“I am not pleased,” Void said. He faced her, his hands clasped behind his back. “The White Council is a bunch of ungrateful bastards. They’re happy to rely on me to handle delicate affairs like dark wizards and newborn necromancers, but when they don’t need me, they want nothing to do with me. And now they’ve done the same to you.”
His eyes zeroed in on her. “This... uprising isn’t your fault, Emily, and you have absolutely zero obligation to attempt the impossible. The king brought his troubles on himself and it seems as if his sons aren’t any wiser. You would be far better to stay out of the affair and continue your studies. Let this poisoned chalice pass to someone who actually wants it.”
“I don’t want it,” Emily said. She’d talked about constitutional monarchies and democracies with him, in happier times. “But I feel I should at least try.”
Void lifted his eyebrows. “What are you going to do? Cast compulsion spells on noblemen and commoners alike to get them to behave?”
Emily flushed. “No, but...”
“But what?” Void shrugged. “The two sides are too far apart for any meaningful compromise. Slaveowners and feudal lords think they have the right to treat their slaves as property. To them, freeing the slaves is effectively stealing their property. They’ll expect compensation for their loss. The slaves and serfs, of course, disagree. To them, holding slaves is a fundamental wrong and paying compensation would be effectively paying a thief to return the property he’s stolen. You would have to come down on one side or the other and the one you didn’t support would turn against you.”
“If they let their people breathe free,” Emily said, “their income - and tax - will go up.”
“Yes, but it would mean letting go of their property,” Void said. “You’re expecting them to be selfless, to put the interests of everyone ahead of themselves. They’re not going to agree to anything that might wind up being used against them. Why should they? Promises of better treatment might as well be written in the sand. When the wind blows, those promises will be forgotten. Let them fight it out. The matter will be settled, one way or the other.”
“And thousands of people will die,” Emily said.
Void turned away, slightly. “I should forbid it. I should insist on you remaining here to complete your apprenticeship. I should insist...”
He let out a breath. “You can go, with my blessing, if you agree to my conditions.”
Emily tensed. Void didn’t own her. She was sure he meant well, but... he didn’t own her. She wasn’t really his daughter. But... she schooled her face into a blank mask. She would listen to him, at least, before making up her mind. And if he wanted something she couldn’t give...
“Three conditions,” Void said. “First, you take Silent with you, as an assistant as well as a maid. You’ll need someone you can trust to handle your affairs.”
Emily frowned. “I don’t need a maid.”
“You need someone to look after you,” Void said. “And also, perhaps, to talk to people who can’t talk openly to you.”
“That makes sense,” Emily said, grudgingly. She had to admit Silent had been helpful in Dragora, even if the maid had never come out of her shell. “Next?”
“Second, you take Lady Barb with you as a bodyguard,” Void continued. “You will not be in safe territory. There will be people, royalists as well as rebels, who will hate you just for existing or see you as hopelessly biased against them. Lady Barb can protect you from enemies you don’t even know you have.”
“Lady Barb is looking after Sergeant Miles,” Emily said, flatly. She understood, now, why Void had wanted Lady Barb to stay behind. “You can’t ask this of her.”
“I can and I will,” Void said. “My apprentice cannot go into danger alone, Emily, and I cannot accompany you. My presence will make it hard for you to accomplish anything, even if I wasn’t needed elsewhere. You need someone to watch your back, someone experienced enough to spot traps and someone capable of telling you what to do. And someone capable of smacking some sense into you, if you need it. Lady Barb is the best choice. Her role at Whitehall can be handled by others.”
“And Sergeant Miles?” Emily gritted her teeth. “I can’t ask her to leave him behind.”
“She can teleport back and forth, as she pleases,” Void said. “Which brings us neatly to the third condition. You are to carry a teleport amulet at all times, keyed to drop you safely into Dragon’s Den. I’ve been experimenting with the spells. You should be able to teleport through a cluster of wards, although the journey will be very rough. I don’t advise it unless there’s no other choice. If you are in danger, or if talks break down completely, you are to teleport out and then return here. Let them fight it out, if they want. You don’t have to stay and die with them.”
Emily raised her eyebrows. “And what about Silent? And Lady Barb?”
“They’re both resourceful,” Void said, dismissively. “I’ll make them both amulets, if you insist, but my primary concern is you.”
“I...” Emily hesitated. “I... I don’t deserve it.”
“Say that again and I’ll beat you,” Void snapped. “Emily, do you have any idea how much you have done over the last few years? You ended the war! They should be piling medals and honors and lands on you, not trying to put you on trial. And you are not alone. You have friends and allies and... Emily, I
