The Traitor Queen

“We’ll get to it,” Vinara assured him. “You’ve defended yourself with this reasoning for a while now, Lord Telano, but it doesn’t explain your attempt to destroy our roet crop. For someone who likes roet, that seems... odd.”

He shook his head. “I thought the Thieves had somehow set themselves up here.”

“Really? That wasn’t your excuse when we first caught you.”

“I didn’t know who to trust. You could have been colluding with them. After all, it turns out there is a spy in the Guild.”

“A simple mind-read would establish your innocence,” Lord Peakin said.

The room fell silent. Looking around, Lilia saw both reluctance and hope. They’ve wanted it done for a while, but are worried what the consequences will be if he’s innocent. He’ll resent them for distrusting him, at the least.

But what if he was guilty? That would be even worse.

“Will you...?” Osen began.

“No,” Telano said, the word echoing in the room.

“Your lack of cooperation does not encourage us,” Osen pointed out.

“Then demote me.” Telano’s tone was sullen.

“No.” All eyes shifted to Balkan. The High Lord was sitting with his elbows on the arms of his chair, his fingertips touching. “With Sachaka now under the rule of the Traitors and our attention needed elsewhere, we need this matter settled. Read his mind, Kallen.”

The mood in the room changed to surprise. Telano’s eyes had gone wide, but his face smoothed again. As Kallen stood up he slowly got to his feet.

“Well, if you must. At least we have something in common,” he muttered.

Lilia drew in a sharp breath. “I... I’m not sure that’s a good idea,” she forced herself to say, lowering her eyes as attention shifted to her. “I’ve occasionally suspected Black Magician Kallen was... the one.”

This roused mutters of surprise and frustration. “We could wait until Sonea returns,” someone suggested.

Looking up, Lilia forced herself to meet Kallen’s eyes. He smiled. “As I said, we have need of Lilia. Distrusting me will soon be part of her responsibilities. I suggest she read my mind as well, to put everyone’s at ease.”

Lilia stared at him, feeling doubt and a little guilt creep over her. If he’s innocent I’m going to feel very bad about suggesting he’s Skellin’s source, after all he’s taught me. But if he’s not... will he use this opportunity to secretly blackmail me?

Osen was nodding his head. So was Balkan. Kallen beckoned. There would be no avoiding it. If this had been his intention all along, she had well and truly fallen into his trap. Her mouth dry, Lilia approached him. He took her hands and, still smiling, lifted them to his head.

“You remember what to do?”

She nodded. Then closed her eyes.

It was impossible to tell how much time had passed when she stepped away from him again. She felt guilt for distrusting him, but mostly she felt relief. I can see why the Guild chose him. He would rather die than betray the Guild. He hates himself for allowing himself to be trapped by roet – and I had no idea the craving could be that bad. I am lucky to have not been caught by it. He had expressed admiration for her risking her life to save Anyi, and she had seen his frustration and shame that he hadn’t been able to find and deal with Skellin. He did try very hard. I know that now. I can forgive him for failing.

He’d also warned her that, if Lord Telano was guilty, she might have an unpleasant time reading his mind. Lilia turned to the magician. The man looked around the room, then scowled and stood up. He held himself stiffly as she reached out to touch his temples.

It wasn’t pleasant. He tried to block her. He tried to think only of other things – things that might shock her into turning her attention away. He tried to show her lies. But she saw through everything. She saw where it had begun, at brazier houses. She saw that suppliers had suggested he avoid purchasing through the Houses and buy direct. She saw how he had grown concerned that the Guild would disapprove of the drug, so he had begun to encourage its use by more and more magicians so they would resist a ban. All his thoughts were laced with a ferocious ache for roet. He feared he wouldn’t be able to buy it now that Lilia had killed Skellin. He hated her for that. His only consolation was that so many other magicians would be suffering the same pain.

It was a relief to withdraw her mind and return to the room. As she relayed what she had learned to the Higher Magicians she wondered how it could be that roet could do this to Telano, who must have been a man of integrity to have become a Higher Magician – and a Healer – while Kallen hadn’t been corrupted, and she hadn’t become addicted. It would have been easier for the Guild to decide what to do about roet if the results were always the same.

“She’s lying,” Telano declared. “Why would you believe her over me? She has already admitted to working with a Thief.”

“We did give you the opportunity to allow a simple mind-read,” Osen pointed out. “Have you changed your mind?”

Telano stared at Osen, then straightened. “No. I will prove my innocence in more convincing ways.”

“You’ll have your chance, when we hold a Hearing to judge you,” Osen said. He turned to Kallen. “Take him away.”

Telano scowled as he was ushered out of the room. Lilia stood awkwardly as the Higher Magicians exchanged glances.

“Did you see any hint of other spies in the Guild, Lilia?” Osen asked quietly.

She shook her head.

“That’s a relief.” He looked at the others. “We should wait for Sonea to return before holding this Hearing, but announce the ban on roet and our intention to find a cure as soon as possible.” He looked at Vinara. “I want you to involve Sonea in the search for a cure.” Vinara frowned and opened her mouth to protest, but Osen stalled her with a raised hand. “She identified the problem first, and it is time you two were seen to work together. It’s also the best way I can think of to keep her occupied and out of Sachakan matters.”

Lilia frowned. Why would they...? She saw Vinara nod in her direction, then Osen turned to her.

“Thank you Lilia. We will need you to speak at the Hearing, but for now you can go.”

Lilia bowed and headed for the door. As she passed Rothen he smiled and nodded.

It’s all over, she thought, as much as it can be “over”. Anyi is as safe as any new Thief can be, which is not particularly safe but better than when Skellin was around. I can now finish my studies. Even though I have no choice about what I’ll be doing after that, I don’t mind so much now. As long as I still get to see Anyi.

How they’d manage that, she didn’t know. But one thing she was sure of: Anyi would find a way.

* * *

Sonea slipped Osen’s ring off her finger and put it away.

“Well, that was interesting.”

Regin turned from the window of the carriage to regard her. “Oh? What news from the Guild?”

“The Rogue Skellin is dead. So is his mother, Lorandra. I don’t have the details yet. Osen said they can wait until I get home.”

“That’s good news.”

“Yes, but there’s bad as well. Lord Telano was working as Skellin’s spy, and had set himself up as the main supplier of roet to the Guild. His powers have been blocked and he now resides in the Lookout.”

Regin’s eyebrows rose. “Telano? The Head of Healing Studies?”

“Yes. Of all people.” She shook her head. “The only good to come of that is they’ve finally banned roet.”

“What about the magicians who are addicted to it?”

“Vinara managed to acquire roet seed, so the Guild can wean magicians off it. She has started looking for a