Page 12 of Reborn

A defiant snort came from the open window to where Colbolt was standing.

“Fiveof us,” Melina added, correcting herself. “There’s no way we get into that castle without being detected, and there’s probably no way we get past all the swords that’ll be standing between us and the Queen.

“She’s right. You don’t justwalkinto Windhelm these days,” Gullie said.

“You don’t?” I asked.

She shook her head. “There are swords posted at both sides of the bridge. They scan every carriage that goes in and out, traders need special papers to get through… it’s bad.”

“I had no idea.”

“There’s also the matter that… well,” Melina paused, “We’re not exactlyarmed. Even if we wanted to get in using force, what are we supposed to do against fully armed and armored guards? I’m happy to hurl harsh language at them, but I’m not sure that’ll get the four of us very far.”

Another annoyed snort from the window.

“Sorry,five,” Melina added.

“We have magic, right?” I asked, “I can already feel mine moving through me again. That should give us an edge.”

“The guards’ shields give them protection against magic. It was one of Malys’ first commandments. She rounded up as many spellcasters as she could find, had them brought to Windhelm, and put them to work.”

“Whether they liked it or not…” Gullie added.

Melina nodded. “We have to assume our magic will just be a nuisance to them more than anything else.”

I stared at my empty plate and exhaled. “This is looking more and more hopeless by the minute,” I said. “There has to be something we can do, though.”

“At the risk of sounding like I condone the idea of hurting otherwise innocent people,” said Valerian, “I may have… something… that can help.”

I frowned at him. “What’s that?”

Valerian stood, flexed his right hand, and reached out across from him. For a moment I wasn’t sure what he was doing, but then I remembered. Gullie and Melina watched as Valerian’s arm began to disappear, fingers first. He seemed to be rummaging around somewhere, a concentrated look on his face.

When he pulled his arm back, he had a sword gripped in his hand.

Melina shot to her feet. “What!” she shrieked. “How did you do that?”

Valerian grinned as he examined the blade in his hand. “It’s still there,” he said, almost like he was muttering to himself.

“Your safehouse,” I said, “In Lysa, right?”

Valerian nodded. “I didn’t think I’d be able to reach it.”

“Wait a second,” Gullie said, “Explain to me what’s happening here.”

“I think it’s best if I just show you,” Valerian said, and after he set the sword down on the table, he stuck his hand back into the ether, where it disappeared again. His eyebrows furrowed while he worked, his eyes narrowing. When he retrieved his arm this time, it came back with a suit of what looked like black leather armor with bits of metal at the shoulders and chest.

He set that down on the ground, then reached into nothing again where he began to produce weapons.: daggers, axes, a polearm, more armor. Gullie and Melina seemed to have absolutely no idea how he was doing what he was doing. I didn’t either, but I also didn’t question it. I just watched, astonished, and impressed.

“That should probably do it,” he said, after pulling out a second sword.

In minutes we had gone from having no weapons, to standing in front of a veritable armory. “Holy shit,” I said.

“Language!” Gullie snapped. “It is impressive, though. How did you do that?”

“It’s a simple spell,” Valerian said, “One that allows me to retrieve items I keep in a safehouse in Lysa. I was afraid it had been compromised, but it’s all still there.”

“Can you only retrieve stuff through it?” asked Melina.

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