Elkan smiled, weary but genuine. “Probably not as long as you would have if you’d never contracted the disease or if we’d gotten to it sooner, but you’ll certainly be out of immediate danger.”
The Autarch blinked. He took a breath, let it out, blinked again. “I see.”
Elkan assumed a businesslike briskness. “This certainly qualifies as an emergency. I don’t know how you’ve managed to live this long; I’m not gambling on you lasting until morning. We’ll get you stabilized and hopefully ease the worst of the pain. But you’re going to require a lot more treatments over several days to complete the healing.”
“Whatever you think best.”
Elkan gestured to a delicate sofa covered in satin and embroidered with flowers. “We’ll have better access if you lie down. Josiah, I’ll work on the main tumor and his lungs. You see what you can do with the bones. I think that’s the source of much of his pain.”
“Yes, sir.” Josiah dragged his chair to the sofa.
The Autarch reclined with a muffled grunt. Elkan put one hand on Tobi and hovered the other over their patient’s belly. Gold light welled out to envelop his torso. Josiah slung an arm over Sar’s withers, and the donkey sent the Mother’s power into the Autarch’s legs.
They located the worst of the spongy patches. Sar went to work forcing the dozens of small tumors to reverse their growth. Josiah watched until he was sure they were dwindling at a good rate, then turned his thoughts to his idea. He’d have plenty of time to work it out in detail. Sar didn’t need much help.
Over the next few hours they made good progress healing the Autarch, and Josiah solidified his plan. It wasn’t complicated, but Elkan would have to do most of it. He hoped his master would think it as perfect a solution as he did.
The light from the portholes was dimming when Elkan sat back and Tobi let their light die. He stretched, twisted, and rubbed his lower back. “That’s all we can do today.”
Josiah had Sar give the bone they were working on a final push. Growing bone was notoriously slow, but they’d managed to strengthen the weakest patches enough they shouldn’t cause such crushing pain when the Autarch walked. He hated to stop, but when Sar halted the flow of the Mother’s power he realized just how exhausted he was. Every muscle ached as if he’d been running for the last few hours instead of sitting motionless.
Elkan helped the Autarch sit up. Tane shifted his weight, eyes going unfocused as he evaluated the inner state of his body. He took experimental breaths, gradually deepening them. Without warning he rose to his feet and took a few quick steps. He stopped, closed his eyes, and stood still for several long moments, breathing.
Finally he opened his eyes and focused on Elkan. “Remarkable. I feel better than I have in months. Thank you.”
“We’ve only gotten started,” Elkan cautioned him. “We’ll need to work on you daily for at least a week before we’re through. Do you think you’ll be able to come to the Hall in the morning?”
“Absolutely.” The Autarch pressed his hands into his belly and winced. “Yes, I can tell there’s more to be done. What time should I present myself at your Hall?”
“The doors open an hour after first light.”
“I’ll be there.” He walked to the door and put his hand on the latch. Before he opened it, he paused. “Most of my Keepers would tell me that your beasts use healing to gain people’s trust, which they will ultimately betray. But a few of them would say that power should be judged by the uses to which it is put. Power that does only good is unlikely to be evil in nature.”
“I met a Marvannan Keeper in Ramunna who felt that way. His name is Seshone, from Vitae. He brought us a ship full of hopeless cases, many of whom we were able to help.”
The Autarch shook his head. “I’ve not heard of him. Perhaps I should have.”
Elkan moved toward the door. “While you’re in Tevenar, I invite you to look around. See for yourself what our power is used for. Speak to Vigorre Rothen, who used to be a Purifier Keeper and is now a wizard. Spend as much time as you like in the Mother’s Hall, watching us work. Make your own judgement as to whether or not our power comes from the Mother.”
“I’ll do that.” The Autarch inclined his head to Elkan and opened the door. “Until tomorrow.”
Elkan bid him farewell and walked wearily out behind Tobi. Josiah blurted a good-bye and followed with Sar. The Autarch shut the door behind them.
Josiah forced himself to wait until they were off the ship and halfway down the dock before he quickened his stride and came to Elkan’s side. He kept his voice soft. “Master, I have an idea.”
Humorous wariness was in the look Elkan gave him, but also cautious hope. “Let’s hear it.”
Josiah took a deep breath. “You have to convince the Matriarch and the Autarch to make peace with each other.”
Elkan raised his eyebrows. “You do realize they’re mortal enemies?”
“Yes, but they’re both here, both under a truce.”
“Just because they’re each willing to deal with us to get what they want doesn’t mean they have anything to say to each other. I’m rather surprised Verinna hasn’t shot holes in the Autarch’s ship already, white flag or not. Do you really think there’s anything I can say that will get her to talk to the man who stole Ramunna from her?”
“He can give it back.”
Elkan laughed incredulously. “Why would he do that?”
“So she doesn’t take it back by force. He can see all the preparations she’s making. She’s got a lot more ships and weapons now than she did.”
Elkan glanced where Josiah pointed. Dockworkers were hauling a weapon toward another Faithful ship. He looked forward again and walked for several minutes without speaking.
Finally he said, “Assuming it’s even possible to persuade them to talk, which I doubt, what makes you think they’ll listen to me?”
“Well, obviously you have to win the Guildmaster election first. Then you’ll speak for the Wizards’ Guild and for Tevenar. You can offer to mediate for them.”
Again Elkan was silent for a long time. Eventually he sighed. “I suppose I could try.”
Josiah bounced on his toes. “And after you help them come to an agreement, the Matriarch won’t have any need for wizards to fight for her. You can make it part of the bargain that they both promise not to attack Tevenar. That way you won’t have to isolate us again. And you can insist they allow wizards into their countries. You can get the Matriarch to give us our Hall back, and the taxes she promised us before, and get the Autarch to make the same sort of arrangement with us. You can send masters and journeymen to Ramunna with Kevessa and Vigorre and Borlen, to get the Wizards’ Guild there off to a good start. We could go to Marvan—” He deflated momentarily, then plowed on. “Well, I guess you couldn’t leave Tevenar if you’re Guildmaster. But somebody could go to Marvanna to teach the Marvannan wizards the Mother will start choosing. And Tesi can go home to Giroda with even more wizards, to get things going there. It’s perfect. Everything will be just the way the Mother wants.”
He held his breath. Elkan slowed down, then stopped. He turned around and looked back at the Autarch’s ship, gently rocking next to the dock. He swiveled and looked at the Matriarch’s tent, which had just come into sight. He ran his fingers slowly through his hair. “It is quite a coincidence that they’re both here.”
Josiah clamped his mouth shut. Elkan could persuade himself better than he ever could.
A long pause. Tobi rubbed her head against Elkan’s hip and he absently petted her. At length he said, “If it doesn’t work, we won’t be any worse off than we are now. And if it does…”
Josiah wound his fingers in Sar’s mane and fought to stay silent. Finally he couldn’t take it any more. “So you’ll do it?”
Elkan turned resolutely toward the Mother’s Hall. “I’ll think about it.” He held up a hand. “It’s a good idea. It’s worth consideration. But there’s no point in spending too much energy on p
lans before the election. I can’t do it if I’m not Guildmaster. And I don’t think Hanion could pull it off. He’s not strong enough to stand up to either one of them. Both of them together would crush him like a runaway wagon. I doubt I could stand up to both of them, either, but I think I can keep them spending their strength against each other instead of uniting it against me.”
Josiah refused to be daunted. “Then we concentrate on getting you elected.”
Elkan took a deep breath and let it out. “If that’s what the Mother wills.”
Fifty-One
Kevessa was sitting on a bench in the plaza, trying hard not to let the sweetly tinkling water in the fountain and the lovely cool breeze trembling the leaves of the trees distract her from a particularly dull section of the Seventh History, when the last voice in the world she’d expected to hear called her name. “Kevessa!”
She looked up, sure it couldn’t really be who she thought. Then she dropped her book and sprang to her feet. Nina nearly tumbled off her lap before rousing enough to dig her claws into Kevessa’s breeches and scramble to her shoulder. What?
For once Kevessa ignored her familiar. She raced across the plaza, arms outstretched. “Father!”
Gevan swept her into a smothering hug. Kevessa squeezed him back as hard as she could. “What are you doing here?”
He released her and looked her up and down. “It’s such a relief to see you safe and well. I’ve worried about you constantly since you left.”
“Didn’t you get the message the Matriarch sent, saying she was taking us to Tevenar with her?”
“Yes, but it wasn’t very reassuring to hear that she wanted you to fight the Marvannans for her. Although Ramunna wasn’t safe, either, after the invasion.”
“What happened? They didn’t bother you, did they? I didn’t think they’d come so far outside the city.”
“At first, they didn’t. We laid low, and they left us alone, until—” Gevan glanced over his shoulder.
Kevessa followed his gaze, but buildings blocked her view of the river and docks. “Until what?”
Gevan sighed and took her hands. “Until the Autarch came, looking for wizards. I accepted a position as his translator and envoy. Not that I had much choice.”
Kevessa stiffened. “The Autarch is here?”
“We just arrived. He’s afflicted by some sort of wasting disease and needs a wizard to cure him.”
Kevessa stepped back and shook her head, trying to sort out how this new development might affect the complex mix of power and personalities in Elathir. “Does Master Hanion know? What about Master Elkan?”
“They both met him at the dock. Elkan agreed to treat him.”
“And Hanion approved?”
“Reluctantly, but yes. What’s going on between those two? The tension was as thick as honey.”
“It’s a long story.” Kevessa grabbed his hand and dragged him toward the Hall. “Come inside and get something to eat and drink. I’ll fill you in on what’s been going on here. And you can tell me about your voyage. How was the weather?”
“Good winds, and no storms to speak of, just a little rain here and there.”
“Has the Autarch treated you well?”
“Very. He’s a much more reasonable man than I expected. We engaged in many enlightening conversations during our time at sea.”
He continued to tell her about the Autarch as she led him to the dining hall and fetched him water and a plate of leftovers from the midday meal. Soon he shifted the conversation back to the situation in Tevenar, and she spent a long time describing everything that had happened since the Armada arrived. Long after he finished eating they sat at the table, talking and talking.
Other wizards stopped by their table to greet Gevan, ask curious questions, and exchange gossip. News of the Autarch’s arrival was on every tongue. Apparently when Hanion had split off from Gevan and returned to the Hall, he’d gone directly to his office without speaking to anyone and stayed closeted with his closest supporters ever since. But other wizards who’d been with Elkan on the roof were happy to tell everything they knew.
As evening approached, Vigorre burst into the dining hall. Nirre launched from his shoulder and soared circles overhead before settling on her customary perch near the ceiling. Tesi trailed in his wake, Mimi in her arms. Vigorre hurried over to Kevessa, reaching to clasp Gevan’s hand. “We just heard. Welcome to Tevenar.” He smiled at Kevessa. “I know you’re delighted.”
Kevessa nodded, her throat tight. “I was afraid—If Master Elkan gets his way, we’ll never—”
Vigorre smile faded. He put his hand on hers. “I know.”
Kevessa winced. He still might never see his family again. She shouldn’t have reminded him.
Gevan cleared his throat. “I brought some things you wizards left in Little Tevenar. Your dresses, Kevessa, and the embroidery you were working on. Vigorre, I’ve got your Keeper robes in my luggage. And Tesi, the other Girodans said you would want this.” He dug in his pack and pulled out a leather case.
Tesi stared at it. She swallowed, bent to set Mimi on the ground, straightened slowly, and accepted the case Gevan pressed into her hands. “Thank you. It was most gracious of you to bring it all this way.” She tucked the case under her arm, folded her hands, and bowed, her eyes downcast. “If you will excuse me, I will take it to my room.” She hurried away. Mimi trotted at her heels.
Kevessa frowned after her, then gestured for Vigorre to take a seat. “Is she all right? What was that, and why did it bother her so much?”
He watched Tesi until she disappeared through the doors, his brow furrowed. “Her needles. She stopped using them when she became a wizard. I don’t know why.” He shook his head and turned to Gevan, although Kevessa suspected he wanted to follow Tesi. “Thank you, sir. I’ll be very glad to have my robes back, although I don’t suppose I’ll have much use for them here.” He dropped into a chair, his eyes shadowed.
Kevessa leaned toward him. Politics would be a good distraction from his worries, and she wanted to discuss the new development with someone who understood the nuances of the situation. “What do you think is going to happen with the Autarch? How is the Matriarch going to react to his arrival? And how is this going to affect the Guildmaster election?”
As she’d hoped, Vigorre focused on her, his interest aroused. “I think that depends on what Master Hanion and Master Elkan do.”
“I think Master Hanion and his supporters are discussing how to turn this to his benefit right now.”
“I don’t see how he can, at least not enough to overcome Elkan’s advantage. I suppose he could welcome the Autarch and try to work out a trade deal with Marvanna, which would further sway those who don’t want to restore isolation.”
“Or he could send him away as soon as he’s healed. That would appeal to those who fear too much contact with Ravanetha but don’t want full isolation.”
“Neither one of those would change the numbers enough.” Vigorre rubbed the bridge of his nose. “What does this mean for us?”
Kevessa screwed up her face. “It won’t change Master Orine’s mind. She keeps trying to talk me into staying in Tevenar.”
Vigorre looked thoughtfully into the distance. “Maybe I can use it to finally swing Master Janya to full support of Master Hanion. She likes Elkan better, but she hates the idea of isolation. She’s told me she’d be happy to go to Ramunna and keep teaching me at least until I become a journeyman, maybe even all the way through my mastery. If Hanion declares he’s willing to send Tevenaran wizards to Ramunna, she’ll back him.”
Kevessa frowned. “I don’t see why he would—”
Hooves clopping on the stone floor made her twist around. Josiah plopped into the seat next to her, a broad smile on his face. “What if Elkan promises to send wizards to Ramunna? And Marvanna and Giroda, too?”
Vigorre narrowed his eyes. He looked around, but Elkan hadn’t come into the dining hall with Josiah. “Then Janya would enthusias
tically support him. So would several others who’ve resisted for the same reason.”
Josiah nodded. “We’d lose a couple who’re even more determined on isolation than Elkan was, but that will be more than offset by Janya and those like her.” He sat back in his chair and beamed. “He said he’d have to think about it, but I think I’ve finally persuaded him to give up the idea of isolation.”
Kevessa raised her eyebrows. “How’d you do that?”
He wagged a finger at her. “You don’t expect me to divulge our secrets to the opposition, do you?” He broke into one of the grins that melted her heart. “But I’m pretty sure that in a few days Elkan will announce a complete reversal of his position and a detailed plan for spreading the Wizards’ Guild throughout Ravanetha. Then you won’t have to oppose him anymore.”
She looked away from his bright eyes and animated face. “I hope you’re right.” She’d be a lot more confident that the wizards’ return to Ramunna would succeed if Elkan was in charge. If he put his heart back into the venture, he’d pursue it with as much dedication and effectiveness as he’d shown when he’d traveled there. She’d never understood why he’d turned his back on them so suddenly and completely.
Josiah’s voice was smug. “Wait and see.” He turned to her father, and his tone shifted to regret. “I’m sorry. This means I won’t be able to come back and work with you and Nalini. Once Elkan’s Guildmaster he’ll need to stay in Tevenar. But maybe someday, when I’m a journeyman or maybe a master, I can.”
There was genuine regret in Gevan’s voice. “That’s too bad. We made quite a team.”
From the corner of her eye Kevessa could tell Josiah was trying to catch her gaze, but she steadfastly resisted. Finally he gave up. “I’ll miss you, Kevessa,” he said softly.
She nodded, still not looking at him. This was the real reason she’d never made up with him. His history with Ledah was just an excuse. It had only taken her a few days to come to terms with that. She’d never expected the man she married to have no experience. It was actually a little reassuring to think that he would know what he was doing.
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