Chapter 125 – The Delegation

A long ramp extended from the airship deck down to the plaza, and the Vadriach delegation made its way down. Based on their dress and the spellbooks dangling from a chain at their side, there were six researchers, though from the colors on their jackets, three of them appeared to be from the Arboholm University. Maybe that’s where he starts, or near it. That’s near the Akanan military base that launches the airships, right?

“My fellow arcanists and students,” Luspire announced to the gathering. “It is my great pleasure to announce a new era of magical research! Torrviol Academy is honored to be creating new ties of camaraderie and united purpose with the universities of Arborholm and Vadriach. May I welcome the great Archmage Magnus Tyrcast to Torrviol!”

There was a light applause, followed by conversation among the students. Someone shouted, “Do we get to ride on the airship?” which Luspire ignored. One by one, he continued to introduce the other researchers, each getting slightly less applause since no one knew who any of them were.

The others, apparently, did not get the honor of any introduction, though Mirian caught him and Marshal Cearsia glancing at each other. The rest of the delegation seemed to be made up of airship crew and assistants and apprentices.

Mirian kept a close eye on Cearsia’s aide. He seemed tense, and kept surveying the crowd. She’d seen him before, first on the Akanan airship at her side, then several times after that. He’d changed his actions several times. Mirian had first thought it was because he was like Viridian, and that it only took a small nudge to radically change his behavior. Now, the puzzle pieces were all falling into place. That’s got to be him, she thought. Still, she’d want to check the others as a precaution.

The ceremony seemed to dissolve by mutual consent after that. The students milled around to listen in or jump straight to gossip, while the various professors and researchers assembled started mingling and chatting. Unfortunately, the sound amplification Mirian was using did nothing to filter out the conversations she wanted to listen to, so she dismissed it.

She watched as Professor Torres chatted with one of the Arborholm researchers, then grinned as she saw the man lead her onto the ship to show her around. Meanwhile, Professor Marva seemed to be having a wonderful time laughing and chatting as they mingled. That, Mirian knew, was its own kind of illusion. She knew from attending their classes, though, that they could put on a performance when they needed to. Behind the carefree presentation Marva was putting on was a tactical methodology; they managed to shake hands with almost everyone.

Cearsia’s assistant ignored Marva’s hand when it was presented to him, pulling back from them with barely veiled disgust.

Strange. But perhaps an indicator of some previous interaction with Marva. Or that he feels above them.

After a few minutes, the students began to disperse, except for a few who were gawking at the airship. The delegation made its way to Torrian Tower. Torres and one of the researchers headed back down the ramp, and the airship and its crew lifted off.

Mirian considered ending her operation and fleeing to Palendurio. With Archmage Tyrcast and Marshal Cearsia, there were two more people present who could overpower her.

She weighed the risks. This was the first time Sulvorath had been able to bring them to Torrviol. How much control over them did he really have? If he was the assistant, he hadn’t been able to control Cearsia before. And none of them would know soul magic, of that, she could be nearly certain.

And I have four orichalcum pieces now, she knew. And Eclipse. She hadn’t tested out the sword against anyone, but since it was already linked to her soul, it should have the same protective effects. And it’s nearly pure mythril, with adamantium. I should be basically immune to the direct effects of spells. They could use indirect spells, but in any scenario I’ll have time to react.

She also already had three allies among the professors.

This was also an opportunity to see the early stages of Sulvorath’s plan, and find points to interfere before he could refine it.

It was also an opportunity to make contacts with different Akanans. A well placed message on a zephyr falcon could derail the entire expedition.

She decided to stay. She already had a rendezvous planned with Jei, Marva, and Priest Krier.

***

Mirian met with Priest Krier on Seventhday after the service and reported that she’d killed the first necromancer, and that she suspected the second had just arrived. The Akanan spies seemed to never attend the Luminate Temples, which made sense. If they knew about the soul marks, they also likely knew priests could detect them. And, they would no doubt be reluctant to attend what they considered a blasphemous sect of the Church of the Ominian. Priest Krier seemed desperate for answers about what the Ominian wanted, though he never said so directly. Unfortunately, she had no answers for him.

She met with Marva during one of their private sessions as the second quarter began on the 12th. The usual snow drifted peacefully down outside the window.

They handed Mirian an envelope as soon as she walked in. “Here’s the extra assignments, Micael,” they said. “Will that be all?”

Mirian paused. “I did have a few questions,” she said, as she scribbled down a note on a separate piece of paper. “I didn’t quite understand some of the lecture material today.” She tried to think back to the kinds of stupid questions she used to hear students ask in class. “The flux glyphs that are changing in illusion spells seem different then the ones in combat magic,” she said, which was completely wrong.

She handed Professor Marva the note, which said, ‘Do you have reason to believe they’re deploying divination spells?’

While Marva talked through the basic flux glyphs commonly used in illusion spells, and how they worked exactly the same in any other spell (because spell categories were arbitrary and created by people, not inherent to the magic), she wrote down her reply. ‘Yes. The Akanans are installing short range communication devices in our offices. For ease of collaboration. Mine included. Disabling it would be suspicious.’

Mirian understood the danger by implication. If a device could pick up sound when you wanted it to, there was nothing preventing it from picking up sound when you didn’t want it to. The spell engine now sitting next to Marva’s desk was closed, so neither of them could deduce its function just by looking at it. How common are these devices in Akana? she wondered. Perhaps that’s why Sulvorath is so used to using blackmail and social leverage.

Mirian had left most of Sulvorath’s spy cell untouched. They wouldn’t have the manpower to actually eavesdrop on everyone, but they weren’t hurting for resources either. It wasn’t something they could leave to chance.

‘If we need to communicate more information, I can set that up. Just let me know,’ Mirian wrote back.

‘File should have everything for now. Also means we need to stop soul-modification lessons. Too risky.’

‘Good, thank you. Burn our exchange for safety,’ Mirian replied.

“Thanks so much, Professor,” she said. “You’re a great instructor.”

“Happy to help, Micael. Just make sure you pay more attention to common glyph patterns. None of the subjects are actually all that separate.”

Miran left.

Sulvorath hadn’t just been working on a way to bring more power over to Torrviol. He also knew she was using the professors to impede his efforts, and was looking to root out anyone Mirian talked to.

She was starting to run out of easy allies to use in Torrviol. Eventually, she got everyone on board with her to fight the Battle of Torrviol, but she’d been too focused on key actors and building on a cascade of events. Now, that left her bereft of allies she could quickly direct in two days.

She could easily turn the priests to her side, but they were, by their nature, outside most of the politics and all of the Academics, and she didn’t think they would take well to being ordered to go on a campaign of sabotage or spying. Detecting necromancy, they could do, but little beyond that. What she really needed was beyond the scope of their expertise and natural inclinations.

I could set up more seeds of chaos here, she thought, but decided that random acts of arson probably weren’t the best way forward. That, and there’s enough arcanists here the chance of detection would be way higher, and then I’d lose a critical tool against Sulvorath.

Mirian resolved to keep thinking about it. For the time being though, she’d go through Marva’s report and continue to lay low and observe.

Back in the dorm, she opened up the envelope. In a private dinner to celebrate the new collaboration, Marva had been able to pat the assistant on the shoulder. It had been enough, and Marva had found Cearsia’s assistant had extensive soul modifications. They’d written that he had an estimated hundred soul marks.

Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

She gaped at the number. The mark is just that—a mark. It doesn’t grant benefits, so why would—?

And then she realized. Agent Nikoline—Specter—hadn’t just bemoaned not being part of the loop idly. She’s giving herself information each loop. She must have chosen some sort of system she could deduce. The marks aren’t part of any language though, and the Luminates only use them sparsely. I doubt I’d be able to decode it, and there’s no way she tells me. But she’s helping Sulvorath because she knows she can control him. That brought up another point. Did Nikoline curse him? Has his mind been manipulated? Does that explain his behavior?

Mirian hadn’t exactly become an expert on curse-breaking, but Arenthia had taught her the basics. But if I confront him and remove whatever she’s added to his soul, that would also reveal my capabilities in soul magic. He could be acting under his own power, and if that’s the case, all I’d do is tip him off to an area he’s weak in. The longer he stays ignorant of soul magic, the better for me. And any other time travelers he discovers. Did he really discover others besides the southern traveler?

The name at the top of the document read ‘Troytin Pratting.’ Since Sulvorath—Troytin—hadn’t talked to Marva, they’d asked Cearsia, who apparently had a very low opinion of her ‘assistant.’

She made a face. That’s his real name? Well, I certainly know why he used a pseudonym.

That was good news though. She could start to get Nicolus’s uncle to learn what he could about Troytin.

Mirian started going through the rest of the documents. Marva—and the other professors they’d talked to—had little information on most of the researchers. They were competent, but no geniuses. The exception, of course, was Archmage Tyrcast. He wasn’t just an archmage, but a genius at spell engines, and apparently, a killer chef. He was happily married to the heiress of Rosen Machining, and through that company, his spell engine designs had become mass produced and popular enough that people used ‘a tyrcast’ as shorthand for an advanced vehicle spell engine. The airship they’d flown in on was apparently using one of his designs.

Luspire envied him like nothing else.

Mirian recalled Archmage Luspire smiling as he greeted Tyrcast with a grin so wide it threatened to crack. Of course. He’d try to hide his envy, and his weakness. The man can’t abide flaws, but even worse is other people knowing about those flaws.

Marshal Cearsia has been quiet through most of the meetings and the dinner. Mirian had learned about her military reputation and tactics from General Hanaran, but very little about her as a person. Marva had asked about her, and the resulting notes read: ‘Fought in Second Battle of Alatishad in Persama. Several combat operations to suppress Dawn’s Peace. Tour of duty in Zhighua, but operations and activities unclear or deliberately withheld. Recent work has been military research. Quick to anger. Staunch patriot. Does not like dinner parties.’

The dossier wasn’t exactly telling her anything she didn’t already know.