"Nonsense," Jonna replied, her eyes flashing with triumph. "The Guild would never have let you out of their sight."

"Which would have forced Dorrien to stay here, and that would have been a cruel thing to do to him. He doesn't like the city."

Jonna shrugged. "He might change his mind when he gets old."

"That's a long-"

A knock at the door interrupted Sonea. She abandoned the old argument with relief and sent a little magic to the door latch. It clicked open and the door swung inward to reveal Regin standing outside.

"Black Magician Sonea," he said. "May I speak with you privately?"

"Lord Regin!" Sonea said, perhaps a little too enthusiastically. "Come in!"

He stepped into the guest room and glanced at Jonna as the woman slipped into Sonea's bedroom to give them privacy. Then the items on the table caught his eye.

"You're expecting guests," he observed. "I had best not linger." He straightened and met her gaze. "I'm here to tell you that a family matter has arisen that is going to take up much of my time and attention, and since I will not be able to reliably offer you my help in hunting and more import antly capturing the Thief Skellin then I feel you will be better served by another assistant."

Sonea stared at him in dismay. "Oh," she said. "That's ..." She felt briefly disorientated. What was she going to do without Regin to help her catch Skellin? I thought our search couldn't be going any worse. I thought our search couldn't be going any worse. She shook her head. She shook her head. I can't believe this, but I'm going to sorely regret losing Regin's help. I can't believe this, but I'm going to sorely regret losing Regin's help. "That's a great shame," she said. "I've appreciated your help and wish you were able to continue assisting me. But your family should have first claim on your attention," she added quickly. "That's a great shame," she said. "I've appreciated your help and wish you were able to continue assisting me. But your family should have first claim on your attention," she added quickly.

His smile was rather grimace-like. He almost seemed to wince. "They always do."

"I hope this matter resolves itself quickly and painlessly."

"I dou- ..." Regin's voice faded to silence as another knock came from the door. He glanced at it, then turned back to her and inclined his head. "It was a pleasure working with you, Black Magician Sonea. I had best be leaving you to your guests."

Sonea opened the door again. In the corridor outside, Rothen and Dorrien waited. They saw Regin and curiosity sparked in their gazes as they nodded to him politely.

"Lord Regin," they murmured.

"Lord Rothen, Lord Dorrien. I am just leaving. Enjoy your meal." As they stepped back, Regin moved past them. Sonea heard his footsteps in the corridor as he walked away, then her guests came inside and closed the door.

"Any news?" Rothen asked.

Sonea shook her head. "Not of the kind we want. On the contrary, Regin can't help us any more. A family matter, he says."

"Oh." Rothen frowned in dismay.

"That's what I said. Though in a more formal and verbose manner that included my gratitude and regret, of course."

"Of course." Rothen chuckled, but his frown quickly returned. "What will we do without him?"

Dorrien looked from his father to Sonea. "You needed his help that badly?"

"Not so much for the searching," Rothen replied. "Cery is in a better position to do that. For the actual capture of Skellin."

Sonea waved them to their seats. Jonna reappeared from the bedroom and raised an eyebrow at Sonea. At Sonea's nod she left to get the meal that was being prepared for them.

"So it doesn't have to be Regin. Could I I take his place?" Dorrien asked, looking from Rothen to Sonea. take his place?" Dorrien asked, looking from Rothen to Sonea.

Sonea frowned. "You have to get back to your village."

"Yes, but I could make arrangements and return." He smiled at her. "There's a Healer living in another village about half a day's ride away. We have an agreement that we'll look after the other's patients whenever we go to the city."

"But this could take a lot longer than a few weeks," Sonea warned.

"You should not leave Alina and the girls for too long either," Rothen agreed. He turned to Sonea. "I can help when the time comes."

"No-" Sonea began.

"You don't know how powerful Skellin is," Dorrien interrupted, frowning at his father in disapproval. "What if he is stronger than you? You're not as powerful as Lord Regin. You said so yourself."

"I'll be with Sonea."

"What if you're not? What if you two are separated?" Dorrien shook his head. "It's too risky for you, Father."

Sonea nodded. She didn't agree with Dorrien's reasoning, since Rothen wasn't any less powerful than the average magician, but Rothen was getting old and physically slower, which might be a problem if they had to chase someone.

"You're not much stronger than me," Rothen pointed out.

"But I am am stronger," Dorrien said. He looked at Sonea, his gaze bright. "Alina and I have been thinking we should move to the city for a while so that Tylia can get used to life here before she joins the University. We intended to at least stay here for the first few months after Tylia starts lessons." He turned to his father. "I've already told Lady Vinara of my plans, though no specific dates as yet. It would not be difficult to move here earlier." stronger," Dorrien said. He looked at Sonea, his gaze bright. "Alina and I have been thinking we should move to the city for a while so that Tylia can get used to life here before she joins the University. We intended to at least stay here for the first few months after Tylia starts lessons." He turned to his father. "I've already told Lady Vinara of my plans, though no specific dates as yet. It would not be difficult to move here earlier."

Rothen regarded his son without speaking, obviously caught up in conflicting emotions. He would love to see more of his grandchildren He would love to see more of his grandchildren, Sonea guessed, but doesn't want to agree to something that could put his son's life at risk. but doesn't want to agree to something that could put his son's life at risk.

Her own heart had lifted at the thought. It would be nice to have Dorrien around for longer than his usual visits to the Guild. She could do with his help, too. Though she, too, would rather not put him at risk, she'd also rather not put anybody anybody at risk. At least he was willing to work with her and sensible enough to know when to keep secrets. at risk. At least he was willing to work with her and sensible enough to know when to keep secrets.

The tense silence was broken by yet another knock at the door. As it opened, three servants, led by Jonna, filed in carrying platters of food. Jonna's eyebrows rose when none of them spoke. She gave Sonea a look that said "I'll be back to find out what all this is about", before she left, taking her assistants with her.

When the door had closed, Sonea leaned forward and began serving.

"I wonder what family matters we have to blame for taking Regin away from us," she said.

Rothen looked thoughtful. "Sometimes I wish I hadn't stopped going to the Night Room to listen to the gossip."

"I'll see what I can find out," Dorrien said, shrugging.

"In one night?" Sonea scoffed.

Dorrien's eyes twinkled with mischief. "When you only visit the Guild for a few weeks a year, everyone falls over themselves to fill you in on the latest scandals. I'll have to leave you both a little earlier tonight to be there at the right time, but if there's an answer to be had I'll have it for you tomorrow morning."

Soft, slippery cloth cascaded over Lilia's head and tumbled toward the floor, but at the last moment it was pulled tight at her waist and swung into artful folds. Naki stepped back.

"It fits perfectly." There was amusement and annoyance in her voice, and she crossed her arms and affected a pout. "It's not fair. I've grown out of everything, and there's no point giving it to you because we'll never get to wear gowns again." Then she smiled. "You look great. Go take a peek in the mirror."

Lilia approached the mirror hesitantly and stared at herself. She didn't quite fill out the chest of the dress, but that could be fixed with some padding. Though she had often seen her former employer's wife and daughters dressed so fancily, she would have never dared try on their clothing.

"You look beautiful," Naki said, coming up behind Lilia. She placed her hands on Lilia's shoulders. Her fingers were cold, and sent a shiver down Lilia's spine. She remembered what Madie and Froje had said about her new friend, then quickly pushed the thought away.

Naki frowned. "You're all tense. What's wrong? Is it uncomfortable?"

Lilia shook her head. "I feel ... well ... we're doing something forbidden. Magicians are supposed to always wear robes."

Naki's lips curled into a mischievous grin. "I know. It's kind of fun, isn't it?"

Looking at her friend's grin, Lilia could not help smiling. "Yes, but that's only because nobody else can see us."

"It's our naughty secret," Naki said, turning away. She stooped to grab the hem of her dress and hauled it up and over her head in one movement. Underneath she was wearing only an undershift, and Lilia quickly averted her eyes.

"In fact, you should do something really really naughty," Naki continued as she shrugged into her novice overrobe. "Then you'll be able to do mildly naughty things like this and not get all uptight about it." She paused to think, then grinned. "I know just the thing. Stay there. I'll be right back." naughty," Naki continued as she shrugged into her novice overrobe. "Then you'll be able to do mildly naughty things like this and not get all uptight about it." She paused to think, then grinned. "I know just the thing. Stay there. I'll be right back."

Naki disappeared through the main door to her bedroom. Taking the opportunity to change while her friend wasn't watching, Lilia slipped off the dress and hurriedly changed into her robes. As she was tying the sash, Naki returned carrying a small black object. She held it up with a triumphant flourish.

It was like a metal bird cage, only smaller and chunkier. Lilia stared at it in bemusement. Naki laughed. She gave the cage a direct look, and smoke began curling out of the openings. Understanding came to Lilia in a rush of realisation, dismay and curiosity.

"It's a roet brazier!"

"Of course." Naki rolled her eyes. "You're so innocent, Lilia. It's hard to believe you are a daughter of a servant family."

"My family's employer didn't approve of roet."

Naki shrugged. "Lots of people don't. They don't trust new things. Eventually they'll see that roet isn't any worse than wine and in some ways is better. You don't get hangovers." She began scooping the air toward herself and breathing deeply. After a few breaths she closed her eyes and sighed with appreciation. Her gaze was dark and seductive as she looked at Lilia, and beckoned. "Come closer. Try it."

Lilia obeyed. She leaned toward the brazier and breathed deeply. A fragrant smoke filled her lungs. She coughed, and Naki covered her mouth and giggled. Instead of feeling hurt that her friend had laughed at her, Lilia found she didn't mind. More smoke filled her chest. Her head began to spin.

"I found a great place for this last time," Naki said, moving to her bed. She hung the brazier on a clothes hanger, pushing the dresses to the other end of the rail. Then she flopped on the bed.

Lilia laughed again. Turning to smile at her, Naki patted the bedcovers. "Come lie down. It's very relaxing."

To Lilia's relief, the prospect of lying on a bed next to Naki roused only a mild, distant echo of the nervousness she would have once felt. She sank onto the mattress beside her friend.

"Still worried about getting into trouble?" Naki asked.

"No. Suddenly I don't care about anything."

"That's what roet does. It stops you caring. Stops you worrying." She turned her head to regard Lilia. "You seem worried a lot lately."

"Yes."

"What about?"

"The girls in my class. The ones that were my friends. They said things about you."

Naki laughed. "I bet they did. What did they say?"

Why did I say that? Curse it. I can't tell her ... or can I? It would be good to know the truth ... "That ... that you like women. Instead of men. I mean ..." Lilia took a deep breath and coughed again as the smoke filled her lungs. "I mean you prefer women lovers the way some men prefer male lovers." She covered her mouth with a hand. "That ... that you like women. Instead of men. I mean ..." Lilia took a deep breath and coughed again as the smoke filled her lungs. "I mean you prefer women lovers the way some men prefer male lovers." She covered her mouth with a hand. Why did I do that? Why did I just blurt it out? Naki is going to hate me! Why did I do that? Why did I just blurt it out? Naki is going to hate me!

But Naki only laughed again. A carefree, mischievous laugh. "I bet that gave them interesting dreams for months."

Lilia chuckled. She tried to imagine Froje and Madie daydreaming about ... no, don't think about it. no, don't think about it.

"You want to know if it's true."

Lilia blinked in surprise, then turned her head to look at Naki.

Her friend met her eyes and smiled. "It is. And it is for you, isn't it? Or ... you're not sure."

Face burning with sudden heat, Lilia looked away. "I ..."

"Go on. You can tell me."

"Well ... I think so ... um ... any advice about that?"

Naki turned over and pushed herself up into a sitting position. "My advice is to not worry about it." She reached up and unhooked the brazier. It had stopped smoking. "Women have fallen in love with women for centuries. Men always assumed they were just close friends. Which is the opposite to men, who can't be close friends for fear others will think they're really in love." She giggled, then got off the bed and beckoned. "Girls like us can keep secrets easily because nobody pays us the attention they should. Let's go to the library."

Lilia sat up, then paused and closed her eyes as her head began to spin. "The library? Why the library? Why now?"

"Because there's something I want to show you before Father gets home. I want some more roet."

"You keep roet in the library?"

"Father does."

"Your father father uses roet?" uses roet?"

Naki gave a humourless laugh. "Of course he does."

She led the way out of her rooms and through corridors and down staircases. Lilia wondered what time it was. Late enough that there were no servants about, it seemed.

"My father's family have lots of sordid habits," Naki said. "For my uncle it was girls. I don't mean he likes women a lot. I mean he likes little little girls. The servants knew and kept me out of his way whenever he came visiting. Father never believed me when I told him." girls. The servants knew and kept me out of his way whenever he came visiting. Father never believed me when I told him."

Lilia shuddered. "That's horrible."

Naki glanced back and smiled, but her eyes were hard. "Oh, he paid for it in the end." She turned away and stopped at a door. "Here we are."

She pushed through the door into an enormous room. Lilia could not restrain a gasp as she took in all the shelves stuffed with books and rolls of paper. She had learned quickly that Naki thought that appearing to be too interested in study was boring, but she couldn't contain her awe and delight now.

"I thought you'd like it."

Lilia looked at Naki, who was grinning widely, and pretended to look embarrassed.

Naki laughed. "You're a terrible actor. Come see something."

She headed for a glass-topped side table. Lilia saw that the glass covered a drawer-like cavity filled with very old books, scrolls, a few sculptures and some jewellery. Naki ran her hand down the narrow side. There was a soft click.

"Father has the top locked with both key and magic, but he's not so powerful a magician that he'd waste magic protecting the whole case," Naki murmured. She reached inside and drew out a small book, then handed it to Lilia.

The cover was soft skin, slightly powdery with age, and the title had worn off. Opening it, Lilia was disturbed by the brittle stiffness of the pages. They felt as if they would shatter if she attempted to bend them. The writing was faded but still readable, and in an old formal style that was not easy to read.

"What is it?"