The Zero Curse

by Christopher G. Nuttall

  I looked at her. My sister sounded oddly subdued. It bothered me, more than I cared to admit. The last time I’d seen her, she’d been braying like a mule and probably planning revenge. It wouldn't have been that hard for her to deduce who’d spiked her drink.

  “It’s possible,” Dad said. “A child born out of wedlock might have been raised by the mother’s family, but ... neither I nor Carioca were able to dig up any rumours. We simply don’t know.”

  I frowned. “So who was she working for?”

  “We don't know,” Dad repeated. “And we may never know.”

  Rose stirred herself. “What about Fairuza’s blood relations?”

  “We haven’t been able to locate them,” Dad told her. “Fairuza - I suspect - was disowned at some point. Done properly, the ceremony would have cut the blood tie.”

  I winced, feeling an odd flicker of sympathy. Alana had threatened to disown me often enough. The ceremony was supposed to be painful, according to the handful of vague descriptions I’d read in Dad’s books. Fairuza would have been cut out of her family entirely and thrown onto the streets. It was a miracle she’d survived long enough to be rescued by her unknown patron.

  “So whoever did this can do it again,” Alana said. “Dad, we have to find them!”

  “And we will,” Dad said. “But it will take time.”

  Time we may not have, I thought. I’d made too many Objects of Power for Fairuza. Whoever was backing her is planning something big.

  I looked at Dad. “Did the Kingsmen find anything when they searched our prison?”

  “Nothing,” Dad said. “The last report stated that they believed the building had been hastily abandoned, after you escaped. Fairuza clearly had an evacuation plan and the time to put it into operation. Whatever she couldn't take with her was destroyed. That includes everything you forged for her.”

  I nodded, slowly. I’d have to make a list, while everything was fresh in my mind. And then ... Magus Court was not going to be pleased. If someone finding an Object of Power in some long-forgotten ruin could upset the balance of power between the Great Houses, me making new ones could capsize it. Fairuza’s patron could cause a lot of damage, simply by selling them to the highest bidder. Or perhaps the patron had something greater in mind.

  Dad cleared his throat. “The four of you will return to Jude’s tomorrow,” he said. He held up a hand before I could start spluttering in disbelief. “Politics, Cat, dictate that you return to school. Akin will be returning too.”

  “Politics,” Mum said. She said the word as if it polluted her mouth. “You know the risks.”

  “I know,” Dad said. They shared a look. “But you know the problem too.”

  I glanced from Alana to Bella and back again. Our parents rarely argued in front of us. Dad and Mum preferred to present a united front, rather than give us an opportunity to exploit their disagreements. For them to disagree so openly ... I swallowed, again. They hadn't had an easy time of it after we’d been kidnapped. Mum and Dad had to have considered the possibility that they would never see me again.

  And a year ago, they might even have been relieved, I thought, glumly. Now ... now I’m important.

  “The defences have been improved,” Dad said. He looked at me. “The Castellan has already secured the funding to make the school impregnable. I believe you will be assisting with that, Cat. You will find it an interesting job.”

  I nodded, slowly. Magister Von Rupert had been talking about repairing and enhancing the wards, hadn't he? It felt like it had been years since we’d chatted, as if it was part of another life. I looked down at my hands, studying the mottled skin. It might be a long time before any of us recovered from our ordeal.

  Dad was waiting for an answer. I sighed.

  “I hope so,” I told him. “But ...”

  I shook my head slowly. There was nothing to say.

  “Magus Court will also want to talk to you at some point, when the inquest gets underway,” Dad added. “Before then, do not talk to anyone about your experience without my permission. Rose, I advise you to do the same. There are already too many rumours flying around the city.”

  “Ouch,” I said. This time, at least, the rumours wouldn't be wholly bad. “What about Akin?”

  “I believe his father will give him the same orders, if he hasn't already,” Dad said. “In any case, keep your mouth closed.”

  I nodded. “Yes, Dad.”

  Dad tapped the table with his fingers. “You’ve been away for nearly two months,” he said, slowly. “There is a possibility that you will have to retake your exams. But we will see.”

  I blinked. “Two months?”

  “Two months,” Dad confirmed.

  I looked at Rose. It hadn't felt that long, had it? But then, Fairuza had been careful to ensure we lost track of time. Perhaps she’d dosed us with something too. Two months ... I touched my braid, gently. Had it really been that long? Apparently so.

  “I will arrange private tuition for you,” Dad added, looking at Rose. “You will have a chance to enter your second year.”

  Rose looked down. “Thank you, sir.”

  Dad cleared his throat. “Are there any more issues?”

  “Just one,” I said. “How did you find us?”

  Dad looked ... oddly displeased. “That is a very good question,” he said. He looked at Alana, then me. “Perhaps you could explain why a sample of your blood ended up in your sister’s possession?”

  I stared at Alana, confused. A sample of my blood ...?

  Understanding clicked. There had been blood - my blood - on the earring she’d stolen. I’d forgotten she’d taken it. And she’d given it to Dad ...

  “No, I couldn’t say,” I said.

  Dad looked at me. I stared back, as evenly as I could. I had no idea what explanation Alana had given Dad, when she’d handed it over to him. I didn't think there were any good answers to questions about why she’d have a sample of her sister’s blood. Dad certainly wouldn't believe her if she claimed I’d given it to her. Alana would be grounded for so long that her great-grandchildren would be grounded too. And yet ... I shook my head, mentally. I wasn't going to tattle on her, not now.

  “It was enough to give us a rough idea of your location, once you were away from the Eternal City,” Dad said. “The Kingsmen were dispatched at once.”

  And it took them several days to get into place, I thought. They arrived in the nick of time.

  “Thank you,” I said. I wasn't sure who I was thanking. Dad? Or Alana? If she hadn't taken the blood, we would have been recaptured. And yet ... I knew she hadn't done it out of the goodness of her heart. “It saved our lives.”

  “It did,” Dad confirmed. “Akin’s father did try to trace him, but lacking a specific sample it was quite hard to get even a rough location.”

  I nodded. It wasn't common for parents to keep samples of their children’s blood. I wondered, sourly, just how many parents were rethinking that policy. Kidnapping for ransom wasn't entirely unknown, but we’d been kidnapped by people who had no intention of returning us. It was every parent’s nightmare. And if it had happened to the two most powerful families in the city, it could happen to anyone. The simple fact that the person behind Fairuza had never been identified would chill every parent to the bone.

  “Go get some rest,” Dad ordered. “You’ll be going back to school tomorrow.”

  “Understood,” I said. I felt ... I wasn't sure how I felt. I didn't want to hide away in the hall, yet ... going back to school had its own dangers. Two months ago, everyone had known that Jude’s was neutral ground. Now ... old certainties were falling everywhere. “Come on, Rose. I’ll show you my room.”

  Rose shrank into me as we walked up the stairs. I held her hand, gently. The hall had to seem like a whole other world to her. And yet ...

  I turned as soon as we were in the room. “Are you alright?”

  “My head feels funny,” Rose said. She stroked her hair. “But otherwise ... I
’m alive.”

  “That’s something,” I said. “Did you write to your parents?”

  “I don’t think they know what happened,” Rose said. “Did anyone tell them?”

  I frowned. I didn't know.

  “We’ll find out,” I promised. If Rose’s parents didn't know ... should we tell them? Or should we keep it a secret? It would only upset them. “And if they don't know, we can decide what to do.”

  “Thanks,” Rose said. She glanced around. “Is there a bathroom here?”

  I pointed. “Over there.”

  As soon as she was in the bathroom, I walked across the room and opened the bag. The scroll was where I’d left it, buried under a handful of tools. It didn't look as if anyone had read it, although there was no way to be sure. I hadn't been able to rig up any protections for my bag. Dad could have looked at any moment.

  It was a priceless scroll. I knew historians who would sell their souls to get a look at it. And yet, I knew I should drop the scroll in the fire. It was too dangerous. Anyone who knew the truth behind magic could use it. I’d taken a hellish risk by not destroying it the moment I finished reading it.

  I’m sorry, I thought. But it has to remain a secret.

  Quite calmly, I dropped the scroll into the fire and watched it burn.

  Chapter Forty

  “So you made a flying machine,” Magister Tallyman said. “And it flew!”

  I bent over the sword, trying to ignore him. It had been an odd couple of days, once we’d returned to school. The tutors had been very gentle with us, the students had either asked questions or made sympathetic remarks ... it had made me want to scream. Sandy and everyone else in the dorm had been nice to me, even Isabella. It had been a relief when I’d finally been able to sneak into the workshop and start repairing the sword.

  “Akin tells me it flew badly,” Magister Tallyman added. “But at least it flew!”

  “It did,” I confirmed. I’d checked my calculations, when I’d had a chance. I hadn't made any mistakes, as far as I could tell, but I’d failed to take certain factors into account. It would probably take some time to recalibrate everything, after I built the next flying machine. And then Dad would have to be talked into letting me fly it. “It got us out of a hole.”

  I put the next gemstone into place, then checked my work carefully. The sword had been cleaned, thoroughly, and the runes re-etched ... I thought it would become an Object of Power again, when I inserted the last gemstone. But I wasn't sure. I’d have to devise a whole series of experiments to discover how the magic field actually worked, once I had a chance to sit down and work on them. The surge of energy as the spellform collapsed might just have broken the sword beyond repair.

  But at least we’ll know if the sword can be repaired or not, I thought, wryly. And knowing is half the battle.

  I wished Magister Tallyman would go away as I continued my inspection. I liked him - I did like him. And yet, I didn't want to talk to him. He might figure out that I was keeping something to myself, even if he didn't know what. I hadn't dared face Magister Niven either, not now. He’d know I’d solved the mystery and then ... and then what?

  Better the secret dies with me, I told myself, firmly. At least until we know if the magic really is going away.

  I sighed. Could the magic run out? Could the magic go away? Or ... or what? The field could be drained, or weakened, in a limited area. I knew that to be true. But could it go away permanently? What would happen if it did? Could the world survive? Humans could live without magic - I would never have been born if I needed magic to live - but what about the creatures that relied on magic? They might simply vanish when the magic went away.

  If the magic goes away, I thought. The Thousand-Year Empire used magic for over a thousand years. And it still took an Object of Power to wreck the Eternal City.

  “We can start work on a new flying machine,” Magister Tallyman said. “Wouldn't it be nice to fly?”

  “Perhaps,” I said, rolling my eyes. I slotted the last gemstone into place, then stepped backwards. “Let’s see ...”

  The sword blazed with blinding light. I covered my eyes hastily, turning my head to escape the glare. A cracking sound ran through the room, loud enough to make me jump and throw myself to the ground. And then ... the light and noise just vanished. I looked at Magister Tallyman - he’d dropped to the floor too - and then stood, turning to look at the blade. It was lying on the table, glowing faintly with light. I hesitated, then reached for it slowly. The hilt felt cold against my hand, but the sword was too heavy to lift. It seemed to be stuck to the table.

  “Let me try,” Magister Tallyman said. He took the hilt and tried to lift the blade. It refused to budge. “Interesting.”

  “It’s still blood-bound to someone,” I said. It would be possible to move the blade, as long as we didn't actually touch it with our bare skin, but there was no way we could use it. Whoever had owned the original blade wasn't related to either of us. “Who owned it originally?”

  “Good question,” Magister Tallyman said. He shrugged. “We might as well let everyone try to lift the blade.”

  I shrugged. “If you wish, sir,” I said. I was too tired to argue. My parents had warned me that, sooner or later, everything that we'd gone through would hit us. And yet, it was hard to care. “Can I get on with my work?”

  “Of course,” Magister Tallyman said. He waved a hand at the desk. “Just let anyone who wants to try to lift the sword have a go, will you?”

  He turned and left. I sighed, wondering precisely who owned the sword now. He’d said I could have it, but the blade was useless to me unless I somehow broke the blood-bond without destroying the sword completely. I didn't think it was possible. And if we did find someone who could lift the blade, they might lodge a claim to it that would supersede our rights. Dad would not be pleased.

  One political crisis at a time, I thought. We still don’t know who backed Fairuza.

  The next hour went slowly, very slowly. I would have gotten more done if a couple of dozen students hadn't sauntered into the room, tried to pick up the sword and then flounced out again in a huff. A handful tried to ask me for more commissions, but I turned them down quickly. I just didn't have time to do private work as well as catch up with my classmates, even though I suspected it was a waste of time. There was no way I could pass the practical exams. And without them, I wasn't sure how much my grade would be worth.

  Akin peered into the room. “Dinner soon,” he said, as he stepped inside. “How are you?”

  “I’ve been better,” I said. I studied him for a long moment. “How are you?”

  “Coping,” Akin said. “My father was not pleased.”

  He didn't look as though he was coping, I thought. His eyes were shadowed, suggesting that he wasn't sleeping very well. I hadn't slept well over the last couple of days either. Rose had had nightmares as well, to the point where she’d had to beg a sleeping draught from the healers. I worried about her, more than I worried about myself. Rose’s family still didn't know about our little adventure.

  “I don’t blame him,” I said. “Does he have any suspects?”

  “Plenty, but no proof,” Akin said. “And he’s not happy at having to work with your father either.”

  I shrugged. “I thought we were meant to be the kids here.”

  Akin smiled. “We’re too young to care about adult stuff,” he said. “But even Isabella was glad to see me home.”

  “I think Alana was glad too,” I said. “But she’ll never admit it.”

  “Probably,” Akin agreed. He looked at the door. “Did he start nagging you to build another flying machine?”

  “Yeah,” I said. “And I will, when I have a chance.”

  “Maybe you should wait a while,” Akin said. “Or let someone else fly it.”

  I grinned. “Not a chance.”

  Akin smiled back. “I understand,” he said. He changed the subject, suddenly. “Will you consider swearing a blood oath
with me? Now?”

  I blinked in surprise. “Now?”

  “Soon,” Akin said. He sighed, heavily. “This feud needs to stop.”

  “I still don't know if I can swear a blood oath,” I said. “And ... and what would your father say?”

  “I wasn't planning to tell him,” Akin said. “Not until afterwards, at any rate. It would be too late for him to argue.”

  “He might disown you,” I warned. Akin’s father had a spare. Isabella would be delighted if she had an unchallengeable claim to succeed her father. “Are you sure you want to take the risk?”

  Akin pointed to the workbench. “I can survive on my own,” he said. “What about your father?”