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“The Pen?”
Eve grinned. “The Pig Pen. Nic’s brother owns it. Best stew in town.”
After talking to Nic and Eve, I sent an overland message to my parents and one to Kade, explaining my whereabouts. Then I spent the rest of the day studying Fulgor’s prison. Located in the far northwest quadrant of the city, it occupied a huge area, extending five blocks wide by eight blocks deep. Its sheer outer walls were topped with coils of barbed wire. Glints of sunlight reflected off glass shards that had been cemented into the top third of the wall, acting as an effective and low-cost device to cut climbing ropes.
Watchtowers perched above the four corners of the massive building. I walked around the structure, noting only two well-guarded entrances. The place appeared to be impenetrable. Sneaking into the prison was out of the question. Escape also seemed impossible.
I found a hidden spot to observe the entrance. Not a lot of movement either in or out. I had hoped a shift change would create a flurry of activity, but the shifts must have been staggered. Every two hours, some officers went in and three or four would leave. Even delivery wagons were few and far between.
Janco would be delighted by the challenge, but I wouldn’t ask him for help. He was in enough trouble because of me. There had to be another way inside.
Cold and stiff from my day-long surveillance, I arrived at the guards’ afternoon session with my sais and wearing my training uniform. A long-sleeved tunic tied with a belt, and a pair of loose-fitting pants. Both garments were dark brown to hide the bloodstains and dirt. I wore my softest pair of leather boots, also brown with black rubber soles.
I joined Nic and Eve, and it wasn’t long before my stamina waned. My bouts with my brother Ahir hadn’t been enough to get me back into shape. Huffing and puffing with effort, I swung and blocked Nic’s sword a few times before he unarmed me.
He tsked. “Someone hasn’t been keeping up with her training.”
“The man’s a genius,” I said between gulps of air. “What are your next words of wisdom, Oh Smart One? Water is wet?”
“Someone gets grumpy when she’s outmatched.”
I responded by triggering my switchblade.
Nic sheathed his sword, and pulled a dagger. “Street fight.” He lunged.
Not quite a fair match. His longer weapon kept me at arm’s length, but I used a few nasty moves Janco taught me. Even so, Nic disarmed me again.
At the end of the training session, my arms ached and I couldn’t lift a sword let alone defend myself. All my hard work to reach a competent level had been undone by one season of light activity.
Eve bumped my shoulder with hers. “Don’t worry. The skills are there. And you’re looking a lot better than the last time we saw you.”
“Loads better,” Nic said. “Then I could have blown you over with my breath.”
I met Eve’s gaze. He had given me the perfect opening.
“Too easy,” she said, shaking her head. “Trust me, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to slam him.”
“When?” I asked her.
“Twice a day, every day as long as you’re in Fulgor.”
Nic put a sweaty arm around my shoulders. “We’ll get you into fighting shape in no time.”
“Great,” I said, and held my breath until Nic released me. “Does his brother have the same hygiene?” I asked Eve. “Is that why the place is called the Pig Pen?”
Her sly smile failed to reassure me.
My first impression of the tavern was utter disbelief. The place smelled of spiced beef and fresh-baked bread. Patrons filled all the tables and a bright fire warmed the room. Nic led us through the crowd. A bunch of people gathered in front of the bar. All the stools should have been occupied, but two remained empty.
Nic and Eve headed straight toward them. Eve slid onto hers as Nic called to the bartender. He settled in his stool, and before I could move, a ripple flowed along the bar and an empty stool appeared next to Nic. He gestured for me to claim it.
Amazed, I sat. No squawk of protest. No murmurs of complaint. Instead the room buzzed with conversation, and laughter punctuated the general hum. The dark wood of the bar gleamed with care. Clean glasses lined the shelves behind the counter.
The bartender placed steaming bowls of stew and mugs of ale in front of us, but before he could wait on another customer, Nic introduced me to his brother, Ian.
I shook his hand and studied Ian. His dark hair touched the top of his shoulders, and he was slimmer than Nic. No scars like the one Nic had along his jaw. Ian also wore fitted clothes that matched compared to Nic’s ad hoc pants and shirt. Other than those differences, the men looked identical.
“Twin brother?” I asked Nic.
He grinned, brushing a hand over the bristle on his head. “I thought the hair would throw you.”
“I used to be an artist. It takes more than a different hairstyle to fool me.”
“Good to know.” Nic dug into his stew with abandon, dripping gravy onto the bar. Ian rolled his eyes and wiped up the mess.
“Pig pen?” I asked Ian.
“Family joke. Growing up, our mother had trouble keeping track of who was who. She used certain clues to help her, and when we figured out what she was using, we would switch. For example, Nic’s half of the room was always a mess, so when Mother would come in to say good-night, she expected Nic to be in the messy bed, but I was there instead.”
“So when she comes into a tavern named Pig Pen, she expects Nic to be behind the bar because he’s still a slob, but you’re there.”
“Right.”
“Hey!” Nic wiped his mouth on his sleeve. “I think I’ve been insulted.”
“Not insulted. Identified.” Ian laughed and returned to work.
“That’s it. I’m tired of being picked on,” Nic said. “I’m never coming here again.”
“Where will you go?” Eve asked. “All the other taverns will make you pay for your meal.”
“Are you calling me cheap?” Nic demanded.
“Not cheap. Spoiled.”
“That would explain the smell,” I said.
Eve choked on her ale as Nic growled.
We spent the rest of the evening catching up on news and gossip. The stew was better than my mother’s, although I wouldn’t admit it out loud. No one mentioned my real reason for coming to Fulgor until Nic and Eve walked me back to the inn despite my protests.
“After your sorry performance this afternoon, you should have a bodyguard until you get in shape,” Nic said. “I’m hoping your plans in Fulgor don’t involve any danger.” His comment sounded like a query.
My first instinct was to dodge the question, but I needed their help. Might as well take the direct approach. “Can you get me a job in the prison?”
They skidded to a stop and gaped at me. Eve recovered first. “If you’re worried about those men who hurt you, they’re in the SMU.”
“SMU?”
“Special Management Unit. In a place that is isolated from the regular prison population.”
“Good to know, but that’s not the reason,” I said.
“Then why?” she asked.
“To obtain information.”
“Wow,” Nic said. “That’s seriously vague.”
“I’d rather not give you details at this time, but it is important.”
Nic chewed on his lip. “You’re not going to do something illegal, are you? Like help a prisoner escape?”
“Of course not.”
“You’ll give us details later?” Eve asked.
Later could be years from now. “Yes. I promise. Will you help me?”
“Depends,” Nic said.
“On what?”
“Do you need a position at Wirral or Dawnwood?”
I hadn’t realized there were two in Fulgor. “What’s the difference?”
“Wirral is a maximum-security facility. Dawnwood is low-security.”
“Maximum-security.”
“We can’t help you,” Eve said.
“Why not?”
“We don’t have any contacts at Wirral. They recruit people straight from the academy and train them for another year.”
“Yeah, if you wanted a post at Dawnwood, we could pull some strings,” Nic said.
I tried to hide my disappointment. “Do you know anyone who has a friend at Wirral?”
Eve shook her head. We continued the rest of the way to the Second Chance in silence.
Before I could say good-night, Nic groaned and slapped himself on the forehead. “How could I forget?”
“Do you want a list or should I just summarize?” Eve quipped.
“Ha. Ha. We don’t have any connections to Wirral, but you do, Opal.”
“Me?”
“Damn. He’s right. I’m sure she would help you.”
“Who?” Partners could be so annoying!
“Councilor Moon.”
Chapter Four
THE COUNCILOR’S HALL TEEMED WITH GUARDS. FOUR times as many as the last time I had been here. I couldn’t just sign in and find my own way. No. Instead, I had to surrender my sais and switchblade, endure being frisked and interrogated about my reasons for coming to the Hall. Then I was assigned an escort.
My companion was a friendlier version of the entrance soldiers. He didn’t carry the full complement of weapons around his waist. I guessed these half guards were an attempt to downplay the overwhelming tension that vibrated in the air. It didn’t work.
As I followed him across the black-and-white checkerboard tiles of the Hall’s lobby, my skin crawled with the feeling of many gazes watching my every move. Strident sounds echoed in the large open space. The ceiling with its grand glass chandelier hung ten stories above my head. On the opposite side of the lobby, an elaborate wooden staircase wound up the floors, giving access to the rest of the building where the Moon Clan’s administrative staff had offices and suites.
When we reached the bottom step, a bubble of magic engulfed us. My escort continued to climb the stairs, but I glanced around, looking for the magician. The press of power disappeared. Since no one caught my eye, I hurried to catch up.
Councilor Tama Moon’s office suite was located on the first floor. The long hallway to her elaborate double doors had been decorated with art from various clan members. I noticed all of Gressa’s glass pieces were gone. Not surprising. She had helped Akako take possession of Tama’s body. I wondered which prison Gressa had been sent to—Wirral or Dawnwood.
When we entered Tama’s expansive reception area, my escort said for the fifth time, “She won’t see you today, and it’s doubtful she’ll even let you make an appointment.”
The woman sitting behind the desk frowned and appeared to steel herself for an argument. Considering what had happened to her, I understood Tama’s precautions, but the whole atmosphere reeked of paranoia.
“She knows me, and if I have to wait a few days to see her, that’s fine,” I said.
However the heavy tread of boots behind me wasn’t fine. I turned and two wide guards tackled me to the floor. My breath whooshed out with the impact. In a heartbeat, they yanked off my cloak, pulled my arms back and manacled my wrists.
Voices yelled and confusion reigned for a moment. Jerked to my feet, I swayed as dizziness obscured my vision. A hot metallic taste filled my mouth. I probed teeth and lips with my tongue, seeking damage. A split lip so far.
The commotion drew Councilor Moon from her office.
“What’s going on?” she asked.
Good question.
“Zebb said she has a null shield,” the guy clutching my left arm said.
Why would they think—? Oh. The bubble of magic couldn’t sense anything from me, therefore I must be shielded.
Tama stepped closer. The men increased the pressure as if I would try to attack her. I almost laughed at the ridiculousness of the situation until I saw the strain in her face. Hollow cheeked and with dark smudges under her eyes, she gaped at me in fear.
“Opal?” she asked.
Not trusting my voice, I nodded.
“Why are you here?” She hugged her arms to her chest as if to keep herself from falling apart.
“To visit you.”
She blinked. “Why are you shielded, I thought…”
Stunned, I watched this brittle shell of a woman as she struggled to make sense of the situation. Her blond hair hung limp and greasy; she had aged years in the span of one season and stains covered her white silk tunic.
Her gaze snapped to me with a sudden intensity. “You lost your magic. Are you afraid someone is going to attack you, too?”
“No. I’m not shielded.” But I began to understand. Magic once again surrounded me, seeking. I guessed the magician wanted an update.
My escort spoke for the first time, and I wondered if he could feel the power, as well. “Maybe I should fetch Zebb?”
“No. Absolutely not. He is not allowed up here,” Tama said. “Why did that magician think you’ve erected a null shield?”
She spat the word magician. Coming here had been a bad idea; I wondered if Nic and Eve were aware of the change in the Councilor.
“He must be mistaken,” I said. “You know I have no magical powers. Why would I come here to harm you? I helped rescue you.”
The viselike grip on my arms relaxed from crushing to bruising. Tama melted. She covered her face with her hands, either embarrassed by her overreaction or relieved.
“What’s this all about?” another female voice demanded.
I glanced over my shoulder and recognized Faith Moon, the Councilor’s First Adviser. Light reflected off her glasses as she scanned our little group, assessing the situation. The Adviser’s short brown hair was tucked behind her ears. Her mouth dropped open when she spotted me wedged between the two guards.
“Release Opal immediately,” she ordered. “Dari, bring some tea for our guest.” The woman behind the desk shot to her feet and bolted from the room.
The guards didn’t move. “Councilor?” Left Arm asked.
Tama dropped her hands as if overcome by pure exhaustion. “Yes, of course. Let her go.”
Right Arm unlocked the manacles. I rubbed my wrists. My skin crawled as if I had walked through a sticky spiderweb. Threads of invisible magic clung, but I couldn’t wipe them away. Or could I?
“Opal, please forgive me. I…I don’t…know…” The Councilor spread her hands out in a vague gesture.
Faith wrapped a supportive arm around Tama’s shoulders. “Let’s go back to your office. Opal, please come with us.” She scowled at the three men. “Gentlemen, you can return to your duties.” She guided Tama into a comfortable armchair near the door.
I stood to the side, feeling awkward. The magician stopped trying to reach me. The bands of magic fell away and I sucked in a relieved breath. When Dari returned with a tray of tea, Faith grabbed it from her and shooed the woman out. Two guards bookended the entrance, but remained in the outer office. Faith closed the office door with her hip and set the tray on a table.
Serving the Councilor first, Faith then handed me a steaming cup. “I’m glad you’re here. Please sit down.”
I sank into a chair opposite Tama and sipped my tea. I didn’t know what I should say or do. “If this is a bad time…” I tried, but they ignored me.
Faith knelt next to Tama and clasped her hand. “Talk to Opal. She might be able to help you. She’s been harmed by magic and by Warpers. She’s been betrayed.” Faith gestured to me. “Yet, here she is. And without any magic to defend herself.”
Tama shrank into the cushions, shaking her head. “She wouldn’t understand.”
“Not completely, but you need to tell her what you won’t tell me.” Faith squeezed her hand, shot me an encouraging look and left the room.
The click of the door vibrated in my chest. An awkward silence grew.
Tama finally said, “Did the Council send you?”
“No. I’m here on my own.”
“Why are you in Fulgor? Can I help you with something?”
I would have welcomed her attempt to change the subject and the opportunity to ask for a favor, but not now. Not when she held herself as if she would shatter at the next harsh word. I had no idea how to help her, but I had to try.
I dredged my memories, disturbing the painful emotions that had settled to the deepest layer of my mind. They swirled and polluted my thoughts.
“It was horrible to be betrayed.” I met her wary gaze. “It felt like my heart was rotting in my chest and every breath burned with the knowledge I had been fooled. It was difficult to trust after that. The rot spread throughout my body, leaving behind so many doubts, I stopped trusting myself.”
Tama leaned forward. “How did you conquer it?”
“I didn’t. I survived it. Endured by realizing my friends and family can always be trusted no matter what. And when I feel the rot creeping back, I grab onto one of them and hold on until it goes away.”
She snagged her lower lip with her teeth. “But you have a large family and friends. I don’t. I have Faith.” A weak smile touched her lips at the play of words.
“What about Dari?”
Tama waved her hand in a dismissive gesture. “New. My sister killed all my loyal people.”
“So this place is filled with strangers?”
“Yes.”
“Then get rid of them. You don’t need all those guards. They’re tripping over themselves.”
“But who…”
“Will protect you?”
She nodded.
“Do you trust me?” I asked.
“Yes.”
I pulled in a deep breath. My plans to find my blood would have to wait. This was more important. I had to finish rescuing Tama first. “I will protect you. Hire me as your new assistant, and I’ll find you the right people.”
“But what about magic? It can influence anybody. Force them to do horrible things. And magicians can be corrupted by all that power. That magician downstairs has been spying on me.” She shuddered so hard her teacup rattled.
Which explained the paranoia I had sensed earlier. “We can ask Master Bloodgood to assign you another magician. One who can surround you with a null shield. Then you won’t have to worry about being spied on or attacked.”
“No. I don’t want anyone who has magic near me!”
I backed off. One problem at a time.
We summoned Faith and I outlined my plans to her. She glanced at Tama. A little color had returned to the Councilor’s face and she leaned forward, listening to my strategy.
“Did you check employment history before hiring the new staff?” I asked Faith.
“We didn’t have time. Everything was so chaotic.”
“First order of business is to reduce security. We’ll keep the best ones on staff.”
“How do you know who is trustworthy?” Tama asked.
“I don’t. But I trust two people who do.”
“Wow.” Nic whistled. “You went in search of a job as a correctional officer, and became the Councilor’s new assistant. How did you manage that?” He propped his elbows on the edge of my massive desk. He rested his square jaw on his hands.
We were in the Councilor’s reception area. I had claimed Dari’s work space and Nic and Eve sat opposite me.
“I impressed her with my amazing filing skills. I can alphabetize in seconds.” I snapped my fingers.
“In seconds? You’re my new hero.” Nic batted his eyelashes at me.
Eve punched him in the arm. “Knock it off.” She turned to me in concern. “What’s going on?”
Only a few people knew all the details of what had happened in Hubal. The whole city of Fulgor believed the Councilor had been under the influence of her sister. That Akako used magic to control Tama. Close enough.
I explained Tama’s fears.
It didn’t take Eve long to sort through the information. “What do you need from us?”
“The Councilor needs two bodyguards with her all the time. How many teammates do you have?”
“Our team has twelve. I’ll talk to Captain Alden about our short-term reassignment, and I’ll work up a watch schedule.”
Nic groaned. “Don’t put me on night shift or I’ll die of boredom.”
“What’s next?” Eve asked, ignoring her partner. Just like her fighting style, she didn’t waste energy or time.
“Weeding out the security staff. Can you do a little digging into their histories? Find out who’s trustworthy?”
“I can get rid of half of them for you right now,” Nic said. “When the Councilor returned, she wanted this place full of soldiers. We couldn’t provide the manpower, so they hired people with no training or previous experience just to have warm bodies here.”
“Great. Make me a list,” I said.
“Captain Alden can investigate the rest for you,” Eve said.
Nic tapped his finger on the chair’s arm. “I hope you realize you’re not going to be popular once word spreads.”
“I’m not here to make friends,” I said. “Besides, I’m temporary. Once we have the right people in place, we can all go back to normal.” Except, I didn’t know what normal would be. Since my sister Tula had been kidnapped and murdered over six years ago, nothing in my life had been normal.
Dari and the Councilor’s personal bodyguards were the first to go. Nic and Eve returned for the night shift and handed me a list of names.
“Good or bad?” I asked.
“The riffraff,” Nic said. “Can I give them the boot? I always wanted to be in charge.”
I scanned the names, but didn’t recognize any. “No. Faith Moon will handle that unpleasant task.” I glanced up from the paper. “Are you ready to be reacquainted with the Councilor?”
“I showered,” Nic said.
“Did you put on clean undergarments?” I asked.
“Yep. Got my best pair on. No holes. Do you think she’ll want to check?” He grinned with wolfish delight.
“Eve, I think you should do all the talking.”
“Yes, sir.”
I knocked and waited for Tama’s faint response before entering. The Councilor’s back was to us as she pulled employee files from a drawer, sorting them. Her office was long and thin. Narrow stained glass windows striped the side walls and stretched up to the ceiling two stories above our heads. The sitting area was near the door and across from an oval conference table. Opposite the entrance, her U-shaped desk faced a wide picture window.
The sunlight faded, reminding me of the need to light the lanterns. My stomach grumbled. I hadn’t eaten since this morning. When Tama reached a stopping point, she turned and faced us.
I introduced the soldiers, emphasizing their help in Hubal. Her stiff demeanor relaxed, and she smiled at them when I explained they would be guarding her tonight.
“Finally,” she said. “A good night’s rest!”
While they talked, I lit the lanterns. The cold season’s nights arrived fast, dropping a curtain of darkness with little warning. When I passed my friends, I brushed against magic. I paused and stood behind them. Trying not to be obvious, I rested my hands on the backs of their chairs. The hairs on my arms pricked. A web of power surrounded them. Her magician must be eavesdropping, but I couldn’t be sure. I now understood Valek’s frustration.
Not wanting to upset Tama, I kept quiet as Nic and Eve left to take up position outside her office door.
“Make sure you introduce them to Faith,” Tama said. “She’s the only person I allow in my private suite. I keep Council business and my personal life separate, but with living in the Hall…” She wrapped her arms around her waist, turning to stare out the window.
I wondered if she looked at her flickering refection or the blackness of the night. My image stood beside her, but it didn’t waver. Odd.
She turned to me. “Where are you staying?”
“At the Second Chance Inn.”
“You can live in the assistant’s apartment on the ninth floor once Dari leaves.”
“I’d rather not.”
She tried to hide her disappointment.
I rushed to explain. “Eventually, we’ll find you a permanent assistant. And I should be out there—” I pointed to the window “—listening to the tavern gossip, getting a feel for the citizens’ moods and complaints for you. If I stayed here, I’d never leave and we’d miss the opportunity to connect with the townspeople.”
“That’s smart, Opal. Your experiences have made you stronger and more confident. While I’m a mess. I can’t make decisions and I’m terrified another magician will…”