The Spell Realm (The Sorcery Code #2)(55)
“Blaise’s house in Turingrad is missing,” she said. “Apparently, there is only a hole in the ground where it used to stand. All the townspeople are talking about it.”
“What?” Larn looked surprised. “Somebody knocked down that sorcerer’s house?”
“No,” Dara said patiently. “They didn’t knock it down. It’s just gone. Vanished.”
“Do you think the Council is responsible for this?” Barson asked, puzzled.
“I have no idea,” Dara replied. “It’s just bizarre.”
Barson frowned, trying to figure out why someone would make a house disappear. It was undoubtedly an act of sorcery, but the motivations behind it were unclear.
“Dara, are you sure none of our new allies will betray us?” Larn asked, changing the topic. “After all, it’s one thing to have ambition, and another thing entirely to participate in killing people they know.”
“Well, it’s not like they’ll be killing with their own hands,” Dara retorted. “They will simply be supplying us with the spells and standing by as backup.”
“She’s right,” Barson said, dismissing the mystery of the missing house. “Besides, they are in too deep at this point. As far as the Council is concerned, they’re already traitors. From their perspective, even if they double-cross us, the Council will execute them anyway, for what they have done thus far.”
Except the Council might not exist soon, he thought. Instead of glee, this idea filled Barson with dread. He should’ve found a way to reason with Augusta after all, to get her to stay behind. But it was too late now. The Council had just departed from the Tower.
Dara nodded, bringing Barson out of his dark musings. “Yes, exactly. They have as much to gain as we do. In the new order, they will be the king’s respected advisors, instead of bending over backwards for the little bit of recognition the Council chooses to grant them now.” Her tone held familiar bitterness.
Pushing all thoughts of Augusta aside, Barson patted Dara’s shoulder in a gesture of silent support. His sister wasn’t unique in her feelings. There were many talented sorcerers who had trouble gaining the recognition and respect they felt they deserved. While the current system was supposedly meritocratic, two centuries of political games and the growing longevity of the current Council members meant that there was little room to move up beyond the senior acolyte level. The Council didn’t help matters by treating these people as their lackeys, either. For every success story like that of Augusta, there were dozens of bitter, disappointed acolytes. For all their supposed intellect, these sorcerers knew little of how to rule, Barson thought with contempt. He had no doubt he would do a much better job.
“I also chose them carefully,” Dara continued, looking at Larn. “Each of our allies was interviewed while on Life Capture, and they had no thoughts of treachery.”
“Still, those cowards might change their minds now that the plan is going into action,” Larn muttered under his breath, looking unconvinced. Barson knew that his friend was fully on board, but it was just like Larn to worry right before a big event. His argumentative nature tended to surface at these times as well.
“They will not,” Dara said, reaching over to take Larn’s hand and give it a reassuring squeeze. “I can promise you that. Besides without the Council, these sorcerers are like children without a parent. They’re not used to thinking for themselves.”
“And by the time the Council returns,” Barson said quietly, “if they return at all—we will be ready.”
Chapter 38: Gala
Waking up in the middle of the night, Gala became aware that her mind was inside her body again—and heard Blaise’s quiet, even breathing. He was sleeping beside her, his long body stretched out on the other side of the bed.
She lay there silently, thinking. None of the books she’d read spoke of anything close to what she had experienced. It was mind-altering in a way—mind-expanding, even. It was as though the incredible intensity of pleasure helped her reach new, as-yet-unknown parts of herself. It was strange, yet exciting, and she couldn’t wait to explore it further.
Shifting closer to Blaise, she kissed him gently on the cheek and went back to sleep, her arm draped over his waist.
*
The next time she woke up, it was early morning. Stretching, Gala smiled and quietly got up, not wanting to wake Blaise yet. And in that moment, she felt it.
A sense of danger—of an impending threat.
They had been found.
Her blood froze in her veins. They were coming after her and Blaise. They wanted to hurt, maybe even kill, the man she loved.
She wouldn’t let that happen. She couldn’t stand the thought of putting him in danger, of seeing him get hurt again.
She would protect him at all costs.
Chapter 39: Blaise
Hearing Gala’s movements, Blaise woke up. The events of the prior night invaded his sleep-fogged mind, and a wide smile stretched his lips. The term ‘lovemaking’ couldn’t possibly describe what took place last night. Something transcendent happened between them, something that he had never experienced before. He had felt what Gala was feeling, had joined with her on a level that went beyond the physical. He had gotten a glimpse of her mind, and he saw an incredible depth there, a multitude of layers that were overwhelming in their subtle beauty.