He stared back at her, fighting the urge to grin.
“Some already have. I didn’t—”
“That’s different,” she said, waving a hand dismissively. “This is … they won’t be doing it because they like you. More the opposite.” She looked at him closely, her expression serious. “Will you heed my warning?”
“Of course,” he said, smiling and hoping it looked like one of gratitude rather than glee. She’s jealous. She wants me all for herself.
“You’re taking it the wrong way,” she told him, her eyes narrowing. “There truly is a risk. What they could be planning can be dangerous. It can kill.”
At that he felt his smug jubilation melt away and his stomach plummeted as he suddenly understood what she was alluding to: Lover’s Death.
“They’re planning to assassinate me?”
She shook her head. “No. That is against the law. But if you accidentally died, particularly in that way …” She let the sentence hang, merely spreading her hands in a helpless gesture. “The punishment is a lot milder.”
He nodded and met her gaze, now able to keep his face straight with no effort. “I will not bed any Traitors until you say I can.”
She rolled her eyes and stepped away toward the door. “It’s only the magicians you have to be wary of, Lorkin. What you do with the rest is not my business. Though it would be appreciated if you did what’s necessary to prevent siring a whole lot of children, because we already have a lot of mouths to feed.” She looked back at him. “I have to go now.”
“And I must get back to the Care Room, too.” He sighed. “Not for love of Kalia’s company, but I suspect this chill fever is going to get much worse.”
She nodded, her eyes warm with approval, but then her expression became sad. “It happens every year. Always kills a few. Usually the old, young, or those who are already weakened by sickness. You had better be ready for that.”
He nodded to show he understood. “Thanks for the warning.” He smiled. “Both of them.”
She smiled in return. Together they headed for the door and the warmth of the stairs beyond. She told him to go first, so that they wouldn’t be seen re-entering the city together. He glanced back once to see her staring far beyond the walls surrounding her, looking both worried and determined. He felt his heart lift again. She had come to see him, defying orders to avoid him. He hoped her defiance wouldn’t be noticed, and that she would search him out again.
“So when is Lord Dorrien setting out for home?” Jonna asked as she gave the wine glasses a last rub with her polishing cloth.
“Tomorrow morning,” Sonea replied. She looked up at her aunt and servant, and caught a strange look on the older woman’s face. “What?”
Jonna shook her head, set the wineglass down and scanned Sonea’s guest room. She moved to the low table where the evening’s meal would be served and began polishing the cutlery. Again. “Nothing important. Just thinking about ways things could have been.”
Sonea sighed and crossed her arms. “Are you still lamenting that I didn’t marry Dorrien?”
Jonna spread her hands in protest. “He is a very nice man.”
Oh, no. Not this again. “He is,” Sonea agreed. “But if I had married him I’d have moved to the country and you’d have never seen me.”
“Nonsense,” Jonna replied, her eyes flashing with triumph. “The Guild would never have let you out of their sight.”
“Which would have forced Dorrien to stay here, and that would have been a cruel thing to do to him. He doesn’t like the city.”
Jonna shrugged. “He might change his mind when he gets old.”
“That’s a long—”
A knock at the door interrupted Sonea. She abandoned the old argument with relief and sent a little magic to the door latch. It clicked open and the door swung inward to reveal Regin standing outside.
“Black Magician Sonea,” he said. “May I speak with you privately?”
“Lord Regin!” Sonea said, perhaps a little too enthusiastically. “Come in!”
He stepped into the guest room and glanced at Jonna as the woman slipped into Sonea’s bedroom to give them privacy. Then the items on the table caught his eye.
“You’re expecting guests,” he observed. “I had best not linger.” He straightened and met her gaze. “I’m here to tell you that a family matter has arisen that is going to take up much of my time and attention, and since I will not be able to reliably offer you my help in hunting and – more import antly – capturing the Thief Skellin then I feel you will be better served by another assistant.”
Sonea stared at him in dismay. “Oh,” she said. “That’s …” She felt briefly disorientated. What was she going to do without Regin to help her catch Skellin? I thought our search couldn’t be going any worse. She shook her head. I can’t believe this, but I’m going to sorely regret losing Regin’s help. “That’s a great shame,” she said. “I’ve appreciated your help and wish you were able to continue assisting me. But your family should have first claim on your attention,” she added quickly.
His smile was rather grimace-like. He almost seemed to wince. “They always do.”
“I hope this matter resolves itself quickly and painlessly.”
“I dou— …” Regin’s voice faded to silence as another knock came from the door. He glanced at it, then turned back to her and inclined his head. “It was a pleasure working with you, Black Magician Sonea. I had best be leaving you to your guests.”
Sonea opened the door again. In the corridor outside, Rothen and Dorrien waited. They saw Regin and curiosity sparked in their gazes as they nodded to him politely.
“Lord Regin,” they murmured.
“Lord Rothen, Lord Dorrien. I am just leaving. Enjoy your meal.” As they stepped back, Regin moved past them. Sonea heard his footsteps in the corridor as he walked away, then her guests came inside and closed the door.
“Any news?” Rothen asked.
Sonea shook her head. “Not of the kind we want. On the contrary, Regin can’t help us any more. A family matter, he says.”
“Oh.” Rothen frowned in dismay.
“That’s what I said. Though in a more formal and verbose manner that included my gratitude and regret, of course.”
“Of course.” Rothen chuckled, but his frown quickly returned. “What will we do without him?”
Dorrien looked from his father to Sonea. “You needed his help that badly?”
“Not so much for the searching,” Rothen replied. “Cery is in a better position to do that. For the actual capture of Skellin.”
Sonea waved them to their seats. Jonna reappeared from the bedroom and raised an eyebrow at Sonea. At Sonea’s nod she left to get the meal that was being prepared for them.
“So it doesn’t have to be Regin. Could I take his place?” Dorrien asked, looking from Rothen to Sonea.
Sonea frowned. “You have to get back to your village.”
“Yes, but I could make arrangements and return.” He smiled at her. “There’s a Healer living in another village about half a day’s ride away. We have an agreement that we’ll look after the other’s patients whenever we go to the city.”
“But this could take a lot longer than a few weeks,” Sonea warned.
“You should not leave Alina and the girls for too long either,” Rothen agreed. He turned to Sonea. “I can help when the time comes.”
“No—” Sonea began.