Indree looked up, then, at the clear blue afternoon sky. “Thank you, Allaea. You won’t be forgotten.” And then she stepped away from the podium, and returned to her seat beside Allaea’s parents and the University deans. The Hesliars stood to embrace her.
Lady Abena rose next, and stepped up to speak. “Thank you for the beautiful words, Constable Inspector Lovial. Miss Hesliar was truly one of the University’s best. And in honor of her great contribution to the project, I am proud to announce that a name has been chosen for our first airship: the Hesliar.”
Cheers from the crowd, and applause like thunder. Allaea had been well known on campus, and well liked, despite her sharp tongue. Tane stood with a hundred others to clap for the friend he’d lost, and Kadka did the same beside him.
Lady Abena held up a hand as the applause died. “Now, there is one more announcement to make. As some of you know, with the airship project completed, Chancellor Nieris has decided to take his retirement after more than a century of service.”
A few sounds of surprise, there.
“Should say he is drooling in his bed,” Kadka grumbled. “Is criminal and murderer. Should tell truth.”
“You know they can’t, Kadka,” Tane said quietly. “I don’t love it, but if the full extent of what happened got out, the Continent would never trust our airships, and the treaty would fall apart. Lady Abena was lucky she was able to pass off last night as a final test flight.” The full blame for Allaea’s murder had been laid on Randolf Cranst. Who had been the one to actually kill her, but still, it felt like a lie. It wasn’t as if Nieris had gotten off easily, though—everything the man was had been stripped away, including the magic he’d been so proud of. He’d spend the rest of his life an Astra-riven invalid, being cared for by his family at some estate in the countryside. House Nieris had been as eager as anyone to keep his crimes quiet.
“As Protector of the Realm,” Lady Abena continued, “it falls to me to select a worthy individual to fill the rather large shoes Talain Nieris leaves behind. As such, it is my pleasure to present to you your new chancellor: Liana Greymond.”
That wasn’t entirely a surprise. There hadn’t been a non-elven chancellor for a very long time, but there were no elven deans to raise up, and Dean Greymond was a well-respected mage. Tane applauded again as Greymond took the podium from the Lady Protector.
“Thank you, everyone,” Greymond said. “I will strive to live up to the legacy of my predecessors. And as my first act, Lady Abena has graciously given me permission to announce a new program, in honor of the many non-magical laborers and mechanical engineers who worked on the airship project.”
Tane couldn’t help but rise a little bit in his seat. She can’t mean…
“Beginning with the next term, we will be opening the University’s schools of magic to the non-magical. All who pass the entrance exams will be welcome. The Protectorate’s great strength is our magic, and the Lady Protector and I agree that all of our citizens deserve the opportunity to understand and work with it, whether they are born with magecraft or not.”
As the crowd gasped and shouted and cheered, Tane’s hand found his father’s watch case. He held it tight as tears rolled down his cheeks. After all this time, all the years he’d worked for this, he couldn’t believe it.
Kadka was looking at him. He swallowed, embarrassed, and moved to wipe his cheeks. But she only put a hand on his shoulder.
“No shame, Carver. Is dream long time coming. Enjoy it.”
So he did, until the noise of the crowd began to fade. It was only then that he found himself wondering, What am I supposed to do with myself now?
Greymond dismissed the crowd, and the seats emptied quickly as people stood and filed down the aisles. But Tane didn’t move, just sat where he was for a long time, gathering himself.
Kadka waited patiently beside him until she couldn’t anymore, and then she nudged him and pointed to the dais. “Come, or we miss them. You can talk to Indree.” She waggled her eyebrows suggestively, and then started across the grass, not waiting to see if he was behind her.
Indree was still with Allaea’s parents, exchanging goodbyes, but Lady Abena and Dean Greymond—Chancellor Greymond, Tane reminded himself—were already climbing down the steps. Tane followed Kadka over to catch them before they left.
“Mister Carver, Miss Kadka,” Lady Abena greeted them. “I’m pleased you accepted the invitation. After hearing the story you told the constables, I may never be able to repay you. I wish that we could have given you the recognition you deserve. If there was any way to do it without revealing how close the airship came to disaster…” She looked to Tane. “But Liana suggested that you might appreciate the validation of your thesis as some degree of compensation.”
“It’s more than enough,” said Tane, and looked to Greymond. “Thank you.”
“You earned it,” Greymond said. “I wouldn’t have thought even a trained mage could best Nieris, but you stopped him without any magic of your own. I was wrong about you, Tane, and you’ve more than proved it. If you’d like, we’ll need lecturers who understand the viewpoint of our non-magical students. There could be a position for you here.”
It was more than he’d ever expected. He didn’t have an answer ready; the words came out in an embarrassing stammer. “I… I’m not sure I’d know how to…”
“You don’t have to decide now,” said Greymond. “Just think about it.” And then, to Kadka, “And Miss Kadka, needless to say, there is a position in the University Guard for you if you want it. We owe you just as much as Mister Carver.”
“I will think too,” Kadka said. “Is good that you offer. Maybe you are better to work for than Nieris.”
Greymond arched an eyebrow, and smiled slightly. “I hope I am, Miss Kadka. I truly do.”
“Now,” said Lady Abena,” we must be going. There is a great deal of work to do getting the University and my airships back in working order. Come, Liana.”
“What about—” Kadka began.
Greymond, predictably, was already answering. “Ah, yes. I nearly forgot. I’ve arranged for the bursar to release your pay. You can see him on your way off campus.” With that, she and Lady Abena departed toward Thelan’s Hall, surrounded by an escort of a half-dozen Mageblades.
Indree approached then, holding her cap under her arm. “Tane. Kadka. I’m glad you came.” Her eyes were tired and sad, rimmed with red, but she offered them a shallow smile.
“Is good speech you give,” said Kadka.
“It was.” The corner of Tane’s mouth quirked upward. “Allaea would have hated it.”
Indree laughed, and it brought a hint of brightness to her eyes. “She would have, wouldn’t she? But I think she would want me to thank you. Both of you. Without your help, her killers would never have been brought to justice.”
“There might still be others, if what Nieris said about the Knights of the Emperor was more than just an empty threat,” said Tane. “Have you found anything on them?”
“Not yet. I think that might be a more long-term investigation. But we have Cranst’s badge, and we’ll be going through Nieris’ home and office over the next few days. Speaking of which, Tane… if we do find something, I might be able to offer you some consulting work. We don’t know how many of these people there are, or how high they go. If they exist, we’re going to need help finding them. And you’ve proven to be good at that.”
“I’ll help however I can.”
“Good,” said Indree. She paused for a long moment, as if unsure what else to say. “Well. I should get back to the Yard. There’s work to be done, like I said.”
“Right,” said Tane. Another pause, broken by Kadka faking the most unsubtle cough he’d ever heard and prodding him sharply in the ribs. Spellfire, she’s going to make me do it. “Er, Indree… maybe you’d like to get dinner, some time? And talk about… things?”
“I think I might like that,” Indree said, with a slow smile. “I’ll let you know.�
� She turned to go, and then looked back at him over her shoulder. “And Tane? You can call me Ree.”
_____
An unmarked envelope was waiting in Tane’s letterbox when he and Kadka arrived back at his office. He sat behind his desk to examine it, and Kadka took the seat on the other side, putting up her legs.
“What is it?” she asked.
Tane broke the seal and pulled out a small sheet of folded paper. At the top, it was marked with the image of a green masquerade mask. “I think it’s from Bastian.” He read it aloud. “My friends. On behalf of all the Audish patriots who will never know the great service you have done our nation, let me thank you. Consider yourselves welcome guests in my establishment, and know that you will always merit a generous discount. Signed, an ardent admirer.” He smiled as he read the next bit. “Postscript: My dear Kadka, the offer always stands. If you are ever in need of work, please present yourself to our mutual friend the fishmonger.”
Kadka laughed. “Is him. No question.”
“So,” said Tane, “are you going to take him up on it? For a criminal, he seems like a good sort. And it might be exciting. I know you like that. Or are you going back to the University Guard?” Part of him dreaded her answer. Now that it was all over, he knew she’d have to find some sort of reliable work, but discussing it aloud felt more final than he liked.
“Don’t know yet,” Kadka said. She hesitated, and then, “You have choice too. Teach at University, work with bluecaps. What will you do?
“I suppose I’ll lecture,” he said, without much enthusiasm. “The pay is going to be better than anything I’ve made working on my own.” It was strange—he’d spent ten years of his life worrying about proving his worth to the University, and now that he’d done it, the prospect of returning was less exciting than he’d imagined. Indree had already forged her own path, and Allaea was gone. After all this time, it didn’t feel like there was anything left for him there. “Or… maybe the bluecaps would be better. Maybe both, if the timing works. It’s… more options than I’ve had for a long time.”
Kadka nodded, and after a moment, she said, “Feels strange, not to work together. Is not many days since we meet, but… seems longer.”
“I know,” said Tane. “But this case was an anomaly. I’ve been calling myself a ‘consultant’ for years now, and even split between us I made more coin today than I have over the last two months. There isn’t enough work for—”
A knock at the door interrupted him. He shared a glance with Kadka—he wasn’t expecting anyone, but if Nieris could be believed, there might be other Knights of the Emperor, and they might know who he was. They both stood; her hand went to her hip, where he knew she had a knife hidden.
Tane made sure the door-chain was fastened tight, and Kadka put her back to the wall, knife in hand. Another shared glance, and at her nod, he opened the door a crack to peek through.
There was no one in sight.
“Hello,” a voice said at waist-height. He looked down to see a matronly gnomish woman with dark hair standing just outside the threshold. “My name is Telna Dookle. Are you the ones they’re calling the Magebreakers?”
Tane blinked. “I don’t… what? What in the Astra is a Magebreaker?”
“The ones who stopped Chancellor Nieris,” she said, looking up at him hopefully.
“I think you’re mistaken,” said Tane. “The chancellor retired—”
“I know, I know.” She wrung her hands, a worried frown on her face. “But I’ve heard another story too. There are rumors, people who saw things last night, and I hoped… They say you can help people without magic deal with magical problems?”
Tane closed the door just enough to slip the chain free, and then swung it fully open. If he was any judge of liars, this woman wasn’t one. He beckoned to Kadka, and she moved into sight beside him. “I’m Tane Carver, and this is Kadka. Exactly what kind of help are you looking for?”
“It’s my husband,” she answered. “About a week ago, he met an unlicensed mage at a tavern who offered to hire him for some sort of job. I didn’t like the sound of it, but my husband—Tonke is his name—has always been stubborn. He wanted to give our family the things we couldn’t afford, artifacts to make our lives easier. He engineers tunnels for the mines south of the city, and this man wanted his skills for… I don’t know what. They were supposed to meet two days ago, and he hasn’t come back!” She wrung her hands again, tears building in her eyes. “I can’t go asking after a dangerous mage by myself, but if I tell the constables, they’ll ask what my husband is involved in. I’m sure it’s nothing legal. If they lock him up at Stooketon Yard… we have children, Mister Carver. They need their father. Can you help me?”
Tane looked down at Telna Dookle for a moment, and then his eyes met Kadka’s over the little woman’s head.
A sharp-toothed grin stretched across Kadka’s face. “Seems like job for Magebreakers.”
“I suppose it does,” said Tane, and found himself smiling back. “Although I can’t say I love that name.”
Mrs. Dookle’s eyes widened. “Does that mean you’ll help me?”
Tane stepped aside, and ushered her toward his desk. “Mrs. Dookle, you came to the right place.”
Thank you for reading The Flaw in All Magic. I hope you enjoyed it! If you did, and you want learn more about my novels, have a look at my website at bensdobson.com, or join my Facebook page. If you just want to know when the next Magebreakers book is released, you can sign up for my mailing list here. And please, consider leaving a review of this book on Amazon. It’s a great way to help me build an audience so I can keep writing!
Finally, if you’re interested in more of my work, flip to the end of the book for a free sample of my already released stand-alone novel, Scriber. Enjoy!
About the Author
_____
Ben S. Dobson is a Canadian fantasy author. When he isn’t writing to indulge his lifelong passion for epic tales, he can probably be found playing Dungeons and Dragons, or watching a Joss Whedon show, or something equally geeky.
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If you enjoyed The Flaw in All Magic, you might enjoy my standalone fantasy novel, Scriber, available here on Amazon. It chronicles the journey of grumpy historian Dennon Lark and stalwart warrior Bryndine Errynson in their quest to save the Kingsland. Turn the page for a free sample!
The sound was deafening. It exploded through the town, a crash of thunder that sounded so close it might have come from inside my own home. Leaving the drawers of my desk wide open and dropping an armful of writing supplies that I had been about to stow in my bag, I rushed to the door.
My hand froze on the handle. I could hear shouts and screams outside, and the panicked whinnying of horses; my fingers trembled on the cold brass, refusing to do as they were told. I was suddenly aware of a thick lump of fear in my belly; it had been growing there for some time, I think, but I had been ignoring it, telling myself that we would be gone before an attack ever came.
I waited there with my hand on the door, listening, and after a short time, the cries outside died down. I heard muffled commands being given, but nothing like what I imagined a battle would sound like. I took a deep breath to steady myself and opened the door.
In the darkness outside, it was impossible not to notice the fire before anything else. The town was bathed in angry light and smoke billowed thick and grey around the roof of the Prince’s Rest. The flames were spreading rapidly; a slight breeze had sprung up, and as I watched, the fire rode it across the roof of the Rest and leapt to the cottage that sat beside the inn. The horses still tied at
the inn were thrashing about in panic as Bryndine’s women tried to free them and lead them away, though it looked like most had already been rescued.
Bryndine and her soldiers were trying to maintain order: a number of them had formed a line from the well to the inn and were passing buckets of water along it to try to quench the flames; others sought to keep the terrified villagers inside their homes, packing to leave. There were more of them in the village than before—some of those who had been put on guard must have returned to help fight the fire.
“Leave the tavern,” I heard Bryndine call, and I saw her huge form, outlined in smoke, amidst the line of soldiers at the well. As always, Sylla was at her side. “It’s already lost. Form lines to those buildings, there and there.” She pointed at the homes to either side of the tavern. “Douse the roofs, keep them wet. We need to stop it from spreading.” They immediately set to work, following her commands with trained efficiency. Whatever I thought of the woman, she clearly had a firm command of her company.
Iayn Gerynson rushed by my door, and I grabbed his huge, hairy arm to stop him.
“What happened?” I demanded, fear causing my voice to reach an embarrassingly high pitch.
“Lightning, Scriber. Bolt of lightning, right out of the sky. My ears are still ringin’.”
“That’s impossible.” I turned my eyes upwards; the sky was completely clear, not a cloud in sight. “Lightning doesn’t strike out of a cloudless sky.”
“It’s that damn woman, they said she was cursed!” Gerynson freed his arm from my grip easily and moved away, heading in the direction of his home. I knew he had spoken out of superstition and ignorance, but the terrible dread in my gut only intensified.
I stood just outside my house, watching as the Prince’s Rest burned to the ground. Josia’s small form was visible, rushing back and forth between the well and her home, desperately trying to save the inn even though the soldiers had given it up. I could hear her sobs from where I stood. I felt a twinge of pity for her—Josia’s relentless cheerfulness had always bothered me, but of all the people in Waymark, she was probably the only one I didn’t truly dislike. She didn’t deserve this. I took a step towards her, though I don’t know what I intended to do; as Bryndine had declared, the Rest was clearly a lost cause.
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