Chapter Seventeen The Coven at Lyremouth

Seated at a window, high in the Guardian’s tower, Tevi rested her head against the glass and looked down on the scene outside. Billows of soft drizzle were sweeping across Lyremouth harbor. The sounds of the city were muted in the damp air. The sea was leaden. Even the surf looked grey in the fading light. Pennants on the ship’s masts flapped soggily. The view was not exactly cheery, but Tevi found it very relaxing and safe.

The noise of a door opening drew her eyes away from the harbor. A row of senior sorcerers filed into the hallway from the chamber beyond and proceeded towards the exit. Three of them frowned at Tevi disapprovingly as they passed by, but most ignored her. Only one gave a friendly nod of recognition.

The Coven authorities did not approve of relationships between their members and the ungifted. Some of the senior sorcerers clearly felt that Tevi was a problem that should be dealt with in some way. Fortunately, Gilliart, the elected leader of the Coven, did not share the view. But regardless of what even the Guardian might want, Tevi was a free citizen with the right to life and justice, and she could not be simply disposed of.

More than anything else it symbolized to Tevi the difference between the Protectorate and Bykoda’s Empire. There, Jemeryl’s refusal to give her up would be seen as the problem. In the Protectorate, Tevi could be a problem in her own right.

Jemeryl was the last in the line of sorcerers. Her expression was pensive, but it changed to a smile at the sight of Tevi waiting. She wandered to the window and also took a seat, shifting sideways to face her.

“You could have come to the meeting,” Jemeryl said, once the last of the seniors had gone from the hallway.

“I got the feeling that some didn’t want me there.”

“True, some didn’t. But Gilliart was quite happy, and with the Guardian on your side the rest don’t matter much.”

Tevi shrugged. “I wouldn’t have understood most of what was said, and I’ve had quite enough of talking to sorcerers recently.”

“Me included?”

“That depends on what you want to say.” Tevi grinned as she spoke.

Jemeryl countered the teasing with mock-seriousness. “I could tell you what was discussed at the meeting.”

By way of answer, Tevi gave an exaggerated groan of despair. Since their return to Lyremouth, they had been dragged through a succession of debriefings, private interviews, reviews, and interrogations where a dozen different people all wanted to know the same things. Why not have just one big meeting with everyone there and get it all over with at once?

This last meeting had dealt with plans for exploring the talisman’s design. Tevi had been informed that she did not need to attend because there was nothing that she could contribute. While this was probably true, the condescending delivery of the message had irritated Tevi and she had almost decided to go out of perversity, but in the end, she could not face another four hours of tedious debate.

“Oh, go on. You want to know what was said,” Jemeryl said, teasing.

“Do I?”

Jemeryl wrinkled her nose. “Well, maybe not. It was mainly a lot of maneuvering about who’s going to be in the group that reviews the proposals for suggested research strategy. I’m sure you’d have understood most of what went on. There was more politics than magic.”

“I’ll try to live with my regrets at missing it.”

“The only thing everyone agreed on was that nothing should be done until we understand the risks. It will be years before anyone is allowed to touch the talisman. Maybe never. Some seers have made a preliminary examination and agree that it would definitely rupture if anyone tried to use it.” Jemeryl’s expression became troubled and her head dropped. “I haven’t told anyone that I was about to.”

“You might not have.”

“I was—”

“You can’t say for certain. Even without overhearing the news about me, you might have changed your mind before any damage had been done.”

“But—”

Tevi leaned forwards and took Jemeryl’s hand. “No buts. There isn’t a person alive who couldn’t be pushed into doing something awful by the wrong set of circumstances. Guilt or innocence can be a question of luck. You don’t have to confess to what you might have done if things had been different.”

“What about attacking Mavek?”

“All right. Own up to that if you want.”

“I did.”

“And?”

“They all agreed it would have been better if I hadn’t, but nobody seemed overly upset on his behalf.”

“He’d embarked on a course that could destroy the world. Are you surprised it lost him sympathy?”

“But he didn’t succeed. Doesn’t the hypothetical innocence apply to him as well?”

“Are you determined to beat yourself up over this?”

Jemeryl pouted like a three-year-old. “You said you’d let me wallow in guilt when we got back here.”

“Um...I did, didn’t I?” Tevi sighed in exasperation, but then she caught Jemeryl’s eye and smiled. “Anything else of interest?”

“One thing that could affect us. A delegation from Horzt arrived yesterday. They’re petitioning to join the Protectorate.”

“Horzt? I thought they were all for independence.”

“It’s amazing what effect an infestation of dragons can have. Now that the northern plains are overrun, the people of Horzt are having second thoughts about wanting protection.”

The innocent remark gave an uncomfortable jab to Tevi’s conscience. She grimaced and looked out the window.

“That worries you?” Jemeryl asked.

“Not Horzt itself, but I wanted to protect the people in Uzhenek. I know I never claimed that I could, but I felt responsible.”

“You saved them from Mavek’s army and from him getting the talisman.”

“But now their lives are ruined.”

“That’s open to argument. Uzhenek will be abandoned, which is no bad thing. The people will go back to being nomadic hunters. I’m sure that when they talk about the old times, they’ll romanticize Bykoda’s reign, but I don’t know if they’ll be any less happy than before.”

“Except they’ve got dragons killing and eating them.”

“It won’t happen often. Dragons aren’t really that keen on eating people. We tend to wear indigestible bits of metal and stuff. Plus there isn’t as much meat on us as there is on wild cattle and deer, and there’s enough wildlife on the plains to share. Hunters can co-exist with dragons quite well. The only time we get into conflict is when it comes to gold.”

“Shard had quite a hoard.”

“Dragons love gold and gems. Maybe it’s because they don’t decay or age. For a dragon they’re one thing that never changes in its life view. Perhaps the consistency gives them stability. Whatever the reason, they’ll do anything to collect it. Which is another reason Horzt wants to join the Protectorate. Most of Horzt’s money comes from trade over the pass. Merchants carry gold, so until something comes along to drive the dragons away, caravans will be taking other routes. With less money coming their way, Horzt won’t have to pay so much in taxes to the Coven.”

“And you said it might affect us?”

“If Horzt joins the Protectorate, they’ll need a town sorcerer. If I want the post, then Gilliart has said it’s mine for the asking. I have experience of the plains. And I know the characters left over from Bykoda’s regime.”

Tevi studied Jemeryl’s face. She could tell that something was bothering her lover. “Do you want it?”

“Do you?”

“It isn’t me who’ll be taking the post.”

“But would you mind?”

“Why should I?”

“Because, when we went to Tirakhalod, it was all my idea. And I know that you didn’t enjoy it. It doesn’t seem fair if I get to say where we go next.”

Tevi turned her head again to look out the window. A rain-swept dusk was falling over the sea. Given the choice, where would she go? She had been exiled from the island of her birth, but she had never felt that she belonged there anyway. Lyremouth was all right, but it did not feel like home, and nowhere else had any sort of claim on her at all. She looked back to Jemeryl.

“If Horzt joins the Protectorate, then the mercenary’s guild will be setting up a proper guild house in the town. Like you, I know the northern plains. And I’ve ridden on a dragon. I’m sure the guild would be very happy to offer me a permanent job. Maybe even deputy guild master. But however it goes, it won’t be like Tirakhalod.”

“And you’ll be happy?”

“Of course, because I’ll be in the only place I really want to be.”

“Where? Horzt?”

“No. By your side.”