Page 50 of The Iron Dagger
Hara grasped for the unfamiliar term she’d heard the Recruiters use. “What are your inclinations?”
“Befuddlement and animal linguist, with a Shapeshifting specialty,” Tamsin said. “If you need to communicate with animals, come to me.”
“And the other man . . . the tall one?” asked Hara.
“Dominic? He’s a curse-breaker. He didn’t even need any other inclinations because he’s so useful.”
“Are there any other Recruiters?”
“Yes, there are ten of us in all, but the others are spread throughout the realm at permanent stations,” said Tamsin. “I’ve been in this position for six years and I’ve only seen the others a few times, so I’m glad you’re joining us here at court. It will be nice to have another woman around.”
It made Hara uneasy to imagine seven hunters lurking around the mountains, ready to turn in any witch who was not serving Corvus. A twinge of homesickness touched her, and not for the first time, she wondered if it was wise to leave behind the safety of her village.
They stopped by some rooms that held spare uniforms, harnesses, holsters, vials, and all manner of items a Recruiter might need in their line of work. There were a whole host of wicked-looking iron instruments kept in sealed glass displays.
“One of the Recruiters has a ward inclination, so he set up wards around the palace, including these rooms. We know instantly if there are any intruders.”
Tamsin showed her into a larger room that resembled a cross between a scullery and a dining room. Two women sat at the end of a long table with steaming cups before them. One of the women was squat and elderly, worry lines permanently etched between her brows. The other was young and had jet-black hair that fell like a satin curtain down her back.
“This is the canteen. We all take our meals here,” said Tamsin. She did not elaborate, and Hara guessed it was because magic people were not welcome to dine with the other inhabitants of the palace.
“We share this space with the R-and-D group. Good morning, Lady Sarai, Melietta,” she said, nodding to the dark-haired woman and the elderly woman in turn.
The two women turned to murmur greetings, and Hara was taken aback.
Sarai was the most beautiful woman she had ever seen. Her black, almond shaped eyes arrested Hara with dark confidence. Tawny freckles formed a delicate constellation over her cheekbones. Somehow, her perfect posture even made her shapeless robes look elegant.
“How do you do?” said Hara, nodding to each of them.
“Hara has joined as a new Recruiter,” said Tamsin.
Polite interest touched the womens’ faces.
“Lady Sarai is the head researcher for earth sciences and Melietta is her partnered sorcerer,” said Tamsin. At Hara’s curious look, she added, “Some researchers are paired with a sorcerer to help them in their work.”
“Oh,” said Hara. She smiled politely at Melietta. “I’m happy to meet another witch. What is your inclination?”
“Magnetic metals. I can create them and act as a magnet myself,” said the old woman, taking a sip of her hot drink. The woman’s hands were warped and rough with dried blisters, as though she had been burned and healed many times.
“And you?” Sarai asked Hara.
“I am a Seer and a healer,” said Hara.
“Ah, Turnswallow must love that.” Sarai sighed. “But I keep hoping an alchemist will show up one day. It would make my job so much easier.”
Hara gave a nervous laugh, perhaps a little too loudly. “What are you working on?”
“Right now, I am trying to create metals synthetically so that mining can be made obsolete,” said Sarai, bringing her cupto her lips and watching Hara over the rim. It seemed as though she was bracing herself for Hara’s reaction.
“How fascinating,” said Hara, hoping that her tone was one of polite interest and nothing more. “Are you close?”
“Well, we’ve found a way to grow magnetic metals. The problem is we need to test it on precious metals, and I’m not able to get my hands on them.”
Hara could see why. Who would be willing to sacrifice the yield from their gold mines for research? Especially research that could put them out of business. She sensed that this was something Sarai could spend hours talking about.
“I gather that this is a sore spot.” she said.
Sarai gave a defeated sigh. “Is my frustration that obvious?”
