The Ambassador's Mission

“How interesting,” Cery said. It could be nothing but fancy and rumour. If I hadn’t seen for myself the lockmaker’s evidence I wouldn’t believe it. But added to other rumours of magic occurring where it should not, he was beginning to wonder how much truth there was in it.

If it was true, then either a Guild magician was getting involved in things he or she shouldn’t be, or there was a rogue magician in the city. Either way, they could have been involved in the murder of his family.

He suddenly thought of Skellin’s obvious desire to hire his own rogue magician. If this Thief Hunter is a rogue, he’ll have no problem getting close to Skellin. Hmm, should I warn Skellin? But surely he’s already heard of the rumours of magic … Ah! Maybe that’s why he asked about magic. He knew I’d had connections to the Guild in the past and was testing me to see if I still did. Which would mean he suspected I’d hired the Thief Hunter.

Then another possibility occurred to him.

Had a Thief come to this conclusion and sent an assassin to kill me, not realising they’d hired the very same magic-wielding assassin they fear so much? He frowned. At least I know it couldn’t have been Skellin, as he wouldn’t have arranged to meet with me and sent an assassin to kill me in my home at the same time.

He shook his head. The possibilities seemed endless. But here was this mention of magic again. It had been used to open the lock of his hideout, and it was believed to be used by the Thief Hunter. Coincidence? Perhaps. But it was the only clue he had, so he may as well pursue it.

Every time Sonea entered the Administrator’s office, memories wormed their way into her thoughts. Though Osen had rearranged the furniture and kept the room bright with globe lights, she could still remember how it had looked when Lorlen was alive. And she always wondered if he was aware there was an entrance to the secret passages of the University behind the panelling.

Lorlen didn’t know, so I doubt Osen does.

“Tell me how you came to be at the Nameless?” Osen asked of the two young magicians standing to the left of his desk.

All turned to look at Reater and Sherran. Sonea had been dismayed to realise the two magicians found at the house were Lorkin’s friends. The pair glanced at each other, then at the floor.

“We were given a slip of paper,” Reater said. “It gave directions to the best new playhouse in the city. There’d be free things for the first fifty customers.”

“And it was in the Inner Circle, so we assumed it was safe,” Sherran added.

“Where is this slip of paper now?” Osen asked.

One of the two older magicians standing to his right, Lord Vonel, stepped forward and handed over a tiny strip of white. Osen frowned at it as he read, then felt the thickness of the paper and turned it over to examine the back.

“Good quality. I will have the Alchemists who run the printing machines examine it and see if they can tell us the source.”

“Hold it up to the light,” Vonel suggested.

Osen did as he suggested and his eyes narrowed. “Is that part of the Guild’s mark?”

“I believe so.”

“Hmm.” Osen put the slip down, then looked up at Vonel again.

“So how did you learn of the Nameless?”

“A novice brought that to me,” Vonel replied, nodding toward the paper.

“And?”

“I asked Carrin to accompany me to the place, so that we could see what manner of establishment this ‘playhouse’ was, and if any members of the Guild had taken advantage of the offer.”

“And what did you find on arrival?”

“Gambling, drinking, roet braziers and women for hire,” Carrin replied. “Lord Reater here losing badly in some new game, Lord Sherran near comatose from inhaling roet smoke. Overall, these two plus twelve novices were engaged in sampling the full range of products on offer.”

Osen picked up a sheaf of paper. “Those listed here.”

“Yes.”

The Administrator scanned the list, then put it aside and looked up at Regin and Sonea.

“And what part did you take, Lord Regin and Black Magician Sonea?”