appeared uncomfortable and he glanced with longing outside. I shared his discomfort. The room felt crowded and tight even for me. Bain sat behind his desk, with Dax Greenblade standing next to him. Dax was Bain’s apprentice and he had the unique talent of being able to read ancient languages. His help in finding Ferde and rescuing Gelsi had been vital.
Irys stared at the other Sandseed Story Weaver with ill-concealed dislike. Gede had arrived with Moon Man and he had pushed his way into the room as if he belonged there. He carried his bulk with authority and appeared to be taller than he was. It wasn’t until he stood next to Irys that his true height was revealed. He matched Irys’s five feet eight inches.
“Those books belong to me,” Gede said.
Silence met his statement. Dax glanced at me. Incredulity flashed in his bottle-green eyes.
“My ancestor labored to banish all the knowledge about the blood magic, yet there they sit—” he gestured to the two open books on Bain’s desk “—for anyone to pick up and read.”
Irys said, “I doubt anyone but Master Bloodgood and Dax can read or understand the language—”
Gede cut her off. “It is all you need. One person to read it, to get ideas and to experiment with the knowledge. Blood magic is like no other—once you start you can not stop.”
“It appears the Vermin have discovered the information without these books,” I said.
“How do you know?” Gede asked. He peered at Dax with open suspicion. “Perhaps someone has been feeding them information.”
I stepped in front of Gede before Dax could defend himself. “Not from here. Besides, having these books might prove to be an advantage. Your ancestor Guyan defeated the Efe and perhaps the books contain information about how to counter the Vermin’s blood magic and to defeat the Fire Warper.”
“All the more reason to give them to me,” Gede said. “The Sandseeds will deduce a way to oppose the Daviians. After all, they are our problem.”
“Not anymore. They’ve gone beyond your problem,” Bain said. “We will keep the texts here. You’re welcome to study them with us.”
But Gede wouldn’t back down on his claim and Bain refused to give in. Eventually Gede rose to leave. He paused before me and scanned me with cold calculation in his dark eyes.
“Did you know Guyan was a Soulfinder?” Gede asked me.
Surprised, I said, “No. I thought he was the first Story Weaver.”
“He was both. You know nothing about Soulfinders.” He glared at Moon Man. “Your education is pathetic. I can teach you how to be a true Soulfinder.”
My heart jumped in my chest. The prospect of learning more about Soulfinders both thrilled and terrified me.
Gede must have seen the indecision on my face. “You do not need these books to defeat the Fire Warper.”
Too good to be true, I knew there had to be a catch. “I suppose you’ll guide me with some cryptic nonsense.”
“Bah!” Again Gede shot Moon Man an annoyed look. “There is no time for that. Interested?”
Logic warred with emotion. “Yes.” Emotion won.
“Good. I am staying in the Citadel’s guest quarters. Come at twilight. The moon should be up by then.” Gede swept out of the room, with Moon Man trailing behind him.
Irys raised one slender eyebrow at me. “I don’t—”
“Think it’s the best decision.” I finished for her. “Think I should rush into the situation and hope for the best.”
She smoothed out the sleeves of her tunic, giving me a wry look. “No. I don’t trust him.”
I lingered outside Roze’s tower, debating. This meeting with her, Bain and Zitora could be a trap. She could either trick me into confessing to conspiring against Sitia, or it could be my chance to redeem myself. Nice to have choices.
Bain opened the door and said, “Come in, child. It is cold outside.”
Decision made, I followed Bain into Roze’s home. A huge fire crackled and popped, spitting out sparks, which would have burned the threadbare carpet if Roze hadn’t doused the errant embers with her magic. With the memory of her fire attack seared in my mind, I chose a hard wood chair as far from the hearth and from her as possible.
Spartan and bare, the room lacked the cozy comfort of Irys’s living area and the scholarly smell of Bain’s study. Zitora, Third Magician, perched on the edge of her seat, another straight-backed chair without cushions. She kept her gaze on her hands. They were laced together in her lap. Bain occupied the only comfortable seat. Overstuffed and worn thin, the chair’s fabric was close to tearing, and by the annoyed frown on Roze’s face whenever she glanced at Bain, I guessed he had taken her favorite spot.
“Let’s get this over with,” I said into the awkward silence.
“Nervous?” Roze asked.
“No. I have a meeting in an hour and I need to wash my hair.”
Roze drew a breath.
“Ladies, please. This is difficult enough as it is,” Bain said. “Put your differences aside and let us assess the situation.”
Roze kept her comment to herself. Impressive. She gave Bain a stiff nod. He smoothed the wrinkles in his robe before continuing. “Yelena, you have shredded Ferde’s soul.”
“I—”
“No commenting until I am finished.”
The stern tone in Bain’s voice raised the hair on my arms. He was the second most powerful magician in the room. “Yes, sir.”
Satisfied, Bain resumed his lecture. “Your rash actions have set off a ripple of discontent within the Council. First you acted without their permission. Second, your ability to shred a soul alarmed the Councilors, including me. You have lost their trust, and therefore the information you uncovered through Ferde is invalid.”
I tried to meet Zitora’s gaze, but she averted her face.
“You are hereby ordered to stay out of Sitian affairs while we deal with this new Daviian threat. Roze has agreed to let you work with Gede to discover the extent of your powers and we will reassess how you can aid our efforts in the future.” Bain gestured for me to comment.
Protests pushed in my throat, but I swallowed them down as I wrestled my thoughts into a logical response. This meeting was an ambush. They didn’t want to question me, just dictate to me.
“What about Cahil? You can’t believe him?” I appealed to Bain.
“There is no proof he lied. First Magician supports him.”
“He’s always been selfish,” Roze said. “He wants only one thing. To aid the Daviians against Sitia runs counter to his desire. He needs our help to launch his campaign to claim Ixia. A country in the midst of a civil war wouldn’t be able to aid him at all.”
Roze’s reasonable logic worried me more than her anger. “How about the Fire Warper?”
A bright fireball erupted from the fire, and hovered above us. I squinted into the harsh light. The heat of the flames fanned my face. Roze curled her fingers into a fist and the fire ball disappeared. Opening her hand, she gestured and snuffed out the hearth fire, casting us into cold semi-darkness.
“I’m First Magician for a reason, Yelena. My command of fire is my best ability. You need not fear the Fire Warper. I’ll deal with him.” Flames ignited. Once again heat and light emanated from the hearth.
I couldn’t suppress my skepticism.
“Do you really think I would let the Daviians and this Fire Warper take control of Sitia? They wouldn’t take proper care of my country. No. I will do all I can to keep them from power, including protecting you from the Fire Warper.”
Now she was outright scaring me. “You want me dead.”
“True. You’re a threat to Sitia, but there is no proof. I can’t obtain the Council’s support to have you executed. But once I have evidence, you’re mine.”
This was more like the Roze I knew and hated. We glared at each other.
Bain cleared his throat. “Child, by listening to the Council and working with Gede Sandseed you will regain the
