Disclaimer – I do not own BMT world, it belongs to Trudi Canavan
Persuasion
Lorlen watched the rider guide his horse along the valley floor at a gallop. Horse and rider moved, it seemed, without effort and even if he didn't know who was coming up to the farm, he would have recognised Akkarin from the perfect way he melded with his horse. He remembered ruefully the hours of practice he'd put in trying to emulate his friend's riding style, without success. He would never be even half the rider his old friend was. The horse drew to a stop nearby and its rider dismounted.
I'll stable the horse, then we'll talk.
The mental voice was soft, almost too soft to hear clearly and Lorlen supposed that was deliberate in case there were other magicians nearby. Akkarin could not be faulted for his caution. If he hadn't been given the hair, Lorlen knew he never would have been able to find him. Those in the Guild who believed Akkarin was still alive, and were willing to talk about it – there weren't many – supposed he had left Kyralia and was living in one of the larger cities in Elyne or a similar country, a place where he would be able to obtain every comfort. No one would have looked for him in a remote building in the middle of nowhere, living the life of a farmer, content to visit a country market once in a while.
He watched as Akkarin emerged from the stables and walked towards him. He had lost none of his Warrior's purposeful stride over the years. Lorlen had to admit that he looked well and settled, a man pleased with his life. Sonea had explained about the smuggling he was engaged in. Lorlen wasn't surprised that he had set up his own network. Akkarin liked to be in control, even if it were only of a few men and a relatively small network. He had a talent for moulding disparate people into a single force. That was what was so desperately needed now, at the Guild.
"We'll sit outside," Akkarin said as he joined Lorlen. "I've asked Takan to bring refreshments."
He led the way to where there was a long wooden bench, set against the wall of the house, which caught the early morning sunlight. He sat down, his long legs stretched out in front of him, his legs crossed at the ankles, completely at ease. Lorlen sat next to him and couldn't help feeling awkward. He had never been as slim and supple as his friend, even when they had been young novices together. If truth be told, he had always been envious of his friend's good looks and athletic physique, but as he told himself so often, he couldn't change his own stocky figure, and would have to learn to live with it. He felt a strange sense of completeness as he sat in the sun; it had been so many years since he had been easy in the company of his oldest friend. Regret for the differences of the past struck him sharply. I should have trusted him.
Takan emerged carrying a tray. He unloaded a plate of savoury tarts and a large jug of hot tea along with two mugs. He poured each of them a generous mugful of tea, then left them alone. Lorlen knew that Sonea had gone out looking for some wild fruit and had taken Justen with her, so they wouldn't be disturbed. He glanced at Akkarin, but of course, his face gave nothing away.
"Have you thought over what I said?" he asked.
"Yes, I have. I am flattered that some people feel I am the only one who can deal with the Guild, but they are several years too late. Time has moved on. I have moved on. The Guild made its choice when it expelled me. None spoke up for me then and many would have voted for my death without a second thought."
"There are many who realise that the Guild made a terrible mistake, Akkarin."
Akkarin poured more tea and took a piece of tart, "You say the same words, Lorlen – some, many, a group of magicians – give me more precise information. Who are Vinara's co-conspirators?" He smiled as he saw Lorlen's instinctive reaction to his description. "Yes, conspirators, what else did you think they were, Lorlen?"
It is strange, he thought, I never thought of them as conspirators, yet Akkarin's right, they are! He frowned, and considered his words for a moment, before answering, "Vinara, as you might expect, was not forthcoming with much detail. The impression she gave me was that there were several Higher Magicians who actively support an attempt to find you. She also believes that if more realised you were still alive, that number would grow. You can't imagine what the Guild is like these days. It is riven with factions who spy on each other, create arguments and dissention in order to pick away at people they consider rivals, either trying to destroy them or neutralise their potential. They jockey for position, each grouping trying to gain Balkan's ear in order to get a little more influence. In the middle of it all is a High Lord who cannot see a clear way forward and resorts to using his Warriors to keep order in the only way he knows, by threats."
Lorlen stopped speaking and glanced at his companion. It seemed to him that there was something lurking behind that dark gaze. Perhaps Akkarin was more interested than he let on. He can't have changed so much, surely there is still an ambitious man hidden inside the farmer.
"Unless something is done, Akkarin, the Guild will become less and less concerned with its proper role as the guardian and protector of magic in the Allied Lands, and more obsessed with in-fighting among the various factions that are growing in number almost daily. If you care at all about the organisation you devoted most of your life to serving, you will come back."
Akkarin remained silent and Lorlen could no longer distinguish any expression at all in his eyes. I have lost, he thought, Akkarin is too settled here….
"Do I care about the Guild?" Akkarin mused as it to himself, "I suppose that once I did, very much indeed. There was nothing I wouldn't have done to protect it. But now….." His voice died away. Lorlen was afraid to speak in case he interrupted whatever Akkarin was going to say next.
"…But now, there are too many obstacles to overcome and perhaps I've lost my taste for difficult tasks." He turned to look directly at Lorlen, "It all seems too far away, and to be happening to people I no longer have any connection with, so perhaps all that's left is for you to tell Vinara that I cannot come back."
"What does Sonea think?" Lorlen hoped his desperation didn't show in his voice.
Akkarin, who had been preparing to stand up suddenly stilled, "Sonea?" he asked, "Why do you ask about Sonea?"
"It seems to me that she cares very much about what you do. You remember what she said at your Hearing, about keeping you alive so that when the Guild came to its senses and needed you, you will still be able to help. You can't have forgotten that, surely?"
"No," he replied shortly, "I haven't forgotten, but that was about something quite different. I stayed alive. I came back. I enabled the Guild to survive. What happened after that is not my responsibility."
"Whether it knows it or not, the Guild needs you now, Akkarin. Perhaps it needs you more than it did when the Ichani attacked. I don't understand why you can't see that!" He paused, then went on, "I think Sonea sees that, very clearly."
"Sonea has always seen things clearly, it's one of her great strengths." There was something in Akkarin's voice Lorlen hadn't heard before, and he glanced at his friend. Akkarin was contemplating his hands, staring at them as if he hadn't seen them before.
Lorlen wondered anew exactly what Akkarin felt about his former Novice. They seemed, on the surface, a typical couple, yet he knew from Sonea's outpourings that things were not typical at all, not with so many secrets, so many uncertainties. It was clear from what she said, and also from what she didn't say, that Sonea's love for her former Guardian was paramount in her life. But there was no way of telling how deep his feelings for her were. He decided to try to find out.
"If Sonea added her voice to mine, would it make any difference to your decision?" he asked.
A brief crooked smile crossed Akkarin's lips, "She has already expressed her view on what I should do, but I fear she had an unrealistic idea of what I can achieve." He smiled again, "She lets her feelings for me blind her to what is possible and what is not."
There was a warmth and fondness in his tone, which told Lorlen much. There was no doubt that he loved his woman, but whether as deeply as she loved him, it was hard to tell. But I must try to use it, he thought.
"Sonea would return with you to the Guild, wouldn't she? There is still no one in the Guild as powerful as the two of you. She would watch your back. You would be safe."
"Lorlen, it's not a question of 'safe' it's a question of whether or not magicians would follow my lead. I can't simply reappear several years after being expelled and exiled and expect to be received with open arms and allowed to impose my will again as if I were still High Lord! And what of Balkan? He is not going to allow another to encroach on his power and position or does Vinara think I am going to depose him?"
There was one last card in Lorlen's armoury, which Vinara had told him to keep until it was clear nothing else would do. He didn't know why she had insisted that he not use it right from the beginning, but sometimes her motives seemed beyond his understanding. However, it seemed to him that now was the time. Akkarin had correctly identified the main problem which arose from his return. There was only one thing that could safeguard his position, at least initially. He cleared his throat.
"When Vinara had her discussion with the King, she told him that she believed you were alive. The King was, as you would expect, rather surprised. Balkan had been very clear right from the beginning that you were gone and his strong and repeated declarations of your death convinced Merin. Vinara told him of a plan to search for you. The King said that if you were found, he insisted on talking to you before any action was taken with regard to the Guild's internal politics. I'm sure the King will follow your advice, he has always done so before. So you see, if you decide to return to the Guild, you will have the King's protection for any action that you take."
"The King's protection? I see," Akkarin looked thoughtful and Lorlen began to feel the beginnings of hope that his mission would be successful.
Akkarin rose to his feet and began to walk up and down. His face was expressionless, so there was no indication of what was going though his mind. Lorlen knew that the former High Lord and the King had enjoyed a good relationship, with Merin giving his backing to many of the things Akkarin wanted the Guild to achieve. It was obvious that at the Hearing the King had been angry to discover his Guild Advisor had been involved in forbidden magic and, indeed, had been very keen initially that the death penalty be invoked. It had taken a certain amount of effort to convince him that exile would be a better option. But underneath the surface anger, Lorlen had been sure the King was more upset at a sense of betrayal by his Advisor, rather than the actual offence itself.
That view would seem to be borne out by the willingness of Merin to talk to him once Akkarin was found. How far the King's protection would go or how long it would last could not be determined. Merin had a reputation for decisions made on impulse at times. Whether or not he would choose to give Akkarin a free hand in dealing with the problems at the Guild remained to be seen. It was certain, though, that with the King's protection, Balkan could not openly move against Akkarin. Of course, that left other, less visible options but Lorlen had faith in Akkarin's ability to cope with Balkan.
Lorlen became aware that Akkarin had stopped pacing and was standing in front of him. He looked up and saw that he had made his decision.
"I will talk to Merin," Akkarin said, "But that is all. There are no promises of anything else. I will not come to Imardin. If Merin wants to see me, it will have to be somewhere else."
"But surely the King will decide…." Lorlen began.
"I am the one being courted here, the King, Vinara, the 'others' all want me to sort out their problems. It is neither my choice nor my wish to get involved. So, if they want to see me, they will do what I ask."
