“My wit isn’t the only thing that’s sharp,” she replied, resting a hand on the hilt of her mage blade.
Kassian rose from his perch. “Oh yes. I have sparred with you enough times to know that, Aphira.” He nodded up at the keep. “I suppose we should say our farewells.”
“That is why I came for you,” the Keeper confirmed.
Kassian raised an eyebrow. “You came to get me just to ensure I said my farewells to Inara and Gideon?”
“Can’t you see your own place in all this?” Aphira questioned bluntly. “It is important that you stay within the circle that governs the realm.”
Kassian frowned and licked the pastry from his thumb. “What are you talking about?”
Exasperated, Aphira held her hands out and shrugged. “Are you still so blinded by hate that you cannot see a future for our kind? I had hoped our victory here would have given you some clarity.”
“Nothing feels more real than the hate,” he responded on reflex.
“Now you’re just lying to yourself as well as me,” Aphira retorted. “You have the ear of the king. Our efforts have ensured his victory in the north. That has to matter, Kassian.”
“Matter for what?”
“For us!” Aphira clipped him round the head. “For mages everywhere! We have to assume we’re going to win, Kassian. And when we do, we need to make sure there is a place for people like us.”
“A place?” he repeated. “You mean a place like Valatos?”
“No,” she said, shaking her head. “Something better.”
Kassian absorbed the words though he knew he would need more time to truly understand them. In the meantime, there was only one response that felt right. “You’ve come to the wrong person for that.”
“I know,” Aphira replied drily. “But there is no one else. Like I said, you have found yourself uniquely positioned. And I will only tell you this once, Kassian. You are a fine Keeper and a damn good mage. You might even be the best of us. Whether or not you think you can be the man to see such a vision through is up to you. If you cannot, well, I would appreciate a proper introduction to King Vighon.”
There was a witty reply on the edge of Kassian’s lips, but some part of what Aphira had said had struck a chord in him, leaving the Keeper unusually silent. Instead of delivering his sarcastic response, he nodded his appreciation and understanding before making his way to the steps. Back on the main road, he instructed Aphira to join the others by the city limits and make sure they were ready to leave. He, on the other hand, began the trek uphill.
He was pleased to see the Namdhorians steadily returning to their homes after hiding in the keep. Here and there, stragglers were saying goodbye to their wives and children before jogging down the road to meet the company. There was one particular child, however, that caught the Keeper’s eye. A young girl, no more than seven years, was standing by the corner of an alley, watching the father of another family say his farewells. The scene stopped Kassian in his tracks.
He observed for a moment, scrutinising her expressions. The child certainly wasn’t part of the family she was watching, though she clearly yearned to be. Judging by her appearance, Kassian had to wonder where her own family were and why they weren’t caring for the young girl. Compelled as he was, he crossed the road and approached her, sure to keep his movements slow and unthreatening.
The girl saw him and immediately retreated into the shadows of the alley.
“Wait!” he called, dashing in after her.
The girl quickly disappeared but her torn boots left distinctive prints in the snow, guiding Kassian to a strewn pile of empty barrels. Sure enough, the girl was hiding behind them, but she didn’t remain there for long. With a face of fury, she hurled herself from the ground and pointed something at the Keeper.
“Stay back!” she hissed.
Kassian raised his hands but his eyes narrowed at the slender object in her hand. It wasn’t steel or a blade of any kind, but the girl obviously thought she was wielding something he should be afraid of.
“I mean you no harm,” he said firmly. “I saw you by the road. I thought I could—”
“Help?” the girl cut in, jabbing her weapon again. “You wouldn’t be the first to try and help me!”
Kassian didn’t like to think of the wretches who had tried to take advantage of the poor girl. “I’m not…” His attention returned to the object in her hand and he realised what he was looking at. “That’s my wand!” he exclaimed.
The girl’s demeanour changed in an instant. “You’re one of them?” She looked out on the partial devastation that marred many of Namdhor’s buildings. “You’re a mage.”
Kassian slowly lowered his hands and shifted his coat to reveal Fin’s wand on his thigh. “I am a Keeper. And that,” he said, pointing to the wand in her hand, “belongs to me.”
“You lie!” she spat instinctively. “You have one right there!”
“This belonged to a good friend of mine.” Kassian carefully withdrew the wand and displayed it handle-first. “He died fighting for this city.” He crouched down to her height and nodded at the wand in her hand. “Where did you find mine?”
The girl seemed to be considering the threat he posed. Judging by her posture, she was relaxing somewhat. “It was poking out of the snow, two blocks up from here.”
Kassian thought back to the moment he had lost the wand, when the cart he was hiding in exploded. “That seems about right.” He sized the girl up for a moment, unsure how to proceed. “What’s your name?”
“What’s your name, Keeper?” the girl retorted.
Kassian smiled, despite the sigh he resisted. “I am Kassian Kantaris.”
The girl twisted her mouth. “I am Clayda,” she finally said.
“Clayda,” Kassian repeated. “A strong name. How long have you been living on the streets of Namdhor,
