The Unmage (13 page)

“ARABELLA IS ALIVE
,” Santos said. “I received a message from her advising of Rorik’s death.”

“Timo?” Kara asked.

She and Santos were in his workroom, waiting, they hoped, for Mole’s return. He’d been gone since before dusk last night and now it was just a few hours before midnight. Reo was off making arrangements. Exactly what that entailed, Kara wasn’t sure, but he was keeping himself busy, which meant he was worried. And that worried her even more.

“She implies that nothing has happened to him.”

“Thank Gyda,” Kara said.

“I’m not sure he’s safe,” Santos said. “Mole heard he’d been accused in Rorik’s death.”

“Maybe my mother was able to convince them he’s innocent?” She paused. “Would clearing his name help her?”

“Yes.” Santos tapped his fingers on the desk. “But she would have had to offer something to Inigo in return.”

The door to the workroom opened, and Reo and Mole entered. Mole’s expression was serious, and Kara’s heart dropped.

“Timo?” she asked.

“No word,” Mole replied. “No one I talked to has seen him.”

“Interesting,” Santos said. “I’ve been telling Kara that I had a message from Arabella. She seems to be in control.”

“You don’t think she is,” Reo said. He pulled a chair to Kara’s side and sat down. Mole leaned against a bookcase.

“Not by herself,” Santos agreed. “She’s invited me to Founders Day. In my official capacity as Primus.”

“She never wanted to acknowledge you.” Kara frowned. “Why now?”

“She’s in trouble,” Reo said. “Mole, did the rest of the council know about Santos? That he was no longer mad?”

“No,” Mole replied. “They mentioned him a few times, but more as an irritant than a threat.”

“So I’m either a surprise or a bargaining chip,” Santos said.

“Or it’s a trap,” Reo said. “What does she want from you?”

“She’s asked me to pay respects to Rorik.” Santos paused. “And she’s offered access to Timo.”

“She has him, thank Gyda,” Kara said. Her shoulders slumped in relief. “Arabella won’t hurt Timo will she?”

Reo placed a hand over hers. “We can’t assume that. Rorik’s death has changed things. Arabella might not be in control. More than before, I think this is a trap.”

“Of course it is,” Santos replied. “But we have to go anyway.” He smiled. “No matter what, my arrival at Founders Day will cause a commotion. That’s our opportunity to find Timo.”

“If he’s there,” Mole said. “No one’s seen him, including Arabella’s Server.”

“We have to go,” Kara said. “If there’s even the smallest chance of finding him we have to take it.”

“Which is why Arabella offered to let us see him,” Reo said. “She knew we wouldn’t refuse.” He met Kara’s gaze and nodded. “I don’t see any reason to change our existing plans. We’ll go in secret and make ourselves known at the last moment. Mole, have you found a place for us to hide?”

“Sure, sure,” Mole said. “Rorik’s Servers were dismissed—his house is empty.”

“Timo lived there,” Kara said. “If he’s not there and he’s not at my mother’s, then where is he?” She heard the panic in her voice. Reo must have as well because he looped an arm around her and pulled her close.

“We’ll find him,” he said. “We will.”

“All this for power,” Kara said. She shrugged off Reo’s arm and stood up. “My mother is setting a trap for us, and we don’t know what happened to Timo.” She paced in front of the window, her hands balled into fists. “I want to go there and create a
storm
of unmagic until I know what they did to my brother. I’ll undo every spell keeping that Gyda-cursed island aloft and watch it sink into the sea.” Reo stepped over to her, and she crumpled into his arms.

“We’ll find out what happened to them,” Reo said softly. “But you should not react out of anger or hurt or rage.”

Kara took a deep breath and looked up into his grim face. “You’re right. You’ve always said that anger is dangerous for an Assassin, and I think it would be dangerous for us, for me, to act out of emotion. But I
will know
what happened to my brother.”

“Yes,” he agreed. “You will.”

TIMO ATE HIS
gluey porridge in silence, trying not to think about what exactly was in it. And he was definitely trying not to think of the fresh fruit and warm-from-the-oven bread that had been his usual breakfast as Apprentice to the Mage Guild Primus.

The tavern was mostly empty this early in the day—there was a surly Server who no doubt had expected to have a better station in life than this and a few drunkards left from the night before. Timo still wasn’t used to the old smoke, stale ale, and ripe body odours that seemed to have permeated every single inch of the tavern. In the few days that he’d been here, he’d experimented a little, trying to find the best place to sit. Eventually he’d decided that here, in the middle of the room, was the least repugnant.

“Just one more day for you, is it?” the Server asked as she poured more hot water into his mug.

“Yes, Donna,” Timo replied. His already weak tea would be even more diluted but at least the water had been boiled. “I’ll have the morning meal tomorrow and then I’m away.” He just wasn’t sure where to. He hadn’t been able to cross the bridge. There were extra guards, and even more ominous, both times Timo had investigated, a Mage had been with them. Would Mages be looking for anyone other than him?

“Well, good luck in your posting,” the Server said. “You’re a polite one so you should do well enough. You could maybe get a placement at a Guild House if you work hard.”

“Yes, Donna,” Timo replied. His disguise of being Server Guild hadn’t been questioned even by those in the guild. He smiled up at her, deciding to take a chance. “Would you know where I might rent a boat?” he asked. She frowned at him, and he continued. “I thought I might get a closer look at Mage Guild Island, you know, maybe even go
under
it.”

“Don’t you go meddling with Mages,” the Server said. “It doesn’t pay for the likes of us.”

“Oh, of course.” Timo knew better than she did that meddling with Mages was dangerous but he needed a boat. “I just thought . . . well . . . I won’t be back here . . .”

“I understand.” The Server’s face softened into a smile. “It could be years before you have another chance.” She cocked her head. “It is a sight to see, I’ll tell you. But don’t you go under the island, hear me? There’s all kinds of spells and magic under there. Mages,” she said sternly. “They don’t trust.”

“Who? Strangers?” Timo asked.

“
Anyone
. Not even each other—especially not each other.” She leaned closer. “Go to the ferry docks and ask for Guther. But be quietlike. He don’t want folks to know he has a sideline. Get him into trouble with one of the other guilds.”

“Don’t worry,” Timo said. “I’ll be very careful.” His life depended on it. He thanked the Server, and she moved off to tend to a new customer. Timo finished his breakfast and headed out the door. If all went as planned he wouldn’t be eating here tomorrow morning. Instead, he’d be on his way to Old Rillidi.

THE FERRY DOCKS
were crowded, too crowded for him to even attempt to talk to Guther. Timo leaned against the building, his face turned towards the shadow that he cast on the brick wall.

So many Mages! Mage mist swirled and eddied throughout the crowd as they jostled for a place on the ferry. This was the last ferry before the Founders Day ceremonies started. Anyone who missed this would miss the first part of the festivities.

Timo hunched further into the shadow. He could tell by their actions that these Mages were minor talents. Powerful Mages would never shuffle onto a ferry like cattle, would never allow such threadbare cloaks to bear their guild crest. But as unlikely as it was that any of these Mages had ever met him, he had to assume someone in the crowd could recognize him. An ambitious, politically astute Mage without a lot of options or talent might know who the Apprentice to the Primus and the son of the Secundus was. That was exactly the type of person who would try to gain favour with Inigo and the council in exchange for news about him.

With one last glance at the crowd, Timo turned and headed down a side alley. He was not going to get a boat today, maybe not even tomorrow. Unconsciously his hand slipped to his pack. He had only enough guilders to secure a boat, and after tonight, he’d have no place to stay, no way to buy food, unless he used them. Without a boat, he’d be forced to risk using the bridges.

Timo walked out of the alley and almost directly into someone’s path.

“Sorry,” he mumbled. He looked up, distracted, and sucked in a breath. The Seyoyan from the other day stood in front of him.

“No offense taken,” the Seyoyan said. He bowed and stepped aside. “You are obviously troubled.”

Timo bent his head and took a step forward.

“You are not who you seem to be,” the Seyoyan said softly.

Timo’s step faltered, just for a moment, but it was enough.

The Seyoyan continued, “But neither am I. Perhaps we can help each other.”

Timo concentrated on keeping his steps even and sure despite an almost overwhelming urge to run and hide. He’d been found out! Somehow he’d been found out. He slowed a little, resisting the impulse to turn around and see if the Seyoyan was watching him, and took a deep breath.

Discovered, maybe, but not by anyone who was likely to expose him to Mage Guild. No, it was well known that Seyoyans hated Mages almost as much as Mages hated Seyoyans. So what had the Seyoyan meant by saying that they could help each other? Seyoyans were seafarers—he might have access to a boat. But what could he want from a Mage Apprentice?

When he’d met his sister she’d said that any Warrior would know how to find her. Her husband had added that Seyoyans would as well. He didn’t feel safe walking up to a Warrior and asking to be taken to Kara Fonti—especially not when they were guarding the bridges with Mages. Could he trust this Seyoyan? Not right away, he’d need to find out what the foreigner wanted, but if he could do him a favour, he might take Timo to Old Rillidi.

“I DON’T LIKE
this,” Reo said.

Kara blinked and looked up. Reo had been scanning the bridge as they passed under it while she’d been concentrating on the swathes of mage mist. She was deflecting it away from their small boat, trying to determine if any of the spells were directed at them.

“What don’t you like?” she asked, peering up at the bridge that linked Mason and Merchant Guild Islands. Spider webs of mage mist traced the brickwork, and again she wondered if the Masons were magically gifted.

“There are too many Warriors on this bridge,” Reo replied. “And there’s a Mage with them.”

“Looking for someone,” Santos said. He sat beside Kara in the prow of the boat, his rich robes shimmering in the late afternoon sun, his Mage Guild crest sewn onto the right chest with gold thread.

“Yes,” Kara agreed with relief. “Which means they don’t have him.” The silk of her dress rustled when she turned to catch Reo’s eye.

“Pull into the first dock after the bridge, Mole,” Reo said. Mole, dressed in plain, dark clothes, turned the tiller, and the boat swept towards the right bank. A few moments later, Reo stepped out onto Mason Guild Island.

“I won’t be long,” he said, and he wasn’t. Kara barely had time to smooth the skirt of her midnight blue, silk dress before he was back.

“Four Warriors at each end of the bridge and a lesser Mage with them,” Reo said softly as he stepped into the boat. “Warrior Guild has been hired to ensure Mage Guild Founders Day is peaceful but the Guildsman in charge said they were told to watch for an Apprentice. They were told he killed the Primus.”

“When we’ve returned from Founders Day, I’ll talk to Warrior Guild Primus Rualla,” Kara said. She’d threaten to never help Warrior Guild again. She would not allow her brother to be taken back to Mage Guild Island.

“No need,” Reo grinned. “The Warrior I spoke to knows who we are. I’ve asked him not to catch this Apprentice. I told him that if they can get him to us we will look favourably on both him and his guild.”

“They’ll do that without hearing it from Rualla?” Santos asked.

“Yes,” Reo replied. “You still don’t understand the contempt Warriors have for Mages. By nightfall Warriors will be trying to help Timo, not hold him for Mage Guild.”

“Thank you,” Kara said. She settled back into the boat, and Mole steered them into the bay. Mage Guild Island loomed ahead, mage mist crawling over it, making every structure visible to her. Kara stared at it.
Gyda keep Timo safe
, she prayed.
Until we can find him, please keep him safe.

The boat swept into the shadow of Mage Guild Island, and a few moments later, they were underneath the hulking mass, mage lights glinting as far as she could see. Kara concentrated on the mage mist that eddied around the boats and docks of the underside of the island. Nothing seemed dangerous so far, so perhaps, as Santos had said, Inigo hadn’t expected them to attend. Did he know they were here now?

THE DOCK THAT
Mole steered them to was in a well-lit area near the island’s centre. Reo stepped out of the boat first, followed by Santos, mist from Santos’ invisibility spell covering them. Blindly, Reo reached a hand out, and Kara clutched it, letting him help her onto the dock.