The High Lord

Dannyl suppressed a sigh and braced himself for the inevitable.

'In which way is it incorrect?'

'He says he made up this story about his secret affair with his assistant. I believe it to be true. Anyone who has seen the two together would know there was more to it than just... just a trick. No one pretends that well.'

'Is this the only part of his story that is incorrect?'

The Dem stared at Dannyl. 'Even Dem Tremmelin, Tayend of Tremmelin's father, believes it to be true.'

'Dem Marane, please answer the question.'

The Dem ignored him. 'Why don't you ask him if he's a lad. He swore that he'd tell the truth. I want to hear him deny it.'

Kito's eyes narrowed. 'This Hearing has been called to judge whether the law against the learning of magic outside the restrictions of the Guild has been broken, not whether Ambassador Dannyl has been involved in dishonorable and perverse practices. Please answer the question, Dem Marane.'

Dannyl just managed to stop himself wincing. Dishonorable and perverse. No doubt the Guild's opinion of him - and his story - would change completely if they knew the truth. And the Dem knew it.

'If he's lied about that, then he could have lied about everything,' the Dem spat. 'Remember that, after you've put me in my grave. I will not answer your questions.'

'Very well,' Kito said. 'Return to your place. I call Kaslie of Marane to be questioned.'

The Dem's wife was nervous but cooperative. She revealed that the rebels had been meeting for ten years, but assured the Guild that their interest had been purely academic. As the other rebels were questioned, only small details about the group were revealed. They all claimed they had not intended to learn magic, only learn about it.

A short discussion followed in which Farand's poisoning was considered. Dannyl was not surprised to learn that the Elyne magicians' investigations had not revealed the poisoner. From the look on Lady Vinara's face, Dannyl guessed the matter would not end there.

Kito asked for the accused to be enclosed in a barrier of silence as the Guild discussed their punishment. The hall filled with voices. After a long break, Kito called for all magicians to return to their places and for the barrier of silence to be removed.

'It is time to make our judgment,' he declared. He held out a hand and a globe light appeared above it, then floated upward. Dannyl created his own, and sent it up to join those from the rest of the Guild.

'Do you judge that Farand of Darellas is undoubtedly guilty of learning magic outside of the Guild?'

All of the globe lights turned red. Kito nodded.

'Traditionally, punishment for this crime is execution,' he said, 'but the Higher Magicians feel that, under the circumstances, an alternative ought to be offered. Farand of Darellas is a victim of circumstances and the manipulations of others. He has been helpful at all times and has submitted to a truth-read. I recommend he be offered a place in the Guild with the condition that he remains within the grounds for the rest of his life. Please change your lights to white if you agree with my recommendation.'

Slowly the lights shifted to white. Only a few remained red. Dannyl breathed a sigh of relief.

'Farand of Darellas will be offered a place in the Guild,' Kito announced.

Looking at Farand, he saw that the young man was grinning with relief and excitement. But as Kito continued, the smile vanished.

'Next: do you judge that Royend of Marane is undoubtedly guilty of seeking to learn magic, and of possessing knowledge of black magic, outside of the Guild?'

The Guildhall filled with an eerie glow as the globe lights all turned red.

'Again, the Higher Magicians feel they must offer an alternative to execution,' Kito said. 'The crime is a serious one, however, and we believe nothing less than imprisonment for life would be appropriate. Please change your lights to white, if you wish to reduce the punishment to imprisonment.'

Dannyl changed his globe light to white, but felt a chill as he realized that fewer than half the magicians had done the same. It must be years since the Guild has elected to execute someone, he thought.

'Royend of Marane will be executed,' Kito announced heavily.

A gasp came from the rebels. Dannyl felt a stab of guilt and forced himself to look at the group. The Dem's face was white. His wife gripped his arm tightly. The rest of the rebels looked pale and uneasy.

Kito glanced at the Higher Magicians, then turned back to face the hall and spoke another rebel's name. The rest were granted the lesser punishment of imprisonment. Clearly, the Guild saw Dem Marane as the leader of the group and wanted to make an example of him. His refusal to cooperate had done him no favors either, thought Dannyl.

When it was Kaslie's turn, Kito surprised Dannyl by speaking out in her defense. He urged the Guild to consider her two children. His words must have sufficiently moved the magicians, because they granted the Dem's wife a pardon, allowing her to return to her home.

The Elyne magicians then asked if they could mentally communicate the judgments to the Elyne King. Lorlen agreed, on the condition that no other information was communicated. He then announced the Hearing concluded.

Released from his role at last, Dannyl felt an overwhelming relief. He looked for Rothen in the crowd of magicians descending from the seats, but before he had located his friend, a voice spoke his name. He turned to find Administrator Kito approaching.

'Administrator,' Dannyl replied.

'Are you satisfied with the result?' Kito asked.

Dannyl shrugged. 'Mostly. I have to admit, I did not think the Dem deserved his punishment. He is an ambitious man, but I doubt he would ever succeed in learning magic in a prison.'

'No,' Kito replied, 'but I think the Guild resented his attack on your honor.'

Dannyl stared at the magician. Surely that was not the sole reason for the Guild choosing execution?

'You find this disturbing?' Kito asked.

'Of course.'

Kito's gaze was unwavering. 'It would be particularly disturbing, if his claims were true.'

'Yes, it would be,' Dannyl replied. He narrowed his eyes at the man. Was Kito baiting him?

Kito grimaced apologetically. 'I'm sorry. I did not mean to insinuate that they were. Will you be returning to Elyne soon?'

'Unless Lorlen decides otherwise, I will stay here until we are sure there is no threat from Sachaka.'

Kito nodded, then glanced away as his name was called. 'I will speak to you again soon, Ambassador.'

'Administrator.'

Dannyl watched the man move away. Was what Kito had suggested true? Had the Guild voted for execution out of anger at Dem Marane's accusation?

No, he thought. The Dem's defiance had swayed the vote. He had dared to seek what the Guild felt it has the sole right to, and he obviously felt no respect for laws or authority.

All the same, Dannyl could not find it in himself to agree with the Guild's vote. The Dem did not deserve to die. But there was nothing Dannyl could do about that now.

Walking back through the underground passages of the Thieves' Road, Cery considered his latest conversation with Takan. Akkarin's former servant was difficult to read, but his mannerisms had betrayed both boredom and anxiety. Unfortunately, Cery could do little about the former, and nothing about the latter.

Cery knew that being cooped up in a hidden underground house, no matter how luxurious, was bound to become tedious and frustrating. Sonea had lived in a similar place when Faren had first agreed to hide her from the Guild. She had grown restless after a week. For Takan it was even more frustrating because he knew his master was facing dangers elsewhere and there was nothing he could do about it.

Cery also remembered how solitude and being unable to help someone he cared for had once made his every moment a torture. He still dreamed, though now only occasionally, about the weeks he had spent imprisoned under the University by Fergun. When he remembered that Akkarin had found and freed him, he was even more