by Amy Hopkins
“My dear girl, would you mind helping me up to my room? These old joints need more than a bit of elixir to loosen them.” Julianne nodded in response to Margit’s request. Margit waved away Danil’s offer to help, then eyed the cup still loosely grasped in his hand. “You going to drink that?”
He snorted a laugh and handed it over. Margit leaned on Julianne’s arm, holding her cup out so it didn’t spill as they left the room.
“I expect you’ve led me away to offer some kind of sage advice?” Julianne murmured as they reached the stairs.
“Advice? I just wanted help so I didn’t spill my drink.” As if to emphasize her point, she stopped and took a mouthful. “Sometimes I wish this stuff had a little more kick, like that mead they drink down at Craigston.”
“If it did, the entire mystic community would be stumbling around drunk every day,” Julianne said wryly. The elixir had been crafted to soothe the mind of magic users without the side effects of alcohol.
“Most of those fools wouldn’t know the difference.” Margit handed Julianne the now empty glass, dropping the girl’s arm in favor of the stair railing. “Of course, if you want advice, I’m happy to oblige.”
Julianne rolled her eyes and dropped Margit’s arm.
“Last time you gave me advice, it was to find a hot young stud to train up as my assistant. What was it you said? ‘Why do it yourself when someone can do it for you, all while they’re doing you, too?’”
The woman smiled and paused at the top of the stairs. “You are the master of this domain, Julianne. Selah left you in charge for a reason.”
“Because I was the strongest,” Julianne said, knowing it was her magical strength that had gained her the position.
“Oh, don’t be ridiculous. You think he’d have left an idiot in charge, or a warmonger?”
Julianne had to admit it as unlikely. Selah had been an idealist, and a kind man. He had to have some level of trust in Julianne above her technical ability to give her the title of Master when he was gone.
“Selah always knew you’d be our next leader. Not because you’re strong, but because you kicked a rearick boy in the nuts for threatening his girl.” The old woman paused, watching Julianne’s reaction. “Oh, I see you remember that.”
“Margit, that was a terrible thing to do! I couldn’t face Selah for days after.”
“And when you did?” Margit waited expectantly.
Julianne sighed. “He told me my spirit would get me in trouble, but he couldn’t fault my reasoning.”
“You are kind, girl.” Margit reached a hand up to touch Julianne’s cheek. “And you are strong, and fierce, and you will keep our people safe. Not just our skins, worthless as they are, but our souls. You’ll lead us into a fight we were too scared to start, one we need to start if we are to live with ourselves when the sun goes down.”
Tears pricked at Julianne’s eyes as she hugged Margit goodnight. “Thank you,” she whispered to the old woman. And thank you, too, Selah, she thought, wishing she could tell her mentor one last time.
CHAPTER FOUR
The next morning, Julianne sat at her place at the head table, mind tightly shielded as she watched the newcomers prepare to speak.
“I imagine the tradition of storytelling still persists?” Donna asked, bowing to Julianne.
Julianne nodded slowly. “Naturally.”
“Then with your permission, I will take the floor.”
Donna stepped forward into the center of the room, and Julianne settled in to watch the display.
Donna waited patiently until the room was silent before launching into her story. She projected her own images, eyes white as her magic worked.
“The New Dawn have isolated ourselves too long, hoping for the day we can rise to take our true place. Imagine our joy when news came that a girl had toppled the weak leaders of our kind. We knew she would be the one to lead us into a new dawn.”
An image formed of a girl. She had no face but wore Julianne’s long, chestnut hair. She stood tall, sunlight radiating behind her as she raised a staff and struck down a frail old man. Sickened fury clouded Julianne’s vision, almost choking her magic off and shattering her mental shield. She gritted her teeth and forced slow breaths as she regained control. A hand touched her arm and she gave Danil a grateful look.
“This girl seized her destiny, and pushed on to defeat the bigger threat—the evil of mankind. She stormed the gates of Arcadia, wiping the area clean of the vermin, smiting those who lived in squalor, stealing and gambling their lives away.”
Julianne seethed silently as the illusion showed the girl storming the city gates, waving the golden staff over people who cowered at her feet. Magic flowed from her in shimmering waves, and the people on the ground turned their eyes up. Fear and anger on their faces melted, replaced with the kind of vacant adoration that could only come from strong mental magic.
“She fought on, defeating those with inferior magic.” Now, it showed fireballs flying towards the girl, dissipating as they got close. “She cut out the rot within the city, right through its very core. When she finished, those who lacked the empathy and wisdom of the mystics were cowed.
“She mastered them, drove them to their knees. Then, she taught them to love. This love drowned the base urges they were cursed with, urges that can only be conquered by those who can read the thoughts of another.”
The girl in the image sat, a gilded throne appearing beneath her as she did. Swarms of people clustered around her feet, kissing them and staring up with love-struck eyes. The girl ignored them, staring ahead as the image swooped out to show her stare resting on the tree-covered lands around her.
“We, the New Dawn, wish to help. We will provide trained fighters to stand by your side as you bring the mystics of Irth into their rightful place, as we have in our own lands.”
Narrowing back into the girl again, this time the image had changed. Behind her stood five robed figures, faces dark inside their hoods. Instead of a staff of gnarled wood, she now held one of iron, topped with the strange sun symbol the New Dawn wore on their cuffs.
That was enough. Julianne shot to her feet, heedless of Danil’s warning tug on her arm. “You said a ruler can’t be fit unless they can read minds, feel true empathy. How in the hell can you walk past the pity and desperation in the streets of Arcadia and think those poor people need to be beaten and flogged more than they have? And then what? You mind control them into loving you?”
“You know,” Danil said, standing beside her. “If you can’t find a man the usual way, it’s easier to drop a bit of coin. I know of a brothel in—”
“Poor people?” Donna ignored Danil, cutting him off. “I have seen inside their minds, just as you have, great leader.” She spat the words like venom. “Those people lie and cheat and steal from their betters. Their betters kill and rape and abuse the power they were given by the gods. How—”
“The gods?” Julianne barked a laugh. “What gods? The Bitch and the Bastard are long gone, and any power they left should be employed to protect. Not enslave. We know our history—If Bethany Anne came back and saw what you’re planning, she’d kick your ass. So will I, if you don’t back down.”
Julianne lashed out with her mental power, anger fueling her usually calm casting. Rather than slip away, this time it pierced the protective barrier just long enough for Julianne to glimpse inside the other woman’s mind.
Darkness. Glory. A mind that was so bent, so warped, that Julianne couldn’t make sense of it before she was shoved out. Despite that, Julianne saw what she needed to. Donna’s mind had never been pure, but it had been twisted by a mystic, and a strong one at that.
“Out.” Everyone in the room jumped at Julianne’s sudden command. “Everyone, get the hell out.” This time, she shoved a thread of compulsion through the words.
Her eyes scanned the room, pushing the command to everyone but the woman who stood alone in the center of the room. As people hurried to leave Julianne and Donna
alone, facing each other across the heavy wooden table, minds brushed each other. Julianne reached out with her mental magic and grabbed at three familiar thought patterns.
Danil was easiest to link to, due to their close relationship. Zoe, too, quickly formed a mind bond with the mystic leader. Margit was harder. Julianne probed the upper levels until she found the sleeping woman and mentally jostled her awake. After a moment’s reflection, she also reached out to pull Aldred in.
Watch, Julianne sent, then released her magic. The others stayed in her mind, safe behind Julianne’s protective shields as they watched through her eyes.
CHAPTER FIVE
The hall door slammed shut and Julianne looked up, eyes blazing with anger.
Donna opened her mouth to speak, but Julianne cut her off.
“Drop the bullshit. You’re not doing this for the benefit of society’s dregs; you’re doing it for your leader. What kind of hold does he have over you?”
“He showed me the truth. These people aren’t worth saving, but they can be of use.” Donna smirked, but a slight hesitance in her expression showed Julianne she’d thrown her off balance. “Don’t be so precious, warrior-queen. I doubt your motives for going into battle were half as pure as you claim.”
Julianne bared her teeth in anger. “Let me make this perfectly clear. You and your kind are not welcome here. Not in the Heights, not in Arcadia, not on this side of the Madlands.”
In a flash of anger, she lashed out at Donna’s shields again, and again, she pushed past. A figure formed before her eyes. A man, strong and beautiful, along with a feeling of pure desire. Not lust, but a desire to please, to perform like a marionette on strings for the man.
“My kind?” Donna’s voice was deadly smooth, but the interruption was jarring.
Julianne blinked, then focused back on the conversation. “The mystics of the Heights fight for equality for all. Anyone who thinks they can put themselves above the common people and use them, restrict their magic or work them like slaves, or just pretend they’re more entitled, is wrong. We’ll fight to the death to prevent that.” A slight smile formed on her lips. “And we’ll win.”
Donna took a step back. “You don’t know who you’re dealing with, child.”
“Maybe not who, but what. Your leader, the one you adore? Think, Donna!” Despite the woman’s vile attitude, Julianne’s heart twisted with pity. “He’s got your head twisted so far backwards you can’t tell up from down. You don’t think he’s manipulated you the same way you think we should do to others?” Julianne fell silent, letting her opponent think on her words.
Donna didn’t take the chance. “Fool girl! I joined Rogan because he was right. He sees so much more than the rest of us, and he will lead us to glory! By casting us out and rejecting his support, you become our enemy. Think hard before making your people a target.”
“Get out. I won’t throw you off the mountain in this storm, but if you aren’t gone by daylight I may reconsider.” Julianne waited until Donna was almost at the door before adding, “And if you think my people will make an easy target, you’d best think twice.”
Donna didn’t pause, ignoring the guards that flanked her and her hooded followers as they left.
Make sure they’re well and truly gone, will you? Julianne sent to Aldred. She jumped into his head and quickly saw he had the full contingent of guards on duty and alert for problems.
Will do, Master, he replied as the mystics of the Heights filed quietly back in to finish their breakfast.
“After breakfast, would the senior members join me in my office?” Julianne called. Margit, Danil, and the three other mystics in question all sent their agreement, and Julianne sat down to eat.
Though her appetite was gone, she reached for some ham and a slice of thick, buttered bread, adding some sweet cherries to her plate as an afterthought. She tried to tune out the whispers and thoughts that drifted by, concentrating instead on her meal.
A young boy and two older girls approached the head table. “Uhh, Master?” Bettina, the oldest, was the first to speak. “Mattie and Birn were just wondering… are we to train in battle magic now?”
“It’s just, the younger ones are worried,” Mattie asked. Julianne didn’t point out he was one of the youngest in the Heights.
“Everything will be fine,” she said. “Your teachers and I will decide what happens and yes, your training in the mental disciplines may change. It won’t be battle magic, though.”
Mattie’s eyes dropped and his lips twisted into a childish pout. Bettina nudged him and whispered, “Told you so,” as they returned to their seats.
“Little runts are always worried,” Danil said through a mouthful of food and a grin. “It’s not your fault.”
Julianne swallowed her bread. “It doesn’t matter whose fault it is. I’m the one responsible for them, and they’re scared.”
“Bullshit, you’re teaching them resilience.” Danil shrugged. “And anyway, it is what it is. No point stressing over things out of your control. Best to focus on what you can change and do that… or something like that.” Danil frowned as if trying to remember the words Julianne had said to him, and to others, a thousand times over.
“Shut up.” Julianne threw a corner of bread at him, closing her eyes so Danil couldn’t use her own sight to duck. When he let out a bark of surprise, she opened them to see it had landed in his cup, splashing elixir over his shirt. “Serves you right,” she giggled.
Danil made a halfhearted attempt to return the volley, but miscalculated and sent it flying at Bevan, a cranky old mystic who had no tolerance for childish behavior. Of course, that made Julianne laugh even harder, and when Bevan stood to frown over the two of them, she slipped back in her seat clutching her ribs.
As was often the case in a room full of mind readers, her laughter became contagious. Before long, the entire room was happy and relaxed, the events from earlier all but forgotten.
“See?” Danil said with a smile. “Doesn’t take long for this lot to recover. It wouldn’t be like that if they didn’t trust you, J.”
Julianne reached over to squeeze his hand gratefully while she watched the mystics’ earlier anxiety melt away. Then, with a sigh, she pushed her plate away. “I guess I better get ready for this meeting. Are you coming up now?”
“Sure.” Danil rose and took her arm. In a room full of people, Danil could use multiple sets of eyes to ‘see’ his way around from different angles. The fewer the people, the harder it was for him to judge distance, and the chance that someone was looking just where he needed them to was much lower.
Julianne felt his familiar spike of alertness as the door closed behind them, and he was reduced to using her set of eyes. Still, she didn’t bother to change her actions. Danil had lived in the Heights as long as she had and knew every nook and cranny like the back of his hand. Probably better, in fact.
“What time are you headed out?” he asked as they walked.
“Early. Before breakfast, though I don’t think I’ll make it out before sunup.” Julianne shot him a sideways glance. “Why are you shielding me?” she asked. Danil had, at some point after they left the dining hall, locked her out of his head.
“What? Oh, it’s just left over from last night I suppose.” He dropped the shield, but a section of his mind still remained clouded. Julianne didn’t ask him about it. It was common for those at the Heights to guard small parts of their mind, usually to prevent awkwardness or to shield impolite thoughts.
Danil often had a little corner of his mind kept secret, and Julianne had long had the suspicion that he was hiding feelings for her. She knew many of the others suspected so. So far, he hadn’t mentioned it and neither had she.
“How do you think the others will want to deal with this?” Julianne asked him, trying to push away her nerves.
“The usual way.” He looked at her and, when she shot back a quizzical glance, explained. “They’ll throw up suggestions, argue about them, then wait for
you to decide. They’ll offer a little token resistance to assert their value to the conversation, and walk away relieved that they didn’t have to have the final say.”
“And you?” Julianne asked.
“I will, as always, offer sage advice and eternal wisdom. Those present shall quake at my valuable insight and lament their puny attempts to compete with my greatness.” He bowed, almost tripping on the top step as he did so.
“Oh, for goodness sake, be careful!” Julianne admonished. “The last thing I need is for you to break your neck.”
“Because you can’t live without my sharp wit and clever ideas?” he asked with a wink.
“Because without the comic relief and constant bullshit you provide, I’d bore myself to death.”
They were both laughing as they entered Julianne’s office. She waved Danil to one of the seats as she poured him a cup of elixir, then ducked next door to drag a few more chairs into the room. She was shortly joined by Gunther, the head guard.
Quickly reading his hesitant request, Julianne nodded. “Yes, we will need you at our meeting. Thank you.” Gunther was a godsend to Julianne, taking her promotion to Master in stride and never questioning her decisions in public, yet forthright enough to let her know if there was a better way.
Footsteps in the hall signaled the arrival of the others, and Julianne closed her eyes. She sucked a breath in through her nose and slowly released it, taking that brief moment to find her center.
“Welcome Charles, Melanie, and Jonsen. Shall we begin?”
CHAPTER SIX
“I’d like to begin by saying that any objection I had to you leaving for Arcadia no longer exists.” Jonsen jumped in to speak before the others could even sit down. “What you’ve shown us since you’ve been back made me realize I hadn’t grasped the situation at all. In regard to the current situation… well, I’ll probably take your lead, Master.”