Trudi Canavan - The Magicians' Guild

Curling up in a chair, Sonea yawned and considered the day so far.

In the morning, Administrator Lorlen had visited to ask her about her decision, and to explain, over again, about guardianship and the Hearing. She had felt a pang of guilt as he expressed genuine pleasure that she was staying—a feeling she grew familiar with as the day continued.

Other visitors had come: Dannyl, then the stern and intimidating Head of Healers, and an old couple who were friends of Rothen’s. Each time someone had knocked at the door she had tensed, expecting Fergun, but the Warrior had not appeared.

Guessing that he would not visit until she was alone, she was almost relieved when Rothen left after dinner, saying he would be absent until late and that she should not wait up for him.

“I’ll stay and chat with you, if you like,” Tania offered.

Sonea smiled in gratitude. “Thank you, Tania, but I think I’d like to be alone tonight.”

The servant nodded. “I understand.” She turned back to the table, then paused as a knock came from the door. “Shall I answer that, Lady?”

Sonea nodded. Taking a deep breath, she watched as the servant opened the door a crack.

“Is the Lady Sonea present?”

Hearing the voice, Sonea felt her stomach sink with dread.

“Yes, Lord Fergun,” Tania replied. She glanced anxiously at Sonea. “I will ask if she wishes to see you.”

“Let him in, Tania.” Though her heart had begun to race, Sonea managed to speak calmly.

As the servant stepped away from the door, the red-robed magician moved into the room. Inclining his head to Sonea, he placed a hand on his chest.

“I am Fergun. I believe Lord Rothen has told you about me?”

His eyes shifted to Tania, then back again. Sonea nodded.

“Yes,” she said. “He has. Will you sit down?”

“Thank you,” he said, bending gracefully into a chair.

— Send the woman away.

Swallowing, Sonea looked up at Tania. “Is there anything more you need to do, Tania?”

The servant glanced at the table, then shook her head. “No, Lady. I will return later for the dishes.” She bowed, then slipped out of the room.

As the door closed behind her, Fergun’s friendly expression vanished. “I was only told this morning that Rothen has announced you ready. It took you some time to tell him.”

“I had to wait for the right moment,” she replied. “Or it would have seemed strange.”

Fergun stared at her, then waved a hand dismissively. “It is done. Now, just to make sure you understand my instructions, I want you to repeat them to me.”

He nodded as she recited what he had told her to do.

“Good. Do you have any questions?”

“Yes,” she told him. “How do I know if you really have Cery? All I’ve seen is a dagger.”

He smiled. “You’ll just have to trust me.”

“Trust you?” She snorted loudly and forced herself to stare into his eyes. “I want to see him. If I don’t, I might have to ask Administrator Lorlen if blackmail is a crime in the Guild.”

His lip curled into a sneer. “You’re in no position to make such threats.”

“Aren’t I?” Rising, she strolled to the high table and poured herself a glass of water. Her hands shook and she was glad she had her back to him. “I know all about this kind of blackmail. I’ve lived with the Thieves, remember? You need to make it clear that you can carry out your threat. All I’ve seen is a dagger. Why should I believe you have its owner?”

She turned to meet his gaze and was gratified to see his stare falter. He clenched his fists, then slowly nodded.

“Very well,” he said, rising. “I will take you to him.”

She felt a thrill of triumph, but it quickly faded. He wouldn’t have agreed if he didn’t have Cery locked away. She also knew that, when someone’s life was being traded for something, the hardest part was stopping the kidnapper from killing their captive as soon they had what they wanted.

Moving to the door, Fergun opened it and waited for her to step through. As she entered the corridor, two magicians stopped and stared at her in alarm, then relaxed as Fergun joined her.

“Has Rothen told you about the buildings of the Guild?” Fergun asked brightly as they started toward the stairs.

“Yes,” she replied.

“They were constructed about four hundred years ago,” he said, ignoring her. “The Guild had grown too large ...”

The end of the week at last! Dannyl thought jubilantly as he stepped out of the classroom. The possibility that Sonea would be joining the Guild hadn’t occurred to several of the novices. They had been discussing it all day, and he had been forced to keep two back as punishment when they had become too much of a distraction for the others.

Sighing, he placed books, paper and writing box under his arm, and started down the University corridor. As he reached the staircase he froze, unable to believe what he saw in the hall below him.

Fergun and Sonea had just stepped into the University. The Warrior looked around the hall, then checked the stairs opposite Dannyl. Taking a step backward out of sight, Dannyl listened as the pairs’ footsteps moved under him, fading as they started down the ground-floor corridor.

Keeping his steps as quiet as possible, Dannyl descended the stairs. He moved across the hall to the lower corridor entrance and peered around the corner. Fergun and Sonea were several paces away, walking quickly. As he watched, they turned into a side passage.

Heart beating faster now, Dannyl made his way down the corridor. He slowed as he reached the side passage, realizing it was the same one that he had observed Fergun hurrying down a few days ago. He risked a quick glance.

The passage was empty. Starting down it, he listened carefully. The faintest sound of Fergun’s voice drew him to a door that led to the inner passages of the University. Slipping through, Dannyl followed the voice along a few more passages until, abruptly, it ceased.

The silence sent his skin prickling. Had Fergun realized he was being followed? Was he waiting for his pursuer to catch up?

Reaching a bend in the corridor, Dannyl mouthed a curse. Without Fergun’s voice, he had no idea if he was about to stumble upon the magician. Taking a cautious look around the corner, he sighed in relief. It was empty.

He started forward, then slowed as he found himself facing a dead end. It wasn’t technically a dead end, as none existed in the University. One of the doors would lead to a side passage that would meet the main corridor. Yet if Fergun had gone that way, Dannyl would have heard a door close. Fergun hadn’t been trying to be quiet.

But he might have if he had detected someone following him.

Taking the handle of the door leading to the side passage, Dannyl turned it. The hinge creaked dramatically as the door opened, as if it wanted to reassure Dannyl that he would have heard Fergun opening it. Moving through, Dannyl found the side passage empty.

Exploring further, he saw that the main corridor was also empty. Puzzled, Dannyl retraced his steps and tried other doors, but found no sign of Sonea or Fergun.

Shaking his head, he made his way back out of the University, his head buzzing with questions. Why had Fergun taken Sonea out of Rothen’s rooms? Why had he led her into the deserted inner passages of the University? How could they have disappeared?

— Rothen?

— Dannyl.

— Where are you?

— In the Night Room.

Dannyl scowled. So Fergun had waited until Rothen was absent before approaching Sonea. Typical.— Stay there. I’m coming to meet you.

Pulling the blanket closer around his shoulders, Cery listened to the chattering of his teeth. The temperature of the room had dropped slowly over several days and was now cold enough to freeze the moisture on the walls. Somewhere above, winter was tightening its grip on the city.