The Ambassador's Mission: Book One of th - By Trudi Canavan Page 0,25
something happened to him?”
Rothen paused, then grimaced.
“All right. I guess we have some work to do then.”
She felt a wave of affection for him, and smiled.
“Thank you, Rothen.”
Dannyl looked around the dining room and sighed with appreciation. One advantage of relinquishing his room in the Guild and moving into a house in the Inner Circle had been the sudden possession of space. Though he now spent much of his income as a magician on rent, the indulgence of rooms was worth it. Not only did he have his own generous office, and this tastefully decorated dining room; he also had his own personal library and rooms for guests. Not that he had guests stay often – just the occasional scholar with an interest in Dannyl’s history. Tayend, on the other hand, had his Kyralian and Elyne friends stay over all the time.
What are Sachakan houses like? he wondered. I should find out before I leave. If I leave.
Administrator Osen had said he could not see any reason why Dannyl wouldn’t be given the position of Guild Ambassador to Sachaka, since he was well qualified and nobody else had applied for it.
I’ll miss this place, though. I’m sure there’ll be times I’ll wish I could grab a book from my library, or order my favourite meal from good old Yerak, or …
He looked up as footsteps sounded outside the room. There was a pause, then Tayend peered around the archway. His eyes narrowed.
“Who are you, and where is the real Lord Dannyl?”
Dannyl frowned and shook his head. “What are you talking about?”
“I saw your desk.” The scholar entered the room and stared at Dannyl with mock suspicion. “It’s tidy.”
“Ah.” Dannyl chuckled. “I’ll explain in a moment. Sit down. Yerak is waiting and I’m too hungry for explanations right now.”
As Tayend sat down, Dannyl sent a little magic toward the dinner gong, sending the ringer gently tapping on the disc.
“You went to the Guild today?” Tayend asked.
“Yes.”
“New books?”
“No, I had a meeting with Administrator Osen.”
“Really? What about?”
The door from the kitchens opened, saving Dannyl from answering. Servants filed in with steaming platters and bowls of food. Dannyl and Tayend filled their plates and began eating.
“What did you do today?” Dannyl asked, between mouthfuls.
The scholar shrugged, then related a story he’d been told by another expatriate Elyne that he’d visited that morning, about some Vindo roet smugglers who’d sampled their wares and been found delirious and naked beside a river.
“So what did Administrator Osen have to say?” Tayend asked when the plates had been cleared away.
Dannyl paused, then drew in a deep breath. I can’t put it off any longer. He looked at Tayend and made his expression serious.
“He said that there weren’t any other applicants for the position of Guild Ambassador to Sachaka, so it was very likely I’d be given the position.”
Tayend blinked, then his mouth fell open. “Ambassador?” he repeated. “Sachaka? You’re not serious.”
“I am.”
Looking away, Tayend’s eyes began to blaze with excitement. “I’ve never been to Sachaka! And there isn’t even a sea journey involved.”
Dannyl shook his head. “You’re not going, Tayend.”
“Not going?” Tayend turned to stare at him. “Of course I’m going!”
“I wish I could take you, but …” Dannyl spread his hands. “All visitors to Sachaka must be approved, either by the Guild or their king.”
“I’ll apply to my king, then.”
Dannyl shook his head again. “No, Tayend. I … I’d rather you didn’t. Firstly, it’s a dangerous country and while magicians and most traders return alive, nobody knows yet how Sachakans will react to a non-magician noble venturing into their land.”
“Then we’ll find out.”
“There’s also decorum to consider. As far as I’ve been able to discover, Sachakans are neither accepting of lads, nor in a habit of putting us to death. They consider us low status, however, and they often refuse to deal with people they consider too far below them in the social hierarchy. That’s not going to be helpful in my role, or in my search for historical records.”
“They won’t find out, if we’re discreet,” Tayend said. Then he frowned and turned to glare at Dannyl. “That’s why you’re doing this, isn’t it? More research!”
“Of course. Did you think I’d suddenly manifested a desire to be an Ambassador again, or live in Sachaka?”
Tayend rose and began to pace the room. “It makes sense now.” He stopped. “How long does the position go for?”
“Two years, but I can return early if necessary. And to visit home.”
Resuming his pacing, Tayend tapped his chin with one finger. Suddenly