The Traitor Queen (The Traitor Spy Trilogy #3)(132)

It’s easy to forget that, with Rothen. He doesn’t push people around or look down on them. He’s approachable. I bet he doesn’t think he’s all that important.

Rothen turned to look at her, then walked over. He smiled at Anyi. “How are you feeling? Ready to go?”

Anyi nodded but, as she stood up, she looked down at herself and grimaced.

“Dizzy?” Rothen asked, reaching out to steady her.

Anyi shook her head. “No. I’m fine.”

He nodded, then beckoned and headed towards the long plank the crew had strung between the ship and dock. Anyi took a few unsteady steps.

“Are you sure you’re all right?” Lilia asked in a low voice.

“I look a mess. I feel a mess. And I don’t think this coat is ever going to be the same.”

Lilia shuddered. Anyi’s clothes were stiff and stained with her blood. She hooked her arm through her friend’s. “I’ll buy you another one.”

“Maybe it’ll be a good thing, me looking like this. Might make the Higher Magicians feel guilty they didn’t catch Skellin sooner.” She sighed. “At least you’re clean.”

Lilia looked down at her robes. Rothen had brought them, so she wouldn’t have to return to the Guild wearing the tattered disguise. Assuming I did return. It could have all gone very badly. She still couldn’t believe her trick had worked. Looking over at Skellin’s body, which was covered by an old piece of sacking, she shuddered. I killed a person. With black magic. But she didn’t want to think about that now.

They caught up with Rothen at the railing. “Will the Higher Magicians want to see us straightaway, Lord Rothen?” she asked as they reached him.

He nodded. “I’m afr—”

“What’s he doing here?” Anyi interrupted, her words a low growl.

Lilia followed Anyi’s gaze and her heart sank as she saw the black-robed magician waiting on the dock.

“Kallen is – was – in charge of finding Skellin,” Rothen reminded her.

“A fine job he did of it, too.”

“Are we going to tell him what happened?” Lilia asked. “What if he is Skellin’s source.”

Rothen’s eyes narrowed. “Say nothing until the meeting.” He gave them a grim smile. “Don’t worry. We’ll work out who the source is. If it is a Higher Magician, well, it wouldn’t be the first time one of us had a nasty secret. We’ll deal with it.”

As they started down the gangplank, Lilia gave Anyi a reassuring nod. “He sounds confident.”

Anyi shrugged, then followed. As they reached the dock, Kallen stepped forward to meet them. Lilia bowed, but Anyi remained unbending, her eyes dark and jaw stiff.

“Lord Rothen. Lady Lilia. Anyi.” Kallen turned to Rothen. “You asked me to meet you here?”

“Yes, Black Magician Kallen. I will explain more when we return to the Guild, but I can tell you that Skellin is dead and his mother too. His body is on board, if you wish to inspect it. Lorandra’s is somewhere under the sea.”

Kallen’s eyebrows rose. Without saying another word, he strode up the gangplank and headed for the body. His back was to them as he crouched and lifted the sacking, so Lilia could not see his expression. I would have liked to, she mused. Kallen returned to the dock. He looked straight at Lilia and smiled. “You have some explaining to do.” His tone was not disapproving, she noted.

“Not until we return to the Guild,” Rothen said firmly. “I’ve made arrangements for the crew to be imprisoned until we can question them, and for the body to be delivered to the Guild.”

Kallen nodded and gestured to the end of the dock. “The carriage that brought me is still here, if you would like to take it.”

Rothen nodded. They walked to the carriage in silence. Looking around, Lilia noted how the dock workers paused to stare at Kallen. They looked curious, but also uneasy. But then, that’s how novices react to Sonea walking past, too. Impressed, but also intimidated. Then it occurred to her that people would regard her in the same way one day, when she had graduated and had to wear black robes. I used to look forward to the day I didn’t have to wear novice robes. Now I dread it.

The journey to the Guild was not a long one, since a wide road led directly from the Marina to the grounds, only detouring around the palace, but it seemed a lot longer. Nobody spoke. Kallen’s gaze moved from Lilia to Anyi to Rothen, staying mostly on Rothen.

He looks perplexed. And worried. I’d have thought he’d be more annoyed than this that we’ve been dealing with Skellin without consulting him. Whenever he met her eyes she looked away.

When they arrived, Rothen started toward the University entrance while Kallen paused to instruct the driver.

“The Administrator is at the palace,” Kallen called after him.

Rothen stopped and looked back. “High Lord Balkan?”

“Also with the king.”

“Will they return soon?”

Kallen’s shoulders lifted and fell. “I doubt they’ll return until late.”

Rothen blinked, then his eyes widened suddenly. “You were at the palace when I sent for you, weren’t you? It’s happening, isn’t it?”

Kallen nodded. “But I knew you would only send for me if it was important. Can I have a word privately?”