“I’d be surprised if he hadn’t,” Dread said. “He knows where we’re going, after all.”
The carriage rattled to a halt outside the inn. Dread told them to stay where they were, then jumped down to have a brief chat with Sarah. The Levellers gathered around them, their faces darkening as Dread pointed out the danger. Elaine tried to listen to them, but the magicians had cast a spell that made it impossible to eavesdrop. Instead, she looked at the distant mountains, recalling their first visit to Ida. They’d been lucky to escape with their lives.
And we never knew what was hiding under the mountains, she thought. If we’d known … we’d both have died on the spot.
“Daria hasn’t returned,” Johan said, softly. “Is she alright?”
“I hope so,” Elaine said. “But you know it could take a while.”
There was no point in trying to hide her concern. She’d half-expected Daria to catch up with them by now, but there had been no sign of the werewolf. Had the Travellers decided to keep her from helping any further? It didn’t seem likely, but the Emperor might have made a deal with them after learning Elaine had been helped by a werewolf. The offer of lands for themselves had to be very attractive after years on the road. What if they had agreed to help the Emperor?
“She’ll be fine,” Johan said. “She told me that werewolves can’t deceive each other.”
“That’s true,” Elaine said. There were times when she wondered if werewolves weren’t better than the rest of the human race. They were seen as brutes, if not savage monsters, yet it was vanishingly rare to see an abused werewolf child or a werewolf rapist. “But if the pack believes that joining the Emperor is a good idea, it will be hard for any werewolf to resist long enough to escape.”
It wasn’t a pleasant thought. The downside of being a werewolf was pack loyalty – there was no such thing as a lone werewolf. Even Daria had needed to return to the camp every few months to renew herself. If the other werewolves had decided to submit to the Emperor, Daria would find it hard to convince them otherwise … and she might be swept into the pack instead of being allowed to leave. Elaine knew that her friend might be lost within the pack forever.
Dread poked his head back into the carriage. “We’re going to be staying here for the night – perhaps two nights – while a couple of horsemen go ahead,” he said. “Get your bags and jump down. There’s a set of rooms being prepared for us.”
“They might even have better food,” Johan said. “Or is that just a dream?”
“They have a captive market,” Dread said, dryly. “What do you think?”
Elaine smiled in genuine amusement. One thing the orphanage had taught her was not to be fussy with food. There was no way the staff could afford anything more than cheap pieces of meat – if they were lucky – and stale vegetables. Johan, on the other hand, had grown up in one of the Great Houses. He’d been used to eating truly excellent food, even though he was the family embarrassment. No doubt he would have complained about the food if he’d gone to the Peerless School, like Millicent had done. Elaine had thought she was crazy until she’d started to eat with the Grand Sorceress.
She sobered as she remembered Light Spinner. The older woman had been formidable, but she’d also been decent. She hadn’t deserved to die at Vlad Deferens’ hands, after being forced to watch as the Empire fell into his lap. Elaine promised herself, as she walked into the inn, that Deferens would pay for all he’d done. He was a monster in human form.
And if he’s a monster, she asked herself, what’s the Witch-King?
“Johan and I will be sharing one room,” Dread said. “You can share with Sarah.”
“I need to talk to you afterwards, once we’ve settled in,” she said. She did her best to ignore the flash of disappointment from Johan. There was no way they could share a room, not when the bond was pulling them together. “Can we talk in a private room?”
Dread nodded. “I’ll see to it personally.”
Somewhat to Elaine’s surprise, the rooms were clean, the beds were comfortable and the food was quite good. Or maybe it shouldn’t have been a surprise, she told herself, as she finished off a plate of roast lamb, boiled potatoes and gravy. The inn was in the midst of farmland and the farmers probably didn’t have many other customers. Sarah chatted happily with the waitress, who turned out to be the owner’s daughter, while Dread made the rounds of the handful of drinkers. By the time he returned, Elaine knew, he’d have drawn every last piece of gossip out of them.
Johan looked at her as the dinner came to an end. “I think we should talk.”
Elaine tasted his emotions and shivered, inwardly. Johan was a mess; she’d known he was a mess, but now it was far harder to ignore or confront. He wanted to do what was right, yet he was tormented by his past and tempted by his power. She felt a stab of guilt that she knew he’d sense, but she couldn’t go with him. The bond would overwhelm them both.
“Go upstairs,” she said, finally. “I need to speak to Dread.”
Johan looked doubtful. “Will you be safe here?”
“I think so,” Elaine said. “I’ll see you soon, promise.”
She leant back in her chair and surveyed the room as she waited. A handful of locals were drinking steadily, while a number of guests were eating dinner or chatting loudly amongst themselves while waiting for the waitress. They looked like traders mostly, although there were two women who were definitely magicians, standing next to an older man carrying a sword slung over his shoulder. A bodyguard, Elaine reasoned; it was odd for a magician to require a bodyguard, but some mages preferred to have cold steel between themselves and minor threats. The bodyguard looked back at her, his gaze flickering over her face, then looked away. No doubt he didn’t see her as a threat to his charges.
And he’s right, Elaine thought. Idly, she wondered what the three of them were doing, then dismissed the thought. We’re not here to pick fights.
“Elaine,” Dread said. He held out a hand and helped her to her feet. “Shall we go?”
He led her up a flight of stairs, then into her bedroom. Sarah was missing; Elaine had a feeling that she was still talking to the waitress, perhaps offering to help in exchange for the latest news. Dread closed the door, moved his hand in a familiar pattern, then winced. He could still make the motions and say the words, but he no longer had the magic to make the spells work.
“It isn’t easy to do anything without magic,” Elaine said, as she cast the ward herself. “How are you coping?”
“We were taught not to rely on our magic,” Dread said, quietly. He leant against the wall, watching her through cool grey eyes. “But it isn’t easy.”
Elaine nodded. For a magician – even her – magic was part of daily living. Why get a candle when you could create a light globe that would suit you perfectly? Why endure aches and pains when there was no shortage of spells that could smooth such minor irritations away? But for someone who could no longer use magic, the memory of what that had been like was a constant mocking torment. No wonder so many magicians went mad when they lost their powers. It was almost like losing an arm or a leg.
“I’m sorry,” she said.
“Don’t be,” Dread said, harshly. “I will learn to cope without it.”
He took a long breath, steadying himself. “What did you want to talk about?”
“The bond is pulling Johan and me together,” Elaine said, flatly. “He’s already fixated on me.”
“He was glancing at you like a lovelorn loon,” Dread agreed, after a moment. “You do realise that it was pretty much inevitable?”
Elaine grimaced. The first time they’d tried to form the bond it hadn’t worked properly, leaving them unaware of the full effects. When she’d changed the ritual, it had worked … and, instead of having the time to cope as they’d drawn closer together, they’d been forced to flee the Golden City. Dread was right. It would only be a matter of time before they wound up sleeping together.
The bump on the head proba
bly didn’t help either, she thought, darkly.
She felt sick. Head wounds were feared by all magicians, because there were no spells that could repair a damaged mind. It was vaguely possible, if the victim trusted the caster completely, but it rarely worked very well. The knowledge in her head told her it only ‘worked’ by rewriting the victim’s brain at will, leaving him at the mercy of the caster. It wouldn’t be hard for the caster to reshape the victim into something altogether different.
“Not a good thing, normally,” Dread added, drawing her out of her thoughts. “Here … who would know?”
“I agree with you,” Elaine said. “Now … do I agree with you because you’re right or because I want to agree with you?”
Dread met her eyes. “You tell me.”
“I wish I knew,” Elaine said.
“There is a reason such bonds are frowned upon,” Dread said, curtly. “You two may find it hard to separate over the next few weeks, at least until the bond steadies itself. I don’t think it would be easy to break the bond.”
Elaine nodded, shortly. The bond lasted at least four years, binding master and apprentice together. It could be renewed afterwards if the participants chose, but she knew that was uncommon. Most apprentices wanted to strike out on their own after four years of learning …
… But then, most apprentices enjoyed a more balanced bond with their master.
“The thought of severing the link is … unthinkable,” she said. It would be difficult, even with a full-fledged sorcerer to help. Neither of them wanted to lose the bond. “But how would we know if our feelings are real?”
“See if you keep them after four years,” Dread said. He held up a hand before she could say something cutting. “For the moment, try to keep them under control. It isn’t long until we reach Ida.”
“True,” Elaine agreed.
“I can speak to Johan, if you like,” Dread said. “There’re a few pieces of advice I could give him.”
Elaine shook her head. “I think he’d hate it,” she said. “You’re not his father.”
She scowled. What would Johan’s father have said? She doubted it would be anything good, not when Johan was an embarrassment. He’d probably planned to sterilise Johan, just to make sure there were no more powerless children. She cursed inwardly as a thought struck her. Had he sterilised Johan? It would have been easy, with the right potion; Johan might not even know he was sterile. Or maybe he’d simply had his memory wiped afterwards …
I could check, she thought. But what would I do if he is?
“Then sleep, for the moment,” Dread said. “The horsemen won’t get back here until tomorrow.”
“I will,” Elaine said. She gave him a long look. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” Dread said. “Just … be careful. This could ruin your reputation if it gets out.”
Elaine had to laugh. “The Emperor has branded me a traitor and a fugitive from justice,” she pointed out. “I don’t think it matters if they add warping an apprenticeship bond to the list.”
“It might,” Dread said. “Bonds are sacred, after all. You might not have deliberately intended to warp one, but that’s what happened. All it takes is one idiot to start a rumour and your reputation will be mud. And if you have to convince magicians to follow you later …”
“I understand,” Elaine said. “I’ll keep it quiet.”
“Very quiet,” Dread said. “I don’t know what Light Spinner was thinking.”
“She wanted someone to keep Johan under control,” Elaine told him, bluntly. “I don’t think she dared risk anything weaker than an apprenticeship bond.”
“And now you’re dealing with the consequences,” Dread said. “Watch yourself.”
Chapter Fifteen
Johan didn’t sleep well.
He’d always slept lightly, even as a child – Jamal had a habit of sneaking into Johan’s room and enchanting his possessions – but this was different. He dreamed of Jamal and someone whispering to him and a face that blurred into Elaine. When he awoke, he was drenched in sweat and uncomfortably aware that he didn’t feel quite right. He climbed out of bed, washed himself in the tiny bathroom and dressed, feeling unsteady. And yet, he didn’t feel ill.
Sarah met him as he walked downstairs, wearing a leather jerkin with her long blonde hair running down the back. He couldn’t help noticing that her trousers were tight around her rear, but this was nothing more than a dispassionate appraisal. She gave him an odd look as they reached the bottom of the stairs, then led him into the dining room. A handful of guests were sitting at various tables, eating breakfast. Dread and Elaine were sitting together – he felt a spurt of envy so strong it almost overpowered him – and talking in low voices. Sarah sat down next to Elaine and waved to the waitress. Reluctantly, Johan sat next to Dread.
Your dreams weren’t pleasant, Elaine sent, through the bond. Are you all right?
No, Johan sent back. He hadn’t thought she would have sensed his discontent. I was dreaming of Jamal.
Definitely a nightmare, Elaine agreed. Make sure you eat plenty today.
Before Johan could ask why, the waitress arrived and took their orders. Dread ordered a massive plate of bacon, eggs and fried potatoes, then insisted that everyone eat the same before leaving the inn. As soon as the waitress had gone, Sarah cast a privacy spell into the air, ensuring that no one else could overhear their words. Johan tensed. The horsemen might have made it back from World’s Gate by now.
“There’s a small army in World’s Gate,” Dread said, quietly. “It’s led by a handful of Inquisitors and they’re checking everyone who enters the town. They’re not being remotely subtle about it.”
Elaine smiled, although there was no amusement in her words. “They’re trying to give us an opportunity to slip through, aren’t they?”
“It looks that way,” Dread agreed. “We certainly couldn’t fail to spot the checkpoint well away from the town.”
He reached into his pocket and produced one of the paper maps he’d obtained from the waitress, when they’d arrived at the inn. “Entering the town will be enough to get us all captured. They’d insist on removing the glamours and …”
He nodded at Elaine, who made a face. “My eyes will be enough to condemn me,” she said, grimly. “I don’t think there’s anyone else walking around with red eyes.”
Dread unfurled the map on the table. “We can’t go through World’s Gate,” he said. “Or, at least, we can’t go through the town. Sarah and the Levellers could, if we weren’t accompanying them.”
Johan shivered. “So how do we get to Ida?”
“We’re going to have to climb,” Dread said. He traced out a route on the map. “If we head north from here, we should be able to make the climb up this line here and reach the lower levels of Ida …”
“It will be treacherous,” Elaine said. “The whole area is covered in snow.”
“I’ve done mountain climbing as part of my training,” Dread said. His grey eyes were very cold. “I don’t think it will be easy, but I don’t think we have any other choice.”
“There’s no way we can lure them out of World’s Gate?” Johan asked. “I could make a diversion …”
“It would be far too revealing,” Dread said. “These are trained Inquisitors who probably understand your weaknesses very well. I was able to knock you out, remember?”
Johan nodded, rubbing the back of his head. Dread had knocked him out before he’d realised the Inquisitor had been closing in on them. If he hadn’t been tough enough to resist his oaths, just long enough, they would all have been shipped back to the Golden City. Or Elaine would have been, at least. Johan had a feeling he was considered too great a threat to be allowed to live.
“We’d need equipment,” Elaine said. “Where do you intend to get it?”
“There’s a climbing lodge here,” Dread said, tapping the map. “The three of us take two of the horses to here, where we … obtain the equipment, hire a guid
e and set off up the mountain.”
“If we can hire a guide,” Elaine said. “I didn’t see any the last time we were here.”
“It wasn’t a planned trip,” Dread said. He looked at Sarah. “Can you and the other magicians make your way through World’s Gate to Ida?”
“Unless they try to stop us,” Sarah said. “Three Inquisitors and a large company of soldiers …”
She broke off as breakfast arrived. Johan tucked in, then caught a flicker of amusement from Elaine and looked up to see Dread eating at terrifying speed. Johan fought to keep a smile off his face as he looked back at his plate, cutting his way through the bacon and chewing it piece by piece. It wasn’t as good as the meals he’d enjoyed in House Conidian, he considered, but in some ways it was definitely more flavourful. Elaine picked at her food, clearly nervous. The prospect of a long climb up the mountains didn’t please her.
It can’t be that bad, Johan sent. We were up in the mountains last month.
Those weren’t real mountains, Elaine sent back. Her thoughts were tinged with worry. Trust me, Johan. These mountains are going to be worse.
Johan didn’t believe her, not really. They finished their breakfast, paid the bill and headed outside, where they parted from Sarah. The Leveller gave them all a tight hug, even Dread; Dread gave her a letter for Queen Sacharissa, asking Sarah to pass it to the Queen if they didn’t make it to Ida.
“The Queen – she was the Princess at the time – was quite taken with Dread,” Elaine said, her thoughts tinged with amusement. “I think she even tried to lure him to Ida to be Prince Consort.”
Johan gaped. “Really?”
“He didn’t go, of course,” Elaine added. “But if he had, things would be different.”
“Mount up,” Dread ordered, as he walked over to them. “It’s time to go.”
Johan was relieved – and yet disappointed – when Elaine chose to ride behind Dread, rather than him. He knew he was a good horseman, but it would have been incredibly distracting to have her behind him. The horse neighed loudly as he scrambled onto its back, then moved forward as he tugged on the reins. Dread moved up next to him, his face grim.
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