The High Lord Read Online Free PDF Page B

he did when he ordered me to return to the Guild.”
    Irand’s eyebrows rose. “While you were in the mountains? That he can read minds at such a distance is extraordinary.”
    “I doubt he could have if I had not answered his call.
    Once contact is established, however, he might have been able to see more than I intended.” Dannyl nodded at the letter. “Read on, Tayend. There is one more paragraph.”
    Tayend looked down at the letter. ”
‘Your assistant has encountered these rebels before. He ought to be able to arrange an introduction.’
How could he possibly know
that?”
    “I hoped you could tell me.”
    The scholar frowned down at the letter. “Everyone in Elyne has a secret or two. Some you talk about, some are best kept to oneself.” He glanced at Dannyl and Irand. “A few years ago I was invited to a secret party by a man named Royend of Marane. When I declined, he assured me it wasn’t what I thought, that there’d be no, ah, indulgences of the flesh or the mind. He said it would be a scholarly gathering. But his manner was furtive, and I took that as a warning and didn’t attend.”
    “Did he give any hints that he was offering magical knowledge?” Irand asked.
    “No, but what other scholarly pursuits would ever need to be kept hidden? It is no secret that I was once offered a place in the Guild, but declined. And my inclinations are well known.” He glanced at Dannyl. “So he knows I had magical ability, and could guess at my reasons for not accepting the robes.”
    Irand nodded. “The High Lord probably knows this, too. It makes sense that these rebels approach all who decline or are refused entry into the Guild.” He paused and looked at Dannyl. “And while Akkarin clearly knows the truth about you, he has not recalled or denounced you. Perhaps he is more tolerant than the average Kyralian.”
    A chill ran down Dannyl’s spine. “Only because I am useful to him. He would have me risk much for the sake of finding these rebels.”
    “A man in his position must be willing to use those that serve him,” Irand said sternly. “You chose to be a Guild Ambassador, Dannyl. Your role is to act on behalf of the High Lord in matters that are the domain and responsibility of the Guild. Sometimes carrying out that role means taking risks.
    Let’s hope this task risks only your reputation, and not your life.”
    Dannyl sighed and bowed his head. “You’re right, of course.”
    Tayend chuckled. “Irand’s always right, except when it comes to cataloguing meth—” He grinned as the librarian turned to glare at him. “So I guess if the rebels thought Dannyl had reason to resent the Guild, they might consider him as a potential recruit, too.”
    “And teacher,” Irand added.
    Dannyl nodded. “And they would believe that if I proved uncooperative, they could blackmail me into silence by threatening to reveal my relationship with Tayend.”
    “Yes. You must plan this carefully, however,” Irand cautioned.
    They began to discuss ways to approach the rebels. Not for the first time, Dannyl was glad to have the librarian’s confidence. Tayend had insisted several months ago that they tell his mentor about their relationship, assuring Dannyl that he would trust Irand with his life. To Dannyl’s consternation, the old man hadn’t been at all surprised.
    As far as Dannyl and Tayend could tell, the rest of the Elyne court still believed Dannyl was oblivious to, and certainly didn’t share, Tayend’s attraction to men. Rothen had told Dannyl that similar rumors had circulated in the Guild, but had been quickly forgotten. Despite this, Dannyl still feared that the truth about him would reach the Guild, and he would be stripped of his position and ordered home.
    Which was why he had been shocked and angered by Akkarin’s request that he allow the rebels to find out the truth. It was difficult enough keeping his relationship with Tayend a secret. Allowing the rebels to know was a risk he did not