She obeyed as he unrolled a map of Tamnen across the table.
"I know it must be difficult being back here," he said, his voice even. "But you have been trained well, and your time in Tamnen City is nearly finished."
"I wish you weren't staying here alone," she said miserably. They'd been over all of this, but she couldn't shake the feeling that he needed her here.
"We cannot risk your being recognized, and I will need to infiltrate the palace if I wish to have any success at guarding your father."
"This is all too vague. If we knew for certain who contracted the assassination--"
"--or who was carrying out the contract, yes, I know," Tanvel broke in. It occurred to Azmei that he was treating her much more like an equal than a student. When had that changed? Sometime since their arrival in Tamnen, she was certain. "But the information is reliable. We know the Perslyn family bid on the contract, and we know they lost." He smiled grimly at her. "Partly thanks to our success in rooting out Perslyn operatives in Ranarr."
She knew he was right. Since her apprenticeship to Master Tanvel, they had been focused on discovering how deep the Perslyn network ran and how far it stretched. Certainly it was widespread in Tamnen, but Azmei had been shocked at how many tendrils of the network they had discovered in Ranarr. At least they were certain the assassination plot had not come from Strid. She and Tanvel had actually gone there as part of her father's peace negotiations, though her father had not known it. It had been too great an opportunity to pass up, and it had proved a worthwhile effort.
"Still. I don't like leaving you."
"Do you think you have gained so much skill in three years that you can head off any dangers that might threaten me, with my thirty years of experience?" Tanvel's voice was mocking, but he was still smiling at her. Azmei flushed at his teasing and ducked her head.
"No, but even you can't see what's sneaking up behind you."
"I have a friend or two here in Tamnen City. I will not be entirely alone, even if I will be without my apprentice." Tanvel pushed a bowl of soup across the table at her. "Eat up before it gets cold." He settled into a chair, holding his own soup bowl under his chin.
"Do you have any instructions for my task in Meekin?" Azmei asked, reluctant to let the subject drop but knowing she had pushed it as far as she could.
"Find out who paid the Perslyn to kill you. If you can, gather the evidence the king will need to deal with them legally. We know none of the Nine will go down without hard evidence."
"If it is one of the Nine," Azmei said, though they were almost certain it must be.
Tanvel pressed his lips together. "At the very least, satisfy your own curiosity." He sipped his soup. "Then kill the Patriarch."
Azmei swallowed. She had been preparing for three years to kill the Perslyn Patriarch, but there was still a part of her that was unsure she could manage it. "And then?"
Tanvel's smile turned sad. "Then you will have a decision to make, my young Aspirant. If you succeed in killing the Patriarch, the Shadow Council will accept you as a Dedicate. You will be allowed to work on peace missions without my constant supervision." He sipped his soup again. Azmei wondered how he did it without getting his beard wet.
"I confess," he went on, "I wish I had the liberty of overseeing your test. I would never be permitted to pass judgment, but I would take pleasure in seeing how well I had taught you."
"Don't you already know that, master?" she asked, holding his gaze. "All I have done these past three years is to be a credit to your teaching."
"And you have done it well," he assured her. He was silent for a moment before clearing his throat. "You will have no aid in Meekin. There will be an observer, of course, but you will not know who it is. Be certain, though, that whatever you do will be noted."
Azmei drained her soup. "You said I had a decision to make," she said, and the words echoed back to her from their first meeting, when he had told her she must decide whether to publicly survive the assassination or go into hiding and play dead. He had always left the difficult decisions to her. It was one of many reasons that she loved him--he never treated her as if she were incapable of making those decisions, even if she made the wrong choice.
"I did indeed." Tanvel set his bowl aside and took a long pull from a tankard. "You may return to Ranarr as a Dedicate to the god of peace. Or you may return to Tamnen as her princess. Once we have destroyed the Perslyn brood in its den and uncovered its patron, there will be no more reason for you to remain in hiding. You will be free to live the life you had planned for yourself."
Azmei stared at him, wishing he hadn't said it. Of course it had occurred to her, but wishful thinking was one thing. Tanvel presenting it as an option was another thing entirely.
"The life my father had planned for me, you mean," she murmured.
"Perhaps so, but it was the life you were prepared to live, before you met me." Tanvel was watching her. Azmei couldn't identify the strange gleam in his eyes. Did he want her to remain a Shadow Diplomat? Did he think she should return to her old life? And if she did, should she marry Vistaren as planned? Would it truly make any difference in the war now?
Azmei lifted her own tankard. "What do you think I should do, master?"
She saw the surprise bloom in his eyes. She had asked his opinion many times in the past three years, but it was obvious he hadn't anticipated the question. He turned his gaze down into the depths of his tankard, jaw working.
"I...do not know," he said finally. His voice was low. "You are the finest student I have ever trained. True, you have stronger motivation to learn than any of the rest of my students. But you have an aptitude for intrigue and understanding people. It would serve you well as a Shadow Diplomat, even though you lack faith in the peace god." He licked his lips. "And yet..." He looked up to study her face. "And yet, I think the world could use a queen such as you would be. You were already well on the path to being a fine queen for the Amethirian Empire. You won Vistaren's loyalty and the loyalty of two of his finest servants. You charmed the Ranarri people, who are seldom impressed by outsiders. I believe you would be good for this world."
Azmei stared at him. Never had he spoken to her like this before. She felt her throat tighten and fought against a sudden upswelling of emotion.
"And there is this: as queen, you might be in a position to end the war between Tamnen and Strid. As Shadow Diplomat, you almost certainly never would."
Having spoken his piece, Tanvel sucked down the rest of his tankard of ale and stood. "Do not think on it overmuch, Aevver. Get through the test. Things may look much different after you have had your justice."
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Hi! I write epic and urban fantasy for fun, and a history blog for work. I’ve lived in Indiana all my life, but I dream of living somewhere that only has winter every few years. I enjoy hiking, reading, birdwatching, and general geekery. I have three cats, and I’m well aware that puts me firmly in crazy cat lady territory. I also have way more dice and painted miniatures than I need. Let’s be friends online! I can be found at www.StephanieCainOnline.com, on Twitter at @stephanie_cain, on Facebook, and on Tumblr.
Acknowledgments
I must offer my thanks first and foremost to my incomparable critique partners: Laura VanArendonk Baugh, J. Decker Payne, and Jillian Storm. Their input has been invaluable through the process of writing and revising this novella.
Further thanks are due to my parents, who have always encouraged me to pursue my passions, and to my best friend
Tiffany, who will buy this even though she doesn't read fantasy. My wonderful coworkers at the General Lew Wallace Study & Museum in Crawfordsville, Indiana, have been incredibly patient about listening to me blather about the indie publishing process. I can always count on Amanda, Deb, and Larry for sanity-saving Dari-Licious runs when things get too crazy.
I am also grateful to the talented Phuoc Quan, whose amazing cover art pleases me more every time I look at it.
Also by Stephanie A. Cain
Storms in Amethir
Stormsinger
Stormshadow
Stormseer
The Weather War (forthcoming)
Storms in Amethir Holiday Novellas
The Midwinter Royal
Faith and Fealty
Sow the Wind
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STORMSHADOW
Storms in Amethir: Book Two
Copyright 2014 Stephanie A. Cain
All Rights Reserved.
Cover art by Phuoc Quan.
ISBN: 978-0-9903758-0-7
First Electronic Edition, May 2014
Published by Cathartes Press
Stormshadow (Storms in Amethir Book 2) Page 17