Kyralia 01 - [Black Magician 03] - The High Lord

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Kyralia 01 - [Black Magician 03] - The High Lord Page 54

by Trudi Canavan


  Sonea was the reason. They loved her. She had come from among them, had saved the city, and had returned to the slums to help them.

  Dorrien had been by her side from the start. His greater knowledge of Healing was essential, and his experience at earning the trust of farmers and foresters also helped him gain the dwells’ confidence. Other Healers had joined them. It seemed Sonea was not the only magician who believed Healing should not be a service offered only to the rich Houses.

  As she reached the hospital and moved inside, Lord Darlen stepped forward to greet her.

  “How was the night shift?” she asked.

  “Busy.” He smiled ruefully. “When isn’t it? Oh, I found another potential recruit. A girl of about fifteen, named Kalia. She’ll return later with her father, if he agrees to let her join us.”

  Sonea nodded. “How are our supplies?”

  “Low, as always,” Darlen replied. “I’ll talk to Lady Vinara when I get back.”

  “Thank you, Lord Darlen,” Sonea said.

  Darlen nodded, then headed to the door. Sonea paused to look around the room. Following her gaze, Rothen took in the crowd of waiting patients, the handful of guards who had been employed to manage them, and the curies who had been hired for their knowledge of medicine to help with minor cases. Sonea suddenly drew in a sharp breath, then turned to a guard standing nearby.

  “That woman over there with the child wrapped in a green blanket. Bring her to me in my room.”

  “Yes, my lady.”

  Rothen started to look for the woman, but Sonea was already walking away. He followed her into a small room furnished with a table, a bed and several chairs. She sat down and drummed her fingers on the table. Rothen pulled up a chair beside her.

  “You know this woman?”

  She glanced at him. “Yes. It’s—” She paused at a knock on the door. “Come in.”

  He recognized the woman instantly. Sonea’s aunt smiled and took the seat on the other side of the table. “Sonea. I was hoping it would be you.”

  “Jonna,” Sonea replied, smiling fondly—but tiredly, Rothen noted. “I wanted to come see you, but I’ve been so busy. How is Ranel? How are my cousins?”

  Jonna looked down at the baby. “Hania has a terrible fever. I’ve tried everything…”

  Sonea placed a hand gently on the baby’s head. She frowned. “Yes. She’s got the beginning of bluespot disease. I can give her a little boost.” She was quiet for a moment. “There. You will have to wait it out, I’m afraid. Give her liquids. A little marin juice mixed in will help, too.” Sonea looked up at her aunt. “Jonna, would you…would you come live with me?”

  The woman’s eyes went round. “I’m sorry, Sonea. I just couldn’t.”

  Sonea looked down. “I know you don’t feel comfortable being around magicians, but…please consider it. I’d…” She glanced at Rothen. “I guess it’s time you knew too, Rothen.” She looked at Jonna again. “I’d like to have someone familiar and ordinary around.” She nodded at the child. “I’d exchange all the Healers in the Guild just for your practical advice.”

  Jonna stared at Sonea, her expression reflecting Rothen’s confusion. Sonea grimaced, then placed a hand on her stomach. Jonna’s eyes widened.

  “Oh.”

  “Yes.” Sonea nodded. “I’m scared, Jonna. I didn’t plan for this. The Healers will look after me, but they can’t cure my fear. I think maybe you could.”

  Jonna frowned. “You told me magicians had their own ways of taking care of things.”

  To Rothen’s amazement Sonea blushed a furious scarlet.

  “It seems that it’s better if women do…that sort of caretaking. Apparently men aren’t taught the skill unless they request it,” she said. “Girl novices are taken aside as soon as the Healers feel they’re likely to be showing an interest in boys, but I was so unpopular that nobody thought of teaching me. Akkarin,” Sonea paused and swallowed, “must have assumed they had. And I assumed he was taking care of things.”

  As understanding dawned, Rothen stared at Sonea. He found himself counting the months since her exile. Three-and-a-half, maybe four. The robes would hide it well…

  She looked at him and then grimaced apologetically. “I’m sorry, Rothen. I was going to tell you, at a better moment, but when I saw Jonna I just had to take advantage of—”

  They both jumped as Jonna burst into laughter. She was pointing at Rothen. “I haven’t seen that look since I told Ranel I was expecting our first! I think, perhaps, these magicians aren’t as smart as they make themselves out to be.” She grinned at Sonea. “So. You’re to have a baby, then. I can’t imagine the child growing up with his or her head on right surrounded by magicians.”

  Sonea smiled crookedly. “Nor I. So, will you reconsider?”

  Jonna hesitated, then nodded once. “Yes. We’ll stay a while.”

  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

  inava—insect believed to bestow good luck

  limek—wild predatory dog

  mullock—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

  yeel—small domesticated breed of limek used for tracking

  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

  dall—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

  nemmin—sleep-inducing drug

  pachi—crisp, sweet fruit

  papea—pepper-like spice

  piorres—small, bell-shaped fruit

  raka/suka—stimulating drink made from roasted beans, originally from Sachaka

  shem—edible reed-like plant

  sumi—bitter drink

  telk—seed from which an oil is extracted

  tenn—grain that can be cooked as is, broken into small pieces, or ground to make a flour

  tiro—edible nuts

  tugor—parsnip-like root

  vare—berries from which most wine is produced

  Clothing and Weaponry

  incal—square symbol, not unlike a family shield, sewn onto sleeve or cuff

  kebin—iron bar with hook for catching attacker’s knife, carried by guards

  longcoat—ankle-length coat

  Public Houses

  bathhouse—establishment selling bathing facilities and other grooming services

  bolhouse—establishment selling bol and short-term accommodation

  brewhouse—bol manufacturer

  hole—building constructed from scavenged materials

  stayhouse—rented building, a family to a room

  Peoples of the Allied Lands

  Elyne—closest to Kyralia in position and culture, enjoys a milder climate

  Kyralia—home of the Guild

  Lan—a mountainous land peopled by warrior tribes

  Lonmar—a desert land home to the strict Mahga religion

  Vin—an island nation known for its seamanship

  Other Terms

  cap—coins threaded on a stick to the value of the next highest denomination

  dawnfeast—breakfast

  midbreak—lunch

  simba mats—mats woven from reeds

  Acknowledgments

  Many, many people have encouraged and assisted me in writing this trilogy. In addition to those people I acknowledged in The Magicians’ Guild and The Novice, I’d like to give an additional nod to the people who helped me out during the writing of this book:

  Once again, my proofreaders who give me such valuable advice: Mum and Dad, Paul Marshall, Paul Ewins, Jenny Powell, Sara Creasy and Anthony Mauricks.

  Fran Bryson, my agent. Thank you for providing the perfect setting for my “working holiday.”

  Stephanie Smith and the hard-working HarperCollins team for turning my stories into such polished, attractive books. Justin of Slow Glass Books, Sandy of Wormhole Books, and the booksellers who’ve taken on this trilogy with such enthusiasm.

  And thank you to all the people who have emailed me with praise for The Magicians’ Guild and The Novice. Knowing you’ve enjoyed my stories helps keep the fires of inspiration burning high.

  About the Author

  TRUDI CANAVAN lives in a little house on a hillside, near a forest, in the Melbourne suburb of Ferntree Gully in Australia. She has been making up stories about things that don’t exist for as long as she can remember and was amazed when her first published story received an Aurealis Award for Best Fantasy Short Story in 1999. A freelance illustrator and designer, she also works as the designer and Art Director of Aurealis, a magazine of Australian fantasy and science fiction. You can e-mail her at [email protected] or find out more about Kyralia and the Magicians’ Guild at www.spin.net.au/~trudi.

  Visit www.AuthorTracker.com for exclusive information on your favorite HarperCollins author.

  Books by

  Trudi Canavan

  The Black Magician Trilogy

  THE MAGICIANS’ GUILD

  THE NOVICE

  THE HIGH LORD

  Copyright

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  THE HIGH LORD. Copyright © 2003 by Trudi Canavan. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.

  ePub Edition © NOVEMBER 2006 ISBN: 9780061798191

  Version 06152012

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