by Terah Edun
Ciardis stopped. Stumbling back Maree Amber put her back to the desk with both hands holding her up. She closed her eyes briefly and licked her lips, “Do you know what just happened Miss Weathervane?”
Ciardis shook her head. “No.”
“You almost killed me.”
“I...what?”
Maree Amber stood up from leaning against the desk and crossed her arms in front of her as she faced Ciardis, “You were told you can enhance magic and that is true. But for the most powerful Weathervanes, the ones that venture into the territory of mages, you can override a person’s magic, command it, and even kill the mage with it.”
Uneasy silence descended upon them.
“I don’t understand,” said Ciardis. Maree Amber had her full attention. She was actually scared now.
“When a person exerts too much magic usually their body will shut down. Because that much power is too overwhelming for them. It’s a defensive tactic.”
Ciardis nodded.
“But when a Weathervane uses their enhancement powers as you just did the body cannot shut down. The mage core will not stop building. It will keep going until the magic overwhelms that person – stopping their heart or worse.”
“What could worse than killing someone?
“A great many things Miss Weathervane,” said Maree Amber with a dark look on her face, “A great many things.”
They stood in silence until a loud bark interrupted both of their thoughts.
Ciardis startled. She had forgotten about that monstrosity sitting beside the desk. Looking over, she saw that its white fur was standing up every which way as if stood in the midst of windstorm. It was looking at the glowing orb on Maree Amber’s desk.
“So soon?” she murmured as she took in the red glow.
Ciardis watched the dog that looked as if it was almost saying something.
Quickly moving around her desk she gathered her satchel, “It’s time to go.”
Ciardis watched as Maree Amber hurried around the desk with the dog following her as she grabbed her cloak.
Looking irritably over her shoulder, Maree Amber stopped upon seeing her protégé still standing in front of the desk.
“Well?”
Ciardis scrambled to door. Apparently the night wasn’t over yet.
They headed outside and caught a carriage to the weave dyer district. It was on the edge of city where the smell of the dyes would go downwind and over the ocean. Once there, they exited the carriage and walked into a large building. Inside it was a warehouse with no partitions or doors. Just wide open space and a peaked roof with large, square holes in it to let in sunlight.
Maree Amber walked forward into the middle of the room where a cloaked person stood waiting for them. To either side of the middle pathway were very large vats. Ciardis walked past the vats sunk deep into the floor. The colors swirled together with every push of a dyer’s mixing staff. Soon they made it to the center.
Beside the cloaked figure stood a fat merchant—she could tell by the moneybags weighing down his belt and the counting beads he had on his tablet that he was either a merchant or a tax collector; she wasn’t very fond of either, to tell the truth.
The merchant cleared his throat as they approached and said loudly, “Clear the room.” All of the women around them vacated their stations and quietly exited.
“Please activate the wards,” Maree Amber said.
The merchant did so with wary glances around. His nose was twitching like a rat’s. A fat rat’s.
“Of course,” said the man with the hood as he pushed the dark fabric back from his brow. Ciardis bit the inside of her cheek. Secret location, secret meeting—what would be next? Maree Amber looked over at her as if she could read her mind. She raised an eyebrow and motioned for her to come forward and stand by her side.
Ciardis could see that the uncloaked man had bland features. He had dull brown hair and brown eyes. His face was round and average, the kind of non-descript individual who could fade into a crowd at a moment’s notice. She didn’t trust him.
The merchant muttered something. Ciardis saw his magic flash faster than she thought possible, and there was a small pop in the air.
“The concealment is in effect. Our voices are muted and we cannot be seen,” the merchant said. “But we don’t have much time. I can’t keep this up for more than a few minutes.”
Maree Amber stepped forward to the formerly cloaked man and raised her hands. She called on her power and concentrated it. Ciardis watched as the magic from Maree Amber washed over his form. It started at the tip of his head and moved down to the soles of his feet. When the power dissipated, a woman stood in his place. Her hair, golden like wheat in the fall, fell down her back like a waterfall. Her eyes were a magnificent dark brown. But there was something odd about her ears. They stood straight and angular, peeking through her golden hair.
With shock, Ciardis realized that they were not only pointed, but they also had tufts of fur on them. Which meant she was inhuman, a kith.
“I didn’t know there were more like the Ansari,” Ciardis said with wide eyes. The woman turned to Ciardis, “We are not like the Ansari. Although my people respect the winged species highly.”
Maree Amber interrupted. “We risk our lives by meeting this early, Alexandra. What could possibly be of such urgency?”
The woman turned her brown eyes, the shade of loam on a dark forest floor, to them and said, “Thank you for coming, Maree. There are two things that could not wait.”
She turned to the nervous merchant, who was wiping perspiration from his brow. “Have you brought it?”
He nodded and reached with sweaty hands into a pouch at his waist. Fingers trembling, he picked up a small cloth-wrapped bundle. He attempted to hand it over to Alexandra but she motioned for him to give it to Maree Amber. Maree’s face grew still. There was blood dripping from the cloth. Ciardis eyed it with unease.
Taking the small bundle in one hand, Maree Amber opened the cloth, glancing into Alexandra’s mournful eyes.
On the cloth lay one of the cardiara, a mythical race of creatures which were human in all appearances except for the huge gossamer wings they possessed. This one had been stabbed, and not by its own kind. The wound in its chest nearly bisected it. This female cardiara had been impaled upon a human-sized weapon. Her mouth gaped open where she’d coughed up a small amount of blood, and her eyes—a stunning baby blue—stared open blindly.
“May the gods have mercy,” said Maree Amber, her voice unsteady.
“The gods?” said Alexandra. “The gods have nothing to do this. It was murder...murder of one who has not left the Ameles Forest in decades.”
Maree Amber glanced sharply at the fallen cardiara’s wrist. It was true: She bore the intricate tattoo of the homebound, those of the cardiara who would not leave their forest voluntarily.
Ciardis stared at the tiny body blankly. This was a tragedy, but what did it have to do with them? The merchant, who’d escaped Ciardis’s attention, said, “This won’t stand...not one of the kith will let this go.”
“Why?” said Ciardis.
“Because the cardiara are the guardians of the Ameles Forest. They ensure the health of the ecosystem,” said Maree Amber her eyes jerking away from the body before her.
He continued, “It’s why I brought the body here and informed Alexandra. This is just one of the many deaths in the last few months.”
“Of cardiara?” questioned Maree Amber.
“Of many forest inhabitants,” said Alexandra, “The only thing they have in common is the background as kith.”
“Surely it is the venue of the Imperial courts to deal with this,” interjected Ciardis. She cast a nervous glance at Maree Amber, waiting for a reprimand, but the woman said nothing to rebuke her.
“No,” said the merchant, shaking his jowls violently. “The emperor will send his messengers, but they will do nothing but spout nonsense. They don’t understand the kith. Maree, you do. T
hat is why we have come.”
“I have obligations—”
“To safeguard your empire and ensure its inhabitants’ safety. All of the inhabitants.”
Maree Amber gave a deep sigh. “Have you at least spoken to the Imperial courts about this, Alexandra?”
Ciardis was wondering why a merchant and a kith were pleading with the head of the Companions’ Guild to intercede in their conflict. What could she possibly do that the Imperial courts could not?
“They’ve agreed to send Lady Vana as an envoy and lord mage Meres Kinsight to represent the Imperial courts ahead of the Prince Heir’s visit. Even though I believe they hope to have the killings solved by the time he arrived, it will change nothing, of course.”
Ciardis’s ears perked up upon hearing the two names. Lady Vana was Terris’s sponsor, and where Vana went, so did Terris.
“Very well,” said Maree Amber, “I will take the time to see this through. To end the bloodshed. But I cannot go immediately.”
“Maree, I cannot stress to you, and I shouldn’t have to, how vitally important it is to get on top of this immediately.”
“I would not delay this any further than I have to, Alexandra, but I have to be in Sandrin for another few days on an urgent matter.” She paused. “Ciardis will travel ahead with you; I will follow as soon as possible. Hopefully within three days.”
Alexandra turned considering eyes on Ciardis. “Very well.”
Chapter 19
The meeting ended as quickly as it had begun. When they arrived back in front of Maree’s tower, she stopped and exhaled.
“Do not think I’ve forgotten our month of training, Ciardis. You will not be going near the courts again until you have had that training and can sufficiently contain your power. I will make sure of that.”
Ciardis nodded. “Of course.”
“We’ll continue where I left off in three days’ time. You’ll travel by horseback with Alexandra in the morning. Do not contradict her, follow her orders, and do not interact magically with anyone until I arrive. You are there to observe only. Is that clear?”
“Yes.”
Maree Amber began walking into her office. Ciardis cleared her throat to get her attention.
“Why are we traveling by road?”
Maree Amber turned back to Ciardis with eyebrows raised. “Because you’re going to the Ameles Forest.”
Ciardis shifted her feet. That hadn’t answered her question.
“What should I wear?”
“Boots, tunics, and pants,” Maree Amber said in a caustic tone.
Ciardis straightened her spine, getting a little angry. This woman was dropping her into a whole new world. One which she was unprepared for. She’d already left her home once. She wasn’t sure she was ready to leave another.
Maree Amber turned to her – an expression of pity on her face but it wiped away as quickly as it came.
“You will be fine Miss Weathervane. I trust Alexandra to take care of you,” she said, “And what’s more – I hope you grow and learn in the days you are away from me. I believe you have potential to be one of the Empire’s greatest assets but only if you can find the strength to persevere in adverse situations. Of all kinds.”
“Why me? Why a forest?”
“Good question. Because you may be needed. I definitely will be needed, and I also need to keep an eye on you.”
“The death of that cardiara means more than you’re saying.”
“Much more.”
“I—”
“There are things that I don’t have the time or the inclination to explain right now,” Maree Amber replied. “There is much that I need to do over the next few days. Please stay out of trouble and obey Alexandra’s wishes.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Ciardis turned to go to her room.
“One more thing, Ciardis,” Maree Amber said with a tired look. “This is not to be discussed with anyone else in the guild. It is a private matter, and you will leave in the morning under the cloak of darkness.”
“Very well.” With that, Ciardis departed for a short night’s sleep.
As Ciardis departed Maree Amber stayed behind in her office. Hours passed and she worked long into the night writing correspondence, scrying far across the empire and worrying about the possibility of the empire hosting a war on two fronts. But as she went to sleep, her last thought was not of conflict. We really need to find a better way to weed out our candidates for the Shadow Council before they become the insipid twits the Companions’ Guild so loves to foster.
*****
As Ciardis left Maree Amber’s office she didn’t head to her rooms. She hurried to the baths, seeing no other way to contact Prince Sebastian from so far away and without the Aether Realm bracelet. Moving through the portal and into the Imperial nursery, she followed the directions he’d given her to get to his quarters undetected. As she slipped into the sitting room, surprised that there were no guards or servants around, she tiptoed to his bedroom door.
Easing it open, she called out to the dark bed that took up a large portion the room, “Sebastian”.
A confused voice echoed out, “Ciardis?”
“No, it’s the maid with your midnight sandwich. Yes, it’s me! Now get up. We need to talk, and quickly.”
As they went into the sitting room she launched into a detailed recall of the night’s events without leaving anything out. By the time she was done, he looked as if he was holding back a yawn. Straightening from a relaxed pose he said, “She volunteered you? That doesn’t sound good.”
“I know. I’ll be away from the courts for far too long. What if someone attacks you, or...”
“It’s not me I’m worried about it. The forest is a dangerous place, and it’d be easy for an accident to occur. One sponsored by your court enemies.”
That hadn’t occurred to Ciardis, and now she wondered who was really behind her exile from the Imperial Courts.
“What can I do?” she implored.
“You have to go. Stay as close to Vana and Meres as you can once you meet up with them. I’ll follow as soon as I’m able to convince my father that the Imperial delegation should be a priority.”
Ciardis nodded and swallowed.
“Well, I guess this is goodbye.”
“For now.”
Before she could stand, he reached forward and pulled her into a deep hug. Still encased in his arms, she heard him whisper into her ear, “Stay safe. For me, okay? I need you around.”
With an awkward laugh, he continued, “Without you, court is just going to be boring.”
She smiled and stood quickly. With a nod, she left without a word. She made it out of his sitting room doors just as the first tear fell down her cheek.
*****
The next morning came quickly for Ciardis. She barely had four hours of sleep before Maree Amber’s personal valet stood over her bed saying the lady had sent her to wake Ciardis immediately. Ciardis hurriedly dressed and rushed down to meet Alexandra.
Alexandra sat in a carriage outside, cloaked and confident. A few minutes later, Ciardis was looking out the carriage window, taking in the sleepy city of Sandrin as it passed by. Early morning mist twisted around the cobblestones, a chill laced the air, and a few early morning sellers were preparing the shops to open. The bakery’s fires had already begun for that morning’s bread, and the farrier was already shoeing a gleaming chestnut in front of his stable.
The horse’s owner caught Ciardis’s eye as the carriage momentarily stopped to allow a herd of large oxen pass in front of them. He was tall, easily six feet, with the bulging muscles of a man not unaccustomed to hard work. He wore fine linens and his hair was tied back and braided in a design that she’d only seen among the soldiers of Sandrin. He turned briefly from the farrier’s work as she peered curiously from the cabin.
Hurriedly, she sat back in the carriage, embarrassed at being caught staring.
“You’re a very curious young woman,” Alexan
dra said, leaning casually forward to rest her arms on her knees as they exited the city gates. Turning to her, Ciardis couldn’t help but be fascinated by the pointed edges of her ears that peeked out from the long strands of blonde hair.
Alexandra reached down and grabbed a short blade from inside her high boots. The edges gleamed as she turned it around in her hand. Ciardis leaned back into the plush seat cushions. The woman looked at her with knowing eyes.
“Have you ever traveled by road before?” she asked, still twirling the knife.
“Of course,” Ciardis said proudly.
“From?”
“Vaneis to Sandrin.”
“Those roads are paved. The path is even. There are no holes, large or small, to mar its way. It does not wind in and around obstacles, and it certainly does not buckle under pressure. That is the emperor’s road.”
“This,” she said, gesturing outside to a road heading east, “is the kith road. And your journey will not be so easy.”
Out the moving carriage window, Ciardis could see both roads. One laid and paved with orderly bricks, the other a flat path of brown dirt cleared of vegetation. In her opinion, neither one of them looked very hard.
As if reading her mind, Alexandra sat back and smiled. “You will see.”
When the city had disappeared, the ride went from smooth to extraordinarily rough, and Ciardis began to see what she meant. The ruts in the road meant that the carriage was constantly jumping and banging, the occupants in fear of being thrown every which way if they didn’t keep their hands on the handles inside.
It was misery after two hours. Her back hurt, her head throbbed, and her arms felt sore from being jerked around.
“How long did you say this journey would take?”
“Three days.”
Ciardis closed her eyes in horror.
“Let’s do something about this, shall we?” said Alexandra with a mischievous glint in her eyes.
“Something?”
“Something magical, of course.”