The Traitor Queen tst-3

by Trudi Canavan

  Anyi chose one room at random, then, since there were no chairs, sat down on the floor with her back to a wall. Lilia sat down beside her, disturbing a dust-covered broken plate. She wiped the surface clean, uncovering a Guild symbol imprinted into the underside. This isn’t very old. I wonder how it got here.

  “I shouldn’t care,” Anyi said.

  Lilia turned to look at her. “Of course you should. He’s your father.”

  Anyi’s mouth twisted into a bitter smile. “Not much of one. For most of my life he ignored me. It was only when his other family was murdered that he paid any attention to me.”

  Not sure what to say, Lilia said nothing.

  “That’s not really fair, though,” Anyi added, her voice quieter and softer. “Mother left him. She said it wasn’t safe being the wife of a Thief, and that she couldn’t stand being hidden away all the time. I don’t think two people should be forced to be together if they don’t want to be.”

  “How did Cery come to marry again?” Lilia asked. Divorce was something only the king could grant. She couldn’t imagine a Thief asking the king to end his marriage.

  Anyi shrugged. “He just did.”

  “But that’s...”

  “Bigamy?” Anyi looked at Lilia and shrugged. “Not really. Nobody in the underworld can afford a legal marriage. I suppose Cery could, but why pay attention to one of the king’s laws when you don’t pay much to the rest of them? We have our own ways of declaring ourselves married – or unmarried.”

  Lilia shook her head in wonder. “It’s a whole other world.” She shrugged. “Though I could say that about the family my parents were servants for. We might have been a part of their world, but we weren’t in their world. It would have been nice to be that rich, and to be able to order people around, but sometimes they had even less choice about their lives than we did. They don’t get to decide who they marry, and they do have to ask the king for a divorce – and hope he grants it.”

  “Perhaps that’s why Sonea never got married. She’s not from the Houses so she doesn’t have a family deciding who she marries, but she’d have to have a legal marriage if she did and then if she wanted to end it she’d have to hope the king let her.”

  Lilia chuckled. “I can’t imagine some man ordering her about.”

  Anyi grinned. “No. More likely it’d be the other way around.” But as she met Lilia’s gaze she grew serious again. She looked away and sighed.

  “He’s going to get himself killed. He finally lets me into his world and now I’m going to lose him.”

  “Only if things go wrong – and we’ll make sure that won’t happen.”

  Anyi gave her an accusing look. “You think he’s right.”

  “No.” Lilia shook her head. “But I suspect we won’t have much say in it.”

  The other girl scowled, then her expression became thoughtful. “You could tell him Kallen doesn’t want to do it. Put Cery off for a while.”

  Lilia nodded. “I could. But then he might try to do it without Kallen.” She thought back to what Cery had said. “I can’t help thinking he is right about one thing: Skellin will guess you all came here. Where else would you go? He probably knows there are tunnels. It’s not a secret in the Guild, so I doubt it is outside of it. He’ll come to have a look eventually. When he does, he’ll find you here. And if I’m away in lessons, I won’t be able to stop him killing you all.”

  Anyi turned to look at Lilia, her brow creased with worry.

  “Perhaps the only way you can be safe is under the Guild’s protection,” Lilia continued. “I know none of you like that idea, but if Cery’s trap fails, that’s where you’ll end up anyway. I suspect the Guild won’t like it either, but they’ll be more willing to protect you if there’s evidence Skellin actually entered the Guild’s underground passages.”

  Anyi groaned and rubbed her face with her hands. “You’re making sense, and I don’t like it.”

  “I don’t either,” Lilia admitted. “But I know I can’t be the protector you need. Mostly because I’m not here that much, but also because I don’t know how powerful Skellin is. If he comes here with Lorandra I doubt I’ll be able to protect myself, let alone the rest of you. Even if he doesn’t, how are you going to let me know you need my help? What if I don’t get here in time?”

  “We’ll use an escape route.”

  “What if you don’t make it? Even if you do, you’ll come up in the Guild’s grounds and if he’s still following you then you’ll have to seek the help of the Guild anyway.” Lilia sighed and felt the frustration and worry of the last few weeks gather up behind her words. “It’s not safe down here, and you could be living more comfortably, and it’s so hard getting food to you, and... I miss you.”

  At that last admission, the flood of words that had been pouring out of her ran out. She felt her face heat and looked at Anyi sheepishly. The other girl had an odd, surprised expression.

  “I mean I miss being alone with you. Maybe that’s a little selfish,” she began. “I—”

  But she got no apology out, because Anyi leaned forward, caught hold of her jaw and kissed her.

  “I miss you, too,” she said quietly and fiercely.

  Then she drew Lilia into her arms. For a time they simply held each other, taking comfort in physical warmth and closeness. Too soon Anyi sighed and pulled away.

  “Cery will be wondering where we’ve got to,” she murmured.

  Standing up, she held out a hand to Lilia. As Lilia took it Anyi hauled her to her feet, but in the same movement she pulled Lilia close and kissed her again. This time it was a lingering kiss, as if she had forgotten her last words.

  A footfall, followed by a sharply indrawn breath, jolted Lilia back to her surroundings. She and Anyi sprang apart and whirled towards the door, Anyi bracing in a fighting stance. Lilia had drawn magic and formed a shield before she saw that it was only Cery standing in the doorway.

  His face was frozen in surprise. As Anyi uttered a curse, Cery’s expression changed to a mix of embarrassment and amusement.

  “Didn’t mean to interrupt,” he said, taking a step backwards. “Come back when you’re ready.”

  Then with a barely suppressed smile, he turned and hurried away.

  Covering her face with her hands, Anyi groaned. Lilia placed a hand on her friend’s shoulder in sympathy. I wouldn’t want my father walking in on me kissing another woman. As Anyi’s shoulders started to shake and she began to make choking noises, she felt her heart twist, until she saw her friend’s hands shift to her mouth and she realised Anyi was laughing.

  “Well,” Lilia said as she waited for Anyi to stop. “That’s not the reaction I was expecting.”

  Anyi shook her head. “No. Guess it wouldn’t be.” She took a couple of deep breaths, only breaking into spluttering once. “I’ve been worrying about how to tell him for months. Now I don’t have to.”

  “You were going to tell him about us?”

  “Of course.”

  “But... won’t he be angry?”

  “No. A bit dismayed, maybe. Did I ever tell you where he was born and grew up?”

  Lilia shook her head.

  “Well, it’s really his story to tell – many stories, actually. It was a place you meet people with all kinds of tastes and ideas.” Anyi took Lilia’s hand. “Come on. We really should go back. He’ll be worrying that we’re too annoyed or embarrassed to return. And I want to make sure this fool’s plan is as foolproof as possible.”

  Chapter 11

  A Change of Plan

  The words on the page before Dannyl were as grey as an overcast sky. Tayend had given Dannyl his meagre supply of remaining ink and, since neither the slaves nor Merria had managed to bring any more into the Guild House, Dannyl had to thin out what was left with water. Following Tayend’s advice, he now locked his research notes away with magic whenever he was done working on them.

  A movement drew his attention to the doorway in time to see Kai throw himself on the floo
r.

  “A carriage from the palace has arrived, master,” the slave said.

  Achati again. He sighed and closed his eyes for a moment. This doesn’t get easier. Opening his eyes, he dried the ink on the page, cleaned his pen, stowed everything away in a drawer and protected it all with magic. Dismissing Kai, he straightened his back and made his way to the Master’s Room.

  The door slave was literally hopping from one foot to another, until he saw Dannyl and dove face-first onto the floor.

  “Lord Lorkin has returned, master!” he declared.

  Dannyl’s heart skipped a beat. “Lorkin?”

  He hurried forward, but Sonea’s son was already emerging from the entrance corridor. As the young man entered the room Dannyl felt a chill run down his spine. Something has happened to him, he thought, though he wasn’t sure how he knew. Dannyl looked Lorkin over. There was no sign of injury, though it was hard to tell when Guild robes concealed so much. Other than dark shadows under his eyes suggesting a lack of sleep, Lorkin looked well.

  “Ambassador Dannyl,” he said.

  “You’re free!” Dannyl had to resist an urge to hug the young man, instead grasping Lorkin’s arm in the usual gesture of Kyralian greeting. “What happened? King Amakira let you go?”

  “Yes,” Lorkin replied.

  “Do you know why?”

  Lorkin looked away. “He didn’t say.”

  Dannyl stepped back. Lorkin’s voice was flat and expressionless. He should be relieved. Puzzled by his unexpected release. Angry that he’d been imprisoned in the first place.

  “Come sit down.” Dannyl ushered Lorkin to the seats, but the young magician didn’t sit down. “Are you hurt?”

  “No.”

  “Did they read your mind? Or attempt to?”

  “No.”

  “Lord Lorkin! I thought I heard your name.”

  They both looked up to see Tayend standing in the doorway. The Elyne hurried forward, reaching out toward the young magician as if to hug him but, Dannyl was amused to see, letting his arms drop to his sides at the last moment. He gave Lorkin a critical look.

  “You don’t look too bad, for someone who has been locked up in a prison,” he observed. “But they wouldn’t have dared harm you physically. How are you feeling?”

  Lorkin shrugged, but his eyes betrayed the same wary evasiveness Dannyl had noted earlier. “Tired. Hungry. I could do with a bath.”

  Tayend sniffed and smiled. “You’re right about that. I don’t imagine the palace prison contains hot tubs. Let’s get you to our perfectly civilized Guild House ones. I’ll have the slaves prepare you something nourishing and fetch you some clean robes.”

  Lorkin nodded, but before he succumbed to the Elyne’s attempts to usher him out of the room he reached into his robes and turned to Dannyl. Wordlessly, he drew out a scroll. Dannyl noted King Amakira’s seal before looking up at the young man again. Lorkin’s eyes were hard and knowing.

  Then he turned away and left.

  Dannyl sat down and broke the seal. It was an official order from the king and simply declared that Lorkin was forbidden to leave the Guild House. No reason was given for his release from the palace prison. No mention was made at all of his incarceration. What did I expect? An apology?

  Tayend returned to the room and sat down next to Dannyl.

  “He’s not all right,” the Elyne murmured.

  “No,” Dannyl agreed.

  “Whatever they did to him – or forced him to do – he is not ready to talk about it. I will keep an eye on him and let you know if he tells me about it – if he doesn’t make me promise to keep it a secret, of course.”

  “Of course.”

  “So what does it say?” Tayend nodded at the scroll.

  “Lorkin is forbidden to leave the Guild House.”

  Tayend nodded. “He’s not completely free, then.” He reached out and patted Dannyl’s arm. “He’s out of that place. That, at least, is a good thing.” He stood up. “I have to report this. You had better tell Administrator Osen.”

  Dannyl watched Tayend hurry away, and managed a sad smile. If Lorkin did prove reluctant to talk about what had been done to him in the prison, or had some guilty secret to admit to, Tayend was the one most likely to coax it out of him. He could be uncannily perceptive when it came to other people’s troubles. Except when it came to our troubles, Dannyl reminded himself.

  I hate to think it, but I hope Lorkin isn’t here because they forced him to betray the Traitors. It could be very bad for them – and might be for us, if whatever Lorkin and Osen were communicating about involved us working with the them.

  Osen. As Tayend had pointed out, the Administrator would want to know Lorkin had returned. Reaching into his robes, he drew out Osen’s blood ring, took a deep breath, then slipped it on his finger.

  * * *

  “You have got to be kidding me,” Sonea exclaimed under her breath as she looked up at the Stayhouse sign.

  “What is it?” Regin asked.

  She said nothing, because a stocky man had appeared in the doorway.

  He bowed. “My Lord and Lady! Come in! Come in!” the man said. “I am Fondin. Welcome to Fergun’s Rest, the finest Stayhouse in Kyralia.”

  She heard Regin chuckle, but he said nothing as she moved through the doorway. As always, the ground floor was a dining and drinking area. It was busy despite the late hour, the room echoing with many voices. The clothing of the customers suggested they were locals and had dressed up for an occasion. A few looked up at her and Regin, and their eyes went wide with surprise.

  “Please sit a moment and rest,” Fondin invited them, gesturing toward a quieter corner. “Do you need one room or two?”

  “You’re busy tonight,” Sonea observed.

  “Yes. We’re hosting a celebration and there are many who have come from afar,” Fondin said. “But don’t worry about the noise. We’ll finish up at a decent hour and then it’ll be nice and quiet here.”

  As if on cue, the room began to quieten. Sonea heard hissed whispers. Fondin turned back to them, then his eyes dropped to Sonea’s robes and widened. He’d obviously not noticed the colour in the dim light outside. Even in the subdued lamplight, she could see his face grow pale.

  “What is the reason for the celebration?” she asked.

  “W-w-w-wedding,” Fondin stuttered.

  “Then pass on my congratulations to the bride and groom.” Sonea smiled. “Are they staying here tonight?”

  “N-n-n...” Fondin took a deep breath and straightened. “No, they’ll be off to their new house tonight.”

  But many of the wedding guests would be staying here, she guessed.

  “A new home as well. Well, we won’t take up much more of your time. I’m sure we can manage in one room,” Sonea told him. “With separate beds and a privacy screen, of course. We’ll eat there so you can keep your full attention on your guests. Could you show us straight to the room?”

  Fondin nodded, then, for good measure, bowed deeply before whirling around and leading them upstairs. He paused at several doors, wringing his hands, then with obvious reluctance led them to a room at the end of the corridor. As he opened the door Sonea was pleased to see it was a rather plain room, with a single one-person bed, but no signs of current occupants. She had been worried he’d throw guests out of one of their rooms, or that none of the rooms were empty. Stayhouses along major routes were paid by the Guild to keep one room free at all times, and everyone expected it would be their best room, but it must be tempting to put guests in there on busy nights, especially on lesser-used routes like this one.

  “This will do,” she told him.

  “I’ll have another bed and a screen brought in, my Lady,” he said, then hurried away.

  She entered the room, and Regin followed.

  “Should I offer to sleep on the floor?” Regin asked.

  Sonea turned to see him smiling. “I won’t spoil anybody’s night by insisting on having the best room, or two room
s, but sleeping on the floor is going a bit too far.”

  Before long the arrangements had been made. A generous meal and a bottle of wine were laid out on a small table. The wine was very good. Too expensive even for a local wedding, Sonea suspected. More likely the Guild had ensured a supply of decent wine was kept here for its members.

  “Do you have more of this wine?” she asked the young woman when she returned to collect the dishes.

  “Yes, Lady.”

  “Are the newly-weds still here?”

  “About to leave, Lady.”

  “Give them a bottle as a wedding gift.”

  The young woman’s eyes widened. “Yes, Lady.”

  Regin’s pursed his lips, then to Sonea’s surprise he slipped out of his chair and quietly followed the woman downstairs. When he returned, Sonea raised an eyebrow at him.

  “Just making sure the gift reached the recipients,” he said. He sat down. “So. Fergun’s Rest.” Regin frowned. “Didn’t he run away when the Fort was attacked by the Ichani?”

  “He hid. Which was the only sensible thing to do.”

  “And cowardly.” Regin shrugged. “Still, nobody knows how they’ll react when confronted by a real battle. Naming a Stayhouse after him?” He shook his head. “Tell me there are Stayhouses all over Kyralia named after magicians who died in the war, not just Fergun.”

  “I don’t know. I hope so.” She grimaced. “It irks me more that a man who locked up my friend so that he could blackmail me has anything named after him, but that’s too personal a grudge to justify not honouring him among the rest of the dead.”

  Regin looked at her. “Ah, that’s right. He wanted you dishonoured and thrown out of the Guild to ensure no lower-class people would join the Guild again.”

  “Yes. He’d be horrified, if he were alive today, at the changes in the Guild.”

  “You never know. He may have changed his mind, after the invasion. Lots of people did, you know.”

  She looked up at him. He held her gaze for a moment. In his eyes was a hint of expectation. For what? For me to acknowledge he is a much better person now? Reassurance that I don’t hold a grudge still? Or to admit I have come to trust even him? Perhaps even like him? Well, maybe I shouldn’t go that far. She drew in a breath to speak.