The Traitor Queen

“No.”

“Could you ease my weariness, or Savara’s?”

“Yes.”

She waved a hand as he tried to give the ring back to her. He looked at her hands. She wasn’t yet wearing any of her rings. “Do you have one?”

“No.”

“Then take it. There’s no point in me having it. I can do all these things already.”

“Savara said you’d say that, but insisted I offer one to you anyway.”

“I appreciate the offer, but she’d be doing me more of a favour if you wore it.”

“Why would I need one, when I have you?” Taking the ring, she smiled. “She wants to see you.”

She caught his hand in hers, and led him across the room and into a corridor. Savara was in the main suite, surrounded by people talking in groups or arriving and leaving. Looking around, Lorkin recognised all of the Speakers – except Halana, of course. Seeing him, Savara held up a hand to the woman she was talking to, then walked over to meet him.

“Lorkin,” she said, her eyes dropping to his vest then up to meet his gaze. “All prepared for the fight?”

He patted his chest. “Yes, thanks to you and whoever prepared this for me.”

Tyvara held out the purple ring. The queen smiled and nodded. “Give it to Speaker Lanna.”

As Tyvara moved away, Savara stepped a little closer and suddenly all sound ceased as a barrier surrounded them. Her expression became hard.

“Has she given anything away?”

Guessing she meant Kalia, Lorkin frowned. “No. All I sense is guilt. I’ve caught her thinking that she is a fool a few more times.”

“Not even a hint that she is planning something?”

He shook his head. “I wouldn’t lower your guard, though.”

Her lips pressed into a grim smile. “No. She will be well away from me, watched closely.” She sighed. “I suspect whatever she did backfired and got Halana killed, and she doesn’t want to risk making the same mistake.”

“I hope so, though it will make proving what she did impossible. Unless you want me to reveal what I can do?”

“Not when I am her only target.” She looked down and let out a bitter laugh. “However, you may find your life’s task is to keep an eye on her until she dies. If we win this battle.”

He shrugged. “I’d do it anyway,” he admitted. “If not for your safety, then for mine and Tyvara’s. And...”

The queen put up a hand to silence him. The sounds of the room abruptly returned as Tyvara rejoined them.

“Lorkin was just telling me that he can heal away tiredness,” she told Savara. “It would give you an advantage, going into battle with your mind fresh and sharp.”

The queen’s eyebrows rose. “It would.”

“Is that wise?” another voice said. Lorkin turned to see Speaker Lanna step closer. She looked apologetic but also determined. “Mere hours before the final battle, can you afford to put that much trust in someone not born a Traitor?”

As Tyvara turned to glare at the woman, Lorkin placed a hand on her arm. “It’s a fair question.”

Savara nodded. “It is. And entirely unnecessary. After Halana learned what she could of Healing from Kalia, she and I have been – were, in her case – experimenting.” A look of pain flashed across her face. “She succeeded in working out how to Heal weariness a few days ago.” She straightened and turned to Lorkin. “But if she had not, I would accept your offer. The benefit is worth it, and there are competent people ready to take my place, should trusting you prove a bad decision.” Her gaze shifted to something behind him. “And here’s another messenger.”

Lorkin turned to see a tired-looking man hovering behind him, and felt a jolt of recognition.

“Evar!” he exclaimed.

The man grinned. “Lorkin. I was hoping I’d run into you one last time.” He turned back to the queen and placed a hand over his heart. “The Ashaki are gathering in the parade, your majesty, and look ready to advance.”

Savara’s eyes widened a little, then she straightened her back. “It is time.” She looked around the room. “Gather everyone outside the gates. I will say a few words, then... then we’ll finally confront our enemy directly.”

* * *

Lilia followed her sixth guide for the morning out of a cluttered alley behind several smaller shops and into the tidier one between two large buildings. The alley was shadowed and she tried not to flinch at the stares of a group of men leaning against the walls. She was dressed in threadbare servants’ clothing and probably looked as tired, nervous and vulnerable as she felt.

The journey had begun before dawn. The guides had taken her all over the city, through all of the main districts. At first there had been few people about, then only servants and the employees of businesses with jobs that required early rising. Slowly the city streets had filled as more people emerged.

Though only a few hours had passed, it felt like far longer. Lilia longed for the journey to end. Wanted the exchange with Skellin over with. And yet she dreaded the confrontation.

She’d spent most of the night awake, imagining every possible way things might go badly. The few times she’d fallen asleep, she’d started awake again from dreams in which Anyi was calling for her, but couldn’t hear her replies. Remembering the dreams sent a shiver down her spine, so she thought back to Rothen, Gol and Jonna’s discussion the previous night.

“Sonea once killed an Ichani with Healing power,” Rothen had told her. “He imprisoned her within his shield, thinking her too weak to be dangerous and not realising that Healing magic can overcome the body’s natural barrier. She stopped his heart. It would be better if you didn’t kill Skellin, even if it means letting him escape, so we have a chance to catch him and find out who his allies and sources are. But if you have no other choice...”

To kill with Healing magic, Lilia would have to touch Skellin’s skin and have time to send her mind within. If he detected what she was doing it would only take a small effort to push her out. The Ichani hadn’t known anything about Healing magic, but Skellin did. He would be suspicious of any attempt she made to touch him anyway, in case it was an attempt to use black magic.

No. My plan is better. Not much better, and I have to ignore the fact that, unlike using Healing to kill, I have no idea if it will work.

Her own shield would have earned her the mockery of any first-year novice, but not for its lack of strength. It had taken her a while to work out how to stop hiding her use of magic so that Rothen could sense it. The magician was somewhere in the centre of the city. He’d guessed that Skellin’s men would realise he could track Lilia if he was spotted following her around, so he was waiting with Gol until she let them know she was about to meet Skellin. Once she did, he would move as close as he could without attracting attention, so that if something went wrong he could, hopefully, get to her in time to help.

She could sense Gol’s mind at the edge of her own. It was less distracting than she’d feared. He and Rothen were in a quiet room of a house belonging to a friend of Rothen’s. A rather nice house, judging the impressions she was getting from Gol. With his mind so constantly open to her, it was easy to forget that he could not see into hers, and she had to speak to him consciously in order to communicate.

Emerging from the alleyway, Lilia paused as a gust of fragrant air battered her. She looked around and felt her stomach twitch in anxiety. The docks stretched before and to either side of her.

The guide noticed that she’d stopped and made an impatient gesture. Taking a deep breath, Lilia followed him toward a long pier. They skirted around stacks of goods and wharf workers. Ships rocked gently on either side. As the guide started along the pier, she framed a question in her mind.

—Gol! What if he tells me to get on a ship?