“All right then,” she said, momentarily gazing into his eyes, “we’re on our way.” She turned back to Basha. “Is there somewhere I should try to aim for? I’m not sure if it would be successful, but it might help to have a destination in mind.”
“I think we should approach the palace from outside. It would raise fewer questions, don’t you think?”
“That sounds good,” Therese said. “I’d go for somewhere in Shimeron, then travel to the palace by carriage or on horseback.”
“How about the meeting place of the Council when it’s in residence near the palace?”
“I like it,” Dixon agreed. “And you could walk to the palace from there. It’s not far.”
“Here we go then,” Mara said, smiling weakly at him.
He winked in response. “We’ll give you some privacy so you can concentrate.”
“Thank you.”
“Keep an eye on her, Basha,” he said on his way out.
Basha smiled, then glanced at Mara, a question in her eyes. “I promise I will, Dixon.”
Mara waved at him and watched him exit. “Well, you’ve done this before,” she said, turning back, “so you know what to expect.”
“Yes.”
“Backpacks?”
“I’ve got mine and there’s yours.” Basha gestured to a pack on the floor.
Mara called her pack to herself by magic, then put it over her shoulder. She took Basha’s hands, noting the woman’s frown. “What? Is something wrong?” Try though she might, she could not hold back her grin.
Basha shook her head with a silent caution.
Mara closed her eyes and in an instant the colors of her traveling powers surrounded them.
Moments later, they stood at the top of a stairway to a large brick building. Mara didn’t recognize her surroundings, but was grateful they’d traveled in the dark so they wouldn’t garner any unwanted attention.
“Excellent! Right on target. This is the meeting place right here,” Basha said.
A half dozen raucous men spilled out of a nearby pub door. Even from a distance, the Oathtakers could smell them, as their stench carried on the breeze. Weapons of various sorts hung from their belts. The hardware clanged and rattled, breaking the stillness of the night.
The men stumbled in their drunkenness. One reached for a knife, but his intended victim punched him in the face, knocking him to the ground. The pugilist stood over his fallen comrade, shaking his hand from the impact of his punch. He kicked the man, but got no response; his fist had finished off the work that the drink of spirits had begun. He grabbed the front of his jacket and dragged him along.
Basha pulled Mara deeper into the moon-cast shadows.
“Keep hold of me in case we need to make a quick exit,” Mara said quietly.
“Hey!” one of the men shouted. “What say we have a little fun?” He teetered on his feet.
“What’s that?” another asked.
“Let’s go raise some trouble in the town hall there.”
“Nah, we’re on duty shortly. We’ll barely make it back to the palace in time as it is.”
“Duty at the palace?” Basha whispered.
Mara shrugged.
“Ahhh,” the first soldier responded. He turned and followed the others out of town, dragging his drunken feet along.
“I’ve never heard of such a thing,” Basha said. “I don’t think they were locals or of the palace guard. Did you see them? They were filthy and . . . Ugghh!” She shuddered.
“They were dressed like the soldiers Dixon and I saw in Polesk. And that one said they were to be on duty at the palace. That means we can’t just ride up without another whole level of danger. So now what do we do?”
“You could try to deliver us to the palace directly, but like we discussed, that could raise questions that we don’t want to have to answer. Or we could arrive through the back way and no one in the palace would be surprised.”
“What’s this about a back way? You never mentioned that before.”
“Sure I did. The palace has always had an alternative means of . . . escape. Remember? I’d hoped to get Dixon out that way when Lilith held him.”
“Oh yes, I remember.”
“No one has ever used it to break in. At least not to the best of my knowledge. But under the circumstances, I don’t think anyone would be surprised to see me use it.”
“Who knows about this . . . back way?”
“As far as I know, only the members of the first family and their Oathtakers.”
Mara frowned. “So how would you explain disclosing the secret to me?”
“Hmmm,” Basha thought. “Well, I could feign an injury and tell them I couldn’t chance meeting up with those soldiers. The guards would forgive my disclosing the secret if I did it to protect myself. Especially if they know you’re an Oathtaker yourself.”
“All right, but what kind of injury would be sufficient not to raise too many questions, yet wouldn’t have them wonder how it didn’t keep you from being able to make the trip yourself?”
Basha pursed her lips, then tapped her finger against them. “A severe knee sprain. I had one in the past. I could use a fake crutch of sorts, a cane.” She paused. “Yes, that’ll work. Janine isn’t likely to notice. She’s . . . absent. And Sally’s just . . . a moron.”
Mara giggled. “You don’t like this Sally much, do you?”
“Have you ever known someone so inept that she they left you wondering how her feet found their way to the floor in the morning?”
“No!” Mara feigned shock.
“Never mind. I just find her . . . Well, mostly I like not to think about her. Anyway, Lilith would be the one most likely to ask, and she’s not there.” Basha frowned. “Oh, poor Marshall. He really is such a good man. This all must be killing him.”
“Marshall?”
“Lilith’s Oathtaker.”
“Oh, right. Well, it seems our only alternative is to use the back way then.”
“Yes.”
“So where to from here?”
Basha motioned for Mara to pull back against the wall as a lone figure exited the pub. After he passed and was some distance away, she started down the steps, then made her way to the back of the building. From there, she walked out until she came to an old well site. She took ten long strides, then got down on her hands and knees and felt around on the ground, moving rocks aside.
“What are we looking for?”
“There’s a trap door here somewhere.”
“But what if someone finds it after we go down? We can’t cover it back up from down there.”
“Yes, we can.”
“We can?”
“Attendant magic.”
Mara stopped, trying to figure out what Basha meant. “Oh, of course, we’ll just move them.”
“Yes, we’ll move the rocks and things to cover the opening back up when we’re safely inside.” Basha hesitated. “Incidentally, this would be exactly the right time to use that particular attendant magic.”
Mara grinned.
“Oh, here it is!”
They removed the obstacles to the opening and then, when through, Basha gestured for Mara to go down.
“There’s no light down there.”
Basha’s brow furrowed. “Make a flare.”
“A what?”
“A flare.”
“What’s a flare?”
Basha chuckled. “Oh, Mara, didn’t you know?”
“Know what?”
“You can create a ball of light in your hand.”
“What? How do you know?”
“All Oathtakers can.”
“Seriously?” Mara held her hand out to give it a try.
“No,” Basha cautioned, “not until we’re both down there.”
“Eeewwww. You mean I have to enter in the dark? I don’t know if I can do that.”
“Afraid of the dark, are you?”
Mara made a mock face.
“All rig
ht, I’ll go first. See this handle here?” Basha asked as she guided Mara’s hand. “Pull it closed behind you. Then I’ll make a flare, and when you get down there, you can try making one.”
Mara nodded her assent.
Basha stepped to the edge of the opening and turned around.
“Wait! How far down is it?”
“There’s a ladder. It goes down about a dozen steep steps.”
“All right.” Mara waited a minute, then started down. She pulled on the latch to close the door. After a couple more steps, a light shone. When she reached the ground, she turned.
Basha stood with her hand held out. Hovering just above it was a ball of light about the size of a quail egg. It glowed more than burned, was more blue than yellow. “It’s called a flare,” she said.
“Is it hot?”
“Very.”
“Then how long can you keep that up?”
“Without burning? A few minutes at a time.”
“Huh. How is it I didn’t know this?”
“Too busy with other things, I guess.”
Mara looked around. Limestone, cave-like walls surrounded them. Water trickled down, while moss and mildew grew upward. There was a strong smell of dampness. She grimaced. “Gives me the creeps.”
Basha laughed. “Here,” she said, “hold your hand flat. If you curl your fingers, you increase the chance of burning yourself.”
“All right.” Nearly trembling, Mara concentrated on keeping her hand still as Basha poured her flare into it. “That’s amazing!” She brought the flare close to her face.
“Careful. Don’t start your hair on fire.”
Mara’s eyes flashed upward.
“Seriously. That’s powerful magic you hold.”
“What should I do then?”
“Just relax and keep your hand flat.”
“What if I drop it?”
“It’ll go out. It runs on magic. When it leaves your hand, it’s done.” Basha turned toward the ladder. “I’ll go move things over the opening.”
Moments later came sounds of moving rock.
When she was through, she made her way back down. “Is that getting too hot for you?”
“No, I don’t feel it.”
Basha’s eyes narrowed. “At all?”
“Not at all.” Mara moved her hand around.
“Hmmm. Give me that, then you try making one. Just hold your hand out and concentrate on creating a flare.”
Mara did. In a flash, a light appeared. “Oh!” she exclaimed. Her flare was significantly larger and brighter than Basha’s.
“Can you control its intensity?”
Mara concentrated. Moments later, the light decreased until it was barely more than a spark.
“Can you increase it?”
This time Mara made the flare so bright it was difficult to look at.
“Be careful. That light could blind you, not to mention burn you.”
“It doesn’t hurt at all.” Mara reduced the light.
“How willing are you to experiment?”
Mara grinned. “How good are you at healing?”
“Huh! Not me, I’m afraid. That’s part of your attendant magic, not mine.”
“Never mind. What do you want me to do?”
Basha chewed on her lip. “I hesitate to ask this . . .”
“Ask away. I trust you. What should I do?”
“Close your hand.”
Mara’s eyes widened. “Can you do that? Without getting burned, I mean?”
“No, I can’t. But I can feel the heat. You can’t.”
Mara closed her fingers over her flare. The light went out.
“Open your hand again.”
“Oh!” There, in the palm of Mara’s hand, sat a small, diamond-like crystal.
“Let me see that.”
Mara pulled her hand back. “And if it burns you?”
“Then you’ll have to heal me, of course.”
“Oh, yes.” Mara dropped the crystal into her companion’s free hand. “Does it hurt?”
“Not in the least. It’s pretty. I wonder what purpose this serves.”
“Maybe it re-lights.”
“Maybe.”
“Let me try it again.” Mara made another flare, then closed her hand over it. When she re-opened her hand, another crystal rested in her palm. She examined it. “They’re really pretty.”
“Yes, they are. But I can’t imagine what use they would serve.” Basha held out the crystal Mara had given her earlier.
“Try to light it,” Mara said.
Basha tried. Nothing happened. “You try.”
Mara tried. Again, nothing happened. “It’s probably nothing,” she said.
At that very moment, a mouse scurried at their feet. Basha, startled, bumped into Mara, causing the crystal to fly from her hand.
Booooom! A blast burst forth.
The Oathtakers reached up instinctively to cover their heads when the explosion sounded. As Basha did, she threw down her own flare, extinguishing it. Bits of rock and debris sprinkled down in the dark.
“What was that?” Basha cried.
“The crystal.”
“You threw it?”
“No, it flew out of my hand when you bumped into me.”
“Start a new flare.”
Mara lit one.
“The crystal blew up? Where?”
“Here. Look.” Mara pointed to where the crystal had landed. Streaks of soot marred the nearby walls.
“That’s amazing! You know, you’ve spent a lot of time studying, but I think we’ve neglected what might be the most important thing—a full examination of your powers.”
“You’re probably right.”
“You know, it might be wise to have a few of those made up in advance. They could make very valuable weapons.”
“Agreed.” Just then, Mara stumbled.
Basha grabbed her arm. “What is it?”
“Oh, it’s nothing. I’m just, suddenly, very tired.”
“We need to be careful of your magic output.” Basha looked around for a place to sit. “There. Right there. Have a seat.”
Mara sat down gingerly. “Can you take this?” she asked, reaching forward. Basha took her flare. Mara dropped her head into her hands.
“Are you all right?”
“I’m fine, I just need to catch my breath.” After a few quiet minutes passed, she sat up straight. “There, I’m better now.”
“Take your time. We don’t need to hurry.”
“No, I’m good now. As a matter of fact, I feel . . . rejuvenated.” Mara stood. “I can take that now,” she said pointing to the flare she’d given her friend. “It must be getting hot.”
Basha’s eyes narrowed. “Wait a minute.”
“What?”
“It’s not hot.”
“What?”
“It’s not hot!” Basha tilted her head one way, then the other, as she examined the flare. Slowly, she closed her fingers.
“Careful,” Mara cautioned.
“It doesn’t hurt.” When the light expired, Basha lit a new one. “Check this out,” she said, opening her fist. There, sat a crystal. “Oh, wait,” she cried. She leaned hard against the rock wall. She grabbed Mara’s hand and dropped her flare into it. Then she melted down until she sat.
“What is it?”
“Just exhausted suddenly.” Basha breathed in and out slowly.
“Why does magic do that?”
“I don’t know. It’s rare I feel tired after using magic. But this is different. I feel like I’ve been up for days without rest.”
“Well, I’m fine now.” Mara sat and put Basha’s head against her shoulder, “but you sound terrible.” It was then she realized her fellow Oathtaker was already sound asleep.
While Basha slept, Mara experimented with her flares. She no longer tired after she turned one into a crystal, but she was careful not to drop any of them, for fear of another explosion. Upon hearing creaking sounds and th
e pitter-patter of falling rubble, she surmised the last one had caused some structural damage.
Finally, Basha awakened. “I feel marvelous!” she exclaimed, stretching her arms over her head.
“I’m glad you rested well, but I’m concerned about our safety here. We should go as soon as you’re able.”
“Sorry I fell asleep.”
“Not a problem. I had a lot of company.”
“Company?”
“Creepy crawly things. Ewww,” Mara shuddered.
“Was I out long?”
“A few hours. I expect it’s early morning now.”
“Hmmm.” Basha lit a flare, then started off.
“How long has this been here?” Mara asked as she bent away from the rounded limestone wall to her side.
“For as long as I’ve known.” Basha came to a corner she couldn’t see beyond. “Probably since the palace was built and that was hundreds of years ago, I guess.” She reached her hand out to light up the space ahead and then suddenly, she stopped.
Mara almost ran into her, she’d been so busy looking about for lizards and spiders. “What is it? Is something wrong?”
Basha stood with her flare in her hand. She brought it toward her face.
“Careful. If it’s too hot, you can put it out and I’ll lead for a time.”
“No, that’s just it. It’s not hot. My flares have always been hot. Everyone I know, except for you, creates flares that are hot. But after holding that one you created earlier and turning it into a crystal, my own isn’t even warm.” Basha rolled her flare from one hand to the other. “I wonder,” she said as her eyes narrowed, “if . . .”
“If?”
“Well, since it’s no longer hot, maybe . . .” Slowly, Basha closed her hand.
“Careful.” Mara lit a new flare.
Basha’s eyes flashed wide. She smiled, then slowly opened her hand. “Look!” She presented to Mara, a small blue crystal. “I wonder,” she repeated as she looked around the cavern.
“No, don’t! I’m afraid the walls might cave in.”
“No, you’re right, of course. I won’t throw it in here. But still, it’s something to think about. This is all so amazing. It’s as though, somehow, your attendant magic changed mine.”
“We’ll need to test this, but not here and not now. Besides, look,” Mara said as she pulled from her pocket, a handful of crystals.
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