The Ambassador's Mission: Book One of th - By Trudi Canavan Page 0,129
narrowed her eyes at Gol, but said nothing. She glanced at Cery, then looked at the floor.
“I’ll learn,” she said.
“You have a lot to learn,” Cery told her.
“So you’ll take me on as a bodyguard?”
He paused before answering. “I’ll consider it, once you’ve been trained right, and if I think you’re good enough. Either way, you’re working for me now, and that means you must do what I tell you. No arguments. You obey orders, even if you don’t know why.”
She nodded. “That’s fair.”
He walked over to her and handed back the knife. “And Gol’s not old. He’s close to the same age as me.”
Anyi’s eyebrows rose. “If you think that means he’s not old, then you really do need a new bodyguard.”
CHAPTER 23
NEW HELPERS
Healer Nikea stepped into the examination room as the last patient Sonea had seen left – a woman who was trying, unsuccessfully, to give up roet. Sonea had Healed the woman, but it had made no difference to the cravings.
“There’s something I need to show you,” Nikea said.
“Oh?” Sonea looked up from the notes she had been taking. “What is that?”
“Something,” Nikea said. She smiled, and her eyes widened meaningfully.
Somehow Sonea’s heart managed to skip a beat and then, straight after, sink to her stomach. If Cery had merely sent a message, Nikea would have delivered it. This meaningful look suggested that more than a note had arrived, and Sonea suspected that “something” was Cery.
He knew she didn’t like him coming here. Still, there had to be a good reason for him doing so.
Rising, she stepped out of the room and followed Nikea down the corridor. They entered the non-public part of the hospice. A pair of Healers stood in the hallway, heads close as they talked in whispers. Their eyes were on a storeroom door, but shifted to Sonea as she appeared. They immediately straightened and inclined their heads politely.
“Black Magician Sonea,” they murmured, then hurried away.
Nikea led Sonea to the door they’d found so interesting and opened it. Inside, a familiar figure sat on a short ladder, between rows of shelving filled with bandages and other hospice supplies. He stood up. Sighing, Sonea stepped inside and pulled the door closed behind her.
“Cery,” she said. “Is it good news or bad?”
His mouth twisted into a wry smile. “I’m good, thanks for asking. How are you?”
She crossed her arms. “Fine.”
“You seem a bit cranky.”
“It’s the middle of the night, yet for some reason we have as many patients as we get during the day, nothing I try cures roet addiction, there’s a rogue magician loose in the city, and instead of telling the Guild about it I’m risking the little freedom I have by working with a Thief who insists on visiting me in a public place, and my son is still missing in Sachaka. I’m supposed to be in a good mood?”
Cery grimaced. “I guess not. So … no news on Lorkin?”
“No.” She sighed again. “I know you wouldn’t have come here if there wasn’t a good reason, Cery. Just don’t expect me to be all calm and relaxed about it. What’s the news?”
He sat down again. “How do you feel about another Thief helping us find the rogue?”
Sonea stared at him in surprise. “Is it anyone I know?”
“I doubt it. He’s one of the new lot. Faren’s successor. Name is Skellin.”
“He’d have to have a lot to offer, for you to consider it.”
Cery nodded. “He does. He’s one of the most powerful Thieves in the city. He has a particular interest in the Thief Hunter. Asked me a while back if I’d keep him informed if I picked up anything. He knows the rogue may not be the Thief Hunter, but feels it’s worth tracking her down to find out.”
“What does he get out of it?”
He smiled. “He’d like to meet you. Sounds like Faren told him stories, so he’s got a hankering to meet the legend.”
Sonea made a rude noise. “So long as he doesn’t have the same ideas Faren had about how useful I could be to him.”
“I’m sure he does, but he’ll not be expecting you to have them, too.”
“Does he have a better chance of finding the rogue than you?”
Cery grew serious. “She did a favour for a rot-seller that set up shop in my area until I put a stop to it. Skellin controls most of the trade, so I’m hoping that he can trace the—”
“The Thief we’re working with is the main source of roet?” Sonea interrupted.