“What do I have to do with it?”
“Well, I always thought you quiet types know more than you let out.”
At first I was surprised, but that quickly passed and I couldn’t help a bitter smile. “That’s a nice sentiment, Myar Mal, but I’m afraid in this case, you’re wrong. I’m just a shy guy with no social skills. People only think I’m interesting because of the times we live in.”
He gave me an inquiring look, and I knew he was wondering if I told the truth. But I was. For Vhalfr’s sake, without magic aid, I couldn’t even remember the names of the vessár-ai. How could I know which of them would be most likely to wish the kar-vessár dead?
“So, you don’t sit in shadows, watching everybody and gathering information to use later on?” He sounded almost disappointed.
I chuckled self-depreciatingly. “I can’t imagine why anyone would want to displace you.”
But before I even finished speaking, memories came back.
“Raison Dal…” I started.
Kar-vessár nodded. “Opposing me doesn’t mean he’d like to kill me. Frankly, I doubt he has it in him… but he would have no problem obtaining the nut. I’ll keep him in mind. My top pick was Sanam Il, it’s a shame rebels got him. Wouldn’t it be a wonderful irony if he died along with me, leaving the position he craved so much up for the grabs?”
The only answer I could offer was a blank stare. I knew Sanam Il—a Tarvissio-phile who recently shaved his beard, but for the life of me, I could not remember having any type of interaction with him.
“He was the one who suggested Adyar Lah for vessár of Seventh Cohort,” Myar Mal offered.
“Perhaps he confined in Adyar Lah?” I hazarded a guess.
Kar-vessár shook his head. “I doubt that. You should see his face when I commissioned him to lead Seventh Cohort. No, he wouldn’t be able to keep the secret. He’s a decent guy, all things considered. Just needs a little shaking up now and then.”
I remembered Adyar Lah’s beaten-down appearance at the meeting. It made me almost feel sorry for him.
“He reminds me of you a bit, you know. Quiet, withdrawn. I bet if you met under different circumstances, you’d get along pretty well.”
Yeah, I could imagine that: two quiet guys, sitting in awkward silence, trying to figure out what to say.
“I’m going to drill him later on,” kar-vessár continued, “but I think there’s no point. If it was Sanam Il, the conspiracy died with him. If not, I suppose they will try again.”
I felt as if someone punched me in the gut. I should know. All this talk about respecting Laik Var’s wishes was just a ruse. Myar Mal had to have a better reason to keep me here, to promote me. Something personal.
“And you think next time they will go for me,” I guessed. “That’s why you put me in this position.”
Myar Mal rolled his lips in a dark parody of a grin, then reached out to pat my shoulder. “See? You’re not as dumb as you seem.”
Chapter 19
For the second time that day, I stood before my Cohort. Now officially, with the silver sash burning at my chest. It didn’t feel any less uncomfortable.
I tried to recall all the grand motivating speeches I’d ever heard, be it from Innam Ar, Laik Var, or even Adyar Lah, and come up with my own. My mind was blank.
“Kar-vessár gave new orders,” I stated lamely, shame and self-loathing churning in my guts. “We’ll be storming the mansion tonight. I want you to suit up and be ready in an hour. All sorcerers with a score of one point three and above are to report to Kiarn At in Cohort Four for a special assignment.”
“Yes, vessár!”
The answer came without hesitation, and with it the tightness in my shoulders loosened a bit.
I looked around. The Seventh Cohort consisted mostly of Dahlsi. There were three Xzsim, one human woman whose origin I couldn’t place, plus a handful of nonhumans. There used to be a few kas’shams… I tried not to think about them.
I cleared my throat before continuing: “Also, due to the recent increase in the number of life-threatening allergic reactions, we are to hand over all of our natural food products. The decontamination team will be making rounds around the camp and I ask for your full cooperation.”
“Yes, vessár!”
This time the answer was less enthusiastic. The Xzsim were glaring at me with murder—although that could be their default state. They had those round, yellow eyes that seemed evil, and lining them with kohl didn’t help. Nonhumans were unreadable. I’d heard chavikii could go for days—and that’s Dahlsian days—without food, so I wasn’t expecting too much resistance from them. Ssothians on the other hand, could be unpredictable, and given their size and aggression, I couldn’t imagine anyone bullying them into submission.
Well, the decontamination team would deal with them.
There was still one more thing. I scanned the crowd, looking for familiar faces. But most people I knew were either dead or wounded.
“Saral Tal,” I called finally
He stepped out, not smiling, but the corners of his mouth were twitching.
“I want you to be my nami.”
He wasn’t able to hold it any longer and his face brightened with a smile. I breathed a sigh of relief at how quickly he got over Ellare. Maybe Myar Mal’s acceptance of my lie banished all traces of distrust.
“Yes, vessár!” he exclaimed happily.
He was the last person I knew—save for Dalyn Kia, but her opinion of me was pretty low and I had no intention of decreasing it even further. At least Saral Tal seemed incapable of meanness, so I could pretend that he liked me. Anyway, there was no one else I trusted. Argan Am would probably be a better pick, with the experience he amassed leading our dozen, but I wasn’t going to drag him out of the hospital.
I waved at him to come closer. “In half an hour, I need a full report about the status of
