The High Lord (68 page)

The carriage rocked gently on its springs. Outside, endless fields and the occasional farmhouse slowly passed by. Inside, Dannyl and Tayend raised wineglasses to each other. “A drink to Lord Osen, who decided that you would best serve the Guild as Ambassador in Elyne,” Tayend said. “And for letting us travel overland.”

“To Osen,” Dannyl replied. He took a sip of the wine. “You know I would have stayed, if he’d asked me to.”

Tayend smiled. “Yes, and I would have stayed with you though I’m glad I didn’t need to. Kyralians are so suffocatingly
conservative.”
He brought his glass to his lips, then looked away and his expression grew sober. “He’s smart to send you back, though. A lot of people will question the Guild’s authority now. It proved to be a bit ill-prepared for war.”

Dannyl chuckled. “Just a bit.”

“More people will be inclined to think like Dem Marane,” Tayend continued. “You’ll need to convince those people that the Guild is still in charge, when it comes to magic.”

“I know.”

“Then there’s this issue of black magic. You’ll have to assure people that the Guild really has no choice but to learn it again. Ah, it could get a bit intense in the next few months.”

“I know.”

“It might take years, even.” Tayend smiled. “But, of course, there’s no reason you couldn’t stay in Elyne, once your time as Ambassador is over, is there?”

“No.” Dannyl smiled. “Osen granted the position to me indefinitely.”

Tayend’s eyes widened, then he grinned. “He did? That’s wonderful!”

“He said something about Elyne suiting me better than Kyralia. And that I should not let concerns about rumors stop me cherishing and enjoying our friendship.”

The scholar’s eyebrows rose. “Did he really? Do you think he knows about us?”

“I wonder. He didn’t seem at all disapproving. But I could be reading more into his comments than he meant to say. He has just lost a good friend and mentor.” Dannyl hesitated. “Though it does make me wonder how much it would really change things, if people knew.”

Tayend frowned. “Now don’t you get any stupid ideas about that. If you told the Guild, and they got all scandalized and sent you away, I’d still follow you. And when I found you, I’d give you a good kick for being such an idiot.” He paused, then grinned. “I love you, but I also love that you’re an important Guild magician.”

Dannyl chuckled. “That’s just as well. I could change the important part, and even the Guild part, but the magician part doesn’t come as an option.”

Tayend smiled. “Oh, I doubt I’ll ever change my mind about you. I think you’ll have to put up with me for a very long time.”

The black-robed magician stepped out of the newly repaired Northern Gates. As always, people stopped to stare and children yelled her name and began to follow.

Rothen watched Sonea closely. Though he was acting as Escort today, that duty was not the reason for his concern. She hadn’t looked this pale since she had first locked herself away in his rooms. Sensing his gaze, she glanced at him and smiled. He relaxed a little. As he had predicted, she had gained much from the work she had begun in the slums. A little life had returned to her eyes and some purpose to her step.

The hospital by the gates had been built in a few short months. He had expected it to take some time for the dwells to overcome their hatred and distrust of magicians, but a crowd of them had appeared the day it had opened, and every day since.

Sonea was the reason. They loved her. She had come from among them, had saved the city, and had returned to the slums to help them.

Dorrien had been by her side from the start. His greater knowledge of Healing was essential, and his experience at earning the trust of farmers and foresters also helped him gain the dwells’ confidence. Other Healers had joined them. It seemed Sonea was not the only magician who believed Healing should not be a service offered only to the rich Houses.

As she reached the hospital and moved inside, Lord Darlen stepped forward to greet her.

“How was the night shift?” she asked.

“Busy.” He smiled ruefully. “When isn’t it? Oh, I found another potential recruit. A girl of about fifteen, named Kalia. She’ll return later with her father, if he agrees to let her join us.”

Sonea nodded. “How are our supplies?”

“Low, as always,” Darlen replied. “I’ll talk to Lady Vinara when I get back.”

“Thank you, Lord Darlen,” Sonea said.

Darlen nodded, then headed to the door. Sonea paused to look around the room. Following her gaze, Rothen took in the crowd of waiting patients, the handful of guards who had been employed to manage them, and the curies who had been hired for their knowledge of medicine to help with minor cases. Sonea suddenly drew in a sharp breath, then turned to a guard standing nearby.

“That woman over there with the child wrapped in a green blanket. Bring her to me in my room.”

“Yes, my lady.”

Rothen started to look for the woman, but Sonea was already walking away. He followed her into a small room furnished with a table, a bed and several chairs. She sat down and drummed her fingers on the table. Rothen pulled up a chair beside her.

“You know this woman?”

She glanced at him. “Yes. It’s—” She paused at a knock on the door. “Come in.”

He recognized the woman instantly. Sonea’s aunt smiled and took the seat on the other side of the table. “Sonea. I was hoping it would be you.”

“Jonna,” Sonea replied, smiling fondly—but tiredly, Rothen noted. “I wanted to come see you, but I’ve been so busy. How is Ranel? How are my cousins?”

Jonna looked down at the baby. “Hania has a terrible fever. I’ve tried everything…”

Sonea placed a hand gently on the baby’s head. She frowned. “Yes. She’s got the beginning of bluespot disease. I can give her a little boost.” She was quiet for a moment. “There. You will have to wait it out, I’m afraid. Give her liquids. A little marin juice mixed in will help, too.” Sonea looked up at her aunt. “Jonna, would you… would you come live with me?”

The woman’s eyes went round. “I’m sorry, Sonea. I just couldn’t.”

Sonea looked down. “I know you don’t feel comfortable being around magicians, but… please consider it. I’d…” She glanced at Rothen. “I guess it’s time you knew too, Rothen.” She looked at Jonna again. “I’d like to have someone familiar and ordinary around.” She nodded at the child. “I’d exchange all the Healers in the Guild just for your practical advice.”

Jonna stared at Sonea, her expression reflecting Rothen’s confusion. Sonea grimaced, then placed a hand on her stomach. Jonna’s eyes widened.

“Oh.”

“Yes.” Sonea nodded. “I’m scared, Jonna. I didn’t plan for this. The Healers will look after me, but they can’t cure my fear. I think maybe you could.”

Jonna frowned. “You told me magicians had their own ways of taking care of things.”

To Rothen’s amazement Sonea blushed a furious scarlet.

“It seems that it’s better if women do… that sort of care-taking. Apparently men aren’t taught the skill unless they request it,” she said. “Girl novices are taken aside as soon as the Healers feel they’re likely to be showing an interest in boys, but I was so unpopular that nobody thought of teaching me. Akkarin,” Sonea paused and swallowed, “must have assumed they had. And I assumed
he
was taking care of things.”

As understanding dawned, Rothen stared at Sonea. He found himself counting the months since her exile. Three-and-a-half, maybe four. The robes would hide it well…

She looked at him and then grimaced apologetically. “I’m sorry, Rothen. I was going to tell you, at a better moment, but when I saw Jonna I just had to take advantage of—”

They both jumped as Jonna burst into laughter. She was pointing at Rothen. “I haven’t seen that look since I told Ranel I was expecting our first! I think, perhaps, these magicians aren’t as smart as they make themselves out to be.” She grinned at Sonea. “So. You’re to have a baby, then. I can’t imagine the child growing up with his or her head on right surrounded by magicians.”

Sonea smiled crookedly. “Nor I. So, will you reconsider?” Jonna hesitated, then nodded once. “Yes. We’ll stay a while.”

blood money
—payment for assassination

boot
—refuse/refusal (don’t boot us)

capper
—man who frequents brothels

clicked
—occurred

client
—person who has an obligation or agreement with a Thief

counter
—whore

done
—murdered

dull
—persuade to keep silent

dunghead
—fool

dwells
—term used to describe slum dwellers

eye
—keep watch

fired
—angry (got fired about it)

fish
—propose/ask/look for (also someone fleeing the Guard)

gauntlet
—guard who is bribeable or in the control of a Thief

goldmine
—man who prefers boys

good go
—a reasonable try

got
—caught

grandmother
—pimp

gutter
—dealer in stolen goods

hai
—a call for attention or expression of surprise or inquiry

heavies
—important people

kin
—a Thief’s closest and most trusted

knife
—assassin/hired killer

messenger
—thug who delivers or carries out a threat

mind
—hide (minds his business, I’ll mind that for you)

mug
—mouth (as in vessel for bol)

out for
—looking for

pick
—recognize, understand

punt
—smuggler

right-sided
—trustworthy/heart in the right place

rope
—freedom

rub
—trouble (got into some rub over it)

shine
—attraction (got a shine for him)

show
—introduce

space—
allowances/permission

squimp
—someone who double-crosses the Thieves

style
—manner of performing business

tag
—recognize (also means a spy, usually undercover)

thief—
leader of a criminal group

watcher
—posted to observe something or someone

wild
—difficult

visitor
—burglar

aga moths
—pests that eat clothing

anyi
—sea mammals with short spines

Ceryni
—small rodent

enka
—horned domestic animal, bred for meat

eyoma
—sea leeches

faren
—general term for arachnids

gorin
—large domestic animal used for food and to haul boats and wagons

harrel
—small domestic animal bred for meat

inava
—insect believed to bestow good luck

limek
—wild predatory dog

mullock
—wild nocturnal bird

rassook
—domestic bird used for meat and feathers

ravi
—rodent, larger than Ceryni

reber
—domestic animal, bred for wool and meat

sapfly
—woodland insect

sevli
—poisonous lizard

squimp
—squirrel-like creature that steals food

yeel
—small domesticated breed of limek used for tracking

zill
—small, intelligent mammal sometimes kept as a pet

Plants/Food

anivope vines
—plant sensitive to mental projection

bol
—(also means “river scum”) strong liquor made from tugors

brasi
—green leafy vegetable with small buds

chebol sauce—
rich meat sauce made from bol

crots
—large, purple beans

curem
—smooth, nutty spice

curren
—coarse grain with robust flavor

dull
—long fruit with tart orange, seedy flesh

gan-gan
—flowering bush from Lan

iker
—stimulating drug, reputed to have aphrodisiac properties

jerras
—long yellow beans

kreppa
—foul-smelling medicinal herb

marin
—red citrus fruit

monyo
—bulb

myk
—mind-affecting drug

nalar
—pungent root

nemmin
—sleep-inducing drug

pachi
—crisp, sweet fruit

papea
—pepper-like spice

piorres
—small, bell-shaped fruit

rakaIsuka
—stimulating drink made from roasted beans, originally from Sachaka

shem
—edible reed-like plant

sumi
—bitter drink

telk
—seed from which an oil is extracted

term
—grain that can be cooked as is, broken into small pieces, or ground to make a flour

tiro
—edible nuts

tugor
—parsnip-like root

vare
—berries from which most wine is produced

incal
—square symbol, not unlike a family shield, sewn onto sleeve or cuff

kebin
—iron bar with hook for catching attacker’s knife, carried by guards

longcoat—
ankle-length coat

bathhouse
—establishment selling bathing facilities and other grooming services

bolhouse
—establishment selling bol and short-term accommodation

brewhouse
—bol manufacturer

hole
—building constructed from scavenged materials

stayhouse
—rented building, a family to a room

Elyne
—closest to Kyralia in position and culture, enjoys a milder climate

Kyralia
—home of the Guild