And there he stood in Signe’s uniform, studying me with his powerful gold eyes. I blinked several times. The transformation from Signe to Commander Ambrose was so complete that I could only see a faint resemblance to the Ambassador in his face.
The Commander rolled up the execution order and tapped it on his palm as his gaze grew distant. Considering all the options, I thought, he never made a hasty decision.
“A valid point,” he said.
He stood and paced the small area. I saw a bedroll on the floor behind him and a lantern. The tent and table appeared to be his only luxuries.
Commander Ambrose stopped then tore my execution order into small pieces, sprinkling them onto the ground. Turning, he held out his hand to me. “Agreed, Liaison Yelena.”
“Liaison Yelena Zaltana,” I corrected as we shook hands.
We discussed the Commander’s plans for Ixia and how he wanted to expand trade with Sitia. He insisted I finish my magical training before becoming the official liaison. Before I left, I witnessed Ambassador Signe’s return. It was then that I felt, for a brief moment, that two souls resided within one body. That would explain why he had been so successful at keeping his secret.
I mulled over the interesting idea to keep my mind off the startling fact that I was going to return to the Keep. The Ambassador’s retinue finished packing. I told Ari and Janco that I would see them again.
“Next time, your ass is mine,” Janco sang.
“Keep your skills sharp,” Ari ordered.
“It was bad enough having two mothers, now I have two fathers,” I teased.
“Send word if you need us,” Ari said.
“Yes, sir.”
I headed south as the Ixians traveled north. Pulling a thread of magic, I projected my awareness. One of the Sitian spies followed me in hopes that I would meet up with Valek. I sent the man a confusing array of images until he lost all sense of what he was supposed to do.
Remembering Valek’s promise, I didn’t travel too far. I found an empty wooded area between two farms and set up a small campsite. As the sunlight faded, I projected my awareness into the surrounding woods. A few bats began to wake and a couple rabbits crept through the underbrush. All was quiet except for the steady approach of Cahil and his men.
He didn’t try to mask his movements. Bold and cocky, Cahil left his men guarding the edge of the wood while he continued toward me. I sighed, more annoyed than scared, and reached for my bow.
I glanced around. Nowhere to hide on the ground, although the tree canopy might offer some protection. It might work except Marrok waited with Cahil’s men. And I was certain the Captain’s tracking skills had led Cahil to me. I would have to resort to using magic in my defense. Projecting, I reached toward Cahil’s mind.
His emotions boiled with hate, but he had tempered them with a cold calculation. He stopped at the edge of my camp and inclined his head. “May I join you?”
“It depends on your intentions,” I said.
“I thought you could read my intentions.” He paused. “I see you have decided to stay in Sitia. A bold move considering the Council will know about your involvement with Valek.”
“I’m not a spy, Cahil. And the Council needs a liaison with Ixia.”
He barked out a laugh. “You’re a liaison now? That’s funny. Do you really think the Council will trust you?”
“Do you think the Council will go to war for a commoner?”
Cahil sobered for a moment. He glanced over his shoulder in the direction where his men waited. “I will find out the truth about that. But it really doesn’t matter to me anymore. I’ve decided to take matters into my own hands.”
Even though he hadn’t moved, I could feel a renewed sense of threat from him. “Why are you telling me this? You know you can’t get to Valek through me. Besides, he’s back in Ixia by now.”
He shook his head. “As if I would believe you. A beautiful day for riding and you stop here?” He gestured to the surrounding woods then took two steps toward me. “I’m here to give you a warning.” Another step.
I brandished my bow. “Stop right there.”
“You once said you thought Goel was decent for warning you about his intentions. I thought I would do the same. I know I can’t beat you or Valek—even my men don’t have a chance—but someone, somewhere has that ability. I’ll swear I’ll find him and, together, we’ll make it our mission to see you and Valek dead.” With that, Cahil spun around and headed for his men.
I didn’t relax my grip on my bow until Cahil mounted Topaz and rode away. His men followed behind, running to keep up. As I broke my connection with Cahil’s mind, I dipped into Marrok’s mind. He was scared and worried about Cahil’s odd behavior. That made two of us.
That night, my campfire seemed lonely until Valek arrived. He appeared by the fireside, warming his hands over the flames. I decided not to ruin our last night together by telling him about Cahil’s visit.
“Forgot your cloak again?” I asked.
He smiled. “I like sharing yours.”
Long after the fire had died, I fell asleep wrapped in Valek’s arms. When the sun intruded, I burrowed deeper under my cloak.
“Come with me,” Valek said.
It wasn’t a plea or an order. An invitation.
Regret ached in my heart. “I still have much to learn. And when I’m ready, I’ll be the new liaison between Ixia and Sitia.”
“That could lead to serious trouble,” Valek teased.
“You would be bored if it was any other way.”
He laughed. “You’re right. And so was my snake.”
“Snake?”
He pulled my arm out to expose my bracelet. “When I carved this, my thoughts were on you, love. Your life is like this snake’s coils. No matter how many turns it makes, you’ll end up back where you belong. With me.” His sapphire eyes held a promise. “I’ll look forward to your first official visit. But don’t wait too long. Please.”
“I won’t.”
After another kiss, Valek rose and, as he dressed, I told him about Cahil.
“Many have tried to kill us. All have failed.” He shrugged. “We’ve thrown him a curve. Either he’ll sulk over his lack of royal blood and disappear, or he’ll make himself believe we lied and will have a renewed determination to attack Ixia, which should make life interesting for the new liaison.”
“Interesting isn’t the word I would use.”
“Make sure you keep a close eye on him.” Valek smiled ruefully. “I have to go, love. I promised the Ambassador I would catch up to her at the border. If there is going to be any trouble from the Sitians it would be near there.”
I regretted my decision to stay the moment he left and utter loneliness overcame me. But Kiki’s cold nose against my cheek intruded on my morose thoughts.
Kiki stay with Lavender Lady, she said. Kiki help.
Yes, you’re a big help.
Smart.
Smarter than me, I agreed.
Apple?
You’ve grazed all night. How can you still be hungry?
Always room for apple.
I laughed and fed her an apple before we began our two-day trip back to the Keep.
When I arrived at the Keep’s gate, the guard instructed me to go directly to the Master’s meeting room. As I gave Kiki a quick rubdown at the stables, I wondered what had been going on in my absence.
Students hurried from one building to the next as an icy wind blew through the campus. They gave me only a fleeting surprised glance before increasing their pace. The gray sky darkened and sleet cut through the air. An ominous start to the cold season. I pulled my hood up to protect my face.
I had arrived in Sitia at the beginning of the hot season. The two seasons I had lived here felt more like two years.
When I entered the conference room, three neutral expressions and one livid greeted my arrival. Roze threw a ball of furious energy at me. It hit me square on the chest, and I stumbled back before defle
cting her attack. Pulling power to me, I projected my awareness toward her. Her mental defenses were impenetrable, but I aimed lower. Through her heart and into her soul. A much more vulnerable spot.
Now, now, I said. Play nice.
She jumped. What? How?
I have found your soul, Roze. It’s dark and nasty in here. You’ve been hanging around those criminal types too long. You better change your ways or this soul won’t fly to the sky.
Her amber eyes burned into mine with all the hate and loathing she could muster. Underneath, though, she was terrified. Hate and loathing didn’t bother me, but fear was a powerful emotion. Fear causes the dog to bite and Roze was one bitch.
I released her. Roze sputtered and glared at me with a poisonous gaze. I stared back with calm patience. Eventually, she stormed from the room.
“So it is true,” Bain said into the sudden silence. “You are a Soulfinder.” He seemed more thoughtful than scared.
“What made her so upset?” I asked.
Irys gestured for me to sit down. I sank into one of the plush chairs.
“Roze thinks you and Valek are part of a plot to assassinate the Council.” Before I could respond, Irys went on, “There’s no proof. But what is more alarming is Ferde’s escape from the Keep’s cells.”
I jumped to my feet. “Ferde escaped? When? Where?”
Irys exchanged a knowing glance with Bain. “I told you she had nothing to do with his release,” she said to him. Then to me, “We’re not sure when. He was discovered missing this morning.” Irys gave me a wry grin. “We think Cahil rescued him.”
“Cahil?” Now I was confused.
“He is gone. Captain Marrok was found brutally beaten. Once Marrok regained consciousness, he told us Cahil had tortured him until Marrok had told him the truth.” Irys stopped, shaking her head in astonishment.
“That Cahil doesn’t have royal blood,” I said.
“You knew?” Zitora asked. “Why didn’t you tell us?”
“I suspected. But Valek just confirmed my suspicions.”
“Marrok told us that Cahil’s mother had died in childbirth and he was the son of a soldier slain during the Ixian takeover. When they fled to Sitia, they took him along,” Irys explained.
“Where is he now?” I asked.
“We don’t know,” Irys said. “And we don’t know what his plans are now that he has learned the truth, and why he took Ferde with him.”
So much for Valek’s sulk-and-do-nothing theory about Cahil’s reaction to his origins. “I guess, we’ll just have to find him and ask,” I said.
“But not yet,” Irys said, and sighed. “The Council is a mess. Since you released all those souls, Ferde is weak and will be unable to do any magic for quite some time. And…” She hesitated, and I had the unpleasant feeling that I wasn’t going to like what she said next. “They want you to explore your Soulfinder capabilities and perhaps become a Council Adviser.”
Discovering my abilities matched my own wishes, but if I wanted to be a neutral liaison, I couldn’t be attached to the Council in any capacity.
“They don’t need a Council Adviser,” I said. “They need a liaison with Ixia.”
“I know,” Irys said.
“We should go after Ferde and Cahil today.”
“I know. You’ll just have to convince the Council of that.”
I stared at Irys. My Story Weaver had to be laughing his blue ass off right now. My future appeared to be a long twisted road fraught with knots, tangles, and traps.
Just the way I liked it.
Fire Study
Maria V. Snyder
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
1
“THAT’S PATHETIC, YELENA,” Dax complained. “An all-powerful Soulfinder who isn’t all-powerful. Where’s the fun in that?” He threw up his long thin arms in mock frustration.
“Sorry to disappoint you, but I’m not the one who attached the ‘all-powerful’ to the title.” I pulled a black strand of hair from my eyes. Dax and I had been working on expanding my magical abilities without success. As we practiced on the ground floor of Irys’s Keep tower—well, mine too, since she has given me three floors to use—I tried not to let my own aggravation interfere with the lessons.
Dax was attempting to teach me how to move objects with magic. He had rearranged the furniture, lined up the plush armchairs in neat rows and turned the couch over on its side with his power. My efforts to restore Irys’s cozy layout and to stop an end table from chasing me failed. Though not from lack of trying—my shirt clung to my sweaty skin.
A sudden chill shook me. Despite a small fire in the hearth, the rugs and the closed shutters, the living room was icy. The white marble walls, while wonderful during the hot season, sucked all the heat from the air throughout the cold season. I imagined the room’s warmth following the stone’s green veins and escaping outside.
Dax Greenblade, my friend, tugged his tunic down. Tall and lean, his physique matched a typical Greenblade Clan member. He reminded me of a blade of grass, including a sharp edge—his tongue.
“Obviously you have no ability to move objects, so let’s try fire. Even a baby can light a fire!” Dax placed a candle on the table.
“A baby? Now you’re really exaggerating. Again.” A person’s ability to access the power source and perform magic manifested at puberty.
“Details. Details.” Dax waved a hand as if shooing a fly. “Now concentrate on lighting this candle.”
I cocked an eyebrow at him. So far, all my efforts on inanimate items were for naught. I could heal my friend’s body, hear his thoughts and even see his soul, but when I reached for a thread of magic and tried to use it to move a chair, nothing happened.
Dax held up three tan fingers. “Three reasons why you should be able to do this. One, you’re powerful. Two, you’re tenacious. And three, you’ve beat Ferde, the Soulstealer.”
Who had escaped, and was free to start another soul-stealing spree. “Reminding me of Ferde is helping me how…?”
“It’s supposed to be a pep talk. Do you want me to list all the heroic deeds you’ve—”
“No. Let’s get on with the lesson.” The last thing I wanted was to hear Dax recite the latest gossip. The news about my being a Soulfinder had spread through the Magician’s Keep like dandelion seeds carried by a strong wind. And I still couldn’t think about the title without a cringe of doubt, worry and fear touching my heart.
I pushed all distracting thoughts aside and connected to the power source. The power blanketed the world, but only magicians could pull threads of magic from it to use. I gathered a strand to me and directed it to the candle, willing a flame to form.
Nothing.
“Try harder,” Dax said.
Increasing the power, I aimed again.
Behind the candle, Dax’s face turned red and he sputtered as if suppressing a cough. A flash seared my eyes as the wick ignited.
“That’s rude.” His outraged expression was comical.
“You wanted it lit.”
“Yeah,
but I didn’t want to do it for you!” He glanced around the room as if seeking the patience to deal with an unruly child. “Zaltanas and their weird powers, forcing me to light the candle. Pah! To think I wanted to live vicariously through your adventures.”
“Watch what you say about my clan. Or I’ll…” I cast about for a good threat.
“You’ll what?”
“I’ll tell Second Magician where you disappear to every time he pulls one of those old books off his shelf.” Bain was Dax’s mentor, and, while the Second Magician delighted in ancient history, Dax would rather learn the newest dance steps.
“Okay, okay. You win and you’ve proved your point. No ability to light a fire. I’ll stick to translating ancient languages.” Dax made a dour face. “And you stick to finding souls.” He teased, but I sensed an undercurrent to his words.
His uneasiness over my abilities was for excellent reasons. The last Soulfinder was born in Sitia about a hundred and fifty years ago. During his short life, he had turned his enemies into mindless slaves and almost succeeded in his quest to rule the country. Most Sitians didn’t react well to the news about another Soulfinder.
The awkward moment passed as a mischievous glint lit Dax’s bottle-green eyes. “I’d better go. I have to study. We have a history test tomorrow. Remember?”
I groaned, thinking of the large tome waiting for me.
“Your knowledge of Sitian history is also pathetic.”
The Study Series Bundle Page 67