The Traitor Queen (6 page)

“You’re a treasure, Lilia,” she said, sitting down on one of the wooden boxes and rifling through. “Buns! Meat-filled and
sweet ones.” Then her nose wrinkled. “Urgh. Fruit.”

“It’s good for you and easy to carry,” Lilia told her, but she was looking at Gol. “You look better.”

Cery turned to see his friend sitting up, nodding and stretching. A thoughtful look crossed Gol’s face. “Still tired, though.”

She nodded. “My books says your body will take a couple of days to replenish the blood you lost. Depends how much you bled.
If you do start feeling sick again let me know. It might be some poison was left. I should be able to Heal you if there is.”

“A few days.” Anyi looked at Cery. “Is that going to be a problem?”

Cery held out a hand for a meat-filled bun, took a bite and chewed as he considered. He still had loyal people out there.
They would start to worry if he didn’t contact them. They might even assume he, Gol and Anyi were dead. What would happen
if they did? Cery had no illusions that they’d stand up to Skellin. Most likely the rogue Thief would take control of Cery’s
territory. Not personally. He’d arrange for an ally to take over.

“Let them think we’re dead,” Gol said.

Cery looked at his friend in surprise. He hadn’t expected this.
What
had
I expected? That Gol would try to get up and pretend to be healthier than he is, rather than be the reason I lost my territory?
Or that he’d tell me to abandon him here? All very noble. Am I so vain that I expect my friends to sacrifice themselves for
me?
Cery frowned.
No, it isn’t that. It’s that I didn’t expect Gol to give up before I did
.

“Next time you won’t get away,” Gol said. “We were lucky this time. I’ve been lying here trying to decide who told Skellin’s
people you were at Cadia’s house. Who betrayed us? Did they have any choice? You can’t stop Skellin blackmailing and bribing
your own people. He’s got too many allies, too much money. You’ve already …”

“… already lost your own territory,” Cery finished. He felt bitterness rising. But it was an emotion too familiar and worn
out to do more than make him feel tired. It had crept in after Selia and the boys had been murdered, and he had grown used
to it.

“Let them think you’re dead. Maybe Skellin will get smug, let his guard down. Maybe with nobody else fighting him, other people
will try. Maybe they’ll set him up. Betray him to the Guild.”

It was tempting. Very tempting.

“You want to stay
here?
” Cery asked, pretending disbelief.

“Yes.” Gol looked at Anyi and Lilia. “What do you think?”

Anyi shrugged. “We can block off the entrance to the Guild passages – collapse them if you think it’s safer. There are passages
that come out in the forest, so we have escape routes. Well, ones that don’t lead into the Guild buildings, that is.” Anyi
glanced at Lilia. “We’ll work out ways to get food and water down here.”

Lilia nodded. “I’m sure Sonea would help.”

“No, we can’t tell her.” Cery paused, surprised at the conviction in his own voice.
Why don’t I want Sonea’s help?
“She won’t like it. She’ll want to smuggle us out of the city. She’ll tell Kallen.” He didn’t entirely trust Kallen, and
it wasn’t only because the man was a roet addict.

“She wouldn’t,” Lilia said, though her voice lacked conviction.

“Cery’s right,” Gol said. “Sonea’s leaving for Sachaka. She’ll either want someone else high up in the Guild to know we’re
here, or she’ll move us out.”

“So … if you don’t want Kallen to know either,” Anyi said, “then you won’t be able to work with him any more.”

“No.” Cery turned to Lilia. “But he doesn’t need us to tell him that. We can say it’s safer if we communicate through messages,
which Lilia will send.”

“We won’t have anything useful to tell him if we stay here and have no contact with your people,” Anyi pointed out.

“No, but he’ll keep us informed as to what’s going on out there,” Cery replied, “before he gives up on us as a source of information.
And hopefully we will find a way to be useful again – which we won’t if Sonea sends us away.”

The four of them exchanged looks, then nodded.

“Well, first Lilia and I need to find solutions for the most basic needs, like food and water,” Anyi said decisively,
straightening. “And then to make things safer and more comfortable down here.”

Cery smiled at the determined look on her face. If he let her, she would take charge of them all. “No,” he disagreed. “That’s
not what we’ll do first.”

She looked at him, frowning in puzzlement. “No?”

He nodded at the basket. “First we eat.”

If there was a code of etiquette that allowed Sachakans to refuse entry to an unwanted guest, Dannyl wished he knew what it
was. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to see the Ashaki who was coming down the entrance passage of the Guild House. He yearned
to see the man. But he suspected that the visitor was here in his official capacity, and that was something Dannyl was not
looking forward to.

Being friends with the enemy certainly complicates matters
.

As Achati entered the room, Dannyl searched the man’s face for some hint of good news, despite knowing the chances were slim.
He was surprised when he saw regret and apology there. He’d expected a carefully maintained neutral expression.

“Welcome back to the Guild House, Ashaki Achati,” Dannyl said, falling back on Kyralian manners.

“I wish it were under more amicable circumstances,” Achati replied. “This is an official visit, but I also wish it to be an
informal one between friends, if that is still possible.”

Dannyl invited Achati to sit, taking the main chair for himself. “That depends on how the official part goes,” he replied
wryly.

“Then let’s get the official part over with first.” Achati paused to regard Dannyl. “King Amakira wants you to persuade Lorkin
to answer all questions regarding the Traitors.”

“I doubt I would succeed.”

“Would he refuse if you ordered him to?”

“Yes.”

“And this is acceptable?”

“It isn’t his choice, or mine.”

“But he is your subordinate. He should follow your orders.”

“That depends on the orders.” Dannyl shrugged. “We do not have a … a custom of unquestioning obedience in the Guild, or even
outside it. Except in the case of royalty, but even then advisers have the right to advise – to give their opinion and recommendation
without reprisal – though they still must obey orders even if they disagree with them.”

“You are also an Ambassador – and not just a Guild Ambassador. Until Ambassador Tayend arrived, you spoke for all the Allied
Lands, too. Though you no longer speak for Elyne, you still represent the rest.”

“Yes, I speak for them.” Dannyl spread his hands. “But I cannot make decisions for them.”

“So you are saying that only one of the monarchs of the Allied Lands could order Lorkin to answer questions?”

“Only the Kyralian king. Monarchs of other lands and non-ruling royals cannot give orders to Kyralian magicians.”

Achati’s eyebrows were high. “How do you maintain order?”

Dannyl smiled. “Most of us are smart enough to know that disorder would lead to a loss of freedom and prosperity. Those who
don’t … well, the rest of us keep them in line. Like the general rule against magicians involving themselves in politics.
Though it’s not strictly enforced, maintaining the appearance that it is being followed restricts the more ambitious of us.”

As Achati paused to ponder this, Dannyl took the opportunity to ask a question.

“Has King Amakira considered that Lorkin may not have any information to give? After all, why would the Traitors have let
him return to Arvice if he knew anything that might harm them?”

Achati looked up. “Why doesn’t he answer our questions, then?”

“Perhaps it is a test.”

“Of what? Lorkin’s loyalty to the Traitors?”

Dannyl frowned at the suggestion that Lorkin had changed his loyalties. “Or to Kyralia. Or perhaps it is not a test of Lorkin
at all.”

Achati’s eyes narrowed. “It is a test of King Amakira?”

Dannyl spread his hands. “And the Guild, King Merin and the Allied Lands.”

“Put us in a position of conflict and see what happens?” Achati nodded. “We have considered that.”

“Though perhaps Lorkin believed that he could return to Kyralia via Arvice, because he didn’t think King Amakira would break
his agreement that all Guild magicians would remain free and unharmed in Sachaka.”

Achati’s expression hardened. “So long as they did not seek to harm Sachaka.” He looked at Dannyl directly. “Do you honestly
believe Lorkin’s withholding of knowledge about the Traitors will not harm my country?”

Dannyl held his friend’s gaze but, not prepared for such a direct question, he felt the mix of guilt and suspicion that the
question roused shift something in his own expression. Achati would have seen it. He would know if Dannyl lied. So best to
answer with a different truth.

“I don’t know,” he replied honestly. “Lorkin has only discussed what he knows with Administrator Osen.”

Achati frowned. “Did he tell you why he returned?”

Dannyl nodded and felt himself relax a little. “To go home. He particularly wants to see his mother. Of course, we did not
know if he would ever return, so after months of worry she is anxious to be reunited with him as well.”

“I imagine she is,” Achati replied, standing up. He sounded sympathetic, but his expression was a mix of amusement and defiance.
“The sooner Lorkin answers our questions, the sooner that will be.”

Dannyl rose. “What will King Amakira do if he doesn’t?”

Achati paused to consider his answer. “I don’t know,” he replied, his apparent honesty and helplessness a mirror of Dannyl’s.

“The Allied Lands will view the reading of Lorkin’s mind as an act of aggression,” Dannyl warned.

“But hardly something to go to war over,” Achati replied. “Sachaka has prospered for centuries without trade with the lands
to the west, thanks to our links with lands over the eastern sea. Without training for all in higher magic, your magicians
are hardly a threat. We don’t need you. We don’t fear you. You were only ever an opportunity we wanted to explore.”

Dannyl nodded. “Thank you for your honesty, Ashaki Achati.”

Achati waved a hand dismissively. “I said nothing that wasn’t already obvious.” He sighed. “Personally, I hope we can resolve
this in a way that does not ruin our friendship. Now I must go.”

“I, too,” Dannyl replied.
The friendship between us, or our countries? Or both?
“Goodbye for now.”

The Ashaki nodded, then disappeared down the corridor leading to the Guild House entrance. Dannyl sat down again
and considered the conversation. ‘
We don’t need you. We don’t fear you
.’ Why had anybody ever thought Sachaka would want to join the Allied Lands?

“How’d it go?”

Looking up, Dannyl saw that Tayend was hovering in the doorway. He sighed and beckoned. His former lover hurried across the
room and sat down, leaning forward with almost childlike eagerness. But Tayend’s gaze was sharp and his curiosity was as much
from his need as an ambassador to stay up to date on political matters as from a love of gossip.

He is genuinely concerned about Lorkin, too
, Dannyl reminded himself. A memory rose unexpectedly of Tayend playing with Sonea’s son as a small child, back when he and
Dannyl used to make social visits to the Guild more often. Tayend had had a knack of keeping children occupied and entertained.
He found himself wondering if Tayend had ever wished he had children of his own. Dannyl had never wanted them, though he …

“So?” Tayend urged.

Dannyl brought his attention back to the present and, taking care not to give away anything the Guild wanted concealed, began
to tell his fellow Ambassador what Achati had asked, and revealed.

A
full day had passed since the news of Lorkin’s imprisonment. That alone had made sleeping difficult, but the sudden shift
to a daytime routine also did not help. After a restless night, Sonea felt muzzy-headed and had to draw a little magic to
soothe away a nagging weariness. But one benefit of her new routine, Sonea discovered, was that when she emerged from her
bedroom Lilia was still in the main room, eating a morning meal.

“Black Magician Sonea,” the girl said, clearly surprised to see Sonea.

“Good morning, Lilia,” Sonea replied. “How are you? Did Black Magician Kallen track you down yesterday?”

The girl nodded.
“Well. And yes.”

Sonea moved to the side table and began making herself a cup of raka. “How are your lessons going?”

Lilia winced, but then put on a cheerful expression. “Good. I think Black Magician Kallen wishes I was doing better, though.
I told him I wasn’t good at Warrior skills, but I don’t think he guessed how ‘not good’ a novice can be.”

Sonea chuckled sympathetically. “I wasn’t very good at them, either.”

The girl’s eyes widened. “You … but you …”

“Won a formal challenge and defeated invading Sachakans. It’s amazing what you can learn when you have to. Still, I did have
a wonderful teacher.”

“You won …?” Lilia blinked and straightened. “Which teacher was that?”

Taking her raka to the main table, Sonea sat down and helped herself to a sweet bun from a platter. “Lord Yikmo. He died in
the invasion.”

“Oh.” Lilia’s shoulders dropped. Then she looked up again. “A formal challenge?”

Sonea smiled. “A fellow novice who was making life difficult for me.”

“He accepted a challenge from a black magician?”

“It happened before then. I don’t recommend it as a way of dealing with annoying novices. Only as a last resort, and if you’re
confident of winning.” She paused as a thought occurred to her. “Are any novices giving you a hard time?”

Lilia shook her head. “No, they ignore me most of the time. That’s fine. I understand why they avoid me. And I have Anyi.”

Sonea felt a pang of sympathy, and gratitude toward Cery for allowing Anyi to visit. “Well, if any of the novices are friendly
toward you – properly friendly, not a trick – then don’t turn them away too quickly. You’ll be working with them soon enough.”

“I know.”

Lilia looked resigned, but not unhappy. Finishing the bun and raka, Sonea rose and sighed. “Will you be all right staying
here on your own while I’m gone, Lilia?”

The girl looked up. “Of course. With Jonna and Black Magician Kallen looking after me, how could I not be?” She
frowned. “You’re the one who is going to be in danger, Black Magician Sonea. You … you will be careful?”

Sonea smiled. “Of course. I have every intention of coming back. After all, I want to see your graduation.” She moved to the
door, then paused and looked back. “I won’t be working at the hospices now, so I’ll probably be coming and going a lot. I’ll
make sure I knock before entering, in case Anyi has snuck in to see you.”

Lilia nodded. “Thanks.”

Leaving her rooms, Sonea found the Magicians’ Quarters corridor busy with magicians. She returned respectful nods and greetings
on her way out. The courtyard outside was crowded with novices and magicians, some making their way to and from the Baths,
others heading toward the University, and more than a few simply enjoying the early spring sunshine.

Heads turned toward her as always. There was something about black robes that drew the eye. Not even the white robes of the
High Lord or the blue of the Administrator attracted as much attention. Novices might notice and watch them pass, bowing respectfully
as they were meant to do to all graduated magicians, but they did not stare and take a step back as they did for Sonea and
Kallen.

And every time they do, I remember Akkarin, and how everyone did the same to him, though they didn’t know, as I did, that
he practised black magic. He wore black only because it was the colour of the High Lord then, but since it also marked him
as the most powerful magician in the Guild I guess that made him as intimidating as a Black Magician is now
.

She suppressed a sigh, ignored the stares, and headed toward the University.

Once inside she chose the passage through the centre of the
building rather than the main corridors on either side. Stepping out of this into the Great Hall, she looked up at the glass-panelled
ceiling three levels up, then at the rough stone of the original Guildhall building standing proudly within the vast room.
There won’t be another Meet before I leave
, she realised, slowing her steps.
This might be the last time I see this place
.

She stared at the building, then shook her head and quickened her stride again.
Only if everything goes terribly wrong
, she amended.

Reaching the end of the Great Hall, she passed through the other end of the central passage then turned into the right-hand
side corridor and stopped at the first door. At a tap from her knuckles the door swung inward, and she stepped into Osen’s
office.

The Administrator was sitting at his desk, facing two magicians who had turned to regard her. High Lord Balkan inclined his
head respectfully and murmured her name, as did Osen. The third magician was becoming more familiar to her.

“King’s Adviser Glarrin,” she said, nodding to him first before turning to the others. “High Lord. Administrator.”

“Black Magician Sonea,” Glarrin replied.

He was in his sixties, she knew, but looked younger. Though he was officially the king’s military adviser in matters relating
to magic and the Guild, he also handled peacetime international relations. A second King’s Adviser handled domestic matters
– mostly political wrangling between the Houses.
A task I don’t envy him
.

“Please sit,” Osen said. He gestured to three chairs, which slid closer and into a half-circle before his desk. They all sat
down. Osen leaned forward onto his elbows. “We’re here to discuss how Black Magician Sonea should go about negotiating
the release of her son. First I have some news from Ambassador Dannyl.”

Sonea felt her heart skip a beat.

“Ashaki Achati, the king’s representative that Ambassador Dannyl has established a friendly relationship with, visited the
Guild House last night,” Osen continued. “He relayed the king’s desire for Dannyl to persuade Lorkin to answer questions about
the Traitors. Dannyl, of course, repeated that he was in no position to order Lorkin to. Ashaki Achati would not say what
would happen if Lorkin did not talk, but he did make it clear that Sachaka feels no great reluctance to sever friendly ties
with the Allied Lands. It was not a threat, Dannyl assures me, but a statement of fact. They do not need to trade with us
or feel we would be a threat as an enemy.”

“Is it a bluff?” Balkan asked.

“Perhaps,” Glarrin replied. “It is too close to the truth, however. I would not want to test it. Sachaka doesn’t need us just
as we do not need it, but we would both lose some lucrative opportunities if stricter restrictions on trade were imposed.”

“So reminding them of the wealth they may miss out on is all I can do?” Sonea asked.

Glarrin pursed his lips in thought. “It would not hurt to point out that the Allied Lands seek trade with Sachaka rather than
rebels. That might at least reassure them that we don’t plan to side with their enemy.”

“Of course, the fact that we
are
seeking trade with the Traitors should not be mentioned,” Balkan added, with a chuckle.

“Of course not.” Sonea smiled. “Though should I hint that we might consider such a possibility, should Sachaka prove uncooperative
… and perhaps unreliable when it comes
to upholding agreements relating to the safety of Guild magicians?”

“No,” Glarrin said. “They will not take kindly to that sort of threat. I …” He paused, his eyes focusing on a distant point.
“The king asks if the Traitors can be contacted – if they can do anything to help us. After all, they can’t have planned for
Lorkin to be imprisoned.”

The Kyralian king and Glarrin must be communicating via a blood ring, Sonea realised.
That one little magical trick of Akkarin’s has become very popular since the Guild decided using one wasn’t technically using
black magic
.

“We can try,” Balkan replied. “Dannyl’s assistant, Lady Merria, has established a way to send messages to the Traitors.”

“We won’t get an answer before Sonea leaves,” Osen pointed out. He looked at Balkan. “Sonea should leave a blood ring of hers
here. Should she carry a blood ring from one of us as well?”

“Whoever gives her a ring risks seeing the secret of black magic in her mind.”

“Not if she’s wearing Naki’s ring.” Osen pointed out.

Sonea nodded. The ring Lilia’s former friend had used to stop her mind being read also protected the wearer from access via
a blood ring.

Balkan nodded. “It will be useful if Sonea can contact us when she chooses – but Dannyl already has a ring of yours. Would
it be better to give her one from me?”

“If the Sachakans seize them, then they can annoy the both of us.” Osen shook his head. “She should take one from me.”

Sonea hid her amusement at his choice of words. If someone got hold of Osen’s blood ring, the malicious things they could
do with it wouldn’t be designed to annoy him. Then she
sobered.
As they could to me, if they got hold of the blood ring I gave Lorkin
. Thankfully Osen had told Lorkin not to take it to the meeting with the Sachakan king.
If they had it, all they’d have to do is torture Lorkin while
…

“When will I be leaving?” she asked, to turn her thoughts somewhere less frightening.

“Tomorrow night,” Osen said. “We’ll call a Meet tomorrow and ask for volunteers to give you magical strength. We’ve decided
to let it be known that Lorkin has been imprisoned by the Sachakan king and we are sending you to negotiate for his release.”

“Amakira has given us the perfect excuse to send you to Sachaka,” Glarrin said. “You are to try meeting with the Traitors
as well, though it would be best if you did it after Lorkin was free – even better if he was home – in case the meeting is
discovered.” He frowned and looked away, then smiled. “The king asks how Lilia’s Warrior training is going.”

Balkan grimaced. “Lilia is no natural Warrior. Her reflexes and comprehension are good, and her defence strong, but she shows
no initiative in battle.”

“Ah,” Sonea said, smiling. “A familiar problem.”

Glarrin looked at her and raised an eyebrow.

“I was much the same,” she explained. “If only Lord Yikmo hadn’t been killed in the Ichani Invasion. He was good at teaching
reluctant novices.”

“Lady Rol Ley had studied Yikmo’s methods,” Balkan said, his expression thoughtful. “She teaches many of the standard classes
all novices attend, so she will know Lilia’s strengths and weaknesses.”

“She sounds like she could help,” Sonea said. “I’d offer to if I wasn’t about to leave.”

“Maybe you can when you get back,” Osen said. “Is there anything else we need to discuss.”

“Nothing that can’t be relayed through blood rings,” Glarrin said. “We should not delay Sonea’s leaving more than necessary.”

Osen looked at her. “Is there anything you must do before you go?”

She shook her head. “Nothing.”

“Then you had better let your assistant know he’ll be leaving tomorrow night.”

She stood up. “If we’re done here, I’ll do that next.”

Final-year Warrior classes had never been a part of Lilia’s plans for the future. According to the University standards, she
had achieved the minimum level of understanding and skill required for a novice to graduate. She ought to be off in the Healer’s
Quarters learning advanced techniques, but instead she was being roundly trounced by novices destined to be the next generation
of red-robed magicians.

They were finding her presence in the class fascinating. It wasn’t every day that a novice or magician got to practise fighting
with and against a black magician. They didn’t even seem to mind that she wasn’t good at it, because the lessons were mostly
demonstrations with little actual magic used. She wasn’t allowed to take and store power – not even if that power was given
willingly. But she had to admit that, when the lessons didn’t involve her making decisions or taking the initiative, she found
them as interesting as the other novices did.

Black magic certainly changed the dynamics of fighting. She’d have thought being able to steal magic from a person would be
the most useful black magic ability in battle, but it wasn’t. It still required her to get close enough to that person
to cut their skin and break their natural barrier against magical outside interference. By the time she had worn an enemy
down enough to do this, there was little magic left to take.

Being able to store magic was a much bigger advantage. It was disturbing how it made non-black magicians redundant, once they’d
given their power to a black magician. It was also frightening to realise how important it made her, over the others. And
more of a target.

When it came to actually engaging in a fight, she nearly always made the wrong decisions, acted too soon or hesitated too
long. As her latest attack on the “enemy” scattered ineffectually off his shield, Black Magician Kallen called a halt.

“Better,” he told her. He looked around the Arena. The tall spires supporting the invisible barrier of magic that protected
everything outside from the practice bouts within were now casting shorter shadows on the ground. “That’s enough,” he said,
looking at the trainee Warriors. “You may go.”

They all looked surprised, but did not argue. Kallen waited as they left through the short tunnel entrance, then walked beside
Lilia as she followed them.

“Wait, Lilia,” he said as they emerged.

He said nothing as the other novices strode away, but then sighed. Looking up at him, Lilia saw that he was scowling, but
his expression smoothed as he noticed her looking at him. She looked down and waited for his assessment.