Episode 3 Sneak Peek #21

Almost at the end of this branch now... Almost. 

You cross your arms. The Guild of Mages was bad enough with its schism between Lethalis and Solarath, but Lethalis itself has its own fair share of infighting. At least Veyer has the self-awareness to label it as petty. “And the second reason?”

“Is far more serious, I’m afraid,” Veyer says grimly. “Malsara Markal is not part of the Order of Lethalis. She is an Erebian operative, assigned to protect Zenaida Anaxas at all costs. Now, thanks to her ties to her sister and Zenaida, many within Lethalis have turned a blind eye to her origins and consider her their own. Erebian operatives come in all forms—bodyguards, spies, consorts, assassins. But if there is one commonality between them all, it is this: they are staggeringly loyal and put the League above all. Not their friends. Not their lovers. Not their employers. The League.”

Your mouth runs dry. “What are you saying?” you ask hoarsely.

“I’m saying that we are placing all of our faith in Markal with no contingency plans. I question the decision to delegate the transportation of a powerful and highly dangerous artefact to an Erebian operative, and a planeswalker at that. It could fall into the League’s hands before any of us could act.”

A shiver rolls down your spine. You know as much about the League as anyone—which means almost nothing at all. Though you’ve been with her for a month, Malsara has never been forthright about her connections to them. She is so tightly associated with Zenaida that you never considered they would play into this at all.

“What stake does the Erebian League have in any of this?” you ask.

Veyer gives you a flat look. “Use your head, $firstname. What benefit could the largest covert organization in the world get from claiming one of the most powerful Meissandic artefacts? Sell it, use it, barter it off for political gains. The staff is an augmenter tied to the sphere of illumination. Illusions may be of no concern to you, but I don’t want to think about what a contingent of spies and assassins could do with that power.”

“And you think it’s safer with you?”

“I can mask its appearance long enough to deliver it to Umbria and Oshiro. You will be paid for your efforts all the same.”

You look upwards, watching the tower, taking in the formidable walls and the broken citadel beyond. Magic pulses around it, so pungent you can almost taste the oily haze and the shimmering wards. You’re here because of Zenaida. She has placed her faith in you, just as she has placed her faith in Malsara.

1. Veyer has a point. There’s a flaw in this plan, one Lethalis never considered. The more you think about it, the more Malsara’s League connections concern you.
2. It doesn’t matter to you who the Astrial ends up with. There’s as good of a chance of it returning to Umbria with Malsara as it does with Veyer.
3. They’re up to something and you’re not going to fall for it.