Nariel purrs, “And why should you have?”
That makes me frown. It’s a double-edged dig: that Nariel is no longer an angel and can do this, and that he can work magic that Koshiel can’t sense. This is only going to make him look likemoreof a threat to Koshiel, and it’s a bluff he won’t be able to back up if she tests it.
I move out from behind Nariel to stand at his side, my wand ready and my gaze clear.
The angels chose to ally with High Earth.Ichose to ally with Nariel. And I let Koshiel see us presented as a united front, and one that can stand against their alliance.
The angel looks between us—and then focuses on me, and this time I think she is finally seeing me.
“Wizard Master, was it?” she asks as if idly.
The courtesy of my title at last, but my heart pounds.
I don’t think this is a good sign after all.
Nariel shifts almost imperceptibly, but I know him now, and I can practically feel it. He doesn’t like this either.
He looks just the same, but somehow I get the impression that he is ragged too. I’m not sure he can afford to keep fighting the angel and survive, and if I had that much trouble with an angelicweapon, what could I do in my current state against angelic power in the hands of someone who actually knows how to use it?
I ask calmly, for all the world as if I have not just defeated a grand magus of High Earth on my own and shattered angelic power to do it and come out standing, as if an exiled demon has not fought at my side and not crumpled under the might of angels. “Shall we discuss the situation we find ourselves in then, Scepter of Bright Earth?”
Koshiel considers me. “You would restore Low Earth as a power. You cannot do this without the backing of Bright Earth.”
I narrow my eyes. “The attempt would certainly not be my preference, no,” I say carefully. “I am well aware that Bright Earth is formidable, to say the very least, but I will do what I must to keep our magic and autonomy.”
“And what different choices would you make, were Bright Earth not to oppose you?” Koshiel asks.
Behind him, I hear Evram choke. Destien muffles him somehow.
She’s trying to get me to abandon Nariel. Everyone always is.
God, it’s a wonder Nariel trusted me, as much as this keeps happening to him.
I try to catch his gaze, but his expression has gone unreadable—no, stony. Does he expect me to throw him over now? Maybe.
But I think he may know something I don’t and doesn’t like it, but I don’t know what that something is.
“My choices,” I say carefully, “are dependent on specifics, Scepter Koshiel. Would you do me the kindness of speaking plainly?”
“Were this world to have a leader capable of making wise decisions, Bright Earth’s concerns over Low Earth’s ability to handle its own magic would be ameliorated,” Koshiel says. “We would not see any reason for High Earth’s custodial relationship, provided that remained true, and would be glad to amend the treaty.”
What?
The grand magus is now on his feet and protesting, but I barely hear him through my own shock.
Destien’s face is ashen, but he looks more angry than surprised.
I don’t understand. If the angels abandon High Earth, they won’t have the funnel of magic from our world, will they?
But High Earth also won’t have that magic.
And someone who can work angel power unleashed a devastating plague in High Earth very recently.
My blood runs cold. This angel does see me.
And she wants to use me to distract the mages.
As long as I live, High Earth will focus on trying to restore the flow of magic from Low Earth to them. While they try, they won’t focus on whatever the angels are doing. And if they succeed, the angels can claim there is no custodian in Low Earth capable of handling the power, and they’ll restore the previous status quo.
