The Magicians' Guild

Yaldin shrugged. 'It's got beyond friendly wagers over the guardianship claim now. A lot of people are questioning the wisdom of having someone with her dubious background in the Guild at all.'

'Again? What are their reasons this time?'

'Will she honor the vow?' Yaldin said. 'Will she be a bad influence on other novices?' He leaned forward. 'You've met her. What do you think?'

Shrugging, Dannyl wiped the sugar from his fingers onto a napkin. 'I'm the last person you should ask. She stabbed me, remember?'

'You're not ever going to let us forget it,' Ezrille remarked. 'Come now, you must have noticed more than that.'

'Her speech is rough, though not as bad as I expected. She has none of the manners we're used to. No bowing or 'my Lord.' '

'Rothen will teach her that when she's ready,' Ezrille said.

Yaldin snorted softly. 'He better make sure she knows before the Hearing.'

'You're both still forgetting that she doesn't want to stay. Why would he bother to teach her etiquette?'

'Perhaps it would be easier all round if she did leave.'

Ezrille gave her husband a reproachful look. 'Yaldin,' she scolded. 'Would you send the girl back to poverty after showing her all the wealth here? That would be cruel.'

The old man shrugged. 'Of course not, but she wants to go and it'll be easier if she does. No Hearing for a start, and the whole issue about taking in people from outside the Houses will be forgotten.'

'They're wasting their breath arguing about it,' Dannyl said. 'We all know that the King wants her here, under our control.'

'Then he won't be too happy if she sticks to her intention to leave.'

'No,' Dannyl agreed. 'But he can't make her take the vow if she doesn't want to.'

Yaldin frowned, then glanced at the door as someone knocked on it. He waved a hand lazily, and the door swung open.

Rothen stepped inside, beaming. 'She's staying!'

'Well, that settles that,' Ezrille said.

Yaldin nodded. 'Not everything, Ezrille. We still have the Hearing to worry about.'

'The Hearing?' Rothen waved a hand dismissively. 'Leave that to another time. For now, I only want to celebrate.'

Chapter 27 Somewhere Under the University

Curling up in a chair, Sonea yawned and considered the day so far.

In the morning, Administrator Lorlen had visited to ask her about her decision, and to explain, over again, about guardianship and the Hearing. She had felt a pang of guilt as he expressed genuine pleasure that she was staying - a feeling she grew familiar with as the day continued.

Other visitors had come: Dannyl, then the stern and intimidating Head of Healers, and an old couple who were friends of Rothen's. Each time someone had knocked at the door she had tensed, expecting Fergun, but the Warrior had not appeared.

Guessing that he would not visit until she was alone, she was almost relieved when Rothen left after dinner, saying he would be absent until late and that she should not wait up for him.

'I'll stay and chat with you, if you like,' Tania offered.

Sonea smiled in gratitude. 'Thank you, Tania, but I think I'd like to be alone tonight.'

The servant nodded. 'I understand.' She turned back to the table, then paused as a knock came from the door. 'Shall I answer that, Lady?'

Sonea nodded. Taking a deep breath, she watched as the servant opened the door a crack.

'Is the Lady Sonea present?'

Hearing the voice, Sonea felt her stomach sink with dread.

'Yes, Lord Fergun,' Tania replied. She glanced anxiously at Sonea. 'I will ask if she wishes to see you.'

'Let him in, Tania.'' Though her heart had begun to race, Sonea managed to speak calmly.

As the servant stepped away from the door, the red-robed magician moved into the room. Inclining his head to Sonea, he placed a hand on his chest.

'I am Fergun. I believe Lord Rothen has told you about me?'

His eyes shifted to Tania, then back again. Sonea nodded.

'Yes,' she said. 'He has. Will you sit down?'

'Thank you,' he said, bending gracefully into a chair.

- Send the woman away.

Swallowing, Sonea looked up at Tania. 'Is there anything more you need to do, Tania?'

The servant glanced at the table, then shook her head. 'No, Lady. I will return later for the dishes.' She bowed, then slipped out of the room.

As the door closed behind her, Fergun's friendly expression vanished. 'I was only told this morning that Rothen has announced you ready. It took you some time to tell him.'

'I had to wait for the right moment,' she replied. 'Or it would have seemed strange.'

Fergun stared at her, then waved a hand dismissively. 'It is done. Now, just to make sure you understand my instructions, I want you to repeat them to me.'

He nodded as she recited what he had told her to do.

'Good. Do you have any questions?'

'Yes,' she told him. 'How do I know if you really have Cery? All I've seen is a dagger.'

He smiled. 'You'll just have to trust me.'

'Trust you?' She snorted loudly and forced herself to stare into his eyes. 'I want to see him. If I don't, I might have to ask Administrator Lorlen if blackmail is a crime in the Guild.'

His lip curled into a sneer. 'You're in no position to make such threats.'

'Aren't I?' Rising, she strolled to the high table and poured herself a glass of water. Her hands shook and she was glad she had her back to him. 'I know all about this kind of blackmail. I've lived with the Thieves, remember? You need to make it clear that you can carry out your threat. All I've seen is a dagger. Why should I believe you have its owner?'

She turned to meet his gaze and was gratified to see his stare falter. He clenched his fists, then slowly nodded.

'Very well,' he said, rising. 'I will take you to him.'

She felt a thrill of triumph, but it quickly faded. He wouldn't have agreed if he didn't have Cery locked away. She also knew that, when someone's life was being traded for something, the hardest part was stopping the kidnapper from killing their captive as soon they had what they wanted.

Moving to the door, Fergun opened it and waited for her to step through. As she entered the corridor, two magicians stopped and stared at her in alarm, then relaxed as Fergun joined her.

'Has Rothen told you about the buildings of the Guild?' Fergun asked brightly as they started toward the stairs.

'Yes,' she replied.

'They were constructed about four hundred years ago,' he said, ignoring her. 'The Guild had grown too large ...'

The end of the week at last! Dannyl thought jubilantly as he stepped out of the