Nightfall: Book Two of the Chronicles of Arden (37 page)

Cenric didn’t look up from the table but raised his voice to respond. “We’re going to send it with a cockatrice. With luck, the message will reach the King late tonight so he’ll be prepared for our arrival on the morn.”

Hasain folded his arms across his chest. “With luck, the message will reach my father
at all
. Do you really think Sarpedon will allow us to utilize one of the Northern Empire’s cockatrices after the display in the council chamber earlier?”

The quill resting in Koal’s grasp stopped moving as he lifted his eyes to give Hasain a sharp look. “The Emperor has already agreed to it, Hasain. He said we’re welcome to leave on our own free will.”

“Forgive me for my skepticism,” the young Radek lord growled. “I have placed little faith in the promises of our host.”

Liro marched into the room just then, his own pack slung over one shoulder. He raised his nose into the air as his icy glare landed on Hasain. “Despite your rather uninformed opinion, our hosts have proven to be most civilized. Even after that unruly display in the council room, look at the graciousness His Grace has shown by allowing us to go home. However, the decision to leave without a treaty is, in my opinion, wrong. There’s so much we would stand to gain if we allied ourselves with the Northern Empire.”

Hasain’s glare was as sharp as a dagger. “You’ve acclimated to life in Teivel with such ease, Liro, that I’d almost be willing to mistake your enthusiasm for disloyalty. If you’re enjoying the Empire’s ‘civility’ so much, why not do us all a favor and stay here?”

“How ironic,” Liro smirked. “The son of the traitor speaking of disloyalty.”

Joel held his breath as he watched Hasain ball his hands into fists.
Please, not this again
.

“Enough,” Koal grunted, giving the young lords a withering glare. “Liro, I’ve made my decision. There’s nothing left to discuss with Emperor Sarpedon, the Shiraz princes, or even Chancellor Garron. It’s clear to me they’re all determined to be pitted against us and any treaties or alliances they have offered will only stand to harm our nation while blatantly benefiting theirs. Therefore, we’re returning to Arden.”

“And why is the decision to leave yours alone to make, Father?” Liro countered. “We shouldn’t be so hasty to abandon our mission.”

Koal narrowed his eyes farther, a troubled frown distorting his aging face. He folded the parchment paper and used hot wax to seal it. “NezReth, have this sent to King Rishi immediately.”

At once, the Blessed Mage emerged from the shadows, startling Joel enough to make him jump in place. He hadn’t realized NezReth was even in the room. Koal handed off the message, and NezReth whisked away without a single word.

“I’m going to finish packing,” Koal announced after a moment of uncomfortable silence. As he rose from the chair, his hard gaze settled onto the lounge. “No one is to wander far. Do you understand?”

Joel found himself nodding alongside Hasain. Liro rolled his eyes but kept his mouth shut. His right hand reached up to clasp something hanging from a golden chain around his neck, drawing Joel’s attention. It was an opal of some sort, turquoise in color and as smooth as silk. Liro held the stone in the palm of his hand, caressing it as though it was the most precious treasure in the world.

“What is that?” Joel asked.

Liro’s voice was an eerie calm. “A gift from the Archmage.”

Hasain raised an eyebrow but didn’t say anything. Joel couldn’t keep quiet however and pressed gently, “The Archmage? Are you sure it’s a good idea to be accepting random trinkets from the Northern Empire?”

Liro clamped a fist around the stone. “It’s a focus stone. Archmage Titus gives them to all of his mage students.”

“But you’re not a student.” Hasain did voice his opinion now. “You’re not even an Imperial mage. Why would he decide to bestow such an item on
you
?”

Liro whirled around to glare at the two occupants sitting on the lounge. “The Archmage and I have mutual respect for one another, something you would know nothing about, bastard.”

Hasain snorted. “Well, if that isn’t the pot calling the kettle black.”

Liro’s eyes gleamed in a dangerous way, and Joel found his back pressing against the lounge in an attempt to distance himself from his brother’s wrath.

Cenric tapped a firm hand on the table, efficiently stopping the argument before it had a chance to spiral downward. The ambassador cleared his throat and fixed Liro with a stern stare. “When NezReth returns, you should let him have a look at that—just to make sure it hasn’t been tampered with. We can’t be too careful.”

Liro locked his jaw. “You fools all worry for nothing. I won’t stand here and listen to this idiocy.” He slipped the opal beneath the collar of his mage robe and stormed from the room.

Hasain shook his head. “I’m quite literally counting down the marks until I can remove myself from his presence.”

“Good luck with that.” Joel chuckled as the color slowly returned to his face. “I’m afraid you’ll still have to tolerate each other when you resume your apprenticeships in the council room.”

“I don’t plan on sitting with the understudies much longer. Father informed me before I left that it won’t be long before I’m to sit on the royal council myself. I expect that when a seat next opens, I’ll be the one to take it.”

“If my uncle doesn’t get his way,” Joel reminded. “Neetra is pushing for Liro to sit on the council as well.”

An irritated sigh escaped Hasain’s lips. “I’m not concerned.”

“Maybe you should be. Neetra is High Councilor, after all—”

“And my father is the
King
!” Hasain countered through gritted teeth. “If he says I’m to be on the council, then I am. No one will dare question his judgment!”

Joel smartly held his tongue. Hasain’s clipped voice was proof enough that the young Radek lord was upset.
And rightfully so. He knows he shouldn’t count his chickens before they hatch. He may be the son of the King, but if Neetra’s able to rally the council, Liro could very well steal the next available seat right out from under Hasain’s nose
.

Hasain still glowered as he took to his feet. “I’m going for a walk.”

Joel began to protest. “But my father said—”

“I won’t be going far. I just need to—to get out of here for a little while.”

Joel bit his lip but could only watch as Hasain swept to the door and disappeared into the hallway. For a moment, he debated following the young lord. Ever since the gladiator tournament, Hasain had been more withdrawn than Joel had ever before witnessed.
Not that he’s generally chipper under normal circumstances. But I don’t recall a time he’s been so moody and unpredictable either
. Being in such a hostile environment was clearly taking its toll on him.

Joel sighed, looking to his mentor. “Do you think I should go after him?”

“No. Let him be,” Cenric replied. A faint, pained smile flitted across his face. “Hasain is under an immense amount of stress. It’s not easy having fingers pointed and accusations thrown at you for over a moonturn. I imagine his patience must be growing thin.” The ambassador chuckled. “And we both know Hasain Radek never had much patience to begin with.”

Joel tried not to grin. “You must have had quite the time when he was your understudy a year ago. Was it difficult getting him to keep his opinions to himself?”

Cenric laughed as he came over to sit on the lounge beside Joel. “On the contrary, Hasain was quite reserved. I suspect homesickness played a part. His decision not to pursue an ambassador’s life came quite easily. Though there was one time he made a snide remark to Sovereign Khalfani Heru and I full-heartedly believed the ruler would have had us both carted to the middle of the desert and left stranded there beneath the Gyptian sun.” Cenric wiped a tear from his eye in between fits of laughter. “Oh, the look on Hasain’s face when he realized his error was priceless. I don’t believe I’ve ever witnessed an understudy more eager to return to Arden.”

“I don’t know,” Joel replied, staring at his feet. “I’m pretty damned excited to go home.”

“Mm, I think we all are.”

Joel blinked, lost in his own tumultuous thoughts. Before coming to the Northern Empire, he’d been so certain he wanted to be an envoy—he’d even sacrificed his life with Gib to pursue the dream—but the reality of an ambassadorial life was so utterly different than he ever imagined. He could barely stomach the negotiations and endless council sessions, and the changes he’d hoped to bring would likely never see fruition. He’d dreamed of peaceful talks between nations but had witnessed only shouting and slandering. Where were the trade agreements and treaties of comradery he’d wanted to help create? Why was he returning to Arden with only a broken spirit? This wasn’t the way he’d pictured any of this playing out.

A hand squeezed his shoulder, drawing Joel’s attention back to the present. Cenric gazed at him, concern lingering in his hazel orbs. “Is everything all right?”

Joel thought to lie but knew his mentor would know the deceit for what it was.
He knows me too well. I have to tell him what’s really on my mind
. With a deep sigh, he met Cenric’s eyes and admitted the truth. “I hope you won’t be incredibly disappointed in me, but—I’ve been thinking that perhaps—perhaps I no longer wish to become an ambassador.”

A deafening silence followed his confession, and for a brief moment, Joel mistook the mentor’s stillness for anger. But then, a warm smile broke across Cenric’s face and the hand touching Joel’s shoulder gripped a bit tighter. “I know. I could tell you had a change of heart.”

Joel shifted his gaze to the marble floor, guilt eating his innards and making it impossible to maintain eye contact with the older man. “I feel like I’ve wasted your time—that it’s all been for nothing. I feel like I’ve disappointed you.”

Cenric’s eyebrows knitted. “You didn’t waste anyone’s time, least of all mine. This journey is
yours
, Joel. It’s never been about whether or not you want to be an envoy—it’s about discovering your interests, your passions, emotional growth and maturity, and deciding the kind of man you want to be when your internship comes to an end. Those are the things that matter. Those are the reasons I take an understudy every year. It’s not about recruiting young men and women to serve as Ardenian envoys. I don’t give a damn what my underlings go on to do, so long as they’re happy, so long as they’re making a difference in the world. I suppose I can rest easy tonight.”

Joel’s thoughts were a jumble of feelings. “What do you mean?”

“Because
you
, my friend,
will
make a difference. You’ll leave a mark on the world, even if you don’t believe it now. Humanity will be a better place because you’re a part of it. And that’s all I could ever ask for. I’m honored to be your mentor.”

A wave of emotion rolled over Joel. It was a strange, confusing mix of sadness, uncertainty, and triumph that he didn’t have the will or desire to decipher.
I don’t even know where to go from here. I know I still want to help people. I want to be a good person. I just want to do it surrounded by my family and friends, not a thousand leagues from home
. A single tear slipped from the corner of one eye as Joel nodded once, slowly. “Thank you for placing so much faith in me, even if I keep none for myself. I don’t know what I’ll do with myself when we get home. I had this grand dream of being a renowned ambassador, but now that I’ve realized it’s not the life I want, I don’t know how I’m going to change the world.”

“You’ll figure it out,” Cenric replied, giving Joel’s back a pat. “No one ever said you needed to be an envoy in order to make the world a better place. Look at all the good things people like your father, Dean Marc, and your companion Gib are doing right inside Silver City! It only takes one tiny little pebble thrown into stagnant water to create a ripple that affects the entire lake.”

“Yes,” Joel said, wiping the moisture from his eyes. “I guess you’re right.”

Cenric gave one final thump on the shoulder before excusing himself, leaving Joel alone to ponder his mentor’s words. Deep down, he knew Cenric was right, but still the guilt ate at his heart.
I caused so much grief by coming, and now I’ll have to make amends when I go home—if it’s not too late
. Joel’s heart pounded in his ears. Gib would forgive him, wouldn’t he?

A rustling sound from the terrace caught his attention. Joel turned toward the noise and blinked in surprise when Kirk Bhadrayu appeared in the open doorway. The mage trainee looked gaunt and frightened, skin a pasty white against his disheveled brown locks.

Joel immediately rose from the lounge and swept over to the trainee. “Kirk? What’s the matter?”

“I need to talk to you,” Kirk replied, chest heaving.

Joel’s frown deepened. Had Kirk run the entire way there?

“I swear, it’s of the utmost importance. Will you hear me out?”

“Yes, of course.” Joel motioned for the other man to come inside.

Kirk stepped into the suite, the shadows cloaking his pale face but not completely disguising the terror in his eyes. “Th–thank you.”

“What happened?” Joel asked. “Is this something to do with your sister?”