The High Lord

'Yet they said they'd meet soon.'

'In Kyralia, most likely. It has taken us four days to reach here, and it will take Avala the same time to return. If we hurry, we'll reach the South Pass before Parika. We must hope it is not guarded by other Ichani.'

'So we're going back into Kyralia?'

'Yes.'

'Without the Guild's permission?'

'Yes. We will enter Imardin in secret. If they ask for my help, I want to be close enough to act quickly. But we have a long way to go yet. Save your questions. We must try to put some distance between ourselves and Parika tonight.'

'I think that is all we're going to get,' Lorlen said. He unclasped his hands from Balkan and Vinara's, and leaned back in his chair. As the pair released Sarrin's hands, the three magicians turned to stare at Lorlen.

'Why haven't you told us about this ring before?' Sarrin asked.

Lorlen took off the ring and set it on the desk before him. He regarded it a moment, then sighed.

'I could not decide what to do about it,' he told them. 'It is a thing of black magic, yet it does no harm and it is our only safe means of contacting Akkarin.'

Sarrin picked up the ring and examined it, taking care to touch only the band. 'A blood gem. Strange magic. It allows the maker access to the wearer's mind. He sees what the wearer sees, hears what the wearer hears, and absorbs what the wearer thinks.'

Balkan frowned. 'That does not sound like a harmless magical object to me. Whatever you know, he learns.'

'He can't search my mind,' Lorlen said. 'Only read my surface thoughts.'

'That can be damaging enough, if you happen to think about something he shouldn't know.' The Warrior frowned. 'I don't think you should wear this ring again, Lorlen.'

The others shook their heads. Lorlen nodded reluctantly.

'Very well, if you all agree.'

'I do,' Vinara replied.

'Yes, so do I,' Sarrin added. He put the ring down. 'What shall we do with it?'

'Put it somewhere only we four know of,' Balkan said.

'Where?'

Lorlen felt a stab of alarm. If they locked it away, it had better be in a place they could get to quickly if they needed to call on Akkarin.

'The library?'

Balkan nodded slowly. 'Yes. The cupboard of old books and plans. I'll put it away on the way back to my rooms. For now,' he looked up at each of them in turn, 'let's consider this conversation Akkarin relayed to us. What have we learned?'

'That Sonea is alive,' Vinara replied. 'That she and Akkarin have overheard a woman named Avala and a man named Parika discussing a third man.'

'Kariko?' Lorlen suggested.

'Possibly,' Balkan replied. 'The pair did not mention his name.'

'Inconsiderate of them,' Sarrin muttered.

'This unseen pair discussed slaves, so that much about them is true,' Vinara said.

'They also discussed hunting for Kyralians.'

'Sonea and Akkarin?'

'Probably. Unless this is a ruse Akkarin has arranged,' Balkan said. 'He could have employed two people to have that discussion, so he could relay it to us.'

'Why such an ambiguous message, then?' Sarrin asked. 'Why not have them mention Kariko, or his intention to invade Kyralia?'

'I'm sure he has his reasons.' Balkan yawned, then apologized. Vinara gave him a penetrating look.

'Have you slept since you returned?'

The Warrior shrugged. 'A little.' He glanced at Lorlen. 'Our meeting with the King continued late into last night.'

'Is he still considering asking one of us to learn black magic?' Sarrin asked.

Balkan sighed. 'Yes. He would rather that, than call Akkarin back. Akkarin has proven himself untrustworthy by breaking the Guild's law and his vow.'

'But if one of us learned it, he or she would also be breaking that law and the Magicians' Vow.'

'Not if we make an exception.'

Sarrin scowled. 'There should be no exceptions where black magic is concerned.'

'Yet we may have no choice. It may be the only way we can defend ourselves against these Ichani. If one of us was voluntarily strengthened by a hundred magicians each day, that magician would be strong enough to fight ten Ichani in just two weeks.'

Sarrin shuddered. 'No one should be trusted with that much power.'

'The King knows you feel this way,' Balkan said. 'Which is why he believes you would be the best candidate.'

Sarrin stared at the Warrior in horror. 'Me?'

'Yes.'

'I couldn't. I... I'd have to refuse.'

'Refuse your King?' Lorlen asked. 'And watch the Guild and all of Imardin fall before a handful of barbarian magicians?'

Sarrin stared at the ring, his face white.

'It would not be an easy burden to shoulder,' Lorlen said gently, 'and not one to take on unless we were sure there was no other choice. The spies will leave in a few days. Hopefully they will discover, once and for all, whether Akkarin spoke the truth.'

Balkan nodded. 'We should consider sending reinforcements to the Fort, too. If this overheard conversation is real, it suggests that this woman is meeting a group of Ichani in the north.'

'What about the South Pass?' Vinara asked. 'Parika was returning there.'

Balkan frowned. 'I will have to consider that. It is not as defendable as the Fort, but their conversation suggests a larger gathering in the north. We should have the road to the South Pass watched, at the least.'

The Warrior yawned again. Clearly he was struggling against weariness. Lorlen caught a meaningful look from Vinara.

'It is late,' he said. 'Shall we meet here, early, to discuss it?' The others nodded. 'Thank you for coming here so promptly. I will see you in the morning.'

As the trio rose and bid him good night, Lorlen could not shake a feeling of disappointment. He had hoped Akkarin would show them something that would prove his story was true. The conversation between the Sachakans hadn't revealed much, but it had pointed out some flaws in Kyralia's defense.

But now the ring was gone, and with it went his only link to Akkarin.

24 Secrets Revealed

The whisper of robes and the shuffle of booted feet was a constant background noise in the Guildhall, even during Lorlen's short speech. We're all restless, Dannyl mused. Too few questions were answered this Meet.

There was a collective sigh as Lorlen announced the Meet concluded.

'There will be a short break before the Hearing to judge the Elyne rebels begins,' the Administrator told them.

At the announcement, Dannyl's stomach flipped over. He looked at Rothen.