She reached out with her senses as she picked up speed, trying to determine the nearest edge of the wards. It wasn’t easy. The wards were constantly shifting, as if they were centered on her. She looked around, then - kicking herself for the oversight - up. A pair of magicians were clearly visible, staring down at her. She could see the threads of their magic, blurring together into the wards. As long as they could see her, they could trap her. And direct their fellows to her. She reached for her magic, then stopped herself. If she cancelled the spells holding them in the air, they’d plunge to their deaths. She didn’t want to kill them.
A force picked her up and hurled her right across the street. She had a brief impression of eyes watching from behind the curtains, which vanished as she hit the ground. The townspeople had to be panicking as they watched living gods tear their town apart, caught in the middle of a violent conflict... she shuddered, wondering what would happen to anyone who was injured in the crossfire. Nothing good, probably. Pendle had been overshadowed by fear for the last month and even though the source of the fear was gone, it would be a long time before everything returned to normal. None of the townspeople were going to help her. They’d turn and run to avoid being caught in the storm.
Just like Jan, she thought. Where did he go?
She pulled herself to her feet and sprinted into an alleyway. A robed magician stood in her path and she rammed her fist into his gut without thinking. He bent over, coughing and spluttering. He’d thought to wear leathers, but not charmed armor. Another stepped out, holding a wand in one hand and a battery in the other. Emily cursed under her breath as she sensed the magic in the wand. A simple cancellation spell, linked to the battery... every spell for hundreds of meters around would be cancelled. She had to admire the trick. They would cancel her magic, then overpower her by main force and pour the potion down her throat. It would work. She was tough, but Master Lucknow was probably tougher. He didn’t need all of his comrades to beat her into submission.
Her hand dropped to the pistol at her belt. She drew it, pointing the barrel at the magician. His eyes went wide... he was probably a veteran of the war, someone who knew what a pistol actually was. There were sorcerers who didn’t know what a gun did and wouldn’t recognize the threat if one was shoved into their mouths. He hesitated, visibly. If he activated the battery and triggered the spell, he’d render himself defenseless as well. The bullet might not be fatal, but he’d be seriously injured. Pistols weren’t very accurate, yet... they were at point-blank range. She doubted he would want to gamble his life on her missing...
She heard shouts behind her and altered her pose, pointing the gun at the battery and pulling the trigger. The blast was deafeningly loud in the confined space, the bullet striking the battery and sending it crashing to the ground. Weird sparks of light darted out of the containment ring, magic surging like water spewing from a balloon. Emily wasn’t sure what would happen, when a battery lost containment completely, but she didn’t want to stick around and find out. She shoved a force punch at the stunned magician, denting his wards enough to drive him back, then threw herself past and started to run again. Behind her, there was another surge of magic. She hoped - prayed - it hadn’t killed anyone.
Her legs started to ache as she burst onto the street and raced down to the edge of town. There was no one in view, but she heard the men behind her. She glanced at a hastily-abandoned fruit stall, then cast a levitation spell and hurled tons of fruit at the hovering magicians. The impacts wouldn’t cause them to fall - probably - but they would make it harder for them to keep the wards in place. They were still centered on her, damn it. She wondered, suddenly, if she should try to knock them out of the sky anyway. Their comrades might catch them before they hit the ground.
A sorcerer crashed into her, his magic tearing and blurring into hers. Emily winced at the onslaught, so crude and yet so effective, then turned into the attack. Magic crackled around her as she pushed forward, shoving her way through the storm. She could feel the sorcerer’s confusion as she yanked the magic aside, then punched him in the face. Whatever he’d been expecting, he hadn’t been expecting that. Emily felt her head start to pound as the magic began to fade, her vision blurring for a second. Void was going to scold her for trying that in a real fight. It could easily have gone the other way.
The wards started to shimmer and weaken. Emily pushed herself forward, leaving the dazed magician behind as she hurried to the edge of the wards. She felt drained, but... she thought she could teleport back to the tower. Void could sort out the mess... at the very least, she could recuperate while the Mediators insisted on her surrender. The pain grew stronger, to the point she honestly wasn’t sure she could teleport. Perhaps if she got into the woods, she could hide long enough...
“Emily!” Master Lucknow appeared, right at the edge of her wards. For a moment, Emily honestly thought he’d managed to teleport despite the interference. He’d used a concealment spell to hide from her, hidden in the corner of her eye. She’d been too distracted to notice. “You...”
Emily had no time to react before he caught hold of her hair and yanked, hard. She stumbled back, nearly losing her footing. Void had argued she should cut her hair short, perhaps even wear a wig if having long hair was so important to her. In hindsight, she suspected he’d been right. Master Lucknow had his hands wrapped around her hair, hurting her so badly she could barely think... she allowed him to drag her as she gathered herself, then cracked the back of her head into his nose. She heard it break with a very satisfying crack - she felt warm liquid drip into her hair - but he didn’t let go. A moment later, a force punch sent her spinning through the air. Her scalp hurt so badly she was sure he’d scalped her.
She hit the ground, the impact knocking the wind out of her. Master Lucknow landed on top of her, his weight holding her down. She sensed his magic brewing, readying itself for another blast. This close to her, he’d have no difficulty tearing apart what remained of her defenses or simply knocking her out. She ruthlessly bit down on her panic as his blood pressed against her bare skin. Channeling power through the blood was difficult and dangerous, yet...
GET OFF, she thought.
Master Lucknow rolled off, his arms and legs flailing madly. The compulsion had been almost irresistible. He’d certainly not realized she could use his blood to control him... when it wasn’t touching her fingers. Emily smirked - there was nothing in the books on blood magic that suggested she had to use her fingers - then forced herself to stand on bruised and battered legs. Master Lucknow glared at her, his gaze suggesting he was setting up barriers in his mind. Her control was already weakening... she knew it would only be a few seconds before he broke free and came for her. She didn’t know why he’d wanted to arrest her - she’d thought they were allies, during the war - but he wanted her dead now. She’d pushed the limits as far as they would go.
She heard the sound of running footsteps and forced herself to stagger down the street. Her legs were sore... too sore. Too much had happened... her vision was so blurred she could barely see. Anything could be in front of her. She sensed a flicker of magic, too late. The tangle spell struck her legs and she tripped over herself, landing back on the ground. The sorcerers advanced, their power building as they wove a net of magic. Emily would have laughed, if she hadn’t been so badly hurt. She was too drained to continue the fight. They could grab her by the neck, force the potion down her throat and then march her off to...
A surge of magic pulsed through the air. It wasn’t directed at Emily, but it was strong enough to batter against what remained of her defenses. The sorcerers were knocked backwards, like trees caught in a gale; Emily took advantage of their sudden confusion to draw on what little remained of her power, trying to clear her eyes. Her eyes felt dry as dust, but - slowly - they started to clear. A nexus of power had formed in front of her. Void stood there. And Jan was right behind him.
Void’s voice was quiet, but it echoed on the air. “I do trust that you have
an explanation for this?”
Chapter Two
EMILY ALMOST FAINTED WITH RELIEF.
She’d known she was alone. She’d known she was doomed unless she fought her way clear long enough to escape. She’d known... and she’d been wrong. Jan had possessed the presence of mind to fetch Void, rather than standing against his master openly or turning on Emily... she felt a stab of sympathy, driven by the grim awareness that Jan had probably just lost his apprenticeship. Betraying one’s master wasn’t a harmless little prank. Even the sorcerers who thought Jan had done the right thing would hesitate to take him on.
Master Lucknow stumbled to his feet. “We are placing your apprentice under arrest by command of the White Council,” he said. “This matter does not concern you.”
Void raised his eyebrows. “I think you’ll find it does,” he said. “Emily is my daughter, as well as my apprentice. Anything that concerns her concerns me as well.”
Emily felt a rush of naked affection. Void had effectively adopted her, but... she wondered, suddenly, if this was what it was like to have a real father. To have someone who put you first, to have someone who came to your rescue when you found yourself in a mess you couldn’t handle... she wanted, suddenly, to give him a hug. He’d saved her when...
She gritted her teeth. There were at least eight other magicians facing them. She was in no state to continue the fight. Void was extremely powerful and yet... she didn’t know if he could fight off eight magicians long enough to escape. And even if he could... the town was going to be devastated. She forced herself to stand up, brushing down her dress. Better to run then kill hundreds, perhaps thousands, of innocent people.
Master Lucknow stared at Void. “The White Council has commanded...”
Void cut him off. “The White Council has an obligation to inform the patrons and allies of anyone charged with a crime,” he said. His voice was mild, but Emily could sense the roiling anger under his tone. “In this case, the... accused... is an apprentice, which adds a certain requirement to inform the apprentice’s master as well. There is a process to demand the apprentice be surrendered, that the apprentice be formally disowned and cut off from her master’s support. The process has not even been started.”
His lips curved into a smile. “Believe me, I know.”
“She was condemned by a special committee,” Master Lucknow said, coldly. “In times of emergency, normal procedures can be suspended.”
“A special committee can only be formed with the clear permission of the White Council,” Void countered. Emily wondered, suddenly, if he was stalling. Stalling for what? “Again, the council was not informed that a committee was being proposed. It certainly did not grant approval.”
“The special committee was formed to handle the post-war chaos,” Master Lucknow snapped. His eyes slipped to Emily, who stared back as evenly as she could. “The remit is wide enough not to require any further authorization.”
“Indeed?” Void seemed unimpressed. “I was unaware that your remit included snatching an apprentice, an apprentice with ties to some of the most powerful magicians and aristocrats in the Allied Lands, off the streets. The council is unlikely to accept such a precedent.”
“The charges are quite severe,” Master Lucknow said. “I believe...”
“You never listed the charges,” Emily said, sharply. “And you refused to show me the warrant.”
“He doesn’t have a warrant,” Void said. “Presenting one’s warrant is a legal requirement.”
Master Lucknow drew himself up to his full height. “The special committee has the legal right to summon anyone it wishes for questioning,” he said. “And when it believes the subject will decline to appear, it also has the right to compel their attendance.”
“And it has the obligation to make a good faith attempt to invite the subject to appear first,” Void said. “You certainly should not have shown up at her table and tried to place her under arrest.”
“Really?” Master Lucknow seemed oddly amused. “I seem to recall you snatching someone off the streets, twenty years ago.”
“Someone who was trafficking in the darkest of magics,” Void said. “Are you accusing my apprentice of doing the same?”
Master Lucknow didn’t rise to the bait. “I am doing my duty,” he said, stiffly. “I am defending the Allied Lands against those who would threaten them. We have been allies in the past, when it comes to protecting our people. Please do not stand in my way now.”
“And am I not obliged to protect my apprentice from those who would do her harm?” Void shrugged. “This... process... is not legally justified. Standard procedure was not followed.”
Void leaned forward. “Very well. We’ll have a hearing. An immediate hearing. I assume you have Resolution Castle prepped for her arrival?”
“The inquiry must proceed...”
Void smirked. “Is that a no?”
“The White Council is currently scattered,” Master Lucknow snapped. “I intended to place her under arrest before the full council was recalled.”
“An interesting legal twist,” Void observed.
“Time is of the essence,” Master Lucknow insisted.
“And that is why we will have an immediate hearing,” Void said. “Emily and I will make our way to Resolution Castle. You will arrange for someone to tend to her wounds, while recalling the council and preparing the charges. I dare say you should be able to arrange matters so we can hold the hearing in a couple of hours. If not... we can do it properly. We will await the formal summons with great interest.”
Emily frowned as Master Lucknow looked from Void to her and back again. She didn’t quite follow the legal arguments, but she was fairly sure that whatever Master Lucknow had done here wasn’t particularly legal. At best, Master Lucknow had tried to arrest her before getting the warrant, in hopes of presenting the council with a fait accompli. At worst... had he been trying to get her tried, convicted and punished before anyone realized what he’d done? If Jan hadn’t gone for Void, she would have lost the fight and been dragged away. Void wouldn’t have known anything had happened until it was far too late.
She felt a sting of betrayal. Master Lucknow had fought beside her, only a few months ago. The batteries had unnerved him... she wondered, morbidly, if she’d accidentally convinced him she was a deadly threat. She supposed he might be right, from his point of view. The batteries - and gunpowder - were shaking the world. The guns that had stopped an orcish charge could, just as easily, tear their way through a magical estate. And, combined with the runes she’d had carved on the bullets...
“She is a flight risk,” Master Lucknow said, breaking into Emily’s thoughts. “We have to ensure she cannot escape.”
“Are you suggesting I cannot keep her in my tower?” Void didn’t move, but his presence seemed to grow. “Or that I would deliberately let her go?”
The words hung on the air for a long moment. Emily tensed, readying herself to drop to the ground if the sorcerers started hurling curses at each other. Master Lucknow had crossed a line. The suggestion a master couldn’t control, and discipline, his apprentice was a deadly insult. Void had every right to take offense and it was unlikely anyone would suggest otherwise. Even if they believed Emily was Void’s daughter, they’d still expect him to keep her under control.
“Your choice,” Void said. “We can have the hearing now. Or I can take her home and you can follow standard procedure.”
Master Lucknow’s eyes flashed murder. “We shall proceed to Resolution,” he said, curtly. “The hearing will be organized as soon as possible.”
Emily glanced at Void, who nodded shortly. Behind him, Jan looked pale. Emily didn’t envy him. His master was going to be pissed. Master Lucknow would be looking for someone to bear the brunt of his anger. And if Jan hadn’t fetched Void, the plan would have worked perfectly. Emily hoped Jan had the sense to cut off his apprenticeship and go. He already knew enough to make a decent living. He didn’t have to stay with hi
s master.
Void took her arm. “Brace yourself,” he said. “This is going to be bumpy.”
“And you, go back home and wait,” Master Lucknow said to Jan. “I’ll deal with you later.”
Emily wanted to say something, although she had no idea what, but she felt Void’s power building and hastily closed her eyes. The ground lurched violently under her feet, a storm of magic billowing around her before slowly fading. Her body ached, as if she’d been hit repeatedly without any clear memory of it. She staggered against Void, nearly losing her footing as the ground lurched again. She had the uneasy sense they’d just crashed through a pair of wards intended to keep them out.
Her eyes snapped open. They were in the center of a dimly lit chamber, barely illuminated by light that had no visible source. Powerful wards surrounded them, confusing her senses even though they didn’t seem to be focused on them specifically. She thought she sensed the beating of a nexus point in the distance, but it didn’t seem to be linked to the wards. It was hard to be sure. She tried to reach out gingerly, to study the wards, but it was like staring into a blinding light. It was impossible to pick out the details, let alone start planning to crack the wards from the inside.
“Resolution Castle,” Void said, as he let go of her arm. “Home of the Order of Mediation.”
Emily nodded, looking around with interest. They were alone, trapped in a chamber that looked very much like a prison. A line of doors stood in front of her, each heavily warded. There was no one else in view, but her instincts insisted she was being watched. She glanced at the doors, wondering if anyone was behind them. There were no visible peepholes, but that proved nothing. Peepholes weren’t useful if the victim knew they were there.
That doesn’t prove anything either, Emily reminded herself. Some peepholes and observation spells are designed to be obvious, just to convince the victim they’ve found and blocked them all.
The Right Side of History (Schooled In Magic Book 22) Page 3