invisible, or be able to walk without making a sound. Something that gives him the upper hand when kidnapping a girl.”
Irys’s face hardened into an expression of serious determination. A look I recognized with a queasy feeling deep in my stomach. She had worn it when she had tried to kill me in Ixia.
“But only for the moment,” she vowed.
“We have not ruled out a rogue magician,” Bain said. “History is full of them. And I include recent history.” He nodded to me. “Some day, you must tell me of the misdeeds of Kangom in Ixia, and how he met his end. I wish to add his folly to the history books.”
Confused at first, it took me a moment to remember that Kangom had changed his name to Mogkan upon fleeing to Ixia.
“Speaking of books,” Bain said to me, “I have some for you in my office.” He turned to Roze. “Are we finished here?”
She gave a curt nod.
The other magicians made to leave, but Zitora stayed by the table, tracing a finger over the map of Sitia.
“Irys?” she asked. “Did you mark Tula’s location?”
“No.” Irys picked up a quill and dipped it into a bottle of red ink. “With all the commotion, I forgot.” She placed a mark on the map and stepped back. “I’ll be back in ten days. Please send word if something happens. Yelena, keep practicing your control.”
“Yes, sir,” I said.
Irys smiled then left the room. I glanced down at the map to see how far Booruby was from the Citadel. The red ink had not yet dried. Tula’s town resided on the western edge of the Avibian Plains. I had thought Captain Marrok exaggerated when he had said the plains were huge, but the map showed that the plains dominated the eastern Sitian landscape.
When my eye caught the other red marks, I must have made a sound because Zitora clutched my arm.
“What is it?” she asked.
“A pattern. See?” I pointed to the map. “All the marks are near the border of the Avibian Plains.”
The others returned to the table.
“Fresh eyes,” Bain said, nodding to himself.
“It’s obvious, now that the map’s been updated,” Roze said. Annoyance made her voice sharp.
“Did anyone search the plains when the girls went missing?” I asked.
“No one goes into the plains,” Zitora said. “The Sandseed Clan doesn’t like visitors, and their strange magic can befuddle the mind. It’s best to circumvent them.”
“Only the Zaltanas are welcomed by the Sandseeds,” Roze said. “Perhaps Yelena and Leif could visit and determine if anything is amiss.”
“No need to rush,” Bain said. “Better to wait until Irys returns with Tula’s sister. If Tula awakes and identifies her assailant, we would have the advantage.”
“What if another girl goes missing in the meantime?” Leif asked. His scowl had deepened, and he seemed upset either by the thought of another victim or the prospect of traveling with me again.
“Then, welcome or no, we will send armed searchers into the plains,” Bain said.
“But you might be too late,” I said.
“We have some time.” Zitora pulled at one of her braids. “That was another pattern we were able to discern. He has the victims for two weeks and then waits four weeks before claiming a new one.”
The thought of another victim filled me with dread and led to a horrible scenario. “What if he comes to the Keep to finish what he started? Tula could be in danger!”
“Let him come.” Roze’s voice turned icy with determination. “I
“First we would have to apprehend him.” Bain tapped the table with a bony finger. “We must post guards in Tula’s room.”
“But it’s the hot season, and we’re short-handed,” Zitora said.
“I will tell Cahil to assign some of his men,” Roze said. “He owes me.”
“Get them right away, Roze,” Bain said. “Not a moment to lose. Come now, Yelena, we have work to do.”
Bain led me out of the room and down the hallway.
“Nice observations, young lady. I see why Irys chose not to kill you.”
“Has Irys ever chosen to kill?” I asked. Cahil’s comment that I had not been the first person Irys had rescued from Ixia weighed on my mind.
“Unavoidable at times. Nasty choice overall, but Irys is well suited to that role. She has a unique ability to cease a heart without pain or fear. Roze has the skill, too, but she’s much too harsh. She works best with criminals and their ilk. Leif helps her with those unfortunate criminal investigations. During his schooling at the Keep, the Masters determined that would be the best use of his unusual power. Zitora, on the other hand, would die rather than harm another. I have never met a sweeter soul.”
Bain stopped to unlock a door. He gestured for me to precede him into his office. Entering the room, I was greeted by a riot of color, a jumble of contraptions and shelves upon shelves of books.
“And you, sir?” I asked. “What place do you hold in this group of magicians?”
“I teach. I guide. I listen.” He stacked books into a pile. “I answer questions. I let the younger magicians go on missions. I tell stories of my eventful past.” Bain smiled. “Whether or not my companions wish to hear them. Now, we’ll start you with these few books.”
He handed me the stack. I counted seven texts. Few? Obviously, my definition of few was different than his. At least most of the books were slim.
“Tomorrow is market day. An extra day for study.” Bain’s voice held a touch of reverence. To him it seemed an extra day to study was similar to receiving a pouch of gold. “Read the first three chapters in each book. We’ll discuss them the day after tomorrow. Come to my tower after breakfast.”
He bustled around a table, looking for something. He pulled a leather pouch from beneath an immense tome. “Yours from Irys.”
The pouch jingled as I opened it. Irys had exchanged my Ixian coins for Sitian.
“How do I find the market?” I asked.
Bain rummaged around his desk until he found a sheet of paper. It was a map of the Citadel.
“Use this.” Bain pointed to the market square located near the center of the Citadel.
“May I keep this?”
“Yours. Now, go. Read.” With the indulgence of a father sending his child off to play, he shooed me out the door.
I read the book titles as I made my way back to my rooms.
I had to admit the titles seemed fascinating, so I started my reading assignments as soon as I reached my rooms. The afternoon flew by, and only the incessant growling of my stomach made me stop to find some food.
After dinner, I visited the stables. Topaz and Kiki’s heads appeared over their stall doors the moment I arrived.
I fed Topaz and Kiki their apples. After wiping apple juice and horse slobber from my hands, I realized Cahil was late. Deciding not to wait for him, I took Kiki’s bridle and riding saddle from the tack room.
