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

Incantation

It took Akkarin four days to find the right words to make the incantation begin to work reasonably well. During that time, he shut himself away in his study as soon as he was awake, only emerging for meals during which he was mostly silent. He had made it clear to Sonea, that she was not expected to join him in his work and that he was to be left alone by everyone. She had been rather upset at first, after all, they usually worked on things together and she firmly believed that two people working on a problem was better than just one. She argued her point long and hard, but Akkarin was adamant, he would do this alone.

"This is something I have to remember. It was so long ago and I have no recollection of using the incantation after learning and practising it once or twice. I have to retune my memory back to that period which takes a long time and requires total concentration. Your presence would simply be a distraction and you cannot help in any case as you do not seem to have used it at all."

Sonea was still not happy, but she could not argue with the logic of his position. She had nothing to add to his endeavours.

Akkarin's absence meant that the lessons with Justen fell entirely on Sonea's shoulders. She had been apprehensive at first, but luckily for her, Justen was cheerful and cooperative. They made swift progress on the few lessons she had planned in advance, so she was able to introduce a few new concepts which Justen lapped up. She also noticed that the Other only took over the boy on one or two occasions but caused no difficulties. He even settled down to do the work Sonea directed if not quite as cheerfully as Justen.

Each night, Akkarin would use that day's final attempt at the incantation to try to keep Sonea alert and aware when dreams started. At first, he sat in her mind so he could see how effective his attempt had been, but after two nights when Sonea made no progress at all, he decided to remain absent from her dream to see if that made any difference to the results. As the days and nights passed, Sonea became increasingly frustrated by their lack of progress. She did not look forward to meeting the creature, or performing whatever actions she desired of her, but rather like someone facing some painful treatment from a Healer, she wanted it to be over as soon as possible.

Akkarin had no success at all until the fourth night when Sonea succeeded in remaining awake for the whole length of her dream, although the dream itself was not very long.

"What did it feel like?" he asked when she awoke.

Sonea thought for a moment, it was hard to describe. She was aware of her surroundings – for some reason that night she had dreamed of her life in the city before discovering her magic – but her vision was veiled, as if she were seeing people and places through a thin piece of material. She had had several conversations with people, but the sound was blurred, almost like trying to listen under water. Throughout the dream, she had had a strange queasy feeling in her stomach just as if she was about to be sick.

She explained all this as best she could. Akkarin frowned, "It is not supposed to work like that! It must be because I cannot remember it properly. It needs more work."

Sonea groaned in frustration. All this experimenting was beginning to take a toll on her nerves. She just wanted it all to be over so they could go back to their quiet life again. However, Akkarin soon made her realise that being aware in her dream was only the first step in a much longer process.

"Staying alert is only the first stage, Sonea. We have to wait for the creature to send the dream and I do not think she will until I have the incantation working properly. It may take some time yet."

Sonea shivered. Did Akkarin mean that the creature was here, now, watching them at work, holding back on sending the dream until Akkarin got everything correct?

"Yes," he said when she asked the question. "The creature knows much about both of us and this knowledge could only come about because we are being observed in some way. I don't know how, but I am sure we are being watched."

Sonea noted in passing that Akkarin carefully avoided the use of the creature's name. She was not sure if this was because he did not believe the creature was actually Siryru, or because he believed she was. A glance at his expression warned her not to broach the subject.

"Even then, simply meeting the creature is not the end. She will want something from you and we have no idea what that might involve."

"You are still thinking about some sort of quest, aren't you?"

"It seems likely. The creature may give you a series of tasks to undertake, or she may not. We do not know and will not until the dream. Don't think this will be over quickly, it could take weeks or months."

Sonea stifled the groan of frustration emerging from her core. Akkarin was right, they had no idea how it would end and it was foolish simply to think a conversation with the creature was the end, rather than the beginning of what came next.

A few more days and nights passed. Sonea still found her vision veiled in her dreams, but the sounds she experienced were much clearer and the queasiness was lessening too. Each morning, when she reported her experience to Akkarin, he seemed increasingly disappointed that the incantation was still not fully correct. Although he was careful not to let his emotions show, she was sure he was as frustrated by their slow progress, as she was.

After the latest attempt, Sonea felt there was some real improvement. She could hear everything as normal now, so it was only her vision that was a problem. She had, however, noticed something at the corner of her veiled vision. She tried to see it more clearly but could not. Somehow, she felt it was important, although she didn't know why, so it was the first thing she talked about on awakening.

Akkarin frowned, "What did it look like? Did it move about? Was there any noise?"

Sonea held up her hands, "Stop asking so many questions," she smiled warmly, to take the sting out of her words, "I cannot get my answers in if you keep asking more questions."

A flash of annoyance crossed his features, but Akkarin did not say anything so she went on with her story.

"It was a dark shape, vaguely man-like but not clearly defined. It seemed to move as I moved through the dream, but it was always just on the edge of my vision, it never got closer or further away, it seemed to move with me."

Akkarin's lips tightened, then he chewed on his lower lip. She said nothing but watched as he continued to think over what she had said. Finally, he sighed deeply and looked at her.

"I can only assume that the Other is also observing your dreams."

Sonea was shocked, "The Other, why do you think that?"

"We know that he is able to dream-walk. Although we have not been aware of him doing that for some time now, there was a period when he slipped into and out of our dreams almost nightly. I think as his magic improves, he is getting better at hiding his presence. It may be that the incantation is not only allowing you to be completely aware of the dream, but also enabling you to see him."

"I don't like it, Akkarin," Sonea had a very bad feeling that the Other would play a part in the dream once the creature sent it again, and that part would not be a good one. "What if he makes some sort of gesture to attract the attention of the creature? What if she listens to him? What if he is the one she really wants?"

She could hear her panic beginning to show in her voice and so could Akkarin. She felt his arms fold around her as he pulled her to him. She stood with her head on his chest, feeling his breath stir her hair as he slowly caressed her.

"Poor Sonea," he murmured. "You are having to put up with so much and it is taking so long, but you must not worry. We will get this right and we will do whatever is necessary to find an answer."

It felt so good to be in his arms and to hear his words. She had been starting to think that their relationship was at risk of becoming lost in the frustrations of trying to make the incantation work, to say nothing of what might happen once it did. As her panic subsided, she twined her arms around his neck and pulled his lips down on hers, tracing their shape with the tip of her tongue. His arms tightened around her as she felt herself lifted and carried towards the bed. As they moved into the familiar rhythms of love making, Sonea mentally sighed with relief. As long as they remained together and as long as they continued to love each other so much, there was nothing they could not accomplish.