Seamus took a moment to answer Aliah's question.
"No specifics, just gut feelings. When these attacks first started a few years ago, the guard felt we were being tested to find out how easily we would roll over. When we retaliated, their efforts died down, but not long after, we found Talagarian settlements around the base of the Ariel mountains."
"Is there an actual purpose to this history lesson?" Aliah asked, her tiredness allowing her natural impatience to surface.
'Let him finish,' Dominic said. 'You've been friends with Seamus long enough to trust he has a reason for rehashing this.'
"I take it from the look on your face that Dominic told you to be patient with me." Seamus grinned, before saying to Dominic's ghost-like figure, "Thanks, old friend."
"I'm sorry for being rude, but this is taking a lot out of me, Seamus. Things are busy at court, and I have very little energy left over for midnight catch-ups."
"I am sure the delegation from Carsten is eating out of your hand."
"If only my daughter was as biddable." Aliah sighed and ran a hand through her hair. "But we can talk more about her another time."
"I did offer to train her magical abilities here," Seamus said.
"And I appreciate that, truly I do, but I would like her to be able to use her magic legally in Aria - the Wizard Council will not yet recognise male Sanctuary-trained wizards until they have undergone considerable testing. So I doubt they will consider licensing witches trained in your school any time soon."
"The offer still stands. Anyway, back to our Talagrian problem. You're aware we strengthened the settlements on our borders to deal with raids from the new Talagrian camps, setting up local garrisons to protect our outlying farms."
"Yes. I'm also aware that after, although there were occasional raids, the Talagrian's retreated with very little to show for their efforts. If I remember correctly, those encounters caused very few casualties on your part," Aliah said in the hopes of speeding things up.
"Mm... well... over the last moon turn, casualties have increased. In fact, in the past two six-days, the guards have repeatedly requested additional healers from the school be sent out to our settlements."
"That doesn't sound good. I thought you said the number of attacks hadn't increased," Aliah said, her tired mind finding it difficult to see where all this was leading.
"They aren't. But as I said before, the Talagrians have been attacking with increasing ferocity. Not merely raiding, but it's almost as though they want to break through our lines of defence - almost as though someone or something is chasing them out of their homes."
Aliah considered Seamus's words, then asked Dominic, 'What do you think?'
'I think this sounds very like what Hubert is experiencing. He said the refugees in the mountains no longer feel safe and want to leave - urgently.'
"Seamus, Hubert is sending someone to talk with his Talagrians. Have you had any success with diplomatic missions to the ones living on your borders?"
"We tried early on, but with these new attacks, I am afraid the council is no longer interested in talking. Because of our history with Talagria, they will never consider opening our doors to refugees from there, so I guess they don't see much point in opening lines of communication."
"Is that because they believe the Talagrians are still using battle magic? And because they have taken part in magical attacks, they have transgressed the basic laws of magic, and they've likely brought this on themselves?" Aliah asked.
"Yes, but also because they don't want any practitioners of battle magic within our territories, Seamus said. Sanctuary's ancestors gave up a lot a long time ago to make sure our people were clear of any magical taint."
"Do you think the council would be interested in our dealing with this problem together?"
Seamus considered her question, then shook his head. "I am pretty sure their views are entrenched. I can ask Liam to raise it at the next meeting though, if you want."
"If you wouldn't mind. I can send the formal dispatch in the morning, giving him authority."
The room fell silent, and Aliah closed her eyes, enjoying the brief moment of peace. Unfortunately, she had much to do in the morning, and she made a move to stand.
Seamus leaned forward and placed a hand on her arm. "Aliah, before you go, there's something I believe Amelia would want me to tell you."
"Something she couldn't tell me herself?" Aliah asked. "We talk at least once a moon turn. Can't it wait until we next catch up?"
"This is something from a vision she had yesterday, and she is still struggling with sorting out the true meaning. She and Walter have immersed themselves in old scrolls trying to find answers. When I tell her tomorrow that we spoke, I am sure she will ask if I've warned you."
"Warned me?" Aliah's stomach tightened with dread. Of what? A warning from the Great Seer was not something she relished. The last time a Great Seer was interested in her, she had become involved with a prophecy, and her life had been placed in danger.
"Her recent visions appear to show our prophecy is somehow linked with another. She believes destiny has not finished with The Wizard and The Warrior."
Aliah stared at her friend's face, checking he wasn't pulling one of his pranks. The concern and worry in his eyes told her this was all very real. Her hands grew clammy, and her heart began to race. "But, Seamus, we're old," she protested.
"Speak for yourself," he shot back.
"Too old for this malarky, at least. I'm not sure I have the strength or resilience to go through what we went through again."
Tears welled in Aliah's eyes as she remembered her childhood friend Daniel. Her wounds from losing him in their battle with an errant god had never completely healed. "Surely we gave enough last time." She allowed the thought to escape into Seamus's mind.
'I don't relish this any more than you do. My children lost one parent to the will of the gods. I'm not going to let them loose another. But I think it is better to be prepared when Amelia consults us once she has figured everything out."
"Thank you, Seamus. I will pray to the goddess that she misread the messages and we are able to spend the rest of our days dealing with nothing worse than rebellious children."
"Goodnight, Aliah, sleep well. And you too, Dominic."
Aliah found herself outside Seamus's mind. Following the white thread back to her body, she resisted the urge to take a detour and talk to Amelia about her new seeing. Besides, she needed all her remaining energy to face her daughter in the morning.
Back in their bedroom, Aliah slumped in the chair. 'So we wait. We wait for Hubert to report back and for Liam to send official word about whether or not Sanctuary will help us,' she said, and Dominic nodded confirmation.
'Do you want to talk about what Amelia's seen?' he asked.
'No,' she said tentatively. 'No.' This time more firmly. 'I have enough to deal with here at the moment, and Amelia's vision is one particular fire I don't want to rush into.'
'Mm, but you do realise it is something we will need to face sooner or later?' Dominic's eyes searched her face as if trying to read her true feelings on the matter.
'I know, but not yet. All right?' She held his hand, beseeching him to allow her to dodge this for the moment. It was not like her to hide from a challenge, but Aliah was not ready to resurrect The Warrior from the annals of history. 'Come on, let's get some sleep. There are enough real problems for us to face tomorrow without inventing more.'
She tugged his hand, but Dominic didn't move. He stared intently at her, and she could almost hear the words he wanted to say, but in the end, he gave in to her entreaty to leave the subject alone. 'You're right, my love. Time to take these weary bodies to bed.'
Aliah sighed with relief as he rose and walked towards their dressing room. Pulling back the covers, she slipped between the sheets and was asleep before her husband joined her. It was not a restful night, and she awoke the next morning tangled in bedclothes and wishing she could roll over and ignore the knock on the door signalling it was time for the king and queen to rise and begin the day.
END OF PART ONE: DESTINY