But we’re not facing a necromancer, Emily thought. She’d killed a Mimic, but she’d had help. This might be far more dangerous.
She hesitated, just long enough to see a sneer drift onto Harman’s face. Sienna was better-trained and more experienced, but she would be needed on the front lines. She didn’t know how many other combat sorcerers were in the city, yet some of them would be needed with Sienna and others would refuse to cooperate. Caleb would be needed too, while the rest of his siblings were too young. And none of them had any real experience with Mimics. She was the best choice.
“I’ll go,” she said, quietly.
“I’ll come with you,” Caleb said.
“You’re going to be here,” General Pollack said. “I need you to start putting together a set of wands.”
Caleb stared at him. “Father, she’s going to need help…”
“I can go with her.” Frieda’s voice was silky-smooth. “Caleb, you are going to be needed here.”
Emily looked at General Pollack. He was right, she knew; Caleb would be more useful on the streets. But had the general made that decision because it was the practical solution…or because he didn’t want to send a second son into danger by her side? Casper had died because he’d followed her into Heart’s Eye. Might General Pollack wonder if Caleb would go the same way? She hoped, deep inside, that she would never know.
“Frieda can help me,” she murmured. The thought of walking into the temple – and perhaps confronting Justice for the second time – scared her more than she cared to admit. But at least they were doing something. “I’ll be fine.”
General Pollack looked at his watch. “We’ll move out after sunset,” he said. “That gives us five hours to assemble the troops.”
“Most of whom have no training,” Harman warned. “And the ones who do haven’t been in the military for years.”
“You never forget,” General Pollack said. “Emily, Frieda; get some rest.”
“Understood,” Emily said.
“I’ll come with you.” Caleb ignored his mother clearing her throat. “We need to talk.”
Emily nodded, not trusting herself to look at Sienna. They walked out of the room and up the stairs. Marian was coming out of her bedroom as they approached, looking murderous. The expression on her face was nasty enough to make Emily ready a spell to defend herself, just in case. It didn’t look as though Marian wanted to apologize for anything. The younger girl walked down the stairs and through the bottom door, never looking back.
“Give us some privacy,” Caleb said to Frieda. “Please.”
Frieda glanced at Emily, then hurried into the bedroom. Emily couldn’t help noticing that she’d left the door open, just a crack. Caleb cast a privacy ward, then two more, blurring them together to defeat any listening ears. Emily hoped it wouldn’t bring Frieda running out of the bedroom to discover why everything had gone quiet.
“He didn’t tell me,” Caleb said. “I didn’t know he was going to ask you to do that. Emily…you could get killed in the temple!”
“I know,” Emily said. She was scared, but…she boxed the fear away in her mind, refusing to allow it to dominate her. “I understand the risks.”
Caleb stared at her. “You could be killed – or worse. What will happen when that…that creature focuses on you?”
Emily shivered. Justice had been powerful, powerful enough to make her waver despite all her defenses. She had more experience with mind-manipulation than the average student at Whitehall, but still…Justice had nearly overwhelmed her. And she’d been quite some distance from the entity. Who knew what would happen if she was right next to it? Or if it focused all its power on her?
“I’m the best-qualified person to walk into the temple,” Emily said, pushing her doubts and fears aside. “Everyone else is needed back here.”
“Sarnia could go,” Caleb snapped. “She’s got the power and experience…”
“No, she doesn’t,” Emily said. She had no idea if Sarnia had even joined the resistance. The older woman had a family she wouldn’t care to see threatened. “I’m better qualified than almost anyone else.”
Caleb shook his head slowly. “I don’t want to lose you,” he said. He looked into her eyes. “This…”
Emily wished, suddenly, that she could promise she’d survive. But she knew Caleb was right. Entering the temple would be dangerous, very dangerous. If she was caught, she would be killed…or brainwashed. Her defenses were tough, but they wouldn’t stand up to sustained attack. No defense was perfect. Lady Barb had hammered that into her time and time again.
She reached out and took his hand. “I’ll be fine,” she said. “You’ll be fine too.”
“You might not be,” Caleb said. “Emily…”
He sighed. “I’m sorry.”
Emily blinked. “What for?”
“All of this.” Caleb waved a hand at the wall. “My family…everything.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Emily said.
She pulled him close and hugged him, despite the risk. It had been easy at Whitehall, where they’d just been students…it had been easy to be themselves. But here, Caleb’s family was watching them, judging them…it wasn’t easy to relax. She hugged him tighter, unsure if she envied or pitied him. On one hand, Caleb had a family that genuinely loved him; on the other, that family restricted him in ways Emily could barely comprehend.
You’re not just marrying him, Lady Barb had said, two years ago. You’re marrying his entire family.
Caleb returned her hug, slowly. “I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I wish…”
Emily heard something at the bottom of the stairs and peered down. Marian stood there, looking up at them. Caleb pulled himself free and glared at his younger sister, magic sparking around his fingertips. Emily glanced at him in surprise, wondering if he would actually hex the younger girl. And yet, as Marian stamped up the stairs, she felt Caleb’s magic fading back into nothingness.
“I’m sorry about her too,” Caleb said, once Marian had walked into her room and slammed the door. Emily could hear love and affection in his voice. “She isn’t normally like this.”