The High Lord

She rose and busied herself with cups and water. Dannyl and Yaldin sat down. The old magician's brow furrowed.

'I can't believe they've decided to allow black magic.'

Dannyl nodded. 'Lorlen said that some of Akkarin's claims have proven to be true.'

'The worst ones.'

'Yes, but I wonder if that means some of his claims were proven to be untrue.'

'Which ones?'

'Obviously not the ones about Sachakan black magicians invading Kyralia,' Ezrille said as she laid a tray on the table before the chairs. 'What will Rothen do? He doesn't need to go to Sachaka now.'

'He'll probably come back.' Dannyl took the cup she offered and sipped at the steaming brew.

'Unless he decides to go on in the hope of finding Sonea.'

Dannyl frowned. Rothen might just do that...

They looked up at a knock on the door. Yaldin waved a hand and the door opened. A messenger bowed, glanced around the room, then stepped inside when he saw Dannyl.

'Ambassador. A man is here to see you. All the places for receiving visitors are in use, so I brought him to your rooms. Your servant was present and admitted him.'

A visitor? Dannyl put down his cup and rose. 'Thank you,' he said to the messenger. The man bowed and retreated from the room.

Dannyl smiled apologetically at Yaldin and Ezrille. 'Thanks for the sumi. I had better find out who my visitor is.'

'Of course,' Ezrille replied. 'You must come back later and tell us about him.'

The corridor was a little quieter now that most magicians had returned to their rooms or duties after the Meet. Dannyl strode to his door and opened it. A young man with blond hair rose from one of his guestroom chairs and bowed. For a moment Dannyl didn't recognize him, as he was dressed in the sober fashion preferred by Kyralians.

Then he hastily stepped inside and let the door close.

'Greetings, Ambassador Dannyl.' Tayend grinned. 'Did you miss me?'

30 Delaying the Enemy

At first Imardin appeared as a shadow against the yellow-green of the fields. Then, as they drew nearer, the city sprawled out on either side of the road like outstretched arms welcoming them back. Now, hours later, a thousand lamps burned before them, lighting their way through the rain and the darkness to the Northern Gates.

When they were close enough to hear the rain beating on the glass of the first lamp, Dorrien drew his horse to a halt and looked back at Akkarin and Sonea. His eyes strayed to the other people using the road. They must make their farewells quick, and be careful what they said. People would think it strange, if he spoke to his 'commoner' companions with too much familiarity.

'Good luck,' he said. 'Be careful.'

'You be in more rub than us, my Lord,' Sonea replied, speaking with the typical slum dweller drawl. 'Thanks for your help. Don't let those foreign magicians get you.'

'You either,' he replied, smiling at her accent. He nodded at Akkarin, then turned away and urged his horse forward.

Sonea's stomach clenched with anxiety as she watched him ride away toward the gates. When he had disappeared, she glanced at Akkarin. He was a tall shadow, his face hidden in the hood of his cloak.

'Lead on,' he said.

She directed her horse off the main road and into a narrow street. Dwells eyed them and their bedraggled horses. Don't try anything, she thought at them. We might look like simple country people oblivious to the dangers of the city, but we aren't. And we can't afford to draw attention to ourselves.

After winding their way through the slums for half an hour, they reached the horse sellers at the edge of the Market. They stopped in front of a sign with a painting of a horseshoe on it. A wiry-looking man limped through the rain toward them.

'Greetings,' he said in a gruff voice. 'You looking to sell your horses?'

'Maybe,' Sonea replied. 'Depends on the price.'

'Let me have an eye, then.' He beckoned. 'Come on in out of the rain.'

They followed the man into a large stable. Stalls had been built on either side, some occupied. They dismounted and watched as the man examined their horses.

'What's this one's name, then?'

She paused. They had changed horses three times, and she had given up remembering their names.

'Ceryni,' she said. 'After a friend of mine.'

The man straightened and turned to stare at her.

'Ceryni?'

'Yes. Do you know him?'

Then from one of the stalls came the sound of laughter.

'You named your horse after me?'

A stable door opened and a short man in a gray coat strode out, followed by Takan and a large, muscular man. Sonea looked closer at the speaker, then gasped as she recognized him.

'Cery!'

He grinned. 'Hai! Welcome back.' Then he turned to the horse seller and the grin disappeared. 'You didn't see this.'

'N-no,' the man agreed. His face was white.

'Take the horses and leave,' Cery ordered.

The man grabbed the reins of the horses, and Sonea watched, bemused, as he hurried away. Akkarin had told her that Takan was hiding with a Thief. If Cery was also working for this Thief, then was the Thief Faren, or had Cery started working for another? In any case, it seemed he had gained some influence in the last few years, if the horse seller's reaction was any indication. Sonea turned to see Takan drop to his knees before Akkarin.

'Master.'

Takan's voice was laden with emotion. Akkarin pushed back his hood and sighed.

'Get up, Takan,' he said quietly. Though his voice was all command and tolerance, Sonea recognized signs of embarrassment in his face. She smothered a smile.

The servant climbed to his feet. 'It is good to see you again, master, though I fear you have returned to a dangerous and impossible situation.'

'Nevertheless, we must do what we can,' Akkarin replied. He turned to Cery. 'Has Takan explained what we intend to do?'

Cery nodded. 'There'll be a meeting of the Thieves tomorrow. Seems most of them have heard something's up, even if it's just that the Houses are all packing up and leaving the city. You need to tell me how much you want them to know.'

'Everything,' Akkarin replied, 'if that will not damage your standing among them.'

Cery shrugged. 'It won't, in the long term - and I get the feeling we'll have no city left to deal in if these Sachakan magicians win. Now, before we get to the grit of it, I'll take you somewhere better than a stable. I'm sure you'd like a bit of food, too.'

As he strode back to the stall he had emerged from, Sonea watched him closely. There was a sureness