AN: Thanks for the quick reviews guys. I am doing my best to update fast. My GCSEs start in a bit so I am trying to do the story before they all kick in once again. Thanks to Loten, I was thinking of slowing it down a bit round about now, now you have mentioned it, I think I definitely will, that was a lot of help thanks. The first two days of the story are supposed to be hectic, so at least I'm getting that. :)

Sonea's POV

Sonea awoke to a morning shine through her window. She groaned and sat up, looking around her surroundings she noticed a pile of paper in the middle of her desk. It took her a while to figure out that it was her notes for her bone breakage test which was today. Sonea's eyes slowly widened. The test...today! She flung herself out of bed and threw on her robes. Looking at her notes she was relieved that she could actually remember most of it, still the nerves were there. Looking at the clock she realised she had an hour until test time. The test wasn't significantly that important, but, Sonea always tended to get nervous at these sort of things. She looked at her face in the mirror and gasped. She had bags under her eyes from lack of sleep and her hair was stuck up in all different directions. Grabbing her comb, she brushed the lugs out, wincing every time it pulled. Going to the wash bowl she began work on her face, when she was satisfied with the results, she went back to her seat. Looking across her notes she found her mind straying back to the other day. She smiled at her conversation with Dorrien, at least he is happy now. Sonea found herself wondering what he was going to do about the part of 'being more than friends'. She was fond of Dorrien, but, the last two days that he had been here she found herself to be 'just' fond of him. The feelings she got with the High Lord were completely different. Irrational yes, but, more than she would feel for Dorrien. She remembered back to last night, she had watched every move the High Lord had made, nearly bursting with joy when he had said he trusted her. Sonea remembered him staring at her, as if he was assessing her. She knew she would have to tell Dorrien that he was just a friend, and, thinking about it know made her realise she should tell him right away. What if he tries something public and I rebuff him. He would hate me for life, Sonea stressed. I will tell him after my test, Sonea began to stress over what she was going to say to him. Thinking back to the first day he had come back, he had been right all along in what he said on the walk. I was just denying it to myself, she thought. Am I really that easy to see through, Sonea began to panic, what if the High Lord knows about my feelings towards him. That would make him trust me more. Sonea noticed her heart beating fast in her chest, it is possible that he could love me, but, it seems very unlikely. There was only one way to find out, Sonea would have to attend his residence every night and do her best to be happy and as charming as possible. Then we will see what happens.

Looking back at the clock again, she saw there was twenty more minutes until it started. Taking one last glance at her notes, she packed them away, taking just a pen to write with she headed out of her rooms and out towards the healers quarters. Reaching her destination she walked into the classroom, which they were using for the test.

"Sonea, at the front please"

Sonea jumped as the voice sounded familiar to her. Looking up she noticed Dorrien was sat in the seat at the front. She looked around, no one was there yet.

"Dorrien...What are you doing?" she whispered to him

He chuckled.

"The head of healers is starting off another exam, she asked me to do this one for her" he smiled

"Are you going to be here for the whole of it?" Sonea tried to keep her voice level

"Yes right until the end!" he beamed at her

Great! Sonea thought. Now I have Dorrien watching me, as if I didn't need any more pressure! She sat down in her seat and looked at the table. Maybe now would be the best time to tell him, tell him that he was right when we went on that walk. That I'm only fond of him and I don't...love him. Sonea looked up at him, maybe it wouldn't be the best time to tell him...but, then again when is the best time to tell someone that you really don't love them? What if Dorrien did something after the exam in front of everybody to prove his love to me?! Dorrien looked up at met Sonea's worried gaze.

"Hey Sonea, calm down I'm sure you will do fine and it's not the end of the world you know, I mean if you don't do well people won't mock you, Rothen will still like you and I will" he looked at her then compassion clear in his face. Oh no! Sonea thought.

"You know Sonea..." he began

Sonea watched how he was struggling how to put each word. I have to tell him! Now!

"Look Dorrien..." she said then stopped. How am I going to put this, screamed in her head.

Dorrien was now looking at her speculatively. She looked up at the clock, ten minutes before start time, people would be coming in soon. Now Sonea! She scolded herself.

"Some things have happened while you have been here, and, not all of them rational" she laughed to herself, then carried on. "I know when we went to the spring the other day that I said you were talking nonsense, but, you were right that day" Sonea was beginning to feel more confidence, the words she said seemed right and better to say out loud. "I...I am only fond of you Dorrien and yes it took me two years to figure that out, but...I am truly sorry but I don't believe that you are the one that was meant for me" she looked up at him, then almost wished she didn't. He had his hands on his head and was looking down towards the table, his hands were shaking. Sonea felt a pang of guilt surge through her, what she said was right, he desire for the High Lord was on a completely different level to what she felt for Dorrien. Yet still that didn't make what she had to do any better.

"Dorrien I..." Sonea began to say, but, people were beginning to filter down the corridor. Sonea looked urgently at Dorrien, who had now meekly composed himself. He looked like he had just been punched in the stomach. Sonea worked on her expression and took hold of her pen.

Gradually the others started to filter through into the classroom, all eyeing Dorrien speculatively. When all were in and the gong sounded for the beginning of the test Dorrien spoke.

"Right, I'm sure you all know what you are doing, you have until midday break to finish the test, good luck and begin." he sounded full of command, but, Sonea could hear the strain behind his voice.

Looking down at the parchment she read the first question in her mind, What precautions do you take before even thinking about healing the breakage? Sonea sighed and began her answer, trying her hardest to not look at Dorrien and to push all thoughts of the High Lord and what had happened over the last two days.

Akkarin's POV

Akkarin walked across the yard as the gong sounded for silence as tests had began. He chuckled to himself. He imagined Sonea, head nearly pressed against the table in concentration. He saw the way her face set in determination, throwing everything she had into the parchment. Akkarin sighed. Oh how I so would like to be there. He laughed to himself. Hmm...I think it would not look right if I walked into the room and all I did was stare at Sonea. For Akkarin knew, that was all he would do. Opening the door into his residence he was met by a shaken Takan.

"Takan?! What's wrong? What happened?" Akkarin was all but shaking the servant

Takan looked up at him and then pointed to the underground room. Akkarins face drained of colour. What?! A spy? Here?. Akkarin paused for a moment. He had taken strength from Takan every night. I should be strong enough he thought. Edging towards the room, his hands slide over the door handle and he gradually pulled it down. He burst into the room, arms ready and waiting, but, stood stunned at the scene before him. There was no spy, but, the room was nearly completely demolished! Tables and chairs were upside down, looking down, Akkarin noted a trail of dripping blood. It lead up back into the residence and to Takan. Then Akkarin noticed for the first time that Takan's arm was pouring out blood.

"Takan!"

He ran back up into the residence and took hold of his arm and began to heal. Luckily it was just a deep cut and Takan had kept his arm raised so he didn't lose any rapidly. When cut slowly turned into a pink scar, Takan seemed to come out of his trance.

"Master. He came, he came. He took the chest..." Takan stuttered.

"Who Takan? Who came?" Akkarin pushed.

"He ran out. Into the guild grounds, nobody saw him. Master he is in the guild!" Takan's voice was on the edge of hysteria.

"WHO?" Akkarin shouted

Takan looked up at him.

"Kariko"

Akkarin dropped his hands.

AN: Mwaahaha! I sooo know what I am doing with this story now! I had a brain wave through this! The weeks are going to begin to pass know in the story, they were the hectic 3 days. You will see what I mean in the next. I hope you liked it, I hope I didn't just completely confuse you all! ;)