Trudi Canavan - The Novice

Numo’s eyes widened slightly in surprise. He bowed stiffly, then strode away.

Jano grinned. “He like you. Magicians not try be polite our way.”

Dannyl nodded. That didn’t surprise him. As four sailors appeared with Dannyl’s chests, Jano gestured for Dannyl to follow, then they walked across the plank down to the walkway. Dannyl stopped after a few steps, disconcerted by the way the wall seemed to sway and rock under his feet. He stepped aside so that the crewmen carrying the chests could pass. Jano looked back and, noticing Dannyl’s puzzled expression, laughed.

“You must get your legs used to land again,” he called. “Not take long.”

With a hand to the wall, Dannyl followed the sailors along the walkway and up the stairs. At the top he found himself beside a wide, busy road running along the edge of the wharf. The sailors set down the chests, then perched themselves on the wall, apparently pleased to be doing nothing but watching the traffic.

“We had good journey,” Jano said. “Good wind. No storm.”

“No sea leeches,” Dannyl added.

Jano laughed and shook his head. “No eyoma. They swim in north seas.” He paused. “You good man to practice speaking this language with. Learn many new words.”

“I’ve learned a few Vindo words, too,” Dannyl replied. “Not many I could speak in the Elyne court, but they will come in handy if I should ever visit a Vindo drinking house.”

The little man grinned. “If you come to Vin, you welcome to stay with Jano’s family.”

Dannyl turned to regard the man, surprised. “Thank you,” he said.

Pointing to the traffic, Jano narrowed his eyes. “Your people coming, I think.”

Following his gesture, Dannyl searched for a black carriage with Guild symbols painted on the sides, but saw none. Jano took a step toward the stairs.

“I will go now. Sail well, my lord.”

Dannyl turned to smile at the man. “Sail well, Jano.”

The sailor grinned, then hurried down the stairs. Turning back to the street, Dannyl frowned as a carriage of polished red wood stopped in front of him, blocking his view. Then realization dawned as a sailor from the ship leapt down from the driver’s seat and began helping the other crewmen load the chests onto a shelf at the back of the vehicle.

The carriage door opened and a richly dressed man climbed out. For a moment Dannyl was taken aback. He had seen Elyne courtiers before, and had been relieved that he would not have to adopt the ridiculous finery that was fashionable in the Elyne court. Yet he had to admit that the elaborate, close-fitting garb suited this handsome young man. With such a face as that, Dannyl mused, this one must be a favorite among the ladies.

The man took a hesitant step forward. “Ambassador Dannyl?”

“Yes.”

“I am Tayend of Tremmelin.” The man bent into a graceful bow.

“I’m honored to meet you,” Dannyl replied.

“I am most honored to meet you, Ambassador Dannyl,” Tayend replied. “You must be tired after your journey. I will take you directly to your house.”

“Thank you.” Dannyl wondered why this man had been sent in place of servants, and looked at Tayend closely. “Are you from the Guild House?”

“No,” Tayend smiled. “I am from the Great Library. It was arranged by your Administrator that I meet you here.”

“I see.”

Tayend gestured to the door of the carriage. “After you, my lord.”

Climbing aboard, Dannyl breathed a little sigh of appreciation for the luxurious interior. After so many days living in a tiny cabin, with little privacy or comforts, he was looking forward to a bath and something more sophisticated than soup and bread.

Tayend settled on the opposite seat, then knocked on the roof to signal the driver. As the carriage pulled away from the wharf, Tayend’s gaze slid to Dannyl’s robes, then flitted away. He looked out of the window, swallowed audibly, then rubbed his hands on his trousers.

Suppressing a smile at the man’s nervousness, Dannyl considered all he had learned of the Elyne court. He hadn’t heard of Tayend of Tremmelin, though he had read of others from the family.

“What is your position in court, Tayend?”

The young man made a dismissive gesture. “Only a minor one. I avoid it, mostly, and it avoids me.” He glanced at Dannyl, then smiled self-consciously. “I am a scholar. The Great Library is where I spend most of my time.”

“The Great Library,” Dannyl repeated. “I have always wanted to see it.”

Tayend’s face lit with a wide smile. “It is a marvellous place. I will take you there tomorrow, if you wish. I’ve found that magicians appreciate books in a way that most courtiers never do. Your High Lord spent many weeks there once—long before he became High Lord, of course.”

Dannyl looked at the young man, his pulse quickening. “Did he really? What could have interested him so much?”

“All sorts of things,” Tayend replied, his eyes bright. “I was his assistant for some days. Irand—the head librarian—couldn’t keep me out of the library when I was a boy, so he employed me to fetch and carry. Lord Akkarin read all the oldest books. He was looking for something, but I never found out exactly what it was. It was such a mystery. One day he didn’t arrive at his usual time, or the next day, so we asked after him. He had packed up and left all of a sudden.”

“How interesting,” Dannyl mused. “I wonder if he had found what he was looking for.”

Tayend glanced out of the window. “Ah! We’re almost at your house. Would you like me to collect you tomorrow—oh, you’ll want to go to court first, won’t you?”

Dannyl smiled. “I will take you up on your offer, Tayend, but I cannot say when. Shall I send a message when I know?”

“Of course.” As the carriage rolled to a halt, Tayend unlatched the door and pushed it open. “Just send a note to the Great Library—or just come. I’m always there during the day.”

“Very well,” Dannyl said. “Thank you for collecting me from the wharf, Tayend of Tremmelin.”

“It was an honor, my lord,” the young man replied.

Dannyl climbed out of the carriage and found himself standing in front of a wide, three-story house. Columns, bridged by arches, supported a deep verandah. The space between the middle columns was wider than the rest, and the verandah there curved upward to form an arch reminiscent of the University entrance. Beyond was a replica of the University doors.

Four servants had removed the chests from the carriage. Another stepped forward and bowed.

“Ambassador Dannyl. Welcome to the Guild House of Capia. Please follow me.”

From behind, Dannyl heard a cultured voice repeat the title in a whisper. He resisted turning to look at Tayend; instead he smiled to himself and followed the servant into the house. The young scholar was obviously more than a little awed by magicians.

Then he sobered. Tayend had met and assisted Akkarin ten years before. Lorlen had arranged for the scholar to meet him. Coincidence? He doubted it. Lorlen obviously intended for Dannyl to enlist Tayend’s help for his research into ancient magic.

In the little garden the scent of flowers was almost unbearably sweet. A tiny fountain pattered somewhere in the background, hidden by the night shadows. Lorlen brushed away the petals that had fallen onto his robes.

The couple sitting on the opposite bench were distant relations and members of the same House as Lorlen. He had grown up with their eldest son, Walin, before entering the Guild. Though Walin lived in Elyne now, Lorlen liked to visit his old friend’s parents now and then, especially when Derril’s garden was at its best.

“Barran is doing well,” Velia said, her eyes shining in the torchlight. “He’s sure he’ll be promoted to captain next year.”