Emily nodded, feeling her heart start to sink. “I’ve been there.”
“So you have,” Lady Barb agreed. “It would be extremely dangerous, even now, for you to risk teleporting to the necromancer’s lair. There’s just too much tainted magic in the air. I think your best bet is to go east, then cross the mountains here” - she tapped a spot on the map - “and make your way south from there. It is not a particularly safe place to be, but...”
“Safer than crossing the mountains,” Cat commented.
Lady Barb shot him a sharp look. “Quite. The town here - Syaitan - rests in the mountain pass, on the very edge of the Blighted Lands. It’s one of the few places the Blighted and Allied Lands actually touch, although the terrain is too rough to sustain a major offensive north or south. The necromancers largely leave it alone, for reasons we don’t understand. Rumor” - her eyes hardened noticeably - “insists there’s something powerful enough to scare the necromancers within the region. It’s rather more likely they leave the town alone so they can engage in a little bit of trading with the Allied Lands. It is, of course, forbidden.”
“Of course,” Emily agreed, dryly.
“The terrain remains awful until you reach the first plantations,” Lady Barb continued. “If you appear to be traders, the locals will probably welcome you... maybe. Don’t take anything you see for granted. They can be just as savage and unpleasant as any necromancer, although most of them have no magic. And... the landscape is infested with all sorts of unpleasant creatures. The necromancers are merely the worst of them.”
“The locals are slaves and livestock,” Sergeant Miles said. “Prepare yourself for the sight.”
Emily felt sick. Slaves and livestock? She’d known the necromancers bred humans, as a farmer might breed cows, but... the scale was terrifying. Her eyes glided over the map, noting the handful of known plantations. The locals had to have been beaten into submission long ago. Compared to the Blighted Lands, the Cairngorms were paradise itself. And... she swallowed hard, promising she’d do something about the locals when the necromancers were destroyed. Who knew? Perhaps they’d rebel when they saw the army arrive.
And get slaughtered, she thought, numbly. Void had gone toe-to-toe with Dua Kepala, but he hadn’t been able to do more than slow the necromancer down. Mundanes with no powers or weapons would be casually slaughtered if they tried to fight. They’re helpless.
She listened carefully as Lady Barb outlined just how unpleasant the terrain was, even in a reasonably mild region of the Blighted Lands. The lands were ravaged by storms laced with tainted magic, quicksand that could bury an army in seconds, caves infested with creatures out of nightmares, a shortage of water and food and everything else, outside the plantations created by the necromancers. Sergeant Miles added a grim warning about trusties, about men who served the necromancers willingly... because it was the only way to have even the slightest bit of security. Not, Emily thought, that it meant much. The necromancers were too crazy to notice - or care - if they hurled a trusty into the fire.
They might change sides, if we offered them a better choice, she mused on. But getting them out would be a nightmare.
“We’ll be posing as traders,” Cat said. “What are we going to trade?”
“We’ll put together a bunch of stuff,” Lady Barb said. “You don’t have to make a profit, of course.”
“Of course,” Emily agreed. Despite everything, they were still going to be advancing into the unknown. “Are there no spy rings inside enemy territory?”
“Not in the sense you mean,” Lady Barb said. “We’ve been trying to sneak chat parchments into the Blighted Lands, but... it’s hard to establish any sort of permanent spy ring. Someone started sending subversive literature into the region, which looked good on paper...”
Emily nodded. “And no one can read, of course.”
“No,” Lady Barb agreed. “It was a waste of time and paper. The necromancers have always discouraged book learning. A handful of teachers have sneaked into the region, but... they’ve simply vanished.”
Cat frowned. “Do they speak the same language?”
“When they speak at all, they do.” Lady Barb grimaced. “Emily, the Blighted Lands are horrible. There are no words to describe how degraded the inhabitants have become. They act more like farm animals than human beings. I... I want you to understand you have to remain focused on the mission. You can’t go haring off to help someone you happen to meet along the way. You have to get to the lair and reignite the nexus point.”
The oath won’t let me do anything else, Emily thought.
“I understand,” she said.
“I’ll drag her away, if she does,” Cat put in. “Really.”
Lady Barb gave him an icy look. Emily hadn’t talked to the older woman about the end of her relationship, but Lady Barb was one of the most perceptive people she’d ever met. She’d probably deduced everything just from watching Emily, Cat and Penny interact. Emily was mildly surprised Lady Barb hadn’t discussed it with her, or suggested someone else accompany Emily.
Or asked just how my apprenticeship has been going, Emily thought. She’s had more than enough time to ask...
She pushed the thought aside as they plunged further into the details. Their cover story was relatively simple, although Emily privately suspected it wouldn’t stand up to any real scrutiny. Neither she nor Cat were traders at heart. She studied the map, memorizing the few landmarks that could be trusted not to change in the blink of an eye, then discussed endless contingency plans for every imaginable disaster. Emily tried not to think about the prospect of being caught and eaten by cannibals. Lady Barb wasn’t joking when she said the locals had been degraded over the last century or two. Human flesh was about the only real meat they’d ever touch.
“I suppose the only real question,” Lady Barb said finally, “is this. Are you ready to go?”
“It was my idea,” Emily said. She tried to hide her growing fear, even though she suspected it was futile. Lady Barb had known her for six years. “I have to see it through.”
“Yes.” Lady Barb sounded displeased. “Miles, can you escort everyone out? Emily and I have to speak alone.”
“Of course,” Sergeant Miles said. “Cat, Penny, you two can come with me.”
Cat looked as if he wanted to argue, or at least remind the sergeant that Cat wasn’t his student any longer, but clearly thought better of it. Emily wondered, idly, just what would have happened if he had. Sergeant Miles would probably have knocked some sense into his head, if he’d put up a fight. Or... Emily shook her head as the flap closed behind them, the wards sliding back into place. Lady Barb frowned, tightening the wards. It felt as if she were being incredibly paranoid.
“Emily,” Lady Barb said. She relaxed, very slightly. Only someone who knew her well would notice. “It’s been a long time.”
“Yes.” Emily leaned forward. “I’m sorry I didn’t write as often as I should.”
“I knew you’d be busy.” Lady Barb looked as if she’d bitten into a lemon. “I heard the stories about Dragora, the ones being shared around the campfire. Everyone is saying the official story doesn’t make sense.”
Emily nodded. Lady Barb knew what had actually happened - she’d helped clear up the mess - but very few others did.
“The Lord Protector blamed everything on the Duke, who was conveniently dead,” she said. It helped, she supposed, that Prince Willis - King Willis - had killed the Duke, ensuring he was punished for his crimes without sparking off a major international crisis. “And he was responsible for most of it.”
“Indeed,” Lady Barb said, in a manner that made it unclear if it was a statement or a question. “I supposed as much.”
“Yes.” Emily shied away from the memories. She didn’t dare look at them too closely. “I did what I had to do.”
“Quite.” Lady Barb leaned forward. “Are you happy?”
Emily hesitated. “I think so,” she said. “I’m learning a gre
at deal of magic and practicing...”
“But you’re not sure.” Lady Barb met her eyes. “Are you?”
“I’m not sure,” Emily agreed. “He’s a good teacher. I like him. And yet, at the same time, he can be somewhat... disconcerting.”
“He’s always been like that,” Lady Barb said. “Please. Be careful.”
She turned and headed outside. “Come with me.”
Emily followed her out, into the bright sunshine. The camp had - somehow - grown even busier over the last few hours. They walked past the command tents, past the shooting ranges - the newly-minted musketmen were learning their skills from the veterans of the past two wars - and down to the sorcerer’s compound. Emily felt an odd little twinge as the guards on duty saluted her, feeling oddly out of place. The magicians were practicing too, casting spells and brewing potions for the war. A fire burnt in the exact center of the compound, the flames glowing green and blue as enchanters worked on charmed weapons. Emily wondered, morbidly, if they’d be any use against a necromancer. The blade that had killed Duke Hardcastle might be completely ineffective against a real magician.
Although one nearly killed Imaiqah, she reminded herself. And would have, if we hadn’t managed to save her in time.
“The tools and gemstones for making the portals arrived yesterday,” Lady Barb said, pointing to the gateway. It looked half-built, the crystals being carefully emplaced by a trio of enchanters and a small army of apprentices. “You do realize this has never been properly tested?”
“We used something similar when we broke into the Tower of Alexis,” Emily reminded her. “The principle is the same. The only real difference is that we don’t know precisely what’s waiting on the far side.”
“A point you should probably keep to yourself,” Lady Barb advised, dryly. “Anyone ignorant enough not to know it is probably also stupid enough to panic when someone else points it out.”
Emily gave her an odd look. “Are you alright?”
Lady Barb stopped and turned to face her. “What do you mean?”
“You’re...” Emily hesitated, then pushed on. “You’re acting more snappy than usual.”
“There are too many things I don’t like, right now,” Lady Barb said. Her voice was so flat Emily knew she was agitated. “Your plan - both halves of the plan - are too dangerous for my peace of mind. They” - she gestured towards the other side of the mountain - “are going to break through, if we don’t stop them. And now that they’ve had the idea, someone else will try it even if we stop this bunch. And even beyond that, Emily, too many odd things have happened recently. I don’t like it.”
Emily leaned forward. “Penny’s infiltrator?”
“Among others.” Lady Barb shrugged. “Master Lucknow shouldn’t have asked for your help, not... not as a political asset. I’m surprised Void went along with it. The oaths he swore to you, as your master, should have made it impossible.”
He didn’t swear any oaths, Emily thought. Not to me. And that means... what?
She thought, fast. Void had openly admitted that oaths impeded magical development. He might not have been so keen on her going into the Blighted Lands if she hadn’t needed to keep her oath to the Unseelie. And... sure, he could have tried to keep her prisoner, but he’d be playing with fire. He’d have to make sure she knew, deep inside, that she was being held against her will - and that there was no hope of escape. The slightest mistake would lead to utter destruction. She wasn’t quite sure what would happen, but she was fairly certain she’d die.
“I think he knows the necromancers have to be stopped,” she said. “And now... they’ve figured out how to get to us. It’s only a matter of time before one succeeds.”
“Yes.” Lady Barb turned back to the crystalline assembly. “And then we’ll all be dead.”
Emily changed the subject, quickly. “How are you and Miles?”
“Sergeant Miles, to you,” Lady Barb said, dryly. “We’re... together. And the rest is none of your business.”
“Got it.” Emily frowned. “Is it wrong of me to feel conflicted about Cat?”
“No,” Lady Barb said. “But if it impedes your ability to carry out the mission...”
“It won’t,” Emily promised her. “Will you stay? Here, I mean?”
“I might,” Lady Barb said. “It depends on matters beyond my control.”
“Understood,” Emily said. “And... why Penny?”
“She reminds me a little of myself,” Lady Barb said. “She learnt a hard lesson, one she’s young enough to learn from. And she has talent, quite a bit of it. I figured she’d make a good student. It helps she’s a trainee, rather than an apprentice. She’s already had most of the training she needs. I just have to polish her up and put her through hell.”
“You’re a very good teacher,” Emily said. She felt a pang of regret, as if the world had moved on while she’d been in the tower. Lady Barb would have made a great tutor, if she hadn’t already had the offer from Void. “Penny’s lucky to have you.”
“I hope she thinks so too,” Lady Barb said. Her face twisted into a strange smile. “I don’t care if she hates me, as long as she learns.”
“She will,” Emily said.
“We’ll see,” Lady Barb said. “The enchanters said they’d be finished tomorrow. Will you be ready to bilocate yourself?”
“Yes,” Emily said. She pushed her doubts aside. “I’ll be ready.”
Chapter Fourteen (Emily1)
“THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE TO back out,” Lady Barb said, the following morning. “If you want to think of something else...”
Emily shook her head. “I need to be in two places at once,” she said. She had to go with the army and she had to sneak into the necromancer’s lair. “There’s no other way to do it.”
She looked around the tent, trying to put off the moment as long as possible. The previous evening had been spent holding final planning sessions with the senior officers, trying to look as if she knew what she was talking about while allowing General Pollack and Sir Roger to lead. Alassa would have loved being a leader, particularly one who’d earned her place, but Emily had never been comfortable in a leadership role. She preferred to leave that to the more extroverted of her friends.
“I’m ready,” she said. There was no mirror, not now. She had to cast the spell on herself. By herself. “Is the room ready? In Syaitan?”
“I put everything in place,” Lady Barb said. “Cat’s waiting, too.”
“Hopefully not in the same room,” Emily muttered. She shook her head, again. The last few days had been awkward, but at least they’d learned how to work together. Again. “Thank you. For everything.”
“You can thank me when you get back,” Lady Barb told her, briskly. “Proceed.”
Emily nodded and undressed rapidly. The magic duplicated clothes and possessions, in theory, but it was safer to be naked when she was casting the spell without a mirror. Or so the books insisted. It made a certain kind of sense, but it was hard to be sure. Duplicating clothes was a piece of cake compared to duplicating her. She still didn’t understand the magical structure underlying the spell. Void had pointed out - grimly - that trying to look too closely might ruin it. She had a feeling her subconscious was filling in the gaps.
Just something else I’ll have to figure out, she mused, as she stepped into the center of the tent and focused her mind. Later.
She closed her eyes and cast the spell. The world seemed to waver, as if... maybe for just one moment, she didn’t want to complete the spell. Then her legs buckled as the magic roared, a powerful storm threatening to tear her apart. She staggered, her body being torn in two directions. She spun right - she spun left - and stumbled to her knees. Her eyes snapped open. She was looking at her naked body. Her skin was paler than she recalled...
Her mind broke, snapping into two sections. The recoil hurt worse than she’d expected. Lady Barb took her arm and helped her to her feet, yanking her away from her other self. The
world shivered, again, as Lady Barb cast a teleport spell. Emily staggered as the ground shook under her feet, her eyes closing as the tent vanished in a flash of light. When she opened them again, she stood in a dingy room that smelt, faintly, of urine. The inn had seen better days. She grimaced, feeling grimy as she looked around. The room was dim, probably deliberately so. She rather suspected that anyone who saw the chamber in bright sunlight would look for somewhere else to stay.
She swallowed, hard. She was in the room... no, she was in the tent... no, she was in the room... she gritted her teeth, snapping the links between herself and her other self. It felt like she’d been told not to think about something and, by being told not to think about it, found herself helplessly thinking about it. Her hand wobbled, unsteadily. Was it her real hand? Or was it composed of magic? She wasn’t sure.
Someone touched her shoulder. She jumped.
“Emily?” Lady Barb squeezed her shoulder lightly. “Are you alright?”
Emily stared at her, thoughts spinning wildly. She’d honestly forgotten the older woman was there... she wasn’t sure how that had happened. Lady Barb had teleported them both to Syaitan. She rubbed her forehead, trying to calm herself. Void had warned her there would be some disorientation during the first few hours, as her thoughts and soul yearned to be one again. He’d advised her to take it easy, to wait until she knew she could proceed without mental collapse. Emily wasn’t sure she had the time.
“I think so,” she managed. She looked up, trying - again - to focus her mind. “I wish you were coming with us.”
“So do I,” Lady Barb said. She gave Emily a faint smile. “In a sense, I will be with you.”
“Yeah.” Emily looked around the dingy room. The bed looked as if it had been left untouched after the last guest had left in a hurry, and the window looked as if it were covered in grime. “Is this really the best inn in town?”
“I’m afraid so.” Lady Barb indicated the knapsack. “You might want to get dressed before you call Cat.”
Oathkeeper (Schooled in Magic Book 20) Page 13