-1Sonea wakes up to another day………….

(Balkan is the new high lord- how am I going to get used to that, and Balkan is approachable, unlike him, better not think about that) Sonea's eyes fill up with tears (and how am I going to finish my studies? There seems to be a lot of work in being a healer, but in order to help the slum dwellers, I must be able to help them, no one said that this would be easy, oh well better get out of bed, and get a move on, there is another test today, and it is going to be much harder than any of the others that I have taken….)

She goes out to the main room of Rothen's apartment…………to see the higher magicians around the room.

"Sonea, we the higher magicians have decided that you should learn more about your black magic, so we have decided to let you go across the seas, to the land of Tortall."

"But, I thought that I had to stay here in case the Sachakians decided to attack us, and wasn't it decided a long time ago that anyone that learned black magic had to stay in Karaylia for the rest of their lives, and within distance of a magician, as well as near three others …"she looks at Balkan for conformation

"You will have to give your knowledge to Lord Sarrin, this is why Rothen became the head of alchemy, and it will also keep us safe if you decide to go power hungry."

"I don't want anyone learning this," her eyes start to fill up with tears, and she brushes them away, "I lost Akkarin because I caused you to learn that I learned this magic in the first place." (if only I had hidden the books on black magic better, then they might not have searched the rest of the place that thoroughly)

"Sonea, you will have to eventually teach someone this, and we, and the rest of the guild, by vote, have decided that it should be now, besides what if something happened to you? Would you leave the city vulnerable to attacks, remember that I used to be the head of warriors."

"Well, I wouldn't want to leave any part of the city vulnerable to those Inchi" (he does have a point, but if we are doing this without the kings permission, than i will be the one in trouble, and maybe the slum dwellers will be ignored) "Does the king know, does he approve of this, what about my training, how are the slum dwellers going to be affected by this

Balkan holds up a hand to forestall any more questions "Yes, Sonea, the king knows, and he approves, even if it was reluctantly at first, until we explained that if you were to go power crazy now, we would not be able to defend the city at all. We discussed all possible options and we realized that the city would be safer if there was two black magicians, that way if one goes power hungry, that the other will be able to counter and fight that person off and maybe it would happen before we end up with a ruined city, and a much diminished population."

"And how do you know that the two people wont be just team up?" she puts her hands on her hips "There will be more ruin if they do, and there is no way that the guild could stop two black magicians, it would be a struggle just to stop one, don't you remember what nine did?"

"We have made some strict rules, that will have to be followed, firstly, " he holds up one finger", the two black magicians will not be allowed to interact with each other, unless they are with other magicians, and every word is able to be heard second," he holds up another finger" The black magicians will each show their successor black magic with a watcher, and, then there will be less risk of that happening, and thirdly," he puts his hands back into his lap and sighs "Sonea, we are not just going to allow just anyone to be a black magician, we will chose the person by vote, then that person will have their mind read by the high lord, to make sure that there isn't anything that is hidden from us, before we will allow that person to learn black magic, and only those known for good character would even have a chance of being chosen"

"And what if the successor decides to go power hungry, or the teacher and student team up while the student is being taught black magic, you might be able to see some things, but you don't know how to read minds, the way that I do" She taps her head with empathies.

"That is another thing, I almost forgot, we have decided that the high lord is going to know how to read minds, so you are going to teach me"

"But that is an invasion of a person's personal being, no one should be read like that , that is how the Inchi did things, and they were evil" She shudders

"Sonea, we have to know how well suited to the position that person is, we must take every precaution we have, the person that is being chosen to learn black magic will know that"

"And, if the student and the teacher decide to team up and go against the guild? What if they do that while the other person is being taught? You will have no warning black magic is taught by the mind"

"They will be watched every moment, and, until the student is decided fit to learn black magic, there will be a guard at all times, so there is no risk of that happening. Besides, the student will not be chosen by the black magician, it will be chosen by the guild, and if you teach me how to read minds, then there is no way for that person to have anything hidden, so I would be able to make sure."

"Alright, I will teach you how to read minds, and I will do a complete mind read myself, as well as teach sarrin to read minds...Why do I have to leave Imardin? Why can't Sarrin go? I just want to help the dwells that is why I am finishing my healing." She lowers her eyes thinking that she might have said too much

"Because if you do, then the king will fund for the slum dwellers to have proper running water, a proper education, and will build houses for them, also I was told by a god that you should be chosen." Balkan smiles kindly at sonea, noticing.

Sonea: "And the king is actually going to do this? He has been promising for years, and the purges haven't even stopped." she narrows her eyes.

High lord Balkan: "Yes, he is, and he has already made the proclamation in the streets, so it will happen if you go, the dwells are counting on you. Also, Sonea, the purges would have stopped anyway, after what you did for the city, you did show the king that not all the slum dwellers were thieves." he is still smiling, to reassure sonea

"Then why was there a purge this year?"

"If you don't remember, those who were involved didn't have permission, and were punished immensely, as well as having to work with the slum dwellers on a daily basis"

"I still don't like it but..." she sighs resignedly "alright, when will I be leaving, it will take a few weeks before lord Sarrin will know how to use black magic properly"

"As soon as you teach Sarrin black magic, Sonea, you will leave, we have proposed that you start teaching him today, and everyday, for two hours, including freedays"

"Alright, I will begin teach him after lunch, if his mind proves to be true, so you should probably learn mind reading now"

"Yes, also the slum dwellers are counting on you Sonea, so do not let them down, also there are healers in this new land that are more powerful than any we have here, that is another reason why you were chosen over anyone else, when you come back you will be deemed a full healer"

"Alright, I will try not to let the dwells down, and I will come back a much better healer, and will I be able to teach the healing to anyone?"

"Unfortunately you wont be able to teach the novices, at least right now, Vinara is trying to change that.

Her voice takes on a higher note "Than what is the point of me going to this strange land? I wont be able to teach anyone what i know"

"Well, we did decide that you will be able to teach a few of the healers, and we are sending Dorian along with you, you can ask him for help with anything that you don't understand."

"and so there is no point in me teaching anyone"

"no sonea, that isn't what i meant"

"What point is there in me going than?"

"You can keep those who go with you safe"

She looks at Balkan, "might as well teach you mind reading now than..."

Ten minutes later, the higher magicians leave, and Sonea drops into a chair.

(now I have to do this! I really don't want anyone learning this, it is evil…………oh well, I don't want the Sachakians coming when I leave and ruining Kyralia, still I wish that there was another way…….. Might as well get on with my studying, i still have that test tonight, how am i going to concentrate now?)

She starts reading from her book "The many purposes to magical and non- magical herbs"

To be continued...

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