Page 88 of To Save a Kingdom

He nodded. “What’s your plan?”

Zadé’s eyes sparkled as she leaned close. “We’re gunna get our hands on a Whisperer, then use it on Brooks ’n his friends.”

Chapter 34

Elessan

“Are you sure the mages will have Whisperers?” Elessan asked Zadé as they approached the farmhouse they’d been using to attempt to deactivate said weapons. At least, until Brooks had massacred them and stolen their supply.

Zadé tilted her head and studied him. “Didja ever figure out how many Brooks stole?”

He furrowed his brows. “No, we assumed he took them all.” It’s what he would’ve done, if he’d been in the Inquisitor’s place.

“Well, ya think we outta ask the magic users if’n they got any left over?”

He shrugged. “Sure, why not?” It was probably a moot point, but so much had happened in the last day he hadn’t had time to follow up with the survivors. Best to confirm his facts rather than base any plans on erroneous assumptions.

Zadé snorted. “Thought so,” she muttered as she pushed the door to the workroom open.

A red light blasted overhead, and the building rocked with a resounding boom.

Elessan tackled her, pushing them both through the door as a bucket of crimson liquid splashed onto the ground with a wicked-sounding hiss.

They slammed into the dirt face-first. The air exploded from his lungs as he rolled over, gasping.

“What in the Holy Houses was that?” Zadé shoved to her knees as she scanned the room.

Three mages stood around a table, their chairs upended behind them. A familiar gnome blinked at them over the wire frames of his glasses.

Jalius.

Elessan still wasn’t certain if he liked the leader of the Mage Underground for helping to save Aliya’s life the first time they’d met, or if he hated him for forcing her into an Irrevocable Vow to kill King Malkov.

“Elessan. General.” Jalius raised an eyebrow at them. “Next time, you would be wise to knock, don’t you think? Not to mention, it’s only polite.”

Elessan shoved himself to his feet, sweeping the dirt from his thighs and tunic. “What in Abaddon’s name is going on?”

“A magical trap, of course. In case the Arcane Inquisitor decides to revisit us.”

“Don’t think yeh have ta worry about him comin’ here anytime soon,” Zadé said, brushing her hands off on each other. “With him being busy occupyin’ the castle, ‘n all.”

Jalius and the other two mages blinked at her, as though she’d prophesied the secret of eternal life.

“No one told you, I take it?” Elessan tried to keep the dryness from his tone, but failed.

Jalius shrugged. “We’re supposed to be undercover. If we are under attack, I’m certain Queen Aliya has more important things to do than send a runner to inform us, and thus also risk our exposure.” He fixed them with a pointed stare. “I assume you were professional enough to make sure you weren’t followed?”

Elessan fought back an eye roll. It was hate. He definitely hated this annoying little gnome. “As if I would hazard a repeat of what happened.” Aliya couldn’t afford to lose any more of her mages, or her Whisperers.

Something in his gut twisted at the thought of her name. He’d botched everything… with Aliya, with Tsara. It would also likely fall to him to report Tsara’s death, and the circumstances thereof, to her father. A bitter taste crawled up the back of his mouth, burning his tongue. He coughed, though that brought little relief.

Jalius tilted his head to the other two magic users, who righted their chairs and sat. “What do you need?”

Elessan turned his attention to the silver canister sitting on the table. “Have you been able to discover anything about the Whisperers? How to deactivate them, or…” He let his voice trail off.

Jalius cleared his throat as Zadé crept forward, her eyes narrowed on the metallic tube in suspicion. “Or how to weaponize them?” The gnome’s words dripped with disapproval.

Elessan nodded. “Hopefully in a more selective, less ‘murder every living being within range’ way.”