Magic Below Paris Complete Series Boxed Set (Books 1 - 8): Trading Into Shadow, Trading Into Darkness, Trading Close to Light, Trading By Firelight, Trading by Shroomlight, plus 3 more

by C. M. Simpson

  Tamping down her outrage, Marsh forced herself to smile.

  “And yet, I did end up here. I survived the ambush and made it on my own with two children in tow through caverns I’d never seen, and I rescued others on the way. If that doesn’t show promise, I don’t know what does.”

  She stopped.

  Mikel was staring at her.

  “What?”

  He licked his lips and then replied.

  “You survived the ambush outside Ruins Hall and made it back?”

  “Your point?”

  “We were told there were no survivors.”

  “Well, they were hardly going to admit to failing, were they?”

  Mikel drew a breath, the look on his face moving from straight calculation to concentration as he looked her over. Marsh had the impression he was studying her, or maybe looking for something he might have missed the first time.

  Whatever it was, he didn’t tell her whether he’d found it when he continued. “The artifact belongs to us. It needs to be wielded by someone who knows how to use it.”

  “I don’t suppose you’ll tell us how?”

  His lip curled. “Not a chance.”

  Marsh laughed. “You don’t know how!”

  From the look on his face and the flush rising over his skin, she’d hit the mark. She laughed again.

  “You don’t know how it works, and they wouldn’t teach you. It’s like they don’t trust you.” She paused, ignoring the scowl he directed her way. “Maybe I’m not the one who’s on the wrong side. Maybe you’d do better working with us.”

  He shook his head.

  “No.”

  “Why not? It’s not like you’re important to them.”

  Again, that look of scorn and defiance.

  “How would you know? You couldn’t even make it through the front door. All you were considered good for was being an unwitting courier.”

  The words stung, but Marsh tried not to show it. Instead, she shrugged as though they didn’t bother her.

  “Just goes to show that everyone makes mistakes.”

  This time she turned to Roeglin.

  “Is there anything else, Master?”

  The shadow mage shook his head.

  “I think that’s all. You are dismissed.”

  Marsh turned toward the door, but she had barely moved two steps before Mikel spoke again. “It really is too bad you have to die.”

  She paused, then forced herself to start moving again. His words bothered her, but there was nothing to be gained by answering them. Even so, she was shaking when the door clunked shut behind her. Since Roeglin had dismissed her but not told her where to go, Marsh decided to see if she could catch up with Aisha and Tamlin in the dining hall. A little bit of time in their company would go a long way toward making her feel better.

  For now, she felt…ruffled. There were no real emotions, just a strong feeling of unease, as if her whole world had shifted but she didn’t know how. It was as though her reality was somehow less real, an unnamed thread stalking closer with every step she took. Emerging into the corridor outside the dining hall was a relief, and Marsh hurried to find the children. They waved as she came through the door, their faces lighting up as she crossed the floor toward them. Marsh wondered what she’d done to make them so happy.

  You survived.

  Roeglin’s voice in her head made her pivot toward the door, but not before she saw some of the joy fade from the children’s faces. She wondered what had them looking so concerned?

  We need to eat, and then we need to see the Master of Shadows.

  Roeglin didn’t wait for her response but hurried over to get his meal. Marsh followed, her unease growing as she loaded her plate and returned to where the children were waiting.

  “Are you okay?” Tamlin asked and Marsh nodded.

  Mindful of Roeglin’s message, she dug into her food.

  Marsh nodded. “You?” she asked through a mouthful of crispy shrooms.

  Tamlin nodded in return, following her example and digging into his dinner. Beside him, Aisha did the same. It was as though both children could sense the urgency in the air.

  “Lennie?” Marsh added, and Tamlin chewed quickly and swallowed to clear his mouth.

  “Tired, but okay. She couldn’t fix it all, but she stopped him from dying.”

  Marsh wondered what good that would do Mikel, given that he seemed intent on staying on the wrong side and they couldn’t really spare the men to guard him.

  None. Roeglin’s response had a final note, and Marsh shied away from asking him when Mikel was going to die.

  She could have done without the shadow mage’s response.

  It’s done. We’ll bury him in the morning.

  Marsh coughed as her food formed a lump in her throat. Roeglin didn’t say a word, just silently passed her a glass of water. The two children watched them, concern shadowing their eyes. Brigitte took in the scene but didn’t say anything. Roeglin added nothing more but cleared his plate in record time, nudging Marsh to do the same before getting up to leave.

  Marsh followed, eating as she went, and stuffed the last forkful of food into her mouth just as she reached the stack of dirty dishes and added her plate to the pile. She was glad when Roeglin detoured back to the table to address the children.

  “We have a meeting now, so you need to train with Brigitte. Practice your glows; you’ll need to be as good as you can if you’re coming with us.”

  Aisha’s face lit up, and Tamlin looked happy, then worried.

  “She’s too little,” he whispered, and Roeglin shook his head.

  “Not anymore,” he told the boy. “She has the skills of a grown-up and a brother to protect her, and we need her.”

  The look Tamlin gave the shadow mage was a cross between pride and consternation. Marsh knew exactly how the boy felt. On the one hand, it was good to see Aisha’s skill recognized, but on the other, it was terrible to see her going into danger to use it. Marsh wished there was another way but she acknowledged that there wasn’t.

  The children were coming with them; there wasn’t any other option if there was going to be a world for them to grow up in. All any of them could hope for was that they could create a world where the siblings could grow up safely once they’d secured the caverns and driven off the raiders.

  Yeah… Once all that had happened, and she’d found their parents.

  “I’ll catch you both at bedtime,” Marsh said, and shared a glance with Roeglin. “Sooner if I can.”

  Tamlin gave her a dark and dubious look and Aisha waved with one hand, while patting Scruffknuckle with the other. The hoshkat kit had reappeared from its wanderings to lean against the little girl’s leg and wrinkled its lips in a silent hiss of disapproval.

  They were sure signs the child was worried, but Marsh couldn’t fix that. All she could do was try to keep her promise and catch them at bedtime, even if it meant taking a break from the meeting to do so.

  I’ll see what I can do, Roeglin assured her as he led the way to the door. Out loud he added, “Trainee, we need to go. Journeyman, you’re in charge. Apprentices, do as Journeyman Petitfeu says.”

  There was nothing Marsh could add to that, so she followed Roeglin out to the corridors leading to the Shadow Master’s office. Neither of them said a word, Marsh because she was trying to work out what she had to do next, and Roeglin, because… Well, Marsh didn’t know, and she didn’t have time to ask, even if she’d thought he would tell her.

  I wouldn’t.

  Of course, he wouldn’t. Marsh rolled her eyes and came to a halt when they arrived outside the door to the Master of Shadows’ office. Roeglin raised his hand to knock, and both of them jumped back in surprise as the door was wrenched open. Master Envermet looked around it and gestured them both inside.

  “It’s about time,” he said. “What did you do? Stop to eat?”

  Marsh shot a startled glance at Roeglin, but the shadow mage took the question in stride.
/>   “Trainee had to eat, and I needed to make sure the apprentices were set to practice their lessons.”

  The trainee had needed to eat? Marsh struggled to keep her disbelief from her face as she followed Roeglin into the room. Gustav was also there. The Master of Shadows waited for Roeglin and Marsh to sit before he began.

  “What we learned from the seeker who attempted to take the artifact means we cannot wait any longer,” he began. “If what he says is true and Ruins Hall is expected to fall, we have to do everything we can to reach them in time to save it. It also means I have to alter the plans to repair the trade routes. We will need an advance force to scout the way and report what they find.”

  He looked at Roeglin.

  “You will be in that force. Who can you reliably reach, apart from Marsh and me?”

  “I can reach Brigitte and the children,” Roeglin told him. He swallowed as though afraid to disappoint the man but unwilling to lie. “I…I haven’t tried with anyone else.”

  “How long would it take?”

  “To establish a connection?”

  The Master of Shadows nodded.

  “A week, possibly two. It depends on what the connection is based on.”

  The Master frowned.

  “We do not have the time.” He drew a breath, drumming his fingers on the desk for a moment before clearly coming to a decision. “I’ll send Tamlin with the second, and Brigitte and Aisha with the third.”

  He raised his hand as Gustav started forward, his mouth open in protest.

  “I promised protection for the child, and Tamlin is able to conceal himself in the shadows where his sister cannot.”

  Marsh refrained from pointing out that Aisha could hide inside the rocks. The Master had a point. If danger struck, Tamlin could escape. Aisha would be stuck inside her rock with no way of knowing what was waiting outside. Without Brigitte’s help, she might step straight out into a raider. Roeglin shot Marsh a sharp look, but the Master of Shadows hadn’t finished.

  “As you can see, there will now be three teams.”

  He pointed at Marsh and Roeglin, then Gustav.

  “You two, and you, will be accompanied by three of the shadow guard to form the first team. Master Leger will lead it.” The Master of Shadows turned to Master Envermet. “You will lead the second.”

  He looked at Roeglin.

  “And Brigitte will lead the third. Your team,” he continued, “will act as forward scouts. You will go ahead, trying to reach Monsieur Gravine in time to warn him of the coming attack. You will also warn Master Envermet’s team of any forces between here and Ruins Hall—which you will avoid. The second team will be a larger force designed to take out such threats.”

  He raised a hand as both Roeglin and Marsh opened their mouths to protest Tamlin’s presence in the team.

  “The boy is needed, and he will be protected. There will be two guards with him whose sole task will be to keep him safe. It is the best I can do. Further, they will act as a message unit to the repair team following behind. Without more mind mages, the best I can do is have runners between the second and third teams.” He looked at Roeglin and Marsh. “Tamlin is the first runner for the second team, and he will only leave if it is unsafe for the repair team to continue.”

  Silence followed his words as the truth of what he was saying sank in. If the runners had to go, Master Envermet’s team would have fallen. The Master of Shadows gave them a moment to digest this information, then went on.

  “Master Roeglin, your team is to go around everything in your path. You are not to engage. You are not to let them know you are present or that you have passed. Your sole priority is to reach Ruins Hall and give Master Envermet the information he needs for the repair team to work safely. Do you understand?”

  “Yes, Master of Shadows.”

  “And do you accept the mission?”

  “Yes, Master of Shadows.”

  “Good. Master Envermet will take you to collect your guards. You will leave tonight and travel as far as you can before you rest. Go and prepare for your journey. Master Envermet, I expect you to return with Journeyman Petitfeu so we can discuss your missions in more detail.”

  “Yes, Shadow Master.”

  As Marsh rose from her seat, intent on following Roeglin from the room, the Master of Shadows added one more thing.

  “The artifact will stay in our keeping,” he said, and could only be addressing one person.

  “Yes, Master,” Marsh acknowledged.

  She did not stop as she replied. Roeglin had reached the door, and she hurried to keep up, Gustav on her heels. As they arrived at the door, Gustav turned back to the Master.

  “I’d like to take Henri and Jakob if I may, Master.”

  There was a heartbeat of a pause before the Master of Shadows replied. “Yes.”

  “Thank you, Master.” Gustav left the office, hurrying to catch up with Roeglin.

  “We’ll meet you in Stores.”

  Roeglin nodded but continued his quick pace down the hall. Master Envermet jogged after them to join him. He glanced at Roeglin and Marsh.

  “I know you have to prepare, but if you would accompany us, I could introduce you to my guards?”

  Marsh nodded and Roeglin made a sharp movement with his hand, indicating that Envermet should lead them.

  “After you, Shadow Captain.”

  Master Envermet obliged, taking them up two stairwells to reach the shadow guards’ quarters. He marched into three rooms in quick succession, not bothering to knock at any of them. The first guard to come stumbling into the hall had a shock of red hair and dark blue eyes. He was buckling his belt and his leather tunic needed fastening, but he was fully dressed with his weapons already at his hip.

  The second guard was dark-haired with dark eyes, and his skin was the color of coffee. His belt was already buckled, his weapons settled over his hips, as he pulled the tunic’s fastenings tight. The third guard was dark-haired and blue-eyed, and stood a head shorter than the second. She scanned the hallway as she emerged, her eyes traveling swiftly over Marsh and Roeglin.

  When she was done with them, she inspected her two brothers in arms and then went over their armor and harnesses, making sure they were sitting correctly and were secure. When she finished, she stood in front of the redhead.

  “Your turn,” she snapped, and poked him with a stiffened forefinger.

  He flinched away from it but inspected her in return, adjusting a strap that hung a little looser than the rest. Marsh frowned. She hadn’t seen anything wrong with the strap, but it had clearly needed adjusting. As the guards finished inspecting each other, Master Envermet returned. To Marsh’s surprise, he had one more guard in tow. She was grateful when Roeglin asked the question that ran through her mind.

  “I thought the Master of Shadows said three guards….”

  “You need a guide,” Master Envermet replied. “This is Clarinay. He knows the caverns better than most and can take you by the fastest route.”

  Clarinay had skin the color of stone, tousled mouse-brown hair, and dark gray eyes. He looked at Roeglin and held out his hand.

  “Wanderer. It is an honor to meet you.”

  Wanderer?

  But no one had time to answer Marsh’s questions, and Roeglin did not reply. He took Clarinay’s hand and shook it, not taking his eyes from the man’s face. Marsh did not miss when Clarinay looked over the group before returning his attention to Roeglin, nor did she miss the way his eyes swept over her, taking in her dress, her weapons, and her face.

  It crossed her mind that Clarinay might be something more than a guide, but Master Envermet gave her no time to think about it.

  “I need to return to the Master of Shadows, but these are the guards for your team. I trust you will care for them as if they were your own.”

  Roeglin turned to face Envermet.

  “Master of the Guard, while they are under my command, these guards are mine.”

  They held each other’s ga
zes for a long moment, then Envermet nodded and turned away. Marsh wanted to know what Roeglin had really promised the shadow guards’ leader in those few short words, but she wasn’t game enough to ask, and Roeglin was already leading them back to the lower levels.

  “This way.”

  Their first stop, with the guards in tow, was Tamlin’s room. At Roeglin’s knock, the boy came to the door.

  “She’s in your room,” he said, catching sight of Marsh.

  “We’ll go there next,” Roeglin told him. “In the meantime, Marsh needs to say goodbye.”

  He stepped out of the way so that Marsh could crouch in front of the boy.

  “The Master of Shadows is sending me in an advance party,” she said, “and he wants us to leave now.”

  Tamlin’s face became troubled.

  “When will you be back?”

  Marsh cast Roeglin a querying glance.

  Can I tell him?

  The shadow mage nodded.

  “I don’t know, but,” she said, holding up a hand to still the boy’s protest, “you and Aisha will be following in two separate groups.”

  Again he started to protest, and again Marsh held up her hand.

  “You’re needed in the second group with Master Envermet so Master Leger can pass messages back, and Brigitte will be protecting Aisha in the third as they repair the glows. Okay?”

  It wasn’t okay. It was never going to be okay to send a child into danger to do an adult’s job. Never. Not even if she could do it better than most adults they knew. Tamlin laid his hand on Marsh’s arm.

  “Hey, it’s all right,” he said, then, as though reading her mind, he added, “She’ll be fine. Probably better than most grown-ups.”

  Marsh bowed her head and cleared her throat, then mimicked his gesture, laying a hand on his shoulder.

  “Right. Anyway, Tams, I just wanted to say goodbye before I left, and to wish you the best of luck in your task. Master Envermet is going to be making sure the path is safe, so I want you to look after yourself, okay?”

  “Yeah, okay, Mom,” he said, giving her as broad a grin as he could manage before pulling out from under her hand and turning away from the door. “You better go and say goodnight to Aysh, or she’s gonna be really mad at you. I’ll see myself to bed.”