Forged

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by Benedict Jacka


  I stopped as I remembered what Bahamus had said. We will cease any offensive operations against you and your immediate associates. I’d assumed he meant Anne, but if he had, why hadn’t he used her name? “Associates” implied more than one . . .

  I looked at Morden. Morden looked back at me with his eyebrows raised.

  “You used me for this,” I said.

  “Just as you used me.”

  “I wondered why you were being so helpful,” I said. “Let me guess. You also gave them the impression that we both had access to Levistus’s blackmail files, and it’d be in their best interest to leave you alone.”

  Morden inclined his head slightly.

  I studied Morden. “I could tell them you were lying.”

  “You could,” Morden said. “Though it would result in a rather awkward conversation where they attempted to decide which of us to believe. I also suspect it would encourage them to reconsider your deal. You forced them to the negotiating table by projecting an image of strength, but if they sense they could play the two of us off against one another . . .”

  Shit. Yeah, that was exactly how the Council would see it. I might be able to make it work, but it’d be a risk . . .

  . . . a risk that would gain me nothing. It wouldn’t help me, it wouldn’t help Anne, and it wouldn’t help my friends. On the other hand, if I kept quiet, it’d give me leverage over Morden in the future. He wouldn’t be able to threaten me the way he had in the past.

  And besides . . . did I actually care whether Morden got one over on the Council?

  Not really.

  I looked at Morden. He was watching me calmly, and I wondered how much of my thoughts he’d been able to guess. “Why are you really doing this?” I said. “And don’t tell me it’s for health reasons, or that you want to spend time with your family. You and Richard worked towards this for years. Why step away now?”

  Morden nodded. “I am willing to gratify your curiosity, on condition that you keep the remainder of our conversation private.”

  I thought for a second. “All right.”

  “My arrangement with Richard worked most effectively while the two of us operated in separate spheres,” Morden said. “I was on the Council and dealt with Light mages; he stayed in the shadows and dealt with Dark ones. Unfortunately, once I made my final break with the Council, that was no longer sustainable. For a while I took the role of teacher, training adepts in Arcadia, but the distance between us was greatly reduced. As time passed, Richard and I were forced to take decisions that encroached upon each other’s freedom of action.”

  “You wanted different things,” I translated. “The differences weren’t a problem to begin with because you weren’t in a position to act freely. Once you started winning, though . . .”

  “A common problem with revolutions,” Morden said. “Fortunately, I had been aware of the risk, and decided that my stewardship of Arcadia would be my final act in this conflict. Once it was destroyed, I began making preparations to take my leave.”

  I studied Morden, thinking. “Seems to me that if you saw it coming that far in advance, you should have prepared your departure a bit more carefully.”

  “Perhaps.”

  “I think you did prepare it more carefully,” I said. “Then all of a sudden you had to improvise. Something happened to move up your schedule, didn’t it?”

  Morden nodded. “While my issues with Richard were a source of tension, they were not immediately urgent.”

  “Let me guess,” I said. “Anne.”

  “Richard intended to employ Anne and her jinn as his trump card in a series of key conflicts with the Council. Your actions not only prevented this, but introduced a new and highly unpredictable variable. Richard has been forced to modify his plans.”

  “Which plans?”

  “Why don’t you ask him?”

  I snorted.

  “In any case, I feel that this is an appropriate moment for me to make my exit,” Morden said. “You, Anne, the jinn, Richard, and the Council are all quite busy with one another, and I see no particular reason to continue to involve myself.”

  “In other words, you don’t want to end up like Jagadev or Levistus.”

  “Essentially.”

  “I wouldn’t really have pegged you as the type to run.”

  “Verus, when you reach my age, you’ll learn that sometimes the best course of action is simply to walk away. Both Jagadev and Levistus ultimately failed to do that.”

  “Walking away wouldn’t do very much good in my case.”

  “Perhaps in your case I should have said ‘if’ instead of ‘when.’”

  I gave Morden a narrow look. “Are you trying to tell me something?”

  “I think, thus far, you have played your cards in this conflict quite well,” Morden said. “However, your successes have come from joining forces against mutual enemies. As the number of players on the field continues to fall, that will become steadily more difficult.”

  “You’re making it sound as though there’s something in the future you’re trying to avoid,” I said slowly. “Exactly how far away is this something?”

  “A good question,” Morden said. “However, I suspect it’s one you’ll quickly be able to answer yourself.” He nodded to me. “Good-bye, Verus. Though we’ve had our differences, I’ve found our association to be quite educational. I will be happy to renew our relationship at some point in the future. But not just now.”

  Morden walked away. I watched him disappear into the trees, until I felt the signature of a gate spell and knew he was gone. I had the feeling I wouldn’t be seeing him anytime soon.

  Morden’s last words had left me uneasy. I scanned the futures, first quickly, then in detail. Still no danger. The clearing was empty of anything that could be a possible threat. I looked to see what would happen if I tried contacting other people . . .

  And froze.

  Oh shit.

  There was no time to gather up my traps and gear, no time to use staging points. I pulled out my focus for the Hollow and made the quickest gate I’d ever done in my life.

  * * *

  —

  I felt the difference the instant I set foot in the Hollow. The woods were hushed and the birds weren’t singing. There was a brooding, waiting feeling to the air, like approaching thunder.

  I broke into a run and as I did, I reached out to Luna. Where are you?

  Karyos’s clearing. Luna’s voice was terse. Hurry.

  The journey from our front door to Karyos’s clearing was maybe a minute at a full sprint. I made it in less than that. As I broke through the treeline, I skidded to a halt.

  The image of Karyos’s clearing made me think of a painting, one of those classical scenes with the figures captured on the brink of action. Karyos was under her tree, standing protectively in front of the trunk. To her right was Luna, close enough to Karyos to support her but not so close that an attack against one of them could threaten both. Luna’s stance looked casual, but she held her whip in one hand and a shortsword in the other, and I knew she was ready to burst into movement.

  Hermes was on the far side of the clearing. The blink fox was almost hidden in the foliage, and only the amber gleam of his eyes marked him out in the shadows. He was crouched low to the ground, tail and paws flat on the grass, ready to run or teleport. Hermes, Luna, and Karyos formed a narrow arc, their gazes all fixed on the clearing’s other side.

  Occupying the point where their gazes met was Anne. Alone out of all the people in the clearing, she looked relaxed, standing in a lazy hipshot stance. The black dress seemed to soak up the light, emphasising the pale skin of her arms and legs.

  “Oh, look,” Anne said. “Daddy’s home.” From her tone of voice, it was clear she was not happy to see me.

  “If you wanted to stop by for dinner,” I told her,
“you could have asked.”

  “What I wanted was to talk to Luna without you breathing down my neck.” There was an edge to Anne’s voice. “And we should have been done by now, except she keeps stalling.”

  How bad is it? I thought at Luna.

  Luna’s answer was instant. Bad.

  I gave Anne a shrug. “If all you want to do is chat, I’m not going to stop you.”

  “Good.” Anne’s tone was threatening, but she turned back to Luna. “Okay, you’ve got Alex to hold your hand. Now are you going to give me a straight answer?”

  “It’s not that simple.” Luna sounded like she was choosing her words very carefully. “You talk about straight answers, but you won’t give me one.”

  I’d already reached out with the dreamstone and found the person I needed. Without waiting for questions, I poured thoughts and images through the link far quicker than could be conveyed in words.

  There was no pause before the reply. On my way.

  “There is nothing complicated about this.” Anne was obviously running out of patience. “You pick up the monkey’s paw, you win. Which part are you not following?”

  “The part where that thing eats anyone who tries to use it,” Luna said. “Every time I say that, you just brush me off.”

  “I told you, I’ll handle it.”

  “Handle it how? It’s done the same thing to the last thousand people who picked it up, why would I want to be number one thousand and one?”

  “The monkey’s paw isn’t the only thing around here with a jinn.”

  “And what if the other one doesn’t cooperate?” Luna asked. “You keep talking as if you own it.”

  “Okay, I’m getting really tired of this,” Anne said. She swivelled. “Karyos.”

  Karyos inclined her head. “Lifeweaver.”

  “Sorry I wasn’t there when you hatched,” Anne said. “You know how it is. How about I make it up to you?”

  “In what way?”

  “Jinn don’t have to partner with humans,” Anne said. “They prefer them, but nonhumans work too. What do you say? You’ve been at the mercy of mages long enough. How about turning the tables?”

  “I thank you for your offer,” Karyos said. Her manner was grave and formal, at odds with her young face. “But I regret that I must decline.”

  “Why?” Anne demanded. “Mages have been after you for centuries, haven’t they? They invaded the Hollow, burnt your old tree. Are you just going to sit there and take it?”

  “The path you offer would lead to the burning of every tree in my grove until the Hollow was nothing but ash.” Karyos’s voice was clear. “You look at me through the eyes of a human girl, but I know you for what you are, ancient one. I will not be a soldier in your war.”

  “Don’t call me that,” Anne said sharply.

  Karyos looked back at her in silence.

  “Hermes,” Anne called. “How about you come with me at least?”

  Hermes stayed crouched. His tail curled between his legs.

  “Seriously?” Anger flashed across Anne’s face. “I was there when we pulled you out of Sagash’s shadow realm, you ungrateful little—!” With an effort Anne cut herself off.

  Hermes sank a little lower to the ground, eyes glinting.

  “Well.” Anne turned to me. “So that’s how it is.” She gave me a too-bright smile. “I’m losing all the kids in the divorce, huh?”

  “They’re not buying what you’re selling, Anne,” I said. “Though I’m not sure I should be calling you ‘Anne’ anymore.”

  “That’s who I am.”

  “I’m not talking about your other self,” I said. “I don’t think either of you is in the driver’s seat right now.” Anne was about to speak, but I kept talking. “What are you trying to recruit all these people for? You’re putting together an army, right? What are you going to do once you’ve got it?”

  “Whatever I have to.”

  “And what’s the endgame?” I said. “Rule the world? Kill anyone who gets in your way? Or just keep fighting until someone stops you?”

  Anne looked back at me angrily.

  “Think, Anne,” I said softly. “Think about all the time we spent together. Living with us in the shop in Camden. Living alone in your flat above that little nature reserve in Honor Oak. You never wanted this. Not even when I was talking with you in Elsewhere. You wanted to be powerful, wanted to get your own back . . . all of that, yes. But you weren’t a megalomaniac.”

  “It’s not . . .” Anne hesitated. “Okay, look, I might have had to make some . . . compromises. You don’t get anything for free, right?”

  “This is beyond compromises,” I said. “The jinn’s taking you over. This isn’t you.”

  “I don’t . . .” Anne trailed off. She shook her head, and all of a sudden she looked vulnerable, afraid. “Look, I need this. Can’t you guys help? Don’t you owe me that much?”

  It was Luna who answered. “I owe you more than this much,” Luna said. “I’ll do whatever I can for you and I always will. But it has to be for you. Not some creature wearing your body.”

  “We can sort that out later.” Anne held a hand out towards Luna. “Just come with me. Please?”

  Luna looked back at her, and very slowly, shook her head.

  The futures danced, but not towards a choice. One by one, the possibilities heading in a certain direction winked out. Multiple branches were left, but now they were all pointing the same way.

  Anne’s face darkened. “So it’s going to be like this?”

  Uh-oh. I reached out through the dreamstone. Luna—

  I know! Stop distracting me.

  “I’ve been there for all of you over and over again,” Anne said. “The whole reason you’re alive is because of me. Now that I really need it, you can’t do this one thing?”

  “It’s not about—” Luna began.

  “No,” Anne said. “I’m sick of hearing you say the same things. I’ve really been trying to be nice, but you are just not listening.”

  “She is listening.” I kept my voice calm, but I could feel things slipping away. “But you’re not doing much to reassure us here.”

  “I’m not here to reassure you. I’m here to call in some favours, which you don’t seem very keen on doing.”

  “Look,” I said. “We don’t have to—”

  “No, I think I’m done talking,” Anne said. “This is what you always do, isn’t it? You spin stories and you make it sound oh so reasonable. And all the time you’re setting them up for a fall. You’ve done it with everyone else, now you’re trying it with me, right?”

  “I’m not trying anything with you,” I said. But it was hopeless and I knew it. Already I was planning out which way to move.

  “Sure you’re not.” Anne raised a hand and snapped her fingers.

  Movement stirred from around us. Slender shadows appeared from all around the clearing, slipping between the trees. Cold eyes stared at Luna and at Karyos and at me. They were jann, and this time there were more of them. A lot more.

  “Okay,” Anne said again. She made no signal that I could see, but one of the jann to her left stepped forward into the clearing. It held out something in its claws, a lacquered tube of blue and white. The monkey’s paw.

  “Maybe you might have forgotten,” Anne said, “but I helped build this place. I know how to get through the gate wards. And I know where you keep your stuff.” She looked at Luna. “Now I’m done asking nicely. You are coming with me and then you’re going to see I’m right. Only question is, are we doing this the easy way or the hard way?”

  Luna stood very straight. “I don’t belong to you.”

  The jann moved. Claws flexed; slender bodies slipped forward. They were all around me and closing in from every direction; already I could barely see anyone else through the ring of s
hadowy figures and cold, flat eyes. Yet only half of the jann were surrounding me; the rest were around Luna.

  I’d kept up the mental link, and through it I could hear Luna’s thoughts, tense but calm. Alex, if you’ve got any ideas, now would be a really good time.

  I felt a weird tug of déjà vu. I’d been in this position before, in Sagash’s castle, an army of magical creatures around with no way out. Except back then Anne had been the one at my side. We’d come full circle.

  Try to make it to my cottage, I told Luna. It’s you she’s after.

  And the fifty jann in the way?

  I’ll do what I can.

  “I haven’t told them to hurt you,” Anne said. I could only see glimpses of her through the closing ring of jann. “If you just—”

  Luna moved. I couldn’t see through the crowd of jann, but I saw the aura of her curse flash, and a jann gave a weird whining scream. Then my weapons were out and I was charging.

  The nearest jann reached for me, claws extending. I evaded easily, shot it through the head, rammed my knife through its body and ripped it out sideways. It staggered, still moving, until two more strikes finished it off. But in the time it had taken me to kill one, five more were on me.

  The future narrowed into a whirl of strikes and grasping claws. I slid between the futures in which I was hurt or pinned, finding paths of safety through the danger. I’d lost sight of everyone else. I could sense magic from where I’d last seen Karyos and Luna, and knew that they were fighting, but the press of jann all around me was too close to do more. I ducked under an arm, slashed it in the same motion, kicked another aside, fired into a shadowy face. They were trying to wound and catch me, but not actually kill me, and that gave me an edge. And their sheer numbers were working against them. I knew Anne was near, but she couldn’t see me through the crowd, and any attack spell she tried to use would hit the jann instead of me.

  But it wasn’t enough. I’d gone out today equipped to deal with the Council, not a horde of summoned monsters. My knife and gun were poor weapons against the shadowy bodies of the jann—they had no veins to open or vital organs to pierce. Enough damage could destroy their physical form and banish them, but my weapons couldn’t deal that much damage that quickly.

 

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