Read Online The Magic Council (The Herezoth Trilogy) by Victoria Grefer - Free Book Online

we
act. We don’t want him there, for the boys’ sake.”
    “I
agree,” said Hayden. “I agree completely. I was just about to say that.”
    The
six of them spent four hours developing a plan, and at moments debate was
heated. Gratton wanted to slaughter Ursa’s bear straightaway. He could see no
way around it, but Zacry thought that would only alert the woman. He wanted
stealth. Gratton said to have stealth, they had to slay the bear; otherwise it would attack the lot of them while Zacry and
Vane searched the mansion for Ursa, who let the beast roam free. With Hayden’s
support, Gratton’s argument won out.
    Gratton
was uncomfortable with sorcery. He proposed non-magic alternatives to
everything he could think of a non-magic alternative for: like the bear
problem. His stance did not shock Vane, but did offend him, and Zacry made no
attempt to hide his resentment. “If I’m not to use my magic, why am I here?” he
demanded. “Why did Rexson stall a month for me to come from Traigland?”
    They
mashed a plan together despite the friction, a plan as finalized as possible
without knowing the mansion’s layout. When they finished, the king held Zacry
and Bendelof behind.
    “How’s
Kora?” Rexson asked, sitting in the desk chair. Bennie sat on the bed, while
Zacry leaned against the wall. “Was her fourth a daughter? She thought it would
be.”
    “It
was. And so’s the fifth, who’s a year now. They’re named Laskenay and Tressa.
Kora’s fine, Rexson. A little frustrated she couldn’t take part in this….”
    “I
knew she would be.”
    “But
Parker set her straight. He’s good for that. He’s sensible, takes things much
more in stride than she does. His composure rubs off on her.”
    “Good,”
said the king. “Good….”
    Bennie
asked, “How’d she feel about Vane leaving? I don’t imagine she liked it.”
    Zacry
said, “She understands he’s of age. Kora’s all right. What’s wrong with you
two?”
    Rexson
sighed, and changed the subject.
    “Bennie,
I never intended to pull you into this. Now that Zacry and Vane are here, we
can manage without you. The Giver knows you’ve done more for my family through
the years than I have any right to ask.”
    “I
took it on myself to get involved. And I’m sorry, again, for turning spy
against your back. I would have talked a move that drastic over with you, but
you were here, you had to be, and we were in Yangerton and…. Listen, Hayden
told me I should do it. He said you’d approve the move, that there was no other
way to find out where the boys might be. I hadn’t seen you in so long I thought
the best thing to do was trust his judgment. I know I took a horrendous risk. I
was so terrified the boys might suffer for it, I….” She swallowed. “I was sure
I had enough information to make the charade a success. Hayden agreed with me.”
    “Bennie,
I’m nothing but grateful for what you did. That said, from this point out….”
    The
right half of Bennie’s face pulled up in a wry grin. “I’ve been through worse
than this, Lanokas.” The king’s second middle name, which he had used as an
alias with the Crimson League. “What if things go badly, hmm? What if Dorane
ties up the sorcerers’ time, or takes them down, and the boys are magically
sealed away? Who’d get them out? I’d have to, with my picks.
    “Look,
I realize I don’t have a glamorous life. I wash dishes at an inn, and I’m in no
way ashamed of that. It’s honest work. But I do have other skills you’ll need.
You taught me to fight with a sword, you yourself, and I didn’t forget how. I
keep a blade under my bed, in case someone from the old days who—well,
who didn’t like us much—should track me down. Besides,” her eyes grew
steely, “I know what it’s like to feel trapped and helpless. Man alive, I know
what those boys are going through, and….”
    Bennie
stopped as the king turned ashen. She squeezed her fist in self-accusation, and
then rose to put a