All or Nothing in Magic City (Magic City Chronicles Book 8) by TR Cameron & Martha Carr & Michael Anderle

Author:TR Cameron & Martha Carr & Michael Anderle [Cameron, TR]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: LMBPN Publishing
Published: 2021-08-08T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eighteen

Ruby sat in the chair as the door closed behind her and said, “Mintel, could I speak with you?”

The heavyset and mirthful ex-Mirra appeared before her, a smile on his face. A chair materialized beside him, and he lowered himself into it, perfectly at eye level with her. “So, to what do I owe the pleasure of this conversation?”

Ruby asked, “Are you bored?”

He looked surprised by the question. “No, not at all. I do not exist as such in between summonings, so no time has passed for me since we last spoke. I can see, though, that your clothes are changed, and your hair is a little different, so I presume time has passed for you.”

She nodded. “It has, and to answer your first question, I’ve come to seek your advice.”

He laughed. “Excellent. I’ve always loved giving advice. I’m sure that’s recorded somewhere in the mystics’ vast library.”

“You know about the library?”

He shook his head. “Not as such. I assume it exists, knowing the mystics.”

Ruby grinned. “It does, indeed. It’s gorgeous. The archivist is a woman not to mess with.” Her voice turned serious. “Petitioners have come to ask whether they can reengage with Oriceran. On a limited basis, as there’s only a pair of them. I wanted to know for sure what happened during your time to convince you to pull away. After you, we maintained the policy because of Rhazdon, but I don’t think she’s a substantial concern anymore, at least not to these two.”

He frowned and crossed his arms. “It was nothing I can put into specifics. It was a feeling, but no, more than that. A conviction. A certainty. I knew things would go horribly for us if we remained connected to the rest of the civilizations on this planet.”

“Did any evidence come to light during your time that suggested you were correct?”

He chuckled. “No, nothing specific. Believe me; I was constantly looking for something that would bear out my decision.”

She nodded in understanding. “You believe that certainty came to you through the magic inherent in the venamisha?”

He shrugged. “That’s my best explanation. I mean, it’s possible I’m psychic, or it might be that it deluded me. But I was convinced, and remain convinced, that it was the correct thing to do.”

Ruby sighed. “The magic isn’t giving me any particular guidance. At least none that I can detect.”

“Perhaps that is, in itself, your answer.”

She shook her head, more in confusion than denial. “I’m really sort of a science-y person. I like facts. Evidence. Predictability.”

He laughed expansively. “Boy, are you in the wrong job.”

“Right? The petitioners in question both have different stories, directly opposite ones, of course, with absolutely nothing to support either of them.”

“This is why leading people is hard. Things behave in a certain way and generally continue to behave in that way, barring major issues. People, though, can’t be counted on to act consistently from minute to minute, much less over a longer timeframe. They ebb and flow like the tides.”

“That’s very poetic.”

He smiled.

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