Disclaimer: I do not own BMT world, it belongs to Trudi Canavan

Further Consequences

Supper had been a rather strained affair with both Akkarin and Sonea finding it difficult to keep up their usual light, social chatter in front of the servants. Now supper was over and they were sitting in the comfortable chairs by the fireplace, each with a large glass of wine to hand.

Akkarin smiled inwardly, it was almost as if neither of them wanted to make the first move and discuss what must be discussed. Well, he was the High Lord, so he supposed it was up to him.

"You've had a long time to think about everything that has happened recently, Sonea. Have you reached a conclusion?"

"I believe you," she said. "I have tried to see how you could have put those things into that young man's mind for me to find, and I cannot. I can only think that it is all true. There is a terrible threat to the Guild and I now understand why you cannot tell anyone about it. We have to decide what to do next."

Akkarin schooled his face to show no emotion, although inside he was elated. Finally, she believed him and surely that would take away the last feelings of dislike. He liked the way she had said "We" in such a decisive way.

"I want to help you," she said. "I can help you, I am strong and you made sure I developed my Warrior skills. You once asked me once if I would use any means to defend the Guild. I said I would. I know why you asked me that now. I am willing to learn black magic."

He felt himself grow cold, that was not what he meant at all. "I cannot teach you black magic. Do you know what the consequences are if you are discovered? The punishment could mean execution. At best, you would be expelled from the Guild with your powers blocked, and sent into exile. No, I will not teach you black magic under any circumstances."

She frowned, "Then why did you tell me all this? How can I help you without black magic?"

"I had intended that you would give me some of your power. Black magicians can store power for as long as they need it. Your strength would provide me with a lot of power and I can take it from you without using magic forbidden by the Guild. If I am discovered, you are safe because there is no law against giving another magician power."

He was surprised to see something like disappointment cross her features before she said, "I see."

"Come, let me show you. Give me your hand."

He took one of her hands between his own and said, "Just send power like you do in Warrior training," and he immediately felt the first trickles of her power flow into him. His heart began to beat painfully loudly as the intimacy of the process became apparent to him. Part of Sonea's essence was flowing into his body and he could feel his own magic source open to it and embrace it, making it part of himself.

He forced his mind towards more practical things. He mustn't take too much. "That's enough Sonea," he said but as the flow of power stopped, he suddenly felt cut off and alone and part of him wanted to take all of her, to absorb every element of her until she was part of him completely.

She looked at him, "That's all you want me to do? There's nothing else?"

He smiled crookedly, "You sound almost disappointed. Surely you don't want to become like me, a Guild magician who has broken all the solemn vows made at graduation?" He strove to keep his tone light, "You have a very good future in the Guild ahead of you. There is nothing you couldn't do, if you put your mind to it. I will not put that at risk, any more than I have to."

To his surprise, she got up and came over to where he was sitting and knelt on the floor beside him. She looked steadily at him and said, "Give me your hand."

He stared, What could she mean? Then he remembered the incident in the forest, when she had taken his hand, then snatched it away quickly. What had she seen in his mind?

He said in a firm voice, "Sonea, get up. I don't need any more power, I have enough." Would that be sufficient to stop her?

She ignored him, and said, "Akkarin, give me your hand." She had never called him by his name before and the sound of it reverberated inside him. He said, "Why?"

She smiled, "I think you know," and reached for his hand before he could stop her. This time, his defences were ready, but he could sense her presence quite strongly in his mind and just before the barriers snapped into place, she caught the edge of a stray thought and he could feel her emotions, surprise, warmth and hope.

She kept hold of his hand, looking into his eyes, then she moved and before he could do anything to avoid it, she kissed him on the lips. He was conscious of two completely opposite reactions. One told him to get away from her as quickly as possible, before too much damage was done. The other caused him to stand up and pull her into his arms as he kissed her back fiercely. He felt her arms encircle him as she pressed herself against him. Her body moulded itself to his perfectly, and he thought for one mad moment that they were made for each other. Then reality rushed in on him. He gently disentangled himself from her, creating a small distance between them.

"No, Sonea, No," he said softly. "You must not."

She looked at him, "Why not? I sensed it this morning; you have feelings for me. I felt it again just then. Your feelings are quite strong." She smiled, "You think I'm attractive!"

"You are a very young woman, Sonea, and you deserve someone of your own age. I am so much older than you, practically a different generation. It would not be right."

"That is a poor argument. There are many marriages in the Houses where older men marry younger women. I've heard some say that such an arrangement is an ideal one, an experienced man looking after a younger lover."

His mouth was dry as he heard her use the word "lover". Is that how she sees me? he thought in astonishment. Was it only a few days ago she disliked me?

"You forget, I am your Guardian and my duty is to protect you and in any case, intimate relationships between guardians and novices are forbidden. There are good reasons for those rules, it would be easy for an older man to take advantage of an innocent young novice."

She laughed, a light, musical sound, "What about a young Novice taking advantage of her Guardian? Ah, Akkarin, I have wanted to kiss you for a long time. There have been many nights when I have lain awake, knowing you were sleeping nearby, and wondering how I might find an opportunity to do this."

She moved into his arms again and pulled his face down to hers. This time, her kiss was passionate and he felt his resistance start to fail. He gave himself up to feelings of warm delight, letting them wash over him, and pushing thoughts of the consequences to the back of his mind.

It took a few moments before his mind cleared. This would not do. This time, he moved farther away from her and stood, his arms crossed, a cold fierce look on his face.

"No, I will not take this any further," he said sternly. "There is important work to do and I will not be diverted from it by you. I have not done all that I have done over the last few years, just to throw it away. You distract me from my work, Sonea, and I cannot let that happen. We must both forget this ever happened. Are you able to do that?"

Throughout his little speech, she had been looking at him, the colour coming and going in her face. By the time he had finished, her face had become a mask.

When she spoke, her voice was firm, "You don't want my help, except to feed you power. You don't want any intimate relationship with me. In fact you don't really want me at all. It must be quite a burden to have a useless Novice to worry about, living in your house. Perhaps it is best for me simply to regard myself as a hostage again."

She walked towards the door, then paused, "Please may I be excused, High Lord."

He winced at the cold emphasis she placed on his title. "Yes, of course. Good night, Sonea."

As the door closed behind her, he felt like picking up something large and heavy and throwing it as hard as he could at something else. He blamed himself entirely. The danger signs were there and he hadn't noticed them. He may be good at fighting and killing black magicians, he may be able to save the Guild, but when it came to dealing with a twenty-year-old girl, he was hopeless!

Two kisses and my reactions to them have probably undone all the good work I have done over the last few days, he thought. Where do we go from here?

He sat in the chair, sipping wine and thinking until the fire died down and he was ready for sleep. Tomorrow was another day and he would try to regain some of the lost ground with his resentful Novice. But, behind all the worry and fears for the future, there was one unexpected bright thread amongst the dark, She has feelings for me.