Either way, I’d keep Beckett’s secrets. I cleared my throat.
“Right. So, if she didn’t leave a message, um, if you see, her please tell her, Quinn—”
“The time of the dragon is upon us.” The old woman’s gaze darted to Twig before returning, and then her eyes went opaque, and so did her wolf-dog’s. She gripped the dog, a too-wide grin splitting her face. She began reciting:
“Watch fools as the conquest begins,
hammer in hand;
Rebirth and redemption!
Ships sail, monsters reveal.
As the sky turns dark, an empire shatters;
Another rises from its shards.”
“Oh, hellafuck, no,” Twig grumbled, slamming his fist on his thigh. “I fucking hate prophesies.”
The old woman swayed on her feet as her eyes reverted to normal, her hold on Bitsy tightening until she found her balance.
“There’s another verse?” I gripped Twig’s arm. Of course, there would be. “Did you get that, Twig?”
“Like I could forget,” he grumbled.
“How do you know about this prophesy? Are you a seer?” I asked her. She had to be. Unless other witches knew about it too. Wouldn’t Cora know if that were the case? Dragons knew the first verse since that’s how we’d discovered it. But the second verse? All new.
“I know lots of things.” She smiled with those perfect teeth and flipped her hair over her shoulder again.
“What does that mean?” I stepped forward, stopping when Bitsy’s hackles rose. Twig tugged me back, ready to defend. I didn’t roll my eyes, though it was a near thing.
“You’ll find out soon enough, wizardling.” With that, she returned to the bookshelf, hopped on, and tapped it twice. The rack shot back the way it came with Bitsy on its heels. She yelled over her shoulder as the bookshelf skidded around a corner, “Good luck, Quinn Broomsparkle! You’ll need it.”
Her laughter followed in her wake.
“Well, that wasn’t encouraging.” I leaned back against the reception desk, a sudden heaviness to my limbs. Twig rubbed at his forehead like he fought a headache. I knew exactly how he felt.
“You know prophesies, wizard. Nothing obvious until it is.”
“You think it’s the real deal?” I believed her. Yet what did it all mean?
“Don’t care. Fuck prophesies and all those who speak them.”
“I thought you said she had style?” Sure, I poked a dragon. Couldn’t help myself.
He side-eyed me. “Sarcasm doesn’t become you, wizard.”
Yeah, right. He knew who I was when we got together. I didn’t deign to answer, just sniffed.
He sighed. “What do you want to do about the pinning spell? Did you need Beckett’s help?”
“Not really. No need to rush it, I guess. Now that I have a course of action, I can put the spell together when we’re back in the Elder.” I shrugged. “It means Pie will need to wait a little longer. Honestly, though, if Pie’s helping Beckett recover her birthright, he’s probably thrilled to live the pirate’s life again, so I doubt he’ll mind. He’s smitten with her.”
Twig nodded. “I can see how she offers a tie to his captain. I’d like to see him happy.”
“Me too, dragon. Me too.”
Entering our suite, my bracer reacted in much the same way as last time. Some powerful magic left a hint of itself in our rooms. Again.
My wards didn’t detect anything. That shouldn’t be possible. The magic felt . . . mocking. Like someone toyed with us.
Twig did another sweep of our rooms. No items out of place. Nothing to suggest anyone entered. Still, the lingering trace of magic remained.
Afterward, we sat on the divan not speaking, because our next step meant facing Hallewell and the Council. Cora knew my plans, and though she’d keep my secret, I couldn’t stomach pretending much longer. I just wanted to find Zak and leave. Once back in the Elder, we’d seek—as much as it pained me—Auric’s advice and figure out what to willingly offer the Council, if anything.
I’d been naïve in believing I could walk away completely. My family’s murder suggested differently. And Zak’s disappearance.
A knock at the door ended that train of thought. Twig answered, then invited Cora in. She sighed heavily upon seeing me. Dark circles ringed her eyes, and she’d pulled her hair into a messy braid that already had several escaping strands. She scrubbed a hand across her face. “Where did you run off to? I’ve been worried sick! You can’t slip your guards like that.”
“We needed to look for Zak.” I wasn’t sorry. They hadn’t been difficult to lose either.
“Hallewell and the Council are not amused. They take your safety seriously. They’re insisting you have guards.”
“You’re assuming I care what any of them think,” I snapped. My worry for Zak, lack of sleep, lingering soreness of muscle, and the fact that three quarters of my family were now deceased proved a tad much for my temper. “And no guards. We don’t need them. Besides, I don’t trust them or anyone in the Goddess-forsaken realm.”
Cora winced.
Twig placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. “He’s not upset with you, Cora.”
Great, now I felt like a first-rate jerk. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean you.”
Even that sounded petulant.
Cora rushed over and slid onto the divan, wrapping her arms around me. “No, I’m sorry, Quinn. I’m being insensitive. I’m tired, too. I haven’t even been to bed. The Council has me running messages between them. They’re all with the High Rei now, discussing your situation. She sent me to see if you’d join them.” She took a breath. “Any word on Zak?”
“Not yet.” I rested my chin on the top of her head and breathed her in. Cinnamon and a hint of forest blossoms. Familiar smells. Soothing.
“I can ask Simone, I mean, Rei Vosen, to talk with the City Patrol again. They can help search for him.” Cora squeezed me tight. “You don’t need to do this all on your own. We’ll find him, Quinn. I know it.”
“I can’t afford to trust anyone. I don’t know who has him or their plans for him. I do know if anyone can find him, it will be Twig.”
Twig sank down on the divan and wrapped his arms around the both of us.
“I’m afraid you could be targeted next.” I tightened my grip.
“Me?” She scoffed. “I have ample protection. I’m seriously the last person you need to worry about.”
“That might be true, but since someone already killed most of my family, I need to assume the worst.”
Cora tapped her chin. “It is odd. Why kill when it makes more sense to use them as leverage?”
“I’ve asked myself this question a hundred times. Maybe someone knew we didn’t enjoy an easy relationship? Or more likely they became involved in one of their schemes and it backfired. It wouldn’t be the first time they traded on my name.”
“That’s the million dypari question,” Twig added. He stood, offering us a hand each and pulled us to our feet. “Let’s go see the Council and then we’ll figure out our next step.”
24
Fifteen minutes later, we found ourselves back inside the High Rei’s solarium. My bracer once again reacted as we walked through the doorway, though it went still as we wound through the jungle of plants. Aromatic blossoms flowered on some of the deadly plants, their scents heavy in the warm space. Like many pretty things, the gorgeous blooms and scent lured prey to them. A good reminder.
Instead of continuing along the steppingstone path, we veered off and pushed through a narrow opening in a thick hedgerow, only to find ourselves in a large space filled with divans and throw pillows. The entire Council of Divine Magic were in various states of lounging, staff arranging pillows and bringing baskets of foodstuff.
“Quinn, CCM Starfig, we’re so pleased you could make it.” Rei Hallewell placed her hands together as she rose from an oversized divan. “May the coming times bring you peace.”
“And unto you,” I intoned.<
br />
As Hallewell approached, Le Torneau and Vosen flanked her. Le Torneau had a slight limp, though she tried to cover it. My bracer buzzed angrily, but toward who, I couldn’t be sure. Vosen’s cat draped her shoulders, while Hallewell’s rabbit curled up on a divan, and Le Torneau’s familiar remained out of sight. I’d hide from her, too, if I were her familiar.
“The Council of Divine Magic offers our deepest condolences on the loss of your family.” Hallewell slumped, looking tired, her eyes sad. “Simone has kept me updated, and I want to reassure you, we’ll do everything we can to find justice for them. This should never have happened.”
“Quinn, I’ve spoken with Captain Graves, and she’s had the Patrol interviewing neighbors.” Vosen straightened her spine. “No luck so far, but it’s too busy of an area for no one to have seen anything. It’s only a matter of time.”
Le Torneau kept quiet, though she glared daggers at us. I bet Hallewell muzzled her. I could feel Twig’s desire to screw with her because that’s the way he rolled. I sent a quelling thought his way. We didn’t need any more antagonism at the moment.
Hallewell waved us to an open divan and Twig and I sat. The three reis sat directly across from us. The High Rei gave quick introductions as attendants served iced steins of tart muscadine tea with peachy moon-fried buns.
Once the attendants retreated and we had time to pick at our snacks, Hallewell sat forward. “I know you have other concerns on your mind, and I wanted to reassure you that the Council will give you the time you need to grieve and to find closure. But I would be remiss if I didn’t say that we’d still like you to consider becoming a member of the Council and making the Hominus your home.”
I didn’t expect that out. I jumped on it. “I’m flattered that you’re all so eager to have me join you. You’re right, though. This is not the time for me to make any permanent decisions.”
Le Torneau’s lip curled. “We offer you the realm and you spit in our faces. Abomination—”
Hallewell’s hand came out and lightly rested on Le Torneau’s arm. “Peace, Eliphas. It’s already been decided.”
Le Torneau shrunk back, her knuckles whitening from clenching her fists so hard, a shudder going through her. Looked like someone wasn’t good at letting things go. How did Hallewell put up with her?
“Well, don’t worry, Rei Le Torneau. If I do join the Council, there will be lots of changes. Only perhaps not the kind you were hoping for. We abominations have lots of crazy ideas.” I shouldn’t have said it, but I couldn’t hold my tongue. Twig sniggered in my head, but outwardly remained stone-faced.
The rei looked apoplectic. Good. Maybe she’d stroke out. Though from what Beckett said, not a good Courvoisier in the bunch, so her replacement wouldn’t be any better.
“Does this mean you’re open to exploring your magic?” Rei Vosen scooted forward. “There’s so much we can learn! I’ve never believed current understandings—wild speculations, really—about why men lost their magic. You’re living proof it can be regained. Why may currently be a mystery, but with your help—”
“Simone, please.” Hallewell grimaced and shot me an apologetic glance. “While I appreciate your enthusiasm, this is hardly the time to press Quinn on such an issue.”
Vosen’s cheeks heated, her freckles standing out. “How clumsy of me! I get so carried away. My apologies, Quinn. Before being raised to the Council, I intended to become a researcher. I guess old passions sometimes come to the fore. But that’s no excuse for my insensitivity.”
“Forgiven.” I infused my voice with a bit of warmth. No way I’d let her poke around in my head, but I appreciated her civility.
We returned to our tea and buns, the reis attempting to engage me in light conversation. Except Le Torneau. She sulked. Twig’s boredom soon rang in my head, and I had to agree. How long did we have to stay?
Finally, two reis stood. Perfect. I cleared my throat. “Before I forget, Twig needs to use the portal later this evening to return to the Elder for a short time.”
Hallewell broke off her conversation with Vosen to refocus on us. “Will you be traveling with him?”
A simple question, but laden with implications.
“No. I plan to remain here. I have arrangements to finalize for my family and their . . . my home.” I didn’t mention Zak. “Twig should only be away for a day or two.”
“A day,” Twig added.
“I didn’t realize you could separate,” Vosen said, an interested glint in her eye. “Most unusual.”
I shrugged. “It’s not comfortable, but we’ll manage.”
Truth was, I didn’t really know. We hadn’t spent a full day apart since we’d met.
“The portal is at your disposal, gentlemen.” With that Hallewell stood up and all the reis followed suit.
Meeting adjourned.
We’d just rounded a corner, and I stiffened my spine as we prepared to enter the more public areas of the citadel, when I heard someone call my name. We kept walking. Turns out witches I’d never met knew my name and weren’t afraid to use it.
“Quinn, wait, please! Just a moment of your time.”
I recognized the voice. Rei Vosen. Twig and I slowed our steps, waited for Vosen to catch up.
Her fuchsia curls stuck up in all directions, and her breathing came short and fast. Once she stopped, her familiar twined around her ankles, a loud purr coming from the cat. She placed a hand over her heart, then bent down and scooped up her familiar. “Sorry to delay you, but this couldn’t wait.”
We let her catch her breath. She leaned back against the wall, her cheeks ruddy.
“What can we do for you?” Twig asked, his gaze wary.
Vosen straightened, then glanced furtively around.
“Hold on.” She waved a hand and the surrounding sounds muted. “I don’t want anyone to overhear.”
“I see.” My last private meeting with a rei hadn’t gone stellar. Not that I was suspicious or anything.
“I apologize for bringing this up again, but . . .” She bit her plump lip, scanned the empty corridor again. “About the testing—”
I groaned. “I’ve already given you my answer, Simone. I’m not changing it.”
“Please, hear me out.” She swallowed but waited for my response.
That alone made me say, “Fine. But please make it quick. Twig needs to pack.”
“I understand.” She scratched behind her familiar’s ears before setting the cat down. “I haven’t been completely honest with you about my motivations.”
“You don’t say?” Twig leaned his shoulder against the wall and crossed his arms. How he kept his voice from sounding sarcastic, I don’t know.
Vosen wrung her hands. “It’s not only men’s magic that’s at stake. Though I truly am interested in helping them regain it.”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“Bear with me, please.” Vosen sighed. “When men started losing their magic, no one noticed. Not for many years. It’s not like wizards actively lost their magic, it’s just that year after year, we saw a small decline in the number of male children born with magic. Not a lot of research in the day, though some existed. But by then it was too late.”
“That’s pretty much what I learned in school.” Where was she going with this?
“I became curious once I’d heard about you. About wizards, I mean. I researched the situation. In a nutshell, no one at the time had a clue why it was happening.” Vosen bent to scratch her familiar, who purred even louder. She straightened. “There’s a room in archives that only reis and a select other few are allowed to access. It contains the tomes that record every witch’s individual magical test score for the past 1057 years. That’s how long we’ve been testing. By that time, there were only a handful of wizards left, most of them elderly. As near as I could tell, there hadn’t been a wizard born in several years at this point.”
“That’s all very interesting but—”
“If not for men losing their magi
c, I’m not sure we would have started recording anyone’s magical abilities. But we did. And when I went through the records, they weren’t that helpful because as I said, there were only a small sample of wizards left. And none of them had much power. But while I read up on it, I noticed that witches from a thousand years ago, on average, tested much higher than most witches today. At first I thought that must be because of their primitive testing methods. But after more study, I discovered that the methods haven’t changed substantially in a thousand years.”
Okay, she had my attention. Twig’s too, as he straightened from his position on the wall.
“Well, don’t leave us in suspense. What did you find?” I leaned in a little.
“There’s been a slow but steady decline in magical strength.” Rei Vosen looked around again. The corridor still only held us. “That alone disturbed me. But even more upsetting, the number of recorded magic users per year dropped. Significantly. Though it’s been a slow decline. Do you know what this means?”
“That wizards aren’t the only ones losing their magic.” Oh, wow. So much made sense now. “And the Council knows this and hasn’t said anything?”
Vosen winced. “Not exactly. Only a few of us know. Or believe, I should say.”
“Meaning?”
She scowled. “Two months ago, I told the High Rei and a few others what I’d found. All were skeptical. Especially Eliphas. But others as well. Helena asked me to compile the proof so she could present it to the full Council. She voiced her concern with my findings, though wouldn’t act on it without evidence.”
“Sounds like you had it.” I heard a definite ‘but.’
“Someone incinerated the tomes. All of them. Each room in the archives is fireproofed to prevent spread, so other books weren’t damaged, only the ones in that particular room.”
“That’s why I smell smoke in the archives.” Twig nodded like this solved a mystery.
“You can smell the smoke?” Vosen asked.
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