Advent (Advent Mage Cycle) (6 page)

“It does indeed. I need to get a copy made before we meet up with the team again.”

Night nodded in vigorous agreement. “
Xiaolang will definitely be happy about this idea. He hates not having a plan.”

That was an understatement. Xiaolang lived for plans. “I expect that we’ll have just enough time to get a copy made before we meet up with the team again.”

My nreesce gave me an odd look. “
But it shouldn’t take more than a day to get that book copied. And the snow won’t melt for another two weeks, at least.”

“If we time it right, we’ll have just enough time to get it copied,” I agreed blandly.

Understanding dawned and Night started snickering. “
You rat, you don’t mean to return to Del’Hain until the snow melts, do you?”

“Guin can’t reach me here,” I pointed out smugly. “And we can hardly leave now, not when Trev’nor hasn’t had a chance to do a proper visit with Roha.”

“
And what about Cora?
”

“They were tasking her just as ruthlessly as they do me. Don’t you think that she’ll want a chance to take a vacation too?”

Night gave an exasperated snort. “
You have this all planned out, don’t you?”

I leaned back onto my hands, smile unrepentant. “Why, yes…I do believe I have.”

~*~

Night’s prophecy about the snow melting within two weeks was dead on. Almost two weeks to the day, the snow started to melt quickly, leaving patches of bare earth and new grass behind. I knew that if the snow was melting here, to the far north of Hain, then it must be completely gone in Del’Hain. The capitol was far to the south of us, after all.

These two weeks had been excellent, as I had anticipated. Roha was delighted with the company and happily played hostess for us. She and Cora became fast friends over their mutual love and expertise with animals. I think Cora learned more about horses and herb lore from Roha than she had in her six months of training at the Academy. During the two weeks, Cora assisted the DauZmor with every patient, helping to heal all injuries. After about a week of this beautiful, charming girl healing everyone, I think the whole tribe was ready to just adopt her.

I was tempted to stay another few days but I could not ignore my duty to Chahir. If the snow was melting here, to the far north of Hain, then it was surely melting in Chahir as well. I had no way to know if there was someone who desperately needed a rescue over there—they might be waiting with baited breath for the roads to clear enough to make an escape. The possibility was real enough to hover in the back of my mind, persistent and troubling. I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong, or that there was something that I needed to be doing.

It was time to end my time here, as enjoyable as it was, and go back to the task I was given.

And so I gathered up boy, Mage, and nreesce readying them for the trip back south. We exchanged thanks and regretful goodbyes with Roha before disappearing into the earth.

Quiet reined the whole trip back. Cora was having an in-depth conversation about something with Night, and Trev’nor focused on the diary again. He couldn’t seem to leave it alone for long.

I pondered on where to go first but since Cora and I both needed to report to Guin—her about the Haru Tribe and the assistance she’d given them, me to explain about Trev’nor’s heritage—I decided we might as well go to the Palace. Besides, I had to give Trev’nor back to his parents anyway.

I brought us up to the surface in the main courtyard. It was becoming something of a habit to come up here. People here didn’t react much anymore, so I assumed they were becoming accustomed to me popping up like this. I turned to look at my passengers.

“Cora? I need to take Trev’nor back to his parents and explain what we learned. If you wish, you can update Guin first.”

She nodded in agreement. “Sounds like a plan.” Dropping to one knee, she exchanged a hug with Trev’nor. “See you later, Trev.”

“Later, Cora,” he agreed while hugging her back.

It took longer than I expected to give Trev’nor back and explain everything discovered. I probably spent a good hour just talking with Alan and Liah. I finally managed to get back out the door by encouraging them to read the diary for themselves. It helped that Night distracted Trev’nor so that I could get a clean getaway. Well, that’s what he told me, at least. I think he chose to stay because playing with Trev’nor was bound to be more interesting than reporting to Guin.

Then when I was free I got the interesting task of hunting down Guin.

My King was not in his usual haunts—not his study, the kitchen, or the library. Not even the pages knew where the man was. That probably meant he had found some obscure corner to eat sweets in, well away from his wife’s eyes.

The man really was going to be four hundred pounds if he kept this up.

I finally gave up and went to Haben’s office. Reporting to the Head of the Jaunten was nearly as good as reporting to the King directly, in my mind. I gave a polite knock on the door before sticking my head in.

“Haben?”

Val Haben looked a little harried, as if he hadn’t gotten a decent amount of sleep in weeks. I’ve never seen the man less than immaculate—I wasn’t quite sure how to react to this slightly rumpled man. He lifted his head, revealing shadows under his eyes. The grey at his temples had expanded as well, taking over his thick dark hair. When he saw me, sheer relief exploded over his face.

“Garth! Finally! Where by the guardians have you been?”

“At the Del Camp,” I responded patiently as I fully entered the room, shutting the door behind me. “Like I said I would be.”

“It shouldn’t have taken you two weeks to get the information you wanted!” he protested, face sliding from delight into a dark scowl.

“No, it didn’t, but I had another problem I had to deal with while I was up there.” Granted, that hadn’t taken two weeks either… The office had so many stacks of reports, maps, and unfiled papers that the small room seemed in imminent danger of being buried in a paper avalanche. Val Haben clearly didn’t want anyone helping him clear up the clutter, either, as thick layers of dust had settled on top of some of the piles. I cleared off a chair and sank into it, sensing this was going to take a while. It was a good thing Night had chosen to stay with Trev’nor a bit longer. He’d be so bored in here he would have started picking at my hair again.

“Ah, yes. That.” Haben’s frown became as dark and forbidding as an approaching storm. “Do you realize that by not telling the Trasdee Evondit Orra, you’ve completely enraged EnNelle of Tain? We’ve been hearing her screeching complaints for weeks.”

“I told O’danne,” I answered calmly.

Haben drew in a deep breath like he was fighting to remain calm. His callused hands pressed against the surface of his desk, wood groaning in protest under his not inconsiderable weight. “Garth, when you borrow another Mage, you need to tell the
whole council
, all right?”

“I know that, Haben. I just didn’t have the time. When Small Rider found me, he told me that their horses were dying.
All
of them, Haben.” I waited for that to sink in a little.

Haben had his mouth open to protest but slowly closed it again. “Was the situation that desperate?”

“Yes. Cora told me that if I hadn’t gotten her there when I did, half the horses would have died before she could get to them. Time was of the essence. I couldn’t afford to wait for a full council to convene—that always takes at least a few hours, as you know.”

He slumped in his chair, rubbing at his temple with one hand. The poor man probably had a whopper of a headache if he’d had to deal with EnNelle of Tain for the past two weeks. “Yes, you’re right.”

“Well, I am sorry if it caused you trouble, though.” I did feel rather bad about that. I considered Haben as a friend of sorts as well as my superior.

He waved the apology away. “That wasn’t the real reason she was upset, anyway.”

Huh? I cocked my head slightly. “Then what was?”

Haben lowered his hand to regard me with narrowed eyes.

“You don’t even realize it, do you?”

Patient. I had to be patient. The man would get to the point, eventually.

“Realize what?”

“How much influence you have with the Mages.”

I wasn’t sure what he was driving at. In the past four months I had spent whatever free time I had—which wasn’t much, granted—helping to train the Mages. Sometimes that meant taking them out into the Hainian countryside and letting them work power there under my supervision. Sometimes it simply meant helping to explain things. During this process, I had become friends with all of them. Considering our common interests and backgrounds, this was rather to be expected.

“Haben, we’re all friends. All things considered, this shouldn’t be much of a surprise.”

Haben shook his head in despair. “You don’t even realize it. Garth.” He sat forward, palms spread flat on the desk. His gaze drilled into mine. “There is not one Mage—and quite a few Witches and Wizards, for that matter—that would not overthrow this kingdom and hand it to you on a silver platter if you asked them to.”

My jaw soundlessly dropped as I jerked upright in alarm. Was he kidding?!

“No, I’m not kidding. Stop gaping like a fish. How can you not realize what’s right there in front of your face?”

I ran a tremulous hand over my forehead, feeling like my world was being tilted under me.

“Haben, I helped most of those Mages, Witches and Wizards to safety. I expected for them to look up to me a little. But what you’re describing…are you sure?”

“Very sure. That’s why EnNelle of Tain is so irritated about this whole incident. She knows very well that if she had made the same request of Hevencoraan, it would not have been as easily accepted.”

I wasn’t as sure of that. Cora was a Life Mage through and through—if she knew that a horse was dying, and needed her help, I was sure she would respond instantly. Granted, I didn’t see anyone happily obeying EnNelle’s orders—but then, the woman wasn’t known to be easy to get along with.

“Hmmm.”

“Forget it,” Haben sighed. “You’ll see what I mean eventually for yourself. For now, what did you find out?”

I ran through all of the discoveries made in the past two weeks, as well as some of my conjectures. Haben listened attentively, taking notes on occasion, but never saying a word. When I was finished, he gave a thoughtful hum.

“So Trev’nor is a Rheben in truth, eh? I always wondered if that were the case. So? Will you leave him with Alan and Liah?”

I hadn’t even questioned that until he asked it. “I think so, yes. It would be cruel to take him away from them, especially considering what good care they’ve already shown him. Besides,” I added practically, “my parents have their hands full already. I can’t imagine that they want another person to keep track of. They already have seven children in that house to manage.”

“Very true. I hoped that would be your answer. I just felt like I had to make sure.” Haben gave a satisfied nod and sank back into his chair again. “Well. While you were gone, we received a letter from Captain De Xiaolang addressed to you.”

Opening a door in his desk, he rummaged around for a moment, finally bringing up a slightly crinkled envelope.

I accepted the letter with some concern. He wasn’t going to tell me that something went wrong up there during the winter, was he? I cracked open the seal, drew out the letter, and started quickly reading it.

Garth,

The snow up here is rapidly melting—so much so that I think we’ll be ready to travel in a week or so. By the time this letter reaches you, I think we’ll be ready to resume our mission in Chahir. Come get us, won’t you? I don’t want to wade in mud all the way to Del’Hain.

There’s a huge open courtyard in front of Headquarters in Ascalon. Come up there. I’ve left word to be expecting you.

De Xiaolang

I smiled with relief when I realized nothing was wrong. He just wanted a ride.

“Xiaolang is ready to resume the mission in Chahir,” I reported to Haben.

“I expected that to happen soon.” He nodded without any surprise. “I’ll update Guin when I find him. Go, Garth.”

I was half out of my chair when I realized there was one thing I needed to know. “Do you know where Chatta is, by any chance?”

“No idea, why?”

“I was hoping you’d be able to save me the time of tracking her down,” I admitted with a wry shrug. “But that’s all right. I’ll see you later, Haben.”

Haben just waved me out, his mind already switching to other matters.

As I walked down the Palace hallway, I considered the best way of finding my friend. Chatta and I hadn’t been able to see much of each other over the past four months, considering that I was out and about most of the time. We’d tried to keep track of each other by mirror communication, though.

Wait, that was a good idea…where was that mirror broach? I paused in my tracks, searching my pockets until I finally located it. Very softly—I was always paranoid about cracking the thing—I touched the surface with a bit of power.

“Chatta?”

“
Garth! I haven’t heard from you in a few days. Are you back in Del’Hain finally?”

What was with the “finally?” You’d think I’d been gone for months instead of weeks. “Yes, I’m back. Where are you?”

From the other end, there was a frustrated growl. “
Stuck doing something for the Trasdee Evondit Orra.”

I wasn’t sure if it was safe to ask for details. “Ah. Well, I just got a letter from Xiaolang. He wants me to come and pick up the team.”

“Now, I suppose. All right. Come get me after you’ve gotten them. I should be done by tonight.”

“Understood. I’ll fill you in on everything when I come back to get you. Do me one favor while I’m gone?”

“
Certainly, what?”

“Make a copy of the Index for me. I think we’re going to find it very handy when we go back into Chahir.”