The Traitor Queen

Lorkin shivered at the voice. A memory rose of an old man on a throne, followed by the palace prison, the slave girl... He blinked them away and concentrated on the scene before him. The Ashaki parted and the king stepped out.

“We do not submit to Traitors,” he said.

As he spoke, his hand moved to his belt and closed around the hilt of a knife. Gems glittered in the sunlight as he drew the blade. He extended his arm toward Savara, pointing at her. He let the knife go. It hovered in the air. His arm dropped to his side.

Then, in a movement almost too fast to follow, it reversed and shot backward, plunging into his chest.

Lorkin sucked in a breath, and heard gasps from all around. Well, I didn’t expect that, he thought as the king fell, and was caught and lowered to the ground by the Ashaki behind him. Did he just commit suicide, or did he ask one of the Ashaki to—?

The rest of the Ashaki stepped back hastily as a bright light enveloped the king’s body. A sharp crack, followed by a roar like a fire flaring before a gust of wind, echoed between the buildings. The king’s remaining power, released as his control failed. Lorkin shuddered.

The light vanished, and all that was left was ash.

Then the air before Savara began to vibrate. Lorkin looked up to see that the remaining Ashaki’s gazes were fixed on her. Realising that the men were striking at their queen, the Traitors attacked. Lorkin winced at the dull thuds and crack of bones, as the last Ashaki fell before the onslaught. They didn’t bother to shield. They used their last magic in a final vain attempt to kill the Traitor queen, and to ensure they would die.

The Traitor strikes ended as quickly as they had begun, and a different kind of silence fell. One filled with relief as well as horror. Savara’s shoulders lifted and dropped and she bowed her head. She didn’t look up or speak, and as time stretched the Traitors began to frown and exchange glances. As Tyvara stepped forward, concern in her eyes, Lorkin followed, but he kept a few steps back, ready to help but leaving Tyvara to speak.

Savara looked at Tyvara and shook her head. “Ashaki and Traitors. We are so different. And yet we are the same. So determined we are right.

“The Traitors are no more too. We will have soon destroyed what we rebelled against. We should now call ourselves Sachakans.”

“We are not the same,” Tyvara told her. “The Ashaki are no more.”

Savara looked back at Lorkin. “What do you think? Are we the same?”

Lorkin shook his head. “No. Yes, you are determined, but that is no bad thing in itself. Only a stronger determination to end their power would overcome their determination to hold onto it.”

Savara eyebrows rose. “An interesting observation from a Kyralian and former Guild magician.”

He shrugged, then managed a smile. “But don’t tell me you’ve succeeded where the Guild failed until you’ve successfully held onto power here for a few decades – and have done so without being as ruthless as the Ashaki.”

A faint smile thinned her lips, then she straightened and looked around the circle of Traitors. “The battle is over,” she called out. “The hard work now begins. You know what to do.”

Lorkin saw wry expressions and weary resignation as the circle of Traitors broke apart. The Speakers started forward and Savara walked over to meet them. The rest of the Traitors gathered into teams. Listening to a group nearby, Lorkin heard the leader asking how many stones were left. As they counted, she asked for a volunteer to take messages to the former slaves, telling them it was safe to return to the city.

He felt something poke him in the ribs and turned to see Tyvara nodding toward Savara. The queen and the Speakers were moving away. He fell into step beside her as she followed them. Savara will need guarding for some time yet, he realised. Then he shook his head. Somehow I’ve wound up as a royal bodyguard. I never would have predicted that.

“There are many, many dead slaves in the palace,” Speaker Shaiya was saying. “I can’t estimate how long it will take to remove the bodies. Even if we could clear them tonight, we won’t know it’s completely safe until we search all rooms.”

“And the free servants?”

Shaiya shook her head. “Most resisted us. The rest fled.”

“They were raised to be loyal,” Savara said. “And, unlike slaves, they had something to lose. We were never going to win them over.” She sighed. “We need a safe base from which to organise. Somewhere central. What about one of these houses?”

Shaiya looked around. “I’ll send teams in to investigate.”

Chapter 29 A New and Frightening Freedom

Despite the way that the crew rushed around, nothing seemed to happen quickly on a ship, Lilia reflected. But as the vessel drifted toward the docks she looked at Anyi and decided she didn’t mind. Rothen had ordered that food and water be brought, and while Anyi was still very tired she had regained some colour and could sit up.

Anyi’s expression was distant and pained, which made Lilia’s heart ache with sympathy, but then her friend shook her head and her face hardened with determination. She has more self-control that I’d ever have, in her situation, Lilia thought. Suddenly I can see Cery in her. He’d had the same habit of looking distracted, then snapping into focus, she realised. She just hadn’t understood why.

He probably grieved for the loss of his family when alone, or with Gol. Lilia frowned. Losing him is going to catch up with Anyi eventually. I will be there for her when it does, even if I have to sneak out of the Guild.

They watched in silence as the last manoeuvres were made to bring the ship dockside. Rothen stood beside the captain, talking quietly. The two magicians he had recruited at the docks stood guard over the crew taken from Skellin’s ship. Seeing them following his orders unquestioningly, though they clearly had no idea of the reasons for them, had amazed her. Magicians weren’t usually so cooperative, at least not from what she’d seen. But then she saw the respect in their faces and remembered that Rothen was not just a Higher Magician, but had been Black Magician Sonea’s guardian and teacher, and had no small part in fighting the Ichani Invasion.

It’s easy to forget that, with Rothen. He doesn’t push people around or look down on them. He’s approachable. I bet he doesn’t think he’s all that important.

Rothen turned to look at her, then walked over. He smiled at Anyi. “How are you feeling? Ready to go?”

Anyi nodded but, as she stood up, she looked down at herself and grimaced.

“Dizzy?” Rothen asked, reaching out to steady her.

Anyi shook her head. “No. I’m fine.”

He nodded, then beckoned and headed towards the long plank the crew had strung between the ship and dock. Anyi took a few unsteady steps.

“Are you sure you’re all right?” Lilia asked in a low voice.

“I look a mess. I feel a mess. And I don’t think this coat is ever going to be the same.”

Lilia shuddered. Anyi’s clothes were stiff and stained with her blood. She hooked her arm through her friend’s. “I’ll buy you another one.”

“Maybe it’ll be a good thing, me looking like this. Might make the Higher Magicians feel guilty they didn’t catch Skellin sooner.” She sighed. “At least you’re clean.”

Lilia looked down at her robes. Rothen had brought them, so she wouldn’t have to return to the Guild wearing the tattered disguise. Assuming I did return. It could have all gone very badly. She still couldn’t believe her trick had worked. Looking over at Skellin’s body, which was covered by an old piece of sacking, she shuddered. I killed a person. With black magic. But she didn’t want to think about that now.

They caught up with Rothen at the railing. “Will the Higher Magicians want to see us straightaway, Lord