The High Lord bmt-3

by Trudi Canavan

  The Dem looked at the others, who were nodding. "But should the Guild ever discover this, Tayend will need people who can hide and protect him. We have the right connections and arrangements. We can help him."

  He turned back to regard Dannyl. "So, Ambassador, what will you give us in exchange for protecting your friend?"

  The room fell silent. Dannyl smiled and glanced around at the faces.

  "I can offer you the opportunity you have lost. I can teach you a little magic."

  "A little?"

  "Yes. There are some things I will not teach you, and some things I cannot teach you."

  "Such as?"

  "I would not teach the offensive Warrior Skills to anyone I did not trust. They are dangerous in the wrong hands. And I am an Alchemist, so my knowledge of Healing is limited to the basics."

  "That makes sense."

  "And I must be sure that you are able to protect Tayend, before I teach you anything."

  The Dem smiled. "And we, of course, don't wish to give away any secrets until we are sure you will uphold your side of the bargain. For now I can only swear on my honor that we can protect your friend. I will not show you how it can be done yet. Not until you have demonstrated to us that you can be trusted."

  "How do I know you can be trusted?" Dannyl asked, gesturing around the room.

  "You don't," the Dem said simply. "But I think you have the advantage over us tonight. A magician considering teaching a friend is not taking as great a risk as a group of non-magicians gathering for the purpose of learning magic. We have committed ourselves to the purpose, you have only dallied with an idea. It is unlikely the Guild will execute you for that, whereas we might face that penalty just for meeting like this."

  Dannyl nodded slowly. "If you have evaded the Guild's notice for so long, perhaps you can keep Tayend from them. And you would not invite me here if you did not have a plan to escape should I prove to be a Guild spy."

  The Dem's eyes flashed. "Exactly."

  "So what must I do to gain your trust?" Dannyl asked.

  "Help us."

  Kaslie had spoken. Dannyl looked at her in surprise. Her voice had betrayed urgency and concern. She stared at Dannyl, her eyes filled with a desperate hope.

  A suspicion slowly stole over Dannyl. He remembered Akkarin's letter. Only recently have they had some success. Now that at least one of them has managed to develop his powers, the Guild is entitled and obliged to deal with them.

  Developed his powers, but not learned to control them. Thinking back quickly, Dannyl counted the weeks since he had received the letter, and added two for it to reach him. He looked up at the Dem.

  "Help you with what?"

  The man's expression was sober. "I will show you."

  As Dannyl rose, Tayend followed suit. Royend shook his head. "Stay, young Tremmelin. For your safety, it is best only the Ambassador come."

  Dannyl hesitated, then nodded at Tayend. The scholar dropped back onto the seat, frowning.

  The Dem gestured for Dannyl to follow him. They left the room and started down a corridor. At the end was a stairway which descended to another corridor. They stopped before a heavy wooden door. The faint smell of smoke tainted the air.

  "He's expecting you, but I have no idea what he'll do when he sees you," the Dem warned.

  Dannyl nodded. The Dem knocked on the door. After a long pause, he lifted a hand to knock again, but paused as the handle turned and the door swung inward.

  A young man peered out. His eyes slid to Dannyl and widened.

  A crash came from inside the room. The young man glanced inside and cursed. When he turned to look at Dannyl again, his expression was anxious.

  "This is Ambassador Dannyl," the Dem told the young man, then looked at Dannyl. "This is my wife's brother, Farand of Darellas."

  "Honored to meet you," Dannyl told the man. Farand mumbled a reply.

  "Are you going to invite us in?" the Dem said patiently.

  "Oh. Yes," the young man replied. "Come in." He pulled the door fully open and sketched an awkward bow.

  Dannyl entered a large room with stone walls. It might have once been a cellar, but now it held a bed and other furniture, all looking battered and scorched. A pile of wood on one side of the room looked suspiciously like the remains of more furniture. On the floor were pieces of a large urn, surrounded by a rapidly spreading pool of water. Dannyl guessed this was what he had heard shatter.

  A magician with no control tended to let loose magic when he or she reacted to strong emotions. For Farand, fear was his main enemy: fear of the magic he wielded, and fear of the Guild. Dannyl needed to reassure the man, before he did anything else.

  He allowed himself a small smile. A situation like this came along so rarely, and yet he now encountered it for the second time in a handful of years. Rothen had managed to teach Sonea control, despite her deep distrust of the Guild. Teaching Farand could only be easier. And it would help if Farand knew that another had survived the same situation.

  "From what I can see, your powers have surfaced, but you have no control of them," Dannyl said. "This is very rare, but we found another like you only a few years ago. She learned Control within a few weeks and is a novice now. Tell me, were you trying to bring them out, or did it just happen?"

  The man lowered his gaze. "I think I made it happen."

  Dannyl sat down in one of the chairs. The less intimidating he looked, the better. "May I ask how?"

  Farand swallowed and looked away. "I've always been able to hear the thought conversations magicians have. I used to listen every day in the hope of discovering how to use magic. A few months ago I overheard a conversation about releasing magical potential. I tried what they said several times, but I didn't think it had worked. Then I started doing things without meaning to."

  Dannyl nodded. "You have released your power, but you do not know how to control it. The Guild teaches the two together. I don't have to tell you how dangerous it is to have magic, but no control over it. You are fortunate that Royend has found a magician willing to teach you."

  "You'll teach me?" Farand whispered.

  Dannyl smiled. "Yes."

  Farand sagged against the bed with relief. "I was so afraid they would have to send me to the Guild, and everyone would be found out because of me." He straightened and squared his shoulders. "When can we begin?"

  "I don't see why we can't make a start now," Dannyl said, shrugging.

  A little fear crept back into the man's eyes. He swallowed, then nodded. "Tell me what to do."

  Dannyl rose and looked around. He gestured at the chair. "Sit down."

  Farand blinked at the chair, then hesitantly walked to it and sat down. Dannyl crossed his arms and regarded him thoughtfully. He was aware of the effect this change of position - from Farand standing over him, to him standing over Farand - would have. Now that he had agreed to cooperate, Farand needed to feel that Dannyl was in command, and knew what he was doing.

  "Close your eyes," Dannyl instructed. "Concentrate on your breathing." He talked Farand through the standard breathing exercises, keeping his voice low and steady. When he judged that the man had gained a measure of calm, he stepped behind the chair and lightly touched the man's temples. But before he could send his mind forth, the man jerked away.

  "You're going to read my mind!" he exclaimed.

  "No," Dannyl assured him. "It is not possible to read a mind that is unwilling. But I must direct you to that place in your mind where you access your power. The only way I can do that is if you allow me in to show you the way."

  "Is that the only way?" the Dem asked. Dannyl looked at Royend.

  "Yes."

  "Is it at all possible that you might see things," Farand asked, "things I must keep secret?"

  Dannyl regarded him soberly. He could not deny it. Once he was in Farand's mind the secrets would probably leap out at him. Secrets had a habit of doing that.

  "It is possible," Dannyl told him. "To be honest, if you are w
orried about concealing something, then it will be foremost in your thoughts. That is why the Guild prefers to train novices as young as possible. The younger you are, the fewer secrets you have."

  Farand buried his face in his hands. "Nooo," he groaned. "Nobody can teach me. I'm going to be like this forever."

  The covers of the bed began to smoke. The Dem drew in a sharp breath and stepped forward.

  "Perhaps Lord Dannyl can swear that he would keep everything he sees to himself," he suggested.

  Farand laughed bitterly. "How can I trust him to keep a promise when he's about to break a law?"

  "How indeed?" Dannyl said dryly. "You have, my promise that I will not pass on any information I discover. If that is not acceptable, I suggest you put your affairs in order and leave here. Take yourself far from anyone and anything you don't wish to destroy, for when your powers break free completely they will not only consume you, but everything around you."

  The man paled. "There really is no choice, is there?" he said in a small voice. "I'll die if I don't do this. So it's death or..." His eyes flashed with sudden anger, then he drew in a deep breath and straightened. "If that's the only choice, I'll just have to trust you won't tell anyone."

  Amused by this abrupt change, Dannyl talked Farand through the calming exercises once more. When he rested his fingers on the man's temples, Farand remained still. Dannyl closed his eyes and sent his mind forth.

  Novices were usually taught Control by their teachers, and Dannyl had never been a teacher. He did not have Rothen's skill, but after several attempts he managed to get Farand to visualize a room and invite him into it. Tantalizing hints of the man's secret appeared, but Dannyl concentrated on teaching Farand to hide them behind doors. They found the door to the man's power, but lost track of it as the secrets Farand was struggling to hide leaked out of the doors they had been stowed behind.

  - We both know I'm going to find out anyway. Show me, and we can get on with Control lessons, Dannyl suggested.

  Farand seemed relieved to be able to tell someone his secret. He showed Dannyl his memories of hearing mental conversations as he grew out of childhood. This was unusual, but not unheard of in those with magical potential. Farand was tested for ability and told he could apply to join the Guild when he was older. In the meantime the Elyne King learned of his ability to eavesdrop on magicians' mental conversations, and Farand was summoned to court where he kept the King informed of what he overheard.

  One day, however, Farand accidentally witnessed the King making an agreement with one of the powerful Dems to have the Dem's political rival murdered, and upon realizing this the King extracted an oath of silence from him. Later, when Farand had applied to join the Guild, he was refused. He did not discover until later that the King knew the secret agreement would be revealed during mind-reading lessons, and therefore had prevented him from becoming a magician.

  It was an unfortunate situation, and one which had shattered Farand's dreams. Dannyl felt genuine sympathy for him. Now that the secret had been told, Farand was not as distracted. He found his source of power easily. After a few attempts to show Farand how to influence it, Dannyl left the man's mind room and opened his eyes.

  "Is that it?" Farand asked. "Have I got it?"

  "No." Dannyl chuckled and moved around the chair to face him. "It takes a few sessions."

  "When will we try again?" There was an edge of panic to the man's voice.

  Dannyl looked at Dem Marane. "I will try to return tomorrow, if that is convenient."

  "It is," the Dem confirmed.

  Dannyl nodded at Farand. "Do not drink wine or take any mind-affecting substance. Novices usually learn Control over a week or two. If you stay calm and avoid trying to use magic, you should be safe."

  Farand looked relieved, and there was a glint of excitement in Royend's eyes. The Dem moved to the door and pulled a chain that hung from a small hole in the roof.

  "Shall we return to the others, Ambassador? They will be pleased to hear of our progress."

  "If you wish."

  The Dem did not take Dannyl back to the previous room, but to another section of the mansion. They entered a small library, where Tayend and the other members of the group were sitting in comfortable chairs. Royend nodded at Kaslie, and the woman closed her eyes and sighed with relief.

  Tayend was reading a large and very worn book. He looked up at Dannyl, his eyes bright with eagerness.

  "Look," he said, waving at one of the bookcases. "Books on magic. We might find something here to help us with our research."

  Dannyl could not help smiling. "It went well. Thanks for asking."

  "What?" Tayend looked up from the book. "Oh, that. I know you can take care of yourself. What did he show you?" Before Dannyl could reply, Tayend looked up at the Dem. "Can I borrow this some time?"

  Royend smiled. "You can take it home with you tonight, if you wish. The Ambassador will be returning tomorrow. You are welcome to come as well."

  "Thank you." Tayend turned to the Dem's wife, who was sitting beside him. "Have you ever heard of the Chakan King?"

  Dannyl did not hear her murmured reply. He looked around the room at the excited faces of the Dem and his friends. They would not trust him yet. Not until Farand was able to demonstrate an improvement in his control of magic. Once Farand had, however, he would be a dangerous man. He would be able to release magical ability in others, and teach them to control it. The group would not need Dannyl anymore. They might decide it was safer to disappear than continue associating with a Guild magician.

  He could stretch out the lessons over a few weeks, but no more. The moment Farand achieved Control, Dannyl ought to arrest him and the others. But he might not catch all of the group. The longer he remained with them, the more identities he might discover. He would have liked to consult with the High Lord. But Farand's ability to overhear mind communication prevented that and Dannyl did not have time to contact Akkarin by letter.

  Dannyl accepted a fresh glass of wine. As the Dem began grilling him on what he was willing to teach them, Dannyl pushed all thought of arresting these people to the back of his mind and concentrated on his role as the rebellious Guild magician.

  Sonea stood at her bedroom window and watched as gray wisps of cloud drifted across the night sky. The stars blinked in and out of sight and the moon was surrounded by a pale mist. The grounds were empty and silent.

  She was bone tired. Despite a sleepless night, and carting books around for Lord Jullen for several hours after classes, she couldn't sleep. She still had many questions, but by listing them in her mind ready for her next encounter with Akkarin, she found she could push them out of her thoughts. One, however, refused to go away.

  Why did he tell me?

  He had said that someone else needed to know. A reasonable answer, but something still nagged at her. He could have written down his story and left it for Lorlen to find if he should ever be killed. So why tell her, a mere novice in no position to make decisions or act in his place?

  There had to be another reason. The only reason she could think of was one that sent chills down her spine.

  He wanted her to take over the fight if he died. He wanted her to learn black magic.

  Leaving the window, she began pacing her room. He had said several times that he would not teach it to her. Had he said that just to reassure her? Was he waiting for her to grow older, perhaps until after she had graduated, when it would be clear to anyone else that she had made such a decision for herself?

  She bit her lip gently. It would be a terrible thing to ask of someone. To learn something that most magicians believed was evil. To break a Guild law.

  And to break this law was no small matter that would earn her some menial task or the withdrawal of luxuries or favor. No, the punishment for this was likely to be much, much worse. Expulsion perhaps, with her powers bound, or possibly imprisonment.

  Only if the crime was discovered.

  Akkarin had managed to hide his
secret for years. But he was the High Lord. That gave him a lot of room to be mysterious and secretive. Which meant it would not be difficult for her to join him.

  But what would happen if he died? She frowned. Lorlen and Rothen would reveal Akkarin's crime, and that her guardianship had been only a way to gain their silence. If she did not consent to a truth-read, there was no reason why anyone would discover that she had learned black magic. She could play the unhappy victim and attract no suspicion.

  After that she would be dismissed and ignored. No longer the High Lord's favorite, she could hide in her ordinariness. She would slip away into the hidden passages at night. Akkarin had already arranged for the Thieves' help. They would find the spies for her...

  She stopped and sat down on the end of her bed.

  I can't believe I'm considering this. There's a reason black magic is banned. It's evil.

  Or was it? Years before, Rothen had pointed out to her that magic was neither good nor evil; it was what the wielder did with it that mattered.

  Black magic involved taking power from another. It didn't have to involve killing. Even the Ichani did not kill their slaves unless they had to. When she had first seen Akkarin using it, he had been taking power from Takan. Power that was obviously willingly given.

  She thought back to the records that Akkarin had shown her. Black magic had once been commonly used by the Guild. Apprentices would willingly give strength to their masters in exchange for knowledge. Once deemed ready, the apprentices were taught the secret of "higher magic" and became masters themselves. It was an arrangement that had encouraged cooperation and peace. No one was killed. No one was enslaved.

  It had only taken one man with an insane desire for power to change that. And the Ichani used black magic to maintain a culture of slavery. When she considered these things, she understood why the Guild had banned black magic. It could be abused so easily.

  But Akkarin hadn't abused it. Or had he?

  Akkarin has used it to kill. Isn't that the worst abuse of power?

  Akkarin had used it to free himself, and only killed the spies to keep Kyralia safe. That was not an abuse of power. It was reasonable to kill to protect oneself, and others... wasn't it?