CHAPTER THREE #4
The archminister greeted the four of them with a grateful nod.
“I’d ask that you all consider my question carefully before you reply, as this could be an imperative turning point for our people.
” He leaned forward to impress the inquiry upon them.
“Can you say with any certainty that you have a sense of when a person carries magic within them?”
The Warriors took their time, thinking and hesitating.
The room filled with anticipation, waiting for their answers.
Evylin scanned the room, trying to puzzle out the concept herself.
Could she sense when others were magical?
If there were Warriors attending the meeting tonight, surely there would be other Mages beyond those of their acquaintance.
Was it possible that she could identify them by intuition alone?
The man at the far side of the hall cleared his throat, calling their attention.
“General Waaver,” the archminister recognized.
The general crossed boulder-like arms over his broad chest. “While Commander Loew might have more knowledge of the texts than I,” he began, “I don’t remember reading anything about this phenomenon.
And with the literature destroyed centuries ago, we can’t consult them.
However, if you’re asking for my personal experience alone .
. . Then yes. I have discovered a dozen or so magical individuals that others failed to spot.
Not regularly, mind you, but often enough that it seems unlikely for it to be a coincidence. ”
“I concur with General Waaver,” Emmaas said. “There’s much about the Warriors’ way of life that we have yet to rediscover for ourselves. But from my own life, I can say there’s a certain air about those with magic.”
“A certain air?” the archminister repeated as though asking for clarification.
Emmaas’s granddaughter took over for him. “It’s a feeling in your gut,” she said, her voice tinged with the same sultry accent as Isla’s. “You look at someone and know there’s something different about them.”
“That’s a bit too hypothetical for proof, I’m afraid.”
“But it is provable,” she returned. “If you put a Warrior in a room with twenty individuals and they find the one with magic, that’s proof. You can try that experiment hundreds of times until you’re satisfied. It doesn’t matter if it’s a gut feeling if it works.”
The archminister brushed a hand along his silvery beard. “So you’ve experienced this sensation yourself?”
“Only a few times,” she confirmed. “But that’s all that matters, isn’t it?”
“I agree with Lieutenant Lohen,” the third man chimed in from across the room. “This is a matter that should be further investigated.”
“Mm.” Archminister Fishere nodded. “Thank you for your input, Officers. We will give your recommendation serious consideration.” He turned back to Auden and Ilain as the clerk scribbled notes in his ledger.
“Your theory appears to be believable, Highlady Calder. But the question remains: Why didn’t Lord Carlile notice the other three magical people amongst your team?
I’ll grant that he’s not a Warrior, but he is trained to recognize magic when he sees it.
Why did he only notice Private Deckard?”
“I can tell you why,” Rafferty muttered to Ethenn under his breath.
Ignorant of his remark, Ilain answered, “Carlile only spent time with Evylin and Jonn. He was barely around Hewitt and Loxley for more than a handful of minutes, and that was at a distance.”
“And how did he miss Colonel Deckard’s magic?”
“He’s a Night Mage,” Auden interjected. “Existentials are notorious for hiding their magic, particularly when they are unaware of it themselves.”
Bridging his hands in front of him, Archminister Fishere leaned forward in his seat. “Colonel Deckard,” he called.
Deckard startled upon being directly addressed. “Yes, sir?” he replied, voice strong and amenable as a good soldier’s should be.
“You never had any idea of your power’s existence within you?” Fishere asked.
“No, sir.”
“Hm. Thank you, Colonel.” He turned back to Ilain. “Your theory is looking quite plausible, Highlady Calder. And it seems Lord Carlile’s reputation remains intact,” he said with a small smile.
“Now, to the matter at hand,” the archminister said, leaning back in his seat. “We’ve had an adequate recounting, and it is the Administration’s duty to confer before determining our final course. That said, are there any requests you’d like to put forth to be voted upon between us?”
Ilain resumed her seat as Auden readily gave his reply. “Yes, Archminister. We require additional aid on our journey. With only two Relics and the final, most dangerous Keeps ahead, if we’re to complete this journey and secure the future of Allund, we’ll need assistance.”
“You mean more members added to your party?”
“Yes, sir.”
The expressions of several ministers grew discontent as the archminister considered the request. “More members mean slower movement, more chances to draw attention to yourself, and higher financial cost,” he said. “We are here to support you, but these concerns greatly affect us all.”