“You are asking the Council to accept multiple, repeated, and flagrant breaches of the Concord,” Talisid said. “Your actions have—by your own admission—earned you a capital sentence many times over. If we are to set this aside, we require something in exchange.”
Again I didn’t answer.
“Mage Verus?”
“Hold, please.”
I closed my eyes and path-walked, looking through short-term conversations and long-term ones, searching for common elements. Shadowy proposals and counter-proposals flickered in and out of existence, but I didn’t catch a single glimpse of any future in which Talisid gave way. This was the only deal they were offering. It was take it or leave it.
There was one thing more I needed to know. “How are we going to make the trade?” I asked.
“At a neutral location,” Talisid said. “I suggest Concordia.”
The old, famous bubble realm where the Concord had been negotiated. “No,” I said. “We’re doing this face-to-face, I’m picking the location.”
“As long as it is a neutral location, we will consider it,” Talisid said. “I would also suggest that both sides bring no more than five delegates.”
“Three,” I said. “And you have to be one of them.”
“Providing that you likewise attend, that is acceptable.”
He’d agreed to that quickly. Time for the big question. “All right,” I said. “One last condition. I want that amnesty you offered to restore the status quo. That means I keep my seat on the Junior Council.”
Talisid paused. “That does not seem in keeping with your previous demands.”
“If you’re changing the deal, so am I. Well?”
“I will have to consult with the Council.”
Silence. I studied the futures. They were still swirling, but there was a pattern to them. The decision had already been made.
It took less time than I’d expected for Talisid to speak again. “Mage Verus? The Council is provisionally willing to restore your seat. However, you will not be guaranteed it in perpetuity. Normal procedures of elevation and removal will apply.”
“I see.”
“Do we have an agreement?”
I stood silent for a moment. “Yes,” I said at last, my voice steady. “We have an agreement. Oh, and just so you know, those two people I’ll be bringing to the meeting? One of them will be Mage Anne Walker.”
Talisid paused before answering. “I hope that isn’t intended as a threat.”
“Just something for you to keep in mind,” I said. “I’ll contact you tomorrow with a time and place.”
“Understood,” Talisid said. “Thank you for your time.”
“You as well.”
The light on the communicator focus went dark and the connection broke. The sun had set and the light was fading from the sky, leaving the woods dark and cold. “Shit,” I said to the empty clearing. I stood there for a long time, my figure one more shadow in the gloom.
* * *
—
I returned to the Hollow, fell asleep, and travelled to Elsewhere. I had people to meet.
“So that’s the plan,” I told Dark Anne. “You in?”
“Hmm,” Anne said. She put her chin in one hand and studied me.
We were on the border between my Elsewhere and Anne’s. Behind me was an ancient city of yellow-brown stone; behind Anne, a wild forest of ancient trees. Anne’s dream-self was wearing a wine-coloured dress that left her arms bare but fell all the way to the ground: it trailed behind her as she walked. She had one arm folded under her breasts, her reddish eyes staring at me. The sky behind her was grey-black and stormy, and the leaves on the trees whipped in a distant wind.
“So?” I said when she didn’t speak.
“You’ve changed,” Dark Anne said.
“I told you that a while ago.”
“I thought you’d have gone back to normal by now.”
“This is the new normal.”
Dark Anne watched me unblinkingly. “You never would have done this before.”
“Back when your other self was running things, you’d always push me to be less cautious,” I said. “Now all of a sudden you’ve changed your mind?”
“Maybe there’s something you want,” Dark Anne said. “Is that it?”
I sighed. “I was always like this, Anne. It’s just that back then I was trying to be someone different.”
“Mm.”
“What, you’re worried your half’s too dangerous?” I said. “I suppose I could find someone else if I have to, but I honestly thought you could handle it.”
“What?” Dark Anne said. “No, that’s easy. Though you’ve got some cheek calling it a half. I’m going to be doing all the hard work.”
“And I’m the one who’s going to be on his own in the shadow realm. You really want to trade jobs?”
Dark Anne tapped her fingers against her arm, then shrugged. “All right, I’ll trust you. You’d better not make me regret it.”
“What’s with the attitude?” I said. “A few weeks ago, you seemed all in on this.”
“I still am. What’s your endgame, Alex?”
“What do you mean?”
“Don’t play dumb. Right now we’re aiming at the same targets. What are you planning once they’re gone?”
“You’re worried I’m going to stab you in the back?”
“Pretty much.”
“I don’t want to stab you in the back,” I said. “And I don’t want to get rid of you any other way, either.”
“No, you just want me locked up again.”
I shook my head. “I think we’ve both learned that doesn’t work.”
“So what are you going to do?”
“Anne locking you up didn’t work,” I said. “You locking Anne up won’t work any better. The two of you can’t stay like this. You’re split when you should be whole, and it’s killing you.”
“Bull,” Dark Anne said. She spread her arms invitingly. “I am doing just fine. You want to sit around until this kills me, you’re going to have a long wait.”
I studied Dark Anne. “Has the jinn started taking over yet?”