Balancer (Advent Mage Cycle) Read online

  “It was certainly a harrowing experience,” I agreed. I felt something brush my leg under the table. She wasn’t seriously trying to…no, actually, she really was. I cleared my throat, smile becoming even more strained and tried to shift in my chair so that she couldn’t reach me without making it obvious I was doing so. Night, what is she looking for?

  “I think she wants to know how tight your bond with Hain is.”

  Ah. Well, with this line of questioning, she could certainly lead to that. Although I still didn’t know if she needed to know for political or personal reasons. Did she even need to do all of these seductive ploys to weasel that information out of me?

  “After the way that King Guin so warmly welcomed you, I suppose it’s inevitable that you feel a great debt to him,” she continued while lifting her wine glass. “Still, I was heartened by the news that our king had offered you the hand of a Dom’s daughter.”

  I froze with my spoon halfway to my plate. Where had she heard about that?! Only Vonlorisen and the Red Hand had been in the room prior to that conversation! Ries, how do I respond to this?

  “Act as if it’s common knowledge and then ask her why she was relieved.”

  “Forgive me, but why do you think so?” I asked casually, carefully continuing to eat as if she hadn’t just blindsided me.

  “Isn’t it obvious?” she responded with a slight cant of the head. “A man of your position should marry well, don’t you think?”

  This is why I hate political conversation. People make some very unjust decisions and then expect me to agree with them. I put my hands down and nailed her with my eyes, making my voice firm. “I’m a blacksmith’s son,” I reminded her. “My magical power gives me the ability to control the earth. It does not give me wisdom or knowledge of how to govern.”

  Her seductress mask slipped away for a brief moment as her eyes narrowed. “And yet you agreed to Vonlorisen’s offer.”

  Ries?

  “Tell her the truth,” Ries responded instantly. “I want to know how she takes it.”

  This should be interesting… “On the contrary, I refused it.”

  For the first time that evening, I surprised her. She put her glass slowly down onto the table, her bright blue eyes never leaving mine. “Refused it?”

  “Yes.” What does this tell you, Ries?

  “Whoever her informant is, they don’t know much. This is the first natural response I’ve seen from her all evening.”

  True. The rest of our conversation had almost seemed to follow some script that she had written beforehand.

  The woman that had been so dangerously focused melted away to be replaced once again by the seductress. She leaned over the table’s edge in an open invitation. As she did so, the perfume she wore wafted my direction. It stirred my male senses in a way that I really wish it didn’t. “But even though you turned down the offer of marriage, surely you are still open to the idea of…other…relationships?”

  “I’m afraid not,” I responded, feeling more than a little trapped. Why did I have to have a wood floor under my feet? If it were stone, I could have disappeared by now… I hear your snickering, Night.

  “Sorry,” Night choked, still snickering.

  “Oh?” she purred, stroking one finger around the edge of her lips. “Are you not seducible?”

  Not by you, certainly. “No man alive can claim that, Domess.”

  “A wise answer,” she approved with an enigmatic smile. “And yet, you are so obviously not interested in what I have to offer. Why is that?”

  Ries, a little help here?

  Actually, Garth, I’m curious as to why you’re not tempted either.

  Jealous fiancée, remember? I shot back. To the Domess I gave an apologetic shrug and smile to buy myself a second to think. I doubt that already being engaged would slow her down. What would be a reason that she would accept…? “I’m afraid, Domess, that any…relationship…with you would be fraught with peril for me. It would drag me squarely into the political maneuvering that I am so anxious to avoid, you see.”

  “Yes, you truly do seem to be fervently avoiding any political scene.” She ignored the cooling food placed in front of her and studied every nuance of my expression. “You have the chance to seize true power and you do not take it?”

  “There’s no such thing,” I denied instinctively. “True power is a myth—it doesn’t exist. Even if it did, I have no desire to have it.”

  Her eyebrows rose in marked astonishment. She slowly sat back, lounging against the chair in a deceptively calm pose. “No desire for power? You, a man that is famous in two kingdoms? A man that both kings depend upon?”

  Well, she had a point, but… “I never sought after such influence. Domess, power comes with a price. The more power you have, the steeper the cost. Trust me, I know. I don’t know what price tag would come with true power but I do know this: it would be too costly for me.”

  A slow, approving smile swept over her face. It was the first genuine smile she had given me all evening. “I finally understand why Vonlorisen trusts you so much. You truly are the man you appear to be.”

  I gave her a half-bow in my seat. “I thank you for the compliment.”

  “A compliment?” she parroted in amusement. “Yes, we’ll call it that.”

  Ries? I asked plaintively. What did I just miss?

  “She meant that you are not a political threat and so she’s not going to try and destroy you,” Ries translated deadpan.

  That’s reassuring…I think. Hopefully she wouldn’t change her mind about that later.

  “Well, Magus, I find you to be a refreshingly honest man. I’m glad.” She returned to her dinner with a satisfied smile on her face.

  So, if she’s happy, then…I can leave. Right?

  “You have three more courses to go,” Night reminded me. “And probably more chitchat over dessert too. You can’t leave until the dinner is over.”

  I pasted a smile on my face, but internally I was groaning. Three courses and dessert? That would take another hour at least!

  Seriously, what crime did I commit to deserve this?

  ~*~

  After the interminable dinner had ended I went straight back, going faster on the earth path than I probably should have. I handed Night off to a waiting groom, ignored Ries entirely, although he trailed me inside the building with that infuriating bland face of his, and went inside. I found Chatta by feel, as her magical presence is familiar enough for me to find with my eyes closed. She stood in the conference/planning room, bent over a map and saying something to Xiaolang that I didn’t really catch.

  Without a word I came up behind her, wrapped both arms around her waist, and let my head rest in the crook of her neck. Ah, she smells so nice. It’s very relaxing to be touching her, too. She squeaked a bit when I burrowed in even further.

  “Garth?” Her head turned slightly, both hands coming up to touch the ones around her waist. “It couldn’t have been that bad…or was it?”

  “Thank you for not being manipulative,” I mumbled into her shoulder. “And for not saying one thing and meaning another. And for not trying to seduce me in front of witnesses. And for not being scary.”

  “Oh…dear.” A tremor was in her voice, either of repressed amusement or worry, I couldn’t quite tell. “Um. Ries? Just how bad was it?”

  “He did fine,” Ries rumbled from nearby. “Especially for a novice. I learned a few interesting things as well.”

  “She didn’t really try to seduce him…did she?”

  “Not seriously,” Ries assured her with deadpan amusement.

  I shuddered. If that was her just playing around, I’d hate to see what she’s like when she’s serious.

  “I think she was just testing him to see how susceptible he is,” he added analytically. “Interestingly enough, she was quite pleased when she realized that he’s not easily swayed.”

  “Ahh.” Chatta turned in my arms, lifting my head with one hand. Her mouth curved in
an enigmatic smile but I recognized the twinkle in her eyes. She found the situation amusing, certainly, but another part of her was not pleased with the Domess. “Honey, I’m proud of you for coming away unscathed. I promise that if any other woman here tries to seduce you, I’ll zap them.”

  I perked up hopefully. “Really?”

  She gave me a solemn nod, the smile gaining a slightly feral edge. “My word as a soon-to-be-Rheben.”

  All of the tension from the evening unwound and bled out of my shoulders. Well. If she’s going to be my fore-guard from now on, I didn’t have anything to worry about. Happy, I hugged her tighter for a moment and then turned back for the door. “I’m getting out of these robes.”

  Behind me, I heard Ries ask in a low tone, “Does he really hate it when women flirt with him that much?”

  Chatta’s voice had an obvious note of satisfaction in it as she answered, “Fortunately for me, yes he does.”

  I shook my head as I left the room. The man just didn’t get it. When you already had the love of your life, having another woman flirt with you just put you in an awkward situation. There was nothing enjoyable about it.

  Regardless, the worst was over. Nothing else could be worse than this evening.

  Or at least, I hoped not.

  ~*~

  Perhaps Ries did feel some pity for me after subjecting me to the Domess as the next person that I had dinner with couldn’t have cared less about my political standing, marriage prospects, or reputation.

  I’d always known that Habbick Province had a slightly different view of magic than the rest of Chahir. They’d been bending or skirting around the anti-magical laws for years while doing trade with Hain. But until that night, I hadn’t realized just how much of that attitude resulted from encouragement by the Dom himself.

  Boscarenoen, Dom of Habbick, was a magical fanatic.

  The evening had started out very similarly to the previous political-oriented dinner I’d done the previous week. I’d shown up at the Dom’s mansion, been ushered into the very opulent dining room, and been introduced to the Dom. The room was just as large as the Domess’s, although thankfully not overdone with gilt edging. Instead, it had a more masculine feel with dark wood paneling and tasteful landscapes. I felt more at ease here, despite the echoing quality of my footsteps.

  The Dom himself, also very fortunately, did not share one similar feature with the Domess aside from rank. He had a portly frame, balding head, and a very formal suit of dark blue velvet that had been cut to make him look trimmer. At first glance, he looked like a man of power. Then he spotted me coming through the door and his eyes lit up like a child expecting a new present. My initial impression of “stodgy” evaporated in that moment.

  He’d enthusiastically ushered me into the room, sat me down, and then started asking questions so quickly that I could barely manage a bite, much less get a word in edgewise. Most of his questions revolved around potions and various charms that could be purchased, none of which I knew a thing about. When I admitted as much, he started rattling off what he knew about them.

  I smiled, nodded in the right moments, and kept eating. I feel like I’m at the Academy again and should be taking notes, I observed to Night and Ries.

  “I think he actually does know enough to give a lecture at the Academy.” Night clearly found all of this amusing. “Is he even breathing?”

  Not that I’ve noticed, no.

  “But Magus, you are the first Mage that I’ve ever had a chance to speak with,” Boscarenoen said, taking a moment to gulp in air. “You must tell me, how does your magic work?”

  Well, at least he finally asked a question that I could answer. I gave him the most concise summary I could of how Earth Magic operated, but half way through he started shaking his head.

  “No, Magus, forgive me. I wasn’t clear enough. What are the things that you can do with your magic? How do you do them? That is what I wish to know.”

  Oh. He wanted specifics. “Well, I can create anything out of stone. Buildings, bridges, islands, roadways. As long as I have a specific idea of what needs to be done, the magic within me heeds that call and the earth responds to my will.”

  His eyes lit up, and he leaned closer to me, the food in front of him ignored. “Please, do go on. Have you actually built all of these things? Are you limited to creating structures?”

  This was perhaps the first time that a non-magical person had been so interested in the gritty details of how Earth Magic worked. I couldn’t help but be flattered by it. Smiling, I started to delve into more detail, giving examples from things that I actually had done in the past. He asked numerous questions, which in turn propelled me to try to explain even more. It became a lively conversation. Better, the topic was something that I knew well and didn’t mind talking about at great length. I couldn’t think of a conversation that I had enjoyed more with someone I had just met.

  With his pro-magical mindset, I didn’t expect to find anyone there belonging to the Star Order, and I didn’t. I lingered there for more than four hours and when I left, I did so with a smile on my face. This man, at least, harbored no ill will for the rising generation of magicians.

  As I rode away, I asked the man riding at my side, “Anything unexpected?”

  “Only that you can talk for hours if someone finds the right topic,” Ries responded instantly. “I didn’t think you had that much conversation in you.”

  I laughed ruefully. “I didn’t either. The man just pulled it out of me.” My throat felt hoarse from the unexpected exercise too.

  Well, my duty for the day was done. It was coming on late evening now. Surely the team had returned by this point. I urged Night into a faster canter. I wanted to talk with Shad and see what they had turned up.

  Chapter Six: Allington

  It had taken several weeks to find a trend in the reports, as the information coming in didn’t always match up. It didn’t even come from reliable sources half the time. Eagle had patiently gone through and pieced together information that started to form a larger picture. When he thought he had a good hold on the situation, he had turned it over to his superiors.

  People never stopped coming to give testimonies. Shad didn’t see much of it, as he used every spare moment to train his team and prepare them for fighting Priests. But when they broke for lunch, or when he couldn’t lay hands on His Princeliness, he often went to Xiaolang just to check on their status. Sometimes one person would be there, talking with Eagle, other times it would be up to a dozen people. Most of the time they were of the working class, but once one of the aristocracy came. Shad didn’t take this as a sign that the Doms were really changing their viewpoint on magic. More like they were taking advantage of the situation to get their nemesis in trouble.

  Shad knew that gathering intelligence took time, but after a solid two weeks slipped past without them being called into action, he realized that this would take longer than he’d originally planned. Not that beating up on his trainees was starting to get old—he’d never be bored tormenting students—but it couldn’t compare to real fighting. Besides, his team had started to shape up quite nicely. They could use some more polishing, certainly, but the best way to polish was to throw them into the deep end. Shad was ready to move.

  When another week started without any sign of a mission coming his direction, Shad started pointedly hinting that even if no one was sure of an area, his team would love to do reconnaissance. After days of research and a dozen or more reports, Xiaolang and Saroya decided that Allington Province needed to be the next target. None of the reports that came in really agreed on details, but they all agreed that something odd seemed to be occurring at the main house.

  Shad rounded up his team once again to go investigate. This Province’s Dom had been one of the few to not issue a dinner invitation to Garth. That alone raised people’s suspicions. Sure, it could be because the Dom was staying at his estate instead of the town house in Alvacon. But it could be because of another reason e
ntirely.

  Tyvendor wrapped them all up in the air and flew north-west toward Allington. After so many trips with him, people more or less had gotten used to the abrupt dips, swirls, and insane speed that he couldn’t help but employ. Those that weren’t used to it kept their eyes firmly shut the entire journey.

  This would be the third Province they investigated, as they had gone to Darlington and Farless before this. They normally landed within a few hundred marks of the Dom’s mansion but just as Tyvendor turned to set them down, Shad caught a glimpse of something from the corner of his eye. Even though he saw nothing more than a glint of sunlight off metal, the soldier’s instincts in him called out, “Wait!”

  Tyvendor paused, leaving them all hovering a few feet from the ground, and turned to look at Shad with a puzzled frown. “What?”

  “Don’t set us down just yet,” Shad cautioned with only a glance in his direction. “Something’s off. Rossi, you’re closest. Do you see that glint of metal over there?”

  Rossi had more than a decade in the Special Forces and his eyes caught what Shad had seen almost instantly. He gave a grim nod. “Caltrops.”

  “Cal-what?” Tyvendor peered in the same direction as they had, but judging from his growing confusion, didn’t see anything.

  “Caltrops,” Rossi repeated, mouth flattening into a grim line. “They’re metal spikes that you set into the ground. It’s an anti-infantry tactic. They can penetrate through most shoes and cut right to the bone. They’re usually used in doorways or windows, though, to prevent breach points into a building.”

  “Well, this certainly answers the question of whether or not they’re up to something. And if they’re out here, well away from the house…” Shad continued while taking a thoughtful look around him “…it means that someone has heard that we normally set down further away and walk in closer. Hmmm.”

  Audax’s eyes cut to him. “Captain, why are you smiling?”

  “If they have caltrops, then they’ll have other measures in place as well. They have the place booby-trapped.” Shad gave the prince a demented smile and heaved a happy sigh. “I adore booby-traps.”