by Imogen Elvis
“In the face of everything, that is the least of my worries. If this gets out, we’ll all be wanted for treason.” Master Talor lifted one shoulder in a half shrug, though he couldn’t possibly be so unconcerned as he appeared. “I don’t have long, so maybe we should begin?”
It would be so easy for Master Talor to wave the guards over now that he knew one of Briar’s allies was Lady Lara of Brockhurst, the known fugitive, but he didn’t so much as glance their way, though he couldn’t have failed to notice the blue coated soldiers as he entered.
“We heard that the ruling council were trying to pass responsibility for Master Sachio’s child magicians over to the Order,” Briar said cautiously.
“That they did.”
“What does Sachio say to that?” Lara asked.
“Master Sachio supports this move. He says it’s our duty to deal with threats from magicians.”
“Has he proposed a solution yet?” Briar asked. If they knew that, they might be able to figure out what Master Sachio’s real plan was.
“We only had time to meet briefly, but yes. Master Sachio has put forward a solution.” Master Talor’s mouth tightened as if he tasted something foul. “He suggests that we use a song catcher.”
Briar frowned. Using a song catcher would take away the children’s magic, which would protect everyone. What would Master Sachio gain from such a plan? “That’s not such a terrible idea, surely?”
“There’s a reason we so rarely use the catchers.” Master Talor shifted in his chair, folding his hands atop the table before he spoke again. “We use them in times of war, against magicians who openly defy the Order and pose a serious threat. It’s never a decision we make lightly. And we only ever use the catcher against adults. Using one of these children would do far more than just stripping them of their magic.”
Briar’s chest tightened. “What do you mean?”
“When a song catcher is used against a magician, it cuts out the strand of magic from their life song. It’s devastating. For some magicians, they’re lucky if they survive with their sanity intact. Now imagine that same thing happening, not to trained magicians, but to children. Untrained. Unprepared. They’re still growing, maturing. Their songs are awash with magic. It hasn’t formed into a single defined strand yet. A song catcher wouldn’t just remove the magic from their song. It would take everything.”
Briar’s breath caught in her throat and, when she did, at last, find her voice, it was soft and strangled. “You mean-”
“We use the catchers, those children die.”
There had to be some mistake. Briar searched the master’s grave face, but there was no hint of uncertainty, no hesitation of a lie in his voice. But it couldn’t be true. Ava was one of those children-
Under the table, Kade’s fingers laced with Briar’s, and he squeezed her hand gently. He had to know why the words dried up on her tongue, and why fear beat so heavy in her chest. She couldn’t look his way, not while she was still grabbing so desperately for control, but the warmth of his hand comforted her, anchoring Briar inside her spinning thoughts.
“That plan doesn’t make any sense,” Lara said, filling in the silence. “Sachio could do anything he wanted to stop this, and most people would just blindly trust him at this point. And these children have been useful to him. Why would he kill them now? Not to mention that slaughtering a group of children would likely lose him some support. Child murder is never a popular move. He has to know what the song catcher will do to them.”
“He knows alright,” Master Talor said. “We’ve argued this all afternoon. It’s too soon to jump to this option, not without trying something else first. As to why he’d kill these children, well, you’d likely know that better than me.”
“Sachio believes that sacrifices must be made,” Kade said quietly. “He needs to cause a threat big enough to make people panic so that they look to him for help. But at the same time, he can’t leave witnesses. This way, he keeps his hands clean.”
“I didn’t get your name before.” Master Talor frowned, peering through the shadows. “You sound familiar...”
Kade sat forward, letting his hood fall back so that the dim glow of the lamps touched his face. Briar sent him a questioning look but held in the words of protest that leapt to her lips. Kade knew what he was doing.
Master Talor’s eyes widened as he took in Kade’s face for the first time and he fumbled like he wasn’t sure whether to bow or to stare, or both. “You-you’re-”
“Shh.” Lara glanced over at the soldiers. One of the women looked their way, perhaps drawn by the master’s sudden start of confusion, as well as the rising tones of his voice. “The guards are looking over. We don’t want to draw everyone’s attention.”
Master Talor turned to look at the soldiers also. Though, rather than the quick, secretive glance Lara had given them, he openly stared at them, his eyebrows raised as if to ask ‘what do you want?’, arms folded over his chest. The woman met his gaze for what felt like an eternity, before finally shrugging, and returning to her drink. Briar let out a shaky breath. That could so easily have gone badly. They needed to take more care.
When the master turned back, he was a little more composed. “You shouldn’t be here. Everyone is looking for you. Do you know what they’ll do if they find you?”
“I know. But while Sachio is here, I must be too.” Kade was far too calm. “So, Sachio is pushing to use the catchers as the solution to the threat. Are the council falling in line with this plan?”
Master Talor shook his head. “Not yet. I refused to consider the idea. I like action, and goodness knows, we need to do something as quickly as possible, but not this. Brynn’s pushing back as well. No matter what these children have done, we can’t justify sacrificing their lives. Not yet. Rogan’s uncertain. He hasn’t committed to either side, as usual. The other two side with Sachio.”
“Not as unanimous a vote as he would be hoping for, I bet,” Lara said.
“Well, any plan that involves us losing another council member, especially at a time like this, is always going to divide us,” Master Talor said.
“What do you mean?” Briar asked. There was so much about these catchers that they didn’t teach the novices. So many things had been kept secret. If only she knew more.
“Anyone who uses a song catcher has to sacrifice their own magic. There is a price to be paid. A magician as powerful as one of the councillors can wield the catcher with precision. They can use it from a great distance and only affect their target. Most other magicians would have to touch the person to focus the magic. But everyone who wields the catcher’s magic has to make the sacrifice.”
Briar bit the inside of her cheek, struggling to keep the surprise and horror off her face. This changed everything. Surely the council would never agree to such a plan. But at the same time, Master Sachio would know how difficult it would be to persuade them. He must have accounted for that. The loss of a councillor, though, would be a heavy price to pay.
“Sachio’s going to struggle to convince the council, I should think,” Lara said.
“I wouldn’t put it past him, with enough time,” Master Talor said. “That man has a silver tongue, and a heart of stone.”
“Where does the council go from here?” Kade asked, still somehow the calmest person at their table.
“We meet again tomorrow to discuss the matter further. We cannot let the catcher be our only option. In my opinion, we should be mobilising the magicians, taking these children on hand-to-hand. If we’re organised and prepared, our people should be far stronger than a bunch of children.”
Kade looked thoughtful. “If you can keep blocking Sachio’s plan, you’ll give us time to find a way to stop this threat without resorting to the catchers. That should weaken his bid for the throne, maybe enough that we can find some support of our own.”
“I can do that,” Master Talor said. “Short of Sachio losing his magic though, I don’t see how we’ll ever convince enoug
h people that raising him to kingship might not be for the best, even if we somehow manage to stop these children in time.”
“Could that be an option?” Lara asked. “Taking his powers, I mean?”
“If we had a catcher, maybe, though again, you would have to find someone willing to make the sacrifice.”
“You’re a member of the song council. Couldn’t you get one?” Briar asked.
“Not easily.” Master Talor placed his hands very carefully, palms down, on the tabletop. “We don’t have Mistress Rhosmari’s catcher. That one went missing during the attack on Osman. I gather it’s in Sachio’s possession now. The other catcher is held by the royal family, and I can’t reach that.”
“So, we’d have to steal one,” Lara said. “Which would be exceedingly difficult.”
“But not impossible,” Kade said, slowly. “It’s very likely that Sachio would have brought Mistress Rhosmari’s song catcher with him. Which means that there are two catchers in the castle. There must be a way to get to one of them.”
“Even if we get one though, someone would have to use it.” Briar couldn’t imagine how difficult it would be to give up your magic, even if it was for the best cause. How empty the world would seem without being able to hear the songs.
For a long moment, there was no sound other than the babble of voices from the rest of the room. Everything they had learnt tonight just made their task more difficult. It was hard to think of a way around all these problems.
Then, slowly, Master Talor said, “If you could get the catcher, I would do it.”
“You would?” Kade asked. “Even knowing what it means?”
“If it would stop Sachio then yes. It would be worth it.”
“But you would lose your magic,” Briar said.
“When I became a part of the council, I swore to serve the Tree first, and to protect the people of Kerr,” Master Talor said. “Master Sachio stole from the Tree he vowed to serve. He harmed the people he promised to protect. He uses his magic for his own gain. Some things are worth the sacrifice. If you can get me a catcher, I’ll use it.”
“Thank you.” Kade’s voice rang with deep sincerity.
“Don’t thank me yet. I haven’t done anything. Thank me when we expose Master Sachio for the traitor he is.” Master Talor lifted his gaze to take them all in. “I want to help in any way I can. Whatever you need, just let me know.”
“We will,” Kade said. “Right now, we’re counting on you to block Sachio’s proposal in the council for as long as you can. Are you able to meet with us again tomorrow?”
“I can try.” Master Talor glanced back. The soldiers were deep into their third round of drinks already, and they didn’t seem interested in anything beyond their own table now. Another drink and they would be singing at the tops of their lungs. The master heaved a sigh and pushed back his chair. “I’ve been here as long as I can risk. I’ll meet you again tomorrow night. Here again?”
“If you can.” Kade gripped Master Talor’s hand, looking directly into the man’s face. “Thank you for putting yourself in danger for us. Thank you for believing in us. And thank you for helping.”
“For my country, I would do anything,” Master Talor replied. He pushed back his chair. “Until tomorrow, then. May the Tree protect us all.”
He turned, his cloak swirling around him, and threaded his way through the tables, making the lamps flicker as he passed. Kade, Lara and Briar watched the master until the door swung shut behind him. They couldn’t ask for a better ally. Master Talor was fiery-tempered, and loyal to a fault. If there was anyone who would fight against Master Sachio with all his heart and soul, it was him. Briar could only hope that his help would be enough to swing the balance in their favour.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
As the night grew late, the inn emptied slowly of its patrons. The four guards were almost the last to leave, five drinks deep, and barely able to walk in a straight line by the time they finally staggered out through the front door. Only once they were safely gone did Briar finally manage to relax. For their part, they stayed in their corner, quietly discussing what Master Talor had told them. Until now, Briar had never quite realised just how much influence Master Sachio had in Mizra. No wonder Kade, Lara, and Rowen had left Mizra in the first place.
“Well, we’re not going to get much further just sitting here and talking,” Lara said finally. “I’m going to bed. Tomorrow, we should speak to Madella again. If anyone can help us get close to a catcher, she can.”
“She might also be able to help us find more allies,” Kade said. “Song catchers are instruments of war, after all. I don’t want to rely on them if we don’t have to.”
“Madella’s already feeling out people at court for us. I’m sure she’ll have news for us,” Lara said. “But considering how close Sachio is to taking the throne, don’t you think that she should also consider the catchers as a real option? Talor is willing to use one. How much easier would it be for us to stop Sachio if he didn’t have his magic to fall back on? Yes, it’s an instrument of battle, but this is a war we’re fighting. Just because we’re not leading an army doesn’t mean that we’re not fighting just as hard. Sachio plans will be exposed as soon as he isn’t able to control the king.”
“Only if there is anything left of my father’s mind after all this,” Kade said soberly. “All Sachio’s magic, slowly twisting his thoughts, might have broken something irreparably.” His voice cracked at the end, the first sign that he wasn’t as unconcerned as he would like to appear.
Briar laid her hand on Kade’s arm, gently. “I’m sure he’ll be alright.”
Kade shrugged, the deep frown that creased his face never shifting. “Whether he is or not, we can’t count on my father for help. We need to show the world Sachio’s true colours before the council puts him on the throne. And for that, we’re going to need more allies, people who will support our claims when we take our stand.”
“We’ll talk to Madella tomorrow, see what news she has,” Lara said. “But I don’t think we ought to discount using a song catcher just yet.” She yawned, covering her mouth with a hand. “Anyway, we can argue more in the morning. I’m going to get some sleep, and you should too.”
“Soon,” Briar promised. “Goodnight, Lara.” She couldn’t sleep yet. Her head still spun with everything she’d heard tonight. She wouldn’t be able to close her eyes.
Lara headed for the stairs that lead up to the rooms on the next floor, and Briar expected Kade to follow suit. But instead, he stayed where he was, staring off into space, lost in his thoughts. Briar leaned against his shoulder, her hand slipping through the crook of his elbow, eyes drawn to the flickering flames of the dying fire on the hearth.
Master Talor’s words chased each other through Briar’s head in an endless circle. If the council used the catcher, then the children would die. If they died, Ava would die too. And if Ava died, Briar wasn’t sure what she would do. She’d had to abandon Ava twice, unable to do anything to free her, hoping against hope that stopping Master Sachio would be enough to save her sister. And yet, after everything they had been through, everything they had done, it still might not be enough. Master Sachio saw all the children as disposable, just things to be thrown away at will in his bid for the throne.
Kade heaved a sigh, breaking through the silence and Briar’s darkening thoughts. “I thought things might be simpler once we reached Mizra,” he said quietly. “But they’re more complicated than ever. I almost miss being on the road. At least we knew what we needed to do every day.”
“Me too,” Briar said. “I didn’t realise how strong Master Sachio’s hold on both councils was until tonight. He’s more powerful than I imagined.”
“At least we have some friends here,” Kade said. “More than I thought we would find. We have Master Talor and Lady Madella.”
“And your mother.” Briar squeezed Kade’s arm. “She’s on our side as well.”
“True.” Kade’s voice softened
. “I can only hope that they will be enough.”
“It’s more than we had when we started,” Briar said. “And Master Sachio can’t hold everyone under his sway any more. Lady Madella will help us find others willing to listen. And if we can find a song catcher, we’ll have a chance to break his hold completely.”
“I never realised using the song catcher was so dangerous,” Kade said. “They were supposed to be a simple solution. That’s why we went after them in the first place. Did you know what it would do to the children?”
Briar shook her head, a sharp pain tightening in her chest. “I had no idea. There’s a lot they don’t tell us novices.”
“You seem so calm,” Kade said. “But your sister is one of those children.”
“I know.” Briar’s voice hitched in her throat. It took her a moment to be able to speak again, and when she did, her voice was low, and she chose her words very deliberately. “It hurts to think of her being with them, knowing that her life is in danger. But right now, I have two choices. I could grieve her loss before anything has happened to her, or I could find a way to save her. What use is it if we give up hope now?”
Kade shifted, putting his arm around Briar’s shoulders. “I don’t know how you hold on to such faith. Anyone else would have given up a long time ago.”
Briar shrugged. “I refuse to give up on the people close to me,” she said, “whether that’s Ava, or Lara, or you. I don’t always have a lot to offer. I’m not as strong or as skilled as you both. But I give what I can, and I try to hold onto the hope and belief that we can do this.”
“We couldn’t do any of this without you, Briar. We’d never have come so far as we have.” Kade searched her face, looking for what, Briar didn’t know. “You hold us all together.”
“Thank you.” Briar’s smile warmed a touch as his words sparked something deep in her chest. Her eyes flitted away from his, suddenly too shy to hold his gaze. But the arm he wrapped around her was warm, and the shoulder she leaned against was solid and strong. She wished they could sit here and stop time from turning, so she never had to face the difficult choices ahead. Things were simpler when Kade held her.