Marlies melded, “Liesar, it’s time to pay a visit to Mage Gate.”
The Rift
Marlies turned to Master Giddi and Giant John, behind her in the saddle. “You know Hans says this is our only chance?”
“That’s why we’re coming,” said Giddi gruffly. “Now, get on with it.”
“Ready, Liesar? Back to Dragons’ Hold.” Marlies rubbed Hans’ ring. Mage Gate disappeared with a pop.
Behind Anakisha, there were dark rifts in the golden clouds. “I’m pleased to see wizards, warriors and riders working together again,” Anakisha said.
“Don’t get too excited yet,” Master Giddi muttered in Marlies’ ear. Behind him, Giant John chuckled.
“Greetings, Anakisha.” Marlies’ throat tightened, remembering Anakisha’s fall in battle. “If possible, we’d like to appear in the den outside the infirmary, please.” No one must see her bringing the dragon mage into Dragons’ Hold or there’d be an uproar—the only reason she’d risked using the ring.
Before they could utter thank you, Liesar was landing on the infirmary ledge.
Marlies, Giddi and Giant John dismounted and rushed through the infirmary into Marlies and Hans’ sleeping quarters.
“It’s been so long.” Hans embraced Giddi. “I’m sorry, you’ve lost so muc—”
“You’ve made sacrifices for the Realm yourselves,” replied Giddi gruffly, cutting him off.
That short exchange made Marlies’ throat tight again. So many losses. So much pain. So many years since they’d all worked together.
“Marlies,” Hans said, “war council has started. I don’t know how we’re going to convince the council to work with mages again, but my visions have shown me that it’s our only chance of success.”
“Believe me, said Giddi, “if we pull this off, I’m going to have the same battle with the Wizard Council.”
“Right, Hans,” she replied. “I’ll mind-meld when we’re ready for you.”
Once she was in the council chambers, Marlies took her seat, belly fluttering. “Master Lars, Hans is a little late, because he’s meeting with visitors who could help shape our battle strategy.” That should pique Aidan’s interest, but would Lars buy into it?
“Excellent,” said Lars. “They can speak after the master craftsman outlines his weapon-making plans.”
“Thank you, that would be good.”
“You hope,” quipped Liesar.
“Hope’s about all we’ve got,” Marlies replied grimly, keeping her smile intact.
Tonio’s curious gaze burrowed into her.
When the discussion about the allocation of resources for weapons was winding down, she melded, “Hans, now’s about right.”
“Good, we’ll be there soon.” A short while later, there was the thump of Handel landing, and a knock at the chamber doors.
“Let them in,” Tonio called.
A blue guard opened the double doors. Hans and Giant John walked in. Master Giddi swept through between them, cloak swirling and sparks dripping from his fingers.
Lars’ face froze.
Tonio’s face blackened. He leapt to his feet, pointing to the door with a trembling finger. “Get out!”
Giddi’s gaze grew hard. “I told you it was no use, Marlies,” he said bitterly.
“I’ve invited Master Giddi to speak to us.” Marlies inhaled deeply. “If you won’t listen, Dragons’ Hold can get another master healer.” She stalked from her seat to stand with Master Giddi. Giant John and Hans closed ranks on either side of them. Talons scraped on stone behind her. The huff of Handel’s breath warmed her neck. Judging from the expressions around the table, they looked formidable. The doors thudded shut.
“You’ve made a grave error in judgment, Marlies,” Lars snapped, glaring at her with icy eyes.
“I say we vote on it,” said Hendrick, master craftsman.
“Vote?” Tonio spat.
“A vote will be binding,” Lars pointed out. “Are we voting on dismissing Marlies as master healer? Or about casting this traitor out of our midst?”
“Traitor?” Giddi muttered, bristling.
Marlies straightened her shoulders. “Without Giddi and the Wizard Council, we won’t win this war. We’ll all be slaughtered, so there’ll be no point in having healers.”
“Or a Master of Prophecy,” Hans said. “I’ve seen a vision of the slaughter. This is our only chance.”
“You’re bluffing. You’ve pledged to serve Zaarusha.”
“We don’t want our riders to fight a losing battle,” said Marlies. “We must work together to oust Zens.”
“Wizards admitted Zens in the first place,” Tonio snarled. “Now you want us to trust them? Next you’ll be asking us to work with spangles.”
“If we must, Tonio.” Marlies stared him straight in the eye.
“No one’s seen sight of them for years,” Lars burst out.
“If I may—” started Giddi.
“No, you may not,” snapped Lars, face flushed. “You definitely may not. We’ll put it to a vote. Raise your hand if you’re prepared to listen to the wizard. Hans and Marlies may not vote, because their tenure is on the line. Marlies, Hans, if you don’t like our decision, you’ll have to step down.”
Nodding curtly, Marlies pursed her lips. Her threat would be worth it, if it swayed them. But would it?
Hans melded with her, “Shards, Marlies, we’ve only been back a moon or two and you’re risking everything.”
“I had no other nukils to throw on the table.” He’d stand beside her, no matter what.
Lars’ eyes were fierce. “This vote is binding. Raise your hand if you want to hear Marlies’ proposal.”
With Ezaara, Roberto and Master Shari’s replacement absent, two masters dead, and Hans and Marlies excluded, not all could vote.
The battle master’s hand shot up. “Think of the strategic advantage,” Aidan muttered, “if they don’t betray us.”
Derek, master of instruction, raised his arm, mumbling, “I’ve always liked magically-enhanced weapons.”
Alyssa, master of flight, spoke directly to Marlies. “I don’t like it, but I don’t want to lose our healer.”
“I ignored the evidence against Bruno and Fleur. I won’t be closed-minded again.”
