Kadka saw the guards first, a handful of Mageblades and a dozen men and women in uniforms of deep blue with red detailing—Rhienni colors. They cleared a section of the rail some fifteen feet across and divided into two groups, half of them on each side of the open space. Several carried crossbows at the ready—there would be wards against magic on the boat for the purposes of summit security, which meant ancryst pistols wouldn’t function from the deck.
A woman with dark brown skin and closely cropped black curls strode into sight, leading a small retinue. Kadka knew her face very well.
Lady Abena Jasani wore an elegantly tailored suit of Audish blue, buttoned in gold. A rearing gryphon brooch was pinned at her breast. She placed both hands on the rail and peered over, frowning. “Well. This is unexpected.”
The other leaders participating in the peace talks arrived just after her. Kadka recognized Kaiser Gerrolt Vurgen—a thin human man with sparse hair, dressed in Belgrian crimson and gold. Beside him was a blonde human woman with severe cheekbones wearing a robe of stark white with a black sun emblazoned on the chest and a black stole around her neck; she had to be the High Provost of Estia, Elena Lassi. A handful of diplomats in the colors of their nations gathered around those three, and among them, Kadka saw another familiar face.
Henred Klenn.
Her father.
He looked tired, and there was more grey in his brown hair than there had been three months ago. Even from a distance she could see the fear and worry in his eyes as they met hers. But he said nothing. This wasn’t the time or place.
Lady Abena didn’t address Carver or Kadka directly, just turned to Kaiser Gerrolt. “It appears we may be able to offer up the assassins you’ve been looking for after all.” She glanced down, and beckoned with one finger. “Bring them aboard.”
Chapter Ten
_____
THE MAGEBLADES DRAGGED Tane into a large chamber below the ship’s deck, with Kadka at his side. Neither of them resisted.
Four long tables were arranged in a half-circle arc around the center of the room, all of them completely unattended. At the front of each table was a banner bearing the arms of one of the nations involved in the talks: Audland’s rearing golden gryphon on blue and white, Belgrier’s crowned golden bear on crimson, Estia’s black sun on a white field, Rhienni’s white eagle against dark red and blue stripes. The room was well-lit—a series of glass window panels set into the stern of the boat behind the tables let in the morning sunlight, and a half-dozen mage-lamps hung from the roof.
Their captors—the two Mageblades from the boat—led Tane and Kadka to the center of the room, the focal point between tables. Two more of Lady Abena’s loyal guard accompanied them, assigned to watch over such dangerous prisoners. Four Mageblades just for us. It’s almost flattering.
Red-and-blue clad Rhienni guards made up the bulk of the security on the boat, and some two dozen filed in the door now and arrayed themselves along all four walls. They’d left the crossbows outside—during the summit itself, no weapons that could kill a leader from across the room were going to be allowed—but all of them had shortswords hanging from their waists.
Tane glanced sidelong at Kadka; she just shrugged. Not even she could take that many. Especially with her arms bound behind her back. If things didn’t go the way he hoped, there wasn’t going to be an easy way out. And there was always the chance someone would try to murder them outright—Endo could have agents aboard under his control.
“You will stand here and answer whatever questions you are asked,” the elven Mageblade instructed as she and her partner checked the cuffs around Tane and Kadka’s wrists one last time. “Try to take so much as a step from this spot, and you’ll be face-down on the floor before your foot lands.”
“We understand,” Tane said. He hadn’t come to make a lunge at some foreign dignitary.
Only then, with the room fully secured, were the diplomats allowed in. The Rhienni guard nearest the door—a dwarven woman—gave it a rap with her knuckles, and it swung open.
The Belgrian party was the first to take their seats, at the center-left table: Kaiser Gerrolt and Henred Klenn, followed by three aides and escorted by a security detail of two human men in crimson uniforms. The Estians came after, an entourage of diplomats and guards following the High Provost to the table on the far left. Audland was next, taking their place at the center-right table. Lady Abena had two more Mageblades with her, one on either side, and among her retinue was a towering ogren woman Tane immediately recognized as Estene Althir, former ambassador to Belgrier. Finally, the Rhienni delegation took their seats on the far right, the only group without a head of state among them. All involved had agreed that Prince Lucien’s presence would only overshadow the intended purpose of the diplomats he’d sent—to provide neutral ground and facilitate a peaceful resolution, as representatives of a nation with no part in the conflict.
Which didn’t seem very likely, with Oola Hobbier sitting in their midst.
Tane had never actually laid eyes on the woman before, but it had to be her—there was only one gnome among the Rhienni, and she had the auburn hair Kadka had described. She sat unoccupied at one end of the table, her short legs hanging in the air below her seat while the other diplomats arranged papers and spoke amongst themselves in low voices. She looked less like part of a seditious conspiracy than she did a young woman out of her depth. According to Senator Stooke, she hadn’t exactly been chosen for her wealth of diplomatic experience.
Which could also explain why she was watching Tane and Kadka more openly than anyone else. While the rest of the diplomats at each table politely kept their eyes on each other and whatever last-minute preparations they were making, save for the occasional glance, Oola was the opposite. She seemed to have to force herself to pay attention to what her colleagues were saying, and even then her eyes kept flicking back to the center of the room. She’s nervous. Good.
The rest were only feigning more important concerns, of course—Tane was no diplomat, but he understood that much. Obviously there was nothing more vital to the proceedings than the two alleged assassins who had just turned themselves over, but everyone in the room had played this game before, and none of them wanted to betray anything more than was necessary. Someone would bring things to order soon, someone they’d all probably settled on by tacit agreement before they’d entered.
Astra, I’m glad I’m not part of that world. Except right now, I suppose I am. And even as an outsider, Tane had a fairly good idea of who would be the first to speak.
Lady Abena cleared her throat, and all eyes went to her. It only made sense—Tane and Kadka were her prisoners by any diplomatic standard. “This is hardly how any of us expected our summit to begin, but here we are.” She spoke in Audish, and no one stepped in to interpret her words into the languages of the other nations present. “For any who missed the excitement up above, these two were apprehended by my Mageblades while trying to approach the Aquilon. Tane Carver and Kadka of Clan Nadivek. The Magebreakers. I’m sure I don’t have to explain to anyone in this room why their presence here is relevant to these proceedings.”
Tane searched her face as she spoke, but it betrayed little of what she was thinking. She’s too good at this. He was relying heavily on her willingness to hear him out. She’d treated him fairly in the past, but under the threat of war, she might well decide to favor political expediency. And he didn’t have a backup plan.
Kaiser Gerolt interjected before anyone else, glaring balefully at Tane and Kadka. “It is more than simply ‘relevant’! I demand the assassins be turned over to Belgrian custody immediately!” Though Tane heard the words in Belgrian, he simultaneously understood them in Audish as if they’d been spoken directly into his head, just as when he’d worn a translation artifact in Belgrier. That explained the lack of interpreters—there must have been a translation spell of some kind cast over the room. Or more likely the entire ship, given its diplomatic purpose.
Which mea
nt that Tane would be understood when he spoke. And if he left it much longer, he might lose his chance. I just need to make it clear to Lady Abena that they need to listen, and hope she can sway the rest. “We’ll go with you willingly, Kaiser Gerolt,” he said. “If that’s what you want after hearing our story. But you need to know that there could be traitors—”
“Enough.” High Provost Elena’s voice was cold, even after translation. She didn’t let her eyes fall directly on Tane or Kadka, just looked past them to address Lady Abena. “Your Audish lies are an affront to the Sun Lord. Turn them over into the Kaiser’s custody now, or these talks end here.” A conclusion the Estians wouldn’t mind at all, Tane guessed—they considered magecraft to be blasphemy, and had long looked at Audland as a continuation of the Mage Emperor’s legacy. But they lacked the strength to wage war without Belgrier’s support, which meant they had to play by the rules unless the peace talks fell apart.
“If Kaiser Gerrolt insists upon it, I will of course surrender them to the care of Belgrier,” Lady Abena said calmly. A weight began to grow in the bottom of Tane’s stomach. “But I would like to know why they turned themselves over after all this time. And frankly, I can’t see the harm. They are bound and unarmed.”
Tane let out the breath he’d been holding. Thank the Astra. That’s one obstacle down.
“You want us to sit here and listen to them? They have taken Belgrian lives!” Gerrolt’s face was flushed red. “The only thing I want to hear is where their accomplices are hiding!” Tane could hardly blame the man for his anger—he believed they were responsible for an unprecedented magical attack on his palace. Which also made them the most likely suspects in the airship crash that had killed Duke Detehr Angred, Gerrolt’s close friend—and likely his lover, according to Klenn.
“Your Grace.” Henred Klenn leaned forward and touched the Kaiser’s shoulder. “I think we should let them speak.” Kadka was watching Klenn intently now, Tane noticed.
Gerrolt shot his cousin an angry glance. “You too, Henred? Your interest in these Magebreakers is becoming tiresome. Why should I share it?”
Klenn bowed his head in respect, but didn’t relent. “I simply believe we are best served in these negotiations by having all available information. And as Lady Abena says, they can do us no harm now.”
“Ludicrous,” the High Provost snapped, too quickly—trying to guide Gerrolt back to the path she favored. “Why waste our time? We know the truth of the matter.”
The head Rhienni diplomat—a black-haired human woman of middling years—attempted to mediate. “Respectfully, Your Holiness, it is a reasonable compromise, and at little cost. Lady Abena has already agreed to hand over the prisoners. It would be a sign of good faith from Belgrier to indulge her wish to hear them out first. If everyone is willing, of course.” If she had been looking down the table to her left, she might have seen what Tane did: a brief downward twist of Oola Hobbier’s lips, and a flash of something in her eyes that certainly wasn’t support for the motion. It was gone as quickly as it came.
Gerrolt gestured impatiently. “Very well, Ambassador Anelle. Let the killers speak, for those who are so eager to hear it. Have it over and done with. But after, they are mine.”
High Provost Elena looked none too pleased, but her nation’s excuse for war rested on Belgrier’s grievance with Audland. As much as she obviously wanted to, she couldn’t well object where Gerrolt didn’t. “Speak quickly, then,” was all she said.
And then the leaders and diplomats of four nations were all looking at Tane. Not at Kadka, though she stood right beside him and rather drew the eye; no one expected the orc to be the one to speak. Which was a problem all its own, but just then Tane would almost have been grateful to be overlooked.
Well, I suppose I had better make it good. He took a deep breath, and then: “We are not the assassins you’re looking for.” He glanced once more at Hobbier—her face betrayed nothing, but she leaned forward very slightly in her chair. More intent on him than she wanted to appear. Is she going to try something if she thinks she’s in trouble? He badly wanted to call her out before she could, but it would be pointless to simply accuse her, or bring up her attempt to kill Kadka—his word against hers, and she wasn’t a wanted criminal. No, he had to do it right. Lay the groundwork first.
Kaiser Gerrolt’s face flushed once more. “I saw you that day. I saw you come for Wilnam Urnt. Do you mean to tell me that someone else killed him?”
Tane swallowed and shook his head. That part, he couldn’t deny. Urnt had died by his hand. “No. But it wasn’t what you think. Endo Stooke was the man behind the attack on your palace. And Urnt carried the spell for him.”
Murmurs through the room at that. People knew who Endo was—the rumors had long since made their way across the Channel.
Gerrolt snorted angrily. “So you killed him and now you would slander his name. Who else? Perhaps I was involved in a plot to kill myself? It would make about as much sense. Why would Urnt conspire with a man who would be the next Mage Emperor?”
“Urnt was a mage, Your Grace.” And there it was. I don’t think I’ve ever said anything quite as likely to get me thrown in a foreign prison for the rest of my life.
The reaction was loud and immediate. Murmurs grew into raised voices from the Belgrians and Estians—one voice above all the rest.
“Nonsense!” Gerrolt shouted. “I knew Wilnam Urnt! I would know if he was a mage!”
“Are you so sure?” Tane asked. “He had good reason to hide it. He knew he’d end up in a workhouse if anyone found out. Endo promised him that he wouldn’t have to worry about that anymore.”
“Enough lies!” Gerrolt looked around the room. “Are you all satisfied? Or will you continue to entertain this lunacy?”
But before anyone could answer, Kadka spoke, loud enough to drown out any objections. “When Carver lies, is better than this. Don’t you wonder why we take Urnt when you are right there?”
“She’s right,” Tane agreed quickly. “We were there in the room with you, and you were in no condition to fight back. Why would we go after the chancellor instead of the kaiser himself? If we’re assassins, we’re not very good ones.”
“How am I to know what your motives were?” The anger was still there in Gerrolt’s voice, but there was less conviction behind it. He doesn’t have an answer for that.
“If I may?” Estene Althir spoke calmly, but her sonorous voice cut cleanly through the growing din. She was the tallest person in the room by a large margin, even seated—she didn’t need to shout to call attention to herself. When no one protested, she said, “Your Grace, I sent a number of missives in the aftermath of the attack, noting such inconsistencies. They went unanswered, but I suspect that you read them. I know you are not a careless man. You must have wondered about these questions. I would like to attest once again that the actions of the Magebreakers in Belgrier make little sense if we assume they were part of some assassination plot.”
“Of course you would say so,” High Provost Elena said, not bothering to hide her contempt. “It serves Audish interests to deny the truth.”
“Then let me say the same,” said Klenn. He turned to Gerrolt, “I cannot see why they would target Urnt over you, Your Grace. I beg you to forgive me for raising my… tiresome interest in the matter once more, but an answer would certainly help put this to rest.”
Gerrolt gave his cousin a long look, his displeasure obvious, but at last, with a wordless flick of his fingers, he signalled for Tane to continue.
Tane didn’t hesitate—he wasn’t going to let the opportunity go to waste. “The truth is, Your Grace, we took Urnt because we were trying to protect you from the spell he carried. But Endo deceived him too. Didn’t give him power over the siphon. Urnt wanted to stop it, at the end, but he couldn’t. You saw what happened in the palace that day—if it had been allowed to continue, the spell would have eventually covered all of Stelihn. I… I had no choice but to end it for him. To stop every no
n-magical in the city from being riven. And we have good reason to believe that Endo is going to try the same thing again. Here, today, while you’re all gathered in one place.”
Again, that stirred a commotion, but the mood had shifted from outrage to concern, all hushed asides and worried faces.
Lady Abena, of course, remained composed. “I assume you have some evidence to support this claim?”
“I wish we had more,” said Tane. “But we were able to track Endo’s activities to a warehouse in Porthaven. There’s a room concealed by illusion along the back wall, containing a machine of Felisa Thorpe’s design—the same that was used to create the spell in Belgrier. There was evidence that it had been used. I can give you the location to verify. I suggest you send Mageblades, because Endo has already compromised the constabulary.”
Abena Jasani was a practical woman; she didn’t question the accusation, just motioned to one of her aides, a sprite man perched on the table beside her. “Send the captain in Porthaven,” she ordered. “Tell her to get a detail to this warehouse immediately. Mister Carver, the location.”
“It’s at the corner of Ogden and Reeveway.” Even as Tane spoke, the sprite Lady Abena had assigned moved for the door—there had to be an unwarded place on the ship to send and receive communications. “You’ll find that it’s registered to the Hobbier family.” Tane looked to Oola Hobbier; this was the moment he’d been waiting for. She glared back, her eyes cold. She knew what was coming. “To her. Oola Hobbier has been working with Endo to plan the attack.”
Silence. The sound of voices ceased, and all eyes went to the little gnomish woman at the far edge of the Rhienni table.
“W—what?” Hobbier’s eyes widened, and she feigned confusion. “I’m not… that’s ridiculous!”
The Mage War Page 10
