Gatecrash: The Secretist, Part Two Read Online Free Page B

“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 hasbeen 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.”
    Jace couldn’t help it. As Calomir shook his hand, Jace conjured a quick spell to skim the elf’s mind. He wanted to find something wrong with the man, something to validate Jace’s suspicious gut feelings.
    To his surprise, Jace’s spell failed. It was like an arrow bouncing off the walls of an impregnable fortress. His mind magic didn’t even penetrate into the elf’s surface thoughts.
    Jace squeezed the man’s hand and pulled him close, chest to chest, looking straight into his eyes. He tried the mind magic again. But there was nothing. The elf’s mind was unreadable, invisible to Jace’s inner senses, a dark space. Jace could not even perceive a