Lesson of the Fire by Eric Zawadzki Page B

northern swamps. That was not surprising. But, then Brack would
have had to convince them that the Mar were not Giens, despite what
the Drakes must have seen as mass murder and betrayal.
    “Many Mar and Drakes branded Brack a
traitor, and someone surely would have killed him if the Delegates
had not sheltered him. Many Drake tribes withdrew their support for
the Delegates and went to war with the Mar. They caused a lot of
unnecessary bloodshed that drove a wedge between Mar and Drakes,
and even mapmakers stopped talking to the Drakes.”
    Katla stared at Brack’s
aged, wrinkled face. Everything he has
just told me conforms with the histories as I know them. Out loud, she said, “That was centuries ago. What
have you and your predecessors been doing since then?”
    “Keeping it from happening again. We spread
and reinforce the legend of the Mass to discourage expansion beyond
the Fens of Reur. We seek out magocrats who are sympathetic, or who
can be bought, to tell us when a threat to the Drakes is beginning
to grow. When possible, we eliminate the threat before the
Delegates ever hear of it. Our magocrat allies serve that function,
too.”
    “Dux Feiglin is one of them.”
    A short nod. “Nightfire, too. Many more
magocrats than you’d likely believe.”
    “A conspiracy.” The word was bitter in her
mouth.
    Brack sat in a rocking chair and gave her a
wry smile. “More like a delicate treaty forged in fear to prevent
the Mass from eradicating the Mar.” He waved at a chair on the
other side of the fireplace.
    They could invade. History tells of such
incursions. The Mar had never stood a chance during these battles,
yet the Drakes only rarely take a city. But widespread belief is
that they are too stupid, little more than livestock, to take a
city. If the Mass is real …
    Katla sat. “If the Mass could wipe out the
Mar whenever they wished, why haven’t they?”
    “The tribes are no more united under the
Delegates than the duxies are under the Mardux. The Delegates are a
real political force, but they have limited control over the tribes
who make up the Mass.” Brack gave her a conspiratorial wink. “And
that is my other duty — to keep them that way.”
    Katla lowered her voice. “You serve the
Drakes among the Mar and the Mar among the Drakes.”
    “Both sides hate me for it, yes.” Brack
leaned forward and steepled his fingers. “As long as the Mar are
weak, and the Drakes are not united, the uneasy peace persists. In
the absence of a threat as powerful and aggressive as the Gien
Empire, the Delegates cannot send the full power of the Mass
against the Mar.”
    “And if one were to emerge?”
    “Then we may have to choose between breaking
the Unwritten Laws and the extinction of our entire
civilization.”
    * * *
    “If Tue Yee cannot prepare me for the
Delegates, then take me to the Delegates. How else can I learn
their ways?”
    Brack shook his head. “This is not the time
to introduce new faces to the Delegates. Besides, I could be gone
for some time, and I need you to be my representative among the Mar
in my absence. Dux Feiglin is our most cooperative ally. Convince
him of the wisdom of overthrowing Mardux Takraf before the
Delegates grow … restless.”
    Katla chewed her lower lip thoughtfully for
a moment. “It likely will not be as simple as duels for the
Chair.”
    Brack smiled, but his eyes held deep
sadness. “I am all too aware of that. The fire must find a way to
keep burning.”
    “The fire will find a way,” Katla
promised.
    Brack picked up his cane and took a few
experimental steps, not even aiding himself with magic. “I will
return here when I can.”
    Even though he could teleport with ease, he
walked out of the library like a mundane Mar, leaning heavily on a
cane.
     
     
     

Chapter 7
    “ I maintain a series of journals because
I am driven to express my feelings and tell my stories, but often
am in want of an audience. I read my journals to remember those
lessons I once