CHAPTER 44

A NEW THREAT

Another ten seconds of shocked silence followed and then all started to speak at the same time. Questions were shot at the black-robed magician, excited voices filled the air.

In this general mayhem Rothen remained silent. He still stared at the tall man. There was only one thing he could think of. Sonea, I must tell Sonea.

'This isn´t possible, he must be an impostor', Lady Vinara repeated again and again.

'Do hold your shields, this Ichani woman hasn´t released hers yet.' Lord Balkan growled.

'But Akkarin is dead', Lord Peakin said.

Right on top of this Lord Jerrik shouted, 'This is an illusion, she means to trick us.'

'Enough!' The King´s high penetrating voice cut through the noise like a knife. Another silence followed – this time an embarrased one.

King Merin locked eyes with the former High Lord. 'Akkarin, you survived.'

'Yes, Your Majesty, but only just.' His eyes flickered towards the Sachakan woman.

'You are still an exile as you might remember.'

All eyes immediately flashed to Akkarin´s face. How would he react? Would it come to a confrontation? They still hadn´t released their shields.

Akkarin looked annoyed, but quickly controlled his features again. 'I know, Your Majesty. After your judgement I came back here for the sole purpose of protecting Kyralia and I hope my actions did not let you doubt this.'

The magicians now watched King Merin, unsure of how to react to this. Akkarin had come as near to an insult as political talk with a member of royalty allowed to.

The King, however, only snorted and the ghost of a smile touched his lips. 'Akkarin, Akkarin, I see you haven´t lost your fire. I have to admit that your role in the fight convinced me of your loyalty where your former behaviour made me doubt I ever knew you.'

Akkarin now smiled back at the King and inclined his head. 'Thank you, Highness, I understand. May I explain why I have come here today?'

King Merin motioned to the magicians who released their shields. 'You may. But first I suggest we all sit down again.'

Rothen and the other Higher Magicians moved back to their seats. The King sat down in his throne-like chair. Akkarin and his two companions, however, remained standing.

'Now, tell me, why you have come here today', the young ruler challenged.

'I have come here to negotiate my reacceptence into the Guild, mine and Sonea´s.' Akkarin´s eyes sought his and Rothen couldn´t stop himself from smiling at him in return. Akkarin seemed to be surprised by this, but nodded at him briefly. 'In exchange I offer my help in dealing with the Sachakan threat.'

So, no elaborate words, no talking around. The former High Lord had come straight to the point. Of course he had hit a raw nerve and, Rothen was sure of this, knew this perfectly well. The King leaned forward in his chair, clearly excited by this statement. From any other man it might have been boasting to think that the King would pardon a Black Magician in exchange for his help, but not with Akkarin.

As Lord Peakin had said that morning, Akkarin would have been the natural choice for the mission. If everything he had told them was true, and so far everything he had said had been proven so, he would be very valuable as an ally.

'That is an intersting offer you make, Akkarin. How do you propose to be of help should I decide to reconsider your status?'

Akkarin straightened and looked around, meeting each pair of eyes with a calm and steady gaze. All attention was fixed on him now. He nodded satisfied.

'I know a way to strengthen the Guild magicians so that they equal the Ichani without teaching them Black Magic. I will be able to provide them with power given willingly. And–' his lips curled into his characteristic wry half-smile, 'I will be able to enter Sachaka under the protection of Sachakan magicians.'

An astonished silence followed. Even from the former High Lord these seemed to be impossible claims.

'If you can fulfill all of this, my friend, I´ll certainly grant you reacceptance into the Guild', the King replied unbelievingly.

Akkarin´s gaze met the King´s and held it. 'Is that already part of our negotiation?'

'If you wish.'

'Sire', Lord Balkan interrupted. 'None of us doubts that the H– that Akkarin has saved us, together with Sonea, but he has learned and used Black Magic. And –'

'And be thankful that he did, Kyralian. You would all be dead if your Guildmaster hadn´t been there to risk his life for you. What do you think would have happened to all of you, if he hadn´t come back? You wouldn´t even be here, if it wasn´t for him. In Sachaka he would have been treated like a hero not sent away when you needed his help most.'

They all stared at the Sachakan magician. She hadn´t said anything before and they weren´t used to being addressed like that.

Lord Balkan narrowed his eyes at her. 'I do not assume that you know our laws, Lady, but - '

'Ah, I see, there is a law in Kyralia that says you are a criminal if you risk everything you have, including your life, to save your people?'

'Of course not,' Lady Vinara interrupted her sternly, 'but learning and using Black Magic is one of the most serious crimes you could ever com –'

Again Savara didn´t wait for the Guild magician to end her sentence. 'Yeah, so the law says, you may risk your life and fight an enemy but you may not do what is necessary to win?'

'This is not what I said.' Annoyance crept into the Healer´s voice. 'Learning Black Magic is never an acceptable solution, it…it is just wrong.'

'But isn´t that exactly what we have decided to do, because there clearly is no other way?' Lord Jerrik said simply.

Vinara spun around. 'That´s different, we decided that together, we know of it together, we can control each other.'

Savara laughed mirthlessly. 'So it isn´t the use of what you call Black Magic that you judged him for. No, it´s just that you feared he might be too powerful for you to control. You didn´t ask yourself for one second whether he had a chance to decide anything else.'

'Savara, please.' Akkarin shook his head.

The Sachakan magician sighed. 'I don´t understand how you can let them treat you like this. You risked your life over and over again, you came back after they scorned you and even now you want to help. You could have lived a happy life. They would never have known you weren´t dead.'

'These are my people, Savara, and I have sworn an oath to protect them.'

'He kept it secret. If he had told us we might have trusted him.' Lady Vinara muttered.

The dark-skinned woman snorted. 'No, you wouldn´t have, because you were blindly following your so-called law without even knowing the real reason why it existed. If you ask me, ignorance is the vilest crime.'

Lord Balkan inhaled loudly, his face flushed. 'What exactly is it you want to say with this, Sachakan?'

'You only condemned Lord Akkarin, because you were blessedly ignorant at that time, while he wasn´t. Now, that you have come to your senses you´ve made exactly the same choice, because it is the only logical one. The only difference between you and him are eight years of knowledge.'

Angry glares were shot at the beautiful woman. They didn´t seem to bother her, Rothen noticed. Quite the opposite, really. They seemed to amuse her. She stood there proudly, smiling back at them in an infuriatingly smug way.

Rothen watched fascinated. What a strange situation. A Sachakan magician, a potential enemy, was protecting an exiled Guild Magician while his own people – those he had saved by sacrificing himself – were still treating him like a criminal.

Rothen barked a short laugh as the absurdity of that sank in and he could see that the same sentiment was expressed on other faces. On some he could even glimpse the ghost of embarassment. Were they not the Higher Magicians? Weren´t they supposed to be clever and in control and to be able to decide what was best for Kyralia?

But when Akkarin had been accused of using Black Magic they had all been terrified and had stopped thinking it through. The truth was, that they had all been reliefed when the King had come up with that easy solution to banish him from the Lands. Noone had contradicted the King´s decision, because they had all been frightened to death. And in the end they had been helpless like children calling Akkarin back to mend what they had broken.

Lord Peakin broke the silence. He coughed and said, 'Actions speak louder than words.'

King Merin snorted. 'Thank you, Lord Peakin. And thank you, Lady Savara', he added in a dry tone. The dark-skinned woman made an elaborate bow. 'We agree that we will reaccept Akkarin into the Guild, if he helps us?'

The magicians glanced at each other hesitantly, reading the others´ expressions. Then, slowly, they nodded.

'Which leaves the question of how you will do that.' Akkarin said. 'What will be my…status? Mine and Sonea´s?'

The King frowned displeased. 'Akkarin, you have gained what you came for, why do you complicate things?'

'Because I have something that you need and I will not accept readmittance if our future roles in the Guild will greatly inconvenience or even threaten Sonea or me.'

Uneasy murmurs rose at that. Noone had considered that Akkarin would reject reacceptence. Rothen understood, however. If Sonea and Akkarin joined the Guild again, as last resort, as pardoned Black Magicians with extra restrictions, they would be outcasts for the rest of their lives. What Akkarin was really asking them to do was to trust him this time. Trust him or turn him away again.

It seemed that the King had come to the same conclusion. He looked down at the former High Lord appraisingly and nodded very slowly. 'I see.'

Silence settled over the room. Each occupant contemplated the same questions. What would the King decide? What would be Akkarin´s role? Would the King trust him this time?

Rothen shuddered. No matter what the King decides concerning Akkarin, I cannot bear to see Sonea leave again. But if the Guild will not trust Akkarin enough to take him back in as a full member, will she remain once she knows he´s alive?

King Merin spoke to his advisers under the protection of a shield which cut off all that was said. Expressive gestures and vehemently shaken heads indicated that a heated discussion was taking place. It seemed like an eternity until finally the shield vanished and King Merin returned to his seat.

'Akkarin?'

'Yes, Sire?'

'Will you accept if I guarantee that you will be fully readmitted? I cannot tell you in what function yet. I´ll need more time to think that through.'

'And Sonea?'

'The same conditions for her.'

Akkarin smiled. 'Agreed.'

The King let out a sigh of relief and leaned back in his chair. 'Great, now, what you –'

King Merin was rudely interrupted by a booming voice that seemed to issue from every direction and was magnified by magic. A mind voice. It drowned out the last bit of the King´s sentence in the Magicians´ heads.

—Kyralians, are you listening? This is to all those petty children who call themselves magicians. I am Iniko of the Ichani. I have come to your filthy land to kill you off, one after another. Kariko was good enough to clear the way for me...I couldn´ t resist. Your blood will soak the ground of your city and the bodies of your people will fill the streets. Do you tremble when you hear this? Yeeesss. You know your Guild is weak. Kariko was a fool for walking into your little trap. He always was too bold for his own good health.

A cold, cruel laugh echoed through Rothen´s mind. He felt the hairs on his arms rise.

—Nevertheless, he had his use. Now, that he has finished off your great defender, I´ll take the greatest pleasurein hunting you down. You´ll never know when I am back. The only sign you´ll get is another child missing, another throat torn and the cries of your people will fill your ears until you all go mad.

The voice spoke with a cold certainty. It was completely inhuman, void of all emotion. The voice of a cold-blooded murderer. The Ichani chuckled madly.

—Revenge can´t be taken in a haste. I´ll draw you out and kill you. One after the other. Send me a beautiful woman, maybe that will buy you a day or two. That will depend on how long she´ll be able to amuse me. What about Akkarin´s little apprentice for the start? You do not think she´ll be able to protect you, do you? So why keep her? She´ll buy you...let´s say three days?

Sonea? That´s your name, isn´t it? Can you live with the knowledge that innocent people will be killed if you do not follow your great teacher and sacrifice yourself?

Rothen´s breathing stopped as the voice paused. Sonea, would she answer? But all remained silent.

—Stupid girl. I´ll get you one way or the other. You, Guild magicians, let me show you what happens if you decide to defy me.

Immediately an image was projected into their minds. They saw an old farm that they recognised as one of the many farms along the coastline of Kyralia a day´s ride away from Imardin. In front of the farm kneeled the farmer, his wife, his two little daughters and the stablehand. Fear stood in their eyes, but they seemed unable to move or to speak. Iniko approached the group.

The image changed as the Ichani fixed his stare on one of the little girls. He grabbed her and dragged her away from the others. 'Hello, precious', he said in that cruel, high voice. 'Do you want me to free Mummy and Daddy?'

Tears were streaming down the child´s face. The little girl was terrified and when the Ichani reached down to touch her she jerked her head away and began to cry even harder.

'No? You do not want them to live?' The child´s eyes grew wide. She started sobbing uncontrollably and burried her face in her hands. Iniko chuckled cruelly. 'Well, since you do not want them to live I will have to kill them.' He bent down and twisted her hands away. He stared into her two big green eyes and whispered. 'And this is all your fault.'

With that he wirled around and sent heatstrike after heatstrike into the bodies of the defenseless farmers until they burst into flames and finally only ashes remained.

Grey flocks rained down upon the little girl. The only one the murderer had left alive.

—Little magicians, you have until tomorrow morning. Bring me Akkarin´s apprentice or this little girl will be the first of my victims tomorrow.

Shock stood in every face. Rothen was trembling all over. Lady Vinara held her hands clasped over her mouth, her eyes brimmed with unshed tears. Akkarin´s expression was completely blank, his gaze fixed beyond the room.

The King was the first to find his voice again. Of course, his advisers had shown him everything that had been said and projected. 'Not even a full day. We do not have time enough to prepare, even if what Akkarin said can be done.' King Merin´s voice was strained and tightly controlled, but also determined. He faced the Higher Magicians of his Guild and then turned towards the tall man in black robes.

'Akkarin, I need you back in your old post.'

Gasps and shuffling of robes broke the stunned silence that followed the King´s statement.

'You would reinstate me as High Lord? A Black Magician?'

'The High Lord of the Magicians´ Guild is chosen to protect the people of Kyralia by enforcing the King´s will and law in the Guild and throughout the land.' King Merin quoted from a part of the election ceremony. 'His foremost responsibility is to protect King and country from harm.'

'I know what I vowed, my King.' Akkarin whispered.

That was the first time Rothen had glimpsed frustration and pain behind his cool reserve.

'And, did you keep that oath, Lord Akkarin?' The former High Lord looked up at the King. 'I have tried to hold to that oath as good as I could.'

'Yes, you have and I have made a mistake by not trusting you to do so the first time.' Rothen looked at the King surprised. So did all the others present. Noone had expected such an open admission from the King.

'I am not going to repeat that mistake', King Merin continued. 'Kyralia is my responsibility and I need a strong leader to oppose this Sachakan and all who will come after him. We´ll need to explain that though…' The King massaged his temples absently. 'The problem is that you were punished publicly.' He continued contemplating until suddenly his head snapped up and he fixed Akkarin with a weighing stare. 'However, this was just a strategy, wasn´t it?'

Akkarin looked at him intently as if trying to find a trap in his words. Lord Peakin looked around uncertainly. 'I don´t understand, Your Majesty.' he said.

'What I am offering to Lord Akkarin is that I will put about the story that his expulsion and the exile were strategies to trick our enemy and that he will, of course, be reinstated now.' The King faced Akkarin again. 'That, however, is only open to you, if you can do what you have claimed before that Sachakan bastard threatened us.'

'No.' Akkarin said.

'You cannot?'

'I can, but I will not accept back the post if it comes with a lie. For years I had to hide things from even my best friend. I knew that I had to do it and so I did it, but I will not continue with it for personal gain.'

Akkarin now turned towards the Higher Magicians and therefore missed the satisfied smile that spread over the King´s face.

'If I am to become High Lord again I will only do so by being reelected. I want your vote. I want the Guild´s vote. Either you trust me now, or you don´t. I am a Black Magician, but I never chose to become one and I have never used it for anything else than the defence of Kyralia. I regret having been forced to teach Black Magic to Sonea, but this was the only way to ensure that you´d be safe if I died. I have a few conditions, if you want me to return. However, I will fight this Iniko whether you vote for me or not.'

Lady Vinara was the first to respond to Akkarin´s words. 'I want to know how you plan to keep your promises before I give you my vote, Akkarin,' she said. 'And I want an explanation of how you can be alive. I tested you – you were dead!'

That last nearly came out as an accusation and Rothen had to hide a smile. It seemed that the Head of Healers considered it a personal insult that Akkarin lived against her better knowledge. The black-robed magician inclined his head.

'I will vote yes.' Rothen saw surprise in some of the faces. He, Rothen, had been one of Akkarin´s 'victims' after all. The Black Magician had forcingly claimed the guardianship of his novice and then threatened to do her harm. That Rothen had changed his opinion of the former High Lord hadn´t been anticipated. Again Akkarin seemed to be surprised, but didn´t comment on it. 'And I call for another meeting concerning Sonea. That Akkarin survived changes her role in the Guild. If we consider reinstating Akkarin we must speak about her, too.'

'We will, Rothen, we will', Lord Balkan growled. 'But let us first keep to the things at hand. You claim to have found a way to provide us with magical strength to equal the Ichani without using Black Magic? I have been a Warrior for years and I don´t know a single way this could be done. If, however, you truly have found one, that would solve the problem of our defense and I would be able to sleep again. So, if you have, I will vote yes.' Akkarin nodded to the Head of Warriors.

'I always considered you to be a good choice for the post until we found out about about your…activities.' Lord Peakin looked up at the former High Lord. 'As it is, I have been elected to learn Black Magic from Sonea as successor to Lord Sarrin´s post, in order to choose others, who are trustworthy. I cannot deny that I found those books we found in your rooms quite interesting. However, I did not wish to learn Black Magic. I spent quite some time thinking about how I would choose those who were to be taught and I cannot say I came to a satisfying conclusion. Nevertheless, I would have learned it and I would have taught it, if I had thought it would save Kyralia. I guess I can understand the choices you had to make better than the others present here. I respect you for what you made of that burden and therefore I will vote with yes.' Akkarin nodded to the old magician then faced the new Administrator. Lord Osen wore a frown.

'I know that Lorlen forgave you when he died, but I am not sure whether I am able to do it. I never really liked you, but maybe that isn´t necessary for working together. I cannot answer with yes, but I will accept the vote of the majority. If we need a unanimous vote, I will agree.'

'Thank you, Administrator', Akkarin said.

Finally all magicians but the King´s advisers had given their vote. The majority had voted with a 'yes' under the condition that Akkarin could hold to his claims.

King Merin nodded in agreement. 'I will vote with yes under the same condition. However, I remember you were having conditions of your own. What are these?'

Rothen had to hide another smile. Fascinating, Akkarin had come into this room, an outlawed exile and now the King was requiring after the magician´s conditions even though he had promised he would fight for them regardless of their decision. How did he do that? Well, maybe the Sachakan´s outburst hadn´t been quite as spontaneous as it had seemed at first, Rothen mused. Akkarin had always been a skilled tactician.

Akkarin moved to one of the windows, his black robes billowing behind him. He seemed to choose his next words with great care. 'Thank you for your honest words. I have been told that the Nightroom hosted quite a lot of heated but open-minded discussions and I can now see that must have been true. A pity, that Lord Garrel isn´t present to scold me for assuming anything else. '

The Higher Magicians had to smile at that. Lord Peakin chuckled. 'Ah, so you have been listening from time to time. We will have to take greater care then, should you return to your old post.' Someone laughed openly at that. Brilliant, Rothen thought. Even now he is playing with us like a cat with some mice.

'My King, you asked about my conditions. Actually one has already been met, since you allowed the vote. There are some that will only make sense to you if they are explained together with the solution I have to offer. And then there is a third category –' He hesitated, then smiled.

Rothen had never seen Akkarin smile like that before. He really was very good-looking when he did that. 'The third category concerns Sonea.' Akkarin finished.

Rothen saw that the other magicians exchanged glances. They had speculated a lot on the relationship between Sonea and her former guardian and were now clearly interested in his conditions. Rothen felt reliefed. Akkarin surely would protect Sonea the best he could. He, Rothen, knew how those two had felt about each other.

'Let me start explaining then.' Akkarin moved back into the room and approached the Thief and the Sachakan magician. 'I will need their help though.'

All eyes were fixed on the three unlikely companions. How could a Thief, a potentially dangerous stranger and an exiled Black Magician solve all their problems?

'I promised you three things. Firstly, that I could strengthen you without teaching you Black Magic. Secondly that I would supply you with great stores of power given willingly. Thirdly that I could approach the court in Arvice protected by Sachakan magicians.

In order to understand my plan concerning the first point you need to understand how I survived. There will be parts about Black Magic in it, but be assured that none of you will be confronted with knowledge she or he would rather not know. Lord Peakin, you might have read about parts of it and will be able to identify them as being true.'

The old magician nodded excitedly. 'I will, I will.'

'Savara,' Akkarin addressed the woman to his right. 'Please tell them how you saved me.'

'So it was you…I did wonder…are you…a Healer?' Lady Vinara sat poised on the edge of her chair. Savara laughed. 'No, I don´t even know Healing in the way you Kyralians use it.' Vinara´s mouth hung open. 'You didn´t heal him? But then how…?'

Rothen listened to the Sachakan magician spellbound by what he heard as she explained about the connection between mind and store of strength and the feeling of oneness.

'You see, cutting someone with a knife is not Higher Magic, it is simply a way of opening the barrier of the body in order to be able to draw power. What you call evil is something that hasn´t anything to do with Higher Magic specifically, but is a more common phenomenon. Taking something by force. Killing. It is true, you can use Higher Magic to kill someone, if you draw too much power, but so you can with a simple kitchen knife or a piece of cloth.' Cautious nods of assent followed this.

Savara then explained how she had found and strengthened the connection in Akkarin´s body and how he had recovered over the last two weeks.

'So you see,' she said to the Head of Healers, 'you couldn´t have sensed it, because you can only sense energy that is still connected to the mind. You had to think him dead.'

Lady Vinara shook her head. 'Amazing.'

Akkarin stepped forward and the attention turned back to him. 'Now, let me explain my suggestion. As Savara has explained there is a difference between the ability to draw power from someone and the ability to store it. The first ability is prone to misuse as you can easily see, because a magician can draw power from someone who doesn´t volunteer to give it. Before I met Savara I thought that these two abilities were connected. I thought you had to know them both, that they were one process really, but now I have understood that this isn´t true.'

His voice had gained an intensity that made his listeners hang on his lips. 'After all these years I have finally found a solution. Imagine the possibility of having Guild magicians who are able to store power, but not draw it. They would be equal in strength to any Sachakan magician, but they wouldn´t be a threat to others, because they could not draw another´s power without assent. I can teach you that.'

'They would be able to hold the power in their body without having to hurt or kill someone?'

'Yes.'

Lord Balkan sprang up from his chair and started pacing. He wore a frown of concentration. 'All Warriors could be schooled in this. Even with so many killed we are still enough to defend the main entrances to the City should another invasion take place. There is only one problem.'

'What problem, Lord Balkan?' the King asked.

'These Ichani had their slaves to draw power from. We would only be able to strengthen ourselves from one another thereby weakening some of our own magicians.'

The Kind frowned. 'That´s true. Akkarin, that leads us to point two, am I right?'

The black-robed magician nodded. 'I had come to the same conclusion as you, Balkan. I didn´t find a satisfying answer until I remembered how Sonea and I proceeded during the fight. Actually, it was Sonea who first came up with the idea. When we were staying with Ceryni here –' Akkarin pointed to his left, 'he introduced us to the other Thieves. It was during this meeting that Sonea found a very simple solution to the problem.'

Akkarin chuckled. 'As she would put it, being from the Houses had turned me blind to a possible source of power.' The former High Lord looked at the others expectantly. 'Any ideas?'

Rothen caught on first. 'The slum dwellers', he exclaimed.

'Exactly, Rothen, the slum dwellers.'

Murmurs of protest rose.

'They would never help us, Akkarin', Lord Jerrik interrupted. 'They hate magicians.'

'That´s only partly true, my Lord.' Cery said. 'They will help if we ask them. They agreed to help to defend their city before. And they know Lord Akkarin now. They trust him. If he would be High Lord again the Guild would be seen in a different light. However, if you want to be sure there is only one thing you can do.'

The young man turned to the King. 'Majesty, stop the Purge.'

King Merin inhaled sharply, his green eyes fixed on the steady gaze of his subject. Then he nodded.

'I see, that is the second condition, Akkarin?'

'Yes, Highness.'

'Ceryni of the Thieves, I swear to you now that I will banish the tradition of the Purge if you can provide us with volunteers.'

'He can, Your Majesty. And we have a helper out there already.' Akkarin grinned and asked Lord Peakin, 'Do you remember Lord Senfel? He was a novice in the same winter intake as you, if I am not mistaken.'

'Senfel? Of course, but I thought he was dead.'

'Well, it seems he is as dead as I am.' Akkarin retorted. Gasps of astonishment filled the air.

'Next time it will be my grandmother returned from the grave.' Lady Vinara muttered. 'Now, that would be a tragedy.'

Rothen was amused. This stern woman had a very dry humour from time to time.

'Lord Senfel tested over a thousand people and he found great potential there.'

'Wait,' Lord Balkan interrupted, 'they still cannot help.'

'They can´t? Explain that Balkan.' Lord Peakin looked confused.

'Akkarin said he would only teach us to store strength, not draw it. If we cannot draw strength, these slum dwelllers would have to be able to give it to us. And that would mean that –'

They all turned to Akkarin. The King raised his eyebrows. 'I cannot believe you ask me to allow all of those slum dwellers to enter the Guild?'

'No, Highness, only that they will be taught the first level of Control. That will suffice for them to be able to realease their power willingly, but not much more. Regular controls should ensure that they aren´t taught any use of magic other then to release it. I advise to pay them. Thereby we could stop some of the poverty. You might consider letting some enter to make them trust you even more, though. These people have defended their country before, they will do so again. And I advise that we open up Hospices in the outer parts of the city to further ensure their goodwill. The other alternative would be to let Sonea or me use Black Magic on them as we have done before and supply you with the strength we have gained thus. But that would be very tiresome and impractical. Teaching the first level of control is still risky, but better than the alternative of having Guild magicians who can draw power roaming freely throughout our land. I cannot offer an easier solution...we will have to see how it turns out in the long run.'

Rothen smiled. Now see here, it seemed that the former High Lord had been as much influenced by his novice as the other way round. Sonea would be proud of him, he thought laughing silently.

The King spoke to his advisers and finally addressed the assembled magicians again. 'I will agree to condition number three.'

Lord Balkan approached Akkarin and laid a hand on his shoulder. 'That might work. I will have to organise meeting points and arrange regular lessons, but I think that it will work. I vote yes.'

Ceryni grinned and Rothen found himself admiring the young man´s courage to face all the Higher Magicians and the King himself to rid his people of the Purge and help with the protection of Kyralia. Sonea had a very fine nose for good friends he thought.

'So, there is one point left, Akkarin', the King reminded the black-robed man.

'A possibility to enter Sachaka under protection. I think Savara can explain that better than I could.'

The Sachakan woman raised her chin and fixed them all with a dark stare of her tilted eyes.

'I know you have only met the worst scum of my land, but do not judge us all by them. The Ichani are outcasts in Sachaka. The King is a powerful magician and he uses the banishment as a punishment for truly vile men and women. There are a lot of different societies or tribes in our land. After the war we Sachakan people were scattered all over the land. It will take too much time to explain about each tribe and its political orientation, but you must know that there are two main currents at the moment. One fraction wants to join the Allied Lands, the other wants to take revenge on you. As you might have guessed I am a member of the first group. Now, I came here in order to learn about the Guild and about how it might be approached, but also because we feared that Kariko might have succeeded in rallying enough of the Ichani behind him to dare to enter Kyralia. I cannot influence the King or promise that our side will win, but I can protect your messengers and function as translator. My tribe has some influence in the first group we talked about. I am sure that they will help, too, if I ask them. And maybe if you start negotiations the King might be swayed to join the Allied Lands.'

King Merin leaned back in his chair, an unreadable expression on his face. 'Savara of Sachaka, I thank you for offering your help and protection, and also for saving Lord Akkarin. I will consider your offer.' The dark-skinned woman bowed gracefully.

Then the ruler of Kyralia turned towards the man he had exiled only weeks before and motioned to him to come nearer. The King stood up from his chair and laid both of his hands on Akkarin´s shoulders.

'Akkarin, I do not need to hear the conditions of your third category beforehand as I am sure that they will be reasonable. I vote yes and ask the Guild to follow me in this decision.'

Akkarin reapeated the King´s gesture, laying his hands on King Merin´s shoulders so that the two men stood locked in a formal embrace, one normally used on occasions like an election.

'I vote yes', Lady Vinara intoned. 'I vote yes,' Lord Jerrik added. 'I vote yes,' Administrator Osen said.

Only Lord Garrel – who had been meant to take over from Balkan should the latter become High Lord – wasn´t present, because he was organising the Warrior groups that still patroled the city. The majority of the Higher Magicians had voted positively, however, and therefore the lack of his vote did not weigh that much.

Administrator Osen spoke the ritual words that Akkarin had heard once before. 'Akkarin of Kyralia, you are hereby summoned by the Higher Magicians of the Magicians´ Guild of Kyralia to be elected as High Lord. Should the vote be in your favour you will be raised to the post of High Lord. Do you accept the summons?'

'I do.'

'The election will take place after the Sachakan enemy has been defeated.'

Rothen let out a deep breath. He hadn´t been aware, that he had been holding it.

'I think we all need some fresh air and something to eat', Lord Osen said. 'Let us continue in half an hour. After having settled Lord Akkarin´s election we need to discuss how to approach the imminent threat of the Ichani Iniko.'