The Magicians' Guild Read Online Free PDF

the slums in disguise.”
    Lorlen frowned. “What disguise would you suggest?”
    Dannyl shrugged. “The less conspicuous we are, the better our chances of success. I’d suggest that at least some of us dress as they do. They may be able to tell who we are when we speak, but—”
    “Definitely not,” Balkan growled. “How would it be if one of us was discovered dressed as a grovelling beggar? We would be ridiculed throughout the Allied Lands.”
    Several voices rose in agreement.
    Lorlen nodded slowly. “I agree. We, as magicians, have the authority to enter any house in this city. Our search will be hampered if we do
not
wear the robes.”
    “How will we know what we’re looking for?” Vinara asked.
    Lorlen looked at Rothen. “Can you remember what she looked like?”
    Rothen nodded. Taking a few steps back, he closed his eyes and called up a memory of a small, skinny girl with a thin, childlike face. Drawing on his power, he opened his eyes and exerted his will. A glow appeared in the air before him, and quickly sharpened to form a slightly transparent face. As his memory filled in the rest, her rough clothing appeared: a colorless scarf around her head, a thick hooded shirt, trousers. The illusion complete, he looked up at the Higher Magicians.
    “
That’s
who attacked us?” Balkan muttered. “She’s barely more than a child.”
    “A small package with a big surprise inside,” Sarrin said dryly.
    “What if this is not the attacker?” Jerrik asked. “What if Lord Rothen is mistaken?”
    Lorlen looked at Rothen and smiled faintly. “For now we can only assume he is correct. We shall know soon enough if the city gossips agree, and witnesses may be found among the public.” He nodded at the illusion. “That will be enough, Lord Rothen.”
    Rothen waved a hand and the illusion vanished. When he looked up again he found Lord Sarrin looking at him appraisingly.
    “What are we going to do with her once we’ve found her?” Vinara asked.
    “If she is a rogue we will apply the law,” Lorlen replied. “If she is not, we will teach her to control her powers.”
    “Of course, but afterward? What then?”
    “I think the question Lady Vinara is asking is: should we make her one of us?” Balkan said.
    At once the hall filled with voices.
    “No! She’s probably a thief!”
    “She attacked one of us! She should be punished, not rewarded!”
    Rothen shook his head and sighed as the protests continued. While there was no law forbidding the testing of children from the lower classes, the Guild sought magic in the children of the Houses only.
    “The Guild hasn’t taken a novice from outside the Houses for centuries,” Balkan said quietly.
    “But if Solend is correct, she may be a powerful magician,” Vinara reminded him.
    Rothen suppressed a smile. Most women magicians became Healers, and he knew Lady Vinara would happily overlook the girl’s origins if it gained her another powerful helper.
    ” ‘Strength is no blessing if a magician proves corrupt,’ ” Sarrin quoted. “She could be a thief, or even a whore. What influence would someone with that background have on the other novices? How can we know if she would value our pledge?”
    Vinara’s brows rose. “So you would show her what she is capable of, then bind her powers and send her back into poverty?”
    Sarrin nodded. Vinara looked at Balkan, who shrugged. Biting back a protest, Rothen forced himself to remain silent. From the row above, Lorlen regarded the three magicians silently, his expression betraying no opinion.
    “We should give her a chance at the very least,” Vinara said. “If there is any possibility that she will conform to our rules and become a responsible young woman, then we should offer her the opportunity.”
    “The further her powers develop, the harder it will be to bind them,” Sarrin reminded her.
    “I know,” Vinara leaned forward, “but it is not impossible. Consider how we will be regarded if we take her