All Spell Breaks Loose

I offered a nonchalant shrug. “I’m adapting.”

Tam stepped in. “Right now, we need to find Kesyn Badru.”

“Good luck,” Jash said. “No one knows where he is.”

“Is there a chance he was captured?”

Deidre shook her head. “We’d know by now. None of our people in the palace or temple have heard of him being brought in.”

Jash gave a short laugh. “Impressive as hell considering Sarad’s been pulling out all the stops to find him.”

“What did he do?” I asked.

“Kesyn Badru was also Sarad’s teacher.”

I blinked at Tam. “He taught both of you?”

Deidre’s lips twitched in a smile. “Some men attract more than their share of bad luck.”

I jerked my head toward Talon. “Worse than this one?”

“Infinitely.”

Jash spoke. “Mistress Benares, excuse my bluntness, but if you don’t have any magic, then why are you here?”

“I really don’t have a good answer to that—at least not a sane one. Me getting myself bonded to the Saghred started this whole mess, so I’m here to do everything I can to end it.” I tried a smile, but it probably came off looking as scared as I felt. “You guys aren’t the only ones who live for flipping off Death.”

Chapter 8

Our meeting was over, and Mychael and Tam were speaking in hushed tones with Jash Masloc in the wide hallway outside the dining room. A young goblin, entirely too small for the sword he wore, stood quietly behind Jash waiting for them to finish. He held a folded stack of what appeared to be clothing.

Imala strode down the hall toward us, carrying a small stack of handbills.

She handed them to me. “Confirmation that Sathrik and Sarad know we’re here, and have for at least long enough to get these produced and distributed throughout the city.”

Piaras stepped up and looked at them over my shoulder.

Wanted posters.

Crap in a bucket.

I flipped through them.

Me, Mychael, Tam, Imala, but not Chigaru. Interesting.

“Why isn’t the prince included?” I asked.

“Sathrik’s exile of Chigaru is considered a private, family matter,” Imala replied. “To the people, Sathrik has gone out of his way to convey that he is ‘greatly saddened and disappointed’ by his brother’s betrayal and abandonment of their people.”

“Abandoned? I take it that’s Mal’Salin-speak for forced to run and hide for years or be captured, imprisoned, and killed in a dark dungeon.”

“Essentially, yes,” she drawled. “You’re getting good at this.”

“It’s never been one of my goals, though it’s nice to know I’m good at something right now.” I flipped through the posters, noting the amount of the reward on each one. “I guess we ought to be flattered. Sathrik’s not being stingy for any of us. There’s nothing less than a fortune on any of our heads.”

The last two posters were of Piaras and Talon.

“So much for if Sarad Nukpana knows we tagged along.” Piaras tried for a chuckle and it actually almost sounded like one. “My first wanted poster, and a respectable amount, too. Phaelan would be proud.”

I wasn’t proud. I was petrified. Nukpana knew Piaras was here. He wanted to get his sacrificial daggers into Piaras almost as badly as he wanted to do the same to me. He’d almost succeeded that night on an altar in The Ruins. The only way I’d been able to save him was by tricking Nukpana into touching the Saghred with his bloody hand. He’d never fall for anything like that again.

Piaras knew what that wanted poster meant, too. He’d been the one chained helpless to that altar, gagged so even his spellsinger’s voice couldn’t save him.

“Sathrik’s putting his money where his mouth is,” Tam said from behind me. “He wants us off the street and in a cell. Fast.”

“He’s afraid of us,” Imala said. “The last thing he wants is a morale boost for the Resistance.”

Mychael stood silently next to Imala. Jash was still talking to the young goblin, hopefully out of earshot.

“Carnades is locked down tight, right?” I asked him.

“Oh yes.”

“What if he starts talking about, you know… Raine not having any magic?” Piaras asked. “Will anyone believe him?”

Tam smiled. “Carnades can talk all he wants to. No one will be able to hear him. I made sure that cell is and remains soundproof.”

I blinked. “You’ve got a prison cell in your basement?”

“I didn’t build the house. I simply make use of existing facilities.”

Imala looked at Mychael. “Carnades Silvanus has violated the terms of his parole. I realize this prisoner is under your authority, but he’s now on goblin soil. I am well within my rights—”

“To execute him,” Mychael finished. “Yes, you would be well within your rights.”

If Carnades had somehow managed to kill me, Sarad Nukpana could have immediately taken the Saghred’s power and we’d all be worse than dead. We couldn’t rely on Carnades in any situation, but his attack on me had been the final proof.

“The prince wants him dead,” Imala said. “Now. I informed him that while we are now home, that you, Raine, and Piaras are not. So while Silvanus remains useful, I am concerned that the risk now may outweigh any possible usefulness later.”

“We’ve got to find Kesyn Badru,” Mychael said. “Forgive me for asking, Imala, but are the two guarding him among your best?”

“They are.”

“Then that will have to do. Carnades isn’t going anywhere. Kesyn Badru may have already.”

Piaras cleared his throat. “Sir, you said I’m a member of the team. I want to help.”

Mychael and Tam exchanged a glance.

“What is it?” I asked.

“Thank you for volunteering, Piaras,” Mychael said. “We have to go out into the city and I need for you to stay here.”

“But, sir, you—”

“I’m not finished, Cadet.”

“Sorry, sir.”

“You are to guard Prince Chigaru.”

“Isn’t Director Kalis—”

“Going to find Kesyn,” Imala said.

“I’ve been away for almost two years,” Tam said. “The city has changed a lot since then. We’ll need Imala with us.” He paused. “Piaras, I would consider it the greatest of personal favors if you would also keep Talon out of trouble while we’re gone.”

“No favor needed, sir. I’ve kind of assigned myself that duty anyway.”

“And a fine job you’ve been doing.”

“If you say so.”

Tam wasn’t being sarcastic and Piaras knew it. The times that he’d tried to keep Talon from running headfirst into danger, Piaras had ended up neck deep in it himself. However, they were both still here, and a large part of the credit for that went to Piaras.