Page 96 of A Reign of Embers
Will I be able to walk these streets side-by-side with her someday, without fear or reprisal?
The answer to that question could depend on the information I dig up now.
Up ahead, the columns of pinkish marble twined with veins of silver come into view. My spirits lift at the sight as they have so often in the past.
I might not have had any direct experience with combining gifts before Raul and I accidentally collaborated to attack Marc, but I’ve always found the idea fascinating. It had never occurred to me it could be used for anything as extreme as what we accomplished—but then, I had no idea that being close with your collaborator allowed for more intense effects.
What other factors might I be unaware of? If there areadditional strategies that could work in Aurelia’s favor, I need to uncover them at the School of Entwined Magics.
It’s chilly enough today that no students are practicing their skills out in the tiled courtyard. I approach along one side, close to the wall, with the building of matching marble and silver looming over me.
Thankfully, the headmistress’s office lies only a short distance down the main hallway. I rap on the door without hesitation.
Cleric Irma has been one of my family’s closest associates for decades. She won’t do anything to jeopardize my plans.
Not that I intend to tell her exactly what those plans are.
When her assistant opens the door, I keep my head ducked low so my hood obscures my face. “I need to speak with the headmistress. Privately. Important news from the palace.”
As the assistant hesitates, Irma’s warm voice carries from farther into the room. “Let him in, Nestor, and give us the room.”
The assistant steps back to admit me and then scurries out with a respectful bob of his head.
Cleric Irma looks up at me from where she’s sitting behind a broad desk of pale wood. She runs her fingers over her blond-and-gray hair, which is pulled back in its usual loose braid. “What can I do for the royal family today, good man?”
I tug back my hood with a swift swipe at the dirt on my cheeks. “I was hoping you could answer a few of my questions, cleric.”
Irma’s eyes brighten at the sight of me, but she’s canny enough to drop her voice lower. “Prince Bastien. I had no idea you were visiting.”
“And I’d like to keep it that way.” As she can no doubtalready guess. “I’m on a mission for the empress. Part of that mission involves the techniques you teach here.”
The cleric sits up straighter. “I’m happy to serve you and Her Imperial Highness however I’m able. What in particular did you need to know? Here, sit down, you look rather harried.”
I can’t say she’s wrong about my emotional state.
I take the chair at the opposite side of the desk and clasp my hands on my lap. “There isn’t really a ‘particular.’ You know Empress Aurelia is facing a rather immense challenge. We’re hoping that if this war comes to be, combining the gifts of those on her side might help shift the chances of victory in her favor—to protect her and her daughter and preserve the imperial line.”
One of Irma’s eyebrows lifts slightly. “And preserving that line matters a lot to you?”
I gaze back at her evenly. “Preserving it from being overthrown by bullies who I doubt will have Cotea’s better interests in mind does, yes.”
Irma hums, her attention sliding away from me. Her expression goes distant with thought.
“I’m not sure entwined magics could be the advantage the empress is hoping for. They can provide fantastic solutions to small-scale problems, and sometimes small-scale problems can tip the scales for larger issues… but I suspect not quite as large as an entire civil war.”
I frown. “Why couldn’t the same techniques be used on a larger scale? If the dedicats involved were well synchronized and aligned in purpose, and their individual gifts were powerful…?”
I trail off at the shake of the cleric’s head.
“It’s not that simple,” she says. “Or rather, there’s a simple reason why it wouldn’t work, not for long.”
My heart sinks, but I’m not going to give up just like that. “And that reason is?”
Perhaps we can find a way around it as we have so much else.
Irma offers me a gentle smile. “You’re familiar with the principles of how our gifts are granted in the first place, aren’t you?”
“Of course. The bodily sacrifice shows emotional dedication and physical fortitude, and the gods grant their blessing proportionately to what’s offered.”
