My eyes moved back to the wreckage, the survivors picking up the wounded. My jaw tightened. This was just a warning attack and it had already claimed lives.
A portion of that was on me, for my role in getting Vera out of that prison.
I had little doubt that someone else would have freed her if I hadn’t. The recently dead body in front of the cell was proof enough that other people could get into the same room. But would it have played out differently if whoever else had stumbled into that cell had asked more questions? If they’d just freed that child and left her behind? Or freed Keras and left the other two?
I didn’t know if that would have made things go better or worse. All I knew is that people were dead, and that I’d played a part in it.
I’d never fix that. No amount of service would give their lives back. I told myself I’d find their names, maybe do something for their families when I was older and more influential, but it felt hollow. Insufficient.
First, I needed to keep things from getting worse.
Then, I’d find out who was pulling the strings on this whole mess.
And if it was Vera? We’d have a reckoning very soon.
***
Professor Orden appeared in front of us before we managed to make it to the academy gates. I tensed, hand going for my sheathed sword before I recognized her, and I let it rest on the hilt even after I did.
I wasn’t quite sure who I could trust at this point.
True, Orden teleporting us here had managed to resolve the attack much earlier than it might have been otherwise. I was grateful for that. But her whole connection with the Voice of the Tower meant she was deeply involved with something, and I didn’t know who or what she was actually working for.
It was about time to get some real answers.
“Lyras.” Teft sounded exhausted when he spoke, his tone tinged with obvious frustration. “Can you get us to Commander Bennet? We need to talk.”
Professor Orden shook her head. “I need a minute to rest — mana is too depleted. I’ll walk with you, though. Is everyone safe?”
Ah, so now she’s concerned. I’m touched.
Teft gave her a curt nod. “Barely.”
“Sufficient.” She turned her head toward the rest of us. “I’m sorry to have sent you children into danger. Normally, I’d abhor sending you to take a risk like that — but I knew Corin had a chance to end this conflict. And he did. Well-done, Corin.”
I raised my right hand, showing her the brand. Her eyes widened just slightly. “Not without consequence. He’ll be back in a week with reinforcements if we don’t do what he wants. I need to find someone for him and bring her back to the tower.”
Orden took a step closer, tilting her head as she examined the mark. “I... that is most unfortunate. But manageable, I should hope.”
“You seem to know more about my new adornment than I do.” I flexed my hand in the air, suddenly self-conscious. “Care to share?”
Orden folded her hands in front of her. “There are multiple types of visage marks. Some are permanent signs of a visage’s favor, and they confer abilities similar to an attunement. This one, however, appears to temporary. It’s designed to ensure that you successfully complete the task you’ve been charged with.”
I raised my hand, looking at it with my attunement active for the first time. The glow that simmered from the burned flesh was a deep blue. Sapphire, I realized. Sweet Goddess. I guess levels higher than Emerald actually do exist, even if it’s possible that only the visages have that kind of power.
It wasn’t feeding power into me, though. It wasn’t like I suddenly had a Sapphire aura myself. Experimentally, I tried to reach into it to draw mana out of the mark, but I couldn’t even feel anything there. Apparently, it wasn’t meant to be a tool for my use.
“Any idea what it might do?” I lowered my hand.
Orden shrugged. “I’ve never seen one of Katashi’s marks. Visage marks are usually themed to the visage. My assumption is that if you don’t complete the task, it will most likely ‘judge’ you. I’m sure you can figure out for yourself what that entails.”
I briefly contemplated how difficult it would be to safely remove my hand.
Jin stepped up beside me, speaking for the first time I could remember since he lost consciousness. “Katashi would not have chosen you if you could not succeed.”
I wasn’t so certain about that, but I appreciated his confidence. “Thanks, Jin.”
“It is nothing. You must focus on your task. Put your doubts aside.”
I nodded. “Right. Katashi gave me a limited period of time to find someone. I should probably start immediately.”
Teft put a hand on my shoulder. “We’re in no shape to be dealing with any sort of danger right now, Corin.”
I flinched away from his touch. It was probably supposed to be reassuring, but I didn’t have the best experience with authority figures holding me. “Right. We’ll rest first.”
Orden started walking toward the academy and we followed in her wake. “Care to fill me in on what you’ve discovered?”
I wasn’t so sure that was a good idea, but maybe I could make this work. “Sure, but only in trade.”
“Whatever do you mean, Corin?” She glanced back over her shoulder at me.
I narrowed my eyes. “Not in the mood, Lyras. You’ve been looking into this — or things related to it — for months. And you cut me out of it, only to throw me and my friends,” I gestured to the group for emphasis, “straight into danger as soon as it was convenient for you. People are dead because we didn’t solve this sooner. I’m done with secrets, at least among the people here. I’m going to tell them what I know, and you’re going to fill in the blanks.”
She sighed. “You do realize you’re exposing them to more danger by getting them further involved?”
I scanned my group of friends. “Anyone not want to know what’s going on here? We can cut this discussion short and resume it later if anyone wants an out.”
Patrick frowned, an uncharacteristic look of seriousness on his face. “People are getting hurt, Corin. I, for one, can’t turn a blind eye to that.”