Chapter 1

Rothen lay on his bed staring at the ceiling. Pictures of Sonea clouded his brain and he felt like he had lost a daughter. He really wanted to tell more people about Akkarin but that would put Sonea's life at risk. Tania knocked on the door and entered his room.

"Lord Rothen, Administrator Lorlen is at the door."

"Let him in and make him comfortable. I'll be there in a second." Rothen stretched and sat up.

Tania left the room and he heard Lorlen's voice enter the main room of his quarters. Rothen pulled his robes over his shirt and trousers.

"Why's Lorlen calling this late at night?" Rothen mumbled to himself.

He walked into the main room of his quarters and greeted his guest as warmly a he could. He sat down opposite the Administator to hear what he had to say.

"I know this might be early to move onto another pupil to be a guardian to, but you're quite good with people who are troubled."

"Is there nothing we can do for Sonea?" Rothen asked desperately.

"I'm afraid there is nothing we can do at the moment but I want you to take this girl on to keep your mind off it," Lorlen looked at him sympathetically but pleadingly.

"Alright. Who is she?"

Sephanie walked out of the baths into the night. She stepped quietly and quickly over the path and into the forest. She lit a globe light above her head hoping it wouldn't be spotted. She kept a look out for Regin and his gang. She might have been in one of the houses but they were now on the verge of being in the slums.

Suddenly she heard a twig snap behind her. She spun round to stare into a pair of familiar eyes.

"Out for a night time stroll are we?" Regin said with a note of sarcasm in his voice.

Sephanie turned to run but the other novices had circled her and she was trapped. Sephanie knew that she should put a shield around herself but she knew inside that there was no point, they would break through it. The first strike that hit was a stun strike. Sephanie crumpled to the floor and lay motionless. She was half aware of what was happening around her.

"Come on guys; let's fight fairly, no magic."

Regin rolled his shirt sleeves up and kicked Sephanie in the stomach. Sephanie wanted to move her hands over her face but her stunned body wouldn't allow her. Two of Regin's gang picked her up by her arms and pulled her limp head back. Regin looked as if he was about to retreat but he turned round and punched. Pain spread from the bridge of her nose through the rest of her face. She felt blood pouring out of her nose and everything went black. She was dropped to the floor. Before she slipped out of consciousness she felt someone spit on her and heard one word

"Scum!"