C’Tan snarled. “I don’t care how you do it, Dragon. Get her on our side before it’s too late. I doubt Lord S’Kotos will be nearly as patient as I have been. Make it happen.”
“But—”
C’Tan put her fingertips in the water, giving just a taste of the pain she could inflict. A grunt sounded from behind the mask and she stopped. “I said no arguing. Protect the girl. Convert her to our side. I don’t care how you do it, but do it. Am I understood?”
The four faces floating in the water all nodded emphatically.
“Good. Now go. Protect her from the shadow weavers. Shadow, stay for a moment,” she said as the other faces began to fade away. The figure that was her daughter resolidified, but said nothing.
“Drop your cover for a moment. There are no others here, and I wish to see your face while we discuss something.” C’Tan said, running her nails along the rim of the bowl and watching the ripples across the water from the movement.
Shadow hesitated for a moment, but then her cover dropped and C’Tan saw her daughter. A pang of regret ran through her as she saw so much of what Shadow could have been if she hadn’t destroyed her soul. There was still hope for this girl and C’Tan hated to use her this way, but she would do what she must. Ember was the key in freeing C’Tan from S’Kotos’ chains, and she would be free of his chains somehow.
“The Shadow Weavers,” C’Tan said, meeting her daughter’s eyes. They were blank. Evidently she hadn’t heard of them either. “Have you seen this before?” C’Tan held up the necklace Shadow had sent her earlier.
“Only when you had me steal it from him. Before that, no,” Shadow answered.
C’Tan nodded. It was what she expected, and she was pleased to know her daughter was not betraying her, but was frustrated by the lack of knowledge about these people, these Shadow Weavers. “Have you heard of them?”
Shadow shook her head.
C’Tan growled. “Let me show you what I have seen of them.” She stepped back and replayed the scenes from her scrying bowl, specifically the scenes of the leader of the Shadow Weavers and their practice, so Shadow could see their movement. When C’Tan was done, she leaned forward again, unconsciously this time. “Does anything look familiar?”
Shadow had excitement and fear in her eyes, but shook her head. C’Tan believed her. “I had hoped that since you share a similar gift, something might resonate with you.” C’Tan switched topics. “How goes it in befriending the girl?”
Shadow shrugged.
C’Tan glared at her and motioned for her to continue.
Shadow sighed. “She does not trust me. She barely knows me. I will try, but she has not given me many opportunities to speak with her.”
“Then make opportunities,” C’Tan snarled. “You know more than anyone at that school, including most of the masters. Use your talents and get her to trust you. You, of all of them, have the best opportunity to get to her and pull her to our side. If we can convert her, we won’t have to kill her.”
Shadow’s eyes widened and C’Tan smiled to herself. Shadow had gotten to know the girl enough to like her. That was good. Perhaps it would push her to redouble her efforts.
“Yes, we will kill her if we must. S’Kotos commands it, Shadow. If you wish to save her life, pull her to our side. Those are my orders. Do you understand?”
Shadow hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “Yes, Moth—Mistress,” she said, and faded from the scrying bowl.
C’Tan leaned back and smiled, for the first time feeling as if she might just have a chance at success. Ember was the key to so many things and she would have her, no matter the cost.
At any cost, the girl would be hers. She clasped her fingers together and began to laugh.
Chapter Twenty-One
Ember tried to walk normally, casually, so as not to seem bothered or afraid of the two corrupt guards following her and the daughter of C’Tan at her side, but in truth, she was terrified. Her hands wouldn’t stop their constant shaking, so she put them inside her sleeves and gripped her forearms like she was a monk. She couldn’t do anything about her knees or her heart, but both of those were hidden from sight—all except the pulse point on her neck that felt as if it were about to rupture and spew her life’s blood all over the walls and do the traitors’ jobs for them.
The sound of Rahdnee’s voice made her jump, but she tried to cover it up with a cough. She couldn’t afford to let him know that she knew his secret. “Are you afraid of me, Ember? Is that why you are avoiding us?” When Ember didn’t answer, he continued. “Because I can assure you, I’m not such a bad guy. Just ask Lily here. She’ll tell you I’m okay. I may be a bit strict as a father, but nothing to fear.” Ember glanced at Lily, who had gone rigid at her name. She looked back at Ember, and her eyes betrayed her. Lily, too, was afraid of the man. The silence stretched on, and Rahdnee let out a breath. “Seriously, child, why would you fear me?”
Ember took a chance. “I don’t fear you—I resent the fact that you are here instead of DeMunth. Every time I see either of you, I think of him lying in the healer halls with no answers. Thank goodness he’s finally getting well. I know it’s not your fault he’s there, and I appreciate your help. I miss him, but no—I don’t fear you.”
Ember heard a voice sound through her mind—a female voice. “You should.” When she glanced over her shoulder at Brendae, she knew it had come from her. Mountainous chills coursed through Ember’s body, not only because of Brendae’s message, but also in the realization that twice in a single day, she had heard thoughts not directed at her. What was happening to her now? It scared her almost as much as the three of them did. She glanced at Lily. Well, the two of them did, anyway. She was feeling more and more as if Lily were caught in a trap, just like she was. She would talk to her today. No matter what, she would find a way to confront Lily about her parentage.
When they arrived at the shielded practice room, Rahdnee and Brendae stepped inside and glanced around the room as if they were checking it for her safety, then they stood inside the room, one to each side of the doorway. Ember turned around in horror, staring at them. She could tell they intended to stay in the room during her practice time. Had it come to this, then? Were they going to kill her now, or drug her and take her to C’Tan? They wouldn’t have a better opportunity. There was no one else around.
Ember had walked right into their snare. In trying to save DeMunth, she had given up her own freedom. Perhaps her own life. She looked over at Lily, pleading with her eyes to make the guards go away. Ember wasn’t sure whether Lily picked up on Ember’s desperation, or had an agenda of her own, but she stood in front of the two guards and put her hands on her hips. “What do you two think you are doing? You will wait outside the practice room, not in it.”
“If we are to protect the girl, we must be within sight of her,” Brendae said in her gravelly voice. “We are not magi, to see through walls. We’ll be staying.”
“No. You’ll be leaving,” Lily demanded. She didn’t do anything so dramatic as to point at the door, but her energy and desire pushed at them like a wave. They both swayed on their feet. “You said it yourself. You are not Magi. This room is protected, shielded. None may enter or leave without our consent, but my power does not extend to protecting the two of you when I must protect the two of us. What if Ember destroys the room, like she did the other day? Those breastplates won’t protect you from flying boulders, will they?”
Rahdnee looked angry, but resigned. He leaned close to her, and though he spoke quietly, Ember heard him say, “We cannot delay this much longer.”
Now Lily did what she didn’t before, and pointed at the doorway. The two guards glared at her, but turned and went through the opening single file, the door snapping into place so quickly, Ember heard Brendae gasp and swear even through the stone. She wasn’t sure whether it had bumped or nicked her, but either way, Ember was so filled with relief at their departure that she smiled at Lily, and Lily smiled back.
&nb
sp; She got to business very quickly. “Now, to work. Magic is all about control. You’ve shown that you have power, but the greatest challenge I think you’re going to face, that any of us face, is controlling what you have. For some, it’s a matter of ramping up the power to make it big enough to create change. For you, it’s going to be about funneling it into a stream that will give you control over how quickly it is released. A magical valve, if you will, that you can make larger or smaller, depending on how big of a change you need to make. One thing you need to be aware of, though, is that magic takes power. It can either come from inside of you, which will eventually exhaust you and you will die—” Ember’s eyes widened at that “—or you can pull it from people or things around you and funnel it outward. Most people use the latter as much as they can. It will delay the exhaustion, but channeling energy from your surroundings still requires a bit of your personal stock of energy and it will eventually be depleted if you go too long. Still, it will give you longer use of power. Is that making sense?”
Ember nodded, trying to focus on what Lily was saying and not on the fact that she was C’Tan’s daughter. “I did some practicing last night. Surprisingly, I understand what you’re talking about. I felt the valve effect—I thought of it like a nozzle.”
Lily looked taken aback. “Really? I’m surprised, though I shouldn’t be. You have impressed and surprised me more than once already. Tell me what happened.”
Ember told her about her experiment with the floor the night before, and why she chose to experiment on the stone rather than anything else. She told her about the difference in feeling the granite floor versus the crystalline wall, and how she couldn’t get it to do anything until she thought of making it firm and made a fist. She also told, and then showed her, how she fixed it again.
“I am thoroughly impressed, Ember. What you did was dangerous to do alone. Your thoughts of being found dead a week later are not unfounded. It’s happened before.” Lily looked haunted at that. “But it seems as if instinct guided you where I could not. Excellent work.”
“Thank you.” Ember tried not to beam, but she was pleased with how things were going. She still hoped Tyese would be able to find a manual or a journal for her, but she was managing in the meantime.
Lily suddenly doubled over and groaned, clutching her stomach. When she glanced up at Ember, her face was white as a sheet. Ember went to her and took her by the shoulders. “Lily? What’s wrong? Are you okay?”
C’Tan’s daughter groaned again. “I think I must have eaten something that didn’t agree with me. I . . . I . . . I think I need to run to the restroom. Will you be okay here until I get back?”
“Sure, sure, you go. I’ll be okay. Just don’t let those two in here when you leave, all right?” Ember said, using her chin to nod toward the door and the guards stationed outside.
Lily didn’t answer, just nodded and dashed toward the door, opening and closing it so fast, Ember didn’t even see Lily in its travel up and down. It was like she had turned to shadow or mist. Strange.
Ember lay down on the floor and started thinking. She knew she should be practicing, but she was worried about Lily, even knowing her genetics. All of a sudden, her head exploded with an understanding. If Lily was C’Tan’s daughter, and C’Tan was her father’s sister, then didn’t that make Lily her—cousin? For some odd reason, realizing that gave her a sense of comfort rather than fear. Lily was of her blood. Thinking of her now, she could see certain similarities between herself, her father, and C’Tan.
She had a cousin. The thought made her all glowy inside, even with the complications it presented. She had family on her father’s side, someone with whom she actually shared blood. She loved her step-brothers. They were like true brothers to her, but other than her mother and Uncle Shad, she’d not met anyone with whom she shared blood, and for that to once again come from her father’s side, where she knew so little of his family, meant so very much.
Ember suddenly wondered if she had cousins on her mother’s side. Did her mother have any brothers or sisters? If so, she’d never spoken of them. She made a mental note to ask the next time she saw her. It seemed odd that she was getting to know her dead father’s family faster than her living mother’s.
Lily came back sooner than Ember expected. She was only gone about ten or fifteen minutes before the door surged up and back down with normal speed. Ember quirked an eyebrow and glanced at the doorway. “Are you feeling any better?” Then, realizing she hadn’t seen Rahdnee and Brendae outside, she asked, “Where are the guards?”
Lily shrugged. “Gone. I don’t know where. Now, where were we?” She tried to jump right back into work, but the realizations Ember had while she was gone just couldn’t be kept inside.
The words seemed to jump out of Ember. She didn’t think she could have stopped them if she’d wanted. “I know who you are,” she said, repeating the words Markis had thought at Lily earlier. They had the same effect coming from Ember as they had from him. Lily went white as Ember’s robes and she backed away slowly. Ember took a step forward for every one Lily took back.
“I know your father is a traitor, a spy, sent from C’Tan.” Lily’s cheeks went red as the rest of her face went even whiter, if possible. At that point, she was against the wall and trembling. Ember took two more steps so that her mouth was by Lily’s ear and she whispered, “I know who your mother is.”
At those words, Lily disappeared, and in her place was a slightly human-shaped puff of smoke that seemed to blend in with the rock. Ember jerked back in surprise, and the smoke or shadow or whatever it was edged toward the doorway. Ember stepped over to block it and willed the door to stay closed. As the shadowy girl approached the door and it didn’t open, she circled the room, seemingly in a panic, and Eventually stopped, cowering near the vein of red gemstone.
“I’m not here to hurt you or turn you in,” Ember said, still in front of the doorway. She had to get Lily to see reason. Once she left this room, she was afraid she’d disappear entirely, never to be seen again. “You’re family, Lily. I wouldn’t hurt you for anything, even if I’ve just met you.” The shadow stopped shivering and seemed to focus its attention on Ember. Encouraged, she continued.
“I know it’s hopeless for your father. I saw him talking to C’Tan and I know he is planning to hurt or kill me or something, and I can’t let him do that. I’m here for a reason. I was born for a reason and given this gift of white magic, even if I don’t know how to use it yet. And I think you were sent here for a reason too. How many magi are there who can do all the colors of magic?”
There was a long pause, then Lily’s cautious voice came from the corner. “Only one. You.”
Frustrated, Ember stomped her foot. “No, Lily. I mean, yes, I’m the only white mage, but how many sixers are there? People like you?”
Again, a long pause before Lily answered. “Not many.”
Ember took a step toward her. “Exactly! Why let C’Tan use you for her purposes when you can do so much good here? So much good with me. I need you, Lily. I need your help, your training, your understanding, and I’d very much like your friendship. We’re family,” she repeated. “I want us to act like one. Like a real one. Not the kind of unhealthy relationship your father gives you.”
Lily’s shadow got taller and Ember assumed she stood. Her shadow cover began flickering on and off, and it reminded Ember of the shadow weavers who had attacked her a few days before. How did she do that?
“We’re family? How?” Lily asked, her voice suddenly taking on strength and genuine curiosity.
“Your mother was my father’s sister. We’re cousins,” Ember said, leaning against the wall.
At that, Lily’s shadow cover dropped completely and she stood on the other side of the room with her mouth agape. Ember stole one of Aldarin’s favorite lines. “Close your mouth, Lily. You look like a fish.”
Lily’s jaw closed with a snap. “We’re cousins? But . . . my mother killed your father. They were sibl
ings?”
Ember sobered at the reminder. “Yes, on both counts.”
The color returned to Lily’s face and her mouth tightened. “I knew she was depraved, but I had no idea how much. How did you find out about me and my father?”
Ember debated whether to tell her, but she’d just exposed Lily—it was only fair to give her something in return. “The past few days, ever since the attack from the Shadow Weavers, sometimes I pop out of my body.”
Lily looked alarmed at that, so Ember rushed to reassure her. “It’s not like I’m dead. My body still works. It breathes, but it’s in a dream-like state. Part of me separates from my body, and I can see strands of light that connect me to people.” That reminded her of the chains binding her to DeMunth and she shivered, though whether it was from the memory of his kiss or his hands rubbing her back, or something else, she wasn’t sure. “Last night after practice, I was so exhausted, I lay back on the ground and popped out of my body. I saw a strand I didn’t recognize and followed it.” She met Lily’s eyes. “It led to C’Tan.”
Lily’s eyes narrowed at that, but Ember continued. “Her face was in a bowl and she was talking to Rahdnee, telling him that she needed him to hurry and either convert me or bring me to her. When I realized they were talking about me, I left and went to DeMunth. That’s why I slept in the healer hall. When I realized that not only was he a spy, but most likely Brendae and you as well, I didn’t feel safe, so I went to the one person I felt safe with. And now even that is taken from me.”
Lily ignored the last part and stepped toward Ember, stopping near the middle of the room. “If you know all this, why haven’t you reported it to Ezeker? Why take the chance of telling me?”
For a long moment, Ember didn’t answer. She hung her head, thinking, then lifted it to meet Lily’s eyes, surprisingly much like her own. “Because you are family. And because I’ve seen the same fear of Rahdnee in you that I’ve felt in myself. He may be your father, but he terrifies you, too.”
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