“Bandits have been popping up all over the continent. This seems to be a large group, as they all have the same name: Prowlers,” Alayna said. Today her hair was down instead of in a bun. Her clothing was the usual green color, with a few black stripes.

  “Do we know where this group originated?” Hectar asked, stroking his beard that had been growing out. A few more wrinkles had appeared on his face over the past month.

  Alayna shook her head. “Could be anywhere. They are coordinated and are striking vulnerable villages, leaving before any help can arrive. A group was last seen on our borders with Malvarian.”

  “Hm,” Talon looked at the map in the middle. The bandits wouldn't move through that area. The Shimmering Peaks were there, and very difficult to move past. Azzellia guards would see them well before they could strike any villages. Unless the bandits moved through the smaller nations of Oper, Kalidon, or Clavohln. “We’ll keep an eye out to make sure no one sneaks through our borders.”

  “I’ll be sure to alert our outposts,” Corvin said. The commander scratched his short blond hair while eyeing the map, examining each detail.

  “Excellent. I have an update of my own,” Talon said, tearing his eyes away. “I’ve spoken with the Forest Dwellers, and they have their army on standby. When the invaders attack, they will be ready to assist in any way they can.”

  “Forgive me, Your Grace, but how?” Hectar asked. “They are many miles away, and none of the other nations would let them march their armies through their lands uncontested. They’ll think it’s an act of war.”

  “Don’t worry about that,” Talon said. It would be much easier if he could tell the council he could use the power, and so could the Forest Dwellers. “We’ve almost got a plan ready. A few more touches, and we should have a solution.”

  “Would you care to tell us what you know?” Alayna asked.

  “No,” Talon said. He could see questions forming and was shocked when Alayna didn't press the issue. That was unlike her. “I promise to tell you when I have it all figured out.”

  “As you wish,” Alayna said.

  “With the uncertainty of war, raids, and various bandits, food is much scarcer this year. I worry we may have trouble feeding our armies when the time for war comes,” Hectar said.

  “This is a problem for all the nations, at least that’s what my spies have told me,” Alayna said.

  Food shortages led to angry people, which eventually led to revolutions. Talon couldn't let that happen. “Send messages to the farmers that they will be paid extra if they can gather more food. If they need materials, give it to them. Offer a bit of gold to see if that’ll help.”

  “I’m not sure money can fix this issue,” Alayna said.

  “It can’t hurt. We’ll gather volunteers and send nonviolent prisoners over to assist,” Talon said.

  “That could be useful. I’ll get that done right after this,” Alayna said.

  “What of our troops? Are they being paid?” Talon asked.

  “Yes. For now, payment isn’t a concern,” Corvin said.

  “What about Vandalor?” Hectar asked.

  “I’ve been in talks with Queen Misha. Their army is prepared. Corvin has been keeping her up to date with our military so she doesn’t feel out of the loop. Things are great on that front,” Talon said.

  Alayna said something, but Talon tuned her out as he sensed Qidan portal somewhere inside the palace. It was about time. He wanted to speak with the mage about Jarako’s ability. “Excuse me, I need to leave,” Talon said.

  Without waiting for a response, he walked swiftly out of the room and headed straight toward the mage. He heard Alayna try to say something but ignored her. The council session was about done anyway, just little things that could be addressed later. Servants walked out of his way, and his three royal guards followed closely. Soon he would be able to get rid of them, he hoped. It was annoying having royal guards with him at all times when it wasn’t necessary.

  It didn’t take long for Talon to get a fix on exactly where the mage was. Qidan was in his quarters, waiting for him. He walked straight there and stopped in front of the door. He put up his hand to let the guards know to remain and opened the door. He walked right in, gathered the power, and created a barrier that prevented sound from leaving the room.

  “Why didn’t you warn me that portals could be tracked?” Talon was surprised at how angry he was; he had almost shouted at the mage.

  If Qidan was taken aback, he maintained a cool composure. “What do you mean?”

  “Two mages visited me. One of them, Jarako, was able to detect the presence of a portal created over a month ago. If he had arrived a few weeks earlier, he would have been able to detect where the portal went, which would have ruined everything!”

  The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

  “It’s a rare ability, one I hadn’t thought about,” Qidan said.

  “We’re lucky he didn’t come sooner! If Jarako had, our Ashtari would have been discovered!” Talon forced a deep breath to calm himself. “Are there any other abilities I should know about?”

  “Well, it didn’t happen. I’m sorry for not warning you of such a technique. You know so much that I forget how ignorant you can be at the same time,” Qidan said.

  Talon narrowed his eyes, debating whether to yell at the mage before deciding against it. He couldn’t blame Qidan. Qidan had no idea how much Talon knew, especially with how much information he had that no mages had. “How is the training going?”

  “It would be better if I had more skilled mages to assist me. With so many students, it’s challenging for me to provide them with the help they need in order to learn at the pace you desire,” Qidan said.

  “That isn’t possible unless you know somewhere we could find skilled power users,” Talon said sarcastically.

  “I hesitate to bring this up, but there is a place where we could get skilled power users,” Qidan said slowly.

  Talon looked at the mage with suspicion. “You know mages that would betray Mortham Tower?”

  “No, nothing like that,” Qidan gulped and was clearly uncomfortable with what he was about to say. “There is a prison where rogue power users who aren’t sentenced to death are sent.”

  “I thought rogue power users either had the power stripped from them if the crime was severe enough, were executed, or told not to use the power again and allowed to leave?” Talon asked.

  “Not quite. Rogue power users with exceptional skill are held in prisons unless they agree to join Mortham Tower or have the power stripped from them.”

  “Why?”

  There was a brief silence as Qidan closed his eyes. “Because they pose a threat. You know how much Mortham Tower fears that. So, the gifted power users that refuse are kept in prison until they change their minds or agree to lose the power.”

  Those power-hungry… Talon found his hands shaking. Why did that surprise him? “Are you telling me that the power users in that prison are not bad people?”

  “Mostly, yes,” Qidan said. “Most of them were caught doing good with the power. Whether it was catching a group of bandits or using the power to help when they weren’t supposed to.”

  “Why bring this up now?”

  “It’s a strange thing. I believe in this School of Power. There are so many gifts that I didn’t know because these people avoided Mortham Tower. Did you know there is a man by the name of Lewis, who can create weapons from thin air? I’m talking swords, arrows, axes… He can create these weapons and use them, yet the man can’t so much as scratch the ground with the power.”

  Talon watched Qidan and nearly smiled. He had him. The mage was fully on his side now, of that he was certain. This was an unexpected development. When tasking Qidan with this task, he hoped the mage would become attached. He didn’t think it would happen.

  “There’s a student with so much potential that she may be one of the most powerful power users to ever live if given enough time,” Qidan continued.

  I can ask about her later. Talon thought. “How many power users do you think are at this prison?”

  “At least a couple dozen, probably more,” Qidan said.

  Over twenty skilled power users? That would be an amazing opportunity for his students. That would speed up the training process and get his students into fighting shape faster. There was one problem. “I imagine the prison is heavily guarded. Do you have a plan to get the prisoners out?”

  “No,” Qidan admitted. “I can tell you there are a few mages there and some foot soldiers. A small strike team could easily free the prisoners and escape if given a way to take out the mages. If we can rescue them, we stand a real chance at matching the quality of power users as Mortham Tower in a few years.”

  Talon didn’t disagree, but he wouldn’t put his power users at risk. “I’ll speak with Corvin. If there’s anyone who might have an idea, it would be him.”

  “All right. I’m going to stick around for a bit before heading back to the students. I need to maintain my appearance, after all,” Qidan said.

  “I’ll update you shortly,” Talon said and left. He walked around, trying to find Corvin for a bit before a guard told him where the commander was. Funnily enough, the guard said Corvin was looking for him too.

  The castle was bustling with various servants and guards. Talon was getting annoyed, and then he saw Corvin walking in the courtyard, hands behind his back with his usual serious expression. He rushed out the doors, “Commander!”

  Corvin stopped in place and turned around. “Ah, I’ve been looking for you,” Corvin said.

  “That makes two of us,” Talon walked closer to the commander and looked around. There were guards and servants nearby. He motioned his royal guards back and gathered the power. He couldn’t risk a hint of this conversation leaking. Soon their little spot was filled with an invisible barrier that no sound would leak out of.

  Corvin didn’t notice; nobody would know unless they were a power user probing for a barrier. “I’ve put Arthur and Peitar in charge of a few soldiers. They are getting a bit restless after your mission with the Ashtari.”

  “That’s great, but I have more pressing matters to discuss,” Talon said. At least he knew his friends were moving up. Corvin remained silent and waited patiently. “How would you feel about rescuing some rogue power users that the mages have in a prison?”

  “Are you talking about Malador?”

  Talon couldn’t help widening his eyes. “How did you know?”

  “I like to be aware of these things,” Corvin said.

  “That makes this a bit easier to discuss. I need to rescue the prisoners there and have no idea how to approach this without getting myself caught,” Talon said.

  “You’re in luck. I know someone who can do this,” Corvin said. “There is one problem. When a mage discovers intruders, they will portal to the tower to gather reinforcements.”

  “I can handle that problem,” Talon said with a wave of his hand. “I’m more worried about how we enter and rescue the prisoners, hopefully without any casualties.”

  “If you can handle the mages getting reinforcements, then I have the rest figured out. I need a portal to get the man we need,” Corvin said.

  “Is this some power user?” Talon asked.

  “No. This person had a run-in with a couple of mages and can handle himself around them. Getting him to Malador is all we need to do, and he should be able to handle the rest,” Corvin said.

  “Great,” Talon said with relief. He could always count on Corvin to figure something out. “Anything else?”

  “No.”

  “I’ll have Qidan work with you for the portals. Are you ready to get started?”

  “I’m ready,” Corvin said.