For a moment she considered getting out a jar of honey and asking the assassin a few questions of her own, but this was clearly not the time or place.
"So, my lord," she said, turning to Ildirin, "you want me to petrify this man, and see whether that's enough to protect him from Fendel's Assassin. And you said you had other concerns?"
"Yes. I want his would-be killers found and apprehended. I want to know why they think it's acceptable to murder people here in Ethshar. I'm sure you have magic capable of that."
"I'm sure I do. What I am not sure of is why you expect me to use it in your behalf. You know the Guild does not meddle in politics."
"I know the Guild only meddles in politics when it suits you to do so," Ildirin retorted. "I remember well how the Guild meddled in my brother's handling of the Council of Warlocks some twenty-odd years ago. I came to you, rather than going to the Wizards' Quarter, in part because you were closer, and in part because I know you are an exceptionally powerful wizard and could almost certainly do everything I ask, but most of all, because this is political, and I suspect you have the authority to act where lesser wizards would not, and can meddle without worrying about being punished by your superiors in the Guild."
"If you think I have no superiors, you're sadly mistaken," Ithinia retorted. "However, I am indeed granted considerable discretion. Explain to me, then, why it is in the Guild's interest to keep this Vondishman alive."
"As a start, to maintain the overlord's goodwill," Ildirin said. "Remember that this assassin was sent by a wizard, so one of your Guild members is already meddling in politics, presumably for pay. You would merely be countering that meddling. We are not asking you to guard the ambassador from mere human assassins, but only from one provided by one of your fellow magicians."
"You could buy a protective spell in the Wizards' Quarter. You wouldn't need to tell anyone why."
"And is there a protective spell that works against Fendel's Assassin?"
Ithinia smiled wryly. "I prefer not to answer that; the Guild sometimes finds Fendel's Assassin useful."
"Well, then! There's your benefit to the Guild – do you think we couldn't coax an answer out of another wizard if we offered enough money?"
Ithinia's smile broadened. "I remember now why I like you, my lord. Very well, I'll petrify your friend, for an appropriate fee, and when the assassin is gone I will restore him to life. Anything beyond that will wait; I'll have time to think while I perform the spell, and you'll have time to marshal your arguments."
"Thank you, Guildmaster," Ildirin said, nodding in lieu of a bow.
"You are welcome to wait here," she said. "I assume you all know better than to go anywhere in a wizard's home uninvited, but this room and the entry hall will be safe enough. If you prefer to leave my home, feel free, but be certain you have returned no more than two and a half hours from now – if the Vondishman is not here, the spell will be wasted. I'll make sure the door allows you back in."
"Thank you, Guildmaster," Ildirin repeated.
Ithinia nodded in reply, then turned and swept out of the parlor.
She paused just out of sight, though, rather than proceeding directly to her workshop, and listened.
She did not really know whether the assassin was in fact present, or for that matter, whether anyone had actually sent it after the Vondishman at all. Lord Ildirin was not above attempting some sort of complicated deception, and of course the others might have somehow fooled Ildirin. She would want to check a few things before working Fendel's Superior Petrifaction.
She wished she had more servants around – not human ones, but magical – so that she could set them to spy on her guests, but at present the only ones she maintained were her four gargoyles. Little Kirna came in to help during the day, but she had gone home to her aunt well before these men showed up, and an eleven-year-old human girl might not make an ideal spy in any case.
So Ithinia stood in the hallway, listening.
"My lord?" she heard Emmis ask. "May I send one of the guards to buy honey?"
"You would prefer sending my guard to making the purchase yourself?" Ildirin's voice replied.
"I think that I should stay near Lar, my lord. We don't want to confuse or anger the creature, and it has business with both of us now."
"That's reasonable," the Vondishman said. "And who would trouble us here, in a wizard's home?"
"Good points all around," Ildirin agreed. "Very well, then, you may go ask one of the guards to buy honey."
"I could go," said a deep voice Ithinia had not heard before. She assumed it was the guardsman; she would not expect the assassin to sound so human.
"I want you here," Ildirin said. "Emmis, send Zhol – he probably wants to replace the candies he gave us, in any case. If he questions your authority, send him to me."
"Yes, my lord." Ithinia heard the rustle of Emmis rising from his chair, and started retreating down the hallway; it would not do to be seen eavesdropping. She stepped through the workshop door, then turned for a final glance.
Emmis had emerged from the parlor, but he had not gone directly to the front door; instead he was peering down the hallway, obviously looking for her.
That was interesting. Ithinia opened the workshop door and stepped back into the hallway. She beckoned to the young man.
Emmis glanced over his shoulder into the parlor, then hurried down the hall toward the wizard.
"Guildmaster," he whispered.
"Yes?"
"There's something I'd really like to talk to you about. In private."
"Oh? And this is more urgent than saving your friend from Fendel's Assassin, or keeping your own oath to the killer?"
Emmis glanced nervously toward the parlor. "Maybe not," he admitted. "Could we talk later, then?"
Intrigued, Ithinia nodded. "I think that can be arranged," she said. "But right now, you have honey to buy, and I have a spell to perform."
"Thank you, Guildmaster." Emmis bowed deeply, then turned and hurried toward the door.
Ithinia watched him go, and realized that she had no idea who the young man was, or why Lord Ildirin had brought him along. He was clearly involved in all this somehow, as his vow to provide the assassin with honey demonstrated, but just what was his role here? Was he working for Lord Ildirin? Had he been one of the would-be assassins who had changed sides?
Well, she had promised to speak with him later, and her questions could wait until then. Right now she had Fendel's Superior Petrifaction to prepare, and that was a very enjoyable spell, with plenty of energy involved, but no nasty smells or especially ugly manifestations. Like any high-order spell it was dangerous – old Berakon had snapped off a couple of his own fingers when he fouled the Petrifaction up, many years ago – but it would be fun, all the same. What was life without a little risk?
And she really wasn't sure whether it would work to deter the assassin, or not. She would want to use a very hard stone, just in case the assassin tried to wring the Vondishman's stone neck; the usual recipe might only produce sandstone, which would not be safe. Granite would be good, or perhaps basalt…
She closed the workshop door behind her.
Chapter Twenty
Emmis glanced uneasily out the parlor window. How long did it take to buy a jar of honey? Zhol had been gone for hours, surely. Even Lar and Lord Ildirin had apparently run out of things to say; in fact, Lord Ildirin appeared to have dozed off in his chair, though Emmis would not put it past the old scoundrel to be faking.
Lar, of course, was still wide awake, with Ahan keeping a close watch to make sure he stayed that way.