But it was time he took charge again.
“Lady Merria,” he said, standing up and holding out his hand. “Thank you for your help.”
She hesitated, then reached into her robe and brought out the ring. As he took it she gave him a measuring look. Judging whether he was fit for resuming his ambassadorial role? He nearly smiled at that.
“King Amakira is dead, as are the rest of the Ashaki,” she told him. “He killed himself, and the rest forced the Traitors to kill them by attacking the Traitor queen. Sonea and Regin are making their way here to meet you. Osen says we are to join together and request an audience with the queen.”
“What are the Traitors doing now?”
“Entering the nearby houses. They’ve already found and killed an Ashaki who hid during the battle.”
Tayend drew in a quick breath. “Achati’s slaves.”
Dannyl felt his heart skip a beat. “They’ll kill them.”
“Will they?” Merria asked. “They might not.”
“We can’t take that chance. We must warn then.” Tayend took a few steps toward the corridor.
Merria frowned. “If they can get away, they will have done.”
Tayend stopped and looked back at Dannyl. “But if they can’t …”
“Then we’ll take them with us,” Dannyl said. “If they choose to come with us. They are free men now.”
“You’d hire them as servants?” Merria asked, frowning. “When they don’t have much choice. Surely that’s no different than slavery.”
Dannyl shook his head. “It’s better than death. But I think … we will simply offer to take them with us. The rest is up to them.”
“We have to find them first,” Tayend reminded them. “If they’re here, they’re hiding. And we might not have much time.”
“Then we split up,” Dannyl decided. “You go with Merria for protection. They may attack you if they can’t see you, thinking you are a Traitor. I’ll look upstairs, you stay on this level.”
Dannyl headed down the corridor to the stairs. As he explored Achati’s house, he found parts he had never seen before. All were decorated in the same subdued, earthly colours that Achati had preferred over the stark white walls of Sachakan tradition. Dannyl felt as though he was surrounded by Achati’s presence, and his heart ached.
At the back of the house he pushed open a door, looked around and sucked in a breath in astonishment.
Why didn’t he tell me about this?
Dannyl had seen Achati’s library. It was a modest room within the man’s private suite, the books and scrolls contained in finely crafted cabinets. The room Dannyl stood within now was several times larger and lined with shelves. A large table stood at the centre, bare but for a piece of paper, folded and sealed.
Behind the table stood two men. Achati’s slaves.
They were not wearing the usual slave wrap now, but were dressed in simple trousers and tunic. They lowered their gaze as Dannyl looked at them.
“The master left this for you,” one said, gesturing at the letter.
Dannyl opened his mouth to speak, then changed his mind. First, see what the letter says. He walked over to the table and picked it up. His stomach clenched as he saw his name written across the front in Achati’s elegant hand.
Taking a deep breath, Dannyl broke the seal, opened the letter and read.
Ambassador Dannyl of the Magicians’ Guild of Kyralia
The trouble with collecting the best of anything is that there must also be the mediocre and the worst to compare it to. I have endeavoured to discard the latter in most things, but found that I could not always do so when it came to my family, my king, or my library.
If they will allow it, I give you my library. The rest of my belongings they will surely take or destroy, and I only hope that my slaves will benefit from some of it.
Ashaki Achati, formerly adviser to King Amakira of Sachaka
Dannyl closed his eyes, swallowed hard, then cleared his throat and looked up at the slaves.
“Well, Lak and Vata, I may not have much time to explain, so I will have to be forthright. Your master is …” Dannyl’s throat closed up.
“We know,” they said together.
“The Traitors are entering the houses around the parade, and I suspect they may perceive your staying here as an indication of loyalty to your master. So Ambassador Tayend and I are offering to take you with us.”
“Must we leave?” Vata asked, his eyes wide.
“Probably,” Dannyl replied. He shook his head. “I honestly don’t know what the Traitors will do. I don’t know if it’s better that you become our companions or servants – or if you’ll even find that acceptable. But I promise that we will do what we can to protect you.”
The two men looked at each other, then Lak nodded. “The master said we should do whatever you tell us.”
“Then I’m telling you to come with me,” Dannyl said, beckoning and heading back to the library door. “But not in a slave-like way,” he added. “Behave like the free men that you now are. Not in the way the Ashaki were free men, of course. I don’t think the Traitors will look kindly on that.”
“I’m not sure how to be a free man,” Vata said in a low voice.
“You’ll work it out,” Dannyl assured him. He placed Achati’s letter in his pocket and led the man’s former slaves out of the library into a new and frightening freedom.
CHAPTER 30
NEGOTIATING THE FUTURE
Once again, Savara had occupied the main suite of rooms in the mansion she had commandeered as a base. This time the Master’s Room was where those wanting audience with or summoned by the queen were waiting. As people came and went, reporting on the Traitors’ progress in gaining control of the city, Lorkin and Tyvara sat to her left, keeping watch.
All of the houses around the parade had been searched now. A few Ashaki had been found hiding within to ambush Traitors and had been disposed of. Several free women and their children had been discovered, too. Their husbands, fathers and sons had been so confident that they would win that they hadn’t bothered to send their families somewhere safe. Some of the mansions were full of the bodies of slaves who had not been able to escape before their masters killed them for their magical strength.
A mansion had been chosen to house the healthy and uninjured free women and children until the Traitors decided what to do with them. Which will probably be the same as with the other families we encountered, Lorkin thought. They’ll have to find their place among the freed slaves, which probably means working for the first time in their lives.
“Some slaves attacked their former owner’s families before leaving the city,” Speaker Shaiya told the queen. “Some free women lashed out at slaves after they heard of the Ashaki’s defeat. We’ve sent all the injured to a mansion across the parade from here. A few slaves and one free woman have gone into childbirth, too. All of the Traitors with healing experience have been sent to treat them.”
“Are they enough?”
Shaiya shook her head. “We need more. When do the Kyralians arrive?”
“In a day or so.”
“I’ll go,” Lorkin offered.
“No.” Savara turned to look at him. “I need you here, for now.”
The Speaker looked down. “I know how you feel about Kalia, but …”
Savara scowled and shook her head. “I don’t trust her.”
“You don’t have to. Just let her do what she is trained to do.”
Lorkin held his breath as Savara regarded the Speaker. The queen could not reveal Kalia’s guilt to the Traitors without also revealing his ability to read surface thoughts. Then I guess I’d better brace myself for the consequences.
“Bring her here,” she said.
When Shaiya’s footsteps had faded out of hearing, Savara turned to him.
“This ability of yours could prove very useful to me, Lorkin. Are you willing to use it in the service of the Traitors?”
He blinked at
her in surprise. “I … I guess so. Do you want me to use it on Kalia? I can’t promise I will be able to tell you much.”
Savara smiled. “Just tell me if you detect her lying. Don’t say how. Do not mention your ability to anyone unless I tell you to.”
The sound of Shaiya’s footsteps returned, along with another’s. As Kalia entered she looked up at Savara, then her gaze dropped to the floor. She placed a hand over her heart.
“Leave us, Shaiya.”
The Speaker paused, then nodded and left. Rising to her feet, Savara walked slowly over to stand in front of Kalia. The woman did not look up. Her eyes were wide and her breathing fast. Lorkin concentrated on her until he felt a familiar presence, and guilt.
“I know what you did,” Savara told her. She glanced at Lorkin and Tyvara. “We know what you did.”
From Kalia came a surge of fear and shame.
“What I don’t understand is: why Halana?” Savara continued. Everyone loved her. She had no enemies.” She shook her head. “The experience and understanding of stone-making she had. The talent. Even if you hated her, how could you take that from us?”
“I didn’t hate her,” Kalia protested. “I …” She looked up, then quickly down again.
“You what?”
“I didn’t intend for her to get killed.”
“Just us.” Savara moved back to her chair. “I have no proof of that, but I can prove you had something to do with Halana’s death. If you can convince me it was an accident I …” She sighed. “Much as I hate to say it, we need you Kalia. Convince me, and see to the injured, and I won’t distract and demoralise our people at this crucial time with accusations of attempted murder against one of their own.”
Kalia swallowed, then nodded. “When you were on the roof last night,” she began. “I saw you were alone with …” Her eyes flickered toward Lorkin and Tyvara. “Nobody else would be harmed if you were attacked. I just had to draw attention to you. So I slipped out of a slave entrance, found some Ashaki, and led them back. They saw you, but as I ran to the slave entrance Halana stepped out of another. I think she was setting shield stones. She … didn’t see them. She …” A sob escaped her. “I tried to warn her but it happened so fast. I didn’t mean for her to be killed.”
Savara glanced at him. He shook his head. Everything Kalia had said was true. The queen turned back to stare at Kalia She looked as if she had taken a bite of something especially vile. But it wasn’t just revulsion at Kalia’s actions. She wants to punish Kalia, but she won’t. If I was Savara, I’d have her locked up and send me to heal the injured. Kalia’s healing skills weren’t unique. Then he felt a bolt of realisation. But my mind-reading abilities are.
“Then swear you will never speak of it, to anyone, unless on my orders,” the queen said. “And swear you will never attempt to cause me, Tyvara and Lorkin harm again.”
Kalia bowed her head. “I swear.”
“Go. Shaiya will direct you to the mansion housing the injured.”
As the woman hurried away, Savara rubbed her hands on her knees as if wiping them clean.
“Well, at least we have something to use to keep her in line from now on.”
Footsteps hurried down the corridor, but this time Speaker Lanna entered the room.
“Are you ready to see the Kyralians yet?”
Savara drew in a deep breath then let it out slowly. “Am I?” she asked herself.
Lanna frowned. “There’s something I should tell you first.”
“Oh?”
The Speaker’s lips thinned into a forced smile. “When I found Black Magician Sonea she was fending off a pair of Ashaki. Tayvla and Call, the pair who found them, told me that the Ashaki had attacked them first. Sonea intervened, allowing them to get away.”
Lorkin turned to look at Savara and was puzzled to see she was frowning at this news. The queen glanced at him, then snorted softly.
“Well, that spoiled my plans.” She turned to Lorkin and uncrossed her arms. “Your mother disobeyed an order to stay where her escort left her. I was looking forward to raising that with her, and seeing if I could get something out of her by way of apology.”
He raised his eyebrows. “I doubt you’d succeed.”
“How do you suggest I go about persuading her to grant us a favour, then?”
“I am the last person who can tell you. She knows me far too well.”
“But you are her son. Perhaps I should use that.”
Lorkin winced. “Only if you’re feeling particularly brave. I, ah, advise you to learn more about her before you push her too far.”
Savara pursed her lips and considered him, then nodded. “You would like to see her, and your homeland, again one day.”
“Eventually. I’d like to take Tyvara with me, so it would be nice if Sachaka and the Allied Lands stayed on good terms.”
Savara turned back to Lanna. “Send in the Kyralians. And the Elyne, too.”
Lorkin felt his heart begin to beat a little faster. Mother and Dannyl and everyone else cannot have any doubts where my loyalties lie now. I guess I’m about to find out how they feel about that.
His mother led the others into the room. They lined up before Savara, then knelt. A silence followed, full of surprise and a tinge of embarrassment. Lorkin felt an odd little shiver go down his spine. To Kyralians and Elynes, this was the traditional genuflection made to a ruler, but to Traitors it was far more than was expected.
“Rise,” Savara said, her voice subdued. As the five foreigners stood, she smiled. “Later, Lorkin will tell you the Traitor way of greeting a leader.” Her gaze moved along the line. “I am Queen Savara and this is Tyvara and Lorkin. Please introduce yourselves.”
“I am, as you know from our previous meeting, Black Magician Sonea of the Magicians’ Guild of Kyralia,” his mother began. She then introduced the others according to status, beginning with Dannyl.
Dannyl looks … not uncomfortable but like he’s trying to conceal discomfort, thought Lorkin. Is he injured? No, it is something else. Perhaps merely the unease of having just seen these people kill a whole lot of people he … A heavy feeling dragged at his stomach as he realised that Dannyl, Tayend and Merria had formed friendships with the Sachakan elite. They’ve possibly just seen their friends killed.
As his mother spoke Regin’s name, Lorkin remembered Tyvara’s suggestion that he was more than Sonea’s source and assistant. Regin’s expression was solemn. His gaze shifted to Lorkin’s and he inclined his head slightly. Lorkin returned the nod. That didn’t tell me anything, he concluded.
“So,” Savara said, rising from her seat. She moved to stand before Dannyl. “Do you intend to stay in Sachaka, Ambassador Dannyl? I imagine we’ll need a Guild representative here, once the Healers arrive.”
Lorkin noticed his mother’s brows lower a fraction. As the figure of greatest authority, among the Guild magicians, she ought to have been asked the question. Perhaps, by posing the question to Dannyl, Savara was indicating that she preferred him as a representative of the Guild over Sonea.
“If the Guild allows it, and you approve, your majesty.” Dannyl replied.
Savara nodded. “You’ll do for now.” She moved to face Tayend. “And you, Ambassador Tayend – will you continue to represent Elyne?”
“I have already received instruction from my king to request my continuation in the role, your majesty,” Tayend replied. “In fact, he gave me a short message to memorise and deliver to you, to stand in for a later, longer missive.”
“He has? Then relay it.”
Tayend bent in a courtly bow. “King Lerend of Elyne congratulates you on the successful conquest of Sachaka. He hopes he will have an opportunity to meet you and discuss the many ways our lands may engage in mutually beneficial relations. May a peaceful and prosperous future await you.”
Savara smiled. “Convey my appreciation of his good wishes next time you communicate. I look forward to his longer missive. I see no reason you should not stay on
as ambassador.” She moved past Merria and Regin, and stopped.
Lorkin watched his mother’s face as the queen turned to face her. He saw the familiar shift in her expression, from the usual slightly pained, thoughtful look she wore most of the time to the still, all-knowing stare that he’d never been able to hold for long.
“Black Magician Sonea,” Savara said, her tone no longer friendly, but not cold either. “You disobeyed my order to stay in the house where your escort left you.”
“I did, your majesty.”
“I was not pleased to learn that.”
“I did not expect you to be.”
“Why did you disobey?”
“Ambassadors Dannyl and Tayend, and Lady Merria believed themselves to be in some danger. Saral and Temi had left, so I could not seek permission to go to the aid of my colleagues, or request that they be protected. I kept to your earlier condition that I would not side with the Ashaki, and to the Allied Lands’ wishes that we should not intervene in the battle.”
“Yet you did intervene, later.”
Sonea’s eyebrows rose. “Should I have not?”
Savara’s head tilted a little to one side. “How do the Allied Lands regard it?”
“I haven’t had the opportunity to ask them, yet. They know some decisions must be made quickly. The battle was already won and they do want to be sure our Healers will be safe here.”
“They will be.” Savara took a step backwards, and returned to her seat. “The Healers are a full day’s ride away, however. In the meantime, would you and the other Guild magicians here tend the worst injuries?”
Sonea’s chin rose and a light entered her eyes that Lorkin knew only too well. He caught his breath, then let it out in a quiet sigh.
“Of course,” she replied.
Savara nodded. “Lorkin will escort you to the mansion where the sick and injured are being housed, after I speak with him privately. You may go.”
Lorkin watched his mother, former colleagues and friends leave. As they disappeared into the corridor, Savara turned to him.
“Was asking them to Heal unwise?”