Link here to a general overview of the novel
Prologue, Chpt 1, Chpt 2, Chpt 3, Chpt 4, Chpt 5, Chpt 6, Chpt 7, Chpt 8, Chpt 9, Chpt 10, Chpt 11, Chpt 12, Chpt 13, Chpt 14, Chpt 15, Chpt 16, Chpt 17, Chpt 18, Chpt 19, Chpt 20, Chpt 21
Chapter Twenty-two
Daav
The grand session chamber at Conclave headquarters is large enough to fit the yearly meetings of the full mage community. The blue velvet upholstered seats, the same shade as in our flag, are arranged in a circle with sloping tiers around the center stage to signify the unification of all magekind, the equality of status among us, and the united front of our magic. All mostly lies, but it makes for a nice soundbite when represented to the public at large.
Guards ring the outer perimeter of the chamber, their sniper rifles trained on me. Although that leaves plenty of distance from where I sit with Johan to preserve privacy for our conversation. Johan goes to the trouble of bringing two comfortable chairs to the dias so we can relax during our heart to heart chat after he had me delivered from my overnight detainment.
Sebastian, Isolde and I were separated after being hauled back to headquarters and I spent a sleepless night in a solitary guarded room in the complex with my stomach in knots over their welfare. My Verse kept pressing at me on and off, wearing me down between its soft, sensual brushes, luring me with promises of its beauty.
Despite it, I wrapped myself tight in pretend composure and walked with my armed guard to this inevitable meeting, determined to ensure Sebastian and Isolde’s safety.
Now I settle into the room and assess Johan’s mood as he sits across from me.
“Thank you for your kind hospitality last evening. The single room was comfortable,” I begin, leaning back into the chair cushion and crossing my leg over my knee.
“Sarcasm doesn’t become you, Daav. I’d appreciate your cooperation. My morning’s already plenty complicated by complaints from Congress that our mages are failing to deflect attacks on important industrial sites from Staltz. There was another suspected bombing before dawn.”
I sit forward, because all of the sudden I’m tired of this game. I’m too worried.
“I was trying for polite, but better to get to the point. Where are Sebastian and Isolde?”
Whispers seep into my mind from my Verse.
Seeeeeeeeebbbbbbbbb.
“Taking advantage of similar comfort as you did,” Johan answers as I try to ignore the tangles.
“Have you hurt them?”
His face twists in distaste.
“I’m not a barbarian. You make it sound like I’m the one who broke the law and not you.”
“I broke no laws.”
“If you examine the situation more closely, I believe you’ll find you did.”
“What do you want from me?” I ask. He’s right, but more is at stake than warrants playing by Conclave rules.
“You promised me an explanation for your involvement with Isolde Harkness that isn’t treason,” he answers.
I’ve already determined I need to share the reason she came to Orreance, even if not the details about the journals. Since they’re not tech, Johan’s cronies left them behind as they gathered up my sister’s belongings last night. Books didn’t hit their radar as suspicious. They remain back at the warehouse.
“She came here for my help. We have a younger brother, a little older than three years, who she saw flash gold. No one else has seen it yet and she wants my help getting him smuggled out before Harkness learns about it and has him killed.”
It’s hot in this room, and my exhaustion makes it difficult to fight the tangles. They brush, moan for attention, brush again.
Now it’s Johan’s turn to sit back in surprise. He looks stunned, but then his open mouth transforms into a wide grin.
“Couldn’t happen to a more deserving prick.” Johan out and out laughs. “Two mage sons, Harkness’s own personal hell. And the littlest showing his magic early. He’s been hiding this kid like he did with Isolde until he’s past the age of threat?”
“Yes. They need our help.”
“Our help? That’s why you were keeping her a secret? Doesn’t seem like you were trying to share the burden or the glory.”
“Do you blame me? I wanted to assess whether she was telling the truth, and then that she’d be safe before I brought it to your attention.”
“You assumed I’d do her harm? Unfair, Daav.” He clicks his tongue.
Asshole.
The Verse pushes and rocks in agitation, like it’s snapping its jaws, demanding. I will it back.
“She’s locked up, isn’t she?” I say. “You came into the warehouse guns blazing and that was before you even knew about her. You’re not exuding safe, open minded acceptance, Johan. She’s our enemy’s daughter, so I admit to doubting your reaction.”
“Yes, but at least I’m up front about my intentions. Yours, however, remain questionable. For instance, aside from your little planned foray into the smuggling business on behalf of your sibling, would you mind telling me why Congressman Chelton is calling me, offering me his sincere apologies for having to cancel our meeting later this afternoon? He hoped to catch up with me this morning by phone instead. I told him it was a mistake, and that I’d never scheduled a meeting, but he insisted that my assistant Kevin had called his office three times to confirm because it was over such a crucial matter.”
Remaining silent seems like the best plan. Let him talk so I have all of the information I can get to determine my way forward. It also allows me to focus on keeping myself contained. My concentration frays, but I won’t allow it.
“So,” he continues, “I of course asked Kevin about this. Imagine my surprise when he immediately broke down and started blubbering. The most I could get from him was that I should ask Daav Marrow. So…I’m asking. Why does the Congressman have a meeting with me?”
Verse twist it! How much do I tell? Johan has a finely tuned ability to sniff out lies.
“Kevin scheduled the meeting at my request. Sebastian promised to give his wife extra med mage attention outside of the sanctioned clinic time. Kevin has no involvement with or idea of my plan, he’s just trying to get help for his wife.”
“Sebastian can no more cure her than any of the clinic medics.”
“I know, but the man’s so desperate, any additional resources are going to be tempting.”
There’s no reason to go into Kevin’s involvement with Harkness or the assassination attempt. I won’t have him punished for his love of his wife, no matter what I threatened him with.
“You bribed him to set up the meeting, giving Chelton my name so he’d show? What has you so desperate?”
Okay, another piece of calculated truth telling. At this stage, maybe shaking the applecart will allow unexpected fruit to fall out.
“If you want to know then call him now and let me talk. You can hear for yourself. You expect me to be honest with you, then we should get to it. Will the line be secure?”
“Chelton wouldn’t have offered the option earlier if it wasn’t,” Johan says. “But, okay, I’ll let you play this out.”
Johan takes his cell from his inner coat jacket pocket and dials. Once Chelton’s assistant has answered and we’ve been lucky enough to be told he’s available, Johan waits for us to be put through.”
“Hello, Congressman Chelton, it’s Johan Shiloh. Yes, I remembered what I wanted to discuss and hope you have a few moments now. You do? Great. Hold on, I have a colleague here who I would like to join the conversation. I’m placing us on speaker.”
He taps his screen and holds the phone on the flat of his palm between us.
“I’ll have my colleague introduce himself, Congressman,” he says with a get-on-with-it expression on his face.
“Hello, Congressman. This is Mage Daav Marrow.”
A cool voice answers from the speaker after a pause.
“Mr. Marrow. We’ve never had the chance to speak directly, but I’ve heard so much about you.”
“The entire country has by now,” I say. It comes out too flippant, which is not going to do me any good, but I’m worn down. The last few days have more than caught up with me. I’m tired, hungry, and the tangles will not stop whispering. Sebastian better be in one, unharmed piece or Johan will find himself less happy than he is even now.
“So why am I speaking with you this morning?” Chelton says, his upper class drawl elongating his words. He’s not thrilled with my opening.
“I recently came across information I wanted to pass along. A piece of unfortunate news about one of your aides, Dustin Pasqua.”
Another pause at the other end.
“I’m afraid Pasqua no longer works for me. He left his post six months ago.”
“Oh, he did? I’m sorry. He worked for you for a long time, I understand.”
“Yes, he had some personal matters to attend to.”
“Are you sure he didn’t leave to go traveling? Staltz is all the rage as a destination nowadays.”
Across from me, Johan raises an eyebrow.
“Say what you mean, Marrow,” Chelton answers.
“Congressman, I was recently shown evidence of Mr. Pasqua’s death.”
The silence goes on longer this time. He waits me out. I’m forced to continue.
“Carl Harkness killed him. Pasqua fucked up, I’m guessing. Blew his cover. How long has he functioned as your spy over there?”
Now Johan is sitting straight, eager brightness in his eyes.
“I have several choices to make here,” Chelton replies with his drawl. “They hinge on my assessment of this situation. You are either trying to blackmail me, which I hope, Johan, is nothing you would be complicit with. Or, Mr. Marrow, you genuinely think to include me in a plan of your own, and are asking for my help in some roundabout and vulgar way. I’m aware you are unpopular with Harkness and it may be in your best interests to know more about his vulnerabilities. I don’t know how you found out about Pasqua.”
“If I said Victor?”
Pretentious laughter sounds through the speaker.
“Was that a guess?” Chelton finally says after he finishes being amused by me. “As your Mentor, he may have shared some things with you, but my dealings with Victor were too many to believe that to be the truth. He gave up information almost never, even to his closest associates.”
“Congressman Chelton, my quarter century is in four days. Harkness is unhappy and has turned up the heat on Orreance because of it and my unveiling to the world. Victor was able to keep him mostly in check for many years but left no instructions how he did so when he died. I’m laying my cards on the table. I would like to understand all of my resources, connections in Staltz or additional information that may help. My life and those of others depend on it.”
A deep, honest sigh comes from Chelton.
“If I had anything else, do you think I wouldn’t have used it by now? Son, Victor was stingy with information. He manipulated his unnamed resources to place my man in the Staltzian inner circle. Pasqua was the last link I had to those resources. The situation very literally became a dead end. I already knew he’d been killed, Harkness was kind enough to send me pictures, the psychopath,” he says with hatred in his voice.
For the first time, Johan enters the conversation. “I would have appreciated being included in this loop, Oscar.”
So they’re on a first name basis?
“I’m sorry, Johan. Victor was clear in that matter. No one else was to know.”
“The son of a bitch,” Johan says under his breath, although Chelton hears.
“Undoubtedly,” the Congressman says in agreement. Almost no one liked Victor. No surprise there.
“What had Pasqua been reporting before they found him?” Johan asks. Which is exactly my question.
“Never much. His last message came the day before Harkness informed us of his death. It was one word. ‘Reflection’. And Pasqua included a date and time stamp from about four months earlier. My aide’s information always came coded, but neither the word nor date was part of the code we used with him. We assume since he was reported dead right after that he’d been interrupted and not able to send anything clear. And believe me we’ve tried figuring it out. But like I said, dead end.”
“How long ago did Pasqua die?” I ask.
“About one month back. The date inscribed in his last message was four months before that. Saint Jallop’s Day actually, but they don’t celebrate the holiday in Staltz, the atheistic hellspawn.”
Five months. Victor died five months ago.
Disappointment is a lingering film over my skin. Maybe there’s a pattern, maybe not. I’d hoped Chelton could give me a clear way in, but instead there’s only a vague, probably meaningless trail. I’ve imagined wielding power over Harkness, taking back control and finally being able to keep the country I love, the people I love safe. And to stop being the reason they’re targeted by Staltz. Most recently, imagined having the power to save a little brother I want to know.
Seeeeeeeebbbbbbbb, Annnnnnnnnggggggeeeeeeeeeeelllllllll. The Verse is relentless.
“Daav,” Chelton is saying, “we expect big things from you. The strong reach you demonstrated with the power grid is astonishing. Four days left until your birthday. You let us worry about Staltz, you focus on developing your power as we reach this momentous occasion.”
“Yes, sir,” I answer. There’s nothing more to gain from the Congressman.
“I appreciate your taking the time for the conversation,” Johan says to Chelton as they exchange more niceties before ending the call.
Johan pockets his phone. “So much plotting, so little return. Next time come to me immediately without the dramatics. I agree with the Congressman that you must concentrate on your power. I know it feels urgent, but we need to put the matter of your sister and brother on hold. We can make plans to help after your quarter century.”
Verse curse him. I stare silently at the man. He can read what I think of his idea and he scowls.
“You look at me with disdain, think I’m some cliché of a leader blind to the crap of magekind, willing to let them suffer for the preservation of my power. I chose not to foster a child of my own and become a Mentor because the goal of growing back Orreance’s magic is bigger than any one method or experiment. You blame me for letting Victor do what he did to you and Seb and you should. It was on me. But making those terrible decisions, that’s my job.
“Maybe I’m more psychopath than even Victor was for allowing it all, orchestrating the lives of Cohort after Cohort.” Johan sweeps his hand to gesture around the room, to the flags decorating the walls of the large chamber. “I love my country just like you do. Which means I’ll do the shit I need to do to save it. Just. Like. You. Were there other paths forward? Maybe. But I never believed there was any other way to climb out from the hole we fell into after losing magic. I’m willing to sacrifice everything and I’m willing to make sure you are highly motivated to make my vision happen.”
“Like threatening my family.”
“Like threatening your family,” he agrees. “I’m not all monster. After you’ve done everything possible to get that final power boost I’ll try to get your brother to safety. As long as you cooperate.”
He’s made his position clear. It’s my move now.
“Why do you think Victor never had Harkness assassinated?” I ask. I really want to know. Colleen says he’d been about to do it before his death, but why wait all those years, after so much damage to Orreance with Harkness’s threat, damage to myself and Sebastian living under it? If only Victor had done that one thing, I might have found some forgiveness for everything else.
Johan shrugs. “I only have guesses.Victor always had his own agenda. He never included me, probably because I didn’t matter to him. He had no hold over me, couldn’t manipulate me, so instead he dismissed me.”
“What do you expect of me in the next four days?”
“I’ll release Sebastian to the Cohort suite. He can’t leave the suite, but he’ll be more comfortable. You’ll return there, too. I’ll post guards. I’m not interested in having you gnaw off your leg trying to get to your lover, but you will spend every day practicing in the lab and you will remain in the building. Isolde stays under lock and key as added collateral.”
My tangles rumble louder, demanding I fall into their grasp. I grit my teeth against it all.
“Can I talk to her?”
“No.” His cell rings and he accepts the call and listens. “Yes? Dammit, where?” he asks the caller. “Okay, I’m coming back to the office now.” He thumbs off the connection. “Another explosion. If Harkness keeps this sabotage up, I may have to reconsider using Isolde as leverage. Deliver, Daav. Cooperate.”
“Fine.” That’s the most I can manage. I want to get out of here, get to the suite and see my Angel.
Make my plans.
What will Johan do when I don’t deliver?
Because even now, with unknowns swirling around us, my gut tells me I won’t be allowing the magic of my Verse out into the world to rampage. Johan’s right. I love my country and I’m willing to sacrifice everything.
I will win this battle, no matter the cost.