The Ambassador''s Mission

  He looked back at the Higher Magicians. “Skellin has been sending his mother out to kill off rival Thieves since he came to power. Through murder and alliances he intended to make himself king of the city’s underworld.”

  Sonea’s heart skipped a beat. This woman is the Thief Hunter!

  Kallen paused and his frown deepened. “And he imported roet to help bind people to him. Not just the poor but the rich as well. And magicians. He seemed to think we would be easy to manipulate once we’d all been introduced to the drug.”

  A murmur of voices rose as the magicians began to discuss what they’d learned. Sonea caught dismissive remarks about Skellin’s delusions, but a chill had run down her spine at the mention of roet. She thought of Stoneworker Berrin, whose addiction she had tried and failed to Heal away. If roet addiction could not be Healed, and Skellin knew it, then his grand plan might have succeeded.

  “What are you?” the foreign woman said. She was staring at Kallen. Her eyes slid to Sonea. “And you?”

  Sonea answered the question with a small smile. Skellin and his mother were magicians, but clearly they weren’t black magicians. That’s something to be grateful for. Hopefully we can assume Igra isn’t a land of black magicians, too. We don’t need another Sachaka to worry about.

  Administrator Osen now turned to face the hall and raised his arms. Voices quietened to a near silence.

  “We now know the truth. One of our captives is innocent, the other is a murderess and a rogue. We have another rogue in our city to find and deal with. Lorandra will be imprisoned. Forlie is free to go. Certain actions must be taken immediately, so I must end this meeting now.”

  The hall filled with the sound of hundreds of magicians standing up and bursting into conversation. Osen strode over to Sonea.

  “Take Forlie and find her children quickly,” he ordered quietly. “Before Lorandra thinks to inform Skellin of her betrayal.”

  Sonea stared at him in surprise, then nodded. Of course. She only has to communicate with him mentally to tell him what happened here. “I’ll take Lord Regin as backup, if that is acceptable.”

  He nodded. “I’ll send Kallen after Skellin once they’re safe.”

  She felt her heart warm with appreciation. Osen might be cold toward her, but he wasn’t a man without compassion for others. As he walked away, she looked around the room and found Regin standing by one of the stairs, watching her. She beckoned to him.

  “Is that appropriate?”

  Kallen’s voice reached her over the chatter and footsteps of the Higher Magicians. She looked over to see him frowning at Osen.

  “If you can rouse the support of the majority of Higher Magicians to oppose her going in the next few minutes, I’ll consider sending someone else.”

  Kallen glanced at the magicians filing out of the building, then at Sonea, and his lips thinned.

  “It’s your decision,” he said. “Not mine.”

  As Regin reached her side, Sonea smiled to herself, enjoying a moment of triumph. If Osen now trusted her enough to send her into the city, perhaps the rest of the Guild would forgive her for breaking the rules so often in recent weeks.

  “Care to assist me in my next assignment?” she asked Regin.

  His eyebrows rose and he almost managed a smile. “Always.”

  She hooked an arm around Forlie’s. “Let’s go find your family.”

  Lorkin was not completely sure how long had passed since he’d been put in the room. It had no window, so he had no sunlight to track the time of day. He’d shifted from travelling at night and sleeping during the day when with Tyvara to the opposite when travelling with Chari, so he couldn’t judge what time it was by when he grew sleepy. Nor could he judge it by hunger, as he’d been eating whenever opportunity came rather than at regular times.

  The meals that were brought to him seemed to follow a pattern, so he was counting the days that way. A simple meal of grainy sweet mush and fruit was followed a few hours later by a larger meal with meat and vegetables. Then after another interval a light meal of flat bread and a cup of warmed milk was served. It was basic food, but wonderful after the scavenged fare he’d had for the weeks he’d been travelling with Tyvara.

  He’d been told he had to stay there until Tyvara’s trial. Two and a half days had passed so far, he guessed. He’d kept himself entertained by reading his notebook, and writing observations about everything he had learned about the Traitors so far. He also listed questions he would seek the answer to, when he was free to do so. Each time food was brought, Lorkin glimpsed the Traitor keeping guard on his door. Always a woman, but not always the same woman. Were there no male magicians? Or none willing to guard him? Or did they not trust a man to guard another man?

  He’d spent a lot of time sleeping, too. Though he’d been able to Heal away soreness and weariness, it was always better to let the body regain its energy and health through natural means.

  Light came from a gemstone set into the ceiling. He’d got a closer look at it by standing on the bed. It was too bright to stare at for long. He’d reached up to it, finding it didn’t give off any heat. The surface was faceted, like stones in jewellery.

  Had it naturally formed the shape, or had a human carved it? Would it go on glowing forever, or eventually fade?

  Unanswered questions were gradually stacking up in his mind and his notebook.

  He wondered how he was supposed to find out about Sanctuary’s laws, as Riaya had suggested. Was he meant to ask for someone to teach him? What would happen if he knocked to get the guard’s attention, then asked for a teacher?

  He thought about that for some time. Before he could gather the determination to try it, he heard voices outside. He sat up and turned to face the door as it opened.

  A woman he’d never seen before looked him up and down.

  “Lord Lorkin,” she said. “You’re to come with me.”

  The atmosphere in the city was different now, he noted. More people were about, and many looked as if they were standing around waiting for something. When they noticed him they stared at him with curiosity, but the expectation in the air was clearly for something else.

  The trial of Tyvara? he wondered. Well, why else would they come and get me?

  His assumption was proved correct when they arrived at the same room in which he’d met the Table of Speakers. The same seven women were seated at the curved table, but this time the gem-encrusted chair was occupied. An old woman sat there, watching him thoughtfully.

  The rest of the room was filled with people. The stepped seating was full and many more men and women stood around the walls. Opposite to the entrance was a smaller door that he hadn’t noticed last time. Within it stood Tyvara and two other women. There was a feeling about the room that this meeting had already been going for some time. He wished he could tell how well it was going.

  “You don’t bow to Queen Zarala,” his guide murmured into his ear. “You put a hand to your chest and look at her until she nods at you. Now, go stand in front of the Table and answer their questions.”

  He did as she instructed. The queen smiled and nodded as he made the hand-over-heart gesture. Her attention shifted to Riaya.

  “Lord Lorkin, former assistant to Guild Ambassador to Sachaka, Dannyl,” the Director said, her voice filling the room. “You came to Sanctuary in order to speak in Tyvara’s defence at this trial. That time has come. Tell us how you came to meet Tyvara.”

  “She was a slave at the Guild House.”

  “Where you would have met Riva as well.”

  “I didn’t meet Riva until the night she died.”

  Riaya nodded. “How did Riva come to be in your room that night?”

  Lorkin bit his lip. “She slipped in while I was asleep.”

  “And what did she do?”

  “Woke me up.” He pushed aside reluctance at having to describe how. “By getting into my bed and … er … being a lot nicer to me than was required.”

  A faint smile touc
hed Riaya’s lips. “So you were not in the habit of bedding slaves, then?”

  “No.”

  “But you didn’t send her away.”

  “No.”

  “What happened then?”

  “The room lit up. I saw that Tyvara had stabbed Riva.”

  “And then?”

  “Tyvara explained how Riva had intended to kill me.” He felt his face warm. “With a kind of magic I’d never heard of before. She said if I stayed at the Guild House, others would attempt to assassinate me.”

  “You believed her?”

  “Yes.”

  “Why?”

  “The other slave – Riva – said something.” He thought back. “She said: ‘he has to die’. It was obvious that she was referring to me.”

  Riaya’s eyebrows rose. She looked at the six women and the queen, then turned back to Lorkin.

  “What happened then?”

  “We left and went to an estate – to the slave quarters. The slaves there were helpful. But at the estate we went to next, the slaves had set a trap for us. They tried to drug us. After that we didn’t trust anyone – until we met Chari.”

  Riaya nodded, then turned to the Table.

  “Any questions for Lord Lorkin?”

  The first woman nodded. Lorkin recalled their names from the last meeting. Yvali, I think. She fixed Lorkin with a direct stare.

  “Did you ever bed Tyvara?”

  “No.”

  A murmur went through the audience. It sounded like a protest, Lorkin noted. Yvali opened her mouth to ask another question, then thought better of it. She looked at the others.

  “Did Tyvara kill anybody else while you were travelling together?” Lanna asked.

  “Not as far as I know.”

  “Why did you not head for Kyralia?” Shaiya asked.

  “Tyvara said that it was the obvious thing to do, so we’d find assassins waiting for us.”

  “What did you give Ambassador Dannyl after you persuaded him to stop following us?” Savara asked.

  Lorkin looked at her in surprise, but not at the sudden change of subject. If she had seen this, why hadn’t she asked him before now? Her expression was impossible to read. He decided it would be best to tell the truth.

  “My mother’s blood ring. I knew it was likely it would be taken from me when I got here, and I don’t think she would have liked it falling into unfamiliar hands.”

  A low murmur filled the room, but quickly subsided.

  “Did you use it at any time after Tyvara killed Riva?”

  “No. Tyvara didn’t know I had it … I think.” He resisted glancing in her direction.

  “Do you have any other blood rings?”

  “No.”

  Savara nodded to indicate she had no more questions.

  “Will you consent to a mind-read to confirm the truth of your words?” Kalia asked.

  The room fell utterly silent.

  “No,” Lorkin replied.

  Muttered words and exhalations followed. He met Kalia’s gaze and held it. How stupid does she think I am? If I let anyone read my mind they’ll go looking for the secret to Healing, and then I can forget about ever leaving this place.

  No more questions came. Riaya exchanged glances with all of the women at the table, then looked at Lorkin.

  “Thank you, Lord Lorkin, for your cooperation. Please stand over by the entrance.”

  He nodded to her respectfully out of habit, then to the six women and to the queen in case his gesture would be taken as giving inappropriate favour to the Director. Spotting near the entrance the guide who had taken him to the room, he walked over to stand by her.

  She eyed him thoughtfully, then nodded.

  “That was well done,” she murmured.

  “Thank you,” he replied. He looked across the room to Tyvara. She was frowning, but as he met her gaze she gave him a strained smile.

  “We will now deliberate,” Riaya announced.

  As the eight women around the table began to talk, the audience broke into noisy chatter. Lorkin tried to pick conversations out of the voices, but could not make out more than the occasional phrase. The leaders around the table had clearly set a magical barrier against noise around themselves. So instead of listening, he examined the people in the room in the hope of learning what he could before he was returned to the windowless cell.

  There were many couples sitting on the stairs, he noted, but all others were women. Those standing around the walls were mostly male, however. The clothing of all was simple. Some of the Traitors were dressed in practical trousers and tunics, while others wore long belted shifts in finer cloth. He was surprised to see that both women and men wore these long shifts.

  The colour of the cloth ranged from undyed to deep colours, but none were vivid or bright. He guessed it was hard to bring dyes into the city, and with limited space to grow crops, priority would be given to plants that produced food.

  Though he tried to keep his attention focused on the audience, he could not help glancing at Tyvara from time to time. Every time he did so, he found her watching him. She did not smile again, however. She looked thoughtful. And worried.

  Finally, Riaya’s voice rose over the noise in the room.

  “We have finished deliberations,” she announced.

  The room quietened. Riaya looked at the other women at the table, then turned to regard Tyvara.

  “You offered to allow Speaker Halana to read your mind. We have explored all other avenues as required by law, but I can see no other way to confirm your claims. Please come forward and remove the mind block.”

  From the audience came low voices and whispers. Lorkin thought back to a snippet of conversation between Chari and Tyvara, from the journey into the mountains. Tyvara had said she would let the Traitors read her mind. Chari had been shocked. “You can’t,” she had hissed. “You promised …”

  Promised what? To who? Lorkin watched as the woman who had saved his life walked with head high to stand before her leaders. He felt his heart lighten with a rush of sudden, giddy affection. She is so proud. So beautiful. Then he felt a familiar doubt and annoyance spoil the moment. I wish I knew whether Chari is right or not about Tyvara’s regard for me. If she is wrong I don’t want to make a fool of myself trying to win over Tyvara. But if she is right … if Tyvara likes me … but makes a habit of pushing away those who admire her … do I have the determination to keep pursuing her?

  Every part of him was sure he did.

  Stopping in front of the Table, Tyvara held out her left hand. She paused, then grimaced. Lorkin blinked in surprise and horror as blood began to drip from her palm. She kneaded the base of her thumb, then held up something too tiny for him to see. She let it drop on the table.

  I was right, he thought. The mind block is an object similar to a blood gem.

  The leaders wore expressions of grim sympathy. He watched Halana stand up and reach out to Tyvara, who bent forward a little. The older woman took hold of Tyvara’s head and closed her eyes.

  A long pause followed in which all watched the pair expectantly. When Halana drew her hands away at last, she said nothing. She sat down. Tyvara picked up the mind block and backed away from the table.

  “What have you learned?” Riaya asked.

  “Everything Tyvara has told us is true,” Halana said.

  A collective sigh went through the room. Riaya placed her hands on the table.

  “Then it is time to cast our votes.” She looked at Tyvara, then the audience. “We have concluded that Tyvara did not need to kill Riva. She should have pushed Riva away from Lorkin, or otherwise separated them. But we also acknowledge that there was no time, upon discovery of the crime taking place, for deliberation. Tyvara acted in order to ensure the wishes of the queen were met, and to prevent a situation that might lead to a threat to Sanctuary and increased danger to our people in Sachaka.” She paused and looked at the Speakers. “Should Tyvara be executed for the murder of Riva?”

 
Of the six women sitting behind the table, two held their hands up. The rest held their hands out, palm facing downward. Lorkin assumed that since Kalia had her hand up, that signal was for the affirmative.

  “Four against, two for,” Riaya said. She looked at the audience. To Lorkin’s surprise, they were making one or the other gesture. “The majority against,” Riaya declared. She looked to the queen, who now held out her hand, palm down. “The answer is ‘no’.”

  Hands dropped. Riaya looked pleased, Lorkin noted.

  “The death of a fellow Traitor is a serious matter,” she continued. “And no matter the reason for it, penalties must be applied. Tyvara must remain in Sanctuary for the next three years, after which she may take a position as scout or watcher and work to regain the responsibilities she had before. During those three years she is to dedicate one day of each six to the benefit of Riva’s family.” Riaya’s gaze returned to Tyvara. “Do you accept this judgement?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then it is decided. You are free to go. This trial is concluded and the laws of Sanctuary upheld. May the stones keep singing.”

  “May the stones keep singing,” the audience replied.

  The room filled with movement as all rose to their feet. Lorkin watched Tyvara. She was looking at the floor. She gave a little shake of her head, then looked up at Savara. The older woman smiled with approval. Then one of her eyebrows rose in query and her gaze shifted to Lorkin. He blinked, then saw Tyvara roll her eyes, turn and stride to the door at the far side of the room. He could see Chari standing there. The young woman was grinning. She looked across to him and winked.

  Someone tugged at his sleeve. The guide smiled at him.

  “I’m to take you to your quarters next.” Her smile widened. “Your new quarters.”

  He felt his heart, in the process of sinking, lighten. “It wouldn’t happen to have a window, would it?”

  She gestured for him to follow her. “No. But you’ll have some company, and you’re free to come and go as you please – so long as you don’t leave Sanctuary, of course. I’m Vytra, by the way.”

  “Pleased to meet you, Vytra.”

  She chuckled. “You Kyralians have funny ways,” she said. “So polite.”