mental conversations as he grew out of childhood. This was unusual, but not unheard of in those with magical potential. Farand was tested for ability and told he could apply to join the Guild when he was older. In the meantime the Elyne King learned of his ability to eavesdrop on magicians' mental conversations, and Farand was summoned to court where he kept the King informed of what he overheard.
One day, however, Farand accidentally witnessed the King making an agreement with one of the powerful Dems to have the Dem's political rival murdered, and upon realizing this the King extracted an oath of silence from him. Later, when Farand had applied to join the Guild, he was refused. He did not discover until later that the King knew the secret agreement would be revealed during mind-reading lessons, and therefore had prevented him from becoming a magician.
It was an unfortunate situation, and one which had shattered Farand's dreams. Dannyl felt genuine sympathy for him. Now that the secret had been told, Farand was not as distracted. He found his source of power easily. After a few attempts to show Farand how to influence it, Dannyl left the man's mind room and opened his eyes.
'Is that it?' Farand asked. 'Have I got it?'
'No.' Dannyl chuckled and moved around the chair to face him. 'It takes a few sessions.'
'When will we try again?' There was an edge of panic to the man's voice.
Dannyl looked at Dem Marane. 'I will try to return tomorrow, if that is convenient.'
'It is,' the Dem confirmed.
Dannyl nodded at Farand. 'Do not drink wine or take any mind-affecting substance. Novices usually learn Control over a week or two. If you stay calm and avoid trying to use magic, you should be safe.'
Farand looked relieved, and there was a glint of excitement in Royend's eyes. The Dem moved to the door and pulled a chain that hung from a small hole in the roof.
'Shall we return to the others, Ambassador? They will be pleased to hear of our progress.'
'If you wish.'
The Dem did not take Dannyl back to the previous room, but to another section of the mansion. They entered a small library, where Tayend and the other members of the group were sitting in comfortable chairs. Royend nodded at Kaslie, and the woman closed her eyes and sighed with relief.
Tayend was reading a large and very worn book. He looked up at Dannyl, his eyes bright with eagerness.
'Look,' he said, waving at one of the bookcases. 'Books on magic. We might find something here to help us with our research.'
Dannyl could not help smiling. 'It went well. Thanks for asking.'
'What?' Tayend looked up from the book. 'Oh, that. I know you can take care of yourself. What did he show you?' Before Dannyl could reply, Tayend looked up at the Dem. 'Can I borrow this some time?'
Royend smiled. 'You can take it home with you tonight, if you wish. The Ambassador will be returning tomorrow. You are welcome to come as well.'
'Thank you.' Tayend turned to the Dem's wife, who was sitting beside him. 'Have you ever heard of the Chakan King?'
Dannyl did not hear her murmured reply. He looked around the room at the excited faces of the Dem and his friends. They would not trust him yet. Not until Farand was able to demonstrate an improvement in his control of magic. Once Farand had, however, he would be a dangerous man. He would be able to release magical ability in others, and teach them to control it. The group would not need Dannyl anymore. They might decide it was safer to disappear than continue associating with a Guild magician.
He could stretch out the lessons over a few weeks, but no more. The moment Farand achieved Control, Dannyl ought to arrest him and the others. But he might not catch all of the group. The longer he remained with them, the more identities he might discover. He would have liked to consult with the High Lord. But Farand's ability to overhear mind communication prevented that and Dannyl did not have time to contact Akkarin by letter.
Dannyl accepted a fresh glass of wine. As the Dem began grilling him on what he was willing to teach them, Dannyl pushed all thought of arresting these people to the back of his mind and concentrated on his role as the rebellious Guild magician.
Sonea stood at her bedroom window and watched as gray wisps of cloud drifted across the night sky. The stars blinked in and out of sight and the moon was surrounded by a pale mist. The grounds were empty and silent.
She was bone tired. Despite a sleepless night, and carting books around for Lord Jullen for several hours after classes, she couldn't sleep. She still had many questions, but by listing them in her mind ready for her next encounter with Akkarin, she found she could push them out of her thoughts. One, however, refused to go away.
He had said that someone else needed to know. A reasonable answer, but something still nagged at her. He could have written down his story and left it for Lorlen to find if he should ever be killed. So why tell her, a mere novice in no position to make decisions or act in his place?
There had to be another reason. The only reason she could think of was one that sent chills down her spine.
He wanted her to take over the fight if he died. He wanted her to learn black magic.
Leaving the window, she began pacing her room. He had said several times that he would not teach it to her. Had he said that just to reassure her? Was he waiting for her to grow older, perhaps until after she had graduated, when it would be clear to anyone else that she had made such a decision for herself?
She bit her lip gently. It would be a terrible thing to ask of someone. To learn something that most magicians believed was evil. To break a Guild law.
And to break this law was no small matter that would earn her some menial task or the withdrawal of luxuries or favor. No, the punishment for this was likely to be much, much worse. Expulsion perhaps, with her powers bound, or possibly imprisonment.
Akkarin had managed to hide his secret for years. But he was the High Lord. That gave him a lot of room to be mysterious and secretive. Which meant it would not be difficult for her to join him.
But what would happen if he died? She frowned. Lorlen and Rothen would reveal Akkarin's crime, and that her guardianship had been only a way to gain their silence. If she did not consent to a truth-read, there was no reason why anyone would discover that she had learned black magic. She could play the unhappy victim and attract no suspicion.
After that she would be dismissed and ignored. No longer the High Lord's favorite, she could hide in her ordinariness. She would slip away into the hidden passages at night. Akkarin had already arranged for the Thieves' help. They would find the spies for her...
She stopped and sat down on the end of her bed.
Or was it? Years before, Rothen had pointed out to her that magic was neither good nor evil; it was what the wielder did with it that mattered.
Black magic involved taking power from another. It didn't have to involve killing. Even the Ichani did not kill their slaves unless they had to. When she had first seen Akkarin using it, he had been taking power from Takan. Power that was obviously willingly given.
She thought back to the records that Akkarin had shown her. Black magic had once been commonly used by the Guild. Apprentices would willingly give strength to their masters in exchange for knowledge. Once deemed ready, the apprentices were taught the secret of 'higher magic' and became masters themselves. It was an arrangement that had encouraged cooperation and peace. No one was killed. No one was enslaved.
It had only taken one man with an insane desire for power to change that. And the Ichani used black magic to maintain a culture of slavery. When she considered these things, she understood why the Guild had banned black magic. It could be abused so easily.
But Akkarin hadn't abused it. Or had he?
