Heroes Return by Moira J. Moore Page A

noses in and asking questions?
    Maybe that would make the people like Fiona more.
    Of course, we had only the Dowager’s word that the people disliked Fiona. That wasn’t worth anything.
    “It is the duty of all of you to cooperate with us,” the Guard continued, pitching his voice over the rustle of whispering that was rising up. “I expect you to turn yourself in if you have attempted to cast spells.”
    Well, he was an idiot.
    “I expect you to come to me with information about others who you know are attempting to cast spells.”
    What a dirty little plan, expecting people to spy on each other.
    “If I learn that you have been aware of attempts to cast spells and have failed to report it to one of us, you will face the same sanctions as the perpetrator. These sanctions are public floggings and constitute the following: a single lash for any item purported to be used for the casting of spells, a single lash for each book of spells, five lashes for performing any alleged spell or ritual for the purpose of casting, an additional lash if it’s a love spell, an additional ten if the attempt to cast harms another person, another fifteen if it damages someone’s property, twenty lashes for each instance of collecting, possessing, selling or consuming human ashes.”
    The whispering got louder. I thought of the carriage driver and his alleged spell to stop the hail. Was he still about? I hoped not. He was harmless and didn’t deserve to be flogged.
    According to the First Lieutenant, I had a duty to tell him about the carriage driver. I wouldn’t tell him, though. I wasn’t going to tell him about anyone. It was disgusting of him to ask.
    And when the First Lieutenant found out about what I wasn’t telling him, would he really have me flogged? As a rule, Shields and Sources were spared sanctions for criminal behavior. We were considered too valuable to be locked up or executed or otherwise rendered unable to channel. But Taro and I were out in the middle of nowhere, the only Pair about. There was nothing stopping them from having us flogged and asking for forgiveness after.
    People died when they were flogged. If I died, Taro would die with me. That wasn’t fair.
    I still wasn’t going to tell them anything.
    The First Lieutenant pulled a folded parchment from his purse and held it out to Fiona. “These are orders from the Emperor stating that you and your people are to assist us, and that you personally are to provide us with bed and board.”
    Fiona’s expression was blank as she accepted the parchment. I would bet everything I owned that she was actually fuming. My guess was supported by the fact that she didn’t just take the Guard at his word but insisted on reading the missive. “Understood,” she eventually said. Nothing about cooperating, just that she understood. Interesting. “Cekina, please find the Guards suitable accommodation. Please stay with them until their every need is seen to.”
    Fiona’s housekeeper strode out of the crowd and approached the Guards. She said a few words to the First Lieutenant, who nodded. The four Guards bowed briefly to Fiona and then followed Cekina out of the ballroom.
    The whispering of the crowd rose into loud objections, and Fiona had to clap a few times to get their attention. “I know you all have concerns,” she said. “I will be in my office shortly. I ask you all to bring”—heavy emphasis on the word “bring”—“your concerns to me as quickly as possible. You are all relieved of your duties for a short while so you can do this. Off with you. Source Karish, Shield Mallorough, I ask you to remain behind.”
    It was weird seeing so many people curtsy and bow all at once, practically simultaneously. Then they quietly drained out of the room. Taro and I joined Fiona and her family at the head of the room.
    “Daris and Tarce, you can go if you want,” Fiona said to her siblings.
    “Ooh, you have secrets we’re not important enough to hear, is that