The Rogue

passed. Go look, if you like.”

Holding back a chuckle, Dannyl left through the open door, closing it behind him. He climbed the short, steep stair to the upper deck, pushing through the hatch into sunlight.

The few slaves still about stood with sagging shoulders, holding onto ropes or railing as if too weak to support themselves. The captain sat watching as another slave held the wheel, dark shadows under his eyes. As the man’s eyes met Dannyl’s, he nodded. Dannyl returned the gesture. A faint smile pulled at the captain’s lips, then disappeared.

Glancing around the ship, Dannyl saw no sign of damage. Looking beyond, he saw that the skies to the south-east were dark with cloud. The edge of the storm, he guessed, moving away from them.

From the position of the sun, he reckoned it was mid-afternoon. The coast was visible to the right. A featureless land fringed by a short, eroding cliff. He considered the height of the latter thoughtfully. On the journey north he’d noted how the cliffs had grown steadily higher. If he could spot something now to indicate scale, he might be able to estimate how far from Arvice they were.

“Are we there yet?”

Surprised, Dannyl turned to see Tayend stepping through the hatch onto the deck. The Elyne looked tired and sick, but not as tired as Achati and not as sick as Tayend would have been if Dannyl hadn’t been Healing away his seasickness since leaving Duna.

“I have no idea,” Dannyl confessed.

“Achati’s asleep.” Tayend moved to stand beside Dannyl and looked around. “Storm’s passed.”

His observations didn’t seem to need an answer, so Dannyl stayed silent. They stared out at the sea. In comfortable, companionable silence, Dannyl thought, but he found that the longer neither of them spoke, the more aware he was of Tayend’s presence.

“How are you feeling?” he asked eventually.

“Not too bad.” Tayend shrugged. “I’ll probably take some more of that cure soon.”

“You don’t have to,” Dannyl assured him.

“No, it’s fine. I could do with the sleep.”

Dannyl nodded. “So, did you enjoy the trip?”

Tayend didn’t answer, and when Dannyl turned to look at him he saw the Elyne’s lips were pursed in thought.

“Yes and no,” Tayend replied. “I’m a bit disappointed I spent so much of it drugged. When we got to Duna it was better, though that ride up the canyon trail was rather unnerving. The tribes were interesting, but we only stayed a day and they only spoke to you.”

Dannyl grimaced. “Sorry about that.”

“Oh, don’t apologise. It wasn’t your decision.”

They fell silent again. Tayend turned full circle, looking at the ship and checking out the coast. He stopped and faced Dannyl.

“And you?” he asked. “Come to any decisions?”

There was an accusing tone to his question. Dannyl turned to frown at Tayend. The Elyne’s eyes were sharp and steady. Though Dannyl knew that Tayend was a lot smarter than his behaviour often suggested, he suddenly found that his former lover looked like an entirely different person. An older person, he thought. A more mature person.

“I know, Dannyl,” Tayend said in a low voice. “You two are definitely more than … friends. Do you think I wouldn’t be able to tell, after living with you for so long?”

Dannyl looked away, but not to avoid showing any guilt, he realised. To avoid glaring at Tayend in anger. He resisted the urge to glance back at the captain, or around at the slaves to see if any had heard, and created a barrier around them to contain sound.

“Nothing happened.”

Tayend sniffed in disgust. “No?” he said. Dannyl met his gaze. Tayend’s eyes narrowed, then he smiled thinly. “Oh, good. I managed to stop some part of your foolishness, then.”

“You were keeping us apart!” Dannyl accused. “I thought you might be jealous, but this is—”

“This has nothing to do with jealousy,” Tayend hissed. “He’s a Sachakan. An Ashaki. A black magician.”

“You think I haven’t noticed this?”

“Yes,” Tayend replied, his expression serious. “Because otherwise I’d have to consider that you’re either going senile, are blind with love or are turning traitor. Out of those I have no proof of the first two, which leaves me in an awkward position as an Ambassador.”

“I’m not turning into a traitor,” Dannyl replied. “Last time I looked, having a foreign lover was not an act of treachery, otherwise I’d never have bedded you.”

Tayend crossed his arms. “This is different. Our lands are allies. Sachaka is …”

Dannyl raised his eyebrows when Tayend didn’t finish the sentence. “The enemy? It will always be our enemy, if we never stop treating it as one.”

“It will never be our ally so long as Sachakans like Achati keep slaves and use black magic.” Tayend’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t tell me your position is softening on that, as well.”

Dannyl shook his head. “Of course not.”

“Good. Because I’m watching you, Ambassador Dannyl. The moment you turn into a Sachakan, I’ll know.” Tayend turned away and moved back to the hatch, forcing Dannyl to quickly drop his sound-blocking shield. “Now I’m going to get some proper sleep.”

As the hatch closed, Dannyl turned away to stare at the sea again.

Turn into a Sachakan. How ridiculous.

But as so often happened with Tayend, he felt a little seed of doubt take root. What if he was? Was Achati the cause? Or was it simply that he was growing too used to the Sachakan way of doing things?

If that’s so, then there’s nothing to worry about. Everything will return to normal once we get back to the Guild House.

CHAPTER 29 THE DECISION

Most novices never get to see this room, Lilia thought as she followed Black Magician Sonea into Administrator Osen’s office. I’ve seen it more times than I’d ever want to.

The Administrator was sitting behind his desk and Black Magician Kallen was reclining in one of the guest chairs, but they both stood up as she and Sonea arrived. A third magician, hidden behind the back of the chair he was sitting in, got to his feet. To her surprise, it was University Director Jerrik.

“Lilia,” Osen said as he stepped around his desk and came forward to meet her. “How are you feeling?”

She blinked at him, feeling another twinge of surprise at such a conversational question.

“I’m well, Administrator Osen,” she answered. Tired of waiting to find out if I’m going to be locked up again, she added silently.

“Good,” he said. “As you know, we have been discussing what to do with you. I am happy to tell you that we have come to a decision, and it has been approved by the king.” He smiled. “You may rejoin the Guild and complete your training.”

She stared at him in disbelief, then felt a smile spring to her lips. “Thank you.”