Free The Rogue by Trudi Canavan Page B

doing.”
    “I am amazed at Traitor generosity and friendliness. Your people have welcomed me, given me food and shelter, and duties that make me feel useful.”
    “Why would you be surprised at that?”
    Lorkin shrugged. “For a people so secretive, I would have expected it to take a long time to be so accepted among you.”
    She considered him closely. “You know that you haven’t been, don’t you? Fully accepted, that is. A lot of people like you, and a lot appreciate what you did for Tyvara, but nobody is fool enough to trust you yet.”
    He nodded and met her gaze. “Yes, I do sense that. It’s understandable. I suppose I am amazed that it isn’t more obvious.”
    “I’ve heard only a few reports of people taking a dislike to you personally, but mostly they don’t like you on principle.”
    He looked at her. “Because of my father.”
    “Yes – and Riva’s death.” All sign of her lighter mood was gone now. The wrinkles across her brows deepened. “I want you to know that I don’t blame you for what your father did. It is ridiculous to think a child is responsible for what their parent does.”
    “I … I am glad you feel that way.”
    She leaned forward and patted him on the knee. “I’m sure you are. You’d probably be dead, otherwise.” Humour had re-entered her voice and eyes, and he smiled.
    “I don’t resent your father any more either,” she told him, looking away and growing serious again. Serious and sad. “Despite losing a daughter to a sickness that could have been cured. We went about things the wrong way. Something about your father had convinced me he was an honourable man. I thought I’d been wrong, but came to see that perhaps I wasn’t, that I’d failed to see that there would be something he felt a stronger loyalty to.”
    “The Guild? Kyralia?” Lorkin suggested.
    She looked at him. “You didn’t know about the deal he made, did you?” she said quietly.
    He shook his head. “I was appalled to find he made such a bargain and dishonoured it.”
    “He died before you were born. I suppose he never got the chance to tell you.”
    “And Mother never mentioned it. She couldn’t have known.”
    “Why are you so certain?”
    “She was determined to stop me going to Sachaka. If she’d had proof I would be in danger from the Traitors, she would have used it.”
    “Do you miss her?”
    Her stare was very direct. He nodded. “And yet a part of me wants to be … to be …”
    “Living your own life? Making your own decisions?”
    He nodded.
    She waved a hand at the room, or beyond. “And here you are, stuck in Sanctuary.”
    “It is a pleasant place to be stuck.”
    She smiled approvingly. “I hope you continue to think so.” Her smile faded again. “Because life might not always be so comfortable here for you. I am old. I can’t be certain who will succeed me. All know that Savara is the Speaker I favour to be the next queen, and she likes you, but that does not mean the people will vote for her. They certainly won’t if they come to question my decisions.” She pointed at him. “Like allowing a Kyralian magician into Sanctuary who turned out to be too nosy.”
    Her eyes were hard and ever so slightly accusing. His face began to warm and he looked away, not sure what to say.
    “But they may be satisfied now that I have brought you in here for a good chiding. Savara has decided that it would be better if she forbids Tyvara from being seen with you, so it is clear that she disapproves of your exploration of the caves.
    Lorkin’s heart made a small lurch.
But it wasn’t like we were seeing each other anyway
, he reminded himself. Zarala smiled and patted him on the knee again. “I have some friendly and free advice for you, young Lorkin. Be careful how much trouble you stir up. It might bring you, and others, a whole lot more than you realise.”
    He nodded. “Thank you. I will take your advice. No trouble.”
    She looked pleased. “You’re a smart young