Night Guest (3rd month of Autumn, 29th day)

  Kedi was working late when the servant reported that Negli had just ridden through the gate.

  "Was there a raven?"

  "No, Master. He just arrived without notice."

  "Take him to the dining room and bring something to eat."

  "But we didn't prepare anything."

  "Ale, bread, cold meat — that's enough. Go."

  When he entered the dining room, Negli was already there, sipping ale.

  "Did something happen?" Kedi asked.

  "Hello to you too. Yes, something happened. Sit."

  "Shall I call for Xia?"

  "No. Not her, not Kemi. I think you should hear it yourself first."

  That couldn't be good. Kedi sat and gestured for him to go on.

  "The Tower recruited me to spy on you."

  "What?"

  "You heard me. The Magistrate wants to dig up some dirt on Vemer, all under the pretense of the Tower's investigation into necromancy. Berenji even bribed me to do it — quite handsomely, I might add."

  "And you agreed?"

  "Of course I agreed. They'd suspect me otherwise. That'll buy us time."

  "What kind of dirt are we talking about?"

  "Necromancy, forbidden magic, stuff like that. But as far as I understand, any crime will do. The Magistrate just wants leverage. He must have gotten wind of your little road tax project."

  "And your plan is?"

  "My plan is to fail at spying. Feed Berenji excuses, stall for time. But there's a problem with the fairy. For my plan to work, I need to catch another grave fairy."

  Kedi didn't even want to know why.

  "Why not tell Xia?"

  Negli shrugged. "Such things break trust. I know you're cool-headed, but I'm not sure about the others. Tell them if you must, but I'd advise keeping it between us."

  "Why did you come without notice?"

  "Didn't want my visit to be known. The Tower and the Magistrate are after you, Kedi. Raven mail isn't safe anymore."

  "Am I to expect an Inquisition squad soon?"

  "No, not soon at least. Don't worry — we'll get through this. The worst that could happen is Berenji recalls me and sends someone else. But let's hope it doesn't come to that."

  "How much did he pay you?"

  "Five hundred and the position of Chief Arcanist."

  "Impressive."

  "Yes. But the position hinges on his own promotion, so it's a pie in the sky."

  Kedi sighed.

  "Pass me the ale, will you?"

  Negli slid the jug across the table, and Kedi poured himself a cup. He studied Negli's face — something was different. His expression was too relaxed, almost serene, a glimpse of the younger Negli he once knew.

  "You seem remarkably calm for someone betraying the Tower."

  "Elated, actually," Negli said with a mirthless smile. "Makes me wonder why I endured them for so long." He lifted his cup in a loose, mocking toast. "Freedom."

  Kedi raised his own cup in reply. "Don't get drunk on it," he said.

  Supper (3rd month of Autumn, 31st day)

  Two days later, Aya was suddenly assigned to Kemi's team, riding at his side on every patrol. Kemi forbade her from bringing Ixi along, leaving the fairy behind at the mansion. He said he didn't need Aya for scouting.

  "She's not made for scouting," Kemi said once they were out in the open, accompanied by eleven other riders. "I'd use her for interrogations, but Kedi objects. He and Xia are very protective of her. Any idea why?"

  "I don't, my lord."

  "Negli's obsessed with studying, Xia's our mother hen, but what my brother sees in you is a mystery."

  "I don't know, my lord."

  "Yes, knowledge isn't your strong suit. Has Rasa taught you advanced strengthening yet?"

  "Just the basic exercises — power flow and such."

  "Good. Study it well. It's more of a warrior's subject, but it'll still be useful. Might save your life one day. You know you can parry swords and spears with your bare hands using it? Drains a lot of power, though."

  A raven landed on a mage's gloved hand. The mage listened to the bird, then called out:

  "Enemy scouts to the south, riding east along the border."

  "Excellent. Send ravens to the other groups — we're going to capture them. Let's hunt some elves, Aya. Aya, zap them at full strength when in range. Understood?"

  "Yes, my lord."

  "Don't 'my lord' me during combat. Everyone else, return fire only if you're in danger. I want them alive. Let's go!"

  They galloped southeast at a wild pace. The plan was to cut off Tezir's scouts from their border, drive them into Vemer's territory, and encircle them there. Two other squads assisted. By the time the enemy noticed, one squad was already pursuing them. To avoid being intercepted, the scouts veered north, aiming to slip between two hills — only to find a third group lying in wait at the exit. As Kemi's squad closed in, the enemy hesitated.

  Aya struck first, zapping one of them. The woman wavered in her saddle and fell. Panic broke out among the rest. They tried to scatter but were quickly subdued.

  "Good," Kemi said. "But you don't have to take orders so literally. The goal was to stop them from fleeing. Since we caught them cleanly, there was no need."

  "I didn't know."

  "Never mind. It comes with experience."

  The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

  The four captured riders turned out to be peasant bandits. Their hands were tied, and they were brought back to the mansion. Aya braced herself for another brutal interrogation, but Kemi simply ordered them thrown into the barn.

  "Don't look so scared," he chuckled. "I don't need to frighten them — that'll happen by itself."

  Aya didn't understand what he meant. Most patrols returned early that day, anticipating the important events of tomorrow. In the evening, Negli — who had been away for two days — returned with two servants and a great deal of baggage. Soon after, Aya was summoned to the strangest supper of her life.

  Present were Kedi, Kemi, Negli, Xia, and herself. Food was served, but no servants were in sight. Kedi began with a speech:

  "I want to share the current state of our affairs.

  First, Lord Negli Idewald is now our close ally and will live here at the mansion for the foreseeable future. He'll observe Aya's growth, study her magic, and, perhaps, help her improve. He'll also conduct familiar bindings and other magical procedures free of charge, time permitting. So don't hesitate to ask him.

  Second, my sources in Bizenki tell me the Magistrate seeks to incriminate us. Exaggerated rumors about Ixi have already reached the city. We can expect accusations of necromancy. The Tower may become involved. Therefore, I forbid any mention of necromancy — including rumors or jokes concerning Aya. We have no connection to necromancy. We don't even use the word. Ixi is Aya's familiar, nothing more.

  Third, our neighbor, Lord Tezir, is playing a dangerous game. He has collected all the grain from his villages under the pretense of safeguarding it. He promises to distribute it as needed — and so far he has kept that promise, if barely. But I suspect he doesn't have enough grain to last the winter. Meanwhile, he's indirectly arming desperate peasants and encouraging raids on neighboring lands. We've confirmed this with five different captives. We suspect he may target us in the future, so our forces are on high alert. I warned him, but he denies everything.

  Fourth, we've negotiated a treaty between Xeren, Tezir, and ourselves to tax grain caravans headed to Bizenki. The three houses control the road. We'll build a checkpoint where our borders meet and unload the grain there. Each house will receive a share proportional to its population. The quotas are designed to get everyone through the winter. The Bizenki merchant guild — reluctantly — agreed. The Magistrate, however, objects and continues to lodge complaints, though he has yet to resort to violence.

  Finally, tomorrow I'll ride to the checkpoint to sign the treaty, taking a small force. Xeren's forces will be present, so I don't expect an ambush. Kemi will remain in charge here. In my absence, he is the head of the house, and everyone will obey him. Tomorrow is critical for our future, so stay vigilant.

  Now, let's drink to our success."

  The cups clinked, and everyone drank. The wine was sweet and tangy — a strange taste Aya had never experienced before.

  "Let's eat. Feel free to discuss or ask questions," Kedi said, beginning his meal.

  "Nice speech, brother," Kemi said with a chuckle. "Funny how we're caught between the Tower, two madmen, and the threat of starvation. And with a rogue warlock in our midst."

  "The Magistrate is hardly a madman," Negli noted. "And I'm flattered — but I am not that rogue, I am average by warlock standards."

  "By the second madman, you mean Tezir?" Xia asked. "What if he attacks us?"

  "Then it will be war," Kemi said. "I'd actually like that."

  "Why not attack him first?" Negli asked.

  "Brother says we'd lose the Conference's support if we did."

  "I know a few ways to provoke them without seeming guilty," Negli said, slicing into his meat.

  Kemi raised his cup in salute. "Good man. Looking forward to working with you."

  Kedi gave a grim smile. "Let's sign the treaty first. If Tezir murders me, then you may do as you please."

  "Don't joke like that," Xia said. "How certain are you about the Magistrate's intentions?"

  "Almost certain," Kedi said. "He never hid his disdain in all those official complaints. He thinks we act too boldly, that we've forgotten our place — as if we're supposed bow to him."

  "In his eyes, we want too much," Kemi added. "He thinks we should just squeeze our peasants dry and accept that half of them will starve."

  Kedi nodded. "That's exactly how he sees it. But for me, that could never be the right choice."

  "The time may come when there are no right choices," Negli said.

  "If that time comes," Kedi said, "I'll choose my family over everyone else. But I'd prefer that time never comes."

  Signing (3rd month of Autumn, 32nd day)

  The morning greeted Aya with a whirlwind of activity: warriors in armor, mares saddled in the yard, Kedi dressed for the occasion, and Kemi issuing orders. Soon after, Kedi departed for the treaty signing, accompanied by a squad of twelve led by Rasa. Negli, clad in his warlock garb, came along. The day before, he had offered his company, arguing that his presence would imply Tower endorsement, even if left unspoken — and Kedi had agreed. Together, they rode through the south gates, heading southeast toward the checkpoint.

  Back at the mansion, Kemi gathered the remaining forces in the courtyard: about fifty men and women — a mixture of warriors, mages, and guards. The day seemed lighter than usual. The grey and purple clouds drifted paler and farther away, or perhaps it only felt that way because of the restless energy filling everyone. Standing before the assembled soldiers, Kemi gave a short speech:

  "Today, Master Kedi departed for the signing of the treaty. Our task is to guard the border while he is away. As you know, Lord Tezir has been stirring trouble. He's amassed a peasant militia, and his warband has been seen near the border. We must show them this land is ours. Be wary, be vigilant, and be brave. They might try to provoke you. Keep to our side of the border — don't let them draw you out. Don't let them wedge between our squads either. For every incursion, answer with appropriate force. Conserve strength, conserve magic. Prepare for a long day in the field. Gods be with us."

  He ended with a warrior's salute, and the soldiers responded with a joint war shout. The squads moved out soon after. Aya remained with Kemi's squad, stationed in the rear as a tactical reserve. The mansion was left barely guarded, protected only by younger recruits. The gates were closed and barred.

  Kemi allowed Aya to take Ixi with her but warned her to keep the fairy out of combat. For hours, they stood in position or shifted slightly to keep the mares warm. Ravens came and went, carrying messages. Staying close to Kemi, Aya heard all the reports: armed squads on Tezir's side shifting positions, some even probing into Vemer's territory. Vemer, it turned out, had hastily raised a militia as well, though poorly armed and used mostly for roadblocks.

  Time dragged. The cold seeped through cloaks and armor, numbing fingers and faces. Finally, word came that the treaty was signed, and Kedi's squad was returning. Did they really need seven hours just to sign a paper? As if reading Aya's thoughts, Kemi said:

  "Took their time. Don't relax yet — wait until they're back."

  "Does it always take that long?" Aya couldn't help but ask.

  Kemi shrugged. "Sometimes. Diplomats love their speeches. And I suspect lawyers were involved, proofreading every word before signing. Maybe Tezir tried to haggle for quotas at the last minute."

  "Why him? Couldn't it have been Xeren?"

  "Unlikely. Xeren's better off than either of us. He doesn't need more. He's chasing fame these days — wants to be a peacekeeper."

  "But it was Master Kedi who organized it all. Why would it boost Xeren's reputation?"

  "Xeren's bigger than us. Nobles will assume he was the driving force behind the treaty. Kedi doesn't mind. That's the price of Xeren's support."

  Kedi Returns

  Kedi rode through the southern gates, followed by his entourage. As soon as he dismounted, Xia appeared on the porch. He caught her gaze — unhappy, pained even — but her words were curt:

  "Welcome home, my lord."

  He climbed the porch stairs and embraced her tightly.

  "I'm sorry. Tezir acted up," he whispered into her ear.

  "That's all right. Did it work?" she asked.

  "It worked. Let's speak inside."

  Kemi returns

  A raven from the mansion brought news: Kedi had returned. The squads began to pull back, leaving only lookouts behind. On the other side, Tezir's forces did the same. Whatever message Tezir had wanted to send, he had sent. Besides, his poorly dressed peasants must have been freezing after hours in the field. The true winter cold hadn't struck yet, but the hours of stillness had seeped into everyone's bones. Kemi's squad rode back last. In the yard, Kedi came out to meet them.

  "Everything good, brother?" he asked.

  "They tested us a bit, but it came to nothing. How's your treaty?"

  "All's well. Tezir was troublesome, but we convinced him in the end."

  Kemi gave a short nod. "Let's see if it holds."

  Checkpoint (3rd month of Autumn, 37th day)

  Over the following days, Aya's training resumed, though the atmosphere in the mansion had changed. A caravan checkpoint was being hastily constructed in an abandoned village. Recruited peasant builders restored a handful of village houses, where they now lived alongside a small detachment of guards. Five prisoners were pardoned on the condition that they join the laborers. Aya watched the steady flow of people and freight with growing disinterest in her own routines. Training felt dull and repetitive. The patrols, however, offered a welcome change — especially when they passed near the checkpoint: a chaotic sprawl of tents and half-built structures.

  A week later, the first caravan arrived. The caravan master argued vehemently, refusing to accept the documents presented, despite the official seals of the Bizenki merchants' guild.

  "This is robbery! I know nothing of this!" he shouted.

  He even made a show of turning back, but Tezir's forces blocked his path.

  "You don't pass unless you pay the tax," their captain said matter-of-factly.

  All three lords had brought troops for the occasion, trapping the merchant between their territories with nowhere to go. The caravan's guards stood no chance against the combined forces, and the merchant finally yielded. Though fuming and complaining, he meticulously completed the paperwork, collecting silver and receipts. The first grain was unloaded, portioned, and sent to each lord's mansion.

  Aya hadn't witnessed the event firsthand, but the tale was told again and again in the lounge by rotating guards. The patrols also brought good news — tensions along the border were easing. A cautious hope began to take root in people's hearts.