Page 18 of A Blade of Air and Darkness

He turned away, toward the exterior view. Glass windows at the east and south of the room granted a view of rolling fields. Further down the road the river sparkled, willows trailing their branches into the water. New green growth close to the mansion marked areas where a recent project diverted a large portion of the waters from the small river to create a reflecting pool and canal system for pleasure gardens.

And the bog squelched around the city’s outskirts.

“Yes, yes, that must be it. We have a greater issue currently.”

I stood, hands loosely clasped behind my back, occupying my mind with a variety of ways to stab him while I waited for him to get to the point. I knew what my brief said; I wanted to know what he wanted from my mission.

“What is your rank in the Art?” He spoke to the window.

Suppressing a sigh, I answered, “I have none.” My uncle, Ethan, had never been able to train me in magic to a level where I achieved any rank, even apprentice. Although I loved that he tried. In all ways, the man was like a second father to me, showing me patience and kindness even when nobody else did.

I just wished that I was able to live up to his hopes. Not that this was the time for thoughts about him, far from it, I needed to be focused for what was about to happen.

He wheeled, his eyes angry. Silence stretched, intended to make me feel chastened by looming disapproval. “Then why were you sent?”

“The Judge doesn’t explain his decisions to me; I assume he thought I was your best solution.”

His face reddened. A stroke would work. If I hadn’t been starving and aching in every part of my body from the journey, I would have enjoyed the moment more.

The gem spat light at me, a cheap trick. I swallowed a laugh.

“Something is flooding all the fields in this section of the county. Two worker children Outside sighted an unknown creature three days ago. Go to them, find the problem, and fix it as rapidly as you can. Dismissed.” He walked to his desk, ceasing to acknowledge my presence.

Okay then, I guess that was it for now, but this wasfarfrom over.

ChapterSeven

ALYS

Once in the hall again, I looked for the back stairs. The smell of cooking made me smile when I opened the door; the kitchen was located at the end of the stairs. On the counter lay a tray of sandwiches being assembled. This was a rich household, and the sandwiches had sliced cow meat and cheese. With leaf lettuce and tomatoes this early in the season! My mouth watered.

A harried-looking dark-haired woman ran over to me, shaking her head.

“We can’t,” she said softly, avoiding my eyes.

The Administrator must have sent orders that I be refused hospitality. It was his right. I nodded to her and turned for the door.

She bumped into me as she walked away. My pocket was heavier. I waited until I was outside the building before pulling out the wrapped peanut butter sandwich and wolfing it down. I took out the LawBook; it had connected to the infonet within Durgion. I sent my report on possible tax shenanigans to Silver, knowing that the complaints from Anna and my observations would be enough to trigger an audit. It would take a while to come through, so I’d still have a chance at Greene.

The main road leading toward the river passed a grassy open area. The velvet green framed a number of sculptures made from a variety of substances. I paused at the first display, a tentacled creature made of glass, which blended droplets all the colors of the sea, the watery sunshine caressing it like a mother with a favored child. The contents of many of the surviving museums had been moved to the cities, where they were protected and appreciated, and I’d seen some art in Kalderon, but not displayed like this.

Raucous laughter broke the moment. A group of teenagers approached, all begemmed and dressed to impress. Packs of upper-class brats toured the cities, allegedly learning about them so they could better supervise the Administrators later. In reality, the Administrators let them get away with anything short of murder, in exchange for future favors in Capitol.

“…could brighten it up!” A loud whisper hissed across the distance, from a bare-chested young man, wearing vast silky pants held up by silver-linked suspenders. A painful-looking outbreak of acne covered his cheeks. A green gem gleamed on his forehead.

A device clenched in his fist glittered blue and red. From its shape, I guessed it to be a shrieker, a self-defense weapon that was common since it only stunned. With modification, it could deliver a beam of sound that shattered stone. That function used the entire battery reserve, but you didn’t need much more after deploying it.

Its presence near glass didn’t bode well. They’d damage it to show how edgy and uncaring they were of public opinion. Vandalism had become a pastime for those too young to hold office, but old enough to roam without a handler.

I didn’t want to provide an alternative target, but the glass was so pretty. I turned to regard them, placing myself between the crowd and the sculpture.

The golden-haired young woman who seemed their leader flicked her hand impatiently. “Ellis. Really? I thought you were saving that for the party tonight. You don’t want to set it off prematurely, do you?” Delicate scorn skittered in her well-modulated voice. I wasn’t familiar with the gm she wore; it was a milky green rather than an emerald.

He paused, a flush spreading across his face.

“Ooooh! An Indentured! See the onyx?” A rail-thin girl with dark blonde hair, younger than the rest, squealed. “Watch this!”

When the rest sighted me, an unwelcome tangle of emotion spooled out: excitement, boredom, misery and a cold hard presence, wary and contemptuous, inhuman in texture. I couldn’t sort out which teenager it was without touching them, and that was unlikely to be permitted.

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