The High Lord

think Sonea intended to restrict her help to those within the Outer Wall.'

'Confinement is clearly unworkable,' Vinara said. 'I suggest an escort.'

All eyes turned to her. Balkan nodded approvingly.

'And if the help she wants to give is Healing, she still has many years of training to complete.' Vinara looked at Rothen.

He nodded. 'I'm sure she's aware of that. My son has expressed a wish to teach her. He thought it might revive her, but perhaps, if he is to assist her in this work, it could be a more official arrangement.'

She pursed her lips. 'It would not be appropriate for her to return to classes. It is not wise for a Healer to have only one teacher, however. I will assist as well.'

Rothen nodded, suddenly too overwhelmed by gratitude to speak. He listened as the others continued the debate.

'So will we still call her the 'Black Magician'?' Peakin asked.

'Yes,' Balkan replied.

'And what color robes will she wear?'

There was a short silence.

'Black,' Osen said quietly.

'But the High Lord's are black,' Telano pointed out.

Osen nodded. 'Perhaps it is time to change the High Lord's robes. Black will always remind people of black magic, which, despite everything, we do not want to encourage people to think of as wholly good and desirable. We need something fresh and clean.'

'White,' Vinara said.

Osen nodded. 'Yes.'

As the others voiced their agreement, Balkan made a strangled noise.

'White!' he exclaimed. 'You can't be serious. It's impractical, and impossible to keep clean.'

Vinara smiled. 'Now what would a High Lord be involved in that might stain his white robes?'

'A little excess wine consumption, maybe?' Jerrik murmured.

The others chuckled.

'White it is, then,' Osen said.

'Wait,' Balkan looked from face to face, then shook his head. 'Why do I find myself thinking you've made your minds up, and I won't win any argument about it?'

'It's a good sign,' Vinara said. 'One that suggests we have chosen a strong set of people to be our Higher Magicians.' She looked around the group, then smiled as her eyes met Rothen's. 'You still haven't guessed, have you Lord Rothen?'

He stared at her, puzzled by her sudden question. 'Guessed what?'

'Of course, it still has to be put to the vote, but I don't expect anyone will protest.'

'About what?'

Her smile widened. 'Congratulations, Rothen. You're to be our new Head of Alchemic Studies.'

From the top of the two-story house, it was possible to see that the rubble formed a perfect circle. It was a sobering sight.

Yet another to add to my list, Cery thought. Along with the ruins of the city walls, the long lines of bodies that the Guild had laid out across the lawn in front of the University, and the look Sonea had in her eyes as Rothen finally persuaded her to leave Akkarin's body.

He shivered and made himself look down again. Hundreds of workers were sorting through the rubble. A few people had been found alive, buried near the edges of the destruction. It was impossible to know how many had been hiding in the houses when they were blasted to ruins. Most were probably dead.

All because of him. He should have paid more attention to Savara's warnings about what would happen when an Ichani died. But he had been too concerned with finding a way to kill a magician to think about how his people might survive the consequences.

'Back here again?'

Arms wound about his waist. A familiar spicy aroma filled his senses. His heart lightened for a moment, then began to hurt again.

'Must you go?' he whispered.

'Yes,' Savara replied. 'We could use your help.'

'No. You don't need me. Certainly not as a Sachakan magician. And you have plenty of volunteers to do non-magical work.'

'I need you.'

She sighed. 'No, Cery. You need someone you can trust, completely and unconditionally. I will never be that person.'

He nodded. She was right.

But it didn't make parting easier.

Her arms tightened. 'I'll miss you,' she added quietly. 'If... if I'm welcome, I'll drop in whenever my duties take me this way.'

He turned to face her, and lifted one eyebrow as if considering.

'I might have a few bottles of Anuren dark left.'

She smiled broadly and he could not help feeling better, even if it was just for a moment. Ever since the final battle, he had felt a terrible fear of loss, and he had tried to keep her from leaving. But Savara didn't belong in Kyralia. Not now. And he was letting his heart's demands overtake common-sense. That was something a Thief should never do.

Hooking a finger under her chin, he lifted her head and kissed her, slowly and firmly. Then he stepped back.

'Go on, then. Go home. I don't like long goodbyes.'

She smiled, then turned away. He watched her saunter to the hatch in the roof, then descend through the ceiling below. When she was gone, he turned to regard the workers again.

Much had changed. He must be ready for the consequences. Snippets of information had come his way, and he was probably not the only one to realize what they might lead to. If the King did truly intend to end the yearly Purge, there would be one less reason for the Thieves to work together. And then there were the rumors of certain deals already being made between the other underworld leaders.

He smiled and straightened his shoulders. He had prepared for the day when Akkarin's support ended. Deals had been made with useful and powerful people. Wealth had been stowed, and information gathered. His position was strong.

Soon he would find out if it was strong enough.

The carriage rocked gently on its springs. Outside, endless fields and the occasional farmhouse slowly passed by. Inside, Dannyl and Tayend raised wineglasses to each other. 'A drink to Lord Osen, who decided that you would best serve the Guild as Ambassador in Elyne,' Tayend said. 'And for letting us travel overland.'

'To Osen,' Dannyl replied. He took a sip of the wine. 'You know I would have stayed, if he'd asked me to.'

Tayend smiled. 'Yes, and I would have stayed with you though I'm glad I didn't need to. Kyralians are so suffocatingly conservative.' He brought his glass to his lips, then looked away and his expression grew sober. 'He's smart to send you back, though. A lot of people will question the Guild's authority now. It proved to be a bit ill-prepared for war.'

Dannyl chuckled. 'Just a bit.'

'More people will be inclined to think like Dem Marane,' Tayend continued. 'You'll need to convince those people that the Guild is still in charge, when it comes to magic.'

'I know.'

'Then there's this issue of black magic. You'll have to assure people that the Guild really has no choice but to learn it again. Ah, it could get a bit intense in the next few months.'

'I know.'

'It might take years, even.' Tayend smiled. 'But, of course, there's no reason you couldn't stay in Elyne, once your time as Ambassador is over, is there?'