The Traitor Queen

and looked at Anyi sheepishly. The other girl had an odd, surprised expression.

“I mean I miss being alone with you. Maybe that’s a little selfish,” she began. “I—”

But she got no apology out, because Anyi leaned forward, caught hold of her jaw and kissed her.

“I miss you, too,” she said quietly and fiercely.

Then she drew Lilia into her arms. For a time they simply held each other, taking comfort in physical warmth and closeness. Too soon Anyi sighed and pulled away.

“Cery will be wondering where we’ve got to,” she murmured.

Standing up, she held out a hand to Lilia. As Lilia took it Anyi hauled her to her feet, but in the same movement she pulled Lilia close and kissed her again. This time it was a lingering kiss, as if she had forgotten her last words.

A footfall, followed by a sharply indrawn breath, jolted Lilia back to her surroundings. She and Anyi sprang apart and whirled towards the door, Anyi bracing in a fighting stance. Lilia had drawn magic and formed a shield before she saw that it was only Cery standing in the doorway.

His face was frozen in surprise. As Anyi uttered a curse, Cery’s expression changed to a mix of embarrassment and amusement.

“Didn’t mean to interrupt,” he said, taking a step backwards. “Come back when you’re ready.”

Then with a barely suppressed smile, he turned and hurried away.

Covering her face with her hands, Anyi groaned. Lilia placed a hand on her friend’s shoulder in sympathy. I wouldn’t want my father walking in on me kissing another woman. As Anyi’s shoulders started to shake and she began to make choking noises, she felt her heart twist, until she saw her friend’s hands shift to her mouth and she realised Anyi was laughing.

“Well,” Lilia said as she waited for Anyi to stop. “That’s not the reaction I was expecting.”

Anyi shook her head. “No. Guess it wouldn’t be.” She took a couple of deep breaths, only breaking into spluttering once. “I’ve been worrying about how to tell him for months. Now I don’t have to.”

“You were going to tell him about us?”

“Of course.”

“But... won’t he be angry?”

“No. A bit dismayed, maybe. Did I ever tell you where he was born and grew up?”

Lilia shook her head.

“Well, it’s really his story to tell – many stories, actually. It was a place you meet people with all kinds of tastes and ideas.” Anyi took Lilia’s hand. “Come on. We really should go back. He’ll be worrying that we’re too annoyed or embarrassed to return. And I want to make sure this fool’s plan is as foolproof as possible.”

Chapter 11 A Change of Plan

The words on the page before Dannyl were as grey as an overcast sky. Tayend had given Dannyl his meagre supply of remaining ink and, since neither the slaves nor Merria had managed to bring any more into the Guild House, Dannyl had to thin out what was left with water. Following Tayend’s advice, he now locked his research notes away with magic whenever he was done working on them.

A movement drew his attention to the doorway in time to see Kai throw himself on the floor.

“A carriage from the palace has arrived, master,” the slave said.

Achati again. He sighed and closed his eyes for a moment. This doesn’t get easier. Opening his eyes, he dried the ink on the page, cleaned his pen, stowed everything away in a drawer and protected it all with magic. Dismissing Kai, he straightened his back and made his way to the Master’s Room.

The door slave was literally hopping from one foot to another, until he saw Dannyl and dove face-first onto the floor.

“Lord Lorkin has returned, master!” he declared.

Dannyl’s heart skipped a beat. “Lorkin?”

He hurried forward, but Sonea’s son was already emerging from the entrance corridor. As the young man entered the room Dannyl felt a chill run down his spine. Something has happened to him, he thought, though he wasn’t sure how he knew. Dannyl looked Lorkin over. There was no sign of injury, though it was hard to tell when Guild robes concealed so much. Other than dark shadows under his eyes suggesting a lack of sleep, Lorkin looked well.

“Ambassador Dannyl,” he said.

“You’re free!” Dannyl had to resist an urge to hug the young man, instead grasping Lorkin’s arm in the usual gesture of Kyralian greeting. “What happened? King Amakira let you go?”

“Yes,” Lorkin replied.

“Do you know why?”

Lorkin looked away. “He didn’t say.”

Dannyl stepped back. Lorkin’s voice was flat and expressionless. He should be relieved. Puzzled by his unexpected release. Angry that he’d been imprisoned in the first place.

“Come sit down.” Dannyl ushered Lorkin to the seats, but the young magician didn’t sit down. “Are you hurt?”

“No.”

“Did they read your mind? Or attempt to?”

“No.”

“Lord Lorkin! I thought I heard your name.”

They both looked up to see Tayend standing in the doorway. The Elyne hurried forward, reaching out toward the young magician as if to hug him but, Dannyl was amused to see, letting his arms drop to his sides at the last moment. He gave Lorkin a critical look.

“You don’t look too bad, for someone who has been locked up in a prison,” he observed. “But they wouldn’t have dared harm you physically. How are you feeling?”

Lorkin shrugged, but his eyes betrayed the same wary evasiveness Dannyl had noted earlier. “Tired. Hungry. I could do with a bath.”

Tayend sniffed and smiled. “You’re right about that. I don’t imagine the palace prison contains hot tubs. Let’s get you to our perfectly civilized Guild House ones. I’ll have the slaves prepare you something nourishing and fetch you some clean robes.”

Lorkin nodded, but before he succumbed to the Elyne’s attempts to usher him out of the room he reached into his robes and turned to Dannyl. Wordlessly, he drew out a scroll. Dannyl noted King Amakira’s seal before looking up at the young man again. Lorkin’s eyes were hard and knowing.

Then he turned away and left.

Dannyl sat down and broke the seal. It was an official order from the king and simply declared that Lorkin was forbidden to leave the Guild House. No reason was given for his release from the palace prison. No mention was made at all of his incarceration. What did I expect? An apology?

Tayend returned to the room and sat down next to Dannyl.

“He’s not all right,” the Elyne murmured.

“No,” Dannyl agreed.

“Whatever they did to him – or forced him to do – he is not ready to talk about it. I will keep an eye on him and let you know if he tells me about it – if he doesn’t make me promise to keep it a secret, of course.”

“Of course.”

“So what does it say?” Tayend nodded at the scroll.

“Lorkin is forbidden to leave the Guild House.”

Tayend nodded. “He’s not completely free, then.” He reached out and patted Dannyl’s arm. “He’s out of that place. That, at least, is a good thing.” He stood up. “I have to report this. You had better tell Administrator