She shrugged and returned to the bedroom. “I will have a bath, then.”
Turning away, Cery found Gol grinning.
“Get that look off your face,” Cery warned.
“Yes, Ceryni,” the man replied humbly, but the grin remained as he preceded Cery into the passage.
Cery’s office was a short distance away. There were several ways of getting in and out of it. Gol chose the standard route, giving Cery a moment to observe the visitor in the waiting room through a spy hole.
The man was Sachakan, Cery saw with dismay. Then he recognized the coat and his heart skipped.
Why was this man wearing the coat Akkarin had worn the night before?
As the man turned, the coat parted to reveal a Guild servants’ uniform.
“I think I know who this is,” Cery breathed. He moved to the door of his office. “Send him in as soon as I sit down.”
A few minutes later, Cery was seated at his desk. The door to his office opened and the man entered.
“So,” Cery said, “you say you got bad news about a friend of mine.”
“Yes,” the man replied. “I am Takan, servant to the High Lord. He has been arrested for the murder of a Guild magician. He has sent me to assist you.”
“Assist me? How?”
“I can communicate with him by mind,” Takan explained, touching his forehead.
“You’re a magician?”
Takan shook his head. “We have a link, made by him long ago.”
Cery nodded. “Then tell me something only he and I know.”
Takan’s gaze shifted to the distance. “The last time you met, he said he would not bring Sonea with him again.”
“That’s right.”
“He regrets that he could not hold to that.”
“So does Sonea, I’d guess. What’s she been arrested for?”
Takan sighed. “Learning about black magic. They found books in her room.”
“This black magic is...?”
“Forbidden,” Takan said. “She faces expulsion from the Guild.”
“And the High Lord?”
Takan looked genuinely distressed. “He has been charged with murder and using black magic. If they find him guilty of either, the punishment is execution.”
Cery nodded slowly. “When will the Guild decide?”
“They will hold a Hearing tomorrow to examine the evidence and judge whether he is guilty or not.”
“Is he?”
Takan looked up, and his eyes flashed with anger. “He did not murder Lord Jolen.”
“What of this charge of black magic?”
The servant nodded. “Yes, he is guilty of that. If he had not used it, he would not have been able to defeat the murderers.”
“And Sonea. Is she guilty?”
Takan nodded again. “The Guild has only charged her with learning about black magic. That is why she faces a lesser punishment. If they knew the truth, she would face the same charges as Akkarin.”
“She used black magic to kill the woman, didn’t she?”
Takan looked surprised. “Yes. How did you know that?”
“A lucky guess. Should I go to this Hearing as a witness?”
The man paused, and his gaze shifted to the distance. “No. He says thank you for the offer. You should not reveal your involvement. If all goes well, he may need your help in the future. For now, he has only one favor to ask.”
“Yes?”
“That you ensure the Guard find the body of the murderess. And make sure she is wearing her knife.”
Cery smiled. “I can do that.”
Looking out of his office window, Lorlen saw that Akkarin was still in the same position as before. He shook his head.
Somehow Akkarin still managed to look dignified and self-assured, even when he was sitting on the Arena floor, with his back against one of the supports, and with twenty magicians standing around the Arena, watching him.
Turning away, Lorlen surveyed his office. Balkan paced in the middle. Lorlen had never seen the Warrior this agitated. He had heard Balkan mutter something about betrayal earlier. That was understandable. Lorlen knew the Warrior had held Akkarin in high esteem.
Sarrin sat on one of the chairs, leafing through one of the books from Akkarin’s chest. They had decided one of them must be allowed to read them, even though doing so was a crime. Sarrin’s expression was a mixture of horror and fascination. Occasionally he would mutter quietly to himself.
Vinara stood quietly by the shelves. Earlier, she had called Akkarin a monster. Balkan had reminded her that they could not be sure Akkarin had done anything more than read about black magic. She hadn’t been convinced.
When it came to the subject of Sonea, however, she looked distressed and uncertain.
Lorlen looked down at the objects on his desk: shards of broken glass, a partly melted silver fork, and a dish coated with dried blood. The others were still puzzled about the items. The little globe of glass they had found on the table had confirmed Lorlen’s guess. Had Akkarin been creating another ring like Lorlen’s, or had he been teaching Sonea how to make them?
Like Sonea, Akkarin had refused to answer any questions. He was determined to wait until the entire Guild had assembled for the Hearing before he explained himself. So much for cooperation.
That’s unfair, Lorlen thought. He considered the ring in his pocket. Akkarin had told Lorlen to take it off and keep it at hand. If Sarrin continued reading the books, he would learn about such rings and recognize what Lorlen was wearing. Lorlen had considered discarding the ring altogether, but he could see advantages in keeping this link with Akkarin. His former friend still seemed inclined to confide in him. The only disadvantage was that Akkarin could eavesdrop on conversations when Lorlen was wearing it, but that was less of a problem now. Lorlen could stop Akkarin listening by simply taking off the ring.
Akkarin wanted to keep Lorlen’s prior knowledge of his interest in black magic a secret.
— The Guild needs a leader they trust, Akkarin had sent. Too much change and uncertainty will weaken it.
Rothen and Sonea were the only other people who knew. Sonea had remained silent, and Rothen had agreed to keep Lorlen’s involvement to himself so long as it brought no further harm. In return, Lorlen had allowed the magician to visit Sonea.
At a polite knock on the door, all looked up. Lorlen willed the door open and Captain Barran stepped inside, Lord Osen following. The guard bowed and addressed them formally, then turned to face Lorlen.
“I have visited the shop the witness works at,” he said. “Her employers say she did not appear this morning. We checked her home address, and her family told us she did not return home last night.”
The Heads of Disciplines exchanged glances.
“Thank you, Captain,” Lorlen said. “Is there anything else?”
The young man shook his head. “No. I will return tomorrow morning, as you requested, unless further information comes my way.”
“Thank you. You may go.”
As the door closed, Vinara sighed. “No doubt the guard will find her body in the next few days. He was certainly busy last night.”
Balkan shook his head. “But it doesn’t make sense. How did he know about her? If he’d detected her watching, he would have ensured she didn’t reach the Guard House.”
Sarrin shrugged. “Unless he was unable to catch up with her. Then, when she left the Guard House, he made sure she’d be unable to give any more evidence against him.”
Balkan sighed. “It’s not behavior I would expect of a black magician. If he cared about hiding evidence, why be so careless earlier in the night? Why not disguise himself? Why—”
He stopped at another knock on the door. Lorlen sighed and willed it open. To his surprise, Dannyl stepped inside the office. Dark shadows lay under the Ambassador’s eyes.
“Administrator,” Dannyl said. “Might I have a word with you? In private?”
Lorlen frowned in annoyance. “Is this about the rogue, Ambassador?”
“Partly.” Dannyl glanced at the others and appeared to choose his words carefully. “But not solely. I would not come to you if I did not feel I had urgent matters to discuss.”