As the circle of magicians parted to receive her, Sonea bowed.
"Congratulations, Sonea," Balkan rumbled. "It was a well-fought battle."
"Thank you, Lord Balkan," she replied, her eyes brightening.
"How are you feeling?" Lady Vinara asked.
Sonea tilted her head, considering, then shrugged. "Hungry, my lady."
Vinara laughed. "Then I hope your guardian has a celebration banquet waiting for you."
If Sonea's smile became a little forced, the others did not appear to notice. They were looking at Akkarin, who had turned to face her.
"Well done, Sonea," he said.
"Thank you, High Lord."
The pair regarded each other in silence, then Sonea lowered her eyes. Watching the others carefully, Lorlen noted Vinara's knowing smile. Balkan looked amused and Sarrin was nodding approvingly.
Lorlen sighed. They saw only a young novice awed and intimidated by her powerful guardian. Would they ever see anything more? He looked down at the red gem on his finger. If they do, I won't be the one to show them. I am as much a hostage as she is.
He looked at Akkarin and narrowed his eyes. When he gets around to explaining himself, he'd better have a very good reason for all this.
Opening the door to his room, Dannyl gestured for Rothen to enter, then followed and closed the door. Inside, it was dark, and though it all looked clean and free of dust there was a smell or neglect in the air. His trunk had been deposited just inside the bedroom.
"So what was so pressing that the High Lord ordered you back to Imardin?" Rothen asked.
Dannyl regarded Rothen closely. No "how are you?" or "how was your journey?" He might have been annoyed, if it hadn't been for the disturbing changes in his friend's appearance.
Dark shadows hung under Rothen's eyes. He seemed older, though Dannyl might simply be seeing his friend through eyes less familiar with the deep creases across Rothen's brow, or the gray in his hair. The slightly hunched, tense way his mentor walked was definitely new, however.
"I can tell you some of it," Dannyl said, "but not all. It seems Akkarin learned of my research into ancient magic. He ... are you all right, Rothen?"
Rothen had grown very pale. He looked away. "Was he ... offended by my interest?"
"He wasn't," Dannyl assured him, "because he doesn't know you have any interest in ancient magic. He had learned of my research, and it appears he approves of it. In fact, I have his permission to continue."
Rothen stared at Dannyl in surprise. "Then that must mean . . ."
"You can write your book without worrying about stepping on his toes," Dannyl finished.
From Rothen's dismissive frown, Dannyl guessed this wasn't what had surprised his friend.
"Did he ask you to do anything else?" Rothen asked.
Dannyl smiled. "That is the part I can't tell you about. Ambassadorial matters. Nothing too dangerous, however."
Rothen regarded Dannyl speculatively, then nodded. "You must be tired," he said. "I should leave you to unpack and rest." He moved to the door, then hesitated and turned around again. "Did you get my letter?"
Here we go, Dannyl thought.
"Yes."
Rothen made an apologetic gesture. "I thought I should warn you in case it stirs up the gossips again."
"Of course," Dannyl said dryly. He paused, surprised at the lack of concern in his own voice.
"I don't think it will be a problem," Rothen added. "It this assistant of yours is what they say he is, that is. People aren't speculating about you, they just think it's amusing in light of what you were accused of as a novice."
"I see." Dannyl nodded slowly, then steeled himself for an unpleasant response. "Tayend is a lad, Rothen."
"A lad?" Rothen frowned, then his eyes widened with understanding. "So the rumor is true."
"Yes. The Elynes are a more tolerant people than Kyralians—most of the time." Dannyl smiled. "I'm endeavouring to adapt to their ways."
Rothen nodded. "Part of the role of Ambassador, I expect. Along with secret meetings with the High Lord." He smiled for the first time since they had met that day. "But I am keeping you from your unpacking. Why don't you have dinner with Dorrien and me tonight? He's returning to his village tomorrow."
"I'd like that."
Rothen moved to the door again. At a flexing of Dannyl's will, the door swung open. Rothen stopped, pushed it closed again, and sighed. He turned to stare into Dannyl's eyes.
"Be careful, Dannyl," he said. "Be very careful."
Dannyl stared back. "I will," he assured his friend.
Rothen nodded. Opening the door again, he stepped out into the corridor. Dannyl watched his friend and mentor walk away.
And shook his head as he realized he had no idea whether his friend was warning him about his affairs with Tayend, or with Akkarin.
Epilogue
The full moon bathed the path to the High Lord's Residence in blue light. Walking toward the building, Sonea smiled.
Four weeks had passed since the challenge, and not once had she encountered Regin and his allies in the University passages after class. No sniggers had reached her ears in the corridors and not one of her projects had been ruined.
Today she had been paired with Hal in Medicines and, after an awkward start, they had started arguing about the right treatment for nailworm. He had told her about a rare plant his father, a village Healer in Lan, used to treat the disease. When she told him that the dwells used tugor mash, left over from distillation of bol, he had laughed. They started exchanging superstitions and unlikely cures from their homes, and when the lesson ended she realized they had been talking for an hour.
Reaching the door to the Residence, Sonea touched the handle. Expecting the door to swing open immediately, she stepped forward and banged her knee.
Surprised and annoyed, she touched the handle again, but the door remained closed. Was she to be locked out tonight? Grasping the handle, she turned it and was relieved when the door swung inward.
Closing the door behind her, she turned toward the stairs, then froze as she heard a crash from somewhere beyond the other staircase. A muffled shout reached her ears, then the floor vibrated beneath her feet.
Something was going on below her, in the underground room. Something magical.
Her whole body went cold. Frozen, she considered what to do. Her first thought was to escape to her room, but she realized that if there was a magical battle happening beneath her she would be no safer in her bedroom.
She should leave. Get as far away as possible.
But curiosity kept her still. I want to know what is going on, she thought. And if someone has come to confront Akkarin, they might need my help.
Taking a deep breath, she moved to the door of the stairs and opened it a crack. The staircase beyond was dark, so the door to the room below must be closed. Slowly, every muscle tensed ready for a fast retreat, she crept down the stairs. Reaching the door, she searched for a keyhole or some way to see into the underground room, but found nothing. A man's voice yelled something. A stranger's voice. It took her a moment to realize she hadn't understood him because he was speaking in another language.
The reply was spoken harshly, also in another language. Sonea went cold as she recognized Akkarin's voice. Then a high wail of desperation sent her heart racing and she backed up the stairs, suddenly convinced she ought to be anywhere but there.
The door flew open.
Takan looked up at her and stopped. She didn't see his expression, however. Her attention had been caught by the scene beyond.
Akkarin stood over a man dressed in simple clothing. His hand was wrapped about the man's throat, and blood trickled through his fingers. In his other hand was a jewelled knife—a knife that was horribly familiar. As she watched, the stranger's eyes glazed over and he slumped to the floor.
Then Takan cleared his throat, and Akkarin's head snapped up.
Their gaze locked—like in her nightmares in which she relived
the night when she had witnessed him in this room, only he saw her watching and she couldn't move . . . then woke up with her heart racing.
But this time she wouldn't wake up. This was real.
"Sonea." He spoke her name with unconcealed annoyance. "Come here."
She shook her head, backed away, and felt the sting of magic as her shoulder encountered a barrier. Takan sighed and retreated into the room. Feeling the barrier press against her back, Sonea realized it was going to push her down the stairs. She pushed aside panic with an effort, straightened her shoulders and forced her legs to carry her into his domain.
As she stepped through the doorway the door closed behind her with a solid finality. She looked down at the dead man and shuddered at his empty, staring eyes. Akkarin followed her gaze.
"This man is—was—an assassin. He was sent to kill me."
So he says. She looked at Takan.
"It is true," the servant said. He gestured. "Do you think the m—High Lord would mess up his own rooms?"
Looking around, she realized that the walls were scorched and one of the bookcases was a shambles of broken wood and scattered books. She had sensed and heard enough from the guestroom to suspect there had been some kind of magical battle going on below her.
So the dead man must have been a magician. She looked at him again. He was not Kyralian, or of any of the races belonging to the Allied Lands. He looked like . . . she turned to stare at Takan. The same broad face and gold-brown skin ...
"Yes," Akkarin said. "He and Takan are of the same people. Sachakan."
That explained how the man could have magic, but not be of the Guild. So there were still magicians in Sachaka . . . but if this man was an assassin, why did he—or his employer—want Akkarin dead?
Why indeed? she mused.
"Why did you kill him?" she asked. "Why not hand him over to the Guild?"
Akkarin's smile was humorless. "Because, as you've no doubt guessed, he and his kind know much about me that I'd rather the Guild did not."
"So you killed him. With . . . with . . ."
"With what the Guild calls black magic. Yes." He took a step toward her, then another, his eyes level and unwavering. "I have never killed anyone who did not mean me harm, Sonea."
She looked away. Was that supposed to reassure her, when he knew she would expose his secret if she could? That would certainly do him harm.
"He would be satisfied, indeed, if he knew the harm he has done by coming here and causing you to see what you have seen," Akkarin said softly. "You must be wondering who these people are, who want me dead, and what then-reasons are. I can tell you only this: the Sachakans still hate the Guild, but they also fear us. From time to time they send one of these, to test me. Do you really think it unreasonable of me to defend myself?"
She looked up at him, wondering why he was telling her this. Did he really expect her to believe anything he said? Surely, if the Sachakans were a danger, the rest of the Guild would know. Not just the High Lord. No, he practiced evil magic to strengthen himself and this was only a lie to ensure her silence.
His gaze moved over her face, then he nodded to himself.
"It does not matter if you believe me or not, Sonea." He narrowed his eyes at the door, which swung open with a faint creak. "Only remember that, if you speak a word of this, you will bring about the destruction of everything you hold dear."
She sidestepped to the door. "I know," she said bitterly. "You don't have to remind me."
Reaching the doorway, she hurried up the stairs. As she reached the door to the guestroom, a voice drifted up from the room below.
"At least the murders will stop."
"For now," Akkarin replied. "Until the next one comes."
Twisting the handle, Sonea stumbled into the guestroom. She stopped, breathing heavily as relief swept over her. She had faced the nightmare and survived. But she knew she would not sleep easily now. She had seen him kill, and that was not something she would ever forget.
* * *
Lord Dannyl's Guide to Slum Slang
blood money—
payment for assassination
boot—
refuse/refusal (don't boot us)
capper—
man who frequents brothels
clicked—
occurred
client—
person who has an obligation or agreement with a Thief
counter—
whore
done—
murdered
dull—
persuade to keep silent
dunghead—
fool
dwells—
term used to describe slum dwellers
eye—
keep watch
fired—
angry (got fired about it)
fish—
propose/ask/look for (also someone fleeing the Guard)
gauntlet—
guard who is bribeable or in the control of a Thief
goldmine—
man who prefers boys
good go—
a reasonable try
got—
caught
grandmother—
pimp
gutter—
dealer in stolen goods
hai—
a call for attention or expression of surprise or inquiry
heavies—
important people
kin—
a Thief's closest and most trusted
knife—
assassin/hired killer
messenger—
thug who delivers or carries out a threat
mind—
hide (minds his business/I'll mind that for you)
mug—
mouth (as in vessel for bol)
out for—
looking for
pick—
recognize/understand
punt—
smuggler
right-sided—
trustworthy/heart in the right place
rope—
freedom
rub—
trouble (got into some rub over it)
shine—
attraction (got a shine for him)
show—
introduce
space—
allowances/permission
squimp—
someone who double-crosses the Thieves
style—
manner of performing business
tag—
recognize (also means a spy, usually undercover)
thief—
leader of a criminal group
watcher—
posted to observe something or someone
wild—
difficult
visitor—
burglar
* * *
Glossary
Animals
aga moths—
pests that eat clothing
anyi—
sea mammals with short spines
ceryni—
small rodent
enka—
horned domestic animal, bred for meat
eyoma—
sea leeches
faren—
general term for arachnids
gorin—
large domestic animal used for food and to haul boats and wagons
harrel—
small domestic animal bred for meat
limek—
wild predatory dog
mullook—
wild nocturnal bird
rassook—
domestic bird used for meat and feathers
ravi—
rodent, larger than ceryni
reber—
domestic animal, bred for wool and meat
sapfly—
woodland insect
sevli—
poisonous lizard
squimp—
squirrel-like creature that steals food
zill—
small, intelligent mammal sometimes kept as a pet
Plants/Food
anivope vines—
plant sensitive to mental projection
bol—
(also means "river scum") strong liquor made from tugors
brasi—
green leafy vegetable with small buds
chebol sauce—
rich meat sauce made from bol
crots—
large, purple beans
curem—
smooth, nutty spice
curren—
coarse grain with robust flavor
dull—
long fruit with tart orange, seedy flesh
gan-gan—
flowering bush from Lan
iker—
stimulating drug, reputed to have aphrodisiac properties
jerras—
long yellow beans
kreppa—
foul-smelling medicinal herb
marin—
red citrus fruit
monyo—
bulb
myk—
mind-affecting drug
nalar—
pungent root
pachi—
crisp, sweet fruit
papea—
pepper-like spice
Black Magician-02 The Novice Page 47
