He grinned to himself.
He strode to the door, drawing a little more Essence from the fireplace to ease the ache in his muscles. Immediately they felt looser, stronger. He reached for the door handle.
“Very impressive,” came a voice from behind him.
He spun, ready to defend himself. A man stood in the corner of the room; Davian was certain he had not been there a moment before.
“Who are you?” Davian drew in the remaining Essence from the fire, as well as a little from the heat of the kettle that had been boiling atop it. Not much, but enough to do some damage if required. “Why did you take me prisoner?”
The man smiled. “Prisoner?” He sighed. “I must apologize for Ishelle’s… less than subtle method of delaying you. She had strict instructions to keep you here until I arrived. I’m afraid she was a little overzealous.”
Davian scowled. “You haven’t answered my question.”
The man sighed again. “My name is Driscin Throll. I am an Elder from Tol Shen,” he said, offering his hand. When Davian didn’t shake it, he dropped it with an impatient roll of his eyes. “You’re not a prisoner. You are here for me to make you an offer, nothing more. All I ask is that you hear what I have to say, and then you may continue on your journey.”
Davian gave him a suspicious glare. “Very well.” He concentrated, pushing through kan and searching out Driscin’s mind. He would find out exactly what this man intended before he agreed to anything.
As he stretched out, though, he found himself blocked by an invisible barrier. He frowned, probing the shield, trying to push past it, but it was no use. Driscin’s mind was being protected by another source of kan.
Driscin saw the surprise on his face and smiled. “As I said before. Impressive,” he said thoughtfully. He glanced toward the door. “You can show yourself now, Shel.”
Davian turned, expecting to see the door swing open. Instead there was a shimmering in the air, like a mirage in the desert; in an instant Ishelle stood before them, having seemingly appeared from nowhere. Davian took a half step back.
“Haven’t seen that one?” the young woman asked with a cheeky grin.
Davian’s eyes widened. “You’re an Augur?” It was the only thing that made sense. Essence alone couldn’t make someone invisible, he was certain. Ishelle must have been using kan somehow. She’d been the reason he couldn’t Read Driscin, too, no doubt.
“Surprise,” said Ishelle.
Davian stared at her for a moment. “You drugged me,” he said, his tone accusatory. His head was beginning to clear of the effects of whatever she had given him, but he was still a little foggy.
Ishelle’s expression changed to something approaching apologetic. “I had to make sure you didn’t go anywhere. Driscin was only a few hours away, but you have a nasty habit of disappearing for long periods of time.”
Driscin waved his hand dismissively. “We’ll get to that later,” he said. “Suffice it to say, we know who you are, Davian.”
Davian leaned forward. “And who is ‘we’?” He focused on the strange man. He’d know if they lied to him, at least, even if they tried to mask it.
“The sig’nari. You might know of us as the Prefects,” replied Driscin. “We serve the Augurs, are their eyes and ears, carry out their wishes. And search out new Augurs, when they appear.”
Davian’s eyebrows rose. “The sig’nari?” he said dubiously. “I’ve heard this story before.”
“It’s the truth,” supplied Ishelle. “I’d heard rumors about them for years before they found me.”
“At the beginning of the Unseen War, we went into hiding,” continued Driscin. “But we kept watch. We waited. When one Augur dies, another is born within a few years; that is the cycle. So we knew that on that night, when the war began, new Augurs would soon be brought into the world. We have been vigilant ever since.”
Davian frowned. “Let’s say I believe you, at least for the moment. How did you find me?”
“Talmiel.” Driscin watched him closely. “A man there of… somewhat unsavory repute helped two young boys across the border into Desriel. He robbed them, but immediately afterward he collapsed. Almost died. Three days later he awoke with no memory of the incident at all, and two years of his life missing into the bargain.” Driscin shrugged. “Talmiel is a superstitious town at the best of times. Word spread, and one of my men heard the tale. From there we managed to piece together your journey as far as Thrindar.”
Davian grunted. “And after that?”
“I found you,” spoke up Ishelle.
“Shel has an unusual gift, even for an Augur. One touch, and she can know where someone is for the rest of their life,” explained Driscin.
Davian stared at the young woman. “I remember you,” he said suddenly, eyes widening. “The girl from the market. I bumped into you, knocked you over.” Ishelle smiled, and Davian sighed. “Or so it seemed.”
Ishelle leaned forward. “I tracked you all the way to Deilannis, but once you entered the city it was like you just… vanished. We knew you were on your way to Andarra so I waited here, assuming you’d come along this road eventually.” She scowled. “Waited here, in this backwater village, for a month. A month. I was only days away from leaving when I felt you again.” Her eyes narrowed as she stared at him. “How did you do it? I’ve never had anyone disappear from my tracking before.”
“Maybe I’m just special,” said Davian.
Ishelle narrowed her eyes at him and he restrained a smile, relaxing a little. Whatever their methods, he was beginning to believe that these people had no intention of harming him.
Davian leaned back. “So how many Augurs have you found thus far?”
Driscin shifted. “Including you and Ishelle? Two.” He held up his hand. “Understand, this is no easy task. It was difficult enough back when the Augurs were ruling; it’s a thousand times harder now that the Treaty exists.”
“I suppose I can see that,” Davian conceded. He crossed his arms. “So. You were going to make me an offer.”
“Come with us.” It was Ishelle, her voice pleading. “Help me find others like us, Davian. We can teach them; we can teach each other.”
Davian shook his head. “To what end?”
“This invasion came from Talan Gol,” said Driscin seriously. “We don’t know much about it yet, but it seems clear the Boundary is weakening. Without the Augurs there will be no way to strengthen it against whatever threats are beyond.”
Davian hesitated. “And I do want to help with that,” he admitted, “but the invasion hadn’t started when I was in Thrindar.” Driscin wasn’t lying, but he clearly wasn’t telling Davian everything, either.
“True,” said Driscin. “I suppose that has been a more recent shift in our focus. Originally our aim was simply to gather the Augurs—to keep them hidden from Administration, let them learn from one another. Then to eventually pave the way in the Assembly for the Treaty to be changed. Maybe have the Augurs return to a semblance of power one day.” He shrugged. “Ultimately that’s still our goal.”
Davian stared at Driscin in bemusement, thinking back to some of his conversations with Wirr. “I don’t know much about politics, but that doesn’t sound like something that could happen anytime soon. Maybe not in my lifetime,” he said quietly.
“It was always a long-term plan,” admitted Driscin, unfazed by Davian’s pessimism. “But as it happens, this invasion may have changed that. Thousands have died, and as awful as that is, it has also reminded people of how important the Gifted are.”
He leaned forward. “The way the king has been acting towards us over these past few weeks is starting to make people nervous—it’s shining a light on the fact that Andarra’s most powerful weapon, its best defense, could be made impotent by one man’s prejudice. When all this is over, I guarantee that there will be an argument for changing that—renewed support for the Tols both in the Assembly and amongst the people. Andarra may not like us, but they are beginn
ing to recognize our value. And the more that happens, the more sway we will have.”
Davian gave a slow nod. “That’s good for Tol Shen… it doesn’t mean anyone will feel differently towards the Augurs, though,” he noted.
“When we tell everyone that the Augurs are the only ones who can seal the Boundary, I suspect that may change, too,” said Driscin. “It should be enough to have the Treaty amended, to remove the ban. That’s more progress than we could have dreamed of a few months ago.”
Davian leaned back, heart rate increasing a little as he assessed what Driscin was saying. Much still had to go right, but he couldn’t see any flaws in the logic. It was possible. “And if that happens, you want the Augurs to be overseen by Tol Shen. You want me to join Tol Shen,” he concluded after a moment, enthusiasm suddenly waning again.
Driscin nodded. “The Athian and Shen Councils are too at odds to work together on something like this, and any association with Athian is political poison at the moment. The Augurs need to be unified, allied with somebody… reliable, if the Assembly is to ever take them seriously. Tol Shen is the only realistic option.”
Davian shook his head, unable to hide his reluctance. It all seemed perfectly reasonable—and yet he knew Tol Shen’s reputation. They were power hungry, manipulative. The idea of their exerting any measure of control over a group of Augurs, over him, made him uncomfortable.
“No,” he said after a moment. He glanced at Ishelle. “Once these invaders have been defeated, I will work with you to fix the Boundary—but that’s all. I don’t want to join Shen.”
Ishelle rolled her eyes. “Because we’re all evil, I assume?” she said, sounding more amused than annoyed. “That’s what they teach you in Athian, isn’t it—that Tol Shen is more interested in power than what’s right, while every single Gifted from Tol Athian is a shining beacon of the standards of El himself?”
Driscin spoke up before Davian could respond, making a calming gesture in Ishelle’s direction. “You’ve grown up in an Athian school, and you’re reluctant. I understand.” He rubbed his forehead. “If you are concerned about the types of people you associate with, though, perhaps you should take another look at your friend Taeris Sarr before coming to a decision.”
Davian flushed. “You’re talking about what he did three years ago? That’s a poor example to choose, Elder Throll. I was the boy he rescued—he saved my life by killing those men. Hardly a black mark against him in my book.”
Driscin shook his head. “But you don’t know the whole story,” he said quietly. “Haven’t you ever wondered where you came from? Before the school, I mean.”
Davian stared at the Elder, puzzled. “Of course I have.”
“We think that Taeris knows,” said Driscin. “What we do know is that he is the one who brought you to Caladel as a child, who dropped you at the school’s doorstep. He’s followed you, followed your progress your entire life. It was no coincidence that he found you in Desriel, nor that he was there that day three years ago.”
Davian shook his head again. “He would have told me something like that,” he said, with more confidence than he felt.
“There’s more,” said Driscin. “He set up that encounter in Caladel, Davian. He told those men you were from the school. He wanted them to attack you, so that you would be forced to defend yourself, to discover you had powers.”
Davian scowled, his head spinning. “I don’t believe that.” It couldn’t be true—though there was no black smoke, nor any pain in his temples to indicate Driscin was lying. Davian snorted, ignoring the sudden sick feeling in the pit of his stomach. “How could you possibly have information like that?”
Ishelle shifted. “You surely didn’t think I’d miss the opportunity to Read you and your companions, back at Thrindar? There wasn’t time to get everything from him, but Taeris was far too preoccupied with finding a way out of Desriel to worry about shielding himself.” Her lips curled upward. “I know what you were thinking when you bumped into me, too, by the way.” She winked at him, and he felt himself blush furiously.
Davian took a few seconds to recover, then shook his head. “No. Either you’re mistaken, or this is some sort of trick. Taeris isn’t like that.”
Driscin sighed as he saw Davian’s defiant expression. “Perhaps this is something you need to resolve for yourself.”
“And how can I do that, exactly?”
“Ask him.” Ishelle stepped forward, placing her hand on his shoulder. “You know how to see whether people are deceiving you—I’ve watched you do it for the last few minutes. You know we’re not lying to you, Davian. You owe it to yourself to at least find out if we’re right.”
Davian gritted his teeth; he still wanted to argue the point, but he knew it would just look as if he were being unreasonable. “No matter what I find, it won’t change my mind about Tol Shen,” he said, a little defensively now.
“I don’t understand. Where else would you go?” Ishelle crossed her arms. “You don’t know anyone at Tol Athian, even if they were willing to take you in. The only other survivor from your school was Torin Andras, and you can be certain he won’t be spending his time around the Gifted.”
“How did you…” Davian trailed off, grimacing. “Oh. Well, if you know that, then you know we’re friends. I can do more by working with Wirr—Torin—than I could by joining Tol Shen, anyway.”
Driscin shook his head. “Don’t delude yourself on that front, lad,” he said, his tone gentle. “He’s a prince of the realm, the Northwarden’s son. You might be friends, but whatever passed between you at the school, don’t imagine you’re equals. Even if he wants to welcome you at the palace gates with open arms, he won’t be able to.”
Davian frowned. “Meaning?”
“Meaning if you stay in the city to aid Prince Torin, you’ll be forever hiding, living your life in the shadows. It will be years before he can afford to be publicly associated with an Augur, regardless of how soon the Treaty is changed. Years before he can acknowledge your existence.” He looked at Davian with a serious expression. “Your influence would be limited at best. It would be a waste of your talents.”
Davian gave Driscin an angry stare. The Elder’s argument was sound, but it wasn’t what Davian wanted to hear. He’d assumed that once he made it to Ilin Illan, made contact with Wirr, things would work out somehow. That he’d find a way to stay, to help the only friend he had left.
Driscin sighed as he watched Davian’s expression. “You are not convinced—that’s fine; perhaps we can change your mind in time. You at least agree that the Boundary needs to be sealed?”
Davian nodded slowly. “Yes.”
“Good.” Driscin stood. “Then do what you must, for now—go to Ilin Illan, help where you can. But think about what I’ve told you—and once these invaders are defeated, come and find me at Tol Shen. If you still want only to seal the Boundary and return to Ilin Illan, then there will be no pressure to join us permanently. You have my word.”
He nodded to Davian, then gave Ishelle a tight smile. Without further pleasantries he left the room.
There was a long silence as Davian and Ishelle looked at each other awkwardly.
“Am I free to leave?” asked Davian eventually, his irritation at the way he’d been treated bubbling to the surface again, making him sound ruder than he meant to be.
Ishelle held up her hands in mock defense. “You are. But I thought perhaps a full stomach might make you a little less prickly,” she said, with a smile to show she was only teasing. She gestured to some buttered bread on a tray next to the bed. “You must be hungry. You should eat.”
Davian gave the tray a mistrustful glance.
Ishelle laughed as she saw his expression. “Nothing unusual in the bread. I swear it.”
Davian thought about refusing the offer, but at that moment his stomach growled. He hadn’t eaten since the small amount of drugged food he’d managed to ingest. And it would look petty. And he might not get another opportunity
to eat properly until he reached Ilin Illan.
Scowling, he took a cautious bite of the bread. When he was still able to move his arms and legs satisfactorily, he wolfed down the rest, all the while watching Ishelle with a wary expression. Despite her apparently having intended him no harm, he couldn’t bring himself to trust her again so soon.
He finished, wiping his mouth with his sleeve. “I’ll be on my way,” he said, standing. “I’ve wasted too much time as it is.”
Ishelle frowned. “To Ilin Illan? Tonight? Surely you need some rest.” She gestured to the bed. “You can have this room free of charge, if you like.” She grinned, a dimple appearing in each cheek. “As compensation for being drugged.”
“Thanks,” said Davian in a wry tone, “but I don’t need it.”
Ishelle kept smiling, unfazed. “How about we make a deal. To show there are no hard feelings, at least take a free meal. A proper meal. No drugs. And my company for the evening.”
Davian snorted. “You almost had me until the last part.” Ishelle continued to smile at him cheerfully, and he wilted, sighing. A proper meal was too good to pass up. “Very well,” he said reluctantly, making a weary gesture in the direction of the door. “Lead the way.”
They made their way downstairs into the common room. The innkeeper, a short, rotund woman of middle age, was soon bringing them their meals. When Ishelle offered to pay, the innkeeper refused, insisting that Ishelle’s coin was no good to her.
Ishelle shrugged at Davian’s questioning glance. “I’ve been here a month. She likes me.”
“Your knowing exactly what she’s thinking has helped, I’m sure,” observed Davian. He’d seen the thin lines of kan stretching from Ishelle to the innkeeper. Minute, almost unnoticeable, but definitely there. His new companion had been Reading her.
“Nothing wrong with that.”
Davian snorted, shaking his head. Malshash had been clear about this, but it was barely more than common sense. Common decency.
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