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“At times, but everyone has been friendly, and while I never wanted to be a Healer, at least I’m being useful.”
    Her smile disappeared and she shook her head. “I never thought they’d put you in Kalia’s hands, knowing that she wanted you dead.”
    “They know she’ll keep an eye on me better than anyone else.”
    “And now you’ve made a fool of her,” she pointed out.
    “Poor Kalia,” he said, without a trace of sympathy.
    “She’ll make your life hard for this.”
    “She does anyway.” Lorkin raised his eyes to hers. “You didn’t expect me to try to befriend her, did you?”
    “I thought you smart enough to avoid giving her excuses to stir people up against you.”
    He shook his head. “Lying low and keeping out of trouble will not get me that.”
    She stared at him, her eyes narrowing. “One foolish Kyralian boy cannot change the Traitors, Lorkin.”
    “Probably not, if they don’t want to,” he agreed. “But it seems to me the Traitors do want to. It seems to me some major changes are definitely part of their future plans. I am no foolish boy, Tyvara.”
    Her eyebrows rose, then she stood up. “I have to go.” She slowly turned and walked away. He watched her hungrily, hoping the sight of her would imprint in his memory clearly.
    “Come visit some time,” he called after her. She looked back and smiled, but said nothing. Then she was gone.
    Moments later, the men began returning to the room. Lorkin sighed, then looked around to find Evar making his way across to the table. The young magician sat down, his eyes bright.
    “Oh, what wouldn’t I do to get under the rug with that one,” he said quietly.
    Lorkin resisted the urge to glare at his friend. “You’re not the only one,” he replied, hoping the young man would take the hint.
    “No. Most men here would do anything for a night with her,” Evar agreed, not picking up Lorkin’s meaning – or pretending not to. “But she’s picky. Doesn’t want to get attached. She’s not ready.”
    “Not ready for what?”
    “Pairing. She doesn’t want to stop doing the dangerous work. Spying. Assassination.”
    “Does having a man prevent that? I can’t imagine men could prevent the women doing anything here.”
    Evar shrugged. “No, but when the women are away for long stretches, and might be killed, they know it’s hard on a man. It’s certainly hard for their children.” His eyebrows rose. “Actually, Tyvara’s caution is probably because of her mother, who died on a mission when she was young. Her father was devastated, and Tyvara had to look after him. She was … oh. I think it’s time.”
    Lorkin followed the young magician’s gaze to the room entrance. A young female magician was standing there, beckoning to him. He exchanged a sympathetic look with Evar.
    “I think you’re right,” he said. “Good luck.”
    “You, too.”
    They stood up and headed for the doorway, Lorkin reached it first. The woman looked him up and down and smirked. Lorkin figured she was considering his ability to cause her trouble, but couldn’t quite shake off the impression she was considering his potential for much more recreational physical activity.
    “The Table is assembled and they want to talk to you both. You’re to go first.” She nodded at Lorkin. “Follow me.”
    They walked in silence. The people they passed barely glanced at them, adding to the impression that nobody was taking his tour of the stone-makers’ caves all that seriously. Finally, they reached the entrance to the Speaker’s Chamber and stopped. Seven women sat around the curved stone table at the low end, but the tiers of seats fanning out from it for an audience were empty. Lorkin noted that the gem-encrusted chair for the Traitors’ queen was empty, as he expected. The old monarch only joined in the more important ceremonies, and he doubted she’d be at all interested in attending this one.
    Director Riaya, a thin, tired-looking woman who guided