Chapter 6:

The streets were narrow. The slum dwellers watched him pass with an uncertain eye. They knew he was too well dressed for the slums, but not one dare try anything, especially due to the fact a flash of red was seen after every stride. Warily he entered a bolhouse. The owner cast him a fearful glance, but carried on serving the customers.

"What would you like?" The owner said to him after seating at the bar.

"I need to meet with.. Someone." He muttered.

"I'll want some colour, if you know what I mean." A flash of silver caught his eye as it slipped across the table and he nodded. "Which one will you be wanting?"

"Does one go by the name of Faren?"

The owner nodded slightly and walked off. A few moments later he came back with a rough looking man. "Follow Sen, he'll take you where you want to go."

"You can go in now."

Balkan walked to the open door and went in carefully. The room was lit generously, and decorated lavishly. Behind a long table sat a thin man, with blue black coloured skin. His startling yellow eyes followed him as he entered and he grinned. "I wondered how long it would take for one of you to appear."

"You are Faren."

"I am. And you are?"

"Balkan." He replied reluctantly. "How do you know about Lorlen and Akkarin?"

"Please, sit." He said waving at the chair in front of him. "What can you offer me in return for this information?"

"Offer you?" Balkan frowned. "You sent the message, and you wanted one of us to come here! It's a trick!"

"No." Faren glared at him, "I sent you the message because I made a deal with Akkarin. I won't get the deal finished until he returns – so telling you about his disappearance was more for my own good than yours. I don't give away free information. That it not how it works."

"Well what do you expect from us?" Balkan rumbled angrily. "The King would never allow us to give you money!"

"The King would if he knew about the situation."

Balkan stood up furious. "How dare you! You think that we can just play your silly little games while we are trying to rescue our people. Well I will not have anything more to do with you."

"Very well." Faren said amused, "if that is what you want, then you know where the door is."

"I'm leaving." Balkan whispered to Vinara as he pulled her aside. "That Thief can't be trusted and we should never have gone to him."

"Leaving now?" She frowned at him, "surely you can wait until after we have discussed this."

"There is no time."

"Good luck."

The carriage pulled to a stop. Lorlen's heart raced. Footsteps drew closer. The handle turned and clicked. Lorlen's eyes became steely. A glimpse of outside was seen, and he moved quickly. The door swung out wildly and hit Rakara, sending him sprawling backwards. Lorlen jumped out of the carriage at him before he could shield and did the only thing he knew. He blocked his powers. Rakara fought back, but Lorlen worked too fast. Rakara uttered a cry of frustration as he realised what had happened and struck out at Lorlen. He fell to the floor, but smiled, Rakara was a lesser threat now. He could see that Rakara had no idea what had happened and stood frustrated as he tried again and again to reach for magic.

"What have you done to me?" He cried. "You pathetic Kyralian!"

Lorlen ignored the insults and pulled himself up. Nursing a bruised head he reached into the carriage and grabbed the rope that had been his restraints.

"You think that I'll just give up freely?" Rakara spat. He moved around watching Lorlen carefully and headed for behind the carriage. "Ahh!" He cried as he was flung back across the ground. A strike burn smouldered his clothes and burnt his flesh. Akkarin stepped out from where Rakara had been breathing heavily.

"Let me tie him." He said reaching for the rope. Bending down to the semi conscious body, he bound his hands and feet tightly. Then he searched for his knife, and efficiently drained Rakara, but didn't kill him. Lifting up Rakara he threw him into the back of the carriage. "Are you hurt?" He asked Lorlen softly. Lorlen tentatively lifted up his hands and showed Akkarin the damage. Akkarin placed a hand gently on Lorlen's arm, "Heal as much as you dare, I didn't get much from him." He said as he sent magic to Lorlen.

"No, don't-"

"Heal yourself." Akkarin said stopping him. "Or I will Heal you whether you like it or not."

Lorlen bit back a reply and Healed away the raw and scabbed up skin. "Thank you." He murmured and sighed deeply. "I can't believe what has happened... I just-"

"It is my fault." Akkarin said pulling him into an embrace. "I will explain everything when we are back at the Guild. For now, we aren't safe."

Lorlen's eyes widened at Akkarin's actions, but he found that it was comforting and for the first time in the past few days, he felt safe.

"Now what is this?" Came a thickly accented sneer. Akkarin's face was full of horror as he realised who stood there before them.

"Kariko." He choked out.