Gail Martin - The summoner

"Do you know who sent the spell?"

Kiara met his eyes. "Arontala. He wants father dead-that way, we have no choice but to ally Isencroft with Margolan to survive."

"I'm sorry," Tris replied.

She looked away. "You're doing all you can. The elixir buys us time. Carina has found some other things in the books that may also ease his suffering and give him strength until…"

"Until I can destroy Arontala," Tris finished her sentence.

She met his eyes, then looked down and nodded. "Yes." She was silent for a while longer. "I want to do a scrying," she said finally. "To see if Cam arrived safely and see if father is doing better. " Tris poured a cup and slid it toward her. She took a few sips, and closed her eyes.

"I never had the chance to ask you more about your magic," Tris said, watching her in the firelight. Jae hopped down from his perch on her shoulder and Tris offered him bits of cheese. Jae snapped up the treats before curling into a ball on the edge of the desktop.

Kiara shrugged. "It's not really sorcerer-caliber talent," she admitted. "The gift is very limited. Scryings, some battle divination-things directly related to the safety of the kingdom," she said. "It shows only snatches of information, out of context." She sighed. "On the future of Isencroft, it has been silent."

Tris sipped his tea. It began at once to ease the tension in his shoulders and the reaction headache that throbbed in his temples. "Maybe

the future is yet in motion," he said gently. "Maybe we alter it, even now, by what we do."

"Perhaps," she said. "I'd like to think so."

Tris slipped another crumb of cheese to Jae, who gobbled it then stretched out lazily, lolling to one side to invite a belly scratch. "He isn't like that with just everyone," Kiara observed. "You've made a real friend."

"I hope so," Tris said, meeting her eyes. She looked away, her cheeks coloring slightly, as if she caught the full intention of his comment.

"Thank you," he said. "For the tea. And the company. It gets too quiet up here."

"You're welcome," she said, daring a glance back at him. She held out her arm, and Jae waddled toward her, making a gurgle of protest as he lighted on her shoulder.

"Kiara," he said seriously, "please don't scry without me. Just a feeling I've got… Taru went back to the citadel to confer, Gabriel is gon I wish you'd reconsider."

Kiara shook her head. "How could we be any safer than here, behind all of the Sisterhood's spells? Carina's desperate to see that Cam is safely home, and I'm as lonesome for a glimpse of father as I am anxious to see how he's doing."

Tris sighed. "We're probably as safe as we'll ever be. But please, wait for me."

"All right," she said, "you've got a deal."

AFTER SUPPER, CARROWAY favored them with several new stories; then three of the Keepers joined him for a candlemark of chamber music. Tris drank another mug of the mulled wine and breathed deeply, enjoying the first chance to relax. He was enjoying Kiara's company as much as the entertainment, and could see that Carroway was relishing the opportunity to entertain with the lute the Keepers had given him.

When the program ended at the tenth bell, everyone congratulated Carroway and the other musicians. As the group filed from the room, a handful remained behind.

"What's going on?" Vahanian asked as he passed Tris.

"Kiara wants to do a scrying to see how her father is doing," Tris replied. "She'll need a few of us to hold the circle, but we've got enough that you're off the hook."

Vahanian gave him a sideways glance. "I think I'll stick around outside the circle and watch your back, if it's all the same, Spook," he said. "After all, if you get your royal ass fried to a crunch with some magic-gone-wrong, the rest of us have a one-way trip to the hangman's noose."

"I want to watch," Berry chirped.

"No," Tris said.

"Absolutely not," Carina echoed.

"Isn't it late for you to be awake?" Vahanian asked. Berry made a sour face.

"I don't have a bed time," she announced. "I've never seen a scrying. It will be fun."

"It can be dangerous," Tris said.

Berry dismissed him with a gesture that looked oddly like one of Vahanian's mannerisms. "I'm not afraid. I've fought slavers and seen ghosts and vayash moru."

"She's actually handy in a fight," Vahanian said off-handedly, and Berry beamed. "All right-I'll let you stand behind me, on one condition."

"All right!" Berry agreed enthusiastically.

Vahanian fixed her with a steady gaze. "No matter what happens, you don't get in the way."

Berry gave him a smug look. "Of course I won't get in the way. I wasn't in the way at the forest throwing rocks, now was I?"

"It's possible that you pair are two of a kind," Tris observed dryly as they followed Kiara into the parlor.

Fresh torches burned in the sconces and a fire blazed on the hearth. In the room's center was a small table surrounded by six chairs, and on the table sat an amber scrying ball the size of a melon, on a stand of tangled bronze dragons. "It's beautiful," Kiara commented, reaching toward it and pulling her fingers back just before they touched its smooth surface. Jae flapped nervously on her shoulder, hissing.

"I'm still not comfortable about this," Carina said. "At Isencroft you had the chamber, and it was spelled and warded. When Alyzza and Tris tried a scrying with the caravan, there was… something… out there looking for him," she recounted with shudder.

"You are in a fortress of the Sisterhood," Royster interrupted. "It, too, has safeguards." He jumped as if jabbed from behind, and glared at the empty air. "Did we ask you?" he snapped at the ghost. Tris saw Kessen tugging at Royster's shirt, for once completely devoid of mischief.

"I think he's trying to tell you something," Tris said. "I don't think he's joking."

Royster stopped in amazement, unused to others seeing his ghostly companion. "All right," he said abruptly to the ghost. "What, then?"

"What did he say?" Carina and Kiara asked in one breath.

"Did you just talk to him, Tris?" Berry asked excitedly.

Tris nodded. "He doesn't think it's a good idea."

"I have to know," Kiara persisted stubbornly. "I'll be all right."

"But Kiara-" Carina protested.

"I'm going to do it-alone if I have to."

Carina finally nodded. "All right." She looked at the others. "Once everyone is seated, I'll begin the warding," Carina said.

Vahanian and Mikhail stood near the door as the others found their seats. Kiara stood before the scrying ball, with chairs for Carina to her right and Tris to her left. Devin was next to Tris, then Maire and Royster to complete the circle. Kiara closed her eyes and stood in silence for a moment, readying herself. Carina moved slowly around the room, setting the wards into place. Silently, Tris repeated the warding ritual in his mind to add his strength.

"Powers that be, hear me! Goddess of Light, attend!" Kiara recited, her eyes still closed. "I am the Chosen of Isencroft, the line of the blood. We gather to invoke the ancient Powers."

"Spirits of the Land, hear me!" Kiara said, laying a hand on the amber globe in its dragon-winged holder. "Winds of the north, obey! Waters of the southlands, bend your course to the will of the Chosen. Fires of the eastern sun, be bound by my command. I compel you by the right of the heirs of Isencroft to reveal what is hidden and find what is dear. Let it be so!"

A glow began deep within the heart of the scrying ball, a swirling mist that sprang from its deepest center. Slowly, the glow grew brighter and brighter. Kiara stared intently into its depths.

"Look! There!" Carina whispered, bending as close as she could without breaking the circle of hands. Tris let his own mage senses stir in sympathetic union.