by Lisa Cassidy
“Exactly.” Alyx swallowed around the sudden lump in her throat.
Eventually Ladan shook his head. “No matter what happened, my focus has to be Widow Falls right now—my forces are increasingly stretched with each week that passes. And you can’t go chasing whoever is behind the missing mages until you are fully trained yourself. It’s too dangerous.”
His words were sensible, but she couldn’t accept them. “I understand why your priority is Widow Falls, but I’m not letting this go,” she said firmly. “How do we know what happened to our mother isn’t connected to the danger Rionn is facing now?”
“Shivasa is Rionn’s problem,” he said dismissively. “Not some missing mages. We need to deal with Shivasa and leave the Mage Council to look after itself.”
“You don’t mean that,” she said softly. Ladan had loved their mother. She saw the emotion in his green eyes every time he spoke of her, despite his hard face and cold words. “You adored her like I adore Papa. They were all we had after the separation. And all three of us deserve to know who killed her and why. More than that, I need to know, Ladan, and I think you do too.”
His jaw tightened at the emotion in her voice, and he wouldn’t look at her, but eventually he gave her a sharp nod. “What do you want me to do?”
“Try and find out what you can about Terin. I’ll use the opportunity of being home to talk to Papa and Astor—they might remember something useful. I can’t shake the thought that what happened to our mother has some connection to what’s happening now, and if so, the sooner we find it, the better.”
“I’ll do what I can, if you promise me you’ll be careful.” His stern gaze was almost a physical weight. “I won’t have you putting yourself in unnecessary danger for this. You are still only a half-trained mage.”
“Rionn is in trouble, and I will do whatever it takes to protect it,” she said quietly. “But I won’t be stupid, I promise. Will you come to Alistriem while I’m there? I know Papa would love to see you, and it will be almost two months before I have to go back to DarkSkull.”
Ladan’s hand curled around an ornament on the mantle as he took several moments before speaking. “While I understand logically why our parents did what they did... especially with what we’ve found out... it would be hard for me to leave here. This is where I feel safe, it’s the place that nourished me when I had nobody but Romney and my warriors. It’s the place my stepfather made me feel welcome in. It’s my home.”
“Believe it or not I know exactly how you feel.” She stepped up to his side. “But would you consider it, for me? I would like to see you. And so would Papa. Don’t forget that he lost a son in all this.”
“I’ll consider it, I promise.”
No longer feeling like sleep despite her weariness, Alyx went downstairs after leaving Ladan, seeking fresh night air. The main yard was clear, the sentries on the walls visible only as shadows in the faint moonlight.
Her wandering feet brought her to the barracks alongside the main building, part of her hoping to find Dashan. And there he was, sitting alone on the steps by the door. His jaw was clenched and he wore that hardened look on his face she knew so well.
Alyx hesitated, half turning back in the other direction, but it was impossible to walk away from him when he looked so alone.
“This seat taken?” she asked softly. He shook his head, eyes on his boots. She took that as assent and settled on the step beside him. “You’re still mad at me, huh?”
“Not really.” He let out a long breath, reaching up to rub his forehead. “I’m worried, that’s all. The council, Shivasa, these nightmares of yours, the summons from Casovar. It has me on edge.”
“Me too.” She hesitated. “Listen, Dash, I know we haven’t had a chance to talk since what happened at the dance, and now we’re suddenly going back home, and I—”
He raised a hand, cutting her off. “There’s no need to re-hash it. We’re friends. Whatever else happened was a mistake.”
The misery his words caused took her aback and her voice was sadder than she’d meant it to be when she spoke. “I hope you know that the last thing I ever want is to hurt you.”
“I do. I’m not a fool, Alyx,” he said gently. “I’ve always known how you and Cayr feel about each other.”
She swallowed. “Is something wrong? The fight we had... there’s more going on than you just being annoyed at me.”
A sad smile flashed across his face. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“You noticed,” he said. “Nobody else ever does. It’s like most of the time I’m invisible to everyone. I’m just the half-Shiven loser who is good for nothing.”
Alyx winced. “Don’t you think that’s a little dramatic?”
He huffed a laugh. “I suppose it is. Ignore me, I’m being especially maudlin tonight.”
She touched his hand. “This past year... you’ve helped me through some of the most difficult times I’ve ever experienced. I wish you would let me help you in the same way.”
He squeezed her hand briefly, but his eyes were far away. Despite her better judgement, she tangled their fingers together, hoping that it would help.
“Are you worried they’ll send you back to the disputed area?” she guessed.
He gave a sharp nod. “There’s a good chance. At least until you go back to DarkSkull.”
“I won’t offer false promises, but I will do absolutely everything I can to ensure you come back with us,” she told him firmly. “And not only because I don’t want to go back there again without you, but because you made such a difference. You made the militia better and you made DarkSkull safer.”
He squeezed her hand again, almost painfully tightly. “Thanks.”
They fell into a comfortable silence for a long while. Alyx began to truly relax for the first time since the nightmare, falling into a light doze against Dashan’s shoulder.
“What about you?” he asked, waking her. “You must be upset about Cario. None of you have mentioned his name since you told us what he did.”
A bitter mix of sadness and anger welled up at the mention of Cario’s name. He’d been her friend, and he’d betrayed them. The whole time he’d been with them he’d been reporting to the council on her.
“I don’t want to think about it,” she murmured. “I’m pretty sure the others feel the same way.”
“They’re angry,” Dashan said just as softly. “But you’re hurt.”
She nodded. He understood her better then she understood herself sometimes. There was comfort in that, but also pain and guilt. Because in this moment, she wanted Dashan, not Cayr. And that knowledge tore at her heart. How could she do this to Cayr?
“I need time.” Alyx deliberately separated herself from Dashan, untangling their hands and standing up. Soon she would see Cayr, and he would once again be the one she talked to about everything. That thought felt both right and wrong at the same time, her guilt and sadness inextricably linked so that nothing was clear.
“I think we both do,” Dashan said, dark eyes glimmering with too much understanding as he looked up at her.
Chapter 2
Their first sight of Alistriem came as the glow of the mid-afternoon sun lit up the golden spires of the palace perched above the city. A smile crept over Alyx’s face—she’d missed the sheer loveliness of her home. Tregaya was rugged and green, but Rionn was beautiful.
The road grew busier as they approached the eastern city gates, and as they maneuverer around a heavily-laden cart, the part of Alyx that wasn’t revelling in the sight of her home after so long experienced a sudden flash of foreboding that chilled her to the bone.
Why?
The city appeared unchanged from the outside, although the fact there were now six well-armed City Guard officers monitoring those coming through the eastern gate was likely reflective of an increased security posture following the Shiven attack on the palace earlier in the year. The guards seemed awed by their group—the majority of Rionnan
s had gone their entire lives without seeing a single mage, let alone five of them riding into the city accompanied by a unit of elite Blue Guard—but waved them through after a brief exchange with Dashan.
“Straight to the palace?” Tarrick asked.
Alyx shook her head with a frown, not sure where her sudden unease was coming from. “I know we’re all anxious to learn what Casovar wants, but I think it might be a better idea to talk to my father before seeing him. Besides, a hot bath, clean clothes and some sleep before dealing with whatever it is would be nice.”
“That does sound appealing.” Dawn sighed. “My skin itches.”
Alyx grimaced in sympathy. “How about we meet at my estate early tomorrow morning and ride over to the palace together. Dash?”
“Fine with me.” He shrugged. “As soon as we report in to barracks it will filter up to the palace, though. Lord-Mage Casovar will know you’re back sooner rather than later.”
“Sooner, I think,” Tarrick muttered, looking around them at several staring citizens. “Our arrival certainly hasn’t gone unnoticed.”
“Casovar can wait a single night,” Alyx said. “Tarrick, will you stay with me? There’s plenty of room, and the twins put you up all last summer. I think it’s my turn.”
“Thank you,” he said, looking pleased. “I’d like to make sure Dawn and Finn get home safely first, though.”
She chuckled, sharing a warm look with Dawn. Some things never changed, and Tarrick’s innate protectiveness was as fundamental to him as breathing. “Absolutely.”
“A’ndreas home it is.” Dashan gestured to the Bluecoats and they set off again, more slowly now they were in the busy city streets.
The familiar sounds and smells of Alistriem swamped Alyx’s senses as they rode deeper into the city; the salty smell of the sea overlaying a veritable smorgasbord of scents, from fruit and vegetables in the markets, to horse manure, freshly caught fish and the incense stores in the rich quarter. She breathed in deeply, the familiarity of it soothing the edges of her recent anxiety.
“What…?” Finn reined in suddenly. “Dashan, who are those soldiers wearing red?”
Catching the strange note in Finn’s voice, Alyx looked where he was pointing. Five men marched down the wide avenue towards them. They wore scarlet long-sleeved tunics despite the warmth of the day, and were heavily armed—one had an axe slung over his back, another a crossbow, while the others wore swords. From their stride and bearing, it was obvious they were soldiers, but she didn’t know any Rionnan military unit that wore red.
“I’ve never seen them before.” Dashan was frowning, as were the Bluecoats.
Tijer kicked his horse forward. “Lieutenant, we have the authority to ask them their business.”
“What are they doing?” Dawn asked.
The five men had abruptly crossed the street and entered a small jewellery shop. Moments later they emerged, two of the soldiers dragging an overweight middle-aged man behind them. Once in the street, they dropped him unceremoniously into the dust, and one of the soldiers kicked him hard in the stomach.
Shock flared, freezing Alyx for a moment as she tried to process what she was seeing. This sort of violence didn’t happen on the streets of Alistriem, not at the hands of soldiers. She was snapped from her daze by a sharp movement at her side. Dashan had dismounted and was striding towards the soldiers. Concern rapidly replaced her shock. This isn’t good.
“Dash, wait!” She slid down from Tingo’s back and went running after him, but he reached the scene before she could catch up.
“What’s going on?” Dashan’s voice was sharp and loud enough to catch the attention of everyone nearby. A hush fell over the street, most people doing their best to appear like they weren’t watching with morbid fascination.
“Lieutenant.” A man with captain’s stripes on his chest stepped forward. He was much shorter than Dashan, with a stocky build and a belly running to fat. Sweat beaded on his forehead in the warm sun. “This is no business of the Blue Guard.”
“I’ll decide that for myself. Who are you?”
“Captain Dunnat of the Mage Guard.”
“I’ve never heard of any such thing,” Dashan said coolly.
Dunnat’s eyes moved to Alyx as she stepped up beside Dashan, surprise flashing on his face when he took in her attire, clearly recognising what it meant. His beady eyes shifted their gaze behind her, narrowing, and she glanced back to see the other Bluecoats had ridden up with Tarrick and the twins. Her concern increased at the potential for the situation to turn nasty in a hurry.
At least the Bluecoats seemed content for the moment to let Dashan speak for them. Finn was casting worried glances at Dawn, who’d paled, while Tarrick seemed uncertain how to respond to what was happening.
Dunnat’s gaze returned to Dashan. “Lord-Mage Casovar created the Mage Guard three months ago. We’re responsible for hunting Shiven spies and keeping Alistriem safe.”
“Last I checked, keeping Alistriem safe was the job of the City Guard,” Dashan said.
“Then you must have checked a long time ago, Lieutenant.” Dunnat’s eyes lingered insultingly on Dashan’s chest, which was bare of any markings identifying him as a commanding officer.
A nerve ticked in Dashan’s jaw. “No matter what your remit, no Rionnan soldier has the authority to beat citizens in the street. Help that man up at once.”
“As I said, this is not Bluecoat business,” Dunnat said, his tone warning Dashan to back off. The other red-cloaked soldiers were all watching the standoff in fascination, but one of them had his boot firmly planted in the jeweller’s back, keeping him prostrate on the ground. The jeweller was red-faced, gasping for breath. The sight turned Alyx’s stomach. No citizen of Rionn—no person— deserved to be treated that way, not until a crime had been proven.
At Dunnat’s dismissive tone, Dashan stiffened. Alyx laid a calming hand on his forearm, hoping he wasn’t about to lose his temper and physically attack the captain.
“What is he supposed to have done?” she asked, gesturing to the jeweller.
“He was seen talking to a Shiven spy.”
“I don’t know any Shiven spies!” the jeweller cried out. “I swear it. You have to believe me. I’m just a jeweller. I don’t know any spies. Please.”
Tears trickled down his face, smearing the dust from the road on his skin. He gave a grunt of pain as the boot on his back pressed down harder, forcing him further into the dirt.
Alyx’s hands curled into white-knuckled fists at the sight and she channelled her anger into the icily-arrogant tone of the very rich. “Captain Dunnat, what exactly do you think a jeweller knows that would be of interest to a Shiven spy?”
He stiffened. “That is none of your concern. You and your pet Bluecoats should be on your way.”
She stepped closer. “You should be more polite when speaking with your betters, Captain Dunnat. What will Lord Egalion think when he hears how you behaved towards his daughter?” She waited for that knowledge to ripple across his face, then spoke again, coldly. “You will order your soldiers to help that man up at once. Am I clear?”
Dunnat flushed a deep red, one hand dropping to his sword. A low murmur swept through the growing crowd, a palpable tension settling over the street. In the same moment, the other red cloaks moved to stand behind their captain, echoing his gesture. At the implicit threat to their charge, the Bluecoats drew swords, the sound of ringing steel echoing sharply in the street. They’d dismounted without Alyx even realising, their jovial expressions gone, replaced by the dangerous focus of veteran fighters. A couple of the red-cloaked soldiers visibly quailed at the sight and took a step back.
Dashan held his hand up in a sharp gesture, stopping the Bluecoats in their tracks. As well-disciplined as they were, Alyx worried over how long he was going to be able to hold them back.
“Don’t be foolish,” Dashan warned Dunnat. “Lady Alyx Egalion is under our protection. You take a step closer, and there will be a fi
ght that you won’t win.”
Fear added to the tension in the crowd now and those on the periphery began slipping away, having no desire to get caught up in a fight between Bluecoats and Mage Guard.
Dunnat’s gaze flicked between Dashan and Alyx before an expression of determination settled over his face. He didn’t care who they were.
“The Blue Guard has no authority here. Leave us to our business.”
“The Blue Guard reports directly to the king via Lord-General Caverlock.” Dashan’s voice was rock hard, but he was holding his temper. “And the king outranks Lord-Mage Casovar, no matter what pretensions he holds.”
“I—”
“Pick that man up. Apologise. Let him go,” Dashan warned. “Now.”
Dunnat’s flush deepened to an angry purple. “I will not be spoken to in such a manner by a Shiven half-blood.”
Alyx’s temper snapped. Dunnat’s soldiers were behaving like street thugs, and it horrified her to see any citizen of Alistriem crying in terror on the ground. The fingers of her right hand flickered, summoning her mage knife to her hand with a quick burst of magic. In one move she shifted forward and placed the tip of the knife against Dunnat’s throat.
One of his men made as if to step forward, and suddenly Tarrick was at Alyx’s left side, a mother-of-pearl glow shimmering from his raised fist. Dashan’s sword point joined the blade already at Dunnat’s throat. His eyes had darkened further and he looked dangerously angry.
“You will do exactly what I told you to,” Alyx said slowly. “Now.”
Dunnat’s jaw clenched, hatred flashing in his eyes. She was making an enemy here, but couldn’t bring herself to care. After a moment he nodded and gestured to his men, who reluctantly backed off. Alyx stepped away and sheathed her knife. Nario and Josha ran forward to help the jeweller up and back inside his store. Dunnat snapped an order and the red cloaks marched off. He hesitated a moment to shoot a furious glare at Alyx and Dashan before turning and stalking after them.