The Traitor Queen

by Trudi Canavan

  Tyvara moved to his side and leaned close.

  “She and a few others were setting barrier and warning stones around the house,” she murmured. “The others lost sight of her just as the Ashaki attacked. She killed three of them before they overcame—”

  “We must move,” Savara declared. “If we did miss one of them, he may be reporting his estimate of our numbers right now. They may come back with a greater force. If we are lucky we will relocate without them tracing us. It may be that we won’t get to rest tonight at all. What matters is we avoid outright battle with the Ashaki until we join the other teams.” She looked up and swept her gaze over all. “Pack, and take what food can be easily carried and eaten while we move.”

  The Traitors scattered. Tyvara took Lorkin’s hand and dragged him away to the room they had planned to share with Savara. Since they hadn’t had a chance to unpack, all they had to do was shoulder their packs. Tyvara grabbed Savara’s and they returned to the Master’s room.

  “… want us to do with her body?” a Traitor was asking.

  “Leave her here. If we win we will come back for her,” Savara replied. She took her pack and shouldered it, but, as she turned away, Lorkin caught a glint of moisture in her eyes.

  The Traitors were returning to the room now. One stepped out of a side passage near Lorkin, and as he turned his heart darkened. Kalia stared at him blankly, then gave him a wide berth.

  Which is … odd. I’d expect a glare at least. He narrowed his eyes at her back and concentrated.

  He caught no surface thought, just a wracking feeling of guilt.

  “It’s her fault,” he gasped.

  Nobody looked up. They hadn’t heard him. The room was too noisy. He turned to find Tyvara staring at him. Then a hand grasped his arm. He looked up to see Savara standing behind them, her other hand resting on Tyvara’s arm.

  —Say nothing, she sent. This is not the time.

  Choking back a protest, he nodded and followed the Traitor queen out into the street.

  As Saral and Temi stopped in front of the gate and pushed it open with magic, Sonea let out a sigh of relief. The sun had set hours before, and she had begun to wonder if the escort planned to travel through the night. The Traitors steered their mounts through the entrance. As Sonea and Regin followed, Temi slid off his horse and walked over to close the gates again, glancing up and down the street before retreating.

  Saral dismounted and handed the reins of her horse to Temi, then indicated that Sonea and Regin should do the same.

  “We need to check the house,” she said in a low voice. “Looks like the slaves have gone, but there’s always a chance a few ones loyal to their master have stayed. While the Ashaki has most likely joined the king’s army, he too may have stayed behind, or might return for something, or may have sent a friend to watch over his house. Stay here.”

  Sonea nodded. “Need help?”

  “No.”

  Saral straightened and looked at Temi, then stalked away toward a nearby door. It was unlocked, and she disappeared inside. Sonea looked around. It made sense to stand with Temi. If they were attacked it would be easier to protect everyone under one shield. But as she started towards him she saw that he was holding up a small object. She sensed a faint vibration in the air and realised that he, and the horses, were already within a shield. The object must be a magical gemstone.

  So, it’s up to us to shield ourselves now. Why waste power that could be needed in battle on a couple of uninvited foreigners? Well, I suppose they are about to go into battle, and we can look after ourselves. Sighing, she veered away and headed for the shadow of a wall nearby. In the protection of darkness, she extended her barrier around Regin. He glanced at her and moved closer, but said nothing.

  A long wait followed. Temi said nothing, but his anxiety was plain to see. The horses were quiet, heads hanging wearily. They’d been ridden with few pauses all day. Longer and faster than we travelled before. I wonder … are we in the city now? Low walls and houses set within fields had been replaced by high walls protecting buildings much closer to the road. Most structures were single storey, but the occasional one – as in the country – had a small tower protruding above the roof. She hadn’t been able to see if fields were hidden behind them, or how large the estates were. Even now, all she could see was the courtyard they stood within. There could be sprawling fields on the other side of the buildings, or another mansion.

  It doesn’t sound like a city, though. It’s too quiet.

  Regin shifted his weight from one leg to the other, and his shoulder brushed against her own, leaving an impression of warmth. She felt a shock go through her, not entirely unpleasant.

  Stop it, she told herself.

  A door opened to their left and her heart skipped a beat. Then a globe light appeared and she was relieved to see it was Saral returning.

  “Empty,” she told them. “The stables are over there.” Temi nodded and led the horses in the direction she’d pointed. Saral looked at Sonea. “Come inside.”

  They entered the mansion by the door Saral had first used. As with so many Sachakan homes, a short corridor led to a bigger room. Corridors led off on either side to suites of rooms, a bathhouse, and the kitchens and other service areas.

  “If you use these later,” Saral said of the baths, “don’t take too long. If Tovira does return, you won’t want to be caught there.”

  “No,” Sonea agreed. “It would be rather disconcerting having to fight an Ashaki while naked.”

  In the corner of her eye, she saw Regin cover his mouth. Saral hesitated, then looked away. “And it has only one entrance,” she said.

  Sonea could not see if the woman was smiling, or hear amusement in her voice. Too close to battle to maintain a sense of humour. They went to the kitchen next, where Saral helped herself to food and told Sonea and Regin to do the same.

  “You’re not worried the slaves might have poisoned it in the hope of weakening the Ashaki?”

  Saral shook her head. “If they had, they’d have left a warning. A glyph our spies use. Now, I’m going up to the tower. You can stay here if you like.”

  “I’ll come with you,” Sonea said firmly. “I want to see where we are.”

  Saral looked as if she might argue, then shook her head. “Follow me, then.”

  A short journey followed. The tower was reached through what must have been the Ashaki’s suite of rooms. Sonea noted female clothing along with male.

  “I wonder where his wife is.”

  “Sent away somewhere safer, most likely,” Saral replied. “We are on the outskirts. A more central location would be easier to defend.”

  The outskirts, Sonea mused. So we have reached the city.

  At the top of a spiral staircase was a small, round room.

  “Stay to one side of the windows so nobody out there will see your shape,” Saral instructed. She approached one from the left, peering around the edge. Sonea looked out from the other side. Rooftops spread before her. Somewhere several hundred paces to the left a building was on fire. A greater number of two-storey buildings stood directly ahead, and what looked like domes rose behind them.

  “Welcome to Arvice,” Saral said. “Savara has communicated orders that we stay here until she summons us. Unless, of course, we are forced to leave. What are your orders?”

  Nothing so specific, Sonea thought. But since she had the courtesy to ask … “I will check.”

  Reaching into her robe pocket, she drew out Osen’s ring and slipped it on her finger.

  —Osen?

  —Sonea.

  —We’ve arrived at the city and are hiding in an empty estate belonging to Ashaki Tovira, who is most likely in the king’s army. Our Traitor escort says we must stay here until Queen Savara summons us.

  —No doubt they want to ensure you don’t interfere.

  —What should we do?

  —What she says.

  —I won’t be able to see the fighting from here. Which mean
t she would not see what happened to Lorkin, or be able to help him.

  —Hmm. If you and Dannyl both wear my blood rings, you may be able to see what he communicates to me. Though I have told him to stay in the Guild House. Maybe I should ask him to find a vantage point from which to watch the battle instead.

  —So long as he doesn’t put himself at risk doing so.

  —There is always risk, being close to a magical battle. The Guild needs to know what the outcome is. Our Healer volunteers left this morning. We don’t want them walking into a dangerous situation.

  —Are you sure you want us to stay put?

  —Yes. As a figure of greater authority than Dannyl, and as a black magician, you are more likely to be seen as a threat by both sides. If it weren’t for Lorkin, we would have ordered you home.

  —Ah. Well. I’m grateful that you didn’t.

  —Those of us in favour of you remaining in Sachaka argued that, when the conflict is over, you may persuade Lorkin to return or at least ensure the Traitors uphold their side of the exchange.

  —Let’s hope they don’t use up all their stones in the battle, then. I must go. Saral is waiting for my answer.

  —Take care, Sonea.

  —I will. Sonea slipped off the ring and pocketed it.

  “We’re to stay here for now,” she told Saral.

  The woman nodded, then led the way back down to the kitchen. Temi had arrived and was chatting to Regin. Seeing the two men together, their differences were more obvious. Regin was taller, Temi was leaner. But Temi was not much darker than Regin. The Traitor’s skin tone was lighter than the usual Sachakan, and Regin had gained a tan while travelling. It suits him. They fell silent as Sonea and Saral entered the room. When Temi offered to keep a watch for the first half of the night, Regin offered to keep him company.

  “No,” Saral said. “I will take the first watch. Alone.”

  Regin shrugged. “Then where should we sleep?”

  “The second suite. If Tovira returns in the middle of the night, he’ll probably head straight for his bedroom.”

  Regin nodded, then looked at Sonea and headed for the door. She followed, amused that he had taken the lead, when in most instances since the Traitors had joined them he had waited for her decisions.

  The second suite had beds in three of the rooms. Sonea picked one at random and sat down on the bed. Looking around, she noticed smaller versions of Ashaki clothing hanging on a hook. A jewelled jacket overlapping plain trousers …

  “What did Osen say?”

  She looked up to see Regin standing in the doorway.

  “How’d you know I contacted him?”

  He shrugged. “An easy guess.”

  “Saral said we must stay here until Savara summons us, then asked if that was okay. Osen said it was fine. They want to be sure we don’t interfere.”

  “If Lorkin was in trouble, you would.”

  She looked up to find him smiling knowingly. “Only to save him.”

  “That’s still interference. Not that I wouldn’t understand.”

  “Osen thinks that if Dannyl and I both wear his blood rings, I may get to witnesses the battle through Dannyl.”

  Regin looked thoughtful. “That would be a good way around the Traitors’ restrictions.” He frowned. “If the Traitors are struggling, we’ll know because Saral will leave to help them. Will you follow her?”

  Sonea looked away. “Maybe. Probably. But you should stay here.”

  “I go wherever you go.”

  She felt her heart skip. That would sound so romantic in less dangerous circumstances. “No. You’ll put yourself in danger for no reason.”

  “You’ll be more of a target than me,” he told her. “Which reminds me …” He moved over to the bed and sat down. “You should take my power.”

  Conscious of how close he was, Sonea turned to face him. “What if Tovira returns tonight? You won’t even be able to shield yourself.”

  “I doubt I’d last long anyway.” He held out his hands.

  She stared at them as reluctance welled up inside her. Too intimate, she thought. What if he senses something? It wasn’t likely when we were on the road. We only touched as long as was necessary. Others were watching.

  “You really need to get over your fear of your black magic,” he told her.

  “I’m not afraid,” she told him. Not entirely a lie. Not exactly the truth, either.

  “If you take my power, I promise I won’t go with you into the city,” he offered.

  She met his eyes. He looked back at her, his gaze level and his expression serious. She felt a flash of amusement.

  “You won’t go into the city because I ordered you not to,” she told him.

  He shrugged. “So we have an agreement?”

  Sighing, she took his hands and tried to ignore how warm they were. Closing her eyes, she took the power that flowed from him and stored it away.

  CHAPTER 26

  BEGINNINGS AND ENDINGS

  Dannyl stared up at the ceiling, blinked and then pushed himself up onto his elbows. What …? Something woke me. He frowned. Someone called my name? Or was I dreaming? He created a globe light and peered out of his bedroom door to the main room of his suite.

  Was it Tayend? Or Merria? Has someone broken into the Guild House, as Achati and Kai warned?

  —Dannyl.

  He jumped at the mental call. Osen! He sighed in relief that the source of disturbance was in his mind, not the Guild House. Then relief melted away. Osen had called him openly, which any other magician could hear. He wouldn’t do that unless he had something important to tell or ask Dannyl. Getting up, Dannyl dug into the pockets of yesterday’s robes, found Osen’s ring and put it on.

  —Osen. Sorry. I was asleep.

  —Then I apologise for waking you. You hadn’t contacted me at our agreed time.

  Dannyl paused. He wasn’t entirely sure what time it was. With no slaves to wake him, and no windows in the suite, it could be midnight or midday.

  —What time is it?

  —An hour before the first classes start here.

  Since the sun always rose a little earlier in Sachaka, it was mid-morning. Was the battle over? Or had it not even begun yet? He was amazed that he’d been able to sleep at all. But then, he, Tayend and Merria had stayed up late, and drunk more than a little of the Guild House’s supply of wine to ease their anxiety over being stuck in a city at war, and the possibility of being killed out of vengeance or for their magical strength.

  —I spoke to Sonea last night, Osen continued. She and Regin are staying in a house on the outskirts of the city. The Traitors have ordered them to stay there until summoned – which will most likely be when the battle is over.

  To know that Sonea was close was reassuring, though Dannyl wasn’t sure why. Perhaps she could come to his rescue, if the House was attacked.

  —Unfortunately this means she will not see how Lorkin fares, or know who is the victor. I have been considering the warning Achati and your former slave gave you, that the Guild House may be targeted. Is there anywhere else you can go?

  —Somewhere we might witness the battle?

  —If that can be arranged without compromising your safety and that of Merria and Tayend.

  Dannyl considered. The ship Achati had arranged to wait for them would be a safe place to be, but one of the reasons for that was that the docks were far from where fighting was likely to take place – so not a good vantage point. Where would the battle most likely occur? The palace, eventually. And Achati’s mansion has a view of the parade leading to the palace. Perhaps if we climbed onto the roof …

  —Can you get there safely? Osen asked.

  Dannyl felt a chill at this reminder that his thoughts were open to the Administrator, thanks to the blood ring.

  —Sorry. I am finding it hard to curb my impatience. Merin wants news and I was hoping you or Sonea would have contacted me by now, Osen sent.

  Dannyl smiled in sympathy. For the Kyra
lian king to be putting pressure on the Administrator directly meant that he’d grown so anxious about the Sachakan situation he wasn’t content with High Lord Balkan’s reports.

  —I suspect getting to Achati’s house will be the dangerous part, but we will see if it can be done, Dannyl sent back.

  —Don’t take any unnecessary risks. Oh, and Sonea will be wearing one of my blood rings. We’re hoping she will also be able to see what you see.

  —And come rescue me if something goes wrong?

  —That would create less of a political mess than if she has to rescue Lorkin. Hmm. It could be a way to get the Traitors to let her enter the city. They’d find it harder to justify preventing her coming to the aid of the Guild Ambassador than of her son.

  Dannyl’s heart skipped.

  —You want me to get into trouble so she has an excuse to enter the city?

  —No. But maybe we could pretend you are … No. Not unless we have to. Get yourselves to Achati’s house first, then we’ll consider other ideas.

  —Very well.

  —Good luck, Dannyl.

  —Thanks, Osen.

  Slipping off the ring, Dannyl dressed quickly in fresh robes. He paused to look back at the room. Was there anything else he ought to take with him? My notes? No. They’ll be safer left here than with me. If I’m killed, this place might be looted, but no looter will want notebooks. Later someone might go through our belongings more carefully. Hopefully a Guild magician, who will see the value in them. Maybe Achati … if he survives.

  Pushing that thought aside, Dannyl turned and strode out of his suite in search of Merria and Tayend.

  Lorkin sat cross-legged, his back against a wall. The Master’s Room of the estate the Traitors had gathered in was crowded, but they were taking care to keep clear a narrow path from corridor to corridor so that messengers could move about quickly and without tripping.

  This was the third location Savara’s team had moved to during the night. The second had been another abandoned mansion; then, towards morning, they’d slunk through the silent city streets to a more defendable house chosen to be the gathering place before the final confrontation with the Ashaki. Lorkin hadn’t slept, and doubted that anyone else had either. Not that I would have been able to if I’d had the chance or there’d been room to lie down. A Traitor entered the room and looked towards him. He turned to see who it was and his heartbeat quickened as he saw it was Tyvara. She smiled and made her way over to him. There was no space for her to sit beside him, so he stood up. She handed him a vest.