Page 50 of Twisted Magic

~16~

“I really don’t like the sound of sudden death,” Selly muttered to Jadren.

“The death part is metaphorical,” he muttered back. “At least, I hope it is.”

Selly wasn’t so hopeful. She didn’t like the look on Bogdan’s face. He knew he’d lost the match in spirit, even if they’d technically tied according to the letter of the deal. Jadren should’ve specified terms more clearly, but then they’d have needed some kind of arbitration for the subjective qualification of who’d done better wizardry. Still, she’d think that the vastly rearranged—and happily humming—House El-Adrel should be evidence enough for anyone that Jadren should head up both the tangible and intangible aspects of the house.

“Besides,” Jadren continued, squeezing her hand reassuringly, “Helen is clearly tapped out while you, my magnificent moonflower, still have deep reserves of magic.”

True, but Bogdan had to know that, too.

“I propose this,” Bogdan said, with a thin, triumphant smile that raised the hairs on the back of Selly’s neck. Oh, this was not good. “As we have demonstrated we are equal in making modifications to the house, as long as we have magic from our familiars, let us have a test of pure wizardry, to determine the better wizard. A contest without access to our familiars.”

He was clever, Selly had to give him that. “You should just red-mist him now,” she told Jadren unhappily.

“You have so little faith in me?” Jadren gave her a mock surprised look. They both knew he was close to tapped out himself, drawing on her magic more heavily in preparation. That, however, did nothing to address his physical exhaustion. He needed food and rest more than anything.

“I agree to your terms,” he told Bogdan, in a carrying voice, and Selly would’ve winced if that wouldn’t have been a giveaway of her trepidation. “However,” Jadren continued, sliding her his ‘oh ye of little faith’ look, “for a fair and just test of our true abilities, I propose we hold the duel tomorrow. After all,” he said sharply, as Bogdan opened his mouth to protest, “I already defeated one wizard in a duel today, Lady El-Adrel, herself. Can you say the same, Wizard Bogdan?”

Of course, he could not, and the assembly murmured in agreement. Taking in the mood of the room, Bogdan finally nodded, looking none too happy. Unfortunately, he wasn’t done being crafty. Selly saw it before he opened his mouth, his wizard-black gaze resting on her. “I agree to those terms and propose another. In the interests of ensuring that neither wizard can bend the rules by resorting to accessing their familiar’s magic once the duel begins, we agree that we each arrive at the duel with our familiars in alternate form.”

Selly nearly groaned aloud. They were doomed.

“Oh,” Bogdan said, making a show of chagrin. “Unless you’re not able to put your familiar in alternate form? Not all wizards possess the skill and everyone here knows you lack education in the more advanced techniques of wizardry.”

Jadren had gone still beside her. They both knew he couldn’t admit to lacking that ability, not and head a high house. The assembly watched them expectantly, the mood of the room clear. At last, Jadren nodded slowly. “Agreed. Now, let us adjourn to discover where our apartments have gone with all of this shifting about.”

Before Bogdan could reply, the assembly sent up a grateful cheer of approval, dispersing without further instruction.

“Well,” Selly said, “at least they’re already following your direction. They have accepted you as Lord El-Adrel.”

“They were just tired of standing around,” he replied drily. “And they missed lunch. Make no mistake that, if we turned up tomorrow with you still as human as ever, they’d turn their backs on us. They’d probably put me to death—or do their level best—and start squabbling over who gets you next.”

It took Selly a moment to process the import of his words. “If we turn up tomorrow?” She had enough presence of mind to keep her voice hushed, although the din of conversation, people exclaiming over alterations to the house, and general noise of a crowd all jostling to leave an enclosed space at once meant they were unlikely to be overheard. Despite Jadren’s suggestion, it seemed many of the El-Adrel denizens headed, not deeper into the house, but toward the various gardens and courtyards now available to them. Maybe Selly wasn’t the only one who’d tired of looking at walls all the time.

“Obviously, we have to leave,” Jadren replied with exasperation. “Everyone will be distracted with the changes to the house, so it’s the perfect time to escape.”

“Escape!”

“Shh. Not so loud. Let’s discuss in our apartments. We need to get our stuff anyway.”

Keeping her mouth shut, and assembling her quiver of arguments for when they were in private, Selly went along with Jadren. For the time being, at least. He also held her hand—not hard, but firmly enough that she knew he intended to keep ahold of her—so she had little choice but to stroll by his side, pretending to be a sweetly obedient familiar. Had Jadren brought her bow and arrows? She could still shoot him. Again.

It took a while to make their way out of the great hall, as many people stopped him for a word or two. Some only offered greetings, but most seemed to have agendas, thinly cloaked or otherwise, with suggestions, complaints, and vague offers of support in exchange for unnamed future dispensations.

Finally they broke free into a wide, graceful hallway that hadn’t been there before. Jadren looked up and down it, judging the best direction, and Selly pointed. A glittering trail of dancing moons streamed over the tiles going off to the left. Jadren snorted in disgust. “Why does she always pick you? Clearly you are the one she likes.” And he set off in that direction.

“I’m sure it’s just that lightning bolts would be confusing,” Selly replied lightly. “Look—she’s using other ways to direct people.”

“How helpful of her,” Jadren grumbled cynically. “Probably this is all some elaborate plan to devour us all.”

A window shutter beside them flapped in annoyance and a life-sized painting of a woman—apparently some El-Adrel ancestor with elaborate robes and wizard-black eyes—briefly scowled at them and stuck out her tongue.

“Yeah,” Jadren shot back, scowling at the painting and making a rude gesture, though a laugh threaded through his voice. “Back at you, sweetheart.”

They made it back to their apartments, still apparently high atop a tower, overlooking a much-changed view. Selly didn’t have time to take it in, as Jadren let go of her hand as soon as the doors closed behind them, saying, “Quick. Get your things together. The sooner we go, the better.”

She sat down and folded her arms. “I think we should stay.”

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