Page 64 of The Rebel's Prize

"I see," Lucien said. "Well, thank you for the assistance."

"I will be with the navire's mages," Imogene said. "We'll be ready to leave when needed, but send for me if you think I can help in the interrogations in any way." She yawned again as she stood, then mouthed an apology and departed.

Silya followed her shortly afterward, leaving Chloe alone with Lucien.

"Who are you going to talk to first?" she asked.

"Istvan. We know more about Deandra. She's likely to be a tough nut to crack, particularly if she's used that damned memory magic. But the illusioner, well, perhaps he may see reason and want to talk rather than having his whole world brought down around his ears. He might be easier. At worst, I'll figure out if he's a lever to use against her."

"You think he didn't know what she was doing?"

He shrugged. "It's unlikely he's innocent. Someone had to have helped her. Deandra's no illusioner, so she was using scriptii if she was disguising her face. There aren't that many legitimate uses for such illusions outside the theater, so he had to know she was up to something, at least, if he taught her."

"What about the memory magic?"

"Well, we don't know what that involves yet. But if he was helping her with illusions, he may know that magic, too. Or who invented it. The question is whether he'll try to save his own skin and cooperate. It's always hard to judge. Some men are willing to die for their cause. Some, when you get right down to it, merely think they are until faced with the true consequences. Let's hope he's one of those."

"And you think he'll just tell you?"

"It might shake him a little if I show him that I can do one of those, but that's not the part we're interested in. The part we need to understand is the memory magic and whether that was his idea or Deandra’s. Or someone else entirely."

"Deandra certainly seems to be able to cast it," Chloe agreed. "But I don't know if she could have worked out how to do it on her own. She never had that level of brilliance at school. She was good enough but not unusually powerful. And her strongest talent was water. The memory magic may involve that. Water mages work with sanctii, who can, at least, add things to our memories. That's what the reveilé is, after all. Or maybe earth. Valentin said the healers can ease memories. It could be a combination of both. There’s no way to know."

Lucien nodded. "No. But if you have an illusioner clever enough to come up with ideas like the facial illusions, he may have the inclination to experiment."

True. It wasn't uncommon. After all, she'd grown up surrounded by the Academe's venables, who were always developing new magics even if they didn't let their students experiment unsupervised.

"And if he does have a bent for experimentation," Lucien continued, "he might come up with things for mages of all kinds to try. Or he may be a strong illusioner and be skilled enough in the other Arts that he can figure things out himself. Not everyone's like me."

Another truth. Most mages had one or two talents that they had the most affinity for. But some were more...balanced. Not in the Andalyssian sense of the word but able to use all of the Four Arts to some degree. And it wouldn't be unusual for a Parthan to know something of Andalyssian beliefs about balance. Perhaps that might encourage a person to see if they could use all the Arts if they tried.

"Maybe Silya can tell us more about Parthan beliefs," she suggested.

"Time enough for that while we travel back to Lumia."

"I guess," she said. Then another thought struck her. "Has anyone thought to check them for a bond? That would explain them being able to do more than they should be able to. Like us."

"They're nothing like us," he said firmly. "But we can check. And today, don't forget to use my magic if you need to. We don't need to tell them. They'll know they're talking to one Truth Seeker. Two will make no difference. Maybe you'll notice something I don't."

"Do you think that's likely?"

"Who knows? You're a clever woman. Your father's daughter. Perhaps you should have become a venable, not a diplomat."

"Perhaps I will once I tire of traveling."

One brow lifted. "You'd consider it?"

"I have no idea," she said. "I always loved the Academe, but it was Papa's territory, not mine. Besides, I'm sure being your marquesse will give me plenty to do even if I retire from the corps one day."

He looked pleased at that. "No doubt it will. But if you wanted to pursue other things, we would make that work. No cages, remember?"

"I do," she said. "But today, let's focus on the actual cages and the people in them rather than my old age."

He laughed, which made her grin back. "Very well. To business. I'm not expecting much, but today we'll see if we can at least rattle them a little, even if they won't talk. Make them doubt each other. Deandra doesn't strike me as the type to take a perceived betrayal well. Maybe we can lure her into a mistake."

"Perhaps. But don't let your guard down. Don't forget she was expelled for cheating. She was always ruthless when she wanted to be. She'll try to get the upper hand."

His mouth twisted as he considered this. "How well did you know her?"

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