Shadow Magic

“What?” Morenna frowned. “No, he’s a life mage. Everyone’s seen him use life magic, all through the war.”

“Yes,” Vanerra agreed, “and he is also a shadow mage.”

“Well, we know that’s not impossible,” Uthien mused. “It’s just rare. We’re all related to a shadow mage, and a double mage—both do exist.”

“But in the same person?” said Espa. “That has to be the rarest combination possible!”

“Damn,” said Rakkan, “does that mean Zaurgan is the protagonist? I was starting to think it was Morenna.”

“This is not a story,” Ophia said acidly. “Can you not take something seriously for once in your life?”

Rakkan grinned at her. “Why do you think I’m not taking something seriously just because I can joke about it? Life is suffering, dear sister; if you can choose to laugh or not, why wouldn’t you?”

“Enough,” Morenna exclaimed. “Vanerra, you’re suggesting that Zaurgan has kept shadow magic a secret all this time? Fine, that’s honestly the best practice for a shadow mage; I’d have done that if I had the opportunity. But if a shadow mage were keeping their talent hidden, you would never have managed to find out!”

“I saw him appear out of a shadow,” Vanerra insisted, “and disappear back into one.”

“That’s what I mean,” Morenna retorted. “If you’d been close enough to see that, Zaurgan would have been aware of your presence and either not done it or killed you before you could tell anyone.”

“Morenna,” Aldan said quietly, “listen to her. Vanerra is—”

“Excuse me, I’m sorry,” Vanerra interjected. “Brother, I love you, but you’re not good at…explanations.”

“She’s got you there,” Ophia agreed.

“Let me handle it this time?” Vanerra asked. “It is my story, after all.”

Aldan smiled ruefully, and gestured for her to go ahead. “Of course, little sister.”

“Thank you.” Vanerra smiled back, and then turned again to Morenna. “Listen, everyone: this is about trust above all. Aldan needs you to trust him…and so do I. But trust can’t be taken, it has to be given. So…I am offering trust. I’m going to reveal things I have been carefully guarding, and I must ask you not to repeat them.”

“Okay, I hear it now, too,” Rakkan muttered. “We all have a tendency to talk like middle-aged politicians but somehow it’s downright creepy when little Vanerra does it.”

“A royal upbringing really does a number on your head,” Ophia agreed.

“Can we let her talk, please?” Uthien pleaded. “I want to hear this.” Espa nodded agreement.

Vanerra smiled at them, and continued. “My mother’s people are a Rahabin tribe from the eastern deltas called the Shaihadin; you probably all know that they aligned themselves with Khellvain early in his conquests, and were crucial in his gains among the Rahabin tribes in general. The Shaihadin have always been expert diplomats, and took it as their own duty to maintain peace among their neighbors whenever possible. What is not well known is that they are also experts in espionage, sabotage, and assassination, and just as often protected that peace by quietly eliminating threats to it. The Shaihadin elders joined Khellvain’s cause because they saw him as the best chance to spread peace across the continent.”

She paused, glanced at Aldan, and then continued more quietly.

“They were…initially persuaded of this by a visit from Khellvain’s foremost advisor, Zaurgan the Seer. As the Empire has brought exactly the peace they desired, the Shaihadin have remained staunchly loyal to Khellvain, and supportive of Zaurgan in particular. What is important is that Zaurgan does not know of their secondary mandate; he valued their diplomacy. Even Khellvain does not realize how dangerous the Shaihadin can be. When my mother was given to him, he thought it simply because she was the most beautiful young woman of the tribe, a skilled negotiator who would help stabilize his court, and that keeping her close to him as an eye upon the court for the Shaihadin would be a reward for their loyal support.”

“Wait, given?” Morenna said. “I thought Khellvain outlawed slavery—”

“My mother is not a slave,” Vanerra said in annoyance. “She took up the duty of becoming an Imperial concubine for her people’s sake, for the sake of protecting peace, and to produce heirs who would discreetly support the Empire’s next ruler. I have been raised and trained from the cradle for that purpose: to make sure Aldan becomes the best Emperor he can be, without revealing to anyone else that I have any dangerous skills.”

“Vanerra has saved me,” Aldan said quietly. “With Zaurgan constantly whispering in my ear and manipulating my options behind the scenes… I don’t even know how I might have turned out if she hadn’t been there for me. I know it’s terrible to lean so much on someone so much younger…”

“This is the purpose I was born and trained for,” Vanerra said, smiling. “Also, you’re my big brother and I love you.”

“I’m sorry, Ophia,” Aldan added. “Maybe I should have opened up to you, but… You were always so frail, and I knew you’d be on my side, which would make you a target. I couldn’t…I didn’t want to risk it.”

“I am angry at you,” Ophia stated firmly, then stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Aldan. He hugged her back, slumping against her.

“Aww,” Rakkan said with a smile.

Morenna cleared her throat. “Not that all of this isn’t important, but weren’t we talking about Zaurgan being a shadow mage?”

“Yes,” Vanerra said gravely. “Sister, the Shaihadin are so good at spycraft that very few know they are; they did not get that way without knowing how to deal with shadow mages.”

Morenna jerked back in surprise.

“Among the secrets of the Shaihadin are techniques of life magic that infuse a mage’s own blood with other items—clothing, armor, tools, weapons. If done properly, those things become, for magical purposes, part of their body. So a shadow mage cannot snatch things out of their pockets, or slip poisoned needles past their armor.”

Morenna twitched again.

“Such blood-infused substances,” Vanerra continued, “can also be used to alter the outward shape of one’s body. In conjunction with other techniques of life magic, enabling the mage to remain perfectly still for long periods and then suddenly move without stiffness… Well, it doesn’t matter if the shadow mage can sense your presence, if they think they’re standing next to a boulder or tree stump.”

The rest of them turned to look at Morenna, who scowled.

“Clever,” she admitted. “I have my doubts how well that’d work in practice, though…”

Vanerra smiled smugly. “It works on you, sister.”

“What? When?”

“My mother knew these techniques, and couldn’t pass up the chance to train me in them since this castle has a resident shadow mage who likes to walk around the corridors at night.”

They all looked over at Morenna again.

“You walk around at night?” Espa asked.

“When else would I stretch my legs?” Morenna retorted, scowling. “I don’t need light to see, and during the daylight, people are around to stare and whisper and be annoying at me.”

“It was during a night when I was being a statue,” Vanerra continued, “in a dark hallway when Aldan was supposed to meet with Zaurgan. I got there first and concealed myself…and so I witnessed Zaurgan appear before Aldan came, and after their conversation, disappear the same way. He’s a shadow mage, Morenna. He is a man with the same power you have, plus far greater experience at using it, and also life magic to strengthen himself. He can do everything you can do and also move faster and hit harder.”

Uthien cleared his throat. “Aldan, brother, if Zaurgan has been working you over since you were a child, you may not have the most objective estimate of his importance to the Empire; I think we should revisit the idea of killing him. But it sounds like doing so may be a lot harder than we imagined.”

“Well, then…” Ophia shrugged. “What can we do?”

“That,” said Aldan, “is what I brought you together to discuss. It’s a long shot, but I have one idea.”