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

Found

Cery knelt behind the partially ruined building. He was getting very uncomfortable, but he had invested so much time and effort over the past few days, that he was in no mood to give up now. His eyes took in the shabby building and the weed covered yard. As inns went, this one didn't inspire even a weary traveller to stop to enquire if there were any spare beds. The paint was peeling from the window frames and from what he could see, the windows hadn't been properly cleaned for some time. All of this gave him great cause for concern.

He had been tracking Sonea from inn to inn ever since he had decided to resume the search for her. This time, he was doing most of it on his own. He had left a trusty lieutenant in charge of his business affairs, with another trusted comrade to keep an eye on him, while he spent time carrying out his investigations. It had not been easy, because, as Akkarin had so angrily pointed out, the trail had gone cold, but somehow Cery had managed to trace it. He was also aware of the men which Akkarin had instructed to find Sonea. They were good, but not as good as a Thief with many contacts. Several times, they had got close, but not close enough. At the moment, Cery guessed he was about three days ahead of them.

Cery shifted position to ease the strain on his knees. He hoped that Sonea would make an appearance soon, so he could take the next step to get her out of here. Each inn and bol house that Sonea had worked in and then moved on from was a little worse than the one before, just a little poorer, or shabbier, with customers to match and Cery didn't like that, one little bit. He didn't know the reasons for her moving from one to another, the people he'd spoken to had been very vague, but it didn't sound good.

A movement in the yard alerted him and he saw Sonea come outside. He didn't have the best view of her, but he could see she was still wearing the shabby faded green dress he'd seen her in before. She had washed and pressed it fairly recently, he could tell, but it was still marked by stains and patches near the hem. She wasn't wearing a cap and Cery could see she'd cut her hair short, like a boy. She was walking slowly, hunched over, as if she had a pain somewhere and was trying to find a comfortable position.

He watched her walk wearily towards a shed and go in. She was lost to sight for a few minutes, then he saw her framed in the doorway as she dragged a heavy sack along the ground. He could see her clearly and what he saw shocked him to the core. I can't deal with this, he thought. I have to tell Akkarin. She will hate me for it, but he has to know!

OOOoooOOO

The note was short and to the point.

The package you lost has been found. It is at The Merry Maid Inn along the road from Ferryrest. You need to collect it as soon as possible.

There was no signature, just the sketch of a small rodent in the corner.

Akkarin read it again. He was surprised to hear from the Thief, especially after their last encounter, which had not ended well. Why tell me he's found her? he wondered. Why not keep her secret? The answers to those questions would have to wait, there was no time to lose. The men he'd sent looking for her had reported on her frequent changes of location so he was concerned that unless he went straight away, she would disappear again.

He went down to the underground room to change into his citizen's clothing. This time, he added a broad brimmed hat. He would not have the darkness to aid his disguise and he wanted to avoid any chance that he would be recognised. He would have to take the ferry across the river and he couldn't risk taking his horse. He would also have to think carefully about how he was going to get Sonea back in the Residence unobserved.

What if she refuses to come? he asked himself. What if she creates a scene? Neither of us must be recognised!

In the end, he might be forced to use magic to keep her quiet, and he would have to be very careful about that. For the High Lord to be found in public, robe less and practising magic, would be an enormous scandal. For a High Lord to do all that, and kidnap a woman, even if she were his wife, would be an even bigger one.

It didn't take him long to reach the ferry and he joined the queue for tickets, keeping his head down. He drew the threadbare cloak tightly around him and hunched down to disguise his height. He shuffled along until he reached the ticket seller and held out the coppers for the fare. He grabbed the ticket and moved on quickly, following a group of passengers so closely that he hoped people would think him a member of it.

The river was running fast so it took the ferryman and his assistant a good deal of effort and time to get to the other side. Akkarin spent the journey squatting down in a corner, hat pulled down low, pretending to sleep. When the boat docked, he was careful to position himself in the middle of the disembarking passengers, blending in with them. Once on dry land, he set off down the road towards The Merry Maid. He didn't know how far away the inn was, but hoped it was not too far. He didn't relish having to bring a reluctant Sonea a long distance, with or without the use of magic to keep her amenable.

Ten minutes of walking brought him to the outskirts of Ferryrest. There were one or two open fields, but he could see a group of buildings in the distance and a passer-by confirmed that they belonged to the inn. As he got closer, he was shocked at the state of the buildings. Somehow, he had imagined Sonea working in some cosy little inn, with hanging baskets of flowers outside, a welcoming dining room inside with cheerful waitresses and happy customers. This inn did not give that impression at all. He thought that any self-respecting hanging basket would rather die than be seen at a place like this.

What on earth was Sonea thinking of, working here? How can this be better than living with me?

He went inside and found himself in a large room, with a counter at one end where a sleepy looking boy was selling drinks. The floor had been half-heartedly washed recently, and there were streaks of dust and grease in places. There were a few tables scattered around and a couple of miserable looking customers huddled at one. The fire was out and the grate looked as if it hadn't been emptied for months. There were one or two flies lazily buzzing around. He walked up to the counter and ordered a glass of beer. The boy filled a glass and dumped it down in front of him.

Akkarin passed him a few coins and asked about food. The boy shouted a question through a door, listened, then turned and said, "Food's ready in half-an-hour. It's mutton stew."

He thanked him and took his beer over to a lonely table, partially hidden in a corner. He sat down and wondered what to do next. He had hoped that perhaps Sonea would be working in the dining area, but it looked as it she might be in the kitchen. He looked at the smeary glass and dusty tables and wondered what the food would be like. Hopefully he wouldn't have to eat it.

He sat quietly, waiting for the food to be served. He had removed his hat, but kept his head down, concentrating on his beer. Another customer came in and ordered a drink. He went over to join the others and Akkarin was acutely aware that the three were now looking at him and muttering amongst themselves. Perhaps the sight of a stranger is so unusual here, it's caused talk, he thought. He hoped that muttering amongst themselves was all they would do. He didn't relish having to join in a conversation.

The door to the kitchen opened and a woman came in carrying a plate of steaming food. She said something to the boy, who gestured in Akkarin's direction. She put the plate down on the counter and went to fetch a basket of rolls, then with the basket in one hand and the plate in another, she started to walk towards his table.

He knew it was Sonea because of the message, but he wouldn't have recognised her as the person he had lived with for so many years. This woman was tired and it showed in her posture. She was in low spirits, keeping her eyes down, concentrating on keeping the plate steady and taking no interest in her surroundings. But most of all, it was the sight of her swollen body under the shapeless dress which set her apart from his slim and vibrant Sonea.

He watched her come towards him, waiting for the moment when she would be forced to look at him. He didn't know what to expect and he could feel his stomach knot and the muscles in his limbs tightened.

She reached the table and looked up, straight into his eyes. She made no sound, and for a moment nothing happened, then, as if in slow motion, the plate fell from her hand, the rolls cascaded around her and she slipped to the floor in a dead faint.

He leapt up and bent over her. She was white faced and there were dark circles under her eyes. He put his arms under her and lifted her into a chair. The boy meanwhile had run into the kitchen, shouting loudly. A moment later the door was flung back and a fat man rushed into the room, swearing under his breath. He reached Akkarin and began to apologise loudly for the mess and the clumsiness of his servant.

"I'm sorry Viola made such a mess of your dinner, sir," he said, pushing the broken plate and greasy pile of food aside with a cloth. "She's more trouble than she's worth, being sick at the slightest smell and unable to do much in the way of heavy lifting. Well it's to be expected in her condition. I only took her in as a favour, no one else would have her…."

Akkarin lost interest in what the man was saying. He concentrated on Sonea, using a little magic to try to find out how ill she was. She was in a dead faint and there was no response to his voice or the movement of his hands as he brushed her hair back. He looked up at the innkeeper.

"Some cold water and a cloth, and quickly!"

The innkeeper blinked as the mismatch between the shabby clothes and the educated voice of command was obvious. A calculating look came across his face and he looked at Akkarin with a wink.

"Of course, sir, at once," and he shouted to the boy who went running for the kitchens.

"You know this woman, sir?" The innkeeper's voice was heavy with undercurrents. "I've been looking after her. She has her own room in the yard, it's warm and as comfortable as could be expected."

Akkarin stared directly at the man, "Yes, I know this woman. She's one of my servants." He paused as the boy hurried over with the water and cloth. He spent a few moments soaking the cloth and putting it over Sonea's forehead.

"Where's this room of hers?"

He picked her up and followed the innkeeper as he led the way through the kitchens, across the yard to one of the outbuildings. He pushed open the door and Akkarin found himself in a poky little room, with a bed of sorts against one wall. He gently laid Sonea down. The innkeeper was hovering the doorway, and Akkarin needed to get rid of him, so he could use magic more easily. He glanced up at him and it was easy to read his thoughts. The man saw an opportunity for making some money.

Akkarin made his voice warmer as he smiled at the man. "Thanks for looking after the silly girl. She ran away a few weeks ago after a row and we've been looking for her ever since. She's one of my wife's favourites, and she's been really worried."

The innkeeper's expression showed his disbelief in Akkarin's story, but scenting some coins in the situation, nodded agreement. "I've done my best for her, sir," he said. "She's had plenty of good food and, of course, this room."

Akkarin succeeded in getting rid of the innkeeper and bent anxiously over his wife, mentally cursing the fact that he hadn't paid much attention to his Healing lessons all those years ago. Sonea had not come round yet and he was worried. He had no experience at all with pregnant women's ailments and wished Vinara were here.

After a few minutes, Sonea's eyes began to flutter, then opened. She saw him immediately and started to struggle to get up. He gently pushed her down again.

"You need to rest S….Viola," he said.

When she spoke, her voice was weak, "How did you find me?"

He smiled, "I have my resources, you know. Did you think I'd just let you go? That I wouldn't try to find you?"

A ghost of a smile showed briefly on her face. She closed her eyes again, then reached for his hand. "I've missed you," was all she said, but he felt his heart leap as her fingers tightened around his.

"Just rest," he repeated. "Then I'll take you home."