Rain smiled.
Eld ~ Boura Fell
His hand was trembling again.
Vadim Maur clasped his palms together, squeezing his fingers tight, and looked across his desk at Gethen Nour, one of the Mage’s most promising former apprentices who had long ago joined the rank of Primages. “I’m sure you’ve heard that Kolis has recently disappointed me.”
Though he tried to hide it, Gethen couldn’t completely restrain his instinctive flinch. Kolis’s fate had become common talk in the Mage Halls upstairs.
“He still lives,” Vadim assured him. Then he smiled. “Unfortunately for him.”
Gethen managed to keep his gaze steady. “I hope never to disappoint you, master.”
The High Mage nodded. “That is my hope, too, Gethen. And now you have an opportunity to remind me how skillfully you can serve me.” Three stripes adorned the cuffs of Gethen’s blue Mage robes, only two less than those Primages who served on the Mage Council. Vadim wasn’t going to make the same mistake he’d made with Kolis. This time, his envoy would be a full-ranked Mage, as experienced as he was powerful.
Nour gave a quiet cough to clear his throat. “Master?”
“You will take Kolis’s place in Celieria.” He eyed the younger man critically. Nour wasn’t half as pretty as Kolis had been, but his body was tall and firm, his features appealing enough that he had no shortage of willing bed partners. His hair was thick and dark, his eyes a shrewd forest green. That was a plus. Queen Annoura preferred brunettes, the better to set off her own fair beauty. “Kolis’sumagiin the court will smooth your path into the queen’s inner circle.”
“Forgive me, master,” Nour ventured cautiously, “but I thought the Fey had left Celieria City and our plans there were uncovered.”
“We suffered a setback, yes, but our work in Celieria City is notdone. Dorian still sits on the throne, and after all these years, it appears he’s finally grown steel in his spine. He is arming the keeps along the borders. That doesn’t suit my plans. I’ll take Celieria by force if I must, but I prefer to save our strength and resources for the Fey.”
The Primage bowed his head. “Of course, master. When do you wish me to depart?”
“Tonight. Kolis’sumagiwill gain you entrance to the court and access to the queen. Dorian must be controlled, rendered ineffective, or removed. One way or another, I want the hand of Eld guilding Celieria’s throne four months hence, before the night of the new moons.”
“I will not fail you, master.”
“If you do, you will do so only once.” Vadim’s left hand began to tremble again. The Mage rose to his feet and clasped the shaking hand behind his back. “There is one other thing, Nour.”
Gethen’s face settled into an expression of mild curiosity. “Master?”
“You will find a way to bring the Tairen Soul’s truemate to me. Alive.Beforeshe completes the matebond with him.”
The Primage’s jaw went slack, and for one brief moment alarm flashed openly in his eyes. He tried to rally, dropping his gaze and covering his gape with a forced cough. “Forgive me, master, but every Mage in Boura Fell knows the Fey have taken the girl through the Faering Mists. No Mage can reach her now. Such a feat is beyond even your vast power, great one.”
“We will see about that,” Vadim snapped. He took a breath and forcibly calmed his temper. “I am not asking you to reach her in the Fading Lands, Nour. I’m telling you to find a way to draw her out. The girl’s family has still not been found. They’ve not entered Orest, but the same scouts who spotted the Tairen Soul reported a powerful redirection weave spun around the Garreval. I find myself wondering why the Fey would trouble to spin such a weave if they were just passing through to the Fading Lands.”
“You think the girl’s family is there?”
“I think something is there, and I want to know what.” Vadim opened a drawer by his desk and pulled out the black velvet bag ofchemarleft by Fezaiina Rael. “Here. I want these planted around the Garreval, inside whatever is hidden behind that redirection weave. They are likeselkahrbut have no magical signature. Leave them where they will be most useful as gateways for invading forces. If Ellysetta Baristani’s familyisthere by the Garreval, find a way to bring them to me.”
Nour picked up the bag and glanced inside before depositing the pouch in the pocket of his robe. “Yes, master.”
“You will take my newestumagiwith you. He knew Ellysetta Baristani and her mortal family, and he has a few scores he wishes to settle. He is eager to help you find them, and he has many ties among the rabble that may come in useful.” A door opened to Vadim’s left, and the thick-muscled, brutishly handsome Celierian stepped into the room.
Despite the debatable wisdom of claiming Den Brodson, Vadim Maur still felt a surge of pride at the sight of him. It took a very powerful Mage to deliver six full-strength Marks in six days, but it also took a very strongumagito survive the process. Brodson had, though not easily. The Celierian’s ruddy face was pale beneath its tan, his dark hair now streaked with white, and his thick muscles were still twiching from the memory of his torment and subjugation.
“This is Master Nour,umagi.You will serve him as you would me.” Vadim held Den Brodson’s gaze and summoned the icy, dark sweetness of Azrahn. “Do not disappoint me, mortal. As you know, I deal harshly with those who fail me.”
Brodson’s face blanched three shades whiter, and a muscle in his jaw began a rapid tic. He bowed and moved to Nour’s side like an obedient dog.
“Go. You depart at nightfall. You will use Kolis’s entrance to the inn. Have hisumagibring a sacrifice for the guardians of theWell. There must be no hint of Azrahn to alert anyone to your presence.”
“Understood, master. It shall be as you command.” Gethen bowed, snapped his fingers in a wordless command for the Celierian to follow, and exited the room.
When the two men were gone, the High Mage lifted his trembling hands and examined them. The shaking had grown worse again, despite Elfeya’s obediently diligent efforts to heal him, and much as he wanted to, he could no longer deny the truth.
