The Arcanist by Greg Curtis Page B

same sorry news back to the king. No one could tell them anything, save that the magic involved had been powerful. More powerful than a mere spark or perhaps even a flame could command. And that the primary portal was located in the troll wastes.
     
    He couldn't imagine how that news had been received back at the castle, but he doubted it was well. And the chances were that Simon had already heard and likely seen the map he'd had the guards carry back to the king.
     
    “The family?” Edouard had to ask even though he knew Simon would likely not know. He wouldn't have wasted time checking on the family when there was gold to be made and lost. He wouldn't have wasted a thought on them either.
     
    “I heard the house still stands. Marcus would know more.”
     
    And wasn't that the truth of it, Edouard thought. Simon would have been more concerned with his warehouses filled with trade goods. Illegal trade goods if the rumours were true. Those he might actually have checked on. There was a reason that he alone of all the six children owned his own manor house outright. He had the gold. Edouard resisted the urge to shake his head in sorrow.
     
    “Marcus said they live and are uninjured.”
     
    Which wasn't all that Edouard wanted to know. Alive and well was good, but he also wanted to know that they weren't suffering. That they hadn't lost any friends that they called dear. Simon would never have understood such a thing.
     
    “So that's well and good. And of this?” Simon gestured at the destruction all around. Was there a trace of concern on his haughty face? Concern perhaps for the city? Or just the gold he might have lost? Edouard didn't want to know. It was enough that he guessed that Simon meant to report back to the king. Why? Was this another attempt of his to gain a modicum of respectability?
     
    “I don't know. There was magic here, a portal of great size traversing a vast distance. But save for its power I can't tell much about it. No more can the others. And although I can imagine none save a power being able to construct such a spell, I would not imagine that any of the three in Therion would have done so. Certainly Tyrel did not. She felt the portal open and wondered about it. Now that she has learned that women were harmed, she has sent two of her handmaidens to investigate. Perhaps they will find something.”
     
    Of course even as he said it both his eyes and Simon's went to the two women who were busy handling one of the mammoths. They looked so tiny against the beast's great bulk. If the handmaidens found something, neither Edouard nor Simon was about to approach them to ask. Not so near to a mammoth. They could wait until later, when the handmaidens had parted company from the mammoths.
     
    “They can be trusted?”
     
    Simon's question caught Edouard by surprise. It was an odd question to ask, Edouard thought, even for his brother. Everyone in the city would know exactly what the handmaidens would do. The same thing any priest would do. They would pass on what they knew to their lady and then do as she commanded.
     
    “They are Tyrel's handmaidens. They will do as she commands like any other priest or priestess. And Tyrel is upset with this attack. Women were harmed. This close to Tyrel's temple such an act will bring consequences.”
     
    And that was the simple truth of the matter. The hamadryad was not one to allow her followers to suffer. She would act when she had the knowledge. Edouard was simply glad that he wasn't the one responsible for this atrocity.
     
    “And then what? If it's another power? A war? Between powers?”
     
    Simon didn't seem thrilled by the thought and perhaps for once with good reason. A war between the powers would not be a small matter. But it surprised Edouard as he watched his brother let out a disgusted noise and then stump off moodily before he could even respond, that he should be worried about it. Maybe their father's hopes were finally showing promise?