The Magicians' Guild

'Talk to her, yes, but take her from your rooms?'

Rothen shrugged. 'There is no rule against it.'

'Aren't you concerned?'

'Yes, but it will do no good to protest, Dannyl. It's better that Fergun is seen to overstep his welcome, than I protest at his every move. I doubt she would have gone with him if she didn't want to.'

Dannyl frowned. 'Don't you want to know where he took her?'

'Where?'

A look of vexation crossed Dannyl's face. 'I'm not sure, exactly. I followed them into the University. Fergun took her into the inner passages. After that I lost them. They just disappeared.'

'They vanished before your eyes?'

'No. I could hear Fergun talking, then everything was silent. Too silent. I should have heard footsteps, or a door closing. Something.'

Once again, Rothen pushed away a feeling of unease. 'Hmm, I would like to know where he took her. What could he possibly have to show her in the University? I'll ask her tomorrow.'

'And if she doesn't tell you?'

Rothen stared at the snow-covered ground, considering. The inner passages of the University led to small, private rooms. Most would be empty, or locked. There was nothing else there ... except...

'I don't suppose he's shown her the underground passages,' he murmured.

'Of course!' Dannyl's eyes brightened, and Rothen instantly regretted his words. 'That's it!'

'It's highly unlikely, Dannyl. Nobody knows where the entrances are except -'

Dannyl wasn't listening. 'It makes sense now! Why didn't I think of them?!' He pressed his hands to the side of his head.

'Well, I would suggest strongly that you keep out of them. There are good reasons for the ban against using them. They're old and unsafe.'

Dannyl's eyebrows rose. 'So what about the rumors that a certain member of the Guild uses them on a regular basis?'

Rothen crossed his arms. 'He can do as he pleases, and I'm sure he's capable of surviving if a passage collapsed. I'm also sure he wouldn't approve of you snooping around. What will you say if he discovers you in there?'

The light in Dannyl's eyes faltered as he considered that. 'I'd have to time it carefully. Make sure I knew he was elsewhere.'

'Don't even consider it,' Rothen warned. 'You'll get lost.'

Dannyl snorted. 'It can't be any worse than the slums, can it?'

'You're not going, Dannyl!'

But Rothen knew that, once Dannyl's curiosity was roused, nothing would deter his friend but the threat of expulsion. The Guild wasn't going to cast him out for breaking a minor rule. 'Think carefully, Dannyl. You don't want to ruin your chance to become an ambassador, do you?'

Dannyl shrugged. 'If I can get away with negotiating with the Thieves, I doubt a little snooping around under the University will earn me much disapproval.'

Defeated, Rothen turned and started back toward the Night Room. 'That may be so, but sometimes it matters whose disapproval you earn.'

Chapter 28 The Hearing Begins

'Don't worry, Sonea,' Tania whispered as they reached the front of the University. 'You'll be fine. The magicians are just a gaggle of old men who'd rather be sipping wine in their rooms than sitting in a drafty old hall. It will all be over before you know it's started.'

Sonea couldn't help smiling at Tania's description of the Guild. Taking a deep breath, she followed Tania up the stairs of the grand building. As they passed through the huge open doors, she caught her breath.

They had entered a room full of staircases. Each was made of melted and fused stone and glass, and looked too frail to support a man's weight. The stairs spiraled up and down and around each other like an elaborate piece of jewelry.

'The other side of the University isn't like this!' she exclaimed.

Tania shook her head. 'The back entrance is for novices and magicians. This is the way that visitors come, so it has to be impressive.'

The servant continued through the room and started down a short corridor. Sonea could see the bottom half of another pair of enormous doors ahead. As they reached the end of the corridor, Sonea stopped and stared around in awe.

They stood at the threshold of an enormous room. White walls stretched up to a ceiling of glass panels that shone brightly in the gold light of the afternoon sun. At the level of the third floor, a web of balconies crisscrossed the room - so delicate that they seemed to float in the air.

Before her stood a building. A building within a building. The rough gray walls made a dramatic contrast to the airy white of the Hall. A row of slim windows was spaced, like soldiers, along its length.

'This is the Great Hall,' Tania said, indicating the room. 'That,' she pointed to the building, 'is the Guildhall. It's over seven centuries old.'

'That's the Guildhall?' Sonea shook her head in disbelief. 'I thought they replaced it.'

'No.' Tania smiled. 'It was well made and has historical value, so it would have been a shame to tear it down. They took the inside walls out and made it into a hall.'

Impressed, Sonea followed the servant around the building. Several more openings led out of the Great Hall. Tania pointed to a pair of doors in the side of the Guildhall. 'That's where you'll go in. They're having their Meet now. The Hearing will start when it's finished.'

Sonea's stomach began to flutter again. A hundred magicians sat inside, waiting to decide her fate. And she was about to stand before them all... and deceive them.

She felt a sickening wave of apprehension. What if, despite her cooperation, Fergun did not win the claim? Would he still let Cery go?

Cery ...

She shook her head as she remembered his halting admission in the dark cell. 'I didn't want to find out that the Guild really wanted to help you. You'd just come back and I didn't want you going away. I didn't want to lose you again.'

He loved her. Surprise had left her speechless at first, but when she thought back to the times she had noticed him watching her, how he would sometimes grow hesitant when talking to her, and how Faren had occasionally behaved as if Cery was more than just a faithful friend, it all made sense.

Did she feel the same way? She had asked herself the question countless times since their meeting, but she could not answer with certainty. She didn't feel like she was in love, but perhaps the fear that gripped her when she considered the danger he was in meant she was. Or would she feel that concern for anyone she loved, whether as a friend or more than a friend?

If she loved him, wouldn't her heart have leapt with joy at his admission? Wouldn't she feel gratified that he had tried to rescue her, rather than guilty that his regard for her had led to his capture?

Surely, if she did love him, she wouldn't have to ask herself these questions.

Pushing the thought aside, she drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly.

Tania patted her shoulder. 'Hopefully it won't be long, but you never know ...'