The Traitor Queen

Skellin’s magic was holding him up. What has he done to me?

“Wait a moment,” he heard Skellin say. “There’s something wrong with him.”

Cery felt a growing fear as he realised Skellin was right. It’s not him. It’s me. My body... my heart... Though his eyes were open, darkness still obscured his vision. A bitter triumph rose. At least Skellin didn’t get the satisfaction of killing me. But... Anyi...

The force holding Cery melted away and he felt himself land on the hard floor. Whatever Skellin said next, he said at such a distance that Cery could not hear it. Then, after a stretch of silence, he felt cool hands on his face and he heard Gol talking from far, far away.

“Don’t worry. He won’t kill Anyi. He wants to make a trade. Lilia will get her back. If Anyi doesn’t kill him first. Those two will always look after each other. You know it. Don’t worry. It’ll all be fine. Anyi will be fine. We’ll make sure of it.”

* * *

Lilia hurried down the passage, keeping a tiny globe light floating before her.

Should I extinguish it? The intruder might see the light and know I’m coming. But if I do that, I’ll have to feel my way in the dark. It’ll slow me down. What’s more important? Speed or remaining undetected?

Her footsteps sounded loud in the narrow space. They would betray her approach anyway. She decided to keep the light burning.

Aside from her own footsteps, she heard no other sounds. The secret entrance to the passages that Anyi had cleared was on the far side of the University, so Lilia had to make her way around the foundations of the building. Fortunately, the passages were no labyrinth here. They were straight and turned at right angles until they led away from the University, under the gardens. Lilia’s heart was pounding by the time she reached the first curved wall.

I don’t think I’ve been so scared in all my life, she thought. I think I’d even consider having a little roet right now, if someone offered it to me.

The intruder might be someone harmless – a novice or servant venturing where they shouldn’t. Anyi might be wrong, and there was no intruder at all. Or it could be Skellin’s people, come snooping or looking for Cery. In that case, she had to hope that, if they’d found Cery, then he, Gol and Anyi had been able to hide until she got there.

But if it was Skellin or Lorandra. Or Skellin and Lorandra...

I have to hope, if both of them are here, that I’ve gained enough extra power from Kallen to fight them. And enough skill.

She’d considered this many times before. It was unlikely Skellin or Lorandra had much training in fighting. Lorandra might have learned something before she left her homeland, but she and Skellin would have had no training here. The most they could have done was practise on each other.

She was not far from the rooms now. As she started down the last stretch of passage she slowed, staring into the darkness ahead.

Should I whistle to warn them it’s me? It’ll warn Skellin if he’s already there. But if he is, wouldn’t I be able to see light and hear voices?

She added more magic to her shield and crept forward. A faint noise reached her. A low, murmuring voice. The doorway was dark, but as she drew closer she saw a faint, flickering light. Reaching it, she peered around the opening and saw a single candle burning, braced between two rocks, and a hunched figure sitting on the floor. At the same time she heard a choking sound.

Something about that sound made her stomach sink.

The man’s head lifted and the shadows concealing his face retreated from her globe light. Gol’s cheeks glistened.

“Lilia,” he said.

She brightened the light and saw what he was sitting beside.

“Oh no.” She hurried forward and knelt on the floor. Cery’s face was pale, his eyes closed. She could see no sign of injury. Placing her hand on his forehead, she sent her senses out – and immediately recoiled. “Oh no.”

“It’s too late, isn’t it?” Gol said, his voice tight.

She felt her heart twist, then looked around the room. Where is Anyi?

“Yes. What happened?”

“I don’t know. Skellin did nothing to him. Was going to take him away. But... he just collapsed.”

Reluctantly she reached out and touched Cery’s body, forcing herself to examine him again. She had never used her Healing skills on a dead person before. The lack of presence, the mental silence within, the lack of a natural barrier to repel the will of another, all were shocking to her. But if Skellin had done this...

No. The damage was clear, once she found it. Cery’s heart had failed. Not that Skellin didn’t cause it indirectly, by forcing Cery to live here, constantly fearing for his safety. And Anyi’s.

Anyi. She withdrew her senses, opened her eyes and looked at Gol. He had slumped forward, and was breathing quickly. His face was contorted with pain, but she suddenly understood it was not just the pain of grief.

“What’s... are you hurt?” She reached out and grabbed his arm, then jumped as her senses opened to a flood of agony. It was coming from somewhere lower. His legs. Letting go of his arm, she crawled over to him and grabbed his shoulders. “Lie down.”

He did as she told him, sucking in sharp breaths as he moved. Once he was lying flat, she moved her light over to his legs.

“Don’t,” he said. “Go. Find... her. Find... Anyi.”

She froze. From somewhere deep inside her rose a terrible dread. “Where is she? ”

“Skellin... took her.”

“When?” Her mind raced ahead. She climbed to her feet. Cery had not been dead long. Skellin could still be in the passages. If she left now, she might catch him. Save Anyi. “But why take her? Why not kill her?”

“You.” Gol gasped, sucked in a breath, held it. “Wants you. Will send... a message. Where... to meet.”

She pictured herself catching up with Skellin. Fighting Skellin. She shook her head. He won’t fight me. He’ll put a knife to Anyi’s throat. Or do something with magic. He’ll use her to get away. And take me with him. And make me teach him black magic.

Would it work out any differently if she waited for his message? Perhaps he’d torture Anyi in the meantime.

No. He won’t harm her. Not if he wants me to teach him.

He might accidentally hurt her if she rushed upon him now.

If she waited for the message, waited for the meeting, she would have time to work out how to rescue Anyi without teaching Skellin black magic. Time to strengthen herself. Time to decide how I’m going to tell Anyi her father is dead.

She may know already. Oh, Anyi. I’m sorry I didn’t get here faster.

It took more strength of will than anything she had done before to not run after her. Forcing herself to kneel down next to Gol, ignoring his protests, she set to work mending his shattered bones. And hoped, desperately, that she had made the right decision.

Chapter 24 Dangerous Minds

The sky was streaked with orange and black when Saral and Temi moved off the main road towards another