She slipped behind it and put down the basket. Workers further along the alley eyed her, but as she began rubbing her back, they politely looked away. She looked back down the alley. Sure enough, a short, thin man with a mean expression was making his way toward her. He looked like he belonged here as much as she did. The workers paused when they saw him and gave him a wide berth. They, like her, knew the look of a Thief's man when they saw one.

Looking at the obstructions between herself and her pursuer, Sonea found what she was looking for. She sent out a little magic and held it in place. Then she turned and continued down the alley, keeping to her former hurried pace.

She counted down in her head and gave a push with the magic. A crash came from behind her, then yells and curses. She paused to look back, feigning surprise. Her pursuer's path was now blocked by a woodpile that had collapsed under its own weight. She turned and hurried on.

A few streets and another alley later, and several stops to check, she decided that she was no longer being followed and made her way to the laundry, sweet shop and the room beneath. Cery and Gol looked relieved as she entered the room.

"Sorry I'm late," she said as she sat down. "Had to deal with a tag."

Cery's eyebrows rose, then he smiled thinly. "Nobody talks like that any more."

Gol made a smothered choking sound. She looked from one to the other.

"Like what? You mean slum slang?"

"Yes." Cery rose. "Or so my daughter tells me."

"Where is she?"

He grimaced. "Off playing spy for me."

She felt her heart skip a beat. "You let her ...?"

"Not really a matter of letting letting with Anyi." He sighed. "She rightly pointed out that we've had no other ideas for months." He paced a few steps to the right. "Her intention is to convince whoever employs her that she's truly turned on me by betraying my location." He stopped and paced to the left. "Of course, Gol and I will make a narrow escape." He turned to face her. "That's where you will come in." with Anyi." He sighed. "She rightly pointed out that we've had no other ideas for months." He paced a few steps to the right. "Her intention is to convince whoever employs her that she's truly turned on me by betraying my location." He stopped and paced to the left. "Of course, Gol and I will make a narrow escape." He turned to face her. "That's where you will come in."

"I will?"

"Yes." He shook his head, not bothering to hide his worry and doubts. "You'll be the factor she couldn't plan for."

"I see."

Cery resumed his pacing. "I was hoping to have you and Regin lined up for this, so that if one of you couldn't make it the other could step in-"

"Wait a few days and I'll have a replacement for Regin."

"Really?" Cery stopped. "Who is it?"

"Dorrien. Rothen's son."

"I thought he lived in the country."

"He did, but he's decided to move to the city to get his daughter settled here before she starts at the University."

Cery chuckled. "I bet Rothen doesn't know whether to be pleased or horrified."

She smiled and nodded. "I wish we didn't have to bring him into this. I wish you you didn't need to involve Anyi." didn't need to involve Anyi."

"It's our children's purpose in life to make us worry," Cery replied wryly. He looked up. "Have you heard from Lorkin?"

Sonea felt a stab of pain, but it was more a dull ache than the sharp terror she'd felt when he'd first disappeared. "No. I guess I should be glad he he isn't being dragged into this." isn't being dragged into this."

He nodded. "Perhaps I should have sent Anyi off to Sachaka." His expression suddenly became distant and thoughtful. He shook his head and looked at Sonea. "Anything else?"

"No. You?"

"Nothing. I'll send a message to the hospice when I know what Anyi is planning. Could you stay here a while, just in case you were followed?"

"Sure. I did lose the t ... whatever you call them now."

"Of course you did," he said in a consolatory tone.

"You doubt my ability to lose a tag?" She crossed her arms.

"Not at all."

She narrowed her eyes at him. He feigned innocence. Behind him, Gol slid a panel in the wall open.

"Coming?" he asked.

Cery smiled and turned away. Shaking her head, Sonea watched as they slipped through into darkness and the panel slid shut again. Then she sat down and waited until they'd put some distance between themselves and the shop before she headed back to the hospice.

Stomach full, and with a mouth burning pleasantly from the spices he'd consumed, Dannyl sipped his wine contentedly. It was good to get away from the Guild House. These days the only Sachakan home Dannyl saw the inside of was Achati's. It followed the typical format, but the interior walls were painted a softer colour than the traditional stark white. The carpets and decorations were simple and elegant. He preferred the soft light of lamps to magical globe lights.

Dannyl had seen no glimpse of Achati's source slave and lover, Varn, since their journey in search of Lorkin. Achati had not mentioned his interest in Dannyl beyond friendship since then either at least not directly. Dannyl was not sure if the Ashaki had given up on such a liaison happening, content to enjoy their friendship, or whether he was giving Dannyl time to contemplate the idea.

I must admit, I hope he hasn't given up, but at the same time, the fact that Achati is such a powerful man is as sobering as it is interesting. Not to forget the fact that he is Sachakan and I'm Kyralian, and some still feel we are enemies. Having a Sachakan friend would be seen to be beneficial, encouraging respect and understanding between our people. Having a Sachakan lover would raise suspicions of divided loyalties.

"So the treasure that was stolen from the palace was a magic-storing object," Achati said, his expression thoughtful.

Dannyl looked up and nodded. "The king told me something had been taken long ago. I thought you'd be interested to know what its purpose was."

"Yes." Achati's eyes wrinkled with amusement. "We did not remember what it was, only that it was stolen. If only we'd remembered that it was an object used to control us an object powerful enough to create the wasteland we might not have nursed such resentment. Or resented it as much," he added. "Since your people did use it to create the wasteland."

"A resentment that is deserved." Dannyl shuddered as he thought of the lifeless land he'd travelled across to get to Arvice. "I've often wondered how the Kyralians maintained control here. As far as I can tell, there weren't as many Kyralian magicians here as there were Sachakan magicians. Perhaps the threat of the storestone is the answer."

"It wasn't long after the object was stolen that the Kyralians relinquished control of my country," Achati told him.

Dannyl nodded. "We always assumed it was because the wasteland was considered protection and deterrent enough."

Achati grimaced. "It certainly weakened Sachaka. Our most fertile lands were gone, and we were already a country bursting with more people than we could feed, despite losing so many Ashaki in the war." He sucked in a breath, then let it out slowly. "The king will be interested in what you said earlier: that there was initial success in reclaiming the wastes. Restoring the land is a hope of his."

"It would be a great achievement."

"Yes." Achati frowned. "It is a peculiar thing that Kyralians have no memory of this storestone."

"I can only assume that all reference to it was lost when Imardin was destroyed, which I now believe happened centuries later." Dannyl sighed. "All good discoveries raise more questions. Why did Narvelan steal it? Why did he use it? I doubt we'll ever know, since he and those that might have confronted him did not live to tell the tale."

Achati nodded. "I'd like to know where the storestone came from. Did it originate in Kyralia? Was it made or natural?" He shook his head. "I'm sure you would like to know as much for Kyralia's sake as for your book. All would face as great a threat of disaster as Sachaka suffered, if such a weapon fell into the hands of an enemy."

"Thankfully, storestones don't appear to be very common. They may not even exist any more."

The two men were quiet for a while, thinking about this, then the Ashaki smiled again. "I must admit, I am finding myself drawn into this research of yours. I've been considering how else I might help you."

"The book merchants at the market are going to inform me when they buy more old records," Dannyl told him. Achati had done enough already by persuading various Ashaki to open their libraries to the Guild Ambassador, and Dannyl didn't want his new friend and ally losing respect for continuing to promote the cause of an unpopular foreigner.

"You can't rely on them," Achati told him. "They'll sell to the highest buyer. And there is no need for you to wait until an estate's owner is desperate enough to sell their old records. There is no need to buy them at all. We can go to them."

Dannyl blinked at the man in surprise. "Go to them? Visit them?"

"Yes. As you know, estates are obliged to provide food and beds for travelling Ashaki, and as the king's friend and representative I warrant extra attention and favours. If we show an interest in their old records there is a good chance they'll show them to us. That way there is no need for you to buy anything, which may be seen by some as benefiting from the downfall of victims of the wasteland your people created."

"But ... what of your duties as the king's representative and adviser? What of mine as Guild Ambassador?"

Achati chuckled. "The king has more than one friend and adviser, and you are hardly being swamped with work. If any matter does arise, I'm sure Ambassador Tayend and your assistant can take care of it." Then he sobered. "I want you to find out as much as possible about the storestone. If one should still exist, or was created, it could be terrible for all countries."

Dannyl caught his breath. Achati was right: if a storestone existed or could be made it would be a great danger to both Sachaka and the Allied Lands. What would the Traitors do if they got hold of one? They would rise up against the Ashaki. Once they had conquered Sachaka, would they be content to remain there? Would they seek to expand their borders further?

Then he felt a pang of guilt and anxiety. He hadn't told Achati everything, of course. In particular, nothing about the gemstones that Unh and the Traitors made. The only people Dannyl had given that information to were Lorkin and Administrator Osen. Osen had agreed that it was best to keep it a secret, as it might endanger Lorkin if Dannyl gave information about the Traitors to the Sachakans.

He shivered. Can I warn the Sachakans about the Traitors' gem-making ability somehow, without it seeming like I already knew? Can I warn the Sachakans about the Traitors' gem-making ability somehow, without it seeming like I already knew? He didn't think he could. He didn't think he could.

Should I accept Achati's help in finding out more about the store-stone? If knowledge of such a weapon did exist, it would exist in Sachaka. The Sachakans would find it eventually, if Dannyl didn't find it first. He should take advantage of the fact that Achati was willing for a Kyralian to do the searching. If knowledge of such a weapon did exist, it would exist in Sachaka. The Sachakans would find it eventually, if Dannyl didn't find it first. He should take advantage of the fact that Achati was willing for a Kyralian to do the searching.

Where would I start looking first?

He almost smiled as the obvious answer came to him.

"Could this tour take us anywhere near the Duna lands?" he asked.

"Duna?" Achati looked surprised.

"Yes. They are, after all, traders in gemstones. Perhaps they can tell us something about storestones."

Achati frowned. "They aren't much inclined to talk to us."

"From what I remember of our last journey, Sachakans aren't much inclined to listen to them."

His friend shrugged, then his eyes narrowed. "That's right. You and Unh got quite chatty. What did he say that makes you think his people might tell us what they know of store-stones?"

Dannyl considered his next words carefully. "We found a cave with a patch of gemstones growing from the wall. He told me they were safe. I knew what he meant, because I have encountered gemstones with magical properties before, in Elyne. Nothing like the storestone, of course."

Achati's eyebrows rose. "You have have?" When Dannyl didn't reply, he looked amused. "So ... Unh knew they could be unsafe. You think his people have storestones?"

"No, but I think they might know something about them. Perhaps only stories and legends, but old tales can contain truths and history."

The Ashaki considered Dannyl, then began to nod. "Duna, then. We will go to visit the ash desert, and hope that your powers of charm and persuasion work as well on them as they did on Unh." He turned to the slave waiting nearby. "Bring raka. We have some planning to do."

A thrill of excitement ran over Dannyl's skin. Another research trip! Like when Tayend and I ... Another research trip! Like when Tayend and I ... A stab of guilt muted his enthusiasm. A stab of guilt muted his enthusiasm. What will Tayend think of me going off on an adventure with Achati just as he and I did back when we'd first met? Will he be jealous? At the least, it will be a reminder of what we don't share any more. It seems an unkind way to repay him for drawing my attention to the booksellers at the market. What will Tayend think of me going off on an adventure with Achati just as he and I did back when we'd first met? Will he be jealous? At the least, it will be a reminder of what we don't share any more. It seems an unkind way to repay him for drawing my attention to the booksellers at the market.

"What is it?" Achati asked.

Dannyl realised he'd been frowning. "I ... I would have to gain the permission of the Higher Magicians."

"Do you think them likely to refuse?"

"Not if I put it the way you just did."

Achati laughed. "Then be sure to be a good mimic. Though not too good. If you sound like you're becoming a Sachakan Ashaki, they might call you home instead."

CHAPTER 9.

ANTICIPATION AND BETRAYAL.

As Damend's strikes broke through Pepea's defensive shield, Lilia felt the inner shield she was holding weaken under the attack and quickly sent it more power.

"Well done," Lady Rol-Ley said, nodding to Damend. "Third round goes to Damend. Froje and Madie will fight next."

The two girls grimaced, rose and made their way over to the teacher reluctantly. Lilia let the inner shield around Pepea disappear and waited for instructions from the teacher. Ley was of the Lans people, who were a race that prided themselves on their warrior skills in both men and women. Yet they produced few magicians, and not very strong ones, so while Ley was fit and good at strategy, she needed help to run classes safely.

Ley glanced at Lilia. "Protect Madie. I'll shield Froje."

Reaching out to lay a hand on Madie's shoulder, Lilia sought a sense of the other girl's power so that she could create an inner shield attuned to it. If it wasn't in tune, it would prevent Madie striking.

She sensed nothing. Madie was rigid and tense. Looking up, she saw her old friend abruptly look away, avoiding her eyes. The girl's power was suddenly there, clear to her senses. Annoyed, Lilia created the inner shield.

"I don't see the point of this," Froje complained. "I know all magicians are supposed to keep their fighting skills up, in case we're invaded again, but we're both terrible at it. We'd be more of a liability in battle than a benefit."

Ley chuckled. "You might surprise yourself."

"I doubt it. Surely we'd have no power to fight with anyway. We'd have all given it to Black Magicians Sonea and Kallen."

"You could have hours even half a day to recover some strength before a battle began, so you wouldn't be completely powerless. Even if Sonea and Kallen were defeated, our enemy would be weakened by the fight. It would be a pity if we could not finish them off and save ourselves, just because some of us were too lazy to keep up our warrior skills. Now go take your positions."

The two girls shuffled away to the entrance of the Arena. Ley shook her head and sighed.

"They wouldn't be so bad at it if they practised," she said.

Lilia shrugged. "They'd practise if they liked it. And they'd like it if they were good at it."

Ley glanced at Lilia and smiled. "Do you like Warrior Skills?"