Lady of Wolves (Evalyce Worldshaper Book 2) by J. Aislynn d' Merricksson Page A

Aleister decided to take a gamble and shifted his features to those of Kasai, before turning to face the Harrier.
    “I have important news for the Khan, news that cannot wait,” Aleister growled. The Harrier fell back.
    “Of course, Master Kasai. I didn't realize you were back so soon. We thought you would be gone for a few days,” the hawk murmured. One thing Aleister had learned during his time in the Mews was that Kasai was their leader. None of them would question him. Not only that, but only Kasai and Ari were accorded the privilege of unexpected audiences with Nobunaga. Any others seeking audience with the Khan Arkaddia had to go through the Seneschal.
    “Plans change. I wasn't supposed to be back, but I've learned something that won't wait.” Aleister pushed through the door hanging without a backward glance. Once inside, he crept quietly to where the Khan lay sound asleep. Conjuring a magickal dagger he slipped the blade beneath the cord holding the jagged spiral. With painstaking care he sliced through it and started to slip the pendant off. He froze as Nobunaga stirred in his sleep, twitching as though in the grip of a bad dream. Aleister waited, barely breathing, until the Khan finally settled down, then quickly slipped the spiral free. He'd done it! The talisman was theirs. Now all he had to do was get back to the magi.
    The Sky Fox grimaced at the pendant's unnatural cold. It felt like ice in his hand and he could sense the corruption that Kalla and Vander had spoken of. He swiftly wrapped it in the cloth the Healer had given him, tucking it into his belt pouch. Vanishing the dagger he crept from the room.
    Outside, the young hawk saluted him. Aleister returned the gesture with a curt nod and set off back down the corridor, still wearing the guise of the Master Harrier. He made it past the hidden guards with no problems and picked up the pace, eager to have this done with. The magister was growing increasingly uneasy, despite his success.
    His nervousness grew, bolstered by the feeling of something stalking him. Shedding all pretense of trying to blend in, Aleister took the pendant out of his pouch and shifted to his fox form, using illusion to make his fur black. Clutching the package in his jaws, the fox raced down through the corridors, keeping to the shadows. Almost there, almost. Yet the feeling of being hunted was growing stronger.
    The fox slammed into an unseen barrier blocking the corridor. He shook his head, disoriented and turned to go back the way he'd come, but a hand reached down and plucked him up by the scruff of his neck. He yelped, dropping the package and catching it with his paws. He hugged it to his chest just as cold sensation crept through his body, freezing him in place. Aleister panicked as he tried to shift and realized that he was blocked from that also.
    “Well now. What do we have here?” a cold voice drawled. “Kage said Kasai had returned. I go looking for a hawk and what do I find? A thieving fox. I
wonder
whom you could possibly belong to? I didn't think Kalla had it in her to learn summoning, yet here you are
kitsune
.”
    Grosso conjured a globe of magelight, illuminating the corridor. Aleister blinked in the light. Behind Grosso was an Ishkaran male dressed in clothing similar to the Harrier's and Aleister guessed this was Kage, Grosso's magister whom he'd never seen while at the Kanlon. The mage leaned against his staff and lifted the fox higher, but a sharp crack of power drew his attention.
    He looked up to find Kalla and Vander now standing in the corridor. Further behind them, the dark forms of Harriers loped up the corridor. With a negligent wave of his hand, Vander sealed the corridors with a ward. Pearlescent blue-white light shimmered in the openings, sealing the three magi, Kage and the fox inside and keeping all others safely out.
    “Well, that was fast. I was so hoping to have some fun. But perhaps you'd care to share with the Harriers here just why you