Free Magic's Design by Cat Adams

eyebrow and crossed his arms, his thick woolen cape fluttering into the air. “What part of it is lies, lifer? That your guild betrayed us, or that you doomed millions of humans to death?”
    That stopped Baba, but only long enough to stare at him, as though memorizing every pore of his skin. “You were not there, so you do not know who betrayed whom. It is as I have always said. All lies do is confuse those who come after. It was the kings who betrayed us —who made my daughter-in-law so full of fear after they killed Mila’s father that she risked the life of her child to make her forget your kind. It is a pity. I would have thought a constable of the O.P.A. would have more brains than to believe the pigslop the palace claims is cake.”
    Tal’s eyelids narrowed, but he was more thoughtful than angry. “Guilders are remarkably long lived by human standards. Why would you think I wasn’t there to see your betrayal of our people?”
    Baba stepped over to the table, getting so close to his chest that even by Ukrainian standards, she was violating his space. Mila could feel energy rising in the room, stinging her skin enough to make her rub palms against her pants to ease it. Baba’s words were a whisper, but they seemed to scream into the room, over her and Candy’s tense breathing and the bubbling of herbs on the stove. “Because I would know you, mage, and I do not. As you say, we are remarkably long lived. If you were at Blackshear, you were too young to understand the politics being played. So I will give you the, what is it called?” She paused for a brief moment and then raised one finger. “Ah, yes. The benefit of the doubt. I will not hold against you the foolishness of your elders. But neither will I allow you to slander my family or my people.”
    He nodded once, just a tiny dip of his chin, but his eyes kept a healthy amount of suspicion. “You seem very convinced of your clan’s innocence, and I’ve seen no evidence you mean anyone harm. And,” he said with a small, bitter laugh, “I’ve had more than one occasion to sample the cake from the kings. I will offer to withhold judgment for the time being.” Baba nodded just before he glanced behind him and listened for a moment. “But I’d caution you not to invoke your guild name around my partner. He’s a little too fond of cake and has little self-control to guide his talent.”
    A faint fluttering, crackling sound made her turn away from Tal, quickly enough to bump his arm. It pulled a small hiss from him that brought a tiny smile to Baba’s face. “I learned long ago to hold my tongue, but you see that I can defend myself if necessary.”
    She didn’t wait for an answer, but walked across the room to examine the green leafy vine hanging from a basket suspended from the ceiling. It was looking rather ill. Mila joined her at the window and picked up one of a dozen wilted leaves that littered the formerly clean floor. “Oh, man! This was fine yesterday. I hope I haven’t been giving it too much water.”
    Baba sniffed one of the leaves, then wrinkled her nose. She reached out, quick as a snake, and grabbed Mila’s chin. She turned her face this way and that, staring at her with eyes slowly growing concerned. “You look too well. Where did you pull the power?”
    Mila tried to pull back out of her grasp, but it was as if she was held in a vise. “I don’t know what you mean, Baba.”
    She let go of her face, and rolled her hand expansively. “The power, Mila. You healed the mage. Even I can see it. But where did the energy come from? We soon go to a hospital with many sick people. Killing a vine is a tiny mistake, but if you cannot control your abilities, more than mere leaves will be dropping to the floor. You must concentrate now. What life did you end to save his?”
    An uneasy feeling formed in the pit of her stomach and she looked again at the yellow, sickly leaf draped across her palm. She couldn’t resist a quick sniff, and