“No,” Talisid said. “It also contains a signature lock. Once you activate it for the first time, it will be permanently keyed to your magical fingerprint.”
“Taking security seriously, aren’t you?”
“As you said,” Talisid said. “The consequences of being discovered are significant.” He nodded to me. “Have a safe trip.”
“You too, I suppose. And by the way, I’d very much appreciate it if you didn’t tell anyone else on the Council about this meeting.”
“Yes,” Talisid said. “I believe that would be best. Good luck, Verus.” He walked away into the darkness.
I watched Talisid go, then then after he’d disappeared into the shadows, I turned and carried on along the towpath. I liked Talisid, up to a point. But I had no illusions about his ultimate priorities. He was serving the Guardians and the Council. He’d keep me alive if he could, but if it came down to a choice between me and the mission, I knew which he’d pick.
I headed south towards the Bow Road overpass, looking for a place to use my gate stone. Things weren’t getting any easier.
chapter 4
FEBRUARY
January turned into February, and while things didn’t get better, they didn’t immediately get any worse.
I went back to the War Rooms the next day, and again the day after that. The pattern was irregular—sometimes Morden wouldn’t visit for several days in a row—but every time he did I’d be summoned, and every time things would turn out the same way. The Council would meet in the Star Chamber, I’d be left outside in the anteroom, and I’d barely have the chance to sit before someone was walking up to the booth. The procession was endless, from Council aides to Keepers to file clerks, and every single one of them wanted something. At first, I was completely out of my depth. I’d spent more than enough time dealing with the Light Council from the outside, but I’d never before had to handle things from the inside, and it wasn’t the same at all. It felt like being thrown into the middle of some insanely complicated game which had been running for years, with rules no one would explain, played by people who’d known each other their entire lives. Everything had a meaning, and not always the one you’d expect.
I quickly learnt who to watch out for. Most of the aides proved to have pretty similar attitudes to Ictis and Julia, the mages who’d approached me on the first day. They didn’t like me and they didn’t trust me, but they weren’t going to pick a fight. Jarnaff, on the other hand, was going to be trouble. He’d been telling the truth about being aide to Sal Sarque, and after a little digging, I was pretty sure that he’d been telling the truth about the other part too. Morden’s last two aides had been made to disappear, and although no one said it out loud, there was a consensus that the Crusaders, or some other people with ties to Jarnaff or Sarque, had abducted them, interrogated them, then disposed of what was left. And since Morden was a Dark mage, the protests were muted at best.
I saw some familiar faces too. Lyle showed up on the second day and we had a short, awkward conversation. I saw Lyle’s boss, as well, Undaaris, and stared daggers at him while Undaaris pretended not to see. But that was nothing compared to what I felt for Levistus’s aide, Barrayar. I saw him just once, and this time it was my turn to pretend not to notice. I doubt he was fooled. Barrayar knew I had to hold a grudge, but I was pretty sure he didn’t know just how deeply I hated him. Just a glimpse of his face was enough to throw me into a cold fury, and I had to control myself to stop my muscles from clenching. You’ll pay for this, I promised. Your master won’t live forever. Neither will you.
Oddly enough, it was the uglier sides of the Light world that most helped to accustom me to it. I’d spent my apprenticeship surrounded by Dark mages and the promise of violence, and as days turned into weeks I began to realise that the Council wasn’t really so different. The weapons might be more indirect, but the stakes were the same. Everyone wanted to be king of the hill.
On the positive side, Anne seemed to be doing okay. The Light mages in the healer corps didn’t like her any more than the Council aides liked me, but that kind of treatment’s nothing new to Anne, and at least there were no signs that she was in immediate danger. Each evening after we both got home, we’d catch each other up on our days. Sometimes Variam would come too, but usually it was just the two of us, alone in Wales in the long dark winter evening.
Luna didn’t contact me at all. I called and messaged but received no answer.
| | | | | | | | |
My position at the War Rooms might be hard, but at least I was making headway. The Keepers were another story.
I went to Keeper HQ the day after my meeting with Talisid. I’d half-expected to be arrested, but apparently the message had been passed down that I was off the wanted list. The man on security at the front desk seemed to take a long time checking my authorisation, but at last he let me in.
I climbed the stairs to the corridor with the office I’d shared with Caldera, but the door was locked. I rattled the handle, then let it drop.
“It’s not being used,” a voice said from behind me.
I turned to see Rain, a captain in the Order of the Star and Caldera’s boss. “News travels fast,” I said. I’d been about to ask how Rain had known I’d arrived, before remembering that delay at the front desk. Apparently it hadn’t just been because my card was out of date.
“Could say that,” Rain said. He’s tall and straight-backed with very dark skin, and one of the few Keepers I halfway trust. “Your signet.”
I looked down. The object in Rain’s hand was a small plaque, metal on leather with coloured gold and silver. The image showed a pair of eagles, wings and talons raised, flanking a tall flame. Above the flame was a single star.
“It’s not going to bite,” Rain said.
“Sorry,” I said. It was strange. I’ve spent so long with the Council as my enemy. Now I was one of their agents, a Keeper of the Flame. I took the signet and felt a faint tingle of magic from the metal.
“Normally there’d be a little more ceremony,” Rain said. “But, well, nothing about this has exactly been normal. Welcome to the Order of the Star.”
“Thanks,” I said. I felt awkward and didn’t know why.
“Go down to the quartermaster’s as soon as you have the chance and have it registered,” Rain said. He handed me a key. “Here.”
“For the office?”
“You’ll be on your own for now.”
“Where’s Caldera?”
“She’s got a new partner.”
“Oh,” I said. I suppose it shouldn’t have been a surprise.
“Usually when a new Keeper’s brought in, we assign them someone more experienced to show them the ropes. Unfortunately this whole thing’s caught us a bit off guard. I don’t have anyone to give you just yet.”
“Okay.”
“That’s about it,” Rain said. “Any questions?”
“Yeah,” I said. “What do you want me working on?”
“That hasn’t been settled.”
“What do you mean?”
Rain hesitated, and I had the sudden impression that he was uncomfortable. “Haven’t really fit you into the duty roster yet. Bit sudden. When we have an assignment, we’ll call you.”
“Okay.”
Rain started to leave, then paused. “Glad to have you back.” He walked away.
I watched Rain go, then tried the key in the door. Inside was the same office in which I’d spent a good part of last year. The big desk in the centre of the room which Caldera had used was empty, dust and old coffee stains marking the wood. My desk was up against the wall, and that was empty too. I wondered briefly where my stuff had gone, until I realised that it must have been taken as evidence.