“Lilia,” Osen said as he stepped around his desk and came forward to meet her. “How are you feeling?”
She blinked at him, feeling another twinge of surprise at such a conversational question.
“I’m well, Administrator Osen,” she answered. Tired of waiting to find out if I’m going to be locked up again, she added silently.
“Good,” he said. “As you know, we have been discussing what to do with you. I am happy to tell you that we have come to a decision, and it has been approved by the king.” He smiled. “You may rejoin the Guild and complete your training.”
She stared at him in disbelief, then felt a smile spring to her lips. “Thank you.”
His expression became serious. “It is not offered without some conditions, however. You will be required to make the Novices’ Vow again.”
Lilia nodded to show she was willing to do so.
“You will not be allowed to leave the Guild grounds unless given permission by myself, High Lord Balkan, Black Magician Kallen or Black Magician Sonea,” Osen continued. “You will not be allowed to use black magic unless, sometime in the future, the king approves you taking on the position of Black Magician. To identify you as one who knows black magic, your robes will feature a black band on the sleeves.”
Nodding again, Lilia hoped her disappointment didn’t show. Since meeting Anyi and hearing about the threat she and her father were facing from Skellin, Lilia had hoped to find a way to help her. If she was restricted to the Guild grounds, how could she do that?
“Because of the knowledge of black magic that you have, you will not be able to participate in lessons that require the linking of minds. In those situations, Black Magician Kallen or Black Magician Sonea will conduct the lesson.”
She tried not to blanch at the thought of more mental contact with either magician. But having my mind read was very different to the mind to mind lessons I had in the past. Still … I hope Sonea is the one who teaches me. Kallen is so stern and disapproving.
“Kallen has offered to take on your guardianship. We think your having a guardian will reassure people that we have you well in hand.” Osen’s tone was lighter as he said this. “Since we anticipate a protest from parents if you stay in the Novices’ Quarters, you will continue to stay in Black Magician Sonea’s rooms.”
Lilia suppressed a sigh of relief. For a moment she had been worried that she would have to stay with Kallen, but now that she considered it, she knew that it would be considered inappropriate for a young woman to stay in a single man’s rooms, no matter the difference in their ages.
“Do you accept these conditions?” Osen asked.
“I do,” she replied, nodding again.
“Then swear it.”
She paused, realising that he expected her to remember the Novices’ Vow. To her surprise the words came back to her easily.
“I swear that I will never harm another man or woman unless in defence of the Allied Lands,” she said. “I will obey the rules of the Guild. I will obey the order of any magician of the Guild, unless those orders involve breaking a law. I will never use magic unless instructed by a Guild magician.”
Osen smiled approvingly. He turned to nod at Director Jerrik. The man moved back to the chair he had been sitting in and picked something up. Returning, he held it out to Lilia.
It was a bundle of novice’s robes. Gratitude washed over her like a physical wave of warmth. To her embarrassment, she felt tears tickle the corners of her eyes.
“Thank you,” she croaked.
Osen placed a hand on her shoulder briefly. “Welcome back.”
The other magicians murmured the same words. Overcome, Lilia could not speak. She felt Sonea touch her arm.
“That’s it, I think.” She looked at the others, who nodded. “Let’s go back to your room so you can get changed.”
Silently grateful, Lilia let the woman guide her out of the room, and back into a life as a Guild magician. Though knowing black magic means I’ll always be more restricted than most magicians, she thought. That’s a lot better than being locked away. Or dead.
And maybe, somehow, she could still find a way to help Anyi.
As the carriage pulled up outside the hospice side entrance, Sonea pushed aside a nagging reluctance and climbed out. She smiled and nodded at the Healers and helpers who greeted her, answering questions and asking them what she had missed since she’d last been there.
Their friendliness warmed her, and she was grateful all over again that she hadn’t been given the task of executing Naki. She made her way to the treatment-room door, gathered her determination, and knocked.
The door swung inward. Dorrien smiled at her and beckoned. She moved through and sat down.
“Why the serious look?” he asked.
She drew a breath to answer, then her courage faltered. We should chat a little before I deliver the bad news.
“I was wondering how people would react, if I had been chosen to be Naki’s executioner,” she told him.
He gave her a reflective look. “Serious thoughts, indeed.” He looked away as he considered. “I don’t think they would resent you for it.”
“But they would not be able to help thinking about it, when they were around me. They would fear me even more.”
“Fear you? They don’t fear you,” he told her.
She gave him a disbelieving look. He looked back at her, then shook his head.
“They’re intimidated by you, Sonea. That’s different. They’re scared of black magic, but they’re not scared of you. You’ve shown them that it doesn’t make a person into a murderer.”
“I’ve used it to kill,” she pointed out.
He spread his hands. “That’s different, too. It was in the defence of Kyralia. They’d do the same, in the same position.”
She looked away. “I also used Healing to kill. That seems even worse to me.” She looked around the room. “I’m a Healer. I’m supposed to mend people, not kill them. I think that, if I’d had to execute Naki, people would have found it difficult to reconcile the two.”
Dorrien’s jaw hardened. “She learned black magic deliberately, and killed with it for her own benefit.”
Sonea shrugged. “Even so, I think it would have changed the way people thought of me. I never got a chance to choose a discipline. I would have chosen to be a Healer. I work as a Healer, but I can never wear the green robes. I am a Black Magician. While I would not hesitate to defend Kyralia again, that role is not the one I wanted.”
He smiled wryly. “I prefer to think that Healing chose me.”
She nodded. “And I suppose despite everything, it still claimed me, though you were a strong influence behind me wanting it to, too.”
They regarded each other fondly. Perhaps too fondly, in Dorrien’s case. She gathered courage and determination. It’s time I put an end to this.
“Dorrien, I have been thinking a lot about … us.”
“There is no ‘us’, is there?” he said.
She looked at him in surprise. He gave her a wan smile.
“Father came to see me. Gave me the good news. Tylia will join the winter intake of novices. Kallen is probably going to be taking over the search for Skellin. ‘Why don’t you go back to your village?’ he suggested.”
Sonea stared at him. “Kallen is going to be taking over the search for Skellin?”
His eyebrows rose. “You didn’t know? Father didn’t say it was going to happen for certain.”
“No.” She resisted the urge to jump out of her seat and march straight back to Osen’s office. Unless … Rothen may have made this up in order to give Dorrien no excuse to stay in Imardin. But that seems a little extreme. Perhaps … I never told him about Dorrien’s infatuation with me, but has he guessed? She looked back at Dorrien.
He smiled crookedly. “He may be old, but it’s still very difficult to hide secrets from him.”
She shifted in her seat and pushed aside her annoyance. “I only asked him to see if Tylia could join
the winter intake.”
“Why?”
She forced herself to meet his eyes. “So you were free to go home, if working with me became unbearable after I told you that … well … there will be no ‘us’.”
He winced. She could tell that he tried not to, but failed. “Why can’t there be?”
“Because you are married. Because while the idea of ‘us’ appeals, it doesn’t appeal enough that I would hurt Alina and your daughters. And because if you were to hurt them, then I would dislike you for it. And myself.”
He looked down. “I see. Father said as much. He also pointed out that Alina and I didn’t start getting along so badly until we came to Imardin.” He sighed. “I was ready to try city life. She wasn’t.” He managed a guilty smile. “Would you believe me if I said I do care about her?”
Sonea felt a pang of affection for him. “I would.”
He nodded. “I have to give it a try. That’s only fair. We’ve disagreed before, but we always got past it.” He shook his head. “It’s a pity she was so jealous of you. She is usually so lovely to people.”
Sonea shrugged. “I can’t blame her though. Even without her being as perceptive as Rothen, there’s all that black magic and reputation as a killer to get past.”
Dorrien shook a finger at her. “Stop that. Remember, you are what you chose to be. Your robes may be black, but you’ve got the heart of a Healer.”
Sonea looked down and shrugged. “Well, at least they make me look taller.”
He chuckled, then stood up. “Well, I had best get home and start making plans for our return to the village.”
Sonea rose and they swapped places. “When will you be leaving?”
“A few weeks after Tylia joins the University.”
“Will she settle in all right, do you think?”
He nodded. “She has already made some friends here, both starting at the same time as she will be now. Rothen will keep an eye on her.”
“And we both know he’ll do an excellent job of that.”
He smiled. “He will. Goodnight, Sonea.”
“Goodnight, Dorrien.”
As the door closed behind him, Sonea looked down in the chair he’d vacated. That hadn’t been as painful as she’d feared. For a moment she felt a pang of regret. If Dorrien hadn’t been married …
She pushed that thought away, walked to the door and opened it, waving to a Healer to indicate she was ready to see patients.
* * *
Shrugging into his robes, Lorkin smoothed down the fine, richly dyed purple cloth and sighed with both appreciation and wistfulness. It was strangely comforting to be dressed in robes again. When he’d returned to his new bedroom to catch up on some sleep he’d even contemplated, though briefly, sleeping in them.
They were so much less itchy than the hunter’s clothes, and yet the bulk of fabric felt overly indulgent and heavy after the plain, practical Traitor garb. He could not help enjoying the rich, dark colour, however. Though the dyes made in Sanctuary produced gentle hues, and he had come to see the aesthetic beauty in undyed fabric, there was something deeply satisfying about Alchemic purple.
And yet, I should not be wearing it. I should not be wearing robes at all. Not only because he was bound by his promise to return to Sanctuary and Tyvara, but because he had broken one of the Guild’s most serious laws. I learned black magic. Even if they saw fit to forgive that, they would probably insist I wear black robes now.
How and when he would tell them, he hadn’t yet decided.
Moving out into the central room of the suite, Lorkin saw Merria, who had been walking about the space, stop as she noticed him.
“Ah. Lorkin. You’re awake. Good.” She hurried over. “There’s something I didn’t think of until you were asleep. This.”
She held out a ring. A blood-red stone glinted in the setting. He felt his heart leap, and reached out to take it.
“Mother’s blood ring?”
“Yes. Ambassador Dannyl left it with me, since he took Administrator Osen’s ring with him, so I could contact the Guild.” She looked at him intently. “You’ll want to tell her you’re back, but I should probably still keep the ring. Is that all right?”
He smiled. “Of course. I won’t be going anywhere until Dannyl gets back, anyway.”
She looked relieved. “That’s good to know.” She looked at the ring, then at him, and smiled. “I’ll leave you to it.” She left the room.
Sitting down, Lorkin stared at the ring and gathered his thoughts. He slipped it on his finger.
—Mother?
—Lorkin? Lorkin! Is everything all right? Are you all right?
—Yes. Everything’s fine. Are you free to talk?
—Of course! Wait … I have a patient. I’ll just …
A long pause followed.
—I am alone now. Where are you? Can you tell me?
—I’m at the Guild House in Arvice.
—Not at the Traitors’ home?
—No. Queen Zarala sent me here. She sent me on a mission of sorts.
—Queen Zarala?
—Of the Traitors.
—You’re working for her now?
—Yes. But she knows I’d have never agreed to any task that would endanger the Allied Lands.
—That’s considerate of her.
He detected a tinge of disapproval and resentment in his mother’s tone. He smiled. He’d have been surprised if there hadn’t been.
—How are you? he asked.
—Good. A few problems were resolved in the Guild over the last few days. We have another black magician, I’m afraid. Two novices managed to learn it from a book. One learned it deliberately and killed with it, and tricked the other into learning it so that she would be blamed for murder. The first has been caught and executed. The other … she proved herself honourable enough to be allowed back into the Guild and University, though with conditions.
Lorkin could not help feeling a trickle of hope at that. If the Guild had forgiven a novice for learning black magic because she proved herself honourable, would they forgive him for learning it in order to bring them stone-making magic?
They’ll have to be more flexible toward black magic if they want to adopt stone-making magic, he reminded himself. And if they don’t, I’m going to return to Sanctuary anyway.
—Sounds like you’ve had some exciting times lately, he said.
—You don’t know the half of it. We also have foreign rogue magicians in the city, ruling most of the underworld. But I’ll save that story for when you get here.
—I look forward to hearing it.
—So what is this mission the Traitor queen has sent you on?
—To negotiate an alliance between the Traitors and the Allied Lands.
Sonea did not respond for several heartbeats.
—I gather the rest of Sachaka isn’t included in this.
—No.
—Exciting times ahead, I suspect.
—Yes.
—You want me to pass this on to Osen and Balkan?
—Yes. The queen sent me here because the route to the pass is not safe at this time of year. I suspect if I try to leave Arvice the Sachakans will try to stop me. I’m stuck here until Dannyl returns and officially orders me to return to Kyralia.
—I’ll get right onto it. So, what prompted this willingness to seek an alliance? I had the impression the Traitors were too secretive to want connection to the outside world.
—They do and they don’t. It’s … complicated. It has to do with Father.
—Ah. Dannyl told me what you’d told him: that Akkarin promised them something in return for learning black magic, but he didn’t deliver.
—He promised to teach them Healing, but he returned to the Guild because he wanted to warn everyone about the Ichani. Zarala gave me a blood ring of his—
—Oh! He said he’d made three blood rings, but he never said where the third one was.
—She used it to communicate with him. She sa
id that something always prevented him returning, and after her daughter died she stopped using the ring. A sickness had struck the Traitors and killed many, and he was blamed for it because they believed Healing would have saved them. That wasn’t all there was to their bargain, however. Zarala promised Father that she would do something else, and she failed. She didn’t tell me what it was, but it was so secret that she couldn’t even tell her people. She said that sending me to negotiate an alliance had something to do with trying to achieve what she’d promised.
Lorkin waited as his mother absorbed all this.
—I’d really like to meet this woman, she eventually said. Which was not what he was expecting. He had expected her to say something about his father keeping secrets from them all. But then, he was a man of so many secrets, maybe it is no surprise that there were more.
—Hopefully I can arrange that. She is very old though. I don’t know if she will be able to make it to a meeting.
—Old, you say? So she must have been a lot older than Akkarin when they met. Do you have any details on the proposed terms of the alliance?
—No. The spy network among the slaves is ready to pass on instructions. We are to let them know if and when the Guild is ready to meet with the Traitors, who will select a safe location. But I can tell you this: I learned how to make gemstones with magical properties while I was there.
—Dannyl learned of these gemstones while in Duna recently. He said the Traitors stole the knowledge from the Duna. He’ll be excited to know they gave it to you. Well, so will all the Guild.
—You’ve heard from him?
—He contacted Osen a few days ago.
—He was still in Duna?
—Yes.
Lorkin muttered a curse. It would take Dannyl many days to return.
—Could you tell Osen to let Dannyl know I’m here? And to hurry up and come back.
—Of course. Is there anything else that the Traitors have to offer us in an alliance?
—Well … stone-making is of no use if you have no source of gemstones, and may involve a risk the Guild is not willing to take. I believe the Traitors would consider trading stones for something. They have a rudimentary knowledge of Healing now, but they could benefit from the help of good teachers. They might also offer to help us if Sachaka ever attacked the Allied Lands again.