The thief's office had changed again, Akkarin noticed. Ceryni had replaced the carpet with a new, more expensive-looking one and the desk behind which the thief sat was also new. Probably custom-made with hidden compartments, the High Lord surmised. His fingers itched to use his magical abilities to search the office for traps, hollows and hidden passages, but he refrained. At least for the time being.

Presumably it had been time for Sonea's friend to adjust his office to his new status. It had not escaped Akkarin's notice that the young man was slowly making a name for himself among the thieves. After all he had seen, Akkarin was not surprised. He had not chosen Ceryni for nothing, entrusting him with such an important task. And presumably the young thief would have ended up here anyway, even without his involvement, just a little later.

"High Lord," Cery greeted politely and Akkarin returned the polite nod.

"Ceryni. You wrote you had news?"

Cery nodded and his seemingly carefree smile gave way to a serious expression. "I continued to be unable to find any bodies, so I had my men ask around to see if there were any unusual disappearances anywhere, and they found them!" he announced. "Apparently the killer seems to be somewhere near the hospital, over twenty people have disappeared there in the last few weeks".

Cery slid a list of names to the High Lord, some of them had a cross behind them. "I have marked those whose relatives or neighbours said they had previously visited the hospital"

Once more Akkarin congratulated himself on having chosen the young man. This was more than he had dared hope for.

"Observe the surroundings and report to me anything that seems strange. I'll check the list. It almost looks like the killers are targeting the hospital now. Try to stop rumours from starting that after the visit, people will just disappear"

Akkarin hoped the spy was killing the people, not holding them captive. Otherwise he was clearly stronger than the High Lord would have liked.

"are there possible hiding places for so many people in the area?"

Cery shook his head. "There are two warehouses, but my men have already checked them".

"Widen the search radius. Maybe he's hunting somewhere else than where he's storing them. And also check places where such a lot of bodies are not noticeable" Akkarin instructed and rose. He had to find the murderer as soon as possible. The cunning behind the plan did not please him at all, the deceitfulness suited an Ichani. Or else a particularly intelligent and loyal slave. The High Lord hoped for the latter, but he had to be prepared for an encounter with an Ichani.

As quickly as possible, Akkarin said goodbye to the thief and returned to the guild to check the list against the magical abilities of the cottagers treated at the hospital. He feared the worst.

Back in his library, this very concern was confirmed: all the missing persons possessed strong magical potential. Silently, Akkarin cursed and rose to change his clothes. It was time he changed his search radius, after all, Akkarin now knew what to look for and, above all, where the murderer was hunting. No sooner had the High Lord moved than he informed Takan of his plans and instructed the servant to inform Sonea of his absence at dinner and to tell her that they would make up their practice session another day. She was to take an evening off instead. Probably his novice was even glad not to have to see him after their argument in the morning. Sonea had not been thrilled with the change in her timetable and had not shown the least bit of understanding. If Sonea had not had to go to the university, their argument in the morning would probably have escalated further than it already had.


The tavern near the north gate was extremely well frequented. It was neither one of the run-down establishments that abounded in the hut district, nor as posh as the inns of the inner ring. In one corner of the room, crowded with tables and people, someone was playing music and a group of drunks were bawling loudly and very wrongly. Girls with well-filled mugs of bol pushed their way through the crowd, deftly fending off even too pushy men. They obviously had practice in orienting and manoeuvring themselves in the chaos. Everything was loud and smelly and crowded.

Uncomfortably, Lorlen pulled his hood further into his face to avoid being recognised. At the same time, he wondered why he had even responded to the anonymous message on his desk. The time and place had been there, but nothing more. Perhaps it was his own curiosity that had tempted him. But now that he was sitting at this rickety, sticky table, a spicy bol in front of him in a room full of people who couldn't stand mages, he felt incredibly stupid. He should have stayed at home, maybe even visited Akkarin to have a wine and talk with him. And there was much to talk about.

His thoughts wandered to the encounter with Sonea just before he left for the tavern, while he watched a young woman with a baby in her arms join a group of men. She looked younger than most of the novices, almost a girl.

Perhaps he should tell Akkarin, despite Sonea's protests, that he had found her completely exhausted at the university earlier that evening. The girl had barely been able to stay awake and swore ironically that the High Lord had nothing to do with it. If that was the case, there could only be one person who was interested in invalidating her in this way: Regin. The boy seemed to be becoming more and more of a problem. Lorlen decided to talk to Akkarin when it became clear that Sonea needed help. Until then, he would comply with her request to do nothing.

He sipped his bol thoughtfully and let his gaze wander over the noisy, seemingly boisterous crowd again. The tart-sweet taste reminded him of something, he just couldn't tell what.

Lorlen was about to leave - he had already paid for his bol - when a man wrapped in a dark cloak joined him. He ordered a bol from the waitress, who hurried over immediately, and then turned to Lorlen.

"Oh, you have come. I wasn't sure you would really."

Lorlen had to pull himself together hard not to screw up his face.

"Lord Rothen, if I had known it was you I wouldn't have come. What if he finds out about this?", Lorlen scolded the older mage, hoping that he would not see through the fact that Lorlen no longer doubted Akkarin. But he was also sure Akkarin wouldn't like the two mages meet in a shabby tavern.

Lord Rothen sighed in exasperation and took a large sip of his drink.

"I think he is trying to get Sonea on his side. I'm worried for her and the Guild if that happens," he then murmured sombrely.

Lorlen eyed the alchemist for a moment. He must have grown very fond of the girl in the half year she had lived with him.

"By meeting with me, you put her in danger in the first place," Lorlen guffawed.

Rothen shook his head. "How would he know about this?" he asked bitterly. "We must finally do something about him before he has completely corrupted her. I saw them together yesterday, she was telling him something animated and they were laughing together"

Lorlen would have laughed at the absurdity, but he pulled himself together. Rothen should be happy that she settled in finally. She deserved to be happy.

"I'm working on it. But I can't just confront him openly, we don't know how strong he is. And I don't think Sonea is easily corrupted. Maybe she just act like she is working with him?"

Rothen's desperation and concern was almost palpable. Lorlen felt sorry for the elder. He didn't know that in truth Akkarin did everything he did for their safety. At least Lorlen hoped it was so. He wanted desperately to believe the High Lord.

"Listen: I am trying to find a way to reveal what he is doing without causing a massacre. I will inform you as soon as I know more," Lorlen said wearily. "Now go, I will follow in a few minutes. We really should not be seen together"

Lord Rothen did not look happy, but he obeyed. Lorlen watched him leave the tavern and then leisurely emptied his cup. As he did so, he could not shake the feeling that he was being watched. Uneasily, he pulled his hood further into his forehead as he finally stepped out onto the almost deserted street and turned towards the north gate. He had to talk to Akkarin.

He blamed the vague feeling of being followed on the unpleasant encounter with Lord Rothen and the paranoia that followed. At least until a stun strike hit him in the back and sent him to the ground.