The Magicians' Guild

criminal conspiracy and torn down.'

Akkarin's brows rose slightly at this. Lorlen glanced at the High Lord and smiled. 'If only the problem of the Thieves could be solved so easily.' He looked up at Rothen and smiled. 'Good evening, Lord Rothen and Lord Dannyl.'

Fergun looked up. His eyes slid from Dannyl to Rothen, and his mouth stretched into a smile. 'Ah, Lord Rothen.'

'Good evening, High Lord, Administrator,' Rothen replied, inclining his head to the Higher Magicians. 'And Lord Fergun. Are you feeling better?'

'Yes, yes,' Fergun replied, lifting a hand to touch the bandage on his forehead. 'Thank you for enquiring.'

Dannyl kept his expression neutral. It was rude, but not unusual, for Fergun to 'forget' to greet him. That he had done so in the High Lord's presence, however, was surprising.

Lorlen folded his hands together. 'I noticed that you both stayed in the slums longer than most others today. Did you discover any clues to this girl's whereabouts?'

Rothen shook his head, and began describing their attempts to follow the underground passages of the slums. Remaining silent, Dannyl looked at the High Lord and felt a familiar twinge of nervousness. Ten years since I graduated, but I still react to him as if I were a novice, he mused.

Dannyl's duties and interests rarely brought him in contact with the Guild's leader. As always, he felt a mild surprise at Akkarin's youthfulness. He thought of the arguments that had risen, five years before, at the election of a young magician to the position of High Lord. Guild leaders were selected from the strongest of the magicians, yet older magicians were usually chosen over younger ones due to their greater experience and maturity.

While Akkarin had demonstrated powers far stronger than any other magician's, it was the knowledge and diplomatic skills that he had gained while travelling abroad that had convinced the Guild to elect him. A Guild leader was expected to have qualities of strength, skill, dignity and authority, and Akkarin had all of these in abundance. As many had pointed out at the time of Akkarin's choosing, age mattered little to the role. Important decisions were always made by vote, and the everyday running of the Guild was left to the Guild Administrator.

While this sounded reasonable, Dannyl suspected that questions about the High Lord's age still lingered. He had noted that Akkarin now wore his hair in the old fashioned and distinguished style favored by older men - long and tidily knotted at the back of his neck. Lorlen, too, had adopted the style.

Dannyl turned to regard the Administrator, who was listening to Rothen intently. The High Lord's closest friend, Lorlen had become the former Guild Administrator's assistant at Akkarin's suggestion. When the Administrator retired, two years past, Lorlen had taken his place.

Lorlen had proven to be well-suited to the position. He was efficient, authoritative, and, most importantly, approachable. It was not an easy role, and Dannyl did not envy Lorlen the long hours involved. Of the two positions, it was the most demanding.

Lorlen shook his head as Rothen finished his account of their day. 'From the descriptions I've heard of the slums, I can't see how we'll ever find her.' He sighed. 'The King has ordered that the Port be opened tomorrow.'

Fergun frowned. 'Already? What if she escapes on a ship?'

'I doubt if the embargo would have stopped her from leaving Imardin if she really wanted to.' Lorlen looked up at Rothen and smiled wryly. 'As Lord Rothen's former guardian used to say: 'Kyralia would run itself very well if ruling was declared a crime.' '

Rothen chuckled. 'Yes, Lord Margen was a source of many such remarks. I don't believe we have explored all our options, however. Dannyl pointed out to me this morning that the people who have the best chance of finding this girl are the slum dwellers themselves. I think he's right.'

Dannyl stared at his friend. Surely Rothen was not going to reveal their intention to contact the Thieves!

'Why would they help us?' Lorlen asked.

Rothen glanced at Dannyl and smiled. 'We could offer a reward.'

Dannyl slowly let out the breath he had been holding. You should have warned me, old friend!

'A reward!' Lorlen exclaimed. 'Yes, that might work.'

'An excellent idea,' Fergun agreed. 'And we should fine those who hinder us, too.'

Lorlen gave Fergun a reproachful look. 'A reward will be sufficient. Mind you, nothing shall be given until she is found, or the entire population of the slums will claim to have seen her.' He frowned. 'Hmm, we'll also want to discourage people from trying to catch her themselves ...'

'We could post a description of her and terms of the reward at street corners, with a warning that she should not be approached,' Dannyl suggested. 'We should encourage people to report sightings of her, too, as they could give us some indication of the areas she frequents.'

'We could have a map of the slums drawn up so we can keep track of sightings,' Fergun suggested.

'Hmm, that would be useful,' Dannyl said, pretending to be begrudgingly surprised at the suggestion. Remembering the maze of passages and streets, he knew a task like that would keep Fergun out of their way for months. Rothen narrowed his eyes at Dannyl, but said nothing.

'The posting of a reward,' Lorlen glanced up at Dannyl, 'you'll arrange it?'

'Tomorrow.' Dannyl inclined his head.

'I will inform the rest of the searchers of this tomorrow morning,' Lorlen said. He looked up at Rothen and Dannyl and smiled. 'Any more ideas?'

'This girl must have a presence,' the High Lord said quietly. 'She is untrained, and would not know how to hide it - or even that she has one. Has anyone looked for it yet?'

For a moment, all were silent, then Lorlen chuckled ruefully. 'I can't believe I hadn't thought of that. No one has mentioned looking for her presence.' He shook his head. 'It seems we've all forgotten what we are - and what she is.'

'A presence,' Rothen said quietly. 'I think I...'

Lorlen frowned as Rothen did not finish his sentence. 'Yes?'

'I'll organize a mental search for tomorrow,' Rothen offered.

Lorlen smiled. 'Then you two have a busy day ahead.'

Rothen inclined his head. 'We best have an early night, then. Good night, Administrator, High Lord, Lord Fergun.'

The three magicians nodded in reply. Dannyl followed as Rothen hurried toward the Night Room doors. As they stepped out into the chilly air, Rothen let out an explosive breath.

'Now I realize!' He slapped a hand to his forehead.

'Realize what?' Dannyl asked, bemused.

'Today, while I was following one of the passages, I felt something. As if somebody was watching me.'

'A presence?'

'Perhaps.'

'Did you investigate?'

Rothen nodded. 'It didn't make sense. What I was detecting would have to have been right next to me, yet there was nothing but a brick wall.'

'Did you look for a hidden door?'

'No, but ...' Rothen hesitated, and frowned, '... it stopped.'

'It stopped?' Dannyl looked perplexed. 'How could it just stop? A presence doesn't just stop - not unless it has been hidden. She hasn't been trained to do that.'

'Or has she?' Rothen smiled grimly. 'If it was her, then either she has been taught by someone, or she has worked it out for herself.'

'It's not difficult to learn,' Dannyl pointed out, 'and we teach it by playing games of hideaway.'

Rothen nodded slowly as he considered the possibility, then shrugged. 'I guess we'll know tomorrow. I had better go back in and see if I can round up some help. I expect many of those who don't want to enter the slums again will be happy to help with a mental search. I want you to join us, Dannyl. You've got particularly fine