Reader and Raelynx (19 page)

Senneth,
he thought, sending the message halfway across Gillengaria.
I wish you were here now
.

T
HE
trip to Carrebos had been quick and free of trouble. Tayse was a most efficient traveler, and Senneth never required any particular amenities on the road. Kirra and Donnal had elected to make the journey in animal shape, although Kirra, at least, always took human form when they stopped for the night. Donnal sometimes joined them as a black dog, sometimes as a white-faced wolf, but never as a man. Senneth wondered if that was because Darryn Rappengrass was present, and Donnal was rarely at ease around any nobility except Kirra and Senneth.

Darryn, as always, was delightful company, humorous and charming. He only turned serious when talk turned to war, and they spent part of every evening running over the same fears and possibilities. Was Halchon Gisseltess still a prisoner on his own lands at Gissel Plain, or had he escaped the king’s men who were guarding him—as he had managed to do more than once in the past? Was Rayson Fortunalt helping him raise an army? Which other marlords had he recruited? If they planned to attack, what signal were they waiting for? Would they send another assassin to Ghosenhall to try to murder the king?

“And what of Coralinda Gisseltess?” Senneth demanded the night before they arrived in Carrebos. “She has been so quiet lately! Surely she is plotting something as well?”

“I wouldn’t doubt it,” Darryn agreed. He ran a hand through his chestnut hair and allowed a frown to settle across his pleasant features. “My mother is convinced that Halchon and Rayson are only awaiting the coming of good weather before they launch an assault. Her spies tell her there has been increased activity at all the southern ports as Gisseltess and Fortunalt import supplies to support an army.”

“Makes sense,” Senneth said gloomily. “Does your mother feel prepared to defend her own borders?”

“As prepared as she can be. But I think she lives in constant worry.”

“As do we all.”

Kirra was tired of war talk. “So, Darryn! Why haven’t you abandoned us yet?” she asked. “I thought you would turn toward Rappen Manor at least a day ago.”

He gave her a casual smile. “I thought I would accompany you to Carrebos instead. I find it a most intriguing city.”

“You’ve been there?” Senneth asked.

“Many times.” He dropped his gaze. “She lives there. Sosinetta. The woman you have heard me speak of.”

“Your ladylove!” Kirra crooned. “Oh, Darryn, will you introduce us?”

“I’m afraid she might be overwhelmed. You’re very grand.”

Senneth glanced down at her travel-stained trousers and her long-sleeved shirt, rather the worse for wear. “I don’t think that’s an adjective that applies to me. And Kirra can look like an urchin, you know.”

“Even better. I’ll shift into a friendly little dog,” Kirra offered. “I’ll just frisk around and lick her hand and she won’t be at all intimidated.”

Darryn laughed. “I’ll think about it.”

“There’s no
thinking about it
,” Kirra said. “Now that we know she lives in Carrebos, we won’t rest until we’ve seen her! Why didn’t you tell us before?”

He groaned and dropped his head in his hands. “For precisely that reason. I’m a fool.”

Senneth grinned at Kirra. “Now I’m even more excited about arriving tomorrow.”

T
HE
weather was nasty as they pulled into the city around noon. Icy droplets were pelting in straight from the roiling sea, so they were not particularly focused on watching for young ladies who might run up to offer Darryn ecstatic greetings. They headed for the nearest inn, gratefully turned over their horses, and gathered in the taproom once they had changed to dry clothes. Kirra, Senneth, and Tayse slid into a booth; Donnal settled under the table at Kirra’s feet.

“Ser Darryn has disappeared,” Tayse observed.

“We’ll find him,” Kirra said. “Don’t worry about that.”

“What we need to find now is a mystic,” Senneth said.

In a town like Carrebos, that task proved simple to accomplish. Their server was a boy of about sixteen, gangly and thin, with unkempt black hair falling into his eyes. He had taken their orders so negligently that Senneth did not repose much faith in receiving the meal she’d requested, but when he returned she saw he had found a novel way of carrying several dinner platters at once. They were levitated in front of him, one stacked above the other, supported by nothing but air and willpower. Three glasses of beer hovered near his shoulder.

Senneth couldn’t look at Kirra, who was clearly on the verge of erupting into laughter. “Thank you,” she said gravely as the boy settled everything on the table without a single spill. “I have to suppose you possess a little magical skill.”

He nodded carelessly. “Makes the job easier, that’s for certain.”

“I know this is a city where many mystics live,” Senneth said. “How do I go about meeting all of them?”

Now his face turned closed and suspicious. So he’d been scarred by fear or malice a time or two, Senneth guessed. “Why would you want to do that?”

She held her hand out, palm up, and allowed fire to dance between her fingers, all the while keeping her eyes on his face. “No need to fear me,” she said quietly. “I am a mystic myself. I am on a mission for the king.”

The boy’s eyes darted from Senneth’s burning hand to the faces of her companions. “You’re all mystics?” he said.

“Not him. He’s a soldier,” Senneth said, because naming Tayse a Rider might create more distrust in this particular community. “The rest of us.” Donnal poked his black nose out from under the table and offered a short bark.

The serving boy seemed reassured. “I’ll ask Ward. He owns the place.” He gave her a quick grin. “He’s a reader, so if you’re lying, he’ll throw you out.”

The boy departed and Kirra said, “He’ll
try
to throw us out. No one’s ever managed that yet.”

“I don’t think he’ll even try, since we are who we say. Sweet gods, I’m hungry.”

They all dug in, happy to have a meal that hadn’t been prepared on the road. Senneth hadn’t quite cleaned her plate when they were approached by a rather large man—big bellied, round faced, and nearly bald. He wore a filthy apron over his clothes and carried a rather large butcher knife in one hand, so Senneth guessed he was both owner and chief cook—and defender of the premises.

He pulled out a chair, reversed it, laid his knife on the table, and introduced himself. “I’m Ward. What is a King’s Rider and a group of mystics doing at my inn?”

So much for anonymity. Kirra was giggling again, but Senneth actually liked having a reader in the mix. Everyone was forced to be honest. “Trying to raise an army,” she said. “And wondering if we might find a few sorcerous recruits in Carrebos.”

Ward scratched the back of his head. “Way I hear it, king’s already got an army.”

“Ordinary men,” Senneth said. Her gaze flicked to Tayse, who was smiling slightly. Very well, the Riders were hardly ordinary. “We hope to augment them with extraordinary ones. Shape-shifters. Readers. Healers. Those who can call fire. I fear we may have need of all their magical skills if we truly are drawn into war.”

“King hasn’t done much to protect mystics from people who hate them,” Ward said.

“Not true,” Tayse interposed. “He has made Ghosenhall a haven for them and fined the marlords who allow mystics to be persecuted on their lands. There is little the king can do to guard mystics who live in remote hamlets far from the royal city.”

Ward shrugged. “Maybe. But not everyone feels kindly toward the king.”

“Do you feel kindly toward Coralinda Gisseltess?” Kirra asked. “Because if war comes and the king is defeated, she will be free to spread her gospel of hatred across the realm. No mystic will be safe then, not even in enclaves like Carrebos.”

“We can defend ourselves,” Ward said. “Done it for months now. There was only one time the Pale Mother’s soldiers came here, and we defeated them all.”

“Which is exactly why I would wish some of you to join the king,” Senneth said. “To help us defeat enemies who want to strip magic from the land.”

Ward scratched the back of his head again. “I’ll mention it to a few people,” he said. He hauled himself up and pushed his way back toward the kitchen.

“Not sure we can count on him for unconditional support,” Kirra observed.

“We’ll make the rounds tomorrow morning. Drop by the other inns and restaurants,” Senneth said. “Word will get out. We’ll see if anyone’s interested.”

T
HE
weather was better the following day, for which Senneth was grateful. She didn’t mind heat, didn’t mind cold, but she hated ice and snow. All was well with the world as long as there was sunshine.

Even in winter, Carrebos was a pretty little town, a crowded collection of mismatched but well-tended buildings mostly grouped along a few major streets. It was nestled right up against the sea, so the smells of salt and fish were very strong, and the view of the sparkling water added to the pleasures of the sunny day.

Senneth had decided that a smaller group might have better success, so she and Kirra began to canvass the other eating establishments in Carrebos. Donnal conducted investigations in his own fashion, nosing around kitchens and street corners; Tayse said he wanted to patrol the town and get a sense of its size, makeup, and fortifications. He disliked being in unfamiliar territory and always welcomed a chance to study new terrain.

Senneth and Kirra were at their third stop when, most unexpectedly, they encountered someone they knew. They were sitting in a back booth at an inviting tavern where they were the only customers of the morning. Having already consumed two breakfasts, they’d decided they should just order tea and hope the proprietor didn’t grumble. Their waitress was a young woman with dark hair piled in a bun and an air of smooth competence.

“Good morning, I hope you’re well,” she greeted them—and then she flung out her arms so wide that the towel in her hand went flying.

“
Senneth?
Can it be you? Oh, and
Kirra
! I can’t believe it!”

Senneth stared, at first absolutely blank. “I’m sorry, I don’t—”

The young woman was almost dancing where she stood. “I’m Sosie! You probably never even looked at my face, you were so busy with Annie, but I’m the one—”

“Sosie!” Senneth exclaimed and jumped to her feet to give the girl a hug. “I never thought to see you again. And Annie is well? And the baby?” She glanced around. “Are they here?”

Kirra was on her feet, too, predictably delighted. “I remember you!” she said. “Your sister is the one who was having the mystic baby that night we were in your village. And no one would help her except us.”

Sosie nodded vigorously. “We left our father’s house three weeks later and went to Rappengrass. Then we heard about Carrebos and we thought it might be safer here.”

Senneth was drawing her down beside her in the booth. “Can you sit a moment? The place doesn’t look too busy. Can you talk? Tell us what’s happened to you and your sister.”

Sosie laughed. “We’re all doing quite well. Kinnon—that’s the baby, you know—he’s a year old now and
so
much trouble. Those first few weeks he would just fling stuff about! While we traveled, he sometimes could make trees shake and stones start tumbling. I can tell you, I thought we would never survive the trip. But Annie learned to control him, and now she and Ned are married, and, of course, Ned can keep Kinnon in check—”

“Who’s Ned?” Kirra asked.

“Oh! Kinnon’s father! He was in Carrebos when we arrived! Doing tricks with the acrobatic troupe, but he’s got a better job now.”

“And you?” Senneth asked. “You look well and happy. You like being here among all the mystics? It might be a little strange for someone with no power of her own.”

“It is strange sometimes,” she admitted. “Sometimes I wonder if the rest of them despise me a little because I don’t have any magic. But then I think how odd it must be for
them
when they live someplace where they’re the only ones who are different. And then I don’t mind so much.”

“And you’ve found a job. This seems like a nice place—do you like it?”

“Very much! I have a room off the kitchen. Annie and Ned have built their own house and I stay with them sometimes, but there’s more privacy here.”

“Why do you need privacy?” Kirra inquired. “Do you have a young man?”

Sosie blushed deeply, and smiled, and looked very pretty. She had been thin and anxious that dreadful night when Kinnon was brought roughly into the world, but she had filled out and gained a great deal of confidence since then, Senneth thought.

“Well—yes—at least—I don’t know how serious he is,” Sosie said. “But I see him when he’s in town and I miss him when he’s not, so—” She shrugged. “But tell me about the two of you! You have no idea how often I have thought of you and wished I could tell you how much it meant to us to have you there that night. You saved our lives and you gave us courage.” She tugged at a cord hidden under her gown and pulled out an amulet made of faded silk. “I wear this every day. It has helped me so many times.”

Senneth had no idea what it was. “What’s inside the bag?”

Sosie laughed and opened her eyes wide. “The piece of quartz that you enchanted for me! You told me it would give me strength.”

Senneth felt Kirra’s eyes on her. It had been—oh, not exactly a bit of trickery—more a wild hope that she could transfer a bit of her magic to an inanimate object and then hand it over to someone who might be able to draw on its reflected power. “I’m so glad I was able to give you that much help,” she said quietly. “Being able to save Annie and Kinnon meant more to me than I think I can explain to you. Magic had cost me so much at that point in my life. I needed to know that it could pay back in some appreciable measure as well.”

Sosie nodded. “I think the same thing sometimes. Magic almost cost Kinnon his life—almost cost Annie her life. It had better be worth the price.”