Archon's Hope: Book III of 'The Magician's Brother' Series

by HDA Roberts

  I, however, might just be dead. With her out of the fight the wound in my side wouldn't get any worse, but Death Magic is very hard to treat. I fell to a knee, barely able to breathe from the pain. Lightning hit my shields again before I could even try to save myself. I looked around to see the first Wizard I'd hit, bleeding from most orifices, heading straight for me, his hand crackling with lightning, glaring through his one good eye.

  "I'm going to kill yo-" he started to hiss through his bleeding mouth.

  At which point he simply seemed to turn inside out. I kid you not, he folded in on a point of light behind him, and his guts, meat and bones sprayed over the rugby pitch. It was horrible and I looked away before I could embarrass myself by throwing up (again).

  Hopkins landed next to me, her form shining with power, "Easy, Matty, I'm here, you can lower your shields."

  Nothing else I could do really, I obeyed, and she caught me as I started to keel over, lowering me gently to the ground.

  "Let me see," she said softly, moving my hands out of the way of the wound in my side. I saw her eyes go wide as she took in the oozing black hole and the spreading lines of necrosis left by Morticia's beam, "It's okay, Matty, you're going to be alright."

  She pulled out her phone and dialled very quickly.

  "Lucille, I need you at the school, hurry. I'm losing him," she said, taking my hand. There were tears in her eyes now.

  "That's not especially reassuring," I said, blinking hard. I felt cold spreading up my chest, it was making me tired.

  "Sorry," she said, her lip trembling. She pulled my head up to her chest, "Stay awake, Mathew, do you understand me? Death Magic works faster in a sleeping host."

  "Okay," I said, a little groggily, starting to feel quite out of it, actually.

  There was a flash of light as a portal opened; Palmyra dropped to my side wearing a bath robe, her hair soaking wet. I couldn't help but snigger.

  "Shut up, I was in the shower," she said, smiling tightly before putting her hands on the wound. I felt Life Magic by the bucket pour into me, and the cold receded. My thinking was sharpening up again.

  Just as the wound was nearly closed, I felt Magic, and looked over to the broken heap of flesh that was Shorty. His broken arm was up, pointing straight at us, his fingers twisted and awful. But it was glowing with plasma. I had my hand up even as the ball came, Hopkins noticing just a second too late. My Will shield stopped it a foot short of toasting us all.

  "Deal with that, please, I'm working here," Palmyra said.

  But Hopkins was already casting.

  There was a tiny pop, and suddenly there were brains on the grass. Shorty keeled over stone dead. I couldn't help myself; the brains were right there. I turned my head so I could vomit without getting either of the Archons in the cross-fire.

  "Yes, did you have to do that right in front of him?" Palmyra asked as the wound in my chest finished closing.

  "The alternative being?" Hopkins asked.

  "Look at the state of him, a stiff breeze would have blown him over," Palmyra said, "but no, Miss Hopkins had to pull his brains out. You can sit up now, Matty."

  I did, my side aching like bloody hell, but much better than before. There wasn't even a scar!

  "Thank you," I said, "Both of you. You saved my life."

  "It's what we do," Palmyra said, patting my shoulder, "So, what was their problem?"

  "About that..." I began a little sheepishly.

  I told them what had happened. Surprisingly enough, they took my side. Can't explain it, but there you go.

  "We gave specific orders," Hopkins said, her face nearly white with fury, and Palmyra's wasn't much better.

  "And look who they sent," Palmyra said, "they wanted him to resist; they knew he would. They wanted him dead."

  "Who doesn't these days?" I said lightly, rubbing my aching side.

  "Stop rubbing it, you'll go blind," Palmyra said, and when I turned to look at her she flashed me an evil grin which made me laugh despite the carnage we were sitting in. I'd had to cast an illusion spell when people started coming out to look. To them, it appeared to be an empty field with three Magicians sitting in it, rather than a charnel house.

  "I'll call Kraab, this is quite the mess you made, Matty," Hopkins said.

  "Me?" I complained, "Everyone I duelled is alive and well...-ish, you're the one who started warping things out of people."

  "Shame I can't warp brains into a head, I might actually do you some good," she replied.

  "Oh, don't talk about that again, I'm still feeling queasy," I begged.

  "Brains, brains, brainety-brains," Hopkins said, glaring at me, which made me throw up again.

  "If you hadn't just saved my life, I would throw this at you," I rasped as I sat back up, Palmyra's hands on my back rubbing and soothing while she glared at her sister Archon. Hopkins was laughing like a hyena.

  Eventually she stopped and pulled out her phone, placing a call. She explained to someone (I'm assuming Kraab) what had happened. He showed up with a support team a few minutes later, took one look at the broken bodies and rubbed his eyes.

  "What did I just say?" he said to me.

  "It was self defence?" I offered.

  "It always is with you," he said before bowing to the Ladies and setting his people to work. Morticia and one of the Wind Mages were both hurt, but they'd live (after a lot of Magical healing). The other two... well, you guess.

  They scooped them into bags and portalled them away while Kraab sat down and took us through what had happened. I showed him the scroll.

  His face fell as he saw it.

  "Matty..." he said, looking horrified, "It's valid."

  "What?" I asked.

  "It's a legitimate document. They had the authority to take you in for questioning."

  "So you're saying that I... that I fought four actual Conclave Guardians who had the right to take me?" I asked, looking terrified.

  "You said they engaged first?" Kraab asked.

  "Yes, the Death Mage," I said.

  He tapped his knee, "That's still not very good," he said finally, "I... I have to take you in, Mathew."

  The bottom dropped out of my stomach.

  "Unacceptable," Hopkins said, her eyes flashing dangerously.

  "I'm sorry, Ma'am, but he's refused a legal order of the Conclave, assaulted a Guardian team and was the reason that two of them are now dead. You two have Sovereign Immunity. He doesn't. If I don't bring him in, the Conclave will send another team, a bigger one, probably."

  "I'll go," I said, "Maybe we can get this cleared up before it gets any worse."

  "You'll do no such thing, they struck first with a lethal attack!" Palmyra said.

  "After identifying themselves as Guardians," Kraab countered, "The law is very clear. There have been deaths, he needs to be questioned properly. And the Conclave's order still stands."

  "I'd let Knowles take a look in my head," I said, "But I'm not letting a stranger in there."

  "You may not have a choice," he said.

  "I beg to differ," I said, "I'm no slouch in the telepathic department."

  "I know that, but they have trained interrogators. The best thing to do is cooperate, you are innocent, after all."

  I thought of all the things that someone could learn if they went rooting through my head. The Severing was first and foremost, I couldn't let that spell get into strange hands. I simply wouldn't. And then there was all the Shadow Magic I'd figured out, the things I knew about Tethys...

  "Agent Kraab," I said, "There are certain things in my head I can't permit to fall into hands I don't trust. I will not submit to a Conclave intrusion. Not after this. Hell, not before this. I will let Vanessa in, or you, if you can, even either of these two, but that's it."

  "Well then we have a problem," Kraab said, "because I don't think that the Conclave is going to agree to that."

  The Archons had remained very quiet during this, watching me.

  "The Conclave hate
s my guts and quite possibly just tried to have me killed, and that's assuming they just didn't want to pin enough crimes on me to get me imprisoned until I reach retirement age. I know something that shouldn't be known by anyone, anywhere, and I won't risk something that horrible falling into the hands of people like that, I'm sorry."

  "Then I'm afraid I'm going to have to insist," he said, his face scrunched up in pain as he stood and reached inside his pocket for Spelleater manacles, "Mathew Graves, he said, reaching for me, I'm arresting you on behalf of the British Conclave of Magic, you do not have to say any-"

  He touched me.

  My glamour disintegrated.

  Palmyra burst out laughing and Hopkins looked like she was trying not to do the same.

  "Oh, he did the same think to Princess Evelina, I love it!" the little Life Mage said.

  "Spread out! Find him." Kraab said. I cut all Magic and drew it all back inside myself, the same way I'd hidden from him when he'd first come to Windward. If you weren't radiating any Magic, even Mage sight couldn't spot your powers. It takes practice to do that, though, a lot of practice.

  I was very good at it, and Kraab didn't spot me as he walked past the group of kids I was hiding behind. Palmyra was looking at the group, though. Life Mages see differently when they're trying. I made sure that the S.C.A. was out of the way and then I walked back to the Archons.

  There was something I needed to say, and I hated that it took something like this to get past my stupid ego.

  "I just wanted to thank you both again," I said, "I know that the Archons have their own agendas and needs, and I know that this may all end badly for me, but I wanted you to know that I'm sorry for how I've been acting these last few weeks, and I'm sorry for blaming you for what happened with Des. The guilt and the issues are mine to deal with, and I'm ashamed that I let myself transfer them to you, especially you, Miss Hopkins. I can't say that I'm not still a little mad about the whole thing, and I'll probably still bitch once in a while, but I've realised that you likely saved me from a terrible thing, and I hope that you'll forgive me for how I reacted."

  Hopkins turned and cuffed something from her eye, nodding gruffly. Palmyra smiled and hugged me. She touched my cheek briefly and I felt a tingle which made me jump.

  "Removed the White Curse," she explained, "A standard restoration charm should fix those scars, now."

  "Thank you," I said.

  "Anytime, Mathew," she said, smiling, "Truly."

  I smiled back, "How long until Kraab thinks I've left, do you think?"

  "Oh he'll put on a show and then report back claiming you gave him the slip. You've got a good friend there; he doesn't really want to take you in," Palmyra said, "It should buy time for us to have a word in some ears."

  "I'd appreciate that," I said.

  "In the meantime, keep your head down. And keep away from that blasted Fairy, alright?" Hopkins said.

  "You don't say?" I said deadpan.

  Hopkins snorted and then hugged me before pulling away with an embarrassed look on her face. She cleared her throat, "Alright, go do something useful," she said, waving me away.

  "Yes, Miss Hopkins," I said with a smile, "Thanks again, Lady Palmyra."

  "See you around, Mathew," she said.

  I walked away, letting out a breath.

  That mess could have gone better. Could have gone worse, too. But definitely could have gone better...

  I was glad that I'd cleared the air with Hopkins, though. I hadn't realised what a weight that had been before it was gone.

  Turns out Bill had fetched Hopkins, that magnificent bastard. He was waiting in my room with Cathy, who threw herself at me and hugged me to within an inch of my life before kissing every part of my face she could reach. Bill looked away with a queasy look on his face.

  "You alright?" she asked.

  I nodded, holding her tightly to me, like she was a life preserver.

  I told them what had happened and Cathy went pale; I had to rub her back until she felt better. I cast that Restoration Charm on my cheek while I was talking. It was an easy piece of flesh magic I'd learned ages ago, it fixed blemishes, rashes, acne, all manner of minor imperfections and injuries, including scars. Mine were deep and heavy, so it would take a while.

  "Shit Matty," Bill said, "That's kinda awesome..."

  "Billy!"

  "No, think about it, a man on the run, hunted by the very people he used to serve, surviving on his wits; above the law, subject to nobody, a man without a nation, but who's never forgotten his code of hono- Ow!" Bill said, rubbing his ear where Cathy had flicked him.

  "This isn't some cheesy show! Matty's in real trouble!" Cathy said, her voice almost a squeak.

  "I'm fine, Hopkins is going to do some whispering, and Kraab isn't all that eager to bring me in. It'll be fine. I'm not going anywhere near that Conclave."

  "So, you're going to have to come in to the Conclave," Hopkins said the next day.

  Bugger.

  Chapter 12

  "The prisoner will step forward," Thorne said.

  Well, this was humiliating. They had me chained with Spelleater Manacles and entering the Conclave chamber under guard. I wore my suit and hood; my scars had healed up nicely (thanks to Palmyra) so at least I didn't look too wretched as I walked down the aisle under the gaze of the Councillors.

  Hopkins had put on her Archon hat and surrendered me herself, which was decent of her, and which I appreciated (for the moral support if nothing else). I actually quite resented having to waste a whole day with these people; I knew that they were essential for the smooth running of the country and all that, but they were such a bunch of bigots, the Crows and my few other allies aside.

  Hopkins had completed some negotiations with Thorne. He would be the one to ask the questions, but Knowles was the one to monitor my mind. I'd also had to hold a truth stone while I was talking, which was something of an insult. Normally a truth stone is for someone who's broken their word, or is a known liar. It would appear that I was even less popular around there than I thought (or better known, I suppose you could argue. I was (and still am) a prolific and successful liar for both fun and profit).

  I'd been searched for weapons and Magical gear, none too gently, I might add, and left in a cell underneath the Conclave Building to wait like a lemon for an hour and a half before they were ready for me. I saw nobody, talked to nobody, and was dragged unceremoniously into a lift before almost being catapulted into the chamber by a burly guard that was so colossal he just had to have a name like 'Brick', aided cheerfully by another behemoth (probably a 'Tyrone' or something similar) who enjoyed shoving me at just the right moment to make me stumble (the prick).

  They shoved me up onto a pedestal surrounded by a wooden rail, with a bright light shining down onto it. This prevented me from seeing too much of the room, and what I had seen on the way there hadn't been friendly. I'd noticed a full house of ministers, and a lot of full galleries. The Archons were in situ; I could see them and some of the lowest ring. My guards hooked the chain between my manacles onto a convenient ring below the lip and locked it so I couldn't run (or so they thought). Naturally there wasn't a seat.

  "Mathew Graves. You are here to answer accusations. You will be compelled to truth, you will answer every question completely and accurately; failure to do so will be seen as an admission of guilt and you will be referred to a tribunal for a full trial by your peers, do you understand?" Thorne boomed like the drama queen he was at heart, forcing me to control an involuntary eye-roll.

  "I do, Sir," I said. Hopkins told me to be polite, I was doing my best.

  "Bring in the interrogator," he said.

  It wasn't Knowles. It was yet another colossal, beefy guy with tiny, piggy, black eyes and a bulging head.

  I'm not being flowery, here. His distended, shaven head was actually expanding and contracting by tiny degrees. He was a real, live Telepathic affinity! Those were very rare... and very dangerous; usually they went mad from bein
g constantly bombarded by other people's thoughts.

  "This wasn't what was agreed to!" Hopkins said, standing.

  "Agent Knowles wasn't available on such short notice," Thorne said smoothly, a little too smoothly.

  Nope. This was not happening.

  Cranium (you get my naming conventions by now, I'm sure) advanced, a predatory look on his face. I called my Magic and snapped the manacles away, enjoying the restoration of my power as I raised a vast array of improved mental defences. I was just in time, as I felt Cranium's attack slam home into my outer walls an instant later.

  He blinked in surprise. I didn't think he was used to resistance. Brick and Tyrone noticed that I was free and casting. Naturally, they came at me, a distraction I couldn't afford. I called my shadows and surrounded myself with a column of barbs while I sent a tendril right at Cranium, who recoiled, losing his concentration. With Cranium's attack stopped, I could free up more attention for my shadows, which I flexed to repel the two beefcakes, who'd come to see if they could batter through a Magical construct with their fists (the half-wits). They went flying back, landing on the hard stone with heavy thumps that made me grin after the treatment they'd given me earlier (never let it be said that I can't be petty).

  I reared my shadows back, aiming to squash Cranium before he could rally-

  "ENOUGH!" Kron roared, her voice a booming noise that suddenly made me feel like an unruly schoolboy, which I suppose I was, really.

  I retracted my shadows slowly, letting them slink away. Cranium was flat on his back, having fainted at the sight of an incoming wave of darkness (which I might have found funny in other circumstances).

  The guards quickly stood up, drew batons and simply laid into me from behind as I turned towards Kron. I shouted in pain as the weapons struck my head, back and shoulders, ripping my scalp and drawing blood as I fell forward against the podium's rail.