Dannyl looked away, but not to avoid showing any guilt, he realised. To avoid glaring at Tayend in anger. He resisted the urge to glance back at the captain, or around at the slaves to see if any had heard, and created a barrier around them to contain sound.
“Nothing happened.”
Tayend sniffed in disgust. “No?” he said. Dannyl met his gaze. Tayend’s eyes narrowed, then he smiled thinly. “Oh, good. I managed to stop some part of your foolishness, then.”
“You were keeping us apart!” Dannyl accused. “I thought you might be jealous, but this is—”
“This has nothing to do with jealousy,” Tayend hissed. “He’s a Sachakan. An Ashaki. A black magician.”
“You think I haven’t noticed this?”
“Yes,” Tayend replied, his expression serious. “Because otherwise I’d have to consider that you’re either going senile, are blind with love or are turning traitor. Out of those I have no proof of the first two, which leaves me in an awkward position as an Ambassador.”
“I’m not turning into a traitor,” Dannyl replied. “Last time I looked, having a foreign lover was not an act of treachery, otherwise I’d never have bedded you.”
Tayend crossed his arms. “This is different. Our lands are allies. Sachaka is …”
Dannyl raised his eyebrows when Tayend didn’t finish the sentence. “The enemy? It will always be our enemy, if we never stop treating it as one.”
“It will never be our ally so long as Sachakans like Achati keep slaves and use black magic.” Tayend’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t tell me your position is softening on that, as well.”
Dannyl shook his head. “Of course not.”
“Good. Because I’m watching you, Ambassador Dannyl. The moment you turn into a Sachakan, I’ll know.” Tayend turned away and moved back to the hatch, forcing Dannyl to quickly drop his sound-blocking shield. “Now I’m going to get some proper sleep.”
As the hatch closed, Dannyl turned away to stare at the sea again.
Turn into a Sachakan. How ridiculous.
But as so often happened with Tayend, he felt a little seed of doubt take root. What if he was? Was Achati the cause? Or was it simply that he was growing too used to the Sachakan way of doing things?
If that’s so, then there’s nothing to worry about. Everything will return to normal once we get back to the Guild House.
CHAPTER 29
THE DECISION
Most novices never get to see this room, Lilia thought as she followed Black Magician Sonea into Administrator Osen’s office. I’ve seen it more times than I’d ever want to.
The Administrator was sitting behind his desk and Black Magician Kallen was reclining in one of the guest chairs, but they both stood up as she and Sonea arrived. A third magician, hidden behind the back of the chair he was sitting in, got to his feet. To her surprise, it was University Director Jerrik.
“Lilia,” Osen said as he stepped around his desk and came forward to meet her. “How are you feeling?”
She blinked at him, feeling another twinge of surprise at such a conversational question.
“I’m well, Administrator Osen,” she answered. Tired of waiting to find out if I’m going to be locked up again, she added silently.
“Good,” he said. “As you know, we have been discussing what to do with you. I am happy to tell you that we have come to a decision, and it has been approved by the king.” He smiled. “You may rejoin the Guild and complete your training.”
She stared at him in disbelief, then felt a smile spring to her lips. “Thank you.”
His expression became serious. “It is not offered without some conditions, however. You will be required to make the Novices’ Vow again.”
Lilia nodded to show she was willing to do so.
“You will not be allowed to leave the Guild grounds unless given permission by myself, High Lord Balkan, Black Magician Kallen or Black Magician Sonea,” Osen continued. “You will not be allowed to use black magic unless, sometime in the future, the king approves you taking on the position of Black Magician. To identify you as one who knows black magic, your robes will feature a black band on the sleeves.”
Nodding again, Lilia hoped her disappointment didn’t show. Since meeting Anyi and hearing about the threat she and her father were facing from Skellin, Lilia had hoped to find a way to help her. If she was restricted to the Guild grounds, how could she do that?
“Because of the knowledge of black magic that you have, you will not be able to participate in lessons that require the linking of minds. In those situations, Black Magician Kallen or Black Magician Sonea will conduct the lesson.”
She tried not to blanch at the thought of more mental contact with either magician. But having my mind read was very different to the mind to mind lessons I had in the past. Still … I hope Sonea is the one who teaches me. Kallen is so stern and disapproving.
“Kallen has offered to take on your guardianship. We think your having a guardian will reassure people that we have you well in hand.” Osen’s tone was lighter as he said this. “Since we anticipate a protest from parents if you stay in the Novices’ Quarters, you will continue to stay in Black Magician Sonea’s rooms.”
Lilia suppressed a sigh of relief. For a moment she had been worried that she would have to stay with Kallen, but now that she considered it, she knew that it would be considered inappropriate for a young woman to stay in a single man’s rooms, no matter the difference in their ages.
“Do you accept these conditions?” Osen asked.
“I do,” she replied, nodding again.
“Then swear it.”
She paused, realising that he expected her to remember the Novices’ Vow. To her surprise the words came back to her easily.
“I swear that I will never harm another man or woman unless in defence of the Allied Lands,” she said. “I will obey the rules of the Guild. I will obey the order of any magician of the Guild, unless those orders involve breaking a law. I will never use magic unless instructed by a Guild magician.”
Osen smiled approvingly. He turned to nod at Director Jerrik. The man moved back to the chair he had been sitting in and picked something up. Returning, he held it out to Lilia.
It was a bundle of novice’s robes. Gratitude washed over her like a physical wave of warmth. To her embarrassment, she felt tears tickle the corners of her eyes.
“Thank you,” she croaked.
Osen placed a hand on her shoulder briefly. “Welcome back.”
The other magicians murmured the same words. Overcome, Lilia could not speak. She felt Sonea touch her arm.
“That’s it, I think.” She looked at the others, who nodded. “Let’s go back to your room so you can get changed.”
Silently grateful, Lilia let the woman guide her out of the room, and back into a life as a Guild magician. Though knowing black magic means I’ll always be more restricted than most magicians, she thought. That’s a lot better than being locked away. Or dead.
And maybe, somehow, she could still find a way to help Anyi.
As the carriage pulled up outside the hospice side entrance, Sonea pushed aside a nagging reluctance and climbed out. She smiled and nodded at the Healers and helpers who greeted her, answering questions and asking them what she had missed since she’d last been there.
Their friendliness warmed her, and she was grateful all over again that she hadn’t been given the task of executing Naki. She made her way to the treatment-room door, gathered her determination, and knocked.