The Traitor Queen (38 page)

Ashaki.

“Watch out!” she shouted.

The pair looked over their shoulders, saw the two men and spun about to face them. One of the Ashaki glanced back at Sonea
and Regin, then made a dismissive gesture and turned back to the Traitors. The other struck at the woman, who
flinched and pushed her companion behind her. They both began to back away.

“They’re weak,” Regin said. Sonea knew he did not mean the Ashaki, who had seen two Kyralian magicians and remained unconcerned.

They must have enough strength left to think they can ignore us. Perhaps they’re assuming neither of us could be a black magician,
since we’re Kyralian
.

“Are you going to do something?” Regin asked. “Because I can’t stand by and watch them kill those two. Not when the Traitors
have won anyway.”

“I wish we could.” She looked at him. “But that would be interfering.”

“I’m sure the Traitors would forgive you if you saved two of them.

“My actions will be taken as actions of the Guild, and the Allied Lands.”

“Good. I wouldn’t want to belong to a Guild that didn’t help in this situation. Besides, you don’t have to kill the Ashaki.
Just scare them off.”

The two Ashaki had separated and were circling around the two Traitors. The woman looked toward Sonea and Regin, her eyes
wide with fear.

Regin’s right. The Traitors and Guild can sort out the consequences later
. Drawing power, she sent it in two strikes at the Ashaki. As they struck, the men staggered, then recovered and turned to
face her. The Traitors took the opportunity to flee, running to the corner of the next main street.

The Ashaki exchanged a look, then one started toward Sonea and Regin. The other hesitated and followed.

“They don’t look scared,” Sonea observed.

Regin chuckled. “They don’t know who you are.”

Strikes flashed toward her, and she strengthened her shield. They weren’t particularly strong – probably only meant to test
her. She responded with an array of firestrike to intimidate them. They stopped and she heard the murmur of a conversation
too low to hear.

Then the two Traitors reappeared at the corner. Followed by four more. The Ashaki stumbled forward from a new attack at their
rear. They turned to see their intended victims lift their arms, holding something toward them, then they glanced back at
Sonea and Regin.

Trapped
, Sonea thought.
But this is the Traitors’ fight now
. She watched as the Traitors wore the Ashaki down until their shields failed, then winced as they fell under a final blow.
Regin made a small noise of surprise, but as she glanced at him he shrugged.

“They don’t take prisoners, do they?”

She shook her head, remembering the Sachakan king’s suicide. The Traitors walked past the dead Ashaki toward Sonea and Regin,
one of the newcomers leading.

“You are Black Magician Sonea?” the woman asked.

“Yes. This is Lord Regin.”

“I am Speaker Lanna. You should have stayed where we put you.” She made an imperious gesture. “Come with me.”

As the woman turned away, Sonea looked at Regin and saw a flicker of annoyance and amusement. She fell into step behind Speaker
Lanna, suppressing a smile as the other Traitors moved into position on either side, flanking them as they were escorted toward
the city centre.

At the sound of approaching footsteps in the corridor, Tayend looked up at Dannyl. They had been sitting on either side of
Achati’s chair in the Master’s Room, mostly silent, for the hour or so since they’d descended from the roof.

“Responsibility and duty returns.” Tayend sighed. “Are you ready to face the people who killed him? We could go find Achati’s
ship and take the long route back to Imardin instead.”

Dannyl shook his head. “No. That would ruin both of our careers. The Traitors … though I wish that they could have spared
him, they did not know him. They did not know he was worth sparing. How could they? He was an adviser to the king, who represented
all they hate. And …” He sighed. “Despite everything, I want to stay here in Arvice. Not forever but …”

From the corridor entrance Merria walked in.

She looked different, and it took a moment for Dannyl to pinpoint the change.
She looks older. Not aged, but mature. Almost stern. She reminds me of Lady Vinara. Hmm. Shouldering responsibility clearly
agrees with her
.

But it was time he took charge again.

“Lady Merria,” he said, standing up and holding out his hand. “Thank you for your help.”

She hesitated, then reached into her robe and brought out the ring. As he took it she gave him a measuring look. Judging whether
he was fit for resuming his ambassadorial role? He nearly smiled at that.

“King Amakira is dead, as are the rest of the Ashaki,” she told him. “He killed himself, and the rest forced the Traitors
to kill them by attacking the Traitor queen. Sonea and Regin are making their way here to meet you. Osen says we are to join
together and request an audience with the queen.”

“What are the Traitors doing now?”

“Entering the nearby houses. They’ve already found and killed an Ashaki who hid during the battle.”

Tayend drew in a quick breath. “Achati’s slaves.”

Dannyl felt his heart skip a beat. “They’ll kill them.”

“Will they?” Merria asked. “They might not.”

“We can’t take that chance. We must warn then.” Tayend took a few steps toward the corridor.

Merria frowned. “If they can get away, they will have done.”

Tayend stopped and looked back at Dannyl. “But if they can’t …”

“Then we’ll take them with us,” Dannyl said. “If they choose to come with us. They are free men now.”

“You’d hire them as servants?” Merria asked, frowning. “When they don’t have much choice. Surely that’s no different than
slavery.”

Dannyl shook his head. “It’s better than death. But I think … we will simply offer to take them with us. The rest is up to
them.”

“We have to find them first,” Tayend reminded them. “If they’re here, they’re hiding. And we might not have much time.”

“Then we split up,” Dannyl decided. “You go with Merria for protection. They may attack you if they can’t see you, thinking
you are a Traitor. I’ll look upstairs, you stay on this level.”

Dannyl headed down the corridor to the stairs. As he explored Achati’s house, he found parts he had never seen before. All
were decorated in the same subdued, earthly colours that Achati had preferred over the stark white walls of Sachakan tradition.
Dannyl felt as though he was surrounded by Achati’s presence, and his heart ached.

At the back of the house he pushed open a door, looked around and sucked in a breath in astonishment.

Why didn’t he tell me about
this?

Dannyl had seen Achati’s library. It was a modest room
within the man’s private suite, the books and scrolls contained in finely crafted cabinets. The room Dannyl stood within now
was several times larger and lined with shelves. A large table stood at the centre, bare but for a piece of paper, folded
and sealed.

Behind the table stood two men. Achati’s slaves.

They were not wearing the usual slave wrap now, but were dressed in simple trousers and tunic. They lowered their gaze as
Dannyl looked at them.

“The master left this for you,” one said, gesturing at the letter.

Dannyl opened his mouth to speak, then changed his mind.
First, see what the letter says
. He walked over to the table and picked it up. His stomach clenched as he saw his name written across the front in Achati’s
elegant hand.

Taking a deep breath, Dannyl broke the seal, opened the letter and read.

Dannyl closed his eyes, swallowed hard, then cleared his throat and looked up at the slaves.

“Well, Lak and Vata, I may not have much time to explain, so I will have to be forthright. Your master is …” Dannyl’s throat
closed up.

“We know,” they said together.

“The Traitors are entering the houses around the parade, and I suspect they may perceive your staying here as an indication
of loyalty to your master. So Ambassador Tayend and I are offering to take you with us.”

“Must we leave?” Vata asked, his eyes wide.

“Probably,” Dannyl replied. He shook his head. “I honestly don’t know what the Traitors will do. I don’t know if it’s better
that you become our companions or servants – or if you’ll even find that acceptable. But I promise that we will do what we
can to protect you.”

The two men looked at each other, then Lak nodded. “The master said we should do whatever you tell us.”

“Then I’m telling you to come with me,” Dannyl said, beckoning and heading back to the library door. “But not in a slave-like
way,” he added. “Behave like the free men that you now are. Not in the way the Ashaki were free men, of course. I don’t think
the Traitors will look kindly on that.”

“I’m not sure how to be a free man,” Vata said in a low voice.

“You’ll work it out,” Dannyl assured him. He placed Achati’s letter in his pocket and led the man’s former slaves out of the
library into a new and frightening freedom.

O
nce again, Savara had occupied the main suite of rooms in the mansion she had commandeered as a base. This time the Master’s
Room was where those wanting audience with or summoned by the queen were waiting. As people came and went, reporting on the
Traitors’ progress in gaining control of the city, Lorkin and Tyvara sat to her left, keeping watch.

All of the houses around the parade had been searched now. A few Ashaki had been found hiding within to ambush Traitors and
had been disposed of. Several free women and their children had been discovered, too. Their husbands, fathers and sons had
been so confident that they would win that they hadn’t bothered to send their families somewhere safe. Some of the mansions
were full of the bodies of slaves who had not been able to escape before their masters killed them for their magical strength.

A mansion had been chosen to house the healthy and uninjured free women and children until the Traitors decided what to do
with them.
Which will probably be the same as with the other families we encountered
, Lorkin thought.
They’ll have to find their place among the freed slaves, which probably means working for the first time in their lives
.

“Some slaves attacked their former owner’s families before leaving the city,” Speaker Shaiya told the queen. “Some free women
lashed out at slaves after they heard of the Ashaki’s defeat. We’ve sent all the injured to a mansion across the parade from
here. A few slaves and one free woman have gone into childbirth, too. All of the Traitors with healing experience have been
sent to treat them.”

“Are they enough?”

Shaiya shook her head. “We need more. When do the Kyralians arrive?”

“In a day or so.”

“I’ll go,” Lorkin offered.

“No.” Savara turned to look at him. “I need you here, for now.”

The Speaker looked down. “I know how you feel about Kalia, but …”

Savara scowled and shook her head. “I don’t trust her.”

“You don’t have to. Just let her do what she is trained to do.”

Lorkin held his breath as Savara regarded the Speaker. The queen could not reveal Kalia’s guilt to the Traitors without also
revealing his ability to read surface thoughts.
Then I guess I’d better brace myself for the consequences
.

“Bring her here,” she said.

When Shaiya’s footsteps had faded out of hearing, Savara turned to him.

“This ability of yours could prove very useful to me, Lorkin. Are you willing to use it in the service of the Traitors?”

He blinked at her in surprise. “I … I guess so. Do you want me to use it on Kalia? I can’t promise I will be able to tell
you much.”

Savara smiled. “Just tell me if you detect her lying. Don’t
say how. Do not mention your ability to anyone unless I tell you to.”

The sound of Shaiya’s footsteps returned, along with another’s. As Kalia entered she looked up at Savara, then her gaze dropped
to the floor. She placed a hand over her heart.

“Leave us, Shaiya.”

The Speaker paused, then nodded and left. Rising to her feet, Savara walked slowly over to stand in front of Kalia. The woman
did not look up. Her eyes were wide and her breathing fast. Lorkin concentrated on her until he felt a familiar presence,
and guilt.

“I know what you did,” Savara told her. She glanced at Lorkin and Tyvara. “
We
know what you did.”

From Kalia came a surge of fear and shame.

“What I don’t understand is: why Halana?” Savara continued. Everyone loved her. She had no enemies.” She shook her head. “The
experience and understanding of stone-making she had. The talent. Even if you hated her, how could you take that from us?”

“I didn’t hate her,” Kalia protested. “I …” She looked up, then quickly down again.

“You
what?
”

“I didn’t intend for her to get killed.”

“Just us.” Savara moved back to her chair. “I have no proof of that, but I can prove you had something to do with Halana’s
death. If you can convince me it was an accident I …” She sighed. “Much as I hate to say it, we need you Kalia. Convince me,
and see to the injured, and I won’t distract and demoralise our people at this crucial time with accusations of attempted
murder against one of their own.”

Kalia swallowed, then nodded. “When you were on the roof last night,” she began. “I saw you were alone with …” Her eyes flickered
toward Lorkin and Tyvara. “Nobody else would be harmed if you were attacked. I just had to draw attention to you. So I slipped
out of a slave entrance, found some Ashaki, and led them back. They saw you, but as I ran to the slave entrance Halana stepped
out of another. I think she was setting shield stones. She … didn’t see them. She …” A sob escaped her. “I tried to warn her
but it happened so fast. I didn’t mean for her to be killed.”

Savara glanced at him. He shook his head. Everything Kalia had said was true. The queen turned back to stare at Kalia She
looked as if she had taken a bite of something especially vile. But it wasn’t just revulsion at Kalia’s actions.
She wants to punish Kalia, but she won’t. If I was Savara, I’d have her locked up and send me to heal the injured
. Kalia’s healing skills weren’t unique. Then he felt a bolt of realisation.
But my mind-reading abilities are
.

“Then swear you will never speak of it, to anyone, unless on my orders,” the queen said. “And swear you will never attempt
to cause me, Tyvara and Lorkin harm again.”

Kalia bowed her head. “I swear.”

“Go. Shaiya will direct you to the mansion housing the injured.”

As the woman hurried away, Savara rubbed her hands on her knees as if wiping them clean.

“Well, at least we have something to use to keep her in line from now on.”

Footsteps hurried down the corridor, but this time Speaker Lanna entered the room.

“Are you ready to see the Kyralians yet?”

Savara drew in a deep breath then let it out slowly. “Am I?” she asked herself.

Lanna frowned. “There’s something I should tell you first.”

“Oh?”

The Speaker’s lips thinned into a forced smile. “When I found Black Magician Sonea she was fending off a pair of Ashaki. Tayvla
and Call, the pair who found them, told me that the Ashaki had attacked them first. Sonea intervened, allowing them to get
away.”

Lorkin turned to look at Savara and was puzzled to see she was frowning at this news. The queen glanced at him, then snorted
softly.

“Well, that spoiled my plans.” She turned to Lorkin and uncrossed her arms. “Your mother disobeyed an order to stay where
her escort left her. I was looking forward to raising that with her, and seeing if I could get something out of her by way
of apology.”

He raised his eyebrows. “I doubt you’d succeed.”

“How do you suggest I go about persuading her to grant us a favour, then?”

“I am the last person who can tell you. She knows me far too well.”

“But you are her son. Perhaps I should use that.”

Lorkin winced. “Only if you’re feeling particularly brave. I, ah, advise you to learn more about her before you push her too
far.”

Savara pursed her lips and considered him, then nodded. “You would like to see her, and your homeland, again one day.”

“Eventually. I’d like to take Tyvara with me, so it would be nice if Sachaka and the Allied Lands stayed on good terms.”

Savara turned back to Lanna. “Send in the Kyralians. And the Elyne, too.”

Lorkin felt his heart begin to beat a little faster.
Mother and Dannyl and everyone else cannot have any doubts where my loyalties lie now. I guess I’m about to find out how they
feel about that
.

His mother led the others into the room. They lined up before Savara, then knelt. A silence followed, full of surprise and
a tinge of embarrassment. Lorkin felt an odd little shiver go down his spine. To Kyralians and Elynes, this was the traditional
genuflection made to a ruler, but to Traitors it was far more than was expected.

“Rise,” Savara said, her voice subdued. As the five foreigners stood, she smiled. “Later, Lorkin will tell you the Traitor
way of greeting a leader.” Her gaze moved along the line. “I am Queen Savara and this is Tyvara and Lorkin. Please introduce
yourselves.”

“I am, as you know from our previous meeting, Black Magician Sonea of the Magicians’ Guild of Kyralia,” his mother began.
She then introduced the others according to status, beginning with Dannyl.

Dannyl looks … not uncomfortable but like he’s trying to conceal discomfort
, thought Lorkin.
Is he injured? No, it is something else. Perhaps merely the unease of having just seen these people kill a whole lot of people
he
… A heavy feeling dragged at his stomach as he realised that Dannyl, Tayend and Merria had formed friendships with the Sachakan
elite.
They’ve possibly just seen their friends killed
.

As his mother spoke Regin’s name, Lorkin remembered Tyvara’s suggestion that he was more than Sonea’s source and assistant.
Regin’s expression was solemn. His gaze shifted to
Lorkin’s and he inclined his head slightly. Lorkin returned the nod.
That didn’t tell me anything
, he concluded.

“So,” Savara said, rising from her seat. She moved to stand before Dannyl. “Do you intend to stay in Sachaka, Ambassador Dannyl?
I imagine we’ll need a Guild representative here, once the Healers arrive.”

Lorkin noticed his mother’s brows lower a fraction. As the figure of greatest authority, among the Guild magicians, she ought
to have been asked the question. Perhaps, by posing the question to Dannyl, Savara was indicating that she preferred him as
a representative of the Guild over Sonea.

“If the Guild allows it, and you approve, your majesty.” Dannyl replied.

Savara nodded. “You’ll do for now.” She moved to face Tayend. “And you, Ambassador Tayend – will you continue to represent
Elyne?”

“I have already received instruction from my king to request my continuation in the role, your majesty,” Tayend replied. “In
fact, he gave me a short message to memorise and deliver to you, to stand in for a later, longer missive.”

“He has? Then relay it.”

Tayend bent in a courtly bow. “King Lerend of Elyne congratulates you on the successful conquest of Sachaka. He hopes he will
have an opportunity to meet you and discuss the many ways our lands may engage in mutually beneficial relations. May a peaceful
and prosperous future await you.”

Savara smiled. “Convey my appreciation of his good wishes next time you communicate. I look forward to his longer missive.
I see no reason you should not stay on as ambassador.” She moved past Merria and Regin, and stopped.

Lorkin watched his mother’s face as the queen turned to face
her. He saw the familiar shift in her expression, from the usual slightly pained, thoughtful look she wore most of the time
to the still, all-knowing stare that he’d never been able to hold for long.

“Black Magician Sonea,” Savara said, her tone no longer friendly, but not cold either. “You disobeyed my order to stay in
the house where your escort left you.”

“I did, your majesty.”

“I was not pleased to learn that.”

“I did not expect you to be.”

“Why did you disobey?”

“Ambassadors Dannyl and Tayend, and Lady Merria believed themselves to be in some danger. Saral and Temi had left, so I could
not seek permission to go to the aid of my colleagues, or request that they be protected. I kept to your earlier condition
that I would not side with the Ashaki, and to the Allied Lands’ wishes that we should not intervene in the battle.”

“Yet you did intervene, later.”

Sonea’s eyebrows rose. “Should I have not?”

Savara’s head tilted a little to one side. “How do the Allied Lands regard it?”

“I haven’t had the opportunity to ask them, yet. They know some decisions must be made quickly. The battle was already won
and they do want to be sure our Healers will be safe here.”

“They will be.” Savara took a step backwards, and returned to her seat. “The Healers are a full day’s ride away, however.
In the meantime, would you and the other Guild magicians here tend the worst injuries?”

Sonea’s chin rose and a light entered her eyes that Lorkin knew only too well. He caught his breath, then let it out in a
quiet sigh.

“Of course,” she replied.

Savara nodded. “Lorkin will escort you to the mansion where the sick and injured are being housed, after I speak with him
privately. You may go.”

Lorkin watched his mother, former colleagues and friends leave. As they disappeared into the corridor, Savara turned to him.

“Was asking them to Heal unwise?”

So she’d heard his reaction. He shrugged. “Mother set up the hospices in Imardin. Give her this work to do and she may never
go home.”

Savara frowned. “And I thought
you
would be the reason she’d try to stay. I did not mean to make your task more difficult.”

“My task?”

“To persuade or arrange for your mother to go home. It’s nothing personal, and I don’t think ill of her, but I suspect she
is someone I will not like having around.”

“No,” he agreed. He paused to think. “The way to get Mother to go home is to have Dannyl recommend it to the Guild. He may
agree to do so if I can convince him it is a good idea, or perhaps as a favour to me. But I suspect just trying will make
him suspect my motives. Though … there’s something else we can offer him to prove our intentions are peaceful, if you’ll agree
to it.”

Savara leaned forward. “And what is that?”

As Lorkin led them out of the mansion, Sonea examined him critically. He looked thinner, though it might only be the Traitor
style of clothing that gave the impression. Magician robes tended to conceal a lot, emphasising the shoulders and
waist but hiding the rest. The close-fitting Traitor vest hugged his body. The fabric of his tunic and pants was rustic and
undyed. In contrast to this humble garb, his fingers were clustered with rings, which would normally have given the impression
of indulgence and wealth if she hadn’t guessed the stones were magical.