As the other dignitaries filed into the room with their Library representatives, Kasira moved smoothly from one group to the other, laying similar foundations. With each lie and half-truth she told, sheretreated a little deeper into herself, allowing the words to come on reflex. It was the only way she could avoid thinking of Allaster. The only way she could shift favor away from him, one word at a time.
May and Allaster were the last to arrive, and Kasira slid immediately to their sides. “Arraidia is on our side, but I can’t be certain of Cernos or Sarren. Though, I’m fairly sure Cernos and Iglacia are in a relationship, which, last I checked, isn’t permitted between Ministers. We could—”
“We’re not using it against them,” Allaster cut her off with a shake of his head. “We play this fairly.”
She had known he would say that but provided the information nonetheless to make it look as though she were trying. It would be suspicious if she didn’t offer him anything useful.
The room quieted suddenly as Talthari approached a podium at the forefront. As the mage who most recently had been representing the accusing kingdom, they would be responsible for overseeing the proceedings. “It is now noonday,” their smooth voice called across the room. “Please take your seats, and we will begin.”
There were eight chairs around the central table, six for the dignitaries and two for the Library, and several rows stretching toward the glass windows for the Library representatives and the dignitaries’ guests. A chair also rested beside the podium, occupied by Vera. Kasira took her place at Allaster’s side.
Once everyone had settled, Talthari unfurled a paper that they read from. “I now commence the third gathering of the Conclave, so called by Ambassador Vera Helsen of Kalthos, who levies against Allaster St. Archer, Librarian of Amorlin, the charges of misuse of Library resources and gross favoritism.”
This speech should have been a relief to Kasira. She had done what she had set out to do, completed one of the most legendary cons in the world. Yet with each word Talthari spoke, her dread only grew.
“We will begin by hearing from Ambassador Vera, to whom the Librarian will be permitted to respond at any point,” Talthari continued with a decorum Kasira respected. She was fairly certain they were on Allaster’s side, yet they clearly acknowledged the Conclave’sauthority. Would the other mages reject the Conclave if Allaster lost, or had she and Thane sown their discord too well?
“I would remind the rest of the room that all others are required to absorb the presented information in silence,” Talthari said stoically. “Disturbances during the Conclave will not be tolerated, and offending parties will be asked to leave. At the end of the presentation of information, the council of dignitaries shall have as long as they need to deliberate and vote. A majority is required to convict.”
They allowed the parchment to refurl. “Let us begin.”
CHAPTER 40
KASIRA
VERA WASTED NO TIME.
She spread a series of papers atop the podium, her blue eyes two piercing lights set upon her audience. “It is no revelation to those gathered here that Kalthos has been protesting the Library’s favoritism against and negligence toward our kingdom for months. In the course of Allaster St. Archer’s short tenure, Kalthos has sent the Librarian no fewer than fifteen mage applications, all of which were denied without consideration.”
Allaster stood, and Vera paused with a curl of her lips. It was his right to provide counterevidence to any point she made, and she had no choice but to allow him to speak. With a wave of his hand, a stack of folders appeared on the table, theover my dead bodylabels blacked out.
He flipped open a file and began to read. “Rendrik Dellos. Retired Malik. No further experience.” He tossed the file back atop the pile and picked another at random. “Deklin Arksen. Ten. Young enough not to be involved in the Malikinar himself but descended from a family of honored hunters.” He discarded this one too.
“Eventually you grew more subtle.” A file from the bottom appeared in his hand, and he read, “Hyla Havloc. A rancher from northern Kalthos with a, quote, ‘love of animals.’” At this, Allaster actually rolled his eyes. “Reportedly studied at the Arcadamium for two years under Professor Navdanya. A strange enough move for a womanof her background, but stranger still, when I asked Navdanya about Hyla, she swore she never had a student by the name.”
Vera’s jaw worked. “Kalthos lacks the proper infrastructure to train mages for the Library. We should not be penalized as a result.”
“Neither should we.” Allaster sent the files away with a wave of his hand. “The work done at the Library is delicate, vital, and not for the faint of heart, Ambassador. I would never forgive myself if I admitted a mage unprepared to face its difficulties.”
Kasira actually had to smother a smile. Allaster might not be able to lie, but he was particularly skilled at eviscerating someone while simultaneously remaining diplomatic.
Vera hardly looked deterred. “Very well. Then perhaps you can explain why, weeks past, you responded to a call of aid from your brother, High Mage Ambric St. Archer, at which point both you and the Assistant Librarian took up arms in defense of a town in Miraval?”
“Simple,” Allaster deadpanned. “It was under attack.”
Vera plodded on as if reading from a script. “Library law prevents the intervention in a country’s internal affairs, including using Library resources to defend against rebellions and criminal activity.”
“Then it is a good thing Spenshire was not under attack by an internal force.” Allaster let his gaze wash over the gathered dignitaries as he spoke. “I’m sure some of you are familiar with the Ryveren, a group of mercenaries that has been plaguing Kalthos. We have reason to believe they were hired by the Kalish government to attack Miraval with the intention of pressuring me into granting magic and authority to their spurious Kalish mage.”
Vera lifted her chin. “Your evidence?”
Kasira knew what came next. Knew, and did nothing to stop it, even as her heart twisted.
“I have the testimony of the Assistant Librarian.”
All eyes fell on her, and she bore them without expression as Vera let out a short laugh. “Ah, yes. Let us speak of Kasira Vitalis. The thief who stole the candidacy from Kalthos. We believe the Librarian hired her to take Lady Eirlana’s place as Assistant Librarian in order to deny our right to select a candidate.”
“Your evidence?” Allaster spat back in mimicry.
