Fists of Justice (Schooled in Magic #12)

“Yes, mother,” Caleb said.

Karan reappeared, carrying a bowl of thin soup. Sienna took it and started to feed Frieda, holding the spoon to her lips as if she were feeding a baby. Emily watched as Frieda sipped, wishing she could reach out and hold the younger girl. The Berserker spell had been stopped before it had drained Frieda completely, but it had still left her tired and worn. And yet, without it, they might not have reached home.

“Tired,” Frieda said. “I…”

“Lie still,” Sienna ordered. “You’ll need to eat something more solid once you regain your strength.”

Frieda looked at Emily, then relaxed. “What…what was it?”

“I wish I knew,” Emily said. She could see a dozen ways to cast an illusion that would look like a god, particularly one designed to allow its target’s perceptions to fill in the gaps, but the entity had clearly been far more substantial. And it had wielded magic. She had no doubt that Jalil and the others were dead. What could do that? “But it can’t get to us in here.”

“Yet.” Sienna’s voice was grim. “The wards are strong, but not unbreakable.”

Marian came into the room, looking mutinous. “Mother, Karan…”

Her voice trailed off as she saw Frieda. “What happened?”

“Good question,” Sienna said. “There was…something…at the square.”

Caleb returned, followed by Croce. “The wards are fine, mother,” Caleb said. “But there’s an odd resonance that worries me. Someone might be probing the edge of our defenses.”

“I’ll take a look at it.” Sienna helped Frieda sit upright, then passed her a piece of bread and butter. “Emily, make sure Frieda keeps eating. She’s going to need to eat until she feels stuffed.”

“I’m all right,” Frieda said. “I…”

“Eat,” Sienna said, firmly. “I’ve seen that spell kill people who didn’t have someone looking after them already.”

Marian cleared her throat. “Mother,” she said, sounding scared. “What happened?”

“We saw an entity that claimed to be a god,” Sienna said. She rose, allowing Emily to sit next to Frieda. “Caleb can fill you in. I have to check the wards.”

Karan’s voice rose. “Where’s father?”

“I wish I knew,” Sienna said.

“But you can find him,” Marian said. “Can’t you?”

“I don’t have a tracking spell on him,” Sienna said, sharply. “I don’t know what happened to him.”

She walked out of the room, closing the door firmly behind her.

Marian looked at Caleb. “What happened?”

Emily forced herself to concentrate on Frieda as Caleb told the story. Frieda was growing stronger, thankfully, but she still looked weak. She would have to get some rest soon, Emily knew, yet she had to eat first. The Berserker spell would have drained her reserves to the limit. If she went to sleep without eating something, she might never wake up.

“Justice,” Marian breathed, when Caleb finished. “It’s him.”

“And father is still out there somewhere,” Caleb said. “Where is he?”

Emily swallowed. General Pollack was tough, but he didn’t – he couldn’t – have any active defenses against outside influences. Given time, Emily knew, she could have twisted his mind into a pretzel. She had no doubt that Justice – whatever the entity actually was – could do the same. Hell, merely being in its presence for a few hours would probably be enough to wear down the strongest defenses. And then…

The general has a blood tie to his family, she thought. The entity could find us…

“You’re the man of the house,” Karan said. “Go find him.”

“Casper would have gone by now,” Marian added.

Caleb looked hesitant, glancing between Emily and his sisters. Emily understood, all too well. Caleb loved his father, wanted to save his father…but the streets were in chaos and the wards might not remain secure. Who knew what had happened to General Pollack? Finding him might prove impossible…

Or all too easy, her thoughts mocked her. But we might not like what we found.

“Dad is strong,” Caleb said. “He could have escaped another way.”

Emily winced. General Pollack had been far too close to Janus for her peace of mind. She had no way to know if Janus had magic, but the priest could have used a wand or simply knocked General Pollack on the head, if he’d wanted a prisoner. Or stuck a knife in his back when the entity first appeared. God knew everyone had been so focused on Justice that Janus could have done anything without anyone taking a moment’s notice.

“You have a blood tie,” Karan said, again. “You could find him…”

“I’ll go,” Marian said. “I’ve got a blood tie too.”

Karan glared at her. “Do I have to stick your butt to the chair again?”

“You’re too young,” Caleb said. “You have to stay here.”

“I’m not a child,” Marian snapped.

Emily felt a stab of sympathy for Marian, even though she was being a brat. The youngest member of the family had to feel as though she had a lot to live up to. And yet…Caleb was right. Marian was too young to go out on the streets alone, particularly now. She might be caught and killed by a mob before she managed to escape.

“Yes, you are,” Caleb said. “Marian…”

“You need to decide what to do,” Frieda said, weakly.

Emily glanced at her in surprise. Frieda sounded…scornful.

“I don’t know what to do,” Caleb snapped.

“Casper would have known what to do,” Marian said.

Shit, Emily thought. Caleb would not take that calmly.

“Casper is dead.” Caleb’s face reddened. “I don’t even know what we’re dealing with!”

“And you don’t have time to work it out,” Frieda said. She shot Caleb a nasty look. “You always hesitate. You don’t have the nerve to…”

“Enough,” Emily said, quietly. She knew Frieda was tired and stressed – they were all tired and stressed. But that didn’t excuse her picking on Caleb. “Frieda, behave…”

“He does hesitate,” Frieda insisted. “Emily…”

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