“Care to assist me in my next assignment?” she asked Regin.
His eyebrows rose and he almost managed a smile. “Always.”
She hooked an arm around Forlie’s. “Let’s go find your family.”
Lorkin was not completely sure how long had passed since he’d been put in the room. It had no window, so he had no sunlight to track the time of day. He’d shifted from travelling at night and sleeping during the day when with Tyvara to the opposite when travelling with Chari, so he couldn’t judge what time it was by when he grew sleepy. Nor could he judge it by hunger, as he’d been eating whenever opportunity came rather than at regular times.
The meals that were brought to him seemed to follow a pattern, so he was counting the days that way. A simple meal of grainy sweet mush and fruit was followed a few hours later by a larger meal with meat and vegetables. Then after another interval a light meal of flat bread and a cup of warmed milk was served. It was basic food, but wonderful after the scavenged fare he’d had for the weeks he’d been travelling with Tyvara.
He’d been told he had to stay there until Tyvara’s trial. Two and a half days had passed so far, he guessed. He’d kept himself entertained by reading his notebook, and writing observations about everything he had learned about the Traitors so far. He also listed questions he would seek the answer to, when he was free to do so. Each time food was brought, Lorkin glimpsed the Traitor keeping guard on his door. Always a woman, but not always the same woman. Were there no male magicians? Or none willing to guard him? Or did they not trust a man to guard another man?
He’d spent a lot of time sleeping, too. Though he’d been able to Heal away soreness and weariness, it was always better to let the body regain its energy and health through natural means.
Light came from a gemstone set into the ceiling. He’d got a closer look at it by standing on the bed. It was too bright to stare at for long. He’d reached up to it, finding it didn’t give off any heat. The surface was faceted, like stones in jewellery.
Had it naturally formed the shape, or had a human carved it? Would it go on glowing forever, or eventually fade?
Unanswered questions were gradually stacking up in his mind and his notebook.
He wondered how he was supposed to find out about Sanctuary’s laws, as Riaya had suggested. Was he meant to ask for someone to teach him? What would happen if he knocked to get the guard’s attention, then asked for a teacher?
He thought about that for some time. Before he could gather the determination to try it, he heard voices outside. He sat up and turned to face the door as it opened.
A woman he’d never seen before looked him up and down.
“Lord Lorkin,” she said. “You’re to come with me.”
The atmosphere in the city was different now, he noted. More people were about, and many looked as if they were standing around waiting for something. When they noticed him they stared at him with curiosity, but the expectation in the air was clearly for something else.
The trial of Tyvara? he wondered. Well, why else would they come and get me?
His assumption was proved correct when they arrived at the same room in which he’d met the Table of Speakers. The same seven women were seated at the curved table, but this time the gem-encrusted chair was occupied. An old woman sat there, watching him thoughtfully.
The rest of the room was filled with people. The stepped seating was full and many more men and women stood around the walls. Opposite to the entrance was a smaller door that he hadn’t noticed last time. Within it stood Tyvara and two other women. There was a feeling about the room that this meeting had already been going for some time. He wished he could tell how well it was going.
“You don’t bow to Queen Zarala,” his guide murmured into his ear. “You put a hand to your chest and look at her until she nods at you. Now, go stand in front of the Table and answer their questions.”
He did as she instructed. The queen smiled and nodded as he made the hand-over-heart gesture. Her attention shifted to Riaya.
“Lord Lorkin, former assistant to Guild Ambassador to Sachaka, Dannyl,” the Director said, her voice filling the room. “You came to Sanctuary in order to speak in Tyvara’s defence at this trial. That time has come. Tell us how you came to meet Tyvara.”
“She was a slave at the Guild House.”
“Where you would have met Riva as well.”
“I didn’t meet Riva until the night she died.”
Riaya nodded. “How did Riva come to be in your room that night?”
Lorkin bit his lip. “She slipped in while I was asleep.”
“And what did she do?”
“Woke me up.” He pushed aside reluctance at having to describe how. “By getting into my bed and… er… being a lot nicer to me than was required.”
A faint smile touched Riaya’s lips. “So you were not in the habit of bedding slaves, then?”
“No.”
“But you didn’t send her away.”
“No.”
“What happened then?”
“The room lit up. I saw that Tyvara had stabbed Riva.”
“And then?”
“Tyvara explained how Riva had intended to kill me.” He felt his face warm. “With a kind of magic I’d never heard of before. She said if I stayed at the Guild House, others would attempt to assassinate me.”
“You believed her?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“The other slave – Riva – said something.” He thought back. “She said: ‘he has to die’. It was obvious that she was referring to me.”
Riaya’s eyebrows rose. She looked at the six women and the queen, then turned back to Lorkin.
“What happened then?”
“We left and went to an estate – to the slave quarters. The slaves there were helpful. But at the estate we went to next, the slaves had set a trap for us. They tried to drug us. After that we didn’t trust anyone – until we met Chari.”
Riaya nodded, then turned to the Table.
“Any questions for Lord Lorkin?”
The first woman nodded. Lorkin recalled their names from the last meeting. Yvali, I think. She fixed Lorkin with a direct stare.
“Did you ever bed Tyvara?”
“No.”
A murmur went through the audience. It sounded like a protest, Lorkin noted. Yvali opened her mouth to ask another question, then thought better of it. She looked at the others.
“Did Tyvara kill anybody else while you were travelling together?” Lanna asked.
“Not as far as I know.”
“Why did you not head for Kyralia?” Shaiya asked.
“Tyvara said that it was the obvious thing to do, so we’d find assassins waiting for us.”
“What did you give Ambassador Dannyl after you persuaded him to stop following us?” Savara asked.
Lorkin looked at her in surprise, but not at the sudden change of subject. If she had seen this, why hadn’t she asked him before now? Her expression was impossible to read. He decided it would be best to tell the truth.
“My mother’s blood ring. I knew it was likely it would be taken from me when I got here, and I don’t think she would have liked it falling into unfamiliar hands.”
A low murmur filled the room, but quickly subsided.
“Did you use it at any time after Tyvara killed Riva?”
“No. Tyvara didn’t know I had it… I think.” He resisted glancing in her direction.
“Do you have any other blood rings?”
“No.”
Savara nodded to indicate she had no more questions.
“Will you consent to a mind-read to confirm the truth of your words?” Kalia asked.
The room fell utterly silent.
“No,” Lorkin replied.
Muttered words and exhalations followed. He met Kalia’s gaze and held it. How stupid does she think I am? If I let anyone read my mind they’ll go looking for the secret to Healing, and then I can forget about ever leaving this place.
No more questions came. Riaya exchanged glances with all of the women at the table, then looked at Lorkin.