Though knowing Azara, Jin thought she would find a way to return, with a different identity and a better idea of Nalbin. She might succeed on her own. He couldn’t go with her a second time, not so soon. Even if the emperor would have allowed him to, someone who was half of Imperial stock was bound to draw attention, especially if the baron spread word of him. And he imagined the man would, especially among those with power.
As a woman, someone who had been more or less ignored since they’d arrived here, Azara would be easier to pass without notice. If she got herself in the right position. He imagined she was already making those plans.
She straightened and leaned forward, drawing his attention. Following her gaze, he spotted the horse coming through the trees that hid the far section of the road from them. A few moments later, and a wagon drawn by two horses came into view, two mounted men to either side of it.
Jin frowned. From a distance he could see the weapons on the mounted riders, as well as the four men in the wagon. There were three more figures in there as well, kept in the middle, and unless he was entirely mistaken, chained together. Slaves.
Azara let out a low hiss. “That’s too much security for ordinary slaves. They could be fire mages.”
He glanced at her, noting the set of her jaw and brightness of her eyes. “I have a spell that will let me know if they are or not.”
“Is that dangerous? Will someone be able to detect the magic?”
“It’s a passive spell, engaging it is the only active part. Someone would need to be looking at this exact spot and the exact moment I activated it to see the magic. And then, it’s only a small thread of magic, enough to be overlooked. It’s better to know for certain, correct?”
She nodded, eyes back on the wagon. “Do it.”
The familiar words came easily to Jin, his finger hovering near his eyes as he finished the chant. A quick close of his eyes and when he opened them, he could see magic properly. He turned his gaze on the three people in the wagon. He could see the telltale red light that distinguished fire mages. He also noted the spells that surrounded not just the three slaves but the men. It was too hard to decipher from this far, but the spells on the men must be some kind of alarm or protective magic. Having been in the slave pens, he knew spells set on slaves, especially those with magic themselves, was a common practice.
“They’re fire mages.”
His words had Azara clenching her fists. “We need to see where they go. We should follow them.”
“They have magic around them, and I suspect the kind of spells that will alert them or someone else if they’re interfered with or we get too close. It’s not safe. We can see which way they go and follow after.”
She turned to him, gaze hard. He met her eyes steadily. Finally she sighed. “I suppose we can’t afford the risk. They could use them as hostages against us, or force them to attack us. I don’t want to have to kill a fire mage in self-defence.”
He nodded, keeping his smile inwards. She was listening to him. They sat in silence, watching the wagon roll right past the manor. That had Jin frowning until it took the narrow road, barely wide enough for the wagon, that led into the woods behind the manor. He’d thought it was a game trail or some kind of riding route.
As much as he knew Azara wanted to head right after them, they couldn’t afford any more mistakes. “We should wait to see if the wagon comes out.”
The look she turned on him told him exactly what she thought of that plan. Still, Jin couldn’t allow her to pull them into recklessness. “If they return before nightfall, we know wherever they’re going, it’s nearby. If they don’t, we can follow under cover of darkness. They’ll likely camp somewhere along their route. Given where they’d have had to leave the main road to get here, I doubt they’re going far. There would be no reason to come this way otherwise.”
Azara grimaced. “I suppose that’s true. I don’t like leaving them like that any longer than necessary.”
Jin understood. Maybe better than she did, but for once it was his turn to be the expedient one. “If there are other fire mages here, we need to know where they are. We won’t be able to do that if we don’t follow them. You want to save everyone if you can, don’t you?”
Snorting, she crossed her arms over her chest. “That’s a stupid way of putting it. I’m not a hero. I just want to find the rest of my family. If along the way I end up freeing some other fire mages, then that’s something I end up doing. By the time I’m close enough to see if they’re family or not, it makes more sense to free them and have their help on their way out.”
He shook his head smiling. “If you say so.”
She glowered but he didn’t argue with her. She could rationalize it however she wanted, but he was certain there were more than a few people who considered Azara a hero. And he understood why.
* * *
Azara kept her breathing even as they moved quietly through the forest, following the rutted road, her makeshift pack heavy on her back. It was hard in the dark, but easier than it would have been if they hadn’t left the horses—loose-tied enough they could get free eventually but within reach of grass and two buckets of water so they’d be reluctant to do that. The two of them would either return for their mounts or not, depending on what lay ahead.
And that’s what had her blood fizzing in her veins. As soon as she’d seen the man with the blond hair and mustache, she’d known it was the same man she’d seen at the slave market. She’d known the three in the wagon were fire mages, and Jin’s confirmation had only stoked her feelings. There were going to be more fire mages here than she’d ever found before. She could feel it.
That meant there would be a large number of guards as well. Which was fine by her. She’d dealt with dozens of armed men before, some backed by a mage. And she had Jin to take care of the magic side of things, leaving her to do what she did best. The crystal was all but humming under her skin, feeding off her tension and ready to burst out at any sign of danger.
A soft curse in Imperial followed the sound of something tumbling through the underbrush. She glanced behind at Jin, who was doing worse than her. He needed more practice and experience outdoors. Jin could do well in this kind of work, if he acquired the right skills.
Of course, when this was all over, he’d return to his position under the emperor. He’d made that clear enough. And Azara...well, she didn’t know what she would do. If she found her parents here, she wouldn’t need to keep looking, keeping travelling, keep fighting. She could do whatever she wanted. Except, Azara didn’t know what that was. She’d spent so long focused on finding her family she’d never given thought on what she’d do afterwards. Having found her siblings had brought that thought forward.
Depending on what the rest of the family wanted to do, Azara would make her decision then. She didn’t want to be separated from them again.
A shiver ran through her at the thought. She felt like she was so close, after all these years. If she didn’t find a hint about her parents here, she wasn’t sure she’d be able to keep going. Not immediately. Some time with her siblings should fix that, and she could head to Rancia.
Jin’s hand closed onto her upper arm, the warmth of it felt through her sleeves. She stopped and jerked her head around to stare at him. He leaned in close, his body heat enveloping her. “I see spells up ahead. They appear to be protective and restraint types. I’m not seeing any alarm ones, but we should move slowly. I think we’re close.”
Azara nodded, the movement almost invisible in the darkness, glad he’d kept his magic-viewing spell up. With more care towards silence, they crept forward. Azara noted the lightening of the forest ahead. She led the way to the side of the increased brightness. Eventually the area they approached was lit up, and the two of them were crouched in the shadows of the trees, staring at what was in front of them.
What appeared
to be a small stone fort stood in the middle of a clearing, surrounded by a shoulder-high fence that was ringed in torches. The fort looked ancient, parts of it repaired with wood and stone of a dark grey as opposed to the brown of the original. A large wooden gate stood closed, two men standing in front of it, while two more were coming towards them, each with a bayonet over a shoulder.
Behind the fort were several wooden buildings, the three biggest like barns, long and wide with only a few windows high up. Azara frowned at that, but the guards were approaching so she hunkered down with Jin, listening intently as the two men’s voices carried.
“...not been going well. I heard their favourite stud is getting old. They’re thinking of putting him to work and pulling up a younger one or two to take his place,” the one with the mustache said.
“That’ll be interesting to see. They’ve had him at stud almost as long as they’ve had him.” The other one’s voice was more nasal.
Neither man gave more than a cursory glance towards the woods, making Azara roll her eyes. Great guards they were. “You know how they are. If they’re not breeding, they need to be working. There’s no in between. That’s why I’m glad...”
The mustached man’s voice got softer, eventually fading too low to be able to hear. The touch of Jin’s hand had her looking towards him.
“There are fire mages in the three largest buildings.” His lips were practically against her ear, his voice the softest thread of a whisper. “We’ve found their main camp.”
Azara grinned wolfishly at him. “Then it’s time we prepare to show them how terrifying we, and fire mages, can really be.”
Chapter Twenty-One: Weaknesses
Jin was pressed up against Azara, the two of them perched on one of the larger branches of an oak set a little ways from the camp. They could see through the leaves, and with their brown and green clothing, would hopefully blend in with the forest. They hadn’t seen any of the guards look up during their initial reconnaissance. Both last night, and earlier this morning.
The two of them watched what lay below them. The camp was laid out neatly, with most of the guards going to and from the fort. They hadn’t seen too much movement out of the wooden buildings. Guards sometimes went in, but most seemed to be carrying food.
Based on the magic signatures, Jin thought there might be as many as sixty fire mages in camp. This had to be the largest concentration of fire mages in one place to ever exist. The emperor’s information had been correct, Nalbin was planning something. Likely against the Empire.
And it would be quite a blow to Nalbin and their higher-ups if they were able to free all the fire mages here. It was something that would please the emperor. Not that Jin would have left them, not when he remembered what it was like to be trapped in a cage, not knowing what would happen...
He shook those thoughts away. That had been a long time ago, and he was free now. He’d see the fire mages free. Not that Azara would have let him do anything else. Determination ran in every line of her body, her focus sharper. She was prepared to bathe herself in blood if that’s what it took to save everyone.
Jin would do what he could to keep her from needing to do that, would use his not immodest arsenal of offensive spells. He had a couple that would make short work of a decent-sized force, but did require a long cast time. It was incredibly effective.
First they had to get in. There was a small gap in the fence opposite the gate, near the sheds they believed held the midden and privies. Azara had said she could cut through the rest with the crystal. That would have to wait until dusk. Nightfall had the torch ring and guard patrol that they couldn’t risk catching them. The plan for now was to cut through, slip inside, and replace as much of the wall as they could to disguise things. There didn’t seem to be patrols inside the grounds, and it was likely sometime around dusk the guards would be eating.
The fire mages themselves wouldn’t likely give them away, not when they found out Azara was one of them and they were trying to free them. They might know something of Nalbin’s plans, which would be a good way to ensure their safety when they returned to the Empire. That itself would be a challenge, one he wasn’t sure how they were going to manage.
If they could convince the fire mages to help, they would be quite the force to reckon with. There was a reason fire mages were so often enslaved. He could only imagine what they would be capable of when free, and allowed to fight against those who had kept them captive. From the look of the camp, he doubted they would have any loyalty to their guards.
Jin would recommend they not be enslaved again. Being given their freedom would make them both more grateful and more likely to remain in the Empire. Given employment and provided enough of them agreed to fight for the Empire as needed, it would be a win all around. The emperor could guarantee their safety, especially if he allowed them to dwell in the Palace City. Jin thought Azara would like that. It might even make her more inclined to stay.
Which was how he would frame it to the emperor if necessary. Azara was unique and harder to handle than most fire mages. Keeping her nearby would require more effort, but it would be worth it. She could be a real asset to court.
That wasn’t the only reason Jin wanted her to stay. He glanced at her, noting the narrowed gaze and the way it tracked every bit of movement below, like a hunting hawk. He wanted her to stay. He was sure he could convince the emperor to make their partnership more permanent, and, if he was careful and patient, he thought he could build a relationship with her. The foundation was there, but she wasn’t someone who did anything lightly. She was as likely to tell him to go jump into the river as to give him any encouragement. It would be slowgoing, but Jin was willing to risk it.
Because she would be worth it. She might have sharp edges, she might be reckless, and she might not always listen to him, but she was confident, strong, and would challenge him. She would be a partner in private as well as public. They were alike enough that they were compatible but different enough to keep things lively. But he wasn’t sure if he could interest Azara enough to give up her wandering ways.
Jin repressed a sigh, his focus going to the movement that was the same as it had been for most of the day. Whatever the future might hold, they needed to get through the next few days before he’d have a chance to worry about it. As much as he wanted to let his dream spread out.
* * *
They’d taken it in turns to sleep as much as they could, but with the sunlight a dark gold as the day wore on, both of them were too keyed up. Azara dutifully munched her way through some bread, noting that Jin was picking at his. She didn’t blame him. If she hadn’t known she’d need the energy, she wouldn’t have been forcing herself to eat.
They were close. So close. There were more fire mages beyond the walls than had been in her village. Someone here must have heard something of her parents, maybe seen them. She wouldn’t let herself think that they could be here. She wouldn’t be able to focus.
The two of them taking on all the guards would be suicide. Even by her standards. She might survive, but Jin wouldn’t, and she’d never be able to free the fire mages. No. They needed to free the others first, then with their help, take the camp. And from there, figure out how it would be quickest to get across the border.
Their plans were set, they both knew what to do, and now they were stuck with the worst of it. Waiting. Azara glanced at Jin. She caught his eyes on her before he turned away. She frowned, touching her face to make sure she didn’t have bread stuck anywhere, but nothing fell when she brushed at her lips.
Azara frowned. She hoped he wasn’t having second thoughts on their plans. They were solid, that they were a good mix of expediency and safety for themselves and the fire mages. If they were to work together properly, they couldn’t leave any doubts between them. Not anymore.
She stood and moved over to where he sat on a fallen l
og, dropping down beside him. He jerked his head to stare at her. He opened his mouth before she could. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine. Are you prepared? I know this is different than what you’re used to. You typically work with several mages and soldiers. It’s only me, but I think we can do this. No, I know we can do this.”
“I’m confident in both your skills and our plans.”
Azara relaxed and smiled at him. His gaze dipped then flicked away. Jin was jiggling one leg, his eyes going to her, mostly her face, before going back towards the trees. Several things fell into place. Why he’d been so uncomfortable in the shelter, why he often went stiff when she got close, why he wasn’t meeting her eyes.
She’d gotten hints of just how innocent he was, but this? A slow grin spread across her face. This could be interesting. They had time to pass, and they could both stand to relax. If she was being honest, she’d admit she’d been sneaking peeks at him when the occasion presented itself. Maybe this would be the right incentive to lure him away from the emperor. She would happily take him with her on her hunt for fire mages, if he’d go. He was a good match for her. And if they proved to be physically compatible, well, that was one more way to secure their partnership.
It was obvious from the way he’d acted up until now that Jin wasn’t about to take the initiative. She didn’t mind leading in this kind of dance. But she couldn’t resist the urge to tease him. Azara shifted closer, so her one leg pressed against his.
Jin immediately went tense and she hid a grin. This was going to be fun. He looked at her, and she met his gaze, leaning forward, so that their shoulders almost touched. Jin swallowed. With his eyes on her, he didn’t see the hand she crept forward, laying it on his knee.
He jerked and stared down then met her gaze again, his eyes wide. That was too much for her. She grinned. He drew away, but she didn’t let him get far. She put one hand on the side of his face, cupping his cheek. He went still. Azara leaned in and pressed her lips against his.
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