by Lisa Cassidy
“Yes.”
The emperor leaned back in his chair. “You must see things from my perspective, Magor-lier. Zandia’s army is large and powerful. Our deserts are a significant obstacle for any army intending to invade. We are protected here. I am not willing to risk my country’s sovereign integrity by involving myself in matters that do not concern us.”
Dashan sat forward. “Your Majesty, Shakar is a mage of the higher order with Taliath invulnerability. Everybody here knows what happened last time he challenged the Mage Council. He will not find your deserts an insurmountable burden. If you help us to nullify the threat he poses now, it will benefit you in the long term.”
The emperor glanced at Hennan, then back at Alyx. But it was another man who spoke. He was much older, with grey at his temples and a lined face. He’d been introduced earlier as the overall commander of the Zandian army. “What is it exactly that you are asking of us, Magor-lier?”
“General Yurin,” she acknowledged politely. “I ask that you attend a summit meeting with King Cayr of Rionn and King Mastaran of Tregaya to form an alliance against Shivasa and Shakar. The mage order wants to destroy him, but we can’t do that alone.”
“You speak of the mage order, yet you are not here on behalf of the Mage Council,” Yurin challenged.
“That is true,” Alyx acknowledged. “I will not swear loyalty to the council, but they are not my enemy. All mages will have to work together if we are to defeat Shakar. The council will of course be invited to the summit I am proposing.”
The emperor and Yurin shared a glance before Yurin spoke. “We will consider your request. You understand we need some time to discuss this privately?”
“I do,” Alyx said.
“Then we will end our meeting here for now.” The emperor rose to his feet, dismissal in his face and voice. “I will send Iman to you once we are ready to continue discussions.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Alyx said. “We appreciate your time.”
They rose to their feet, filing out of the room slowly. Her heart sank as Tarrick gave her a little shake of his head. The emperor was brushing them off. Resolutely, she took firm hold of her optimism. This was just the first meeting. They had more time.
Concentrating carefully, Alyx reached for her magic and summoned a ball of green flame, carefully using it to light the candles placed before her on the table. The wicks on the candles caught alight, but nothing else was touched by the flame.
“Well done, Magor-lier.” Rothai looked surprised.
She shrugged and smiled. “I suppose all those hours of practice paid off.”
Finn wandered in, eating a piece of fruit. “Maybe next you could come up with a way to persuade the emperor to agree to the summit?”
She sobered. Three days had passed since their first meeting without him agreeing to another one. Hinga had privately told Tarrick that while the emperor acknowledged it was important to destroy Shakar, he didn’t believe the threat to Zandia was sufficient to risk bringing war to their doorstep. The emperor also felt that Zandia’s army, its mages, and its Leopards could handle Shakar’s forces on their own.
He’s probably right. Zandian military prowess and capability far outstripped that of large but under-resourced Tregaya, and capable but tiny Rionn. The optimism she’d been clinging to was eroding rapidly.
“You need to speak to him again,” Rothai said.
“I can’t force him to meet with us.” Alyx sighed. “Whenever I speak to Iman about talking to the Emperor again, he puts me off.”
“I’ll try again today,” Tarrick offered. “Maybe I can get my brothers to help.”
“What we need is for Dash to talk to the emperor,” Alyx said. “He seems obsessed with everything Taliath related.”
“He spoke to Dash after the demonstration fight yesterday,” Tarrick pointed out. “But apparently the emperor kept turning the conversation back to his Taliath training.”
Tarrick and Finn had shared dinner with Dashan the previous night. In the spirit of their agreement, Alyx had excused herself, content with the knowledge Dashan would come to her rooms afterward.
Finn echoed Alyx’s earlier sigh. “Dashan can’t do it alone. We need something to convince the emperor that if he doesn’t ally with Rionn and Tregaya, Zandia will be at risk.”
“Did I hear my name?” Dashan entered the room with a characteristic burst of energy, raising his eyebrows at them all. Like Alyx, over the past few days his grim demeanour had lightened considerably, and he almost seemed back to his old self. Amazing none of them have figured things out.
“You did.” Alyx smiled. “But you probably don’t want to know what we were saying about you.”
He cocked his head in amusement. “Oh, we’re being funny this morning, are we?”
“I’m always witty, Dashan.”
“Ha! You don’t compare to my sparkling wit, Egalion.”
“Magor-lier!” Rothai’s sharp voice broke through their banter. “Perhaps he shouldn’t be here.”
Alyx’s smile died as she registered agreement on Tarrick and Finn’s faces. Dashan’s expression darkened as he glanced between them, picking up on Alyx’s change in mood as always. Before he could say anything, she gave him a little shake of her head. It wasn’t worth the argument, and she would see him later anyway.
“I was getting some practice in, Dash. Do you mind leaving Rothai and me to it for a while?”
His eyes rested on Rothai for a long moment, hard and almost challenging, but eventually he nodded and gave them all a flash of his easy smile. “Not at all.”
“We thought we might take a walk through the city while Alyx trains if you want to come with us, Dashan?” Finn offered cheerfully.
“Oh, I think I’ve had enough of foolish stupidity for the day, actually.” Dashan shrugged. “You enjoy yourselves though.”
He walked out without another word, leaving a stunned room behind. Well, Rothai didn’t seem to have noticed the pointed ice in Dashan’s voice, but poor Tarrick and Finn looked completely shocked.
“You should leave us to it,” Alyx broke the silence. “It seems like I’m making progress today.”
“Alyx, I—"
“Leave it, Tarrick. We’re never going to agree, and I don’t want another argument with you,” she said.
“I suppose there’s no doubt on which side of the argument Dashan sits,” Finn remarked bleakly.
The door closed behind them and Alyx turned back to Rothai, putting Finn and Tarrick to the back of her mind. She just needed to wait until Alistriem—she could fix everything with them then.
Chapter 7
“What do you think our chances are of the emperor ever agreeing to a summit?” Finn asked, swallowing the last of his spiced wine. They were in one of Sandira’s bars, a delightful place with opened windows, strong drinks and a permanent scent of grilled meat drifting from the spit behind the bar.
Alyx suspected Finn and Tarrick had talked after the previous morning’s incident with Dashan, because he’d been included in the invitation to come out for drinks, and in Rothai’s absence, they seemed happy enough with Alyx and Dashan seated on opposite sides of the table. The relief was intense, and she desperately hoped it was an indication they would be willing to talk once they reached Alistriem.
Tarrick considered Finn’s question. A second meeting with the emperor had finally been granted earlier in the day, but hadn’t lasted long before an urgent matter had taken his attention. “Small. For the moment Zandia is safe, especially this far to the north. He’s just not convinced enough of the threat Shakar poses.”
“Then we need to find a way to convince him,” Dashan said.
“How?” Finn asked.
“It may just be a matter of time,” Dashan said. “Shakar’s influence will continue to grow, and the emperor isn’t a fool—even if he was, his advisors aren’t. He’ll eventually understand that Zandia is under threat too.”
“Time is a luxury we can’t afford
,” Tarrick said. “I’m uncomfortable with the length of time we’ve stayed already. Shakar could know we’re here by now.”
“Obtaining the emperor’s agreement to this summit is important,” Alyx said. “I think it’s worth the risk to stay.”
“Only if there’s a chance he’ll agree, and I don’t honestly think there is,” Finn said. “Particularly after what just happened in Carhall. If he’s not convinced of the utility of having talks, then we’ll never convince him to risk his safety by travelling out of Zandia to attend a summit.”
Alyx sighed. As much as she didn’t want to, she agreed with Finn. “I’ll speak with Iman tomorrow morning and let him know we plan to leave soon. Hopefully the emperor will agree to meet with us before we leave. That will give us a final opportunity to convince him.”
Dashan nodded. “Cayr will be disappointed, but I agree with your assessment of the emperor’s thinking.”
“Do you need assistance booking passage on a ship home, Dash?” Tarrick asked. “I’m sure my brothers could help.”
Alyx and Dashan shared a quick look—she hadn’t discussed her intentions yet, but they really couldn’t leave it any longer.
“Actually, I think the three of us should go with Dashan back to Alistriem,” she suggested.
“Why?” Tarrick frowned.
“I want to go home,” she said honestly. “I want to see how Cayr is, and I want to see my father and my brother, as well as Dawn and Cario. Finn, surely you want to see your sister too?”
“It’s not safe—” Tarrick began, but she cut him off.
“I’m not being foolhardy, I promise you. I’ll only stay in Alistriem for a couple of days, no more, and then we’ll leave. If we go with Dash via ship, Rothai can leave along the stoneways with Tari, Adahn, and Jayn. If there are spies watching us, they won’t be certain which way I went.”
Finn glanced at Tarrick. “I really would like to see my sister.”
Tarrick stared down at his ale for a long moment. “Two days in Alistriem only.”
“Agreed,” Alyx said.
“Rothai isn’t going to like this.” He sighed.
“Good thing then that Rothai doesn’t lead the mage order.” Dashan spoke with an edge in his voice. Alyx smothered her smile.
“I’ll speak to my brothers in the morning. We’ll book passage for Dashan only, to make it appear as if we’re leaving the way we came,” Tarrick said. “They can organise berths for us under different names.”
Relief swamped her. Maybe this would all work out okay after all. “Thank you.”
“It’s getting late, should we head back?” Finn asked.
Alyx smiled, her mood vastly improved. “I suppose. Much more of this spiced wine, and I’ll be singing from the rafters.”
“I’d pay money to see you singing from the rafters.” Dashan chuckled.
“Not tonight.” She stood and took a moment to get her balance. She wasn’t drunk, but a pleasant buzz seeped through her.
“Need a hand?” Dashan asked mock-innocently, coming around the table to lay a steadying hand on her shoulder.
She shoved him playfully. “Keep your hands off.”
“All right, let’s go before you two start a brawl.” Finn stewarded Dashan towards the door while Alyx made a face at him.
“Slow walk back to the palace or a carriage ride?” Tarrick asked.
“A walk!” Finn pleaded. “Or I’ll never sober up.”
“You mages need to learn how to hold your liquor.” Dashan needled them, walking easily in a straight line to demonstrate his sobriety.
“Not all of us have Taliath blood,” Finn said mildly. “I’ve read all about your magical ability to handle alcohol, so don’t try to pretend.”
“Besides, Dashan’s had a lot of practice holding his liquor,” Alyx said sweetly. “How many times did Cayr have to send his valet down to the Alistriem inns to fish you out of some awful dive?”
“Hey!” he complained. “That all happened back in my young, wild days. I’m much more responsible now.”
Comfortable silence reigned for most of the walk back. The Leopards on the palace gates let them through without a word and—after much teasing from Alyx—Tarrick managed to successfully lead them through the labyrinth of corridors back to their rooms. The guest wing stood empty and quiet. Tari, Adahn, and Jayn had the night off, and no doubt they were down enjoying themselves in the city. She had no clue where Rothai was.
“I’m for bed.” Dashan yawned, stretching his arms above his head. Alyx shot him a look—he was overdoing it just a little.
Finn didn’t seem to notice. “Me too.”
“I’ll speak to my brothers first thing tomorrow about us leaving, and ask them if they can get us a final meeting with the emperor,” Tarrick promised. “Alyx, you can tell Rothai about our changed travel plans.”
“I suppose that’s fair.” She sighed.
They dispersed towards their doors. A pleasant sleepiness was descending on Alyx after the glasses of wine and long walk back from the city and she looked forward to her bed. Hopefully it wouldn’t take Dashan long to sneak in. Despite the physical frustrations that would inevitably bring—frustrations that were only increasing the more they saw of each other—they were unlikely to manage any alone time on the cramped quarters of a ship journey to Alistriem.
Her hand was on the door handle when her peripheral vision caught Dashan stopping dead in the hall. His entire posture had stiffened, one hand dropping to the hilt of Kingsbrother.
“What?” Alyx asked. Both Tarrick and Finn stopped in their tracks, eyes jumping from Alyx to Dashan. She wondered if both were remembering exactly what she was—the Taliath ability to sense approaching danger.
Dashan turned a full circle, face focused in concentration. “We’ve got trouble.”
“From where?” Tarrick demanded.
Alyx sent her telepathic magic reaching outwards, listening for the thoughts of anyone nearby. Nothing. A shiver ran down her spine. There should at least have been Leopards on guard.
“You can’t sense them?” Dashan was tense and alert, all traces of his previous smile vanished.
“No. There’s nobody nearby…the guards are gone.” Alyx tried again, using more power. This time she caught something on the very edges of her range, but it was wispy and insubstantial. The only thing she could really grasp was an intent, and that was instantly familiar. “Wait…damn. Hunters.”
“You’re sure?” Finn asked, already drawing his staff.
“I’m certain.” Her eyes flicked open. “The sensation is too familiar.”
“We’ll be fine,” Dashan said calmly. “Can you contact Rothai?”
She concentrated. The Hunters hadn’t come close enough yet to stifle her magic, so she drew on it and scanned her immediate surroundings. All the guest rooms were empty. Damn. Once sure of that, she sent her magic out wider. Fear uncurled in her chest when it hit a barrier and dissolved. The blankness surrounded them—the Hunters must be encircling them in order to form a bubble that her magic couldn’t penetrate. Dimly, she was aware of Dashan drawing his sword. The ring of steel echoed through the hall.
She let her magic die away—it wouldn’t be any use for the moment, and instinct warned her to conserve her strength. “He’s not in his room, that’s all I can tell you. I can’t reach him. The others aren’t here either.”
Finn paled. “That means we’re surrounded.”
“Yes, but inside a fairly large circle for now,” she said, deliberately keeping her voice calm. “Dash, how fast are they approaching?”
His eyes narrowed in concentration. “It’s hard to tell exactly, but they’re moving with purpose. I think they know where you are.”
Tarrick shook his head impatiently. “We can’t just stand here.”
“No.” Dashan’s gaze searched around them, as if seeing the approaching enemy coming from all directions. “But we shouldn’t just run blindly either.”
Finn said, “Tar
rick, what is the shortest route to as many Leopards as possible? No number of Hunters are going to be able to get to us if the palace Leopards are roused.”
Fear was beginning to flicker in her chest, a low flame she tried to ignore. This was her fault—she’d insisted on this trip and now the Hunters had found them.
Tarrick didn’t waste any time. “Follow me,” he barked, breaking into a run. They barrelled around a corner and ran for the door at the end. He pushed through and they ran into a small garden they’d walked through earlier—where there had been four Leopards on guard. Now it was empty.
“Where are the Leopards?” Finn asked, looking in all directions.
“I don’t know.” Tarrick sounded lost.
Everyone spun as the door opened behind them, but it was only Rothai. His staff was out and his eyes glittered with magic. Relief flooded Alyx at the sight of him.
“Magor-lier! I returned from a patrol and found the guards on this wing gone.”
“We need to keep moving,” Dashan said tersely. “I have a sense of where the fewest Hunters are—we’ll fight through there.”
“Wait!” Rothai snapped. “Where are Adahn, Jayn, and Tari? We have a much better chance of fighting our way out as a group.”
“There are enough Hunters encircling us to create a barrier for my telepathy,” Alyx explained. “They’re not in their rooms and I can’t reach them. They’re probably down in the city for the night.”
The grim look on Rothai’s face deepened. “This was well planned.”
“We can talk about that later. Come on!” Tarrick urged.
And so they ran.
Dashan was a step ahead, Rothai at his shoulder, when they came running around a corner to find the hall ahead blocked by darkly-clad Hunters, waiting. Dashan didn’t pause—he ran straight at them, Kingsbrother slashing in a flash of light. He moved faster than they could see, cutting and hacking, a blur of movement.
“Stay with Alyx!” Rothai bellowed before moving forward to help Dashan.
Alyx spun her staff, tried for a concussion blast, and wasn’t surprised when it failed to ignite. Instead, she hovered a few paces away from the fight, staff spinning in her hands in readiness. Tarrick stood half in front of her. Finn ran back to keep an eye on their rear.