Channeling my sister’s more childish behavior for a moment, I stuck my tongue out and retorted, “I’m always working.”
Silver laughed. He put the brush down on the desk. Finally he was done and I could get out of this mess.
I started to get up and strong hands pulled me back into the chair. Silver said, “I’m not done yet. I’m sure you you feel fine, but it’ll come back in the middle of the night.” He started rubbing my head. “Tell me if something hurts. My mentor got so mad about me doing this for Maria, but I was the only person she trusted to not make it worse.”
“Why do you refer to your mentor and his father that way, but call Maria by name?” I did not mean to pry, but it slipped out as his fingers began loosening tension I did not know was there.
His fingers moved down to my neck and shoulders, and I really did not care anymore. The release set my mind at ease for the first time in a long time. I did not even care about being touched at this point.
He answered my question anyway, “Maria was one of the few people I could truly call a friend. My mentor only did as his father bid him, and it would be improper to refer to my mentor’s father as master since he is deceased. May I ask what made you upset this afternoon?”
I tensed up the moment the question was dropped. Sitting up, I tried to get my mind to figure out if I wanted to tell him or not. “Well, I, uh…”
Pulling me back to relax in the chair again, Silver hushed, “No need to answer if it would further upset you.” He ran his fingers through my hair before repeating the process of alleviating the tension.
It was not fair to him, given how much he shared, but speaking of things that were still raw to me was something I did not think I was ready for. “It would be a long story that is too soon for me to tell.”
Silver said, “Fair enough.”
Chapter 16
When I woke the next morning, I was not sure how I ended up in bed. Artemis laid curled up next to me, snoring softly.
What time was it? It was still dark. Being winter, it was dark a lot - especially as it approached the Winter Solstice. The holiday was a couple of weeks out still, and I wondered if I would be done in time to go home. Rarely had I such a longing to be among family.
Granted, I was not looking forward to my sister dragging me around trying to shop for dresses. She had been threatening me since last year when she got fed up seeing me uncomfortable in my formal mage robes.
I slid out of bed as carefully as I could to try and not disturb Artemis. Her head perked up anyway, and after a moment, went back to its previous position. The room was chilly after getting away from the furry heater.
Searching for my phone, I found it still tucked in the pocket of my jeans. There was still time before dawn when Silver would be performing his morning prayers, or at least that was what I could infer.
I rubbed my arms thinking about last night. I was going to be grateful to put distance between me and Silver once this was over. I knew he was only doing as he was trained, but it still bothered me.
Going about my morning routine, I started thinking about the upcoming holiday to get my mind off of last night’s events.
While a universal calendar had been adopted, setting the new year about a week and a half later, the Winter Solstice was the Elven celebration of a new year. A time for renewal and to let go of things past - to look with hope toward the future.
I had not participated in the burning of the scrolls previously because I never knew what to write. My sister, Kitteren, told me I could write anything I wanted. The Gods would receive the prayers at their Great Feast where they would be gathered.
It just seemed a waste to bother supreme beings with inconsequential desires.
Kitteren had more faith than I did. I only seemed to understand what I could see. Magic and science were so alike to me that I barely noted the differences between them.
The lights that accompanied the Winter Solstice should be lit at this time of day. It was something I loved about the holiday. They were so beautiful and elegant. I would spend so much time in Great Tree just wandering around, looking at the light displays.
As soon as I was ready, I headed out to the little cafe nearby without bothering to leave a note - Silver would figure it out. It was the first day of the weekend and I hoped it would not be busy.
Artemis followed at my side. I guess I was not getting away without one escort.
With my tablet in my pocket, I thought about where to direct my search. There must be a way to scan for a particular arcane signature. If we could get the Archmage in custody, the rest of the case should fall into place, right?
I was pleasantly surprised that the cafe was mostly empty upon my arrival. After I stepped through the door with Artemis, I suddenly worried maybe pets were not allowed.
“Ah, welcome once again! And you brought a friend I see,” the older Elf I ordered from yesterday greeted.
I apologized, “I’m sorry, I didn’t even think she might not be allowed. My friend left her with me for the evening.”
He paused for a moment, before asking, “The Dark Elf I’ve seen her with? Such a fine young lady that one is. Come, what can I get for you on this cold winter morn?”
Once I had gotten my order, I found a quiet corner with the biggest plush chair I could snuggle into. It was warm and I shed my coat, hanging it over the fat arm of the chair.
I pulled out my tablet, I saw I had a number of new messages waiting for me. It would probably be prudent of me to respond to the ones I could first before getting too involved with my research.
It became busy quickly as it got closer to dawn. I had long since finished my meal and was finishing up the last response when a male voice asked, “Is this seat taken?”
Not wanting to lose my train of thought, I held my hand open toward the seat, signaling it was free. I was trying to describe where something was in the lab for Lockonis. Thinking about it, I was going to end up spending weeks getting the lab back in order again.
The voice spoke again, “It has been difficult to speak with you, given the company you have been keeping. Do you understand the debt that you owe us?”
My head shot up. Sitting across from me was Archmage William Bernard Brown. Older than I last remembered. Despite the plush chair he resided in, his body was stiff and rigid, wearing similar green robes to the ones we found. Suddenly, it was hard to breathe.
Brown continued, “You owe us your life and yet you would aid those who blindly follow false gods? Discarding your sacred robes and consorting with the unenlightened? Dabbling in their technology? Pathetic. But I suppose it is to be expected of one of your race.”
I could feel the blood drain from my face and froze. Panic quickly started to settle in.
“I am ordering you, as an Archmage of the Arcane College, to end your involvement with the Terran Intelligence Organization,” he said and suddenly Brown disappeared as if he was never there. The tightness in my chest had not subsided and I still felt like I was not getting enough air.
I fear I jumped a mile when the older Elf I spoke with earlier knelt down to get into my view. “Are you okay, child?”
I looked around - others were staring in my direction and even Artemis was trying to get my attention. Her front paws were on my leg and she nudged my face with her nose.
I bowed my head, embarrassed. I told him, “I am now. I apologize for causing a disturbance.”
He sat in the chair Brown vacated and commented, “Forgive my intrusion, but it looked like you saw a ghost.”
Rubbing the bridge of my nose, I considered his comment. I found no arcane remnants in the chair he now sat. There was another mystery I was going to have to deal with. I said, “Perhaps I had.”
He smiled and suggested, “Why don’t I keep you company for a bit? Help keep the ghosts at bay. Don’t worry, my wife can take care of our guests. I fear she is far better at it than I am. She says I talk too much.”
I smiled for him, looking down at the
tablet on my lap and said, “I’m afraid I’m not much company.”
He just smiled and picked up a magazine to read.
I could feel my control locking back into place. I may have to give more thought to Silver’s theory. If he was right, then I was a walking time bomb.
~*~
When I returned to the hotel, I spoke none of what happened to Silver. He was highly upset that I had left without him. I was not even sure if I should mention it to the others. The company I had been keeping… Who?
Telling anyone could put them in danger. How could I leave? I did not think they would so readily let me go. If I just disappeared, someone would go looking for me. How was I supposed to follow those orders?
Why should I follow those orders?
I drove us to the office again and other than Melody who greeted us at the front, no one else was in. The others not being present only gave me more time to debate who I should tell what to and in what order. There was also my reaction last night that Savanas would want to know about. The conversation with the Admiral. What Silver had told me about what he could see…
Silver asked if he could go spend time in meditation to see if the Gods would help guide him. Letting him do as he wished, I paced - my feet not keeping up with my mind.
Retanei had not come back by the time we left and Artemis stayed downstairs with Melody. Where was everyone else? I know they all needed to rest as well, but someone always seemed to be here. At least Savanas did anyway. I thought about seeing if Doc was in to at least have someone to talk to.
No, he would not be able to help. And why this urge to talk to someone?
Brown waited until I was separated from the others. Even if I obeyed his orders and left the case, the others would pick it up in my stead. But it was not just the case he was ordering me away from, but the TIO as a whole.
Surely he knew the others would still continue the investigation without my presence. Why would he even bother? I was only a Researcher. I would not be able to stand up against him.
But did I owe the Arcane College? Or the TIO? Both? Neither? I did not know. All this was doing was aggravating me. I could feel another headache starting that I could tell was going to be a bad one.
Digging into my pocket, I pull out my Arcane College pin and stared at it, hoping it would give me some sort of insight. But it was a pin, and outside of the library stored in it, it could not tell me anything.
Never before had I wanted to throw my pin as hard as I could. I clenched it tightly in my hand considering the motion. “Ow, damn…” I clenched a little too tightly. The sharp points cut into my hand.
Before the pin hit the floor, Retanei was standing in front of me.
“Ketayl, look at me. Look at me!” Retanei said in a panic and then ordered, “Someone, get the first aid kit.”
“Damn good for nothing paladin, where is he?” I heard Savanas to my left.
Everything just seemed surreal. Even if this was not real, I could at least answer Savanas. I pointed in the direction of the conference room.
She strode purposefully through my field of vision.
“Good, Ket. That’s it. Take deep breaths.” It was Retanei speaking, but I felt someone dabbing at my hand and hers were on my shoulders.
When did I sit down?
Retanei spoke again, “Brad, can you bring Artemis up here? I need her abilities.”
“By the grace of the Gods, what happened?” This time it was Silver’s voice entering into the conversation.
Rathal’s voice cut at him, “You left her alone.”
“I kept her in range.”
Their argument made no sense. And it only added to my quickly growing headache.
Rubbing my temple with my free hand, I lowered my head and closed my eyes, trying however I could to pull myself back under control.
“If you two want to argue, do it elsewhere. We have a situation right now,” Savanas’ voice warned.
Someone was stroking my back - I wanted to tell them to leave me alone, but I still did not know what was going on. “Just hold on, Ket. Artemis will be here at any moment.”
“Artemis?” I knew who she was talking about, but not why it was important for the wolf to be here.
Opening my eyes, I understood what everyone was in a panic about. Streaks of raw arcane energy moved over my body like lightning. Or water. I was not quite sure, but it was fascinating to watch. It was stronger this time by far.
The iridescent colors moved, collided, separated. I should be worried about this. Something told me the last part, but I held my uninjured hand up, watching the colors dance across the palm and there was no sense of urgency. No sense of wrong. Just curiosity, and in it, understanding.
The hands holding my shoulders switched suddenly, but that did not bother me - I was too preoccupied by this new sensation. My control was at its limit, but I was not in a panic.
It made sense now. Brown had not known I was an Arcanist. When he sent the puppet and I reacted, I was able to channel the emotional energy into my connection with the arcane. My further exposure set me off balance because I had not fully understood what was happening. What he did this morning tried to prey upon that.
I watched as the colors converged and sat in the palm of my uninjured hand. It was so pretty, but it was scaring the others. Closing my hand on it, I pulled it back into myself and looked up.
Somewhere along the line, Artemis got upstairs, but was keeping her distance. Retanei could not get her to come closer. Magic in general often scared animals.
“Are we good?” Savanas asked. She stood there with her hands on her hips and did not actually wait for a response. “I want answers from both of you. Now!” She was angry to the point of it emanating off of her. “You first,” she said as she pointed at Silver.
He was the one who took over trying to bring me out of it. The look on his face told me whatever he did last night had not worked this time.
Savanas said, “I told you to stay near her. What were you doing in the conference room?”
Silver did not look up as he took over tending to my hand. He answered calmly, “I was meditating, trying to find guidance. Ketayl was still in range.”
“Range of what?” Then I realized I had spoken aloud.
The pain in my hand was making itself known now that I came out of whatever state I was in.
Silver tried to explain, “Me. Well, whatever it is about me that disrupts people’s ability to scry in my general vicinity. The only time we were separated was when she left this morning before I got up.”
“Why did you leave without Silver?” Savanas’ question was directed toward me.
I had not thought it possible to feel exhausted and like a live wire at the same time. I said, “I didn’t know I was supposed to stay near him. I just went to the cafe near the hotel.”
“The Hidden Flower?” It was Retanei asking this time, “Did Artemis go with you?”
I looked up at Retanei. The concern on her face was blatant. I said, “Yes.”
Savanas leaned back against the desk behind her and crossed her arms. “Fair enough. We did keep you in the dark on that. Didn’t want to give you one more thing to worry about. Now, I need you to recount for me what happened while you were there.”
That, I was not ready to share. “Um, it’s really not important, is it? I got something to eat, checked my messages…” I trailed off, hoping the two women would accept it. Something felt like it was squeezing my chest again.
I turned my attention to the others. Silver still had my hand. Rathal stood leaning against his desk glaring at the paladin. Darius and Brad stood on the other side of the short walls just observing.
Savanas looked to Retanei and raised an eyebrow at her.
Retanei said, “She’s squirming. Ket, you don’t squirm unless you’re being pressed for something you don’t want to talk about.”
Mentally I was cursing her powers of observation.
“Please don’t…” I begged.
It was getting hard to breathe again. The source of the pressure was external and it gave me something to focus on with a detached level of curiosity.
Silver grabbed my wrist to hold my injured hand in place. I grit my teeth at how tight his grasp was - it hurt. He said, “You need to stay still.”
“Ketayl, tell me.” Savanas was glaring me down. After a few moments of staring at me, she said, “Darius, Brad, go down to the Hidden Flower and interview anyone that saw Ketayl. Rathal, get Vince on the line. I don’t like it when one of my own is too afraid to talk.”
I noted the quick departures of the agents and Rathal sliding into Savanas’ chair. Silver still knelt next to me, his firm grip on my wrist. Retanei and Savanas were like statues, barely moving in their observations.
Fear? She was right. It was fear. I knew Brown was not here, but I could still feel his cold, dark eyes - feel the power he had over me.
I shut the world out for a moment to collect myself and turn my attention again to the hold on me.
Following the worn thread from myself, I looked at my pin that had been hastily thrown on Savanas’ desk. That was where it ended, but besides my personal modifications, there should not be anything arcane related about it. It was a puzzle that kept my attention.
The thread became visible when I first handed it to Silver. Was it his aura? Divine on a pin for the arcane? That made no sense.
“Care to tell me what is so urgent and what you’re doing to my Arcane Investigator?” Vince’s voice came from the direction of the large screen on the wall.
I could not bring myself to look up and see his disappointment, though his wording struck me as odd.
“I’m here!” It was Lockonis. She sounded out of breath. “What in the hells happened?”
Savanas moved to stand center before the screen. “This is only theory, but I’m thinking someone threatened Ketayl. She’s too afraid to tell me what happened and I need more information. My instincts tell me Arcane College.”
There was a slight pause before I heard Vince say, “Fletcher, have the team get a Shrike ready to go to Ocean’s Edge and get me someone from the Arcane College Circle of Magi.” There was another pause. “I will not tolerate this.”
Twisted Magics (Terra Chronicles Book 1) Page 17