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

The Mind of a Child

Sonea breathed in deeply, the smells from the herb and flower stalls brought back so many happy childhood memories. She hadn't been in the market for months, so she was happy to look around and kill time until her guide appeared. The market was busy, but around her there was a people-free bubble. Her black magician's robes marked her out from the rest of the citizens and although many of them knew who she was, they were not keen to come close to her.

She had been waiting for twenty minutes, and had taken the opportunity to buy a hot pie and a drink from the stall she used to visit whenever she had any money. Old Gertin, who used to tease her unmercifully, now treated her with exaggerated reverence, so much so, that she was acutely embarrassed and moved away quickly.

The note, which brought her to the market, had been pushed under her door sometime during the night. It was short and simply said that Cery needed to see her urgently and she should come to Market Square before ten o'clock.

What does Cery want? she had thought grumpily, Now I've got to get permission to leave the Guild and I can't think of a reason just like that!

The severe restrictions on her movements were, perhaps, the most irritating thing Sonea found about her new status. For some reason, the High Lord and his Council seemed to think a Black Magician posed such a threat, that she could not even be trusted to go into the town to visit the market unless permission had been obtained first. Usually they needed to know how long she would be "outside" too.

It had taken her a while to find Lord Osen to obtain permission, but luckily he was very busy and hadn't been really interested in her reasons. He had insisted, however, that she return by midday.

So here she was, strolling around the market, trying not to look too conspicuous, which was a challenge dressed the way she was. She felt a touch on her arm and turned quickly to find Cery standing next to her. He pulled her into a narrow lane, out of sight.

"You need to change out of those clothes," he said.

"I can't, Cery, you know I have to wear them in public." Sonea sounded exasperated.

Cery sighed, "I know, but I have genuine reasons, which I'll explain in a minute. Come in here!" He pulled open and door and she found herself in a clean, well-furnished room. There was a bundle of clothes on the table and Cery told her to change and not argue. He turned his back as she scrambled out of her robes and into the green shirt and grey trousers provided. They were of surprisingly good quality and there was a fine, dark green cloak to go with them.

"Now, will you tell me what this is all about?" Sonea turned to face him, her gaze firmly fixed on his face.

Cery spoke quickly, "We have found a survivor from the fighting near the Guild who was badly injured. He is better now, but he is terrified of magicians. Even the sight of one in the distance causes him to run away. So, you need to be just another ordinary person, he must not know you are a magician."

"Is he an Ichani?" she asked, but Cery shook his head. "Then I don't know why you need me," she went on, "You need a Healer, not a Black Magician."

"You will understand, when you see him. He's not here; I'll have to take you. It's not far away."

He led her through a number of narrow passages and lanes, which twisted and turned, so she was completely lost after a few minutes. Cery led the way into a dark, narrow passage, lined with old, tumbledown buildings. They walked down the passage until they arrived at the shabby door of an old run-down cottage. Cery knocked a brief code and the door opened. He pushed Sonea in quickly and locked the door behind her.

Sonea? Be careful, I am not sure about this, Akkarin's mental presence felt uncertain. It was unusual for him to suddenly speak to her like this.

What do you mean? she sent, but he was silent.

While this mental exchange had been going on, a door opened at the far end of the room and a man came in. He seemed familiar to Sonea, but she couldn't quite recognise him. As he moved further into the room, where there was more light, she suddenly caught her breath.

"Takan!" Sonea could hardly believe her eyes. " I thought you must have been killed in the fighting."

Takan came over to her and took her hand, "It's so good to see you again, my lady." He looked at her curiously for a moment, puzzlement showing briefly on his face. " I have only been here a short time, the Thief is looking after me and my companion."

"Why didn't you come back to the Guild? You must have known I would have looked after you." She suddenly registered what he had said, "Your companion? Is that the man frightened of magicians that Cery told me about?"

Takan nodded. "Yes, I found him after the fighting and did the best I could to treat his injuries. Come, you must have a look at him."

Takan took Sonea into the other room. There she saw a man lying on a bed, his face turned to the wall. She moved closer, until she could see a shock of grey streaked hair. Takan reached across and tapped the man on the shoulder. As he began to turn Sonea could see the livid scars on his face. Slowly, almost painfully, the man sat up and she could see him clearly. She gave a shocked gasp.

"Lorlen! It's Lorlen! What's happened to him?"

Cery spoke, "It's a long story. Come and sit down and we'll tell you everything."

There was a table and several chairs in a corner of the room and as Takan led Lorlen over to them, Cery and Sonea sat down. There was a jug of fruit juice and some glasses on the table and Cery poured everyone a drink. Sonea stared curiously at Lorlen and was dismayed to see his dull expression and lifeless eyes. He sat where Taken showed him and took no part in the conversation or even appeared to be listening as Cery and Takan explained what had happened.

"What do you want me to do?" she asked when they had finished. "I can't Heal him, my skills are not good enough. He really ought to be at the Guild."

Sonea, you should see if you can read his mind, Akkarin sent. It might help you decide if you can help him.

Takan stared at Sonea for a moment, then looked round the room. His eyes returned to Sonea and he gazed at her steadily. She found his intense regard extremely uncomfortable and could find no reason for it.

"Perhaps I should try to read his mind," she said, "I should be able to do it without disturbing him too much."

The others needed agreement, so she rose and went to stand next to him. Lorlen's empty eyes looked at her briefly, before returning to the surface of the table, which held his attention. Sonea put her hands on Lorlen's temples and slipped into his mind.

She found herself in a half-ruined room. There was very little light, but she could see piles of broken furniture and smashed objects scattered around.

You need to go deeper, Akkarin said. There is nothing here.

She saw a doorway, the door itself hanging drunkenly from its hinges, and went into the next room. This one was in the same state as the other, as was the next room and the next. Eventually, Sonea came to a long, dark hallway, completely empty, with a door right at the end. She slowly moved towards the door, and tried the handle, but it wouldn't open.

What should I do? she asked Akkarin. She was not as experienced as he at rummaging around in people's minds and was afraid of causing even more damage to Lorlen.

You need to open it, see if there is a magic lock.

She examined it carefully for a long time. There was something there, but she couldn't quite see what it was. She tried again, nothing. She went back to examining every part of the door and eventually found a trace of a magical lock, but it was not one that she had come across before. She carefully began to isolate elements of the magic, untwisting each strand, until she could see the whole. Once that image was clear, she could open the lock.

There was a click, and she was able to open the door. On the other side, she found a prison cell. It was cold and bare, with sturdy bars on the tiny window. There was a wooden bed against one wall, roughly made and with one threadbare blanket. Sitting, naked, on the blanket was a small, thin child about five years old. The boy was hunched up and was crying silently.

Careful, warned Akkarin. That is how Lorlen sees himself now.

Sonea moved quietly over to the bed and put her hand gently on the boy's back. He jumped as he felt her hand and squeezed himself tightly against the wall and began to scream, loud, piercing screams, which went on and on. She tried to talk to him, but he wouldn't listen and just went on screaming. She tried everything she could think of to calm him down, but nothing helped.

Leave him now, it would be better to try again later. I doubt you will be able to do anything with him in this state. Akkarin's mental voice was calm.

Sonea agreed and began to move quietly out of the cell, as she stepped out into the hallway, the door swung closed behind her and she heard the click as the lock engaged. She tried the handle, but the door was again locked fast.

She opened her eyes and took her hands away from Lorlen's face. She explained to the others what had happened.

"It seems that Lorlen's mind sees him as a very small, frightened child, and it has locked him in a prison cell. I don't know why, nor do I know why he is frightened of magicians. I will need to try again, after I have done some research. Even then, I don't know if I will be able to deal with whatever is causing the problem. Can you keep him here, until I try again?"

"Takan and Lorlen can stay here as long as necessary," Cery said. "I will look after them."

It was getting towards midday and Sonea need to get back to the Guild. If I am late, it will give them an excuse not to let me go next time, she thought. She explained her need to return quickly to the Guild. Just as she was about to leave, Takan came over to her, took her hand and drew her into a corner.

"Where is Akkarin?" he said quietly.

Sonea sighed, "He is dead, Takan, you know that."

Takan looked at her earnestly, "Lady Sonea, I can hear him. I have been hearing him very faintly for months, but when I am near to you, I can hear him more strongly. Where is he?"

What shall I say? she sent, but, of course, there was no answer.

"Takan, I can't explain what you think you can hear. Akkarin is buried in the cemetery at the Guild, you can go and look for yourself."

Takan smiled briefly, " I have been there already. No, I know that Akkarin is not there and I know that he is not dead. We must talk of this again, Lady Sonea."