Gatecrash

“My magic doesn’t work like that,” Jace mumbled. But that was probably how others thought of him: as an invader of minds, someone who probed into the secrets of everyone he met. It was a wonder Emmara even considered him a friend, if she believed that of him. She had wanted him to join the Selesnya guild—she likely saw him more as a weapon than a friend, a dangerous asset to secure within her own organization rather than letting it fall into the hands of the enemy.

Jace was trying not to descend into petulance, but he was failing, and he didn’t much care. He felt detached, as if he had unbuckled himself from this conversation and was now floating free.

“Are you hurt?” Calomir asked.

“I’m fine,” said Emmara brightly. “I wish everyone would stop asking me that.”

“The Rakdos didn’t count on her, did they, my friend?” Calomir elbowed Jace’s arm. The gesture felt unusually familiar for an elvish captain.

“It wasn’t the Rakdos,” Jace said. “They were set up by the Dimir. Isn’t that right, Emmara?”

Emmara nodded carefully. “We were intercepted by a Dimir agent. A vampire, sent to abduct us. He seemed particularly interested in Jace.”

“What possible value could he serve to the Dimir?” asked Calomir. “No offense meant, of course.”

“Jace was researching something of deep importance, something connected to the history of the guilds,” said Emmara.

“Oh? What is so important?”

“I don’t remember,” Jace said miserably.

Calomir didn’t even have the decency to laugh and get the humiliation over with.

“Jace has purged the research from his mind,” said Emmara.

“Ah, an empty vault,” Calomir said, and clucked with polite disappointment.

Jace felt another twinge of mistrust. He had heard “empty vault” somewhere before.

“A pity you don’t recall,” Calomir went on. “Is that common, for a mind mage to forget something so easily? No matter. In a world without a Guildpact, speculation is worth nothing. This is a time of war, and we must focus on defending ourselves from the other guilds.”

Emmara’s eyebrows rose. “It’s a time to prevent war. Our cause is to avert a guild conflict.”

“You underestimate the esteem this guild has for you, Emmara,” said Calomir. “Your abduction has been felt deeply in the Conclave. Many feel that this incident cannot go unpunished. And if the Dimir may be involved as well, on top of the actions of the Izzet, we would be fools not to be vigilant. But we can talk about that with Trostani. The guildmaster will be anxious to see you.”

***

The dryads of Trostani towered over Jace. They were unity incarnate, a being melded from three individuals. Their graceful woven shape reminded him of the delicate wooden leaf the Selesnya woman had given to him at the gates, organic patterns interlaced into a single whole. He wondered whether the woodshaping magic that had fashioned the leaf artifact was also responsible for Trostani’s composite form.

“Emmara,” said Trostani. “We are relieved you are safe.”

“Trostani,” said Emmara, “may I present Jace Beleren.”

Jace gave an awkward bow.

The three dryads smiled down at him. “We are glad you’ve delivered our friend Emmara back to us, Jace.” They alternated speaking one after another, rotating between them to complete their sentences. “We believe in the good of the whole over the needs of the individual—no single person is more special than any other. But as you know, Emmara is unique, and very important to us.”

“I do know that,” Jace said.

“Thank you, Trostani,” said Emmara.

“Which is why we trusted her unreservedly when she left on her mission to seek you out,” said Trostani. “I trust endangering her was ultimately worth it?”

“He’d tell you all about it, but he forgot it all,” chuckled Calomir.

“Jace has lost some memories that might have been useful to us,” said Emmara.

“What was it all for, then?” Trostani asked.

“Indeed,” said Calomir. “Is that common, for a mind mage to forget so easily?”

Jace’s embarrassment was a paper-thin distance from physical pain. He didn’t look Calomir in the eyes, for fear that he would be moved to put his knuckles in them.

“Jace’s talents can still be of value,” said Emmara quietly.

“I’m sure they can,” said Calomir. “I’m sure his talents can tell us that the Izzet are undertaking a secret project, and that the Rakdos are openly hostile, and that the Azorius fear unrest as tempers flare among the guilds. But then, we already knew all of that, didn’t we, my friends?”

“There was more,” said Emmara. “But he had his research destroyed.”

“Well, it couldn’t have been that important, then.” Calomir smirked. He squeezed Emmara’s hand. “But if you’ll excuse me, some of us are men of action, not thoughts. The Rakdos are on the move, and my talents are needed. Guildmaster Trostani.” He bowed.

The Trostani triad bowed their heads slightly. “Make our enemies pay,” they said.

Calomir turned to Jace and shook his hand again. “Sir. It was a pleasure to meet you. I hope you recover your memory. I truly do.”