Chapter 14 – Change

Akkarin watched the exhausted magicians depart from his residence grimly. This has been another long night since he became the High Lord of the Magician's Guild, but it was different this time. After fighting the Ichanis secretly for the past five years, he was now able to continue this fight without lurking in the shadows of his past. He stopped hoping for this day a long time ago, yet it felt strangely unsettling when it finally came.

Lifting himself out of his chair, he strode to the wine cabinet and poured himself a glass with wine. He sighed contentedly as he felt his restless nerves numbed by the sweet wine. So much has happened in the last few months. His bold decision in revealing his past to Sonea had brought about countless changes. It seem as though fate has finally decided to stand on his side, but at the same time, hanging him by a thread, ready to snap and destroy everything that holds dear to him.

The meeting with the King has left him infuriated. The ruler has allowed him to use black magic as a protector of Kyralia but had plainly stated that his novice will not be granted the same privilege until she has graduated and proven herself a worthy Guild magician. Apart from having such a cowardly King, this was the most absurd statement he had ever heard. The monarch actually considered having the permission to use black magic a privilege! Without a doubt, the King was simply prejudiced about her humble beginnings and intimidated by her strength and connections with the Thieves. Snorting to himself, he wondered how the King might react if he learnt about his associations with the Thieves as well. That is something to think about.

Despite stating all the risks that Sonea might face without black magic to defend herself against the Ichanis and attesting to her honor and moral integrity when he read her mind two years back, the King had refused to reconsider his decision. In fact, the ruler had further ridicule himself when he unreasonably pointed out that Sonea was Akkarin's sole responsibility since he was the one who defied the laws by teaching her black magic. As a King, he stated that he had been exceptionally lenient to them by pardoning all the crimes they have committed in light that the threats they claimed were genuine. Akkarin had to fight back an overwhelming urge to blast the ridiculous man into pieces when he continued to harp on Sonea's dubious background.

Ironically, the situation is further complicated by Fergun's betrayal. It does not bode well when a Guild magician has betrayed his country out of personal ambitions and hatred, with none other than black magic. History has yet again repeated itself. When the King had finally approved the use of black magic, the same reasons for its ban resurfaced at the most inopportune time.

Draining his wine, Akkarin knew that he was not going to get any rest tonight with so much to think about. The Fort is vulnerable; the Guild has to be prepared for its defense. He has to consider the implications caused by Fergun's betrayal from all angles and turn it towards their advantage, if that was even possible.

And there is Sonea. The ache in his heart returned as he thought about her earlier accusations. This wasn't the first time she had regarded him with suspicion, but this time, it troubled him more than it had before. His affection for her had deepened within an unimaginable short span of time. Her very presence in his life had changed him, in ways that were almost irrational. Her words had hurt him in unexpected ways and the pain that came with it was so intense that it felt more realistic than the old wounds he had endured when the last woman he loved died. Shaking his head, he had resolved not to be tormented by those memories anymore. He pushed himself out of his chair and made his way up to his room wearily.

Sonea sat up in her bed as she heard the faint footsteps ascending the stairwell. She was drowned in guilt for the past few hours after Akkarin had stormed out of her room furiously. Swinging her legs out of her bed, she tiptoed to her door and placed a hand on the handle. Her pulse quickened as she heard the approaching footsteps but her courage wavered as the footsteps lingered outside her room for a few seconds before fading into the distance. She sank with disappointment. Surely he would not visit her room tonight after the damage she had done. Chewing her lips, she picked up the blood ring from her table and crept out of her room silently.

Akkarin, can I come in?

The faint light seeping through the gap beneath his door stopped moving. She knew he is in the room but he did not respond and she sensed no emotion coming from the ring either.

Please...

Her stomach fluttered as time trickled by. Thinking that he will continue to ignore her, she sighed and turned back to her room reluctantly before she finally heard the soft click of his door. The door swung open under her touch and her heart skipped when she saw him standing by the window, his eyes shadowed under the faint moon light.

His familiar scent engulfed her when she stepped into his domain. He stood motionless by the window, watching her intently, with his arms crossed.

Silence stretched between them as she cast a guilty glance at him.

"I would like to retire soon, if there is nothing to speak to me about." His voice was hard.

"No!" Sonea replied anxiously. "Listen to me, please." Taking a deep breath, she swallowed her pride. "I ask for your forgiveness. For the thoughtless assumptions I've foolishly made earlier." She watched his expression anxiously, but it was unreadable.

"Is that all?"

She shook her head. "It doesn't matter that the King had refused to let me to use black magic, but it angers me when you try to keep me at bay. If it is hard for you to see me in any dangerous situations, consider how I feel when you are taking all the risk by yourself. This, I will not accept."

"So you did believed that I deliberately prevented the King from allowing you to use black magic." His voice carried a hint of disappointment.

She hesitated. "I…I wasn't sure…."

He sighed and turned away. "Sonea, you will fight no matter what I say that I already knew. I would have traded everything else to ensure you have the ability to defend yourself against the Ichanis, but I couldn't convince the King."

"What if I refuse to obey his orders?" She added defiantly.

Akkarin turn around abruptly. Uncrossing his arms, he glared at her. "No".

"I was prepared to break the law when I decided to learn black magic. It's still the same now." She pointed out plainly.

"This is different, Sonea. We have been judged and pardoned. The Guild knows; we are not fighting alone anymore. There are...there are other ways around this. With the Guild's support, I will have hundreds of Guild magicians to draw power from. There is no law against giving power to another magician, this I told you before."

She paused and considered his words, but she wasn't sure if she understood his meaning. "Are you suggesting that you be my willing source of power, as I had for you?"

"Yes" he said dryly. "And no one has to know."

"Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

He made a face. "I didn't think you made it possible." Her lips curled up into a small smile. She was glad that he had abandoned his cold demeanor towards her.

She made her way towards the window and stood facing him, meeting his intent gaze. Tugging his hand, she held it close to her heart.

"My life was changed, the day I threw a stone at a magician. Who would have known then, I would fall in love with one instead?"

His dark eyes flashed with surprise. She smiled and looked at him between her lashes.

Sighing in defeat, he drew her close. "You test my loyalties, Sonea."

She frowned, not understanding. "How?"

He reached out and brushed a strand of hair away from her face. "It doesn't matter." The corner of his mouth curled upward. "It's too late, anyway. I started to fail that test the night you killed the Ichani."

She blinked and widened her eyes in surprise. "For that long...?"

He smiled. As he pulled her closer, she decided her questions could wait. She reached up and traced the curl of his lips with the tip of her finger. Then he leaned forward and his mouth met hers, and all questions were forgotten.

...

"Sonea..."

"Sonea...wake up"

She drew her lids apart slowly. Dazed, she turned towards his voice. "Akkarin?"

"Wake up. You need to return to your room before your servant finds you missing." He whispered.

She blinked away her sleepiness and gaze out of the window. A faint light was gradually brightening the distant sky. She gasped and bolted upright. "It's almost dawn!" She quickly detangled herself from his arms and dressed up hastily. Running her fingers through her hair, she heard him chuckled quietly. Surprised. She looked at him and saw that he was still in bed watching her with amusement. He raised himself on his elbows, with only the sheets covering up to his waist. She blushed when she eyed his bare chest.

"Stop leering at me" He grinned at her mischievously.

"I didn't." She averted his eyes embarrassingly.

He smiled at himself before he straightened his face. "You will be excused from classes today. The King's Advisors will be here in a few hours time. Come to the guestroom as soon as you get dressed."

She gave him a blank look before she registered what he was telling her. Fergun. Grimacing, she nodded in return and crept back to her room quietly.

...

Author's Notes:

A short one this time, focusing only on Akkarin & Sonea.

I've always wanted to include the "classic" lines of the books into this story, and I'm glad I did. Hope it fits in nicely. Also, I was contemplating whether to elaborate the bedroom scene when I wrote this but was worried that the contents might become too "steamy" and I will have to change the rating soon. What do you think? Is that what you want to see or do you prefer the story to be kept "innocent"?

Let me know alright? :)

As always, happy reading!