He’d discuss that with her later. Seeking Ceilon’s mind again, he saw that the man had noted the dark looks the rivals had exchanged. This is why we can’t have women in our group, he was thinking. To Tyen’s amazement, the man recollected turning away other female sorcerers. Even this ugly warrior woman is a distraction. One we don’t need. But perhaps this newcomer provides a way to exclude her. If I tell her to keep an eye on him whenever we have meetings, it’ll keep them both out of the way. And having a second tier of membership means we can make use of other women without them causing problems…
Once again, Tyen felt his doubts easing about the task he’d agreed to undertake. Collectively, these fools were no threat at all to the Raen. The trouble is, they aren’t safe here. If they provoke the Raen he may be forced to retaliate. Do I encourage them to find a safer place, both for them and their families? He wished he could ask Vella what she would suggest, but to take her out and read her was too risky. Someone might notice the words appearing on the page. For now, I need to find a position here in which I have enough influence to hold them back, but not so much that they expect me to make them a greater threat to the Raen. If his mind was the only one Frell couldn’t read he must be the strongest sorcerer here, so he had best emphasise his lack of fighting experience to dissuade them from making him a key part of their battle plans.
And if he could convince them to send their families away, he’d feel a lot better about spying on them.
CHAPTER 6
A half-circle of faces watched Tyen, with expressions of rapt attention.
“So, do you all understand the rules?” he asked. He looked at each member of his audience in turn, looking for any hint of incomprehension. Not everyone in the cavern understood the Traveller tongue and he’d noticed some of the older children translating for younger ones.
All nodded, and he saw no confusion. Opening his bag, he peered inside. The gathering was silent. Expectant. He looked up at them and smiled.
“Come out, Beetle. Come out and meet my new friends.”
At the command “come out” Beetle immediately scurried onto Tyen’s arm. A collective gasp greeted him. None of the children looked frightened, he was relieved to see. Fear was a reasonable reaction when confronted with a bug the size of an adult hand. In the bright light of the cavern the insectoid’s wing covers reflected iridescent blue, but its legs and antennae joins were grimy from dust in the bag mixing with oil.
“Circle around, Beetle,” Tyen instructed.
The wing covers snapped up and the internal wings sprang open and blurred as they began to beat. As the insectoid rose and flew over the heads of the children they exclaimed in delight. Tyen lifted his arm as it completed a circle and it landed, its wings snapping safely out of sight.
“Again!” one of the children exclaimed, and the others followed suit. Tyen grinned. He lifted his arm and repeated the instruction. Beetle buzzed into life again, starting another circuit. As it reached the halfway point one of the boys leapt up, making a grab for it. Beetle swooped away, easily avoiding him, but as it landed Tyen opened his bag.
“Inside bag, Beetle.” A chorus of objections followed. “I told you,” Tyen reminded them. “Nobody is to touch Beetle. It will sting you if you grab it.” The boy who had tried to catch the insectoid looked neither chastised nor even concerned about the danger of being stung. Tyen suspected that, like many children of sorcerers, his family were wealthy and had indulged him.
Beetle always fascinated children. After a few unfortunate incidents, he’d remade parts of the insectoid out of tougher materials, added wing coverings and the ability to withdraw legs and antennae into the shell. Sending Beetle flying over the heads of a group like this first usually told him who to watch out for. The stingers weren’t meant for deterring children, however, but were a defence against theft–of Beetle or the belongings it guarded.
Rather than let disobedient children disappoint others, Tyen had devised a series of tricks he could get Beetle to perform without it coming near them. He was halfway through his repertoire when he saw Yira step out of the meeting room, her expression dark. She looked around, saw him, took a few steps, then noticed the children and changed direction to head for her belongings.
“That’s enough for today,” Tyen said. “It’s Beetle’s nap time,” he told the children as they objected. “Beetle needs lots of rest. Inside bag, Beetle.”
Once the insectoid was safely inside, he stood, smiling at the excited chatter he left behind as he walked towards Yira. She was sitting cross-legged on her mattress, sipping from her flask.
“Drinking already?” he asked as he reached her.
She nodded, then held it out to him. He shook his head. “It’s too early for anything that potent. Besides, you must be running low. I’m afraid of what you’ll do when you run out.”
She plugged the top and stowed it away. “Probably kill someone.”
“What have they done this time?”
She grimaced. “They sent me to look after you again. As if you need it.”
“Someone has to watch me.” He shrugged. “Though getting my closest friend to do so does make it obvious it’s not me they’re worried about.”
“Is it that obvious to everyone?” She scowled. “That Ceilon is keeping me out of the decision making.”