Sworn To Transfer

“May the gods have mercy,” said Maree Amber, her voice unsteady.

“The gods?” said Alexandra. “The gods have nothing to do this. It was murder...murder of one who has not left the Ameles Forest in decades.”

Maree Amber glanced sharply at the fallen cardiara’s wrist. It was true: She bore the intricate tattoo of the homebound, those of the cardiara who would not leave their forest voluntarily.

Ciardis stared at the tiny body blankly. This was a tragedy, but what did it have to do with them? The merchant, who’d escaped Ciardis’s attention, said, “This won’t stand...not one of the kith will let this go.”

“Why?” said Ciardis.

“Because the cardiara are the guardians of the Ameles Forest. They ensure the health of the ecosystem,” said Maree Amber her eyes jerking away from the body before her.

He continued, “It’s why I brought the body here and informed Alexandra. This is just one of the many deaths in the last few months.”

“Of cardiara?” questioned Maree Amber.

“Of many forest inhabitants,” said Alexandra, “The only thing they have in common is the background as kith.”

“Surely it is the venue of the Imperial courts to deal with this,” interjected Ciardis. She cast a nervous glance at Maree Amber, waiting for a reprimand, but the woman said nothing to rebuke her.

“No,” said the merchant, shaking his jowls violently. “The emperor will send his messengers, but they will do nothing but spout nonsense. They don’t understand the kith. Maree, you do. That is why we have come.”

“I have obligations—”

“To safeguard your empire and ensure its inhabitants’ safety. All of the inhabitants.”

Maree Amber gave a deep sigh. “Have you at least spoken to the Imperial courts about this, Alexandra?”

Ciardis was wondering why a merchant and a kith were pleading with the head of the Companions’ Guild to intercede in their conflict. What could she possibly do that the Imperial courts could not?

“They’ve agreed to send Lady Vana as an envoy and lord mage Meres Kinsight to represent the Imperial courts ahead of the Prince Heir’s visit. Even though I believe they hope to have the killings solved by the time he arrived, it will change nothing, of course.”

Ciardis’s ears perked up upon hearing the two names. Lady Vana was Terris’s sponsor, and where Vana went, so did Terris.

“Very well,” said Maree Amber, “I will take the time to see this through. To end the bloodshed. But I cannot go immediately.”

“Maree, I cannot stress to you, and I shouldn’t have to, how vitally important it is to get on top of this immediately.”

“I would not delay this any further than I have to, Alexandra, but I have to be in Sandrin for another few days on an urgent matter.” She paused. “Ciardis will travel ahead with you; I will follow as soon as possible. Hopefully within three days.”

Alexandra turned considering eyes on Ciardis. “Very well.”

Chapter 19

The meeting ended as quickly as it had begun. When they arrived back in front of Maree’s tower, she stopped and exhaled.

“Do not think I’ve forgotten our month of training, Ciardis. You will not be going near the courts again until you have had that training and can sufficiently contain your power. I will make sure of that.”

Ciardis nodded. “Of course.”

“We’ll continue where I left off in three days’ time. You’ll travel by horseback with Alexandra in the morning. Do not contradict her, follow her orders, and do not interact magically with anyone until I arrive. You are there to observe only. Is that clear?”

“Yes.”

Maree Amber began walking into her office. Ciardis cleared her throat to get her attention.

“Why are we traveling by road?”

Maree Amber turned back to Ciardis with eyebrows raised. “Because you’re going to the Ameles Forest.”

Ciardis shifted her feet. That hadn’t answered her question.

“What should I wear?”

“Boots, tunics, and pants,” Maree Amber said in a caustic tone.

Ciardis straightened her spine, getting a little angry. This woman was dropping her into a whole new world. One which she was unprepared for. She’d already left her home once. She wasn’t sure she was ready to leave another.

Maree Amber turned to her – an expression of pity on her face but it wiped away as quickly as it came.

“You will be fine Miss Weathervane. I trust Alexandra to take care of you,” she said, “And what’s more – I hope you grow and learn in the days you are away from me. I believe you have potential to be one of the Empire’s greatest assets but only if you can find the strength to persevere in adverse situations. Of all kinds.”

“Why me? Why a forest?”

“Good question. Because you may be needed. I definitely will be needed, and I also need to keep an eye on you.”

“The death of that cardiara means more than you’re saying.”

“Much more.”

“I—”

“There are things that I don’t have the time or the inclination to explain right now,” Maree Amber replied. “There is much that I need to do over the next few days. Please stay out of trouble and obey Alexandra’s wishes.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Ciardis turned to go to her room.

“One more thing, Ciardis,” Maree Amber said with a tired look. “This is not to be discussed with anyone else in the guild. It is a private matter, and you will leave in the morning under the cloak of darkness.”

“Very well.” With that, Ciardis departed for a short night’s sleep.

As Ciardis departed Maree Amber stayed behind in her office. Hours passed and she worked long into the night writing correspondence, scrying far across the empire and worrying about the possibility of the empire hosting a war on two fronts. But as she went to sleep, her last thought was not of conflict. We really need to find a better way to weed out our candidates for the Shadow Council before they become the insipid twits the Companions’ Guild so loves to foster.

*****

As Ciardis left Maree Amber’s office she didn’t head to her rooms. She hurried to the baths, seeing no other way to contact Prince Sebastian from so far away and without the Aether Realm bracelet. Moving through the portal and into the Imperial nursery, she followed the directions he’d given her to get to his quarters undetected. As she slipped into the sitting room, surprised that there were no guards or servants around, she tiptoed to his bedroom door.

Easing it open, she called out to the dark bed that took up a large portion the room, “Sebastian”.

A confused voice echoed out, “Ciardis?”

“No, it’s the maid with your midnight sandwich. Yes, it’s me! Now get up. We need to talk, and quickly.”

As they went into the sitting room she launched into a detailed recall of the night’s events without leaving