The Traitor Queen (The Traitor Spy Trilogy #3)(75)

Sonea took out the remains of her and Regin’s own supplies – pachi fruit, grains and dried beans to be boiled in water, spices, sumi and hard sweets – and offered them. They were taken without any thanks spoken, but with appreciative nods and smiles. She was intrigued to see one of the men place a metal disk with a gemstone embedded in the centre on a flat rock, touch the stone, then place a wide pan full of water on top. Soon the water was boiling and he was adding the grain and beans. Clearly men aren’t forbidden to use magic. That makes their law against men learning magic not as restrictive as it first seems, though they still rely on the women making the stones. I wonder if they have to get permission to use them.

One of the Traitors was examining the pouch of sumi leaves with puzzlement.

“They’re for a hot drink,” Sonea explained. “I’ll prepare some later.”

“Like raka?” one of them asked.

Sonea shook her head. “Same idea, different plant.” The supplies provided at the Fort hadn’t included raka.

“We have raka.”

She straightened. “You do?”

Savara chuckled. “It is a good drink to have while talking. Or negotiating.”

The food was passed around, each person taking a portion. Sonea added spices to the beans and grains when they were ready. The Traitors were particularly fond of the sweets. Savara prepared a pot of raka and surprisingly small cups were passed to her for filling. Sonea’s own mug returned barely half full, but as she sipped she realised why. The raka was so strong it was syrupy, and after a few sips she felt as if her ears were buzzing.

As each Traitor received their cup they rose and moved away, until only Savara remained. It was full night now, and more globe lights appeared as those who had left gathered in smaller groups several paces away. Savara moved closer, so that they formed a smaller circle.

“We arrived later than we hoped, and you must be anxious to return to Kyralia, so let us begin without delay.” She looked at Lorkin. “It was the wish of our late queen, Zarala, that Lorkin act as negotiator today. Are you in agreement on this?”

Sonea looked at her son, who appeared to be holding back a grin. “Yes, your majesty. I carry the blood ring of Lord Osen, Administrator of the Guild. Do you object to me wearing it?”

“No.” Savara looked at Lorkin. “Begin, Lord Lorkin.”

Sonea slipped Osen’s ring on.

—Osen?

—Sonea.

—We’re about to begin negotiations.

Lorkin drew in a deep breath. “Queen Zarala asked me to arrange a meeting between the Traitors and the Allied Lands in the hope of negotiating an alliance.”

Sonea nodded. “What kind of alliance are we discussing? Are the Traitors seeking to join the Allied Lands? That requires compliance with an agreed core of rules that apply to all and with a few specific to each land.”

“What are these core rules?” Savara asked.

“Non-aggression toward other lands in the alliance. Adherence to a set of laws regarding trade, crime and magic. Military support in defence of the Allied Lands. Outlawing slavery.”

“The first and last we agree with wholeheartedly.” Savara’s lips thinned. “What are the laws you speak of?”

Sonea listed them, with Osen’s assistance. Savara listened, nodding from time to time. When Sonea finished, the queen laced her fingers together.

“Some of these laws are similar to our own, some are not. It is your control of magicians my people may object to. Especially your restrictions on the knowledge and use of higher magic.”

“You have restrictions that we would not agree with as well. I believe magic is only taught to women Traitors, unless the man is a natural.”

“Yes, but restrictions based on gender are already catered for in the alliance. The Lonmar people only teach magic to men. If the alliance can accommodate their traditions, could it not accommodate ours?”

“It is likely it could. Black magic, on the other hand, is a more difficult issue.”

Savara smiled and gestured toward Sonea. “Yet the Guild has black magicians.”

“Only as many as we feel are necessary for our defence.”

The queen’s expression became serious. “Do you really think three is enough?”

Sonea met and held the woman’s eyes. This was no time to be admitting to doubts.

“Yes.”

Savara’s eyebrows rose. “I hope that a situation never arises to test that. My people are not so willing to put their safety in the hands of a few. We will not agree to an alliance that requires us to stop teaching our daughters higher magic.”

“We expected that.” Sonea smiled as the queen’s gaze sharpened. “We are willing to negotiate an exception in the case of Traitors, with conditions.”

“What are these conditions?”

“You have not objected to our law that all magicians be trained at the Guild,” Sonea observed.

“No.” Savara looked amused. “It would be an opportunity we’d be foolish to turn down.”

“The condition is this: your magicians must not be taught black magic until they have graduated, and the teaching of it must be done by Traitors, in Sachaka.”

A small line appeared between Savara’s brows. She nodded slowly.

“That might be acceptable.”