7: Inava
Yilara looked over her class. In the weeks since their arrival at the Guild, set friendships had formed. She and Lorlen, of course, were a pair. Rayand, Solen and Eleni were also close friends. Alyk and Teno were friends too, and Wendola had struck up a tentative friendship with Garin. Only Inava was left out.
It was to be expected, she supposed. With the Ichani Invasion still fresh in everyone's memories, no one was willing to trust a Sachakan, even if she knew nothing about black magic. Besides, there had never been a Sachakan in the Guild before, and many magicians, she had noticed, disliked changes.
Well, Yilara only had one goal in life at the moment: stir up the Guild as much as she could, and make them realise how many changes they could be making for the better. Always do what you are least expected to. That was the rule she lived by - the only rule she never thought of breaking.
And at the moment the thing she was least expected to do was to be friendly to Inava.
After a glance at the door to check if the teacher was approaching, Yilara turned round in her chair to face Inava, who was sitting near her.
"So, you're Inava?" she began.
"Yes," said Inava simply, "and you're Yilara of House Velan."
Yilara waved a hand dismissively. "I've never had anything to do with House Velan in my life."
Inava frowned. "That's how you were introduced at the ceremony."
"It was my father's House, so technically I'm one of them." Yilara shrugged. "I just don't acknowledge it. I think they just wanted me to be one of them on the official records. That way, when I excel, they look better."
"When you excel?" questioned Inava. "Not very modest, are you?"
Yilara smiled her father's half-smile. "Oh, I wasn't boasting, just stating a fact."
Inava snorted at that, but could not think of anything to say to it. Remembering something else, she changed the subject.
"I heard you talking to Lorlen in his room. Everyone else thinks Ahrind's going crazy, but I heard you. You were really in there, and then you somehow got out without him knowing."
Yilara was surprised at that, but didn't let it show. "Did anyone else hear?" she asked.
Inava considered it. "I don't think they could have," she said finally. "I only heard because my room is next to Lorlen's and I was listening." She looked up at Yilara, puzzled. "How did you get out without him seeing?" she asked suddenly.
Yilara slipped her hand into her pocket and felt her ring, wondering how much she could tell Inava. She seemed trustworthy, but…
-Don't tell her, the voice warned. The Guild must work it out on their own. Don't tell anyone
"I have my ways," Yilara said finally, and left it at that.
"Oh." For an instant Inava looked almost disappointed, but then she hid it. "It's the secret passages, isn't it? Everyone says your mother uses them."
Yilara wondered whether to tell her the truth - that it wasn't; there was only one passage in the Novice's Quarters - or to lie, which she didn't often do; she preferred twisting the truth. However, in the end she stayed silent.
"Don't worry," grinned Inava. "I won't tell anyone. If you ask me, Ahrind deserved something like that."
"I know. That's why we did it." Inava didn't have to know that we included someone other than Yilara and Lorlen too. No one was to know that. As the voice often said, the magicians would have to work it out for themselves. That was the only reason the voice encouraged them to play those tricks - sooner or later, someone would work out what was going on.
The only questions were who, and when. Yilara didn't expect it to be quick. The Guild had forgotten so much it used to know, and it would be a long time before they thought to find out again.
Smiling, she turned the conversation to other matters. In the meantime, she could have fun watching the rest of the Guild stare.