by Anna Kashina
Kara swallowed. Unbidden, the memory of the Kaddim attack stirred up again, now even more real than before. No – not the attack. The touch. Fingers brushing against her skin. The brief, caress-like movement felt pleasant at first, then so horrifying that it nearly disabled her. How could she have forgotten it so completely?
Kara’s shoulders shook. She looked at Mai, still standing between her and the door.
“Let me go,” she pleaded.
His eyes narrowed. “Not without knowing exactly what’s happening to you.”
“But…” She paused, her eyes drawn to the spiders again. They were rising on Adler’s shoulder, their front legs waving threateningly in the air.
Mai slid an arm around her waist, both gentle and firm, his flexing muscle showing her that it would be nearly impossible for her to break free. Despite everything, his closeness did feel soothing once she lent herself to it. She did her best to relax into his hold. Hell, only a short time ago she couldn’t think of anything she wanted more than having his arms around her. Why was she suddenly so keen on getting away?
She tried to tell herself that her sudden urge to leave the room had nothing to do with the anxiety caused by the strange pulling sensation building inside her. Her reasons were entirely rational, she told herself firmly. If she could somehow give out Kaddim magic, she shouldn’t be anywhere near the council chamber where the King and his allies were discussing ways to dispose of the Kaddim Brotherhood once and for all. It made sense. And yet, she couldn’t escape the feeling that the pull that urged her to try to leave the room was much stronger than rational thought.
She took a deep breath, forcing the feeling away as she relaxed into Mai’s embrace. He never held her this way at a formal gathering, not with the ongoing Guild’s inquiry into her lineage that would determine the possibility of their marriage. If anyone still had any doubt about their relationship, they wouldn’t from now on – and that made his intentions toward her official, irrevocable, barring some unforeseen problems on the side of the Guild. Why couldn’t she just focus on that? She did, and the pull weakened. Sounds slowly returned, making her aware of the conversation going on around her.
“I think I read something like this in the old chronicles,” Lady Celana said in her clear voice. “The Kaddim Brothers – or some of them at least – could place a mark on their victim, somewhat like the magic used for their brand mark. One text said it could bend a person to the Kaddim’s will, even though the wording was not very specific. I assume, if such a thing is truly possible, the affected person would likely emanate Kaddim-like power.” She glanced at Kara.
Magister Egey Bashi nodded thoughtfully. “You may be more right than you know, my lady. The Kaddim leaders are capable of what’s known as a mind link – a very difficult form of magic to master.” He turned to Kara. “Try to remember. During your last fight, did any of them touch you?”
“Other than when trying to kill her, you mean?” Mai asked.
The Keeper frowned. “I believe the touch I am speaking about should be memorable in a different way. Wasn’t it?”
Memorable in a different way. Images flowed through her mind, their intensity making her gasp. The Kaddim Brothers, surrounding her in a tight ring as they tried to pull her into their vortex. Sabers, dancing around her in terrifying unity, preventing her escape. Mai, breaking through their line and pulling her out at the very last moment. Fingers brushing over her arm… The touch. “I… I believe so, yes.”
The Keeper’s lips briefly pressed into a stern line. “I feared this.”
Kara glanced around, feeling like a trapped animal at the end of a hunt. It was all her fault. The Kaddim had been aware that both men leading the attack, Kyth and Mai, were in love with her. Targeting her made perfect sense.
“The Kaddim’s mind control doesn’t work on me, Magister,” she said. “Remember?”
“True,” Egey Bashi said. “But the mind link is different. Even with your ability to resist their regular power, it would be impossible to block off the link. It’s at a much higher level of magic. To my knowledge, even among the Kaddim leaders only a few would be able to make full use of it. Unfortunately, there is at least one whose power is definitely strong enough. Kaddim Nimos.”
Nimos. Kara swallowed. Nimos’s scheming had nearly cost her and Mai their lives. She hoped they were rid of him, at least for a while. But if he was the one behind the link…
“What can this mind link do, exactly?” she asked.
Egey Bashi sighed. “What Lady Celana just mentioned is correct. Their goal is to gain control over you.”
“Control?”
“Yes. To take over your will, so that they can use your knowledge, and your abilities, to their end.”
“My abilities?” Dear Shal Addim. My fighting skill. They can’t touch that, can they?
“I’m afraid so.”
“How?”
The Keeper threw an uneasy glance at Mai. “The man who placed the link will work to develop it over time, to achieve a… a closeness with you. It’s much like an emotional attachment between two people,” he looked at Mai again, “but all induced entirely by magic.”
Kara’s lips twitched. The explanation seemed ridiculous. “They hope to make me feel emotionally attached to one of them?”
Egey Bashi shrugged. “Given your resistance to the Kaddim’s magic in the first place, I am not certain what will happen in your case. But yes, if they get their chance to explore the link to the full, this would likely happen, at least in some form.”
“Can this link be removed?” Mai asked.
“To the best of my knowledge, Aghat Mai, only death can sever this link.”
“Death.” For a brief moment Mai’s face contorted into a frightening mask.
“Yes.”
“Then,” Mai said, “I see no choice but to speed up our plans. We must find the Kaddim’s hidden fortress and destroy the man who did this – along with the rest of them – once and for all.”
He spoke calmly, as if discussing a regular matter. It took close knowledge to detect the edge behind the calmness, the one that made Mai such a dangerous man to cross. Emotionally attached. She felt nauseated at the thought.
“I must assume,” she said, “that if they indeed have this kind of a power over me, the last thing you want is to keep me around the council chamber where you’ve all gathered to discuss battle plans.”
Egey Bashi shook his head. “It doesn’t happen this fast, Aghat Kara. For all we know, there may be a way to counter this magic, so that none of it will ever happen at all.”
“Not good enough, I’m afraid.” She glanced at Mai. His glassy expression made her want to cry. Emotionally attached. Not bloody possible. “I should leave. I can’t be allowed to hear the rest. The planning of this campaign is too important to take any risks.”
Mai slowly released his hold. As he stepped away, she shivered at the emptiness left behind, his absence making her feel unprotected, vulnerable. She turned away for fear that he might catch her expression.
“I don’t think you should be alone right now,” Mai said.
She hesitated. She wanted to be alone, but given that no one knew for sure what was happening with her, it might indeed be a bad idea. “You’re right.”
Mai turned to his suite. “Aghat Raishan, go with Kara and stay by her side until I replace you.”
Raishan saluted with a fist to his chest. His slanted gray eyes slid over to Kara, his lips creasing with a brief smile of encouragement. She smiled back, his air of calm efficiency making her feel instantly at ease.
Mai stepped to the door and pushed it open. An Emerald guard appeared in front of the open doorway.
“Jahib Lenart,” Mai said. “You will accompany Aghat Raishan and Kara. Bring two of your men. Follow Aghat Raishan’s orders at all times. If anything unusual happens, send a man to report to me at once.”
Kara darted toward the exit, feeling everyone’s eyes on her, relieved to hear the thu
d of the closed door behind her. Her decision to leave the council as soon as possible was probably for the best. Yet it felt strange to see Mai place her under guard, as if no longer sure whether she was a friend or an enemy. This unwelcome thought brought a pang of pain, immediately followed by anger. Surely thinking like this played right into the Kaddim’s hands. In fact, they could well have planted the distrust into her head.
Only death could sever the link. If Mai’s plan to seek out the Kaddim’s secret stronghold and destroy the Brotherhood could not be realized in time, would she have to be the one to die to free everyone from the Kaddim? Was this the only way to ensure she didn’t become an enemy? She forced down the thought as she strode down the hallway, holding her head high.
4
The Council
Kyth settled into his chair at the council table, fighting a sinking feeling in his heart. Kara’s face when he told her about the Kaddim’s magic continued to haunt him. He had never seen her look so defeated.
Knowing that he had lost her to Mai had been shattering, but he couldn’t help also feeling rewarded at how happy she seemed these days. And now, thinking of her falling victim to the Kaddim’s magic made Kyth boil with barely contained fury. He could see a similar fury reflected in Mai’s face as the Majat lowered himself back into his seat across the table. In a strange way, this feeling bonded Kyth to this man, his successful rival, whose boyish looks and dazzling, iconic beauty were so deceiving. At heart, Mai was a ruthless killer who would not stop at anything to get his way – and Kyth seemed to be the only one to see him at face value.
“What else do you all know about the Kaddim mind link?” King Evan asked.
Egey Bashi briefly glanced at Mai. “While I would prefer to do some more reading on the subject first, Your Majesty, I do know that the consequences of such a link could be drastic. We have every reason to be alarmed.”
Kyth bit his lip. He knew the Magister’s tendency for understatements. He thought back to the way he had reacted to Kara back on the balcony, the warmth and excitement he always felt in her presence tainted with the bitter taste of the Kaddim magic. The memory of her trapped, helpless look wrenched his gut.
“According to my information,” Magister Egey Bashi went on, “among the consequences of the link, control is by far not the worst that can happen in Kara’s case.”
Mai glanced up sharply. “Not the worst?”
“Do you remember the time the Kaddim tried to capture you and Prince Kythar, Aghat Mai?”
Mai briefly glanced in Kyth’s direction. Kyth shivered, remembering. Back then, he and Mai had barely escaped with their lives. Mai would have died from his wounds, if Egey Bashi had not conjured some of the darkest Keepers’ remedies to bring him back. It still seemed like a miracle that they both survived.
“From what I know,” Egey Bashi went on, “the Kaddim’s reason for capturing both of you that time was to try and take over your gifts: Prince Kythar’s command of the elements, and Aghat Mai’s Diamond-level fighting skill.”
Mai’s gaze wavered.
“The mark the Kaddim placed on Kara,” Egey Bashi said, “could, among other things, serve the same purpose. To capture her skill, which equals that of Aghat Mai. The process is slower over a distance, but no less certain, if the mark is placed correctly.”
“Capture her skill? What does this mean?” the King asked.
“I’m speaking of the worst possibility, Your Majesty, but if I’m right, this means that when our forces march against the Kaddim, we may potentially be facing an army of warriors, each of them fighting with the skill of a Diamond Majat.”
Silence greeted his words as everyone at the table exchanged stunned glances. Kyth’s heart quivered. Up until now they had been successfully defeating the Kaddim by using the Majat fighting force protected by Kyth’s magic. Mai put a lot of effort into training Kyth to defend larger groups of warriors. Kyth had come to believe their main challenge lay in his ability to keep up. But if all the enemy’s warriors – or even a few of them – could fight like Diamonds, all would be surely lost. Mai’s reinforcements brought their total number of Diamond-skilled warriors up to eight, which included the retired Seldon – no longer in top shape – and Kara, whose gift could potentially be in jeopardy. Added to the Rubies, Emeralds, and Jades, it seemed like overkill only this morning. Was the Kaddim link going to upset this balance and all their plans?
“An army like that could destroy the world,” the King said. “It would be useless for us to even try to stand up to them.”
Egey Bashi nodded. “Unfortunately, yes. However, even if they can truly capture Kara’s skill, they’d need to amplify it too, and then transfer it to their warriors one by one. It would take considerable time.”
“How long?” Mai asked.
Egey Bashi shook his head. “I can’t tell for sure, not without doing much more research. But if I were to guess – months, perhaps?”
What will happen to Kara in the meantime?”
“Like I said, Aghat Mai, I need time to give you full answers. I am fairly certain, however, that using her skill would make her more vulnerable to these attempts. She must refrain from any fighting, even in practice.”
Mai exchanged quick glances with the other Diamonds. Kyth could guess the thoughts behind their grim expressions. For someone of their skill, fighting was as natural as breathing. Like the rest of them, Kara spent hours on the practice range. If she was deprived of this, on top of everything else…
Egey Bashi sighed. “I know it won’t be easy. And even if she manages to be completely idle all the time, they will still be pulling at her, slowly. Speaking in military terms, it works much like a siege.”
“Then,” Mai said, “we must not lose any time. Now that the Majat reinforcements have arrived, we must move out right away.”
The Keeper shook his head. “We don’t even know the exact location of the Kaddim stronghold. All we know is that it’s somewhere in the mountains on the northern border of the kingdom of Shayil Yara.”
Mai shrugged. “Close enough. Once we get there, I’m sure we’d have no trouble finding some locals who–”
“It’s a desert out there, Aghat. The only locals in those parts are the Cha’idi – the Desert Wanderers. They are nomadic people, very militant. They don’t take kindly to strangers.”
“It’s all right,” Mai said. “The Majat don’t take kindly to strangers either. I’d say, with the right leverage we should get along splendidly with the Cha’idi people.”
Kyth shifted in his seat, noting Father Bartholomeos’s hunted look. The Majat’s version of “getting along splendidly” usually meant having their way without razing the place to the ground, just like they did recently at the Holy Monastery to rid it of the Kaddim. The priests had been compliant, even if scared out of their wits, but somehow he doubted that the Majat would be able to pull off the same trick with militant desert tribes.
“I’m afraid it’s not that simple, Aghat Mai,” the King said. “The Desert Wanderers have a seat on the royal council of Shayil Yara. The kind of diplomacy you are suggesting could easily be considered an act of war. Even with your formidable military force, you wouldn’t want that, I’m sure.”
“Fine, then. We can do it the nice way and ask for Queen Rajmella’s support.”
“If she provides it.”
“Queen Rajmella is a vassal of Tallan Dar,” Father Bartholomeos protested. “Surely Your Majesty’s request would be enough?”
The King shook his head. “I did not negotiate the original agreement with Shayil Yara after the Holy Wars, but I couldn’t help noticing how unfavorable it may seem to the Queen. Not only does it make Shayil Yara formally inferior to a male-dominated kingdom, but it also includes keeping the Queen’s firstborn daughter, the heiress to the Southern Throne, hostage at our court.”
Kyth bit his lip. Princess Aljbeda, the five year-old daughter of the Shayil Yaran Queen, was being raised in Tandar as the King’s ward, to ensure Q
ueen Rajmella’s full cooperation in all affairs. He could see how this alone would make the Queen feel less than helpful, especially when it came to such subtleties as the allegiance of unruly desert tribes.
Mai tossed his head impatiently. “None of this would apply if I talk to her myself. The Majat Guild has no allegiance with anyone, and we are not keeping hostages from any kingdom. She shouldn’t have any issues with me, should she?”
Egey Bashi glanced at him sideways. “She may have an issue of a different kind in your case, Aghat Mai. You are a man – and an attractive one, if you forgive me saying this.”
Mai let out a short laugh. “You can’t be serious, Magister.”
“Unfortunately, I am.”
“I assume men – even attractive ones – are still allowed at Shayil Yaran court, are they?”
“Oh, yes.” Egey Bashi measured Mai with a meaningful glance. “I’m certain you and your men would receive a warm welcome. But would the Queen take your request seriously enough to negotiate with you?”
“I guess she’ll just have to make a bloody exception this time.”
“It’s a gut reaction on their part, Aghat Mai. Please forgive me for saying that your looks, and those of many of your men, won’t make it any easier to reach neutral ground.”
Mai laughed. “Are you suggesting we all wear masks – or better yet, find someone old and infirm to lead the negotiations, Magister?”
“I have a suggestion, my lords,” Lady Celana suddenly said.
All heads turned her way. Kyth’s skin prickled. Her expression was calm, but he knew her well enough to see the special gleam in her eyes. He was willing to bet that she likely harbored a very devious thought. Despite her youth, Lady Celana was one of the smartest people he knew. And now, he found himself eagerly waiting for what she had to say.
“I’ve studied Shayil Yaran customs in some detail,” the royal lady said. “I was curious about the fact that they, a female-dominated land, always send men to Tallan Dar as their ambassadors.”