Singing

Jaya opened her mouth to speak, but Jodah held up a hand, index finger raised, to silence her. He walked over to the doors and pressed three separate cartouches, muttering softly as he did so.

“There,” he said. “We can speak freely now.”

“You suspect listeners?” said Jaya, curious.

“One listener in particular,” said Jodah. “A white-haired wizardess who, despite her station, would not shrink from pressing her ear to a bronze door.”

“So now she hears nothing?” asked Jaya.

“On the contrary,” said Jodah, smiling, “the spell I activated creates the sound of me— singing.”

“Cruel and unusual punishment,” said Jaya, clearly amused.

“Singing,” repeated Jodah, “a song from my childhood. A particularly catchy little tune that loops itself right back to the beginning for each verse. She’ll have it caught in her head for days.”

“That is cruel,” said Jaya, a sly smile on her face.

“And unusual,” said Jodah.

***

The Shattered Alliance, Chapter 1