The High Lord

'Good night, Administrator.'

'Good night, Osen.'

As his assistant started down the University corridor toward the Magicians' Quarters, Lorlen considered the young magician. Osen had noted Lorlen's regular visits to the Guard House soon after they had begun. The young man was observant, and Lorlen knew better than to start making up complicated excuses. Sometimes giving the right amount of the truth was better than outright deceit.

He had explained to Osen that Akkarin had asked him to monitor the Guards' efforts to find the murderer.

'Why you?' Osen had asked.

Lorlen had been expecting that. 'Oh, I needed something to do in my spare time,' he had joked. 'Barran is a family friend. I was hearing about these murders from him anyway, so the communication between us has just become an official one. I could send someone else, but I don't want to be receiving the latest news thirdhand.'

'Can I ask if there's a particular reason for the Guild to take an interest?' Osen had probed.

'You can ask,' Lorlen had replied with a smile. 'I may not answer. Do you think there's a reason?'

'I had heard that some people in the city believe magic is involved.'

'Which is why the Guild must be seen to be keeping an eye on the situation. The people should feel we're not ignoring their troubles. We must take care not to show too much interest, however, or they'll think there is truth to the rumor.'

Osen had agreed to keep his knowledge of Lorlen's visits to the Guard to himself. If the rest of the Guild heard that Lorlen was following Captain Barran's progress they, too, would wonder if magic was involved.

Lorlen was still uncertain whether magic was involved. There had been one incident, over a year before, in which a dying witness had claimed the murderer had attacked him with magic. The burns on the witness had looked like those from a heatstrike, but since then Barran had found no other evidence to confirm that the murderer - or murderers - used magic.

Barran had agreed to keep the possibility that the murderer might be a rogue magician to himself for now. If the news got out, Lorlen had explained, the King and the Houses would expect another hunt like the one that had been conducted for Sonea. They had learned from that experience that having magicians roaming all over the city would only send a rogue into hiding.

Lorlen strolled into the Entrance Hall. He watched as a carriage emerged from the stables and rolled down the road toward the University steps. As it pulled up, he descended to the vehicle, told the driver his destination and climbed aboard.

So what do we know? he asked himself.

For weeks, sometimes months, victims had been killed with the same, ritualized method - a method that occasionally resembled a black magic ritual. Then, for a few months, there were no deaths at all, until a new series of murders gained the Guard's attention. These, too, would be ritualized murders, but using a slightly different method than previously.

Barren had sorted the possible reasons for the change of method into two main categories. Either the murderer was acting alone and kept changing his habits, or each series of murders was carried out by a different man. A single man might change his habits to avoid detection, or to perfect the ritual; a succession of murderers might indicate some kind of gang or cult which required killing as an initiation or test.

Lorlen looked down at the ring on his hand. A few witnesses lucky enough to see the murderer and survive had reported seeing a ring with a red gem on his hand. A ring like this? he wondered. Akkarin had created the gem out of glass and his own blood on the night he had discovered Lorlen, Sonea and Rothen knew he had learned and used black magic. It enabled him to see and hear everything Lorlen did, and to communicate by mind without other magicians hearing.

Whenever the murders resembled a black magic ritual, Lorlen was unable to avoid considering the possibility that Akkarin might be responsible. Akkarin did not wear a ring in public, yet he could be slipping one on when he left the Guild. Why would he, though? He didn't need to keep track of himself.

What if the ring allows someone else to see what the murderer is doing?

Lorlen frowned. Why would Akkarin want another person to see what he was doing? Unless he was acting on the orders of another. Now that was a frightening possibility...

Lorlen sighed. Sometimes he found himself hoping he would never learn the truth. He knew that, if Akkarin was the murderer, he would feel partly responsible for the deaths of his victims. He ought to have dealt with Akkarin long ago, when he had first discovered from Sonea that the High Lord used black magic. But he had feared that the Guild could not defeat Akkarin in a fight.

So Lorlen had kept the High Lord's crime a secret, persuading Sonea and Rothen to do the same. Then Akkarin had discovered that his crime was known, and had taken Sonea hostage to ensure Lorlen and Rothen remained silent. Now Lorlen could not move against Akkarin without risking her life.

But if I discovered that Akkarin was the murderer, and knew the Guild could defeat him, I would not hesitate. Not for our old friendship, or even Sonea's wellbeing, would I allow him to continue.

And Akkarin, through the ring, must know that.

Of course, Akkarin might not be the murderer. He had told Lorlen to investigate the murders, but that proved nothing. He might simply want to know how close the Guard was to discovering his crimes...

The carriage stopped. Lorlen glanced out of the window and blinked in surprise when he saw the front of the Guard House outside. He had been so lost in thought, he had barely noticed the journey. The carriage rocked a little as the driver climbed down to open the door. Lorlen stepped out and strode across the pavement to the Guard House entrance. Captain Barran greeted him in the narrow hall inside.

'Good evening, Administrator. Thank you for coming so quickly.'

Though Barran was still young, frown lines already marked his forehead. Those lines seemed deeper tonight.

'Good evening, Captain.'

'I have some interesting news, and something to show you. Come to my office.'

Lorlen followed the man down a corridor to a small room. The rest of the building was quiet, though a few guards were always present in the evenings. Barran ushered Lorlen to a seat, then closed the door.

'Do you remember me saying that the Thieves might be looking for the killer?'

'Yes.'

Barran smiled crookedly. 'I have had confirmation of sorts. It was inevitable that, if the Guard and the Thieves were both investigating the murders, we'd cross paths. It turns out they have had spies here for months.'

'Spies? In the Guard?'

'Yes. Even an honorable man would be tempted to accept coin in exchange for information, when that information might lead to this murderer being found - particularly when the Guard aren't getting anywhere.' Barran shrugged. 'I don't know who all the spies are yet, but for now I'm happy to let them remain in place.'

Lorlen chuckled. 'If you want advice on negotiating with the Thieves I would send Lord Dannyl to you, but he is now a Guild Ambassador in Elyne.'

The Captain's eyebrows rose. 'That would have been interesting advice, even if I never had the opportunity to use it. I do not intend to negotiate for a cooperative effort with the Thieves, however. The Houses would never approve of it. I have made an arrangement with one of the spies that he pass on whatever he can safely divulge to me. None of his information has been useful yet, but it might lead to something that is.' The creases between his brows deepened again. 'Now, I have something to show you. You said you wanted to examine the next victim. One was discovered tonight, so I had the body brought here.'

A chill ran down Lorlen's spine, as if a cold draft had found its way under the collar of his robes. Barran gestured to the door.

'It's in the basement. Would you like to see it now.'

'Yes.'

He rose and followed Barran out into the corridor. The man remained silent as they descended a flight of stairs and continued down another corridor. The air grew distinctly colder. Stopping before a heavy wooden door, Barran unlocked and opened it.