A Burning in the Bones (Waxways #3)

Chapter 28 Ren Monroe

28 REN MONROE

… now know the disease causes a temporary disconnection with magic. Our researchers are working around the clock on solutions to that disruption. Until then, we are asking anyone who has maintained their magic through the plague to report to Beacon House, effective immediately. This is a citywide mandate. If you have magic: our city needs you. Lastly, a reminder that there’s been an official request for a vote of no confidence. This vote would remove all the current governors….”

Ren and Theo leaned against the balcony railing, looking down over the city, as Viceroy Gray repeated the message that had been booming all morning. This was the first break they’d taken from their own research. They’d spent hours reading through books about chain spells and manipulation magic. Everything confirmed their initial guess. Finding the source of the spell would be vital. The problem, however, was that their research also supported the idea that a manipulation spell of this complexity and breadth should not have been possible. There was nothing like it in all of recorded history, which led them to the uncomfortable conclusion that whoever had cast it would be formidable. Ren hadn’t been so tirelessly devoted to research since her undergraduate years. Back then, she’d been desperate to prove herself and get a proper foothold with her peers. Revenge had been her entire motivation.

Now her focus was to stop what she’d begun. It truly felt as if finding the right answer to their problem was the only way for Ren to make up for all the damage she’d left in her wake. If her mother’s accusation were true—if she’d been the one to leave the door open for this attack—than she’d make damn certain she was the one to close it on whoever was doing this. But the simple truth was that this was not a battle they could fight alone. Theo agreed, activating the resources of House Brood. Vega had winged out with letters for several parties—and now they could only wait. The two of them had stepped outside for fresh air while they awaited her return, and that was when they heard the viceroy’s repeating message. His announcement drew their attention to a detail they’d overlooked until now.

“We’re not sick.”

Ren had been so worried that she’d get sick that she failed to think about how odd it was that neither of them had succumbed to the illness. Clearly, that was rare if the viceroy needed to put out a citywide request for volunteers. Theo considered her comment before responding.

“Lack of exposure?” he suggested. “We were being held captive as the plague spread. Unconscious for most of the time. It’s possible we didn’t drink enough water to become infected.”

Ren frowned. “Would the amount really matter? We both drank city water before finding the bodies and we both drank city water after finding them. Besides, we were at the actual contagion site, Theo. We have more exposure to this than most people. We just… didn’t get sick.”

“Maybe we’re immune to it.”

“Both of us?” Ren asked. “That seems pretty damn lucky to me.”

The blight wasn’t the only subject of the viceroy’s message. While Ren worried about the spreading disease, Theo seemed more preoccupied with the official vote that the Makers had forced. The viceroy’s message relayed instructions for how citizens should vote, what both options actually meant, and what would happen if the vote succeeded or failed. Ren listened and could not grasp Theo’s concerns. Centuries of history were on his side.

“There hasn’t been a successful vote of no confidence in Kathor’s entire history. None have even come close to meeting the threshold. Your family is the one who rigged those laws so that they didn’t have a chance of succeeding. Why worry about that?”

He shook his head. “I was thinking about what I would do—if I were the Makers. You’re right. The first hurdle is votes. It’s rare that more than half the city’s population participates. Most people don’t see the point. Many have ties to the great houses. Voting against us—when voting records are public information—doesn’t serve their interests. Which means the Makers have to produce the biggest voter turnout in a century and they have to get those people to all vote their way. That would be a difficult task… unless you’re using magic to manipulate people.”

They had watched some of the protests from up in the Heights. A heavy guilt had snaked through her thoughts. Ren felt like someone who’d started a fire, intending to burn out a very specific, invasive plant. It had worked. She’d destroyed Landwin Brood. But now she was watching the fire she’d started spread past the designed burn zone. Catching on the leaves of other trees. Leaping to unintended forests. She could not help wondering how much damage would be done to Kathor if they couldn’t put this fire out.

Reports were coming back from some of the gatherings below. The Makers were handing out food and the red scarves that marked their members. Ren imagined the manipulation spell, weaving in and out of the population. Whispering small encouragements to join their cause.

“Even if they get the votes,” Ren continued, “it doesn’t matter. The vote doesn’t actually push the measure through. It just sends the motion to Viceroy Gray. He would have to ratify the people’s decision, and we know he’s a servant of the great houses. Why would he ever approve a measure that strips your power?”

“He wouldn’t—and I’m starting to think that’s the point. The results will be public information. The law stipulates that. Let’s say it works. They turn out thousands of people and all of them vote in favor of the motion. The viceroy would have to publicly deny the people. I can’t think of more perfect ammunition for a rebellion. And this might be the one time in history that the great houses don’t have enough power to actually put down a rebellion. It would be anarchy, Ren.”

Her stomach knotted as she listened. On the one hand, she felt guilty for the part she’d played in fomenting this rebellion. On the other hand, Theo didn’t know just how alluring that all sounded. She didn’t need to be manipulated into thinking that a world where the great houses had less power might actually be a good one. The problem, of course, was knowing that the power-in-waiting was just as corrupt. This would have been far more difficult if her mother was taking part in some honorable rebellion. Fighting for a just and noble cause. But Ren had already pulled back the curtain and seen the truth. Her mother—and thousands of others—were being manipulated. Forced to act against their own conscience by a dark puppeteer who still hadn’t appeared on the stage. That person, whoever they were, could not be allowed to claim possession of Kathor.

Their conversation was interrupted by Vega’s return. Their livestone bird landed on the railing with a resounding thud. Her wings fluttered briefly out for balance, then tucked neatly in against her sides. A crumpled letter was clutched in her talons. Theo retrieved it.

“Several updates: the estate has been secured by my mother. My sister is there.”

Ren looked up sharply.

“As a prisoner,” Theo read. “She is being guarded. Brood troops have been sent into the city. They’ll be securing various properties. Safe houses. We’ll have options if it comes to it. Brightsword controls the water treatment facilities… and our men decided not to test their defenses for now.” His eyes scanned down the page. “Damn. No sign of Zell Carrowynd. Her statues are gone too. This is a hell of a time for her to go missing.”

Ren shook her head. “There’s precedent there. During the War of Neighbors, the warden vanished and the statues were neutral. They could not harm either side in the war—and so they took neither side. It could be she’s removing herself from the board.”

“That’s a loss. A big one. Let’s send another letter to my mother through Vega. We can let them know that any ‘immune’ who remain on the estate should report to Beacon House.”

“Does that mean we’re going there?” Ren asked.

Theo nodded. “I have a feeling the other houses will be there. Either to show off their strength, or to see who else survived the plague. We need to measure our strength against the other houses—but we also need to measure our collective power. If there aren’t enough wizards to stand against the Makers, we’re all doomed anyways. Sitting out the viceroy’s meeting would just leave us in the dark. I think it makes sense to go.”

After that, he made quick work of his letter. Vega winged back to their estate while Ren made some final notations to her research. She could feel a momentum as they prepared to journey to the lower city. Their bond hummed with a frenetic energy. She knew they were still several steps behind the mastermind who’d attacked the city, but this morning felt like the start of a hunt. All they had to do was follow the right trails and they’d find the person. She felt certain of that.

Outside, Ren and Theo paused instinctually on the threshold. The Heights had gone quiet. There were no signs of protest or damage, but nor did the streets look warm or welcoming. It was as if this part of the city was holding its breath and trying not to breathe in what had claimed the rest of Kathor. They safely reached the public access. The building was no bigger than a small shed. No attendant was on duty and just like the station they’d use to travel here, all the way candles were missing. Ren was prepared. She’d brought enough stock for both of them.

Normally, they would have just ported from the safety of their own home—but the public access sites all had portrait galleries. A series of small, painted slates for different sections of the city. These served as mental reminders for anyone who hadn’t ported to a particular section of the city very often. Theo searched for a moment before locating Beacon House’s outer courtyard. Once it was on display, he arranged their candles and lit both wicks with a warming spell.

Ren had been to the viceroy’s residence recently—but not Beacon House proper. She stared at the painting. The sprawling fountains. The arching windows in the background. She was so focused that she almost didn’t hear Theo’s voice.

“I just had a terrible thought.”

Ren lifted one eyebrow. “Oh? That normally falls in my area of expertise.”

“Everything’s your expertise.” He offered a ghost of a smile. “No, I was thinking… what if we’re the last wizards? What if the plague’s effect is permanent? We’d be all that’s left.”

Ren swallowed. “But future generations…”

“Might have magic,” Theo said. “But they might not. How could we know for sure? If their parents don’t have magic? Would the next generation even be born with a connection to it? And if they are, who will teach them how to use what they have?” He shook his head. “I know it’s grim, but I can’t stop thinking about what will happen over the next twenty years. The people who are traveling to Beacon House right now… we could be all that’s left of magic in the entire city.”

Their eyes returned to the flickering flames. Ren could sense Theo’s emotions across their bond. It was like looking into the mouth of a dark cave and knowing just how easy it would be to lose your way if you took one too many steps inside. She needed to pull him back. The way he so often pulled her back from her own darknesses.

“I suppose there’s at least one silver lining: you might be the second most gifted wizard in the world now.”

That jolted a laugh out of him. “I’ll take second place to you any day.”

He reached for her hand at the same time she reached for his. A brief fumbling, and then their fingers were laced comfortably together. The candles had burned more than enough to cover their travel through the waxways, but for a stretch of time, neither of them moved.

It was so lovely to sit in the glowing light, hand in hand, and pretend the problems outside that small room were not theirs to deal with. Ren tried to imagine meeting Theo at school. Maybe she dropped her books and he helped pick them up. Going out for coffee, discussing their favorite spells, falling in love the normal way. In that version of the universe, Theo’s father would be a kind man. His family’s reputation would be for justice instead of cruelty. Ren’s father would still be alive. Every night he’d sing songs to her mother as they cooked meals together. And her mother would be happy—not bitter and vulnerable and under someone’s dark spell.

When Ren finally opened her eyes, the only thing she still had from that dream version of her life was Theo. His hand nestled warmly in her own. The two of them locked eyes. A quick nod and they were letting go. Reaching for the candles at the same time. The fire burned before pulling them into the lightless nothing. A pain as brief as that other, imagined world.

When their feet set down, Beacon House stood before them.