The High Lord

- I thought he might. I'm already on my way.

'He's coming,' Lorlen said.

The King nodded. He turned and walked back into the Palace tower. Lorlen followed, then froze as a new image of the Fort flashed into his mind. He felt something sharp against his throat. Forcing his attention back to his real surroundings, he saw that the King's Advisors had both put their hands to their throats.

The King glanced at the three of them.

'What is it?'

'Lord Makin is still alive,' Lord Rolden replied.

The King grabbed the magician's hand and pressed it to his forehead.

'Show me,' he ordered.

The image Makin was sending was of the Fort again, but viewed from the outside. A small crowd of plainly dressed Sachakans were hurrying out of the building, some leading the small limek-like animals.

A voice spoke in Makin's ear.

'That's right. Tell them this. I will—'

'Kariko! Look what I've found,' a woman called.

This voice came from within the Fort. A Guild magician staggered from the corridor and fell to his knees. Lorlen recognized Lord Fergun with a jolt. Of course, he thought. Fergun was sent away...

Makin felt surprise, then anger. The attack had happened so fast, he hadn't noticed the disgraced Warrior's absence.

A Sachakan woman in a glittering coat strode out of the building. She stopped beside Fergun and looked toward Makin.

'Pretty, isn't he?'

'You can't keep him, Avala,' said the voice at Makin's ear.

'But he's weak. I can't believe they bothered to teach him. He probably can't even boil water.'

'No, Avala. He might be weak, but he can send them information.'

The woman reached down and ran her fingers through Fergun's hair, then yanked his head backward.

'I could break his ears. He wouldn't be able to hear us.'

'And burn out his pretty eyes, too?'

She pulled a face. 'No. That would spoil him.'

'Kill him, Avala. You'll find other pretty men in Imardin.'

Avala pouted, then shrugged. She pulled out a knife and slashed it across Fergun's throat. His eyes widened and he tried to pull away, but he was clearly too weak to break her hold. She slapped a hand over the cut and he went limp. After a moment the woman let go and he slumped to the ground.

She stepped over his body and approached Makin, though her eyes were fixed on the Sachakan behind him.

'So where next?'

'Imardin,' Kariko replied. The knife pressed harder against Makin's throat. 'Now listen, magician. Tell your Guild I will see them soon. If they open the gates for me I might let them live. Well, some of them, anyway. I expect a big welcome. Gifts. Slaves. Gold...'

The knife moved. There was a flash of pain...

Lorlen gasped as his awareness returned abruptly to his surroundings. We just lost twenty magicians in less than an hour! Twenty of our finest Warriors...

'Sit down, Administrator.'

Lorlen looked up at the King. His voice had been unexpectedly kind. He allowed himself to be ushered to a chair. The King and his Advisors took the seats on either side.

The ruler rubbed his forehead and sighed. 'That was not the way I would have chosen to learn that Akkarin's claims were true.'

'No,' Lorlen agreed. Memories of the battle still flashed through his thoughts.

'I must make a choice,' the King continued. 'Either I allow one or more magicians to learn black magic, or I ask Akkarin to return and help us. Which would you choose, Administrator?'

'I would call Akkarin back,' Lorlen replied.

'Why?'

'We know he spoke the truth.'

'Do we?' the King asked quietly. 'He may have given us only part of the truth. He could have formed an alliance with these magicians.'

'Why would he send a message warning of their attack?'

'To fool us. He said they would attack in a few days, not today.'

Lorlen nodded. 'He might simply have been mistaken.' He leaned forward and met the monarch's gaze. 'I believe Akkarin is honorable. I believe he would leave again after helping us, if we asked him to. Why have one of our own learn black magic, who we could not then justify sending away, when we can call on someone who already has that skill?'

'Because I don't trust him.'

Lorlen felt his shoulders slump. There was no arguing with that.

'I have put this question to your Heads of Disciplines,' the King said. 'They agree with me. Lord Sarrin is my preference, but I will not make that decision for the Guild. Put it to a vote.'

He rose and walked to the open door of the balcony.

'There is another, more practical reason for my choice,' he continued. 'Akkarin is in Sachaka. He may not be able to reach us in time. Lord Sarrin believes Sonea learned black magic in a week, despite lessons and other activities taking up her time. If a magician dedicates all his or her time to the task, he should learn it faster. I—' A knock at the door interrupted him. 'Enter.'

A boy hurried inside and dropped to one knee.

'Lord Balkan to see you, Your Majesty.'

The King nodded and the boy hurried out. Balkan strode in and knelt before the King.

'At ease.' The King smiled grimly. 'A well-timed visit, Lord Balkan.'

'I thought you might want to speak to me, Your Majesty,' Balkan replied as he stood up. He glanced at Lorlen and nodded politely. 'You have heard that the Fort has fallen?'

'Yes,' the King replied. 'I have decided that one magician must be allowed to learn black magic. The Guild will nominate candidates and choose one by vote. If the Sachakans draw close to Imardin before the magician you select has learned black magic, the reinforcements you sent to the Fort will engage them.'

Lorlen stared at the monarch. He was sending those magicians to their deaths. 'We need them here, Your Majesty, so that the magician who is chosen can increase his or her strength as quickly as possible.'

'You will not order them to attack the Sachakans until it is clear we require the delay.' The King turned to Balkan. 'Can you suggest any strategy that might otherwise slow or weaken the enemy?'

The Warrior nodded. 'We can take advantage of the city's defenses. Every obstacle the Sachakans overcome will use up some of their strength.'

'What of the Guard? Can they be used?'

Balkan shook his head. 'I fear they would be easily turned against us.'

The King frowned. 'How so?'

'Any non-magician with latent magical ability is a potential source of strength. I recommend keeping all non-magicians well out of the way.'

'Perhaps I should send them out of Imardin.'

Balkan paused, then nodded. 'If that is possible.'

The King gave a short laugh. 'Once the news spreads that several Sachakan black magicians are about to attack Imardin, the city will empty itself without any urging from me. I will employ the Guard to keep order, and to ensure that any ship leaving the Marina carries a reasonable number of evacuees, then I will send them away. Do you have any other recommendations?'

Balkan shook his head.