Canavan Trudi - The Traitor Queen

— Are you sure you want us to stay put?

— Yes. As a figure of greater authority than Dannyl, and as a black magician, you are more likely to be seen as a threat by both sides. If it weren’t for Lorkin, we would have ordered you home.

— Ah. Well. I’m grateful that you didn’t.

— Those of us in favour of you remaining in Sachaka argued that, when the conflict is over, you may persuade Lorkin to return or at least ensure the Traitors uphold their side of the exchange.

— Let’s hope they don’t use up all their stones in the battle, then. I must go. Saral is waiting for my answer.

— Take care, Sonea.

— I will. Sonea slipped off the ring and pocketed it.

“We’re to stay here for now,” she told Saral.

The woman nodded, then led the way back down to the kitchen. Temi had arrived and was chatting to Regin. Seeing the two men together, their differences were more obvious. Regin was taller, Temi was leaner. But Temi was not much darker than Regin. The Traitor’s skin tone was lighter than the usual Sachakan, and Regin had gained a tan while travelling. It suits him. They fell silent as Sonea and Saral entered the room. When Temi offered to keep a watch for the first half of the night, Regin offered to keep him company.

“No,” Saral said. “I will take the first watch. Alone.”

Regin shrugged. “Then where should we sleep?”

“The second suite. If Tovira returns in the middle of the night, he’ll probably head straight for his bedroom.”

Regin nodded, then looked at Sonea and headed for the door. She followed, amused that he had taken the lead, when in most instances since the Traitors had joined them he had waited for her decisions.

The second suite had beds in three of the rooms. Sonea picked one at random and sat down on the bed. Looking around, she noticed smaller versions of Ashaki clothing hanging on a hook. A jewelled jacket overlapping plain trousers…

“What did Osen say?”

She looked up to see Regin standing in the doorway.

“How’d you know I contacted him?”

He shrugged. “An easy guess.”

“Saral said we must stay here until Savara summons us, then asked if that was okay. Osen said it was fine. They want to be sure we don’t interfere.”

“If Lorkin was in trouble, you would.”

She looked up to find him smiling knowingly. “Only to save him.”

“That’s still interference. Not that I wouldn’t understand.”

“Osen thinks that if Dannyl and I both wear his blood rings, I may get to witnesses the battle through Dannyl.”

Regin looked thoughtful. “That would be a good way around the Traitors’ restrictions.” He frowned. “If the Traitors are struggling, we’ll know because Saral will leave to help them. Will you follow her?”

Sonea looked away. “Maybe. Probably. But you should stay here.”

“I go wherever you go.”

She felt her heart skip. That would sound so romantic in less dangerous circumstances. “No. You’ll put yourself in danger for no reason.”

“You’ll be more of a target than me,” he told her. “Which reminds me…” He moved over to the bed and sat down. “You should take my power.”

Conscious of how close he was, Sonea turned to face him. “What if Tovira returns tonight? You won’t even be able to shield yourself.”

“I doubt I’d last long anyway.” He held out his hands.

She stared at them as reluctance welled up inside her. Too intimate, she thought. What if he senses something? It wasn’t likely when we were on the road. We only touched as long as was necessary. Others were watching.

“You really need to get over your fear of your black magic,” he told her.

“I’m not afraid,” she told him. Not entirely a lie. Not exactly the truth, either.

“If you take my power, I promise I won’t go with you into the city,” he offered.

She met his eyes. He looked back at her, his gaze level and his expression serious. She felt a flash of amusement.

“You won’t go into the city because I ordered you not to,” she told him.

He shrugged. “So we have an agreement?”

Sighing, she took his hands and tried to ignore how warm they were. Closing her eyes, she took the power that flowed from him and stored it away.

Dannyl stared up at the ceiling, blinked and then pushed himself up onto his elbows. What…? Something woke me. He frowned. Someone called my name? Or was I dreaming? He created a globe light and peered out of his bedroom door to the main room of his suite.

Was it Tayend? Or Merria? Has someone broken into the Guild House, as Achati and Kai warned?

— Dannyl.

He jumped at the mental call. Osen! He sighed in relief that the source of disturbance was in his mind, not the Guild House. Then relief melted away. Osen had called him openly, which any other magician could hear. He wouldn’t do that unless he had something important to tell or ask Dannyl. Getting up, Dannyl dug into the pockets of yesterday’s robes, found Osen’s ring and put it on.

— Osen. Sorry. I was asleep.

— Then I apologise for waking you. You hadn’t contacted me at our agreed time.

Dannyl paused. He wasn’t entirely sure what time it was. With no slaves to wake him, and no windows in the suite, it could be midnight or midday.

— What time is it?

— An hour before the first classes start here.

Since the sun always rose a little earlier in Sachaka, it was mid-morning. Was the battle over? Or had it not even begun yet? He was amazed that he’d been able to sleep at all. But then, he, Tayend and Merria had stayed up late, and drunk more than a little of the Guild House’s supply of wine to ease their anxiety over being stuck in a city at war, and the possibility of being killed out of vengeance or for their magical strength.

— I spoke to Sonea last night, Osen continued. She and Regin are staying in a house on the outskirts of the city. The Traitors have ordered them to stay there until summoned — which will most likely be when the battle is over.

To know that Sonea was close was reassuring, though Dannyl wasn’t sure why. Perhaps she could come to his rescue, if the House was attacked.

— Unfortunately this means she will not see how Lorkin fares, or know who is the victor. I have been considering the warning Achati and your former slave gave you, that the Guild House may be targeted. Is there anywhere else you can go?

— Somewhere we might witness the battle?

— If that can be arranged without compromising your safety and that of Merria and Tayend.

Dannyl considered. The ship Achati had arranged to wait for them would be a safe place to be, but one of the reasons for that was that the docks were far from where fighting was likely to take place — so not a good vantage point. Where would the battle most likely occur? The palace, eventually. And Achati’s mansion has a view of the parade leading to the palace. Perhaps if we climbed onto the roof…

— Can you get there safely? Osen asked.

Dannyl felt a chill at this reminder that his thoughts were open to the Administrator, thanks to the blood ring.

— Sorry. I am finding it hard to curb my impatience. Merin wants news and I was hoping you or Sonea would have contacted me by now, Osen sent.

Dannyl smiled in sympathy. For the Kyralian king to be putting pressure on the Administrator directly meant that he’d grown so anxious about the Sachakan situation he wasn’t content with High Lord Balkan’s reports.

— I suspect getting to Achati’s house will be the dangerous part, but we will see if it can be done, Dannyl sent back.

— Don’t take any unnecessary risks. Oh, and Sonea will be wearing one of my blood rings. We’re hoping she will also be able to see what you see.