Living without magic would be worse than dying for a man like Inigo. He’d be at the mercy of every Mage he’d ever offended. It was probably a very long list.
But she’d given in to her anger, her need for revenge, and in the process had given their enemy information about what she could do, information it might have been better to keep secret. She closed her eyes for a moment. This was why Reo said Assassins could not afford to kill in anger, kill with emotion—it made you forget what was important. Her mother was dead—finding Timo alive was the only thing that mattered. She would not do anything else that might jeopardize that.
When Kara opened her eyes, her gaze fell on the blond Mage who’d spoken up for Inigo earlier. He was staring at Inigo’s prone form with what looked like speculation. He glanced her way, and their eyes met, and she smiled. She
did not
regret that Mages like this one would scheme against Inigo, maybe even kill him.
“The Journeyman doesn’t know where Timo is,” Reo said. He pushed the man to his knees and stepped over to stand beside Kara. “Is there anyone else who might?”
Kara looked out across the crowd and shook her head. Someone in the crowd might know something but with such little knowledge of her brother’s life, finding them would take time they didn’t have.
“Then we need to go,” Reo said. He took her hand.
“You’re right, there’s nothing more we can do here,” Kara agreed. They had to get home. Mole would try to reach them there, hopefully with word that he’d found Timo. If not, Santos would try to pinpoint which island he was on. Her brother was almost the same age she’d been when she’d been thrust out on her own, urged to run away by her mother. Inigo was right—Arabella Fonti had never wanted her, never loved her. But Timo knew there was a place where he
was
wanted, where he would be welcome. All she could do was hope that he made it to Old Rillidi safely.
“THIS WAY,” YASH
called softly. He was crouched beside the wall, peering down an intersecting hallway. Mauve mage mist eddied around him—Timo’s invisibility spell.
“No,” Timo said. Despite Yash’s confidence, he’d gotten them lost in the hallways. For most of an hour, Timo had been trying to convince Yash to retrace their steps to try to find the hallway that led back to the boat but the Seyoyan was one of the most stubborn people he’d ever met. Timo was almost ready to take his chances on his own. Maybe he could slip out with the Servers again. The Founders Day events would be over soon, and the extra helpers would be leaving once the clean-up was done. He looked down at the Server crest sewn onto his tunic. He was still dressed for the part, though he looked a little disheveled now.
Timo sighed and followed Yash and Wuls around the corner. He still needed the Seyoyan’s boat to get him to Old Rillidi.
Yash stopped and signalled with his hand, and Wuls dropped to the floor. Timo, a few steps behind, did the same. Footsteps echoed in the corridor ahead. Yash crab-walked towards a door, opened it, and waved Timo and Wuls forward.
“WE’RE GOING THE
wrong way,” Timo protested. They were huddled inside a small storage room. Dusty chairs and a table with broken leg were piled up against one wall.
“I know what I’m doing,” Yash insisted. “I’ve done this a few times already.”
“And I’ve lived here my whole life,” Timo said. “Right now we’re underneath the library. If we ever hope to find your boat, we need to return to Inigo’s.”
“No,” Wuls said. “I do not want to go back. They want to hurt me.”
“We’re not going back,” Yash said to his brother. He glared at Timo. “And if you know so much about this island then I suggest you find a way to get us off it.”
“I can but it will be without your boat,” Timo said. He glared at Yash. The Seyoyan’s boat was the only reason he’d come to Mage Guild Island, the only reason he’d put himself in such danger.
Yash shrugged. “I can get us another boat.” Wuls said something to him in Seyoyan, and Yash laughed.
“My brother says that stealing a boat from a Mage is worth the loss of my own boat,” Yash said to Timo. “I will gain much esteem in the eyes of my people.” Yash leaned into the door. “I do not hear anyone in the hall. It is time for you to lead us to a boat.”
THE CORRIDORS WERE
busy far sooner than Timo had expected. He’d planned on taking them to his mother’s house not because he thought she’d help, but because Inigo didn’t control her—Arabella Fonti was Secundus, most likely Primus by now. Besides, she’d be at Founders Day. But even though the celebrations weren’t scheduled to end for hours, Servers were already in the corridors.
Timo led them into another storage room. This one was larger, with shelves stacked with goblets and dishes. He headed to the back of the room and tucked himself in beside two shelves. Yash and Wuls followed him.
Timo peered around the shelf. He could just see the door.
“Something’s wrong,” Timo said. “The Servers shouldn’t be stirring for hours, not until the Founders Day celebration is over.”
“Maybe it’s because of the noise we heard,” Yash said. “And the way the walls shook.”
“Maybe,” Timo said. He’d almost forgotten about that—was it part of a special service because the Primus was dead? “We need to find a safe place to hide. At least until the Servers are finished cleaning up.”
“Can’t we stay here?” Yash asked. “It seems pretty safe. And we are invisible.”
“No,” Timo replied. “We’re too close to the Guild Hall. Too many Servers will be in these corridors. One of them could stumble into us and alert the Mages.” But these corridors would be the perfect place for him to become visible and blend in with the Servers. Could he abandon the Seyoyans?
Timo leaned against a shelf. No. He’d been left alone too often to be able to do that to anyone else. Besides, he’d given his word to Yash. He couldn’t renege.
“We need to get a little further away,” Timo continued. “And find something to eat and drink.”
THE BOAT RIDE
back to Old Rillidi was even more stressful than the one to Mage Guild Island had been. Santos spelled them invisible, and Kara concentrated on keeping any other mage mist away from them. Reo sat in the stern, tiller in hand, scanning the waters that surrounded them.
Her mother had planned on killing her only daughter in order to stay in power.
Kara had always assumed that her mother was in control—she was Secundus. But within a few days of Rorik’s death she’d schemed with a man who’d planned on killing her—who
had
killed her, though it was Kara who had deflected the spell.
But she’d protected Timo—probably helped him escape. Gyda knew Arabella Fonti had never shown her daughter anything close to the concern she’d shown Timo.
Roughly, Kara wiped her eyes. Maybe her mother truly had loved Valerio Valendi. She’d seen him drain magical power from the mother of his unborn child, but Arabella Fonti had refused to believe her—had continued to think that Valerio cared for her. Kara turned and caught a quick glimpse of Reo.
What if Reo wasn’t as true and good as he was? Would she want to know or would she want to believe the lie? What if he died before she could be sure? Valerio had been Secundus at the time of his death—perhaps that had afforded her mother a small amount of safety? Maybe even then she’d been afraid for her life and the life of her son?
Giona Valendi had been saved by Reo, but other than Timo, the rest of Valerio’s children were dead, as were the children Santos had fathered before he was cursed into madness. Arabella had known the fate in store for young children left behind by a powerful Mage.
Kara would do anything in her power to save her own children—but could she tell herself lies so often that she came to believe them? Had that been her mother’s choice?
Finally, the boat passed through the first magical defence that surrounded Old Rillidi—a line of dove-gray mage mist. Giona would know that they’d returned.
He met them at the dock.
Reo tucked the boat in close, and Kara scrambled out of it, taking Giona’s outstretched hand.
“You’re all here?” Giona asked.
“No,” Kara replied. “Mole is trying to follow Timo’s trail. We were told he was helped off Mage Guild Island.”
“Come,” Santos said once he’d joined them on the dock. “There is much to discuss but I need to sit somewhere warm. I’m too old for this.” He headed off towards the house with Giona.
Kara waited until Reo had tied the boat up and joined her on the dock before she collapsed into his arms. He held her in silence for a few moments but finally she eased away enough to meet his gaze.
“I am sorry about your mother,” Reo said simply.
“Thank you,” Kara said. She sighed and looked towards the house. She knew she had to go, had to meet with Santos and Giona and Reo to decide what their next steps were, but right now she had no energy.
“Mole will find him,” Reo said. “Or
we’ll
find him.”
“Then let’s find him,” she said. She stepped out of Reo’s embrace and led the way up the path to the manor house.
TIMO PEEKED OUT
the door. The corridor was silent and empty, as it had been for the past few hours, and he didn’t like it. It was early yet, but not too early on this part of the island for Servers to be up and about their duties despite the late night of Founders Day.
He eased the door closed and crawled back to the others. They were in yet another storage room, this time far enough away from the Guild Hall that they didn’t have to worry about Founders Day revellers.
“No one,” he said. “Not one single soul.”
“Good,” Yash said. “Let’s go. Maybe we can find something to eat.”
“No. I don’t like it,” Timo said.
“You’ve been saying that all night but you haven’t given us a good reason to stay here,” Yash said. “I say we go. Wuls?” His brother nodded, and Timo sighed.
The truth was that he didn’t have a good reason. All he had was an uneasy feeling that things weren’t right.
“All right,” Timo said. “We have to leave some time.” It was still early enough that they should be able to travel without being detected. If they lingered much longer they’d have to hope no one entered this storage room all day. “We’re not far from my mother’s house. We can get something to eat there and use one of her boats.”
“But I want to steal a boat,” Yash insisted. “That will help build my reputation.”
“Don’t worry,” Timo said. “We can’t afford to let my mother see us so we will be stealing a boat.”
“Good,” Yash asked. “I will be much admired.”
They’d only travelled a few minutes when they heard people talking. Timo waved a hand, and the blanket of mage mist that covered them thickened, keeping them invisible. The three of them silently crept along the wall—the sounds were coming from around the corner. Timo paused.
“He wants tea,” a woman said. “Very hot.”
“Yes, Donna, right away,” another woman replied.
“See that it
is
right away,” the first woman said. “He has less patience today then yesterday.”
“Yes, Donna.”
Footsteps retreated down the hall, and Timo leaned around the corner. A woman stood with her back to him, her hands on her hips as she watched a Server disappear through a doorway. The woman turned, and Timo sucked in a breath. Barra Eska! What was she doing here? They were a long way from Inigo’s quarters. Frowning, Barra swept past him, and Timo realised that it was
after
Founders Day. She would have a new placement, just as he was supposed to.
Without thinking, he dropped his concealment spell and stepped towards her.
“Barra,” he whispered. He motioned behind his back for Yash and Wuls to remain where they were. Barra turned. Her mouth dropped open, and her blues eyes widened.
“Timo,” she said. “Where have you been?”
“It’s better if I don’t tell you,” Timo said. “Do you know if my mother is at home?”
“Your mother?” Barra asked. She closed her mouth and studied him for a moment. “She’s not at home,” Barra said. “Why?”
“I can’t let her see me,” Timo said. “She thinks I’m already gone.” He met Barra’s cool gaze. “You won’t tell anyone, will you?”
“Me? Who would I tell?” Barra said.
“Did you see her at Founders Day?” Timo asked. “Is she Primus?”
“My new master forbade me from attending,” Barra replied. “Most Journeymen and Apprentices were told not to go.”
“Why . . . ?” Timo stopped. It didn’t really matter to him who was at Founders Day—he was a Guild runaway. “Just don’t tell anyone you saw me.”
“I need to go,” Barra said. “I need to make a good impression.” She looked away. “You know how it is.”
“Sure,” Timo replied, but she was already through a door. He muttered his invisibility spell and hurried back to Yash and Wuls.
“Why did you talk to her?” Yash said.
He was angry, and Timo couldn’t blame him. The feeling that something wasn’t quite right returned in full force.