Masquerades - Kate Novak [90]
"She can't be scried, remember?"
"You don't get close to a person by watching her through a crystal ball. I was thinking you might involve yourself in a more active role. Offer to go with her the next time you have a chance," Jamal suggested.
"I think behind this request to look out for your cheap hero is an ulterior motive-playing matchmaker," the sage noted.
"I'm too busy to worry about nonsense like that. My ulterior motive is to unnerve the Faceless," Jamal replied. "He relies on the neutrality of people like you, Mintassan. I'm hoping he'll grow anxious and careless if he perceives the balance shifting against him."
"You're bringing out all your reserves for this battle, Jamal. So certain you can end the war this season?" Mintassan asked.
The actress sighed. "Not really, but the fight is beginning to wear me down. I'm giving it all I've got before I get another year older."
The horizon lit up with the firework's finale, a shower of multiple bursts that raced along the length of the peninsula. Scattered applause broke out from watchers in the street.
Kel climbed down from the balcony railing, his eyes wide and alert.
"Did you enjoy the fireworks?" Jamal prodded him.
The youth's eyes took on a wariness common to all young people when called upon to pass judgment on adult endeavors. "It was all right," he allowed with a shrug. He was too excited to remain indifferent for long. "I want to be able to do that some day," he admitted.
"You want to work with fireworks?" Mintassan queried, bemused.
"No," the boy corrected, shooting Mintassan a look suggesting the sage was as dumb as a rock. "I want to be a great thief, like the Faceless, or an important merchant, like one of the Dhostars, so I can afford to have fireworks every night. Then I'd get some serious respect."
Mintassan looked down at the youth with astonishment. It took him more than a moment to recover and ask, "You think their wealth is something to respect?"
"Sure," Kel answered. "What could be better?"
The sage harrumphed and rose to his feet. "How 'bout this?" he responded. Pointing to the iron chair he'd just vacated, he intoned, "Quesarius Amano Illusar Jho!"
A miniature sphere of orange-and-white flame formed at his fingertip, then streaked toward chair, emitting an ear-splitting shriek. A second and a third sphere formed and sped after the first. As the flaming orbs hurtled passed, Kel could see on their surfaces tiny faces with howling mouths.
The fiery spheres orbited around the iron chair, faster and faster, spinning a cocoon of white light. The cocoon began to stretch and deform as something within grew and pushed outward. An iron claw slashed through the cocoon, and an iron muzzle poked out. With the sound of shattering glass, the cocoon dissipated into myriad light motes, which sparkled and vanished to reveal a miniature iron dragon. The wyrm flapped its wings, arched its neck, and gave a low roar. Smoke, smelling like burning mildewy cushions streamed from the creatures' nostrils. Then the beast settled back on its rear haunches, folded its wings, and became still.
Kel, his eyes as wide as saucers, reached out gingerly and touched the transmutated iron chair, now an immobile sculpture of ornate detail and great beauty.
Holding Kel in place with a hand on his shoulder, Mintassan lifted the boy's chin so that their eyes met. "Knowledge is better than wealth," the sage said. "It cannot be stolen. It cannot be bought. Once you possess it, it is yours for life. You can accumulate knowledge by observing, listening, and questioning. The truly wise can do so by reading and writing as well."
Kel squinted with a doubtful look, trying to analyze the truth of Mintassan's arguments. "If I learn to read, can I do that?" he asked, pointing at the iron dragon.
Mintassan snorted derisively. "Reading isn't a skill you acquire to learn parlor tricks. Reading lights the pathways to all knowledge. The ability to travel each pathway varies with the individual, but reading makes the journey easier."
The expression on Kel's