City of Towers_ The Dreaming Dark - Keith Baker [99]
“I am Alais ir’Lantar,” he said, “and I have the honor of being one of the ambassadors from the nation of Aundair. I hope you will not consider the question rude, but do you possess the Mark of Making?”
Lei considered this for a moment but saw no harm in the question. “I do.”
“Fascinating,” Alais said. “And what brings you to Sharn?”
Lei brushed her fingers across her armor. “I learned the ways of artifice and enchantment as a child….”
“And truly, you are one of the most gifted enchantresses I have ever set eyes upon, magic or no.”
Lei wanted to roll her eyes, but she resisted the urge. She’d been in the field for so long that she’d almost forgotten the ways of the court, the constant interplay of simpering flattery. She smiled and cast her eyes to the floor. “Like many members of my house, I served in the support corps during the war. My home was in Metrol, and—”
“I understand,” Alais said, putting his hand over hers. “Truly, the destruction of Cyre is a tragedy that has affected us all deeply. At Arcanix, we have the greatest mystical minds of the age studying the disaster, trying to unlock its secrets and ensure that it never happens again. Perhaps you would be interested in a seat on the Arcane Congress?”
The offer took Lei by surprise, but then she caught scent of where he was going. “My lord, that’s most generous of you, but I did not realize that Aundair was providing shelter for the refugees of the war.”
“We are a small country, and we do not have the resources of Breland. Otherwise, I can assure you we would be doing everything in our power to help the scattered people of Cyre. But I have no doubt that the queen would make a special exception in your case, in light of the many difficulties you have overcome—not to mention your loss of status within your own house.”
“Truly, your offer is most kind.” Lei was curious to see how far this would go. “Yet with the destruction of my home, I find myself without the means to travel. Even shelter itself has been a difficulty.”
Alais opened his mouth to speak but was distracted by the arrival of a servant. The young girl whispered in his ear, and he sighed. “I am afraid I must depart, my lady,” he said, pushing back his chair and rising from the table. “But why don’t you stop by the embassy of Aundair in Dragon Towers? I am certain that we could find a way to alleviate your current difficulties.” He smiled.
“I thank you, Lord Alais. Perhaps I shall.”
Alais bowed and departed, and Lailin glanced at her with a raised eyebrow.
“I do not trust him, my lady,” said Pierce, who had continued to stand behind her chair throughout the conversation. His eyes followed the departing ambassador.
“Nor do I, Pierce.”
“You wouldn’t want a seat on the Arcane Congress, Lei?” Lailin said. “After our time in Arcanix, it might feel like home.”
“It’s a pretty offer. But who knows what the truth would be when I arrived in Aundair? It didn’t occur to me at first, but I suppose … I am an heir to the Mark of Making, with knowledge of the techniques of House Cannith. But I am no longer protected by my house. It wouldn’t surprise me if Lord Alais is dreaming about a new Aundarian bloodline carrying the Mark of Making—starting with me.”
“That seems a little far-fetched,” Lailin said. “If it was that simple, why hasn’t it happened before?”
“I didn’t say it was simple—or even that it was possible—just that it’s what I think the ambassador had in mind. People are rarely forced out of the house, and there is always the hope that you might be reinstated. My Uncle Jura was the only excoriate I’ve ever met, and I know he’s hoping to return to the family. So loyalty plays a role. More importantly … I don’t think the barons would allow it to happen.”
“What do you mean?”
“Just that. If the house truly thought an excoriate could present a threat to the purity of the bloodline … I’ve certainly met a few purists who would do whatever they considered necessary to stop it—and that could go a long ways.”
“So your life is in danger, then?” Lailin asked.
“Not if I play by the rules. I’m sure Lord Alais