The Magicians' Guild

The Administrator's voice was smooth as he replied, but his stride was hurried. Rothen smiled to himself as the pair passed.

'It is not bother, Fergun.' Lorlen replied sternly. 'It is the law of the Guild. The law says -'

' 'The first magician to recognize magical potential in another has the right to claim their guardianship,' ' Fergun recited rapidly, 'I was the first to feel the effects of her power, not Rothen.'

'Nevertheless, the matter cannot be dealt with until the girl is found...'

The pair was well past Rothen now, and their voices faded beyond comprehension. He rose from the bench and began to stroll slowly toward the Magicians' Quarters.

So Fergun intended to claim guardianship of the girl. When Rothen had offered to take responsibility for her training, he had thought no other magician would want the task. Certainly not Fergun, who had always appeared to regard the lower classes with disdain.

He smiled to himself. Dannyl was not going to be pleased. His friend had harbored a dislike for Fergun since they were both novices. When he heard the news, Dannyl would be even more determined to find the girl himself.

* * *

It had been years since Cery had visited a bathhouse, and he had never seen the inside of the expensive private rooms. Scrubbed, warm for the first time in days and clothed in a thick wrap, he was in a good mood as he followed the towel girl into an airy drying room. Sonea sat on a length of simba matting, her thin body swamped by a heavy wrap and her face glowing from the attentions of the bathhouse girls. Seeing her looking so relaxed improved Cery's mood even more.

He grinned at her. 'Hai! What a treat! I'm sure Jonna would approve!'

Sonea winced, and Cery immediately regretted his words.

'Sorry, Sonea.' He grimaced apologetically. 'I shouldn't have reminded you.' He folded himself down onto the mat beside her, then leaned back against the wall. 'If we talk quietly, we should be safe,' he added in a low voice.

She nodded. 'What now? We can't stay here.'

'I know. I've been thinking about that.' He sighed. 'Things are bad, Sonea. Keeping you hidden from the magicians would have been easy, but the reward changed that. I can't trust anyone now. I can't call in favors and ... and I've run out of places to hide you.'

Her face paled. 'What will we do, then?'

He hesitated. After the fight he had realized that she had only one option left. She would not like it. Neither did he, for that matter. If only there was someone he could trust. He shook his head and turned to meet her gaze.

'I think we should get help from the Thieves.'

Sonea's eyes widened. 'Are you mad?!'

'Only if I keep trying to hide you myself. Sooner or later someone's going to turn you in.'

'What about the Thieves? Why wouldn't they?'

'You've got something they want.'

She frowned, then her expression darkened. 'Magic?'

'That's right. I bet they'd love to have their own magician.' He ran his fingertips over the matting. 'Once you have their protection nobody will touch you. No one crosses the Thieves. Not even for a hundred gold.'

She closed her eyes. 'Jonna and Ranel always told me that you can never get free of the Thieves. They keep their hooks in you. Even after a deal's over, you're never really out of their debt.'

Cery shook his head. 'I know you've heard bad stories. Everyone has. You just have to stick to their rules and they'll treat you fair. That's what my da used to say.'

'They killed your da.'

'He was stupid. He squimped.'

'What if ... ?' She sighed and shook her head. 'What choice do I have? If I don't, the Guild will find me. I guess being a slave to a Thief is better than death.'

Cery grimaced. 'It won't be like that. Once you've learned to use your powers, you'll be important and powerful. They'll give you a lot of rope. They'll have to. After all, if you decide you don't want to do something, how will they make you?'

She looked at him, searching his face for an unbearably long time. 'You're not sure about it, are you?'

He forced himself to meet her eyes. 'I'm sure that it's your only choice. I'm sure they'll treat you fairly.'

'Then?'

He sighed. 'I'm not sure what they'll get you to do for them in return.'

She nodded, then leaned back and stared at the far wall for several minutes.

'If you think it's what I should do, then I'll do it, Cery. I'd rather be stuck with the Thieves than give in to the Guild.'

Looking at her white face, he felt the now-familiar uneasiness return, only this time it felt more like guilt. She was frightened, but she would face the Thieves with her usual unflinching determination. That only made him feel worse. Though he could not delude himself about his ability to protect her, taking her to the Thieves felt like a betrayal. He did not want to lose her again.

But he had no other choice.

Rising, he walked to the door.

'I'm going to find Harrin and Donia,' he told her. 'You be fine?'

She did not look up at him, just nodded.

The towel girl stood in the passage outside the room. He asked for Harrin and Donia, and the girl nodded toward the door of the next room. Biting his lip, he knocked.

'Come in,' Harrin called.

Both Harrin and Donia were sitting on simba mats. Donia was rubbing her hair with a towel.

'I've told her, and she's agreed.'

Harrin frowned. 'I'm still not sure. What if we take her out of the city?'

Cery shook his head. 'I don't think we'd get far. You can be sure the Thieves know all about her by now. They'll have found out where she's been and lived. They'll know what she looks like, who her parents were, where her aunt and uncle are. It won't be hard to find out from Burril and his lot that she's -'

'If they know so much,' Donia interrupted, 'why haven't they just come and taken her?'

'That's not how they do things,' Cery told her. 'They like making bargains, then most of the people working for them are happy, and won't cause trouble later. They could come to us and offer protection, but they haven't. That makes me think they're not sure she's got magic. If we don't go to them, they'll let one of their own turn her in. That's why we'd never get her out of the city.'

Donia and Harrin exchanged a glance.

'What does she think?' Donia asked.

Cery grimaced. 'She's heard the stories. She's scared, but she knows she's got no other choice.'

Harrin stood. 'You sure about this, Cery?' he asked. 'I thought you had a shine on her. You might not see her again.'

Cery blinked in surprise, and felt his face warming. 'You think I'd see her again if the magicians got her?'

Harrin's shoulders sagged. 'No.'

Cery began pacing. 'I'll go with her. She'll need someone familiar around. I can make myself useful.'

Harrin reached out and grabbed Cery's arm. He stared at Cery, searching his eyes, and let him go.

'So we won't be seeing much of you anymore, then?'

Cery shook his head. He felt a pang of guilt. Harrin had been deserted by four members of his gang, and was unsure of the rest of them. Now his closest friend was leaving. 'I'll come by when I can. Gellin already thinks I work for the Thieves, anyway.'

Harrin smiled. 'All right, then. When will you take her?'

'Tonight.'

Donia placed a hand on Cery's arm. 'But what if they don't want her?'