9 Chapter 6

My resolve makes me restless.

I've wasted enough time.

Too much time.

The longer this drags on the greater the risks to those I love.

It's that thought that makes me leave my room.

I walk through unfamiliar halls, passing people who barely even notice me.

In these borrowed clothes I must look like just another person seeking refuge.

Just another unremarkable face in the crowd.

And yet, these faces aren't unremarkable.

The anguish and weariness etched onto them calls to something deep within me.

I hasten my steps.

I did not leave my room just to wallow in misery.

No, I have a clear goal in mind.

It takes me a while to find Larcen.

When I finally find him, he's poring over some maps so intently that he doesn't even notice me enter the room.

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"I don't get it. How are they always one step ahead of us?"

The words are muttered to himself, but it's the perfect segue into the topic I want to discuss.

"The King has an experienced low-level telepath."

If he's at all surprised by my sudden words he doesn't show it.

He turns my words over in his head before asking the question on his mind.

"What exactly can a low level telepath do?"

"Low levels find it hard to focus on grabbing thoughts. They can only zero in on direct conscious thoughts tied to strong emotions."

He nods, taking my words as truth despite the rarity of telepaths, even at low levels.

"How do you know this?"

"I've met her."

Beautiful, but cold with eyes that see into your soul.

Just the memory of those eyes makes me shiver.

"Right. Well, how do we counteract it? By not feeling anything? By not thinking?"

I can practically see the wheels spinning in his head.

"There's that, but there's also interference."

"Interference?"

"Using other thoughts - thoughts tied to strong emotions to draw their focus away. Don't think about what you're doing or saying."

"That's most helpful."

It's at this that he fixes his gaze on me.

"I thought you didn't want to help us?"

I shrug.

"I still don't."

"Then why?"

He takes my words at face value.

"With this information and your magic we may actually stand a chance."

"No, we still don't. What I said earlier still stands. You have no army of mages and no master tactician."

My words were blunt.

An overconfident leader will get us all killed.

"Well those don't exactly grow on trees. Besides the king doesn't have his master tactician either."

I quell down the instinctive pain at the mention of his death.

"Yes, but said tactician died to secure victory against a mid level telepath. Do you really expect us to fare much better?"

He narrowed his eyes at me.

"You honestly can't expect me to believe that you'd suddenly decide to join a losing battle."

My doubts come back.

What if I'm wrong?

What if it's not enough?

No.

It has to be.

"There is someone..."

He furrow his brow in confusion.

"Someone?"

"Yes. A tactician that even he said would surpass him one day."

"I find it hard to believe that the king wouldn't have recruited this tactician."

"He didn't have a choice. She's not someone who can be forced into doing anything."

If he finds the gender a surprise it doesn't show.

"What makes you think she'll want to help us?"

"To be frank, I don't."

"Then why suggest it?"

I can see his irritation building.

"Because there is a chance, however small, that I can convince her. She will at the very least hear me out. She owes me that much."

He contemplates it for a while before coming to a decision.

"What do you need?"

"I'll need to travel to the mountains to see her."

He frowns, obviously not pleased with this.

Not that I can blame him.

"How do I know you won't just try to run back to the king?"

A valid question.

He has no reason to trust me.

"You don't."

I can see the moment when the temptation of a master tactician overshadows his concerns.

"Fine. We'll ready things for your trip to the mountains, but..."

Something about the way he drew out the but had me on edge.

"But what?"

"Riel will accompany you."

I clamp down my instinctive panic.

She will never let me in with him there!

"I refuse."

Larcen shrugs.

"I can't exactly risk you running off or getting yourself killed. Consider him insurance."

"He'll ruin my chances. She's a very private person and a stranger will set her off."