by Imogen Elvis
Magicians attacking magicians? That hadn’t happened since the days of the Song Wars. Who would do such a thing now?
“Nameless Ones?” Master Sachio sounded almost amused. “What sort of a name is that?”
“An accurate one,” Mistress Rhosmari said crisply. “No one knows who they are or where they come from. They’re faceless, nameless killers.” There was a moment’s pause after her words.
“They just sound like a breakaway group with a petty grudge to me,” Master Talor said at last. “We’ve dealt with this before. Collect some strong magicians, warn order houses in the area. We’ll be prepared, and next time we’ll stop them before they go any further.”
“Again, it’s not that simple.” Mistress Rhosmari’s voice went so quiet Briar had to strain to catch the words. “In all my life, I’ve never seen such brutal magic.” She paused. “They’re as strong as we are.”
As strong as a song councillor? That wasn’t possible. The Crystal Tree itself bestowed great power on the councillors when they were sworn in. No one could match them for strength or skill. A chill ran over Briar’s skin. Who were these magicians and what made them attack the Order like this?
Even the other councillors seemed to have trouble believing this, for a man with an incredibly deep voice asked, “As strong as us? That’s impossible. The Tree…” He trailed off for a moment. “Well, if that is true, our normal course of action is not going to be enough.”
“I’m afraid not.” Mistress Rhosmari sighed. “We need to find another way to stop them. If anyone has any ideas to propose, now would be an excellent time.”
“I still think we should face this head on. Create a militia of magicians in the targeted area. Warn the order houses of the danger. These Nameless Ones may be strong, but no one’s invincible. A couple of skirmishes and we’d solve this problem for good,” Master Talor said. “I don’t see the issue.”
“I doubt that will work.” This came from a woman, with a voice that whispered with magic even when she spoke. “They’re taking whole towns apart like it’s nothing. The order house in Kenlan was obliterated. What good is a militia when they can tear down the very stones of our houses?”
“Besides, that would put our most vulnerable magicians at risk,” Mistress Rhosmari added. “We would be using our own people as bait when we’re not even sure that we can stop these attackers.”
“So we evacuate the houses,” Master Talor said.
“Even you have to admit that that’s not a viable solution.” This from the man with the deep voice. “No one knows where they’ll attack next. We can’t evacuate every house just in case. Besides, they’re obviously smart. I doubt they’re going to attack an empty building.”
“Well, what would you suggest then, Rogan?” Master Talor’s voice was sharp. “If you’ve got a better idea I would love to hear it.”
“We could use a song catcher,” Master Sachio suggested. “Then it wouldn’t matter how powerful they are-”
“No.” Mistress Rhosmari cut him off. “Absolutely not.”
“At least hear my idea before you judge it so harshly, Rhosmari. If our magicians can’t hope to match these Nameless Ones for power, then it would only make sense to level the field. Arm ourselves with the right tool, and we could stop them easily. If we used a catcher, we could take their power before they even have a chance to harm our people.”
He did have a point. The song catchers’ whole purpose was to remove the powers of dangerous magicians, though Briar couldn’t remember ever hearing of them being used after the Song Wars. Still, surely this would be the best way to stop the Nameless Ones before they did any more damage?
“Under no circumstance will I authorise that,” Mistress Rhosmari said firmly. “The catchers are weapons of war. We must exhaust our other options before resorting to them. It is not a decision to be made lightly.”
“We should at least consider it,” Master Sachio said. “It’s a viable option.”
“It’s not an option at all,” Mistress Rhosmari retorted, her voice taking on a sharp edge. “Your plan has just as many flaws as Talor’s. Again, it relies on us being able to reach the Nameless Ones before they kill anyone else. Even if I were willing to entertain the idea of using the catchers, it would take a miracle for this to work.”
The tone of her voice should have been enough to stop anyone. But Master Sachio pressed on. “Rhosmari, you yourself said that these people are as strong as we are. There isn’t going to be a perfect solution. Whatever we do, our people will be in danger. The question is, how quickly can we move to protect them?”
“The catchers are a last resort only. You know this,” Master Rogan of the deep voice interjected more calmly. “We use them during wars. Not on stray rogues. I say we keep your plan in mind but see what other options are open to us first.”
“What I want to know is, what’s the king doing about all this?” Master Talor asked. “I assume he’s been told.”
“A patrol has been detailed to track the Nameless Ones,” said the younger woman who’d spoken before.
“And? What else?”
“Nothing.”
“Nothing? You can’t be serious.” Master Talor’s voice rose. “Our people are being slaughtered in the streets, and the king has gifted us one patrol.”
“It’s unfortunate but true. I spoke to King Varik myself as soon as it was apparent that our order houses were the targets of these attacks, but he doesn’t appear to believe that this is as large a problem as we make it out to be.”
A patrol. That must be Captain Bren. Briar leaned closer to the wall, her frown deepening. From what the council was saying, Bren and his soldiers were not nearly enough to deal with this.
“What good will that do us? Why, you could take that many soldiers on by yourself, Perla.” Master Talor’s voice rose. “This is a mockery. Sachio, isn’t there anything you can do?”
“I will speak to my brother. I’m sure he’ll be willing to give us more help once he’s aware of just how serious this threat is. He has been much occupied with tracking down Prince Levi recently,” Master Sachio’s voice darkened disapprovingly.
Hopefully, he would have better luck persuading the king than Mistress Perla had. Captain Bren and his soldiers were a start, but if what Mistress Rhosmari was saying was true then they were going to need far more than a single patrol. But with the help of more soldiers, and the council’s own powerful magic, surely they’d be more than a match for these Nameless Ones?
Briar shifted, her muscles cramping. Rayna was right. This was worth sneaking out for. How come no one had mentioned any of this before? She took a steadying breath, then paused. What was that smell? Briar sniffed again. The air held a faint hint of smoke. Her heart sped up at the familiar, acrid scent. Smoke didn’t always mean something terrible though. Probably it was just that one of the buildings nearby had a fire burning to ward off the cold. The spring nights were still rather chilly. Briar tried to focus back on the conversation in the next room, but with the sour taste of smoke in her mouth, she couldn’t settle.
It couldn’t hurt to check where the smell was coming from. Briar rose and stepped over to the window. For a moment, she hesitated, her fingers hovering over the latch. It was probably nothing. She was just paranoid after last time. All she had to do was open the window and reassure herself. Briar struggled with the stiff catch for a moment, caught between the faint smell of smoke, the soft murmur of voices still filtering in from the next room, and the slightest tremble in her hand. There was nothing to worry about. She swung the right shutter open.
The scent of smoke thickened as Briar peered out cautiously. Flames blazed from the windows of a house down the street. Embers spiralled into the air like a swarm of moths. A moment later, fire licked the roof of the building next door. And, through the snapping of the flames, Briar thought she caught the faint strains of a song.
“What is it?” Rayna joined Briar at the window. She sucked in a sharp breath. “Sairt
h.”
Briar gripped the edge of the window until the stone cut into her palms. “Someone’s out there. Listen.”
Rayna cocked her head to one side. Her eyes widened. “It can’t be. No singer would do such a thing.”
And yet, there was the song, charged with magic, whipping the fire into an inferno. Briar tore her eyes from the nightmarish scene and met Rayna’s wide-eyed gaze. “We’ve got to warn the others.” She glanced back, and her stomach turned. This couldn’t be happening. Not again.
CHAPTER FOUR
Briar and Rayna left the wind master’s room at a run. Behind them, the door to the wind singers’ room flew open, and someone called to them to stop. But they didn’t. Briar wasn’t sure she could. The quickest way to warn everyone would be to ring the big bell in the main hall. How were they all still asleep? Couldn’t they feel the danger in the air?
Side by side, Briar and Rayna burst into the great hall, throwing the double doors wide in their haste. Briar skidded to a halt by the thick bell rope in the corner and grabbed it, her hands slippery with sweat.
Dong.
Dong.
Dong.
The air trembled with the tolling of the bell. It seemed an age before the first sleepy masters and mistresses stumbled in, their nightgowns flapping around them. These were followed almost immediately by a stream of shivering novices, wide-eyed in alarm.
“Novice Briar. What is the meaning of this?” Mistress Willow swept through the crowd and snatched the bell rope away. The bell gave one final, plaintive peal and fell silent.
Briar swallowed hard, her mouth suddenly dry. “The-the houses outside are on fire. I think it’s magicians.”
“Magicians?” Mistress Willow shook her head. “Don’t be absurd.”
“We heard them,” Rayna chimed in. “Someone’s singing those fires out there.”
At once the room rang with questions.
“Who would do that?”
“What are we going to do?”
“Are we safe?”
“Enough.” Mistress Rhosmari’s voice cut across the babble of fear. Silence fell. A path opened from the door, letting the mistress through. “Are you certain they’re magicians?”
Briar nodded silently. There was no mistaking the haunting notes, nor the spark of magic that rolled in with the smoke.
Mistress Rhosmari glanced at Mistress Willow and lowered her voice. “We need to get everyone out. Quickly.”
“I can rally some of the fire and water singers. We can control the blaze-”
“No. We need to leave Osman, now. If we stay here, we die.”
Briar’s fingers clenched around her medallion, the edges biting into her hand in a sharp line of pain. Did Mistress Rhosmari think it was the Nameless Ones out there?
Mistress Willow frowned “Are you sure?
“I am.” Mistress Rhosmari met Mistress Willow’s eye and nodded slightly, then turned to the assembled crowd. “Magicians. We need to leave the order house at once. Don’t stop to change or take anything with you. Leave the town, and stay hidden. We are all in danger if we remain here.”
The magicians nodded, though everywhere Briar looked, she saw confusion and fear. How many of them actually understood what was happening or what they would face out there? Briar’s throat tightened. Outside, it would be a hell-scape of fire and smoke and those eerie voices. To get from the order house to the safety beyond the town walls? She felt sick just thinking about it.
Thump.
The massive double doors leading to the street shook on their hinges.
Thump.
Someone screamed and the room dissolved into a confusion of cries and movement as people pressed to the back of the room, pushing through the doors and into the central part of the house. Over the sound of their fear, Briar caught faint strains of music. She swallowed hard and reached for Rayna. The door erupted into flames and Briar leapt back with a cry, her heart pounding in her chest.
“Move. Now.” Mistress Rhosmari’s voice rang with calm authority. “Masters, mistresses, get the novices to safety. You, and you.” She beckoned to one of the older novices and a master, both water singers. “Control this fire.” They hesitated, exchanging a wide-eyed glance, but followed the mistress. Their voices rose in unison, dampening the flames that licked up the inside of the door.
“Briar, come on.” Rayna tugged on her arm. “We’ve got to get out of here.”
The two girls followed the masters, who, despite their shaky voices and pale faces, bravely guided the novices through the halls. Mistress Willow held one of the doors open. Her lips moved as she watched the magicians leaving. Counting them? Saying a prayer? Briar glanced back as she passed, but Mistress Willow’s attention was already diverted back into the entrance hall.
“Go out through the door in the healing room.” This from one of the visiting mistresses, who stood in the passage beyond. “Go quickly, and go quietly. They’ll be looking for you.”
Half a dozen novices followed Briar and Rayna into the darkened healing room. With the shutters closed, it was almost possible to pretend that everything was normal. Briar grabbed the locking bar holding the door shut and heaved it up. Please let there not be anyone out there waiting for them. The outer door swung open, letting in a blast of heat and smoke, thicker now.
Briar coughed and held the door back. “Go. Go.”
For a moment, the novices hesitated. Then Rayna pushed past and out into the street. The others followed her lead and Briar came last, pulling the door shut behind them. The heat knocked the breath from her lungs. Sweat trickled down her neck, soaking into her habit. She pulled a sleeve over her mouth and nose to block out some of the smoke.
“Stick together.” Briar wasn’t able to quite keep the tremor out of her voice. She cleared her throat and tried to sound more confident than she felt. “Don’t stop. Just get to the gates and get out if you can.”
The novices needed no urging, disappearing into the orange haze. Only Rayna stayed, the whites of her eyes shining in the flickering light. Briar ached to follow them, find someplace safe to hide and wait for this to be over. But Ava was still out there, and Briar couldn’t leave without finding her first.
“Go with the others,” Briar said to Rayna. “Find somewhere safe.”
“You’re coming too, right?”
“I will. I just have to get Ava first.” Briar tried to force courage into her voice. “I’ll find you, I promise. But you have to go now.”
Rayna took a deep, shaky breath and nodded. “Alright. Be careful Briar.”
“I will.” Briar managed a tight smile. “Go on. Before the others get too far away.”
She watched Rayna out of sight, the smile dropping from her lips as her friend disappeared into the smoke. All she could do now was pray that they’d be safe. Briar set off in the other direction, heading deeper into town. If she hurried, maybe she’d reach the big house where Ava worked before the Nameless Ones did. They could hide and wait this out together.
CHAPTER FIVE
Osman on fire was a very different place to the town Briar knew, a shifting landscape of shadows, the air filled with cries of fear and the howling of the fires that spread from building to building, faster than she thought possible. Every so often a person stumbled past, making Briar’s pulse race. She pushed on through the streets, her ears pricked for the ghostly music. So far, so good. No songs. The buildings around her were already on fire. There was nothing more to attack here.
As Briar got closer to the big house where Ava worked, the buildings changed from wood to stone. A few burned from the inside, the flames licking out their windows as they devoured furniture and belongings. But more and more, the houses were dark and still. The tight band around Briar’s chest eased a little. It didn’t look like the Nameless Ones, if that’s who these people were, had been here yet.
The streets were so empty. Silent too. Briar forced herself to slow down, her footsteps growing quieter. An eerie stillness hung in
the air, as if everything held its breath, waiting for the next terrible thing to happen. The sooner she got off the streets, the better. It couldn’t be far now. Briar slipped around a corner, intent on reaching the house as quickly as possible.
Up ahead, through the smoky haze, Briar caught a glimpse of more people. Probably trying to find a place to hide until this was all over.
Or not.
As she crept closer, Briar made out the long grey habits of magicians. They stood in the middle of the road, the smoke curling around them. She frowned. The magicians were supposed to be leaving the town, not going deeper. Briar crept closer, staying hidden in the shadow of the wall. Mistress Rhosmari and Mistress Willow stood in the middle of the street, not running, not hiding, just… waiting.
Two more people approached from the other direction, one male, one female. They were dressed all in black, apart from white pendants, which hung around their necks. The pair held no weapons, at least, none that Briar could see, and black masks covered their faces. A chill ran down her spine. Nameless Ones? They stopped a few paces from the mistresses and stood motionless, their hands resting loosely at their sides. The air crackled with tension as the two groups of magicians faced each other.
“Who are you?” Mistress Rhosmari’s voice was measured, unwavering.
Silence.
“What do you want?”
Still no reply. Only that same uncanny stillness. In the flickering light, they seemed to be made of shadows, barely human at all.
The mistresses exchanged a glance. Briar pressed closer to the wall. She should run. But in the presence of the Nameless Ones, her feet seemed rooted.
The stillness stretched out for what felt like forever. And then, in unison, the Nameless Ones clasped their right hands around their pendants, their fists thumping against their chests. Mistress Rhosmari and Mistress Willow shifted in readiness.