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Gilken had saved and buried information about black magic out of fear that the Guild would need it for the land’s defence one day. We had five hundred years of peace in which to forget about the stash, that we had ever used black magic at all, and that over the mountains our ancient enemy, Sachaka, still practised it. If Akkarin hadn’t found the stash – and learned black magic – we would now be dead or slaves.
“The final pile,” Lorkin said. Da
“Yes.” Da
“Including my mother’s?”
“Of course.”
Lorkin nodded, then smiled wryly. “Well, that must be the one part of history you don’t need to do more research on.”
“No,” Da
The young magician’s gaze moved across the piles of books, documents and records. “I’d like to read what you have. And… is there a way I can help with the research?”
Da
If he loses interest, there will be no harm done. I can’t see why I shouldn’t let him give it a try.
And a fresh eye, a different approach, might unveil new discoveries.
And it would be good to have someone here in Kyralia familiar with the work Da
Which might happen sooner rather than later.
Since the Ichani Invasion, Sachaka and Kyralia had been watching each other closely. Fortunately, both sides were keen to avoid future conflicts. Both had sent an Ambassador and an assistant to the other country. No other magicians were allowed to cross the border, however.
Da
The position of Ambassador became available every few years, but Da
They were growing used to the idea though, he’d been told. They treated Guild Ambassadors with more respect these days. They’d even protested when the most recent Ambassador had to return to Kyralia, due to problems with his family’s finances. They had actually grown to like him.
Which left a gap open for a new Ambassador that Da
“Lord Da
Da
“Would tomorrow be convenient?” Lorkin looked at the table. “I have a lot of reading to do, I suspect.”
“Of course it is,” Da
As he led the young magician to the guest room where Tayend usually relaxed during most evenings, Da
I have run out of sources. I can think of nowhere else I might find the missing pieces of my history. The opportunity has come and I think I have the courage to take it.
But the other reason he had never sought to visit Sachaka was that it meant leaving Tayend behind. The scholar would have to gain permission from the Elyne king to go to Sachaka, and it was unlikely he would be granted it. Partly this was because Tayend wasn’t well known or in favour in court, and hadn’t been so even before he’d moved to Kyralia to live with Da
But what about me? Why do I think the Kyralian king or the Guild won’t reject my application for the same reason?
The truth was, Tayend wasn’t as good as Da
Da
There was more to his resentment than that, however. Over the years, more and more of Tayend’s attention had gone to his friends. Though there were a few in the group whose company Da
Da
But while a few weeks’ or months’ separation might do us good, could we survive two years apart?
As he entered the guest room and found that Tayend had already opened the bottle and drunk half the contents, he shook his head.
If he was ever going to fill in the gaps of this history of magic – this great work of his life – he could not sit around hoping that someone would send him the right record or document. He had to seek the answers for himself, even if it meant risking his life, or leaving Tayend behind.
One thing I’m sure of. For all that there are sides of Tayend that I don’t like, I care enough about him to not want to risk his life. He’s going to want to come with me, and I’m going to refuse to take him.
And Tayend was not going to be happy about it. Not happy at all.
She hadn’t grown any taller since Cery had last seen her. Her dark hair had been cut badly, uneven where it barely touched her shoulders. Her fringe swept sharply to one side, covering one of her knife-slash straight brows. And her eyes… those eyes that had always made him weak since the first time he’d seen her. Large, dark and expressive.
But at the moment all they expressed was a ruthless, unblinking determination as she bartered with a customer almost half again her height and weight. Cery couldn’t hear what was being said, but her confidence and defiance stirred a foolish pride.