Fated

‘We don’t know. It’s bad out here, Verus. We’ve got dozens injured and at least three of the security staff are dead; Onyx went through them like a buzz-saw. Everyone we can spare is on medical detail or digging out survivors or on guard, and we still haven’t linked up with everyone. Everyone was in the wrong place, it’s as though—’ Talisid checked and then went on. ‘I was with Ilmarin – he’s an air mage, one of the ones in the Great Court. He told me he felt something go after Onyx’s group during the attack. Completely invisible, both to the eye and to magic. The only reason he could sense it was by the displaced air. He has no idea what it was.’

I closed my eyes again. ‘Perfect,’ I said once I’d got myself under control. ‘Anything else while you’re at it?’

‘You know what it was?’

‘It’s called Thirteen. She works for Levistus. I don’t suppose you can give us any sort of help?’

‘If the portal’s still open—’

Luna spoke up. ‘It’s not.’

Talisid looked at her, then back at me. ‘We might be able to jury-rig the thing with some kind of worldgate. If we can follow the trace—’

‘Can you get that done in four hours or less?’ I said.

Talisid was silent. I sighed. ‘I’ll take that as a no. Anything else?’

‘I’m sorry,’ Talisid said. ‘I wish I had some better news.’

‘I wish you did too.’

‘I’ll call you as soon as we learn anything.’

‘Please don’t. The last thing we need is our phone going off when we’re trying to avoid attention. We’ll call you.’

Talisid nodded. ‘Good luck.’ The communicator winked off.

I didn’t move. ‘What did you mean about the invisible thing?’ Luna asked after a moment.

‘Some sort of modified air elemental Levistus uses. I’m just wondering if that’s all he’s got.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘The Council guards shouldn’t have done that badly,’ I said. ‘They were outclassed, but not that outclassed. And the way they were deployed, with no one between the Great Court and the statue … I think someone was trying to make sure the attack got through.’

Luna frowned. ‘You mean Levistus? Why would he want to do that?’

I remembered Levistus’ words from the ball, delivered with just a trace of a smile: ‘I have many agents, Mr Verus. Rest assured, they will be making sure everything goes to plan.’

My heart sank. ‘Oh, crap.’

‘What’s wrong?’

‘Luna, was there anyone who stayed near the statue all the time you were there? As in, never going away for long?’

Luna looked puzzled. ‘I suppose.’

‘Who?’

‘Sonder and Griff.’

‘No one else?’

‘I don’t think so. Why?’

‘Because the only reason Levistus would want Morden’s attack to go through would be so he could get his own people inside as well.’

Luna looked at me for a few seconds, then her face changed. ‘Sonder?’

I didn’t say anything. Luna looked out into the corridor after Sonder, then turned back with an uneasy look on her face. ‘Wait. No. Griff was the one who was supposed to be in charge of security, right? Isn’t it more likely to be him?’

‘Who says it’s only one of them?’

Luna started to answer then stopped.

‘I don’t like the idea either,’ I said quietly. ‘But I don’t think Levistus would rely on just Thirteen. He’s got agents and he’ll have used them. You’re right; Griff sounds more likely, but he’s not here and Sonder is. Until we get out of here, watch your back.’

We sat quietly for a moment, thinking. The torches cast Luna’s face in shadow, making it hard to know what she was thinking. ‘We don’t have many friends here, do we?’ Luna said at last.

‘What about Starbreeze?’

‘I called her. She came the first time, but when she saw me she ran away again. I called her again when I heard you coming but …’

I’d been searching through the futures and as I did I felt my spirit lift. I smiled. ‘Huh.’

‘She’s here?’

‘She’s here. Looks like we’ve got one friend after all.’

All of a sudden the lights came on. Luna and I stood up, blinking, and from out in the corridor I heard Sonder call excitedly, ‘I did it!’

The room we were standing in was off-white, with a high ceiling. The edges of the walls and floor were rounded slightly so as to show no corners, making the room oddly featureless, and circular patches on the ceiling shed a bright light. I could sense that the lights were magical, which confirmed that this place was very, very old. Like I said, creating permanent magical items is a real hassle. It’s far less effort to use modern technology, which means the only places that use permanent effects like this are ones that were created before modern technology. Luna and I walked to the exit to see a curving corridor. Up ahead, we could just see that it opened into a T-junction. ‘Good job,’ I told Sonder as we approached.

‘I thought that would work,’ Sonder said. He looked pleased with himself. Next to him was the control panel he’d used to activate the lights. I touched my hand to the panel and focused, working out what Sonder had done. Meanwhile, Luna was looking around curiously. ‘What is this place?’