The Traitor Queen (The Traitor Spy Trilogy #3)(136)

“Probably,” Dannyl replied. He shook his head. “I honestly don’t know what the Traitors will do. I don’t know if it’s better that you become our companions or servants – or if you’ll even find that acceptable. But I promise that we will do what we can to protect you.”

The two men looked at each other, then Lak nodded. “The master said we should do whatever you tell us.”

“Then I’m telling you to come with me,” Dannyl said, beckoning and heading back to the library door. “But not in a slave-like way,” he added. “Behave like the free men that you now are. Not in the way the Ashaki were free men, of course. I don’t think the Traitors will look kindly on that.”

“I’m not sure how to be a free man,” Vata said in a low voice.

“You’ll work it out,” Dannyl assured him. He placed Achati’s letter in his pocket and led the man’s former slaves out of the library into a new and frightening freedom.





CHAPTER 30


NEGOTIATING THE FUTURE


Once again, Savara had occupied the main suite of rooms in the mansion she had commandeered as a base. This time the Master’s Room was where those wanting audience with or summoned by the queen were waiting. As people came and went, reporting on the Traitors’ progress in gaining control of the city, Lorkin and Tyvara sat to her left, keeping watch.

All of the houses around the parade had been searched now. A few Ashaki had been found hiding within to ambush Traitors and had been disposed of. Several free women and their children had been discovered, too. Their husbands, fathers and sons had been so confident that they would win that they hadn’t bothered to send their families somewhere safe. Some of the mansions were full of the bodies of slaves who had not been able to escape before their masters killed them for their magical strength.

A mansion had been chosen to house the healthy and uninjured free women and children until the Traitors decided what to do with them. Which will probably be the same as with the other families we encountered, Lorkin thought. They’ll have to find their place among the freed slaves, which probably means working for the first time in their lives.

“Some slaves attacked their former owner’s families before leaving the city,” Speaker Shaiya told the queen. “Some free women lashed out at slaves after they heard of the Ashaki’s defeat. We’ve sent all the injured to a mansion across the parade from here. A few slaves and one free woman have gone into childbirth, too. All of the Traitors with healing experience have been sent to treat them.”

“Are they enough?”

Shaiya shook her head. “We need more. When do the Kyralians arrive?”

“In a day or so.”

“I’ll go,” Lorkin offered.

“No.” Savara turned to look at him. “I need you here, for now.”

The Speaker looked down. “I know how you feel about Kalia, but …”

Savara scowled and shook her head. “I don’t trust her.”

“You don’t have to. Just let her do what she is trained to do.”

Lorkin held his breath as Savara regarded the Speaker. The queen could not reveal Kalia’s guilt to the Traitors without also revealing his ability to read surface thoughts. Then I guess I’d better brace myself for the consequences.

“Bring her here,” she said.

When Shaiya’s footsteps had faded out of hearing, Savara turned to him.

“This ability of yours could prove very useful to me, Lorkin. Are you willing to use it in the service of the Traitors?”

He blinked at her in surprise. “I … I guess so. Do you want me to use it on Kalia? I can’t promise I will be able to tell you much.”

Savara smiled. “Just tell me if you detect her lying. Don’t say how. Do not mention your ability to anyone unless I tell you to.”

The sound of Shaiya’s footsteps returned, along with another’s. As Kalia entered she looked up at Savara, then her gaze dropped to the floor. She placed a hand over her heart.

“Leave us, Shaiya.”

The Speaker paused, then nodded and left. Rising to her feet, Savara walked slowly over to stand in front of Kalia. The woman did not look up. Her eyes were wide and her breathing fast. Lorkin concentrated on her until he felt a familiar presence, and guilt.

“I know what you did,” Savara told her. She glanced at Lorkin and Tyvara. “We know what you did.”

From Kalia came a surge of fear and shame.

“What I don’t understand is: why Halana?” Savara continued. Everyone loved her. She had no enemies.” She shook her head. “The experience and understanding of stone-making she had. The talent. Even if you hated her, how could you take that from us?”

“I didn’t hate her,” Kalia protested. “I …” She looked up, then quickly down again.

“You what?”

“I didn’t intend for her to get killed.”

“Just us.” Savara moved back to her chair. “I have no proof of that, but I can prove you had something to do with Halana’s death. If you can convince me it was an accident I …” She sighed. “Much as I hate to say it, we need you Kalia. Convince me, and see to the injured, and I won’t distract and demoralise our people at this crucial time with accusations of attempted murder against one of their own.”