The Magicians' Guild

stared at the walls intently, her eyes roving about. He strained his ears, but could hear nothing unusual.

'What is it?'

She shook her head, then suddenly flinched. A look of surprise and terror crossed her face. He leapt to his feet, alarmed.

'What is it?' he repeated.

'They're searching,' she hissed.

'I can't hear anything.'

'No, you wouldn't,' she said, her voice shaking. 'I can see them, but it's not like seeing. It's more like hearing, but it isn't because I can't tell what they're saying. It's more like ...' She sucked in a breath and whirled about, her eyes roving after something beyond his senses. 'They're searching with their minds.'

Cery stared at her helplessly. If he still had doubts that she had magical powers, this cast them aside forever.

'Can they see you?'

She gave him a frightened look. 'I don't know.'

He clenched and unclenched his fists. He had been so sure he could keep her from them, but there was no place he could take her - no walls that would hide her - from this.

Sucking in a breath, he stepped forward and grabbed her hands.

'Can you stop them seeing you?'

She spread her hands. 'How? I don't know how to use magic.'

'Try!' he urged. 'Try something. Anything!'

She shook her head, then tensed and drew in a sharp breath. He watched her face turn white.

'That one seemed to look right at me ...' She turned to look at Cery. 'But it went past. They keep looking past me.' A smile slowly spread across her face. 'They can't see me.'

He searched her eyes. 'Are you sure?'

She nodded. 'Yes.'

Pulling her hands from his, she sat down on the bed, her expression thoughtful. 'I think I did something yesterday, when that magician nearly got us. I kind of made myself invisible. I think he would have found me if I hadn't.' She looked up suddenly, then relaxed and grinned. 'It's like they're blind.'

Cery allowed himself a sigh of relief. He shook his head. 'You really had me worried, Sonea. I can hide you from magician's eyes, but I'm afraid hiding from magicians' minds is a bit much to ask. I think I better move you again. I've a place in mind off the Road that might do for a few days.'

The Guildhall was silent except for the whisper of breathing. Rothen opened his eyes and looked up at the rows of faces.

As always, he felt a vague embarrassment watching other magicians absorbed in mind work. He could not help feeling as if he was spying on them, that he was peeking at a private moment.

Yet he also got a childish amusement from their different expressions. Some magicians frowned, others looked puzzled or surprised. Most might have been asleep, their faces smooth and serene.

Catching a soft snore, Rothen smiled. Lord Sharrel leaned back in his chair, his bald head drooping slowly toward his chest. Obviously the exercises to calm and focus his mind had been too effective.

- He's not the only one not keeping his mind on the job, eh Rothen?

Dannyl opened an eye and smiled. Shaking his head in disapproval, Rothen scanned the faces to see if his friend had disturbed the concentration of the others. Dannyl gave the slightest shrug and closed his eye again.

Rothen sighed. They should have found her by now. He looked up at the rows of magicians and shook his head. Another half-hour, he decided. Closing his eyes, he drew in a deep breath and started his mind-calming exercise once again.

By late morning the mist shrouding the city had been burned away by cheerful sunlight. Standing at the window, Dannyl took a moment to enjoy the silence. The printing machines, while more efficient than scribes, made a din of whirring and thumping that always set his ears ringing.

He pursed his lips. Now that the last batch of reward notices had been printed and sent out, he was free. The mental search had failed, and Rothen was already in the slums. Dannyl wasn't sure if he should be pleased that he was going out in the fine weather, or dismayed that he must roam about in the hovels again.

'Lord Dannyl,' a voice said, 'there is a large gathering of people at the Guild Gates who wish to speak to you.'

Startled, Dannyl turned to find Administrator Lorlen standing in the doorway.

'Already?' he exclaimed.

Lorlen nodded, his lips curling into a bemused smile. 'I don't know how they got there. They've avoided two sets of Gate Guards and passed into the Inner Circle before arriving here - unless they're vagrants we missed in the Purge.'

'How many?'

'About two hundred,' Lorlen replied. 'The guards say they all claim to know where the missing girl is.'

Picturing that many thieves and beggars amassed at the gates, Dannyl pressed a hand to his forehead and groaned.

'Exactly,' Lorlen said. 'What are you going to do now?'

Dannyl leaned against the table and considered. It had been no more than an hour since he had sent the first messengers out with copies of the reward. Those at the gates were the first of a horde of informers that was sure to follow.

'We need somewhere to question them,' he mused aloud.

'Not in the Guild,' Lorlen replied, 'or people will make up stories just for the chance to have a look at us.'

'Somewhere in the city then.'

Lorlen drummed his fingers softly on the doorframe. 'The Guard have several halls around the city. I will arrange to have one of them prepared for our use.'

Dannyl nodded. 'Could you ask for some guards to remain to keep order, as well?'

The Administrator nodded. 'I'm sure they'll be quite anxious to stay.'

'I'll see if I can find some volunteers to help question the informers.'

'It sounds like you have everything in hand.' Lorlen took a step back from the doorway.

Dannyl smiled and inclined his head. 'Thank you, Administrator.'

'If you need anything else, just send a messenger to me.' Lorlen nodded, then strode away.

Crossing the room, Dannyl gathered up the implements he had used to draft the reward notice and placed them in the ornate writing box. He entered the corridor and hurried toward his quarters, stopping as a novice stepped out of a nearby classroom and began to stroll toward the stairs.

'You there,' Dannyl called. The youth froze before spinning around. His eyes met Dannyl's, then slid to the floor as he bowed. Dannyl swept down the corridor and thrust the box into the boy's arms.

'Take these to the Magicians' Library and tell Lord Jullen that I will collect them later.'

'Yes, Lord Dannyl,' the novice replied, nearly dropping the box as he bowed again. He turned and hurried away.

Continuing to the end of the corridor, Dannyl started down the stairs. Several magicians stood within the Entrance Hall, all staring through the huge doors of the University toward the gates. Larkin, a young Alchemist who had recently graduated, looked up as Dannyl neared the bottom of the stairs.

'These are your informers, Lord Dannyl?' he asked, grinning.

'Reward seekers,' Dannyl said dryly.

'You're not bringing them in here,' a gruff voice said.

Recognizing the sour tone of the University Director, Dannyl turned to regard the magician.

'Would you like me to, Director Jerrik?' Dannyl asked.

'Absolutely not!'

From behind, Dannyl heard Larkin utter a soft bark of amusement and he resisted the temptation to smile. Jerrik never seemed to change. He had been the same disapproving, sour old man when Dannyl had been a