Lament (Scars of the Sundering Book 2)

by Hans Cummings

  Delilah marveled at how well the Rose Concordat weathered the last thousand years. Tomes like the Grimoire of Gil-Li were preserved by the magic contained within them, but the Rose Concordat was not enchanted; it was simply a book of rules.

  The binding creaked as she opened it, and she realized she knew not what she sought.

  * * *

  “Have you gone mad?” Kali slammed the door behind Boss Steelhand as the minotaur exited and then spun on her mate.

  At least she waited until he left. Kale took Kali’s hands, but she pushed him away.

  “I’m making an effort not to become involved in any capers, crimes, or shady activities, and you practically invite them right into our home!”

  “Look, Kali, it’s the best way to get in to see Deli and get her—”

  “I’m your mate, Kale!” Kali pushed past him and stormed into the living quarters. “I’m supposed to rate higher than your sister!”

  Kale felt a twinge of guilt at the accusation he favored one over the other. He followed Kali to their bedroom. “It’s not about that—”

  “Of course it is! It always is! You bought this place so your sister would have a place to stay and for the stuff in the cave below. You made a deal with that minotaur so you could see her again.” Kali clenched her fists but trembled as she yelled. “You should have mated with her!”

  Kale cringed and scuffed his foot on the floor. She spoke the truth, even if he felt she blew things out of proportion. “I was trying to make things easier for us. I didn’t want to pay him anything, and we’re not trying to cause trouble. I need Deli to see that she’s making our lives harder. Ours, Kali. Not just mine.”

  Collapsing onto the edge of the bed, Kali grasped her head with both hands. “You don’t see it, do you?”

  “See what?” Kale sat next to her, spreading his wings and enveloping her within one of them.

  “Boss Steelhand warns us not to become involved in local politics, but don’t you see? Involving ourselves with him is being involved in local politics. This isn’t like me working shady deals to free my people from a salt mine. This city has something going on that we don’t need to be involved in.” Kali took Kale’s hand. “I did my part. I just want a quiet life now. With you. Draklings. Friends and family.”

  “I want that, too.” Kale laid his head on Kali’s shoulder. “But the draks here, they’re our people, too. If we can help them, shouldn’t we?”

  “Oh!” Kali grunted in frustration and hung her head. “That’s the damnable misery of it, isn’t it?”

  Kale sympathized with Kali’s worries about them getting in over their heads, but he already felt like his head was underwater. “I want to help my sister, but I don’t want you mad at me. I don’t know what I’m doing, really. What should we do?”

  “We’ll do it together.”

  “What?”

  Kali pushed Kale’s head off her shoulder and faced him as she placed a hand on his cheek. “We’ll do this job for Boss Steelhand together. After we’ve convinced your sister to stop the drak messiah nonsense, we’re going to come back here and convince all these draks that we’re just plain draks, like them. We are going to gain control of this situation.”

  It sounded like a good idea, but Kale wasn’t just a plain drak, and anyone with eyes could see that. Plain draks were possessed of neither wings nor stripes, and he had both. It would be difficult to convince the thousands of draks in Muncifer that generations of stories were false. It gave him an idea, though.

  “Maybe we should talk to that drak with the broadsheets?” Kale struggled to remember his name. “He can help us spread the word.”

  “Now that is a good idea.” Kali nuzzled him. “We’ll talk to him after seeing your sister.”

  They sat together in silence for a while before Kale decided it was time to meet with Boss Steelhand’s contact and fulfill their obligation. “He’s had enough time to get to where he was going. Let’s do our part.”

  They made their way to the Stone Maiden where Boss Steelhand stated their contact would be waiting with the package. Characteristic of Muncifer weather, rain clouds from the mountains moved in since they returned from their morning ride. Half of the time, the storms passed over without emptying their clouds. Kale hoped this would be one of those times, though he brought his hat and pulled it down over his head.

  Navigating crowds in the upper part of the city was always a tricky affair for the draks. Humans and minotaurs often did not notice those smaller than themselves. For Kale and Kali, today was even worse. They were nervous about their task, and every screech of a child, every dismayed shout, and every whinny of a horse resisting its master seemed extra alarming.

  As usual, no one paid the two draks any mind. A man stood before the statue gracing the front of the Stone Maiden, bouncing from foot to foot and licking his lips. He held no package visible to Kale.

  “Is that our guy?” Kali pointed at the nervous man.

  He glanced over as Kale was about to answer and then approached them. His eyes darted this way and that. “You’re the first drak I’ve seen with wings. Must be the one I’m looking for.”

  Kale checked the perimeter and confirmed no one observing them. “Boss Steel—”

  “Yeah, yeah. We all know who we’re working for.” The man reached into the folds of his cloak and produced a strongbox the size of Kale’s fist. “You’re taking this to the elf master. Don’t know his name, but he’s the only elf there.”

  The box was light, almost weightless. Kale wondered if there was anything at all within. The man reached into another pouch and produced a brass seal. “Take this. It’ll identify you as a proper courier.”

  He licked his lips and darted away, disappearing into the crowd. Kale handed the seal to Kali. “I guess that’s it.”

  She examined the seal and put it in her pouch. “What do you think is in it?”

  “It feels empty.” Kale shook the box. He didn’t hear anything rattle or move within. “I have no idea. Let’s just find the recipient and hand it off.”

  They passed half-a-dozen street vendors selling aromatic meats and prepared dishes that made Kale’s belly grumble. He wanted to stop off for an ale or mead and answer that grumble but needed to see this task through. A few merchants called out to him, complimenting his hat, vying for his attention, but Kale ignored them all.

  When they arrived at the gates to the Arcane University, two guards stood watch, leaning on their halberds. Kale thought they might be the same guards who were posted the last time he tried to visit.

  One held up a hand to stop them. “No visitors. Keep walking, little drak.”

  Kali held up the seal. “We’re couriers. We have a delivery for the elf master.”

  One guard regarded the other and then he took the seal. He examined it and returned it to Kali. “Fine. Master Valyrian is…” He looked at his counterpart. The other guard shrugged. “No idea. He’s the only elf in there. Ask someone in grey or brown robes. Don’t bother the other masters.”

  They opened the gates for Kale and Kali, and the two draks entered the Arcane University. Kale gazed at the variety of buildings surrounding the courtyard. They resembled the buildings in other sections of Muncifer, though perhaps were a bit more colorful. The large tree shading most of the courtyard with its canopy of brilliant crimson leaves reminded him of the World Tree at Drak-Anor, albeit much smaller.

  “This is it?” Kale looked at his mate and shrugged. “I don’t see what the big deal is.”

  A group of students rushed past. Kale and Kali jumped backward to avoid being trampled. Certain that finding the elf wizard would be impossible unless he was outside, Kale tried to appear nonchalant. He didn’t want to risk too much scrutiny by asking everyone they came across.

  One of the novices noticed the two out-of-place draks and approached them. “Are you supposed to be here?”

  “We have a delivery for the elf.” Kale hoped that was specific enough.

  “Oh,
Master Valyrian.” The novice bit his lip and looked behind him. “I think he’s… oh, there he is. Over there by the Initiate Quarters.” The novice pointed at a sprawling, half-timbered stone building. It was difficult for Kale to see over the heads of all the students milling about, but he thought he saw a tall, slender person speaking to one of them.

  “Thank you.” Kale and Kali bowed to the novice and then hurried across the courtyard, keeping the elf in sight. As they hastened closer, Kale was sure the man was the elf whom they sought. His mossy-green hair and nut-brown skin was a sure giveaway, even if the tips of his ears weren’t poking through his hair.

  “Master Valaran!” Kale cringed as he butchered the name, but it was enough to catch the elf’s attention.

  “It’s Valyrian, yes? Oh!” The elf’s eyes widened and his mouth turned up in a smile. “A winged, striped drak! You must be Novice Delilah’s brother!” He scanned the courtyard a moment and then knelt to meet Kale’s eyes. “How did you gain entry? There is a strict no-visitors policy.”

  Kali held out the seal. “We have a delivery for you.”

  Kale handed Master Valyrian the box. “I was hoping to run into Deli, but I won’t stick around if it will get her in trouble. I have an important message for her, though.”

  Master Valyrian took the box. “Ah! Yes, I have been waiting for this!” He hid the box away in his robes and pulled out his wand. “Ageliofedros.” A glowing, jade-green rabbit coalesced from magical tendrils.

  “Fetch Novice Delilah, please. Tell her to meet me in front of the Initiates’ Quarters straight away.”

  The rabbit clicked its teeth and hopped away. Master Valyrian sheathed his wand and stood. “She should be along presently. Now you won’t need to wander around, and if anyone complains, you’re still making your delivery.”

  Kale rocked back on his heels. He had not expected any of the wizards to be helpful. “Thank you!”

  The draks watched the novices and initiates in the courtyard as they waited for Delilah. Most were divided into small groups, talking among themselves. A few groups were far separated from the others, practicing illusory magic, and Kale heard periodic cheers erupt from a group firing arcane blasts at practice dummies on the far side of the compound.

  They did not have to wait long for Delilah. She strode through the crowds with purpose, moving students aside with her staff when they stepped in front of her without looking. When she saw Kale, she broke into a run and squealed.

  “Kale!” She dropped her staff and wrapped her arms around him. Delilah dropped her brother and picked up her staff as she cleared her throat. As she smoothed her robes, she nodded to Kali.

  “Well, now that you’re reunited, I’m just going to step over there a moment.” Master Valyrian gestured in the direction of the Blood Oak. “You can let yourselves out.”

  “What are you doing here?” Delilah regarded her brother and then Kali, confusion evident in her furrowed brow. “You’re not supposed to be here!”

  “We had a delivery for Master Valyrian. I thought I would say ‘hi’ while I was here.”

  Delilah’s eyes narrowed. “What kind of delivery? From whom?”

  “It was for Master Valyrian.” Kali pursed her lips. “We didn’t ask. It wasn’t our business.”

  “Deli, look. The next time you’re in the city—”

  “What do you mean, you don’t know? Do you know how—?”

  “Deli! Let me finish!” Kale grabbed his sister’s arm. “The delivery doesn’t matter. He was expecting it, and it got us in. I have to tell you something.”

  Delilah scowled. “What? What?”

  Kale took a deep breath. “You have to stop acting like you’re the supreme drak when you come down into the undercity. You have to stop giving out blessings and acting like you’re going to save everyone. It’s causing us trouble.”

  “Serious trouble.” Kali nodded and crooked her arm into Kale’s. “Like gang trouble, okay?”

  Delilah scoffed. “You’re joking.”

  “We’re serious, Deli.” Kale squeezed his sister’s arm. “They tried to shake us down and everything.”

  A dark cloud passed over Delilah’s face. Kale needed to head off her temper before it flared. “It’s all fine. We talked to them, and everything is fine. As long as you keep a low profile when you come visit. We’re going to go talk to some of the draks around town to get them to help us convince everyone you were just putting on a show.”

  “What’s all this about?” Delilah shifted her weight and looked at Kali.

  “There’s something going on between the draks, humans, and minotaurs in this town.” Kali shrugged. “We don’t know what it is, but we don’t want to be involved. Kale needs to keep that library safe for you, and he can’t do that if we’re under additional scrutiny because a bunch of thugs think we’re plotting to start a revolution.”

  “All right, all right.” Delilah let the matter drop, but only temporarily. She would want solid answers, and at the first opportunity, she would push the issue.

  Kale hugged his sister. “Everything is fine, honest. We’re staying out of trouble.”

  “Yes, we just want to make sure we stay out of trouble.” Kali patted Delilah on the shoulder.

  Delilah nodded and sighed, squeezing Kali’s hand. “Okay, fine. You’d better get going before we all end up in trouble.”

  Chapter 17

  Delilah was not convinced her brother and his mate disclosed the truth. A mysterious delivery just to let them in, news that thugs were harassing them because of her—it all pointed to the exact opposite. She had more important things to worry about at the moment, though. Her brother and his mate were adults, and Delilah decided they needed to deal with whatever trouble there was on their own.

  The Rose Concordat was a tough read. She was unable to move it from the pedestal, so she had to stand upon a chair to read it. The codex was several hundred pages of overly complex language, although she was surprised how much of the text was written in Ancient Drak. Reading the archaic language was more time consuming than reading even the common trade language, because not all the concepts had direct translations, and some of the translated words lost their meaning in The Sundering.

  Adding to her difficulty was the fact that she read for only an hour at a time, and not every day. Most of the masters did not excuse her from classes, no matter how much proficiency she demonstrated, and she found herself curtailing her socialization time with Katka and Conner to make time to look at her grimoire. Thus far, it had yet to reveal anything new to her. If I could only spend a few days with it.

  A few days of free time was not in her future. The next several weeks were a flurry of activity in all of her classes. She found her classes on evocation to be basic and far below her skill level. Alchemy, protective magic, and enchantment classes were worthwhile, though, Delilah found her skill at enchantments and charms lacking. Katka excelled in those. Each helped the other develop proficiency in lacking or weak areas. She recognized she would never be as good at making charms as she was at summoning fire or whirling clouds of blades, however.

  End-of-spring rain storms rolled in from the mountains, turning the courtyard into a muddy morass. The days were warmer now, and even in the rain, Delilah felt comfortable. The heat and humidity slowed some of the more manic students, but the drak sorceress enjoyed it. For a brief time, Delilah allowed herself to hope the archmage had forgotten about her.

  Her abandonment by the archmage was short-lived, however. On the eve of Artume’s Feast, an early summer hunter’s festival, the archmage summoned her to the Court of Wizardry. None of the high wizards were in attendance.

  Archmage Vilkan sat as straight as a marble column in his chair, drumming his fingers on the armrest as Delilah approached. Dark circles under his eyes made him appear more sinister than normal as he gazed at her from beneath lowered brows.

  “Novice Drak, I appreciate your punctuality.”

  Delilah held her tongue as she bow
ed.

  “You will apply for the next Novice Trials scheduled. I have need of your undivided time, and the court won’t allow that until you are my apprentice.” He scratched a spot on the armrest of his chair. He looked past Delilah and then returned his gaze to her.

  “I have indulged Master Valyrian long enough. You are here at my decree, and your penance for a lifetime of being a renegade is service to the Mage’s Guild at my pleasure.”

  Delilah bit her tongue until she tasted blood. She did not intend to serve at the archmage’s pleasure for the rest of his or her life. She noticed the archmage looking behind her again and heard the doors open. A novice holding a scroll trotted past. The archmage gestured at Delilah, and the novice extended the scroll to her. Delilah took it without turning her head toward the novice.

  Archmage Vilkan waited until the novice left. “Find out when the next Novice Trials are, put your name on the lists, and then take this scroll to the archduke. Part of your Novice Trials will be dealing with him. Be courteous and give measured responses to his questions. You will be representing the Mage’s Guild and the Arcane University in this matter.”

  “What matter?” Delilah remained silent no longer. What is he blabbering about now?

  “The archduke will explain what he needs of you. Go now.” The archmage dismissed Delilah with a wave of his hand. “Return when you’ve finished the archduke’s task and have completed your Novice Trials.”

  Delilah left the archmage to his thoughts and searched the courtyard for Master Galina. She, over anyone, would know details about the Novice Trials schedule. She found her working with a group of initiates by the practice dummies. Delilah waited by the reviewing stand until she caught the older woman’s eye.

  “You need something, Novice?” Master Galina paused her lesson and stepped over to the reviewing stand.