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“Don’t worry about Lorkin,” Da
She looked at him and her eyes narrowed. “I’ll hold you to that promise.”
Da
“And you,” she said, her eyes snapping to Lorkin. “You had better be careful. If some Sachakan murders you in your sleep I’ll hunt you down and make you admit you were wrong.” The smallest twitch of a smile lifted the corner of her mouth.
“I’ll remember that,” he said. “No getting murdered.”
The smile faded and she gazed at him in silence for a moment. Then she abruptly turned to Da
“When will you be leaving?” she asked.
“As soon as possible, I’m afraid,” he replied apologetically. “The Guild would rather someone had gone to Sachaka to learn from Lord Maron before taking on his duties, but Maron had to return to Kyralia in a hurry. Apparently if we leave the Guild House empty of an Ambassador too long they’ll find another use for it, and we’ll have to go live out in the country.”
Her eyebrows rose.
“How long is too long?”
“We don’t know. They’ve never told us.”
Sonea snorted quietly. “So they’re keeping you hanging on a string. Glad it’s you going, not me. Not that I could if I wanted to.” She turned to look at the Higher Magicians, who had nearly all descended from their seats and were making their way out of the room. Osen looked back at them.
“We’d better leave,” Da
“Yes,” Sonea agreed. She frowned, her expression becoming distracted. “I have something rather urgent I need to attend to.” She glanced at them both, and managed a thin smile. “Don’t go leaving without saying goodbye, will you?”
Without waiting for a reply, she strode away toward the door. Da
“I have no intention of dying in Sachaka,” Lorkin said. “In fact, I’ll be keeping as low a profile as possible. After all, if the slightest hint of foolishness gets back here, she’ll come fetch me back.”
“Actually, she can’t,” Da
Lorkin turned to frown at the tall magician.
“Remember, she’s a black magician. She’s forbidden to leave the city. If she breaks that condition, she’ll be exiled from the Allied Lands.”
A small but sharp stab of fear went through Lorkin. So she can’t come and save me if I get in trouble. Well, I had better not get into trouble then. Or rather, I had better be ready to get myself out of it again. He fixed a bright smile on his face and turned to Da
“But I don’t need Mother. If anything happens, I know you’ll save me.”
Da
“Oh, nothing of the sort,” Lorkin replied, gri
The tall magician shook his head and sighed. “What was I thinking? Of all the assistants I could have wound up with, why did I have to choose the one with the scary mother and troublemaking in his bloodlines? I am doomed.”
CHAPTER 7 A JOURNEY BEGINS
As the carriage pulled up outside the front of the University, Sonea and Lorkin emerged from the building, followed by Rothen. A cluster of young male magicians lurking in the shelter of the entry hall waved and called out, and Lorkin turned to wave in reply. His wave turned into a beckoning gesture, and a servant hurried out, carrying a single, small chest.
Ah, good. The young man packs light, Da
Early autumn rain spattered against an invisible shield over their heads. As mother and son reached the carriage, Da
“Ambassador Da
Da
She nodded. “Wise.” She turned to Lorkin, who was looking a little pale. “If you need anything, you know what to do.”
He flashed a quick smile in reply. “I’m sure I’ll be able to buy anything I’ve forgotten. The Sachakans might have a few barbaric customs, but it sounds like they don’t lack for luxuries or practicalities.”
They regarded each other silently for a long, awkward moment.
“Well, off you go then.” She waved to the carriage like she was shooing a child away, spoiling the impression of a young man venturing independently into the world. Da
“I’ll hold you to that promise, Da
The urge to smile disappeared. He turned back, ready to reassure her again, but there was a glint of amusement in her gaze. He straightened his back.
“And I mean to uphold it,” he said. “Though if he takes after his mother, I can’t be held completely responsible if he gets it into his head to do something foolish.”
From Rothen he heard a quiet snort of amusement. Sonea’s eyebrows rose and he expected her to protest, but instead she shrugged. “Well, don’t complain to me if he causes you trouble. You didn’t have to choose him as your assistant.”
Da
She raised an eyebrow and regarded him closely. “Don’t tempt me, Da
Rothen chuckled. “Goodbye again, old friend,” he said. Just as Da
“Farewell, even older friend,” Da
“Off with you then.” Rothen made the same shooing motion that Sonea had. Da
“Ready?”
Lorkin nodded without hesitation.
“Driver. Time to depart,” Da
A command rang out and the carriage jerked into motion. Da
She won’t stop worrying about him the entire time he is gone. Such is the role of a parent. He suppressed a sigh. Why this melancholy? I should be filled with excitement at the coming adventure. Glancing at Lorkin, he saw that the young man was gazing out of the other window. It’s not just me then. I guess all travel involves leaving somewhere, and that often involves a little sadness. Well, at least Lorkin had someone seeing him off.
He frowned as he thought back over the previous several days. Since their argument Tayend hadn’t spoken a word. Not even when Da