CH22
Bran returned while it was still morning. Rhys, awake this time, reacted to the sound of the back door, but May pushed him aside when she heard Bran. He was in a bright mood and dramatically swung the door wide to reveal Tam. Tam rushed in and gave her a massive bear hug knocking the breath out of her and lifting off the floor.
He set her down and patted the top of her head. "It's good to see you are alright."
"It's good to see you too." She smiled
"I thought you were a pile of ash," he said.
"Worried she would haunt you?" said Bran and they laughed letting the relife settle in.
She looked around "Where is Ruth?"
"We couldn't find her," said Tam.
"She is probably fine, you know her. I bet she holed up somewhere waiting all this out." said Bran
"You're right." Tam took a double take seeing Rhys
"Oh this is Rhys," said May.
"He is cool," confirmed Bran.
Rhys waved uncertainly, "Hello" he said, intimidated by Tam.
"Aren't you after us?" said Tam.
"No, I want to stop Tiernan too."
Tam didn't seem entirely convinced but moved on "We should gather up everyone and make some decisions."
We all moved upstairs in the front room grabbing Albin and Reah along the way. Took them a minute to find a place for everyone in the small room, but once everyone was settled Tam took charge.
"So I think we all know the situation now, so let's take stock of what resources we have and decide our options from there." He pulled out a small notebook to keep tabs on everything. "I have the camping supplies and all the money we took from Tiernan, well except for ten gold to buy back the horses."
"You got back Rhiannon?" She said excitedly.
"Yes our scarred horses are quite distinctive and were far too wild for them to cost much to buy back from the livery that caught them."
"I let them out to distract the guards. I never thought I would see them again," May said.
"Well we managed to get them back because you did and with very little suspicion drawn. So after four horses that is all I have about everyone else."
"I don't have much," said Reah, "twenty gold and some jewelry. But I should know soon If we can take sanctuary with Lord Averell."
"Oh Lord Averell eh," said Tam with a smirk.
"Yes" she tsked, "If we do we would be out of the city and since he is a high lord even Ambassador Tiernan would have second thoughts about coming after us."
"When should we expect to hear from him?" asked Tam.
"The end of the week at latest."
"You are all welcome to stay here as long as you need," said Albin.
"Thank you," said May.
"I can't add much in the way of coin, but take any herbs you might need." Albin added
"I left most of my money with my family," said Bran "I have fifteen coins and that's it."
"Too bad Ruth isn't here, without the blood medallion. I will make some healing potions for everyone to carry though they won't be as good." said May.
"Do you still have your books?" asked Tam
"Yes," she replied and he looked relieved.
"Um," started Rhys "I don't have much money either, but I can get you out of the city whenever you need. Even if the gates are closed."
Tam and Bran snorted, "That's nice and all but what do you think we do?"
"Steal?" said Rhys.
"Well sometimes," said Bran "But I would call us smugglers, that is our specialty, we have an exit out of the city that you don't know about in every sector."
"We need to know what Tiernan's next move is," said Reah "have you made any progress on the notebook?"
"No, I have removed all the magic but there is still nothing in it."
"Can I see it?" asked Bran.
"Sure." she passed it over
"Sometimes the simplest tricks are the most effective." He inspected the book closely, running his fingers across the pages. "Do you have any vinegar?"
"Of course." Albin hopped up and hurried downstairs.
Bran opened the curtains previously shut tight allowing sunlight to stream in and causing May's eyes to water in the sudden light. Albin returned with vinegar and Bran soaked a rag in it. Then he carefully rubbed it across the page and held it to the light. Slowly pale brown lines spread across the blank paper spidering into words.
"Read it quickly, it will only last while the vinegar is on it," Bran said.
She read as fast as she could translating the sybil for the others and Reah wrote what she said down. The hurriedly went through the rest of the pages while the sunlight remained above the rooftops. They finished just before they lost the light and reviewed what the pages actually said.
It appeared to be a personal journal to keep everything organized. It appeared that many years ago he first met the man in blue; Delphinius was his name. He approached Tiernan and Tiernan brought in his mentor Mauritius into the scheme. Tiernan wanted to overthrow the king and Delphinius wanted the king's spear, one of the few magical artifacts in Richosia that resided outside of the green towers.
It supposedly was one of the gifts of Dagda. May scoffed as soon as she heard the gifts mentioned. Everyone with any magical knowledge had heard of them, most people who didn't had too. They were the objects of legends. No one thought they were real. Tiernan didn't either. He thought he was swindling Delphinus. He had seen the king's spear. It was reasonably powerful but there were better artifacts within the towers. I certainly wasn't some legendary world shaking artifact. For a long time there was no mention of dark magic. Delphinius did teach them new more powerful magic. That was how Tiernan was elevated to be an elder alongside his mentor.
Everything changed when Delphinus sent them a package to keep for him and hide. It was a powerfully enchanted Harp. Tiernan didn't think much of it. Obviously he wanted to hide it in the tower because it was a rare place that had artifacts on the same level. Then the Fion attacked the tower. Tiernan knew they were there for the harp. He and Mauritius killed them before they could say anything. When Delphinius came to retrieve the harp, they had blood on their hands now. He taught them imprinting, and their plans to overthrow the king became concrete.
They obtained a jem that could store imprinted power enough to break the castle defenses in one go, that would allow a small force to take over. Tiernan found an illegitimate child of the king to instate as a proxy and once they held the power. Delphinius would take the spear. Overall it was a neat plan. A plan with such an initial display of power to make people not want to fight back and enough of an illusion that the status quo would remain the same for people to convince themselves this was fine. The book didn't have all the details but what was there unsettled her. The plan was on such a large scope and no one knew of it.
"It does have the dark spells in it, but this isn't the original source. They are probably copied from a book they have elsewhere." she said.
"So they can still cast their spells?" asked Rhys.
"Yes, but by this point they probably have them memorized as well. But more importantly it explains why they wanted witches and casters. I always assumed the spells sucked the life out of a person since they killed them and it was merely a perverted form of healing spells that use the injured's own energy, but that is not it. The host of imprints are used like living focuses as a conduit for magic. So people who can already channel magic result in more powerful spells, But magic running uncontrolled in a person is dangerous. With the weaker spells the constant magic slowly wears on the body in the more powerful cases the volume of magic coming through them burns them alive."
"Then why are they taking random people too?"
"Everyone has some ability for magic, it just varies from person to person what you can tolerate. Taking a witch guarantees a stronger spell, but they can still amass power with the number of common people they have sacrificed. This part talks about some sort of stone that could hold the magic drained from the weaker people as a sort of external reservoir for Tiernan to cast spells with. But they preferred people with a large enough capacity to designate a spell from their life. With the spell already created they don't have to take the time it normally would to cast it."
"I think we need to get you out of town," said Tam.
"Yes, we should go tonight." agreed Bran.
"No," she shook her head. "This will happen whether they find me or not. Their goal is to get enough power in the gem to break the castle's wardings and still have enough spells for the assault. I would only speed that up."
"See you need to run," said Bran "They are looking for you."
"Yes, as much as they want me but..."
"We still don't know who betrayed us, someone had to tip them off about the warehouses' location," said Bran.
"We should at least gain some distance while we get our bearings," said Tam
"Can't we just turn this book in and be done with it?" asked Rhys.
"Don't be ridiculous, we would just lose the book," said Reah.
"How do you know that?" said Rhys.
"What in this book says it's Tiernan, It's not like he signed the back along with his accomplices," said Tam.
"We know Tiernan wrote this and that his mentor is Mauritius, but the book is not proof." said Reah "all this proves is someone is planning an attack. It is a huge leap to accuse the ambassador. With how much he outranks us, people would see it as nothing but slander and probably blow off the whole thing. He has been too meticulous in hiding his involvement. We need to start planting the possibility of this and gather more influential allies to have these claims taken seriously. If we can get someone proper to present this information at court we have a chance."
"Someone proper like Averell" said Tam.
"Yes, like Lord Averell."
"You just want to go to your fancy lord because the current living arrangement isn't up to your standards." said Tam.
"I want to go because I am out of my league," she sighed "I'm not a fighter, and I know I can't talk my way out of this one. But I know the aristocracy, it might not be much but at least I know what I'm doing there."
"We will do the fighting," Tam said in a softer tone, "We all are in too deep here, but we can't wait the six months it will take for anything to happen at court. Tiernan is starting to make his moves now. He will not wait long enough for the lords to react, and After seeing what even May can do you wouldn't be safe there. Teirnan will not let his opponents remain. If we leave we would have to go farther. Arg most likely. I took enough from Tiernan to move."
"Are we just going to leave and let someone like him take over?" asked May.
"Couldn't we go to the other elders, they could stop them right?" said Bran.
"Maybe the high elder could stop them," May said.
"You don't sound sure," said Bran.
"I don't think she is complicit, but last time I spoke with her she seemed ignorant, almost wilfully so, of any of the goings on in her towers. I don't think she would let herself believe such atrocities happened under her watch."
"Not to mention a wizard on the throne wouldn't hurt her position; she could be turning a blind eye for her own benefit," said Reah.
"I don't think so but I only met her once. If I joined the tower like she asked."
"No, you would be putting yourself directly in front of Tiernan," said Bran.
"I still think we should petition the king, it would be a bold thing to lie in front of him," said Rhys.
"No," said everyone
"I think the weight of this is making everyone feel like we need a big solution and forget our strengths. We should just do what we are best at." said Tam
"And what are a bunch of smugglers going to do about this?" asked Reah. he smiled and she sighed, "Go on, tell us your plan."
"So they can't break the wards without this gem right? All we need to do is steal it and that will buy Reah enough time to do her stuff at court."
"Brilliant, but how do we steal it? We don't know where the gem is," said Bran.
"It can only be at the tower. We already searched his house," said May.
"And how are we supposed to get in there?" said Rhys.
"Harrod still owes us a favor," said Tam.
"He owes the storm a favor," said Reah.
"Everything has been kept quite hush by Tiernan. We can use that to our advantage. If Geoffry's two favorites and his mage show up to claim the storm's favor, is a coward like Harrod really going to say no. Not if you sweet talk him into it. He had been losing too many men. Our little heist did little to calm his rage; he should be more than willing to attack the tower."
"And you think he could get through?"
"There is a whole garrison stationed to protect the tower, not that they need it," said Rhys.
"They don't need to, it's just a distraction. Breaking into Tiernan's manor went far smoother than I anticipated. Those wizards aren't used to magic being against them, they trust their defenses too much. As long as we have them looking the other way we should be able to get in and out with the gem."
"There even is someone who can get us in," said May.
"You have an inside man?" smiled Reah, sounding proud.
"Yeah, she picked them out and recruited them and everything," said Bran.
"She is just an initiate who answers my questions because I taught her some things, but she should be able to get us into the building quietly."
"Even better," said Tam "So is it a plan?"
They all nodded.
"Then we need to move fast," said Tam.
"Yes the sooner we move the less likely they will expect it." Reah agreed, "We should go speak to Harrod as soon as possible so he can gather his numbers."
"I am planning to talk to Sibahn in four days. She will know the quietest night to do this."
"I will find us a good way out of the city," said Bran "and a nice long trip for the gem to go on."
Tam nodded and said to Rhys "Keep the guards away from here, and if you can, be ignorant of Harrod's movements."
He nodded earnestly, "Let's go save the kingdom."
"We're going shopping," said Reah standing.
"Shopping to save the Kingdom," laughed Bran.
The next day everyone dispersed to collect the items and information they needed for their respective goals. Albin continued to run his shop. The quiet apothecary being the perfect front. Especially with all the herbs in back that May used to brew her potions. She planned to spend the next few days potion making. She couldn't leave anyway since Tiernan was looking for her. She wished the others would stay as well. She worried they might be targeted, but there were things to do. Though things had become more dangerous none of them had a safe lifestyle before this. Everyone was busy.
Two days later they were ready to go to Harrod. Tam only brought along May and Reah despite Bran's objections. There were too few of them to be a good show of force so Reah suggested a bold move to come with no guard. They left in the evening long shadows hiding their faces as they traveled to Harrod's territory. Tam walked confidently into the pub where they met Berwyn. The three got their drinks and waited at a table with a good vantage of the back door. They didn't wait long for someone to join them. He sat eying them for a moment.
"I heard a rumor about the storm falling. It's a shame," Berwyn smiled, "That I didn't have anything to do with it."
"Berwyn," Tam greeted the man with an edge to his voice. "I'm sorry to disappoint you, but the storm didn't fall. Let's just say it's under new management."
"But the guard?"
Rhea laughed, "there's nothing wrong with those fools taking out some garbage for us is there?"
"I…"
But Reah raised an eyebrow to silence him "Harrod still owes the storm a favor."
"But Geoffry is dead."
"I'm not," said Reah.
"You?"
"Yes, who else," she smiled. "I hope you aren't about to renege your promise to a boss."
"Tam I thought you were loyal."
"I am loyal. I'm loyal to the storm."
"Now take us to Harrod, or do I need to remind you of what my friend is capable of," said Reah.
He shook his head as he looked at May. "No, I'll tell him. But you aren't going to kill him right."
She laughed, "The dead do no favors."
"Alright when do you want to meet him?"
"Now."
"Now?"
"Now."
He trembled "follow me." He finished his drink in one gulp and took us to a back room and led us out onto the street and to an unassuming milliner's shop. He stopped before the door at the top of the stairs and knocked. The sound of heavy bolts unlocking came and went before they entered. The room had quite a few people and they all stared at them down as they entered. Harrod looked up and Frowned.
"Berwyn, what is this?"
"This," he looked back at Reah flanked by the others "Is the new boss of the storm."
"Let me guess you want me to help you keep your position? What's to keep me from taking it for my own?"
She smiled and sat without permission, "That would be a mistake. I don't need any help with my position. I need something else from you."
He smirked "before we talk business, humor me, how did you do it?"
"It was simple really, all of it was in place long before your deal with Geoffry. In fact, I am the one you should thank, because without me he wouldn't have worked with you at all. There isn't much to tell. I got him and his few loyal followers left in one place and killed them. Burning the place was just to spite him really."
"You killed them?"
"Not personally, obviously, but why would I lift a finger when my closest allies are the most feared fighter in the city and a mage."
"And how did you turn so many against the most respected boss in the city?"
"Enough with the interrogation," Tam spoke.
"So you cast him off for this woman?"
"Yes."
He sighed "What do you want?"
"Your promised favor," Rhea said, "I'm sure you would have no objections to wiping your debt away so soon. You even will make a bit for your efforts. With the success of our last excursion, I found a client that wants something retrieved from the Green tower." He nearly fell from his seat hearing the green towers mentioned but Reah didn't miss a beat. "We already have our own means into the tower, all we need's a little distraction. Just for this we will cut you in for say 5,000 gold. How does that sound?"
He sat processing for a bit stunned by the daring proposal. It was audacious to go into the towers, the home of wizardry and then there was the ludicrous sum of money. He shook his head "that place is too heavily guarded it would be a deathtrap."
Rhea put down a silver crest, Rhy's captain sigil, her ace card "The guards won't go for the kill if you don't. All we need is a show for the wizards to watch. Berwyn can attest that we have worked with the guards before."
"It's true our lookout was a city guard last time."
"How do I know I'll get my money? That is no paltry sum." said Harrod.
"Success or failure you will get paid."
She nodded to May. She opened a chest she had enchanted earlier with a simple illusion of gold coins. He was mesmerized by the perceived wealth. She quickly shut the lid before she could touch it and expose the forgery.
"Why not use your own men?" he still put up a front of resistance but he was already swayed by the money.
"I was merely being courteous, this is your territory. I would expect the same respect for any actions on my land after all."
"When do you need them?"
"Soon, call as many as you can. I will give you the exact date soon, we have other parties to organize."
"I will be waiting."
"Good, thankyou for your cooperation. We will leave you to your business now."
Once safely away from Harrod's territory, definitely unfollowed they relaxed. Their pace slowed; there was no need to power across half of the city. She reflected on the conversation. Once again Harrod's predictable greed was to their advantage. Obviously he wasn't going to get any money this time and if he hadn't been so hasty he could have checked and seen that the storm was scattered, but he wasn't. He would be angry afterwards but they would have to be out of the city for a while from the other much more powerful people they would anger that night.
Reah sighed, she must have been even more relieved than May. She did most of the lifting.
"Not bad," said Tam.
"I can't believe it worked," Reah said with an uncharacteristic lack of confidence.
"Of course it did," said May, "You were amazing, I almost believed it."
She laughed, "Well its your turn tomorrow."
"Yes," She would have to convince Sibahn to not only let her in but strangers she had never met, but she knew what was happening. She wouldn't be too hard to convince, hopefully. Despite her short temper she was an overall rational person. Tiernan's strength was rapidly snowballing to an unstoppable point. And if she still was reluctant all she had to say was her arch rival would become king if she didn't help. That certainly would motivate her. Things were falling quickly into place, it was almost too easy. She felt like she must be missing something.
She was not the only one that felt this way When they returned to Albins, Bran was waiting. "I know it probably is, but what if it wasn't magic that tipped Tiernan off?"
"What do you mean?" May asked.
"Well what if there was a rat?"
"Who could it be? No one in the storm would know to tell them and why would they condemn themselves. And though many of Harrod's men would have loved to sell us out, they don't know the location of the wearhouse," said Tam.
"I'm just saying we shouldn't assume anything, It won't hurt to act like a spy is following us," said Bran.
"You're right, it would be even more disastrous if they found out about this. The whole plan would be foiled just by keeping the gem with them," said May.
"How do you know he doesn't?" asked Reah "If I were him I would never let it leave my site."
"He can't keep it in the presence of the other elders, they would sense it. He has to hide it where it could be believed to be another powerful object."
"But you know where it is?" asked Bran.
"Yeah, I have Areon. Familiars see magic differently than wizards. I know it is in the left tower. I have seen it there even when Tiernan wasn't."
She woke up the next morning to a comotion down the stairs. She sat up but Reah remained asleep despite the noise. It brought back memories of ambush at the warehouse. She started casting a freezing spell with a tight chest as she crept down stairs. She laughed a bit at her paranoia as she saw Tam and Rhys drilling together. They sparred with broomsticks as Albin and Bran pitched whatever they could find at the two. A training method preferred by the storm, but she also knew it was inherited from Tam's days in the Arg army. He didn't share much about that time but this was one of the few things he did say. Bran and Albin were enjoying themselves immensely as they threw scraps of paper and expired herbs as the two fought.
Bran spied her on the steps patting a spot next to him. She gladly joined and he passed over some rubbish to pitch. "I may not understand all his methods but Tam sure does make training fun."
It might have been fun for them but not so much for Tam and Rhys. They were both sweating and frowning in focus to defend from each other. They weaved through tables ignoring the barrage as they tried to break each other's defense. The two had very different stances. Tam was at a disadvantage with his normal fighting style having a shield and ax, very different from a single broom. Rhys was a little more comfortable with the unwieldy stick used to only having a sword. Even so Tam held his own, even for the most part having the advantage. Tam had experience on his side and you could tell. He anticipated and countered Rhy's movements where Rhys was forced back into a reactionary style that always had him on the back foot. That is not to say he was bad, his guard did not threaten to break. He just had fewer chances to test it than Tam did. That was till Bran pegged Tam in the side of the face with a pinecone. He understandably flinched. Rhys took the opportunity. Tam instincts had him bring up his free arm to block but there was no shield there. Instead he was wrapped on the head the same place Bran hit him. He stumbled to the floor stunned for an instant. He was back on his feet in less than a second, but conceded the fight.
"You'll do fine," He smiled.
Rhys did not seem happy about his victory "I didn't win. Well not without a hit I didn't land."
Bran laughed "A that matters is the last hit in a fight."
"This isn't very fair."
"Fights that matter, never are," said Tam "You will only put yourself at a disadvantage if you follow a code while the person trying to kill you doesn't."
"How can you say to just give up, all honor."
"I'd prefer to be alive than honorable," said Bran.
"And its not about giving up honor. Live with whatever honors you want, but in my view it is one's duty to win. I will gladly take any advantage I can to win a fight to protect my own," said Tam.
"I guess that makes sense, but that doesn't mean I am going to fight dirty," said Rhys.
"Suit yourself, but if you want to come with us to the tower I expect you to pull your weight and our opponents are hardly going to drop all their advantages and fight fair."
Once Reah was awake, May and her left to go meet Sibahn. She originally planned to go alone but She thought seeing Reah was one of the people coming might calm any worries she might have. They sat on a blanket under some trees at the park, posing as moderately affluent women having a picnic while they waited for Sibahn to show up. Bran had wanted to come as well. She would have liked him to come, he always made time pass quickly. But for discretion reasons three women meeting at a park was common. Him joining would throw a wrench in the perceived story. Reah wasn't bad company either, and she was more at ease than May had seen her for some time sitting under a parasol sipping the tea they packed.
"You never asked about when I met the king, I thought you would be more curious."
"It sounded like you didn't want to talk about it."
"Part of me didn't want to burst that idealistic view he had," she sighed "But he probably wouldn't have understood the story anyway."
"Well, since we have the time?"
"I think you will find a very different view of the man Rhys venerates," She smiled with a sad far away look in her eyes as if remembering an old pain. May wondered if she should just say nevermind, But Reah had brought the topic up. She had felt better after talking about her own sorrows. Reah might be looking for a similar relief sharing them with her, so she waited patiently for her to continue, "That man left my family out in the cold penniless. My family was not a major family. We were never fabulously rich like the Windermere's but we did own enough land to live comfortably. Then my father died with only three daughters. A distant cousin inherited the estate. He was already established and offered to leave us the house."
"That's kind"
"He offered the house but with no income to keep it. Even with my mothers stipend we couldn't keep up the Gardener's cottage on the property. The worst of it was we should have been able to. A clerical error long before my fathers death counted my mothers dowry land as part of the estate not separately. It had always been set aside for mother and us to keep, but that small change on paperwork for a steward somewhere to streamline tax paperwork and we lost it. We went to the king to petition this presenting the evidence that this was a separate inheritance matter than the rest of the estate. I was only sixteen. It was my first time at court. I wore my first formal gown. I saw the throne room for the first time. It was even my first time in the capital. I wanted it to be magical. Everything was so glamorous and shining straight out of a fairy tale. Unfortunately, I didn't find any happy ending. The throne room and its occupants appeared every bit as resplendent as Rhys described it, but it is all a facade. It's nothing more than a tool to remind those that visit how insignificant they are compared to those that sit before them. My mother knew this too. She was so supplicant, almost groveling as she pleaded her case to the indifferent court. Even her brother who I had met many times before was distant. To his credit the King was impartial, not in anyone's pocket, but he was so removed from reality in his little bubble of advisors. 'You were very wise planning ahead for your children' he said, going through the motions of a benevolent ruler with no meaning behind those words. As soon as his advisors begin chiming in about the legal stances. How the will wasn't specific enough and so on he immediately agreed. That was when I realized he was a fool, with no thoughts of his own. He agreed with all of them even when they brought up contradicting points. In the end it was decided my cousin would keep all the land stating the estates had been mixed too long for them to be properly separated. We were told as if it was the simplest thing to sell our home and use that for a dowry and once I was married my husband could support the rest of them. But then my sisters would have nothing, that never occurred to him. When I spoke up and said how unfair that would be if only I had a dowry simply for being the oldest he frowned and seemed sympathetic. When an advisor brushed him over he didn't speak up again. An advisor already was planning my marriage to one of his sons, Ironically the current Lord Averell. But he wasn't quite such a catch then. He was just a third son who refused to be sent to the Green tower, not to mention I was sixteen and he was twenty. I wasn't ready to be married, and my mother knew that. I hadn't even debuted in society. My Mother knew that and refused the match, for that and it was well known Lord Averell had no intentions of marrying. She wasn't going to force me into such a situation for her own security. Unfortunately the only solution to our problem was marriage. So not six months after father died she got remarried. She married a near senile old man and essentially became his caretaker. He was rich, owning silver mines in the southern mountains. We moved to a house far grander than anything we had before, but I hated living with him. He already had children some older than my mother and they made sure we knew we were nothing but expensive useless servants. My sisters were too young to notice it but I wasn't. As soon as the old man died we would be kicked to the curb again. That is when I met Geoffry. He was still his own liaison at the time and he came to learn about a job for one of the children. I caught him stealing from the house. When I didn't tattle like he expected, I started taking work from him. It was nothing but tests petty thievery from the noble houses. At the time he thought I was nothing but a spoiled rebellious child, but I knew this was the way to save my family. Dowry gone none of my sisters would make a better match than what my mother got. But I could find another way, if I proved my worth. I soon enough did and proved myself a valuable go between. My cover as a penniless but well bred noble girl that enjoyed society allowed me to approach most anyone without gossip. As I secured better jobs and long term contracts for Geoffry I was able to earn enough to keep my family in the city even after my mother's new husband passed. I was even able to provide a dowry for one of my sisters last year. So I guess I did get a happy ending."
"I'm sorry."
She laughed "Don't be I think I make a far better criminal than I ever would a noble lady. I mean I love gossip, but I only find it interesting when I think about how to use it against people. I'm far too heartless to be a demure lady."
"I wouldn't call you heartless."
"No? Well I guess the nobles are too, I only told you the story so you wouldn't believe Rhys. They are heartless, they only offer their magnanimity to get praises, and if it might inconvenience them forget it."
"Would you call him a bad king?"
"No, I should think he is the perfect king. He always does exactly as he is told. Every vassal's dream, but jokes aside as much as I dislike him there could be far worse rulers," she sighed.
"Like Tiernan."
"Yes, the current king is a fool but he doesn't have a personal agenda to put above the kingdom's prosperity and while the noble factions are balanced, governance has been quite good, in my humble opinion. Not to say that that is because of the king but at least he isn't hurting anything. Though perhaps if he were a stronger leader the green tower wouldn't be left to its own devices."
"Even if he was they would struggle to control the tower,"
"Yes, why do you think a wizard hasn't tried to take control before?" said Reah.
"I think most are happy with the way things are. What is required to become a great wizard like the elders is a long time of study and the time needed to maintain that power would make governance a burden. Even if others have had the same ambitions as Tiernan, without the shortcut of dark magic it wouldn't be practical for them to rule. It is much better for others to run the day to day things. Though they don't overtly say it, it's not like the nobility could really force the towers to do anything they don't want to. As it is now they only help them with things that are mutually beneficial, Droughts aren't good for anyone, neither are natural disasters and monster attacks. Even so, the apathy of the system allowed Teirnan to amass his power."
"Don't worry, the king isn't a good king. I doubt he would personally do anything to stop Tiernan, but as soon as we convince the courts the threat is real. They will take action."
"I just hope we can slow them down long enough for that to happen."
They sat on the thought of what might happen if they fail. It was unclear from the book why Tiernan wanted to rule. He mentioned a rebellion that happened some time ago and the disrespect with which wizards were now treated. All he seemed to care about was wizards were on top and it was clear from his method he was a any means to reach and end kind of person.
Before her thoughts got too dark she saw Sibahn running over to them. Her eyes glittered as she saw Reah, and she started running all the faster.
"Who is this? Is she a wizard? Is this your mentor?" she said.
"Hello," Reah elegantly offered a hand to shake "I am Reah."
"She isn't a wizard but she is helping me look into the dark magic situation."
"Really? Good! Because I heard from Cian that the trip with his mentor is moving up."
"When?"
"In two months."
She sighed, that was a relief they would at least have a chance to stop them. "I know I told you I just needed you to keep an eye on Cian, But I need another favor."
"Anything, what do you need?"
"I need you to let me and a group into the towers one night."
"Of course, that's all?"
"Yes, she sighed, but shouldn't you ask who I am bringing into the tower. They could be bad people."
"Like there aren't bad people already in there, honestly, I think Cian is afraid. The more I talk to him the more it sounds like he wants to get out. He told me last night, Tiernan shocked him till he killed a dog."
"He killed a dog with magic?"
"Yes, he showed me the imprint mark on his wrist. It's the first time I have seen one on him. You are going to stop them right?"
"Yes, we are going to take the gem they need to store their power."
"Good, I know they are bigger problems and even though Cian's a jerk. I feel bad for him."
"Sibahn, where is your family's estate?" asked Reah.
"It's in the east, My father is one of the highland lords. The leader of them if you really want to know."
"If things don't go well when we come, do you think you could take Cian to your home?" Reah said.
"Yeah, my family have been asking when I will visit them. Is Cian in danger?"
"Yes and No."
"Cian is a tool to Tiernan, he would be safer away from the towers."
"What kind of Tool."
"Do you know who his father is?" said Reah
"Are you really going to judge him for that?" Sibahn said.
"His father is the King, he is technically the first born. Tiernan wants to use him as a puppet king to rule."
"You can't tell anyone this alright."
"I won't."
"Don't worry, we will stop this."
"If you can, you should come the night after next, all of the lower grades are going up in the mountains for an astrology field trip. Most of the teachers are going too."
"We can do that"
"Come to the back door, I will wait for you."
"We will come close to midnight. Thank you."
"No problem, I can't wait. I have never broken the rules like this before. It's going to be exciting."
"We should go now," said Reah.
"Right, I'm sure you have lots to do to get ready… I have lots to get ready," she waved goodbye and started running back. "Goodluck!"
"She is a bit young," said Reah.
"She isn't much younger than me."
"Agewise yes, but in maturity no."
"Don't worry I will send her away as soon as we are inside."
She knew she needed to sleep. Tomorrow would be a big day, but sleep didn't come. The sound of Reah contentedly sleeping only made her more restless. She went down to the storeroom hoping the smell of herbs would calm her. She sat on the floor leaning against the shelves breathing in the scents. She closed her eyes, and tried to settle her mind. She gave up and picked through the stores to find something she didn't know what.
"Can't sleep either?"
She could never hear Bran coming. She smiled weakly as he joined her on the floor. He looked tired. She wrapped her arms around him. He was stunned a moment before pulling her closer. They hadn't had much time together. She had mostly been confined to the apothecary. He was out preparing the escape route. She tightened her grip around his shoulders. She wished for a moment to just leave and run away. But they were doing the right thing, it would eat away at her knowing they left so many to die. She trembled and shut her eyes that threatened to cry. He dropped his head on her shoulder. They could do this; they had no choice but to succeed.