Spy Glass

16

I EXPECTED MY MOTHER TO BE MAD AT ME FOR ARRIVING so close to the wedding, but I didn’t think she’d be so melodramatic. “Mom, I’m—”

“Hello, Kade,” she said, ignoring me to give him a welcoming hug. “I’m sorry about Opal’s tragic demise, but I’m sure you’ll find someone more reliable and considerate. Perhaps one of Mara’s friends—”

“Mother!”

She didn’t miss a beat. “—would suit you. She invited all of them, and some are still single and quite pretty. There is an extra bed in Ahir’s room for you. Make yourself at home. Supper will be ready in a few hours.” With that, she returned to her cooking.

She didn’t murder me, but I wanted to either die or kill her. Hard to tell. “Five days is plenty of time, Mom. Mara and Leif aren’t even here yet,” I said to her back.

Glancing over her shoulder, she said, “Kade, by the time you’re settled, Leif should be back with the tablecloths. Could you help him? Mara is busy helping her father make the centerpieces in the factory.”

He looked a little queasy. “Uh…sure.”

Giving up, I showed Kade my brother’s room. There were two extra beds wedged in with Ahir’s. I recognized Leif’s saddlebags on one of them. Kade dropped his pack onto the other. I showed him my room. It used to be mine and Tula’s. A sudden sadness pierced my heart and I sank to my bed. Tula would have loved planning for Mara’s wedding. She would have been chosen as the Bride’s Maid of Honor and I would have been happy to be a regular Bride’s Maid.

Kade moved around the beds, looking at my childhood knickknacks, but there wasn’t much space. Two extra beds plus Tula’s occupied the room. It appeared Mara would sleep in Tula’s and we would have two more guests. That meant Mara’s room was also being used for visitors. Despite her complaints of all the extra work, my mother loved having a house full of people. If she hadn’t married my father, she would probably be a very contented innkeeper.

I sighed. Kade sat next to me and put his arm around my shoulder. I leaned into him.

“Don’t worry. Your mother can’t stay mad at you forever,” he said.

“She’ll make me suffer first. But that’s not it.”

“Then what is it?”

How to put my swirling thoughts into words? “After the wedding, everyone has jobs to return to. You’re needed on the coast. Mara and Leif will eventually return to the Magician’s Keep. Yelena, Valek and even Ari and Janco all have a purpose. I don’t.”

“You’ve given up on finding your blood?”

“By now it could be anywhere. Finding it would be like picking out one particular raindrop in a storm.”

“Don’t start.”

I batted my eyes, faking innocence. “With what?”

“The defeated attitude. Ha! You thought I was going to say the weather analogies. Didn’t you?”

“Yeah.”

“Well it’s not as important as your attitude. You can’t give up. This is something you need to do and I understand that. Valek has his people searching. From all I’ve heard about them, success is likely.”

“There’s still nothing I can do, but wait.”

“Really?”

“I tried thinking of who hates me enough to want my blood.”

“And?”

“No luck.”

“You haven’t thought hard enough.”

“You sound like Valek!”

He acted as if I had given him a compliment.

“I hate Valek,” I said, but it didn’t burst his bubble.

“You just need to dig deep enough,” Kade said. “I can think of two people who may be after you.”

“Ziven and Zetta, which are probably not their real names.” I shook my head. “They were hired assassins. Gressa paid them.”

“Paid them to do a job, which they failed to complete.”

Thanks to Kade’s quick thinking. If he hadn’t created that cushion of air, I would have died. Remembering the attack, I realized the assassins had put a great deal of faith in Kade. “They were supposed to fail. It gave Akako a reason to have guards watching me all the time.”

“Maybe they don’t like failing, and want to finish the job?”

“But why take my blood? To use as bait? It’s not like I’m in hiding. They should be able to find me.”

“It’s just a possibility. You need to think it through for the various people you dealt with this last year, including Devlen.” His arm tensed.

I glanced up at Kade, but he stared at the wall.

“He has a good reason to hate you,” he said. “Cooperating with the authorities and helping you could all be an act.”

Before my training with Valek, I would have conceded the possibility, but not after. Plus he had plenty of opportunities to get to me before. No. Not Devlen.

“All right, I’ll dig deeper. Perhaps I’ll unearth a playmate from long ago bent on revenge,” I said.

He relaxed. “From your mother’s stories, it’s a wonder you lived through your childhood at all.”

“Hey!” I pushed him away. “My mother loves to exaggerate.” Then a notion struck me. “Since I’m dead in a ditch, maybe she won’t tell her embarrassing stories.”

Within an hour, I wished my mother would switch to the humiliating stories. But no luck. Even though she continued to ignore me, she told Kade about all the times poor dead Opal had disappointed her.

When Leif arrived with the tablecloths, I ran from the house. “Thank fate, you’re here! One more minute with that woman…”

Leif chuckled. “Suck it up, Opal. You’re the one who decided to show up late.”

“I didn’t decide…never mind.” The reasons would take too long to explain.

“So how’s my favorite glass wizard…er…my favorite soon to be sister-in-law?” he asked.

He had the decency to squirm when I didn’t answer.

“Well…er… Kade!” Leif rushed over to say hello.

Next to the tall Stormdancer, Leif seemed shorter than he was. His stocky build was due to thick muscles and not fat. What he lacked in speed he compensated with his strength when he wielded his machete. Despite his tactless greeting, he was dependable and grounded. A good man in a storm. Well…not as good as Kade, because of the whole Stormdancing thing. But someone reliable to fight beside. Mara had found a mate who suited her perfectly.

Leif’s horse, Rusalka shifted her weight in impatience. She was another fancy Sandseed horse. Her saddle bulged with tablecloths. I untied the packages and removed her tack. She nuzzled my ear before taking off to find Quartz and Moonlight.

Leaving the saddle for Leif to put away, I carried the large bundle of tablecloths into the house. Kade and Leif followed. I dumped them on the kitchen table, and Mother tsked over the wrinkled material.

She sighed. “If only poor dead Opal were here to iron these.”

Shocked, Leif looked from my mother to me and back. “Wow. That’s…that’s… Wow.”

Kade ginned. “Leif is speechless. Amazing. If only poor dead Opal were here to enjoy it.”

I swatted him. “Don’t you start.” And before Leif could add a comment, I ordered him outside. “Go, pick up your saddle and take Kade with you.”

In high spirits, they left. They could be jolly. They didn’t have to iron a stack of linen tablecloths. My mother was well aware of my aversion to ironing. I set up the board and started the first of—no doubt, many—punishments from my mother.

“What did you do to your hair?” Mara asked.

“Nice to see you, too,” I grumped. “I’m sure your hair wouldn’t look any better after bending over a hot iron all afternoon.” I eyed her golden curls. Even sweaty and dirty from working in the glass factory with our father, she still looked radiant.

I waited for the familiar tug of jealousy. My straight hair and dark brown eyes were no comparison to her beauty. My athletic build almost boylike next to her curves. However, the envy failed to poke me. Instead a sense of pride spread through me. This lovely lady was my sister. I realized she had never made me feel ugly. It had always been my own lack of confidence.

“I can still work with that length,” she said as if I hadn’t just growled at her. “It won’t ruin my special surprise.”

I couldn’t stay annoyed with her for long. Never could. Besides, all this preparation and work was for her and I shouldn’t be difficult. After I finished with the ironing, my mother set the dining room table for supper. I helped with the silverware and noticed she miscounted the place settings. One short. I skidded to a halt when I realized she had done it on purpose. Poor dead Opal didn’t need a plate.

Closing my eyes for a moment, I debated if I should just eat in the kitchen. But I had endured much worse than my mother’s cold shoulder, and I could get through the next few days. I added another plate.

Ahir and my father arrived just as the hot dishes were ready to be served. Their sense of timing never failed, and I wondered if they smelled dinner in the factory.

Details about the wedding dominated the conversation. I embraced the comforting flow of voices, content to listen to the plans and Leif’s appreciative noises over the roasted duck. It was delicious as always.

“…hope the weather holds out,” Mara said. “Rain would turn the courtyard into a muddy mess and ruin our day.”

“We could have the wedding in the factory,” my father offered. “I’ll move the gaffer’s benches—”

“Don’t be ridiculous, Jaymes,” Mother said. “I have more of that oiled cloth. We’ll make sides like a tent and keep the rain out.”

“Don’t worry about the weather,” Kade said. “You’ll have a sunny day. I guarantee it.”

“Oh! I forgot!” Mara laughed.

“You didn’t think I’d come without a wedding gift, did you?” Kade asked.

“I knew you’d eventually be useful, Kade,” Leif joked. “We could have used you that night the Storm Thieves ambushed us. Remember, Opal?”

“Er…” I shot Leif a significant look, but he prattled on, telling the story with relish. Already in trouble, he just dug me in deeper. My mother’s face paled as dismay filled her eyes. I hadn’t told her about that night for two reasons. I didn’t want her to worry about me any more than she already did, and wanted to avoid upsetting her by letting her know her youngest daughter was capable of murder.

When Leif finished the story, my mother met my gaze for the first time since I had arrived. I looked away. Her horror and censure were too painful to bear.

Over the next four days, my mother not only ignored me, but she avoided me, as well. I helped Mara when needed, and showed Kade how to gather and work with molten glass since we had the time now. Unlike during the storm seasons. He proved to be a deft student.

Visitors and guests arrived, filling the house with laughter. Cousins I hadn’t seen in years shared my room. We gossiped late into the night. Many others stayed in the local inns and stopped by during the day.

Yelena and Valek’s arrival created a buzz of excitement and anxiety. I hugged Yelena in genuine delight, but when I pulled away she held on to my arms and her green eyes drilled a hole into me. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

She shot Valek a nasty look before focusing on me again. “You’re a much better liar, but you can’t fool me. What’s going on?”

“My mother’s mad at me for being late.” Now it was my turn to glare at him. “It’s not a big deal.”

“We’ll talk later,” she promised.

Unaffected by my sour mood, Valek greeted me with a smile. He nodded at Kade, who entertained a gaggle of kids with a tiny dust devil he had created. “And you were worried he wouldn’t come.”

“He almost didn’t.”

Yelena pursed her lips. “I believe I haven’t been told the whole story.”

“No time, love. I wasn’t going to waste my first night with you in seasons on talk.”

She blushed, but his comment hit me like a physical force, knocking me off my snit. He had spent so much time training and helping me—time away from Yelena. It drove me crazy how he flipped from kind to killer and back again without batting an eye.

They both watched me.

I returned Valek’s smile and changed the subject. “Were you serious about your napkin-folding skills?”

“Yes.”

“Could you teach me? My mother would be thrilled.”

“When are the tables being set up?” he asked. “Tonight.”

“Swans or flowers?”

“Swans.”

“Consider it done.”

“But—”

“You have enough to do, Opal,” Yelena said. “We’ll talk after the wedding.”

It sounded like an order. “Yes, sir.”

Hand in hand they went in search of my mother. She squealed in delight and hugged them both. I wondered if she would be as happy to see Valek if she connected him to Ulrick’s death. A few of the local guests had mentioned his murder. Everyone assumed another prisoner had done the deed.

When the sun rose on Mara and Leif’s wedding day, it illuminated a brilliant blue and cloudless sky. No breeze stirred the tablecloths. According to Kade the morning chill would burn off in a matter of hours. The ceremony was scheduled to start in the early afternoon, followed by a meal and dancing.

Our houseguests ohhed and ahhed over the swan-shaped napkins sitting on every plate. Speculation over the midnight artist buzzed during breakfast. I kept quiet—it was more fun to hear their inventive guesses.

Last-minute preparations were completed and the wedding guests arrived. I retreated to my room to help Mara with her gown. By the time I wove through all the people in the living room and joined her, she already had the garment on.

She turned when I shut the door. I gasped.

“What’s wrong? Is there a stain?” Mara spun to the mirror.

“Nothing’s wrong. You are perfect.”

She pished at me. “You need to zip me up, and I still have to fix my hair.”

Mara continued with her list, but her actual words failed to reach me. I had meant what I said, and I hadn’t been referring to her big beautiful eyes or heart-shaped face or gorgeous cream-colored silk gown.

She had captured joy in her heart and it shone from every pore on her skin. A passion burned within her. I hoped it never died.

I zipped, primped, fluffed, pinned and brushed, fulfilling my Maid of Honor duties.

When I finished, I examined my handiwork. “No one is going to notice your dress. They’ll be captivated by your eyes.”

Which she rolled. “Get dressed, Opal. Leif’s Man of Honor will be here to escort you soon.”

And then the mystery will be solved. Traditionally, the people chosen as the Maid and Man of Honor were kept secret. I didn’t know why, and half the time everyone could guess. Mara’s choice would not be a surprise to anyone sitting in the courtyard below. Leif’s though was harder to determine.

I hurried into my own gown. Mara fussed with my hair. She tsked over the short length, but managed to sweep it up into an elegant twist which she secured with a set of combs. Sparks of green flashed from the jewels in the combs. I leaned toward the mirror to see them better.

“They’re magnificent,” I said. “Are they—”

“Emeralds. Of course. Nothing but the best for my little sis.” She kissed my cheek.

I gestured to my dress. “How did you know I’d wear green?”

She gave me a don’t-be-stupid look. “Sisters, remember? Besides it’s Tula’s favorite color.”

I had forgotten! How could I? I swallowed the knot in my throat. “Thank you for the gift. I’m sorry I didn’t have time to get you anything special.”

“You paid for the wedding. And by the stack of bills Mother has collected, you might regret your generosity.”

“I won’t.” I had plenty of diamonds. More than enough, even after I bought the factory.

“I’m not going to be able to get rid of you, am I?” I asked.

“I’m family, Opal. And a colleague,” Valek said.

Which reminded me. “Have you found—”

“No business talk today. I promised Yelena.” His gaze swept me. “Killer dress. I told you emerald was your color.”

“Yes. You were right.”

“Do you really think you need your switchblade?” Amusement sparked in his eyes.

“That obvious?”

“Only to me.” Valek extended his elbow, inviting me to link my arm in his.

I wasn’t too surprised Leif chose Valek as his Man of Honor. He wore his Ixian dress uniform with all his medals glinting from his chest. An impressive amount had been pinned to the black jacket.

Holding onto Valek’s arm for balance, I navigated the stairs without falling on my face. “New shoes,” I said. I used the word shoe loosely. Torture device would be a better term. The heels had to be at least four inches high. Sarrah’s doing, no doubt.

Arm in arm, Valek and I walked down the aisle. My attention switched from my feet to the assembled guests. So many happy faces beamed at us and we were just the honored couple. I grinned, thinking of how Mara and Leif would be received.

Kade caught my eye. He oozed dignity in his formal Stormdancer attire—a gray long tunic with black piping that reached to his midthigh and cinched around his waist with a black leather belt studded with silver. Black leggings and knee-high black boots completed his clothing. He had a silver lightning bolt pinned to his shirt. Best of all he smiled at me.

Past Kade, I spotted Ari and Janco, both fidgeting in their Ixian dress uniforms, making their medals flash in the sunlight. But they froze when they saw me. Janco’s lower jaw dropped open, and I glanced behind me to see if Mara had already started. Not yet.

Standing with my parents in the front row, Irys Jewelrose winked at me. The Second Magician had arrived late last night, looking exhausted. But today she wore an elegant copper dress and showed no signs of weariness.

Next to Irys, my brother looked debonair in his formal clothes. He had actually combed his hair away from his eyes. Who knew he could appear to be a handsome young man? Not me.

After we reached our designated places, Mara and Leif entered. The gasps and ohhs and ahhs thrilled me. Leif wore black pants, a cream shirt and a black vest all made of silk. Jungle vines had been embroidered on the vest and accented with pearls, matching the pearls on Mara’s gown.

The wedding ritual passed by in a blur. During the reception, I hardly tasted my food before the dancing started. All the work and preparation for just a few hours. I think I would prefer to have a simple ritual with a few guests. Perhaps on the beach. Or perhaps not. Yelena and Valek hadn’t made a for mal commitment, but they were devoted to each other—true heart mates. Could they say the same about Kade and me? Could I?

Before I could answer, another song started and Kade pulled me to my unsteady feet to dance. One good thing about four-inch heels, they brought me closer to his eye level. And being wobbly had its advantages. Kade held me tight.

“I’ll have to thank my mother,” he said.

“Why?”

“For helping you pick out that dress.”

“You like it?”

“Yes. In fact, I’d love to see it off you,” he whispered in my ear.

His lips brushed my neck, sending a sizzle along my skin. “So you can examine the stitchery up close?” I teased.

He bit my earlobe playfully before drawing back. “No. So I can get a good look at your shoes.”

I laughed.

As the evening progressed, I also danced with Valek, my father and Leif. I traded insults with my brother. Near the end, Ari and Janco found me taking a break from the party behind the factory.

“Damn, Opal,” Janco said. “I didn’t know you could look that good!”

“Nice.” I swatted him on the shoulder. “How did you find me?”

“I tracked you. Ari didn’t think I could,” Janco said.

“I didn’t doubt you,” Ari replied.

“But you gave me that look.”

“Which one? The exasperated one? When I’m with you that’s my normal expression.”

“Really? I thought your standard for tonight was surly. You managed to scare off all those who may have been brave enough to talk to us,” Janco said.

“It was the uniforms, genius. At least I didn’t squirm like a little kid in his father’s dress clothes.”

I interrupted their argument, otherwise we would have been there until dawn. “I think Janco looks—dare I say it?—dashing in his uniform.”

Janco preened, flashing Ari a superior smirk.

“You shouldn’t have dared,” Ari said.

“You’re equally distinguished, Ari,” I said. “What is it about uniforms that make men so…”

“Irresistible?” Janco asked. “Yummy? Hot?”

“Respectable,” I said.

“Boring! No man wants to be called respectable by a woman who is not a mother or old or married.”

“Some women find respectable to be very appealing,” I said.

Janco pished.

Ari, however, peered at me with interest. “Are you one of them? Because someone like Devlen has a long way to go to be respectable.”

Annoyed, I snapped, “I’m with Kade. Devlen was just a…moment of weakness during a difficult time. That won’t happen ever again.”

“Uh-huh,” Ari said.

I crossed my arms. “Are you two here for a reason? I have to return to the party.”

“We thought we’d update you on our efforts,” Ari said.

Mollified, I nodded for him to continue.

“With the limited time, we only searched Owl’s Hill, and all the towns between Fulgor and here. Valek went farther west, past the Citadel.”

“And?” A tingle of hope bloomed.

“So far nothing.”

Hope died again.

Ari noticed. “Don’t worry. We’re bound to pick up the trail. It’s only a matter of time before we find your blood.”

“I know a way we could go faster,” Janco said, perking up.

“How?” I asked.

“We could use a Bloodhound.”

Ari and I groaned in unison.

“What? It’s a good idea,” Janco whined.

“It’s ridiculous,” Ari said. “Just because the breed—”

“I think I hear someone calling me. Gotta go.” I hurried off, leaving them to argue.

When I returned, I noticed my mother had cornered Kade. Not good. I debated rescuing him, but decided against upsetting my mother again. Coward? Who me?

Instead, I found an empty table and soaked in the revelry. My peace didn’t last long. Yelena joined me. She wore a red gown and had left her long black hair down. It flowed over her bare shoulders and matched the butterfly pendant at her throat.

“Talk to me,” she said.

“There’s nothing to talk about. My mother’s still mad, my magic’s still gone and Kade and I are fine.” For now.

She studied me and I fought the urge to squirm. I imagined she examined my soul and saw a black stain of self-pity spreading on it. Would she be disgusted?

Without any obvious censure, she asked, “Why is your mother angry with you?”

“I’ve told—”

“The real reason.”

“Leif’s Storm Thieves story—”

“No. Think.”

I swallowed a groan. “I already have a Story Weaver. I don’t need another.”

Yelena didn’t blink. “And you’ve talked about this with him?”

“He’s part of the problem!” Then it hit me. “Wait. How did you know my Story Weaver was a he? Are you reading my mind?”

“Opal, relax.” Yelena reached and cupped my face with her hands. “I can’t read your mind or soul. But it doesn’t take a magician to know you’re conflicted. You need to talk it out either with your Story Weaver, a friend or a relative.”

Yelena met two of the three requirements. Plus she also had a Story Weaver named Moon Man, but he died during the Warper Battle. And she was right. I needed to untangle this mess inside my heart. Pulling her hands down, I held them in my own and let my worries, concerns and cringe-inducing behavior pour from my mouth. I told her about Devlen, the events at the prison and the difficulties with Kade’s and my mother, leaving nothing unsaid. Breathing easier, I slouched in my chair.

She listened to the whole thing without interruption. “I can’t tell you what to do, but I can offer three bits of advice.” Her lips quirked into a wry smile. “Moon Man would be proud. First, the mothers.” Yelena let go of my hands to poke a finger into the air. “You managed to see why Kade’s mother was so hostile to you, which is a good start. Do the same with your own mother.”

“But—” The warning in her eyes stopped me.

“Second, your magic. Don’t give up hope, but at the same time formulate a backup plan. Where do you see yourself next year? What will you be doing in five years? And don’t be afraid to talk to Devlen. He’s been through it.” She glanced at Kade. He laughed at something Janco said. Ari’s don’t-encourage-the-boy scowl didn’t affect Kade’s humor.

“He should understand,” Yelena said.

“He does, otherwise he wouldn’t be here.”

“Good.”

“And third?” I asked.

“Stop being so hard on yourself about Ulrick. Valek would have gotten to him regardless of your distraction. In fact, I approved the assassination.”

I gaped at her. But before I could recover, Irys Jewelrose approached us.

“Sorry to bother you, but it’s important,” the Master Magician said. “Yelena, can I borrow Kiki? I need to get to the Citadel as fast as possible.”

Yelena stood. “What happened?”

The explanation rushed out. “It’s this very young magician we’d been keeping an eye on. He’s resisted all our help and Bain finally sent a few magicians to bring him to the Keep before he flamed out and killed himself. But he just pulled a dangerous amount of power to protect himself from them.”

“Why do you need Kiki?” I asked.

“To cut through the plains and get to the Citadel faster,” she snapped in impatience.

“But if the boy is protected and Bain can’t get close, why do you think you can?” Yelena asked.

“The boy is terrified of Bain. He doesn’t like me, but at least he’s not afraid of me. And I have to try,” she said.

“Take Valek,” Yelena said. “His immunity—”

“A good idea, except the boy is scared of men. He’s a runaway.”

“How about Fisk?” I asked. He had been homeless, but now he was the leader of the Helper’s Guild, which gave beggars and runaways jobs.

“Tried him already. Didn’t work.” Irys turned her hands up in a helpless gesture. “I’m open to suggestions.”

“A Curare-laced dart shot with a blowgun,” Yelena said.

“The boy’s built a barrier that repels objects and people. No one can get close to him.”

“Valek could disguise himself as a woman,” Yelena said.

Irys considered. “The boy’s pretty smart. He might see through the disguise.”

“And what happens when the boy discovers he’s been tricked?” I asked. “It won’t help with his trust issues.”

“That doesn’t matter right now. Saving his life and the power blanket is the most important. If we had your…”

She didn’t need to say my glass magic. If I had it, this situation wouldn’t be a problem at all. Then I closed my eyes as I realized I’d been an idiot. When I opened them, I met Yelena’s questioning gaze and nodded.

“Irys,” I said, “I’m coming with you.”