The Crimson League (The Herezoth Trilogy) (48 page)

Kora did not notice Laskenay transport from the loft. She glanced up to see that Neslan, as silent as the rest of them, had joined their huddle. A few minutes later, the other sorceress returned. “When will it be?” Kora asked.

“Next week. Ten days from now.”

“Where?”

“The apartment in Yangerton.”

Over the next few days, Kora spoke many times with Neslan about the meeting. Lanokas, slighted at first by his exclusion from the conference, eventually admitted he trusted Neslan to represent him before the enemy, and offered decent advice as usual. He pressed Kora once or twice to track Zalski, but she refused with such vehemence he let the subject die. It was healthier, she insisted, not to know the extent of Zalski’s ire.

When not with the two nobles, Kora spent her time with her brother. He went with her to the riverbank when she had to wash clothes or fetch water, and she helped him practice the spells she had taught him before Zalski’s raid. His shield spell soon grew solid. She tried a few times to speak of his going into hiding, but he was obstinate, and for the time being, Kora judged it best not to argue.

When apart from Kora, Zacry made it a point to be Bendelof’s helper; the girl had become a second sister to him. Kora asked her to hint to Zacry he should give up his plans of revenge, hoping his respect for Bennie would open his mind a bit. No luck.

Laskenay offered to take Bendelof to the Miracle Pool, saying she had been there once before, with a grandmother. Bendelof resisted for a while—the Pool was her only chance, what if it failed? What if Zalski had guards there?—but Kora suspected she refused, deep down, for other reasons. Without her sight, Bennie would not feel guilty walking away. Without her sight, she would have an excuse for betraying her old worldview. Only after five days, and after Laskenay ascertained they would be safe, did Bennie allow the sorceress to transport her to the healing waters. She came back able to see.

“I’m staying,” she told Kora that night. “A part of me wishes the Pool hadn’t worked, as horrible as that sounds, but since it did, I’m staying. I can’t let him get away with what he did to Zac. What he let that woman do to Kansten. I can’t just forget that. I won’t let myself forget that.”

445

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Of Minors and Menikas

The day of the conference came all too soon: after Bendelof regained sight, but before Zacry could be relocated; before Menikas established any kind of contact; before Kora felt prepared to face the man who had thrown her brother in a prison cell, or what amounted to a prison cell. Nonetheless, that afternoon Kora transported with Laskenay and Neslan back to the Yangerton apartment.

The opposing party had already arrived. To see Zalski leaning against the wall the same way Lanokas used to do made Kora’s stomach churn. Malzin sat with perfect posture in Menikas’s chair, while Argint had chosen a stool. The three stood straight at the apparition of their adversaries, Argint a bit slower than his fellows, and gathered to present a united front. The Leaguesmen followed suit, with Neslan in the middle. The breeze from the broken window ruffled Kora’s hair.

“Laskenay.” Zalski proffered his hand to his sister, though not to her companions. She refused to take it. Unsurprised by her cold reception, the sorcerer did cock a brow when he noticed the man on her right. “Neslan. This is unexpected. And Miss Porteg, of course. My recent visitor. You really should give advance warning before you drop by my humble abode.”

“I gave you the same warning you gave Kansten Carder.”

From the edge of her vision, Kora watched the general. Despite the wig she had worn on her first raid, Argint remembered the only other occasion he had set eyes on her, she was sure of it; he seemed uncertain what to make of the encounter, uncertain whether to grudge or to dismiss it. Malzin, in contrast, fixed her gaze on Laskenay’s faded dress, on her frizzed strands of hair, and looked genuinely taken aback.

“Where is Hune?” asked Zalski.

Laskenay’s voice was flat. “Hune hasn’t come. Nor Rexson. That is all you need to know.”

“I know a good deal more about Hune than I imagine you do, as of yet.”

“Fiddlesticks,” said Kora. Zalski ignored her. His eyes remained locked on his sister’s furrowed brow.

“Hune was spied trying to cross into Podrar.”

“By whom?” demanded Neslan. Kora glanced at Laskenay, whose normally pale cheeks took on a rosy tint. Zalski’s voice was sharp:

“Stop interrupting and I’ll say.”

A dramatic pause. An obedient silence, which placated the sorcerer, who continued, “A company of the guard set upon him and his c
ompanions. Y
ou’re aware I protect city limits
….
It so happens your fellows were subdued. Not before Hune killed a handful of my men, to his credit, but he always did have wretched luck. By pure chance, one of the fallen had a brother present. Now, all soldiers who guard Podrar have strict orders to take you alive, any of you, but this brother attacked Hune after capture.”

“Cleaved his head clean off his shoulders,” said Malzin. Kora raised a hand to her neck. “He beheaded a second rebel before they restrained him, what a name, Bitt something or other….”

“Bidd,” said Neslan. “It was Bidd.” His hands were balled into fists at his side.

Zalski said, “It’s all the same. The soldier broke protocol, which I deem unacceptable. He hanged this morning with your surviv
ing cohorts, the both of them. A
fter that spectacle with Miss Esper, I learned prisoners are more trouble than they’re worth, at least when they ally themselves with the Crimson League.”

Neslan stepped forward. “Hal was barely of age.”

“But he was of age. Anyone capable of killing my general is adult enough to pay for his crimes. You were always reasonable, don’t pretend you can’t concede the point.”

“He’s bluffing,” said Kora. “They weren’t captured. Neslan, step back.”

In response, Zalski opened a small silk sack and tossed a square piece of fabric, dyed yellow and brown, at Kora. Hal’s bandana. It shook in her hand, and she bobbled the next objects he threw to her: a tarnished lockpick, the deck of cards Bidd always carried with him. Zalski then tossed a gold ring, engraved with the coat of arms of the royal family, a ring she had seen Menikas wear on occasion. Kora’s lip trembled, her face gray, while Malzin smirked at Zalski’s side. Laskenay clasped her hands beneath her chin, her face inscrutable. It was Argint who broke the tension.

“Why are we here? What do you think we could possibly negotiate?”

“Especially after our stroke of luck,” said Malzin. “We know what it implies, your losing the heir apparent. You’re royalists.”

Laskenay said, “I had no leverage with Hune alive. His death’s changed nothing. After Kora defaced the Palace, you three will hunt us like never before, which means you’ll find us. Which means in turn that in victory or defeat, this fight will end. That’s why I’m here.”

Malzin studied her sister-in-law with disbelief. “You can’t have fallen so far. You can’t hold the delusion you could triumph.”

“By all means, condescend as much as you like. I have nothing to say to you, I invited you here to have equal numbers. I thought it courteous.” As though to prove her point, Laskenay looked to Malzin’s husband. “You’re the one I need to speak to. I’m appealing to any family sentiment you have. Not for my sake.”

Zalski nodded. “For your son.”

“What are your plans for him?” The boy’s uncle stroked his chin, considering whether to answer. Laskenay prodded, “Zalski….”

“I suppose you have the right to know. Very well: within the year a new program will begin, to test all children for magic. Those found to be gifted will attend a school in Podrar, where they will learn to esteem their talents and train to fill government posts. I myself will train the sorcerers in casting, though casting forms only a part of what they’ll master. When Valkin reaches the age of seven, he can expect no special treatment.”

“I won’t have him brainwashed.” Laskenay walked up to her brother. “I won’t have it.”

Malzin mocked, “You won’t have it? You’ll be rotting in an unmarked grave.”

Laskenay threatened, “I’ll bind his powers. Eliminate them.”

“How, in the name of all that’s holy?”

Zalski hushed his wife with a stiff hand on her shoulder. “The
Librette
.”

Laskenay said, “Should you recognize him by his mark, to find he lacks all magic, will you let him be?”

Malzin rolled her eyes. “Why wouldn’t he? What makes you think your brat holds special interest?”

Laskenay ignored her. “Zalski, I’ve had no contact with him in three years. Nothing. He’ll pose no threat to you because of my influence, I made sure of that. If he cannot cast spells, will you let him grow in peace?”

Zalski looked to be struck dumb. He stood stock still. Then he exploded, “Bind his powers? Are you mad? You can’t take the boy’s natural gifts! He was born with abilities so he could use them. My God, woman, he comes from Brenthor’s line!”

“I’m well aware from whence he comes. He needs protection from whence he comes, protection from you. This is the only way. I’m his mother. The decision to bind his magic belongs to me.”

“Laskenay, you have no right….”

“
You
have no right to counsel me. You are not the boy’s father. You killed the boy’s father. I simply ask whether I can trust you not to interfere in my son’s life.” Zalski said nothing, and Laskenay declared, “You owe me this.”  She seemed intent not to cross the line into begging. “If nothing else, you owe me this for the sake of our youths. It’s no simple request, not for someone who holds your views, but I ask nothing else.”

“I owe you nothing.
You
owe your son a forum to develop the skills he was born with. That, however, seems too much to expect from you, as you clearly still flee from your own.”

“We are not discussing me. I came here to discuss my child.”

Zalski shook his head sadly. Nostalgically. “I wanted you to stand beside me,” he said. “It would have strengthened us both. If there had been the slightest chance of it, I would have offered you anything, a position teaching magic, amnesty for those you named. I wanted your support, Laskenay. I wanted to see my nephew raised by his mother, in a decent home. I’ll say this, I never intended your husband to suffer.”

Laskenay quaked in anger. “You never gave my husband a thought! If you did, it was to plan for him to die that day. He shared my views of sorcery and would have passed them to his son. Admit it, Zalski. Admit it to my face. Which was it?”

Zalski lost his patience; his voice came short and crisp. “I intended Valkin to die, not to suffer. I was merciful in that. The man deserved to suffer for conspiring against his offspring, and you, you chose to spite me of your own volition.”

“You never gave me the chance to do otherwise. Never consulted me.”

“Would you have accepted my offer?”

“I would have had you arrested for high treason.”

“That would be why I didn’t consult you.”

Laskenay grabbed her elbow to stop her arm from trembling. “We’ve changed the subject somehow. Just tell me, will you keep your distance from my son?”

“If
he can cast no spells,” said the sorcerer. “He would be of no use to me then. No use to anyone, in comparison to what he’s called to be. It’s diabolical, what you plan.”

“Now you worry about the boy. After taking his father from him, forcing me to abandon him….”

“I never forced you to do a blasted thing.”

“Do I have your word?”

“You have my word.”

“Your most solemn?”

“Solemn and begrudged.” Laskenay backed away, falling back in line beside Neslan. “What else did you call us here to discuss? You wouldn’t have come as three to speak only of the tot.”

“There’s my brother,” said Kora.

“Ah.” Zalski nodded. “Indeed there is. Master Zacry Porteg. If you’re still enough of an imbecile to keep him with you, I suggest for his sake you find some other arrangement.”

Anger flashed over Neslan’s face. “Bidd and Hal may have been of age. Zacry Porteg’s a minor and will be for years to come.”

“Calm yourself, I’m not threatening the boy. But I imagine Miss Porteg would want to spare him the trauma of seeing his sister die. Consider Hune’s fate a timely warning, all of you. It’s against my better judgment I don’t kill you here and now.”

Neslan said, “You don’t kill us now because we set conditions in that letter. You agreed to them when you met us here. You’re a man of principles, you always have been.”

Kora could not stop herself. “A man who imprisoned a twelve-year-old! Zacry’s twelve! Neslan, whose side are you on?”

Neslan continued, unflustered. “A man who, I’m sure, is willing to work to some kind of compromise, so that Zacry’s past misfortunes don’t repeat themselves. No one wishes that upon him, do we agree?”

“Of course we agree,” said Zalski. “But the problem’s complex. He’s shown himself quite stubborn and quite willing to work against me.”

Neslan said, “If he detests you, you made it so.”

“I fully believed he would come to his senses and agree to become my pupil.”

“But he didn’t,” said Kora.

“You never gave him the necessary time.”

“Did you expect me to sit back and let you browbeat him ‘til he gave in? You’re a bully. A grand bully, and you, you justify everything to yourself, don’t you?”

Argint spoke for only the second time that day. “This is getting us nowhere.”

“So it isn’t,” said Zalski.

Kora started to respond, irate, but Neslan calmed her by squeezing her hand. She let him speak for her, as difficult as that was, reminding herself why Laskenay had asked him there.

“Zacry Porteg is a sorcerer. I believe, by your mindset, the fact entitles him to certain considerations. We’ll do all within our power to ensure his distance from us, and from our cause. He’s simply too young.”

“However….” Malzin pressed.

“However, Zalski, you yourself noticed a mulish quality about him. He can’t be led easily. Should he act despite our precautions—and we will take precautions—we ask amnesty for any deed you may deem criminal. Any crime he should commit while underage, I mean to say.”

Zalski said, “I still dare to hope for great things from Mr. Porteg. He
will
attend my school.”

“No he won’t,” said Kora.

“He’ll attend my school, or I’ll see to it he leads a miserable life and a short one. No employment, no rooms to rent. He’ll have to beg. The first item he steals will lead to his arrest.”

“This isn’t right,” said Kora. “It’s just not right. You can’t make him pay for the things I’ve done.”

“He’ll receive an education or learn the consequences of lacking one. This has nothing to do with your crimes, Miss Porteg. You’re not nearly as important as you imagine, or as interesting. I simply wish all the empowered to develop their full potential. You don’t plan to strip your brother of his
powers?”

“He’d never stand for it.”

“As he shouldn’t.”

“He wants to use his magic to show we’re not all egotistical, murderous louts.”