Betrayed by Magic: A New Adult Fantasy novel (The Baine Chronicles Book 5)
Page 22
“Oh shit!” the parrot squawked, perching on the footboard of my bed. It cocked its head at me, then swiveled around to regard me with one glowing eye. Damn, but it looked incredibly real—I could see each individual feather cover its glowing body, and man did the claws curling around my footboard look sharp! “Oh shit!”
I groaned, flopping back against my pillows. “No!” I whined at the parrot, flicking my hand in a shooing motion. “This is wrong. You’re not supposed to be a parrot! Just be gone already.”
The parrot cocked its head to the opposite side, then vanished in a flash of light. I let out a sigh of relief that I hadn’t had to resort to using magic to get rid of it. Clearly, I’d been a little too optimistic about my memory of the incantation. I was lucky my pigeon had turned into a parrot and not, say, a hippopotamus. Those things were mean as hell, from what I’d heard, not to mention downright huge.
Oh well, I thought, curling up on my mattress. I might as well take a nap until my lesson with Iannis. With any luck, he’d never find out about this little incident.
After our usual warm-up exercises, Iannis took pity on me and offered to do some combat training. We suited up with magical armor, and with Fenris acting as referee, we launched into three-minute rounds of magical combat. As in our previous mock fights, we stuck to fire and ice, but this time, we added shielding to our arsenal, which enabled me to deflect Iannis’s ice blasts.
Of course, I quickly found out that since he could also do the same, our fights devolved into something more like a match of tennis, with the two of us bouncing balls of fire and ice back at each other.
“This is so frustrating!” I shouted as I shielded against another ball of ice. “What is the point of doing this if we’re never actually going to hit each other? Why do mages even duel in the first place?”
“Good question!” Iannis shouted as he lobbed the ice ball back at me. I shot a fireball at it to melt it, then another one directly at his head, hoping to catch him off guard. No such luck; he simply bounced it back at me again. “Mage duels are difficult and frustrating, and should never be undertaken without good purpose.”
Growling, I changed tactics. Instead of shielding against the ball, I ducked and allowed it to hit the force field protecting the wall. I shot out two more fireballs, hoping that three missiles would be more than Iannis could comfortably deal with, or at least enough of a distraction that I could figure something else out.
“Oh shit!” a familiar voice squawked, and my mouth dropped open as I saw the ether parrot materialize right next to Iannis’s head.
“What in the world—” Iannis exclaimed, startled, and he missed one of the fireballs. It slammed into his chest, and he grunted as the force of the blow knocked him against the wall.
“Time!” Fenris called, and I lowered my shield. He rushed over to Iannis. “Are you all right?”
“I’m perfectly fine,” Iannis said, barely even looking at Fenris. His attention was firmly fixated on the parrot, who was now perched on his shoulder. “Although I would very much like an explanation for this creature.”
“Um, that’s kind of my fault,” I said sheepishly as I crossed the room. To my annoyance, the parrot turned his head up at my approach. “I was trying to create an ether pigeon, but I created this guy instead.”
“Did you really?” Iannis laughed. “I suppose you didn’t get the Word for ‘pigeon’ quite right.”
“That would be my guess,” Fenris said, who also looked highly amused. “Does it usually drop in on you at unexpected times?”
“I don’t know,” I groused, annoyed that my blunder had been found out after all. “This is the first time it’s happened. I created him about an hour ago, and he disappeared immediately afterward. I thought I’d seen the last of him, but I guess I was wrong.”
Iannis and Fenris both laughed this time, and I felt a smile tug at my lips even as my cheeks reddened. It was good to see them together like this again, without tension between them. Fenris must have laid his misgivings about staying at the Palace to rest for now, and hopefully for good. He belonged here with us—that much I was certain of.
“Well, I must say, he makes for an unusual pet.” Fenris passed a hand along the parrot’s ghostly foliage. His fingers went right through, of course, as the parrot wasn’t corporeal. “At least he shouldn’t produce droppings.”
“Yeah, that’ll make me feel a lot better when he wakes me up in the middle of the night yelling ‘Oh shit!’”
Iannis and Fenris burst into laughter again, but it was cut short by a knock on the door. “May I come in, Lord Iannis?” Director Chen called, and I stiffened. She had a bad habit of breaking up my lessons with Iannis early, and I was becoming less and less willing to tolerate it. I leveled a glare at Iannis, who nodded and mouthed that he understood.
“Yes, come in, but make it quick,” he called.
Director Chen stepped inside and closed the door behind her. “Thorgana’s convoy was attacked on its way in to Dara this evening.”
“What?” Iannis and I both shouted at the same time.
“Did she escape?” Iannis demanded. “And what of the guards? Are any still alive?”
“No, she did not escape,” Chen said, and I sighed as a wave of relief washed over me. “There were a few casualties, as the party that attacked our convoy was very large—over twice the number of guards. If not for the mages accompanying them, the attackers would have been able to successfully free Thorgana. In any case, she has been checked into the prison facility, and is safe once more.”
“Well, that is good to hear,” Iannis said, sounding much calmer now. “And after this, her air of injured innocence will look much less credible. It’s all the confirmation needed that she is indeed the Benefactor. Did the attackers make contact with Thorgana in any way? And did our people capture any of them?”
“Unfortunately not.” Chen shook her head. “The ones who survived fled, and the guard captain sensibly decided it would be foolish to pursue them—his top priority was guarding Thorgana in case there was a second attack. Also, they had several wounded to look after.”
“Very well,” Iannis said, sounding disappointed. “I will contact the Minister to ensure that she is thoroughly searched and isolated for a time— we must be certain that the attackers did not manage to slip any sort of weapon or disease to her.”
“I think you will be discussing that with him in person,” Chen said. “The Minister wishes for you to return to Dara immediately. To discuss the Garaian matter, he said.” She looked at him questioningly, and I surmised that Iannis had not yet told her about the other Resistance lab.
“I cannot,” Iannis said firmly. “I have a hearing tomorrow morning. But I shall leave immediately after that.”
“I will let him know, sir, and I will convey your suggestions regarding the prisoner as well.” Chen bowed, then swept from the room, closing the door behind her.
“Damn,” Iannis muttered when her footfalls had receded. “I had hoped to have at least a week at the Palace before being called away again. I have much to catch up on.”
“I’m sure Director Chen will help you pick up the slack while you’re gone. And Fenris and I will do what we can do to help.” I took off my armor, then cupped his face in my hands and kissed him. “Try to get some sleep tonight, okay? I don’t want you to smite Noria because you’re too grumpy to deal with her attitude.”
Iannis smiled at that. “I think if I’ve managed to deal with your attitude for this long, I can survive Miss Melcott for a single morning.”
I snorted. “I sure hope so,” I said as I left the room. Because if not, Noria was going to be in big trouble.
29
The morning of Noria’s hearing dawned bright and cold, hinting at the coming fall. I stood on my veranda, sipping coffee while I watched the sun rise, and prayed to Magorah and Resinah and the Creator and whoever the hell else was listening, to make Noria wake up with a clear head rather than anger in her heart.
I bathed and dressed, then made my way down to the audience chamber, where Iannis and Fenris already waited. This was the room where Iannis heard complaints and conducted hearings, where I had experienced my first encounter with the fearsome and mysterious Chief Mage. I stepped into the spacious chamber, which was more like a hall than a room. A long blue-and-gold carpet carved a path through the center of the parquet floor, and tall, gleaming mahogany columns held up the soaring ceiling as I walked up the path. The walls were pale pink granite, as was the huge desk Iannis and Fenris stood behind. A thick, leather-bound logbook stood open on the desk, as well as a file, and there were legal texts on hand as well, should they prove to be necessary.
“Good morning,” I murmured, twining my fingers briefly with Iannis’s as I took my place to his right. We hadn’t slept together last night, and I strongly suspected Iannis hadn’t slept at all, though he looked the same as ever.
“Good morning.” He squeezed my hand briefly, then let it go as the double doors opened. My heart skipped a beat as Annia and two guards brought Noria in. They were both wearing conservative dresses, Annia’s a pale green and Noria’s a dark red—probably their mother’s idea, as I doubted Noria would have dressed up for the occasion. I was glad her mother, a rather difficult woman, had elected to stay away from the hearing. Perhaps Annia had persuaded her to stay behind. Noria held her head high as she was escorted down the aisle to stand before the Chief Mage with Annia at her side.
Comenius and Elnos were also there, trailing behind the guards—they had agreed to come as character witnesses and to provide moral support. Comenius gave me a small smile as he and Elnos stood off to the side, and I nodded. I was glad they were here, not just for Noria, but for me as well, selfish though that was.
“Good morning, Lord Iannis,” Annia said, bowing. Everyone but Noria did the same. “We are ready for the hearing.”
“Are you?” Iannis asked sternly, addressing Noria directly. She locked eyes with him, and I was both proud and apprehensive at the defiance blazing in her dark eyes. “Are you ready to proceed with this hearing, Miss Melcott?”
“Ready as I’ll ever be,” Noria said, straightening her shoulders.
“Very well.” Iannis pulled a piece of paper from the file on the desk, then briefly scanned it. “Noria Melcott, are you aware that you have been charged with treason against the Federation, and for attempting to commit genocide?”
“I am,” Noria said stiffly.
“And do you have anything to add to the testimony you have already given, which is on record?” Iannis asked.
“No.” Noria hesitated. “Actually, yes.”
Annia glared at her, but Noria refused to look at her sister. My stomach sank, and I had a feeling that whatever she was about to say wouldn’t help her case.
“Very well. What do you wish to tell us?”
“I want to make it clear that even though I don’t support the Resistance any more, I still don’t recognize your authority over me.” Elnos sucked in a sharp breath, and pain flashed in Annia’s eyes. “You have no empathy for the human race, and do not attempt to understand our troubles or needs. Whatever you decide to do with me, you’re still a tyrant. Nothing is going to change that.”
I clenched my hands at my sides, thankful the desk shielded them. Where the hell did Noria get off saying any of that shit? There was a kernel of truth there, but after everything I’d told her, and all that had transpired, she should know better than that by now. And unlike me when I’d arrived here for my hearing, Noria had actually committed crimes against the Federation.
“Noted,” Iannis said, without a hint of emotion. “Now, do you admit that it was wrong to aid the Resistance in producing the kind of weapons they were asking you to make?”
“I do now,” Noria admitted. “I didn’t realize the real purpose they intended to use my device for when I started working on it, or I never would have agreed. That’s why I tried to stop them,” she added, glaring at Iannis.
“That, too, has been noted, and it is the only reason why you haven’t already been sentenced to death,” Iannis said. Noria’s face paled at that, making her freckles stand out, but she did not react otherwise. “Even so, I cannot let you off without any punishment at all. You must either face three years in the mines, or take a legally and magically binding oath not to engage in any sedition or revolutionary activities for the next twenty years.”
I stifled a huge sigh of relief, and did not miss the expressions of relief on the others’ faces. Noria was getting a huge break, and we all knew it.
“Are those my only choices?” Noria demanded.
“Yes.”
“Fine. Then I choose the mines.”
“What!” I shouted, slapping my hands on the table. “Noria, you can’t be serious!” I couldn’t contain myself anymore—this was ridiculous. “Quit being so stubborn and just take the deal!”
“I am taking the deal,” Noria said, her eyes still on Iannis—she refused to look at me. “Lord Iannis’s three-year sentence is much lighter than what I expected from him, and I’m taking it. I won’t agree to the oath.”
“Noria, please.” Annia took her sister’s arm and turned her, her dark eyes pleading. “You know Mom will be devastated.”
A look of sadness briefly crossed Noria’s face before it hardened again. “I’d rather die before I make a promise I can’t keep,” she said. “And I have a feeling that I literally would die if I took that oath and broke it,” she added with a bitter smile, turning back to Iannis. “No, it’s better this way.”
“Noria—” Elnos tried, his voice filled with pain, but Iannis cut him off.
“Very well,” Iannis said, his voice ringing with authority. “It has been decided. Noria Melcott, you will serve three years’ hard labor in the mines as punishment for your crimes against the Federation. You are dismissed.”
Tears stung my eyes as I watched the guards march Noria from the room. She left with her head held just as high as it was when she entered, pride and anger emanating from her every step of the way. Annia gave me one last stricken look, then followed her sister out to escort her back to the Enforcers Guild.
“Zum Donnerwetter,” Comenius muttered darkly as the doors closed behind them. He shook his head. “How did it come to this?”
“I don’t know,” I whispered, and, to my horror, the tears started streaming down my face. I wasn’t sure if it was the fact that Noria had refused to look at me, or the way Elnos was still standing there looking defeated, but something inside me broke. “It’s just that it’s such a fucking waste,” I choked, swiping at my tears with the back of my hand.
“It is indeed.” Iannis took me into his arms, his voice low and soothing. “But you are not to blame for Miss Melcott’s life choices, Sunaya. They are hers to make, just as your choices and mistakes were yours to make.”
I clung to Iannis as he held me for a long moment, doing my best to get my tears under control. The fact that I hadn’t been able to stop this from happening, despite all the effort I’d gone through, was crushing. What good did all my work do, if I couldn’t even save my friends?
“Sunaya,” Elnos said, and I lifted my face to meet his gaze. His eyes were sad, but they held no anger as he looked at me. He had to be feeling even worse than I was. “I want you to know that I appreciate all you’ve done to help Noria.”
“Thanks.” I cleared my throat, then wiped at my tears again as I remembered everyone was still looking at me. As I turned to look at them, I was comforted by the fact that I wasn’t alone, and I hadn’t let down all my friends. Most of them were here with me, alive and well, in part
because of my struggle to stop the Resistance and help keep our city safe.
“This is not the end for Noria,” Fenris said gently as I stepped out of Iannis’s comforting embrace. “She will pay her penance, and at the end of the three years, she will be older and wiser.”
“Or, she might come out even more bitter than when she went in,” I pointed out, though I knew dwelling on that possibility wasn’t productive.
“Perhaps,” Comenius said, “but at least she will be safer in prison than in the hands of the Resistance. With any luck, within three years, the Resistance will be eradicated. Noria will have to find a more constructive use for her talents at that time.”
“That’s true,” I said, but I wasn’t sure if I believed the words. Noria was far too clever and inventive not to find a way to escape the mines within those three years. Nor would she put her revolutionary ideas aside just because the movement she had joined was no longer active. I only hoped that when she eventually fled, she would end up in a safe place, and not in another dangerous hellhole far away, where none of us would be able to rescue her again.
Epilogue
Late in the afternoon, I sat out on my veranda and leafed through the mail Nelia had brought to me. It had been two days since Iannis had left for Dara, and since he still wasn’t back, that meant no lessons. Rather than risking the creation of another ether parrot, or worse, I decided I would catch up on my social duties.
Nelia had been delighted to assist, and she’d helped me prepare for my interview with a mage society matron, scheduled for late afternoon, before leaving me with the stack of correspondence. She’d already sorted through it herself, separating the messages by tabs in a big folder. There were invitations, bills, and even fan mail from citizens praising my efforts in stopping the rebellion.
The bills I set aside for Nelia to take care of—I had more than enough money to handle them, so they weren’t the source of concern they would have been even a few weeks ago. The invitations I marked off with a check or an x as to whether or not I wanted to attend, and I set those aside for Nelia to answer as well. The fan mail I kept for myself, intending to start a collection of them. I would put them in a shoebox to take out and look at whenever things got rough and I started questioning myself. It was the desire to help people that kept me going, that fueled my fight against injustice and evil, and I vowed to never forget that.