“I’m not asking. The Master of Shadows is not asking. That decision has already been made. Time is running out, and we do not have the luxury of waiting for you to develop the skill. As your master, I know you won’t be able to do it in time, and maybe not at all, and as the liaison between the shadow mages and Monsieur Gravine, I cannot continue to wait.”
“But—”
Roeglin raised a hand, and Marsh stopped. His face softened.
“I’m sorry, Marsh, but we are out of time. We have a week at most, and we need to reorganize things to allow for Aisha to come with us.”
“Does that mean you’ll allow Tamlin to go, too?”
He shrugged, and a wry smile curved his lips.
“We won’t have much choice,” he admitted. “I can’t see the boy letting his sister go into the caverns without him.”
“And she’ll be taking the kit and Scruffknuckle,” Marsh added, trying to comfort herself more than anything else.
Roeglin sighed.
“She will.” He paused. “Has the other kit shown signs of making an attachment?”
Marsh shook her head.
“No, although it’s not short on choices. There are at least four beast-speakers who would love to have its company.”
“Including the Master of Beasts…”
“He’s not forcing the issue. He says the choice is for the kat to make.”
That decision had won the Master of Beasts Marsh’s respect. She had a feeling he could have coerced the kit’s will to his own but had chosen not to, despite the prestige such a companion would bring. As for her own attachment to the kit’s mother, she knew that was temporary. As soon as she had helped the great beast retrieve her missing kits, Mordanlenoowar would be gone.
She sighed and returned to the subject at hand.
“I don’t suppose I can change your mind?”
This time Roeglin’s lips quirked briefly upward, and he opened the top drawer of his desk.
“Here,” he told her, placing a glow stone on the table and picking up a short-timer. “You charge that by the time the glass runs out, and we won’t need to take her with us.”
Marsh wanted to give up then and there. She knew she couldn’t charge the stone, knew she didn’t have a hope in all the Deeps, but she wasn’t going to give in so easily. Maybe the idea of Aisha’s impending danger was just the incentive she needed.
3
An Unwelcome Assignment
Marsh’s fears for Aisha’s safety were not enough. By the time the dinner bell had rung, Marsh had not managed more than the faint ‘night light’ effect she’d achieved earlier. When she ignored the bell, Roeglin stood and came around the desk.
“It’s enough,” he said, laying a hand on her shoulder.
Marsh shrugged it away, stroking her fingers down the crystal’s side once more and trying again to call the light from the room around them. Roeglin grabbed her wrist, pulling her hand away from the crystal, his voice sharp with rebuke.
“You’ve done enough.”
Marsh stifled the urge to jerk her wrist out of his hand and smack him upside the head. He was right, and she hated it, but she also couldn’t argue with him. She really had done enough—if only to prove that she couldn’t do it.
Aisha was going to have to go with them. Tamlin, too.
She let her shoulders slump and bowed her head, and Roeglin let go of her wrist to return to his desk. Opening a drawer, he pulled out a small bag and placed it between them.
“Have a cookie.”
His words made Marchant lift her head. She was going to refuse, but he’d opened the bag, and the smell of Brigitte’s baking hit her. Marsh grabbed two. All she wanted to do was sleep, but she wasn’t about to fall asleep in Roeglin’s office. She wanted to make it to her own room, at least.
The trouble was, she’d pushed the magic just a little too far, and she’d been tired to begin with. Fatigue crawled along her limbs, making her eyes heavy even as she bit into the first cookie in an attempt to restore her fast-fading energy.
“Who’s looking after Aisha?” Roeglin asked as Marsh lifted the cookie a second time.
The damn thing was heavier than it looked, but it tasted amazing.
“Tamlin,” she replied around a spray of crumbs.
Roeglin ignored the mess, and Marsh focused on taking another bite. The master’s next words made her frown.
“Good, because you need to sleep.”
Marsh wanted to argue that she didn’t, but that would have been a blatant lie. She did need to get some rest. Worse, she didn’t think she could stop herself from doing so. Her body was going to do what it wanted, and what she wanted didn’t matter.
“Brigitte’s going to kill me,” Roeglin muttered, and Marsh managed to lift her head.
Roeglin caught her look and went on to explain.
“Because I let you push yourself too far, so you’ll be out of action tomorrow.”
Roeglin had been doing magic a whole lot longer then she had, but Marsh still didn’t want to hear it.
“I’ve got—”
“Nothing,” Roeglin snapped. “Your day’s clear of anything but sleeping and eating—and that includes looking after your kids.”
Marsh wanted to know exactly how he was going to enforce that but realized it was more a question of where she was going to find the energy to defy him. The cookies helped a little bit, but she was going to have to head to her room soon, or she’d disgrace herself by curling up under Roeglin’s desk and falling asleep on the floor.
Roeglin snorted.
“Well, we can’t have that, can we?”
He waited, then pushed his chair back.
“Come on,” he said, standing as Marsh struggled to her feet. “I’ll walk you to your room.”
Oh, he would, would he?
“I can tuck myself in,” she snarled, frustration at her failure leaking into her voice.
Roeglin raised his hands in mock surrender.
“Not saying you can’t, but you’ve got to get there first, and I don’t want you falling down on the way. Lennie would take several large chunks out of my hide. Brigitte, too, I imagine.”
As badly as she wanted to smile at the idea of Lennie and Brigitte taking bits out of Roeglin’s hide, Marsh glared at him. She hated to admit it, but the man had a point. Right now, her room seemed several caverns too far away, and she honestly didn’t know if she was going to make it.
“Fine.”
She pushed herself to her feet, and Roeglin came around the desk and tucked her arm through his.
By the time they got to her room, he’d wound his arm around her waist and Marchant was thinking curling up under his desk would have been a lot less embarrassing. She was convinced of it when Tamlin and Aisha came out of the room. The boy raised his brows and turned to his sister.
“You can sleep in my room tonight.”
Marsh’s face went bright red.
“It’s not what you think.”
Tamlin gave her a pointed look.
“Uh huh. We’re going to be late for dinner.”
Tamlin would have turned down the hall if Roeglin hadn’t explained.
“I’m putting her to bed.”
The kid arched his eyebrows again.
“I can see that.”
Roeglin groaned and hurried to explain.
“No. I asked her to do work in my office—”
There was a snort from the hallway behind them as someone tried to not to laugh. Roeglin looked toward it and Marsh slipped her hand free of his arm, pushing the door open and stumbling through it to escape the embarrassment in the hall. As she crashed onto her bed and closed her eyes, she heard Brigitte.
“Honestly, Ro. I’m going to take away your license to talk. Tamlin, Aisha can sleep in her own bed. Marchant’s been working on her light magic and is exhausted. She won’t wake her.”
“Well, why didn’t they just say that?”
Marchant didn’t hear the answer to
that one, and she fell asleep without hearing them close the door. When she woke, Brigitte was shaking her, and she’d brought a meal. The woman didn’t waste any words.
“You’re needed in a meeting.” She watched as Marsh got up and then pointed to the food. “Make sure you eat. Aisha’s with Tamlin, and they’ll join us later.”
Marsh did as she was told, stretching away the fatigue that lingered in her tired muscles and then reaching for her clothes. She was glad she didn’t have to wear the robes given to most apprentices. The trousers and shirt she pulled on were more comfortable. Their soft, dark cloth was better than any she’d worn as a messenger for Kearick, and her sword belt fit the pants perfectly. Robes would have gotten in the way. Even the boots were an improvement, better than she could have afforded on Kearick’s stingy wages.
Thinking about her former employer made Marsh remember the artifact she still had stowed in her backpack. While the supply master knew of it, she’d let Marsh take it back and hadn’t told anyone else she still had it. Marsh frowned, nudging her old pack farther under her desk as she sat to eat. She still had to deliver the darn thing whether or not she got paid for it.
She’d thought of locking the pack in the chest she used for her clothes, but had reasoned that was the first place anyone would look for it. Instead, she’d tucked her old travel pack in the farthest, darkest corner beneath her desk and called on the shadows to conceal it. So far, not even Aisha’s curious eyes had noticed it.
Thinking of the child made Marsh glance toward Aisha’s bed. It was empty, but it was made, and Marsh breathed a sigh of relief. That was one less thing to deal with when she saw the child next. After finishing what was on her plate and draining the mug of lukewarm chocolate, she headed for the door.
Brigitte was waiting in the corridor.
“This meeting,” Marsh said. “What’s it about?”
“Restoring the trade routes,” Brigitte told her, and Marsh felt a shiver of excitement.
When they reached the Shadow Master’s office, however, she realized Brigitte hadn’t told her everything. The room was crowded, even though it was one of the largest offices she’d ever been in. As well as her and Brigitte, Roeglin, Gustav, Aisha, Tamlin, a man whose uniform identified him as head of the shadow guard, three hoshkats and an unusually quiet krypthund puppy were present.
Marsh was two steps through the door when she registered the presence of the children and came to an abrupt halt. She turned to Brigitte, about to demand an explanation, but the woman took her by the arm and guided her into the group. She addressed the Master of Shadows before Marsh could speak.
“Sorry we are late, Master.”
He’d looked up as they entered, and now he shook his head.
“I’m sure you came as soon as you were able.” He turned his attention to Marsh. “It’s good to see you recovering, Trainee Leclerc.”
As a warning of her position in the hierarchy, his use of her training title was effective—and Marsh wondered why he’d felt the need.
“Thank you, Master of Shadows,” she said, and let Brigitte guide her to a place beside the children.
She still wasn’t very happy with them being here, but she knew she’d have to wait to see why they were in attendance.
“If you’ll all sit,” the Master directed, and waited until they’d done as he bid. “As you know, the trade routes must be restored sooner rather than later. To this end, we have been testing all of our mages so we know how quickly the glows might be repaired.”
A hollow feeling settled in Marsh’s stomach, but the Master of Shadows wasn’t finished.
“We cannot afford to ignore the abilities of one of the most skilled at calling the light that I have seen in all my years.”
Aisha wriggled happily in her seat, and the Master smiled.
“Apprentice Aisha Danet will be added to the team containing her guardian Marchant Leclerc.” He caught Marsh’s half-gasp of protest and silenced her with a stern gaze as he continued, “And Apprentice Tamlin Danet will be joining her.”
Again, Marsh drew breath to argue, but the Master of Shadows still hadn’t finished. His gaze moved over the group of mages and guards gathered before him.
“I understand that many of you will have concerns about including one so young on this journey, but the task is urgent. I believe we are more than capable of keeping one small child and her brother safe. After all, it has proven possible in the past.”
Marsh wanted to argue that the caverns were much more dangerous now than they had ever been, but the Master of Shadows was well ahead of her.
“With the danger growing, I am still confident that we can keep them safe, given that they will be with a force of experienced shadow mages and guards, as well as one of the most dangerous beasts known to the caverns.”
The tone of his voice said his mind was made up, but Marsh decided she had to try.
“Master of Shadows,” she began, and he turned his face toward her. Marsh noted that it was wiped carefully clear of any expression, but she didn’t let that deter her. “With respect, but it is still not safe for a child to be outside the monastery, and there may be an alternative.”
He raised his hand, and she stopped.
“You are right about it not being safe, but without reopening the trade routes utilizing the forces being built by the Ruins Hall founder, not even the monastery will be safe. Letting Aisha use her skills will allow us to restore that safety sooner. As for the alternative, it is a good idea, but I’m afraid it will not suffice for safeguarding the trade routes since the ability to see the heat from the flames is not possessed by all.”
That was something Marsh had not known. She’d thought everyone could see the heat stored in the objects and creatures around them. The Master of Shadows caught her look, and it was as though he’d read her mind.
“Not everyone,” he confirmed, “and enough can’t that we need the light.”
Marsh wanted to keep arguing but decided not to. The Master of Shadows had a point. Besides, he’d clearly made his decision, and she didn’t want him angry with her.
“Yes, Master,” she said and looked down at her lap.
As she did, Mordan nudged her with her head, and Marsh felt the big kat’s presence hovering at the edge of her mind. She quietly laid her hand on the kat’s head and opened the link between them. Mordan crept into her mind, her presence brushing against her doubts and fears and reassuring her as it passed.
Mordanlenoowar was traveling with Marsh and her cubs. Mordan’s kits were traveling with Marsh’s cubs. There was no danger in the cavern that could stand against her pride and the pride from the Protected Cavern when they hunted together.
Marsh stared at the kat.
The Protected Cavern?
And the kat replied by sending her a picture of the monastery with its fortified walls and gated barbican.
The Protected Cavern.
The idea that the kat saw the shadow mages as a separate pride and their fortress as a cavern amused Marsh, and she smiled. She wanted to know what the big kat thought of the shadow mages, but Brigitte’s elbow in her ribs jolted Marsh out of her head and she looked up. She found herself staring straight into the Shadow Master’s eyes.
“Care to share?” he asked.
Marsh gestured toward the kat.
“She says the children will be safe with her and the kits along.”
The Master arched one eyebrow and settled back in his chair.
“Indeed. Well, since the children will be accompanied by such an impressive menagerie, as well as one shadow master, a journeyman, a trainee, and an entourage of guards, I’m sure you have no objections to them joining the team you will be a part of, do you?”
“No, Master.”
“Very good. Now, Brigitte, in the absence of your original master, and in the face of her poor judgment in leaving you behind, I’m assigning you a new master.” He indicated Roeglin. “Master Leger will take over your training. In addition, th
e last journey showed that you have the skills of a journeyman, and I am promoting you to that rank. As of now, you are no longer an apprentice. Welcome, Journeyman Petitfeu.”
A soft congratulatory murmur rose around them, but it took Brigitte a moment before she could stutter her thanks. The Master of Shadows smiled and nodded, but he was already continuing to the next topic.
“Master Envermet,” he said, addressing the head of his shadow guards, and the man straightened, turning his attention solely to the Master.
Following the Shadow Master’s gaze, Marsh recognized the man from the morning’s training. No wonder he’d been hard to beat! She listened as the discussion turned to the distribution of the shadow guards between the team and the monastery.
It was followed by talk of rotations, supply lines, and timelines, and her mind began to wander. On the other side of Brigitte, Aisha twisted restlessly in her seat, and Scruffknuckle sat up to put his head on the little girl’s lap. The movement drew the Master’s attention, and the discussion paused.
“Journeyman, Trainee, you are dismissed. Take the apprentices and their menagerie with you. You have an afternoon left to train in.”
“Thank you, Master,” Brigitte answered for all of them and rose from her seat.
Marsh was quick to follow, making sure Aisha and Tamlin rose also.
Truth be told, she was happy to leave the office, although she didn’t know how she was going to be able to concentrate on any kind of training knowing Aisha would be heading out with the repair teams.
4
Shadows of the Past
In the end, Marsh didn’t have to worry about training. As soon as the door to the Master of Shadows office had closed behind them, Brigitte gave her a stern look.
“Your orders were to rest for the day,” the newly-made journeyman said. “I’ll take the children.”
Well, Marsh thought, that tells me!
But she didn’t argue, and was secretly relieved. Without the meeting to distract her, she’d realized just how tired she still was from her activities the day before…and hungry! She wondered if Brigitte would notice if she went down to the dining hall first.
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