You have to trust someone, and betrayal comes from someone you trust, not a stranger. So it isn’t something you can protect yourself from as easily. Like I said, let’s hope your spy is Lustral or someone you don’t like. Other than that, all you can do is be wary.”
Will sighed, but he refused to despair. “At least I have three or four people I can trust absolutely.”
Arrogan’s reply challenged him, “Yeah, who?”
“Selene, Laina, Tiny, and probably Mark Nerrow.”
“Not me?”
“I only listed living people, but yeah, if you weren’t stuck in a ring, I’d have added you.”
“Just a year ago I was struggling with whether I should steal your body and shuffle your soul off to the afterlife,” remarked the ring dryly.
“You had circumstances that—”
“Everyone has circumstances,” interrupted Arrogan. “Just because you don’t know them, don’t imagine they don’t exist. Ordinary people don’t have to worry as much because the best solution is almost always for everyone to cooperate, but at the level you’re at, things are different.”
Will groaned. “Can we talk about something else? Something practical?”
“Sure.”
“Is there a spell or magic to allow people to converse over long distances? I know the Darrowans must have some way of coordinating because the knowledge of our last route change got to them too quickly,” said Will.
“Yes.”
“Are you going to tell me?”
The ring laughed. “That never gets old. You already know of one. The heart-stone enchantment allows the two souls that are connected to communicate. Also, if you were to astrally project to someone who was also astrally sensitive, they could see you and talk to you, and I already told you about the Wayfarer’s Society a while back.”
Will searched his memory, then responded, “The old wizard’s guild that maintained the teleportation beacons, right?”
“Exactly. In case you didn’t realize, instantaneous travel also means instantaneous communication.”
“Just letters or…?”
“They also had more sophisticated methods. By tying into the beacon network, they could use enchanted orbs to project people’s voices and images across the same distances.”
Will rubbed his chin. “What about using a silver plate and writing on it?”
“Never heard of anything like that,” admitted his grandfather. “I’m sure we would have used it during the original Terabinian War for Independence if we had had such a thing. Why do you mention it?”
Will described the enchanted plate he had found.
“I see what you’re thinking, but it doesn’t match anything I know,” said Arrogan. “If it’s like what the Wayfarer’s Society had, it would still need a beacon network to function, but then again, they had a lot of secrets. It’s possible this was something else they developed, or maybe someone has created a new method since then.”
He’d hoped for something solid to work with. “Let’s assume the worst,” said Will. “What do you think I should do?”
“Worst? This is an opportunity.”
Will grinned. “I was thinking the same thing.” He spent the rest of his time before bed discussing options.
Chapter 33
An urgent messenger with a missive from Commander Bradshaw reached them as they were setting out the next morning. Will unrolled the letter and examined it while sitting atop his horse.
I have ill news to report. Scholar Sundy was found dead in the afternoon. She was alone and it seems that the object she was studying released some sort of lethal trap. The enchantment inscribed upon it has melted away and the scholar died as a result of what appears to have been a small fiery explosion. It is possible there was foul play, but I have no firm evidence and no suspects currently.
Cmdr. Martin Bradshaw
“What is it?” asked Laina.
“Elizabeth Sundy is dead,” he replied flatly.
His sister’s eyes widened. “How?”
“I left her in Klendon to do some dangerous research. It appears the research was more dangerous than I suspected.”
“Danger intrinsic to the research, or do you think it was something more deliberate?”
As usual, his noble-born sister’s mind had leapt directly to the crux of the problem. “That’s the real question,” he replied.
She nudged her mare with one knee, bringing the horse closer, then spoke in a low voice, “Sometimes it’s best to act on suspicion rather than wait for facts.”
He glanced around, making sure no one was within earshot. “What do you mean?”
“You know what I mean. I’m sure you suspect the same pompous ass that I do.”
“I can’t afford to make an accusation without firm proof, which I don’t have. I don’t even have circumstantial evidence.”
“The traitor isn’t constrained by such things, and Scholar Sundy has paid with her life. But you don’t have to