Unguilded (43 page)

“
THE WORST NEWS
, Primus,” Arabella said. Gratefully, she dropped into the chair he gestured to. Her reception had ended a few moments ago, and she’d headed straight to Rorik’s quarters.

“More than just Santos Nimali has been spotted on Old Rillidi.”

“The Assassin?” Rorik asked. “Warrior Guild promised he would not be a problem.”

“The girl.” She had no idea how she’d managed to live, but the half-brother—Noula’s son—had been taken from his fostering—who else would want the brat? “Even though the Assassin said she was dead.”

“I used a spell on him,” Rorik said. “He could not have lied!”

“Unless another Mage spelled him first.” It was the only thing that would have worked.

“Who? Nimali? But he’s been mad for years.”

“And yet he is no longer mad,” she replied.

Rorik paled. “Are you certain?”

“There are too many reports. He’s hired labourers—
unguilded
—from that island of his to repair his house.” Though if he was as powerful as everyone said, she couldn’t understand why he wouldn’t just use magic.

“That is his way,” Rorik mused. “Santos always liked things to be made by workers, rather than be created with magic. His entire estate was built by Masons.”

“That would take so long,” Arabella said. “And there would be imperfections.”

“I never agreed with him,” Rorik said. “But it was his way. We need to see him.”

“And bring the girl to justice.” The Assassin was out of reach, but the girl? Arabella wanted to see her die.

“
WHAT DO YOU
feel,” Santos said. “Close your eyes and concentrate on what you feel from the spell.”

After making sure that her hand was still thrust into the grass green mage mist that swirled around the top of the worktable, Kara closed her eyes. They’d been attempting this same test for three days, and she still couldn’t feel anything except the slight damp she always felt when she touched mage mist. But Santos was confident that this could be done by someone with her unique magical talents, so she’d kept trying.

“I don’t feel anything,” she said.

“How about now,” Santos said.

“Nothing.”

She shivered despite the warmth of the sun streaming through the workroom window. Suddenly she had the urge to snatch her hand away from the mist, as though something terrible would happen if she kept it there. Was that feeling coming from the spell?

“I feel danger,” she said. “Or a threat of some kind.” She frowned as the feeling grew stronger. Her hand itched, and she pulled it towards her chest. She opened her eyes. The spell continued swirling, the same as before, but now she clearly felt the underlying malice.

“Excellent,” Santos said. “I put as much ill will into that spell as I could safely do, and you felt it.”

“Eventually,” she said. “But how useful will this be if it has to be that malicious?”

“It would have been nice to know if the food was spelled to help or harm,” Santos said.

With Kara gone, Santos hadn’t felt comfortable eating the food Mage Guild left. After the death of Valerio Valendi, and with the obvious signs that the
mad mage
was in the process of fixing his manor house, the Mages had stopped bringing it. But Kara knew Santos would always wonder if his former Journeyman had kept him mad by cursing his food.

“All right,” she agreed. “There is a use for it. Will it always be so decisive? Can’t a spell be cast that isn’t meant to harm, but does anyway?”

“Yes,” Santos said. “You might only feel the intent of the Mage when they cast the spell, and not whether they are incompetent or foolish.”

“Kara,” Pilo called from the garden. “Reo’s here.”

Reo
! The door swung open, and he stood in the doorway, and Kara’s heart skittered for a moment. He looked tired and worn down. Empty.

“Reo,” Kara said. “What are you doing here?”

His mouth tightened, and she stopped speaking.

“I mean, is it safe for you to come here?”

“Safe?” Reo said. “No, probably not. There’s no danger to you, but there’s no safe place in Rillidi for a former Assassin. We have some unfinished business, you and I. I have to right a wrong that happened because I forced you to work with me.”

“I told you,” Kara said. “I forgive you.”

Santos came up beside her and took her arm as she faced Reo. She didn’t invite him in, nor did he step inside the house.

“So you said. But I have not forgiven myself,” Reo said.

His eyes met hers, and Kara was shocked at the bleakness in them.

“I have a gift that I hope will allow you to remember me with some admiration.”

“But I do . . .”

Reo stepped aside, and a small worried face peered up at her.

“Osten,” Kara breathed. Her younger brother was frightened and thin and dirty, but he also appeared unhurt. “Thank Gyda you’re safe.”

Osten, wary and nervous, stared at her.

“Osten,” she said. “Come here. You’re safe now.” Slowly the boy crossed to her and gave her an awkward hug.

“I promise. You’re safe.”

“But mama was never nice to you,” Osten said.

“No, but that wasn’t your fault.” Kara looked up and met Reo’s gaze. “Thank you, Reo. This is a gift beyond my expectations. How did you find him?”

Reo smiled then, not quite the carefree smile from before their trip to Mage Guild Island, but it lightened her heart just the same.

“Arabella Fonti likes her people to know what happens to those who displease her,” he said. “I found one willing to tell me what happened to your brother.” His smile faltered. “He was not being treated well.”

“Reo killed my master,” Osten said. His face twisted into a scowl. “And I’m glad. I wish I was bigger so I could have killed him.”

Shocked, Kara stared at Osten. The innocent, laughing little boy he’d been just this past spring was gone, replaced by this angry child with hurt eyes.

His chin jutted out, and he glared at her. “I would have killed him if I could have,” Osten declared.

Kara’s chest constricted. What had been done to her poor brother?

“Thank you again, Reo,” she said. “I almost wish I’d let you kill her,” she said, thinking about when Reo asked her if she wanted him to kill her mother. Arabella Fonti had known exactly what life she was delivering her brother into.

“Don’t thank me just yet,” Reo said. He stepped out of the doorway to let a young boy in. No more than nine, he was thin and pale. “He was there as well, and not likely to have any friends left now.”

Kara walked over to the boy, Osten at her side.

“Hello,” she said. “I’m Kara.” He had to be. The eyes, the colouring, the arch of the nose. This boy was Valerio Valendi’s child.

“I’m Giona,” was the soft reply.

“He’s my friend,” Osten stated. “I told
him
,” he gestured to Reo, “that I wasn’t leaving Giona behind.”

“Did you now,” Kara said.

She met Reo’s eyes and smiled. For all that Osten was two or three years younger than Giona, he clearly was the fighter.

“Giona, you are most welcome here. As you can see, it’s a big house with plenty of room.”

“I’ll work hard,” Giona said. “I know how.”

“That’s good to know,” Kara replied gently. “We’ll let you get settled, both of you, then we’ll decide. I think schooling will be required.” It was something that she’d meant to start, and with two more students, she couldn’t put it off any longer.

Reo declined the offer to stay overnight, but he agreed to at least stay for a meal.

Pilo and Vook took the newcomers on a tour of the house. They returned in time for dinner, chattering about the rooms they’d selected. Kara had wondered if she should ask Osten to stay with her in the cabin, but he didn’t seem likely to leave Giona. The children ate quickly and bolted to their new rooms with Pilo, who promised to make them bathe, trailing behind them.

“He looks a great deal like Valendi,” Santos said. He filled Kara’s and Reo’s cups with tea.

“Yes,” Reo agreed. “He was treated slightly better, no doubt because his master was afraid of the Secundus. At least he didn’t have to share the man’s bed.”

A wave of anger flashed through Kara. “Despicable ruffiano,” she spat. “I’m glad he’s dead.”

“Yes, but that’s not why I killed him,” Reo said. “He saw me, so he was a liability. That’s also why I brought Giona, although young Osten did say he wasn’t coming without him.”

“You did the right thing,” she said.

“Do you think he knows who his father was?” Santos asked.

“No,” Reo replied.

“I’m not surprised,” Santos said. “Mages often don’t acknowledge a child until they know if they have magic. But this child might have significant power.” Santos smiled. “At least I hope so. As lovely an Apprentice as you are, Kara, it would be good to be able to teach someone who can use what I know.”

“And not fumble and guess at answers?” She turned to Reo. “We heard Mage Guild interrogated you about my disappearance.”

Reo frowned. “All they wanted was confirmation that you died as they suspected.” He nodded at Santos. “The spell you set on me seems to have worked. At least the Primus seemed convinced.”

“And my mother?” Kara asked.

“I didn’t see her,” Reo replied. “Although I’ve heard she’s been appointed Secundus.”

Kara stared at her tea for a moment as they all fell silent.

“And what about you?” she asked Reo softly. “What will you do now?”

Reo’s sharp laugh was full of bitterness. “Me? I suppose I’ll return to Warrior Guild and perform my duties for the rest of my life.”

“Stay here,” Kara blurted out.

Santos raised an eyebrow, but she ignored him. Reo wouldn’t live long, not now that he’d helped her escape her mother. And Arabella Fonti would consider Kara’s death an escape. Reo had only been trying to make a life for himself. Not much different from what she’d been trying to do.

“I can’t,” Reo said flatly.

“Why not? There’s plenty of room. You can stay here in the house or even build your own place if you want.”

She looked at Santos, and he nodded.

“Besides, we should try to have at least one person from each guild here, to share knowledge.”

“And train a few Assassins?” Reo asked.

She met his bitter gaze. He’d killed
for her
, she
would not
hold that against him.

“It would be prudent to train some of the residents of Old Rillidi to protect themselves,” Santos said. “And teaching all guild-held skills would lessen the guilds’ collective power.”

“See,” Kara said. “Santos thinks it’s a good idea too.” She covered Reo’s hand with her own, afraid he’d say yes, even more afraid that he wouldn’t.

There was a glimmer of hope in his eyes, then it was gone, replaced with flat despair.

No,” Reo said. “Warrior Guild will never let me leave.” He pulled his hand from beneath hers and dropped a clenched fist to his side.

“We’ll trade,” Santos said. He nodded thoughtfully. “Soon we’ll have something they will want very, very much. Something that
all
the guilds will want, except maybe one.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Reo said. “It’s never been done, no Assassin has ever left the guild.”

“But that’s what you were trying to do,” Kara said. “You were going to be the first.”

“And I was a fool to think it possible,” Reo said.

“I say that it
is
possible,” Santos said. When he glared at Reo, he
was
the Mage Primus, the most powerful man in Tregella.

Reo saw it too—he unclenched his fist and placed his hand flat on the table.

“What is it?” Reo asked. “It would have to be something extraordinary.”

“Yes,” Santos said. “It’s Kara. Or rather, it’s what Kara can do. Tell me,” he leaned towards Reo. “What would Warrior Guild pay to have their Guildhall rid of any spells cast with malice, anything that hinted at anger, or revenge, or spite. What would they pay for that?”

Reo leaned back in his chair. His eyes darted to Kara. “You can do that?”

She nodded, and he expelled the breath he’d been holding.

“They would pay any price,” Reo said. “To know that Mage Guild couldn’t overhear or influence their decisions, they would pay anything.” He looked over at her again. “You would do that for me?”

“Yes,” she said.

Reo smiled a real smile—full of hope and perhaps a little bit of promise.

“I’m not sure I’m ready, but I’m sure Santos can bargain with Warrior Guild Primus.”