The High Lord

'Time for me to face the rumor-mongers.'

Rothen smiled. 'You'll be fine, Dannyl. You've gained quite an air of competence since you left for Elyne.'

Dannyl looked at his mentor in surprise. Competence? 'You mean I didn't have one before I left?'

Rothen chuckled. 'Of course you did, or you would not have been chosen for the position. It's just stronger now. Or did you bring back some of that awful Elyne scent with you?'

Dannyl laughed. 'If you thought scent might give me an air of competence, you should have suggested it earlier. Not that I would have taken your advice. There are some habits best left to the Elynes.'

The older magician nodded in agreement. 'Well go on, then. Get yourself down there before they start without you.'

Dannyl rose and made his way to the end of the seats. As he moved to the front of the hall, he noted that Expatriate Administrator Kito was descending to the floor in preparation to lead the proceedings. The magician glanced to one side, where a row of men and women were entering with an escort of guards. Dannyl recognized Dem Marane's group of friends and co-conspirators. Royend walked beside his wife. He looked up at Dannyl and narrowed his eyes.

Dannyl returned the man's gaze steadily. The hatred in Royend's eyes was new. The Dem had been angry on the night of the arrest, but during the journey to Kyralia and the wait for the Hearing that anger must have matured into something stronger.

I can understand his hatred, Dannyl thought. I tricked him. He doesn't care that I was acting under Akkarin's orders or that he was breaking the law. He just sees me as the man who ruined his dreams.

Farand stood on the other side of the room, beside two Alchemists. The young man looked nervous, but not frightened. A heavy clunk drew eyes to the rear of the hall, where one of the great doors was swinging open. Six Elynes strode down the aisle. Two were the magicians from the ships that had brought the rebels to Kyralia, Lords Barene and Hemend. The others were representatives of the Elyne King.

As Kito directed the newcomers to the seats at the front of the room, Dannyl considered where he should position himself. He decided to stand near Farand, knowing that this would be taken as a gesture of support for the young man. When all were settled, Lorlen rang a small gong, and the hall quickly fell silent. Kito glanced around and nodded.

'We have called this Hearing today to judge Farand of Darellas, Royend and Kaslie of Marane, and their co- conspirators...'

Catching a noise from an unexpected direction, Dannyl looked up to the topmost tier of the seats for the Higher Magicians. He blinked in surprise when he saw that one of the King's Advisors was present.

But of course, he thought, our King would want to be sure that anyone from another land caught trying to start their own magicians' guild was appropriately punished.

'... Farand of Darellas has been accused of learning magic outside of the Guild,' Kito continued. 'These men and women have been accused of seeking to learn magic. The Dem Marane has also been accused of possessing knowledge of black magic.'

Kito paused to look around the room. 'The evidence to support these accusations will be presented for us to judge. I call forth the first speaker, Second Guild Ambassador to Elyne, Dannyl.'

Dannyl drew in a deep breath and stepped forward to stand beside Kito.

'I swear that all I speak in this Hearing will be the truth.' He paused. 'Seven weeks ago I received orders from the former High Lord to find and arrest a group of rebels who were seeking to learn magic outside the influence and guidance of the Guild.'

The audience was silent as Dannyl told his tale. He had considered for weeks how much he ought to reveal when it came to explaining how he had convinced the rebels to trust him. The entire Guild had probably heard of the Dem's claims by now, so Dannyl didn't need to go into great detail. But he couldn't avoid that part of the story completely.

So he told them he had arranged for the Dem to learn of a 'false secret' so the man thought he could blackmail Dannyl. He then went on to describe his meeting with Farand. The Elyne courtiers' faces grew tense as he explained that Farand had been denied entrance into the Guild after he had learned something the Elyne King wanted concealed. Dannyl explained, for their benefit, that Farand had been in danger of losing control of his powers, and what the consequences would have been if that happened.

Dannyl then described the book that Tayend had borrowed from the Dem. He told how the contents had convinced him to arrest the rebels immediately, rather than continuing to visit the Dem in the hope of identifying more of them. Finally, he finished with a warning that he may not have found all of the members of the group.

Kito turned to Lord Sarrin for a confirmation of the book's contents, then asked for Farand to be brought forward. The young man was ushered to the front.

'Farand of Darellas, do you swear that you will speak the truth during this Hearing?' Kito asked.

'I swear.'

'Is Ambassador Dannyl's story true in regard to your part in it?'

The young man nodded. 'Yes.'

'How did you come to be a part of Dem Marane's rebel group?'

'My sister is his wife. He thought it was a waste that I wasn't able to become a magician. He encouraged me to listen into mind conversations again.'

'And this, I understand, is how you learned to release your magic.'

'Yes. I overheard a discussion about it.'

'Did you hesitate before trying what they said?'

'Yes. My sister didn't want me to learn magic. Well, she did at first, but then she started to worry that we didn't know enough and it might be dangerous.'

'So what overcame your hesitation?'

'Royend said, once I started, it would get easier.'

'How long have the Dem and his accomplices been meeting with the intention of learning magic?'

'I don't know. Longer than I've known him.'

'How long have you known him?'

'Five years. Since my sister was engaged to him.'

'Are there any other members of the group who are missing today?'

'There are more, but I don't know who they are.'

'Do you believe Dem Marane sought to learn magic himself?'

Farand hesitated, then his shoulders drooped. 'Yes.'

Dannyl felt a pang of sympathy for the young man. He had chosen to help, knowing that the Dem and his friends would be punished regardless, but it must not be easy.

'And the others in the group?'

'I'm not sure. Some probably did. Some came along just for the excitement, I think. My sister was there because of Royend, and me.'

'Is there anything else you wish to add?'

Farand shook his head.

Kito nodded, then turned to face the hall. 'I wish to add that I have truth-read Farand, and can confirm that all he has revealed is true.'

A low murmur followed. Dannyl looked at Farand in surprise. Allowing a truth-read was an indication of how willing Farand was to cooperate.

Kito turned to regard the Higher Magicians. 'Any comments or questions?' Heads were shaken. 'Return to your place, Farand of Darellas. I now call on Royend of Marane to be questioned.'

The Dem walked forward.

'Royend of Marane, do you swear to speak the truth during this Hearing?'

'I do.'

'Is Ambassador Dannyl's story true in regard to your part in it?'

'No.'