The Traitor Queen (The Traitor Spy Trilogy #3)(102)
Sonea paused as if to consider her answer. She had expected the question, but didn’t want her answer to seem too well rehearsed.
“The Guild is obliged to ensure its members will be safe, when in other lands,” she told them. “I am here to ensure our Healers will not be in danger.”
The woman’s eyes went blank, then focused on Sonea again. “We will make sure all Guild magicians entering Sachaka are unharmed.”
“So you have the time to patrol the roads, and have Traitors free to act as guards and escorts, at the same time as fighting the Ashaki? I would rather you put your resources into achieving your aims.” Sonea stepped forward until she was looking up at Saral, addressing the woman she knew was watching her through the ring Saral was wearing. “Not the least because you have my son with you,” she added, lowering and hardening her tone. “Do you really expect me to go home? I am one magician, and no threat to you or your people, Queen Savara.” She smiled. “Whether you have Lorkin with you or not.”
Saral’s chin lifted, then her gaze flickered away again and she scowled. Her face fell and she looked down at Sonea.
“You may continue to Arvice,” she said. “On the condition that you do not enter the city before we do, and you do not side with the Ashaki. I can’t guarantee your safety if you get in the way, and if you or your lover influence the battle against us you will both be killed.”
Sonea inclined her head. “I give you my word that we will keep to these conditions.”
Saral’s lips thinned and her shoulders slumped. “Temi and I will escort you,” she said. Beside her, Temi made a small noise of protest.
Sonea nodded again. “Thank you. For the sake of avoiding embarrassment, I should point out that you are wrong in one matter.”
“What?” Saral’s eyes narrowed.
“Lord Regin is not my lover.”
The woman’s eyebrows rose into a disbelieving expression. She said nothing in reply, instead turning her horse so that it faced the way she had come. Temi did the same, smirking as he moved to take a position on the other side of Sonea. Regin stepped forward to stand beside Sonea. He met her eyes briefly.
“Traitors like gossip as much as everyone else,” he murmured, smiling.
Sonea shrugged and started walking. Such gossip could be dangerous. An enemy, thinking they were a couple, might try to harm Regin in order to blackmail her. But, as she’d hinted to Savara through Saral, if the Traitors wanted to blackmail her, they already had Lorkin. Still … Regin would be a better target, if Tyvara cares for Lorkin and Savara cares about Tyvara’s feelings.
She looked at Regin, and he turned to meet her gaze. If he was worried, he was keeping it well hidden. His eyebrows rose in question, then his mouth twitched into a small, secretive smile. She looked away. Anyone watching him would think we were a couple. She looked back at the days they’d spent together since leaving Imardin. It had been a relief to find they got along with each other. That she didn’t mind his company, and he didn’t seem to mind hers. But what was it that others saw to make them think more was going on? I’m not doing anything, she thought. Is it Regin, then? Surely …
She shook her head. No. He’s not in love with me. Don’t be ridiculous.
But what if he was? She thought back. Tried to remember everything he’d said. Tried to recall how he’d spoken to her, behaved around her, looked at her. She remembered how she had started to ask herself the same question before, in the carriage after leaving the Fort. What had he said to make her wonder? That he had admired her for years.
Was he trying to tell me more? She shook her head again. Does it only seem that way now that I’m wondering about it?
She couldn’t ask him, because the Traitors would hear. But if an opportunity came to talk with Regin privately … The thought of it made her throat close up. I can’t do that. What if I’m wrong? It would be embarrassing for the both of us. Or would it be worse if I’m right? At least I’m sure I’m not in love with him.
A tangle of contradictory feelings and thoughts followed. It took all her self-control to keep her steps regular and her face calm. Then, as quickly as it had risen, the conflict ended, leaving her surprised and dismayed.
So. I do. No, I could. That’s different. The potential is there, but it isn’t so. Yet, she thought. But she wouldn’t say anything of it to Regin. And if he hinted of feelings for her she would have to discourage him. It’s not that I haven’t forgiven him. He’s become a person so much better than the novice I hated. It’s not that I haven’t got over Akkarin – well, got over him enough to love another. It’s not even that it makes Regin vulnerable, should someone seek to blackmail me. It’s because …
She felt a stab of annoyance. Why was it that the only men who showed any romantic interest in her had no right to? Not that she had any real proof of Regin’s interest. Which was just as well because, though Regin had parted from his wife, he was still legally married.
CHAPTER 23
THE ULTIMATUM
Dannyl paced his rooms.
There must be some way I can warn Achati without revealing how we know the Traitors are coming. It would be a few days before the Traitors arrived and they needed to behave as if nothing extraordinary was happening, so Tayend had left to visit an Ashaki merchant, and Merria was making an afternoon visit to the market with a friend who hadn’t left the city yet, leaving Dannyl alone to ponder his dilemma. I could pretend one of the slaves told me the Traitors are coming. Or passed on a message to me. But what if that leads to the Ashaki torturing more slaves?