The High Lord

Not that she intended to make any escape attempts. She had told Akkarin she would do whatever he instructed. He had said only that they must protect Takan and Lorlen. Then he had exchanged her for Takan. So he had meant for her to be here.

Either that, or he was willing to sacrifice her for the sake of keeping the promise he had made to his servant.

No, she thought, he needs me to back up his story. Takan was too close to Akkarin. Nobody would believe him.

She paced the Dome interior. The plug-like door remained open to allow air into the room. A pair of magicians stood beyond it, watching her whenever she was alone.

But she hadn't been alone much. Vinara, Balkan and Sarrin had each questioned her about Akkarin's activities. She did not want to risk revealing anything before Akkarin was ready, so she had refused to answer. They had eventually given up.

Now that she was alone at last, she found she didn't like it. She kept wondering where Akkarin was, and if she was doing what he wanted by keeping silent. It was impossible to tell the time, but she guessed it was well past dawn now. She hadn't slept all night, but she doubted she would have even if there had been a soft bed instead of the sandy floor.

A movement beyond the door caught her eye. Looking up, she felt her heart twist painfully.

Rothen.

He stepped into the Dome, his face lined with worry. As she met his eyes, he tried to smile, and she felt her stomach sink with guilt.

'Sonea,' he said, 'how are you?'

She shook her head. 'That's a silly question, Rothen.'

He looked around the Dome and nodded. 'Yes. I suppose it is.' He sighed and looked at her again. 'They haven't decided what to do with you yet. Lorlen told me they found books on black magic in your room. Were they planted there by Akkarin or his servant?'

She sighed. 'No. I was reading them.'

'Why?'

'To understand my enemy.'

He frowned. 'You know that just reading about black magic is a crime.'

'Yes, I know.'

'Yet you read them?'

She met his eyes. 'Some risks are worth taking.'

'In the hope that we could use this information to defeat him?'

She looked down. 'Not exactly.'

He paused. 'Then why, Sonea?'

'I can't tell you. Not yet.'

Rothen took a step closer. 'Why not? What has he told you to make you an accomplice? We've found your aunt Jonna and uncle Ranel. They're safe and well as are their children. Dorrien is alive and well. Is there anyone else you're protecting?'

She sighed. The whole of Kyralia.

'I can't tell you, Rothen. Not yet. I don't know what Akkarin has told anyone, or what he wants me to reveal. It'll just have to wait until the Hearing.'

Rothen's eyes flashed with anger. 'Since when have you cared about what he wants?'

She held his gaze. 'Since I learned the reasons for what he does. But that is his story, not mine. You will understand why, when he tells it.'

He regarded her doubtfully. 'I find that hard to believe. But I will try. Is there anything I can do for you?'

She shook her head, then hesitated. Rothen knew that Lorlen had been aware of Akkarin's crime for more than two years. What would happen if he told the Guild this? She looked up at him.

'Yes,' she said quietly. 'Protect Lorlen.'

Savara ran a hand over the sheets and smiled.

'Nice.'

Cery chuckled. 'A Thief has to make his guests feel welcome.'

'You are not like other Thieves,' she remarked. 'He had a hand in all this, didn't he?'

'Who?'

'The High Lord.'

Cery humphed in indignation. 'Wasn't all him.'

'No?'

'Part of it was 'cause of Sonea. Faren agreed to hide her from the Guild, but the other Thieves made him turn her in. So some say Faren didn't honor his side of the deal.'

'So?'

'If I was willing to deal with Faren, other people would too. He helped me out with a few things.'

'So Akkarin had nothing to do with it?'

'Well, a little,' Cery admitted. 'Maybe I wouldn't have had the guts if he hadn't pushed me. Maybe if he hadn't given me all the right news about each of the Thieves, so they wouldn't try to stop me. It's hard to say no to someone who knows too many of your secrets.'

She looked thoughtful. 'Sounds like he had planned this for a long time.'

'That's what I thought.' Cery shrugged. 'When the murderer started to get the other Thieves riled, I offered to find him. They liked that. They didn't know I'd been onto it for months. They act like it's funny I haven't found him, though - but none of them have had any luck either.'

'But you do find them.'

'They think there's only one.'

'Ah.'

'At least I think they did,' he added.

'And now they know, because the last one was a woman.'

'Probably.'

He looked around the room at the furniture. Quality pieces, but not extravagant. He did not like to think it was all due to Akkarin's help.

'I've tried to make my place in other ways,' he said. 'If the market for finding murderers for magicians dries up, I want to stay alive and in business.'

She smiled slyly and ran a finger slowly down the middle of his chest.

'I definitely prefer you alive and in business.'

He caught her hand and pulled her closer. 'Do you? What sort of business are you into?'

'Making contact with potential allies,' she said, snaking her arm around him. 'Preferably very close contact with one in particular.'

Her kisses were firm and enticing. He felt his heart beginning to race again.

Then someone knocked on the door. He pulled away and grimaced apologetically. 'Got to get this.'

She pouted. 'Must you?'

He nodded. 'Gol wouldn't knock unless it was important.''

'Better be.'

He rose, pulled on his trousers and a shirt, and slipped out of the room. Gol was pacing Cery's guestroom, his expression very different from the foolish grin Cery was expecting.

'The High Lord's been arrested by the Guild,' Gol said. 'So's Sonea.'

Cery stared at his second. 'Why?'

'A Guild magician was killed last night. And a whole lot of people in his house. They think the High Lord did it.' He paused. 'The whole city knows about it.'

Moving to the nearest chair, Cery sat down. Akkarin arrested? For murder? And Sonea, too? He heard the door of his bedroom open. Savara peered out, now fully dressed. As she met his eyes, she frowned.

'Can you tell me?'