Once in the Valley, two of Thekila’s oldest friends, Teran and his twin sister Terania, volunteer to return to Caere as ambassadors from the Valson to the Fasallon High Council.
Vatar uses one of his rarer Talents to release Zoria. She had been one of the teenagers who originally accosted Vatar in the Forest and afterward had overused her shape-change avatar and become trapped in that form. One of Vatar’s abilities is to strip the Transformations of others and he uses this to release Zoria. After that, Zoria and two others agree to come back with them to help against the Exiles.
Once back on the plains, Vatar leaves to escort Zoria and the others to Tysoe, while Thekila takes Teran and Terania back to Caere. Vatar intends to return with his cousin Arcas, who will be leading a survey party trying to lay out the route for a road between Caere and Tysoe to circumvent Kausalya’s new tariffs.
On the way, Vatar’s group has an accidental encounter with some of the Exiles and capture one. Vatar is troubled by this, because he believes it’s not possible to keep anyone who can do a complete shape change prisoner for long. Zoria volunteers to release their prisoner and go with him to infiltrate the Exiles so she can pass on information about their intentions.
Vatar leaves Tysoe with Arcas shortly after the survey party arrives. They have come more or less straight from Caere and plan to return by the coast, to test which route is better. However, Kausalya has been sending patrols along the river, trying to stop smugglers. Vatar’s party run afoul of one of these patrols and Vatar is captured. Disturbingly, the patrol seems to have been looking specifically for him. He is taken to Gerusa and imprisoned in a tower cell. It’s clear she still has contacts in Caere and that she’s planning to use Vatar in some way to further her cause.
Vatar’s avatar is a lion, which is no help in escaping from a tower. But Thekila’s is an eagle. So, with some coaching from Thekila about how to soar (shape changes don’t come with the knowledge of how to use the alternate form), Vatar takes an eagle form to escape from the tower. He manages to reunite with Arcas and return to Caere.
Frustrated by the High Council’s obsession with maintaining the Lie that they are descended from the Sea Gods when there are so many other problems that could be solved, Vatar goes to his guild master and reveals the truth.
About the Author
Professionally, I've been a financial analyst and a visual basic programmer. I also have a paralegal certificate, although I've never worked in that field. It's anybody's guess what I'll be when I grow up.
Imagining stories and writing have always been an important part of my life. It's one I finally got to spend a significant amount of time on while I cared for my mother who had Alzheimer's disease.
Discover other my other titles at Amazon:
Other books and stories in the Dual Magics Series:
The Shaman’s Curse
The Voice of Prophecy
Beyond the Prophecy
Becoming Lioness (A Dual Magics Short Story)
Modgud Gold (A Dual Magics Short Story)
Short stories or novellas:
Heart of Oak
The Music Box
Wyreth’s Flame
Novels:
Blood Will Tell
Blood Is Thicker
Fire and Earth
The Bard’s Gift
Daughter of the Disgraced King
Boxed sets:
Chimeria Omnibus (Blood Will Tell and Blood Is Thicker)
By Sword, Tale, or Magic (Fire and Earth, The Bard’s Gift, and Daughter of the Disgraced King)
Dual Magics Books 1 – 3 (The Shaman’s Curse, The Voice of Prophecy, and Beyond the Prophecy, plus “Modgud Gold”)
Connect with me online at http://MeredithMansfield.WordPress.com
War of Magic (Dual Magics Book 4) Page 38