As the guild conference continued, a tense Teyo scanned twelve even tenser faces. By this time, he could identify every one of these leaders, down to each’s guilds and titles. It was funny. He had recently spent four days in Oasis, and he couldn’t remember the names of anyone he’d met there. But after less than a day on Ravnica, he’d learned an entire political geometry and could tick off most of the names of those it comprised.
The dozen world leaders—for, in fact, did they not collectively rule this world?—had clearly waited for the Gatewatch to move out of earshot (perhaps not having counted on Kaya actually swearing an oath to the Gatewatch just before the meeting commenced) in order to discuss a policy of assassination.
Teyo didn’t like it. He hadn’t encountered Baan or Tezzeret and had no reason to doubt they had cooperated with the dragon and deserved punishment. But he had seen no evidence of it, either. Even Abbot Barrez, who ran the monastery where Teyo was raised with a burlap fist, would not punish an acolyte without proof or a confession. Maybe the guilds had both, but then why such a need for secrecy? And what about Liliana Vess? Yes, she had controlled the Eternals for Bolas, and many had died as a result. But many more would have died if she hadn’t turned on Bolas, hadn’t destroyed him. At the very least, she should have the opportunity to explain, shouldn’t she?
But the leaders of Ravnica would prefer to send Kaya to kill her in secret?
It didn’t sit right. It didn’t. But he’d been put in his place by Vorel when he had attempted to raise the issue. So clearly, now wasn’t the time or place to cite his objections. It made a difference that he had Kaya’s ear. He could—he must—talk to her about this later.
Kaya, meanwhile, was pointing out a less philosophical problem: “It’s been hours since Vess left Ravnica, longer still for Baan, and longer than that for Tezzeret. Don’t you see the problem?”
Vraska said, “They’re not Planeswalkers. They don’t understand…the rules.”
“Enlighten us,” said Aurelia.
Ral said, “A Planeswalker can follow another Planeswalker in his or her immediate wake.”
“But the key word,” Vraska emphasized, “is ‘immediate.’ ”
Kaya nodded. “After this much time, there’s simply no way for the three of us to track our ‘targets’ down, assuming we even agree to the hunt.”
The Firemind eyed Ral. “What about Project Lightning Bug?”
Teyo had no idea what “Project Lightning Bug” was, and from the looks of nearly everyone else, he wasn’t alone in that. He exchanged glances with Rat, his usual source of information about this world, but she just shrugged.
Ral shook his head. “The project was keyed into the Beacon, which I effectively destroyed earlier today. Baan and Vess left after that. And even if we could still recover the data on Tezzeret, it would only tell us he went to Amonkhet. We know from Samut and Karn that he planeswalked away from there hours ago. He could be anywhere in the Multiverse by now.”
Niv-Mizzet scowled and said, “This is simply a problem requiring an innovative solution.”
That caused Boruvo to scowl. “Spoken like a true Izzet guildmage, not the Living Guildpact tasked with representing all our interests.”
The Firemind huffed out a cloud of smoke from his nostrils. “I never promised to acquire a new vocabulary to smooth ruffled plumage. When you feel Selesnya is not fairly and faithfully represented by my office, then you can complain.”
Without a doubt, this last statement did not “smooth ruffled plumage.” In fact, it launched a volley of objections from nearly all sides.
Teyo found he couldn’t follow it all. He suddenly felt exhausted. He’d been awake for two straight days—one on Gobakhan and one on Ravnica—days filled with more excitement, exertion and stress than any two years of his life. He yawned involuntarily and barely managed to raise a hand to cover his mouth.
Gan Shokta, already cross from yelling at the Firemind, barked out, “Are we boring you, boy?”
“No, sir, I—”
Rat stepped forward, “Where are your manners, Father? Teyo deserves better than that. You know he saved your life today. Twice.”
But Gan Shokta took no notice of his daughter, leaving it to Kaya to intercede. “We’re all exhausted.”
Niv-Mizzet concurred, with a glance toward the procession of Planeswalkers that were working their way back toward them now. “We will reconvene in the morning.”
He looked to Lavinia, who nodded and said, “Meet at the Azorius Senate House. One hour after dawn.”
There was a general—if somewhat begrudging—murmur of agreement.
The Firemind turned to the gorgon next. “Perhaps, Queen Vraska, you should avoid relating this discussion to my predecessor.”
Teyo had seen Vraska and Jace kiss earlier. Now the gorgon’s face revealed that she was conflicted about keeping things from a man she clearly cared so much about.
Ral Zarek seemed to notice that, too. “Perhaps,” he suggested, “you’d be better served staying away from Beleren this night—”
“How and with whom I spend my nights is no business of yours, Zarek.”
“Of course not. But you don’t want to give the mind-mage the opportunity to read your thoughts.”
“Jace wouldn’t do that. Not to me.” And as if to prove her point, she defiantly walked away, crossing broken pavement and passing multiple mourners and celebrants, to join Jace Beleren—and to take his hand.
This seemed to signal an end to the conference. As the quorum broke up, Kaya turned to Teyo and Rat, saying, “Why don’t you both come back to Orzhova with me. Just for the night. We can wash. Eat. Sleep.”
Teyo looked to Rat. He thought maybe she’d prefer to follow her father, who was stalking off without her. And if she decided to spend the night with the Shoktas, he thought maybe he should go with her.
But Rat said, “Sounds keen.”
And Kaya misinterpreted his hesitancy. She put a hand on his shoulder and said, “I know you must be eager to return to Gobakhan.”
“No hurry, really.” He found himself stifling another involuntary yawn.
“I get it. Too tired to think about planeswalking right now.”
“I don’t even know how to think about planeswalking. I’ve only ever done it the one time—and that was by accident.”
“No worries. I promise we’ll get you home in the morning.”
But Teyo was less concerned about getting home than he was about Rat. He was watching her when Kaya made her promise, and he could see Araithia’s violet eyes lower sadly and lose a little bit of their light…