19. The Mages

Chapter nineteen

The Mages

A silver chalice rested on a pedestal in the Chamber's center, shimmering flame dancing above its rim. Intricate lines of silver and gold intertwined to form powerful symbols of magic across the floor, walls, and ceiling. Six Mages stood encircling the fiery goblet. Each face wore the same troubled expression.

Chandler spoke, breaking their silent contemplation. "There is no more time. She grows in strength and power by the day. The people flock to her, especially after her marriage to the King. It has been over five years since Johann's visit. We must act."

"She is a girl of eighteen. What threat is she to our combined might?" Elric crossed his muscled arms. "And just how would you have us act? Kill one of our own? Kill the Queen of Spires? She may not follow our path or live among our order, but she is still a Mage, one of us. The Phoenix would extract a price I doubt any here are willing to pay."

"Bah! That silly old wives' tale? We are the Phoenixes for this age." Tasha looked into each Mage's eyes. "But you're right, she should not die. That precedent would be unhealthy for the rest of us."

"Why are ya so fixated on dis girl, Tasha?" Isold? asked, speaking for the first time since they'd gathered over an hour ago. "She does not'ing wit' her power but Heal. Does she even know how t' use it for anyt'ing else?"

Tasha ground her teeth and glared at the islander. "How can you ask that? Are you even more of an idiot that I already thought?'

"Tasha." Elric's voice held a note of warning.

Isold? merely quirked a brow and crossed her arms.

Tasha's eyes narrowed. "She is Queen at what, sixteen or seventeen winters? And if you cannot feel the waves of her power like a boulder dropped into the Well, your magical senses are numb. She could already match two, perhaps three, of us. If we give her time to grow—"

"She can only grow if we teach her, else she fumbles in t' dark," Isold? said.

"Isn't Danai still with her?" Chandler asked.

Tasha nodded and locked eyes with Isold?. "Johann sent him . . . to teach her."

Isold?'s mouth opened, then closed.

"What do you propose?" Chandler barked. "You do have a plan?"

"Of course, I do," Tasha snapped. "We strike first, before she can rise to power. We cripple her so she may never threaten us in the first place. She cares little for herself, for riches or glory, but those she loves are everything to her. We use them to break her spirit—or to bend it to our will, at the very least."

"Kels? and Johann will never approve," Elric said. Several of the others murmured in agreement.

Tasha waved a hand and extinguished the flame at their center. "Then we had better not tell them."