The High Lord

Rothen glanced behind.

'Who skipped classes?'

The boy flushed as he realized he'd been overheard. 'Sonea,' he said.

'The High Lord punished her with a week's work in the library,' the other boy added.

Rothen couldn't help smiling. 'She'd like that.'

'Oh, no. The Magicians' Library. Lord Jullen makes sure punishment really is punishment.'

So Sonea had skipped a class, as Tania had said. He wondered why and where she had gone instead. She had no friends to slip away with, and no other hobbies or interests that might tempt her away from lessons. She knew that he and Lorlen would quickly become suspicious if she went missing. If she had risked alarming them, she must have had a better reason for skipping the class than a rebellious whim.

The more he thought about it, the more worried he became. He listened as the boys resumed the conversation, hoping to glean more information.

'She'll turn you down. She turned Seno down.'

'Maybe she turned Seno down because she doesn't like him.'

'Maybe. It doesn't matter, anyway. The punishment was for a week. That probably includes Freeday. She won't be able to come with us.'

Rothen resisted the urge to turn and stare at them in surprise. They were still talking about Sonea. Which meant that they, and another boy named Seno, had considered inviting her out to the races. He felt his mood lighten a little. He had hoped the other novices would eventually accept her. Now it looked as if some might even be interested in more than just friendship.

Then Rothen sighed. She had turned down this boy called Seno, and he knew she would probably turn down any other offers, too. It was a cruel irony that now the novices had started to accept her, she dared not befriend any for fear of complicating the situation with Akkarin.

As the carriage pulled up outside the mansion, Dannyl and Tayend regarded each other doubtfully.

'Nervous?' Tayend asked.

'No,' Dannyl assured him.

Tayend snorted. 'Liar.'

The door of the carriage opened, and the driver bowed as they stepped out. Like many Elyne mansions, the front of Dem Marane's house was open to the air. Arched openings allowed access to a tiled room decorated with sculptures and plants.

Dannyl and Tayend stepped through an archway and crossed the room. A large wooden door barred entry into the enclosed part of the house. Tayend tugged a rope hanging beside the door. A distant ringing sounded somewhere above.

They heard muffled footsteps inside the house, then the door opened and Dem Marane greeted them with a bow.

'Ambassador Dannyl. Tayend of Tremmelin. You are most welcome in my home.'

'We were honored by your invitation, Dem Marane,' Dannyl replied.

The Dem ushered them into a luxuriously furnished room. He continued through two more, until they arrived at another open room. Archways allowed views of the sea and the carefully tended garden falling in tiers to the beach below. On the opposite wall, benches lined with cushions supplied seating for six other men. A woman sat demurely on a small couch in the center of the room.

The strangers stared at Dannyl. They looked tense, and fearful. He knew the combination of his height and robes made him an imposing figure.

'May I introduce the Second Guild Ambassador to Klyne, Lord Dannyl,' Royend announced. 'And some of you already know his companion, Tayend of Tremmelin.'

One of the men stood and bowed, and the others hesitantly followed suit. Dannyl nodded politely in return. Was this all there was of the group? He doubted it. Some would not reveal themselves until they were sure he could be trusted.

The Dem introduced them one by one. Royend was the oldest, Dannyl guessed. All were Elyne aristocrats of one wealthy family or another. The woman was the Dem's wife, Kaslie. When he was finished, she invited them all to sit while she fetched some refreshments. Dannyl chose an empty bench, and Tayend sat close beside him. Dannyl could not help feeling a twinge of anxiety as he saw the others taking note of this.

Idle talk followed. Dannyl was asked the usual questions: what he thought of Elyne, if he had met certain famous and important people yet. Some demonstrated that they had gathered information about him by asking about his journey to Lonmar and Vin.

Kaslie returned with servants carrying wine and plates of food. After all had been given a drink, the Dem sent the servants away and surveyed the room.

'It is time to talk of the business that has brought us here. We have come together because of a common loss. The loss of opportunity.' The Dem looked at Tayend. 'Some of us were offered this opportunity and were forced by circumstances to turn it down. Others were never offered that choice, or were given it, then had it taken away. Still more wish for an opportunity that does not require being shackled to an institution whose principles they do not agree with, based in a country they do not belong to.' The Dem paused to look around the room. 'We all know the opportunity I speak of. The opportunity to learn magic.'

He looked at Dannyl. 'For the last two centuries the only legal way a man or woman could learn magic was to join the Guild. For us to learn to use magic outside of the Guild's influence, we must break a law. Ambassador Dannyl has complied with this law. But he, too, laments the loss of opportunity. His companion, Tayend of Tremmelin, has magical talent. Ambassador Dannyl wishes to teach him how to protect or Heal himself. A reasonable - no, an honorable wish.'

The Dem looked at the others, who were nodding. 'But should the Guild ever discover this, Tayend will need people who can hide and protect him. We have the right connections and arrangements. We can help him.'

He turned back to regard Dannyl. 'So, Ambassador, what will you give us in exchange for protecting your friend?'

The room fell silent. Dannyl smiled and glanced around at the faces.

'I can offer you the opportunity you have lost. I can teach you a little magic.'

'A little?'

'Yes. There are some things I will not teach you, and some things I cannot teach you.'

'Such as?'

'I would not teach the offensive Warrior Skills to anyone I did not trust. They are dangerous in the wrong hands. And I am an Alchemist, so my knowledge of Healing is limited to the basics.'

'That makes sense.'

'And I must be sure that you are able to protect Tayend, before I teach you anything.'

The Dem smiled. 'And we, of course, don't wish to give away any secrets until we are sure you will uphold your side of the bargain. For now I can only swear on my honor that we can protect your friend. I will not show you how it can be done yet. Not until you have demonstrated to us that you can be trusted.'

'How do I know you can be trusted?' Dannyl asked, gesturing around the room.

'You don't,' the Dem said simply. 'But I think you have the advantage over us tonight. A magician considering teaching a friend is not taking as great a risk as a group of non-magicians gathering for the purpose of learning magic. We have committed ourselves to the purpose, you have only dallied with an idea. It is unlikely the Guild will execute you for that, whereas we might face that penalty just for meeting like this.'

Dannyl nodded slowly. 'If you have evaded the Guild's notice for so long, perhaps you can keep Tayend from them. And you would not invite me here if you did not have a plan to escape should I prove to be a Guild spy.'

The Dem's eyes flashed. 'Exactly.'

'So what must I do to gain your trust?' Dannyl asked.

'Help us.'

Kaslie had spoken. Dannyl looked at her in surprise. Her voice had betrayed urgency and concern. She stared