Magic Study (44 page)

  Dax had a protective arm around Gelsi when I went downstairs.

  “I sent a message to Master Bloodgood. The Masters are on their way with a battalion of guards to take Ferde to the Keep’s prison,” Dax said.

  “Then I better go. I’m
supposed
to be confined to my quarters.”

  Dax shook his head. “Second Magician knows what you did.”

  “All the more reason not to be here when they arrive.”

  “But-”

  I waved and hurried out the door, slinging my backpack over one shoulder. Since I had been expelled from the Keep’s program, I knew I would soon be kicked out of my rooms. I planned to be long gone before giving Roze the satisfaction of evicting me.

  Fisk ran over to me when I crossed the courtyard.

  “Did we help?” Fisk asked. “Is everything okay?”

  “You did great.” I rummaged in my pack and handed Fisk all the Sitian coins I had. “Distribute these to your troops.”

  He smiled and dashed away.

  A bone-deep weariness settled on me as I made my way through the Citadel. My surroundings blurred and I walked in a daze. When I passed the Council Hall, the group of beggars, who always hovered near the steps, began to follow me.

  “Sorry. I can’t help you today,” I called over my shoulder. The group returned to the Hall, but one persisted. I turned around. “I said-”

  “Lovely lady, spare a copper?” the man asked.

  Dirt streaked his face and his hair hung in greasy clumps. His clothes were torn and filthy, and he smelled like horse manure. But he couldn’t disguise those penetrating sapphire-blue eyes from me.

  “Can’t you spare a copper for the man who just saved your life?” Valek asked.

  “I’m broke. I had to pay off the distraction. Those kids don’t work cheap. What-”

  “Unity fountain. A quarter hour.” Valek returned to the steps and joined the other beggars.

  I continued toward the Keep, but once I was out of sight of the Council Hall, I took a side street and headed to the Unity Fountain. The jade sphere with its holes and other spheres nestled inside it shone in the sunlight. The water spray from the circle of waterspouts sparkled in the cool air. My relief from knowing that Valek was unharmed warred with my concern that he should be far away from the Citadel.

  A quick movement in a shadow caught my attention. I wandered over to the dark recess of a doorway and joined Valek, embracing him for a fierce moment before pulling back.

  “Thank you for helping me against Ferde,” I said. “Now go home before you get caught.”

  Valek smiled. “And miss all the fun? No, love. I’m going with you on your errand.”

  I could only produce a muted surprise. Valek and I didn’t have a mental connection like the one I’d had with Irys, yet he knew my thoughts, and, when I had needed his help, he had always been there.

  “There’s no way I can convince you to go to Ixia?” My brief spurt of energy on seeing Valek safe faded.

  “None.”

  “All right. Although I reserve the right to say, ‘I told you so’ should you get captured.” I tried to say it in a stern tone, but my battered and tired soul was so filled with relief that Valek was coming with me that the words turned playful.

  “Agreed.” Valek’s eyes lit up, anticipating the challenge.

Chapter Thirty-Four

  Valek and I decided on the best course of action, and arranged to meet again at the edge of the Avibian Plains.

  When I reached the Keep, I went straight to my rooms to pack. While I determined what to take along, someone knocked on my door. Out of habit I looked for my bow before realizing it had been destroyed by Leif. Instead, I grabbed my switchblade.

  I relaxed a bit when I opened the door. Irys stood there, looking hesitant. Stepping back, I invited her in.

  “I have some news,” Irys said. When I just stared at her, she continued, “Ferde has been taken to the Keep’s cells, and the Council has revoked your expulsion. They want you to stay so you can fully explore your magical abilities.”

  “Who would teach me?”

  Irys glanced at the ground. “It would be your choice.”

  “I’ll think about it.”

  Irys nodded and turned to go. Then stopped. “I’m sorry, Yelena. I had no trust in your abilities and yet you achieved what four Master Magicians could not.”

  There was still a faint link between us, and I felt Irys’s uncertainty and her loss of confidence. She questioned her ability to handle future difficult situations. She felt her beliefs on what was needed to solve a problem had been proven wrong.

  “In this situation, magic was not the solution,” I told her. “It was the lack of magic that allowed me to beat Ferde. And I couldn’t have done that without Valek.”

  She considered my words for a moment and seemed to make a decision.

  “I propose a partnership,” Irys said.

  “A partnership?” I asked.

  “I believe you no longer need a teacher, but a partner to help you discover just how strong a Soulfinder you are.”

  I winced at the title. “Do you think I’m one?”

  “I’ve suspected, but didn’t want to really believe it. An automatic response just like your cringe just now. And, it seems I need some guidance. I’ve found that the Sitian way is not always appropriate. Perhaps you could help me with that?”

  “Are you sure you would want to learn the ‘rush into a situation and hope for the best’ method?”

  “As long as you want to discover more about being a Soulfinder. Is it really against the Ethical Code? Perhaps the Code needs to be updated. And could you be considered a Master, or would you have to take the Master’s test first?”

  “The Master test? I’ve heard some horror stories.” My throat began to tighten. I swallowed with some difficultly.

  “Rumors, mostly. To discourage the students so that only those who feel confident in their abilities will be brave enough to ask to take the test.”

  “And if they’re not strong enough?”

  “They won’t succeed, but they’ll learn the full extent of their powers. This is better than being surprised later.”

  Irys fell silent. I felt her mind reaching toward mine.
Do we have a deal?
she asked in my mind.

I’ll think about it. A lot has happened.

So it has,
she agreed.
Let me know when you’re ready.
Irys left my rooms.

  I closed the door. My mind shuffled through the possibility of exploring my powers versus the risk of being condemned as a Soulfinder. Despite having to worry about poison in the Commander’s food, I began to think life in Ixia had been easier. After my errand, as Valek so casually called it, I had some choices on where to go next. Nice to have choices. Again.

  I moved through my rooms, checking if I missed anything. I had packed the valmur statue for Valek, the rest of my Sitian coins, my northern uniform and an extra set of clothes. My armoire remained filled with my apprentice’s robes and a couple of Nutty’s skirt-pants. Papers and books piled on my desk, and the room smelled of Apple Berry and Lavender. My stomach squeezed with longing and with a sudden realization. These rooms in the Keep had turned into my home, despite my resistance.

  Shouldering my pack, I felt the weight of it drag on me as I left. Stopping at the Keep’s guest quarters on my way, I visited my parents. I could hear Esau in the kitchen and Perl had a strange expression on her face. Her hand touched her neck so I knew something had upset her. She made me promise to stay for tea, pulling my backpack off, and she hovered over me until I sat in one of the pink overstuffed chairs.

  Calling to Esau to bring another cup, Perl perched in the seat next to me as if she would spring into action should I decide to leave. Esau brought in the tea tray. She jumped up and handed me one of the steaming cups.

  Seeming to be satisfied that I was anchored to my chair, at least until I finished the tea, Perl said, “You’re leaving. Aren’t you?” She shook her head before I could answer. “Not that you would tell me. You treat me like a delicate flower. I’ll have you know that the most delicate flowers often produce the strongest scent when crushed.” She stared at me.

  “I have some unfinished business to attend to. I’ll be back,” I said, but the weak response failed to soothe her.

  “Don’t lie to me.”

  “I wasn’t lying.”

  “All right. Then don’t lie to yourself.” She eyed my bulging pack that she had set on the floor. “Send us word when you’re settled in Ixia, and we’ll come visit,” she said in a matter-of-fact tone. “Though, probably not until the hot season. I don’t like the cold.”

  “Mother!” I stood and almost spilled my drink.

  Esau nodded, seeming nonplussed by the topic of our conversation. “I’d like to find the Mountain Laurel that grows near the ice pack. I read somewhere that the plant can cure Kronik’s Cough. Be interesting to find out.”

  “You’re not concerned that I might return to Ixia?” I asked my parents.

  “Considering the week you had,” my father said, “we’re just happy you’re alive. Besides, we trust your judgment. “

  “If I do go to Ixia, will you promise to visit often?”

  They promised. Not wanting to prolong the goodbyes, I snatched my pack and left.

Apple?
Kiki asked with a hopeful tone.

No, but I’ll get you some peppermints.
I went into the barn’s tack room to search for the bag of candy. I took two and returned to Kiki.

  After she sucked the candy down, I asked her,
Ready to go?

Yes. Saddle?

Not this time.
The Keep provided tack for the students, but it was understood that once a student graduated, he bought his own equipment.

  I pulled the step stool over and Kiki snorted.
I know. I know,
I said.
No step stool in wild. But I’m tired.

  In fact, what little energy I had left leaked away with an alarming speed. Kiki and I didn’t encounter any trouble at either the Keep’s or the Citadel’s gates. We took the road through the valley for a while. I refused to look back at the Citadel. I planned to come back, didn’t I? Today wouldn’t be the last time I saw the pastel colors of the sunset reflected in the white marble walls. Right?

  As the light faded from the sky, I heard the pounding of hooves on the road behind me. Kiki stopped and spun to face the newcomer.

Topaz,
she said with pleasure.

  Though by the molten anger and murderous expression on Cahil’s face, I knew this encounter would be far from pleasant.

  “Where do you think you’re going?” he demanded.

  “That’s not your concern.”

  Cahil’s face turned a livid red as he sputtered in astonishment. “Not
my
concern? Not
my
concern?”

  I saw him rein in his temper. Then in a deadly rumble, he said, “You’re the heart mate of the most wanted criminal in Sitia. Your whereabouts are of the utmost concern to me. In fact, I’m going to personally see to it that I know exactly where you are at all times.” He whistled.

  I heard a rush of movement and turned in time to see Cahil’s men move into defensive positions behind me. Trying to conserve my strength, I hadn’t scanned the road ahead with my magic. Hadn’t believed I would need to. Silly me.

Did you smell them, Kiki?
I asked.

No. Upwind. Go past?

Not yet.

  Looking back at Cahil, I demanded, “What do you want?”

  “Playing the simpleton to delay the inevitable, Yelena? I guess it has worked for you in the past. You certainly played me for a fool,” he said with an eerie calmness. “Convincing me
and
First Magician that you weren’t a spy, using your magic to make me trust you. I fell for it all.”

  “Cahil, I-”

  “What
I
want is to kill Valek. Besides getting revenge for the murder of my family, I will be able to show the Council my abilities and they will finally support me.”

  “You had Valek before and lost him. What makes you think you can kill him this time?”

  “Your heart mate will exchange his life for yours.”

  “You’re going to need more men to capture me.”

  “Truly? Take another look.”

  I glanced over my shoulder. Cahil’s men had kept their distance from Kiki’s hindquarters, but, even in the twilight, I could see that each one held a blowpipe to his mouth, aiming at me.

  “The darts are treated with Curare,” Cahil said. “An excellent Sitian weapon. You won’t get far.”

  Fear replaced annoyance as my heart rate increased. I had some Theobroma in my pack, but I knew if I tried to take it off my back, I would become a pin cushion for Cahil’s men.