Blood of Innocents (Book Two of the Sorcery Ascendant Sequence) by Mitchell Hogan Page B

feeling.
    Izak turned a glare on Felice. “What resistance? And what could I possibly hope to contribute? I might have condemned myself just by meeting with you.”
    “Calm down,” said Felice. “And sit. Please.” She waited while Izak fumed for a few moments then plonked himself back down. “Good. I’m sure we can all agree there’s been an invasion, and that, disturbingly, the Quivers have been somewhat… ineffective.”
    “Yes,” said Izak. “It was hard to miss, what with the blue flames erupting from the walls, and the announcements the Indryallans have made, and the fighting in the streets.”
    Felice smiled thinly. “Which is why we need to bring more people into the cause. Especially those who can help us gather information.”
    “Now look here!” exclaimed Izak. “I’m keeping my head down until this blows over. I’ll keep out of harm’s way before more of the emperors Quivers arrive.”
    “You can take advantage of the position you’re in to gather information for us. You’re well known with the nobles, and in quite a few of the bureaucrats’ circles. That’s how you make most of your ducats, from information they let slip that you can profit from.”
    “I… well… everyone has to make a living.”
    “I’m not concerned with how you make your ducats. What we need is someone on the inside. The Indryallans need the bureaucrats to keep the system running smoothly with minimal disruptions. So, you can continue doing whatever you do while keeping an ear out for us.”
    Izak frowned and shifted in his chair. “It doesn’t sound too bad. I suppose we will need code words, secret places for me to drop letters, that sort of thing?”
    “No. Just pass any information along to Avigdor.”
    “Oh. I thought you wanted to… er… never mind. I’ll do it. Only because of what Bees told me they did to Miranda, Caldan’s friend.”
    Felice sat up straighter and shot Avigdor a look. “What do you mean?”
    “Their sorcery, you know.” Izak waved a hand. “They blew apart the tunnel under the walls they used, and somehow they tore apart the poor girl’s mind.”
    “Start from the beginning. What exactly did Bees say happened?”
    “You must know about their sorcery? I mean… I assumed you would.”
    “Pretend we have no idea what you’re talking about.”
    “When Caldan, Elpidia, and the others were escaping, sorcerers came after them.”
    “Sorcerers?”
    “Yes. Two Indryallans.”
    “Really?” Felice narrowed her eyes at Avigdor, who blushed.
    “I didn’t think to question him further,” Avigdor said. “Once he told me about Caldan and what he had to say, I brought the information straight to you.”
    She turned her gaze back to Izak. “Continue.”
    “Caldan managed to ward off the sorcerers attacks. They ripped apart the building covering the entrance to the tunnels, but Caldan delayed them so they could escape. Caldan shielded himself from their sorcery. Apparently it was quite the sight: lightning flying around, clouds of dust—” He waved his hands in the air. “—deafening sounds like thunder. Bees was in awe of what happened. Caldan lived through it, but his girl, Miranda, wasn’t so lucky. They did something to her mind. She could barely speak afterwards, or walk. Before that, she was fine.”
    Felice exchanged glances with Avigdor. This didn’t tie in with what she knew of sorcery. It was a good chance this was the unknown sorcery Caldan had mentioned.
    “He managed to kill one of the sorcerers and capture the other,” continued Izak, “a woman. The one who died was called Keys—that’s what Bees said anyway. I think they were… lovers or related. She was very upset Keys died.”
    Again, Felice shot Avigdor a scathing glance. He dropped his gaze to the floor. “It seems you have a lot more information than I was at first led to believe. Could you please elaborate on this fight, and who this sorcerer is, the one who was captured.”
    “Bees said she