"Lorkin!"

The young magician smiled. "Ambassador. You have no idea how relieved I am to see you. How was your journey?"

Dannyl walked forward and grasped Lorkin's arm in greeting. "Nothing compared to yours, I'm sure. You have no idea how relieved I I am to see am to see you you."

Lorkin grinned. "Oh, I'm pretty sure I can guess. Would you like to wash and eat before I give you the news?"

Moving to one of the stools, Dannyl sat down. Lorkin chuckled.

"I gather that's a 'no'."

"If you don't mind," Tayend said. "I'd like to wash and eat. I'm sure you can fill me in later."

"Of course," Dannyl said. "Tell the slaves to prepare something for us both."

The Elyne hurried down the corridor to his room. As Lorkin and Merria sat down, Dannyl noted that both wore worried expressions.

"So is this good news or bad?"

Lorkin smiled wryly. "Both. The bad is this ..."

He handed Dannyl a letter. Noting the Sachakan king's seal, already broken, Dannyl opened the letter and read. He felt a chill run down his spine.

"So," he said. "He forbids you to leave and informs you that he will summon you to meet with him once I have returned. It makes sense. You've spent months with the rebels so the king obviously wants to know everything you've learned."

"You don't expect me to tell him, do you?"

"Not unless the Guild no, our our king orders you to." king orders you to."

Lorkin looked worried. "Can he stop me leaving? Do I have to meet with him?"

"That depends how much he's willing to test the peace between our lands." Dannyl frowned. "The fact that you left to live with the rebels probably tested that peace quite a bit already. If we ignore this and send you home, it will be an even greater insult."

"So what do we do?"

"You cooperate. You stay here. You meet him. You tell him nothing, respectfully and politely. We myself, the Guild and king, and anyone else we can persuade to help us work at persuading him to let you go."

"It might take a long time."

Dannyl nodded. "That's very likely."

Lorkin looked even more anxious now. He glanced at Merria, then at the door Tayend had disappeared through.

"There is ... something else. I gather, since you were surprised to see me here, that you haven't been in contact with Osen?"

Another chill ran down Dannyl's spine. "No. There was a storm and ... I've been too preoccupied to put on the ring." He cursed silently. The blood rings were so useful and yet so limited. If only he'd been allowed to make a blood ring and leave it with the Administrator. Then Osen could have contacted him directly.

Lorkin met Dannyl's eyes, his expression serious. He suddenly looked much older than he was or than Dannyl was used to regarding him.

"I can't discuss anything aloud in case we're overheard. You need to contact Osen," Lorkin said. "Now."

EPILOGUE.

A noise down the passage alerted Cery before he saw the light. Relieved, he stood up and waited for Anyi to reach him. As she neared him he saw her smile and he sighed with relief. noise down the passage alerted Cery before he saw the light. Relieved, he stood up and waited for Anyi to reach him. As she neared him he saw her smile and he sighed with relief.

It was good to see her so happy. Good that she had a friend. Being cooped up in the hideout did not suit her, and no matter how many practice sessions he and Gol put her through they wouldn't be able to curb her restless nature.

The only real danger in these visits to Lilia is the stability of the passages under the Guild. No Thief has dared to occupy them. The Slig, the slum children who had built themselves homes in parts of the Thieves' Road, were said to instinctively know and avoid unstable areas. Anyi had taken Lilia down into the tunnels and they'd both started to make repairs. He hoped they knew what they were doing. No Thief has dared to occupy them. The Slig, the slum children who had built themselves homes in parts of the Thieves' Road, were said to instinctively know and avoid unstable areas. Anyi had taken Lilia down into the tunnels and they'd both started to make repairs. He hoped they knew what they were doing.

"You don't have to wait for me," Anyi said, and not for the first time.

Cery shrugged. "I don't mind."

"I was gone for hours."

He looked at Gol. "We kept ourselves occupied."

She sighed and walked past him. "Where to now?"

"Home," he said.

As they travelled, slipping out of the Thieves' Road as soon as they reached a safe place, he thought about Sonea's message. He couldn't blame her for seizing the opportunity to meet Lorkin. He'd have done the same thing.

But he didn't trust Kallen in the same way he trusted her. Not just because I don't know him like I know Sonea, or that he's not from the lower end of Imardin society, and not even because of Kallen's liking for roet. The man is too ... Not just because I don't know him like I know Sonea, or that he's not from the lower end of Imardin society, and not even because of Kallen's liking for roet. The man is too ... He searched for a word, and eventually settled on "rigid". Cery didn't doubt the man's promise to never give up in his search for Skellin, but it came first from a dedication to law and what was right, rather than a desire to protect others. He doubted that Kallen would ever bend the law or his idea of rightness, and that could lead to people getting hurt. He searched for a word, and eventually settled on "rigid". Cery didn't doubt the man's promise to never give up in his search for Skellin, but it came first from a dedication to law and what was right, rather than a desire to protect others. He doubted that Kallen would ever bend the law or his idea of rightness, and that could lead to people getting hurt. The people most likely to be hurt are Anyi, Gol and I. The people most likely to be hurt are Anyi, Gol and I.

At last they reached the entrance to the hideout. It had been cold outside, and the chill clung to them. They were all keen to get inside and warm up, but forced themselves to go through all the precautions, and their numb fingers to work all the safeguards. Once inside, Anyi set about starting a fire while Gol checked for indications that the escape routes had been compromised.

Cery sat down. A bottle of wine and three glasses had been set on the table. He sighed. Right now all he wanted was a warmed glass of bol.

"Is there something to celebrate?" he asked, looking at Anyi and Gol.

They turned to regard him, their expressions puzzled.

Cery gestured to the bottle. "Your idea?"

The pair shook their heads.

He turned to stare at the bottle. His heart lurched. A rushing sound filled his ears. A tag hung from a loop of string about the bottle's neck. On it were scrawled three words. He looked closer.

For your daughter.

He staggered to his feet.

"Out," he gasped. "Someone's been here. We have to get out."

GLOSSARY.

ANIMALS.

aga moths pests that eat clothing anyi sea mammals with short spines ceryni small rodent enka horned domestic animal, bred for meat eyoma sea leeches faren general term for arachnids gorin large domestic animal used for food and to haul boats and wagons harrel small domestic animal bred for meat inava insect believed to bestow good luck limek wild predatory dog mullook wild nocturnal bird quannea rare shells rassook domestic bird used for meat and feathers ravi rodent, larger than ceryni reber domestic animal, bred for wool and meat sapfly woodland insect sevli poisonous lizard squimp squirrel-like creature that steals food yeel small domesticated breed of limek used for tracking zill small, intelligent mammal sometimes kept as a pet

PLANTS/FOOD.

anivope vine plant sensitive to mental projection bellspice spice grown in Sachaka bol (also means "river scum') strong liquor made from tugors brasi green leafy vegetable with small buds briskbark bark with decongestant properties cabbas hollow, bell-shaped vegetable chebol sauce rich meat sauce made from bol cone cakes bite-sized cakes creamflower flower used as a soporific crots large, purple beans curem smooth, nutty spice curren coarse grain with robust flavour dall long fruit with tart orange, seedy flesh dunda root chewed as a stimulating drug gan-gan flowering bush from Lan husroot herb used for cleansing wounds iker stimulating drug, reputed to have aphrodisiac properties jerras long yellow beans kreppa foul-smelling medicinal herb marin red citrus fruit monyo bulb myk mind-affecting drug nalar pungent root nemmin sleep-inducing drug nightwood hardwood timber pachi crisp, sweet fruit papea pepper-like spice piorres small, bell-shaped fruit raka/suka stimulating drink made from roasted beans, originally from Sachaka roet plant from which a soporific drug and a perfume are derived rot slang term for the drug roet shem edible reed-like plant sumi bitter drink sweetdrops candies telk seed from which an oil is extracted tenn grain that can be cooked as is, broken into small pieces, or ground to make a flour tiro edible nuts tugor parsnip-like root ukkas carnivorous plants vare berries from which most wine is produced whitewater pure spirits made from tugors yellowseed crop grown in Sachaka

CLOTHING AND WEAPONRY.

incal square symbol, not unlike a family shield, sewn onto sleeve or cuff kebin iron bar with hook for catching attacker's knife, carried by guards longcoat ankle-length coat quan tiny disc-shaped beads made of shell undershift Kyralian women's undergarment vyer stringed instrument from Elyne

PUBLIC HOUSES.

bathhouse establishment selling bathing facilities and other grooming services bolhouse establishment selling bol and short term accommodation brewhouse bol manufacturer hole building constructed from scavenged materials stayhouse rented building, a family to a room

COUNTRIES/PEOPLES IN.

THE REGION.

Duna tribes who live in volcanic desert north of Sachaka Elyne neighbour to Kyralia and Sachaka and once ruled by Sachaka Kyralia neighbour to Elyne and Sachaka and once ruled by Sachaka Lan a mountainous land peopled by warrior tribes Lonmar a desert land home to the strict Mahga religion Sachaka home of the once great Sachakan Empire, where all but the most powerful are slaves Vin an island nation known for their seamanship

TITLES/POSITIONS.

Administrator magician who sees to the running of the Guild Ashaki Sachakan landowner Black Magician one of two magicians allowed to know black magic Directors magicians in charge of managing novices within and outside of the University Heads of Disciplines in charge of magicians of the three disciplines of Healing, Warrior and Alchemy Heads of Studies in charge of teaching the three disciplines of Healing, Warrior and Alchemy High Lord the official leader of the Magicians' Guild of Kyralia Ichani Sachakan free man or woman who has been declared outcast King's Advisors magicians who advise, Heal and protect the Kyralian king Lord/Lady any magician of the Magician's Guild without a greater title Master free Sachakan

OTHER TERMS.

the approach main corridor to the master's room in Sachakan houses blood gem artificial gemstone that allows maker to hear the thoughts of wearer earthblood term the Duna tribes use for lava lowie slang term used in the Guild for novices from middle and lower class origins master's room main room in Sachakan houses for greeting guests obin separate house joined to the main house of a Naguh Valley house snootie slang term used in the Guild for novices and magicians from the Houses slavehouse part of Sachakan homes where the slaves live and work slavespot sexually transmitted disease storestone gemstone that can store magic The Slig a hidden people who live in the passages underneath Imardin

LORD DANNYL'S GUIDE TO SLUM SLANG.

blood money payment for assassination boot refuse/refusal (don't boot us) capper man who frequents brothels clicked occurred client person who has an obligation or agreement with a Thief counter whore done murdered dull persuade to keep silent dunghead fool dwells term used to describe slum dwellers eye keep watch fired angry (got fired about it) fish propose/ask/look for (also someone fleeing the Guard) gauntlet guard who is bribeable or in the control of a Thief goldmine man who prefers boys good go a reasonable try got caught grandmother pimp gutter dealer in stolen goods hai a call for attention or expression of surprise or inquiry heavies important people kin a Thief's closest and most trusted knife assassin/hired killer messenger thug who delivers or carries out a threat mind hide (minds his business/I'll mind that for you) mug mouth (as in vessel for bol) out for looking for pick recognise/understand punt smuggler right-sided trustworthy/heart in the right place rope freedom rub trouble (got into some rub over it) shine attraction (got a shine for him) show introduce space allowances/permission squimp someone who double-crosses the Thieves style manner of performing business tag recognise (also means a spy, usually undercover) thief leader of a criminal group watcher posted to observe something or someone wild difficult visitor burglar

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.

As always, this book would have been a much poorer thing had it not been for the generosity and work of my feedback readers. This time around I received some opposing views on the stories and characters, which allowed me to decide what I I wanted to do with them. I would like to thank Paul Ewins, Fran Bryson, Liz Kemp, Foz Meadows, Nicole Murphy, Donna Hanson and Jennifer Fallon for their insight, opinions, suggestions and error-spotting. wanted to do with them. I would like to thank Paul Ewins, Fran Bryson, Liz Kemp, Foz Meadows, Nicole Murphy, Donna Hanson and Jennifer Fallon for their insight, opinions, suggestions and error-spotting.

Thanks again to Fran and Liz and all the wonderful agents around the world. Thanks, too, to the wonderful Orbit publishing teams and publishers of foreign editions, working hard to send my stories out to readers everywhere, in beautiful print, accessible e-book and enchanting audio manifestations.

Lastly, a big thank you to all the readers. While I could still write books without feedback, it would be nowhere near as much fun, but I could never have been able to dedicate so much of my time and energy to it without people spending their hard-earned income on these little stories of mine. Thanks so much for your enthusiasm and support.