Dakon shook his head. Errik glanced at Lord Werrin, who let his hand fall from the king’s shoulder. “I doubt Narvelan intended to give away that he is there now, most likely alone and vulnerable.” He grimaced and looked at Dakon. “I expect you want to return as quickly as possible – will probably leave tonight?”
Dakon nodded. “Lord Werrin will go with you. He’ll join you at Lord Everran’s home in an hour.” Errik looked at his friend, who nodded, then turned back to Dakon. “I will gather more magicians to follow as soon after as I can arrange. Go – and be careful. And... please convey my apology to Apprentice Tessia and my hope that her family is among those who survived.”
There was genuine concern in the young ruler’s face and voice. Dakon bowed.
“I will. Thank you, your majesty,” he said.
Then he hurried away, unable to stop the images of death and destruction his imagination was conjuring up. How many had died? Who? He would not find out until he returned home. And home was at least three or four days’ ride away, if he changed horses and rode through the night, and the road hadn’t worsened . . .
Then he remembered Narvelan’s last communication. The king had said Narvelan was in Mandryn. We are still count—. The last word had been “counting’, surely. Counting the dead. Dakon shuddered.
But it also meant Takado – if the villager who recognised the attacker was correct – had left after his attack. That was unexpected.
The Circle had always assumed Sachakans wouldn’t attack unless they intended to possess a village or ley.
It was strange, and he would have plenty of time to ponder it on the ride home, but he would not find any answers until he got there.
“What is it, Tessia?”
Tessia started and looked at the faces of the women, all staring at her. She hesitated, worried that if she told them what had happened they would think her mad.
But the content of the message she’d heard was too shocking. She had to say something.
“I...I just heard someone talking,” she said. “In my head.” Kendaria’s eyebrows rose. “That’s not good. Mental communication is forbidden by law. Magicians can only do it if the king approves or orders it. Did you recognise who it was?”
“It was . . .” Tessia frowned. “He didn’t say, but it sounded like Lord Narvelan. And Lord Dakon replied. And another man... the king? It sounded like his voice.” She shook her head. “Narvelan said Mandryn had been attacked by Takado – the Sachakan who visited us a few months ago.” She looked at the women. They exchanged horrified looks. They clearly believed her. “Are you saying this is real?”
“Yes.” Kendaria looked at Avaria. “Is this the beginning?”
Avaria shrugged. “I wouldn’t dare guess.” She was frowning at Tessia in concern. “Lord Dakon wouldn’t have taught you about mind-speaking, I’m guessing, because it’s not something you’re supposed to do. But if Lord Narvelan used it, the need must have been urgent. We had better go home.”
The others murmured sympathetic farewells and Kendaria, their hostess today, offered the use of her wagon so they would not have to send for Avaria’s. Feeling dazed, Tessia followed Avaria out of the house and into the vehicle.
“So Mandryn has been attacked?” she asked as the wagon began moving.
Avaria looked grave. “Yes.”
How many survivors? Dakon had asked. Not many, Narvelan had answered. She felt a rush of cold and fear. Mother? Father? Are they alive?
Takado’s leering face flashed into her memory and she shuddered. He came back. Did he come back to punish her for humiliating him by repelling him with magic? Then she remembered Hanara. Did he come back to reclaim his property?
“Tessia, there is something I should tell you.”
She looked up at Avaria. Dread filled her. Did the woman know something? Did she know that Tessia’s parents were dead? How could she?
She might. All of this felt so unreal, it seemed anything was possible.
“Lord Dakon didn’t come to Imardin just to sort out some trade matters and see some friends,” Avaria told her. “He is part of a group of magicians known as the Circle of Friends, made up of country magicians and the city magicians who support them. We’re all concerned that Kyralia may soon be invaded by Sachakan magicians. He came here to gain assurance from the king that if any of the outer leys were taken, the city magicians would help to regain them.”
Tessia nodded to indicate she understood. She found she was not surprised. It explained the king’s conversation with her the previous night. And why she hadn’t been included in the gatherings Dakon and Jayan had attended. Dakon would have wanted as few people to know about the threat as possible. He wouldn’t have wanted her worrying helplessly about the safety of Mandryn and her parents while she was in Imardin.
My parents. Perhaps I should have been worried. Perhaps I shouldn’t have left...
Was her father treating injured villagers right now? Or was he one of the injured...or dead. No. She could see him, determined and exhausted, working away. She held on to that image. It was true until it had to be otherwise.
“None of us thought an attack would come this soon,” Avaria said, staring out of the wagon through the cover flap. Then she cursed. “The king must be wondering if we set it up.”
Tessia said nothing. Every word Avaria uttered solidified this new reality. Made sense of it. Tessia did not want it to be real. She wanted to go back to Kendaria’s house, back to her seat, and start time again from that moment.
But I can’t.
Suddenly she didn’t care if she never saw Kendaria or Avaria or any of the women who had befriended and welcomed her again. She didn’t care if she never saw another dissection. She just wanted to go home. To rush back to Mandryn and learn the truth, whether it was good or terrible.
And Dakon will want to as well, she realised. We’ll probably leave tonight. It’ll be a fast, exhausting journey. Probably on horseback rather than by wagon.
By the time the wagon stopped it was all she could do to stop leaping past Avaria and rushing inside the house to find Dakon. Gritting her teeth, she climbed out decorously. Once inside Avaria strode directly to the master’s room. Dakon, Jayan and Everran were there, talking.
“– volunteers,” Everran was saying. “They’ll be no more than a day behind you.”
They looked up as Avaria and Tessia arrived. Dakon opened his mouth.
“Don’t worry, Dakon,” Avaria said. “I’ve told Tessia your real reason for visiting Imardin. I expect you’ll all be leaving as soon as possible.”
“Yes.” Dakon looked at Tessia, his expression full of concern and apology. “I am sorry, Tessia. I don’t know if your parents are alive or not. I hope so.”
She nodded, suddenly unable to speak. “Jayan and I are leaving as soon as Lord Werrin, the magician the king has sent to accompany us, arrives. You will stay here.”
She opened her mouth to protest, but he raised a hand to stop her.
“It will be a rough journey, Tessia. We have the use of the king’s messenger horses, so we will be riding from dawn each day until it is too dark to ride. When we get there we don’t know if we’ll find Takado and his allies waiting for us or not. It will be dangerous, especially for a new apprentice.”
“I’m no soft city woman,” she told him. “I can ride, for long hours if needed. And you taught me that apprentices, new or not, are not supposed to stray from their master’s side during times of conflict. You should have the extra strength of a second apprentice to call on.”