The Unmage (15 page)

“Don’t worry,” Yash said. “I’ll let you know where the spells are. And we don’t have to concern ourselves about anything until we’re close to where my brother is being kept.” He paused. “I’ve been a few times. At least as far as the door that leads to where Wuls is being held.”

“Then you don’t need me,” Timo said.

“But there’s magic there. Magic that I can see but can’t get through,” Yash said. “So I do need you. I am worried about the boat, though. It’s always been here when I returned, but it’s still a worry. Can you spell it to stay here no matter what? Even if someone tries to steal it?”

“No one will steal it,” Timo said. “In case it belongs to a Mage.”

“That would be bad?” Yash asked. “Stealing from a Mage?”

“If caught, they would be sentenced to death,” Timo said. He met Yash’s eyes. That would be their fate too, if caught trying to free his brother.

Yash nodded. “We won’t be caught. And I’ll have to trust that the boat will be here.”

“No,” Timo said. “I’ll spell it invisible.”

Yash looked up at him and grinned. “And us too?”

“Us too,” Timo agreed. He hoped he could do it. He’d had some practice staying invisible himself, but this would be the first time he’d used the spell on another person. And he was afraid that he’d have to keep them invisible if any of them were to get off the island alive.

He looked up at the bright lights and swirling mage mist. Sounds of revelry wafted on the cool breeze and then they were beneath the island. Yash busied himself taking down and storing the sail while Timo weaved a spell of invisibility around them and the boat, wrapping them all in a thick coat of mauve mage mist.

Yash grunted his approval, and Timo slipped past him to sit in the prow. When he heard the soft splash of an oar in the water, he turned from scanning the docks that lay ahead of them. Yash nodded and bent his head as he used the single oar to paddle the small boat forward.

Mage lights and mage mist lit the way as they wove through the docks and boats that dotted the water under the island. A few times they had to stop as a straggler to the festivities sped past them, magic propelling their boat.

Finally, Yash pulled up to a dock that was almost mage mist free. A dull mage light showed warped and splintered wood, and along the water line there was a thin green line of slime.

“It’s safe,” Yash said when Timo huddled close to him. “I’ve used this dock before. I don’t think anyone lives here but there is a small spell near the stairs that we’ll need to step over.”

Timo scrambled onto the dock, holding the boat for Yash, who stepped lightly from the bobbing boat to the planks. Yash quickly tied the boat up and headed towards the stairs.

“Right here,” Yash pointed to a wispy spell that covered the first stair. “Don’t step on that stair.”

Yash leaped up to the second stair, and Timo followed, making sure he stayed well clear of the mage mist. It wasn’t a colour he recognized but that didn’t mean it wouldn’t recognize him. The council would be watching for him—who knew how many Mages were tasked with that.

“YOU WILL ANNOUNCE
me,” Santos repeated.

Kara looked at Reo. He was shrouded in mage mist, as were she and Mole. Though Reo couldn’t see her, he nodded in her direction and rolled his shoulders.

“But Master Mage, I have no knowledge of your rank,” the Mage said again. Santos’ eyes narrowed, and the Mage took a step back.

“Have I been forgotten in the years since Rorik was named Acting Mage Primus?” Santos said. “Does no one remember that I, Santos Nimali, was named Mage Primus before him?”

“No, I mean yes,” the Mage stuttered. “Of course the name Santos Nimali is well known, but if you are the current Mage Primus I have no knowledge.”

“Enough,” Santos said. “I am not dead so I am the
only
Mage Primus. I will announce myself.” He waved a hand, and green mage mist pushed the other Mage to one side.

Holding onto Reo with one hand and Mole with the other, Kara trailed Santos into the hall and paused at the edge of the crowd.

When Santos strode to the middle of the Guild Hall, conversations faltered and all eyes turned towards him.

“I am Santos Nimali, Mage Guild Primus,” Santos said, his voice booming, enhanced by a small spell. “I have come to Founders Day to pay my respects to Acting Primus Rorik.”

Shocked voices sounded throughout the room, and some of the Mages closest to them turned to look at a Mage near the back of the room. Her mother.

“Santos, welcome.” Smiling, Arabella swept towards him, the rustling of the silk dress loud in the now silent room. “I am so glad you accepted my invitation. But surely you did not return alone? Was I not clear that your friends were welcome as well?”

“By my friends you mean your daughter and her husband?” Santos asked. A few gasps sounded in the room, and Kara saw more than a few heads turn towards her mother.

“I think mourning a Mage Guild Primus is guild business,” Santos continued. “I am the only Mage Guildsman in my house.”

“Mage Guild Primus.” A man walked towards them, trailing gold mage mist. Those near him quickly retreated out of his way. “I am not sure if you remember me. I am Master Mage Inigo.” He bowed slightly. “Head of Mage Guild Council.”

“I remember,” Santos said. “You must be very astute to have turned such a middling talent into head of the council.”

The crowd stilled, and an uneasy silence settled over the room. Inigo clenched his hands, and a ball of gold mage mist formed around one. Kara saw her mother frown at him and shake her head. Inigo relaxed his hands and pasted a wide smile on his face.

“It’s a position I earned, Mage Guild Primus,” Inigo said, not quite able to keep a sneer from his voice.

“Of course,” Santos replied. “Isn’t that what I implied?”

Kara grasped Reo’s and Mole’s hands tight, twice confirming that her mother and Inigo were planning on using magic against Santos.

“It is very good that you are here,” Arabella said. She attempted to grab Santos’ arm but frowned when her grasp slid away from him. “I am hopeful that just as you did for Rorik and me, you will appoint me as Primus and Inigo as Secundus.” She tried to grab Santos again, and again her hand skidded away from him.

Santos ignored her, instead circling the space, staring out at the silent Mages who ringed them.

“I can either appoint another Acting Primus and Secundus or take up the reins of Primus again with you as Secundus,” Santos said. “It’s my choice.”

He stopped before a middle-aged man with a receding hair line and a substantial belly.

“What say you, Jinaro? Should I stay and be Primus? You must have a good opinion of me—you asked to be my Journeyman enough times.”

“I, well, I,” the Mage mumbled, and a reddish mist twisted around his hand. “It’s been so long.”

“Yes, it has,” Santos said and clapped a hand on Jinaro’s shoulder. “And who knows if I can trust you.” Santos continued to walk around the centre of the room, scanning the crowd. “And there’s Castio,” he said, and the crowd parted to reveal a thin, grey-haired man. “It was my recommendation that put him on council—would you help me run the guild?” He frowned and turned his back to Castio. “You never did like hard work.”

Santos stopped in front of Arabella. “I do not want to be Primus. Nor do I want to approve you and Inigo in my stead. But I will if you fulfill your promise. I want to see Timo Valendi.”

“Yes, just as soon as you approve us,” Arabella replied. “Inigo and I are ready.”

Santos shook his head and sighed. “You don’t know where Timo is. We suspected as much.”

“He’s my son,” Arabella said. “I know where he is.” She looked around. “And who is
we
. Who did you bring?”

Kara gripped Reo and let go of Mole, who slipped away before she swept the invisibility spell from her and Reo. She met Santos’ gaze, and he nodded. Green mage mist sped from his open hand, and protective spells settled on her and Reo. She looked over at the still invisible Mole. He saluted and headed for the door. Mole would follow Timo’s trail—try to find out which island he went to and follow him.

“Only those you invited, Mother,” Kara said. She looked around the room. A few Mages were readying spells but the rest seemed engrossed in what they were witnessing. She met Inigo’s gaze, and he glared at her.

There was a blaze of gold as he launched a spell. Kara reached out and
pushed
the spell back towards him. There was a blast when the spell hit, and Mages screamed. Shockwaves buffeted Kara but Santos’ protective spell kept her safe. She felt Reo’s steadying hand on her shoulder.

She’d only smelled this odour once before, but she would never forget it. Inigo had meant to kill her, and she’d deflected the spell onto him. Just like Valerio Valendi.

“You witch!” a man screamed. “Gyda-cursed witch!”

A charred body lay crumpled on the floor and crawling out from under it, his hair scorched and his face blackened, was Inigo.

“She killed the Secundus,” Inigo yelled. “Kill her!”

Kara felt Reo pull her against his chest as what the Mage had said sunk in. Her mother! She’d killed her mother!

“Kara,” Reo whispered in her ear. “Kara! We need you.”

“Yes.” She nodded and took a deep breath as she pushed her grief and guilt away.

“Quiet!” It was Santos, looking every bit the Mage Guild Primus, and most of the people in the room automatically responded to him. “Stay calm. We will not hurt anyone else unless they attack us.”

“But she killed the Secundus!” Inigo yelled.

“Your spell killed her!” Kara replied, shaking off Reo’s hand. “You attacked me and then you hid behind my mother.” She looked around the room. “I am not a Mage. That’s why my mother, Arabella Fonti, rejected me. But I can manipulate a Mage’s spells.” She leveled her gaze on Inigo. “I suspect that there is a report in the Hall of Records that indicates that.”

“Kill her!” Inigo called out, his eyes travelling past Kara to the ring of Mages surrounding them. He raised his hand, mage mist collecting on it.

Dozens of other Mages now gathered their power, and Kara stepped into the centre of the room. Glaring at Inigo, she
pulled
with all her might at the magic being amassed around her. She heard gasps and grunts as the power was literally ripped from the Mages in the hall.

She felt Reo’s steady hand on her arm, and she relaxed and met his solemn gaze. She nodded and looked around. Mage mist in every colour streamed from the crowd up towards the ceiling. Inigo looked shocked, and a few people stumbled to their knees, their magic already depleted. But other, stronger Mages stared at their hands as they felt their power being sucked away.

Inigo screeched with rage and lunged towards her—then Reo was in front of her and in an instant Inigo was writhing on the floor. And still gold mage mist streamed from him.

Reo fell back beside her, scanning the crowd.

“Are you all right?” he asked her, and she nodded.

“Santos?” Reo said over his shoulder.

The older Mage turned towards them and raised his hand. Grass green mage mist circled his fist.

“I have not been affected,” Santos said. “Although I can feel the power moving in the room.”

A crack of thunder sounded, and Kara looked up. A river of mage mist swirled around the ceiling, flashes of light crackling from within the pool of power. A few strands of mist still streamed from the crowd, but after a few moments, they trickled and stopped. Then there was only the mage mist spinning ever faster around the ceiling of the room.

“What’s it doing?” Reo asked.

Kara shook her head. “I’m not sure. The clammers never had this much power to pull out of them. I’ll try to dissipate it.” She reached a hand up and waved at the mist, trying to make it go away, but instead it spun faster and faster. Her hands clenched into fists, Kara threw her arms up into the air. Concentrating, she opened both hands and
pushed
at the magic. There was a thunderous rumble, and the walls shook, and then with a sound like rushing water, the magic collapsed into itself and was gone. Kara sagged against Reo, her breath ragged. Around her, the crowd of Mages was silent as they stared upwards. Kara followed their gazes. The ceiling was rimmed with a black, smoky stain.

THE WALLS SHOOK
, and the floor seemed to jump. Thunder crashed, and Yash bumped into Timo, grabbing him to keep them both from stumbling.

“What was that?” Yash asked.

“I don’t know,” Timo replied. The sky had been clear on their way to the island so why was there thunder?

“It’s stopped, whatever it was,” Yash said. “Let’s go.” The Seyoyan scanned the hallway ahead of them before he moved forward.

Timo followed, keeping to the shadows even though they were invisible. Yash had pulled a dark hood over his white braids, and Timo could barely see the Seyoyan’s dark skin in the faint glow of the mage mist that covered them both. Mage light flickered in the lamps that lined the hallway.

Yash had led the way ever since they left the boat, taking a path little used by anyone but Servers. He’d been to see his brother more than once in the week since he’d been taken, using this same route, he’d said.