Actually, everything I've written so far was supposed to be in Chapter 1 - and even more that is about to come. But as I'm writing, I somehow end up breaking it into smaller parts. If I should make longer chapters, let me know! Though don't forget, it'll take longer for me to post then ;)

I've been asked by (Thanks for your review! ^_^) about the time frame of this fanfic. Well, it is placed somewhere between Akkarin claiming Sonea's guardianship, and him taking her to the slave and showing her how to read his mind in order to prove his story. So, she's still dead-on scared of him.

Leave a review, I'd appreciate any thoughts, comments and questions!

Chapter 2

For a brief moment, Sonea felt as if the world had stopped. Then it started spinning around her way too fast, leaving her mind blank and her head feeling dizzy. She tried to swallow, but her mouth had gone so dry she simply couldn't.

What was he doing here? He must have been expecting her. But how had he known that she was about to come here? Her body betrayed her with yet another shudder. The High Lord knew of ways she didn't even want to think about.

He hadn't moved yet, though he was looking at her directly, regarding her in silence from across the small meadow. Collecting herself, she bowed.

"High Lord."

Her voice was barely more than a mutter, and it felt as if her tongue had been replaced by a piece of sand paper scratching against her gums.

Still, no reaction.

Starting to feel intimidated, she resisted the urge to shift from one foot to the other. If it was his intention to make her uneasy, she would not allow him the satisfaction of knowing he'd succeeded. She jutted her chin forward in a stubborn manner.

Then, he moved, his head falling to the side and a strained moan escaping his lips.

Sonea froze in place, her heartbeat picking up a rapid pace again.

"High Lord?"

She barely recognized her own voice, coming out several pitches too high.

Still no reaction. Had he been injured? Her mind started racing. If so, could she take advantage of the situation? How? Could she kill him?

Should she kill him?

And even if he was badly wounded, who said that he couldn't still fight her nevertheless? The High Lord had been one of the Guild's strongest magicians even before he had started using black magic. Who was to say how strong he was now, even when he seemed to be weak?

Suddenly his head jerked to the other side, and he moaned again.

Regardless of what she decided to do, first she had to find out what was wrong with him. Ever so slowly, keeping her eyes trained on him, she bent down and carefully set her box on the ground. Then, straightening again, she advanced on him, one careful step at a time.

"High Lord. What has happened?"

Her voice sounded firmer now, but again he didn't react.

Was this a trap? As the thought crossed her mind Sonea stopped abruptly, her gaze flickering around in search for anyone hidden in the bushes. But just then, she had stepped into the shadows of the trees and could finally make out the High Lord's face.

His eyes were closed.

His expression was strained, but there were no signs of an injury.

His chest was heaving heavily, but evenly.

The High Lord was asleep.