“Do you really feel more comfortable being surrounded by people who could very well be working for the Coruscalli?” Talon asked.
“Not everyone in Kalvatin is an agent of the Coruscalli. Kalvatin sees itself as the magical capital of Lythril, and many Kalvats believe it should be the governing authority of the Four Kingdoms, but I’m sure that most of them do not wish to bring about the end of the world. If they did that, there would be no one left to rule with their sorcery.”
“Are you forgetting that the Coruscalli wants to remake the world in its image?” Talon’s eyes shone in the moonlight. “It sounds to me that many of the Kalvats share this desire, at least on some level.”
“Kalvatin wishes for the restrictions to be lifted from the use of the arcane,” Jan explained. “Many common, everyday uses of magic in Kalvatin are illegal in the other three kingdoms, making it difficult for Kalvats to travel outside of their homeland. In the past, countless Kalvats have been imprisoned while in their neighboring kingdoms, often for no more than working a simple spell that is second nature to them.”
“A misunderstanding between cultures,” Talon said. “I think I’m beginning to understand. Who, after all, could be more misunderstood than an Astraeyu Nouvin?”
Jan wouldn’t have used those exact words out of fear of offending Talon, but at least Talon was seeing her point. The Kalvats were often shunned outside of their homeland due to Kalvatin’s obsession with magic and the Board of Thaumaturgists’ ability to work around the restrictions set in place regarding the use of the arcane. In some ways, Kalvatin was not unlike Astraeyu Nouvi, a culture set apart from the rest of Lythril by its beliefs and customs. Jan did not make the comparison aloud, however. Talon was intelligent enough to see the similarities without Jan’s help.
“I see,” Talon said. “It was wrong of me to judge the Kalvats so harshly when I’ve never even met anyone from Kalvatin.”
Movement in the distance caught Jan’s eye. A runner approached the camp.
“You’ll get your chance soon enough,” Jan said to Talon. “We have company.”
The runner slowed as he got closer to camp. Instinctively, Talon’s hand went to her swords, hovering just above the blades. “Easy,” Jan said. “This man doesn’t appear to be Coruscalli.”
“He could be a decoy, a diversion sent to distract us from the real threat.”
“We’ll see.” Jan stepped forward. Secretly, she felt safer with Talon standing behind her, ready to launch into battle at a second’s notice.
The runner noticed Jan and held his hands up to show he was unarmed.
“Greetings, Arbiter,” he called. “I come bearing a message from Orsela.”
Jan signaled for the Arbiters on watch to stand down before inviting the runner into camp. She noticed, however, that Talon kept a sharp eye trained on the man’s every move.
“Thank you,” the man said, bowing graciously before Jan. “I’ve been sent by the Board of Thaumaturgists to convey a message of their deepest gratitude. It is not every day that the Grand Arbiter is able to attend the annual masquerade, a festivity usually reserved for the Institute’s most outstanding students and faculty only. As a show of the Board’s appreciation, they have sent an escort to accompany you to Orsela.”
“An escort?” Behind her, Jan heard the clinking of metal as Talon placed a hand over the hilt of a sword.
“Others wait, only a short distance away,” the man confirmed. With a nervous laugh, he added, “I was sent to deliver the message. We did not want to alarm you by approaching with a full company of armored soldiers.”
Jan was glad the escort elected to send this one runner to inform her. If Talon had seen a group of armor-clad figures riding toward their camp, she probably would have launched an attack even if Jan ordered her to stay her hand. Jan wondered what she would have thought if she’d seen armored Kalvat soldiers approaching them. Would she have ordered Talon and the Arbiters to stand down?
“The Board of Thaumaturgists has my thanks,” Jan said, not wanting to envision the chaos that was narrowly averted. “My party will be ready to join the escort tomorrow morning.”
“Shall we trust him?” Talon watched as the runner left, returning in the direction where a company of Kalvat soldiers waited.
“I would be wary if the man was sent by Morgsten,” Jan said. “Since he claimed the Board of Thaumaturgists sent the escort, I think we can trust him.”
“I know one thing.” Talon continued to watch the horizon. “I won’t be sleeping tonight.”
Jan smiled, but her smile faded. It would not be easy to rest knowing that a group of heavily armed people were such a short distance away.
THE ATMOSPHERE IN Orsela was alarmingly welcoming. People lined the streets as Jan and her entourage were escorted by the Kalvat soldiers. To the onlooker, the spectacle would look like a parade. Perhaps that was why so many people were watching the procession. Jan did not know how common it was for Kalvat soldiers to ride through the streets in ceremonial armor in Orsela. It could be that it was a rare occasion to see such a sight, but Jan remained on high alert nonetheless.
Usually foreign visitors were treated coolly in Kalvatin, especially those such as Arbiters, figures that could be seen as rivals to the Board of Thaumaturgists. Jan assumed her invitation from Morgsten was kept secret from the public, but now she was no longer so sure. Apparently everyone in Orsela was informed of her visit. They cheered. The fact that so many knew of their visit did not bode well with Jan. More people aware of her attendance of the masquerade meant that more potential enemies could be lying in wait.
“I didn’t realize I was to be guest of honor at the masquerade,” Jan said over the noise of the crowd.
No one seemed to hear Jan, or at least no one responded to her statement. She noticed Talon roll her eyes her way for only an instant before returning her gaze to scanning the crowds. Obviously the Kalvats were not shocked or offended at having an Astraeyu Nouvin in their city. Jan doubted that Talon’s bronze skin and fiery eyes had gone unnoticed to those gathered to watch their arrival, but so far, there were no jeers at having the exotic swordswoman in their midst. That was another reason that Jan felt all the smiling faces were meant to conceal the Kalvats’ true feelings at having foreign Arbiters in their land.
The Kalvat soldiers came to a stop at the front steps of the Institute of Thaumaturgy, forming two lines, one on each side of Jan and her companions. Another line of servants waited at the bottom step, presumably to take the Arbiters’ horses to the stables. Jan hesitated a moment before dismounting Liam, then reluctantly gave the reins to one of the waiting grooms. As she watched the young man lead Liam away, she felt suddenly more trapped than ever in the foreign city.
When Jan turned her attention to the Institute of Thaumaturgy, she forgot some of her apprehension as she stared up at the impressive building. The Institute had stood for over two-hundred years, serving as Kalvatin’s primary training facility for individuals who showed a gift for the arcane.
“Are we to stay here during our visit?” Rhys sounded appalled at the idea of spending a single night in a building dedicated to the preservation and study of magic.
“It certainly seems that way,” Jan said. In truth, she found the thought more than a little intimidating. In many ways, the Institute of Thaumaturgy served a function more important than a royal palace to the Kalvats. Jan had not expected she would be a guest of the Institute, but since Morgsten sent the invitation, and Morgsten himself was dean of the prestigious Institute, she supposed it made sense that she would be staying there.
Jan gazed in awe at the building. It more closely resembled a castle than a school with its soaring turrets and gargoyles keeping watch from the roof. The Lights of Orsela converged at the Institute, marking the beginning and end of the Path of Lights. The magical fire glowed in ghostly shades of blue, green, purple, and red in the coming dusk. As Jan surveyed the impressive courtyard, she noticed a fig
ure approaching her group. The man was clad in the attire of a servant, but since the horses had already been led away, Jan surmised this man was here to handle the human guests. She was not disappointed. The man was steward of domestic affairs at the Institute and had come to show the Arbiters to their quarters.
“During your stay in Orsela,” the steward said as he led Jan and her companions through halls filled with art and sculptures from all over Lythril, “you will be housed in the guest wing of the Institute. Lord Morgsten wishes for you to have the best accommodations. I hope the rooms are to your liking, your worship.” The steward stopped in front of a door and opened it.
“Y-yes,” Jan stammered, examining the expansive suite through the open door. “This is most satisfactory.” In fact, it was too much. Still unaccustomed to being treated like royalty, Jan felt alienated at being the center of such a fuss. She would have been just as content to stay in a spare room at the Vermillion Temple, the Arbiters’ headquarters in Kalvatin. She kept her thoughts to herself and instead appeared pleased at the suites selected for her and her companions.
When the steward was satisfied that Jan and the Arbiters were settling in comfortably, he excused himself to attend other affairs, leaving Jan with some time to discuss the current situation with her trusted companions.
“I could get used to living like this,” Beatrix said. Her whiskers were held at a contented angle as she lounged in an overstuffed chair.
“Don’t let the luxuries we’ve been provided distract you,” Jan said. “This is no time to let our guard down. The Coruscalli could be anywhere.”
“And everywhere,” Talon added.
THE NEXT EVENING, the night of the masquerade, Morgsten personally greeted Jan outside of the Rotunda Arcana, the central structure at the heart of the Institute. It was their first meeting since Jan’s arrival in Orsela. The official story, related to Jan by the steward, was the reason for Morgsten’s absence was due to his being away on business, but word from Jan’s spies said otherwise. The truth was that Morgsten never left Orsela. He was, in fact, locked away in his private quarters upon her arrival, no doubt watching the scene unfold from afar.
Jan wondered what Morgsten could be planning, what his reasons were for not greeting her before the masquerade. Whatever they were, she was sure it wouldn’t bode well for them. Jan was glad she’d had a private meeting with her companions before departing for the masquerade. She warned each of them to remain vigilant at all times during the conference. For now, it was all Jan could do to plaster a fake smile on her face and greet perhaps the greatest enemy the Order had faced in many centuries.
“Grand Arbiter Sterling,” Morgsten said when he saw her approaching. “It is an honor to finally meet you.”
Jan could tell the smile Morgsten wore was as false as her own. He was definitely not pleased to be meeting the one who thwarted his plans in the Labyrinthine Archipelago. Jan returned the greeting by clasping her right fist over her heart. It gave her some pleasure when she noticed Morgsten flinch at the gesture.
“The honor is all mine, Lord Morgsten,” Jan said. “I hear you have accomplished incredible feats here. I must admit, I am anxious to hear more about this school and its role in preserving the study of the arcane.”
Jan gauged Morgsten’s reaction carefully, searching for any sign that he might know more than he was letting on about the world of magic, about the Coruscalli, but she supposed she shouldn’t have expected him to reveal his true colors so easily. If nothing else, Morgsten was quite skilled at keeping all emotion from his face. Still beaming, he offered his arm for Jan.
“I look forward to telling you all about it,” he said, “but perhaps it would be best to see for yourself. Please, Grand Arbiter, let us go inside.”
Jan hesitated a second before accepting Morgsten’s proffered arm. She was Morgsten’s guest at the masquerade. It would be expected of her to accompany him throughout the evening, but that did not make it any more appealing. Morgsten was a serpent. As Jan hid her contempt for him the best she could, she allowed him to lead her into the Rotunda Arcana.
Inside, the masquerade had already commenced. People in every type of costume imaginable filled the large domed building, from the more common, like animals and famous figures from Lythril history to the extraordinary. A trio of women clad in fiery garments caught Jan’s eye. The Coruscalli? It was unlikely the cultists would make themselves so noticeable, but there were similarities in the women’s costumes and the attire of the Coruscalli.
Morgsten inquired about the nature of the women’s costumes. Jan was somewhat relieved when the women explained that they were the representation of fire. The first woman was the spark, the second the mature flame, and the third was the dying ember. The Kalvats’ fascination with fire was unsettling. Throughout the Rotunda Arcana, Jan noticed several fiery themed decorations.
She glanced at Morgsten suspiciously. Was the masquerade’s theme his idea? Was it a secret allusion to the Firebringer? If so, Talon might be right and everyone at the masquerade could be Coruscalli.
“The decorations are lovely,” Jan said, stepping back to take in all that surrounded her. “So much red and orange, it looks almost as though the Institute is on fire.”
“How perceptive you are,” Morgsten said. “The theme of this year’s masquerade is Trial by Fire. It is a subject which many of the students can tell you about.”
Jan’s heart nearly stopped. Was Morgsten trying to tell her that all of his students were Coruscalli? Was the seemingly casual conversation actually filled with concealed threats?
“Do not look so grim, Arbiter Sterling.” Morgsten laughed, a sound that made Jan’s skin crawl. “I was merely referring to the many ordeals my students overcome before they become accomplished thaumaturgists. The ones wanting to achieve mastery of arcane fire oftentimes are burned.”
“Ah, an appropriate theme for the masquerade, then,” Jan said, regaining her composure quickly before Morgsten realized she had stumbled at his thinly veiled taunts.
“I hear the Rotunda Arcana has played host to a multitude of mysterious rituals,” Jan said, changing the subject while she had momentum. “Including many trials that even hold the power to determine which promising students will one day serve on the Board of Thaumaturgists.”
“You are correct, Grand Arbiter. Some of the rituals performed here are among the most carefully guarded secrets in Kalvatin. In fact, you are one of the first foreign visitors to be invited to the masquerade in many long years. You should feel honored at the privilege.” Morgsten smiled broadly, narrowing his eyes at Jan as he did so.
Jan knew Morgsten’s statement was meant to be anything but friendly. It was taxing on her to play this game of secrets and deception, where something as simple as a smile could be a signal to an unseen party to attack. Jan felt suddenly very overwhelmed and out of her elements, so she decided to turn her attention to the masquerade.
One thing Jan was truthful about in her conversation with Morgsten was her fascination with the Rotunda Arcana and its role in Kalvatin history and government. Jan thought it appropriate to hold a masquerade in such a place. The Rotunda Arcana was a place of mystery and secrets. The people gathered under its dome were paying a tribute, in a sense, donning disguises and adding an air of mystery to their lives. It was exciting to be a part of such an event, but Jan couldn’t allow herself to forget the true reason why she was there. Morgsten was orchestrating a far more deadly plot in the background, one that involved the lives of millions of unsuspecting people across Lythril. Jan needed to find a way to bring Morgsten’s treachery to light. The masquerade was the perfect place to do so.
While Jan was not specifically forbidden from bringing along her own guests to the masquerade, she was not foolish enough, or confident enough, to exclude her companions from the evening entirely. Her people were due to arrive a little later and mingle in the crowds, hidden in plain sight. Being a masquerade, it would be easy for them
to navigate among Kalvat high society, incognito, and report any information they gleaned when they met with Jan later.
Morgsten was no fool, however. Jan did not expect him to be. He would not have been able to assume leadership of the Coruscalli if he did not cover his tracks efficiently and plan for every contingency. Doubtlessly, he expected Jan would attempt to have her people infiltrate the masquerade and question the guests about any unusual activity that might link him to the Coruscalli. As a countermeasure, Morgsten would likely have Coruscalli agents placed among the students and faculty, spreading false information to lead the Arbiters away from him.
The idea of the Coruscalli, there along with so many innocents, made Jan shudder. If the situation got out of hand, many Kalvat officials and dignitaries could be caught in the crossfire, and the Arbiters would no doubt receive the blame. Morgsten would personally see to that. Jan hoped her people would have the sense not to do anything that would ignite Kalvat tempers, especially if there were Coruscalli hiding among the crowds.
The thought brought Talon to mind. Jan knew without a doubt she would be at the masquerade. There was no way of keeping her out short of locking her in a prison cell, and Jan refused to imprison Talon for merely wishing to fulfill her role as an Astraeyu’s Talon. It would be the same as throwing Jan in the dungeon because she was an Arbiter. Like Rhys and the others, Talon would attend the masquerade in disguise, but Jan worried that no costume would completely conceal Talon’s eyes and accent. There were no other Astraeyu Nouvins at the masquerade, and probably no more in Kalvatin. If the Coruscalli was there and wished to single out one among Jan’s entourage who might be goaded by their thinly veiled threats and taunts, Talon would surely be the target. As much as Jan wanted to believe that Talon would be able to ignore anything the Coruscalli might say against her, she knew how much Talon despised the Coruscalli.
Talon exhibited a quick temper, especially in matters regarding the Coruscalli. There was little else for Jan to do but hope that Talon would not be so easily tricked into starting a fight at the masquerade. If Talon did allow her temper to get the better of her, the Arbiters could suffer for her actions.
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