The Ambassador's Mission

He snorted softly. “And I’m curious to know how Traitor women stay in charge when they’re just as inclined to communicate by indirect hints and innuendo as women everywhere else.”

She laughed. “Oh, I like you, Lorkin. If Tyvara doesn’t wake up to herself and—” A voice called out and she immediately grew serious. She gave him a crooked smile. “Looks like it’s time to introduce you.”

He followed her across the remaining distance to the waiting Traitors. Tyvara watched them, her brow creased with a worried frown. Chari did not look at her friend, but fixed her attention on a middle-aged woman with grey streaks in her long hair.

“Speaker Savara,” she said respectfully. She gestured gracefully toward Lorkin. “Lorkin, assistant to Guild Ambassador Dannyl, of the land of Kyralia.”

The woman nodded. “Lord Lorkin,” she said. “If I am correct.”

“You are, indeed,” he replied, inclining his head. “An honour to meet you, Speaker Savara.”

Savara smiled. “It is polite of you to say so, after all you have been through.” She drew in a deep breath. “First, I wish to convey from the queen, but also heartfelt from myself, an apology for the disruption, fear and threat to your life that you have endured due to the Traitors. Whether Tyvara’s actions are deemed justifiable or not, you have been put through a great deal and for that we feel responsible.”

It did not seem like a good moment to be defending Tyvara, so he nodded. “Thank you.”

“If you wish to rejoin the Guild Ambassador, we can have you safely delivered into his protection. I can also arrange for guides to take you back to the Kyralian border. Which would you prefer?”

“Again, thank you,” Lorkin replied. “I am aware that there will be a trial to judge Tyvara’s actions and I would like to speak in her defence, if that is possible.”

Savara’s eyebrows rose, and a murmur of surprise and interest went through the rest of the gathering.

“That would mean taking him to Sanctuary,” someone said.

“The queen would never agree to it.”

“Unless we hold the trial outside Sanctuary.”

“No, that would be too dangerous. If there was an ambush we’d lose too many valuable people.”

“Nobody is going to ambush us,” Savara said firmly.

She looked back at her people and they fell silent. Turning back to Lorkin, she considered him thoughtfully. “It is an admirable thing you wish to do. I will think on it. How much does the Guild know about us?”

Lorkin shook his head. “Nothing. Well, they’ve heard nothing from me, anyway. I haven’t communicated with anyone there.”

“And what of the Guild magician here?” He has been following you since you left Arvice. With surprising accuracy.”

“I haven’t communicated with Dannyl either,” Lorkin told her firmly. “But I’m not surprised he is searching successfully. He is clever and unlikely to give up.” He paused as he realised the truth of his words. Was Dannyl smart and determined enough to follow him all the way to Sanctuary?

“He’s had plenty of help from Traitors, no doubt,” Tyvara muttered.

Savara looked at her. “You have explained the likely price for entering the city?”

Tyvara paused, then looked down. “No. I was hoping we’d find a way around that.”

The Speaker frowned, then sighed and nodded. “I’ll see what I can do. Rest and eat.”

With that, the group scattered, some moving into the huts, some sitting on rough, narrow wooden benches that Lorkin had assumed were a crude fence. He, Chari and Tyvara moved to one of the seats and shrugged out of their packs. A young woman dressed as a slave brought them small cakes laced with tart berries. She smiled when he thanked her.

“Lorkin,” Tyvara said.

He turned to her. “Yes?”

“You should take up Savara’s offer. Go back to Kyralia.”

“Not to Arvice?”

She shook her head. “I don’t trust the … the other faction. They might try to kill you again.”

“And how are you going to prove that they’ve tried it before?”

Her lips pressed into a thin line. “I’ll let them read my mind.”

He heard Chari draw in a sharp breath. “You can’t,” she hissed. “You promised the …” She looked at Lorkin, then bit her lip.

Tyvara sighed. “We’ll find a way around it,” she told Chari. She turned to Lorkin. “The price Savara spoke of … if you come to Sanctuary there’s a good chance you won’t be allowed to leave again. Would you be willing to stay there for the rest of your life?”

He stared at her in disbelief. The rest of his life? Never see Mother or Rothen or his friends again?

“You haven’t told him this before?” Chari asked, her tone shocked and disbelieving.

Tyvara flushed and looked away. “No. I couldn’t send him back to Arvice. Someone would have tried to kill him. I knew once I found someone from our faction he’d be safe.”

“Faction?”

“Lorkin came up with the term. I mean those of us who agree with the queen, and Savara, on … most things.”