Chapter 2
Roksana
Sleep eluded me. Jagon’s visit and worry for Rey left me too tense.
So, I locked myself away in my workshop, studying the schemata Tova had acquired from the dwarven merchants.
My friend had made a copy for me and sent the original to the university, but no matter how long I stared at the diagram, I couldn’t make sense of it.
An icy draft made me shiver, my shuddering breath misting the suddenly cold air when the door swung open. ‘Veles’ cauldron, what happened here? Drah’sa, are you alright?’
Tova’s voice startled me almost as much as the light framing his dishevelled form. I hadn’t realised the sun had risen, or that he’d only just returned home.
‘Jagon happened, but it’s fine, I’m fine. Just tired.’ I yawned, sliding off the chair. ‘Do we have any kava left?’ I moved past him whilst avoiding the glass shards on the floor.
‘Jagon? Kava?’ Tova followed me with a bewildered expression, making me chuckle.
He stomped his foot. ‘Stop laughing. I leave you for one night, and the house looks like another battle took place.’ He paused, reaching for the tin of kava beans before I could grab it.
‘Sit down. I’ll brew you a cup while you talk. ’
‘Ain’t you a ray of sunshine today?’ I muttered. Still, I sat down, losing myself in his friendly grumbling, which made everything better.
‘At least I don’t look like a striga. Talk.
Now.’ While he ground the beans, I told him about Jagon’s visit and the offer he’d insisted I take.
Tova’s face turned an interesting shade of red long before I finished.
‘So that bastard, motherfucking mole shit thought you’d just go with him?
’ he said, placing a steaming cup in front of me with such force that the drink spilled onto the table.
‘Yes, but we have a bigger problem than his obsession with me. Wey Gates. Did you or the mages find anything in the schemata that might hint at non-fae being able to operate them?’
Tova stroked his beard, a habit he had when lost in thought, before he slowly shook his head. ‘No. Every clue we have points to the thing being a box. But now that I’m thinking about it… If they are keys to the Wey Gates… Or maybe the box uses the same… I’ve got to go!’ He bolted for the door.
‘Wait! Where are you going?’ My confused reaction stopped him, but only for a moment.
‘This could be it, Sana. We’ve been looking at this all wrong.’ He gave me one of his roguish smiles. ‘Stay home and get some sleep. You look like shit. I’ll come by later with the answers, and if you’re good, some hot buns.’
His eyes were blazing with inspiration, and I knew I couldn’t stop him even if I wanted to.
I didn’t try. My head was pounding, my muscles were stiff from bending over the schemata for so long, and even kava couldn’t keep my eyes open.
Instead, I waved him off, wincing when the door slammed shut behind him, and dragged my half-dead body to bed.
Two days passed since I began nitpicking the traders connected to srebrec, while my frustrated dwarven genius practically lived at the university.
Schemata and srebrec were so tied up that trying to quietly determine who was involved in the trade could reveal if the Mules used Wey Gates or knew their locations.
I wasn’t having much luck until I described the men who’d come with Jagon to Irsha.
He’d caught them as soon as they returned from escorting my former master.
Visla, Boyan’s shadow, had already interrogated one of them, killing him in the process.
This time, Boyan asked for my help, unwilling to risk the last source of information.
The interrogation chamber in the Chapter House was a secret known only to Brotherhood members.
The bare stone walls and polished black floor made cleaning off blood infamously easy, a fact all apprentices learned to appreciate.
Opposite the entrance, secured to the wall, was a saltire – an X-shaped cross – its blood-stained wood and chains adding to the intimidating atmosphere.
Chained to its surface, like a sacrificial offering, was the man who’d asked Jagon if he should handle me.
The pungent stench of his blood and sweat saturated the air, overpowering even the lime and vinegar used to clean the floor.
He stared at Boyan with unbridled hatred, rattling his chains when I walked in.
Each denial he uttered was a sibilant hiss thanks to the vicious wound marring his lip.
However, his clenched fists and ragged breath betrayed his fear.
I sauntered over to the only splash of colour in the room – the large, cushioned chair where the Grand Master sat to witness interrogations.
The prisoner missed my quiet entrance, his gaze fixed on the table displaying the vials and instruments used to extract confessions.
He reacted only when a menacing chuckle slipped from my lips.
‘I heard you require my skills, Grand Master,’ I said, voice sickly sweet, while I bowed to my father.
Visla turned away from the prisoner, his jaw clenching before he controlled himself. ‘Roksana. I’m handling this.’
‘I’m requesting permission to assist you. I have a personal grudge with this one.’
I didn’t want to antagonise Visla. Boyan’s shadow was dangerous, and I already had too many enemies. He glanced at Boyan, his eyes narrowing slightly as an unspoken message passed between them.
‘The first one knew nothing, but this one… He was close with Jagon,’ Visla said. His voice was more strained than usual, as if providing me with the information undermined his already precarious position.
‘Is he, now?’ I said, taking a long, wicked-looking needle from the table and pulling a small vial from my belt. ‘Working with Jagon… Well, you’d be surprised how many people feel invincible after sheltering under his wing. Do you know whose task it was to break them of such silly ideas?’
I looked up from my task, catching the slight widening of my victim’s eyes before he spat at my feet, his chains rattling as he drew back.
‘I already revealed everything I know. The srebrec or fucking magical gates weren’t my assignment.
Ask Tymon.’ Panic made his lisp worse, forcing him to stop and calm his breathing.
‘Oh, I will, but right now, I have you, and I want to hear everything you know. I won’t ask a single question,’ I said softly, playing with the needle. ‘You have one chance, and one chance only. Tell me everything you learned about Jagon, M?ot, and Tivala, no matter how insignificant.’
‘You’re insane if you think anyone would tell a lowlife like me anything.’
‘Tell? No, silly boy, but you have eyes and ears. Talk. Now.’ I continued to smile.
He paled, and the Grand Master sighed in resignation. ‘If he talks, spare him. At this rate, we’ll need to actively recruit new Mules,’ he said, playing into my hand.
I stepped closer and leaned towards the prisoner. ‘Still hesitating? If you’re afraid of Jagon, then ask yourself, why did he leave my home bleeding?’
‘Why? Because the fucker whispers your name in his sleep, that’s why. Nightshade… oh, Nightshade,’ he said, moaning my nickname before he sneered and spat at me again. ‘You, Jagon, the rest of you pox-ridden poisoners, you’re all the same toxic perverts. Just kill me and be done with it.’
His words, foul and outrageous, were like a slap in the face.
My hand clenched into a fist, wishing I could strike him, but that would only give him control.
‘Kill?’ I huffed coldly. ‘Why would I kill you when I can make you scream, piss yourself, and beg for Veles’ mercy?
How would you like to become a thrall to my will?
’ I gathered my aether, pushing it forward, its emerald strands touching the man’s skin.
Magic, a novelty in the Brotherhood’s ranks, worked perfectly as an intimidation tool.
He gasped, shrinking away from the invisible tendrils.
That’s right, little boy. You can feel it, can’t you?
The corner of my mouth lifted in a lopsided smile as I inadvertently rolled my eyes.
I’d fallen into the role of shadow mage all too easily.
‘What are you…?’ he stuttered, swallowing hard, ‘You don’t understand. Jagon may be a sick arsehole, but he’s our only chance to survive what’s coming. We’re all dead if I snitch.’ He looked behind me, where Boyan sat observing. ‘You’d let her do this? Magic is not our way. It breaks the covenant.’
The chair creaked as Boyan stood up, his slow shuffling steps echoing in the room as he came closer.
‘You went behind my back, ignored the same covenant you claim I’m breaking, and you want me to stay the hand of my shadow mage?
Someone who’s always been loyal to us… to me?
’ Boyan gestured towards me. ‘Kill him if you must. Alive or dead, he will spill his secrets.’
The hope in the trader’s eyes died, like a candle blown out by the wind. I dipped the tip of my needle into the vial’s oily, swirling contents. Black henbane and Amanita fungi were powerful hallucinogens and, strengthened by my magic, would give the poor bastard an experience he’d never forget.
‘Jagon is a powerful figure, and if he’s working with Tivala, well…
Let me show you who you should really be afraid of,’ I said, approaching the Mule.
The Geas Ceremony had inspired my latest invention.
A suggestion whispered into the victim’s mind that created a vision so vivid, so visceral, that it felt real.
Guided by a stimulant to increase the heartbeat and my softly spoken words, I could make him feel anything I wanted.
The simplicity of this torture made me feel like a monster, but at least his body would survive.
‘I know nothing, you crazy bitch.’