“Who?” Kiri asked. “The Lornithrasa?”
“No, but in some ways, they’re almost as bad,” Declan said, not slowing his pace.
A short time later, the group approached the gates of the College. Declan looked at the two upper-Tier students who’d been honored as gate attendants and gestured them to move, saying, “You two, inside…now.”
Maybe it was something about Declan’s tone and demeanor that convinced the students to comply without hesitation, but either way, they threw the gates wide and led Declan and company into the College’s grounds.
Declan stopped at the gate with his fellows, almost pushing Gavin and Kiri inside. He turned to the four who had accompanied them, saying, “You should alert the others. I don’t know how this will unfold, but we should probably start preparing for a strike at the Guild. I’ll send word once he has decided the course we will take.”
The woman and three men each nodded once and pivoted to depart. Declan stepped inside the gates and closed them, slapping closed the latch.
By the time Gavin, Kiri, and Declan approached, a little crowd was forming on the steps of the Tower, Valera and a couple other magisters among the people.
“Gavin,” Valera said as the trio neared, “what’s going on?”
“He stopped a murder,” Declan said. “The killer was a Shadow.”
Valera let out the breath she had gathered to speak as a heavy sigh, saying, “Oh.”
Every head in the crowd swiveled to look at Gavin, and it was apparent they wanted to glare.
“Would someone mind explaining why saving that woman’s life was a bad thing?” Gavin asked.
Valera lifted her eyes to Gavin’s and asked, “Have you ever heard of the Compact of Dakkor?”
“A few of the books I’ve read mentioned it,” Gavin said, “but I’ve not read anything that says what it is.”
“I see,” Valera said. “Gavin, the Compact of Dakkor was negotiated between Kirloth and Dakkor, who was Master of the Guild of Shadows when the Army of Valthon was being formed. In exchange for the Guild’s membership in the Army of Valthon, no arcanist would ever assist in the capture, identification, or trial of any member of the Guild.”
Gavin looked at Declan. “I’m guessing the tattoo on his neck indicated he was a member of the Guild?”
Declan nodded.
“You were right back there, Declan,” Gavin said.
Declan frowned, asking, “Back where?”
“When you said ‘well, damn.’”
Declan snorted his amusement.
Valera sighed as she looked at her fellow magisters and said, “There’s nothing for it; we have to bring this before the Council…at least as many of them as are here.”
They each nodded.
Valera turned to Gavin and said, “Gavin, would you please wait for my summons in your suite? We will probably need to speak with you at some point.”
“House arrest, Valera?” Declan asked. “That is unlike you.”
Valera started to speak, but Gavin lifted a hand, forestalling whatever she was about to say. “It’s okay,” Gavin said. “I’ll be there.”
Gavin pushed his way through the crowd to enter the Tower, leading Kiri and Declan. Valera watched him go, trying to think of how she could help her friend’s former apprentice out of the situation he had created. She was not looking forward to the coming meeting at all, not that she ever did where the Council was concerned.
“Let’s go,” Valera said, leading her fellows into the Tower as well.
No longer having any specific events to watch, the crowd on the steps soon dispersed, though every ear on the grounds seemed cocked, waiting for word of what would happen.
Chapter 40
Kiri came out of their room rubbing the sleep from her eyes to find Gavin awake, dressed, and sitting at the table. He was eating a bowl of fruit for breakfast, and he offered Kiri a bowl of her own as she approached, which she accepted.
“Think they’ll summon you today?” Kiri asked.
Gavin shrugged. “I don’t know, but if they tarry too long, I may just take matters into my own hands and resolve the issue myself.”
Kiri placed the bowl on the table and put her fists on her hips and cocked her head to one side, asking, “Haven’t you done enough of that already?”
“No,” Gavin said after a slight chuckle. “Granted, I did indeed cause the situation, but there would never have been a situation to be caused if the Guild policed its people a little better. There is no reason they should’ve been conducting a sanctioned killing in broad daylight in a market polluted with people. Huh. Now that I think about it, that makes me wonder if the killing was sanctioned at all.”
“What do you think is going to happen?” Kiri asked.
“Honestly?” Gavin asked.
Kiri looked at him in silence for a few moments before she said, “Don’t tell me anything you’re not supposed to, Gavin, but I’m worried for you all the same.”
Gavin thought back to the scene in the market yesterday and smiled.
“The Guild does not understand the rules of killing wizards, Kiri,” he said at last. “You have no reason to worry for me. This situation will end one of two ways. First, the Society and the Guild work through the situation and keep the Compact in force. Second, the Compact is indeed no more, in which case I am free to employ my resources to see to it the Guild no longer poses a threat to the Society, and in that outcome, precious few of them will end up in prison.”
“You have those kinds of resources, Gavin?”
Gavin lifted his eyes to meet Kiri’s and nodded. “Yes, Kiri, I do.”
Kiri opened her mouth to speak, but whatever she was about to say was interrupted by a knock at the door.
“I’ll get it,” Gavin said as he stood.
Gavin heard the door to the washroom close behind him as he approached the suite’s door. He pulled it open to find Sera, Valera’s assistant.
“Good morning, Sera,” Gavin said. “How can I help you?”
“Begging your pardon, milord,” Sera said, “but the Magister of Divination asked me to convey that she requests your presence in her office as soon as possibly convenient.”
“Why, thank you, Sera,” Gavin said. “I need to tidy up just a quick moment. If you’d like to wait, I can walk with you down to the office.”
Sera nodded her acceptance, and Gavin stepped back, pushing the door wide and inviting her into the suite. He walked over to the washroom door and spoke in an elevated voice, “Kiri, Valera has asked me to speak with her in her office. I won’t be here when you get finished.”
“Okay, Gavin. Do you have anything you want done?”
“I can’t think of a thing, Kiri,” Gavin said. “You’re free to enjoy your morning as you wish.” Gavin turned back to Sera, lowering his voice back to normal. “Okay, then. I’ve tidied up; shall we go?”
“Ma’am,” Sera said as she knocked on the open door of Valera’s inner office, “I have Gavin Cross for you.”
Valera looked up from the papers she held and smiled. “Thank you, Sera. Please excuse us, and close the door. Gavin, please sit.”
“Of course, ma’am,” Sera said as she bowed out of the room.
Gavin eased himself into the chair on the left from Valera’s perspective, interlaced his fingers in his lap, and waited.
“Shortly after the dinner call last evening,” Valera said, “three Shadows arrived at the gate under a flag of truce. It was the Master of the Guild and two associates. The Council was still in session, so they were brought before us without delay.”
“Why wasn’t I notified?” Gavin asked.