Achati groaned, then sighed. "Yes. Just ... tired." He rolled over onto his back with an effort. "Storm's passed. Go look, if you like."

Holding back a chuckle, Dannyl left through the open door, closing it behind him. He climbed the short, steep stair to the upper deck, pushing through the hatch into sunlight.

The few slaves still about stood with sagging shoulders, holding onto ropes or railing as if too weak to support themselves. The captain sat watching as another slave held the wheel, dark shadows under his eyes. As the man's eyes met Dannyl's, he nodded. Dannyl returned the gesture. A faint smile pulled at the captain's lips, then disappeared.

Glancing around the ship, Dannyl saw no sign of damage. Looking beyond, he saw that the skies to the south-east were dark with cloud. The edge of the storm, he guessed, moving away from them.

From the position of the sun, he reckoned it was mid-afternoon. The coast was visible to the right. A featureless land fringed by a short, eroding cliff. He considered the height of the latter thoughtfully. On the journey north he'd noted how the cliffs had grown steadily higher. If he could spot something now to indicate scale, he might be able to estimate how far from Arvice they were.

"Are we there yet?"

Surprised, Dannyl turned to see Tayend stepping through the hatch onto the deck. The Elyne looked tired and sick, but not as tired as Achati and not as sick as Tayend would have been if Dannyl hadn't been Healing away his seasickness since leaving Duna.

"I have no idea," Dannyl confessed.

"Achati's asleep." Tayend moved to stand beside Dannyl and looked around. "Storm's passed."

His observations didn't seem to need an answer, so Dannyl stayed silent. They stared out at the sea. In comfortable, companionable silence In comfortable, companionable silence, Dannyl thought, but he found that the longer neither of them spoke, the more aware he was of Tayend's presence.

"How are you feeling?" he asked eventually.

"Not too bad." Tayend shrugged. "I'll probably take some more of that cure soon."

"You don't have to," Dannyl assured him.

"No, it's fine. I could do with the sleep."

Dannyl nodded. "So, did you enjoy the trip?"

Tayend didn't answer, and when Dannyl turned to look at him he saw the Elyne's lips were pursed in thought.

"Yes and no," Tayend replied. "I'm a bit disappointed I spent so much of it drugged. When we got to Duna it was better, though that ride up the canyon trail was rather unnerving. The tribes were interesting, but we only stayed a day and they only spoke to you."

Dannyl grimaced. "Sorry about that."

"Oh, don't apologise. It wasn't your decision."

They fell silent again. Tayend turned full circle, looking at the ship and checking out the coast. He stopped and faced Dannyl.

"And you?" he asked. "Come to any decisions?"

There was an accusing tone to his question. Dannyl turned to frown at Tayend. The Elyne's eyes were sharp and steady. Though Dannyl knew that Tayend was a lot smarter than his behaviour often suggested, he suddenly found that his former lover looked like an entirely different person. An older person An older person, he thought. A more mature person. A more mature person.

"I know know, Dannyl," Tayend said in a low voice. "You two are definitely more than ... friends friends. Do you think I wouldn't be able to tell, after living with you for so long?"

Dannyl looked away, but not to avoid showing any guilt, he realised. To avoid glaring at Tayend in anger. He resisted the urge to glance back at the captain, or around at the slaves to see if any had heard, and created a barrier around them to contain sound.

"Nothing happened."

Tayend sniffed in disgust. "No?" he said. Dannyl met his gaze. Tayend's eyes narrowed, then he smiled thinly. "Oh, good. I managed to stop some part of your foolishness, then."

"You were were keeping us apart!" Dannyl accused. "I thought you might be jealous, but this is-" keeping us apart!" Dannyl accused. "I thought you might be jealous, but this is-"

"This has nothing to do with jealousy," Tayend hissed. "He's a Sachakan Sachakan. An Ashaki Ashaki. A black black magician." magician."

"You think I haven't noticed this?"

"Yes," Tayend replied, his expression serious. "Because otherwise I'd have to consider that you're either going senile, are blind with love or are turning traitor. Out of those I have no proof of the first two, which leaves me in an awkward position as an Ambassador."

"I'm not turning into a traitor," Dannyl replied. "Last time I looked, having a foreign lover was not an act of treachery, otherwise I'd never have bedded you."

Tayend crossed his arms. "This is different. Our lands are allies. Sachaka is ..."

Dannyl raised his eyebrows when Tayend didn't finish the sentence. "The enemy? It will always be our enemy, if we never stop treating it as one."

"It will never be our ally so long as Sachakans like Achati keep slaves and use black magic." Tayend's eyes narrowed. "Don't tell me your position is softening on that, as well."

Dannyl shook his head. "Of course not."

"Good. Because I'm watching you, Ambassador Dannyl. The moment you turn into a Sachakan, I'll know." Tayend turned away and moved back to the hatch, forcing Dannyl to quickly drop his sound-blocking shield. "Now I'm going to get some proper sleep."

As the hatch closed, Dannyl turned away to stare at the sea again.

Turn into a Sachakan. How ridiculous.

But as so often happened with Tayend, he felt a little seed of doubt take root. What if he was? Was Achati the cause? Or was it simply that he was growing too used to the Sachakan way of doing things?

If that's so, then there's nothing to worry about. Everything will return to normal once we get back to the Guild House.

CHAPTER 29.

THE DECISION.

Most novices never get to see this room, Lilia thought as she followed Black Magician Sonea into Administrator Osen's office. I've seen it more times than I'd ever want to. I've seen it more times than I'd ever want to.

The Administrator was sitting behind his desk and Black Magician Kallen was reclining in one of the guest chairs, but they both stood up as she and Sonea arrived. A third magician, hidden behind the back of the chair he was sitting in, got to his feet. To her surprise, it was University Director Jerrik.

"Lilia," Osen said as he stepped around his desk and came forward to meet her. "How are you feeling?"

She blinked at him, feeling another twinge of surprise at such a conversational question.

"I'm well, Administrator Osen," she answered. Tired of waiting to find out if I'm going to be locked up again Tired of waiting to find out if I'm going to be locked up again, she added silently.

"Good," he said. "As you know, we have been discussing what to do with you. I am happy to tell you that we have come to a decision, and it has been approved by the king." He smiled. "You may rejoin the Guild and complete your training."

She stared at him in disbelief, then felt a smile spring to her lips. "Thank you."

His expression became serious. "It is not offered without some conditions, however. You will be required to make the Novices' Vow again."

Lilia nodded to show she was willing to do so.

"You will not be allowed to leave the Guild grounds unless given permission by myself, High Lord Balkan, Black Magician Kallen or Black Magician Sonea," Osen continued. "You will not be allowed to use black magic unless, sometime in the future, the king approves you taking on the position of Black Magician. To identify you as one who knows black magic, your robes will feature a black band on the sleeves."

Nodding again, Lilia hoped her disappointment didn't show. Since meeting Anyi and hearing about the threat she and her father were facing from Skellin, Lilia had hoped to find a way to help her. If she was restricted to the Guild grounds, how could she do that?

"Because of the knowledge of black magic that you have, you will not be able to participate in lessons that require the linking of minds. In those situations, Black Magician Kallen or Black Magician Sonea will conduct the lesson."

She tried not to blanch at the thought of more mental contact with either magician. But having my mind read was very different to the mind to mind lessons I had in the past. Still ... I hope Sonea is the one who teaches me. Kallen is so stern and disapproving. But having my mind read was very different to the mind to mind lessons I had in the past. Still ... I hope Sonea is the one who teaches me. Kallen is so stern and disapproving.

"Kallen has offered to take on your guardianship. We think your having a guardian will reassure people that we have you well in hand." Osen's tone was lighter as he said this. "Since we anticipate a protest from parents if you stay in the Novices' Quarters, you will continue to stay in Black Magician Sonea's rooms."

Lilia suppressed a sigh of relief. For a moment she had been worried that she would have to stay with Kallen, but now that she considered it, she knew that it would be considered inappropriate for a young woman to stay in a single man's rooms, no matter the difference in their ages.

"Do you accept these conditions?" Osen asked.

"I do," she replied, nodding again.

"Then swear it."

She paused, realising that he expected her to remember the Novices' Vow. To her surprise the words came back to her easily.

"I swear that I will never harm another man or woman unless in defence of the Allied Lands," she said. "I will obey the rules of the Guild. I will obey the order of any magician of the Guild, unless those orders involve breaking a law. I will never use magic unless instructed by a Guild magician."

Osen smiled approvingly. He turned to nod at Director Jerrik. The man moved back to the chair he had been sitting in and picked something up. Returning, he held it out to Lilia.

It was a bundle of novice's robes. Gratitude washed over her like a physical wave of warmth. To her embarrassment, she felt tears tickle the corners of her eyes.

"Thank you," she croaked.

Osen placed a hand on her shoulder briefly. "Welcome back."

The other magicians murmured the same words. Overcome, Lilia could not speak. She felt Sonea touch her arm.

"That's it, I think." She looked at the others, who nodded. "Let's go back to your room so you can get changed."

Silently grateful, Lilia let the woman guide her out of the room, and back into a life as a Guild magician. Though knowing black magic means I'll always be more restricted than most magicians Though knowing black magic means I'll always be more restricted than most magicians, she thought. That's a lot better than being locked away. Or dead. That's a lot better than being locked away. Or dead.

And maybe, somehow, she could still find a way to help Anyi.

As the carriage pulled up outside the hospice side entrance, Sonea pushed aside a nagging reluctance and climbed out. She smiled and nodded at the Healers and helpers who greeted her, answering questions and asking them what she had missed since she'd last been there.

Their friendliness warmed her, and she was grateful all over again that she hadn't been given the task of executing Naki. She made her way to the treatment-room door, gathered her determination, and knocked.

The door swung inward. Dorrien smiled at her and beckoned. She moved through and sat down.

"Why the serious look?" he asked.

She drew a breath to answer, then her courage faltered. We should chat a little before I deliver the bad news. We should chat a little before I deliver the bad news.

"I was wondering how people would react, if I had been chosen to be Naki's executioner," she told him.

He gave her a reflective look. "Serious thoughts, indeed." He looked away as he considered. "I don't think they would resent you for it."

"But they would not be able to help thinking about it, when they were around me. They would fear me even more."

"Fear you? They don't fear you," he told her. you? They don't fear you," he told her.

She gave him a disbelieving look. He looked back at her, then shook his head.

"They're intimidated by you, Sonea. That's different. They're scared of black magic, but they're not scared of you. You've shown them that it doesn't make a person into a murderer."

"I've used it to kill," she pointed out.

He spread his hands. "That's different, too. It was in the defence of Kyralia. They'd do the same, in the same position."

She looked away. "I also used Healing to kill. That seems even worse to me." She looked around the room. "I'm a Healer. I'm supposed to mend people, not kill them. I think that, if I'd had to execute Naki, people would have found it difficult to reconcile the two."

Dorrien's jaw hardened. "She learned black magic deliberately, and killed with it for her own benefit."

Sonea shrugged. "Even so, I think it would have changed the way people thought of me. I never got a chance to choose a discipline. I would have chosen to be a Healer. I work as a Healer, but I can never wear the green robes. I am a Black Magician. While I would not hesitate to defend Kyralia again, that role is not the one I wanted."

He smiled wryly. "I prefer to think that Healing chose me."

She nodded. "And I suppose despite everything, it still claimed me, though you were a strong influence behind me wanting it to, too."

They regarded each other fondly. Perhaps too fondly, in Dorrien's case Perhaps too fondly, in Dorrien's case. She gathered courage and determination. It's time I put an end to this. It's time I put an end to this.

"Dorrien, I have been thinking a lot about ... us."

"There is no 'us', is there?" he said.

She looked at him in surprise. He gave her a wan smile.

"Father came to see me. Gave me the good news. Tylia will join the winter intake of novices. Kallen is probably going to be taking over the search for Skellin. 'Why don't you go back to your village?' he suggested."

Sonea stared at him. "Kallen is going to be taking over the search for is going to be taking over the search for Skellin Skellin?"

His eyebrows rose. "You didn't know? Father didn't say it was going to happen for certain."

"No." She resisted the urge to jump out of her seat and march straight back to Osen's office. Unless ... Rothen may have made this up in order to give Dorrien no excuse to stay in Imardin. But that seems a little extreme. Perhaps ... I never told him about Dorrien's infatuation with me, but has he guessed? Unless ... Rothen may have made this up in order to give Dorrien no excuse to stay in Imardin. But that seems a little extreme. Perhaps ... I never told him about Dorrien's infatuation with me, but has he guessed? She looked back at Dorrien. She looked back at Dorrien.