Mages of Rubia ✔️

Ch14

They left me with three guards and some chains that won't let me do magic. And believe me, I try.

"Why don't they just kill me? Because they need to control my beaston? Oh, do you guards even know what that means? I bet not, why would they tell you?"

The guards remain silent. Which, really, I should have expected.

"I didn't even know we had this place. What is it, a dungeon? We must be underground, I could feel stairs when you carried me here."

Obviously no response. "I can keep talking all day you know. Did Elder Genova find a loophole in our oath or did they just, like, force her to tell them and die? Was it Azarius, maybe? I thought he was with Cooper this morning, but maybe he was ratting me out."

"I don't think Azarius is responsible," a voice says in my head. I almost respond out loud, but stop myself.

"Ravana? How are you here?" I think.

"Invisibility spell. I'm going to get you out of here."

"Can you go check on Elder Genova and see if the High Elder plans on talking to me?"

"We haven't got forever, Lief."

"They want my beaston still. We have plenty of time."

"Okay. I'll be back."

I sit down on the uncomfortable stone floor.

"Hey, guards, can I have like, some water or something? I'm parched."

I'm not even expecting an answer at this point, but one moves across the room and pours me a cup of water. He crouches down to where I'm sitting and reaches out between the bars.

"Oh, thank you."

I take it.

"You're welcome," he says quietly, "You healed my son once, Mage Lief. I don't like that you're in here."

"Well, that's what I get for investigating this war," I shrug, "And they've wanted me gone for ages, anyway. Don't say anything like that to anyone, though. If you disagree with them..."

"I know."

I finish my water, give the cup to him, and watch as he stands to put it away. Well, its good to know at least one of these guards is on my side, though I'm sure he would do whatever he's ordered to do.

I don't like waiting in here unable to do anything. I start examining these chains they put me in. I'm not sure how they work, other than I can't do magic at all. They require a key to release, which I don't have. Clearly. I try to figure out which one of my guards has it, but I don't think any of them do.

"The High Elder is coming," Ravana tells me, "And Elder Genova is alive."

Oh. That hurts way more than it should. That means she voluntarily betrayed me. I guess it should be expected. She's loyal to the system they have here. I am able to activate the curse if I feel the terms have been violated, but I decide to just free her, muttering a few words to myself and waiting for the High Elder.

It's only a few moments before they enter, much taller than the guards and arguably more intimidating. They have a gaunt face, with deep black hair framing it, and icy eyes that have always made me feel frozen.

"You aren't as clueless as I thought, Lief."

"I don't know how you would think that, when my intuition saved your society. Did you kill the last mage, too?"

"No. He did that himself."

I stand. "I'm going to blame you, anyway."

"Well, it's of no matter to me. You aren't going to act as a poison to my people any longer."