Alain looked upward, studying the stars. “That way,” he said, pointing. “It should take us toward the road. Or do you wish to avoid that as well?”
“No. If we find the road, we can try to hitch a ride.” Mari looked up as well. “My Guild discourages us from ever studying the stars. You can use them to tell your way at night?”
“Yes,” Alain said. “Some stars move, but others stay fixed.”
“I wish I knew more about that.” They started walking, Mari gazing upward and to the south even though she didn’t see how she could spot a Roc at night if the creature returned. “Can Rocs carry just the one Mage?”
“Some can. Others are larger and can carry up to three or four additional people. You may not remember, but I once asked you about riding one with me.”
“Going on a date with you, riding a giant bird,” Mari said. “I admit at the time I didn’t expect that to ever happen. I didn’t see how Rocs could be real.”
“They are not real,” Alain said.
“Right.” Mari tried to laugh. “Nothing is real. Maybe you and Calu should go on that date.”
“Why would I— Sarcasm?”
“Uh-huh.” Mari did laugh briefly this time. “Well, my Mage, someday maybe we will ride a Roc together. If it’s not too dangerous.”
“Dangerous? May I ask you something about these Mechanic trains?”
“Trains? Sure,” Mari agreed. “What?”
“Why does anyone travel on such hazardous things? I have been on two journeys on them, and both have nearly ended in disaster. Travel by Roc seems much safer by comparison.”
It took Mari a moment to think up a reply. “Usually, trains are safe. When you and I aren’t traveling on them, that is. Most of the time they get where they’re going without any disasters taking place.”
“Are you certain?” Alain asked.
“Well, that’s what I’ve heard.”
“I was afraid for a while that you intended making that device explode just like the one in Dorcastle,” Alain added.
“Huh? No, I never planned on that! Not this time. I don’t usually deliberately make steam boilers explode.”
Alain nodded as if relieved to hear that.
“I don’t know why every man I meet thinks I get a kick out of blowing up steam boilers,” Mari grumbled. “Or burning down buildings.”
“As you once told me,” Alain said, “it is important to stay on your good side.”
“Yeah. I guess that’s true. Have you ever forgotten anything that I have said to you?”
Alain paused to think. “Not that I can recall.”
She laughed, wondering if the Mage had intended that as a joke or not, and linked his arm with hers as they walked.
They headed east toward Lake Bellad, since Mari’s map had shown the road ran closer to the lake than the rail line did. The moon was not near full, and the path overland required most of their attention to avoid obstacles. A chill wind was blowing down from the north, bringing with it uncomfortable memories of their narrow escape from the blizzard. But no clouds threatened this time, just the steady march of winter overtaking the more comfortable days of autumn.
Mari was limping when they reached the main road running south to Severun at midnight, but they kept going to put as much distance as they could between them and the site of the train attack. Eventually Mari stumbled to a halt, her feet and one ankle on fire. “I’m totally exhausted. There’s some high grass over there. Let’s get hidden in it and sleep.”
Alain nodded, betraying a great deal of tiredness as well. The grass wasn’t the worst outdoor bed they had endured, but occasional foot or horse traffic on the road made enough noise to rouse them. Neither of them slept well. Dawn was just graying the sky when Mari got up, feeling almost as bad as she had after narrowly surviving the blizzard. “If anything or anyone attacks us today, I’m going to kill them,” she vowed.
“I will help,” Alain croaked in a hoarse voice.
Fortunately they were able to wave down a passing wagon, buying seats amid the bales of cloth in the back and settling down to sleep some more, well concealed by the fabric.
Two long days and a succession of begged and purchased rides later they arrived in Severun, dropping off from their latest wagon in a business area where no one would be looking for passengers arriving. “Better late than never,” Mari sighed. “Let’s find Professor S’san’s home.”
Alain gave her a look in which hesitation was unusually easy to see. “Mari, before we see your elder, I think it would be wise to check to see if Mage Asha is at the Mages Guild Hall here. We must find out, if possible, whether my Guild believes I died on the train, and what my Guild knows of you.”
“Alain.” Mari put one hand to her forehead, trying to rub away a sudden headache. “Don’t you think that’s too dangerous? What if this Asha did betray you later on? What if she is the reason the Roc attacked that train?”
He thought, then frowned slightly. “Establishing contact with Asha is the only way to find out why she did not announce my presence on the road to Umburan. Asha sensed me even when I was concealing my presence as well as I can. If she is indeed hostile to us, she could lead the Mages in this city to the home of your professor in search of me.”
“But—” Mari glowered down at the cobblestones of the street. Showing up at Professor S’san’s home with a bunch of Mages in pursuit, or maybe another dragon on their trail, would be a disaster. “All right. Fine. We’ll go look for your old girlfriend.”
He gave her one of those questioning looks. “I thought I had explained that while Asha is a girl, she was never a friend.”
“You did. Never mind. Let’s just get this over with.”
Mari followed Alain toward the Mage Guild Hall. He’s right. I know he’s right. But why did Alain have to end up being friends with and needing to talk to the only drop-dead gorgeous, blue-eyed, blonde-haired female Mage in the entire history of the world? And he says she’s a few years older than me, which probably makes her seem even more attractive to guys Alain’s age. How can I compete with someone like that? Serves me right for getting involved with a Mage.
Alain gave her a glance. “Did you say something?”
“I hope not,” Mari mumbled. “No,” she added in a louder voice. “How much farther?”
“Not far.” Alain stopped walking, his head slowly turning to gaze down a side street. “Mage Asha is here. She is making no attempt to hide herself at all, as if she wants me to find her.”
Oh, great. “What do we do?”
“Let us wait for a short time here.” Alain turned his head slightly. “Or perhaps we should go wait near the Mage Guild Hall.”
“Alain, no one lingers in front of a Mage Guild Hall,” Mari explained patiently. “They’re afraid some Mage will pop out and turn them into a toad or something.”
“No, that is impossible,” Alain assured her. “No spell can change a person directly.”
“You told me that before, didn’t you? Why not? I thought we were all supposed to be illusions.”
“Shadows,” Alain said. “I was taught that other people are shadows on the surface of the world illusion. But while Mages can change many aspects of the world we see, no spell can directly affect any person. I can make a hole in a wall, but I cannot make a hole appear in someone where their heart should be. This is a matter which the Mage Guild has never resolved, but I was told the elders believe it reflects our inability to fully divorce ourselves from others. If we were able to completely disregard all other humans, then we might be able to use spells on them. I do not know if this is so. It is only what I was told.”