The High Lord

scratches and braises. Then I found Jolen's body.'

He paused, then Lord Telano made a noise of confusion.

'His body? How can it still be whole? Did he exhaust himself?'

Vinara, Lorlen saw, was staring at the floor, shaking her head.

'I then called to Vinara, to ask her to come and examine the victims,' Balkan continued. 'After she arrived, I hurried to the Guard House to see if they had received any reports of strange activity in the area. Captain Barran was there, having just interviewed a witness.' Balkan paused. 'Captain, I think you should relate her tale to us.'

The young guard glanced around the circle, then cleared his throat.

'Yes, my lords - and lady.' He folded his hands together. 'With the increase in murders taking place, I have interviewed many witnesses lately, but few have seen anything useful. Some people come in the hope that something they have seen - say, a stranger walking about their street at night - might be relevant. This woman's story was much the same, but there was one striking element to it.

'She had been walking home late after delivering fruit and vegetables to one of the houses in the Inner Circle. Part way home, she heard screams inside a house - the residence of Lord Jolen's family. She decided to hurry on, but as she reached the next house, she heard a noise behind her. She was frightened and stepped into the shadows of a doorway. Looking back, she saw a man emerge from the servants' entrance of the house she had just passed.'

Barran paused and looked around the circle. 'She said this man wore magicians' robes. Black magicians' robes.'

The Higher Magicians frowned and exchanged glances. All except Balkan and Osen looked doubtful, Lorlen noted. Vinara did not look surprised.,

'Was she sure they were black?' Sarrin asked. 'Any color may look black in the darkness.'

Barran nodded. 'I asked her the same question. She was sure of it. He walked past the doorway she was hiding in. She described black robes, with an incal on the sleeve.'

Expressions changed from skepticism to alarm. Lorlen stared at Barran. He could hardly breathe.

'Surely n—' Sarrin began, but fell silent as Balkan gestured for him to wait.

'Go on, Captain,' Balkan said quietly, 'tell them the rest.'

Barran nodded. 'She said his hands were covered in blood, and he was carrying a knife. She described it well. A curved blade, with gemstones set into the handle.'

A long pause followed, then Sarrin drew in a deep breath. 'How reliable is this witness? Can you bring her here?'

Barran shrugged. 'I took her name and noted the workplace on her token. To tell the truth, I did not begin to give her story any credit until I heard what Lord Balkan had discovered in the house. Now I wish I had asked her more questions, or kept her at the Guard House longer.'

Balkan nodded. 'She will be found again. Now,' he turned to Vinara, 'perhaps it is time to hear what Lady Vinara has discovered.'

The Healer straightened. 'Yes, I fear it is. Lord Jolen was living with his family so that he could tend to his sister, who was having a difficult pregnancy. I investigated his body first and I made two disturbing discoveries. The first...' she reached into her robe and pulled out a scrap of black cloth embroidered with gold thread, 'was this, clutched in his right hand.'

As she held it up Lorlen went completely cold. The embroidery formed part of a symbol that was all too familiar to him: the incal of the High Lord. Vinara's eyes flickered to his and she frowned with concern and sympathy.

'What was the second discovery?' Balkan asked, his voice low.

Vinara hesitated, then drew in a deep breath. 'The reason Lord Jolen's body still exists is because it was completely drained of energy. The only wound on his body was a shallow cut down one side of his neck. The other bodies bore the same indicators. I was taught to recognize these indicators by my predecessor.' She paused and looked around the circle. 'Lord Jolen, his family and their servants, were killed with black magic.'

Gasps and exclamations followed, then a long silence as the implications began to sink in. Lorlen could almost hear them thinking about Akkarin's strength, and weighing the chances of the Guild defeating him in battle. He saw fear and panic in their faces.

He felt strangely calm and... relieved. For over two years he had been burdened with the secret of Akkarin's crime. Now, for better or worse, the Guild had discovered that secret for itself. He looked around at the Higher Magicians. Should he admit to having known of Akkarin's crime? Not unless I have to, he thought.

Then what should he do? The Guild was no stronger, and Akkarin - if he was guilty of this crime - was certainly no weaker. He felt a familiar fear chase away his relief.

To protect the Guild, I should do anything I can to prevent a confrontation between it and Akkarin. But if Akkarin did this... No, he may not have. I know other black magicians have been killing Kyralians.

'What do we do?' Telano asked in a small voice.

All turned to regard Balkan. Lorlen felt the tiniest stirring of indignation at that. Wasn't he the Guild's leader, in lieu of Akkarin? Then Balkan looked at him expectantly, and he felt a wry regret as the familiar weight of his position settled over him.

'What do you suggest, Administrator? You know him best.'

Lorlen forced himself to sit a little straighter. He had rehearsed what he would tell them in this situation so many times.

'We must be cautious,' he warned. 'If Akkarin is the murderer, he will be even stronger now. I suggest we consider this very carefully before confronting him.'

'How strong is he?' Telano asked.

'He easily overcame twenty of our strongest magicians when we tested him for the position of High Lord,' Balkan replied. 'With black magic, there is no way to tell how strong a magician is.'

'How long has he been practicing it, I wonder?' Vinara said darkly. She looked at Lorlen. 'Have you ever noticed anything odd about Akkarin, Administrator?'

Lorlen did not have to pretend to be amused by the question. 'Odd? Akkarin? He's always been mysterious and secretive, even to me.'

'He could have been practicing for years,' Sarrin muttered. 'How strong does that make him?'

'What bothers me is how he came by the knowledge,' Kito added quietly. 'Did he learn it during his travels?'

Lorlen sighed as they began discussing all the possibilities he had considered since discovering the truth for himself. He gave them some time, then, just as he was considering interrupting, Balkan spoke up.

'For now, it does not matter how or where he learned black magic. What matters is whether we can defeat him in a confrontation.'

Lorlen nodded. 'I have doubts about our chances. I think, perhaps, we should keep this to ourselves—'

'Are you suggesting we ignore this?' Peakin exclaimed. 'Leave a black magician at the head of our Guild?'

'No.' Lorlen shook his head. 'But we need time to consider how we may remove him safely if, indeed, he is the murderer.'

'We're not getting any stronger,' Vinara pointed out. 'He is.'

'Lorlen is right. Careful planning is essential,' Balkan replied. 'I was taught by my predecessor the means by which a black magician may be fought. It is not easy, but neither is it impossible.'

Lorlen felt a stirring of interest and hope. If only he had been able to consult with the Warrior before Akkarin had discovered Lorlen knew his secret. Perhaps they had a chance of removing Akkarin after all.

He caught himself, then. Did he really want Akkarin dead? But what if he did kill Jolen and his household? Doesn't he deserve to be punished for that?

Yes, but we had better be sure it was him.

'We should also consider that he may not be the killer,' Lorlen said. He looked at Balkan. 'We have the account of a witness and a scrap of cloth. Could another magician have dressed as Akkarin? Could he have put that