The Traitor Queen (29 page)

“Search and bind her.”

Anyi’s jaw tightened as the men stripped off her coat and felt for weapons. Cery wrapped aching arms around his chest and
dragged in a breath to speak.

“You want me, not her,” he managed.

Skellin laughed. “I want all three of you. But you have to die in the right order. And …” Skellin looked up and around as
if he could see the magicians above them. “Not here.” He turned to face them, his eyes moving from Cery to Gol. His nose wrinkled
and he shook his head. “You’re not worth the
trouble.” His eyes narrowed and Cery heard a sickening crack. Gol cried out in agony and surprise, and fell to the floor.

No! I have to stop him killing Gol. Slow him down!
Cery tried to think past the fire in his chest. Find some way to delay Skellin a little longer. He opened his mouth to speak
but only ended up gasping out a breath. Another wave of blackness consumed him and he felt his knees go weak. He suspected
that only Skellin’s magic was holding him up.
What has he done to me?

“Wait a moment,” he heard Skellin say. “There’s something wrong with him.”

Cery felt a growing fear as he realised Skellin was right.
It’s not him. It’s me. My body … my heart
… Though his eyes were open, darkness still obscured his vision. A bitter triumph rose.
At least Skellin didn’t get the satisfaction of killing me. But … Anyi
…

The force holding Cery melted away and he felt himself land on the hard floor. Whatever Skellin said next, he said at such
a distance that Cery could not hear it. Then, after a stretch of silence, he felt cool hands on his face and he heard Gol
talking from far, far away.

“
Don’t worry. He won’t kill Anyi. He wants to make a trade. Lilia will get her back. If Anyi doesn’t kill him first. Those
two will always look after each other. You know it. Don’t worry. It’ll all be fine. Anyi will be fine. We’ll make sure of
it
.”

Lilia hurried down the passage, keeping a tiny globe light floating before her.

Should I extinguish it? The intruder might see the light and know I’m coming. But if I do that, I’ll have to feel my way in
the dark. It’ll slow me down. What’s more important? Speed or remaining undetected?

Her footsteps sounded loud in the narrow space. They would betray her approach anyway. She decided to keep the light burning.

Aside from her own footsteps, she heard no other sounds. The secret entrance to the passages that Anyi had cleared was on
the far side of the University, so Lilia had to make her way around the foundations of the building. Fortunately, the passages
were no labyrinth here. They were straight and turned at right angles until they led away from the University, under the gardens.
Lilia’s heart was pounding by the time she reached the first curved wall.

I don’t think I’ve been so scared in all my life
, she thought.
I think I’d even consider having a little roet right now, if someone offered it to me
.

The intruder might be someone harmless – a novice or servant venturing where they shouldn’t. Anyi might be wrong, and there
was no intruder at all. Or it could be Skellin’s people, come snooping or looking for Cery. In that case, she had to hope
that, if they’d found Cery, then he, Gol and Anyi had been able to hide until she got there.

But if it was Skellin or Lorandra. Or Skellin
and
Lorandra …

I have to hope, if both of them are here, that I’ve gained enough extra power from Kallen to fight them. And enough skill
.

She’d considered this many times before. It was unlikely Skellin or Lorandra had much training in fighting. Lorandra might
have learned something before she left her homeland, but she and Skellin would have had no training here. The most they could
have done was practise on each other.

She was not far from the rooms now. As she started down the last stretch of passage she slowed, staring into the darkness
ahead.

Should I whistle to warn them it’s me? It’ll warn Skellin if he’s already there. But if he is, wouldn’t I be able to see light
and hear voices?

She added more magic to her shield and crept forward. A faint noise reached her. A low, murmuring voice. The doorway was dark,
but as she drew closer she saw a faint, flickering light. Reaching it, she peered around the opening and saw a single candle
burning, braced between two rocks, and a hunched figure sitting on the floor. At the same time she heard a choking sound.

Something about that sound made her stomach sink.

The man’s head lifted and the shadows concealing his face retreated from her globe light. Gol’s cheeks glistened.

“Lilia,” he said.

She brightened the light and saw what he was sitting beside.

“Oh no.” She hurried forward and knelt on the floor. Cery’s face was pale, his eyes closed. She could see no sign of injury.
Placing her hand on his forehead, she sent her senses out – and immediately recoiled. “Oh no.”

“It’s too late, isn’t it?” Gol said, his voice tight.

She felt her heart twist, then looked around the room.
Where is Anyi?

“Yes. What happened?”

“I don’t know. Skellin did nothing to him. Was going to take him away. But … he just collapsed.”

Reluctantly she reached out and touched Cery’s body, forcing herself to examine him again. She had never used her Healing
skills on a dead person before. The lack of presence, the mental silence within, the lack of a natural barrier to repel the
will of another, all were shocking to her. But if Skellin had done this …

No
. The damage was clear, once she found it. Cery’s heart had failed.
Not that Skellin didn’t cause it indirectly, by forcing Cery to live here, constantly fearing for his safety. And Anyi’s
.

Anyi. She withdrew her senses, opened her eyes and looked at Gol. He had slumped forward, and was breathing quickly. His face
was contorted with pain, but she suddenly understood it was not just the pain of grief.

“What’s … are you hurt?” She reached out and grabbed his arm, then jumped as her senses opened to a flood of agony. It was
coming from somewhere lower. His legs. Letting go of his arm, she crawled over to him and grabbed his shoulders. “Lie down.”

He did as she told him, sucking in sharp breaths as he moved. Once he was lying flat, she moved her light over to his legs.

“Don’t,” he said. “Go. Find … her. Find … Anyi.”

She froze. From somewhere deep inside her rose a terrible dread. “
Where is she?
”

“Skellin … took her.”

“When?” Her mind raced ahead. She climbed to her feet. Cery had not been dead long. Skellin could still be in the passages.
If she left now, she might catch him. Save Anyi. “But why take her? Why not kill her?”

“You.” Gol gasped, sucked in a breath, held it. “Wants you. Will send … a message. Where … to meet.”

She pictured herself catching up with Skellin. Fighting Skellin. She shook her head.
He won’t fight me. He’ll put a knife to Anyi’s throat. Or do something with magic. He’ll use her to get away. And take me
with him. And make me teach him black magic
.

Would it work out any differently if she waited for his message? Perhaps he’d torture Anyi in the meantime.

No. He won’t harm her. Not if he wants me to teach him
.

He might accidentally hurt her if she rushed upon him now.

If she waited for the message, waited for the meeting, she would have time to work out how to rescue Anyi without teaching
Skellin black magic. Time to strengthen herself.
Time to decide how I’m going to tell Anyi her father is dead
.

She may know already. Oh, Anyi. I’m sorry I didn’t get here faster
.

It took more strength of will than anything she had done before to not run after her. Forcing herself to kneel down next to
Gol, ignoring his protests, she set to work mending his shattered bones. And hoped, desperately, that she had made the right
decision.

T
he sky was streaked with orange and black when Saral and Temi moved off the main road towards another estate. Sonea and Regin
followed. Every night since the Traitor escort had met them, they had stayed at freed estates. Horses had been given to them
at Saral’s request on the second morning, though they had not ridden at any great speed since then.

I’m surprised we haven’t caught up with Savara’s group. It must take time to confront and subdue the Ashaki. But maybe that’s
why we’re travelling so slowly. She doesn’t want us catching up – or getting to Arvice before her
.

They’d travelled mostly in silence. Saral and Temi clearly weren’t happy about their role as escort to two inconvenient foreigners,
but neither complained. They did not strike up a conversation either. At the estates it was a different story. The newly freed
slaves were euphoric and endlessly talkative, asking questions of Saral and Temi and assuming Sonea and Regin were welcome
visitors in Traitor eyes. Now, as the four horses neared the estate’s walls, ex-slaves poured out to greet them.

“Welcome, Traitors!” they called. “Will you stay here?” They
came forward in a surge, then the foremost slowed as they saw Sonea and Regin.

“I am Saral and this is Temi,” Saral told them. “This is Black Magician Sonea and Lord Regin, of the Magicians’ Guild of Kyralia.
We are escorting them.”

One of the slaves stepped forward. “I am Veli, chosen leader of this estate.” He looked up at Sonea. “Welcome to Sachaka.”

“Thank you, Veli,” Sonea replied, inclining her head respectfully.

Veli’s attention returned to Saral. “Will you be staying? Queen Savara and her team were our guests last night.”

“Yes, we will stay, and we would all like news of your previous guests.”

Saral looked at Sonea and almost seemed to smile. Sonea inclined her head again in gratitude. At every estate where the queen
had stopped, Sonea had asked after Lorkin.

The ex-slaves led them into the estate, where they dismounted and the horses were taken away. A middle-aged woman and her
two daughters approached and welcomed them.

“Tiatia is the former owner’s wife,” Veli explained. “She welcomed Queen Savara into her home when she arrived.”

“And her husband?”

“Is in the east. He is a good man and we did not want him to die. We knew there was a chance that he would be forced to fight
along with the other Ashaki, or that we would not have a chance to speak in his defence, so we arranged for him to be out
of the country.”

“What did the queen think of this?”

“She said she was impressed with our loyalty. But it was not simple loyalty.”

Saral frowned. “No? What was it?”

“Friendship.” As Saral regarded him closely, his gaze faltered. But then he lifted his head and stared back at her. “He is
a good man,” he said defensively. “If you want proof, take a look at our slave quarters. They are clean and warm. He allowed
men and women to choose each other and live together, and to keep their children. He only required us to make obeisance when
visitors were here.”

Saral’s eyebrows rose. “Remarkable. What will happen to him now?”

“His ship slaves will tell him everything in a few days, and warn him that he may have to seek permission to return. Do you
think it will be granted?”

The two Traitors exchanged looks. Temi shrugged. “Perhaps. He will have no land. He will have to live on equal terms with
you.”

“He will be honoured to,” Tiatia said.

Saral looked at the woman, then Veli, and nodded. “Queen Savara did say there would be circumstances like these and that we
must know when to balance caution with compassion.”

“Come inside,” Veli said, smiling. “Rooms and a meal are already being prepared for you.”

As with all previous estates, a surprisingly humble main door led down a corridor to a bigger room, which in each home has
been put to different uses: sometimes storage, sometimes sleeping quarters, sometimes a gathering place.

“Sit,” Veli invited. “It will be a while before the food is ready.”

Sonea chose a pair of stools for her and Regin.
Sitting on pillows is for younger people than me
, she mused. Veli, Saral and Temi did the same.

“While we wait, can I prepare some raka for you?” Tiatia asked.

Saral looked at Veli, her eyebrows raised in question. He nodded. “Yes, that would be appreciated,” Saral replied.

Tiatia smiled, and settled with her daughters onto pillows at the centre of the room. Beneath a stool was a raka pot and a
canister of the powder. As more ex-slaves arrived carrying water and cups, she set to work. While Saral and Veli talked about
the estate’s produce and future, Sonea watched, amused to see such a familiar ritual of preparation in a place so unfamiliar.
To her surprise, steam began to waft from the pot’s spout.

“You are a magician?” Sonea asked Tiatia.

All conversation abruptly ceased. Sonea looked around. Veli was biting his lip and frowning at Saral. The two Traitors were
both gazing at Tiatia in surprise. Sonea’s stomach sank as she realised that Veli had wanted to keep this a secret, and she
might have condemned the woman in their eyes by revealing it.

“Yes,” Tiatia said in a quiet voice. “My husband taught me.”

Saral let go an in-held breath. “
Now
I’m willing to think your husband may be all you claim he is,” she said.

“Why do you believe this, and not us?” Veli asked, scowling.

“Because treating slaves well is – was – never going to threaten an Ashaki’s power over others. But teaching his wife magic
might.”

Unless he did not teach her higher magic
, Sonea thought. She knew Sachakans looked down on magicians who did not know higher magic. If Tiatia’s husband hadn’t taught
it to her, she would still be lower than him in status as well as power.

As would Regin be, to Sachakans, if he and I were
…

She pushed the thought away, suddenly conscious of Regin sitting silently beside her. It was strange and disturbing how a
stray thought could change her awareness of his presence
from simply knowing his location to sensing a much more
physical
nearness. She would suddenly notice his breathing, and imagine she could feel warmth radiating from him.

“On behalf of all the people here,” Veli said, his formal tone drawing her attention away. “I offer our strength to you. We
gave strength to Queen Savara and her team this morning. We will have recovered enough to do the same for you tomorrow.”

He was looking directly at Saral.

The Traitor smiled and looked down. “You are very generous.”

Veli shrugged. “We want you to win.”

Saral nodded. “As do I. Temi is strong, but it may be that I will join the battle at a time when extra strength will turn
it in our favour. I accept your offer with gratitude.”

In the corner of her eye, Sonea saw Regin turn to look at her. Each morning, as they had begun their ride for the day, he
had reached across to touch her arm and send power to her. With Saral and Temi within hearing, she had been unable to object.

Not that I should. It is what I brought him for. If he wasn’t so determined that we do it, I wouldn’t be able to bring myself
to ask for it. Especially not now
.

But she couldn’t fault his timing. Mornings were better times for transferring power than evenings since they’d joined their
Traitor guides. After giving her his power, he was vulnerable. When riding with the Traitors, Sonea was unlikely to be separated
from him, and Saral was probably obliged to protect them. If someone tried to attack him, it would most likely be during their
stay in estates. Perhaps a slave who, like the first they’d met, resented the Guild for not freeing them after the Sachakan
War. Perhaps an Ashaki’s wife, mother or daughter, thinking that the Guild had colluded with the Traitors. By
evening most of Regin’s powers were restored and he was better able to protect himself.

“So tell us of Queen Savara’s team.” Saral glanced at Sonea. “First tell us, how fares the pale young man, Lorkin?”

Veli shrugged. “He was well.” He looked at Sonea and frowned. “Is he Kyralian?”

“Yes,” Saral nodded. “He is Black Magician Sonea’s son.”

The ex-slave glanced at Sonea in surprise. “A Kyralian fighting with Traitors?”

“He is a Traitor now. He has joined us.” Saral smiled. “What of the rest? How many were there in the queen’s team?”

“Thirty-two,” he told her.

“Good. Another team has joined them. It is good to know everything is going to plan, more or less. Any news of losses?”

Veli nodded. As he listed names, Sonea tried to ignore the sudden, panicked surge of her heartbeat.
It’s hard enough hearing the words “Lorkin” and “fighting’ spoken in relation to each other, but it is worse to then contemplate
that even Traitors who have trained and prepared for this battle are dying. Be careful, Lorkin. Please, don’t let me outlive
you as well
.

Staring up at the ceiling, Lorkin cursed silently. Once again, he couldn’t get to sleep.

The building they were in was the average size for a country estate, but two more teams had joined Savara’s and there simply
weren’t enough beds for everyone. Most Traitors now slept on the floor each night. Neither discomfort nor the sound of breathing
should have prevented him from getting any sleep. He was tired after a long day of travelling.

It’s being so close to so many minds
, he told himself. But that wasn’t entirely true, either. He could only hear the occasional
surface thought, and only if he concentrated hard. No, it was the place to which his mind kept wandering whenever he let it
drift that kept him awake.

Or places. When I’m not remembering the slave girl I gave the poisoned water to, and wondering if she was a Traitor, I’m worrying
about Tyvara getting killed in battle. Or me. Or Mother getting caught up in it – why couldn’t she have just gone home!

And then there was Kalia.

At least the woman had stopped muttering “spy” all the time. Or she’d stopped doing so when he could hear her. She still gave
him and Tyvara looks filled with hatred, but that didn’t bother him. It was the way she looked at Savara that had him worried.

Never with open dislike
, he thought.
It’s the way she’s all humble and obedient whenever Savara looks her way, then she narrows her eyes and smiles whenever Savara’s
attention is elsewhere. It’s the feeling of expectation I sense whenever I concentrate on her presence
.

So far he hadn’t picked up any distinct surface thoughts from her. Kalia appeared to be as sly in thought as she was in nature.
She kept her mind quiet, her main surface thoughts being short and mostly criticisms of others. He’d lost count of the times
he’d heard the word “idiot!” burst from her mind.

What is she expecting? Is she hoping Savara will fail or be killed, or is she actually scheming to ensure either happens?

Kalia was sleeping on the other side of the room. Though he knew he’d probably have no better success reading her mind than
before, he steadied his breathing and began to concentrate. Anything to turn his mind from less pleasant memories. Slowly
he shifted his senses outward. From most of the Traitors he sensed little more than their presence. Though a few were still
awake, their thoughts were too quiet to hear.

Then he heard a familiar mental voice and he felt cold rush through his body. It was the same mental voice that had spoken
into his own mind months before in Sanctuary, the same presence that had gone seeking information he did not want to give.

—…
they’ll blame her. All the deaths. I’ll make sure they do … can’t let Savara rule … better if she dies in battle … arrange
that … but how? When she’s weak … Speakers will falter. Tyvara is too young … foolish to pick her … nobody will follow her
… better if she dies too … but how?

Lorkin realised he had been holding his breath, and made himself exhale slowly and quietly.
I was wrong. Now that she’s not subconsciously hiding her thoughts they are loud and clear. They’ve been amplified by malice
and glee. She’s going to make sure Savara dies in the coming battle. Tyvara too, if she can
.

Did Savara know? Surely she saw that Kalia would take advantage of any situation that would weaken her position or get rid
of her. But Savara didn’t know how far Kalia was prepared to go.

If I tell her, I’ll have to reveal that I can read surface thoughts. Mother warned me not to do that
. He had to admit, his mother was right. He wouldn’t like to know that someone could read his thoughts so easily. Not even
someone he liked. Even if he understood their ability was very limited he’d still be constantly wondering which thoughts they’d
heard. He’d want to stay away from them, in case he let slip something private or a secret entrusted to him.

Would Tyvara feel that way? How would I feel if Tyvara could read my surface thoughts?
He looked at her, lying beside him, eyes closed and breathing slowly.
I trust her
. Then why hadn’t he told her about the slave girl he’d killed?
I don’t want her to think I could do that
.

But he had. Perhaps it was time he told her.
No. One challenging admission at a time. Warning her about Kalia is more important. And I have to warn her, even if it means
revealing my ability to Tyvara. If Kalia’s plan works, they’ll both die
.

He reached out to touch Tyvara’s arm. She frowned but her eyes remained closed.

—
Tyvara
.

Her eyes fluttered open. As her gaze met his he felt a rush of affection. She was so beautiful, even in the dim light. She
must have sensed it, as he felt surprise, pleasure and then a mix of fondness and, gratifyingly, desire.

—
Lorkin? What’s going on?
Her mental voice was fuzzy with sleep.

—
Kalia is planning to betray Savara
.