Wiz just nodded mutely.
“Shiara has told me what happened yesterday,” he went on. “I hope you learned from it.” He paused. “I am sorry the lesson had to be taught at such great cost,” he said more gently.
Wiz said nothing. There was nothing to say. Bal-Simba waited, as if expecting some reply.
“What about Moira?” Wiz asked at last.
“Most likely she was stolen away for questioning in the City of Night. The raid here was masked by a whole series of attacks all along our southern perimeter. It seems the League has a powerful interest in your kind of magic so I would expect she will be taken to their citadel for interrogation.”
“Shiara said it was me they were after,” Wiz said miserably.
“Most likely. The League has been tearing the North apart seeking knowledge of you ever since you were Summoned. When your actions drew their attention here they came looking for a magician and Moira was the only one they could find.”
“What will they do with Moira?”
Bal-Simba hesitated. “For now, nothing. The Shadow Warriors are fierce and cruel, but they are disciplined. Doubtless their orders are to bring her alive and unhurt to their master.”
“And then?”
Bal-Simba looked grave and sad. “Then they will find out what they wish to know. You do not want the details.”
“We’ve got to get her back!”
“We are searching,” Bal-Simba said. “The Watchers have been scouring the plenum for trace of her. Our dragon riders patrol as far south as they dare. We have sent word to all the villages of the North and searchers have gone out.”
“Can they find her?”
Bal-Simba hesitated. “I will not lie to you, Sparrow. It will be difficult. The Shadow Warriors use little magic and they are masters of stealth. We are doing everything we can.”
“But you don’t think they’ll find her.” It was a statement not a question.
“I said it would be difficult,” Bal-Simba sighed. “The Shadow Warriors may already be upon the Freshened Sea, or even back in the City of Night itself. If that is so, she is lost. We only know they did not transport her magically.”
“We’ll have to go get her! We can’t let them have her.”
Bal-Simba sighed again and for the first time since Wiz had known him he appeared mortal—tired and defeated.
“I’m sorry Sparrow. Even if she is already upon the sea there is nothing we can do.”
Rage rose up in Wiz, burning away the guilt and grief. “Maybe there’s nothing you can do, but there’s something I can do.”
“What is that?”
Wiz interlaced his fingers and cracked his knuckles. “I’m gonna hack the system,” he said smiling in a manner that was not at all pleasant.
“Eh?”
“Those sons-of-bitches want magic? All right. I’ll give them magic. I’ll give them magic like they’ve never seen before!”
“It is a little late to start your apprenticeship, Sparrow,” Bal-Simba said gravely.
“Apprenticeship be damned!” Said Wiz, taking slight satisfaction at the way the wizard started at the blasphemy. “I’ve spent the last five months building tools. I’ve got an interpreter, an editor, a cross-reference generator and even a syntax checker. They’re kludgier than shit, but I can make them do what I need. The didn’t call me Wiz for nothing!”
“Remember what happened the last time you tried.”
Wiz’s face twisted. “You think I’m likely to forget?” He shook his head. “No, I know now what I did wrong. I knew it then, really. The next time I call up a hurricane it will be on purpose.”
“Will you then compound your folly?” Bal-Simba asked sternly. “Will you add fresh scars to the land just to satisfy your anger?”
“Will you get Moira back any other way?” Wiz countered.
The Wizard was silent and Wiz turned back to the wooden tablets scattered over the rude table.
“Hurting us further would be an ill way to repay our hospitality to you,” Bal-Simba said.
Wiz whirled to face him. “Look,” he snapped. “So far your ‘hospitality’ has consisted of kidnapping me, making me fall in love with someone who hates me, getting me chased by more damn monsters than I ever imagined and nearly getting me killed I don’t know how many times. When you get right down to it I don’t see that I owe you much of anything.”