Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters, they are the property of Trudi Canavan.
A/N: This piece of fan-fiction is only based on the first three books in the Black Magician novel series, not including any of the sequels.
Prologue: The High Lady
The high Lady was close to death. She had been moved to the centre of the dome, so when she finally lost all control, the energy could be controlled. Even though she had lost most of her strength and had not received any magic from others for many years, she was still powerful.
`High Lady, ´ Lord Donmar said. He was head of the warriors and one of the few who was brave enough to be at her side. He was wearing a red robe and had a black cloth around his forehead indicating that he like the high Lady was trained in the higher forms of magic.
`The administrator will be here shortly, ´ he said with an uncharacteristic uncertainty. `Yes, thank you, Lord Donmar. ´ The warrior was seated next to the small grey lady. The high Lady was wrapped in her black robe and placed in the middle of the dome. Her eyes were completely white; she had been blind for the past ten years. However, her other senses had made her eyes less important. The administrator in his blue robes hurried to her side.
`Administrator, good of you to come. ´ The high Lady said, moving her hand in his direction. Even though she couldn't see him, he still bowed. `High Lady. ´ He sat down next to her. `Has the king been informed? ´ She asked. The administrator nodded.
`Yes, high Lady. ´
`Good. Lord Donmar, you should leave, I feel it is no longer safe for you to be here. ´ Lord Donmar rose and bowed. The warrior was clearly trembling. `High Lady, it was an honour. ´ He bowed again. `I will leave´. Even though Lord Donmar was a stern and elderly man, who had been in the guild for thirty years, he had never overcome the distance and uneasiness he felt talking to the high Lady. The knowledge and the respect she had in the guild were unmatched.
`Administrator. ´ The high Lady said. `I need you to do me a favour once I am dead. ´
`Anything, ´ the fair-haired man said. He was a man in his late forties and had his hair tied in a traditional knot at the neck. Generally considered very stern and serious, he had also developed a friendship with the high Lady. Even though he had never cultivated any knowledge of the higher forms of magic, he had been a favoured one of the high Lady some thirty years earlier.
`I have not been called by my name in sixty years, please once more call me by my name. ´
`High Lady? ´ She closed her eyes. `Please. ´
`My Lady ...´
`No! ´ The high Lady said. `It is Sonea, my name is Sonea. ´ She breathed heavily.
`High Lady, I do not understand? ´ The administrator, looked at the high Lady. He had never seen her like this before. For a moment he thought she was scared, she was acting strangely. He knew her name, but she had been high Lady since before most of the magicians in the guild had even been born.
`Sonea´, the administrator finally said, he could hear her breathing relax a little. He was only this insecure when together with her. `Administrator, tell me something ...´, she rasped. `Was I a good person? ´ He nodded. `Yes, you were, you created peace. ´
`I let my sons die. ´
`Your sons died for Kyralia. They saved the guild, they saved Kyralia. The city of Imardin will never fall again. ´
She shook her head waving her hands dismissively. `As did their father. ´
`There is something I need you to do administrator. ´ He moved his head closer to hers and reached out for her mind. For the first time she could not hide her emotions from him. She was losing her control.
`Yes, I will do whatever you wish, ´ the administrator whispered.
`I need you to visit a tomb for me. I need you to visit Lord Akkarin's tomb. ´
He felt a terror and a sorrow from her; feelings so powerful they made him shake. `But your son was consumed by his powers when he died, there is no tomb. ´ She shook her head. `No, administrator. I need you to visit the tomb of my old guardian, I need you to visit high Lord Akkarin's tomb. ´ Tears were filling her eyes. `He should not have died that way, ´ she whispered. `He would not have let our sons die. ´ The administrator suddenly realised how little he had known of the high Lady's personal life.
`Promise me. ´ The high Lady begged, holding the sleeve of the administrator. He nodded, seeing the high Lady like this was almost too much for him. `I promise, Sonea! ´ The administrator said.
`Thank you, Administrator Ugnon. You should leave now; I feel my control is slipping. ´
`High Lady. ´ The administrator could barely keep his voice in order. He squeezed her old hands before he stood up and bowed to her. When walking out of the dome he could feel her magic, it was pulsing irregularly, sometimes powerful, sometimes it could not be felt at all.
Administrator Ugnon hoped that the dome would be able to absorb the magic. Then a white light consumed everything behind him. He closed his eyes. The guild would be looking for a new high Lord.