Trading by Firelight

by C. M. Simpson

Izmay punched him in the shoulder. Es shrugged and turned back to Marsh.

  “So, you want to know how it’s done or not?”

  Marsh focused on the shrooms once more, recalling the time she’d seen the rock mages from the monastery’s cavern shape fungi into overnight rests.

  “Yes, like that,” Es agreed, and Marsh kicked her out of her head. “Hey!”

  Roeglin snickered.

  “Just show her how to shape them. No more games.” He winced. “And stay out of my head, too.”

  “No,” Marsh said, and Es shot her a puzzled look.

  “What?”

  “No more magic today. What can you tell me about the Danets? They have steadings around here, don’t they?”

  Es frowned.

  “I only know of two families by that name. One left for the Deeps several months back. The other used to farm shrooms and moutons out near Devastation’s Hollow. They vanished a couple of weeks back. If we hadn’t heard the moutons, bleating no one would have known. Why do you ask?”

  Marsh shook her head, her heart sinking.

  “Can you show me?”

  Es’s eyes grew wary.

  “Tomorrow, maybe. Once the Council has decided.”

  “Decided what?” Gustav asked, but Es only smiled.

  “That I can’t discuss.”

  Gustav smiled in return, and he stood.

  “Show us where you want us to sleep,” he said, and Valerie and Luka rose with him.

  Marsh caught Roeglin watching her, his expression shuttered.

  “You got space in your corner?” she asked. “Because the kat looks like she needs company.”

  “Oh, sure,” he managed. “The kat needs company.”

  He left it at that, and Marsh looked around for her pack. It took her a couple of moments to realize she hadn’t brought it. She wondered where Roeglin had gotten his bedding, and remembered the druids making sure he was wrapped warmly when they’d settled him in his corner.

  I’ll share...

  Marsh blushed, and she fumbled to find an answer.

  “It’s okay. I’ll sleep with the kat.”

  Across the fire, Henri sputtered, and Izmay gave a startled bark of laughter. Marsh felt her face heat further.

  “Not what I meant,” she muttered, refusing to look in their direction.

  Instead, she crossed over to the kat and settled down beside her...on the opposite side to where Roeglin was lying.

  Fine! I know when I’m not wanted. I’ll let you hang with Gustav tomorrow.

  As if that was any different.

  Marsh pillowed her head on her arms and closed her eyes, trusting Mordan to wake her if anything came that was likely to harm her. She did not expect to be woken by two very familiar voices the next morning—three if you counted the fact Brigitte was trying to catch up with them both.

  “Marsh!” Aisha’s tone was one of sheer hell-raising delight.

  “Aysh!” Tamlin’s was one of utter frustration.

  “Apprentices Danet!”

  And Brigitte sounded more exasperated than normal.

  Before Marsh could respond to any of that, however, Scruffknuckle arrived. He bounded over to her and set his two front paws on her shoulders while he washed her face with joy. Marsh was still trying to push him off her when Aisha reached her.

  “Marsh!”

  The child came to a skidding stop beside her, bouncing impatiently on her toes as Marsh hurried to disentangle herself from the oversized pup and the blanket that had been thrown over her in the night. As she did so, she became aware of the sound of voices and the movement of a large group of people nearby.

  “When did you get here?” she asked, getting to her feet.

  “Just now!” Aisha giggled. “I found you!”

  Her happiness was infectious, and Marsh laughed as she lifted the child from the ground.

  “You did, but how did you know I needed finding?”

  “You not in town. Master Ennermay asked.”

  “Master Envermet’s here?”

  “Well, I would hardly be anywhere else.”

  His voice made Marsh jump and her face colored as Aisha turned in her arms to face him.

  “See? She’s here,” the little girl told him, sounding very pleased with herself.

  Marsh was surprised to see a faint smile curve the man’s lips.

  “Yes, she’s here. Have you had time to say hello?”

  Aisha nodded, and Master Envermet indicated where Brigitte was waiting a few strides away.

  “Then you’d better go back to Brigitte and see what she wants you to do next while I speak with your guardian.”

  “Kay.”

  Aisha flung her arms around Marsh’s neck, giving her a brief hug before wriggling to be put down. Marsh set her back on the ground, and Master Envermet watched the child run past him. When she was gone, he still didn’t focus on Marsh. Instead, he glanced to one side.

  “Tamlin...”

  The shadow captain didn’t add anything to that, just stepped back so Marsh could see where Tamlin had been quietly waiting, one of the hoshkits by his side. She didn’t wait for the boy to move but went to him.

  “Hey,” she said. “You been okay?”

  Tamlin rolled his eyes and wrapped his arms around her waist. When he replied, his voice was gruff.

  “We’re fine. Thanks for asking. We’ll catch up later if you’ve got the time.”

  He released her and stomped back to Brigitte, leaving Marsh staring after him with her mouth hanging open.

  He really missed you, Roeglin told her, his voice soft in her head, but he also knows Master Envermet needs to talk to you, and he resents that. He doesn’t want to get in the way, but he wants your attention too. We need to make some time for you to spend with them.

  Silently, Marsh agreed, fighting down the sudden surge of sadness as she closed her mouth and forced herself to look at Master Envermet.

  “You needed to see me?”

  “We expected to meet you in town, but Master Leger did not contact me as planned. We were worried. Have you been able to find anything on the children’s relatives?”

  It was not the greeting she was expecting, but Marsh quelled the urge to tell him she and Roeglin were fine, thank you very much, and how nice it was of him to ask. Roeglin caught that thought and laughed in her head where Master Envermet couldn’t hear it.

  And you wonder where the boy gets it from.

  On the outside, he was as serious and silent as anyone could wish. Marsh fought down the desire to stick her tongue out at him and answered Master Envermet’s question instead.

  “Captain Moldrane...” she began, but stopped when Envermet frowned. “We met Valerie when we arrived and had to save one of Dimanche’s leaders from an angry mob. After that, we learned Kearick was heading for the shadow mages here and went after him.”

  “You didn’t expect the mages to be under attack?”

  “We thought it might be a possibility after Luka told us the Piermonts had also asked about them.”

  “And Kearick?”

  “Gone. He had an escort, and we couldn’t get to him in time.”

  “Hmmm. And the relatives?”

  “The druids tell me their farm was found abandoned.”

  She didn’t explain what that meant. Master Envermet had seen enough abandoned farms to know. Marsh saw his lips compress and he turned to Roeglin.

  “You were injured.”

  It was not a question, and Roeglin’s eyes widened. It was almost funny to watch him realize Master Envermet had checked on them before checking in with them. After a moment’s pause, the shadow mage answered.

  “There was another mind mage.”

  “Powerful?”

  Roeglin blushed.

  “Stronger than me.”

  “How did you defeat him?”

  “Captain Moldrane put a crossbow bolt through his chest.”

  It wasn’t enough.

  “And?”

&nbs
p; “And Master Leclerc and the kat helped me.”

  Master Envermet’s brows rose.

  “The kat’s a mind mage now?”

  “I believe Master Leclerc can explain that better than I can.”

  Marsh rolled her eyes, but Master Envermet would not be deterred.

  “And?”

  “I... It’s hard to explain.”

  “Try me.”

  “I knew Roeglin could get into my head, so there had to be a connection between us, just like the connection I have with the kat.”

  Envermet nodded and signaled for her to continue.

  “I just found the connection and followed it into his head, and tried to deal with the other mage when I got there.”

  “And the kat?”

  “I needed help, so I called her, and she used the connection between us to follow me.”

  Marsh hoped Master Envermet wouldn’t ask any more questions because she couldn’t explain what she’d done any better than that. It was a relief when the shadow captain nodded. He gestured at the campsite.

  “And why are you still here?”

  Marsh wanted to tell him it was because they’d just woken up, but thought he might take that the wrong way. She was still wracking her brains for an appropriate response when Roeglin replied.

  “Valerie and Luka’s forces form the basis of the Dimanche Defenders, and the local mages are deciding where they stand based on their discovery that information from Luka might have been used by one of the Five to guide the raiders in their attack yesterday.”

  As a way of saying Valerie and Luka might be in trouble and why, Marsh couldn’t have put it any better. Well, not without using a lot more words. Master Envermet frowned.

  “Did they do it knowing they were helping the raiders?”

  “No. It was just a contract Luka’s people received from their patrons. They believed the reasons they were given.”

  “Do they still work for these patrons?”

  “No. Both Luka and Valerie are terminating their contracts as soon as the local mages give them permission to leave.”

  “Messy,” Envermet said. “We’ll need to speak with them.”

  He looked around, pivoting slowly until his eyes fell on Es.

  “I need to speak with your leaders.”

  Es looked him up and down, assessing the way he was dressed and the expression on his face.

  “I’ll see if they are ready,” she told him. “You will need to wait here.”

  Master Envermet followed the direction of her hand as she gestured toward the space around the fire.

  “Will they be long?” he asked as Devin appeared in the gap between the interwoven callas.

  “No,” the local mage answered. “We are here. The wolves spoke of your arrival. You are welcome to join us.”

  “My men...” Envermet began, but Devin interrupted him.

  “My people will take care of them.”

  At his words, Master Envermet looked around, and Marsh followed his gaze. The mage was true to his word. Two of his people were standing beside Gustav, obviously discussing what to do next. As if sensing their attention, Gustav looked in their direction.

  “He wants your permission to break formation and put them on standby,” Roeglin said, his eyes flashing white. “The Keepers have offered breakfast and somewhere they can rest while they wait.”

  “Keepers?” Envermet asked, and Devin nodded.

  “You have your Protectors, and Dimanche will soon have its Defenders, but we have been this Cavern’s Keepers since before the Five arrived.”

  Envermet regarded him with a skeptical look.

  “There don’t seem to be enough for you to have been around that long...”

  “It’s a big cavern with many branches, and this is just an outpost for the mines.” Devin gestured toward the fire. “Shall we?”

  Envermet moved as directed, speaking to Roeglin as he went.

  “Tell Gustav yes, and that he’s in command until I say otherwise.”

  Again Roeglin’s eyes turned white.

  “Done,” he said seconds later, and followed Envermet to where the rest of the Keepers’ leadership had gathered.

  Marsh went with him, noting Luka and Valerie’s arrival as she took her place beside him.

  21

  Negotiations, Alliances, and Combat

  When they were all settled, Devin began.

  “The people of Dimanche know us as the shadow mages that live in the cavern, but we call ourselves the Cavern Keepers.” He looked at Gustav. “Just as the Protectors are dedicated to the security of the Four Caverns, we are dedicated to the welfare of this one.” His gaze traveled to where Valerie and Luka sat side by side.

  “For that reason, we wish an alliance with the Dimanche Defenders, and will work with them in the same way that the Protectors work with the Deeps Monastery.”

  Before either of them could reply, he returned to Gustav and Master Envermet.

  “We would also like to negotiate alliances with the Ledge, the monastery, and Ruins Hall. I take it you can help us do that?”

  “Roeglin,” Master Envermet said, “we need your assistance.”

  Marsh stifled a sigh, trying not to think of how long it had been since she’d seen Aisha and Tamlin. Beside her, Mordan stretched and yawned before leaning against her. The kat would also prefer to be spending time with her cubs. Instead, they were both trapped here while their pride discussed its friendships.

  Marsh supposed that was one way to put things. She rested a hand on the kat’s shoulders and listened to the negotiation, although it was hard not to let her mind wander. Mordan rested her head on her paws and dozed. It seemed like an age before the alliances between the three groups were settled. By then, Marsh had also started to wonder just exactly how Aisha was able to find her.

  The more she pondered it, the more curious she became about how the little girl was managing it, because as magic went, having a way to locate another person would be incredibly useful...and she didn’t mean just for finding her friends.

  Being able to use magic to track where Kearick had gone would make finding the children’s parents much easier too. Right now Marsh didn’t have a clue on where to look, especially now their relatives had been taken as well. Her heart sank. She had to tell them that too. It was not something she was looking forward to doing.

  Pay attention. Roeglin’s voice intruded on her mind, and Marsh realized she’d closed her eyes.

  “Before we embark on the next leg of our journey,” Master Envermet was saying. “I believe Master Leclerc has some unfinished business in this cavern that she must attend to. Then we will move to secure Ariella’s Grotto.”

  At the mention of her name, Marsh found all eyes turn to her. Her mind raced, trying to make sure she knew exactly what she needed to do. She didn’t want to forget to mention something she’d have to do later. Who knew what she’d be allowed to add once this meeting had ended?

  “Master Leclerc?” Envermet prodded, and Marsh took a deep breath before she began.

  “When I came to this cavern, I had two tasks. The main one was to assist Master Leger and Captain Moldrane with negotiating the establishment of a division of Protectors in this cavern. The other was to make contact with the remaining family of the two children I rescued from a shadow monster attack on the way to Ruins Hall.”

  She gestured to the group around the fire, conjuring a smile as she did so.

  “I see you have managed the first one without me. The second task, however, has changed.”

  She heard a gasp from the shadows crowded at the base of a nearby outcrop and flicked a glance at Roeglin.

  Of course, the little brats were listening...

  “Excuse me,” she said, turning toward the shadow.

  Help me, she asked Roeglin, because Tamlin’s grip on the shadows was at least as strong as her own, and who knew what Aisha had learned in the meantime?

  Stretching out her hand, she made a grasping mo
tion, attempting to drag the shadows away from the base of the rock. She wasn’t surprised to find that they stretched and fought and did not part to reveal what lay beneath them. It wasn’t hard to imagine Tamlin holding onto the shadows and pulling them closer around himself and his sister.

  From the other side of Roeglin, Marsh heard Master Envermet sigh.

  “Apprentices Danet, come here.”

  Four simple words and the shadows did what Marsh wanted them to, sliding aside to reveal empty stone as Tamlin and Aisha stepped out from among them to come and stand before the shadow captain. He sighed and looked them up and down.

  “What have I told you about listening in on conversations that are none of your concern?”

  Tamlin lifted his head and stared defiantly at the shadow captain. Aisha mirrored his stance and look inch for inch.

  “This conversation concerns us very much,” the boy replied, completely omitting the fact that the negotiations between the Defenders, Keepers, Protectors, and Shadow Mages that had gone before didn’t fit nearly as well.

  Master Envermet frowned.

  “And it was one I wanted Master Leclerc to have with you in private.”

  Tamlin shrugged. Aisha, mimicking him, copied the gesture with careful accuracy. The boy folded his arms and tapped his foot, his face defying Envermet to continue. Aisha mirrored every move, right down to his expression. By the time they were done, Marsh was having trouble keeping a straight face.

  Master Envermet caught her biting her lip and sighed, waving the troublesome pair in her direction.

  This time they didn’t argue. Tamlin stalked over to Marsh and looked her up and down.

  “We’re not happy with you either,” he told her, then sat at her feet and leaned against her shin.

  “Yes, bad Marsh,” Aisha added, following her brother’s every move.

  Marsh realized she was staring in drop-jawed surprise and closed her mouth. It didn’t help when she saw the small smile tugging at the corners of Master Envermet’s mouth as he resumed his seat.

  “Go on, Master Leclerc.”

  “I...” Marsh took a breath, all too aware of the two newest members in her audience. “I still need to go out to the Danets’ farmstead to confirm their absence, then I need to return to the Deeps Monastery to formalize my guardianship of the children.”