‘All the time! Since he’s away from Emerré this is my only time to catch up, and it’s the next best thing to visiting her, which I’m not allowed to do anymore.’

  ‘You could talk to him.’

  ‘No... that would be painful for him, I think, to see the state I’m in. It would remind him too much of Emerré.’

  Julietta didn’t think Linette looked too bad at all for a shadow mage.

  ‘You have something to say about him?’ Linette prodded.

  ‘He’s just... I don’t understand him. He’s just making things difficult for himself!’

  ‘Cadel just doesn’t know how to say no without throwing wine in someone’s face.’

  At the look on Julietta’s face Linette said, ‘you don’t think that’s good enough?’

  ‘He’s never going to learn without trying. Besides, he doesn’t have to come to these things.’

  ‘He came to get some spices for Emerré from the kitchen. He cooks for her. Don’t be so hard on him. He might be uncomfortable here, but its better than him lying in his tent moping.’

  ‘I suppose...’

  The room was quiet and warm. Julietta took off her jacket and folded it in her lap. She fiddled with a loose thread on the cuff.

  ‘You said you met Bo too?’

  ‘His unit has been fighting. He’s doing ok. It’s been tough, him being Lakashan, but he’s making friends.’

  Julietta wasn’t surprised, but jealous. Would he like his new friends more than Asmara, Dorian and her? She missed their group.

  ‘Is this usual?’ Julietta asked, ‘though maybe you can’t tell me...’

  ‘I can guess your question, but perhaps you’d prefer to ask me yourself.’

  Julietta hesitated and then nodded. ‘The army seems to be changing directions a lot.’

  ‘I don’t know how armies usually behave, but that’s partly my fault.’

  ‘Your fault? Why?

  ‘I give them information, and so they change their plans, and then the Lakashan shadow mages give their generals information, much quicker than what normal means could accomplish, and then they change their plans, and so on, and the plans keep changing all the time as the generals try to out-manoeuvre each other.’

  ‘Oh, I see...but what about the water?’

  ‘Water?’

  ‘The coast isn’t very well defended at the moment.’

  ‘The Manunians found out the Lakashans were focussing more on Dartham, so they moved more people to the Dartham Fortress before the war began, and then the Lakashans found out and moved more...and you know how it goes. At the moment most of the soldiers are here, so there aren’t enough people to put on the ships. Although if one side decides to try they’ll probably all abandon Dartham and try a sea route...’

  ‘That sounds annoying.’

  ‘Oh, it is, and boring. Very boring.’

  ‘You look good for a shadow mage.’

  ‘You want to interrogate me?’ Linette’s eyes twinkled. ‘Go ahead, don’t look at me like that, I’ve been rummaging around your soul, I know all your secrets.’ At the expression on Julietta’s face Linette burst out laughing.

  ‘Well,’ Julietta said primly, ‘you look a lot better than Blaise.’ And Asmara too, last time I saw her.

  Her smile faded, ‘Blaise...he’s not doing too well.’

  ‘Is he alive?’ Julietta said, alarmed. He’s only fourteen!

  ‘Yeah...but he’s been spending a lot of...mm, I can’t tell you. Something went wrong, he’s trying to fix it. He’s upset about it.’ she sighed. ‘He’s just a kid, they shouldn’t have had him do something like that. They should have asked me or Guy instead.’

  ‘What...?’

  Linette shook her head. ‘For some reason, the generals think killing is easy for us. They keep asking me to just shadow magic all the Lakashan soldiers away. They conveniently forget that when I pull someone’s soul from their body, I know them. It’s like killing a close friend, like killing myself. I’d lose myself eventually, if I did it for too long, I’d lose myself in the other people and I’d die as well. Though considering how... wrong... it feels, I probably wouldn’t care at that point. They had Blaise do something... and someone he touched... he’s trying to fix it, but he’s not happy at all. I’m not sure how long he’ll be able to bear it.’

  Julietta absorbed that quietly. Linette couldn’t be much older than Blaise. Whatever he’d done, Julietta doubted it would have been much easier on her than it was on him.

  ‘Anyway, let’s not worry about that. That’s out of our hands. You were going to ask me personal questions about my shadow magic.’

  ‘I don’t have my notebook.’

  ‘Don’t you? I’m surprised at that, Julietta!’

  ‘Yes, me too.’

  ‘Ok.’ Linette stood. ‘Let’s get out of here, we can go get your notebook, and get some food. I’m hungry.’

  ‘You are?’

  ‘Oh, yes, I enjoy food.’

  At Julietta’s surprise Linette said, ‘I don’t fight my power, not the way Asmara does. She’d be a lot happier if she just relaxed... I know I’m going to die, I just try to enjoy what time I have.’

  Julietta’s surprised faded to sadness.

  ‘Don’t worry, we’re all going to die someday! I’ve had a good life, and I intend for the rest of it to be good as well! Let’s go get your notebook, and I’ll answer, maybe not everything, but at least more than Asmara or Emerré!’

  ‘That wouldn’t be hard.’ Julietta retorted.

  Linette laughed. ‘Come on, I’ll show you a way out that won’t take us past all the people having a party.’

  Julietta stood and followed her out of the room. ‘It’s kind of odd, isn’t it, how they’re celebrating?’

  ‘Odd? And you haven’t even noticed the Lakashans yet!’

  ‘What?’

  ‘The Lakashan mages are here too.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘And some of their officers as well. This is the only civilized place in Dartham, so everyone’s here.’

  ‘But-!’

  ‘They’ve agreed to leave Dartham Town untouched, and mages are kind of soft, if you hadn’t noticed. Not Dorian, I bet he’d hate it here too.’

  ‘You’ve met...?’

  Linette grinned. ‘Of course!’ and she started laughing again at Julietta’s face. ‘Don’t worry, I’ll keep his secrets, I’m very discreet!’

  ‘W-what secrets?’

  ‘I can’t tell you that! I haven’t met him recently since he’s started wearing a candle. Come on, let’s go!’

  CHAPTER 50

  23 Mai, 1353

  Dorian jerked up at the sound of movement. He looked towards the bed, hope lighting his features.

  Asmara turned her head towards him. Slowly, her dark eyes opened.

  ‘Asmara?’ Dorian called softly.

  She squinted, frowned. ‘Dore...?’ she murmured, her voice weak and hoarse.

  ‘Asmara!’ his face broke into a grin. ‘Asmara, you’re awake!’

  She shifted in bed and pushed herself up. ‘Dorian...what happened?’

  His smile faded. ‘You fed the spider. The sorcerers here fixed you. You’ve been asleep. I’ll let them know you’re awake.’

  ‘How long has it been?’

  ‘Longer than they thought it would be. We moved you out of the infirmary and back here about a week ago. You’ve been asleep for over two weeks.’

  ‘I’ve been in bed for two weeks?’

  ‘Yes. They thought it would only be a few days. They were worried.’ he said. ‘So was I.’

  ‘Oh...I think I’ll get out of bed now.’

  With Dorian’s help she slowly got out of bed and stood up. She wobbled on her feet.

  ‘I feel all... slimy.’

  ‘You haven’t had a bath in two weeks. Are you feeling ok?’

  She shrugged. ‘I’ve only just woken up. Give me some time, Dore.’

  ‘Sure. Sorry.’

  She stumbled over towards the nearest door and then stopped. ‘Which way to the bathroom? And why are you smiling?’

  ‘I’m just relieved you’re alright. I was worried. It’s over there.’ he pointed. ‘Wait just a moment, I’ll call someone to fill the bath for you.’

  ‘Oh...right.’

  Asmara stood quietly in the middle of the room while Dorian bustled around, organizing servants and informing the sorcerers that she’d awoken. Asmara paid little attention while all this was going on. Eventually, two sorcerers and Jacques entered the room.

  Dorian talked animatedly with them, and they all spent a good long time giving Asmara worried looks.

  ‘How is she?’ Jacques asked.

  ‘I’m not sure.’ one of the sorcerers said finally after examining Asmara closely. ‘How do you feel?’

  Asmara shrugged.

  ‘She seems ok.’ the sorcerer said reluctantly. ‘But she shouldn’t have slept for that long.’

  ‘No. Dorian, does she seem any different to you?’ Jacques asked.

  ‘She’s just woken up, Jacques.’

  ‘Hmm...’

  ‘Why are you so worried?’

  ‘It’s my job to worry. Let me know how she goes.’

  ‘Sure...and you’re sure there’s no other reason...?’

  Jacques smiled thinly. ‘Let me know how she goes.’ And he left without another word.

  CHAPTER 51

  24 Mai, 1353

  Acadie looked out the window into the inner courtyard of the house. She looked back down at Blaise’s couch. She sniffed and dabbed at her eyes.

  ‘He hasn’t woken up since...?’ Dabney said.

  ‘No!’ She snapped, her voice watery. ‘Not for over a week, not since you had him do... I don’t know what you made him do, but he hasn’t awoken. You’ve been here!’

  ‘I had hoped he might have woken while I was out of the room.’

  ‘Well, he hasn’t!’

  ‘We’ll have to bring in a sorcerer soon.’ Dabney sighed. ‘He’s been gone from his body too long.’

  Acadie sniffed loudly, unable to keep her eyes from the still form of her little brother. She’d been forcing soup and water down his throat, but... it had been too long...

  ‘I’ve spoken to my counterparts in Manus. Guy Marcoux thinks Blaise still lives.’

  ‘He’s been...he’s been gone too long, hasn’t he...’

  ‘Perhaps he comes back when we don’t notice, when we’re sleeping.’

  Acadie shook her head. ‘When he comes back,’ she finally said, her voice firm and quiet, ‘I don’t want you to ask him for any more help.’

  Dabney sat on the couch opposite Blaise’s, watching the two siblings. Acadie was shorter than Dabney and thin, verging on bony. With her pale hair, washed out complexion and penchant for white dresses, Dabney often thought she could pass for a ghost. She’d given him a start more than once during a nightly trip to the toilet as he ran into her returning from checking on her brother.

  ‘Miss Autin,’ he said, ‘we have the consent of your parents, and Blaise himself agrees.’

  ‘No!’ she shouted. ‘No more!’

  ‘I hear you.’ he replied, heaving himself to his feet. ‘I’ll leave you be, Miss Autin. I’ll be close by if you need me.’ and the portly little man hurried from the room.

  Acadie sighed and looked back at Blaise.

  ‘Dear brother... I’m so sorry...’

  Her dark thoughts were interrupted by distant thunder. Frowning she glanced back out the window. The sky was blue and lovely, there was not a cloud in sight. She walked out into the hallway and to the window at the end of the hall. It gave a view out into the streets of Allonce. She saw people looking around curiously. Shrugging, she turned away when she heard another boom. She looked back. This time she saw people pointing. She opened the window and leant out. Was that smoke rising from the palace? This time she was looking so she saw the flash of light from the palace and heard the dull boom.

  What on earth was going on?

  There was another flash, and in disbelief she saw a part of the palace gate crumble and disappear from view behind houses. Fear started to swirl in her belly. An idea formed in her head. An impossible idea. Again, another flash. And another, and suddenly the sky was filled with flashes of light and the sound of crashing and breaking stone as the sky filled with dust and smoke.

  She ducked back inside, her heart beating painfully fast. We’re under attack. She thought in disbelief. But we can’t be, the Lakashan army is all the way in Dartham, twelve hundred kilometres away!

  She ran quickly down to the bottom floor and opened the door to the street. In her time away from the window the vision had changed dramatically. People were running and screaming, and the bangs and crashes were getting louder.

  ‘What’s going on?’ she called, ‘please, does anyone know what’s happening?’ Where did Dabney go? Surely he would know!

  She turned, about to go look, and found the man in question behind her. ‘Dabney!’

  ‘I don’t know.’ he said, a frown on his face, as if he couldn’t understand what he saw, ‘I don’t know, but that’s... someone’s attacking the city with magic.’

  ‘Magic!’

  ‘I don’t know! Look, the flashes are getting closer, that’s a magical attack! Where... where are our sorcerers? Our soldiers?’

  ‘Do we have any here?’

  ‘Of course, this is Allonce! Look!’ he pointed.

  Acadie turned and saw an armed man coming from the direction of the city gate. He wore the uniform of the city watch and had a heavy pike in his hand.

  ‘Maybe he knows what’s going on.’ Dabney said and stepped out into the street.

  He immediately scrambled back inside as the street filled with screams.

  ‘Acadie, get inside!’ Dabney squawked, pulling her.

  Acadie was frozen, watching in horrified amazement as the city watchman laid about with his pike, downing frightened citizens. Three people lay broken on the ground at his feet.

  Dabney pulled her inside and shut the door firmly behind them.

  ‘Wh-what’s happening?’ she asked, her voice small. She couldn’t get the image of blood running down the street out of her head. Even through the heavy wooden door she could still hear the crashes and screams.

  ‘I... I... I think we should...’

  ‘D-do we need to leave?’

  ‘I don’t know.’ he said, his face ashen. ‘If the city watch are... Blaise.’

  ‘He’s upstairs!’

  Acadie rushed upstairs to check on him, Dabney not far behind. He was just where she’d left him, sleeping like the dead. But he wasn’t really sleeping, only his body lay here.

  Sighing, Acadie relaxed. Then she turned and headed to the hallway window and looked out. Dabney followed. She saw a troop of palace guards and sighed in relief. That quickly vanished as she realised they were attacking people and breaking windows, destroying everything in their path. Then some of them shook and stopped. Then they began fighting with the others.

  ‘What in blazes are they doing?’

  ‘I have a thought.’ Dabney said as they watched the fight unfold. ‘And I don’t like it.’

  ‘Guy! Guy!’ Jacques yelled as he raced through the halls of the King’s palace in Manus. ‘Damn it, where in blazes is Guy?’

  He nearly tripped over him. Jacques skidded to a halt just before a prone form lying on the cool marble floor.

  ‘Guy!’ Jacques yelled. ‘I was calling you!’

  ‘I heard.’ the young man replied in a dull voice. He had a long, pale face and dark hair. His skin looked grey, and his eyes sunken from all the shadows clinging to him.

  ‘Guy, you need to get to Allonce. Allonce is being attacked.’

  ‘Really? That’s odd. Well, I don’t know what you think I could do.’

  ‘You need to go right now.’

  ‘And what am I supposed to do? How is Allonce even being attacked? Or am I confused... Allonce is west, right?’

  ‘Guy, all I know is we got a garbled messaged from one of the sorcerers in Allonce.’ Jacques voice was terse, precious seconds were being wasted, ‘our own people are attacking the city, the sorcerers, the palace guards, the city watch, everyone!’

  ‘Really? That’s strange.’

  ‘Strange? Guy it’s shadow magic!’

  ‘Shadow magic? On that many people?’

  ‘We only have two candles stationed in Allonce, and they can’t handle it all! You need to get to Allonce right now.’

  ‘I’d just get in the way if the candles are trying to fix it.’

  ‘Blaise’s body is still in Allonce, Guy, in case you forget. He’s in danger.’

  Guy sighed heavily. His eyes closed. He said no more.

  Acadie screamed as the door shook. Dabney pressed his body against it, sweat pouring off his face.

  ‘Why is this happening?!’ she cried.

  ‘I don’t know how, but it’s Lakasha...’ he panted. ‘Acadie, you need... you need to get Blaise out of here!’

  ‘What?’

  The door shook.

  ‘You need to take him and go, Acadie, they must be here for him. They’ll kill him.’

  ‘I... Dabney we’re on the second floor. There’s no other way out of this room.’

  ‘Ok... We don’t have much time. Push that cabinet over here.’

  Heaving and panting, Acadie shoved the cabinet closer. Dabney sprung away from the door at the last moment and they both pushed. The door shook, the lock rattled. They slid the cabinet into place.

  ‘Alright, that gives us a few moments. Acadie, climb down from the window. I’ll lower Blaise down to you. He’s light, you should be able to carry him.’

  ‘Dabney-’

  ‘Go now!’ he hissed.

  Acadie scampered to the window. She looked out at the drop below, then back at the door. The cabinet rocked. It sounded like the palace guards were hacking at the door with their swords. There was nothing else to do. She took a deep breath and stepped out onto the window sill. Dabney appeared at her side and took her arm. ‘Ok, now grab onto the sill and hang down. I’ll lower you down as much as I can.’

  ‘It’s too-’