“And now Jagadev’s dead, we know where she’s going next.”
I nodded. “It’s going to be hard to stop her.”
“It’s not her going after Sagash I’m worried about.”
* * *
—
I waited for Variam to gate back to England, then took out a gate stone for a journey of my own. Once I was in an area with mobile coverage, I took out a phone and dialled. It rang for a while before there was a click and a rumbling voice answered. “Yeah.”
“It’s me,” I said.
“So?”
“I ran into her again. Had to disengage.”
“You didn’t tell me.”
“She’s not giving me much notice.”
“You a diviner or not?”
When Variam had asked why I didn’t get rid of Rachel, I told him the truth, but not the whole truth. The mage on the other end of the line was called Cinder, and he had reasons of his own for wanting Rachel alive. “Last time we spoke, you wanted me to find Deleo,” I said. “Have her come after me while you were there, so that she’d have to deal with you first.”
“And?”
“I’m not sure how well that’s going to work.”
“We had a deal.”
“We still do, but I’m warning you, she has really gone off the deep end. If you get in between the two of us, I don’t think it’s going to end the way you’re hoping.”
“My problem, not yours.” There was a note of finality in Cinder’s voice. “You going to do it?”
I sighed. “I’ll do it.”
Cinder hung up, and I lowered the phone with a grimace. Rachel wasn’t my biggest problem—she wasn’t even in the top five—but she was an extra complication I really didn’t need. I wasn’t sure I could afford to deal with her on top of everything else.
But Cinder was one of the very few allies I had left, and that meant I’d have to figure out some way to keep him happy. And on the subject of problems, I had another phone call coming up, one that was going to be a lot more unpleasant than the last. Time to get ready.
* * *
—
I staked out the forest clearing that I’d chosen for the conversation, taking the necessary precautions. It was hard to remember that once upon a time I’d been able to call someone up without taking an hour to make sure I wouldn’t be traced or killed in the process. Once I was done I took out my communicator, did a last double check through the futures, and channelled through it. “Hello, hello,” I said into the focus. “Testing, one two three.”
There was a pause, then a familiar voice sounded through the communicator. “Hello, Mage Verus,” Talisid said. “Yes, I can hear you perfectly well.”
I couldn’t see Talisid—the focus was audio only—but I could imagine him, dressed neatly in a business suit, balding and serious-looking. I’d known Talisid for a long time and, for most of that time, we’d been on the same side. That wasn’t true anymore.
“Hi, Talisid,” I said. “Listen, I know it’s been a while, and I’d love to stop and chat, but I don’t think it’s the best time to catch up. So could you put your bosses on?”
“That won’t be necessary.”
“Please don’t take this personally, but I’d rather not go through an intermediary on this one.”
“I’m acting as the Council’s representative in this matter.”
“For God’s sake, Talisid,” I said. “Every single one of the Senior Council is sitting there listening to this conversation live right now. Can you stop wasting my time and just put them on?”
“I’m afraid that’s not possible.”
I swore silently. If Talisid wasn’t going to budge, that was a very bad sign.
“I understand you had some information you wanted to offer?” Talisid asked when I didn’t reply.
“You think that’s why I’m calling?”
“I was under the impression that you were hoping to present your side of the story,” Talisid said. “I may have been mistaken.”
“Talisid, your bosses tried, convicted, and sentenced me while I wasn’t even there,” I said. “They waited for me to leave the War Rooms, then passed a resolution authorising me to be brought in dead or alive. They have made it abundantly clear how much they care about hearing my side of the story.”
“You haven’t been tried or convicted. An indictment has been issued, but no official sentence can be passed until the full procedures have—”
“Can you spare me the bullshit?”
“All right, Mage Verus,” Talisid said. “If you don’t wish to present any information, what is it you’d like to discuss?”
“Mage Verus,” I thought. Not “Councillor” or “Verus.” “I’m here to negotiate.”
“Negotiate a . . . ?”
“A ceasefire.”
“Ceasefires are for wars.”
“Which is what we’re in right now.”
“Let me make sure I’m understanding you,” Talisid said. “Are you claiming to be representing Richard Drakh’s cabal?”
“I’m representing myself.”
“The Council is not at war with you.”
“Yes, you are, ever since you passed that resolution.”
“The indictment against you was issued because there was overwhelming evidence that you had committed multiple and serious breaches of the Concord,” Talisid said. “If you have any evidence to present in your defence, we’ll consider it, but—”
“You declared me an outlaw,” I said. “Which means, as far as I’m concerned, the Concord’s entirely irrelevant, since I’m no longer subject to your laws.”
“Are you representing anybody else in these negotiations?”
“Just me.”
“Mage Verus . . .” Talisid was starting to sound impatient. “You clearly have some misconceptions about how Council law works.”
“No, Talisid, I think I have a very realistic understanding of how Council law works. It comes down to how much power you have. You already tried using that power against me directly, and it didn’t work so well. I’m here to see if you’re ready to consider alternatives.”