Magus (Advent Mage Cycle) (18 page)

"Then that is what we will do." She gestured to the other two men, and they promptly scurried over to stand beside her. I watched this and thought, yup. I know who's
really
in charge.

I glanced at Night, quirking an eyebrow in question. "Do you want to wait or go with?"

"Wait
," he said firmly.

"I thought as much. Back in a few minutes." Despite the way the
Remcar-ol
was impatiently clustered around me, I thought it prudent to give them a few words of warning. I didn't fancy the idea of dealing with any panic attacks. "To travel the earth path, I'll wrap us up in a cocoon of magic, and then descend into the earth under our feet." There were a few anxious looks at this, so I added the necessary assurances. "This is completely safe, and
much
faster than normal travel. We'll be there before you know it."

"We trust you, Magus," An Meiling declared, still determined.

Li Shen and Yu Tung stared at the back of her head like she was crazy, but they didn't say anything to contradict her. Well, they had their chance to back out. It was too late now. I wrapped us in magic, and dropped us all into the ground.

Xiaolang couldn't have been more than a mile away. It took only a few seconds to reach him, barely time for anyone to react. I popped up again, more focused on not getting tangled up in the roots of any trees than on my passengers. Because of that, I missed Xiaolang's initial reaction to our arrival.

But I didn't miss the expression of absolute joy on An Meiling's face. With quick strides she passed me, and I turned to see where she was going.

Xiaolang was standing beside Hayate, eyes as big as saucers. He looked like he wanted to say something, but his mouth wasn't cooperating. His jaw was flapping like a landed fish.

An Meiling didn't give him a chance to pull his scattered wits together. She framed his face with both hands, pulling him down a little to her level. Despite the fact that Xiaolang was surely twice as strong as this petite woman, he docilely allowed the maneuver. "I have had enough of this nonsense. You will come home, De Xiaolang."

His eyes closed in pain. "I broke the law, An Meiling."

"You protected your family," she corrected sharply. "Did you think we would judge you harshly for that? Nonsense, boy! I will not hear any contradictions. You will come home."
Now
, her tone added.

Li Shen went to their sides, affectionately cupping the back of Xiaolang's head. "We've missed you, child."

A single tear traced its way down Xiaolang's cheek. "So have I," he whispered huskily. As I watched, all of the sadness and pain just melted from his face, and fell away. What replaced it was a joy so pure, so immense, it was nearly blinding. A smile broke out on my face seeing it.

Yu Tung and An Quon joined them, bracketing Xiaolang on all sides. I'm not sure what passed between them, but I knew that I felt uncomfortable watching it. Somehow, that moment seemed too private for me to witness.

I turned away to give them some privacy. And since I had nothing better to do, I decided to take a look at the earth under my feet. I had sensed a great deal of power when we were traveling the earth path. Strangely enough, I thought I sensed enormous power in the trees as well. Now, it's true that plants have their own innate power, but it's not terribly strong. Not by itself, at least. If it grows on a ley line, that changes matters. I went to the nearest tree and placed a hand on it, closing my eyes so that I could better focus on what my senses were telling me.

It just about knocked me flat.

I could not believe the sheer amount of
power
in a single tree! I know that it’s a big tree, but still! Were all of the trees like this, or was this one sitting right on a ley line?

Someone's hand descended on my shoulder. I jumped, startled, and whirled around. Xiaolang was watching me through narrow eyes. "Garth, what are you doing?"

"Checking something," I answered. I still felt like my head was reeling and I wasn't even touching the tree anymore.

"You look…drunk…" he said slowly, eyes searching my face.

"I feel a little drunk," I replied with a dazed smile. "Whew. You would not
believe
how much power is in this tree."

"You're punch-drunk from being touchy-feely with a tree?"

I grimaced. "It sounds ridiculous when you put it that way."

"Garth, it will sound ridiculous
regardless
of how I phrase it."

I hated to admit it, but he had a point.

"We're ready to go back into Q'atal," he informed me. A mischievous twinkle lit his eyes. "And I think we should leave before you get so giddy that you start going around and hugging the trees or something."

I had this childish urge to stick my tongue out at him. I wasn't so far gone as to do that, however. I manfully glared at him instead.

Xiaolang ignored me and beckoned Hayate with a wave of his hand. "Come on, Hayate. We're going into Q'atal."

Hayate eyed him distrustfully. "Go in earth?"

"Yes, we're going by the earth path. It's faster that way."

Hayate shook his head adamantly, the reins jingling at the rapid motion. "No."

Xiaolang growled in exasperation. "Why not?"

"Night not like it. I not like it."

"You haven't even tried it!" Xiaolang retorted, flinging his hands up in the air.

"Not like it," Hayate insisted stubbornly.

"You like caves," Xiaolang pointed out persuasively. "Going by the earth path is like going into a cave."

That made the dragoo pause for a moment. "Like caves?"

"Yes, it's just like going into a nice, warm cave."

I thought that was a bit much, as
Xiaolang
had never traveled by earth path either. How would he know what it was like? Still, if this argument worked, I wasn't protesting.

Hayate didn't look like he entirely bought this story, but he sidled up next to the group regardless. Before any other issues could be raised, I gathered everyone up and took them back to where we had left the rest of the group. I had the presence of mind to turn slightly as I brought us to the surface, so that I could see Xiaolang's face.

I wasn't disappointed.

For the first time in seven years, Xiaolang was seeing his homeland again. I can't begin to describe the mixture of emotions on his face. There was joy, relief, and a sense of
belonging
; it was only now, as I watched it play over his face, that I realized that peace had been missing.

His eyes sought mine, the only other person here who could fully comprehend what he was experiencing in this moment. I smiled as he did, and said the words that he obviously so wanted to hear. "Welcome home, De Xiaolang. Welcome home."

Chapter Nine: Surprises

Chatta was never so glad to see Del’Hain in her life.

It had been a long,
long
week. Once she had Remcarparoden safely in custody, she and Aletha and Shield had ridden hard for the capitol. She had kept a weather eye on the young Mage as they traveled, but he stayed very quiet and very subdued the entire trip. Chatta had a hunch that this submissive attitude was somehow brought about by Garth. She’d seen him talk to Shield, and shortly afterwards, Shield had taken Aletha aside to have a quiet conversation. Both Ascalon soldiers had acted very differently toward Remcarparoden ever since then. Maybe Chatta was just being paranoid.

But she wouldn’t bet on it.

It was a definite relief to enter the city walls. All Chatta needed to do was deliver Remcarparoden to the Trasdee Evondit Orra, explain everything, and then she was home free. Well, she should probably go and talk to Guin and give him a more formal report. And going to see her father while she was in town was probably a good idea as well (in the interest of staying on said parent’s good side).

They went to the Academy of All Magic first, as it was the only building in Del'Hain that could hold a captured Mage. One would have thought a circus had invaded the school because it was so crowded with people and curious Nreesces. Granted, the Academy was always chaotic to some degree, but this was more of an uproar than usual, which was confusing to Chatta. Judging from the amount of people in the main courtyard, no one was in class. Had she forgotten some holiday?

"Chatta!"

She turned, looking for the person calling her. Kartal was moving toward her in long strides, relief written all over his face. She regarded him with justified confusion. Never in their acquaintance had Kartal been
relieved
to see her. She stopped, turning so that she could keep one eye on Remcarparoden, and the other on Kartal as he approached.

As soon as Kartal was within hearing distance, he started talking. "I'm so glad to see someone from Garth's team. But what are you doing in Del'Hain?"

Chatta jerked a thumb at the Mage standing next to her. "Delivering him."

Kartal took a long look at Remcarparoden, and his scrutiny was thorough enough to make the young Mage shift uncomfortably. "That's a Fire Mage."

"One that has proven incapable of handling his power," Chatta informed him flatly. When Kartal stiffened in alarm, she smiled humorlessly. "It's a long story. I'll fill you in later. For now, I need to get him to a holding room, and call an emergency Council session. What's all the ruckus about?"

A truly sadistic smile grew on Kartal's face. That expression thoroughly alarmed Chatta—she braced herself, trying to prepare for whatever Kartal was about to throw at her. "I'm so glad you asked. Three Mages from Bromany showed up yesterday."

"Three Mages from Bromany," Chatta repeated. Her tone indicated that she was trying to do some elaborate formula in her head using those four words, only it wasn't computing.

"It gets better," Kartal assured her. His smile was nearly diabolical. "They're the descendents of the surviving Mages from the Magic War."

Chatta stared at him, speechless. Was he
joking
…?

Aletha interrupted at his point, nearly spluttering. "Now wait a minute; I thought that no one survived the last battle of the Magic War."

"That's what we all assumed," Kartal corrected. He was truly getting a kick out of their reactions, bouncing happily on the balls of his feet. "No one came back from the Isle of Strae, so we thought they must have killed each other off. But no one went and investigated that, either. The Remnant Mages—”

"Remnant?" Shield questioned, highly curious.

"That's what they call themselves," Kartal explained, a trifle impatiently. "The Remnant. Anyway, these Mages claim that there were a few Mages and Witches that survived that last battle, but they chose not to return to Chahir. They went to Bromany instead, and established a colony there."

"Claimed?" Chatta pounced on that word like a cat on a trapped mouse. "You don't believe them?"

Kartal spread his hands in a neutral shrug. "Guin tells me that they brought proof with them, and he doesn't doubt their story. I just haven't seen it for myself. Anyway, back to my original point. The Remnant Mages have come here specifically to talk to the Mages. They
really
want to talk to Garth, because he was the first one out of Chahir. We've been trying to figure out a way to contact you."

"That's why you're glad to see me," Chatta surmised. Her head was still spinning madly—Mages? Remnant?
Bromany?!
That was across the ocean! Fortunately, her mouth came up with an intelligent response without much input from her brain. "Well, I guess our timing is good, then."

"Very good," Kartal approved. "Especially considering that they were going to send
me
to hunt you down."

"I'm so glad that I've saved you some extra work," Chatta drawled.

"So am I," Kartal agreed, deliberately disregarding her sarcasm. "I'm overworked as it is. I wish Garth would get back here; they keep shifting his duties over to me. It's a pain."

That was so like Kartal that Chatta just ignored it. "So where are these Remnant Mages now?"

"Talking with the Trasdee Evondit Orra, I imagine. Let's get this Fire Mage of yours in proper lock up, and I'll take you to them."

Chatta nodded. "Good idea. Shield, Aletha? Can you go to Guin and update him on what's happened? I think I better go talk with the Trasdee Evondit Orra first."

They both nodded in understanding. "No problem," Aletha assured her. "We'll see you later?"

She had been fantasizing about a long hot bath, but with this new situation, that wish was going up like so much smoke. "Much later, probably," Chatta sighed ruefully.

The Remnant Mages were not at
all
what Chatta was picturing.

Bromanans were known as a very expansive, loud, physically affectionate culture. They were into every type of business imaginable, and didn't think twice about travelling all over the known world to expand their business. Chatta had expected the Remnant Mages to be rather like a Bromanan, considering that they grew up on that continent.

They weren't.

In fact, she couldn't place them in any single culture at all.

Her first look at them was necessarily brief, because they were in the Council Room with the rest of the Trasdee Evondit Orra. To avoid being rude, Chatta had to properly greet the rest of the Council first. Still, she got quite the eyeful as she entered the room. There were three of them, as Kartal had mentioned; two men and a woman. The woman was in a deep red coat that fit her snugly, flaring out at the hips. The two men were dressed in a similar coat, but they were in different colors—deep blue and white, respectively. Chatta had a suspicion that the colors signified something.

"Witch Delheart, we are pleased to see you," En-Nelle of Tain said, perfectly sincere—perhaps even relieved. "Allow me to introduce our long-lost comrades."

Chatta personally thought that statement was a bit much, but held her tongue.

"This is Magus Tyvendor, Air Mage from Coven Ordan."

Tyvendor was a large man, not so much in height as in stature. He was solid, like an ancient oak tree, with wildly curling brown hair. The only soft part of him was his light blue eyes and childlike smile.