Spy Glass

20

“HOW DID YOU KNOW?” FISK ASKED.

“When you said they lived close to the Jewelrose border, I guessed. I’ve been to their compound.” A stark, dreary place.

“Why?”

I told him about Quinn.

“You saved another magician from flameout?”

“No. He managed to gain control of his powers, but Quinn wanted to stay so we left him there. We didn’t have much choice. They weren’t doing anything illegal.”

Fisk considered. “Where is their compound?”

On the tip of the Lion’s Claw Peninsula, but I wouldn’t tell Fisk. He tried to hide his interest behind a casual question. “Do not send any of your guild members to spy on them. Don’t even pretend you weren’t thinking it.” I waggled a finger at him.

He conceded defeat. “Your observation skills have improved, as well. Who’s been teaching you?”

“A friend,” I hedged. I wasn’t ready to tell him about Valek’s training.

“What about these Bloodroses?”

What indeed? “I’ll look into it.” I expected a dubious look or for him to question me on how I planned to investigate.

Instead, he nodded. “Good. Let me know what you find out.”

I smiled at his bossy tone. “Do I get a necklace, then?”

“You like those?”

“They’re pretty.”

“Unfortunately, they were necessary. This other group is becoming a problem.”

“Do you need help with them?”

“No. This is my world, Opal. I need to deal with them.”

I almost reached out to him. He should be dealing with the problems of being a teenager—girls, raging hormones, schoolwork—not rival gangs and a monopoly grab. “Fisk, when you have a few free days, find me. I have another job for you.”

“Sounds intriguing. But it might be a couple months before I have the time.”

“That’s fine.”

We exited the alley. As we searched for Reema and Amberle, Fisk glanced sideways at me. “You’re not going to tell me anything about this new job, are you?”

“Nope.”

“It’s not payback for that ambush I organized, is it?”

“Nope. Don’t worry, you’ll enjoy it.” I suppressed a grin. I planned to send him on a vacation. Probably the first for him.

We found the girls sitting at one of the tables outside Barb’s Bakery. Crumbs littered the table and cinnamon sugar clung to Reema’s chin. Packages surrounded them. When the girls spotted us, Reema jumped to her feet and shot Fisk a terrified glare. Keeping his distance, Fisk waved goodbye.

After arranging for the packages to be delivered to the Keep and to my apartment, I paid Amberle for her help. Reema kept pace with me as we followed the procession of boys to my apartment building. Once there, I gave each boy a copper. They thanked me and hurried off. As they raced down the street, calls of “you’re it” and “am not” echoed. I smiled, but Reema frowned at them.

She helped me carry the bags up to the third floor. I unpacked and put my purchases away as Reema walked around the rooms. When I finished, I found her standing by the window in my bedroom. Her hair shone in the sunlight. I joined her. The Keep’s tall towers dominated the view.

She turned and gestured to the room. “Are you rich?”

Reviewing our shopping trip, I shouldn’t be surprised by her question. I debated. Naked truth versus it’s-none-of-your-business. “Yep.” I braced for her follow-up question and she didn’t disappoint me.

“Then why can’t I stay with you? You can afford it.”

I knelt down so I was eye level. “I may have to leave suddenly for a season or more at a time.”

“So? Hire a babysitter.” She put her hands on her hips.

A touch of magic brushed my face.

“Didn’t think of that, did you?” She dared me to correct her.

I hadn’t considered a sitter, but what concerned me more was the magic. Either a magician hid in my apartment or the power came from Reema.

“How did you know what I’d been thinking?” I asked.

She wilted a bit. “I guessed. I’m good at guessing people’s moods, but you’re the hardest person to read! Did you win all your money from playing poker?”

I laughed. “I wish.” If she was already displaying power at age ten, then she could be a powerful magician like her brother. I needed to talk to Irys.

“Then how did you get rich?”

“Another long and complicated story. One I’m still trying to figure out. It’s why I can’t make any plans for the future.”

“Then stop hanging around with me and go sort it out. I’ll wait.”

I peered at her. “Are you sure you’re not older?”

“My mother hated indecision. She told us she always let others decide for her until she became pregnant with me. She didn’t want us to be punished for her mistakes, so she took Teegan and ran away.”

Now I understood. “That’s why you won’t tell me your clan name. You’re afraid of them.”

“Mother made us promise to never tell anyone.”

“And you should always listen to your mother,” I said. “Do you?”

“No.”

“And?”

“Mixed results.”

She giggled, but then turned serious. “What would your mother say about your complicated future?”

“She’d tell me to stop procrastinating.”

“You should listen to your mother,” Reema said.

Easy to say, so hard to do.

“Come in, Opal,” Irys called before I could knock on her office door.

“How did you know I was there?” I asked as I entered.

She sat on the front edge of her desk. Her hair had been swept up and she wore a green tunic and pants. “Didn’t you feel my magic?”

“In the Keep, I’m always encountering magic. This place is saturated with it.” In fact, a bright bubble of it pressed on me at the moment.

“When you approached my door, I felt the…absence of magic, which tells me either you or Valek are in the hallway. Since Valek was last seen in Mica…” She swept her hands out as if to say “ta da!”

“Do you need something?”

“I wanted to talk about Reema.” I explained about her power.

“Interesting. We’ve been so focused on the boy. Are you sure? She hasn’t reached puberty yet.”

“And how many times have we discovered a new wrinkle with magic?” Both good and bad. “Good point.”

“Can you test her?”

“Of course.” She laced her fingers together. “Anything else?”

The magic in the room pulsed, but I sensed it came from behind the Master Magician. “What are you hiding?” I asked.

She sighed. “Something we were debating about telling you, but you’d find out eventually anyway.”

Irys stepped to the side, revealing an orb. Magic oozed from it.

“What is it?” I asked.

“You tell me. Go ahead, pick it up.”

Upon closer inspection, it wasn’t an orb. Orbs were bigger, and either hollow or filled with a storm’s energy. This was a solid cube of clear glass. I hefted the palm-sized object. Trapped inside was a dark thumbnail-sized substance shaped like a drop of water. “The magic is coming from inside.” The shock of recognition hit me like a bolt through my chest. My legs turned to mush, and I handed Irys the glass before I dropped it. “Is it…?”

“Yes,” she said in a gentle tone. “It works just like your glass messengers. Sit down.”

I perched on an invisible chair. My peripheral vision had shrunk to encompass only that single item in Irys’s hands. “Who? Why?” Questions formed and popped.

“This came from Vasko Cloud Mist. He says his daughter invented it.”

“But Pazia has little magic.”

Irys tapped the sphere. “That’s not Pazia’s magic in there. Vasko told us he found black diamonds in his mine.”

“Black?”

“Extremely rare. The Commander of Ixia has only found two in the Soul Mountains in twenty years of mining. Vasko says he mined dozens.”

The mention of diamonds triggered a memory of the time Pazia and I had tried to encase a regular diamond charged with magic in glass. It had worked as a super messenger, but the diamond had cracked after she used the magic.

I told her about the experiment.

She nodded as if that explained something. “These don’t crack after the magic is used, and they can be recharged and reused, which helps when you consider the cost.”

“Expensive?”

“Outrageous. Only a few people in Sitia will be able to afford them.”

I motioned for the cube. She handed it to me. I studied the dark tear-shape nestled inside. “It doesn’t have facets. Are you sure it’s a diamond?”

“Unless we dig it out, it’s hard to say for certain. But I can’t deny the magic it holds.”

No missing the power, but a sense of familiarity tugged at my heart.

“Besides, why would Vasko lie?” Irys asked.

Rich, powerful and well connected, Vasko didn’t need to lie.

Unless he purchased it on the black market.

Unless he paid Finn a ton of gold for it.

Unless it was my blood trapped inside.

Was it even possible? Valek had said blood magic was potent.

“Irys…” My voice cracked.

“What’s wrong?” She pressed a cool hand to my forehead. “Are you sick?”

“I need…” I leaned forward and drew in deep breaths. When the room no longer spun, I sat up. “Remember when I mentioned those wrinkles about magic.”

A stern gaze replaced her concern. “Go on.”

For a moment I transformed into a first-year student who had misbehaved, waiting for the Master Magician’s punishment. Nothing I could do, I confessed my suspicions about Vasko.

She said nothing.

The silence was unbearable, and I rushed to apologize for keeping her in the dark about my search for my blood. “…didn’t know he would use—”

“Opal, that is a serious accusation.”

“It’s a serious crime. He stole my only chance to get my powers back!” A devastating anger rumbled through me until I shook. I thought I had prepared myself for this possibility and had almost accepted it. Guess I lied to myself.

“Calm down, Opal. You don’t know that for certain. He only made a few messengers. Besides, someone else may have taken your blood.”

Unable to sit still, I surged to my feet and paced. She could be calm, standing there with all her powers intact. I slowed. It wasn’t her fault. I had been so close and then Finn had snatched it away. I needed for this to be over. Either I find my blood or it’s gone. End of story.

I mulled over our conversation. “You weren’t surprised I was searching for my blood. You knew?”

“Of course. Yelena kept me informed of your progress. Plus we had Zebb’s reports on your involvement with Councilor Moon.” She cocked her head to the side. “We would have been very happy if you had recovered your magic.”

“You and Bain or the Council?”

“You would have earned their trust…eventually. And you have a champion in Councilor Moon. She returned to the Citadel yesterday, and she’d like you to visit her. I would have told you sooner, but Vasko dropped this little bomb on us right after the Council meeting.”

“Does the Council know about the new messengers?”

“Not yet. Vasko wanted us to verify them first.”

I chewed on my bottom lip. Yet more information being withheld from the Council. “What happens if he is using my blood?”

“He would be arrested. However, what to do with the messengers will be problematic. If your blood is inside them, do we siphon it out? What happens if that doesn’t work? Or if you can’t recover your magic from your blood? Did he use all your blood? There will be a million questions to consider.”

“And the Council will argue over each and every one, taking forever.”

Irys frowned. “They are cautious. It’s an excellent trait.” She gave me a pointed look. “The Council works best when they have all the information. Bain and I will arrange to get a tour of Vasko’s messenger operation.”

“I should go. It’s my blood.”

“Undercover?”

I thought back to when Janco and I had been searching for Ulrick in Ognap. Janco considered sneaking into the ruby mines a challenge worthy of him. If I could get into Wirral, the mines shouldn’t be as hard. “I could steal into the mines on my own. But why go to all that trouble? Pazia and I are friends. How about I pay her a friendly visit?”

“Vasko’ll see right through that.”

I shrugged. “He probably expects you and Bain to investigate. It can be an open secret, but once I’m there, I can snoop around.”

She crinkled her forehead. “Vasko’s intelligent. He’ll ensure you don’t see anything out of the ordinary.”

“Vasko’s also overconfident. Right now he thinks I’m a washed-up magician with no prospects. Play it up. Hint that you asked me to visit Pazia out of pity. Tell him how devastated I was over these new messengers.” I paused as I realized that one wasn’t very far from the truth. “Make sure he knows you gave me this assignment to make me feel important. Ask him to indulge me. I’ll act the part and he’ll underestimate me.”

“You believe this ruse will work?”

“No doubts.”

While Irys arranged a meeting with Vasko, I prepared for my trip to Ognap. Reema was my biggest concern. Healer Hayes would discharge Teegan soon, and Irys had offered to train him until the new school year started at the beginning of the cooling season. The Citadel practically shut down during the hot season. The Keep’s students returned home and the Council dismissed for their annual recess.

Reema’s comments about hiring a sitter circled in my mind, but who could I hire? I was sure Fisk would know someone trustworthy, but Reema would be suspicious of anyone working for him.

The next morning, Irys stopped by my training session. She watched me spar a third-year student. I blocked his practice sword with my sais, hooked the sword with the hilt of my right sai and yanked it from his hands. Match over.

“Impressive,” Irys said.

“I couldn’t use that move on an apprentice,” I said. Or Sarn. The big brute would have unarmed me in seconds.

“But you would have used another tactic for an apprentice.”

“True.”

“You’ve gotten quite the reputation out here.” Irys gestured to the training yard. Students practiced drills and sparred each other. “Has anyone beaten you besides Captain Marrok and Sarn?”

I searched my memory. “No. But they’re students. I wouldn’t last long in a fight with Valek or Yelena.” Or Finn. Considering how short that list was, I straightened a bit.

“Then it’s a good thing they’re your friends. And, speaking of friends, Pazia is looking forward to your visit.”

“Great. When is Vasko leaving?”

“He isn’t. He has more business to attend to in the Citadel.” She met my gaze. “You were right about him. He’s very confident, but he could have good reason to be.”

“As my father would say, only one way to find out.”

“Make sure you visit Councilor Moon before you go. And take someone with you for backup, just in case,” Irys ordered. “How about Leif?”

“And listen to him moan about missing his new wife? No thanks. I’ll find someone else.” But Leif’s name triggered another question I had for Irys. “Do you remember a student who probably came through the Keep around the same time as Yelena, maybe with Leif?” I described Finn to Irys. “He’s powerful enough that I think he would have stood out among the class.”

She drummed her fingers on the wooden fence. “There were a number of strong students. And with Yelena taking all my attention I wasn’t as involved.”

“How about a graduate who didn’t stay and work for the Council? I couldn’t have been the only one to branch out on my own.”

“There have been a few. Vasko for one, his children and probably a bunch of his nieces and nephews. They’re all invested in the family business and too rich and powerful to work for the Council. And since they’re all so worried about their children being kidnapped, many of the kids came through here under different names.”

“But you knew about Pazia and now Walker.”

“The family informed the Master Magicians, but no one else. Pazia thought her father was paranoid and refused to go undercover. It’s the same with Walker. Although the boy is keeping a low profile. Unlike his sister.”

Except with me.

Irys continued, “I’ll go through the records while you’re gone. Maybe a name will jump out at me.”

I thanked her and hurried to the bathhouse.

After a quick bath, I headed to the glass workshop to talk to my sister. Mara worked in the mixing room. She poured sand onto a scale, weighing ingredients. Her loose golden curls had been pinned back from her face.

Mara finished measuring the different types of sand. She poured them into the drum mixer. The device resembled a wine barrel lying on its side. She spun the barrel a few times, then she added lime and soda ash—all the ingredients to make glass.

“New recipe?” I asked.

She startled then admonished me for sneaking up on her. “I brought a batch of Crimson sand back from our vacation. I’m hoping it produces a nice red-colored glass.”

“I’m surprised you left the cottage long enough to notice the sand. Unless the beach was softer than the bed?” I smirked.

She threw a towel at me. “Are you here for a reason or just to bug me?” Mara returned to the mixer and cranked the handle. As the barrel rolled, the metal fins inside blended the glass components together. The mixer rang like a steady rain on a metal roof.

“Actually I have a proposition for you?”

She stopped. “This ought to be good. And it better not involve Leif running off on some crazy mission with you.”

I held up my hands in surrender. “Leif stays.”

“But you’re leaving?”

“Yes, Irys needs me to look into something for her.”

“Something. How vague. Should I worry now, or when I get the message that you’re on the edge of dying and I should come?”

“It’s not like that. You sound like Mother.”

“No. Mother would tell you to slow down and think!” She tapped my temple with two fingers. “You do have a brain. I’ve seen you use it. Do you need me to introduce you to it?”

Wow. Her sarcasm was impressive and scary. “Marrying Leif has changed you. What happened to my sweet sister?”

“She was left home to worry and wait too many times.”

“This trip is not dangerous. I promise. I’ll be back by the hot season at the latest.”

She failed to look convinced. “And your proposition?”

“Would you and Leif like to stay in my apartment while I’m gone?”

“Are you worried someone would break in?”

“Ahhh…no. Remember when I told you about Teegan and his sister?”

She smoothed the apron over her skirt. “Opal, just spit it out.”

I asked her to watch Reema for me.

She opened her mouth, closed it and appeared to search for words.

“It’s just a couple weeks,” I rushed to explain. “When I get back, I’m going to find her a proper home. I just don’t have time right now.”

“I have to think about it and talk to Leif. In the meantime, please consider Mother’s advice.”

“Slow down and think?”

“Since you came back from Hubal, you’ve been different. I think you’ve lost your purpose, and are just dashing around looking for something to call your own. The factory in Fulgor, the apartment, Reema. Raising a child is a huge responsibility, you—”

“Forget it. I’ll find someone else.” I left the mixing room.

Mara knew nothing about my purpose. She didn’t understand. Couldn’t. On my way out, I almost ran into the first-year student I had helped.

Keelin jumped back. “Sorry.”

I waved her off. “My fault.”

“Opal, wait,” Keelin said.

I turned.

She handed me the dolphin I had made. “It’s pretty. You should display it.”

Absently, I glanced at it. “Thanks. How did your paperweight turn out?”

“Like a clump of dirt kicked up by a horse.” She laughed. “But you were right, my latest one is better. And I tried to make a dolphin, too.”

“Good for you. How did it look?”

“Not as sleek as yours and it didn’t flash, either.”

“Flash?”

Keelin pointed to the shelves filled with finished pieces from the annealing oven. “When anyone in here used magic, it would flash. I thought since you…you know…with the glass…that it was supposed…” Her voice petered out.

Odd. “Must have been a trick of the light.”

“You’re probably right.” A queasy relief shone on her face.

I hurried away. Out in the bright sunlight, I examined the dolphin. Nothing out of the ordinary. When I encountered a few pools of magic, nothing happened, just as I had suspected.

Stopping by the infirmary, I visited Teegan. Reema read to her brother. She held the book up to the lantern light. His room didn’t have a window. Teegan didn’t seem to mind the gloom. He listened to the story with his eyes closed anyway and a half smile on his lips. I waited for her to reach a break.

Magic touched my cheek.

“Fire Lady’s here,” Teegan said without opening his eyes.

“Your control has improved,” I said.

He peered at me with a sly smile. Impishness danced in his gray eyes.

“And you’re feeling much better, aren’t you?”

He sat up in his bed. “Yep!”

“Good. Now you can tell me why you call me Fire Lady.”

He glanced at the dolphin in my hand. “Did you bring me a present?”

“You’re trying to change the subject.”

“Can I see it?” He reached.

“Only if you answer my question.” Ha!

Holding a hand out, he said, “The dolphin will tell you.”

“Tee,” Reema warned. “Don’t.”

“Why not?”

She waggled her fingers as if communicating to him. He scratched his nose and tapped his shoulder.

Reema grunted in frustration. “She won’t believe you.”

Teegan smiled. “Seeing is believing.” He turned to me. “May I see your dolphin please?”

He played it just right, making me curious and hitting me with a polite request. I handed him the dolphin. He placed it on the table next to his bed. Folding his hands, he closed his eyes.

Magic spread from him. It was slow and in control. Impressive. When it reached the dolphin, the glass animal blazed with light. He pulled back and the glow died.

I grabbed the statue. “Do it again…please.”

The magic swelled, and the light returned. I handed it to Reema. “One more time.”

She squealed in delight when fire burst from the glass.

I met Teegan’s gaze. He said, “I call you the Fire Lady because you have magic trapped inside you and when you—”

“Teegan!” Reema jumped to her feet. “Be quiet!”

“Doesn’t matter now, Ree.” He swept an arm out. “We found a home.”

“You found a home. I’m still too young. And you’re going to scare her.”

“Has Master Jewelrose tested you?” I asked her.

She nodded. “I don’t have any magic.”

“Not that the Master can detect,” Teegan said. “I’d bet you a hunk of bread Fire Lady has felt it.”

“You’re guessing,” I said.

“So? I’m right. Aren’t I?”

“Teegan, that superior attitude won’t help you make friends at the Keep,” I admonished with a stern tone.

His arrogant manner remained. “Now you’re trying to change the subject. You felt Reema use magic, didn’t you?”

“I thought it was from her. But I could be wrong.”

“No, you weren’t wrong. The trapped magic burns inside you. You feel power. Even when it’s a tiny bit. Even when the person doesn’t even know she’s using it. When you touch magic, there’s a faint shimmer around you. A glow. You can’t see it. Reema and I can, but—”

“No one else. How convenient,” I said.

A sullen pout creased his face. “That’s right. We’re a couple of homeless street urchins. Why believe us?” He flopped on his pillow and turned his back on me.

His words slapped me in the face. It hadn’t been too long ago that I had fought to convince my friends and colleagues about an unbelievable twist of blood magic.

I sat on the edge of his bed. “I’m sorry. It’s hard for me to believe you because…” Did I really want to tell him and Reema? “I’m immune to magic. No power can be inside me. There’s nothing there.”

Teegan rolled over. “Then why did your dolphin blaze with light?”

“Your magic caused it to light up.”

“Exactly.”

“But I have nothing to do with that. It’s all you,” I said.

He hissed in frustration. “It’s both of us! You created the magic detector. I just supplied the magic to detect.”