The Traitor Queen (The Traitor Spy Trilogy #3)(74)
“Could you ask them for me?”
She nodded. “I will. But … do you think there’s any chance the Ashaki might be about to attack the Traitors? Or the Traitors attack the Ashaki?”
Dannyl blinked at the sudden change of subject. “Why? Have you heard rumours?”
“Not anything specific. But my friends often discuss the possibility, and King Amakira was so determined to get information out of Lorkin.”
A chill entered Dannyl’s veins. And Lorkin may have given him that information. “I don’t know.”
“It’ll be ironic if the Traitors do attack and defeat the Ashaki. All the king’s efforts and Lorkin refusing to speak will have been for nothing, because then it won’t matter if Sanctuary’s location has been revealed.”
Dannyl shook his head. “They won’t attack. It would be too big a risk. What if they failed? They’d lose everything.”
Merria nodded. “You’re right, of course. Anyway, I guess you’re going to be making more copies of your notes now. Let me know if you’d like some help. I’ll take one to my friends tomorrow, if you have it ready.”
“Thank you.”
As she left, her words repeated in Dannyl’s mind: “… then it won’t matter if Sanctuary’s location has been revealed”. Was this the reason Lorkin had given in and told the king what he wanted to know? But that would mean …
Shivering, Dannyl drew out the two notebooks that contained his research, and a blank one, and began to make yet another copy.
*
Regin noticed the approaching Traitors first. From their vantage point, he and Sonea watched as the small group walked across the dunes and up into the rocky hills, their shadows growing longer as the afternoon sun descended. The cool shadow of the mountains rose to meet them, and after they entered it and dusk settled over the land, the figures slowly grew harder to make out. Soon small points of light were glimpsed, low to the ground and moving ever closer. When sounds finally heralded the approach of the strangers, Sonea let Osen know they were about to arrive, then rose, ready to greet them.
The first was a woman who moved with the dignity and tension of a leader, which made her seem taller despite being close to Sonea in height. Her facial features were so Sachakan that, for a brief moment, Sonea’s blood turned cold. She had the same broad forehead, high cheekbones, and upward tilting eyes of the Ichani who had invaded Kyralia. But those men, and the sole woman among them, had been heavier in build. The Traitors were smaller and more graceful.
If she had guessed right, the first woman was Savara, the queen. The woman was dressed no differently to the rest of the group. All twelve carried a pack and wore simple clothing. Eight women and four men. Sonea’s eyes snapped to the tallest of the men and her heart leapt. Lorkin!
He smiled as she saw him. She resisted the urge to run forward and hug him, worried that any moves in the Traitors’ direction might make them react defensively. And Lorkin might not appreciate her being overly affectionate in front of these people.
So she restrained herself and settled for looking him over closely. He looks healthy, though tired. The way he looked at the woman walking beside him, then back to Sonea, made it clear that this was Tyvara, the Traitor who had saved his life. The woman he had agreed to be locked away in Sanctuary for.
She is very attractive, Sonea thought. The young woman returned Sonea’s gaze with curiosity and a hint of calculation. No doubt she’s measuring me up as much as I’m appraising her. That wasn’t all that Sonea detected in her manner, however. It wasn’t exactly confidence. More a grim determination. That girl has seen far more than any Kyralian woman her age. I would wager she has experienced more as well. But then, she was posing as a slave when she saved Lorkin, and that would mean enduring a lot of pain and humiliation.
Sonea looked away from Tyvara back to the leader, who slowed as she took the last steps to meet Sonea and Regin. As she stopped, the others came to a halt behind her.
“Black Magician Sonea?” she asked, smiling at Sonea.
Sonea nodded. “Yes.”
“I am Savara, queen of the Traitors.” She turned to introduce the rest of the group. None had titles. Well, Lorkin did say they treat everyone equally – on the surface at least. “You do not need to be introduced to your son, of course,” Savara finished. “It is my pleasure to reunite you, and to finally meet you.”
“And you, your majesty,” Sonea replied. She gestured to Regin. “This is Lord Regin, my assistant.”
Regin inclined his head. “An honour to meet you, Queen Savara, and your people.” He placed a hand over his heart. Savara’s eyebrows twitched upward, then she inclined her head gracefully.
“Let’s sit.” She gestured to the flat ground beside the spring. “We have walked far and need to rest, eat and drink.”
She turned and nodded to the others, some of whom moved past her toward the spring. Sonea silently thanked Regin, who had thought to replace the gemstone in the pool. Osen had suggested she keep her knowledge of the gems to herself unless there was an advantage to be gained.
The group began to shrug off packs. They formed a circle, leaving a gap for Sonea and Regin. Lorkin sat down beside Sonea, and Tyvara settled on his other side. Someone created a small globe light and set it glowing in the middle, just above the ground. Food was brought out and placed in the centre. It consisted of simple fare for travelling: hard, flat bread, dried meats and fruit, nuts and pastes for the bread.