Page 106 of Grave Situation

“Unfortunately, the attacks don’t seem to be localized by region. We’ve heard from mages and monarchs in every country, and we expect to hear of more incidents now that they’ve briefed their commanders.”He hesitates.“The councils have decided we can’t wait. We might not be facing armies on a battlefield, but we must deploy mages and dragons to assist.”

I swallow hard. Dragons aren’t precision weapons—point them to a massed army and let them loose, and you’reguaranteed victory, but against small guerilla groups in hiding? As we’ve discovered on this journey, they have limitations.

Leicht huffs in offense, but I don’t need his input right now.“How have they decided to do it?”

“We’re pairing mages and dragon riders,”Master replies.“The hope is that in doing so, we’ll be able to cover any eventuality. The pairs—and dragons—will be assigned to scout teams in each country.”

That’s sensible enough and will reduce the risk to the soldiers doing the scouting.“If we see anything that might be helpful, I’ll let you know immediately,”I promise.“It worries me that there are so many zombies already—and that they’re takingallthe bodies of those they kill. How many necromancers do they have, that they’re able to raise so many dead?”Worse, how long have they been doing this without our knowledge?

“It worries me also. Each of those necromancers is a mage I likely have met at least once in the past forty years of my time here. It disturbs me that even one of those would do something like this, much less more.”

That hadn’t even occurred to me, but of course Master probably knows the necromancers by sight and name, if nothing else. He’s been at the academy for a long time.

“Talon.”

I brace myself. He’s rarely reticent about telling me anything.“Yes?”

“It’s been decided that the first years will be sent out with some of the more battle-experienced masters to provide support.”

For a long second, I feel like I can’t breathe, and Jaimin turns sharply in his saddle. “Talon?”

“I’m okay,” I assure him, though I’m not sure how true it is. He studies me, his lips tight, but then turns back to his conversation with Arimen.

“I suppose I should have expected it,”I reply to Master.“I hoped they’d be kept in reserve, though. Couldn’t they have sent the older students?”

“All the students are going,”he informs me, causing a ripple of shock. The reports must be even worse than he made out for even the students to be sent. There are a lot of mages at the academy and around the continent.“It was a topic of hot debate, but ultimately, we decided it wasn’t right to risk the soldiers against an enemy they cannot defeat without weighting the odds in their favor.”

I understand that logic. I can even respect it. But my very being objects to the idea of my students having to face a zombie. They’re so young. They’re not ready. I swallow hard.“I suppose I just have to hope Preet managed to drill enough common sense into them. Who argued against? Master Eldridge?”

“Yes, and Master Cranch and I. A few others sided with us initially but changed their minds. Surprisingly, the most fervent dissenter was Leng.”

I blink, scrabbling to comprehend.“Master Leng, the prophetic scholar? The one whose theory was proved right?”

“No, that was Gao,”Master corrects.“Leng’s the one whose theory was wrong. He thought the stone itself would be the champion.”

A lot of that meeting is a blur in my memory, due to the moment when the stone announced I was going on a ride across the continent.“Regardless, I wouldn’t have expected him to be fervent about student safety.”

Master makes a mental sound of agreement.“It surprised us all. In the end, it didn’t matter—we were outvoted.”

I take a moment to pray to any of the gods who might be listening that my students will be safe. I can’t protect them myself, but if the gods have any mercy, they will.“You did what you could. This will give them maturity if nothing else,”I add,trying to look on the bright side.“Thank you for the update, Master.”

“Have you… spoken with Arimen yet?”I sense Master’s hesitation and try not to sigh.

“He knows about the zombies. I showed him the stone, and he had some kind of religious experience. It was a little disturbing, but I think as long as we’re doing what the stone wants—which is our intention—he’ll happily follow along.”

“That’s good. But… has he said anything more about his time with the priesthood?”

“Not anything more than what you heard yesterday. Why? What did you see when you flew over the ‘sanctuary’?”

Master makes a mental noise of disgust.“It’s a full compound. Not a temple at all. There’s a godsdamned farm attached, Talon, and not a village for miles. I may not be a priest, but even I know a place like that goes against the teachings of all our gods.”

It does. How can priests minister to the spiritual needs of others if they’re isolated, surrounded only by other priests? Even those who dedicate their lives to learning and study have the additional duty ofteaching. Our gods once lived amongst us, and they expected the same of their servants. Their credo was always that one could never understand the needs of others if one lived apart.

“Did the dragons see anything that might be significant?”I don’t know what the purpose of this sanctuary can be.

“We’re not sure. The riders are having detailed maps drawn up for examination. It’s possible something that we thought was inconsequential will have meaning for someone else.”

My head starts to ache. This isn’t a distraction I need, but considering I have an acolyte from the damned sanctuary riding six feet behind me, telling Jaimin animatedly how nice it is thatwinters here are so much shorter than in the Isles, it’s been dumped in my lap.

---