The Traitor Queen

Lilia shook her head. “No, they ignore me most of the time. That’s fine. I understand why they avoid me. And I have Anyi.”

Sonea felt a pang of sympathy, and gratitude toward Cery for allowing Anyi to visit. “Well, if any of the novices are friendly toward you – properly friendly, not a trick – then don’t turn them away too quickly. You’ll be working with them soon enough.”

“I know.”

Lilia looked resigned, but not unhappy. Finishing the bun and raka, Sonea rose and sighed. “Will you be all right staying here on your own while I’m gone, Lilia?”

The girl looked up. “Of course. With Jonna and Black Magician Kallen looking after me, how could I not be?” She frowned. “You’re the one who is going to be in danger, Black Magician Sonea. You... you will be careful?”

Sonea smiled. “Of course. I have every intention of coming back. After all, I want to see your graduation.” She moved to the door, then paused and looked back. “I won’t be working at the hospices now, so I’ll probably be coming and going a lot. I’ll make sure I knock before entering, in case Anyi has snuck in to see you.”

Lilia nodded. “Thanks.”

Leaving her rooms, Sonea found the Magicians’ Quarters corridor busy with magicians. She returned respectful nods and greetings on her way out. The courtyard outside was crowded with novices and magicians, some making their way to and from the Baths, others heading toward the University, and more than a few simply enjoying the early spring sunshine.

Heads turned toward her as always. There was something about black robes that drew the eye. Not even the white robes of the High Lord or the blue of the Administrator attracted as much attention. Novices might notice and watch them pass, bowing respectfully as they were meant to do to all graduated magicians, but they did not stare and take a step back as they did for Sonea and Kallen.

And every time they do, I remember Akkarin, and how everyone did the same to him, though they didn’t know, as I did, that he practised black magic. He wore black only because it was the colour of the High Lord then, but since it also marked him as the most powerful magician in the Guild I guess that made him as intimidating as a Black Magician is now.

She suppressed a sigh, ignored the stares, and headed toward the University.

Once inside she chose the passage through the centre of the building rather than the main corridors on either side. Stepping out of this into the Great Hall, she looked up at the glass-panelled ceiling three levels up, then at the rough stone of the original Guildhall building standing proudly within the vast room. There won’t be another Meet before I leave, she realised, slowing her steps. This might be the last time I see this place.

She stared at the building, then shook her head and quickened her stride again. Only if everything goes terribly wrong, she amended.

Reaching the end of the Great Hall, she passed through the other end of the central passage then turned into the right-hand side corridor and stopped at the first door. At a tap from her knuckles the door swung inward, and she stepped into Osen’s office.

The Administrator was sitting at his desk, facing two magicians who had turned to regard her. High Lord Balkan inclined his head respectfully and murmured her name, as did Osen. The third magician was becoming more familiar to her.

“King’s Adviser Glarrin,” she said, nodding to him first before turning to the others. “High Lord. Administrator.”

“Black Magician Sonea,” Glarrin replied.

He was in his sixties, she knew, but looked younger. Though he was officially the king’s military adviser in matters relating to magic and the Guild, he also handled peacetime international relations. A second King’s Adviser handled domestic matters – mostly political wrangling between the Houses. A task I don’t envy him.

“Please sit,” Osen said. He gestured to three chairs, which slid closer and into a half-circle before his desk. They all sat down. Osen leaned forward onto his elbows. “We’re here to discuss how Black Magician Sonea should go about negotiating the release of her son. First I have some news from Ambassador Dannyl.”

Sonea felt her heart skip a beat.

“Ashaki Achati, the king’s representative that Ambassador Dannyl has established a friendly relationship with, visited the Guild House last night,” Osen continued. “He relayed the king’s desire for Dannyl to persuade Lorkin to answer questions about the Traitors. Dannyl, of course, repeated that he was in no position to order Lorkin to. Ashaki Achati would not say what would happen if Lorkin did not talk, but he did make it clear that Sachaka feels no great reluctance to sever friendly ties with the Allied Lands. It was not a threat, Dannyl assures me, but a statement of fact. They do not need to trade with us or feel we would be a threat as an enemy.”

“Is it a bluff?” Balkan asked.

“Perhaps,” Glarrin replied. “It is too close to the truth, however. I would not want to test it. Sachaka doesn’t need us just as we do not need it, but we would both lose some lucrative opportunities if stricter restrictions on trade were imposed.”

“So reminding them of the wealth they may miss out on is all I can do?” Sonea asked.

Glarrin pursed his lips in thought. “It would not hurt to point out that the Allied Lands seek trade with Sachaka rather than rebels. That might at least reassure them that we don’t plan to side with their enemy.”

“Of course, the fact that we are seeking trade with the Traitors should not be mentioned,” Balkan added, with a chuckle.

“Of course not.” Sonea smiled. “Though should I hint that we might consider such a possibility, should Sachaka prove uncooperative... and perhaps unreliable when it comes to upholding agreements relating to the safety of Guild magicians?”

“No,” Glarrin said. “They will not take kindly to that sort of threat. I...” He paused, his eyes focusing on a distant point. “The king asks if the Traitors can be contacted – if they can do anything to help us. After all, they can’t have planned for Lorkin to be imprisoned.”

The Kyralian king and Glarrin must be communicating via a blood ring, Sonea realised. That one little magical trick of Akkarin’s has become very popular since the Guild decided using one wasn’t technically using black magic.

“We can try,” Balkan replied. “Dannyl’s assistant, Lady Merria, has established a way to send messages to the Traitors.”

“We won’t get an answer before Sonea leaves,” Osen pointed out. He looked at Balkan. “Sonea should leave a blood ring of hers here. Should she carry a blood ring from one of us as well?”

“Whoever gives her a ring risks seeing the secret of black magic in her mind.”

“Not if she’s wearing Naki’s ring.” Osen pointed out.

Sonea nodded. The ring Lilia’s former friend had used to stop her mind being read also protected the wearer from access via a blood ring.

Balkan nodded. “It will be useful if Sonea can contact us when she chooses – but Dannyl already has a ring of yours. Would it be better to give her one from me?”

“If the Sachakans seize them, then they can annoy the both of us.” Osen shook his head. “She should take one from me.”

Sonea hid her amusement at his choice of words. If someone got hold of Osen’s blood ring, the malicious things they could do with it wouldn’t be designed to annoy him. Then she sobered. As they could to me, if they got hold of the blood ring I gave Lorkin. Thankfully Osen had told Lorkin not to take it to the meeting with the Sachakan king. If they had it, all they’d have to do is torture Lorkin while...

“When will I be leaving?” she asked, to turn her thoughts somewhere less frightening.

“Tomorrow night,” Osen said. “We’ll call a Meet tomorrow and ask for volunteers to give you magical strength. We’ve decided to let it be known that Lorkin has been imprisoned by the Sachakan king and we are sending you to negotiate for his release.”

“Amakira has given us the perfect excuse to send you to Sachaka,” Glarrin said. “You are to try meeting with the Traitors as well, though it would be best if you did it after Lorkin was free – even better if he was home – in case the meeting is discovered.” He frowned and looked away, then smiled. “The king asks how Lilia’s Warrior