Page 47 of A Blade of Death and Magic

“How did you find me when I wasn’t at the hospital? I assume Silver sent you after I told him what was here?” I asked.

Chance held up a little braid of my hair. “Scryed you. With this, I could get through their wards.”

“I can open the way to Kalderon for you,” said Chance. “Do you have a message for the Dumonts?”

I’d be going home. Without Walker. Happiness and longing see-sawed in me. I wanted to see the hills again, but I didn’t want to leave him. “Tell them to meet me in Sensen. I’ll give them three days to bring Dmitri to me.”

The threat of what would happen if they weren’t allowed to bring Dmitri hung in the air unspoken.

Chance walked over, hugged me, and kissed me on the forehead. “You stayed.”

The hope and gladness had worked closer to the surface in him, but were still buried under suspicion. Chance was not an optimist when it came to human nature. He’d probably bet the lure of power would be too strong for me to resist.

“I cooked Cohen’s brother.” I smiled, wide and glad. “Did you notice?”

“That’s going to be an eyes-only report,” said Silver, behind me. I jumped and nearly tripped on rubble. He was too damn quiet on his feet. “I got your call for help, Rope, but teleportation and the road were blocked until the mage-Ridden died. Each of us came as close as we could. I’m sorry we weren’t here to help, Alys.”

I took another step back, clasping my hands in front of me. Thunder rumbled in the skies; lightning struck in the lake. I frowned. I’d tried not to call it.

“It won’t go well if you try to drag me back,” I said, keeping my voice uninflected.

“That’s plain, Alys.” He regarded me, his eyes grave. I didn’t want to feel the wave of compassion, determination, and regret that steamed off him.

Three other minds appeared on the periphery of my awareness.

One was Tuuli, distant.

Much closer were two unfamiliar minds, though much like Silver’s and Walker’s in power. Both old and strong, with their power raised, ready to react to any violence.

“While I’m on Guild soil, I’ll follow Guild law,” I said.

Flint approached from the right. He wore a well-worn tech jacket over homespun.

Eyeing him warily, I nodded. He’d been the one who suggested death. But he’d also guarded Dmitri. And he’d only known I was a killer when he voted for death. Free, I had a different perspective on that day. I’d wait to see what happened, since the Judges appeared to be converging on this place.

“Does that mean if you’re on a ladder, you don’t have to obey the law?” Flint appeared amused.

Though my wariness didn’t fade, I laughed. “Or flying.”

Strangely, unlike Joan, he’d relaxed his grip on power from attack-ready to defense-ready.

The other mind did so as well. She was close enough that I could see her physically now. The server from the Ball climbed over rubble to approach us from the left. She wore a different uniform this time, regular military, though her long straight dark hair fell loose behind her. No stone shone on her forehead, but twin diamonds she wore on a thin chain burned with dull white fire between her breasts. “Who are you?” I asked, staring at her. “How did you get here?”

“I’m Rue. I took the Road as close as I could get to here and I’ve been hiking since, until the block on travel dropped. Then I ‘ported here. Thank you. Discovering this saved many lives.”

A Judge knew how to thank someone. Who knew?

I was consciously keeping my emotions as calm and even as I could, since knowing they were all here brought memories of that day back. They hadn’t made an aggressive move, though, and I had Walker on my side this time. And, oddly, I thought Silver, too.

“You understand it’s dangerous for all of you as well as me until I get this under control. Are you going to try to prevent my son from being brought to me? Can you refuse if the legislature orders it?”

“Depends on if they even find out before it’s a done deal,” said Rue. “When he’s returned, are you going to hold a grudge about how you were treated? Attack the Guild later?”

A good question. I looked up at the racing clouds. “I don’t know. Maybe. It depends on if your government tries to keep my son. For the rest, I’m willing to let the past lie. Except for the long talk I’m going to have with Walker, to which none of you are invited.”

Strong sensations of relief from her and Flint. Approval from Silver. Even with them obviously trying to shield their emotions, I felt it.

I had more important matters to deal with than fighting with them. Like learning not to call lightning, thunder, and rain every time my emotional state changed, and learning how to block out other people's thoughts and emotions.

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