The Arcane Ward (Wardens of Issalia Book 2)

by Jeffrey L. Kohanek

  Brandt’s voice rang in her head. I think he means telepathy.

  Of course he does. I’m not stupid.

  “I assume your parents have outlined some of the abilities that manifest through Order?”

  “Yes,” Cassie replied. “We understand that meditation helps us tap into our talents. We know that healing, prophecy, and telepathy are possible through the use of Order.”

  “Good. That’s a start.” Jestin gestured toward the two open chairs as he reclaimed his seat. “Please, sit.”

  “You said that you know our parents?” Brandt asked.

  “Yes. I was there with them during the Battle at the Brink.”

  Cassie glanced toward her brother as he addressed the man. “They won’t talk much about the war or that battle. What can you tell us?”

  Jestin stared into space while he spoke. “They were young…we all were. None of us understood what we were to face…none except perhaps your father. There was something about him. Even Budakis saw it.”

  The man’s gaze found the floor. “While many died, far more would have if not for your parents, Master Hedgewick, Master Nindlerod, and a few others.”

  “Benny?” Disbelief was thick in Cassie’s tone.

  “Nindlerod?” Brandt’s voice was incredulous. “The old man we saw when we first arrived?”

  Jestin chuckled. “Yes. Sometimes, the mind is mightier than the sword…and both men possess extremely mighty minds.”

  Brandt huffed. “How is that possible?”

  “Did your parents ever tell you what drove The Horde? How those mindless monsters were controlled?”

  Brandt shook his head. “No.”

  “Among them were two arcanists, men who used their abilities to guide the Chaos that was bound inside the banshees.”

  Cassie leaned forward “How can Chaos be bound in someone?”

  Jestin shook his head. “That is a secret for another day. You’ll find out soon enough. Regardless, the enemy arcanists were the key to winning the war. Brock figured it out as did Nindlerod. The old man killed one of those men, and the monsters under his control scattered. As for what happened to the other arcanist, you must ask Master Firellus, for that is his story to tell.

  “Enough of the past. I’m here to help secure the future. There is more to Order than you know and more to your abilities than what has manifested thus far.

  “Divining, or determining the inherent skills a person possesses, is among the easiest abilities to perform. Healing, prophecy, and telepathy are other well-known abilities, but none are what we would consider common. And then, there are other skills that remain a mystery.

  “For instance, your father once told me of a Tantarri elder who possessed the ability to enter the dreams of others, to implant images or relay messages, regardless of distance. He also described this man sharing prophetic visions with Brock in such a way that your father was able to experience the same vision as the elder. Unfortunately, we have yet to discover how to access such abilities.”

  The man sat forward, put his elbows on his knees, and looked Cassie in the eye. “I understand that you have been able to heal. Tell me about the experience.”

  Cassie bit her lip and recalled the memory. “First, I found my own center – my source of Order. With my hand on my brother, I sensed another life force, cool and pale blue, like my own. I also sensed…a wrongness that appeared like tiny red symbols, swirling about. I willed his life force to smother the wrongness. The symbols began to unwind, as if I were pulling the threads of their existence until they unraveled, and then…it was gone. When I opened my eyes, he was healed.”

  “Thank you, Cassie.” Jestin turned toward Brandt. “What about you?”

  Brandt frowned. “I…haven’t been able to make it work.”

  “Don’t worry about that. It will come. Healing is difficult to perform. You’ll keep trying until you succeed.”

  What if it never works for me? Brandt said in Cassie’s head.

  It will. I know it.

  Jestin sat back, eyeing the twins. “If you two are through talking behind my back, we can get started.”

  Cassie’s eyes widened in surprise. She was unused to others being aware of their conversations.

  “It all begins with meditation,” Jestin said. “Close your eyes and find your center.”

  Shouting from the Atrium captured Cassie’s attention. She saw people pairing up as Wyck and Bilchard took their wooden training weapons to a ring at the center.

  “Can we close the door? The fighting is bound to be distracting.”

  Jestin shook his head. “The noise is a necessary distraction. You must be able to seek your center under any conditions, regardless of distractions. In addition, you cannot practice healing without patients.” He pointed toward the open door. “Injuries happen while sparring and that is why you’re here.

  “Now, close your eyes and relax.”

  Doing as she was told, Cassie shut her eyes and listened to his soothing voice, which somehow sounded distant

  “Seek the cool blue rune of Order at your center and embrace it…embrace the calm…embrace the serenity. Allow the calm peace to surround you, to envelope you completely.”

  In her mind’s eye, Cassie saw the pale blue aura of Order and held it close. As her consciousness floated in the ether, she was connected with…everything. It felt so right. A flash of red appeared in the periphery, accompanied by a cry of pain.

  “It appears that our first patient is ready.” Jestin’s voice pulled her back to reality “Who wants to go first?”

  Cassie circled the stables and strolled onto the training field. A three-story tall wall surrounded the area, a mile wide and twice the length. The wall was made of gray stone, the same as the walls of the Ward itself. Cassie knew that the magic academy stood just beyond the wall, but other than the temple dome to the west, she couldn’t see any sign of the school.

  An archery range stood along the western wall, backed by a stack of hay bales. In the center was the horse track – a loop with ditches dug across it and fences blocking it. Despite having ridden her entire life, her attempt to ride a horse on the track had proven painful. She vowed to do better next time. The thought of her fall brought images of her brother landing in the muck and brought a grin to her face. He didn’t notice, instead looking ahead as he and their fellow trainees circled the track. Cassie followed Brandt’s gaze and found both Quinn and Master Alridge in his line of sight. She found herself wondering which female had drawn his attention. Unable to resist, she decided to mess with him to gauge his response.

  Careful, brother, she sent. You may want to watch where you step rather than watching that girl walk. If not, you may end up in the muck again.

  You’re hilarious, he turned toward her. Was it that obvious?

  She remained unsure of which he had been staring toward – the athletic blond girl or the curvaceous instructor. No. I was just messing with you.

  He didn’t reply, but he did appear relieved.

  Master Alridge stopped and turned toward the group who had trailed behind her. Knee-high grass surrounded them, spreading out in all directions. Scattered trees dotted the area and a dirt road encircled it, running along the walled perimeter. When everyone had stopped and was looking in her direction, the Arcane Arts instructor addressed them.

  “As you know, we use this field to test the skills of our wardens and to execute certain augmentations that might otherwise cause damage. I shudder to think what destruction a shockwave rune charged inside the building might yield.”

  “Are we going to see a shockwave rune today?” Everson asked with undisguised eagerness in his voice.

  Alridge shook her head. “No. For that one, we will actually move beyond the back wall. Depending on the strength of the caster, it might carry farther than anticipated. I would have much explaining to do if a section of the wall falls under my watch.” She shifted toward an area where the grass was sparse, growing in scattered tufts amid bare
earth. Pointing toward it with the stick she held in her hand, the woman said, “Cassie. Come here and draw a Cold rune in the dirt.”

  Cassie moved forward, nodding as she accepted the short stick from the woman. She then squatted and recalled the rune, drawing a version that was three feet across and half the width. When she was finished, Cassie stood and looked toward Alridge in anticipation. The woman nodded her approval and turned toward the others.

  “Witness what happens when this rune is applied in the open air, particularly on a humid summer day.” Master Alridge’s dark eyes settled on Cassie. “Go on, Cassie. Charge it.”

  With a nod, Cassie closed her eyes. She felt the sun beating down on her, particularly warm today with a stickiness that left her wishing for a breeze. Beyond the heat of the sun, she sensed the now-familiar energy of Chaos. Cassie opened herself to it and pulled the power toward her, the power gathering in a rush that filled her until she thought she might burst. She opened her eyes and stared at the symbol drawn in the dirt before releasing the energy into the rune, which glowed with a bright crimson light. As it began to pulse and fade, Alridge spoke again.

  “I suggest that everyone back away.”

  The ground around the rune turned to white frost, the ground crackling as it spread out from the core. A wave of cold air flared outward, forcing Cassie backward as she scrambled from the expanding ring of ice. A cloud emerged above the rune, spreading in a living, rolling wall of fog, thick and white. In an instant, the fog obscured the sun and made it appear as a small ball of light within the gloom. Water droplets coated her hair, her skin. She turned and discovered that the others were now shadows encased in milky white mist – silhouettes without definition.

  I can’t see, she sent.

  Me neither, Brandt replied.

  “Follow my voice,” Alridge called out from somewhere to Cassie’s left. “Keep moving, but slowly. No need to rush. Other than tripping over each other, you are at no risk of harm. Keep moving, and you will eventually move beyond the fog.”

  The shapes before Cassie began to sharpen as the fog thinned, and gave way to sunlight. Everson walked before her, his legs whirring with each step. Beyond him, she found Quinn and Chuli. To her right, Brandt emerged with Jonah beside him, Henrick and Ivy to his other side.

  After wading through the murk for a number of minutes, the wispy outer edges of the fog fell away. The students gathered around Master Alridge with everyone staring toward Cassie, since she was the last person out. Their mouths gaped in wonder, gazes sweeping from the ground to the sky. She turned and saw what had drawn their attention.

  Over half of the training yard was covered in thick fog, a wall that stood as high as the Ward rooftop, perhaps higher. The white mass roiled and churned, the mist inside seeming alive. The monstrosity – a thing that Cassie had created herself – was at least a half-mile in diameter. She suddenly understood that Chaos could do more than she had ever imagined.

  “Impressive, Cassilyn.”

  Cassie turned toward the Arcane Arts instructor. “Why do you say that?”

  “How old are you?”

  “I am in my seventeenth summer.”

  “As I thought.” Alridge turned toward the towering fog bank. “I have only seen a few who could generate a fog of this magnitude…and you still have a year or two before you reach your full potential.”

  18

  Thief

  With a sidelong glance, Quinn found Delvin lit by the pale blue light of the corridor beams. He nodded toward the door and gave her an expectant stare. Words were not required to guess at what he intended. She reached toward the small of her back and withdrew the sheath he now made her carry. From it, she removed two bent needles and a narrow dagger.

  With barely a rustle, she began working on the lock. One needle slipped in, turning, bending to the pressure applied until she felt a click. The other needle followed, the procedure and result the same. She inserted the dagger and twisted it while also twisting the knob. When the door opened, she flashed Delvin a grin. He put his finger to his lips and waved her forward.

  Slipping inside with Delvin on her heels, Quinn crouched beside the door as he quietly closed it, the pale blue light from the hallway fading to blackness. Surrounded by darkness, Quinn listened.

  Her breathing was slow, drawn out, stifled…as was Delvin’s. More distant was a wheezing breath, trailed by a snore. She covered her mouth to hide her smile, despite the darkness. Delvin gripped her wrist and tugged her forward.

  Without a sound, Quinn crept across the room, an apartment similar to her own. Open curtains to the balcony allowed starlight to filter into the room and outlined their surroundings. A glance to the side revealed the bedroom door standing open, another snore coming from within.

  Delvin slinked around her and approached the Ratio Bellicus table in the sitting area. After rearranging the pieces a bit, he picked one off the board and held it toward Quinn. She accepted it with a grimace, wishing she could tell him what she thought of his methods. He waved her away and refocused on the board.

  Quinn turned and pressed her lips together as she stared toward the open door. Another snore came from inside, prompting her forward. Moving with silent footsteps, careful, even, balanced on the balls of her feet – as Delvin had taught her – she entered the bedroom to find a man sleeping alone on the bed. A noisy snore, louder than the others, almost forced out a guffaw, but Quinn restrained herself and remained silent as she eased toward the bed. She reached out and was about to put the game piece she held on the nightstand, but she saw another opportunity.

  The man’s hand lay open on the bed, well within reach. With careful precision, she reached out and gently placed the game piece into his palm. When she let go, he stirred, gripping the game piece as he moved his hand to his chest. Quinn nearly snorted in laughter, her eyes bulging as she waited for him to wake. When he snored again, she released her breath and relaxed.

  She snuck out of the bedroom and found Delvin waiting by the door. When he saw her, he opened it, waved her through, and closed the door behind him.

  “I thought for sure he was going to wake,” Quinn whispered.

  Delvin held his finger to his lip and waved her to follow as he headed down the hallway.

  “While sneaking is sometimes necessary, the best infiltration – be it thieving or reconnaissance – occurs right beneath the nose of your adversary,” Delvin explained as he stirred his tea. “You have skill, Quinn. More importantly, you have a fearless nature…and that is something that cannot be taught.”

  “I wouldn’t say fearless. I have been scared many times, even tonight.”

  “Yes. However, bravery is not the absence of fear, but rather moving forward despite your fear.” Delvin took another sip of tea. “Now, back to my point. True espionage comes when you are in plain sight.”

  “I know. Personas.”

  Quinn took a sip of her tea and pinched her face, thinking that it could use some lemon but lacked the option since Delvin’s apartment was not well stocked. The man spent less than half his time at the Ward and tended to avoid food that might spoil, such as produce.

  “Exactly,” he said. “Your personas must be perfect, impenetrable, and you must be able to assume them as simply as changing your smallclothes.”

  She gave him a sideways glance with one arched brow. “Now, you’re talking about my smallclothes?”

  Unaffected, he grinned. “Does that bother you?”

  Quinn shrugged. “Not really. My sensibilities are not quite so sensitive.”

  Delvin gave a slow nod. “Good. You might be subjected to impolite comments while you are on a mission – some far worse than merely impolite. Regardless of how inappropriate or disgusting the comment, you must remain in character. Always consider how your persona should react, not how Quinn would react.”

  He sat back in his chair and took a long sip of tea. He swallowed, his eyes narrowing as he stared at her. Quinn refused to look away, despite the discomfort
of the scrutiny. She could only guess at what might be going through the man’s mind. Past attempts at predicting Delvin had only rendered frustration, so she preferred to focus her efforts elsewhere.

  Finally, he broke the long moment of silence. “I must leave again.”

  “Already? You returned only a few weeks back.”

  “True,” he nodded. “Yet, the world does not sit still nor does it wait upon our demands. Instead, we must adjust our plans to fit reality and make the most of what is offered.”

  Quinn’s mouth twisted, her brow furrowed. “What does that mean?”

  “It means that I am leaving again, and I have a new persona for you to develop while I am away.”

  “How long will you be gone?”

  Delvin shrugged. “Weeks. Two or three…four at most.”

  “I won’t bother asking where or why. I know your response.” Her voice took on a nasal tone. “You’ll be told if you need to know.”

  He smiled. “I find it refreshing to have a pupil who is willing to learn…and to accept the limitations that bind her.”

  “Speaking of which, what about this new…”

  The door burst open, interrupting Quinn. She and Delvin turned toward it with a start and found a man dressed in black. With his long hair wild and frazzled, Elias’ face was red with fury. He hobbled into the room, leaning into the cane he held in his left hand. When his right hand swung around, it smacked the table between Quinn and Delvin. The hand pulled away, leaving a wobbling Ratio Bellicus unit behind. Of course, the game piece was that of a thief.

  “I told you to stay out of my room!” Elias bellowed.

  “Yes, I recall that conversation,” Delvin said calmly. “What makes you think I was in your room?”

  “I found that game piece – a thief turned assassin – in my hand when I woke. I checked my game board and discovered it rearranged, as if it were in the middle of a highly contested match.”

  Delvin glanced at Quinn with a grimace. “I still don’t understand the connection.”