Page 22 of The Malice of Moons and Mages (The Broken Bonds of Magic #1)

Twenty-Two

Xiang

T he small squadron wore muted-colored robes over their black ones. The bland tones of Xiang’s native land were uncomfortable. He’d grown unaccustomed to the warmer climate, and perspiration stuck his clothing to his skin.

As they trudged down the road and the terrain shifted from compacted sand to hardened dirt, abandoned structures littered the landscape. The remnants of past destruction, felled ruins of monasteries and villages, were mostly concealed by the greedy climbing vines that had taken over.

In his prior assignments with this triad, Xiang had relied on Nova Verina to act as a buffer between Nori and Jayna. Nori was petty and insecure around the younger, stronger mage, and his disrespectful behavior did nothing but accentuate his weaknesses to the others. Jayna could handle herself, certainly, but Verina often interceded before it escalated. As the soldiers shifted hastily around the pair of mages, it seemed the tension between them was spreading, and Xiang would have to intervene.

Jayna had stopped to empty out her boot. Nori stood beside her with crossed arms. His voice was slightly elevated. Their conversations always looked like arguments and, as usual, the man refused to acknowledge her rank, using her name too frequently.

At eight stars, Jayna was second in command, but she only spoke with authority when angered. The concern on her face didn’t seem to spring from Nori for a change. She dusted the sand from her pants and shook her head as Xiang neared. A sheen of perspiration gleamed on both of their brows.

Nori shook his head. “The Oji was at Brav and Elicia’s bonding, practically raised Rayan from her second to her sixth star. She adored him. To kill them like that...”

“Makes you wonder, doesn’t it?” Jayna asked, lowering her voice.

“What made him turn on his people?”

She shook her head. “Why do we want him back so badly that we’ll sacrifice so much, and how did he survive killing his own anchor when he was alone? I thought the mage council had to assist with the separation, or it would kill you.”

“Best keep that first question to yourself, Octra. It wouldn’t be wise to have Oja Selene question your loyalties.” Xiang noted the small wince mirrored in the mage’s expressions at the Oja’s name. “But if you figure out that second part, I’d be much obliged.”

He’d counted on Jayna’s former association with the Silence monastery being useful. Her training had begun with Silence, but she’d switched to Song after Sharine, the head of the Song mages, recognized the young woman’s ambition.

The monasteries didn’t like to share their secrets, and Rayan had been one of the few Silence devotees to be sent on assignments. If Rayan hadn’t already been on the Mirren , Xiang would have chosen her triad instead. But he’d never admit that to Jayna. The young woman often looked at him like a neglected child who thrived on praise.

They’d started down the path again when Jayna asked, “How many anchors has the Oji had?”

“I’ve only known Dain and Kristo—he was nearing his end when I met him—but perhaps two or three others before that, given his years,” Nori said. “The Ojis appear young, but once anchored, years could theoretically be limitless.” He shrugged. “Provided the anchors are replaced after being drained.”

Xiang listened quietly as the conversation dwindled into theories and conjecture, arguing the semantics of breaking a bond. It was a delicate spell traditionally requiring the aid of other mages. If not careful, the life of the dying anchor could drag the mage into death with them. Jayna believed that managing it alone was impossible.

“Desperation makes anything possible,” Xiang said. “Especially with enough stars.”

The Rajav had reached fifteen stars before he died and, even though she’d rarely been seen over the last few decades, Raani Amala had been with him for an unprecedented hundred-and-fifty years. Though the Rajav had forbidden the scholars from discussing Amala’s longevity, there were rumors that she haled from Western mage lineage. But whether or not that was true didn’t ultimately matter. She had no magic, and her body had practically disintegrated in her bed from the constant drain. Xiang hoped the same fate didn’t await Bolin.

“And how many anchors has the Oja had?” Jayna asked.

Xiang’s step hitched before recovering quickly. His tone chilled. “Four that I know of, but now isn’t the time for such questions. We must secure the Oji before he draws the Starlings to our borders. We’ll set the silks up soon. Hopefully, we can find shelter before midday,” Xiang said. “Any leads?”

Jayna glanced at Nori. It was clear they’d disagreed on something, but for once he deferred to her.

“I think we should head toward Oxton,” she said.

Xiang looked between them. “Are we sure?”

Nori’s jaw clenched as Jayna explained their conflict. He’d picked up a thread angled inland toward the mountains. But there was also a trace of Lua’s magic coming from the city. She said, “It’s possible he was in Oxton and moved toward the pass, but that feels strange to me.”

When Xiang stopped walking, the others ceased as well. He looked down the road in either direction then studied the sharp mountain peaks as they caught dawn’s first rays.

“I trust your judgement, Octra. But I like to think I know the Oji better than you.” Xiang’s tone was nearly apologetic. “We head to the mountains.”

“Sir?” Jayna asked, stifling her disappointment.

“He’ll be desperate to reach the monastery and will need to get over the pass as quickly as possible. I’m sure his supporters will meet him there.”

Jayna pulled her hood up to hide her face from the morning rays peeking through the trees.

“Will Silence still hold loyalty to him after what he did to the Rajav and Rayan?” Nori asked.

“They will. He’s been with them longer than any of us have been alive. Master Fallue will probably paint Rayan as the traitor.”

“Should we send a company to intercept him?” Jayna asked.

Xiang kept his voice low, choosing his words carefully. “Our Oja will handle matters across the border.”

At the next crossroad, the company turned northwest. Farmland spread out around them, and the mountains greeted them like broken teeth against the sky.

They sheltered during the brightest times of day, making up time quickly as Starling angled toward its winter route. The way was slower than Xiang expected.

On the third night, they’d come across a rundown, secluded farmhouse with a dozen thin horses and slaughtered the small family in their sleep. They’d piled the bodies in the well and rested for the day before riding away. The neighbors wouldn’t discover them for several days, and even then would hesitate to alert the Starling authorities, no matter what the crime.

Jayna’s looks revealed her opinion in less subtlety than was surely intended, but she didn’t complain. She lacked the viciousness that was sometimes necessary, but her obedience made her useful enough. Xiang selected this triad because of their demeanors, and even though Verina was absent, neither of the others had disappointed. Nori was condescending, but he towed the line and had the meanness that Jayna lacked.

Soldiers clustered around shared all’ights when they stopped to water the horses and allow a brief rest. An argentava’s mournful cry rang above, drawing Xiang’s eye. With a wary look, Jayna motioned to a set of trees in a small field on the opposite side of the road.

“Something happened there,” she said.

Nori shuffled up beside her. “I feel it too.”

Jayna led Xiang and two soldiers across the stony terrain beneath the yellowy flicker of the all’ight while Nori and the others stayed with the horses. The carcass lay just beyond the trees. Black, gooey decay lingered on some of the bones, while sharp beaks and insects had picked the rest clean. Jayna paused before continuing further into the field.

Enormous dark feathers clumped together in a pile, strung together in an ashy husk. Jayna studied the remains, frowning. They didn’t discuss what she sensed. They each knew what a siphon looked like.

“How long ago was this?” Xiang asked.

“Three, four days maybe.”

“How weak is he?”

The husk crumbled between her fingers. She lifted a long feather against the moonslight. “Difficult to say. It was injured by magic before he siphoned it.”

Xiang pulled Jayna to her feet. “Losing a horse should hinder them.”

A thin thread snaked from her fingers to rake over the bones again. Her scowl deepened. “General?” He turned to her, his face haunted by the all’ight. “Could there be another mage with him?”

“Not unless the Silence monks came for him. But even they couldn’t find him so readily.”

Concern fluttered across her face. “There’s something—someone—else here. A trace of magic that isn’t the Oji’s. But it’s confusing.”

“How so?”

“It’s strange, like trying to determine the exact blend of spices in a ten-spice dish.” She released the feather, and it sailed to the ground a few feet away. “I haven’t sensed it before.”

Xiang gazed back at the soldiers. He couldn’t afford to have them lose morale. If Lua had help from another mage, even in his weakened state, their odds would be diminished. “Does Nori know?”

“I don’t think so. He’s not typically good at deciphering the specifics of spells.”

“Best to keep this between us, then,” he said. “Let me know if there’s anything else.”

She gave a curt nod and walked back toward the horses. A lone bird cawed mournfully overhead. It circled above the bones and feathers. Argentavas mated for life, and this one would spend the rest of its days alone. Xiang’s chest clenched directly beneath the vials of liger’s bane. The swirling wind scattered the feathers across the field.

He looked up. “Best move on,” he said.

Soldiers sat, eating their rations and laughing at someone’s joke. Nori sat alone, resting his head in his hands. There was time. Xiang propped the mirror on the ground before pulling up his pant leg. He cut a small line across his upper calf while mumbling the spell.

Bolin’s face swam before him, dark eyes brightening as Xiang reflected in them. His hair was nearly shaved down to the scalp again. He was animated, clearly trying to share something amusing, but all Xiang could do was smile and nod.

The bleeding stopped too soon, and Bolin faded into darkness. Xiang sat on the cold ground and watched the giant bird come around for another pass. He stood and brushed the dirt from his pants with a sigh. Then trudged back to the road.

“Let’s move out.”