp reminder of that fact. We Arbiters are merely tolerated in Kalvatin, but rarely ever welcome.”
“I know, but I should have been more careful. Damn it! It feels like someone is trying to goad us into a fight, to cause us to make a fatal error and lose all that we have accomplished in Kalvatin over the years.” Niercel appeared very upset. Jan felt guilty about not telling her everything, but if Niercel knew that Morgsten was behind all this, she would probably want to confront him and that would be dangerous. No, Jan felt it was best to stick to the original plan and lure Morgsten into making a mistake. Then, Niercel and all the Arbiters would have a chance to show him the true meaning of justice.
“Relax,” Jan said. “No one was injured at the demonstration. It was all just a big misunderstanding. The Arbiters have not lost their standing with the Kalvats.”
“I suppose you’re right,” Niercel said. She laughed. “Here am I, getting worked up over nothing, as usual. You always did know just what to say to me, Jan. I’m glad I have you to talk to.”
Jan blushed at the compliment. For a brief moment, it was almost like when she and Niercel were younger, back when Jan held a fierce admiration for Niercel. The flashback passed as swiftly as it had come and Jan was back in the present, with larger issues to consider than her youthful infatuation with her friend. The Coruscalli were planning on releasing a power that could destroy the world, and Jan was no closer to stopping it than she was before.
“GREETINGS, ARBITER STERLING,” Morgsten said as he approached Jan. She was shocked to see him in such a pleasant mood. He was grinning from ear to ear like he was greeting an old friend. Jan returned the gesture.
“Greetings, Lord Morgsten. I hope you are well. Yesterday was a rather eventful day.”
“Was it ever,” Morgsten sounded exasperated. “Far more excitement than what I am accustomed to, let me assure you. I don’t know how the Arbiters deal with situations like those day after day. Your courage is commendable.”
For an instant, Jan almost fell under Morgsten’s spell and felt pity for him. She had to remind herself that this was all just an act.
“All in a day’s work for an Arbiter,” she said.
“I know that it is a difficult and often thankless job,” Morgsten said.
“It is,” Jan agreed. “I have to remember all the people in Lythril who are depending on the Arbiters.”
“I know that you are very busy,” Morgsten continued, “but I was hoping that I might have a word with you, in private.” Jan must have let her hesitancy show, for he added hastily, “It concerns matters that I believe will interest you.”
Jan was suspicious as to Morgsten’s real reasons for visiting the Vermillion Temple, but she had no choice but to honor his request. That didn’t mean she was not on guard every second. As she escorted Morgsten to her office, the dagger she wore beneath her coat was always at the ready.
Morgsten’s fear of what the rogue mages could have done if left unchecked seemed genuine, but Jan supposed he would be accustomed to playing the innocent party by now. Either that or he really was intimidated at being in the lair of the Arbiters, his enemy, alone and supposedly unarmed.
When they were in Jan’s office and the door was closed, Morgsten turned to Jan and began speaking in hushed tones.
“I don’t know how to say this,” he said, “so I will get right to the point. There exists, among Astraeyu Nouvin legend, a prophecy of the Ancients. The Prophecy of Fire, as it is called amongst the natives, speaks of a time when an entity known as the Firebringer will cleanse the world of all impurities.”
Jan could hardly believe what she was hearing. Morgsten was in her office, in the Vermillion Temple, and he was willingly offering information on his knowledge of the Firebringer. She wondered if Morgsten would begin on the subject of the Coruscalli next, confessing his involvement and claiming to have been misled by the cult.
“Why tell me this?” Jan asked. “What does an Ancient prophecy have to do with recent events?”
“The point I’m getting at is that the Astraeyu Nouvins have been plotting against us for centuries,” he said. “Ever since the Forgotten Era, the Outlanders have been devising a way to rid the world of their enemies.”
“The Lythrillian people?”
“Precisely my point, Grand Arbiter. I know it is hard to believe, but the Firebringer is a construct created by the Ancients, the ancestors of the Astraeyu Nouvins, meant to burn the people of Lythril from this world.”
“Those are all lies.”
Jan was shocked again as Talon emerged from hiding and launched herself across the room, but not nearly as shocked as Morgsten as Talon pressed the edge of her sword against his throat.
“You speak lies with the intent of causing harm to my people,” Talon growled at Morgsten. She pressed the edge of her blade more firmly against his neck.
Stunned into silence, Jan could only watch as Talon and Morgsten stared each other down. Morgsten’s fear was almost palpable now, not the feigned distress from before. Jan regained her composure at last and stepped between Talon and Morgsten.
“That’s enough,” she said. She hoped neither noticed the tremor in her voice. She swallowed hard, and said, “Talon, lower your sword.”
Talon hesitated for an instant, giving Morgsten a few more seconds of fright before complying with Jan’s order. Jan breathed an audible sigh of relief. Yet another disaster was narrowly averted. She’d had more than her fair share of those lately.
“Th
at animal should be in a cage,” Morgsten said. He pointed a finger at Talon. “She knows I speak the truth about the Outlanders. That is why she would see me dead if she has the chance.”
At Morgsten’s taunt, Talon took a step toward him. Jan grabbed Talon by the arm, hoping the gesture would be enough for Talon to see reason. Talon halted her pursuit of Morgsten, but not before giving him a look that sent him stumbling back a few steps.
“That murderer should be locked away,” Morgsten said. “I demand you place the fiend under arrest, Grand Arbiter. I shan’t be able to rest until you do.”
Jan knew Morgsten would not take lightly to having his life threatened, especially by a woman he believed was the true enemy of the world. Jan noticed Talon was exceptionally calm considering the circumstances. It tore at her heart to have to arrest Talon, but her already precarious situation in Kalvatin made it impossible for her to refuse Morgsten’s demand. Talon had drawn her sword first. Even now the thin red line where the blade had scored flesh was still visible on Morgsten’s throat. There was simply no other alternative.
Talon waited patiently as Jan considered her next action. Jan mustered as much courage as she could and stepped forward.
“Talon, in the name of the Arbitrary Order of Lyth and the authority which it grants me, I place you under arrest. From this point on until you are proven innocent, you are in full custody of the Arbiters.” Jan sighed. It was done. She felt horrible for putting Talon through such humiliation again, but it was done.
“Your fate is in Lyth’s hands now, you cur,” Morgsten said. To Jan, he added, “Thank you, Arbiter Sterling. You have performed the world a great service by capturing this beast.”
Jan gave a slight dip of her head in acknowledgment, but she was no longer in the mood to smile and pour on the false niceties. She just wished Morgsten would leave. His presence had caused enough damage already.
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