Is this supposed to be a recruiting speech? Luna asked.
I think it’s the warm-up act, I said. I was busy scanning the futures, looking for signs of Richard. It wasn’t easy – crowds are the absolute worst places for divination, and the possibilities kept flickering.
Not doing a great job of it.
You’re not the intended audience.
‘… ever since the beginning,’ the man was saying. ‘This is the way they keep you under control. Weak, and vulnerable. But you have the power to take your future into your own hands. All you have to do …’
I switched my attention away from the man, scanning the room. The crowd was paying attention, but the murmurs of background conversation hadn’t died away and I didn’t get the sense that this guy had them in the palm of his hand. I reached out through the dreamstone. Anne?
I’m here, Anne replied instantly. Are you okay?
What can you see?
A whole lot of people, Anne said. Some are familiar, but there’s one up on the balcony that’s hidden behind a web. I think it might be—
Vihaela.
Did she see you?
Not yet, and I hope it’ll stay that way. You safe out there?
Someone on the roof was patrolling. Council, I think. It wasn’t a problem.
Mm. Call me as soon as anything happens, all right?
I think you should be worrying more about yourself.
‘Alex,’ Luna said quietly. ‘I think something’s happening.’
I took a glance into the futures and my heart skipped a beat. It’s go time. Follow me.
I started pushing my way through the crowd, clearing a way for Luna. I got some angry looks, but no one seemed willing to make an issue of it. I thought I felt a gate, Luna said.
So did I, I said. We need to find a way to the upper level.
What’s changed?
‘… but we can’t do this alone,’ the man was saying. ‘I know that’s a difficult thing to accept. I didn’t want to believe it either. But no matter how strong and powerful we are, we need allies. That’s why we’re here today.’
The crowd has, I said. Listen.
Luna did, and it took her only a second to notice. The crowd had gone quiet. They’d been distracted before, listening with half an ear while talking and drinking; now all of a sudden they were focused on the speaker. Looking around, I could see dozens of eyes staring silently at the stage. What the hell? Luna said. Was it something he said?
It’s not him, I said. Close your eyes. Can you feel it?
Luna frowned but obeyed. I don’t … she began, then paused. That’s weird.
What do you feel?
I’m not sure. Luna sounded confused. It just sort of feels right. But when I stop and think about what he’s saying …
Charm magic, I told her. It’s telling you to trust him, to go with the flow. But it’s not actually convincing you. That’s why you’re confused. Your emotions and your thoughts are telling you two different things.
How come it’s not affecting you?
I’ve had a lot of experience dealing with mind-affecting spells.
‘… been working on this for a long time,’ the man was saying. ‘Many of you have asked me what’s been going on, and we haven’t been able to tell you, but now at last …’
What about Richard? Luna asked. Is he here?
He’s here.
Luna twisted her head. Where?
Up there, I said, nodding up at the balcony. I don’t know what happened, but a few minutes ago something changed. Up until then the futures were blurred, then all of a sudden they snapped into place. We don’t want to be in the middle of the crowd when he shows up.
Yeah, not arguing with that. Bit of a problem, though. Luna tilted her head towards the stairs. Don’t think those guys are keen on letting us through.
The stairs up to the balcony were just ahead. We’d made it close enough that I could see over the heads of the crowd, and it didn’t look good. I’d expected the stairs to be guarded, but I’d been figuring on maybe one man. Instead there were three, and looking into the futures in which I shoved my way through, I saw that more were above.
Don’t suppose you have some spell in your box of tricks that’ll get us through that many? I asked Luna.
I could fight my way through, if that’s what you’re asking.
Not so much, no. I scanned the crowd. There, on your two o’clock. You see?
Luna went up on tiptoes, craning her neck. A little to our right, almost hidden by a set of speakers, was a small unmarked door. I see it. Guards?
Doesn’t look like it. It’ll be locked, but I can probably get it open if you cover me.
‘… and now he’s here,’ the adept finished. ‘I present to you Mage Richard Drakh.’
There was a rustle and a murmur as everyone in the crowd looked up at once. A figure appeared on the balcony, looking down over the people below.
Richard looked subtly different from how I remembered. In the past, I’d always been struck by how ordinary he seemed. He just looked average in almost every way: not tall, not short, not handsome or ugly, not thin or fat. I knew how dangerous he was, but I also knew that to a stranger’s eyes, there was nothing about him to catch the attention at all … at least, not until you’d seen him in action. He had the perfect everyman appearance, the kind of look that fades into a crowd.
Richard didn’t look like an everyman any more. It was hard to say what had changed; his clothes were perhaps a little more impressive, his stance a little different, but there was no doubt about the impact. The crowd were receptive and primed, but even without the enchantment effect, I had the feeling he would have caught their attention. He looked like a king addressing his subjects.
I wanted to keep looking up at him – the impulse tugged at me to stand and watch and listen – but I pulled my eyes away to see Luna staring up at him. Luna. Luna!
Oh. Right. Luna blinked. I didn’t realise he was so—
Door.
Right.
We pushed our way through the crowd. I don’t think anyone even noticed; they were too busy staring. Making it to the door, I felt Luna take up a position at my back.
‘Adepts of Britain,’ Richard said. His voice was deep and powerful; it echoed around the room, and unlike the previous speaker, he wasn’t using a microphone. ‘You are at a crossroads. For all your lives you have been ruled by the Light Council. Now, for the first time, you have a choice.’