Magdala strolled through the Southern Line garrison’s front gate, knowing that, between Elder Giordano’s assurances and Dwayne’s becalming speech, they’d prevented the worst case scenario where Liraya’s fiend horde overran Walton, the garrison, and Walcrest. All Magdala had to do now was convince Colonel Harvey to postpone the Vanurians’ deportation and gave her time to corner and catch the enemy mage.
Pausing, Magdala glanced up at the back gate and the stairs beyond it, which led to Walcrest and her neglected study list. She should be reviewing, not creating concussives, escaping burning buildings, or fighting reanimated giants, but she had no regrets. From the moment she and Dwayne had saved her lord uncle’s life, this had all felt right. Last night, she’d spent hours in bed trying to anticipate Liraya and figure out how to best leverage her friends’ skills when they finally caught up to her. The biggest surprise was that Magdala wasn’t frustrated like she’d been in Yumma. That was probably because, while Liraya was using magic Magdala hadn’t seen before, the witch was still human and not a bundle of arcane and ancient magic. Besides, she could always study later. Her lord uncle was even conscious now, so she could get his opinion on her study list. Though that actually meant she’d get Dwayne’s opinion as her lord uncle never bothered with mundane tasks. She smiled. She’d like that.
She continued onwards, reached Colonel Harvey’s office, and entered, saying, “Colonel, I spoke to Giordano, and I have assurances that…”
Two people sat in front of the colonel’s desk.
The one on her left, Mayor Dietrich, gave a relieved smile. “You spoke to Elder Giordano. Did she say she’d help?”
On her right, Bishop Hansson scoffed. “You’ve been busy. First, you have your companion coopt my speech in front of my own church, and now you’re negotiating with merchants. You do get around.”
The mayor looked between them. “Her companion? Who are you talking about?”
“That Wesen boy that follows her around. He gave a speech to-“
“He did what?” The mayor jumped to his feet. “That is not his place. I don’t care what Lord Kalan says. That boy’s place is not at Walcrest.”
Magdala advanced on him. “Dwayne protected this town.”
Hansson snorted. “Convenient justification for knocking me out. After all, it was for my own protection.”
Magdala glared at her. “Thousands would have died if you’d had your way. Vanurians and Sourans!”
The bishop placed her hands together. “Where those who drink from the true Cup stand, so does justice.”
Colonel Harvey’s words cut off Magdala’s reply. “Enough. Dietrich, sit down. Lady Gallus, why are you here?”
“I… I’ve spoken with Elder Giordano.” Magdala summarized her conversation with the merchant elder.
When she finished, Hansson crossed her arms. “Of course she would say that.”
Dietrich released a slow breath. “It’s good that she now sees sense, but the bishop has convinced me. We cannot allow Vanurians to stay in Walton. It is too dangerous.”
Magdala’s eyes narrowed. “You were against deporting them this morning.”
The mayor sniffed. “Lord Kalan’s… apprentice just tried to coopt a peaceful gathering of Sourans, and your hunter friend has reported that she not only failed to find the enemy but that dozens of those things have been stashed around my town. By the cup, I am not a military man, but we are in an untenable position.”
Hansson’s eyes glittered. “This is justice. After all, without the presence and support of her heretic brethren, there would have been no way for that witch to find such deep purchase here. I recall a proverb: remove the rot to save the orchard.”
Despite the heat coursing through her, Magdala schooled her features still and faced her last hope. “Colonel, you can’t do this. We know that the enemy has been stealing corpses from the fire pits for months, and since Vanurians aren’t allowed anywhere near those pits, there’s no way that they could have helped her.”
Colonel Harvey clasped her hands together and placed them on her desk. “We need to take control of this situation, and while I thank you and Miss Mei for finding significant weaknesses in our defense, this is a job for adults and professionals, not children and students.”
Her heart shrinking, Magdala looked between stern Harvey, embarrassed Dietrich, and snide Hansson. Because of them, Walton would burn, and her lord uncle would fall into the hands of the enemy. “When do you plan to deport the Vanurians?”
The colonel’s hands unknotted themselves. “Tomorrow. The mayor has been cooperating with my aides to get things set up.”
“Do you want me to do anything?”
“Stay in Walcrest.”
“Sorry?”
Colonel Harvey stood up, her hands shushing the bishop and the mayor. “You are daughter of the Water Sage and the Lord Commander and the niece of the Guardian of the Wall’s. You are a valuable target and a weakness that the enemy can exploit. What would I say to Lord Kalan, to your parents, if you got captured?”
Magdala crossed the room and slammed her hands onto the colonel’s desk. “I have more experience fighting these things than your soldiers!”
Colonel Harvey’s eyes narrowed. “Not all of them.”
The mayor stood up and tried to pull Magdala back from Harvey’s desk. “Please, see reason. I hear that your studies have been aborted, and someone with your lineage should be focused on her future, not this.”
Magdala shrugged him off. “I’ll talk to my lord uncle.”
“He agrees with us.” Colonel Harvey jutted her chin out. “Now, go back to Walcrest and leave it to the adults.”
Admaeus Speaks 
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