The Study Series Bundle

by Maria V. Snyder

  I smiled. “What do you know?”

  “I’ll show you.” Fisk pulled on my hand.

  Irys, who had remained silent during our exchange, asked, “Can I come with you?”

  Fisk ducked his head, looking at the ground. “If it pleases you, Fourth Magician,” he mumbled.

  A wry grin touched Irys’s face. “So much for my disguise.”

  Fisk glanced up in surprise. “Only the beggars who work near the Council’s Hall would recognize you, Fourth Magician. With not much to do all day, they study the Council members. It’s a game to be the first to recognize one of the Master Magicians.”

  Irys considered Fisk’s comments. He squirmed under her scrutiny until he couldn’t stand it any longer and turned away from her stare.

  “Come. This way,” he said.

  We followed him through the Citadel. Cutting across back alleys and empty courtyards, I wondered if Valek followed us. The residents seemed intent on their chores and hardly noticed our passage.

  Fisk stopped before we reached an open plaza. A large jade statue of a tortoise with intricate carvings on its shell occupied the middle of the square. The dark green turtle shot water out of its mouth and into a pool of water.

  Pointing to a building on the opposite side of the plaza, Fisk said, “On the second floor lives a man with red lines on his hands. He’s new and no one knows him. He wears a cloak that hides his face. My brother has seen a young girl enter the building, carrying packages.”

  I looked at Irys. Was this quarter searched with magic? I asked her with my mind.

  Yes. But not by a Master.

  She stretched out her awareness and my mind’s eye went with her. Our minds touched a young woman nursing a baby on the first floor. Her thoughts on getting the baby to nap after he’d eaten his fill. Another woman on the third floor worried about the possibility of rain. We could feel no one on the second floor, but Ferde’s magic matched Irys’s in strength and he would not be easy to detect.

  I could push harder, but he would know we were here, Irys said. I will come back with some reinforcements.

  Who?

  Roze and Bain. Together we should be able to subdue him. And once he’s unconscious, he’ll be easier to transport to the Keep’s prison.

  Why unconscious?

  A magician is helpless when unconscious.

  Sleeping? I asked in alarm.

  No. Only if it’s a drugged sleep or you get knocked out.

  What happens once he wakes? Won’t he be able to use his magic to escape?

  The Keep’s prison cells contain a power loop. If a magician tries to use magic within the cell, the loop absorbs the magical power and directs it back into the cell’s defenses until the magician is exhausted.

  Fisk, who had been staring at us in fascination, cleared his throat. “Do you think the one you seek is living here?”

  “Could the young girl your brother saw be the one with the baby?” Irys asked Fisk.

  He shook his head. “That’s Ruby. Sometimes she hires me to watch Jatee.”

  I grinned. “You’re turning into quite the entrepreneur.”

  “I bought my mother a new dress,” he said with pride.

  Rain began to fall as we made our way back to the market. With a wave, Fisk joined his friends and disappeared. The market emptied as the vendors packed up their wares. One woman bumped into me in her haste to get out of the rain. She shouted an apology, but never slowed her pace. Rumbles of thunder echoed off the hard marble walls of the Citadel.

  I’ll find Roze and Bain. You return to the Keep, Irys instructed.

  But I want to be there when you search that building.

  No. Stay at the Keep, Yelena. He wants you. And if something goes wrong and he threatens to hurt Opal, you know you’ll give yourself up. It’s too dangerous.

  I wanted to argue. But Irys was right, and, if I followed her despite her instructions, she wouldn’t trust me again.

  Irys headed toward the Council Hall to find Roze, who had an appointment with the Ixian Ambassador. A meeting I would have loved to eavesdrop on. The arrogant Master Magician against the powerful Commander.

  The rain began to fall in sheets, soaking my cloak. When I tucked my cold, wet hands into the pockets, my fingers touched paper. I couldn’t remember putting anything there. I hadn’t worn my cloak since coming to Sitia, although, I had used it to sleep when we had camped on the Avibian Plains. Perhaps the paper contained a cryptic message from Story Weaver. I laughed; it seemed to be something he would enjoy doing, leaving a puzzling note in my cloak. However, the mystery would have to wait until I found some shelter from the rain.

  My guards waited at the Keep’s entrance. They followed me as I headed toward my room. After they searched the interior, I invited them inside, but they declined, citing some military regulation.

  After I started a roaring fire and hung up my sodden cloak, I extracted the paper. It was a message for me. My hands turned to ice as I read the words, and even the heat from the hearth couldn’t warm them up.

  “What does the message say?” Valek asked, coming from the bedroom.

  I had ceased to be amazed by his abilities. Dripping wet, he must have come in through the bedroom window past one of my guards.

  He plucked the paper from my hand. “She had some rudimentary skills. Probably a pickpocket hired to give you this note. Did you get a good look at her face?”

  I made the belated connection between the woman who had bumped into me in the market and the message. “No. Her hood covered most of her head.”

  Valek shrugged, but his gaze pierced me after he scanned the note. “Interesting development.”

  Yes, Valek would think this turn of events interesting. However, I found myself conflicted.

  “Seems the killer is one step ahead of the magicians,” he said. “He knows they won’t exchange you for Opal. So he has taken matters into his own hands. How important is Opal’s life to you?”

  Valek had, as usual, gotten to the heart of the matter. Ferde’s note specified a location and a new date for the exchange. Three nights before the full moon, which was four days from now. I guessed that he needed some time to get me ready for the Efe ritual. My skin crawled with dread and I forced horrible images of being raped and tortured from my mind.

  I could tell Irys and the others. They would set a trap for Ferde. But they wouldn’t let me near the site, so the trap was bound to fail.

  Or I wouldn’t tell Irys about the note and would go to the meeting site alone. Irys’s warnings of what would happen if Ferde absorbed my magic filtered through my mind. He would then be powerful enough to control Sitia.

  Let Opal die to save Sitia? I had promised myself that I wouldn’t let that happen to her. And what would stop Ferde once Opal died from tricking another magician into giving him her soul? Nothing.

  I would need to keep this new situation tucked deep beneath my surface thoughts. Irys had been true to her word to not pry into my mind, but with the fate of Sitia at stake, I wouldn’t be surprised if she broke her promise.

  My gaze met Valek’s. Magic couldn’t detect him.

  “Her life is important,” I said, answering his question. “But capturing the killer is vital.”

  “What do you need, love?”

  26

  VALEK AND I MADE SOME initial plans for rescuing Opal. When he returned to the Ixian delegation, I felt a renewed sense of purpose. The next day I used my free time to practice controlling my magic and to do some physical training in preparation for my encounter with Ferde.

  Irys, Roze and Bain had raided the apartment where, according to Fisk, the man with the red hands lived. The rooms were empty, and, by the mess that was scattered on the floor, the occupants had left in a hurry. Either someone had tipped him off, or he had felt the Masters’ approach. A dead end either way, which made Valek and my plans critical.

  I also began demonstrating self-defense techniques to Zitora, finally keeping my side of our bargain to
trade the Third Magician’s pile of clothes for defense training. The review helped in my training, as well.

  The rain from the day before puddled in the training yard, and splattered us with mud as we worked on basic self-defense techniques. A apt student, Zitora quickly grasped the concepts.

  “I pull my wrist out of your grasp through your thumb?” Zitora asked.

  “Yes. It’s the weakest part.” I grunted as she yanked her arm from me. “Perfect. Now I’ll show you how to not only free your wrist, but twist your hand so you can grab your attacker’s arm and break it.”

  Her eyes lit up with glee and I laughed. “Everyone thinks you’re so sweet and nice. I almost feel sorry for the first person to try and take advantage of that. Almost!”

  We worked for a while until her moves became more instinctive.

  “That’s a good start,” I said. “Those moves will help you against someone stronger than you, but if you go against a well-trained opponent, you’ll have to use different tactics.”

  Zitora looked past my shoulder and her tawny eyes grew wide. “You mean I could take on someone like him?”

  I turned. Ari strode into the training area with Janco at his heels. Wearing his sleeveless training shirt and short pants, his powerful physique was apparent. While Janco might be leaner than his partner, I knew his speed could match Ari’s strength. They carried bows and broad smiles. My Keep guards looked queasy and undecided. I waved them off.

  “Yes,” I said to Zitora. “With the proper training, you could escape from him. You wouldn’t last in a sparring match, but that’s not what self-defense is all about. Remember what I told you? Hit and—”

  “Git!” Janco added. “Run like a bunny with a wolf on its tail. I see you’re passing our wisdom on, Yelena.” Janco turned to Zitora, and said in a conspiratorial whisper, “She was trained by the very best instructors in all of Ixia.”

  “Another rule of self-defense is never believe everything you hear,” Ari said when Zitora appeared to be impressed by Janco’s words.

  “How did you get past the Keep’s guards?” I asked Ari.

  He shrugged his massive shoulders. “The guard asked for our names and our reason for visiting. We told him and he went into the guardhouse to consult with someone. When he came out he told us where to find you.”

  There must be a magician posted at the gate who could communicate by magic to others in the Keep. That was good to know.

  “Can we join you?” Janco asked. “I learned a few new self-defense moves. They’re nasty, too!”

  “We were just finishing up,” I said.

  Zitora wiped her face with a towel. “I need to get cleaned up before my Council meeting.” She hurried off with a wave.

  “Are you too tired for a match?” Janco asked. “I want to make sure you’re at your best when I beat you.” He smiled sweetly.

  “He’s been getting into trouble all day,” Ari said. “Too much time spent standing around, guarding Ambassador Signe and Adviser Ilom as they sat through one meeting after another.”

  “Boring!” agreed Janco.

  The fact that Valek had managed to fool Ari and Janco with his Ilom disguise made me feel a little better about his presence in Sitia.

  “I could be half-asleep and still beat you, Janco,” I countered with my own boast.

  He spun his bow and stepped back into a fighting stance. I picked my bow up and set my mind into my zone of concentration. I attacked.

  “Good to know you’re keeping fit,” Janco puffed. He retreated a few feet, but counterattacked with determination. “She’s strong and spry, but can she fly?” Janco chanted.

  I smiled, realizing how much I had missed his fighting rhymes. A second before he moved, I knew that he would feint high to draw my guard up so he could strike my exposed ribs. My failure to take the bait and to counter the rib strike shocked Janco into silence. Laughing, I drove him back, swept his feet out from under him, and scooted back to avoid the splash of mud when he dropped into a puddle.

  Wiping his eyes with the back of his hand, Janco said, “Gee, Ari, and you were worried about her.”

  “She’s learned a new trick since coming to Sitia,” Cahil said. He was leaning on the training yard’s fence, and must have watched the match.

  Ari’s posture turned defensive and alert as Cahil moved to join us. Armed with his long sword, Cahil wore a loose sand-colored tunic and brown pants.

  After I introduced Cahil, Ari still didn’t relax. He kept a wary eye on him. I hoped Ari and Janco didn’t recognize Cahil’s name. Names of the dead King’s family were not mentioned in the Commander’s history books of the takeover, and if the older citizens of Ixia remembered, they kept it to themselves.

  “What trick?” Janco asked.

  “A magic trick. She anticipated your every move by reading your mind. Devious, isn’t she?” Cahil asked.

  Before Janco could respond, I said, “I didn’t read his mind. I kept my own mind open and picked up on his intentions.”

  “Sounds like the same thing to me,” Cahil countered. “Leif was right when he accused you of using magic to beat me that time we sparred in the forest. Not only devious, but a liar, too.”

  I placed a hand on Ari’s arm to keep him from throttling Cahil. “Cahil, I didn’t need to read your mind. Truth is you’re not as skilled as Ari and Janco. In fact, they taught me to find that zone of concentration, or else I never would have the chance to win against them. There is only one person I know who could take them on and win without any help,” I said.

  Janco considered. “One?” He scratched at the scar in his right ear, thinking.

  “Valek,” Ari said.

  “Oh, yes. The infamous Valek. I’m sure his lover would think that highly of him. Or should I call you his spy?” Cahil stared at me in challenge.

  “I think you should leave. Now,” Ari said. His voice rumbled close to a growl.

  “This is my home. Thanks to Valek. You leave,” Cahil said to Ari, but his eyes never left my face.

  Janco stepped between us. “Let’s see if I have this right,” he said to Cahil. “Yelena beats you, so you want a rematch, but you think she’ll use her magic instead of her fighting skills to win. That’s quite the quandary.” Janco pulled at his goatee. “Since I taught her everything she knows, and I don’t have any magic, thank fate, how about you fight me? Your long sword against my bow.”

  “You taught her everything?” Ari asked.

  Janco waved away his comment. “Details, details. I’m thinking big picture here, Ari.”

  Cahil agreed to the match. With a confident expression, Cahil assumed a fighting stance then attacked. Janco’s bow blurred and he unarmed Cahil within three moves. His mood didn’t improve when Janco told Cahil he needed to use a lighter sword.

  “She helped you,” Cahil said to Janco. “I should know better than to trust a bunch of northerners.” Cahil stalked away with the promise of a future encounter flaming in his eyes.

  I shrugged his comments off. Cahil wouldn’t ruin my time with my friends. Challenging Janco to another match, I swung my bow toward him, but he blocked it with ease and countered with one of his lightning-fast jabs.

  The three of us worked together for a while. Even connected to my mental zone, Ari still beat me twice.

  Ari grinned. “I’m trying not to project my intentions,” he said after dumping me in the mud.

  The daylight disappeared in a hurry. Tired, covered with layers of mud and sweat and smelling as if I could attract dung beetles, I longed for a bath.

  Before Ari and Janco headed back to the Citadel, Ari put a large hand on my shoulder. “Be extremely careful. I don’t like the way Cahil looked at you.”

  “I’m always careful, Ari.” I waved and aimed my sore body toward the bathhouse.

  The cooling season was ending; I could see the Ice Queen constellation glittering in the clear night sky. The half-moon glowed like a jewel. Only six days until the full moon. I shivered in the cold air
. The puddles would be frozen by morning.

  My thoughts lingered on Cahil and how fast our relationship had changed back to those first days when he had believed I was a northern spy. A full circle. I reached for my snake bracelet, spinning it around my arm.

  Only when I noticed that the campus seemed strangely empty and quiet did I look around for my guards. Used to their presence, it took me a few moments before I realized that they no longer followed me.

  Pulling my bow, I searched for attackers. I saw no one. I drew power to project my awareness out, but a bug bit me on the neck, and, distracted, I slapped at it. My fingers found a tiny dart. The hollow metal end dripped with my blood.

  I lied to Ari. I wasn’t careful. I had trusted my guards to keep me safe. Hundreds of excuses for my lapse churned through my mind as the world around me began to spin. No one to blame but myself.

  Unfortunately this acknowledgement of my own stupidity didn’t prevent the blackness from claiming me.

  27

  A SHARP PAIN AND A BURNING numbness in my shoulders roused me from sleep. With a rank taste in my dry mouth, I glanced around. Nothing looked familiar. And why was I standing? Not standing, but hanging. Looking up, I spotted the reason for my position. My wrists were manacled to the ends of a long chain that hung from a thick wooden beam in the ceiling. Once I put my weight on my feet, the pain in my shoulders eased somewhat.

  Studying my surroundings, I saw rusted shovels and dirt encrusted hoes lining the wooden walls. Spiderwebs clung to dull-edged scythes. Dust coated the tools. Sunlight filtered in through small cracks and holes, illuminating what I guessed to be an abandoned shed with a muted light.

  My confusion about how I had gotten here disappeared the moment I heard his voice behind me.

  “We’ll start your lessons now.” Goel’s satisfied tone caused my stomach to lurch.

  “Turn around and see what I have planned for you,” he said.

  My skin prickled with fear, but I forced my face into a neutral expression before I spun. A smirk lit Goel’s face as he gestured to a table on his right. Weapons and exotic instruments of torture covered the top. A wagon containing an empty burlap sack was to the left of Goel. The structure was bigger than I had thought. The shed’s door loomed behind him, appearing impossibly far to me, but in reality only ten feet.