The Traitor Queen (The Traitor Spy Trilogy #3)(108)
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.