The Gantean (Tales of Blood & Light Book 1) (21 page)

Ghilene took a seat beside Adrastos Galatien in the front row of seats. Laith watched her with a look of distaste. “Money can buy you anything, even a certificate from the Conservatoire, these days.” He snorted. “Barely half a year studying, and she’s got a magestone the size of her head.”

“She’s already a magitrix?”

Laith grimaced. “Can you believe it? Bribes—big ones, that’s the only explanation. Happens often with those with magical blood from the Ten Houses. Their families pay for a fast advancement.” He jutted his chin at Ghilene. “Look at her, fondling that stone like a novice acolyte. I hear she thinks she’s some kind of phenomenon, all because Costas showed an interest in her studies. I don’t care how talented you are, magic takes training, and half a year is not enough. Why, she’s barely of age; she can’t have more than sixteen summers. I trained for seven years. Costas only took an interest in her training for political reasons, to ensure alliances with Entila in this situation with the Ricknagels.”

A harpist strummed a few notes on her instrument, and silence fell. An entourage of Galatien mages in white robes entered, one carrying the crown, a thin circlet of gold adorned with a single cast gold flower. It looked ancient, as if it would crumble at a glance.

Like an Entilan ship cresting the Gantean horizon, Costas sailed down the white velvet path. Dried blossoms strewn by the spectators crunched beneath his feet. He paused a few paces from the throne, where a mage removed the heavy golden cloak so that Costas could sit. Another mage placed the crown upon Costas’s head.

Costas’s face shifted, lines deepening, edges emerging.

The Magarch, Lethemia’s most powerful man of magic, identified by the golden embroidery on his white hems, raised his staff. “By the power vested in me by your father, King Mydon I Galatien, I ask you, Costas Alexandros Galatien, dutiful son, blood of Amassis and Orothea: Will you rule this land and serve the people of Lethemia with your life?”

“With my life,” echoed Costas.

The lead mage nodded approvingly. “The Galatien House rules Lethemia for all. Let your light preserve the union of the provinces in these troubled times.” He turned away from Costas and addressed the row of nobles. “Come, Lethemians, bow before your king, who has pledged his life for you. Costas I Galatien.” The Magarch beckoned the delegates from the Ten Houses. They knelt before Costas until he raised each one with a kiss upon the cheek.

The harpist began a song, her voice floating above the murmur of speaking voices as people rose from heir seats and mingled. Laith and I wandered to a table with beverages.

“Will you take none?” he asked, as he took a generous sip of wine. “You’re missing out. They’ve brought out the best. You won’t find such wine anywhere else in Galantia these days, with the embargoes and rationing.” He held his glass up. “To our new king.”

Couples began to form for the ceremonial dance.

Laith asked, “Would you like to dance the Ballo with me?”

“I have Tiriq. I can’t dance with a baby.”

“Why not? The Ballo requires very little actual contact between partners,” he said with a grin. “And why can’t babies be the new court accessory?” He chuckled. “Pet birds are so passé.”

I let him pull me to the floor. Costas glowered at us as we began the steps to the music. I assumed we looked quite ridiculous with Tiriq bouncing happily on my hip and Laith’s swinging staff between us.

“I beg your pardon, Laith.” Costas approached. “I really must ask for this dance myself.”

Laith acceded with his wry smile, bowing.

“Why were you dancing with Laith Amar?” he demanded. “You should have waited for me.” He cast an annoyed glance at Tiriq as we faced each other and stepped through the six-pointed star Adrastos had shown me.

The glares of mages and courtiers burned my skin. Most of Costas’s advisors, I gathered, were not pleased with my presence here. “I didn’t think we should be so public,” I whispered. “You are already suspected by some of plotting Stesichore’s death. I think your advisors do not like or trust me. I thought it better to hang back and not draw attention.” I didn’t mention the added foolishness of him forcing me to wear Stesichore Ricknagel’s own gown, adding insult to injury for any who sympathized with House Rickangel.

“My advisors will do as I direct them to do. If I marry you, they will accept you.”

I shook my head. “Your father’s supporters will not accept me so readily. They believe I enchanted you. They saw me at the Brokering. They knew your father did not trust me.”

“Amatos! I don’t give a damn what they think! I’m the king now.”

“But look at your situation! Half of your country is rebelling. Now is not the time for a reckless move.”
Someone
needed to tell him to be sensible.

“And what about Tiriq?” he hissed even as he gently coaxed a hand through Tiriq’s black curls. “My son! Do you suggest I just ignore the blood of my body? I need my heir. We must marry for him as soon as possible.”

I recognized my own anxiety for what it was—fear of the hugeness of what he proposed. He meant to make me the Queen of Lethemia. How could little Leila the bird-girl from Gante be Queen of anything, much less a country? My heart thundered against my ribs.

“It’s what’s best for Tiriq. And Tianiq,” Costas urged. “You want them to be safe, don’t you?”

“Of course.”

“Then get the baby put to bed with his nurse and guards. My council will meet in the Council Hall momentarily. Join me there as soon as you can.”

C
ostas’s
council
had gathered by the time I arrived. He sat flanked by the Magarch and, I was dismayed to see, Ghilene Entila. Jaasir and Laith lurked off to the right, beside two more mages in white robes. Jaasir gave me a poisonous look as I moved past the long table. Several other men dressed in Galatien military uniforms completed the picture, including Allian Kercheve.

“I’m surprised to see you here!” said Allian. He patted my hand in a brotherly fashion as I took the seat beside him. How odd that I found his presence comforting.

“Where have you been?” I knew he had gone to Entila, but I hadn’t seen him since Costas returned.

“I rode to our troops at the base of the Savalias and went down past the barrier on reconnaissance.”

“And Ricknagel’s forces? Did you see them?”

“Fewer than expected. It will be a routing if we strike early and hard.” Allian’s confidence reassured me. My concerns centered on Galantia’s safety, and I hoped Atanurat, Tianiq, and the others had made it someplace safe and far from the war.

The Magarch clapped his hands for our attention. “Let us convene. General Ornichon, can you give us a briefing?”

One of the uniformed soldiers stood. “The barrier holds. Our troops are amassed behind it. We are twenty thousand strong now that the legions from Amar have arrived.” He nodded towards Laith and Jaasir Amar. “Ricknagel has twelve thousand troops camped between the barrier and the Eastern Savalias at our best count.”

Costas leaned back in his seat. “Allian, what did you hear from Powdin’s fleet in the Parting Sea?”

“The bulk of Ricknagel’s fleet remains in Anastaia. They send scouting boats past our coast regularly to observe our activities, though we have only the few Powdin vessels harbored there. We’ve been successful in individual kills of the scouts, but if we are to win at sea, we must mobilize the entirety of Amar and Entila’s fleets. The Galatien ships were decimated after the strange attacks on Murana and Anastaia.”

“Jaasir?” Costas asked. “Your fleet?”

“They’re waiting for orders in Orioneport.”

“What news of Talata?” Costas asked the Magarch, ticking off his enemies.

“Cavan Talata has increased numbers in his garrisons along the Rift River, but no activity suggests an imminent attack. He’s cool-headed, and he has no real argument with you. We’ve got an eye on the situation.”

Costas nodded. “Here is our plan then: we launch our attacks by sea and land at once. The sooner, the better. They will expect us to be disorganized after my father’s death. We’ll hit them, fast and hard; we can surround Ricknagel in eastern Galanth. He’ll be stuck between the barrier and the Savalias with nowhere to go when we reclaim Anastaia by sea. Allian, your ship?”

“Ready and waiting in Hemicylix. I’ll need a mage to replace Oruscani.”

Costas nodded. “You’ll have one.”

“I never liked Oruscani, the big blowhard,” Laith muttered from his end of the table. His brother quelled him with a look.

Costas snapped his fingers. “Magarch, an aether-sending, if you would, to the Amarian battlemage in Orioneport. Inform him of the
Tourmaline
’s imminent arrival. You are dismissed, Allian.”

Allian gave a brief bow before departing the table. The Magarch leaned over his magestone to execute Costas’s order. Laith and Jaasir bent their heads together.

“What about the Cedna of Gante and her magic, your Majesty?” Laith’s words created a murmur around the table. “The Galatien fleet did not suffer defeat at Anastaia by skill alone. Ricknagel enlisted magical help. That could be used against us again.”

“I have heard the rumors that Ricknagel and the Cedna are working together, but why would the Gantean Cedna involve herself in Ricknagel’s battles? What could a Gantean gain from that alliance?” Costas looked perplexed.

“I can’t speak to her motivations, but she’s working with him,” Laith persisted. “Given the nature of these storms, I do not doubt it. Who but the Ganteans use such bizarre magic?”

Jaasir said, “If they are to face down the Cedna, my ships need more magical support. They say she is very strong. Look what she managed at the Brokering.”

I trembled, thinking of the beast-woman cast from molten blackstone that had stolen my Tianiq.

“Not everyone is convinced that the Cedna of Gante orchestrated the Brokering attack.” The Magarch sent a grim look my way, as though to imply I was the attacker.

To my surprise, Laith came to my defense. “I was there, Magarch. I saw her, and it was the Cedna. You forget that the woman once lived in my father’s house. I’ve seen her before. I did not mistake her aetherlight.”

Costas said, “There is no doubt in my mind that the Brokering sorceress was the Cedna. It could be no other. Even so, the Cedna is only one woman. There must be a way to disarm her, to inhibit her magical abilities. I will appoint a coterie of mages to deal with her. The ships sent for the naval strike will receive a proper contingent of Galatien mages. Magarch, will you see to the assignments? The strike should be as soon as possible. Guards, you are dismissed to await my command. Mages, remain.”

Jaasir stayed firmly in his seat. Costas did not make him go. So far I’d been completely ignored. Costas looked over his group: Vatsar the Magarch, Laith, Jaasir, Ghilene Entila, and the two other Galatien mages. His gaze skimmed over me and settled on Laith. “Laith, do you know anything about the Cedna and her magic?”

“Some. She did, after all, once live with my father.”

“I also have an interest in the Cedna,” Ghilene chimed in. She had refused to look at me all through the meeting. “It is widely believed that she killed my mother at the Brokering attack a year ago.”

“Yes, of course,” Costas said. “I want Laith, Ghilene, and Leila to work on the battle against the Cedna together.”

Ghilene finally looked at me, her eyes narrowing to poisonous slits, but she said nothing.

“We need a plan by tomorrow afternoon at the latest. My father’s library contains records of the Cedna’s attack at my Brokering,” Costas went on. “You will be able to find more information about the Cedna there than anywhere else.” He gave me a significant look as he spoke privately in my direction. “I’m sure you have your own thoughts on Gantean magic, Leila. I will need you to bring a report of the coterie’s progress to my chamber at darkfall.”

“But, my lord, ” the Magarch said.

“Magarch, do you know anything about Gantean magic?” Costas cut him off.

“The mage Laith is bound to House Amar, my lord—”

“What of it? House Amar wants to defeat the Cedna as much or more than I do. Is this not so, Jaasir?”

Jaasir, against all odds, broke into a genuine smile. “Yes, Costas,” he said softly. Jaasir never spoke in such dulcet tones. “Let me join the coterie with this project.” Laith had understated matters when describing his brother’s obsession with the Cedna, not to mention his obsession with Costas.

“Do as you like,” Costas said. “Vatsar, I’ll need you for aether-sendings. Remain with me.”

L
amps glowed
from the ceiling of Mydon Galatien’s library, and books covered all four walls. The librarian removed several thick folios from a cabinet. None of the others moved to take the folios, so I did.

“Thank you,” I said.

“Those are the transcripts from the Inquisition after that terrible day. King Mydon and the Magarch ran it. I took the words down myself,” the man said.

“Have you anything else relating to the Cedna of Gante?” I asked.

“Oh, certainly, certainly. Why, they wrote a song about her, quite popular a while back. I’ll have the lyrics down somewhere. The High Court tried her, oh, maybe twenty years ago; there will be court transcripts of the proceedings. I’ll hurry over to fetch them from the main library straight away.”

“Thank you,” I said again.

Laith took the top folio from me. “We’ll start with this, I suppose,” he said, pulling a cushioned seat away from the wall and flopping into it. “Shall I read it aloud?”

“That will be a waste of time,” said Ghilene. “We were all there. Anyone could see our mages could do little more than cast a barrier around the royal family.” She directed a green-eyed glare at me. “I had so hoped you’d disappeared for good, Lili,” she spat. “But since you’re here, make yourself useful. I’m thirsty. Go and fetch us something to drink.”

I froze. Did Ghilene think she still owned me? The Entilan magemark remained on my shoulder, but I had not considered it in moons. I frowned. “I’m here to help decide what to do about the Cedna. I have knowledge no one else has, being Gantean. You might say I’m the most important member of this coterie.”

Ghilene huffed and crossed her arms.

Laith rolled his eyes. “You don’t remember anything about the attack,” he said to Ghilene. “You’re lucky to be alive. The Cedna drained you to within an inch of your life. If it weren’t for Leila and me, you wouldn’t be here.”

“Who’s Leila?” Jaasir’s voice came out as sharp as a blade.

“I am,” I murmured.

Both Ghilene and Jaasir stared at me. The similarity of their bone structure struck me again. “Leila?” Jaasir spat. “Your name’s Leila? But that’s an Amarian name.” He sounded affronted.

“I plan to prosecute you as a runaway, no matter what name you call yourself,” Ghilene bit out.

Laith chuckled as he flipped through the folio papers. “Good luck with that,” he said. “Leila has … ah … the protection of the king. In case you hadn’t noticed.”

Ghilene sprang from her seat, twisting her purple dress in her fists. “She was my handmaiden! Mine! And she just disappeared! I have every right—”

“To shut up,” Laith said.

“I can’t believe you let a filthy Gantean serve as your handmaiden,” Jaasir remarked. Laith pulled at the front lock of his hair with a long-suffering look.

“I didn’t want her! My mother and Tier—my mother made me.” Ghilene took the seat beside Jaasir.

Jaasir glared at me.

If I didn’t speak up we’d never accomplish anything. I stood and took a deep breath. “I am no longer a slave of House Entila,” I said clearly, hoping my newfound status as Costas’s fiancée made what I said true. “And it is my belief that my enforced servitude was illegal all along. I don’t obey commands, and I don’t fetch food for others. We’ve been given a difficult task. Tracking and managing the Cedna is no small problem. I suggest we focus on the matter at hand.”

Jaasir bit out, “Just because Costas has some silly fancy—”

“Excuse me, children,” Laith interrupted. “As Leila pointed out, we’re supposed to be planning how to defeat the most powerful magitrix in living memory, and we’ve got only one night to figure out how. This might be an opportune moment to apply the old ‘let bygones be bygones’ adage, no?”

Ghilene and Jaasir continued to train matched gazes of loathing upon me.

“Interesting you've returned now that Stesichore’s dead,” Jaasir remarked. “Bold of you.” He narrowed his eyes. “Mydon believed you worked with the Cedna on the Brokering attack. How do we know he wasn’t correct?

“She had no part in the attack,” Laith said wearily. “I saw everything. Without Leila, Ghilene could have vanished like Malvyna Entila or worse. Leila broke the Cedna’s magic. Costas knows she’s Gantean, that’s why he sent her to help us. Now, can we please focus?” He waved the folio.

Ghilene tightened her hands into fists in her lap. Jaasir hissed. I glared at them both.

Laith held up a hand. “From what I saw at the Brokering attack, the Cedna used the aetherlight of others to power her magic, to affect the waters below the High City—that’s the only explanation for how she called those waters into the Palace itself.”

I shook my head. “Not aetherlight. Blood. She used blood to feed the magic. All Gantean magic uses blood as its source. She used her own and Ghilene’s.”

Laith’s face froze in an expression of surprised understanding. “Blood. Blood. By the gods. How…crude.”

“That’s why she cut Ghilene’s arm at the Brokering,” I explained.

“Savage,” Jaasir said.

Laith waved off his brother’s useless commentary. “Do you know how she did it? Commanding the water, I mean. It's obvious that's the same power she used to destroy the Galatien fleet in Murana and Anastaia.”

I thought of the storm that had wrecked
Northern Wind
and taken Tianiq from me. A surge of anger rose from my gut. More important to me than how was
why
had she done it? Had she known we were Gantean, and been angry that I had not performed the usual ritual to cut the bloodcord? It made no sense.

I spoke haltingly. “Her bloodlight—or aetherlight, rather—she can shape it into a creature, some horror of the deeps. I became caught in one of her storms. She broke our ship, but she wasn’t even trying to defeat us. We were only in the way. She snatched my daughter from my arms.”

“Gods,” whispered Laith. “Has she gone mad?”

“You have a
daughter
?” Jaasir asked.

Ghilene only tried to assassinate me with her eyes. I hesitated to continue. I knew one of the powers the Cedna inherited as part of her role was control over the seas, but I did not have any idea how she did it. The rituals of the Cedna were secrets closely guarded by the Elders.

“But how do you fight this?” Jaasir said. I worried how both he and Ghilene would react when they learned who had fathered my children. The expressions on their faces told me they already suspected. “How do you fight such strange magic? Aetherlight shaped into a sea-monster? Aetherlight riling the ocean to cause a massive storm? Who ever heard of such powers?”

I knew well how we must fight the Cedna and her magic. I’d known for moons what must be done, and I’d known at some point this winding path would open before me. Nautien had seen it on the bluffs long ago. She’d given me the anbuaq for just this reason.
I needed that necklace.

“Tunixajiq,” I whispered.

“What?” asked Laith.

“Tunixajiq. It is the Gantean word for the balance, the sacrifice.”

“Sacrifice,” Laith murmured. “I presume you mean we must make one.”

I shivered, thinking of the Cedna’s blackstone light that was no light at all, that molten flow morphing from sea-beast to woman and back again. I had revealed to sayantaq southerners what no Iksraqtaq would ever speak.
What did that make me?