Page 42 of The Tribes of Magic (Paragons #3)
BACKLASH
C onner went off to hide the Paragons’ spellbook somewhere the General would never find it.
Meanwhile, Kato and I headed to the Castle for breakfast. The dining hall was packed full of Knights and Apprentices, and all anyone was talking about was Portia and the Circus of Dreams .
The show was tonight, and every Knight, Apprentice, Many Realms Court delegate, and important Gaian Government official was going.
“I can’t wait to see Portia’s show!” Nevada was so excited, she’d completely neglected her breakfast.
I stole an apple slice off her plate. “Is the show tonight? I totally forgot about that.”
Bronte looked up from the book on enchantment she’d been reading to give me a horrified look. “How could you forget ? Portia is only the most famous performer in all the Many Realms. Seeing her show is supposed to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience!”
“Indeed. Portia’s act is supposed to incorporate all manner of unique magical contraptions.”
I could understand how that would excite Ansel. He was always building things. Even now, at the breakfast table, he was tinkering with some mysterious device.
The news was abuzz with Portia and the Circus of Dreams excitement too. Video clips from previous performances played on the big screen television mounted to the wall across from our table.
“This marks the first time Portia’s Circus of Dreams has scheduled a stop on Gaia, leading some Gaian Government officials to speculate the Court is very close to accepting their application to join the Many Realms Court,” the well-groomed newswoman declared.
“They have to accept us. They just have to!” Bronte said.
The TV screen switched to videos of the Spirit Trees.
“In other news, the mystery around the Spirit Trees continues,” the newswoman said.
“Some experts suggest the trees’ reduced glow is the result of fewer spirits flowing between them—and that this is because the spirits are slowly abandoning us.
Without the spirits, the trees’ magic will dry up, and the roots between the realms will wither away and die.
Were this to happen, all travel between realms would become impossible. ”
A vibrant, violent montage of angry people filled the screen.
“All across the Many Realms, protestors are taking to the streets in fear and outrage, and their message is clear. They blame the Gaians for the Spirit Trees’ decay. Here is one protestor’s account.”
A woman appeared on screen, dressed in a t-shirt that read ‘Gaia killed the Many Realms’.
“The Gaians angered the spirits when they tried to poison the Spirit Trees, and now the spirits are punishing all of us. The Court needs to send a clear signal to the spirits. They need to tell the spirits we don’t stand with the Gaians.
We reject them. And we condemn their crimes.
Vote no to admitting Gaia to the Many Realms Court. Vote no to Gaia!”
The crowd behind the woman chanted back. “Vote no to Gaia!”
“Princess Lyssa of the League of Vampires has taken an even stronger stance,” the newswoman said.
The camera cut to an interview with the young vampire princess. She sat on a crimson leather sofa, dressed in a long black gown. A black lace veil partially covered her face.
“Gaia should be permanently banned from the Many Realms Court. Furthermore, travel to and from Gaia should be forbidden. The only solution to the Gaian problem is to barricade them inside their realm. That is why I’ve proposed to the Court a total blockade.
The people of Gaia are a risk to everyone and everything in the Many Realms.”
“A total blockade?” the newswoman asked.
“That’s right.”
“Your proposal goes further than anything your brother Prince Fenris ever suggested. Prince Fenris didn’t trust Gaia, but he believed they just needed more time, more training, before being admitted into the Court.”
“My brother was too soft. And because of that, he is dead. And my mother is dead.” Princess Lyssa’s smile was tight. She tried to hold her hands steady in her lap, but they twitched a few times. “How many more of us need to die before we take action to defend ourselves?”
I frowned. Gaians hadn’t killed Queen Seriana and Prince Fenris. A supernatural from elsewhere in the Many Realms had. But I suppose the truth was an inconvenient nuisance when you were trying to sway minds.
“The Gaians nearly destroyed the Spirit Trees. They came this close to destroying our very way of life. Are we supposed to stand by and let them try again? No. They are one unruly realm, inexperienced and divided and dangerous. Most younger realms never make the jump from primitive hovel without magic to flourishing magical metropolis . It’s up to us to decide who is worthy…
and who is not. It’s up to us to protect the Many Realms. For after all, in matters of magic and experience, we are kings. The humans are not.”
All the TVs in the dining hall switched off at once. The big, main double doors opened, and Watchers marched inside. There were so many of them, dozens and dozens, pouring in like a river cutting across a valley. And at the back of the procession was the General himself.
The hall fell dead-silent, all but the sharp, perfectly-synchronized footsteps of the Watchers.
When the procession stretched from one end of the hall to the other, filling the wide aisle between the rows of tables, they stopped.
There was a single, collective stomp when they turned all at once. And then silence.
Until the General strode down the line. He stopped at the exact midpoint. Every eye in the room was glued to him. He smoothed down his jacket, then he spoke. His voice was sharp and loud, fully filling the vacuum of silence.
“Knights and Apprentices, I have come here today to deliver some very disturbing news. There are traitors in your ranks, evildoers who care more for personal vanity and their own selfish whims than they do for the sanctity of this institution. I need your help to flush them out. If you see anyone sticking their nose where they shouldn’t, or talking to anyone they shouldn’t, report such transgressions to me.
I will see to it the miscreants are dealt with, swiftly and decisively.
And for your service to Gaia, you will be rewarded. ”
The next table over, Rhett, Zoe, and some of their fellows were grinning and nudging one another. Each and every one of them would sell me out in a heartbeat, reward or no reward. Even Dutch had a speculative look on his face. But when he saw the fire in Dante’s eyes, that enthusiasm petered out.
Two of the Watchers took a step sideways, making room for the General to pass between them. He moved toward me like a man on a mission. Something dark and insidious smoldered in his eyes. He stopped in front of me.
“Savannah Winters, here we are again.” The General made a dismissing gesture with his hand. “Knights and Apprentices, you are dismissed.”
The dining hall emptied fast. And then it was just the General, his Watchers…and me.
“I know you’re still associating with Rebels, Miss Winters.” He watched me for my response. When I didn’t give him any, he spoke again. “Watch yourself. Being a Polymage will only protect you so much. Anyone can be replaced.”
With that said, the General turned on his heel and marched away.
His Watchers followed. I waited until they were all gone, then I rose from my seat and crossed the room, exiting the hall through the door to the Hex.
Then, with the General’s threat still echoing in my ears, I hurried to find my group.
If there was anything these last few weeks had taught me, it was this: being chewed out by the General was no excuse for showing up late to training.