Azure bonds - Kate Novak [150]
Alias wondered if Cassana had any inkling that Moander had planned the same double-cross for her.
"Once Moander dropped you off in our back yard, it was child's play to track you down and pick you up."
"You can track me," Alias said in a flat, emotionless tone.
"Well, to be honest, no. We were too clever by half. You see, your very being is impregnated with a powerful spell of misdirection. You cannot be detected by scrying, nor can anyone who travels with you. Since we did not expect you to slip from our grasp, we never thought the misdirection spell would pose any problem for us. A serious miscalculation on our part. One of many, I'm afraid. But you can't create art without a few mistakes. The best we can do is correct them in the future.
"Fortunately for us you were intelligent enough to wonder about your brands. Whenever magic is detected on your arm it acts as a beacon to locate you. We relied on our black-leathered allies to capture you in Suzail. Their failure was almost our undoing. But by some stroke of luck you stumbled upon an old haunt of Zrie's and revealed yourself to us again by displaying the magic content of your brand. But, alas, you were also more than a match for the heavyhanded methods of my love here."
At this, Zrie Prakis bowed deeply, and Alias could hear the skin stretching and popping over his bones.
"And then, even more luckily, my kalmari spotted you coming through Shadow Gap. It could be no coincidence that you continually alerted us of your whereabouts. I knew you wished to come home to us, Puppet. So we made it easier to keep an eye on you. We contacted one of your followers and planted a tracking device on her. And, as I said before, once you came to Westgate, finding you and defeating you was easy. A halfling's trick."
Alias felt as though the chilling fist of a frost giant had closed about her heart. "No," she whispered.
Phalse motioned to a hidden figure, who edged cautiously into view. She was decked out with the finest robes, glittering imitations of those worn by Cassana. She looked like a little princess, a child-bride from the east. She smiled sheepishly at Akabar and Alias.
Olive Ruskettle.
"Hullo, everyone," Olive said, nervous sweat beading beneath her headband. "If I'd known you were in trouble-"
"Hush, child," Cassana interrupted. "You jumped at the opportunity to help us, as any good halfling would." Cassana smiled at the prisoners. "Gold coins weigh more than friendships. Now, mageling, I'll give you the same chance that we gave the child here. You've been misled by the false charm of this puppet. Forsake the slave and join its masters. I'm sure we can find a use for you." Prakis put a possessive skeletal hand on Cassana's bare shoulder, and the sorceress squeezed it affectionately to underscore her point.
The fury building in Akabar's gut spilled out. "I'd rather roast in the lowest hell-"
Cassana, with an angry frown, muttered something and motioned with her wand. Alias backhanded Akabar in the jaw. Backhanded him hard with all her warrior's strength.
The mage toppled backward, staring at the swords-woman. Her legs were rigid; her fists clenched and unclenched in sharp, fast spasms. The remaining runes on her arm writhed and glowed. Cassana's insect-squiggle shone the brightest of all.
"Alias?" Akabar gasped as he rose to his feet.
"One chance is all you get," Cassana said, "for now. Hit him until he is unconscious, Puppet." She motioned with the wand again.
Alias spun in place like a sentry and caught Akabar in the belly with her foot. The air rushed from his lungs, and he collapsed. He tried to rise again, but the woman warrior brought both fists down on the back of his neck, knocking him from