More Bad News
When giving delicate assignments, it’s best to keep information on an as-needed basis.
From the journal of Grandmaster Fawn Maitre, previous Grandmaster of the Crux.
DOM AND I HAVE PLANNED our departure for tomorrow morning, and we want to make it as uneventful as possible.
Trying to waltz out the gates with packs stuffed for a multi-week journey will only raise suspicion, and I am a firm adherent of only breaking as many rules at a time as is absolutely necessary.
So, with all of our nonperishable supplies packed, I want to store them in a safe spot outside of the Crux tonight.
“What’s the plan?” Dom asks in a hushed tone as we take a seat for dinner.
“I called in my favor to the kitchens. We should have full rations ready for us before first bell tomorrow,” I murmur. “As far as the packs, tonight seems like a lovely night for an evening ride, doesn’t it? We’ll put the bags under an illusion and carry them out right under the guard’s nose.”
“Sounds like a date,” Dom says before his eyes flick to something behind me. His grin fades, and he averts his gaze to his bowl as Galiva takes a seat next to me.
“Well, hello, Apprentice Qamari. Good of you to grace us with your presence,” I say before a flash of blue on her sleeve catches my eye. I grab her cuff, pulling it up to display the conjuration mastery that certainly wasn’t there when I last saw her. “Hey! When did this happen?”
Galiva chuckles tiredly, and it’s only then I realize how exhausted she looks. “Last week, I think?”
I gape at her. “And you didn’t tell us?!”
Her smile is strained. “It’s been a busy week.”
“Too busy for a celebratory drink?” I ask. We’ve had so few things to celebrate recently, but a new mastery more than warrants it.
“Hate to say it has,” she says as she pokes at her bowl.
Dom and I share a look before he says, “Well, congrats all the same.” His grin turns sly as he grabs his tea. “How many times did Arlon make you cum?”
The worry momentarily fades from Galiva’s face, replaced by a dreamy smile. She rests a hand against her cheek. “I honestly can’t even remember.”
Dom chuckles before Cancassi takes the seat beside him.
“Remember what?” they ask before they catch sight of Galiva’s new mastery ribbon. “Oh, good. I love that for all of us. Now all of you conjuration masters can handle making the next sending spell.”
“With the way you screamed around my cock, I think you liked conjuration more than you want to admit,” I say as I lean back in my seat.
One foot reaches under the table to brush between their legs, and their thighs clamp around it, momentarily trapping it.
I wiggle my foot against them even as I think about the note I’ve written waiting for them in my room.
Cancassi gives me a sly look before saying, “Not nearly enough to pursue a mastery. But congratulations all the same, Galiva. Only two to go until you’ve got the full set.”
“Thanks,” she says before her smile fades. Her eyes focus on something across the room, and I follow her gaze to see Arlon approaching the dais.
His face is drawn and solemn, and the mood in the mess hall shifts immediately.
The last announcement he made had been about Lucien’s untimely demise, and the look on his face makes me think some new bad news is about to befall us.
Unease tightens my throat, and the chatter quiets as Arlon ascends the steps before turning to face us all.
“I have yet another update I’d rather not be giving,” Arlon says, his voice carrying easily across the room.
“A few months ago, when the Eastern Tower was disbanded, twenty-three of its wizards were made to depart for the Crux. Earlier today, we received a sending from Reneta, who was leading that group to Straetham.”
He sighs, one hand lifting to rub his eyes, and just like Galiva, he looks absolutely exhausted.
“In that sending, we saw the Tower wizards being attacked on the road, outside of Belingrad. Due to the... constraints put on them by the Crown, they were unable to defend themselves against their attackers.”
My stomach drops as a ripple of shock travels around the room. Beside me, Galiva cups her head with one hand, her eyes unfocused as she looks at her untouched bowl.
“We don’t know who these attackers are, but we have our guesses. They were organized, knew how to handle wizards, and had magic at their own disposal,” Arlon says. “We don’t believe their attackers aimed to kill, but at this point, we can’t know for certain.”
The thought of Reneta makes my heart ache.
When I first started studying magic, I was only at the Tower for a short time before transferring to the Crux, but she was a bright spot in that uncertain, anxious time.
We had a brief reunion during the chaos at the Tower a few months ago, but I had been looking forward to seeing more of her here.
That excitement curdles as Arlon continues.
“I do not share this news to scare you. I share this news to keep you informed of our current situation. I believe that this threat is localized to Immenbach, but if anyone sees or hears anything suspicious around the Crux or in town, I want you to report it to Galiva or myself.”
There are quiet affirmatives from the gathered wizards.
Without a word, I gently wrap an arm around Galiva’s shoulders, trying to offer some silent comfort.
Her sister lies at the heart of everything that’s happened at the Eastern Tower, and I can’t imagine how this news must hurt.
She’s tense for only a moment before she sinks against my side with a sigh.
“But as bleak as this development is, there is hope that we may yet avoid an outright war with Immenbach,” Arlon says, and the room falls silent again.
“In a few days’ time, I will be leaving with King Thermilious to attend peace talks between the other powers of the continent.
Any others who are to attend the talks will be asked on an individual basis. ”
I barely hear him. The phrase ‘peace talks’ has loosened a thread of fear that’s pulled tight ever since Arlon told me about the intercepted Immen scouting party in the mountains. If Immenbach is willing to attend such talks, then hope of negotiating a new peace is still within reach.
“I will have more updates for you throughout the week, and I will be meeting with a number of you to give a new set of assignments,” Arlon says before he descends from the dais.
The room immediately erupts in chatter. Speculations fly, and I press a gentle kiss to Galiva’s temple.
“So. No wonder you haven’t been able to celebrate,” I mutter.
Galiva lets out a long sigh, her eyes following Arlon as he leaves the mess hall. “Tomorrow is bound to be even worse.”
“Why’s that?” I ask warily.
Galiva hesitates for a moment before she says, “The new assignments are... a tough ask.”
Dom and I share a look, and I know we’re both wondering what they’re for. Who they’re for.
But neither of us are the lone masters in any school. Anything that was meant for us can be delegated to someone else. Hopefully.
Cancassi tsks. “Can’t be worse than the big, long stretch of nothing we’ve had recently, right?”
Galiva gives a wan laugh. “I appreciate that optimism.”
“Have we gotten any new Crown-sanctioned assignments recently?” I ask.
If they haven’t resorted to sending wizards to join the situation in the mountains, that means it hasn’t escalated too much.
I haven’t seen Apprentice Qamari in over a week, so I’d like to wheedle some news out of her.
Hopefully something to make me feel a little less anxious about leaving tomorrow.
“The last one Cass and I had was that aqueduct project near Belton.”
“And I’d even take that headache over nothing,” Cancassi murmurs.
“You thought you’d get a transmutation mastery and not be asked to rearrange mountainsides?” Galiva asks, a hint of amusement leaking into her voice. “Infrastructure is what we get contracted for the most.”
“What about bandit patrols?” I wonder. “Or are the mountains really so uneventful this fall?”
Galiva’s brief smile fades, and I almost regret asking, but I need to know all of what Dom and I are walking into.
“Y’all, I’m sure Gal’s pretty tired of thinking about work,” Dom says, his eyes flicking briefly to mine. My follow-up question dies on my tongue.
Galiva sighs, looking at me sidelong. Something sad rests behind her eyes, and I know immediately that one of the impending assignments is meant for me.
She all but confirms it as she says, “Tomorrow. I promise.”