The carriage slowed to a halt at the base of the tower. Sonea climbed out and felt the chill air surround her. The guards standing around the tower were well rugged up. She resisted the habit of creating a shield about herself and heating the air within. The crisp air was refreshing and she had always loved to see her own breath mist. It had seemed magical to her as a child, even though it usually meant she was shivering with cold.
A memory flashed into her mind of being huddled in an old coat, her feet aching as the cold penetrated her thin-soled boots. Then the door of the Lookout opened and the memory faded. A guard was bowing and beckoning hastily at the same time, eager to avoid letting cold air into the building.
After the usual polite exchange with the captain and the magician on duty, Sonea followed another guard up the stairs. He opened the small hatch in the door of Lilia’s room.
“You have a visitor, Lady Lilia,” he called out. Closing the little hatch, he turned his attention to the lock. When the door was open, he stepped aside so that Sonea could enter.
Lilia was standing beside a chair, over by the window. Her eyes were wide and she stared at Sonea hopefully before seeming to recollect herself.
“Black Magician Sonea,” she said, bowing.
“Lilia,” Sonea replied. Looking around the room, Sonea noted that it was comfortably furnished and warm. Two books were sitting on a small table beside the chair. “I have some questions to ask you.”
The girl’s expression shifted from hope to disappointment and resignation. She nodded, then gestured to a small table and two wooden chairs. “Please sit.”
Sonea accepted the invitation, waiting until Lilia had taken the other seat before she met Lilia’s gaze.
“Naki hasn’t been seen for over a week.” Sonea saw alarm in Lilia’s face. “There was no sign of violence or note of explanation at her house. We have searched all the places the servants know Naki liked to visit. Is there anywhere you know of that she might have gone, that they wouldn’t know of?”
Lilia grimaced. “A few brazier houses.” She listed some names.
Sonea nodded. “The servants mentioned these, too. Anywhere else?”
Lilia shook her head.
“No other friends – perhaps ones she was no longer friendly with?”
“No. Though … there were rumours in the Guild that she’d been friendly with a servant girl but her father threw the family out.”
“Yes, we’ve contacted them and they haven’t seen her either. Were there any boys who pursued her, even though she had no interest in them?”
Lilia’s gaze dropped and her face reddened. “Not that I know of.”
“Did she … did she have any connections to criminals – perhaps roet sellers?”
“I … I don’t know. I guess she had to buy the roet from somebody. If she wasn’t stealing her father’s supply.” Lilia looked up. “Have you found out anything about his murderer yet?”
Sonea paused, a little annoyed at the change of subject. But she will be anxious to know, since her friend did blame her for it.
“No,” Sonea told her. “At least, if the magicians investigating it have learned anything, it hasn’t been important enough to report to the Higher Magicians.”
“So … you’re not investigating it yourself?”
Sonea smiled wryly. “I wish I could, but I have a rogue magician to find. It is Black Magician Kallen’s responsibility.”
“But you’re looking into where Naki is.”
“I offered to question you, since we have talked – communicated – a little already.”
Lilia nodded.
“According to the servants, Naki was receiving letters that upset her. She was receiving them for some time before Lord Leiden’s death until the day she was last seen at home. Do you know anything about these letters?”
Lilia shook her head, then sighed. “I’m not much use, am I?”
“What someone doesn’t know can be as useful as what they do know,” Sonea told her. “It is interesting, considering how Naki was willing to trust you to know about the book with black magic instructions in it, but never told you about the letters. It suggests a far greater secret.”
“What could be worse than black magic?” Lilia asked in a small voice.
“I don’t know.” Sonea rose. “But we intend to find out. Thanks for your help, Lilia. If you think of anything, get the guards to send someone to me.”
Lilia nodded. “I will.”
Conscious of the girl’s eyes on her, Sonea left the room. As the guard locked the door behind her, she considered the next door along. Lorandra. Is there any point in me visiting her again? I guess, since I’m here already …
What are you doing, Naki? Where are you? Did you go there deliberately, or did somebody take you?
Are you even alive?
Once again, Lilia’s stomach clenched. All day the questions had repeated in her mind. At first she had encouraged them, hoping that the answers would somehow rise to the surface and she could call out to Welor and send him off to find Sonea. With her help, Naki would be rescued – or else just simply located. Her friend might realise that she would never harm her. Or else the Guild would be grateful for Lilia’s help, and perhaps …
Let me out of here? I doubt that. Lilia sighed. That will only happen if I somehow forget how to use black magic.
Forcing herself to stop pacing, she sat down and picked up one of the books. Even though she had started to see why Welor liked it – the battle descriptions had obviously been written with relish – not even the most exciting tale could have held her attention for long. Not when the person she loved most in the world was missing. She put it down again.
A sound from the next room drew her eyes to the side door. She’d listened in as Sonea had talked to Lorandra. It had been an odd conversation, mostly one-sided since Lorandra wasn’t inclined to answer Sonea’s questions, and when she did speak she often changed the subject completely. Though both said nothing that could be considered impolite or threatening, the whole meeting gave Lilia an impression of antagonism. Lorandra did not want to cooperate. Lilia wasn’t surprised when Sonea gave up and left.
With nothing to listen in on, she wandered the room. A tap from the door made Lilia jump.
“Finished pacing now?” a muffled voice asked.
Lilia smiled wryly. If she had made a habit of listening to the other woman, then it was no surprise Lorandra was doing the same to her.
“For now,” she said, moving over to the door.
“You had some bad news?”
“Yes. My friend is missing.” Though Lilia had told Lorandra of Naki, she had only described them as close friends.
“Do you know where she is?”
“No.” Lorandra would have heard me say that … but I suppose she’d have to allow that I could have been lying to Sonea.
“I bet you wish you could go into the city and find her.”
“I do. Very much.” Lilia sighed. “But even if I wasn’t locked up here, I wouldn’t know where to look.”
“Do you think it’s more likely she’s been taken against her will, or gone into hiding?”
Lilia considered. “Why would she go into hiding? If she had learned black magic it would make sense, but Black Magician Sonea would have seen it in her mind. So it’s more likely she’s been taken against …” Lilia could not finish the sentence. She shuddered. And yet she felt a little bit better. This was, at least, an answer. Even if it wasn’t a good one.
“Who would want to do that?”
“I don’t know.”
“What does she have that others might want?”