Chapter Eleven #2
Cicilly looked up at her daughter and smiled, slightly. “I have always wanted to offer my ideas, dear, but your father never seemed to be interested in most of them. I’m glad that you are more susceptible to change, where he wasn’t.”
“I never thought about it in that way but maybe you’re right. I will have Finn summon one of the carpenters.”
Just then, Sir Nicholas walked into the hall. Bree could tell that something was wrong just by his expression.
“What is it?” Bree asked.
“I just received word from Taten. Their kingdom was attacked four nights ago. And—” Before he could continue, Sir Raymun entered with a similar face that told her more bad news was coming.
He handed a piece of parchment to Nick, who quickly read it.
“It’s from Labara. There was also an attack on their orchard. A fire. Blue fire.”
“Were they able to control the fire—to stop it?” Knowing what she did about the blue flames of wildfire, she wasn’t certain it could be controlled. Or stopped.
“It says that the fire disappeared at twilight. It doesn’t say how.”
“Disappeared?” Bree said, unbelieving as she took the parchment from Nick and read it to herself. Flames disappeared at twilight. Quarter of orchard lost.
Nick turned to Sir Raymun, “Double patrols on the guard and alert the scouts. If they see anything suspicious—anything at all—I want to know about it immediately.”
Bree needed a moment to absorb the terrible news, but there wasn’t any time. “Gather the council and send for Dagan. Where is Rowan?”
“I believe he is in the village. You sent him to bring Reeve…”
“Yes, yes, I remember now. Send Finn to find him.”
Nick bowed and walked out of the hall as quickly as he’d walked in. It didn’t take long to alert and assemble the council. Once Nick read the messages received from Labara and Taten, the men in the room were quick to blame Sire for the attacks.
“Who else would be responsible, after what happened recently?” Sir Ainsley seemed sure of it.
Bree quickly stood and walked to the door, opening it for just a moment to whisper something to Finn. Then she closed the door and returned to her seat, without explaining.
“What I don’t understand,” Rowan said, “is that Taten is to our east. Labara to our west. Both kingdoms attacked with the same type of fire. Junacave is in between. Why weren’t we attacked?”
“The Sabras were also attacked by the same magical fire,” Sir Nicholas added. “How would anyone in Sire know about them or their encampment?”
“That is a good question, actually,” Bree said.
“Since as far as I’m aware, we are the only kingdom to have relations with the Sabras, I do believe the attack on them was a personal blow, aimed at us,” Dagan said. “From whoever sent it…”
“But if it’s Sire and this is some sort of retaliation by Queen Vallica,” Bree considered, “why would she waste time and magic on attacking Taten and Labara? And why does she feel the need to attack anyone in the first place? Her husband is dead. She has control of the kingdom. What more could she want?”
The men around her continued to argue their points as to why Sire could be the only kingdom responsible. Bree could understand their reasoning, but she had to intervene when the suggestion was made to attack Sire before they could attack Junacave.
“We cannot attack anyone, Sire included, without proof,” Bree said.
“But Your Majesty—” Sir Ainsley started.
Bree held up a hand to stop him. “I won’t risk losing the strong ties with our allies by acting too hasty against the wrong kingdom.
Taten’s profit mainly comes from refining metal and jewels from Vale’s mines.
Labara has their vineyard. Sire is the only real port in this half of the realm.
Each of those kingdoms can sustain themselves but because of our location, we mostly rely on taxes from trade.
If Sire were to retaliate by imposing a tariff on their port to anyone who passes through our land, we would certainly lose all merchants’ business.
If only one of our neighboring kingdoms were to decide to excommunicate us, our entire financial security would become unstable. This has to be thought through.”
No one could argue with the logic, but passions still ran high.
“What about the wildfire? Is Larkin powerful enough to have created it?” Bree asked.
Dagan shook his head. “Even if he could, you’re forgetting that Larkin left. He refused to pledge service to the wife and disappeared with the body. At least that’s what Rowan saw just before he left.”
“So Vallica must have found another wizard,” Dahlia said, pushing the door open. She had been listening from the other side. She could feel the piercing eyes on her. Every one of them knowing who she was and what she had done. All likely wondering why she was there.
“This meeting is private,” Sir Luthias said.
“Thank you, Sir Luthias. However, Dahlia is here on my request,” Bree replied.
Sir Nicholas stood and relinquished his seat so that Dahlia could sit beside the queen.
“Another wizard?” Bree asked, turning back to Dagan. “This soon?”
“It’s possible,” Dagan shrugged. “But to find one powerful enough to conjure wildfire and willing to risk his powers by using it?” He wondered just what type of fool they were dealing with. “And even better still, one that could extinguish it?”
“What do you mean?”
“If we are to believe that the flames suddenly disappeared, which the message from Labara clearly states, then someone had to have stopped the fire. A wizard strong enough to create and extinguish wildfire is a threat to everyone, everywhere.”
“Would the Elder Mage be able to stop this wizard?” Fortin cut in.
Bree glanced back over to Dagan. Only a very small number of people knew that Sidonie had been named the Elder Mage, and they intended to keep it that way, for the time being. The question was alarming and she hoped her face didn’t show it.
Dagan kept his composure better than the queen did, however. “Hypothetically, if the Elder Mage was here, then yes. The Elder Mage is the only living wizard with the power to expel magic from people, places, or objects.”
“Then we should find this Elder Mage and bring him here!” Marshal Garret said.
“We can certainly try,” Bree said and turned to Dagan, attempting to keep a straight face. “Dagan, please send word to wizards in neighboring kingdoms that we are in need of the Elder Mage’s service.”
Dagan nodded, knowing that the queen’s request was a false one.
“If proof is what you need, I can get it for you,” Dahlia spoke for the first time since taking a seat.
She focused on Bree and tried to hide the fact that her legs were shaking under the wooden table.
She never wanted to go back to Sire, especially with her father gone and his bitch of a wife in charge of the kingdom.
In fact, she was already beginning to regret her decision to volunteer.
“No, Dahlia,” Bree started shaking her head. “I can’t ask you to do that. You are a free citizen with no oath to my crown. And the risk is too great, especially for you. If Queen Vallica really has found a wizard to do these terrible things, I can’t imagine what else she is capable of.”
“Perhaps, she doesn’t need to know who I am,” Dahlia replied. “I was able to take on a different appearance before…”
“With the amulet?” Bree asked. She knew Dagan wouldn’t like the idea even before she turned to ask him. He was already shaking his head, and she was certain he would refuse.
“How do I know, once I give it to you, that you won’t use it to escape and disappear forever?” Dagan asked.
“I wouldn’t trust me either if I were in your position.
I can’t change the past, even though I’ve continued to apologize for it.
But if you do allow me to assist, then maybe I can earn your trust in the end.
” Dahlia turned back to Bree. She could tell that her cousin was considering it.
“If you remember our conversation in the hall? I wouldn’t volunteer if I didn’t think I could do it. I want to help.”
Bree scrunched up her nose, still hating the idea. But having no better plan, she agreed. Dahlia would infiltrate her stepmother's kingdom and report back within five days’ time.