The High Lord bmt-3

by Trudi Canavan

  "Yes, I know."

  "Yet you read them?"

  She met his eyes. "Some risks are worth taking."

  "In the hope that we could use this information to defeat him?"

  She looked down. "Not exactly."

  He paused. "Then why, Sonea?"

  "I can't tell you. Not yet."

  Rothen took a step closer. "Why not? What has he told you to make you an accomplice? We've found your aunt Jonna and uncle Ranel. They're safe and well as are their children. Dorrien is alive and well. Is there anyone else you're protecting?"

  She sighed. The whole of Kyralia.

  "I can't tell you, Rothen. Not yet. I don't know what Akkarin has told anyone, or what he wants me to reveal. It'll just have to wait until the Hearing."

  Rothen's eyes flashed with anger. "Since when have you cared about what he wants?"

  She held his gaze. "Since I learned the reasons for what he does. But that is his story, not mine. You will understand why, when he tells it."

  He regarded her doubtfully. "I find that hard to believe. But I will try. Is there anything I can do for you?"

  She shook her head, then hesitated. Rothen knew that Lorlen had been aware of Akkarin's crime for more than two years. What would happen if he told the Guild this? She looked up at him.

  "Yes," she said quietly. "Protect Lorlen."

  Savara ran a hand over the sheets and smiled.

  "Nice."

  Cery chuckled. "A Thief has to make his guests feel welcome."

  "You are not like other Thieves," she remarked. "He had a hand in all this, didn't he?"

  "Who?"

  "The High Lord."

  Cery humphed in indignation. "Wasn't all him."

  "No?"

  "Part of it was 'cause of Sonea. Faren agreed to hide her from the Guild, but the other Thieves made him turn her in. So some say Faren didn't honor his side of the deal."

  "So?"

  "If I was willing to deal with Faren, other people would too. He helped me out with a few things."

  "So Akkarin had nothing to do with it?"

  "Well, a little," Cery admitted. "Maybe I wouldn't have had the guts if he hadn't pushed me. Maybe if he hadn't given me all the right news about each of the Thieves, so they wouldn't try to stop me. It's hard to say no to someone who knows too many of your secrets."

  She looked thoughtful. "Sounds like he had planned this for a long time."

  "That's what I thought." Cery shrugged. "When the murderer started to get the other Thieves riled, I offered to find him. They liked that. They didn't know I'd been onto it for months. They act like it's funny I haven't found him, though - but none of them have had any luck either."

  "But you do find them."

  "They think there's only one."

  "Ah."

  "At least I think they did," he added.

  "And now they know, because the last one was a woman."

  "Probably."

  He looked around the room at the furniture. Quality pieces, but not extravagant. He did not like to think it was all due to Akkarin's help.

  "I've tried to make my place in other ways," he said. "If the market for finding murderers for magicians dries up, I want to stay alive and in business."

  She smiled slyly and ran a finger slowly down the middle of his chest.

  "I definitely prefer you alive and in business."

  He caught her hand and pulled her closer. "Do you? What sort of business are you into?"

  "Making contact with potential allies," she said, snaking her arm around him. "Preferably very close contact with one in particular."

  Her kisses were firm and enticing. He felt his heart beginning to race again.

  Then someone knocked on the door. He pulled away and grimaced apologetically. "Got to get this."

  She pouted. "Must you?"

  He nodded. "Gol wouldn't knock unless it was important."'

  "Better be."

  He rose, pulled on his trousers and a shirt, and slipped out of the room. Gol was pacing Cery's guestroom, his expression very different from the foolish grin Cery was expecting.

  "The High Lord's been arrested by the Guild," Gol said. "So's Sonea."

  Cery stared at his second. "Why?"

  "A Guild magician was killed last night. And a whole lot of people in his house. They think the High Lord did it." He paused. "The whole city knows about it."

  Moving to the nearest chair, Cery sat down. Akkarin arrested? For murder? And Sonea, too? He heard the door of his bedroom open. Savara peered out, now fully dressed. As she met his eyes, she frowned.

  "Can you tell me?"

  He smiled briefly, amused by her question. "The High Lord's been arrested. The Guild thinks he murdered a Guild magician last night."

  Her eyes widened. She moved into the room. "When?"

  Gol shrugged. "Don't know. Everyone in this magician's house was killed too. With some kind of bad magic. Black magic. Yes, that was it."

  She drew in a quick breath. "So it is true, then."

  "What is true?" Cery asked.

  "Some of the Ichani claim the Guild do not know high magic and say it is evil. Akkarin uses it, so we thought this could not be true." She paused. "So that is why he works in secret. I had thought he did not want others to know that his past actions contributed to this situation."

  Cery blinked. "What past actions?"

  She looked at him and smiled. "Oh, there is more to your High Lord than you know."

  "How so?"

  "That is not for me to say," she said. "But I can tell you that—"

  She stopped at a knock on the wall. Cery nodded to Gol. The big man approached the wall, checked its spy hole, then pulled aside a painting. One of the boys Cery employed for odd jobs peered in.

  "There's a man wants to see you, Ceryni. He gave a big code word, and says he's got bad news about a friend of yours. Says it's urgent."

  Cery nodded, then turned to look at Savara. "I better see what this is."

  She shrugged and returned to the bedroom. "I will have a bath, then."

  Turning away, Cery found Gol grinning.

  "Get that look off your face," Cery warned.

  "Yes, Ceryni," the man replied humbly, but the grin remained as he preceded Cery into the passage.

  Cery's office was a short distance away. There were several ways of getting in and out of it. Gol chose the standard route, giving Cery a moment to observe the visitor in the waiting room through a spy hole.

  The man was Sachakan, Cery saw with dismay. Then he recognized the coat and his heart skipped.

  Why was this man wearing the coat Akkarin had worn the night before?

  As the man turned, the coat parted to reveal a Guild servants' uniform.

  "I think I know who this is," Cery breathed. He moved to the door of his office. "Send him in as soon as I sit down."

  A few minutes later, Cery was seated at his desk. The door to his office opened and the man entered.

  "So," Cery said, "you say you got bad news about a friend of mine."

  "Yes," the man replied. "I am Takan, servant to the High Lord. He has been arrested for the murder of a Guild magician. He has sent me to assist you."

  "Assist me? How?"

  "I can communicate with him by mind," Takan explained, touching his forehead.

  "You're a magician?"

  Takan shook his head. "We have a link, made by him long ago."

  Cery nodded. "Then tell me something only he and I know."

  Takan's gaze shifted to the distance. "The last time you met, he said he would not bring Sonea with him again."

  "That's right."

  "He regrets that he could not hold to that."

  "So does Sonea, I'd guess. What's she been arrested for?"

  Takan sighed. "Learning about black magic. They found books in her room."

  "This black magic is...?"

  "Forbidden," Takan said. "She faces expulsion from the Guild."

  "And the High Lord?"
/>
  Takan looked genuinely distressed. "He has been charged with murder and using black magic. If they find him guilty of either, the punishment is execution."

  Cery nodded slowly. "When will the Guild decide?"

  "They will hold a Hearing tomorrow to examine the evidence and judge whether he is guilty or not."

  "Is he?"

  Takan looked up, and his eyes flashed with anger. "He did not murder Lord Jolen."

  "What of this charge of black magic?"

  The servant nodded. "Yes, he is guilty of that. If he had not used it, he would not have been able to defeat the murderers."

  "And Sonea. Is she guilty?"

  Takan nodded again. "The Guild has only charged her with learning about black magic. That is why she faces a lesser punishment. If they knew the truth, she would face the same charges as Akkarin."

  "She used black magic to kill the woman, didn't she?"

  Takan looked surprised. "Yes. How did you know that?"

  "A lucky guess. Should I go to this Hearing as a witness?"

  The man paused, and his gaze shifted to the distance. "No. He says thank you for the offer. You should not reveal your involvement. If all goes well, he may need your help in the future. For now, he has only one favor to ask."

  "Yes?"

  "That you ensure the Guard find the body of the murderess. And make sure she is wearing her knife."

  Cery smiled. "I can do that."

  Looking out of his office window, Lorlen saw that Akkarin was still in the same position as before. He shook his head.

  Somehow Akkarin still managed to look dignified and self-assured, even when he was sitting on the Arena floor, with his back against one of the supports, and with twenty magicians standing around the Arena, watching him.

  Turning away, Lorlen surveyed his office. Balkan paced in the middle. Lorlen had never seen the Warrior this agitated. He had heard Balkan mutter something about betrayal earlier. That was understandable. Lorlen knew the Warrior had held Akkarin in high esteem.

  Sarrin sat on one of the chairs, leafing through one of the books from Akkarin's chest. They had decided one of them must be allowed to read them, even though doing so was a crime. Sarrin's expression was a mixture of horror and fascination. Occasionally he would mutter quietly to himself.

  Vinara stood quietly by the shelves. Earlier, she had called Akkarin a monster. Balkan had reminded her that they could not be sure Akkarin had done anything more than read about black magic. She hadn't been convinced.

  When it came to the subject of Sonea, however, she looked distressed and uncertain.

  Lorlen looked down at the objects on his desk: shards of broken glass, a partly melted silver fork, and a dish coated with dried blood. The others were still puzzled about the items. The little globe of glass they had found on the table had confirmed Lorlen's guess. Had Akkarin been creating another ring like Lorlen's, or had he been teaching Sonea how to make them?

  Like Sonea, Akkarin had refused to answer any questions. He was determined to wait until the entire Guild had assembled for the Hearing before he explained himself. So much for cooperation.

  That's unfair, Lorlen thought. He considered the ring in his pocket. Akkarin had told Lorlen to take it off and keep it at hand. If Sarrin continued reading the books, he would learn about such rings and recognize what Lorlen was wearing. Lorlen had considered discarding the ring altogether, but he could see advantages in keeping this link with Akkarin. His former friend still seemed inclined to confide in him. The only disadvantage was that Akkarin could eavesdrop on conversations when Lorlen was wearing it, but that was less of a problem now. Lorlen could stop Akkarin listening by simply taking off the ring.

  Akkarin wanted to keep Lorlen's prior knowledge of his interest in black magic a secret.

  - The Guild needs a leader they trust, Akkarin had sent. Too much change and uncertainty will weaken it.

  Rothen and Sonea were the only other people who knew. Sonea had remained silent, and Rothen had agreed to keep Lorlen's involvement to himself so long as it brought no further harm. In return, Lorlen had allowed the magician to visit Sonea.

  At a polite knock on the door, all looked up. Lorlen willed the door open and Captain Barran stepped inside, Lord Osen following. The guard bowed and addressed them formally, then turned to face Lorlen.

  "I have visited the shop the witness works at," he said. "Her employers say she did not appear this morning. We checked her home address, and her family told us she did not return home last night."

  The Heads of Disciplines exchanged glances.

  "Thank you, Captain," Lorlen said. "Is there anything else?"

  The young man shook his head. "No. I will return tomorrow morning, as you requested, unless further information comes my way."

  "Thank you. You may go."

  As the door closed, Vinara sighed. "No doubt the guard will find her body in the next few days. He was certainly busy last night."

  Balkan shook his head. "But it doesn't make sense. How did he know about her? If he'd detected her watching, he would have ensured she didn't reach the Guard House."

  Sarrin shrugged. "Unless he was unable to catch up with her. Then, when she left the Guard House, he made sure she'd be unable to give any more evidence against him."

  Balkan sighed. "It's not behavior I would expect of a black magician. If he cared about hiding evidence, why be so careless earlier in the night? Why not disguise himself? Why—"

  He stopped at another knock on the door. Lorlen sighed and willed it open. To his surprise, Dannyl stepped inside the office. Dark shadows lay under the Ambassador's eyes.

  "Administrator," Dannyl said. "Might I have a word with you? In private?"

  Lorlen frowned in annoyance. "Is this about the rogue, Ambassador?"

  "Partly." Dannyl glanced at the others and appeared to choose his words carefully. "But not solely. I would not come to you if I did not feel I had urgent matters to discuss."

  Vinara rose. "I am heartily sick of speculation, anyway," she declared. She gave Sarrin and Balkan direct and meaningful looks. "If you need us, Administrator, just call."

  Dannyl stepped aside and inclined his head politely as the three magicians left the room. When the door closed, Lorlen moved to his desk and sat down.

  "What urgent matter do you speak of?"

  Dannyl approached the desk. "I'm not sure where to start, Administrator. I am in an awkward situation. Two awkward situations, if that is possible." He paused. "Though you said my help was no longer needed, I continued researching ancient magic out of my own interest. The High Lord, when he learned of this, encouraged me to continue, but by then there was little left to discover in Elyne. Or so I thought."

  Lorlen frowned. Akkarin had encouraged Dannyl to continue?

  "Then, when my assistant and I were gaining the rebels' trust, we discovered a book in Dem Marane's possession." Dannyl reached into his robes and drew out an old book. He placed it on Lorlen's desk. "It answered many questions we had about ancient magic. It seems the form of ancient magic known as higher magic is actually black magic. This book contains instructions on its use."

  Lorlen stared at the book. Was this a coincidence, or had Akkarin known the rebels had the book? Or had he been working with the rebels? He drew in a quick breath. Was this how he learned black magic?

  If so, then why turn them in?

  "So you see," Dannyl said. "I am in an awkward position. Some might consider that I have researched black magic with the High Lord's permission, and that Akkarin's orders to capture the rebels were an attempt to gather more knowledge." He grimaced. "In truth, I have read part of that book, which means I have broken the law against learning about black magic. But I didn't know what it contained until I began reading."

  Lorlen shook his head. No wonder Dannyl was worried. "I understand your concern. You could not have known what the research would lead to. I didn't know what the research would lead to. If anyone thought to suspect you, they would have
to suspect me as well."

  "Should I explain all this at the Hearing?"

  "I'll discuss it with the Higher Magicians, but I don't think it will be necessary," Lorlen replied.

  Dannyl looked relieved. "There is one other matter," he added quietly.

  More? Lorlen stifled a groan. "Yes?"

  Dannyl looked at the floor. "When the High Lord requested that I find the rebels, he suggested that my assistant and I cause them to know something that could be used to blackmail us into cooperating. Akkarin said he would ensure the Guild knew that this information was merely a deception created to gain the rebels' trust." Dannyl looked up. "But obviously Akkarin is no longer in a position to do that."

  Abruptly, Lorlen remembered a conversation with Akkarin beside the Arena, while they were watching Sonea fighting.

  "The Guild will lose interest in the murderer once Ambassador Dannyl arrives with the rogue, Lorlen."

  Had he been referring to more than the existence of the rebels? What was this information that Dannyl had created to gain the rebels' trust?

  He looked at Dannyl; the man glanced away, clearly embarrassed. Slowly Lorlen began to piece together scraps of gossip he'd heard, until he had guessed what Dannyl had let the rebels believe.

  Interesting, he thought. And a bold move, considering the troubles Dannyl faced as a novice.

  What should he do? Lorlen rubbed his temples. Akkarin had been so much better at this sort of thing.

  "So you fear that nobody will believe what Akkarin says about you, because his integrity is in question."

  "Yes."

  "Is the integrity of these rebels any stronger?" Lorlen shook his head. "I doubt it. If you are worried that nobody will believe Akkarin, then let people believe it was your own idea."

  Dannyl's eyes widened. He straightened and nodded. "Of course. Thank you, Administrator."

  Lorlen shrugged, then looked at Dannyl a little closer. "You look as if you haven't slept for a week."

  "I haven't. I didn't want someone to undo all the hard work I'd done in saving Farand's life."

  Lorlen frowned. "Then you had best go back to your rooms and rest. We may need you tomorrow."

  The young magician managed a tired smile. He nodded at the book on Lorlen's desk. "Now that I've got that off my hands, sleep shouldn't be a problem anymore. Thank you again, Administrator."