dropped a metal key and a greasy, carved, wooden cylinder on the counter. “Don’t lose them, you won’t get more. The room’s at the top of the second set of stairs.” She nodded her head towards the tavern door. “Best get supper first. Kitchen shuts down when the food’s gone, and it won’t last much longer tonight.”
Timo grabbed the key and the token. “Thank you. I’m sure my stay will be one I remember always.” He nodded and headed for the tavern.
The air inside the tavern smelled of smoke, old grease, and unwashed bodies. He sat at the empty end of a long table, cautiously waving his token at the Server. She set a pitcher of ale down in front of a group of stocky men and came over and stood in front of him.
“All’s we got left is fish stew,” the Server said. “And bread.”
“Thank you,” Timo said. “And an ale, if you please.” As he waited for his meal, he surveyed the other guests, happy enough to have found a place to stay. They were noisy, and he thought there might be a fight or two before the night was over, but no one did more than glance at him. And no one looked like Mage Guild. When his meal arrived, he ate quickly. The stew was at least filling. Not up to Mage Primus Rorik’s standards, but he’d been the most important Mage in Tregella—he could afford the best. Timo could not.
As he passed from the tavern to the stairs, Timo nodded to the Server who’d rented him his room. A mage light lit the second flight of stairs, which ended at a locked door. He fit his key into it and pushed the door inward. The light from the stairs illuminated a small lamp and flint beside the door, and despite Timo’s lack of practice with a flint, the lamp soon sputtered to life.
He closed the door and looked around the tiny room. The narrow bed was tucked under the eaves and a dormer window glowed with the light from the streets. He dropped his pack on the bed and crouched by the window.
The Server had been truthful—the room was clean. And private. He put the key and the token on the window sill and smiled. He doubted she could rent it out to anyone other than an inexperienced Apprentice, though. He paused, his smile faltering. Except he had nothing to compare it with. He’d grown up living with two of the most powerful people in Tregella. He had no idea how other Guildsmen lived or what their homes looked like. Maybe they would consider this small, private room extravagant.
Timo stared out across the rooftops of Arts Guild Island. He would explore the island tomorrow and look for the safest way to Old Rillidi and the protection of his sister. He only hoped that now that Rorik was dead and his mother was blaming him he could find a way there.
He frowned. He knew he wasn’t the true cause of Rorik’s death—he would not have lived even if Timo hadn’t interfered. Inigo’s spell was meant to kill him— had been killing him. And his mother was right, the only thing Timo’s interference had done was put himself in more danger.
Chapter 6
“THAT’S ALL FOR tonight, Annya,” Arabella said.
“Yes, Secundus.” The Server took the empty tea cup to the kitchen.
A few minutes later, Arabella heard the door that led down to the corridors close. She waved a hand, and the lock clicked. It wasn’t quite midnight. Early for her to send Annya away, but Arabella hadn’t had any visitors—didn’t expect any visitors—not since Rorik’s death.
And that troubled her.
Her attempts to talk to the Eska girl had been thwarted by Hestor, and a message she was certain was received by Castio had been ignored. She hadn’t bothered to try to contact the rest of council. Inigo controlled them.
She was still Secundus, although no one else seemed to care. The council meeting to discuss Rorik’s death had devolved into an attempt by Inigo to take control of Mage Guild. Arabella had thought she’d retained her power, but she may have been wrong. If so, it
Timo grabbed the key and the token. “Thank you. I’m sure my stay will be one I remember always.” He nodded and headed for the tavern.
The air inside the tavern smelled of smoke, old grease, and unwashed bodies. He sat at the empty end of a long table, cautiously waving his token at the Server. She set a pitcher of ale down in front of a group of stocky men and came over and stood in front of him.
“All’s we got left is fish stew,” the Server said. “And bread.”
“Thank you,” Timo said. “And an ale, if you please.” As he waited for his meal, he surveyed the other guests, happy enough to have found a place to stay. They were noisy, and he thought there might be a fight or two before the night was over, but no one did more than glance at him. And no one looked like Mage Guild. When his meal arrived, he ate quickly. The stew was at least filling. Not up to Mage Primus Rorik’s standards, but he’d been the most important Mage in Tregella—he could afford the best. Timo could not.
As he passed from the tavern to the stairs, Timo nodded to the Server who’d rented him his room. A mage light lit the second flight of stairs, which ended at a locked door. He fit his key into it and pushed the door inward. The light from the stairs illuminated a small lamp and flint beside the door, and despite Timo’s lack of practice with a flint, the lamp soon sputtered to life.
He closed the door and looked around the tiny room. The narrow bed was tucked under the eaves and a dormer window glowed with the light from the streets. He dropped his pack on the bed and crouched by the window.
The Server had been truthful—the room was clean. And private. He put the key and the token on the window sill and smiled. He doubted she could rent it out to anyone other than an inexperienced Apprentice, though. He paused, his smile faltering. Except he had nothing to compare it with. He’d grown up living with two of the most powerful people in Tregella. He had no idea how other Guildsmen lived or what their homes looked like. Maybe they would consider this small, private room extravagant.
Timo stared out across the rooftops of Arts Guild Island. He would explore the island tomorrow and look for the safest way to Old Rillidi and the protection of his sister. He only hoped that now that Rorik was dead and his mother was blaming him he could find a way there.
He frowned. He knew he wasn’t the true cause of Rorik’s death—he would not have lived even if Timo hadn’t interfered. Inigo’s spell was meant to kill him— had been killing him. And his mother was right, the only thing Timo’s interference had done was put himself in more danger.
Chapter 6
“THAT’S ALL FOR tonight, Annya,” Arabella said.
“Yes, Secundus.” The Server took the empty tea cup to the kitchen.
A few minutes later, Arabella heard the door that led down to the corridors close. She waved a hand, and the lock clicked. It wasn’t quite midnight. Early for her to send Annya away, but Arabella hadn’t had any visitors—didn’t expect any visitors—not since Rorik’s death.
And that troubled her.
Her attempts to talk to the Eska girl had been thwarted by Hestor, and a message she was certain was received by Castio had been ignored. She hadn’t bothered to try to contact the rest of council. Inigo controlled them.
She was still Secundus, although no one else seemed to care. The council meeting to discuss Rorik’s death had devolved into an attempt by Inigo to take control of Mage Guild. Arabella had thought she’d retained her power, but she may have been wrong. If so, it
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