doesn’t?”
Achati paused to consider his answer. “I don’t know,” he replied, his apparent honesty and helplessness a mirror of Dannyl’s.
“The Allied Lands will view the reading of Lorkin’s mind as an act of aggression,” Dannyl warned.
“But hardly something to go to war over,” Achati replied. “Sachaka has prospered for centuries without trade with the lands
to the west, thanks to our links with lands over the eastern sea. Without training for all in higher magic, your magicians
are hardly a threat. We don’t need you. We don’t fear you. You were only ever an opportunity we wanted to explore.”
Dannyl nodded. “Thank you for your honesty, Ashaki Achati.”
Achati waved a hand dismissively. “I said nothing that wasn’t already obvious.” He sighed. “Personally, I hope we can resolve
this in a way that does not ruin our friendship. Now I must go.”
“I, too,” Dannyl replied.
The friendship between us, or our countries? Or both?
“Goodbye for now.”
The Ashaki nodded, then disappeared down the corridor leading to the Guild House entrance. Dannyl sat down againand considered the conversation. ‘
We don’t need you. We don’t fear you
.’ Why had anybody ever thought Sachaka would want to join the Allied Lands?
“How’d it go?”
Looking up, Dannyl saw that Tayend was hovering in the doorway. He sighed and beckoned. His former lover hurried across the
room and sat down, leaning forward with almost childlike eagerness. But Tayend’s gaze was sharp and his curiosity was as much
from his need as an ambassador to stay up to date on political matters as from a love of gossip.
He is genuinely concerned about Lorkin, too
, Dannyl reminded himself. A memory rose unexpectedly of Tayend playing with Sonea’s son as a small child, back when he and
Dannyl used to make social visits to the Guild more often. Tayend had had a knack of keeping children occupied and entertained.
He found himself wondering if Tayend had ever wished he had children of his own. Dannyl had never wanted them, though he …
“So?” Tayend urged.
Dannyl brought his attention back to the present and, taking care not to give away anything the Guild wanted concealed, began
to tell his fellow Ambassador what Achati had asked, and revealed.
CHAPTER 4
PREPARATIONS
A full day had passed since the news of Lorkin’s imprisonment. That alone had made sleeping difficult, but the sudden shift
to a daytime routine also did not help. After a restless night, Sonea felt muzzy-headed and had to draw a little magic to
soothe away a nagging weariness. But one benefit of her new routine, Sonea discovered, was that when she emerged from her
bedroom Lilia was still in the main room, eating a morning meal.
“Black Magician Sonea,” the girl said, clearly surprised to see Sonea.
“Good morning, Lilia,” Sonea replied. “How are you? Did Black Magician Kallen track you down yesterday?”
The girl nodded.
“Well. And yes.”
Sonea moved to the side table and began making herself a cup of raka. “How are your lessons going?”
Lilia winced, but then put on a cheerful expression. “Good. I think Black Magician Kallen wishes I was doing better, though.
I told him I wasn’t good at Warrior skills, but I don’t think he guessed how ‘not good’ a novice can be.”
Sonea chuckled sympathetically. “I wasn’t very good at them, either.”
The girl’s eyes widened. “You … but you …”
“Won a formal challenge and defeated invading Sachakans. It’s amazing what you can learn when you have to. Still, I did have
a wonderful teacher.”
“You won …?” Lilia blinked and straightened. “Which teacher was that?”
Taking her raka to the main table, Sonea sat down and helped herself to a sweet bun from a platter. “Lord Yikmo. He died in
the invasion.”
“Oh.” Lilia’s shoulders dropped. Then she looked up again. “A formal challenge?”
Sonea smiled. “A fellow novice who
Achati paused to consider his answer. “I don’t know,” he replied, his apparent honesty and helplessness a mirror of Dannyl’s.
“The Allied Lands will view the reading of Lorkin’s mind as an act of aggression,” Dannyl warned.
“But hardly something to go to war over,” Achati replied. “Sachaka has prospered for centuries without trade with the lands
to the west, thanks to our links with lands over the eastern sea. Without training for all in higher magic, your magicians
are hardly a threat. We don’t need you. We don’t fear you. You were only ever an opportunity we wanted to explore.”
Dannyl nodded. “Thank you for your honesty, Ashaki Achati.”
Achati waved a hand dismissively. “I said nothing that wasn’t already obvious.” He sighed. “Personally, I hope we can resolve
this in a way that does not ruin our friendship. Now I must go.”
“I, too,” Dannyl replied.
The friendship between us, or our countries? Or both?
“Goodbye for now.”
The Ashaki nodded, then disappeared down the corridor leading to the Guild House entrance. Dannyl sat down againand considered the conversation. ‘
We don’t need you. We don’t fear you
.’ Why had anybody ever thought Sachaka would want to join the Allied Lands?
“How’d it go?”
Looking up, Dannyl saw that Tayend was hovering in the doorway. He sighed and beckoned. His former lover hurried across the
room and sat down, leaning forward with almost childlike eagerness. But Tayend’s gaze was sharp and his curiosity was as much
from his need as an ambassador to stay up to date on political matters as from a love of gossip.
He is genuinely concerned about Lorkin, too
, Dannyl reminded himself. A memory rose unexpectedly of Tayend playing with Sonea’s son as a small child, back when he and
Dannyl used to make social visits to the Guild more often. Tayend had had a knack of keeping children occupied and entertained.
He found himself wondering if Tayend had ever wished he had children of his own. Dannyl had never wanted them, though he …
“So?” Tayend urged.
Dannyl brought his attention back to the present and, taking care not to give away anything the Guild wanted concealed, began
to tell his fellow Ambassador what Achati had asked, and revealed.
CHAPTER 4
PREPARATIONS
A full day had passed since the news of Lorkin’s imprisonment. That alone had made sleeping difficult, but the sudden shift
to a daytime routine also did not help. After a restless night, Sonea felt muzzy-headed and had to draw a little magic to
soothe away a nagging weariness. But one benefit of her new routine, Sonea discovered, was that when she emerged from her
bedroom Lilia was still in the main room, eating a morning meal.
“Black Magician Sonea,” the girl said, clearly surprised to see Sonea.
“Good morning, Lilia,” Sonea replied. “How are you? Did Black Magician Kallen track you down yesterday?”
The girl nodded.
“Well. And yes.”
Sonea moved to the side table and began making herself a cup of raka. “How are your lessons going?”
Lilia winced, but then put on a cheerful expression. “Good. I think Black Magician Kallen wishes I was doing better, though.
I told him I wasn’t good at Warrior skills, but I don’t think he guessed how ‘not good’ a novice can be.”
Sonea chuckled sympathetically. “I wasn’t very good at them, either.”
The girl’s eyes widened. “You … but you …”
“Won a formal challenge and defeated invading Sachakans. It’s amazing what you can learn when you have to. Still, I did have
a wonderful teacher.”
“You won …?” Lilia blinked and straightened. “Which teacher was that?”
Taking her raka to the main table, Sonea sat down and helped herself to a sweet bun from a platter. “Lord Yikmo. He died in
the invasion.”
“Oh.” Lilia’s shoulders dropped. Then she looked up again. “A formal challenge?”
Sonea smiled. “A fellow novice who
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