“I know you buried him out in the forest, but it’s not right. We have to put him with his family.”
“Where are they buried?”
“I’m not sure. Gol will know.”
Lilia kissed her. As Anyi’s arms began to slide around her a knock came from the door and they froze. Lilia pulled away and sighed. Getting to her feet, she sent a little magic to the door to open it.
“Gol,” Anyi said with obvious relief, as the big man stepped inside with Lord Rothen. “How did it go?”
He sat down. “Things are going back to the way they used to be real fast. The Thieves stopped calling themselves ‘princes’ straightaway, and they’re taking back what they had control of beforehand – and anything else they can grab. If you want to take Cery’s territory, you need to move now.”
Anyi frowned. “Will his people work for me?”
Gol nodded. “Those I asked were keen. They’d rather you than any of the neighbours. It helps that you are Cery’s daughter, but in some ways it’ll make it harder. Cery had no favours left to call in, and plenty he owed, but he had money stashed away and was respected for keeping promises.”
Lilia watched Anyi’s face, her stomach sinking as her friend’s expression hardened.
“I’ll do it.” She looked up at Gol. “But only if you help me.”
Gol smiled. “I was hoping you’d want me. Not that I wouldn’t like to retire.”
“I am retiring you,” Anyi said. “You won’t be my bodyguard, you’ll be my second. Like you were for my father. I don’t know why he didn’t just call you that and be done with it.”
“To make me less of a target,” Gol told her.
“Well, you can’t pretend to be a bodyguard any more. Nobody’ll believe I’d choose a bodyguard twice my age.”
Gol crossed his arms. “I’d still beat you, any day.”
Anyi stood up. “Oh, really? Let’s see—”
“I apologise for interrupting,” Rothen injected, “but may I suggest you test that theory somewhere other than Sonea’s quarters? And the Higher Magicians will not look favourably on us arriving late, especially after we insisted this meeting take place as soon as could be arranged.”
Anyi looked at him thoughtfully, then at Lilia. Her expression was apologetic.
“I’m sorry Lilia, but if I am going to take my father’s place, I can’t go to this meeting.”
Lilia stared at her. “But … we need you to tell your story.”
“No, you don’t. It will make no difference whether I tell it, or you, or Lord Rothen.” Anyi’s expression was serious. “We know Skellin had allies in the Guild. Who knows which Thief has adopted or inherited those allies? If these spies don’t know what I look like, then I should keep it that way. If they do, I shouldn’t remind them.”
Lilia’s heart had begun to race. “But … how will you visit? I’m not supposed to leave the grounds. Once the Guild finds out a Thief was living in the tunnels and that Skellin was there, they’ll fill in all the passages.”
Anyi walked over to Lilia and hugged her. “We’ll find other ways. You didn’t think we could live here together, did you?”
“I suppose not.”
“You’ll graduate soon. They’ll let you out of the Guild grounds then. Maybe they’ll even let you live in the city, like other magicians do. Whatever happens, we’ll still see each other. Nobody is going to stop us being together.” Anyi pulled away, then turned to Gol. “I’ll go out the other way. You won’t fit and people might’ve seen you come in, so you’d better leave with Rothen. I’ll meet you at Donia’s.”
“Are you sure you want to go that way?” Gol asked.
Anyi nodded. “I’ll be fine.”
“Just … keep the lamp flame covered. I don’t know how much minefire got spilled.”
Anyi nodded, then looked at Lilia expectantly. Taking the hint, Lilia moved to the door and led Rothen and Gol out. She looked back and saw Anyi wave before the door closed. I hope she’ll be safe going back into the city on her own.
She worried about that all of the way to the Administrator’s office. They detoured to the front of the University, where Rothen arranged for a carriage for Gol. There they found Jonna waiting for them outside Osen’s door. The servant looked a little pale, but she smiled and squeezed Lilia’s hand as Rothen knocked.
“I’ve done this before,” Lilia reminded Jonna in a whisper.
“I haven’t,” Jonna replied.
The door swung inward and they stepped into a room full of Higher Magicians.
“Ah, good,” Osen said as Lilia, and Jonna bowed. He frowned. “Were there more witnesses wishing to tell their stories, Lord Rothen?”
“No, Administrator,” Rothen replied. “You may wish to interrogate the crew I took into custody two days ago, but for now I, Lady Lilia and Jonna, Sonea’s servant, should be able to describe the events and cover the issues without any unnecessary repetition.”
“Good. Who will begin?”
“I think Lady Lilia is best placed to explain where it all started,” Rothen said, turning to look at her.
Lilia took a deep breath. “For some time now Anyi – my friend and the Thief Cery’s bodyguard – have been visiting me in the Guild via the underground passages …” Watching the faces of the Higher Magicians, Lilia saw eyes sharpen and jaws harden, but as she told of the arrival of Cery and his injured bodyguard some softened with understanding. Kallen frowned, but she could not tell if it was from disapproval at her keeping this secret from him, or guilt that his failure to find Skellin had led to the situation.
A few smiled at the trap Cery had planned, arranging for Skellin to walk right into their midst. But then all signs of amusement faded as she described how the trap had failed, of Cery’s death and Anyi’s abduction and, she saw with satisfaction, displeasure in all faces at Skellin’s claim that he had sources in the Guild.
Rothen then took over, telling of their plans to rescue Anyi without the help or approval of the Guild for fear of alerting Skellin’s source. He stopped at the point where Lilia boarded the ship, then looked to her to finish the story.
It was harder than she had expected to describe how she had defeated Skellin and Lorandra. I killed someone with black magic. And yet Skellin’s death wasn’t as nasty as Lorandra’s. Now and then she remembered the woman’s screams. What had been easy to forget on the day had turned into a memory that refused to fade.
When she had finished, the inevitable questions came.
“You left the grounds and used black magic without permission,” Lady Vinara said.
Lilia nodded and bowed her head.
“Actually, she didn’t,” Rothen told them. “I gave her permission to do both.”
“Permission ought to be obtained from all Higher Magicians, or at least the High Lord,” Osen said, but then he smiled and spread his hands. “However, there was reason to suspect corruption among us. Caution was the best approach, in this instance.”
“If Lilia is to fulfil her role as a black magician in future, she should not regard us with unquestioning trust,” Kallen agreed.
Balkan nodded. “I agree. It is more important that we discover who Skellin’s source is.”
“We have a new clue: the magician who delayed Jonna reaching Lilia,” Vinara pointed out. She turned to the servant. “Who was it?”
Jonna’s eyes widened as all attention turned to her. Then her gaze flickered across the room. “Lord Telano.”
All turned to regard the Head of Healing Studies. He looked around the room, then threw up his hands.
“A coincidence,” he protested. “So I tried to help her find Lady Lilia and got the room wrong. That proves nothing.”
“But it is interesting, in light of your recent behaviour,” Vinara said. “It would explain why—”
“Wait,” Osen interrupted. “Lady Lilia. Jonna. Is there anything else you would like to tell us?” As they shook their heads he nodded. “Please wait outside the room.”
r /> “Lilia should stay,” Kallen said. “We may have need of her.”
Lilia stared at him in surprise. Surely, if he was one of Skellin’s spies, he wouldn’t want me here. Osen looked around the rooms and she was even more astonished to see most of the magicians nodding. Except Lord Telano. What had Vinara said? “… in light of your recent behaviour.” What had he done?
“Very well,” Osen said. “Stay, Lilia.”
Jonna took that as her cue to leave. Rothen moved to an empty chair and sat down, leaving Lilia as the only one standing. All attention had returned to Telano.
“Lord Telano,” Vinara said. “Were you Skellin’s source in the Guild?”
“No,” Telano replied firmly.
“Then why is it that the roet most of the magicians and novices acquired can be traced back to you?”
“Why have my assistants seen you visiting members of the underworld and bringing back packages?” Kallen asked.
“I like smoking roet,” Telano said, throwing his hands in the air again. “So do others. There is no law against it.”
“There will be soon,” Vinara said quietly.
“But there is a law against working with criminals,” Osen pointed out.
“I didn’t work with anyone. I just happened to have bought their products. Plenty of magicians do this, often unwittingly.” Telano gestured to Lilia. “She has knowingly worked for a Thief. Nobody is questioning that.”
“We’ll get to it,” Vinara assured him. “You’ve defended yourself with this reasoning for a while now, Lord Telano, but it doesn’t explain your attempt to destroy our roet crop. For someone who likes roet, that seems … odd.”
He shook his head. “I thought the Thieves had somehow set themselves up here.”
“Really? That wasn’t your excuse when we first caught you.”
“I didn’t know who to trust. You could have been colluding with them. After all, it turns out there is a spy in the Guild.”
“A simple mind-read would establish your innocence,” Lord Peakin said.
The room fell silent. Looking around, Lilia saw both reluctance and hope. They’ve wanted it done for a while, but are worried what the consequences will be if he’s innocent. He’ll resent them for distrusting him, at the least.
But what if he was guilty? That would be even worse.
“Will you …?” Osen began.
“No,” Telano said, the word echoing in the room.
“Your lack of cooperation does not encourage us,” Osen pointed out.
“Then demote me.” Telano’s tone was sullen.
“No.” All eyes shifted to Balkan. The High Lord was sitting with his elbows on the arms of his chair, his fingertips touching. “With Sachaka now under the rule of the Traitors and our attention needed elsewhere, we need this matter settled. Read his mind, Kallen.”
The mood in the room changed to surprise. Telano’s eyes had gone wide, but his face smoothed again. As Kallen stood up he slowly got to his feet.
“Well, if you must. At least we have something in common,” he muttered.
Lilia drew in a sharp breath. “I … I’m not sure that’s a good idea,” she forced herself to say, lowering her eyes as attention shifted to her. “I’ve occasionally suspected Black Magician Kallen was … the one.”
This roused mutters of surprise and frustration. “We could wait until Sonea returns,” someone suggested.
Looking up, Lilia forced herself to meet Kallen’s eyes. He smiled. “As I said, we have need of Lilia. Distrusting me will soon be part of her responsibilities. I suggest she read my mind as well, to put everyone’s at ease.”
Lilia stared at him, feeling doubt and a little guilt creep over her. If he’s innocent I’m going to feel very bad about suggesting he’s Skellin’s source, after all he’s taught me. But if he’s not … will he use this opportunity to secretly blackmail me?
Osen was nodding his head. So was Balkan. Kallen beckoned. There would be no avoiding it. If this had been his intention all along, she had well and truly fallen into his trap. Her mouth dry, Lilia approached him. He took her hands and, still smiling, lifted them to his head.
“You remember what to do?”
She nodded. Then closed her eyes.
It was impossible to tell how much time had passed when she stepped away from him again. She felt guilt for distrusting him, but mostly she felt relief. I can see why the Guild chose him. He would rather die than betray the Guild. He hates himself for allowing himself to be trapped by roet – and I had no idea the craving could be that bad. I am lucky to have not been caught by it. He had expressed admiration for her risking her life to save Anyi, and she had seen his frustration and shame that he hadn’t been able to find and deal with Skellin. He did try very hard. I know that now. I can forgive him for failing.
He’d also warned her that, if Lord Telano was guilty, she might have an unpleasant time reading his mind. Lilia turned to the magician. The man looked around the room, then scowled and stood up. He held himself stiffly as she reached out to touch his temples.
It wasn’t pleasant. He tried to block her. He tried to think only of other things – things that might shock her into turning her attention away. He tried to show her lies. But she saw through everything. She saw where it had begun, at brazier houses. She saw that suppliers had suggested he avoid purchasing through the Houses and buy direct. She saw how he had grown concerned that the Guild would disapprove of the drug, so he had begun to encourage its use by more and more magicians so they would resist a ban. All his thoughts were laced with a ferocious ache for roet. He feared he wouldn’t be able to buy it now that Lilia had killed Skellin. He hated her for that. His only consolation was that so many other magicians would be suffering the same pain.
It was a relief to withdraw her mind and return to the room. As she relayed what she had learned to the Higher Magicians she wondered how it could be that roet could do this to Telano, who must have been a man of integrity to have become a Higher Magician – and a Healer – while Kallen hadn’t been corrupted, and she hadn’t become addicted. It would have been easier for the Guild to decide what to do about roet if the results were always the same.
“She’s lying,” Telano declared. “Why would you believe her over me? She has already admitted to working with a Thief.”
“We did give you the opportunity to allow a simple mind-read,” Osen pointed out. “Have you changed your mind?”
Telano stared at Osen, then straightened. “No. I will prove my innocence in more convincing ways.”
“You’ll have your chance, when we hold a Hearing to judge you,” Osen said. He turned to Kallen. “Take him away.”
Telano scowled as he was ushered out of the room. Lilia stood awkwardly as the Higher Magicians exchanged glances.
“Did you see any hint of other spies in the Guild, Lilia?” Osen asked quietly.
She shook her head.
“That’s a relief.” He looked at the others. “We should wait for Sonea to return before holding this Hearing, but announce the ban on roet and our intention to find a cure as soon as possible.” He looked at Vinara. “I want you to involve Sonea in the search for a cure.” Vinara frowned and opened her mouth to protest, but Osen stalled her with a raised hand. “She identified the problem first, and it is time you two were seen to work together. It’s also the best way I can think of to keep her occupied and out of Sachakan matters.”
Lilia frowned. Why would they …? She saw Vinara nod in her direction, then Osen turned to her.
“Thank you Lilia. We will need you to speak at the Hearing, but for now you can go.”
Lilia bowed and headed for the door. As she passed Rothen he smiled and nodded.
It’s all over, she thought, as much as it can be “over”. Anyi is as safe as any new Thief can be, which is not particularly safe but better than when Skellin was around. I can now finish my studies. Even though I have no choice about what I’ll be doing after that, I don’t mind so much n
ow. As long as I still get to see Anyi.
How they’d manage that, she didn’t know. But one thing she was sure of: Anyi would find a way.
Sonea slipped Osen’s ring off her finger and put it away.
“Well, that was interesting.”
Regin turned from the window of the carriage to regard her. “Oh? What news from the Guild?”
“The Rogue Skellin is dead. So is his mother, Lorandra. I don’t have the details yet. Osen said they can wait until I get home.”
“That’s good news.”
“Yes, but there’s bad as well. Lord Telano was working as Skellin’s spy, and had set himself up as the main supplier of roet to the Guild. His powers have been blocked and he now resides in the Lookout.”
Regin’s eyebrows rose. “Telano? The Head of Healing Studies?”
“Yes. Of all people.” She shook her head. “The only good to come of that is they’ve finally banned roet.”
“What about the magicians who are addicted to it?”
“Vinara managed to acquire roet seed, so the Guild can wean magicians off it. She has started looking for a cure, too. Osen wants me to help her.” Sonea looked out of the window at the wasteland. “Now I understand why he was so insistent that I come home.”
Regin smiled. “I’m sure that’s not the only reason.”
“Why? Do you think there’s another reason?”
He shrugged and looked away. “Lilia isn’t quite Kallen’s equal, yet. You’re the only one who can keep him in check.”
“Ah. Kallen.” Sonea grimaced. “Until you mentioned him, I was looking forward to getting home.”
Regin turned so that his elbow rested on the top of the seat back. “I got the impression you wanted to take charge of Healing in Sachaka. Perhaps start a hospice.”
Sonea shook her head. “No, not really. I would like to see things change for the better in Sachaka, but I don’t think they need me to do it for them. I just … I don’t want to be so far from Lorkin.” She sighed. “Are you looking forward to seeing your daughters?”