The Right Side of History (Schooled In Magic Book 22), Christopher Nuttall [books to read romance TXT] 📗

don’t know if he left any surprises behind,” Emily said. She made a mental note to check everything before she risked touching it, just in case. “It might be too dangerous to risk.”

“Then leave it for the moment,” Sergeant Miles said. “Wait here. I’ll go fetch my bag.”

He stood and hurried out of the room. Emily watched him go, fighting the urge to just close her eyes and sleep. Sergeant Miles was right. They had to put some distance between themselves and Whitehall before Void came for them. And yet... she cursed under her breath. She didn’t have the power to teleport herself, let alone the whole group, and Sergeant Miles was in no state to do it. Given time, she could craft a handful of teleport amulets... she shook her head. They didn’t have the time.

“You don’t have to come with us,” she said, to Jan. “If you want to head elsewhere...”

“I’m not going to abandon you now,” Jan said. “Besides, if we can stop him before it’s too late, it might just convince my master he was wrong about you.”

“We can hope,” Emily said. She’d have to make the same offer to Aiden. The broadsheet reporter hadn’t asked to be dragged into a struggle between magicians, even if her struggle had been part of a greater conflict. She cursed Nanette under her breath. Given her skill, power and training, she could have thrown enough gas on the fire to ensure a colossal explosion. “If he made it out...”

“I’m sure he will,” Sergeant Miles said. He entered the room, a massive rucksack crammed with useful tools slung over his shoulder and another one resting in his arms. He grimaced as he passed the second rucksack to Jan. “He’s like a cockroach, that one. Smack him down and he’ll bounce back before you know it.”

He muttered a handful of spells to protect his house as he led the way onto the road. Emily hoped the wards would slow Void long enough to buy them time, if Void didn’t simply hook a battery to a valve and blow them down by main force. Aiden was already driving a simple horse and trap towards them, looking strikingly pale in the early morning light. Emily wondered if Sergeant Miles had seen through her guise or not, then scowled. She’d have to tell Jan, before they reached the first inn... or wherever they wound up sleeping. He’d be upset if she shared a room with another man.

She snorted, despite everything. Of all the times to be thinking about that...

Aiden stopped the cart and scrambled to the ground. “Where are we going?”

“Away,” Sergeant Miles said. He beckoned. Buzz walked up and stood beside the cart. “Right now, that’s the main thing.”

Emily nodded as she motioned for Aiden to join her. She didn’t know where they could go, not yet. Zangaria was the closest place that might be safe and yet it was several weeks away - if they were lucky - on horseback. Heart’s Eye was a great deal further away, while Kuching was on the wrong side of the mountains. She briefly considered trying to cross them anyway, perhaps by sneaking through Syaitan again, before dismissing the idea. The Blighted Lands were just too dangerous. God alone knew what might be waiting for them if they tried.

“I don’t know what’s happening to the north,” Aiden said, quietly. “The innkeeper said there were rumors of war and death, but nothing concrete.”

“You don’t have to come with us,” Emily said. Traveling through what remained of Alluvia wasn’t going to be easy, even without a councilor by her side. Whoever had won the Battle of Freedom City - or Jorlem City - was not going to win the entire country. “I think you’ll be safe, as long as you stay away from us.”

Aiden shook her head. “This is one hell of a story,” she said. “I’d never forgive myself if I didn’t go with you.”

“We don’t have any safe conducts now,” Emily reminded her. “The White Council revoked our credentials” - she wasn’t sure if the White Council still existed - “and I doubt anyone will pay any attention to them anyway. We... we could run into something we can’t handle and get captured.”

“I understand the risk,” Aiden said. “But where else could I go?”

Emily considered it, then nodded. Aiden didn’t have anywhere else to go. There was no way to know what had happened to her father, while the rebels - whoever was in charge - might want her dead too. She wouldn’t be safe, even if she buried her male identity and returned to her father. Emily couldn’t even give Aiden enough money to see her through the next few weeks. She’d been cut off from her resources. She was far too short of coins.

“We’ll drive around the edge of the kingdom,” Sergeant Miles said, as he took the reins. “It should give us a chance to sneak into Red Rose without being stopped...”

He cracked the whip. The horse jerked into life. Emily took a breath as they started to canter down the road. Void hadn’t appeared, which meant... what? Did he have too many other problems at Whitehall? Or... or did he have something else up his sleeve? She concentrated, muttering a handful of charms that should shield her from blood-linked tracking spells. It was hard to be sure. Void had had plenty of time to take blood from her and store it somewhere within the tower.

She frowned as they picked up speed. Dragon’s Den was coming to life, townsfolk moving onto the streets as if nothing had changed. For them, perhaps, it hadn’t. Not yet. The capture or murder of much of the White Council wouldn’t have any immediate effect on their lives. It would change, she was sure, when Void asserted himself... she scowled. How had he managed to fool her for so long? Why hadn’t she let herself wonder if he was behind the chaos?

Because I didn’t want to think about