Ashes And Spirit (Book 3) (28 page)

Resentment surged alongside the hatred in Sadira’s veins. Plastering on a fake smile the dark Spirit weaver would see right through, she said, “Will you place the weave on my spies?”

Azurynn raised an eyebrow. “I’m waiting. Come now, Sadira, it won’t kill you. I promise.”

“Please.” Her jaw clenched so tight, she spit the word through her teeth.

“Very good. I wasn’t sure you actually knew that word existed.” Azurynn stood and rounded the desk, brushing past on her way out of the room. “Oh and Sadira,” she said as she stepped into the hall. “I would have done it whether you said please or not.”

“You filthy backside of a mangy dog,” Sadira growled as she followed the Spirit weaver.

“Now, Sadira, don’t be so lavish with your praise. It might go to my head,” Azurynn said with a low laugh. “And don’t forget since all the spies are dark Spirit mages that were trained by me, technically, they’re mine. However, because it seems to give you such pleasure to feel like you’re in charge, and because you did say please, I will allow you to direct them.”

Rage flared beyond control, burning its way through Sadira’s veins. She lashed out at the Spirit weaver.

Sadira woke up on the floor in the hall with a massive headache. Azurynn stood over her. “I suggest you think twice before acting so foolishly again, Sadira.” The blood-haired woman turned and walked away toward the main chamber.

Growling under her breath, Sadira picked herself up off the floor. Once she gained her feet, she braced one hand against the wall. It took several moments for the ache to fade and the floor to quit swaying. Azurynn would pay for that one day.

By the time she reached the main chamber, Azurynn was working her way through the assembled mages. One by one, she touched their foreheads with her finger. The woman had better be right about this weave. If it failed and revealed the mages to the enemy, she wasn’t going to be pleased. It would mean another round of selecting dark Spirit mages with the proper temperament, ability to blend in, and training them properly.

It didn’t take long for the weave to be placed on each of the twelve mages. Sadira brushed past Azurynn to stand before them. “You know what you’ve been trained for. If you fail me, pray that you are killed by the enemy for you will not wish to face what awaits you otherwise.”

Murmurs of assent ran through them. Azurynn glanced at her. “If you are through disrupting my day, I have things to do.”

Sadira watched her go in irritation.

Oksana stood next to Sadira, watching Azurynn leave as well. “That woman needs to be knocked down a peg or two.”

“Are you going to be the one to do it?” Sadira gave a derisive snort.

“No, unlike you, I’m not stupid enough to try right now. But one day, her guard will be down.”

“One day. For now, let us get these mages where they need to be. I will take half, you take the other.”

Oksana called Dusa down from her ledge then said, “We’ll only be able to get them so close.”

“Close is close enough. I have no doubt they can make it the rest of the way to their destinations on their own.”

Sadira called Ranit down. After securing herself in the saddle, she motioned to six of the mages. “Ranit will open the Jump outside the Kormai, and you will have to walk through.” She looked over at Oksana. “I will take the farther nations. Place two in each nation in case one is discovered.”

Oksana gave her a flat look. “However did I manage to function all of my life without you telling me how to do everything?”

Without answering, Sadira signaled Ranit out of the cave. The dragon opened the Jump and extended it to the ground. Her plan was put in motion. Soon, she would know the movements and the weaknesses of the Guardians along the border and elsewhere. When the Kormai made their next move against the Guardians, it would be when they weren’t expecting it. They would be hit from all sides.

M
aleena glanced at the mirror, uncomfortable in the fine dress she wore for the ball. At least it would be over soon, and the Calladarans would be appeased. She brushed the skirt with her hands, smoothing wrinkles that didn’t exist. Rarely did she wear dresses of this nature. Even after hatching Nydara, she was only required to dress formally a handful of times and that had been in Galdrilene.

In Calladar, it would be different. The relaxed, happy dancing would be replaced by formal dances. Servants wouldn’t be a part of the celebration. Though still required to serve, they would be expected to remain as unnoticed as possible. Here she would be something for the people to examine.

Maleena raised her chin. No matter. She would get through this night with its ridiculous ball and then it would finally be behind her. Besides, there was one good thing about tonight. She would be in close quarters with every man and woman that had any kind of influence. Since she couldn’t avoid it, she intended to use it to her advantage. Someone had tried to kill Mckale and by extension, Tellnox. Tonight, she would find out who that was.

“Are you ready?” Sonja asked as she opened the door.

“As ready as I’ll ever be.” Maleena smoothed the rose-colored gown one more time then followed Sonja into the hall. Mckale’s sister wore a royal blue gown with a sweeping neckline edged in gold thread. It looked striking on the tall beauty.

Belynn and Brock were already downstairs with everyone else. Belynn wore a burgundy gown in the traditional style of Boromar. Maleena eyed the revealing dress and changed her mind about whom everyone would be staring at. Like Kirynn and Jocelynn, the blonde Boromari woman didn’t understand the more conservative dress style their nations favored.

Grandme held Emmaleen in her arms and smiled at Maleena. “That dress looks beautiful on you.” She glanced sideways at Belynn and pursed her lips. Though she said nothing, Maleena read the disapproval in the old woman’s mind.

“Thank you, Grandme.” Maleena paused to drop a soft kiss on Emmaleen’s brow. “Do you have everything you need for her?”

“Don’t you worry about a thing. She will be quite all right with me.” Grandme waved her away. “Go enjoy your evening while I snuggle with my granddaughter and enjoy the fact I’m old enough not to be expected to attend formal events anymore.”

Maleena laughed softly and crossed the room to take Mckale’s arm. The seven of them filed outside where Barden’s carriage waited. Barden opened the door and the men stepped back, allowing Sonja, Belynn, and Maleena to enter first.

Barden elected to sit with the man he’d hired to drive the carriage; even so, it was a tight fit with Brock, Mckale, and Sonja’s husband, Yaden. It was a good thing that Kaden was on Watch and unable to join them. They wouldn’t have been able to cram another person inside.

The ride to the keep of the fortress in Taragen didn’t take as long as Maleena remembered, though they had to wait in the carriage line to be let out at the door. Thankfully the cold night didn’t have guests lingering outside, and it went faster than expected.

Inside, they followed the flood of people through the unadorned and functional outer halls and rooms of the fortress. Constructed in layers, the fortress was designed for war and each layer could be closed off from the previous one. Though not experienced with many war tactics, Maleena recognized the benefits. Soldiers could fall back if they needed and a new set of obstacles would be presented to any invaders to break through.

Finally, as they approached the very center of what Maleena had started to think of as a type of onion, the décor began to make an appearance and the fortress softened. Rugs covered the stone floor, tapestries depicting the landscape and people of Calladar hung on the walls. Torches gave way to mirrored sconces that held three or more candles.

A wide set of stairs led to the second level and ended at a massive landing. A hall led away from each end. Large double doors opened off the landing to a cavernous room and captured her attention. Women and men moved leisurely through the doors, their conversations and greetings mixed into an indistinct and constant buzz punctuated by occasional laughter.

Thoughts and emotions bombarded the shield her bond with Mckale created. Now that she was no longer pregnant, it held strong. His hand, linked with hers, kept any emotions from breaking through when people inadvertently brushed against her. For now that was fine. Soon, she would need to break the contact in order to find the traitor.

Lord Arandrall stood at the doors with his wife Raylah at his side. Tall and plump, gray streaked Raylah’s long dark hair. Though the eye colors in Calladar seemed to be dominated with gray and silver with a few dark eyes thrown in, Raylah’s eyes were blue. They greeted each guest as they passed by.

Maleena watched Arandrall’s wife. Raylah’s skin was lighter than normal for Calladar as well. Mckale leaned down and whispered in her ear, “She’s from Boromar.” Maleena turned to him in surprise. He smiled and continued in a whisper, “Arandrall traveled there as a young man after training in Galdrilene. He fell in love and convinced her to come back with him.”

She gazed at the couple as their group approached the doors. The way they stood so close to each other, their hands brushing and the occasional exchange of looks, spoke volumes. Unlike a lot of marriages among nobility, this one hadn’t been arranged. Arandrall and his wife appeared to be as much in love now as they were in youth.

When they drew level with the couple, Maleena inclined her head slightly in response to their greeting. Raylah caught her eye and smiled warmly. “It’s good to finally meet you, Di’shan.”

If Mckale hadn’t told her before, it would be impossible to miss now. Though Raylah must have been in Calladar for many years, her Boromari accent still came through strong. Maleena returned the smile. “Raylah is an unusual name for a Boromari.”

“In Boromar, I was Ralynn. People here kept pronouncing it with an ‘ah’ sound because my name was unusual to them.” She chuckled, her eyes twinkling as if she found the memory amusing. “I quit correcting them and just accepted it. It was easier at the time. I have been Raylah for so long now I don’t think I could go back. I’m born of Boromar but my allegiance is to Calladar.”

Maleena glanced between Raylah and Arandrall before her eyes rested on Mckale who stood in conversation with the Head of the Nine. “I understand completely.” The rest of the group began to move through the doors. She smiled again at Raylah. “I must go. It was a pleasure to meet you.”

Raylah nodded. “Likewise, Di’shan. Please, enjoy your evening. If the Fates desire perhaps we will have more time to speak with one another later.”