Mages of Rubia ✔️

39

I worry Cooper was right about me being bloodthirsty. It's getting harder to keep Arden alive--they just make me so mad. Lief has been sending small patrols to attack ours. I'm surprised he hasn't gone for a full on attack, but it's better for Arden. They'll probably be giving birth soon.

I keep a mirror scrying them in my pocket so I know when I need to go help them. I've set up the best I could for the mess, but it shouldn't be bad to clean with magic.

The arm thing is making it hard to work. Mostly I have to stick to my High Elder duties. I've gotten someone to help with making salves and things that require a lot of hand use. Mostly I heal those injured on patrols. And of course, I talk to the council.

"Why shouldn't we just attack them? It's not worth all this waiting. They're clearly trying to drive us inward, so we should get the jump on them."

Cooper glances at me.

"That does sound logical. But they're much more familiar with that area than we are, and they have a warship. It would be easy for them to send cannonballs our way," I say, "And it's impossible to scout the area with them out in the open and on guard."

"They're doing just fine gathering intel on us with us on guard," someone observes.

"Yes, I suspect a mole. But there are far too many citizens to possibly figure out who."

"It could be one of us. They know our guard patterns exactly," Cooper says.

Of course, suggesting it casts suspicion from him.

"I don't think we need to suspect one another. But I suppose I'll talk to you all individually, just in case."

-

Cooper's first. We sit in silence a moment.

"I'm the mole," he says, as if I didn't know.

I fold my hands on the tabletop.

"Obviously. I wish you hadn't suggested that, because now I have to do something to assure them the mole is gone. I don't particularly want to exile you."

"I expected murder."

"That's what I'll have to do if you want to pretend not to be the mole. I'll have to kill one of the others and say they ran."

He frowns. "I don't want anyone killed by my fault."

I put my hand on the metal of my arm, squeezing tightly.

"I don't want you to leave."

"Az... we're never going to be together again, you know."

"I know that. But I like seeing you."

He shakes his head. "I'll tell the others and leave peacefully."

When we leave the room, I try to hide my tears in front of the others. But the metal hand doesn't work very well to wipe tears.

"So, yeah, I'm leaving the colony. I wasn't intending to cause this much pain. I just wanted the wars to end. I'll go join the Himnoans."

The rest of the council is reasonably pissed. We sit back at the table.

"We need to review all of his work and check for intentional openings," I say.

They all nod solemnly.

"We can take care of it, High Elder. I'm sure you need some time with this. We know you were close."

I choke back a sob. "Thank you, Gloria."

I go down to see Arden.

"Well, what's wrong today?" they ask sarcastically.

"Cooper left."