Sonea winced. “Oh.”
“From the reports I’ve heard, he’s on his way back to Imardin and has asked for rooms in the Guild. He has given his house in Elyne to one daughter, and his Imardin family home to the other.”
“That is one angry man.”
“Indeed.”
Sonea felt a small, somewhat inappropriate and slightly treacherous spark of hope. Also a man needing something to occupy himself – like a hunt for a rogue. She hooked her arm around Rothen’s and tugged him back toward the University corridor.
“Are there a lot of married people having troubles at the moment, or does it just appear that way to me?”
“Who else is having troubles in their marriage?” he asked.
She shrugged. “Just … people. As for magicians moving back home, there’s something I wanted to talk to you about. Something that we should be able to achieve without causing offence if we work together.”
CHAPTER 28
A WELCOME RETURN
To Lilia’s relief, she was being held in a room within the University rather than the airless Dome. It gave her a small measure of hope that the Guild might be more forgiving of her more recent crimes, and that her intention to return to her prison after finding Naki had convinced them that she didn’t need to be given a harsher penalty.
What weakened that hope was the fact she had been told nothing since the Hearing. Servants had brought her food and tended to her needs, but would not speak even when Lilia questioned them. The magicians guarding her door told her to be quiet if she knocked to get their attention.
She had little choice but to think about what Naki had done. Though her heart still ached, it was for a person who hadn’t really existed.
How could she kill her own father? I suppose he wasn’t her real father. He was just the man who married her mother. She told me he didn’t believe her when she said her uncle would have abused her. Was that even true? Maybe it was. I don’t know if he deserved her hate. I guess I’ll never know.
The hurt at being set up and betrayed by Naki was countered by anger. She was tired of being manipulated by people. First Naki, then Lorandra. At least Cery and Anyi had been honest about what they wanted of her. As far as she knew.
I’m not going to be used and deceived by anyone again. People have to prove they are trustworthy before I’ll trust them. At least being locked away means I’ll encounter fewer people to worry about on that score.
Footsteps and voices outside the door drew her attention away from her thoughts. The door opened and Black Magician Sonea entered. Lilia felt her heart soar with hope, only to crash down again as she saw the woman’s expression. She rose and bowed hastily.
“Lilia,” Sonea said. “It seems I must apologise on behalf of the Guild for keeping you ignorant of the events of the last day. The trouble is, we haven’t yet decided what to do with you.”
Lilia looked away. It could not be a good sign if they were struggling to decide. As far as she could see, their choices were to execute or imprison her, and since her powers couldn’t be blocked, the latter would involve keeping two magicians occupied as guards. Permanently.
“I can assure you that nobody is suggesting you face the penalty of death,” Sonea said.
Relief spread through Lilia like the warmth of a heated room after a walk in the winter cold. A gasp escaped her, then she blushed at the unintended show of emotion.
“What we can’t agree on is what to do with you. Some want you back in the Lookout. Others want you back in the Guild.”
Surprised, Lilia looked up.
Sonea smiled wryly. “Under tight restrictions, of course.”
“Of course,” Lilia echoed.
“I am of the latter opinion. Which is why I have arranged for you to stay in my rooms until the decision is made.”
Lilia stared at Sonea in disbelief. She couldn’t decide if this was a good or bad thing. It would be more comfortable and less isolated than this room, and it indicated that the Guild might be willing to trust her not to attempt another escape. But she’d be staying with Sonea. A black magician.
Which is what I am, too, she reminded herself.
Even so, all novices found the two black magicians a little scary. She suspected that more than a few graduated magicians did as well. Sonea had used black magic. She’d killed with it.
Only in defence of Kyralia. Not like Naki has.
Sonea made a small beckoning gesture. “Come on. Let’s get you settled in.”
Not trusting herself to speak, Lilia nodded and followed the black-robed woman out of the room. The two guards eyed Sonea nervously, which did not make Lilia feel any better. She followed obediently through the passages and corridors of the University, out and across the courtyard, and into the Magicians’ Quarters.
In the wide corridor within, they passed two Alchemists. The man and woman nodded to Sonea politely, but their eyes slid to Lilia. She expected disapproval or suspicion. Instead they looked grim and sympathetic.
Only when she reached the top of the stairs did she work out why.
“Naki,” she found herself saying.
Sonea glanced at her. “I have news of her, as well. Come inside first.”
At once a deep dread filled Lilia. The news isn’t going to be good, she thought. I shouldn’t care what’s happened to Naki, after what she did to me. But she knew that she would.
They paused before a door, which swung inward. Sonea gestured for Lilia to enter first. Stepping through, Lilia took in the simple but luxurious surrounds and realised that someone was standing in front of the guest room chairs. As she recognised who it was, her heart leapt.
“Anyi!”
The young woman smiled, stepped forward and gave Lilia a quick hug. “Lilia,” she said. “I had to see how you were doing.” She looked at Sonea. “Have you told her yet?”
Sonea shook her head. “I was about to.” She met Lilia’s gaze, her expression serious and sympathetic. “You were right: the king did not grant Naki a pardon. She was executed late last night.”
Though Lilia had expected it, the news sent a shock through her. She sat down in the closest chair. For a while all she could do was breathe.
Gone. Naki is gone. She was so young. As they say, she was full of potential. Maybe it’s a good thing that her potential wasn’t realised, though. Who knows how many more people she would have killed?
A hand touched her back. She realised that Anyi was sitting beside her. The young woman smiled, but her eyes were full of concern.
“I’ll be all right,” Lilia told her.
“I’ll leave you two to catch up,” Sonea said. She opened the door and slipped out of the room.
Lilia gaped at the door.
“What’s wrong?” Anyi asked.
“She left me here alone.”
“Alone? I’m here.”
Lilia shook her head. “Sorry. I meant unguarded. By magicians.” She narrowed her eyes at Anyi. “Unless there’s something you’re not telling me.”
Anyi laughed. “There’s always something I’m not telling someone. That’s a part of my job. But no, I’m not a magician. Not a shred of magic in me. I got myself tested once, when I was a child. I thought if I could get into the Guild it would be a great way to spite Cery.”
“Spite Cery? Why would getting into the Guild do that?”