“Maybe later.”
I stepped forward. “In the past, I have used my seeking skills to find kidnapped elven agents and government officials,” I said, out loud. “The last time I checked that kind of thing would earn you a medal, not extradition.”
“Our Khrynsani guests do not share your perspective,” Carnades said.
“I’m sure they don’t.”
Out of the corner of my eye I saw one of the goblin lawyers stand. “Magus Silvanus, if I may?”
Carnades stiffly inclined his head. “Of course.”
“Our presence here is to reclaim a treasured object that was illegally taken from the goblin people. The fear of His Majesty, King Sathrik Mal’Salin, is for the safety and very life of his trusted royal counselor, Grand Shaman Sarad Nukpana. We have signed affidavits from the Khrynsani temple guards who were with Grand Shaman Nukpana the night he was absorbed by the Saghred. Their testimonies confirm that Mistress Raine Benares did knowingly trick our king’s loyal counselor into touching the activated Saghred, resulting in his imprisonment within the stone. The archmagus and the paladin have refused numerous requests to return the Saghred to its legal and rightful owners—the goblin people.”
Mychael stepped forward. “The legality of that claim has been denied repeatedly by the Conclave. The first such claim was made by your government nearly nine hundred years ago. It was denied then, and I am very doubtful that judgment will change now. As I’m sure you are aware, the Conclave of Sorcerers was founded to control and prevent the abuse of magic. Keeping the Saghred in a controlled— and neutral—location is the only way to do that.” He paused meaningfully. “I’m sure you are also aware that neither goblin nor elven laws apply in matters of the Conclave.”
The Khrynsani lawyer slowly sat down, never taking his black eyes from Mychael. Once seated, he spoke in hurried and hushed tones with his colleagues.
Carnades looked to the two elves. “Inquisitor Taltek Balmorlan has petitioned the archmagus repeatedly for permission to question Mistress Benares on behalf of the elven government. His requests have also been denied.”
Inquisitor? Oh hell.
I looked up at Taltek Balmorlan and bared my teeth in a smile. “And just what would you like to ask me?”
Unlike the goblin, Balmorlan remained seated. “Our questions concern elven government security and center on your continued association with a member of the Mal’Salin family. This same person was recently seen in the company of a high-ranking Khrynsani shaman.” He courteously inclined his head to the goblin lawyers in the opposite balcony. “Begging your pardon.”
Tam. I swore silently. “Who would that be?” I asked out loud. Act ignorant, not guilty.
“Primaru Tamnais Nathrach.”
“Tamnais Nathrach used to be married to a Mal’Salin duchess. Past tense.” I kept my voice even, and my tone reasonable. “I fail to see how an acquaintance with a goblin can be of concern to the elven government. I’m sure you count goblins among your acquaintances, as do most in this room.”
“Normally such an acquaintance would not be cause for alarm,” Balmorlan replied smoothly. “Concern, yes; but not alarm. It is your relationship with Primaru Nathrach combined with your bond to the Saghred. Your actions in the square the other day indicate that your abilities now match or exceed those of every mage on this island. And according to testimony of Magus Silvanus, your soul has been inside the Saghred itself on two occasions.”
So much for what Carnades gleaned with his questing spell.
“On the first occasion, you spoke with Eamaliel Anguis, who is also your father and a known Conclave traitor.”
Mychael’s hand on my arm stopped the response I really wanted to give Balmorlan.
“Paladin Anguis was one of the finest of our order.” Mychael’s voice was calm, but cold. “He kept the Saghred safe for nearly nine hundred years.”
Carnades spoke. “His previously honorable service record to the Conclave does not alter the fact that he stole a Conclave artifact.”
“To keep it out of the hands of four mages on the Seat of Twelve who wanted to abuse that power,” Mychael responded.
“Mistress Benares’s second time inside the Saghred was to meet with Grand Shaman Sarad Nukpana.” Carnades’s voice was quiet. “He has referred to her as a partner and a bond servant of the Saghred. As you can understand, Paladin Eiliesor, this is of grave concern to the Twelve.”
Balmorlan nudged Giles Keril. The elven ambassador to Mid stood and licked his lips nervously. “Raine Benares is a member of the most notorious criminal family in the seven kingdoms, and has been in an intimate relationship with Tamnais Nathrach, formerly the chief shaman for the House of Mal’Salin.” He sounded like he had actually memorized this. I wondered how long it had taken him. “Now she is the bond servant of the Saghred. In the opinion of the elven government, she needs to be in strict custody and control. If the Conclave Guardians are unable—or unwilling—to provide it, the elven government will.”
So there it was. Carnades thought I needed to be locked up and he’d teamed with the agency to get it done.
Mychael spoke. “There has been no indication that Mistress Benares has been affected in any way by her contact with the Saghred. Unless any ill effects are proven to Guardian satisfaction, we will not take her into custody, but will continue to offer her our protection.”
“I have spent my academic career studying the Saghred,” Carnades countered. “You and the archmagus may not be fully aware of the effects contact with the Saghred has on mental stability. They are seldom apparent to inexperienced observers. Mistress Benares’s soul has been contaminated by dark forces.” His arctic gaze came to rest on Piaras. “Dark forces that have seduced an innocent into doing her will.” He said it almost too softly to be heard.
I felt sick. “No.”
“Master Piaras Rivalin’s sleepsong put nearly a hundred Guardians to sleep.” Carnades’s eyes were on mine. “And he put them to sleep while you were in the same room with the Saghred. I find it difficult to believe that is a coincidence, Mistress Benares. I think it is a conspiracy to steal the Saghred—just like your father did.”
I was not believing this.
“Master Rivalin is being corrupted by your influence, and he is far too powerful a spellsinger to remain where you can use him again. For the boy’s own safety we recommend that he be confined to—”
“My care and protection,” boomed a voice from the doorway. It was the commanding voice of a born orator, and of a really pissed-off old man. “Master Rivalin is a minor and a student of this college.” Justinius Valerian’s bright blue eyes landed on Carnades like a block of granite. “He came to Mid under Guardian protection and he will remain there until such time as any charge against him is proven in a formal—and open—court of law, not a clandestine gathering of rumor and innuendo.”
The archmagus turned to Mychael. “Is everything all right here?”
“It will be.”
“Glad to hear it. Mychael, you and yours, Master Rivalin, and Miss Benares are dismissed. I need to have a few words alone with some of my esteemed colleagues.”
Chapter 16
“Seduced an innocent?”
Piaras was furious—and was having a real problem getting past those three words.
“Like I don’t have a mind of my own and the sense to use it!” Now Piaras was furious and pacing.
I had fully expected Carnades to go after me. I didn’t know what he’d wanted with Piaras, and now I did. At least some of his cards were on the table. But I knew he and Balmorlan had plenty more cards in their hands they weren’t showing until they were good and ready.
I’d seen Carnades’s type before. He’d spent his life studying the horrors that the goblins had inflicted on the elven people in past centuries. He was full of hate and prejudice, and fed both of them three square meals every day. No doubt he saw himself as a defender of the elven people. To him, I truly was a traitor and a criminal and a danger to all he held dear. To him, Piaras was a corrupted innocent. Carnades Silvanus believed every word he said. But the scary part was that he was powerful and influential enough to convince others that he was right.
Piaras and I were in my room. Mychael was in Justinius’s office planning their next move. I hadn’t insisted on joining them because I could plan my next move just fine from here.
I’d sent for Phaelan.
Mychael wasn’t letting Piaras or me out of his sight, let alone out of the citadel. Tonight’s recital would take us to Sirens, which was conveniently located next to the harbor and our quickest way out of here if things continued to go sour. The Benares family was good at a lot of things, but what we did best was elude the law. I didn’t want to have to elude Mychael, but he was the law. If the law told him he had to lock Piaras and me up, he would have no choice.
I planned on acting while I still had the right and ability to make my own choices.
I took a deep breath. “Piaras, I need to ask you something.”
He stopped pacing, but the fury was still there. Good. Carnades would claim that what I was about to say was corrupting an innocent. And he’d be right; that was exactly what I was about to do. Piaras had always known what the law could do for him—defend and uphold his rights. He idolized the Guardians and wanted someday to become one. An hour ago, he’d gotten his first taste of what the law could do to him—imprison him and take away his rights. And sometimes guilt or innocence had nothing to do with which end of the law you got. I muttered a word I rarely used. I saved it for special occasions like close calls with death, or when I had to give someone really bad news. Piaras was about to have his innocence shattered, possibly along with his dreams, and I was the one throwing the rock.
“What is it?” He perched on the edge of my bed, then stood restlessly like he was looking around for something to hit.
