The Wizards' War

by Angela Holder

  “Maybe. It’s not hard, but you have to be precise. When Nalini was teaching Nirel and me—” He caught his breath. “Nirel can do it!”

  “You think she’ll agree?”

  He wasn’t sure at all. She’d been furious with him, even though he’d only told the truth. “She’ll probably think it served me right to get my bond broken. Maybe have Kevessa ask her, or Vigorre. She might listen to them. I know she won’t let a child die if she can help save her.”

  “I’ll put them on it. Anything else you need me to take care of?”

  He couldn’t think of anything. “If I remember something, I’ll tell you later.”

  “All right. I’ll try to get up here as much as I can, but if I win I’m going to be very busy.” He swallowed. “And if I lose, Hanion might not let me.”

  “Do you think it would be safe to tell someone else, so they can visit? Like Kevessa? She’d keep the secret.”

  “I’m sure she would, but I don’t think it’s a good idea to tell anyone, even her. It’s vital the information doesn’t get out.”

  Elkan was right, but Josiah sure would appreciate Kevessa’s company. He hated to think that she would believe he’d really broken the Law. And she could help him figure out ways to use the Mother’s power without anyone finding out he was still bonded.

  Maybe he’d be able to do the same sort of thing she had in Ramunna when she’d been concealing the fact that she was a wizard. He wouldn’t mind putting his hands under hers so it looked like the Mother’s power was coming from her. Of course, Sar would be a lot harder to conceal than Nina, and nobody would ever believe he was just a pet. Even in Ramunna people knew he was a familiar.

  The perfect solution to their dilemma hit him so hard he gasped. Sar, I know what we can do.

  What?

  Josiah kept his mind open so the donkey could hear what he was saying to Elkan. “Master, I can’t serve as a wizard in Tevenar anymore. Not even in Thedan or out in the mountains, because everyone is going to hear about how my bond was broken. But nobody in Ramunna will know. I can go there with Kevessa and the rest of the Ravanethan wizards. It’s all right if other wizards know the truth. As long as they don’t tell, the Mother’s secret will be safe. That’s why she didn’t let Sar break our bond.”

  Sar reacted with cautious approval. Elkan frowned. He reached for Tobi and scratched her ears. “I suppose that’s a possibility. Although you know I’m not going back to Ramunna. At least not if I win the election.”

  Josiah gulped. “It’s not like I can still be your apprentice if I stay here. Not openly. You’d have to find me another master in some other guild.” He brightened. “We can pretend I’m going to Ramunna as Gevan’s student. That’s what I’d do if I really couldn’t be a wizard anymore.”

  “I’ll consider the possibility.” Elkan didn’t sound as excited as Josiah felt, but at least he wasn’t ruling out the idea. “Although, who knows. If Hanion wins, he might exile me to Ramunna, too.”

  “Don’t you dare let him win.” Josiah sat up and glared at Elkan. “You did a great job denouncing me. Everyone’s certain you never condoned me breaking the Law, so Hanion’s dirty little trick backfired. Go down there and make him pay for it.”

  Elkan held up a hand. “As far as he knows, you used the Mother’s power for deception. If it were true, he’d have been absolutely right to bring the accusation to light as soon as he found out about it. He hasn’t done anything I wouldn’t have in the same circumstances.”

  Josiah rolled his eyes. Trust Elkan to defend his opponent. But then something odd struck him. “How did Hanion find out, anyway? I thought you talked to Rovia and she promised not to tell anyone.”

  “I did. She seemed sincere, but she was very angry about her master’s death.”

  “Hanion doesn’t have any connections with farmers or herders, does he? He’s Watchkin, so not on his father’s side. Do you know what his mother was?”

  “A tailor, I believe.”

  “So nothing there, either. Does he have any friends who’re Farmerkin or Herderkin that might have heard gossip and passed it on to him? It wouldn’t have taken much. Once he got a hint I was involved in something odd, he would have started digging. I bet Rovia didn’t take much persuasion before she spilled everything.”

  Elkan’s brow furrowed. “I can’t think of anyone. I mean, both guilds are so big I’m sure someone he knows must have relatives in them, but there’s no one among his close supporters who—”

  He stopped. His eyes went big and round, and he swallowed hard.

  “What?” Josiah demanded.

  “It’s nothing.”

  “Tell me!”

  Elkan scowled at him. “I think I know who must have told him, but it doesn’t make any difference. Hanion didn’t do anything wrong. And his informant doesn’t know anything else that could damage me.”

  Josiah seethed with frustration, but he could tell Elkan wasn’t going to divulge anything further. “Are you sure?”

  “Yes.” Elkan pointed at him. “Now lie down and act unconscious.”

  Josiah groaned. “This is going to be the longest three days of my life.” He flopped back down on the bed and stared at the ceiling.

  “It will be good for you,” Elkan said as he drew the covers up and tucked them around Josiah’s shoulders. “You can spend the time praying and meditating.”

  “Hey, I’m not the one who wants to be Guildmaster. Wait till next spring when it’s your turn to fast and pray for three days and nights. At least I don’t have to kneel on the hard floor of Gurion’s Chapel the whole time.”

  Elkan froze. After a moment he took a breath and spoke carefully, his voice strained. “Josiah, can I ask you to do something for me? It will be difficult, and I don’t know if it will work, but if you can pull it off it will be a tremendous help.”

  “Of course, master. Anything you need. Although what can I do while I’m stuck like this?”

  “You can call on the Mother. I need to speak with her, and it can’t wait until spring. I need to ask what path I should take. I was planning to go out to the chapel after the election, but if you’re going to be nearly filling all the requirements anyway, it would only take a little more for you to complete the entire ritual.”

  Josiah’s heart raced. He thought of the First History’s account of Gurion Thricebound nearly dying in his attempt to summon the Mother for the first time. Guildmasters didn’t have to take it that far, did they? But Master Dabiel hadn’t even drunk water when she’d tried to call on the Mother outside their usual routine. Maybe the Mother wouldn’t notice the wrong person in the wrong place at the wrong time, no matter how hard he tried to get her attention. “Do you think she’ll answer me?”

  “I don’t know.” Elkan ran a hand through his hair. “I rather doubt it, actually. I shouldn’t ask it of you when there’s so little chance it will work.”

  But Josiah couldn’t let the idea go. “It’s all right. I want to try. You’re right, it’s not much more than what I’ve got to do anyway. And it would be great to get to talk to the Mother again. But can you do something for me in return?”

  “What?”

  “Kevessa would love to prove to her father that the Mother is real. He doesn’t believe she is, even after everything he’s seen. Can you arrange for Gevan to come with you when the three days are up?”

  Maybe Kevessa would be so grateful she’d be willing to let him court her again. But even if not, he couldn’t pass up the opportunity to do something that would make her so happy.

  “Perhaps,” Elkan said cautiously. “I’ll see what I can do. It would involve letting him know your bond wasn’t really broken, and I’m not sure if I can trust him with that information.”

  “If Sar and I go to Ramunna, he’s going to find out eventually.”

  “True.” Elkan sighed.

  Josiah took a deep breath. “Tell me exactly what I’ve got to do. I know I have to fast, so I guess that eliminates the need for yo
u to sneak me food.” Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea after all. But he was committed to it now. It wasn’t as if he’d never been hungry before. “Can I at least drink?”

  “Water should be fine, and I can’t see that it will make much difference if you drink broth like they gave me. But ideally that would be all.”

  “And I have to pray. I’m not sure I know how to do that.”

  “Just talk to the Mother. Tell her what you think, what you feel. Ask for what you want. She’ll listen.”

  It hadn’t been hard to talk to the Mother when they’d stood face to face, but keeping up a monologue for three whole days seemed a lot more intimidating. Still, the worst thing that could happen would be for her not to appear. That would be disappointing, but it wouldn’t do any harm. If Elkan still felt the need to talk with her, he could carry out his original plan. “All right.”

  Elkan rose. “I’ve got to get back down to the courtroom. I promise, I’ll visit as often as I can. Good luck.”

  “Good luck to you, too. Go show Hanion what a real Guildmaster is like.”

  His master smiled wanly. “I’ll try.” He held the door open as Tobi slipped out, then left, shutting it behind him.

  Josiah closed his eyes and tried to relax. Sar, you heard that, right? Can you help me talk to the Mother?

  Of course. Warmth filled Josiah’s mind, like the rush of the Mother’s power when they worked together. He was glad the feeling wasn’t lost to him forever.

  He composed his thoughts. He felt foolish at first, but that faded as he settled in for what was going to be a long conversation. Mother, we really need to talk to you. Elkan needs to know what to do. I know you know the whole situation, but I think I’ll explain everything anyway. It will give me something to say.

  Oh, by the way, thank you for not making Sar break my bond. I never expected that. Whatever it is you still need me to do with your power, just let me know.

  Fifty-Four

  Kevessa hadn’t expected to get much work done while the Guildmaster election was in progress, but this was ridiculous. First the guildmasters of every other guild in Tevenar had started showing up, saying Hanion had summoned them. Then the doors had burst open to admit them while two of Hanion’s supporters had interrupted Josiah in the middle of a healing and hustled him off to the courtroom. Then a short time later the doors had opened again, and Kevessa had watched, horrified, as Master Elkan had borne Josiah’s limp body upstairs while Sar plodded behind him, dejected.

  From the rumors flying everywhere Kevessa had been able to piece together an account of what had happened, but it still didn’t make sense. She couldn’t believe Josiah had done what they said. Well, maybe she could, if he’d truly believed they couldn’t defeat the Ramunnans any other way. But if he’d kept it a secret this long, why had it come out now? And how could the Mother break his bond for it, if he’d done it to save Tevenar?

  She forced herself to concentrate on her patient until Nina finished healing the nasty cut on her arm. But then she joined the cluster of Josiah’s friends gathered near the big fireplace where they could keep an eye on the stairs and the courtroom doors. Maybe when Elkan came down they could get a few answers before the council resumed.

  Borlen paced to the far side of the hearth and back. Shadow wove around his feet until Kevessa was sure he’d either trip Borlen or get stepped on, but the snake somehow always avoided both. “You’re sure it’s final? No appeal, no mercy? There’s no way Josiah deserved to have his bond broken. I can’t imagine him not being a wizard.”

  Seriti’s familiar, Quicksilver, huddled against her neck. She stroked the sparrow’s head with a trembling finger and pressed her cheek into his feathers. “If Sar saw proof that he broke the Law, then yes, it’s final.”

  All the familiars were distressed. Nina was so upset Kevessa had tucked her inside her tunic. The squirrel curled in a hot fuzzy lump between her breasts and refused to budge. All Kevessa could sense from her mind was misery.

  How could Josiah do this to Sar? To Nina? To all of them? It had nearly broken Nina’s heart to sever her bond with Mathir. Sar had broken his bond with Elkan only two years ago. It wasn’t fair to the donkey to put him through that trauma again. When Josiah woke up she was going to tell him so. He should have figured out some other way to get those stubborn farmers and herders to Korisan. She was sure he could have, if he’d given it some thought instead of throwing himself headlong into the first crazy scheme that occurred to him. Now he was stuck forever paying the price for his recklessness, even though he’d very probably saved Tevenar by it.

  She swiped an angry tear from her cheek with the back of her hand. Braon looked at her anxiously, but didn’t say anything, only stroked Copper rhythmically. Avnal drifted close, but before he could put an arm around her shoulders she turned and walked a few steps toward the stairs. “What’s taking him so long?”

  Vigorre followed her gaze. “It’s a long way up to the fourth floor.”

  He and Tesi had their arms around each other. The two of them had been inseparable since Elkan had brought Tesi back from the Matriarch’s tent. Every time Kevessa looked at them she got an envious ache in her stomach.

  Tesi laid her head on Vigorre’s chest. “I do not understand why Master Elkan could not heal him.”

  Kalti, who looked unhappy even though Kevessa was under the impression she didn’t like Josiah very much, crouched to pet Amia. “That’s how a broken bond works. You’re unconscious for three days, and the Mother’s power can’t do anything. He’ll wake up around this time on Firstday, weak and hungry, but otherwise fine.”

  “We all saw Mathir go through it,” Braon said. “And Master Elkan.”

  “Josiah was tried along with Mathir, even though he got off,” Kalti said. “Is it really so surprising he finally got caught doing something he couldn’t explain away?”

  Kevessa whirled on her. “Josiah’s done more for the Mother than you ever have. The insulin he helped discover is going to save more lives this year than you and Amia will in a lifetime. And the blasting powder mill he designed let Tevenar drive the Armada out of Elathir.”

  Kalti jumped to her feet. “After he and his master provoked the Matriarch into sending it here.” She stepped up to Kevessa so her nose was only inches away. “The Mother didn’t name him as an apprentice when it was his turn. Now we see why. He got exactly what he deserved.”

  Kevessa deliberately moved closer. She stared hard at Kalti for a moment, putting everything Mama had taught her about cold disdain into the look. Then she rotated majestically until her back was facing Kalti, paused an instant to let that sink in, and walked away.

  In Ramunna, that was the ultimate insult. Kalti wouldn’t understand just how rude the gesture was, but she couldn’t miss the general meaning.

  Behind her Kevessa heard the other girl sputter. “What do you think you’re doing? Come back here.” Her voice took on a jeering tone. “Unless you admit I’m right.”

  Kevessa clenched her jaw and ignored her. Thankfully, at that moment Master Elkan appeared on the landing and started down the last flight of stairs. He looked exhausted. Tobi plodded at his side, her head hanging.

  His eyes focused on Kevessa, and his step quickened. “Kevessa, you’re just who I need to talk to. And Vigorre.” He beckoned, and Vigorre disengaged from Tesi and came to stand beside her. “Do either of you know how to distill insulin?”

  Kevessa frowned and shook her head. Vigorre did the same.

  Elkan sighed. “One of our patients is going to need more before Josiah wakes up. He was starting a batch, but I don’t think he got the chance to finish it. The only other person I can think of who might be able to take over is Nirel. Didn’t Nalini teach her?”

  “I think so.”

  “Then Nikena’s lucky she’s still in Elathir. Can you please find her and see if you can talk her into coming to the Hall and finishing the batch Josiah started? I doubt she’d listen to me, but you’re her friend.”

>   Kevessa looked away. “That was before I knew she was a Dualist. She hid so much from us, and lied to us, and turned the Matriarch against us. I don’t really know her any more.”

  “Still, can you try? A girl’s life depends on it.”

  She couldn’t very well refuse. “All right.”

  He nodded. “Thank you.”

  As he turned toward the courtroom door, Kevessa blurted, “How’s Josiah?”

  He turned back with a bleak expression. “Normal for the circumstances. He’ll be fine after he wakes up.”

  “Sar really broke his bond?”

  “I’m afraid so.”

  “So he’s not a member of the Wizards’ Guild anymore.”

  Elkan shook his head.

  Kevessa heart felt like it had fallen into her belly, but she nodded. “After he wakes up, Father will want to speak with him.” She was almost certain Gevan would be willing to take him on as a student, especially if she urged him to.

  “I think Josiah would appreciate that.” Elkan hesitated. “Maybe this evening you could sit with him for a little while.”

  Her heart flipped. “He wouldn’t know I was there?”

  “No, but it’s still a kind gesture.”

  “Maybe I will, then.”

  “Thank you.” Elkan turned and strode resolutely toward the courtroom.

  Kevessa stared after him for a moment, then shook herself and turned to the other apprentices. “How are we going to find Nirel? Do any of you Tevenarans know where she might have found lodging last night?” Over the evening meal, Josiah had told them how he’d gotten her kicked out of the Dualists.

  Braon and Seriti frowned and shook their heads. Avnal said, “Maybe in one of the inns near the market?”

  Kalti rolled her eyes and sighed dramatically. “Open a window and trace her.”

  The suggestion was so sensible Kevessa couldn’t ignore it. She nodded stiffly at Kalti and turned her mind to Nina. Did you hear what Master Elkan said? Are you up to opening a window?

  The squirrel shivered, but she slowly uncurled. Her nose poked out of Kevessa’s neckline. I guess so. If it will help save the girl’s life.