Chapter 6

Chapter

Six

M arieke had expected the rush of nerves she felt as the carriage pulled into the capital, Ondford. After all, she'd left a month before with the express purpose of avoiding further attention from a ruling council she no longer fully trusted. The same ruling council to which she was about to make an official report.

What she hadn't predicted was the other raft of emotions that tangled around her apprehension, muddying it. Last time she'd been in the city, she'd been with Zev. If she was perfectly honest with herself, she hadn't fled to her home just because she felt at risk from the council. She'd also been driven by something bordering uncomfortably close on heartbreak.

If only he was here with her now, she wouldn't feel as nervous about facing the council. His silent presence beside her last time she gave testimony had meant the world to her. She felt so much more vulnerable this time, all alone. She would really need to do something about that. After all, she'd told Zev she would be careful, and putting herself straight back in the council's target didn't feel careful.

Of course, she'd told Zev she'd be careful right before asking him to help her on her self-appointed mission. Which was also right before he rejected her appeal and drew back from her, both literally and emotionally. She was probably being foolish to think he'd be overly worried about her safety now.

What would he think of this latest turn of events? What would he think of her role? If he'd seen her stop the fire, would he be softened toward magic? Would he be impressed by her?

Embarrassed by her own thoughts, Marieke tried not to think about Zev at all. This task proved difficult when they alighted and Instructor Oriana led them right past the gardens that sat between the council and academy buildings.

The gardens where Gorgon had almost killed her.

The gardens where Zev had kissed her as though their very lives depended on the desperate movement of their lips. Where he'd held her as though someone would have to kill him to get between his body and hers.

See, that was the kind of thought that did nothing to help her peace of mind.

"Mari?"

She blinked, realizing belatedly that Solomon was speaking to her.

"Sorry, what did you say?"

"Will you be all right if I head back to the academy now? Or do you want me to stick around and help you settle in?"

"Thanks, but I'll be fine," she said quickly. His solicitousness brought back her earlier thoughts about her own vulnerability. "Actually, I was thinking I might go and find Kaine. Do you know if he's still stationed in the capital?"

"I believe so. I see him around occasionally."

Solomon seemed surprised at this mention of the singer who was a member of the council's guard. They'd both gotten to know him fairly well on their journey to Aeltas, but it seemed Solomon hadn't kept up the acquaintance since their return. Marieke intended to, however. She didn't have many friends in the capital, and she could use all the help she could get.

Marieke barely deposited her bags in her allotted room in the council building before heading back out in search of the guard. She'd yet to be informed of when the council was likely to summon her, and she thought she'd be wise to make the most of whatever time she had. Who knew how quickly she'd be dismissed once her report was made?

She was fortunate to find Kaine walking out of the barracks. He welcomed her with a smile, gesturing for her to walk with him.

"Marieke! I didn't expect to see you. When did you return to the capital?"

"Just now," she said. "Where are you headed, Kaine? Have I caught you just as your shift is starting?"

He shook his head. "I've just come off duty, actually. Were you looking for me? Can I help with something?"

"I was," Marieke confirmed. "And I hope so. I was wondering if you'd be willing to teach me to defend myself."

He looked surprised. "Against who?"

She shrugged. "Anyone who might attack me, I suppose. I'm just regretting my decision not to ever take the combat elective at the academy."

"Of course you are." Kaine chuckled. "I said it to all my friends, everyone should study it for at least one semester. None of them listened to me."

"And now they regret it?" Marieke asked, falling into step beside him.

He laughed. "Sadly no, they still don't recognize my wisdom." He gave her a sideways look. "Apparently they don't anticipate the same dangers you do. That fall into Sundering Canyon really rattled you, huh?"

Marieke shuddered. "I'd rather not be reminded of it, thank you very much." She still had nightmares about falling sometimes. And it wasn't just the fall itself that kept her awake. That incident had been the start of all her problems.

Although, she admitted to herself, she wouldn't turn back time if she could. She wouldn't choose to return to her former ignorance.

"How long are you in Ondford?" asked Kaine.

"I'm not sure," Marieke admitted. "Possibly not long."

"Well, I've got a few hours now," he said amicably. "Give me ten minutes to eat something, and I can give you some basic pointers."

Marieke thanked him profusely, and met him in the training yard at the indicated time. She'd used the opportunity while he ate to check back in with Instructor Oriana. There had still been no summons from the council, so she assumed that in the meantime she was free to occupy herself how she pleased.

"All right," said Kaine, after he'd led her in a brief warm up exercise during which he'd scrutinized her critically. "Sorry to be blunt, but physical strength isn't your greatest asset."

Marieke grimaced in acknowledgment. She'd never undertaken any kind of training in combat, so it wasn't surprising.

"Since we have very little time, I think I'll focus on an area where you might have more success with less practice. Or at least, which you can practice later, without me here to help you."

"What area?" Marieke asked.

"Magic," he said simply. "I'll teach you some basics of combat song, rather than trying to teach you to be a physical fighter. You can't learn that all in a rush, anyway."

"But you can learn combat song in one session?" Marieke asked skeptically.

He laughed. "Of course not. But I can tell you some basics, and you can keep working on it. "

"I'll take it," she said.

"I'm going to focus on one basic principle," Kaine went on. "I think it could be very helpful to you if you find yourself in a physical fight. And it's a concept you could keep working on without me, given you already have a graduate's level of magical ability."

Marieke nodded.

"It's called the principle of strategic distraction," Kaine said. "In concept, it's quite simple. It basically means using your body to fight in a certain way—like swinging your fist for a punch—but using your magic in a different way—such as causing a protruding root to shift and trip your opponent. The other fighter is focused on defending against your punch, and doesn't notice the moving root."

"But surely they'd notice I was singing," Marieke said, frowning.

"Of course," Kaine acknowledged. "But most people, especially those with no training in combat song, will subconsciously assume that your song is connected to what they can see—that is, the swinging fist. They'll think that you're using magic to enhance the strength of your fist."

"Which probably isn't a bad idea in itself," grinned Marieke, holding up that unimpressive part of her.

Kaine chuckled. "You could try that. But in your case, I think strategic distraction will be more, well, strategic."

"I suppose to sell the misdirection, I'd have to be careful what words I used in my song," she commented.

"Exactly." Kaine seemed pleased at her comprehension. "If you graduated, I assume you're proficient in basic masking skills?"

"Of course," Marieke said.

As Kaine knew, all students at the Academy of Song were taught the skill of masking their magic use from observers by avoiding using any words in their song which gave the task away. It required training and practice to mask song, because although the words of a song weren't actually the key to molding magic with it, simply telling the magic what to do with words was the easiest way when learning to control it.

"Good, because that's important in making strategic distraction work," Kaine said. "Really advanced combat singers will actually use masking offensively, but I won't try to get that detailed." He must have seen her confusion, because he explained, "They use words in their song that appear to tell the magic to do one thing while the power of their song directs the magic to do something completely different."

"That would take a lot of concentration," Marieke said. "I can't even imagine having that much focus while physically fighting for my life."

Kaine smiled. "Like any area of magic, it takes a lot of training and persistence to excel."

"Well, I don't need to excel," Marieke said. "Just to survive."

Taking her cue, Kaine moved from the theoretical to the practical part of her training. He very generously gave her two hours of his time, during which he taught her the basics of strategic distraction. Marieke understood the concept, at least. She wouldn't master it to assessment level, but she might be able to keep practicing it once she left the capital.

"That was good," Kaine said, watching critically as Marieke used her song to send a wind swirling through the training yard, blowing the punching bag out in the opposite direction from which she was pushing it with her arms. "It's a very solid start."

Marieke nodded in appreciation of the praise, letting her song peter out as she stepped back and wiped her brow with one sleeve .

"If I'm still in Ondford tomorrow, would I be allowed to use this training yard to practice more?" she asked.

"Absolutely," said Kaine. "Come find me, and I'll help you. If we have time, I'll get you started on some collaborative combat."

"Fighting in a team, you mean?" Marieke glanced around the yard, not eager to embarrass herself by joining forces with any of the experienced fighters currently training in the space.

"Specifically one aspect of it," Kaine clarified. "Since you're not a strong physical fighter—no offense—you might fight better in a team if you could focus on sharing your magic. As in, using it to give extra strength to the physical attack of another fighter."

"Interesting," said Marieke, her mind running through all the possible applications. "I have to say, I'm starting to think you were right. Every student should do combat for at least one semester. It's fascinating, and there are so many ways to use combat song!"

"Hah!" Kaine raised a fist triumphantly, drawing curious looks from the closest pair of guards. "A convert. I knew with training from a master such as me, you'd come around."

Marieke rolled her eyes, although she was grinning. "In my experience, boasting often hides inadequacy, or more specifically the fear of it being found out."

Kaine was undaunted by this dig. "Not in my case," he said. "My instructors all assured me I was the most promising student in my class. Usually when berating me for wasting my potential by not working hard enough."

"Hm." Marieke eyed him as they made their way out of the yard. "Do you think that's why you couldn't convince your friends to study combat with you? No one wants to sign up to be outshone. "

"Whoa." Kaine gave her a look. "That must have been an insightful question. I actually felt that."

Marieke stared at him, bewildered. "What do you mean you felt it?"

"I felt the magic of it," he said. "You know that feeling, when the magic of the land sort of concentrates under your feet, ready for you to access it with song?"

"Yes," Marieke said slowly. "I know that feeling. I don't know what it has to do with my question, though."

Kaine shrugged. "It's not the first time I've noticed your questions having that effect. Magic pooled toward you when you asked about my friends. You weren't calling it on purpose, preparing to draw it out?"

Marieke shook her head, completely nonplussed. "Not at all. I have no idea how my questions could make magic pool. I've never heard of anything like that before."

"I have," Kaine said. "I believe it's a branch of storytelling song. You really haven't studied that skill? You must be a natural if you're doing it unconsciously. Did you take storytelling song?"

"Only the introductory course," said Marieke regretfully. "I wanted to continue, but the class was full."

Kaine raised an eyebrow. "That's unusual. I thought hardly anyone did storytelling. When I was at the academy, there were only about half a dozen students in that class at any given time. I can't imagine Instructor Oriana turning anyone away who wanted to study it. She was always trying to get extra students interested."

Marieke frowned, confused. The class had been equally small when she'd been a student, but she didn't remember ever hearing Instructor Oriana try to recruit more. She'd been under the impression that six was the absolute limit for the class. She vaguely remembered someone explaining that due to the complexity of the skill, the teacher needed significant one-on-one time with each student.

Kaine's experience and her own didn't quite add up.

She was so distracted by the mystery, she barely heard herself as she thanked him for his time and peeled away toward the council building. She made her way through the guest quarters, pleasantly surprised to discover that a meal had been delivered to her room. Along with it was a note requesting her to present herself in the council audience hall the following morning. Her heart jumped a little with nerves, but on the whole she thought it was good to get it over with.

She had difficulty falling asleep, her mind still turning over Kaine's comments. Had she really drawn magic toward her simply by asking a question? She hadn't been aware of it. But then, she found magic to sometimes behave unpredictably in the land beneath her feet, gathering and dispersing with no apparent logic. Was it possible she'd had more to do with that process than she'd realized? What a pity that she'd been unable to pursue storytelling song! Her questions might have been answered in that class. Her questions about her questions, she thought humorously, her mind growing foggy as sleep approached. There was a certain irony to it all, given her reputation during her studies of always asking too many questions.

When Marieke woke, the prospect of appearing before the council drove other considerations aside. After eating the simple breakfast provided to her, she made her way to the audience hall, bracing herself to face the scrutiny of the Council of Singers.

To her relief, however, the ordeal was much less intimidating than she'd expected. Last time, the whole council seemed to have gathered. This time, it was only three members who were waiting, along with Instructor Oriana, Solomon, and a handful of others from the group who'd traveled to Bull Creek. And they were all seated together around the large table on the floor of the room, the raised seats remaining empty.

Marieke's shoulders had barely relaxed when tension returned to them as she scanned the group and realized that Instructor Rafael was one of the three on the far side of the table. The Academy's Head Instructor was a member of the Council of Singers by virtue of his office. He was also the man Zev had warned her against. He'd urged her not to trust the council completely. Especially the Head Instructor , he'd said, offering no explanation whatsoever for his warning.

Typical Zev.

Marieke had come promptly at the time stated on the note, so she was surprised to find so many people already there. After the greetings had been exchanged and Marieke had sat down, however, it quickly became clear that the meeting had been in progress for some time. For whatever reason, she hadn't been invited to attend from the beginning.

Instructor Oriana was giving a report on the team's investigation, but she'd barely started speaking again when Instructor Rafael interrupted.

"Since Marieke has arrived," he said, not meeting her eyes, "how about we hear the information she has to share? Then she can be free to go. No need to take up her whole day when the rest of our proceedings are irrelevant to her."

Especially the Head Instructor. Zev's words sounded again in Marieke's ears, accompanied by the image of his handsome face creased with concern, and something resembling anger.

Zev had apparently read the older man well. Of everyone in the room, the Head Instructor seemed by far the most concerned about keeping information away from Marieke. Why make such a point of secrecy if he had nothing to hide?

But of course he did have something to hide. The whole council did. They were hiding the true details of the coup during which the singers of old had overthrown the monarchies of the two kingdoms. The real question was how that secret could be threatened by Marieke gaining whatever information was being discussed in the present meeting.

"Certainly." Instructor Oriana smiled at Marieke. "I don't mind ceding the floor. Marieke is the only firsthand witness among us, after all." She gave her an encouraging nod. "Go on, Marieke."

"All right." Marieke cleared her throat, wiping her hands on her skirt under the table. Her palms were suddenly sweaty. "What do you want to know?"

"Just recount the events of the fire as comprehensively as you can," one of the other council members chimed in. "We've been given to understand that your observations are of particular interest."

"I'll let you be the judge of that," said Marieke, smiling weakly.

Clearing her throat again, she told her story, doing her best to explain the magical side of her observations in detail. It was gratifying to see that her descriptions made more sense to this audience than they had to her father. The brows of her listeners, which had lowered in displeasure at hearing of the angry magic that had seemed to fuel the fire, rose in surprise when she explained that when the wind finally stopped fighting her control, something magical snapped in the process. They understood the significance of what she was saying.

"So if you're right that magic started the fire, whoever manipulated that magic must have actually been right there," one of the council members said, one eyebrow still aloft. "Close enough to be urging their enchantment to fight yours."

"That was my conclusion as well," said Marieke.

"This certainly casts a different light on the incident," mused another council member. His eyes were piercing as they rested on her.

Marieke could feel Instructor Rafael watching her closely as well, but she avoided making eye contact. He certainly wasn't eager to speak and draw her attention.

"It sounds like you did very well, at any rate," said the first council member. "I imagine the local farmers are very grateful to you. It was very fortunate that you were present."

Marieke dipped her head, embarrassed by the praise but also pleased. It was reassuring to think that the whole council wasn't set against her.

"It was fortunate that I happened to focus on agricultural song in my studies," she said. "The skills I learned at the academy were what enabled me to assist."

"Well said." Instructor Oriana's voice held a definite note of humor. "Three cheers for our academy, eh? And I didn't even pay her to say that."

A ripple went around the group as everyone chuckled at the likable instructor's joke. Well, not quite everyone. Marieke noticed that Instructor Rafael remained solemn, his position as Head Instructor apparently not enough to make him join in the praising of his institution. She risked a direct look at him, but averted her eyes quickly when she found him studying her. He didn't look angry, as she'd thought he might. He looked…wary. That was more of a concern, if anything. It didn't seem safe for her to make him feel threatened.

"Fortunate indeed," the third council member said, also studying her closely. "Quite the coincidence, in fact."

Marieke didn't answer, not sure what to make of his tone. Did he find her story suspicious? Perhaps even wonder if she'd had a hand in the incident?

"Thank you for your report." The Head Instructor finally spoke. "We will consider it further."

His words had a clear note of dismissal, but the other pensive council member apparently wasn't done with her.

"I was present the last time you gave a report to the council," he said, leaning forward. "I must say, it's curious that for a second time you found yourself face-to-face with the instigator of a crime that we had been unable to solve. You seem to have a knack for being in the right place at the right time."

His words were innocuous enough, but his tone suggested something else behind it. Marieke's discomfort grew. It wasn't anything as overt as an accusation, but he was clearly suspicious of her.

"In this case, perhaps," said Marieke. "When Gorgon attempted to murder me in the gardens it felt more like the wrong place at the wrong time, to be honest."

The council member inclined his head. "Of course."

"More to the point," interjected Instructor Rafael, not looking pleased with the conversation's direction, "it is reassuring that once again Marieke's evidence confirms that the disaster in question was the act of a malicious individual," his eyes lingered on her, "and nothing broader or more sinister."

A frown crossed Marieke's face before she could smooth her features. Was he really going to argue that the fire—and the storms and other catastrophes Solomon had mentioned—were unconnected with the wider problem facing Oleand?

Unfortunately, the way Instructor Rafael's eyes narrowed told her that he'd noticed her reaction. She should have been more guarded.

"Agreed," the other council member said. "We should dispatch a criminal investigative team to the town."

"There'd be no point," Instructor Oriana was saying frankly. "They wouldn't find anything I didn't find."

"You're very confident." The third member from the council sounded faintly amused.

Instructor Oriana shrugged. "I'm not trying to boast. But as far as I'm aware, no one in Oleand has a higher level of skill in storytelling song than I do. Anything there is to learn from the site, I've learned it. And whoever started that fire covered his or her tracks."

Again the two council members who seemed wary of Marieke directed their eyes to her, but this time Marieke was distracted. The mention of storytelling song had turned her thoughts back to Kaine's words. She considered Instructor Oriana's face, wondering if she dared to ask her about the discrepancy. The instructor loved her area of songcraft, it was clear to every student. Surely she wouldn't have turned Marieke away from the class if she truly had a natural aptitude, like Kaine claimed.

"Thank you, Marieke, you may consider yourself dismissed." Instructor Rafael's voice was crisp, and Marieke cautiously turned to meet his eyes. "The council thanks you for making the journey in order to give us your report. I assume you'll be returning home at once? We will arrange for someone to accompany you, for your convenience."

His eyes lingered on her as he said it, and Marieke felt a prickling sensation on the back of her neck. She was probably being paranoid, but her instincts were telling her not to travel anywhere with an escort of this man's choosing.

You're wise to be guarded and not to trust the council completely. Especially the Head Instructor.

"Thank you," she said mildly. "That's a kind offer, but unnecessary."

"Not at all." He leaned forward. "I'll see to the details at once."

"Yes, certainly." The other council member who'd seemed suspicious of her weighed in. "With such catastrophes hounding your steps, you must not leave the city alone, Marieke. Stay in your current lodgings until someone is available to see you home."

Again the words were simple enough, but the tone held a warning. They were ordering her to stay put until dismissed? At which point she would be escorted home under supervision? They were definitely suspicious of her, whether because of her presence at the fire or because of her unsanctioned questions, she wasn't sure.

Either way, Marieke didn't like it. She lost no time in making her escape from the council when dismissed. That same prickling feeling followed her, and she found herself heading straight for her room. She wouldn't seek Kaine out for further training after all. And she didn't intend to wait around for Instructor Rafael or anyone else to take charge of her movements. She understood that the instruction to stay put hadn't been intended to be optional, but it had been presented just casually enough that she thought she could get away with defying it if she acted immediately.

But what was she going to do? The question swirled uncomfortably through her mind as she gathered her belongings. She had enough coins to pay her way home, but what then? Join her father's clinic? Wander around hoping to stumble on the next disaster requiring an agricultural singer? It had been weeks since she'd vowed to find out what was happening to Oleand. And she'd achieved nothing toward that end, even as the country battled a new spate of disasters. Worst of all, it sounded like the council was going to spin the fires and storms as random acts not connected to Oleand's bigger problems—and they might even be looking to label her as the instigator. Quite apart from the risk to her, that avenue was fruitless in actually getting to the bottom of things. If the true problem was to be identified and resolved, someone needed to be asking the right questions.

The right questions. The thought inevitably brought her mind back to Kaine's words yet again. It was another thing she needed answers about. She wished she could be confident that it was safe to simply ask Instructor Oriana to explain it all, but she no longer felt that certainty. She'd already learned that casual inquiries within the academy had a habit of making their way back to the Head Instructor.

So asking outright about the questioning branch of storytelling song would be unwise, and asking about heartsong was completely out of the question. But she remained convinced that heartsong, whatever it was, had something to do with what was happening to the country. And she'd promised herself she'd get to the bottom of it.

Her bag now over her shoulder, she paused with her hand on the door of her temporary room. She shouldn't waste this unexpected trip to the capital—returning home would put her right back where she started, besides leaving her vulnerable to whatever was in Instructor Rafael's mind. But where else could she go?

She ran through her options rapidly. She didn't want to just run away. She wanted to run toward answers. Answers about heartsong, ideally. She'd heard the mysterious magic mentioned twice. Once in a conversation between the Head Instructor and Instructor Isabel, neither of whom she could safely ask for more information. The other time by Gorgon, right before he tried to knife her.

Which was right before Zev slayed him with his own blade. So no answers would be forthcoming from Gorgon, either.

But Gorgon wasn't a lone lunatic, as the Council of Singers would have everyone believe. Marieke knew better—she knew exactly where he came from. The self-proclaimed monarchists living in Sundering Canyon might have all kinds of answers. It was a risk to approach them, but she was reaching the conclusion that she wouldn't get anywhere without taking some risks. And the fact that going to the canyon would put her within hailing distance of Zev's farm wasn't lost on her, either.

The monarchists weren't singers, of course. They might know something about heartsong, but they wouldn't know anything about a branch of storytelling songcraft that related to asking questions. As she tried to formulate a plan for how to get herself to the canyon, Marieke resigned herself to the reality that she'd probably never find answers on that topic. There was no one she could safely ask in the whole Academy of Song.

The whole Oleandan Academy of Song. Her steps slowed as the thought struck her. If she was going to Sundering Canyon, she'd be most of the way to Tarandon. Perhaps she could find answers at the Aeltan Academy of Song.

The more she thought about it, the more she concluded that she should visit the Aeltan capital before making an attempt on the canyon. Had she wished it, it might be possible to complete her mission without entering Aeltas—she could start at the coast, where the canyon began, and travel along it until she reached the section where the monarchists live. But it would take days to do that journey by foot, through the inhospitable environment of the canyon. Who knew if it was all passable on foot? Or what unforeseen dangers might lurk there? The memory of how the canyon had taken her voice, and thus her access to magic, made her doubly reluctant.

No, she would find a way to get to Tarandon. There she could both provision for her canyon expedition, and make inquiries at the academy about storytelling song. And perhaps from the city, there would be a way to make contact with—

But she cut that thought off before it could grow. Zev might be the first person who'd flown into her mind when she cast around for whom she could trust, but she'd be unwise to place any reliance on his help. He'd made it clear he wanted no part of her mission.

She could worry about that later. First, she needed to find a way to get to Aeltas. It wouldn't be an easy feat, given the bridge was still closed. But there must be some communication between the countries happening. She gave a decisive nod. She knew where to start her inquiries.

Marieke slipped out of the building inconspicuously, feeling a surge of gratitude for her upbringing. Those of her fellow students who were from well-to-do singing families would think that if the council said there was no way between the countries, that was that. But coming from a farming community, she knew better. Trade was the true force that connected different communities. There'd be no livelihood in farming if the produce of the farms couldn't make its way to buyers. The politicians might not be motivated to find a way, but those who made their living from trade would.

She knew where in Ondford the shipments from the northeastern farms were received—she'd hitched a ride to the capital with farming shipments more than once during her years at the academy. From there, she should be able to find a trail outward, hopefully one that led all the way to the neighboring kingdom. Perhaps not farmed goods, but some products were surely still being exported to Aeltas.

She just needed to find a way to get herself exported with them, and ideally before the council noticed her absence.