This is an ongoing companion piece to be read after completing the Snakesblood Saga. Because it takes place during the final chapter of the last book, it will be very full of spoilers. It’s also unedited first draft fluff… just for fun! Read at your own risk, and expect installments no closer together than once a month.
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“Wait a moment, if you would?”
Rune fought the desire to grimace, though he halted in the hallway and waited for Redoram to catch up.
The old man took his time. Whatever he had to say, it struck him as less than urgent.
Eventually, the councilor stopped beside him and smoothed his robes. “I believe I’ve worked out His Majesty’s issue with the grate design. I’d be more than happy to draw it up before the next meeting of council, but I’ll need a copy of your schematic. Do you mean to take it with you, or…?”
Rune held out the rolled plans. “Having it out of my sight for a while might do me some good.”
Delight lit the councilor’s eyes as he took the paper. It disappeared into the folds of his rich blue velvet robes. “Yes, well, one might say the same about many things. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, hmm?”
Whatever the old man implied, Rune missed it. A faint crease etched itself between his brows.
Redoram cleared his throat. “You’ve been notably absent for the past several meetings. Vicamros is becoming cross.”
“Vicamros didn’t summon me for any of those meetings. He knows where I am.” Rune knew the king preferred it when he stayed in the Spiral Palace, but spending time at his own residence had never been a problem before.
The corners of the old man’s mouth twitched. “Is that so? Odd. He made it sound as if you ignored them.”
“I wouldn’t have—“ Rune started, only to cut himself short as a second possibility came to mind. He bit back the words and shut his mouth, knowing it made him look frustrated, then worked to smooth his expression. “Never mind. I’ll speak with him.” He wouldn’t go so far as to say he would apologize.
“Well, he hasn’t left the council chamber yet, so now would be a good time. Thank you for loaning me your work. I’ll bring this back with copies at the next meeting.” Redoram raised his hand and gave the rolled schematic a shake. If Rune hadn’t known any better, he might have thought it magic how quickly he made it vanish and reappear.
“Of course,” Rune said, though he doubted the copies produced by the councilor’s apprentices would be a good enough quality to build from. He’d have to insist on having the original back.
Satisfied, Redoram tucked away the roll of paper again and smoothed his robes as he carried on down the hall.
Rune waited until he was out of sight to return to the council chamber. It was rare to have the opportunity to speak with Vicamros alone, but the fewer eavesdroppers there were, the more comfortable he would be in addressing whatever new problem had arisen.
If it was a problem.
The wide room where the king’s council met was all but empty now. Rune stepped aside to let the few stragglers leave.
“Dinner tomorrow,” Garam remarked as he slid through the doorway.
Rune offered a nod. “As usual.”
The former captain nodded back and went on his way, unbothered, leaving only Vicamros and a woman Rune did not know well. She was not a usual part of the council, but a mage from the Grand College, sent to attend some business he hadn’t been privy to. She had not added anything to the meeting they’d just concluded, and had simply spent the entire time taking notes. Rune could only assume they were meant for Kytenia.
Of all the mages who could have taken control of the Grand College, he’d never expected she might be chosen.
The king glanced up from some paper the mage held before him. His gaze cooled.
That did not bode well.
“Forgive me for interrupting, Your Majesty.” For a fleeting moment, Rune considered that his choice of words might draw the king’s ire more, but he could not help the way the two of them related. For as long as he’d known the man, his approach had been to act first and ask forgiveness later. He was not likely to change now. “Do you have a moment?”
“That depends on why you need it.” Vicamros kept his voice low, but not flat.
Better than Rune hoped for, all things considered. “I just spoke with Councilor Parthanus, who made me aware of a… miscommunication. I thought I should apologize.”
The king’s eyes narrowed. “Since when?”
Rune’s brows twitched, but he kept them from drawing together. “What?”
“Since when do you apologize for anything? You’ve never been sorry a day in your life.”
For a moment, Rune didn’t know what to say. He stared, searching for some sort of defense or justification.
Then Vicamros shifted and instead of suspicion, he looked at Rune with concern. “Something’s wrong.”
“Maybe.” Rune kept his relief at the change of subject to himself, though the new one was no more comfortable. “I don’t know yet.”
The king stood straighter. “Leave us,” he ordered the mage.
The woman bowed her head and shuffled her papers into order before she obeyed, though she studied Rune from the corner of her eye as she departed. Sizing him up? Wondering why he deserved private audience with the king? There was something to her expression he did not like, though he couldn’t name what it was.
They waited in silence until the mage was gone, then Vicamros spoke, his tone low and urgent. “What’s happened? Should I be concerned?”
Rune motioned for him to settle. “Nothing that severe.” At least, he didn’t think it was. “How many meetings did I miss?”
“Four.”
More than he’d expected. Rune winced. “How did you summon me?”
A strange frown pulled at the corners of the king’s features. “The same as usual.”
That was what he’d feared. “I didn’t get it,” Rune said.
“What? That can’t be right. My mages—”
“I didn’t get it,” Rune repeated, stressing the first word. Claiming ownership of the problem. “I felt no Calling. My power has been inconsistent ever since…” He trailed off, unsure how to refer to the situation.
Since Elenhiise fell? Since he shattered the Gate-stone and left his sword fused into the ruins of the portal?
“Inconsistent?” Vicamros said, and this time, his face pinched with more than just concern.
Distress was out of place on the man, especially considering the news.
Rune was the one affected most. It was his burden to bear, no matter how distasteful he found the reality.
He wet his lips and then swallowed. “My magic’s failing, Cam.”