Rothen frowned. “I see.”
Gesturing for Rothen to follow, Lorlen began walking toward the Arena, his strides slow and measured. “Fergun is determined,” he said quietly, “and has much support, but many would support you, too.”
Rothen nodded, then sighed. “It is not an easy decision. Would you prefer if I did not stir up the Guild by contesting his claim? It would cause you less trouble.”
“What would I prefer?” Lorlen chuckled and gave Rothen a direct look. “It would cause me no less trouble either way.” He smiled crookedly, then inclined his head. “Good day, Lord Rothen.”
“Good day,” Rothen replied. They had reached the edge of the stairs surrounding the Arena. The novices were paired now, practicing moves on each other. Rothen stopped and watched, bemused, as Lorlen descended toward the pair of magicians watching the lesson. Something in the way Lorlen had looked at him hinted that the Administrator had been suggesting something more.
The two watchers started as Lorlen appeared beside them.
“Greetings, Lord Kerrin, Lord Elben.”
“Administrator.” The pair inclined their heads, then quickly looked at the Arena again as one of the novices gave a yell of surprise.
“A fine teacher,” Lord Elben said enthusiastically, gesturing to the Arena. “We were just saying that Lord Fergun would make a worthy guardian for this slum girl. After a few months of his strict guidance, she’d be as refined and disciplined as the best of us.”
“Lord Fergun is a responsible man,” Lorlen replied. “I can offer no good reason why he should not guide the training of a novice.”
Yet he hasn’t shown any interest until now, Rothen thought. Turning away, he continued his stroll through the gardens.
Guardianship was not common. A few novices were favored each year, but only those who had demonstrated exceptional talent or power. No matter what strength or aptitude the slum girl proved to have, she would need help and support as she adjusted to living in the Guild. By becoming her guardian he could ensure that she would receive that help.
He doubted Fergun’s reasons for wanting her guardianship were the same. If Lord Elben’s words were an indication, Fergun intended to discipline the unruly vagrant girl into a meek and obedient novice. He would receive a certain amount of praise and admiration if he succeeded.
How Fergun was going to achieve that would be interesting, since her powers were probably particularly strong and his were weak. He would not be able to stop her if she took it into her mind to disobey him.
For that reason, and others, magicians were discouraged from taking on the guardianship of novices with stronger powers. Weak magicians rarely became guardians at all since, if they claimed a novice with powers less than their own, it only drew attention to their own shortcomings—and the novice’s lack of strength.
But the vagrant girl was different. Nobody would care if Fergun’s limitations handicapped her learning. As far as most were concerned, she was lucky to have any training at all.
And if he failed, who would blame Fergun? He could always use her origins as an excuse ... and if he neglected her training, nobody would question it...
Rothen shook his head. Now he was starting to think like Dannyl. Fergun was willing to help the girl, which was noble enough in itself. Unlike Rothen, who had been a guardian of two novices already, Fergun had a measure of glory to gain—and there was nothing wrong with that. Lorlen obviously didn’t think there was.
Or did he? What had Lorlen said? “It would cause me no less trouble either way.”
Rothen chuckled as Lorlen’s meaning finally came to him. If he was right, then Lorlen believed that letting Fergun win his claim would cause as much trouble as the fight over her guardianship—and that fight was sure to cause him no small amount of trouble.
Which meant that Lorlen had given Rothen a rare indication of his support.
As always, Sonea’s guards were silent as they guided her through the passages. Apart from the weeks she had spent in the first hideout, she had been almost constantly on the move since the Purge. The welcome difference now was that she felt no lurking fear of discovery as she travelled.
The lead guard stopped at a door and knocked. A familiar, dark face appeared in the doorway.
“Stay and guard the door,” Faren ordered. “Come in, Sonea.”
Stepping into the room, her heart leapt as she saw the smaller figure standing behind him.
“Cery!”
He grinned and gave her a quick hug. “How are you?”
“Well,” she told him. “You?”
“Happy to see you again.” He searched her face. “You look better.”
“Haven’t come face to face with a magician for, hmm, at least a few days,” she said, looking sidelong at Faren.
The Thief chuckled. “We do seem to have outwitted them.”
The room was small, but cozy. A generous fire burned within one wall. Faren directed them to chairs. “Any progress, Sonea?”
She winced. “No, nothing yet. I try over and over, but it never does what I want it to.” She frowned. “Though it nearly always does something now. Before it would take a few tries before anything happened.”
Faren leaned back and smiled. “There, that is progress. Have the books helped?”
She shook her head. “I don’t understand them.”
“Is the scribe not clear?”
“No, it’s not that. His reading is fine. It’s just, well, there are too many strange words, and some things make no sense.”
Faren nodded. “If you had more time to study them, perhaps you would find their meaning. I am still looking for more books.” Pursing his lips, he regarded them both speculatively. “I’m looking into some rumors. It’s been said for years that a certain Thief has cultivated a friendship with a man who knows something about magic. I’ve always thought it was an invention to ensure the rest of us stayed polite but I’m looking into it, regardless.”
“A magician?” Cery asked.
Faren shrugged. “I don’t know. I doubt it. Most likely he is nothing more than a man who performs tricks that appear to be magic. If he has any knowledge of real magic, however, he may be useful. I will tell you when I know more.” He smiled. “That is all the news I have, but I believe Cery has more.”
Cery nodded. “Harrin and Donia found your aunt and uncle.”
“They did!” Sonea moved to the edge of her seat. “Where are they? Are they well? Did they find a good place to stay? Did Harrin-?”
Cery waved his hands. “Hai! One question at a time!”
Grinning, Sonea leaned toward him eagerly. “Sorry. Tell me what you know.”
“Well,” he began, “it seems they didn’t get a room where they used to live, but found a better one a few streets away. Ranel’s been searching for you every day. They’d heard that the magicians were looking for a girl, but didn’t think it could be you.”
He chuckled. “Jonna said a few things when Harrin told her you’d joined them in the Purge, but then he said what you did. They didn’t believe it at first. He told them how we tried to hide you, and about the reward, and that you were being protected by the Thieves. Harrin says they weren’t as wild about it as he thought they’d be—not when he explained everything.”
“Did they give him any message for me?”
“They said to tell you to look after yourself, and be careful who you trust.”
“That last bit would be Jonna.” Sonea smiled wistfully. “It’s so good to hear they found a place—and they know I didn’t just run off on them.”