The Magicians' Guild

the floor. Looking down, Sonea saw fragments of a white ceramic vase.

'Now Sonea,' Faren said, shaking his finger at her. 'I don't think this is a nice way to repay Serin for -' He stopped abruptly, then slapped his forehead and groaned. 'They'll know you're in the city.' He swore, then frowned at her disapprovingly. 'There's more than one reason why I told you to avoid using magic while you're here, Sonea.'

Sonea flushed. 'I'm sorry Faren, but I didn't mean it.' She reached down and picked up one of the fragments. 'First I can't make it happen when I want to, and now it happens when I'm not even thinking about it.'

Faren's expression softened. 'Well, if you can't help it, you can't help it.' He waved a hand, stiffened and turned to stare at her.

'What?' she asked.

He swallowed and looked away. 'Nothing. Just ... a thought. The magicians won't have been close enough to us to work out your location, though they'll probably be all over the North Quarter tomorrow. I don't think I need to move you yet - just try not to use your magic again.'

Sonea nodded. 'I'll try.'

'Larkin the merchant?'

Dannyl turned to see a bolhouse worker standing beside him. He nodded. The man jerked his head to indicate that Dannyl should follow him.

For a moment, Dannyl stared at the man, unable to believe that he was finally getting somewhere, then hastily rose from the stool. Following the man through the crowd, he considered the contents of his letter to Gorin. What had made the Thief agree to see him this time?

Snow was falling outside. The guide hunched his shoulders and drew his coat tighter, then started down the street at a rapid pace. As they reached the entrance of a nearby alley, a cloaked figure stepped out in front of Dannyl, blocking his path.

'Lord Dannyl. What a surprise! Or should I say, what a disguise ?'

Fergun was smiling broadly. Dannyl stared at the magician, his disbelief rapidly turning to annoyance. Remembering other times, many years before, when he had been pursued and taunted by a younger Fergun, an uneasiness began to nag at him - then he became annoyed with himself. Straightening his shoulders, he drew a little petty satisfaction out of being a head taller than the other magician.

'What do you want, Fergun?'

Fergun's fine brows rose. 'To know why you're wandering about the slums in such a state, Lord Dannyl.'

'And you expect me to tell you?'

The warrior's shoulders rose. 'Well, if you don't, I'll be forced to speculate, won't I? I'm sure my friends will be happy to help me guess your reasons.' He put a finger to his lips. 'Hmm, obviously you don't wish it to be known why you are here. Is there a scandal you are hiding? Are you involved in something so embarrassing that you must dress like a beggar to avoid discovery? Ah!' Fergun's eyes widened. 'Are you visiting the brothels?'

Dannyl looked over Fergun's shoulder. As he had expected, the guide had disappeared.

'Oh, was he the one then?' Fergun asked, glancing behind. 'A bit rough looking. Not that I have any idea what your specific tastes are.'

Anger rushed over Dannyl like icy water. It had been years since Fergun had confronted him like this, but the hatred the jibe provoked was as strong as it had ever been. 'Get out of my way, Fergun.'

Fergun's eyes flashed with pleasure. 'Oh, no,' he said, his voice no longer mocking. 'Not until you tell me what you're up to.'

It would not be hard to knock Fergun off his feet, Dannyl mused.

Dannyl controlled his anger with an effort. 'Fergun, you couldn't keep your mouth shut or out of the gutter if you wanted to - and everybody knows it. Nobody will believe a word you say. Now get out of my way before I'm forced to report you.'

The Warrior's eyes became steely. 'I'm sure the Higher Magicians will be more interested in your actions. From what I remember, there's a rather strict law concerning magicians and where they must wear robes. Do they know you're breaking it?'

Dannyl smiled. 'It's not entirely unknown.'

A flicker of doubt broke Fergun's gaze. 'They're letting you?'

'They - or I should say he - instructed me to,' Dannyl replied. He let his gaze become distant, then shook his head. 'I've never been able to tell if he's watching or not. He'll need to know about this. I will have to tell him when I get back.'

Fergun's face had turned a shade whiter. 'No need! I will talk to him myself.' He stepped aside. 'Go. Finish your work.' Taking another step back, he turned and hurried away.

Smiling, Dannyl watched the Warrior disappear into the thickening snow. He doubted that Fergun would speak a word to the High Lord.

His satisfaction died as he found himself alone in an empty street. He searched the shadows where the guide had disappeared. Fergun would have to show up when the Thieves had finally agreed to a meeting. Sighing, Dannyl started back along the street toward the North Road and the Guild.

Hurried footsteps crunched the fresh snow behind him. He glanced back and blinked in surprise as he saw the guide approaching. Stopping, he let the man catch up.

'Hai! What was that about?' the man asked.

'One of our searchers got a little over-curious.' He smiled. 'I guess you'd call him a nosy tag.'

The man grinned, revealing stained teeth. 'I get you.' He gave a little shrug, then a tilt of his head to indicate that Dannyl should follow. Checking to make sure Fergun hadn't hung about to watch, Dannyl started through the falling snow again.

' 'Gradually increase the amount of power until the heat melts the glass,' ' Serin read.

'But that's nothing like how it works!' Sonea exclaimed. She rose and paced the room. 'It's more like a... a water skin with a tiny hole in it. If you squeeze the bag, the water squirts out, but you can't aim it, or make it -'

She stopped as a knock sounded on the door. Serin rose and checked the spy hole before opening the door.

'Sonea,' Faren said, waving the scribe out of the room. 'I have some visitors for you.'

He stepped inside, grinning. Behind him was a stocky man with sleepy eyes and a short woman with a heavy scarf draped over her head.

'Ranel!' Sonea cried. 'Jonna!' She dashed around the table and hugged her aunt.

'Sonea.' Jonna gave a little gasp. 'We were so worried about you.' Holding Sonea at arm's length, she nodded approvingly. 'You look well enough.'

To Sonea's amusement, Jonna narrowed her eyes at Faren. The Thief leaned against the back wall, smiling. Sonea moved to Ranel and hugged him.

He gave her a searching look. 'Harrin told us you've been doing magic.'

Sonea grimaced. 'That's right.'

'And the magicians are looking for you.'

'Yes. Faren's hiding me from them.'

'For what price? Your magic?'

Sonea nodded. 'That's right. Not that it's doing him much good at the moment. I'm not very good at it.'

Jonna snorted softly. 'You can't be that bad at it, or he wouldn't be hiding you.' She looked around the room and nodded. 'Not as bad as I thought.' Moving to a chair, she sat down, pulled off her scarf and exhaled a long breath.

Sonea dropped to her haunches beside the chair. 'I heard you were starting a new trade.'

Her aunt frowned. 'New trade?'

'Making cousins for me, I think.'

Her aunt's frown softened and she patted her belly. 'Ah, so the news reached you. Yes, there'll be another member in our little family next summer.' Jonna looked up at Ranel, who smiled broadly.