Chapter 27 Declan #2
“I would not count on having until spring.”
I turned to Quin. “I don’t know how to explain this. There’s still so much to magic I don’t understand, but the currents are disturbed. Larinda and the Keeper said they are more turbulent than at any point in their lives, and events are moving more quickly than they should. How I know this,
I cannot say, but we are running out of time.”
Quin stared into the Eye, transfixed. When he finally spoke, his question surprised me.
“What did you learn on your trip? According to Mage Dani, you were Mute when you left, and now you wear a golden tunic with the Phoenix splashed across your chest. No one has worn more than three golden bands in a thousand years. What does it mean?”
I looked at órla. “The tunic was Larinda’s gift, but órla, why don’t you answer the Arch Mage’s question?”
Everyone turned to the owl still perched on Quin’s chair.
“Declan now commands the magic of Water, Air, Healing, and Illusion—among others.”
“Didn’t want to show all our cards?” I cocked a brow.
“Not a chance. Remember, Keelan said there was at least one spy, possibly among these men.”
“Four Gifts? More than four?” Burner gaped.
“More than four.” I nodded. “We will need more than my magic if we are to survive what is coming. We will need every Mage working together. If I understand correctly, the Kingdom has four times our number of men and arms?”
Vre quickly wiped the stunned look from his face and answered carefully. “Our numbers . . . they do outnumber us by a fair amount.”
“How can your education with the Keeper help, Declan?” Quin asked.
“Arch Mage, I have no military training beyond scouting mountains and forests, and I’m not a strategic genius by any measure, but I have learned a few things about magic. I would like to work with you to prepare our Mages, anyone with Gifts of Fire, Water, Air, or Earth, in particular.
If we combine what I learned with the power of your Mages and the tower, we might be able to neutralize their advantage in numbers.”
Quin steepled his fingers, nodding thoughtfully.
“General Vre, I believe there may be value to your men here, as well. Morale in the city is decent at the moment, but news of Grove’s Pass may change that. The enemy staring from across our fields certainly will.
With Declan’s new title—and his legendary friend—he may be able to bolster the troops when the skies darken.”
Vre nodded. “That’s actually a good idea. Ceryl, we should have our staffs work together to craft the story we want told. We’ll need to shape this thing if it’s going to work, then get it told in every tavern and inn across the city. Hells, across the country.”
Quin rose. “Declan, you must be exhausted. I will meet you at the Guild Hall. Our people will prepare a room as well.” He turned to órla and bowed. “Daughter, how should we prepare for your stay?”
She flapped back to my arm. “I will remain with my Bond-Mate, but if your kitchen has a few chunks of raw meat about, I would be grateful.”
A half hour later, a large platter of roasted fowl sat beside bowls filled with a wide variety of vegetables, nuts, and fruits.
I hardly knew where to start, or why the Arch Mage had such a spread laid out only a few weeks before a siege.
Food would be their most precious resource. Why weren’t they conserving it?
Quin peered over the rim of the cup of magical wine I had shared, his eyes wide with awe and pleasure.
“It has been a very long time since I enjoyed this . . . vintage. Where did you find it?”
I smiled and shrouded my answer. “I found many interesting things on your mission.”
Quin laughed. “I see you learned to answer questions like a Mage, too. That may prove frustrating for others over time, but I suspect you will learn to enjoy their annoyed glares as much as I have over the centuries.”
I grunted and shoved another bite into my mouth. “I’ve seen the physical preparations, but you said little about what your Mages are doing. Given what I learned on Rea Utu, I would think our magical advantage should be put to good use.”
Quin pulled a small gilded box from his robe and muttered a few words. A rune on the box shimmered with golden light, then faded. “Now we may speak freely. With the enemy approaching, we must be more vigilant than ever. There is no way to be sure we discovered all their spies in our midst.”
My eyes widened, feigning surprise. “Spies? Here?”
Quin described those they found among Burner’s staff, and how they had stolen the seal later used to frame the Triad for the kidnappings in the Kingdom.
“That created the whole basis for their invasion, at least initially. Something like that took years of planning and preparation. There is no telling how long that spy was in place before he gained access to the private quarters of the Guildmaster. Even then,
he had to learn to defeat the Enchantments I personally placed on Burner’s chamber and desk. The implications of how deeply they have penetrated our government are troubling.”
Quin savored another sip, then set his cup down. “You asked about our magical defenses, not spies. I think our guests may come to appreciate the ingenuity of Melucia’s Mages’ Guild. I doubt they will like us much but may earn a touch of respect.”
The sinister look in the Arch Mage’s eyes caught me by surprise. “Really? I never saw that much military prowess when I lived here, just a bunch of old men playing with magic. Granted, they’re smart old men, and they’re really good with magic, but they’re definitely not soldiers.”