The Magicians' Guild

But was it a good idea to learn something disturbing about Rothen right now, when she needed to trust him?

'Sonea. Let me in. The corridor is empty, but it won't be for long. This is my only chance to talk to you.'

'I can't. The door's locked.'

'Try it again.'

She regarded the door handle. Though she had tried it several times during her first days in the rooms, it had always been locked. Reaching out, she twisted the handle, then drew in a surprised breath as the door swung open.

A red sleeve appeared, then the full red robes of a magician. Backing away, she stared at the magician in dismay. She had expected a servant, or a rescuer disguised as a servant - unless this man had dared to don robes so he could reach her...

The man closed the door gently behind him, then straightened and looked at her.

'Hello, Sonea. We meet at last. I am Lord Fergun.'

'You're a magician?'

'Yes, not a magician such as Lord Rothen is.' He placed a hand on his chest.

Sonea frowned. 'You're a Warrior?'

Fergun smiled. He was much younger than Rothen, she noted, and quite attractive. His hair was pale and neatly combed, and his facial features were both fine and strong. She knew she had seen him before, but couldn't remember where.

'I am,' he said. 'But that is not the difference I speak of.' He placed a hand over his heart. 'I am on your side.'

'And Rothen isn't?'

'No, though he means well,' he added. 'Rothen is the sort of man who believes he knows what's best for others, particularly a young woman like yourself. I, however, see you as an adult who ought to be allowed to make her own choices.' He raised an eyebrow. 'Will you listen to me, or shall I leave you in peace?'

Though her heart was still racing, she nodded and gestured to the chairs. 'Stay,' she said. 'I will listen.'

Inclining his head politely, he glided to a chair. Taking the seat opposite, she looked at him expectantly.

'Firstly, has Rothen told you that you may join the Guild?' he asked.

'Yes.'

'And has he told you what you must do to become a magician?'

She shrugged. 'A little. There is a vow, and years of training.'

'And do you know what you must vow?'

She shook her head. 'No, but it doesn't matter. I don't want to join the Guild.'

He blinked. 'You don't want to join the Guild?' he repeated.

'No.'

He nodded slowly and leaned back in his chair. For a while he was silent and thoughtful, then his gaze shifted to hers again.

'May I ask why?'

Sonea considered him carefully. Rothen had told her that many of the magicians would be surprised when she refused the Guild's offer.

'I want to go home,' she told him.

He nodded again. 'Do you know that the Guild does not allow magicians to exist outside its influence?'

'Yes,' she replied. 'Everybody knows that.'

'So you know they will not just let you walk out of here.'

'I won't be able to use my powers, so I won't be a threat.'

He raised his eyebrows again. 'So Rothen has told you that the Guild will block your powers?'

Sonea frowned. Block her powers?

He nodded slowly. 'No, I thought not. He is only telling you part of the truth.' He leaned forward. 'The Higher Magicians will cage your powers within you so that you cannot reach for them. It's ... not a pleasant procedure, not at all, and the cage will be there for the rest of your life. You see, even though you will not know how to use your powers, there is always a chance you will discover how to use them yourself, or encounter a rogue magician willing to teach you - though that is highly unlikely. By law, the Guild must make sure you cannot use magic, even if you had all the help you needed.'

A chill had grown within Sonea as he spoke. Looking down at the table, she considered what Rothen had told her. Had he deliberately phrased the truth so that it sounded less frightening? Probably. Her suspicions grew stronger as she realized that Rothen had only voiced the revelation that she would be freed. She had not seen it in his mind and known it to be true ...

She looked up at the red-robed magician. How could she trust anything he said? She could not think what he had to gain from lying, however, since she would discover the truth once she had learned Control.

'Why are you telling me this?'

He gave her a lopsided smile. 'Like I said, I'm on your side. You need to know the truth and ... I can offer you an alternative.'

She straightened. 'What alternative?'

He pursed his lips. 'It will not be easy. Has Rothen explained about guardianship yet?'

She shook her head.

He rolled his eyes. 'He hasn't told you anything! Listen.' He leaned forward and placed his elbows on his knees. 'Guardianship allows magicians to control the training of novices. Rothen has claimed guardianship of you since the Purge. When I heard this, I decided to place a counter-claim. This forces the Guild to hold a Hearing - a meeting - where it will be decided which of us will be your guardian. You will help me win my claim, then -'

'Why would they hold a Hearing when I'm not going to join the Guild?' Sonea injected.

He raised his hands in a placating gesture. 'Hear me out, Sonea.' Taking a deep breath, he continued. 'If you refuse to join the Guild, your powers will be blocked and you'll be sent back to the slums. If you agree to stay, however, and I win your guardianship, I can help you.'

Sonea frowned. 'How?'

He smiled. 'You'll simply vanish one day. You can go back to the slums if you want. I'll teach you how to make your magic undetectable - and your powers will not be blocked. They will hunt for you at first, but if you are smart, they won't find you this time.'

She stared at him in disbelief. 'But you'd be breaking the Guild's laws.'

He nodded slowly. 'I know.' Different emotions shifted over his face. He rose and walked to the window. 'I don't like to see people forced to be what they don't want to be,' he told her. 'Look.' Turning, he crossed the room and held out his hand to her. The skin of his palm was callused and scarred.

'Swordplay. I am a Warrior, as you so astutely noted. It's the closest I can get to what I once wanted to be. When I was a boy, I dreamed of being a swordsman. I practiced for hours each day. I dreamed of learning under the greatest teachers.'

He sighed and shook his head. Then my magical potential was discovered. It wasn't much, but my parents wanted to have a magician in the family. I would bring their House great prestige, they said.

'So I was made to join the Guild. I was too young to refuse, too full of doubts to know that magic wasn't my real calling. My powers aren't strong and, though I have learned to use them well, I don't enjoy them. I have kept up my fighting skills, though most other magicians regard honest, face-to-face battle with disdain. That is as close as I can get to the life I dreamed of.'

He looked up at her, his eyes bright. 'I won't let Rothen do the same to you. If you do not want to join the Guild, then I will help you escape. But you must trust me. Guild politics and laws are convoluted and confusing.' He moved back to his chair, but did not sit down. 'Do you want me to help you?'

Sonea looked down at the table. His story, and its passionate delivery, had impressed her, but parts of it made her uneasy. Was keeping her magic worth becoming a fugitive again?

Then she considered what Cery would say. Why should the higher classes have a monopoly on magic? If the Guild would not accept anyone from the lower classes, then why shouldn't those classes have their own