After the usual polite exchange with the captain and the magician on duty, Sonea followed another guard up the stairs. He opened the small hatch in the door of Lilia's room.

"You have a visitor, Lady Lilia," he called out. Closing the little hatch, he turned his attention to the lock. When the door was open, he stepped aside so that Sonea could enter.

Lilia was standing beside a chair, over by the window. Her eyes were wide and she stared at Sonea hopefully before seeming to recollect herself.

"Black Magician Sonea," she said, bowing.

"Lilia," Sonea replied. Looking around the room, Sonea noted that it was comfortably furnished and warm. Two books were sitting on a small table beside the chair. "I have some questions to ask you."

The girl's expression shifted from hope to disappointment and resignation. She nodded, then gestured to a small table and two wooden chairs. "Please sit."

Sonea accepted the invitation, waiting until Lilia had taken the other seat before she met Lilia's gaze.

"Naki hasn't been seen for over a week." Sonea saw alarm in Lilia's face. "There was no sign of violence or note of explanation at her house. We have searched all the places the servants know Naki liked to visit. Is there anywhere you know of that she might have gone, that they wouldn't know of?"

Lilia grimaced. "A few brazier houses." She listed some names.

Sonea nodded. "The servants mentioned these, too. Anywhere else?"

Lilia shook her head.

"No other friends perhaps ones she was no longer friendly with?"

"No. Though ... there were rumours in the Guild that she'd been friendly with a servant girl but her father threw the family out."

"Yes, we've contacted them and they haven't seen her either. Were there any boys who pursued her, even though she had no interest in them?"

Lilia's gaze dropped and her face reddened. "Not that I know of."

"Did she ... did she have any connections to criminals perhaps roet sellers?"

"I ... I don't know. I guess she had to buy the roet from somebody. If she wasn't stealing her father's supply." Lilia looked up. "Have you found out anything about his murderer yet?"

Sonea paused, a little annoyed at the change of subject. But she will be anxious to know, since her friend did blame her for it. But she will be anxious to know, since her friend did blame her for it.

"No," Sonea told her. "At least, if the magicians investigating it have learned anything, it hasn't been important enough to report to the Higher Magicians."

"So ... you're not investigating it yourself?"

Sonea smiled wryly. "I wish I could, but I have a rogue magician to find. It is Black Magician Kallen's responsibility."

"But you're looking into where Naki is."

"I offered to question you, since we have talked communicated a little already."

Lilia nodded.

"According to the servants, Naki was receiving letters that upset her. She was receiving them for some time before Lord Leiden's death until the day she was last seen at home. Do you know anything about these letters?"

Lilia shook her head, then sighed. "I'm not much use, am I?"

"What someone doesn't know can be as useful as what they do know," Sonea told her. "It is interesting, considering how Naki was willing to trust you to know about the book with black magic instructions in it, but never told you about the letters. It suggests a far greater secret."

"What could be worse than black magic?" Lilia asked in a small voice.

"I don't know." Sonea rose. "But we intend to find out. Thanks for your help, Lilia. If you think of anything, get the guards to send someone to me."

Lilia nodded. "I will."

Conscious of the girl's eyes on her, Sonea left the room. As the guard locked the door behind her, she considered the next door along. Lorandra. Is there any point in me visiting her again? I guess, since I'm here already ... Lorandra. Is there any point in me visiting her again? I guess, since I'm here already ...

What are you doing, Naki? Where are you? Did you go there deliberately, or did somebody take you?

Are you even alive?

Once again, Lilia's stomach clenched. All day the questions had repeated in her mind. At first she had encouraged them, hoping that the answers would somehow rise to the surface and she could call out to Welor and send him off to find Sonea. With her help, Naki would be rescued or else just simply located. Her friend might realise that she would never harm her. Or else the Guild would be grateful for Lilia's help, and perhaps ...

Let me out of here? I doubt that. Lilia sighed. Lilia sighed. That will only happen if I somehow forget how to use black magic. That will only happen if I somehow forget how to use black magic.

Forcing herself to stop pacing, she sat down and picked up one of the books. Even though she had started to see why Welor liked it the battle descriptions had obviously been written with relish not even the most exciting tale could have held her attention for long. Not when the person she loved most in the world was missing. She put it down again.

A sound from the next room drew her eyes to the side door. She'd listened in as Sonea had talked to Lorandra. It had been an odd conversation, mostly one-sided since Lorandra wasn't inclined to answer Sonea's questions, and when she did speak she often changed the subject completely. Though both said nothing that could be considered impolite or threatening, the whole meeting gave Lilia an impression of antagonism. Lorandra did not want to cooperate. Lilia wasn't surprised when Sonea gave up and left.

With nothing to listen in on, she wandered the room. A tap from the door made Lilia jump.

"Finished pacing now?" a muffled voice asked.

Lilia smiled wryly. If she had made a habit of listening to the other woman, then it was no surprise Lorandra was doing the same to her.

"For now," she said, moving over to the door.

"You had some bad news?"

"Yes. My friend is missing." Though Lilia had told Lorandra of Naki, she had only described them as close friends.

"Do you know where she is?"

"No." Lorandra would have heard me say that ... but I suppose she'd have to allow that I could have been lying to Sonea. Lorandra would have heard me say that ... but I suppose she'd have to allow that I could have been lying to Sonea.

"I bet you wish you could go into the city and find her."

"I do. Very much." Lilia sighed. "But even if I wasn't locked up here, I wouldn't know where to look."

"Do you think it's more likely she's been taken against her will, or gone into hiding?"

Lilia considered. "Why would she go into hiding? If she had learned black magic it would make sense, but Black Magician Sonea would have seen it in her mind. So it's more likely she's been taken against ..." Lilia could not finish the sentence. She shuddered. And yet she felt a little bit better. This was, at least, an answer. Even if it wasn't a good one.

"Who would want to do that?"

"I don't know."

"What does she have that others might want?"

"Money. She inherited her father's fortune when he died." Lilia's heart skipped. "Maybe she found out who killed him!"

"If she did, she's probably dead."

Lilia felt her heart constrict. She didn't want to think about that.

"What if she isn't dead?" Lilia asked. "What if she's being held captive? What if she's being blackmailed?" What if someone is trying to force her into telling them the instructions in the book on black magic? What if someone is trying to force her into telling them the instructions in the book on black magic?

Lorandra was silent for several breaths. "I guess you won't know unless the Guild finds out and bothers to tell you. Do you think they will?"

Lilia's heart sank. "I don't know."

"It sounded like Sonea had her doubts."

"Did it?" Lilia thought back. She couldn't remember. Her mind had been caught up in shock and worry over Naki.

"Yes." Lorandra tapped quietly on the door, as if drumming her fingers in thought. "Once, I would have been able to find out for you. I have contacts in the city. Many, many contacts. Most aren't particularly respectable ones, but that's partly why I'm in here. If I was free, I would help you find your friend, or find out what happened to her."

Lilia smiled, though she knew the woman couldn't see it. "Thanks. It's nice to know you would, if you were able to." How strange that this woman, who the Guild regards as a criminal, understands better than anyone else what I'm going through. Well, it's said that loyalty is important to Thieves and people in the underworld. How strange that this woman, who the Guild regards as a criminal, understands better than anyone else what I'm going through. Well, it's said that loyalty is important to Thieves and people in the underworld.

"Your powers were blocked before they put you in here, weren't they?"

"Of course." Lilia frowned at the change of subject.

"Have you ever tried to break the block, or get past it?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"I ... why bother? Black Magician Sonea put it there. I'm hardly going to break a block she made. I'd just give myself a headache trying."

"So ... it makes a difference how strong the magician is who makes a block? Or if that magician is a black magician?"

Lilia shook her head. "I don't know. All I know is that it separates your will from your power, so it doesn't matter how strong you are."

"It can't separate all control, though. Otherwise we'd be dead."

"Of course."

"How do they do that?"

"I don't know." Lilia winced. She'd been saying "I don't know" a lot today.

"It seems to me that black magicians are not just stronger than normal magicians but have a different kind of magic. A different way of controlling it."

"They're not stronger unless they've taken power from other people," Lilia corrected. "Though Sonea and Kallen were both stronger than most magicians before they learned black magic, they're no stronger than that. They aren't allowed to take power without permission, and it would only be given if the lands were under attack, or faced some other threat."

"Really? Then I'm right. It's a different kind of magic."

Lorandra's tone was that of someone who had just learned something, and was very pleased about it. If she didn't know that ... should I have told her? She's right, though. I didn't learn black magic by taking power; I learned it by trying out a different way of sensing it. If she didn't know that ... should I have told her? She's right, though. I didn't learn black magic by taking power; I learned it by trying out a different way of sensing it.

"So their powers are different,"

Lorandra pointed out. "They can do things other magicians can't. Like read minds. They can get around someone's defences, unlike ordinary magicians."

"Yes." That much was obvious.

Lorandra paused again, but not for as long.

"It seems to me that being able to do different things with your mind ought to mean any block in that mind would have to be different, too. Did Sonea put the usual kind of block in your mind? Don't answer that," she added. "I'm just thinking aloud. But answer this if you can: has anyone put a block on a black magician before?"

"Not that I know of. There's nothing in the history lessons that mentions it."

"I think you should try to get past the block. If nobody has put one on a black magician before, and black magic gets around normal restrictions, then how do they know they got it right?"

Lilia stared at the door. Her heart was beating a little faster. She wanted to point out that Sonea would simply replace the block. If she found out it was gone. So long as I never used magic when anyone was here nobody would know. If she found out it was gone. So long as I never used magic when anyone was here nobody would know. But she was ignoring the obvious consequence of succeeding: Lorandra wouldn't be content with remaining in the Lookout. But she was ignoring the obvious consequence of succeeding: Lorandra wouldn't be content with remaining in the Lookout. She'll want me to get us out. She'll want me to get us out.

Normally Lilia would have refused. She would have stayed put, knowing that Sonea and Kallen would chase her down, and the punishment for escaping would be worse than mere imprisonment.

They'd probably execute me.

But if she found Naki, perhaps it would be worth it. Reason told her that she did not know the city well enough to find Naki before the Guild caught her, but here was a woman who knew the city well. Who knew the underworld, where Naki was most likely imprisoned. Who wanted to help Lilia.

Lilia wanted more than anything to find Naki, but what did Lorandra want?

Well, she wants to exchange her help for me busting her out of this prison, Lilia thought. I should get her to agree to some conditions. I should get her to agree to some conditions.

"How long will it take to find Naki, do you think?"

Lorandra chuckled. "You're a quick one, Lady Lilia. I can't tell you exactly. I'd have to locate my people, and if they don't already know they'd have to spend some time finding out."

"Do you think we could slip away each night, then return by morning, without the guards knowing?" That would gain us more time than if we left and the Guild started hunting for us. We could spend weeks searching for Naki, if necessary. If they did find we'd been slipping out, they might forgive me given that we returned each time. We might even find Naki without the Guild knowing we'd ever left the Lookout. That would gain us more time than if we left and the Guild started hunting for us. We could spend weeks searching for Naki, if necessary. If they did find we'd been slipping out, they might forgive me given that we returned each time. We might even find Naki without the Guild knowing we'd ever left the Lookout.

"Possibly." Lorandra's tone was hard to read. "It depends on whether we can get in and out of here without anyone noticing. If I had access to my powers I could levitate ..."

"I can do that," Lilia said quickly. She did not want to be talked into unblocking Lorandra's powers. It was bad enough letting the woman loose, but releasing her on the city in full control of her powers was another matter entirely. "So ... if I get us out of here, do you promise to help me find Naki?"

"Yes."

"And we'll try to slip away and back without anyone noticing?"

"Yes."

"Then I'll do it. If I can undo the block."