The Copper Gauntlet (Magisterium #2)(28)

“He wouldn’t,” Call said quickly. “I am totally, completely sure my dad isn’t working for the Enemy of Death.”

“But then why would he — ?” Tamara shook her head. “I don’t get it. Your dad hates magic. Why would he be trying to power an Alkahest if he wasn’t trying to …”

Call was starting to panic. Why wouldn’t Tamara believe him? Some small part of him knew that missing the piece of the story where Call was the Enemy of Death, it was hard to come up with a reason Alastair might want the Alkahest that didn’t have to do with Aaron.

“He hates the Magisterium,” Call said, balling his hands into fists under the table. “Maybe he just wants to freak out the mages. Scare them.”

“Maybe he wants to kill the Enemy,” suggested Aaron. “Maybe he’s trying to get rid of him so you will be safe.”

“The Enemy’s been around for dozens of years,” said Tamara. “And Alastair just got this idea? And it’s a coincidence that the minute a new Makar shows up, he starts working on a Makar-killing device?”

“Maybe he’s trying to get rid of me so Call will be safe,” Aaron said, his green eyes darkening. “I nearly got both of you killed when they kidnapped me, and Call did agree to be my counterweight. That’s dangerous.”

“Like Call said, Alastair hates mages,” said Tamara. “I don’t think he cares about the war. If he brings the Magisterium down, then Call won’t have to go here anymore, and that’s what he wants more than anything.” She bit nervously on her thumbnail. “We have to tell someone.”

“What?” Call sat bolt upright. “Tamara, I swear, Alastair is not working for the Enemy!”

“So what?” Tamara said, an edge to her voice. “He’s trying to steal a dangerous magical device. Even if your dad just wanted to keep it around so he slept better at night, the Alkahest is too valuable and too deadly. What if the Enemy knew he had it? He’d kill your dad and take the Alkahest. Telling the other mages will help protect him.”

Call hurled himself to his feet and began to pace back and forth. “No. I’ll go to my dad and tell him I know his plan. That way he won’t be able to go through with it, and the Alkahest will stay safe.”

“That’s too risky,” Aaron said. “Your dad was going to cut out Havoc’s heart. I don’t think you should go anywhere near him alone. He threw a knife at you, remember?”

“He was throwing it to me,” Call said, even though he no longer knew if he believed that.

Tamara let out a long breath. “I know you don’t want to get your dad in trouble, but he did this to himself.”

“He’s my dad,” said Call. “I should be the one to decide.” He looked at Tamara. Her dark eyes were fixed on him. Call took a deep breath and played his last card. “You swore you’d keep my secret. You swore on your honor.”

Tamara’s voice broke. “Call! What if you’re wrong about him wanting to hurt Aaron? What if you’re wrong about your father? You might be. We don’t always know our family members the way we think we do.”

“So you were lying,” Call said. “You lied to my face. You don’t have any honor.”

Aaron got to his feet. “Guys, come on —”

“Look, I’m going to tell Master Rufus,” Tamara said. “I know you don’t want me to, and I know I said I wouldn’t, but I have to.”

“You don’t have to,” Call told her, his voice rising. “And if you cared about other things besides getting ahead in the Magisterium, you wouldn’t. You’re supposed to be my friend. You’re supposed to keep your word.”

“Aaron’s your friend!” she shouted. “Don’t you even care what the Enemy might do to him?”

“If Call says his dad isn’t working for the Enemy, I believe him,” Aaron said hurriedly. “I’m the one in danger, so it should be my choice —”

Tamara’s face was scarlet and there were tears in her eyes. Call realized that no matter what, she would always choose Aaron over him. “You’ll just let yourself be put in danger!” she yelled. “It’s who you are! And Call knows it.” She whirled on Call. “How dare you take advantage of that. I will tell Master Rufus. I will. And if something happens to Aaron because of the Alkahest, then it’s — it’s your fault!”

She turned and bolted out of the room. Call realized he was breathing as hard as if he’d been running. And in another second, he was running, racing after Tamara.

“Havoc,” he yelled. “Come on! Get her! I mean, don’t hurt her. Only maim her a little!”

Havoc gave a howl, but Aaron — after giving Call a thoroughly disgusted look — grabbed for his collar. The Makar threw himself on the wolf while Call skidded out into the corridor just in time to see Tamara’s braids whipping around the end of the hall. He started after her, but he knew that with his leg, he could never catch up.

Fury bloomed inside his chest as he ran. Tamara was untrustworthy and terrible. He’d expected his friends to be angry, but not to betray him. Fiery darts of pain shot up his leg; he slipped and fell to his knees, and for a moment — just a moment — he thought of what exactly he would do if he could have two working legs, if he could leave the pain behind him. What would he do for that? Would he kill for it? Would he stop caring about his Evil Overlord list?