As we debated, I sensed a presence approaching us from below, a druí from the magical aura around them, and one that
I recognised: the interrogator, Murdoc. It would prove suicidal should a Scarrabus-infested spy learn of our plans. I turned to the others before he came within earshot: “Watch what you say here, the druí are not to be trusted. Some among them work with the Scarrabus.” As far as I knew it was only Murdoc but it suited my purposes to sow distrust of all the rest as well. With my grandmother in charge they were all against me, and paranoia had always served me well.
Eva had her steel mask and the other magi’s faces adopted masks of their own. We had all been trained by the Arcanum, and initiates swiftly learned to keep their secrets close or have them used against them. Children were ruthless bastards.
“Greetings,” I said, pretending I’d only just noticed the newcomer.
“Edrin Walker,” he said, nodding. “My name is Murdoc. I’ve come tae see for myself while others dicker and flap their jaws like wee old grannies down the tavern.” He stared out at the scene of devastation and disaster and I watched carefully as his expression flickered between horror and… nothing. I had witnessed this before in the traitor magus Harailt, the subtle influence of the Scarrabus inside him twisting his mind and emotions towards its own ends. When it had a need to take the reins all human emotion and compassion drained away.
“The craven bastards,” he said. “This cannot go unrevenged. What is the plan and how can I help?” His voice lacked anger and conviction.
A plan? He would be lucky if I… I blinked. Actually, I did have a plan, and a really good one at that. I looked back downhill to our small army squatting in the snow taking a break while we deliberated. Vaughn had brought that evil pony, Biter, with him to carry our food and supplies. Perfect bait. This could actually work.
I pointed out the vile beast, “That was good timing. Our greatest arcane weapon is stored within those saddle bags, recovered from the vaults below the ruins of the Templarum Magestus. When dusk falls we seven will gather here again to enact a great geomantic working, one powerful enough to bring all the cliff walls tumbling down to permanently seal this valley. We’ll bury all those Skallgrim bastards under tons of stone. We will win with a single strike.”
He looked down to the pony and one eye ticked, the only betrayal he felt any emotion at all. The Scarrabus was paying careful attention to my words.
“While we are working we cannot be disturbed, and the nature of the magic precludes the presence of mundanes. I will require yourself and a number of your most trusted Gifted druí to guard us.”
He smiled, and I thought it did not originate in anything human. “Oh aye, I think I can arrange a wee surprise for the enemy.”
I clapped him on the shoulder. “Excellent, then tonight will mark our total victory.” The skin of my hand crawled with revulsion at touching the inhuman creature. I pitied what was left of poor Murdoc in there, but he was not going to live through the night and if it were me I would welcome death over enslavement.
We exchanged a few more forgettable words and then he took his leave to head off and gather a number of likeminded Clansfolk for our little ritual. I waited until he was well out of sight before grinning at the other magi.
Eva didn’t like my look one bit. “What are you up to, you sneaky bastard?”
Granville stiffened at the use of foul language, but as it was aimed at a low-born magus like me he seemed to agree with the sentiment. He too seemed curious, knowing I possessed no such arcane weapons and that destroying the valley was a feat far beyond both him and Cormac.
“That was no human; that was a Scarrabus wearing his meat like Eva wears a suit of armour.”
The others looked horrified and Vincent gasped, sneering down his long nose at me. “You traitor! You told him about our weapon!”
Even Bryden, whose head was as filled with empty air as any aeromancer I’d ever met, levelled a flat stare at him. “Have you been at the ale already?”
Vincent flushed, but was still none the wiser.
I sighed. “Does it seem like the Arcanum would entrust me of all people with anything that could destroy an entire fucking valley? I lied to them; that’s what I do and that’s how I win.”
“But why?” he spluttered.
Eva’s eye widened. “Walker is forcing the Scarrabus to strike at us tonight, here, in a place we control. Their ground forces are too far away, which leaves only their flying daemons and whatever traitors they have within the Clansfolk. Without our coteries we will seem vulnerable, and if they kill us here then their passage south is all but assured. No other hold will dare oppose them after destroying Dun Bhailiol and the Setharii magi so swiftly and so completely.”
“You did say their flying cavalry was the largest threat,” I reminded her.
“So your plan is to stand out here in the open is it?” Vincent said. “Guarded only by heathens under the command of a Scarrabus-infested magus? Are you cracked? That is possibly the worst plan I have ever heard.”
I scratched the bristles on my chin. “Who said we would only be guarded by them?” It was far from my worst plan ever but I wasn’t about to admit that. I mean, it had taken an epically stupid moment of insanity to decide to jump down the Magash Mora’s throat to cut out its heart, and that seemed to work out well in the end.
“But you said… you said…”
I smirked. “I’m a liar, remember?”
Secca cleared her throat and offered a hesitant smile. “I suspect we will not even be standing where we appear to be.”
Granville chuckled. “It would seem you get to test your magic sooner rather than later.”
Eva studied the area. “This hilltop is deep with snow. We will make a show of clearing a circle and pile it high. It would serve as perfect hiding places for wardens.”
“We will ambush the ambushers,” Vincent gasped. “That’s… that’s…”
“Brilliant?” I said smugly. “Go on, you can say it.” “Still stupid,” he said, covering his narrow face with a hand. “How can you know they will fall for it?”
My face fell. “They have eyes in the sky and traitors within, and the Scarrabus think of us as little more than cattle. They hold all the cards and they are arrogant fuckers anyway. It will work.”
The pyromancer groaned. “What if they send every single flying daemon they have? Hundreds of them will tear us to shreds. I have not magic enough to burn them all.”
“Aha,” I said. “I have thought of that too. You are an accomplished pyromancer, Vincent, so follow me back down to camp and I will explain everything on the way. I have a special friend called Nareene who will be so very happy to meet you.”
This was going to be fun. Or the worst mistake I’d ever made.
Chapter 17
Vincent and Nareene were sequestered inside a tent filled with all the special alchemic supplies I had requisitioned for her, supposedly deep in discussion about how they could be used to improve tonight’s festivities. Blatantly ignoring the odd and animalistic grunting they were currently making, I put the rest of my coterie to work clearing a circle of snow on the hilltop. I didn’t trust anybody else, and tonight’s work best suited murderers and sneak thieves used to quick and silent and unscrupulous work, not wardens who might hesitate to kill unarmed people. They began piling snow up in mounds around the circumference, large enough to hide themselves when the time came. The lanky young magus, Bryden, stayed with them to keep any flying eyes from ruining our little surprise. He seemed most disturbed by my two silent thralls, and I think it served as an unwelcome reminder of just whose orders he was following.