"You better have a good reason --"
"Pyrida," Rory said with a wave of his hand toward the ship behind.
"No, no," Zorian replied and shook Rory several times before he got control. "Pyrida is the most powerful mage in Sundry!"
"That's what he's always said," Rory replied.
Zorian stopped and stared into his face. "You don't think it's true."
"I've had some doubts for a while, but it wasn't something to pursue. Maybe I'm only hoping now. It is Pyrida. I know the feel of his magic too well. Keep us on as erratic a path as you dare. I need to marshal more magic before I try to take him on. Even if he's not as strong as he pretends, that doesn't mean he's weak."
Zorian stared, nodded, and pushed Rory into Unanik's hold. The General nodded at some unspoken agreement that probably had to do with Rory's sanity and how to keep him safe from his actions.
He didn't argue. Not right now.
Rory also trusted Zorian to keep things going. Unanik finally gave him over to Jamison and Keltrina, both of whom looked as worn as Rory. They found a place to sit, the three on the deck amid all the soldiers.
Everyone did their best to stay out of the way of the sailors who were doing their best to obey the orders given by Zorian. The ship turned, heeled, and almost spun more than once. It did not help Rory's stomach or state of mind.
He sat quietly, though, and the others left him alone -- probably too tired to care much by now. Rory felt the same way, but he thought that feeling away and tried to sort out everything in his mind.
Everything started with the King's death, but none of it made any more sense than it had from the start. Pyrida being in the middle of this and on the wrong side. It confused him.
Confusion?
Rory closed his eyes and sat very still while he let his mind drift away from all the things that had bothered him and kept him from focusing on anything else.
Pyrida may not have been as powerful as he pretended, but that didn't make him weak. The feeling that he barely touched the area around Rory wasn't a weakness. Pyrida didn't want to draw attention.
Pyrida was far too close.
Rory scrambled to his feet, startling everyone around him, especially when he lifted his hands and sent out a spray of colorful lights. They were not dangerous. They did, however, seek out magic. Rory was not surprised when a few danced out toward Zorian, but he directed them back to the others.
They collided with an unseen figure standing midship on the starboard side. Although he couldn't see the features, there was no doubt who the figure was -- and that he'd been looking for Rory. Only Rory had stopped using magic and had blended into the already crowded ship.
They had found each other now.
"Jami -- clear everyone away," he ordered. People were already rushing away from the odd, brightly lit shape. A few soldiers were drawing weapons, but that was not something he wanted. "Weapons can be easily turned. Be careful."
Jamison had started to pull his knife -- he shoved it back away with a start and then rushed off to stop a dozen swordsmen. Rory gave him what little protection he could spare.
Then Rory forced strength into his legs and headed for Pyrida. There was no use hiding anymore for either of them. Pyrida brushed away Rory's little magic lights and dropped his shield.
Not Pyrida. Queen Calladona.
No.
No. Rory sent a wave of magic to strip away the disguise, surprising Pyrida, who had thought seeing the Queen would startle him. Whatever the Temple Master had intended to do, it died in his hands in a flash of power. He was Pyrida this time, both surprised and not pleased to be brought to light.
"You can't win against me," Pyrida snarled and added a touch of reverberation to his voice. Pretentious. "You never could."
"I was raised at court," Rory replied, which won a frown of confusion. "I knew that, diplomatically, it was not wise to better you."
Pyrida had a temper. He usually kept it mostly in check, but he saw no reason even to try this time. Rory had insulted and challenged him. He roared as he called up the power --
And a lance of bright blue fiery power burnt through Pyrida's right arm and side.
Rory should have been paying attention to Zorian, who had now drawn Pyrida's wrath. He started to curse but saw how much the attack had unhinged Pyrida. Good.
Rory attacked, though he didn't try to get past the Temple Master's defenses. Instead, he used that power as a fulcrum to shove the confused mage backward -- and then up and off the ship.
Pyrida had not been prepared to fly.
Rory rushed to the spot and leaned over the railing, Zorian only a moment behind him.
"Did he go under?" Zorian asked as he tried to scan the water.
"Maybe, but I'm still alive, so he's not dead. It was foolish to attack him, my friend. Thank you."
"We are in this together," Zorian replied. "And it was a damned good thing you knew that wasn't the Queen. It stunned me."
"I could tell by his face that it was not the Queen. I think he forgets my link to her sometimes. I -- I need to rest."
Rory felt himself slipping away again as Zorian caught him by the arm.
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