The High Lord

The hall echoed with subdued voices. The Captain looked back at Lorlen. 'That is all I can tell you for now.'

The Administrator rose. 'We will take a break to discuss and examine the evidence. Lady Vinara, Lord Balkan and Lord Sarrin will convey your views to me.'

At once the hall began to echo with raised voices as magicians gathered into groups to discuss and speculate. Yaldin turned to face Dannyl and Rothen.

'The knife could have been planted on the witness when she was killed.'

Dannyl shook his head. 'Perhaps, but why would she lie about who she was? Why was she wearing the other woman's clothes? Was she paid or bribed to take the other woman's place, without realizing she would be killed? But that would mean it was all prearranged.'

'That doesn't make sense. Why would Akkarin arrange for a witness to identify him?' Yaldin asked.

Dannyl drew in a quick breath. 'In case there were other witnesses. If this one's story was disproved, any others would be cast into doubt.'

Yaldin chuckled. 'Either that or there's a black magician out there trying to have Akkarin blamed for his crimes. Akkarin could be innocent.'

Rothen shook his head.

'You don't agree?' Dannyl asked.

'Akkarin uses black magic,' Rothen told him.

'You don't know that. They found books on black magic in his rooms,' Dannyl pointed out. 'That doesn't prove that he actually uses it.'

Rothen frowned. But I know he does. I have proof, I... I just can't tell anyone. Lorlen asked me to keep our involvement secret, and Sonea wants me to help Lorlen.

At first Rothen had assumed the Administrator was trying to protect them both. He had realized later that Lorlen's position in the Guild would be weakened if he revealed that he had known about Akkarin's crime for years. If the Guild suspected Lorlen of conspiring with Akkarin, it would lose confidence in someone it needed to trust.

Unless... was Lorlen still hoping to avoid a confrontation with Akkarin by allowing him to be proven innocent? Rothen frowned and shook his head. One crime had been proven without a doubt: Akkarin and Sonea had both been in possession of forbidden books. That alone would have them expelled from the Guild. Lorlen could not prevent that.

Rothen's stomach sank. Every time he thought about Sonea being expelled, it hurt. After all she had gone through - believing the Guild wanted to kill her, nearly losing control of her powers, capture, being blackmailed by Fergun, enduring the harassment of the other novices, bearing the scorn of magicians, becoming Akkarin's hostage, giving up Dorrien's affection - she would lose everything she had worked so hard for.

He drew in a deep breath and brought his mind back to the question of Lorlen's intentions. Perhaps Lorlen hoped that Akkarin would accept expulsion and go. If Akkarin was faced with execution, however, he might not be so cooperative. And if the threat of execution pushed Akkarin into fighting the Guild, Sonea would probably help him. She might die in the battle. Perhaps it would be better if the Guild expelled them.

But if the Guild expelled Akkarin, it was required to block his powers first. Rothen doubted Akkarin would accept that either. Was there any way they could resolve this without it coming to a fight?

Rothen was vaguely aware that Dannyl had left to speak to Lord Sarrin. Yaldin seemed to have realized that Rothen was deep in thought, and had left him alone. After several minutes, Lorlen's voice echoed through the hall.

'Please return to your seats.'

Dannyl reappeared, looking smug. 'Have I told you how much I love being an Ambassador?'

Rothen nodded. 'Many times.'

'People listen to me now.'

As magicians took their seats, quiet returned to the hall. Lorlen looked down at the Head of Warriors.

'I call on Lord Balkan to continue.'

The Warrior straightened. 'Two nights ago, after learning of the murders, Vinara's conclusions, and examining the evidence and the witness' story, it was decided that the High Lord must be questioned. I soon learned that the residence was empty, but for the High Lord's servant, so I ordered it searched.'

He looked at Sonea. 'The first disturbing discovery we made was of three books on black magic in Sonea's room. One had small pieces of paper inserted between the pages, with notes written in her own hand.'

He paused, and a disapproving murmur followed. Rothen forced himself to look at Sonea. She was staring at the floor, her jaw set with determination. He thought of her excuse: 'To understand my enemy.'

'Continuing our search, we found all doors unlocked but one. It was bound by powerful magic and appeared to lead to an underground room. The High Lord's servant claimed it was a storeroom and that he had no access to it. Lord Garrel ordered that the servant turn the handle, having guessed that the man was lying. When the servant refused, Lord Garrel took hold of the man's hand and placed it on the handle.

'The door opened and we entered a large room. In it we found a chest containing more books on black magic, many of them quite old. Some of these books had been copied by the High Lord. One contained his own records of his experiments and use of black magic. On the table...' Balkan stopped as the cries of outrage in the hall drowned his words.

Dannyl turned to Rothen, his eyes wide.

'Use of black magic,' he repeated. 'You know what that means.'

Rothen nodded. He could barely breathe. The Guild, by law, must execute Akkarin. Lorlen was not going to be able to prevent a confrontation now.

And I have nothing to lose by trying to prevent Sonea from being expelled.

From where he stood, Lorlen could see heads shaking and arms moving in rapid, expressive gestures. Some magicians were still and silent, obviously stunned by this revelation.

Akkarin stood calmly, watching it all.

Lorlen considered how the Hearing had gone so far. As he'd expected, Captain Barran's news had caused the magicians to question the evidence, and the possibility that Akkarin was the murderer. Some had asked why the High Lord would walk boldly out into the street after committing a crime. Others had proposed that Akkarin had deliberately arranged for a witness to come forward and then be discredited so that any other witnesses might be dismissed, too.

This could not be proven, however. More than one magician had noted the cleanly cut edges of the scrap of cloth. Surely Akkarin would have noticed if Jolen had cut away part of his robes. He would not leave such a damning piece of evidence behind.

Lorlen was sure Akkarin would not have been found guilty of murder if the books on black magic had not been discovered. But now that the Guild knew of Akkarin's secret, it would believe him capable of anything. The murder charge was irrelevant. If the Guild followed its law, it would vote for his execution.

Lorlen drummed his fingers on the arm of his chair. There were tantalizing references to a group of magicians who used black magic in Akkarin's notebooks. Lord Sarrin was worried about the possibility that such a group still existed. Akkarin had said there were good reasons for what he did.

Now, at last, Lorlen could finally ask what it was.

Standing up, he raised his hands for silence. The clamor died away surprisingly quickly. The magicians were eager to hear Akkarin questioned, Lorlen guessed.

'Does anyone have further evidence to offer this Hearing?'

A moment of silence followed, then somewhere to the right came a voice.

'I have, Administrator.'

Rothen's voice was calm and clear. All faces in the hall turned toward the Alchemist. Lorlen stared at him in dismay.

'Lord Rothen,' he forced himself to say. 'Please come down to the floor.'

Rothen descended to stand next to Balkan. He glanced at Akkarin, and the anger was clear in his face. Following his gaze, Lorlen saw that Akkarin was looking up at him. He slipped his hand in his pocket and felt the