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Sonea sensed anguish from the magician. Another long silence followed.

— Lorlen?

He seemed to collect himself again.

— Ah, I am sorry, Sonea. He has been my friend since we were both novices. So many years ... and I had to find this!

When he spoke again there was a cold determination behind his sending.

— We must remove him, but not now. He is too powerful. If we confront him and he fights us, he could easily win—and each killing he made would make him stronger. With his secret revealed and no reason to hide his crime, he could kill indiscriminately. The entire city would be in danger.

Shocked by what he was describing, Sonea shivered.

— Do not fear, Sonea, Lorlen soothed. I will not allow that to happen. We can’t confront him until we know we can defeat him. Until then, we must not let anybody know about this. We must prepare in secret. That means you must never speak of this to anybody. Do you understand?

— Yes. But... must you let him remain the Guild’s leader?

— Unfortunately, yes. When I know we are strong enough, I will gather all the magicians together. I will have to move quickly, without warning. Until then, only you and I can know of this.

— I understand.

— I know you want to return to the slums, Sonea, and I would not be surprised if this discovery has increased your determination to leave, but I must ask you to stay. We will need all the help we can get when the time comes. Also, I fear that, though I do not like to think it, you may be an attractive victim for him. He knows you have strong powers. You would be a potent source of magic. With your powers blocked, and living out of the sight of those who would recognize the death brought by black magic, you would be the perfect victim. Please, for your sake and ours, stay here with us.

— You want me to live here, right under his nose?

— Yes. You will be safer here.

— If you couldn’t find me without the Thieves’ help, how would he?

— Akkarin has finer senses than the rest of us. He was first to know when you started using your powers. I fear he would find you easily.

She sensed that he truly feared for her safety. How could she argue with the Administrator of the Guild? If he believed she would be in danger, then she probably was.

She had no choice. She had to stay. To her surprise, she felt no anger or disappointment, only relief. Cery had told her that she should not consider herself a traitor by becoming a magician. She would learn to use her magic, master the skills of Healing, and, perhaps, one day, she would take what she knew and help the people she had left.

And it would be satisfying to thwart those magicians who, like Fergun, believed that dwells should not join the Guild.

— Yes, she sent. I will stay.

— Thank you, Sonea. Then there is one other we must trust with our secret. As your guardian, Rothen may have reason to go into your mind again, particularly when the time comes to teach you Healing. He may see what you have shown me today. You must tell Rothen about Akkarin, and of all that I have said to you today. I know he can be trusted to remain silent.

— I will.

— Good. Now I am going to release you and confirm Fergun’s crime. Try not to show any fear of Akkarin. If it helps, don’t look at him at all—and keep your thoughts buried deep.

Feeling his hands lift from her temples, she opened her eyes. Lorlen regarded her solemnly, his eyes bright, then his expression smoothed and he turned to face the Higher Magicians.

“She speaks the truth,” he said.

A shocked silence followed Lorlen’s words, then the room began to buzz with exclamations and questions. Lorlen lifted a hand and the room fell silent again.

“Lord Fergun imprisoned this young man,” Lorlen gestured toward Cery, “after he had told me he was going to escort him to the gates. He locked him in a room underneath the Guild, then told Sonea that he would kill her friend if she did not lie at this Hearing to confirm his story. Having won his claim, he intended to force her to break one of our rules, so that she would be publicly expelled.”

“Why?” Lady Vinara hissed.

“From what Sonea understands,” Lorlen answered, “to dissuade us from offering a place in the Guild to other commoners.”

“She wanted to leave anyway.”

All eyes turned toward Fergun. He stared defiantly at the Higher Magicians.

“I’ll admit I got a little carried away,” he said, “but I only wanted to save the Guild from itself. You would have us welcome thieves and beggars into the Guild, without asking whether we, or the Houses, or even the King we serve, wishes it. It may seem a small thing to let a beggar girl into the Guild, but what will it lead to?” His voice rose. “Will we let more of them in? Will we become a Guild of Thieves?”

A murmur followed and, looking at the magicians on either side, Sonea saw several heads shaking.

Fergun looked at her and smiled. “She wanted to have her powers blocked so that she could return home. Ask Lord Rothen. He will not deny it. Ask Administrator Lorlen. I asked her to do nothing that she did not already want.”

Sonea clenched her fists. “Nothing I did not already want?” she spat. “I did not want to make the Novice’s Vow and then break it. I did not want to lie. You imprisoned my friend. You threatened to kill him. You are ...” she stopped, suddenly aware that all eyes were watching her. Taking a deep breath, she faced the Higher Magicians. “When I first came here it took a long time before I saw that you were not ...” she paused, not liking the image she saw of herself, standing in the Guildhall calling the magicians names. Instead she turned to point at Fergun. “But he is everything I had been taught to believe all magicians are.”

Silence followed her words. Lorlen regarded her solemnly, then slowly nodded. He turned to face Fergun.

“You have committed numerous crimes, Lord Fergun,” he said. “Some of them of the most serious nature. I need not ask you to explain yourself; you have done so quite well enough already. A Hearing to discuss your actions and decide your punishment will be held in three days. In the meantime, I suggest that you cooperate with our investigations.”

He strode past Osen and climbed the stairs between the Higher Magicians. The High Lord watched him, a half smile curling his lips. Sonea shivered as she imagined the conflicting emotions that Lorlen must feel under that gaze.

“The issue we have gathered to discuss is now irrelevant,” Lorlen announced. “I hereby grant guardianship of Sonea to Lord Rothen, and declare this Hearing ended.”

The hall filled with voices and the thunder of booted feet as the magicians rose from their seats. Sonea closed her eyes and sighed. It’s over!

Then she remembered Akkarin. No, it isn’t, she reminded herself. But, for now, that is not for me to worry about.

“You should have told me, Sonea.”

Opening her eyes, she found Rothen standing in front of her, Cery at his side. She looked down.

“I’m sorry.”

To her surprise Rothen gave her a quick hug. “Don’t apologize,” he told her. “You had a friend to protect.” He turned to regard Cery. “I apologize on behalf of the Guild for your treatment.”

Cery smiled and waved a hand dismissively. “Get me my stuff back, and I’ll forget about it.”

Rothen frowned. “What are you missing?”