Page 47 of Of Blood and Fire
“We have,” I said. “That’s how we know they come from the northeast.”
“Yes, but your methods were no doubt a lot cruder than what we could employ here,” she said. “A mind cipher could pluck details from a prisoner no matter how uncooperative he otherwise is, simply by being in his mind when questions were asked.”
“Mind ciphering is dangerous,” Garran commented.
“Any magic that allows one mind to slip into another is dangerous,” I said. “There are more than a few tales of animal stregas becoming forever mind lost and broken by going too deep.”
“Which is why all ciphers have an empiric on hand to ensure safe retrieval if things go wrong,” Neera said.
Empiric basically being a fancy name for a man or woman magically connected to the cipher who could pull him out if his mind became too enmeshed with that of his subject.
“What are the chances of you getting a rider alive?” Garran asked me.
“Zero to none. Drakkons don’t believe in captives.”
Can’t hurt if dead, Kaia commented.
“A point I really can’t argue with, given what they’ve gone through. But if the option arises, do try.”
Or not, Kaia said.
“Which brings us back to the rodent run,” Garran continued. “Have we a scouting team free to accompany our mage and Damon?”
“Kerryn’s group,” Jarin said. “They’ve worked with the prince?—”
“I’m no prince. Just call me Damon.”
“—before and are familiar with his magic and methods,” Jarin finished with a smile.
“Have them advised they will be moving out on foot in the morning.” Garran switched his gaze to me. “Can you leave the aerie without being spotted by either the Mareritt or the riders?”
“By the Mareritt, yes, but the riders have a watch station set up here”—I leaned forward and pointed to an area beyond the Beak—“and if it’s not fog bound, they will report our presence, given it’s rather hard to conceal six large drakkons.”
“Six?” Garran frowned. “I thought there were eight?”
“There are, but I’ll order Miri and Halka to remain here and do a sweep across the peaks in the morning, as usual. Hopefully that’ll stop the Mareritt thinking anything is out of the ordinary.”
“Can drakkons fly in foul weather?”
“Yes but?—”
“Jarin,” he said, “contact the air mages. Tell them I want the mother of all storms sitting on those peaks by dawn.”
“Thanks in advance, cousin, for making the morning flight an absolutely miserable one.”
“Better miserable than dead.” He motioned to the two of us. “Go get some rest. You both head out at dawn.”
“Can you send a message to Kele?” I asked. “Get her to roust the team for a pre-dawn journey up the mountain.”
Garran glanced at Neera, who immediately walked over to the nearest scribe tablet to send the message to the barrack commander. “Now, as I said, go rest.”
I saluted crisply, grinned at his pained expression, then turned and followed Damon from the room.
Once we were through the mess of people and desks, Damon caught my hand to pull me closer, then wrapped an arm around my waist as we walked up the stairs.
“You still stink,” I said, amused.
“I plan a bath.”
