The Traitor Queen (The Traitor Spy Trilogy #3)(141)

“Will the Traitors let me have Achati’s library?” Dannyl asked. “If it isn’t ransacked.”

Lorkin frowned, then toyed with his rings as he considered.

“Savara says you may have access to them,” Lorkin replied. “If you let her know where it is, she’ll send someone over to guard it.”

Savara says? Dannyl looked at the rings and saw that Lorkin was touching one of the stones. Interesting.

Lorkin dropped his hands to his sides again. “Can you do me a favour in return?”

Dannyl shrugged. “Depends on the favour.”

“Get my mother to go home as soon as possible.” Lorkin grimaced. “She won’t deliberately interfere, but she will cause problems just by being here. I’m not talking about for me, but for the Traitors. They need to be the ones taking charge here.”

“Of the Guild’s Healers as well?”

“Did they put her in charge?”

“No, actually.” Dannyl shrugged. “They will report to their own leader, and then to me.”

Lorkin looked relieved. “So there’s no other reason for her to be here?”

“Other than to make sure you, me and Merria are safe … no. But Savara has put her in charge of the hospice.”

“It’s only for the night,” Lorkin said firmly. He massaged his temples and sighed. “Can you suggest to Osen that having her here will put a strain on relations between Sachaka and the Allied Lands?”

“I can convey your concerns and the queen’s wishes.”

Lorkin shook his head. “If Mother gets the slightest hint that it came from me she’ll be more determined to stay. It has to come from you, Dannyl. And … well … I’m not a Guild magician any more.”

Dannyl paused to consider the young magician he’d brought to Sachaka as an assistant. He really means to stay with the Traitors. He gave up everything for them. And for love, too, I suspect. I don’t think I could have done that. Not even for Achati. Would I have done it for Tayend, back when we were young and so dedicated to each other? He felt an echo of that feeling. Yes, I think I would have.

Lorkin looked down at his hands again. He took one of the rings and slipped it off his finger, then held it out to Dannyl.

“This is why you should have my mother sent home. This is why the Allied Lands should establish good relations with Sachaka.”

Taking the ring, Dannyl examined it. The setting was silver, and the stone within it was clear. “What is it?”

“A storestone.”

Dannyl’s breath caught in his throat. He remembered what Achati had said: “If one should still exist, or was created, it could be terrible for all countries.”

“It contains the strength of only a few magicians. The trouble with storestones is that you can’t know how much power they can hold. Too much and they will shatter, releasing all their power. It would be safer to have several storestones holding a little power than a few holding a lot. But even then, it could be the solution to defending the Allied Lands without resorting to black magic.”

“So the Traitors lied. They did know how to make them,” Dannyl breathed.

“No, though they have stones that are very similar. I’m afraid I – we – gave them the idea to try. They have made only a few so far, but I can see no reason why they couldn’t make more, or improve the method.” Lorkin looked at the ring, then back at Dannyl. “Savara said you can keep it.”

Dannyl frowned. “A bribe?”

“The first payment for the Healers’ services.”

“How do I use it?”

“Touch it. Draw power as if you were taking it from another magician. You’ll have to use it straightaway, since you don’t know how to store magic. Strengthening it is the same. Just send it power as if you were sending it to another.”

“And don’t store too much power in it.”

“No.”

Dannyl let his hand and the ring drop to his side. He looked at Lorkin, weighing up all that his former assistant had said. Then he nodded.

“This will definitely persuade the Guild to order your mother home.”

Lorkin smiled. “Thanks. Though I’ll make sure I get the chance to spend some time with her before she goes. I do miss her. And my friends. And Rothen. Ah. And there’s something I wanted to ask you about Lord Regin. Are he and …?” He stopped and turned toward the door. “Ambassador. Did you find it?”

Tayend had stepped into the room with Lak and Vata. He held up a small ring, his connection to the Elyne king. “Exactly where I left it.”

“Good,” Lorkin said. “Now, do you want to stay here, or come back with me?” He looked at Dannyl. “By the time we get back we’ll know if Achati’s library is intact. The best way to prevent it being ransacked would be to occupy the building, and I think Savara will approve of her main links to the Guild and Allied Lands staying close by.”

Dannyl sighed with relief and saw Tayend’s eyes brighten with hope. “I’ll just grab a few things, then we’ll gladly take up your offer of accommodation.”





CHAPTER 31


REWARDS


That haunted look has crept into Anyi’s gaze again, Lilia noted as she emerged from her bedroom. She knelt down beside the chair and wound her arms around her. Anyi sniffed once, and turned to look at Lilia.