Fear of Fire and Shadow (The Fade #1) - Samantha Young Page 0,7

features. “What’s happened?”

“Nothing. I think.” She shrugged elegantly. “Jarvis and Ava have requested me in the Chambers of the Rada.”

I hid my concern. His Grace, Vojvoda Jarvis Rada, was the highest-ranking member of the nobility of Sabithia and the Chairman of the Rada, as well as the Keeper of the Archives. Grofka Ava Rada was a widow and the only other member of the Rada who lived in Sabithia. They were both good people, and they loved Haydyn dearly. But Haydyn relied too heavily upon their opinions, and oftentimes they forgot that Haydyn even had a voice. Particularly Jarvis, whose responsibilities and position—especially that of Keeper of the Archives, the very exclusive control over mage history (meaning no one but he was allowed entrance into the archives until his demise, and then only his appointed successor would have the privilege)—had given him an inflated sense of self.

It nettled me. But it wasn’t my place to speak for her. Like a frustrated parent, I wanted her to find her voice and independence by herself.

“Well then.” I threw both Haydyn and Matai a blasé smile. “We best go and see what they want.”

Chapter 2

“Ah, Princezna.” Vojvoda Jarvis rose to his feet, Lady Ava at his side. He bowed deeply whilst Ava dipped as low as she could into a curtsy. “Looking beautiful as always.” Jarvis smiled at Haydyn like a doting grandfather. His eyes flicked to me and he gave me an expressionless nod. Jarvis and Ava were uncomfortable around me. They were ashamed of what Stovia did to my family.

“Your Grace.” Haydyn gave a shallow curtsy. “My lady. I trust you are both well.”

“As well as can be, Princezna. We do not bring good tidings.”

Haydyn and I shared a worried look, and I followed her as she took her seat at the head of the long chambers table. I sat on her left, facing Ava. Jarvis took the seat next to the grofka.

“What’s wrong?” Haydyn asked. That gloom crept into her eyes again, and I could have sworn she swayed in her chair. I was just about to reach for her when she seemed to shake herself awake. I withdrew my hand.

Jarvis cleared his throat, his expression grave. “I must ask, first of all, Princezna, whether you are feeling well? Are you in good health?”

I was surprised by his question. Unnerved, even.

“Of course,” she answered, but it sounded hesitant to my ears.

“Why?” I asked, even though it wasn’t my place to.

Ava’s eyes were wide with anxiety. “Because it seems as if the evocation is weakened somehow.”

Haydyn gasped. “Weakened? It can’t be. I’m projecting the evocation at full, as always.”

“We’ve received reports these last few weeks from the rest of the Rada, the most anxious of them being Vojvoda Andrei Rada, Keeper of Alvernia. The province is worsening; the uncivilized, loutish behavior of the mountain people grows steadily closer to his city in the south. He fears the people of Arrana may become contaminated by the aggression of the northerners and grows agitated by Silvera’s ‘negligence,’ as he calls it.”

Haydyn threw me a concerned look. “I had no idea things were so bad.”

“There is more,” Ava added.

“Yes,” Jarvis continued. “I’ve had word from the city of Pharya. A rookery has sprung up on the border of Vasterya in the towns near the glass works. Gangs of thieves and smugglers are disrupting import and exportation.”

Dear havens, I had never heard the like. “Thieves? Gangs? A rookery? In Phaedra?” I was aghast. We all were. My questioning gaze swung to Haydyn.

She squirmed as her emerald eyes filled with fear. “Don’t look at me like that, Rogan. I don’t know what to tell you. I don’t feel a change in my magic.”

Jarvis coughed. “Lastly—”

“There’s more?”

He threw me an admonishing look for the interruption. “Yes. There’s more. Markiza Raven Rada’s guard is dealing with nomads—”

“The Caels?” Haydyn frowned as she referred to one of the nomadic clans. “But the Caels have lived in Northern Javinia for decades. They finally made a place their home.”

“Not the Caels, Princezna. The Iavii. These Alvernian nomads are not looking for peace. They’ve already stolen land from the Caels, and now they try to do the same with the Javinians. Tensions are high between the Javinians and the Caels, who are being held as accountable as the Iavii.”

“That’s not fair!” Haydyn cried. “The Caels are a peaceful clan.”

“They are. Were. Nothing in Javinia remains peaceful. The Javinian guards are busy dealing with disputes and protecting Markiza Raven in Novia. She calls