The Baldari (Book 3) (15 page)

Ardra arrived early for her meeting with Queen Jusay.  It would just be the two of them this morning since Lyes was off with Ash’urn and Fen on some unnamed task.  Ardra hoped that meeting would be as productive as Lyes’s enthusiasm suggested.  She stepped into the room that she had spent many glass with Queen Rosul in the past.  At least Queen Jusay had not seen any reason to change their meeting place.  It was one of the mid-sized rooms in the same surviving wing of the castle where the Queen had her rooms.  It had once been a common room for the soldiers that usually occupied this wing, but this floor had been reclaimed for the Queen and her staff when the rest of the castle had been destroyed.

It wasn’t long before the familiar face of one of the Queen’s personal guards peered into the room, nodding at her expected presence.  The Queen followed shortly thereafter, stepping into the room dressed very differently than she had been the night before.   Gone were the finery and the crown.  She wore casual clothes that looked comfortable and well made.  Clearly she intended to work rather than impress.  Displaying her newly gained status or power wasn’t on her mind.  Ardra took in her appearance and decided the new Queen had managed to impress her with her priorities.

“This isn’t how I expected to spend my first morning as Queen,” she said to Ardra as she slipped into the large chair opposite where Ardra sat. 

Ardra noted the dark patches under the Queen’s eyes.  It was obvious she hadn’t gotten much sleep the previous night as well. 

“The attack came as a complete surprise,” Ardra admitted.  “We were unprepared for the Baldari to attack this far north and so far from the Wastelands.  We would have expected to learn of their approach long before they could get here.”

“How did they manage it?” the Queen asked.  “And what of the timing?  Were they aware of the Coronation and the gathering of most of Sedfair’s royalty?”

“I would have to guess the timing was simply chance.  None of the attackers approached anywhere near the waterfront where you and the guests were gathered.  They didn’t even make an attempt on what is left of the castle.  The focus was entirely upon the Guild and the Casters to be found there.  To answer your other question, it is obvious now that they came via
Doorways
.”

Queen Jusay looked at the director of the Guild.  “I was told they used
Doorways
to escape once they reached the southern border, but there was no indication they could do so within the kingdom itself.  It was suggested to me that the Baldari couldn’t do so because they had no familiarity with the places they wished to attack.  If they have not been in Nals, how could they make a
Doorway
here?”

“What you were told is suspect in a number of ways.  We cannot know that a Baldari spy hasn’t traveled throughout the land.  They are clever, and while they stand out, it wouldn’t be impossible.  Most people this far from the border have never seen a Baldari, and wouldn’t know what to look for.  Also, the
Doorways
created by the Baldari along the border, or whoever commands them, are different in some ways from those we are more familiar with.  It is possible some of the restrictions we have come to associate with such travel may not apply.”

“Are you suggesting they could go anywhere in Sedfair, even if they have never been there?”

“Unfortunately, I believe they can go anywhere, but for a different reason.  We believe the
Doorways
used last night by the Baldari warriors were created by the Casters who were actively involved in the attack.”

“Casters,” Queen Jusay said angrily. “Your people.  Why would your people join up with those who attack Sedfair?  Are those within the Guild so dissatisfied with the changes that have been demanded of late?”

“The most important Caster spotted during the attack was Shym, the last of Carif’s Eight, who had disappeared some months ago.  She hadn’t been seen since weeks before Carif was taken.  She also exhibited by far the greatest power last night, and represented the most significant danger.  She might have reasons to hate the Guild and wish to attack those who remained behind.  However, some of the others were Casters taken in recent attacks.  They never displayed any dissatisfaction with the Guild, or the changes that Queen Rosul demanded after Carif’s treachery was discovered.  They were loyal members, who had passed the screening not long ago.  Now they have sided with our enemy.  I believe they are not acting of their own free will.  I suspect they are being controlled.”

“Controlled?” Jusay asked.

“Controlled,” Ardra repeated.  “Controlled just as the Baldari appear to control their mounts.  It has been suggested that they use some form of mental domination over the strange beasts.  They might be doing the same with the Casters they have captured.”

“That is sickening,” Queen Jusay said.  “Why would they do such a thing?”

“Some reasons are fairly obvious.  By using the Casters, they have access to the
Doorways
the Casters can create for them.  That allowed them to jump in and surprise us, and will grant them access to any place in the kingdom where their captured Casters have been.  The Casters also give them access to magic.  While the Baldari have been protected by magic, they have never been known to use magic in any of the battles.  Now, the enemy, our true enemy, has access to magic to use against us.  That has changed the very nature of the threat we face.”

“Our true enemy?”

“Whoever controls the Baldari.  After what we have seen in the past weeks, I have come to believe the Baldari are being controlled.  No people would waste themselves as carelessly as the Baldari seem to in the attacks.  They, much like the Casters we witnessed last night, are being controlled by something or someone.”

“The woman from Mitty’s dreams,” Jusay said.  “Rosul told me of the visions.”

“Perhaps,” Ardra agreed.  “There is most certainly some kind of link there, but whether that woman is the force behind the attacks remains uncertain.”

“How bad was it?” Queen Jusay asked.

Ardra provided her with the numbers.  “Actually we were lucky.”

“Lucky?” Queen Jusay said.  “This many killed and wounded, and much of the Guild damaged or destroyed.  How is that lucky?”

“The attack was broken off.  In part because the wizard Nycoh surprised the Casters with her ability to turn the beams.  She has abilities no one else in the Three Kingdoms or Sedfair can duplicate.  Perhaps the enemy fled because a number of their Casters were quickly killed and whoever was behind the attack didn’t want to lose those remaining.  It is difficult to be certain.  With the magic and shield that Shym displayed, the damage could have been much worse.”

“Do you know what they were after?”

“Guesses only.  I believe they wanted to test our defenses and verify they could jump right into the center of our government.  They also appeared to be searching the Headquarters for Casting supplies, probably more of the power crystals they have shown an affinity for.  Fortunately, we had relocated all such items previously.”

Ardra hesitated, then added.  “I also think they came for prisoners.”

“Prisoners?”

“More Casters.  Where better to find those with the ability to create magic?  If they could have made off with another twenty or thirty Casters, which they could turn to their cause, they would have a formidable force to reckon with.  The Casters in the residences are among the most powerful we have.”

“Were any taken?”

“Fortunately not.”

“What of wizards?  You have spoken of Casters, but nothing of wizards.  Can the wizards be controlled in the same manner?”

“There is no evidence either way.  Thus far, no wizards have been taken, nor have any been seen in the attacks.  That might simply be because there are far more experienced Casters in Sedfair, or it might indicate an immunity the wizards enjoy.  Perhaps we will learn in time.”

“What of the students?” Queen Jusay asked.  The University classes had just begun again a mere two weeks earlier, and the full student body had been present.

“No attacks were made at the University itself or the dormitories.  None of the students were harmed.  I can only guess that is because the students do not yet possess the skills the Baldari warriors were sent to acquire.”

The Queen was tight-lipped as she considered what Ardra had told her.

“The guests have all successfully departed?” Ardra asked.  She knew that Lyes and Crissi had quickly moved everyone at the celebration to Lord Chaten’s estate, far enough away to be safe.  Lyes had made a masked
Doorway
, although given some of what they had seen, it was impossible to be certain the enemy didn’t have some means of following even a masked
Doorway
.  Lyes had explained that his hope had been the abilities with
Doorways
was limited to what the captive Casters could do, which should have made them safe.  Ardra wasn’t as certain.  She believed that some of Shym’s abilities were something newly acquired.

Queen Jusay nodded.  “Lyes did a commendable job.  They were all escorted to their respective homes.  Most chose to go to their estates away from Nals.  Fortunately there were enough Casters present who could make the portals that it didn’t take forever to accommodate them.”

“What about your family?”

“The children are at my sister’s estate far to the north.  My husband and I will stay here in Nals.  A Queen shouldn’t run and hide, although there were moments when it seemed like a good idea.  We will need to talk of security measures.  The Caster Crissi seemed very intent on making sure we were safe, but also making herself known to me.  She wanted to stay around when she could have been helping others relocate.  Was that something you or Lyes coordinated?  You wanted to be able to move me if something changed?”

“No, but you are Queen now.  You must be protected at all costs.  How would it appear to the kingdom if the new Queen was killed on the very day of her coronation, especially given the recent conflict between the Guild and the Throne?  There are those who would wonder.”

“Perhaps, but there was more, I’m certain of it.  Who is this Crissi?”

“She is a senior Caster.  One of the Guild’s best.  She placed higher in the graduation tests than any other Caster in recent history.  She is very talented, with a wide range of abilities.  Even more important, she was one of those tested who demonstrated the  spark of inherent magic.  She has been activated by the wizards from the western lands, and has proven very capable with their type of magic.  As such, she is one of the more versatile people we have.  She is what is known now as a mage.”

“If she is so powerful, why was she providing protection duty rather than fighting off the Baldari attack?”

“Several reasons.  She has been well trained in the court protocols, and has several years experience under Carif at the upper levels of the Guild, but has never seen combat.  I don’t like sending inexperienced Casters to face a major attack if unnecessary.  It is a good way to lose potentially good people.  In addition, we were uncertain at the time what might be happening, and having both Crissi and Lyes, who can call upon either form of magic present where Sedfair’s nobility was located seemed prudent.  There were a number of combat Casters there as well, but most, like myself, can only call upon the symbolic magic.”

Queen Jusay studied Ardra for a moment.  “You speak well of her, but I sense you don’t like her.  Why might that be?”

Ardra hesitated, but the Queen had asked.  “She is too political for me.  I believe she wants my job.  She was in line for important things in the older Guild, perhaps one of the Eight for the new leader if not the leader herself, and I’ve been warned by other Guild members that she was a strong supporter of Bonne.  Bonne would have made Crissi the head of the Guild had she won your position.”

“There will be no more Specialists,” Queen Jusay stated flatly.  “On that I agree with Rosul.  The Guild has become accustomed to wielding too much power.  They must learn to serve the Crown, not manipulate it.”

Queen Jusay looked at Ardra for a moment.

“So, that’s why she was attentive.  You claim she has a lot of useful skills, but no experience against the Baldari.  What about the Chulls?”

“None there either, but that hardly matters anymore.  The Chulls appear to be a problem that is thankfully behind us.  As for the Baldari, if Crissi was willing to follow the suggestions of those who have fought the Baldari, her own personal experience would be less important.”

“You sound almost as if you are presenting her case.  Are you concerned for your position?  Do you suspect I’m planning on replacing you?”

“Lyes and I have known that our positions were subject to the wishes of the new Queen.  We were chosen by Queen Rosul to see to repairing the damage that Carif had done, but like many of the plans Queen Rosul set in motion, she has left the final decisions of how to move forward to you.”

Queen Jusay considered this. 

“At the moment we need to consider how to protect Sedfair.  I need a plan for how the entire kingdom can be placed on alert, and how you would move people to any location that is attacked.  I also want secure locations where our leaders can be moved quickly and safely.  As we rebuild the government complex, I would like underground chambers constructed by your Casters.  They should be accessible only via
Doorway
, and then only by those authorized much as Rosul told me the castle had been in the final days.  That is something that will take months to prepare, but I’d like thinking on it to begin immediately.  It appears we might be at war for some time, assuming that we can survive at all.”