Burned

4

Morning. Five days until my sentence went through.

The chime of the communicator pulled me out of a confusing dream, and I stumbled to my feet and pulled on my trousers, still half asleep. I splashed water on my face, dragged a comb through my hair and took a few seconds to run through the most probable paths the conversation could go. It was going to be good news and bad. Once I was as alert as I was going to get, I activated the focus.

Talisid’s image materialised on the coffee table. ‘Verus,’ Talisid said. ‘Are you in London?’

‘Haven’t fled the country yet, if that’s what you’re asking.’

‘There’s good news and bad,’ Talisid said. ‘Good news first. Druss the Red has voted against Levistus’s proposal.’

‘Your work?’

‘I’d like to take credit, but no.’

‘I guess I’ll send him a thank you note if I live out the week. What’s the bad news?’

‘Spire has declined to meet with you. Officially, he’s retiring to his family residence over the Christmas season and is unavailable for comment. Unofficially, I’ve been led to understand that he is staying neutral. He won’t support you, but neither will he vote against you.’

‘Three to two. So it all comes down to the last vote.’

‘To Undaaris, yes.’

‘Has he replied?’ I said. I knew what Talisid was going to say, but conversations go a lot smoother when you don’t pre-empt the other guy.

‘Undaaris has agreed to meet you,’ Talisid said. ‘I believe he spent a good part of yesterday making up his mind. He hasn’t made any commitments, but I would consider his agreement to meet a positive sign.’

‘So I’m going to have to convince him to vote in my favour,’ I said. ‘And whatever I tell him, it’s going to have to be more convincing than whatever arguments Levistus has made already.’

‘Or might make in the future, yes.’

‘Any suggestions for what I could trade him?’

‘How familiar are you with Senior Council politics?’

‘Not very.’

‘Out of the seven members of the Senior Council, Bahamus and Sal Sarque are affiliated with the Guardians,’ Talisid said. ‘Levistus and Alma are strongly associated with the Directors. Traditionally, those two pairs have tended to disagree, but Levistus has recently taken a strong stance opposing further Dark encroachment. In doing so, he’s won over Sarque. Bahamus and Sarque are divided on this issue, and Druss opposes Levistus in almost all areas, but still, that gives Levistus a reasonably consistent voting advantage of three to two. Spire and Undaaris are the swing votes. Spire leans neutral and independent. Undaaris is a Centrist.’

‘I thought Levistus had the support of the Centrists.’

‘Up to a point,’ Talisid said. ‘Many of the Centrists are coming round to the Unity Bloc’s way of thinking. They’re generally opposed to hostile action against Dark mages, and they’ve been disagreeing with Levistus and Sarque’s more aggressive stance. Undaaris isn’t going to want to upset his own faction.’

‘If he was that keen on not upsetting them, wouldn’t he have voted against the proposal already?’

‘A year ago he probably would have, but over the past few months Undaaris has been accused of being overly soft on Dark mages and their violations of the Concord. The Crusaders are pressuring him to show strength.’

I should probably point out here that if you’re finding this confusing, it’s not just you. Council politics are complicated as hell – Light mages grow up with it, but I’m not a Light mage. One of the big issues that divides the Council is the question of how they should treat Dark mages. The Unity Bloc are the closest you can get to a ‘pro-Dark’ faction. The Centrists mostly just want to maintain the status quo, though they can be swayed. The Guardians are opposed to Dark mages, but they do so reactively; they try to protect anyone who might get hurt by Dark mages, but they don’t advocate attacks unless provoked. Talisid is a member of the Guardian faction, and while we’ve had our disagreements, I’ve found his beliefs fairly compatible with mine.

But the mention of the Crusaders worried me. The Crusaders are the most aggressively anti-Dark of all the Light factions, and the most militant. They also have a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to rogues; as far as they’re concerned, once a Dark mage, always a Dark mage. In the past, I’d mostly been off their radar – too small-time for them to care about – but the Crusaders had been utterly furious about Morden being raised to the Junior Council, and there had been reports since Morden’s appointment of Crusader attacks on Dark mages and suspected Dark sympathisers. I was pretty sure that, given the choice, they’d be quite happy to see me dead.

‘Which brings us to you,’ Talisid said. ‘Just recently, there have been rumours concerning your old master. I don’t know if you’ve heard, but—’

‘But he has something planned. Yes, I’ve heard. In fact, it seems to be all anybody wants to talk to me about. How does this help?’

‘From what I’ve heard, the Council are preparing a response,’ Talisid said. ‘If you can give Undaaris something that he could bring to the Guardians to prove his credentials, it would favourably dispose him towards you.’

‘What do you mean, prove his credentials?’

‘I mean Undaaris wants to get in the Guardians’ good books. You scratch his back, he’ll scratch yours.’

‘You mean he might scratch mine. Isn’t that a pretty thin thread?’

‘These are Senior Council members,’ Talisid said. ‘I’m afraid that making yourself agreeable is your best chance.’

‘Being agreeable isn’t really one of my specialities.’

‘No, but you’ve demonstrated some talent for negotiation. I suggest you use it.’ Talisid shrugged. ‘That’s all I have.’

It wasn’t as though I had much choice. ‘When’s the meeting?’

‘Ten o’clock. They’re delivering you a gate stone.’

‘Guess I’ll go get dressed.’

‘Good luck. I’ll be in touch if I learn more.’

Talisid hung up. I looked around and sighed. Well, at least I’m awake.

I spent a while deciding what to wear. People in the Council tend to wear suits for day-to-day work, and mage robes for formal ceremonies. Normally I dress much more casually, and given the choice I’d have preferred to go into the meeting in a shirt and jeans, but it would have sent the wrong message – I was trying to look like a law-abiding member of magical society. In the end I pulled my solitary business suit out from the back of the wardrobe, took it out of its plastic covering, then put it on without much enthusiasm. Once I was done I took a look at myself in the mirror. Dark blue suit hanging off an angular figure, spiky and slightly too long hair mostly combed back over a pair of dark watchful eyes. I studied the image for a while, trying to figure out how I’d appear to an outside observer. I didn’t think I looked much like a Dark mage, but I definitely didn’t look like a Light one either. I waited until 9.50, then used the gate stone.

Being a diviner has its ups and downs, but at least you don’t get caught off guard very often.

The gate took me into a small wood-panelled room, with chandelier lights and pictures mounted on the walls. The air was warmer than my flat. It wasn’t flashy, but there was a definite sense that it belonged to someone important. From prior research, I’d learned that Undaaris’s primary residence was in Westminster. A quick check through the futures confirmed that that was where I was now.

Someone cleared their throat behind me. ‘Hello, Alex.’

‘Lyle,’ I said, turning. ‘Long time.’

The man standing behind me was the same age as me, though a little shorter. His features were a touch softer and less healthy than I remembered – he hadn’t put on weight, but he didn’t look as though he’d been getting much exercise. He wore a grey suit that looked noticeably more expensive than mine. ‘It has been, hasn’t it?’ Lyle said.

Lyle and I had been friends once, back when we were both apprentices – me to Richard, Lyle to a Light mage. When my apprenticeship blew up, we’d dropped out of contact. Lyle had built himself a career in the political world, while I’d lived as an independent mage, out on my own.

My choice of friends hadn’t been very good in those days. I suppose Lyle had never been actually evil, which put him a step ahead of most of the mages I’d met during my time with Richard, but while Lyle had been entertaining, he’d never been particularly trustworthy. When I’d really needed him, he’d hung me out to dry.

All of this flashed through my head in less than a second. ‘So you’re working for Undaaris now?’ I asked. I tried to make my voice pleasant. ‘Or is this a one-time thing?’

‘No, I’ve been acting as Undaaris’s secretary. Though it’s more like being his second, really. Scheduling and appointments and all that sort of stuff.’

‘To a Senior Councillor, huh? Going up in the world.’

Lyle laughed. ‘Well, I’ll go tell Undaaris you’ve arrived. If you could just wait here.’ He disappeared through the door, leaving me alone in the room. I wondered if that conversation had sounded as forced to him as it had to me.

Thinking about that made me remember the last member of the Light Council that Lyle had been working for, namely Levistus. Lyle had been the one to introduce me to Levistus, thus indirectly starting off the whole chain of events leading to the death sentence I was fighting right now. I wondered whether Lyle remembered it the same way.

Traditionally Council members like to keep applicants hanging around for a while, the better to emphasise how valuable their time is. I suspected that this would be an exception to the rule and that Undaaris would want me in and out as quickly as possible. I was right: Lyle reappeared in only a few minutes and ushered me out into a hallway, up a set of stairs and through a door. It led into a comfortable-looking study, and standing behind the desk, waiting to greet me, was Undaaris.

Undaaris was white-haired and slim. From my research I knew that he was over sixty, but he didn’t look it: he was straight-backed and handsome, and but for his hair could have passed for forty at the most. Life magic treatments; probably the only reason he hadn’t had his hair recoloured too had been to make an impression. He was a water mage, though, like most Council politicians, there were rumours that he had some mind abilities as well. It wasn’t the first time I’d seen Undaaris, but it was the first time I’d been up close.

‘Ah, Mage Verus!’ Undaaris came bustling around the desk to shake my hand. ‘Glad you could make it.’

‘Councillor,’ I said. I’m not very good at acting respectful, but I did my best. ‘Thank you for agreeing to see me.’

‘Not at all, not at all. Can I offer you something to drink? Tea, coffee?’

‘I appreciate the offer, but I’m a little preoccupied at the moment.’

‘Of course, of course.’ Undaaris glanced at Lyle, who murmured something and disappeared out the door, closing it behind him and leaving the two of us alone.

The last time I’d been alone in a room with a Council member it hadn’t gone well. I fought off the impulse to check Undaaris’s defences by looking into the futures in which I attacked him – I needed to focus. ‘Well then,’ Undaaris said. He sat down behind his desk. ‘I understand there was something you wanted to discuss?’

‘Yes.’ I sat in one of the armchairs. ‘It’s to do with last Saturday’s resolution.’

‘Yes, well,’ Undaaris said. ‘You do understand that any information pertaining to closed Council meetings is strictly confidential.’

‘I’m aware of that,’ I said. ‘However, given the subject of this particular resolution, it doesn’t seem like a very good idea for me to wait until it’s made official.’

‘It’s still a little irregular…’

I looked at Undaaris with raised eyebrows.

Undaaris coughed. ‘But given the circumstances, I suppose it’s understandable.’

‘I’m under a death sentence.’ I kept my voice level. ‘Regularity isn’t my foremost concern.’

Undaaris looked uncomfortable. ‘I can’t confirm or deny anything along those lines.’

‘And I assume you can’t confirm or deny that the current state of the votes is three to two, either.’

‘I thought it was three to one?’

‘Druss.’

‘Oh, yes. He would, wouldn’t he?’

I waited.

‘Well, in that case – hypothetically – you should only need one more vote, yes?’ Undaaris said. ‘Have you considered Spire? He’s rather sympathetic to independent mages such as yourself.’

‘Spire’s abstaining.’

‘And you know that for sure?’ I didn’t answer and Undaaris sighed. ‘You seem better informed than I am. These leaks are becoming quite troublesome. I know they’re the way we do business, but it would be nice if closed meetings could actually stay secret.’

So I could be sentenced without knowing anything about it? ‘So, aside from Spire, the only one yet to vote is you.’

‘Ah.’ Undaaris looked uncomfortable again. ‘Yes.’

‘Can you help me?’ I asked.

‘I’d very much like to, of course…’

‘I’m not coming to you lightly,’ I said. ‘There isn’t anyone else left.’

Undaaris sighed. ‘I wish Levistus hadn’t done this. I’d known he had his issues but that resolution came as a complete surprise. And the timing…’

‘I don’t think the timing was an accident.’

‘No, perhaps not.’ Undaaris looked straight at me and clasped his hands on the desk. ‘This is placing me in a very difficult position.’

I tried to look understanding.

‘Levistus and Alma have been pressuring me over the Birkstead position. And Drakh’s name has been coming up over and over again in the last few months. It’s become a very sensitive issue. If I vote against this, then when it comes out, it’s going to be spun as being soft on Dark mages again.’

I had to bite back my response. I’m so sorry my imminent death is making things inconvenient for you. Instead I took a measured breath, then spoke once I was calm. ‘Voting against it could also be seen as a more measured response. Avoiding escalation.’

‘There is that.’ Undaaris sighed and tapped his fingers on the desk, then looked up. ‘Perhaps there might be a solution.’

Undaaris was acting as though he’d had a new idea. I didn’t believe it – the futures hadn’t changed. He’d had this in mind since the beginning. ‘What did you have in mind?’

‘The Keepers are planning an operation,’ Undaaris said. ‘I don’t know the exact details – operational security is quite tight – but from what I’ve heard, it involves your old master in some way. I imagine they’d be very grateful for your assistance.’

‘Assuming they trusted me enough to let me come.’

‘Well, you’re a Keeper auxiliary, aren’t you?’

‘True. How would this benefit you?’

‘Well, it would be a show of good faith, wouldn’t it? If you took part and the operation was a success, then they could hardly keep maintaining that you were a danger to the Council. You’d have shown that you’d left your old master entirely behind.’

‘I’d like to think I’ve done that already, but I take your point. And I assume you’d like me to make it known that you’re the reason I’m joining?’

‘Well, yes, that would help.’

‘And in exchange, you’d feel yourself able to vote against Levistus?’

‘It’s not quite as simple as that.’

‘It’s pretty simple to me.’ I was managing to keep my voice calm, but it was difficult. ‘There’s not much point me helping the Keepers if I get executed at the end of the week. I agree to take on this job, and in exchange, you vote against the proposal. Deal?’

‘If the mission is a success,’ Undaaris said. ‘If it turns out to be a failure, then, well…’

‘Then they’ll assume that it’s because I betrayed them,’ I said. Lovely. Well, it’s not as though they can execute me twice. ‘Fine. Then if the mission’s a success, you’ll vote against the proposal.’

Undaaris sighed. ‘You drive a hard bargain, don’t you?’ He straightened. ‘All right.’

I studied Undaaris. He looked back at me with an honest expression. ‘I guess we’ve got an agreement, then,’ I said.

‘Indeed.’ Undaaris rose to shake my hand. ‘Best of luck.’

Lyle was waiting in the hallway. ‘Did it go well?’ he asked.

‘About how I was expecting,’ I said. ‘Do you know the details?’

‘Well, just the basics,’ Lyle said. He moved to lead me towards the room where I’d arrived, and I followed. ‘Ah … did you take the assignment?’

‘Didn’t really have much choice.’ I hadn’t bothered to get the details. The Keepers would know more, and it wasn’t as though there was anything he was realistically going to say that could make me turn him down. ‘How long’s this been on for?’

‘It’s a bit of a rush job, really. We suddenly started hearing about it while we were still in America. They’ve been pressuring us for support.’

‘Did they ask for someone like me?’

‘Er.’ Lyle opened the door to the waiting room. ‘Actually, that was my suggestion.’

I looked at Lyle in surprise.

‘Well, Talisid called. He’d been hoping to set up a meeting, but I wasn’t sure if Undaaris was available, and we got to talking, and, well, it seemed like a possible solution. I hope.’

I walked inside. ‘I see.’

‘You’re not upset, are you?’

I leaned back on to the table and shrugged. ‘Given your motives, it would seem a little ungrateful.’

Lyle seemed about to go, then paused. ‘Is everything all right?’

‘Lyle, I’m under a death sentence. I’m not going to be “all right” until that’s fixed.’

‘Oh. Yes.’

I gave Lyle a nod. He started to turn away, then hesitated. ‘You know … when I introduced you to Levistus, it really wasn’t … I was just trying to help.’

I blinked. ‘Seriously?’

‘Well … I mean, yes, the Council needed a diviner. And I’d been asked to find one, but … You seemed to think I was out to get you. I really wasn’t. You’d been out on your own for so long, that was all. I mean, you’re an excellent diviner – you always were – but you were spending all your time in that little shop, and it was such a waste. I really didn’t expect it to turn out like this.’

I stared at Lyle. He shifted uncomfortably. Probably he thought I was angry, but the truth was, I was just puzzled. I honestly didn’t know what to say.

‘I suppose what I’m trying to say is that I hope this goes better,’ Lyle said. ‘You know. Just to make up for things.’

‘Yeah.’ I paused. ‘Thanks.’

Lyle nodded. ‘Well then. I’ll have them call you, shall I?’ He closed the door behind him.

I stared after Lyle for a moment, then took out my gate stone to make the journey back.

Back home, the first thing I did was to get out my communicator and check that Lyle had been telling the truth. I didn’t want to call Talisid over something so minor, so I looked into the futures where I did. It’s hard to read details from future conversations – too much application of free will – but if you focus only on asking simple questions, and if the person you’re talking to is sufficiently well disposed towards you to answer a simple question, then you can get reasonably reliable results. Somewhat to my surprise, I found that Talisid confirmed it. It really had been Lyle’s idea.

It was a minor thing, really, but it still made me pause. When you’re under pressure, it’s easy to fall into thinking that everyone who’s making your life difficult is a bad guy. The idea that all of this crap with Levistus might have started because Lyle was originally trying to do me a favour … well, it made things feel like less of a conspiracy and more like something else. Black comedy, maybe.

Of course, given how well his good intentions had worked out last time, it wasn’t actually much of a reassurance that he might also have good intentions this time. I might have a plan of action, but I was very much aware of how many weak links it had. First, I had to be accepted for this mission. Then I had to not only make sure it was successful, but also make sure that I was seen to have made a sufficiently positive contribution. And even if I did all that, there was no guarantee that Undaaris would follow through on his end of the deal. He’d been fairly open about his reasons, but he was still a politician and I didn’t have any good reason to trust the guy. A lot of steps; a lot of chances for things to go wrong.

But it wasn’t as though I had much choice. I needed to get this resolution blocked, and Undaaris’s offer was the only realistic chance I had.

I sighed, put the whole thing out of my mind, and looked into the future to see what would happen if I called Luna. Unsurprisingly, she was busy training with Chalice. I wanted to check in on her, but I figured she didn’t really need any distractions. Instead I called Landis.

Landis picked up immediately. His image didn’t appear above the disc; the ones Keepers get are audio only. ‘Oh, hello, Verus.’ Landis sounded far too cheerful, but then he usually does. ‘I imagine you’re looking for an update on Vari and his friend, hmm?’

‘Actually, no,’ I said. ‘I heard there was some Keeper operation in the works. Wondered if you were free for a chat.’

‘You’re getting yourself involved in that? Would have thought you had other things on your mind.’

‘Yeah, there’s kind of a connection. I’ll tell you about it in person.’

‘Well, ours not to reason why. Drop by and I’ll put the kettle on.’

Landis lives in Edinburgh, in a tall stone house down a side alley. I found the right door and knocked; no answer. I tried the bell; it didn’t work. After a brief glance through the futures I tried the handle. It opened into a dark hallway. I closed the door behind me and climbed the stairs.

Landis, unsurprisingly, was up in his workshop. I’ve visited his home a few times now and it seems to be his preferred room – Landis’s hobby is magical items, particularly ones that explode or set things on fire, and he seems happiest when he’s surrounded by his tools and toys. Right now he was in the corner, a tall man with sandy-brown hair, long arms and legs bent over something mounted on a workbench that was glowing with an orange-red light. ‘Verus!’ Landis called without looking in my direction. ‘Have a seat, there’s a good chap. I’ll be just a tick.’

I checked to see what would happen if I did, and caught an unlikely future of being scalded by a blast of steam. I walked over to the side wall and examined the source of the disturbance; it was roughly spherical, with steam hissing from a small chimney, and was radiating fire magic from the apparatus underneath. The metal sphere was hot enough to burn the skin off my hands. I had no idea what it was, but the nice thing about being a diviner is that you don’t need to. I studied the futures for a second, then reached down and twisted a small axle sticking out from the base. The futures of the thing exploding vanished.

‘There we go!’ Landis straightened up and came across on bounding steps to shake my hand. ‘Delighted to see you again, Verus. Wish it were under better circumstances, but mere anarchy loosed upon the world and all that, eh? What are you up to with that?’

‘Just making adjustments,’ I said. ‘Did you know this thing was about to burst open?’

‘Really?’ Landis bent down to study the apparatus from about six inches away, peering in with one eye closed, then slapped his forehead. ‘Goodness, you’re quite right! Put the thing on when I heard you were coming and completely forgot. Vari usually does it but I’ve been deserted, sad to say. Younger generation and their flightiness.’

‘What does it do?’ I asked curiously.

Landis blinked at me. ‘Makes tea, of course.’ He gave the container at the top a twist to make it come away, then began pouring out the contents into a pair of mugs, holding the metal sphere bare-handed. I wondered briefly how hot that sphere was, and decided it was probably over a hundred degrees. ‘Do you take milk or sugar? Can’t remember for the life of me.’

‘Neither, thanks.’

‘Good man! Never trust a fellow who puts milk in his tea. Bad enough if they use the regular kind, but do you know some of them use the skimmed sort? Don’t know what the world’s coming to.’ Landis flopped down into one of the armchairs. ‘Right, then!’

I sat opposite, holding the mug carefully by the handle. ‘So, this job.’

‘Ah-ah!’ Landis wagged a finger at me. ‘I’ve a bone to pick with you first. What’s this I’m hearing about you and the Crusaders?’

‘The what now?’

‘I’m talking about your little tiff with a Mr James Redman on the heath a couple of nights ago. Or did it slip your mind?’

‘You know about that?’ I shook my head. ‘News travels fast.’

‘My dear boy, I was at Newbury last night and it was quite the topic of conversation. The detractors of the Crusader faction found it absolutely hilarious. Apparently you beat up all three of them with a dustbin lid?’

‘No, I beat them up with a stick. The dustbin lid was for defence. They were Crusaders?’

‘Not strictly speaking. Redman’s for rent to the highest, and it wouldn’t be very high. However,’ Landis waved his finger, ‘the important part is that they were perceived to be with the Crusaders.’

‘Yeah, well, they can perceive whatever they like.’

Landis frowned. ‘My dear boy, I’m not certain you’re taking this seriously.’

‘They sent a dropout and a couple of tagalongs to whack me over the head with clubs,’ I said. ‘Quite honestly, no, I’m not taking them very seriously. I’ve had enemies who are considerably more threatening. Got one to worry about right now, in fact.’

Landis looked at me with raised eyebrows.

‘What?’

‘Hmm.’

‘What do you mean, hmm?’

‘How much do you know about the Crusader faction?’

‘I pretty much stay away from them.’

‘Do they strike you as competent?’

‘Not really,’ I said. ‘They seem to hate Dark mages and aren’t too picky about who makes the list. I get the feeling they aren’t the sharpest knives in the drawer.’

Landis sighed. ‘My dear chap.’

‘Okay, if there’s something you want to say, let’s hear it.’

‘This idea that the Crusaders are some separate group really is quite a misconception,’ Landis said. ‘They’re simply the more militant wing of the Guardians. Now, I’ll grant you that the more extreme ones are not exactly the keenest cutting implements in the storage facility, but when there’s a threat that they perceive as serious, then the more capable ones are going to sit up and take notice. And when they do, watch out.’

I shrugged. ‘I already had one come around to visit yesterday. Was more of a nuisance than a threat.’

‘Who?’

‘Called herself Symmaris.’

‘Long black hair, jumpy type?’

‘That’s the one.’

Landis nodded. ‘You’re in trouble. Watch yourself.’

‘I’m pretty sure she was more scared of me.’

‘Verus, my lad, you’re in the Council world now. You need to stop thinking like a Dark mage, bash-bash, who’s-stronger, slice-’em-in-half. Of course Symmaris is scared of you – frightened little rabbit of a woman. Space mage who specialises in gates, nothing exceptional. But the people she talks to—’ Landis raised a finger. ‘—now that you should be concerning yourself with. It’s not what you can do, it’s who you know.’

‘Yeah, well, since I don’t know all that many people, I’m not really sure how that’s going to help. Can we focus on the stuff I can actually affect?’

Landis raised an eyebrow.

I sighed and passed a hand in front of my eyes. First Arachne, now Landis. ‘Sorry. Look, I’m under kind of a lot of stress at the moment. It’s not that I don’t get what you’re saying; I just don’t have enough attention to spare. How’s the thing with Anne and Vari?’

‘Well as can be expected, really,’ Landis said, accepting the change of subject. ‘I had a pow-wow with Nigel: he’s the fellow in charge of admissions. Promised he should be able to get Vari’s name through.’

‘That’s something, at least.’ My tea had cooled enough to drink and I took a sip. ‘Thanks for doing this. I really do appreciate it.’

Landis waved a hand. ‘Not at all! I’ve always felt I owe you rather a debt for all the times you’ve helped Vari, don’t you know. Become very fond of the lad. Was actually meaning to have a chat with him about his own journeyman tests one of these days, before all this blew up. Now that your apprentice is doing hers, I imagine that’ll give Vari a kick up the behind to do it as well. He seems rather interested in her.’

‘Yeah, I’ve noticed.’ I straightened. ‘All right. What can you tell me about this mission?’

‘Well then.’ Landis set down his cup and leaned back with his hands behind his head. ‘As I understand it, this all came to light just a few days ago. You know the Council’s increasingly concerned about Drakh, of course. Well, somehow or other, they became convinced that the bugger was trying to get hold of old weapons to bring down the Council with.’

My memory flashed back to the notes in my desk. A weapon? ‘What kind?’

‘Dashed if I know. Doubt they do either, to be frank. In any case, they’re quite set on the idea that Drakh wants this one particular relic. Unfortunately for him, it’s sealed up in a bubble with no access key, so that was the end of the matter, or so they thought. Except that now it turns out rumours of its sealed status were greatly exaggerated.’

This was sounding like a familiar story. ‘Let me guess,’ I said. ‘They want a diviner to help them get inside.’

‘Actually, that’s the interesting part,’ Landis said. ‘Apparently there’s a particular time window where it opens and closes. Bigwigs just found out a couple of days back, and now they’re scrambling to have a strike force ready to go. Seem convinced that Drakh is going to have his own team working to get inside as well.’

‘Do you think they’re right?’

Landis shrugged. ‘Well, it’s a Council intelligence report, so caveat emptor and all that. Still, better safe than sorry, eh? If it turns out he isn’t after the thing, you can toodle along, help them out and wander back home.’

‘Yeah, somehow I doubt it’ll be quite that easy. Who’s in charge, the Order of the Shield or the Order of the Star?’

‘You’d think it’d be us, wouldn’t you? But the Order of the Star wanted it for themselves. Jurisdiction, et cetera, et cetera. They’ll be calling us in as and when.’

The Order of the Star are the Keepers who are supposed to deal with cases directly involving other mages. They’re the largest of the orders, but they’re still not all that big and I’d met most of them over the past year. ‘Is Caldera involved?’

‘Who do you think’s been telling me everything?’ Landis gave me a nod. ‘Expect I’ll be seeing you at Keeper HQ. Watch your back till then.’