“We are close in age, so naturally I sought you out upon my return to Low Earth looking for someone who would understand what I was going through,” I explain the cover to her. “You always thought I was wrong to be so disrespectful, but you were polite because I had no friends. But now I’ve gone too far, and my quarrel with High Earth will endanger everything you’ve built for yourself, and you can’t allow it.”
“But I am mercenary to have done so well for myself, which is no less than they expect from all us grasping, ungrateful Low Earthers. So I will insist on the bargain, and they will look down on me for it but grant it.” Ayaka nods, leaning back in her seat. “I see. They need help to find you due to the demon?”
Not his cloaking, but his threat. I just say, “Yes.”
“What does your trap accomplish?”
“It makes the grand magus think I will be vulnerable, so he will bring my sister back so I can retrieve her from him.”
Ayaka’s eyes widen. “He kidnapped her? Truly?”
Nariel drawls, “Sierra has been very effective at stealing from them and preventing them from stopping her.”
He lets that sink in; Ayaka’s own family won’t be at comparable risk, because she’s not going to be standing against them. In theory.
But Ayaka still asks again, “What does your trap accomplish?”
I know what she means.
“It establishes that Low Earth has magic and can’t be fucked with,” I say. “And it leaves an opportunity to lead in a newly developing space full of power, and powerful people, in need of guidance.”
Ayaka stares at me.
I dip my head, just slightly.
She does not look at Nariel, so I know she understands me.
I may not have her talent at intimation, but he is not the only one who can read a room.
Ayaka, of all people, understands that when dealing with older men accustomed to power, they will expect a sacrifice.
She takes a sip of tea.
She looks, deliberately, down at the wand.
Very quietly, I do my part. Before, this time, because I need her to trust me.
But also because if my plan works, I won’t have another chance.
Quickly, competently, like it doesn’t blow my mind every time how casual I can be about magic, thatIhave the power to grant magic to any wizard. Like I am doing a thing that no one in this nice café should take any notice of, like I am not with every wand I make changing the power structure of our world.
But also clearly, so that I will not be the only one who can do this.
I key the wand to Ayaka and push it toward her without a word.
She looks at it. Looks at me. Her gaze could be made of knives.
I make myself eat some more ice cream, nonchalantly, like I don’t just want to stare at her like a creeper until she makes a decision, like I do not notice the weight of Nariel’s gaze either.
This isn’t no-risk for her, and we both know it.
But we also both know she is ambitious as fuck.
I did not choose her by accident.
After what feels like a million years, Ayaka deftly pockets the wand—howdid she fit that in her outfit, what the fuck—and says only, “Text me the time and location.”
And then she takes her leave without a backward glance.
