The City of Zirdai

by Maria V. Snyder

  And here they were. Shyla found it interesting and a little sad that most people ignored her. Instead, they nodded to Ilan with approval. Not that she was complaining—going unnoticed was her goal. They descended to level seventy-one where blending in became harder to do. The quality of their clothing didn’t match that of the people who lived in the seventies. Though not nearly as wealthy as those living below level eighty, they still had extra coin to purchase finer fabrics that were custom tailored.

  Avoiding guards was also challenging as teams of them patrolled these tunnels and the presence of the costly trol lanterns hindered them. The bright light of the trols chased away the shadows. Shyla preferred the druks with their weak purple glow.

  They took a circuitous route to the chapel, keeping a lookout for both guards and deacons. Not many people traveled in this part of the city. Shyla wondered if it was due to the chapel nearby—out of sight equaling out of mind—or if it was due to the warmer air and strange odor. It had a hot metallic tang and left a bad taste in her mouth. People living underground learned a long time ago that pockets of foul air or unusual hot or cold spots were signs of toxic gases. And if they had collected in one place, there was a good chance they might ignite in a powerful explosion. This scent, though, reminded her of the foundries in the upper levels.

  Finding a location to watch the chapel without being seen was difficult. They ended up in a tight corner, but it had a clear view of the main entrance. Too bad it was guarded by six Arch Deacons. If that didn’t tip her off that something big was going on inside the chapel, she needed to find a new profession.

  As a mental exercise, she considered how she’d attack the chapel. The well-armed men wore torques, rendering her magic useless. The Invisible Swords could fight one-on-one and take their torques like Rendor had done to Yates, but she had no idea exactly how many deacons were inside. If this chapel had another entrance like the one on level fifty-two, she could send her people in that way to try for a surprise. Again, how many would she need? She wished for a way to neutralize the deacons without fighting. A vision of striking them on the head with a statue of Tamburah flashed. Not a terrible idea, except she’d have to get close.

  Perhaps she could invite them for drinks and serve them some of Zhek’s special tea. Imagining them toppling over, she swallowed a giggle. Ilan glanced at her in concern.

  As they watched, a handful of people passed by at various times, a quartet of deacons arrived, and the Arch Deacon on the far right scratched his nose seventeen times.

  “How long are we going to stay here?” Ilan whispered to her.

  “Until I figure out what they’re doing inside.”

  “They’re melting platinum.” He wrinkled his cute little nose. “Can’t you smell it?”

  “Yes, but I need more information.” She sensed about a dozen inside, but, with all that platinum, there could be a dozen more deacons. And without a constant watch, she’d never learn what was really going on inside. She needed to hire a couple vagrants to collect the information.

  “All right, let’s go,” she said. Her injured muscles had stiffened with the inactivity and her leg almost buckled underneath her when she moved.

  Ilan grabbed her just as a group of six deacons left the chapel. He pulled her back into the shadow. She watched as the deacons sorted themselves. Two carried about ten platinum torques each and the other four formed a defensive circle around them.

  But it seemed odd that they were worried about being attacked. Or were they just trying to hide the torques from view? Did the priestess suspect the Invisible Swords would be very interested in her operations here? It was almost as if they were putting on a show. Did the priestess want them to know they were making more torques?

  Then the group disappeared. Not gone as in around the corner or down a tunnel.

  No. They literally disappeared.

  Ilan sucked in a breath. “They’re gone.”

  Shyla recovered from her shock. She knew only one way to disappear from sight like that. Magic. Concentrating, she located the chanting rhythm of a magical command pressing on her. She shoved it aside. The group of deacons reappeared.

  Scorching hells. The deacons had wielded magic. Somehow the Heliacal Priestess had figured it out. Somehow she’d recognized the magical potential in her conscripted deacons and had taught them how to direct it.

  How in the seven hells did the priestess learn— Shyla almost groaned at the depth of her idiocy. Someone in the Invisible Sword had passed that information on to the priestess. She’d suspected a traitor all along. So why hadn’t she done more to find the person? She hadn’t wanted to upset Jayden. And look at what happened.

  They were cooked.

  “Can you explain your logic?” Jayden asked after she’d filled him in on all that she’d learned.

  They were in her room at Orla’s commune.

  “I shouldn’t have to, Jayden,” Shyla said in annoyance. While the cane helped, her leg still throbbed.

  “How do you know the traitor’s one of us and not one of the vagrants or deacons? You’ve been telling everyone about us. Maybe you told one of them your theories about cracked deacons.”

  She clamped down on a nasty reply. Instead, she drew in a breath. “I only told trustworthy people, Jayden.” She held up a hand. “Trustworthy, because I read enough of their souls to know their intentions.”

  He scrubbed a hand through his hair. “All right. Say you’re right and the priestess found out about the potential magic wielders in their midst. Then why did the deacons wield magic at that moment? They could have just hidden the torques under their robes or in a basket. There was no need to use magic to hide from the prince’s guards or any other watchers.”

  “It almost seemed rehearsed, as if they were performing for an audience. I think they knew we were watching.”

  “How? You were well hidden, right?”

  She ignored the implication that she’d let them spot her. “You’re thinking about it the wrong way. Now that the deacons can wield magic, it changes everything. They sensed us. It’s an easy skill to learn even for the newest of beginners.” She rubbed her temples. “They correctly guessed we were affiliated with the Invisible Sword. It’s logical that we’d consider shutting down their torque-making operation. In fact, that’s why I was there, to check it out and see if it was possible to stop them or to steal their platinum. When they sensed us nearby, they staged that little demonstration just for us.”

  “Why would they tip their hand? Surprising us with their own wielders would give the priestess a big advantage.”

  True. A sudden thought occurred to her. “We need to act quickly.”

  “What?”

  “The priestess only has a few wielders. Otherwise she wouldn’t have shown them to us.”

  “Wait. Where’s this logic coming from? How do you know she only has a few wielders?”

  “You asked why she showed us at all. There’s only one reason to tip her hand. Because she wants to scare us off. Make us hesitate and wait so she can find and train more of her deacons. Which is why we need to act quickly.”

  “Doing what?” Jayden asked.

  “Getting to those deacons before she does.”

  “Do you think you can after those sixteen people left?”

  “It’ll be hard. But it’ll be even harder the longer we wait.”

  “We need to train our people. And don’t forget that caravan is coming in two sun jumps.”

  She stifled a groan. “You’re right. We need to get back to headquarters right away and figure it out.”

  Jayden glanced at the sand clock. “It’s angle one-sixty. We’ll be spotted leaving the city.”

  “Then we’ll just have to be clever. I’m not waiting another angle. I’ll go tell Wazir and his family to get ready.” She hurried off.

  Disguised as two rich merchants, Wazir and Jayden and their four retainers left Zirdai via the north exit around angle one-seventy. Shyla used her magic to influence t
he guards nearby to see familiar faces.

  “Masters Pramod and Fath, so good to see you again,” the one guard called to Wazir and Jayden. “What brings you out so close to darkness?”

  “I want to check on Fath’s velblouds that are for sale. Make sure it’s a healthy flock before I purchase it.” Wazir waved to the guard. “You know I can’t trust Fath. He might have tied sun cloaks onto sand demons.”

  The two Arch Deacons that had been edging closer turned away at the friendly banter, no longer interested in the group. Shyla relaxed.

  Once they were out of sight, they headed toward their headquarters. Shyla soon discovered that using a cane in sand was difficult. Every step soon became an effort. Jayden walked beside her, helping to support her weak leg. He also erased their tracks.

  “Are you going to be able to meet up with the caravan? Or should Ximen and I go?” he asked when they reached the temple.

  She considered their strategy to purchase the platinum. Surely her leg would be better by then. And then it hit her. “We can’t follow our original plan with the caravan.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because there’s a good chance the priestess knows about it.”

  “Not this again. Shyla, your logic is flawed. Banqui—”

  “That’s enough.” She’d reached her limit and was finished with being nice. “Let’s go settle this right now.” She limped to the ladder.

  “Wait!” Jayden caught up to her. “What are you going to do?”

  “You know what I’m going to do. It’s time everyone takes the oath.”

  Everyone gathered in the common room. Fifty people crammed together. A few had been in the middle of work and full buckets of sand sat by their feet. Gurice and Mojag stood in the front with Ximen. Some had been woken up and they peered at her with tired and grumpy expressions. Too bad.

  Jayden helped her to step up onto a low table to address them. “We’ve gained a number of new members and we’ve learned some critical information. Danger is approaching and we must be able to counter it as a unified organization. I’ve heard people talking about being an acolyte, or an original member, or a vagrant. That needs to stop. You’re all Invisible Swords.” She paused and met each of their gazes.

  “And you will all take the oath and pledge your loyalty to the organization and to each other. You’ll all stand as witnesses. As part of the ceremony, I will draw our symbol on your upper arms.” There was a rumble of dismay. “You won’t see the symbol unless you can wield magic, nor will blood be shed.” Shyla drew the glyph on the wall with a piece of chalk. “This is what it will look like.”

  She let her words sink in before continuing. “As your leader, I will go first.” She handed her stylus to Jayden.

  He stared at the writing instrument in alarm. “What am I supposed to do with this?”

  Explaining how she’d pushed her magic through the instrument when she’d practiced on Gurice, Shyla rolled up her left sleeve, exposing her shoulder.

  “I don’t think—”

  “At least she didn’t ask you to cut out her eyeballs,” Ximen said, interrupting Jayden. “Like she did to me.”

  He shot Ximen a horrified glare.

  “Ready?” she asked.

  “No.” Jayden sighed. “I’ll try.”

  Shyla addressed everyone. “As a member of the Invisible Sword, I swear that I will embrace the beliefs and tenets of the organization and fully support its efforts to help those in need.”

  Jayden traced the crossed blades on her shoulder with the stylus. A tingle pricked her skin.

  “As a member of the Invisible Sword, I swear I will not betray the location of our headquarters or the identities of our members to our enemies and would give my life to keep its secrets.”

  He guided the flattened tip, following the two curved lines of the symbol.

  “As a member of the Invisible Sword, I swear not to harm or kill another unless it is absolutely necessary or in self-defense.”

  He drew a big circle in the oval shape.

  “As a member of the Invisible Sword, I swear allegiance to my fellow Invisible Swords.”

  Coloring in the “pupil,” Jayden completed the symbol. An intense heat burned on her skin as if the killing sun shone directly on that small section. No wonder Gurice had thought Shyla stabbed her. Magic snapped and the pain disappeared.

  “It worked.” Surprise laced Jayden’s voice. He then stepped back, allowing the other wielders to see the new glyph.

  Shyla thought it was unfair that not everyone could see it. Perhaps she could show them. In order not to upset anyone, she explained what she planned to do. Using her magic, Shyla sent the image of her symbol to the others.

  Invisible Sword.

  A little over half the room gasped. It seemed that over fifty people was too many for her to influence at once. She repeated it for the remaining members.

  Invisible Sword.

  Unable to hold it long, she stopped the command. After waiting a few moments to allow them to recover—and her as well—she pulled her sleeve down and took the stylus from Jayden. “You’re next.”

  He shook his head sadly. “I can’t.”

  Confused, she peered at him. “Why not?”

  “Sorry,” he said to everyone, but he was staring at Mojag.

  Sand exploded from all the buckets. The columns spread out and formed a curtain that swirled in furious circles. Cries pierced the roar of sand. Everyone scrambled to cover their faces, turning their backs to the assault.

  Sixteen

  It took a moment for Shyla to grasp the significance of the sand attack. Jayden was the traitor! A mix of emotions boiled—surprise, anger, and pain—but she ignored them. For now. Instead, she fought to calm the storm, but Jayden had years of practice in manipulating sand. And all he needed was a fraction of an angle to make his escape. Once he reached the surface, he’d be able to hide. Son of a sand demon!

  Then all the sand grains stopped and dropped to the ground. Mojag held out his arms. He’d been the one to stop the attack. He also blocked the exit, standing in Jayden’s way. Shyla would never forget the look of hurt betrayal on Mojag’s face. Or the fury.

  Jayden put his hands up as if placating a wild gamelu. “Moj–”

  “No! You don’t get to talk to me,” Mojag said.

  Shyla sensed a magical struggle between the two. Although impressed by Mojag’s strength, she knew Jayden had more experience so she helped the boy.

  Sleep.

  Jayden glanced at her then at Gurice and Ximen who stepped up beside her. That’s right, you’re outnumbered, traitor.

  His shoulders sagged in defeat and he stopped fighting.

  Sleep.

  This time he crumpled to the ground. She stared at his prone form, allowing the emotions to roll through her. Perhaps she shouldn’t be so surprised. He’d been fighting her ever since they rescued him from the Heliacal Priestess, his resentment coloring all their exchanges. But for him to betray the Invisible Sword? And Mojag? That was a concept just too hard to grasp. What had happened to him? She hoped they’d find out.

  Time to focus on the rest of the Invisible Swords. Shyla turned to them. “We’ll proceed with the oath.”

  “Are you crazy?” Ximen asked. “We need to evacuate right now.”

  “And go where?” she asked.

  “The city. We can hide with the vagrants.”

  Not a bad idea.

  “What if they’re in on it?” Gurice asked. “Jayden was our liaison with them. We need to know the extent of his betrayal before we go anywhere.”

  “Should we interrogate him now?” Ximen asked.

  “Not yet. We will find out everything,” Shyla promised. She was finished with being nice. “But not right now. Between the four of us, we shouldn’t have any trouble keeping him asleep.” Then she addressed the rest of the group. “This betrayal proves that we need to stand united. In order to do that, we need to trust each other completely.” She scanned the fa
ces in the room. “Taking this oath is vital and you cannot lie or it will not work. Is there anyone else who wishes to refuse?”

  Silence.

  “Good, let’s get started. Ximen, you’re next.” She held her breath. Did she have the strength to learn of another traitor?

  He pulled up his sleeve. “Let’s go.”

  It took about thirty angles for everyone to pledge their loyalty. They encountered no other nasty surprises and a few good ones—of the people who had come with the ex-deacons, three of them had potential to wield magic. The mood in the room had changed significantly. A sense of purpose and determination filled the air, but also an undercurrent of fear. That was to be expected because they could be attacked at any time except when the sun was in the danger zone.

  As the members dispersed to return to work or to rest, Shyla consulted Ximen, Mojag, and Gurice about what to do with Jayden. They sat in a circle around him. Poor Mojag hunched over his crossed legs in utter misery. The others were equally dejected—they’d been friends with him for a long time. No one tried to speculate as to why or how or when he decided to betray them. They knew Shyla would discover the answers.

  “I’ve extra velbloud tethers,” Gurice said. “We can secure him.”

  “It’s going to take all of our magic to keep him from escaping,” Ximen said, glancing at Shyla.

  Between using her magic to keep Jayden unconscious and doing the vows, she’d drained most of her energy. “After I interrogate him, we’ll need somewhere to keep him.” There wasn’t any place in their headquarters. “Somewhere that we don’t need a guard or else he’ll use his magic to escape. Somewhere where no one will accidentally find him. We’ll have to— Oh!”

  “Think of a good place?” Ximen asked.

  “Oh yes.”

  Shyla rested while the others took turns keeping Jayden asleep. When the sun started its jump, she sent out a few members to keep watch on the city. At least they’d have some warning if the priestess attacked. Yes, the priestess. While trying to sleep, her mind had reeled and spun with the implications of Jayden’s betrayal. Three things had stood out—the deacons had ambushed the original headquarters, they’d captured Jayden, and they knew how to block magic.