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

Traps

It was the first time Sonea had been outside the Residence during daytime for months. She paused at the top of the steps and took a slow glance around. The day was warm and there was the sound of birdsong in the distance. She took a deep breath and turned to the High Lord.

"I'd forgotten just how wonderful the outside is!" she said happily. "It's such a relief to be out of that bare room and into the sunshine."

Akkarin smiled at her, pleased to see her back where she belonged, free of the anxieties she had suffered since losing control over her magic. She was once again dressed in Warrior red, but with the much more voluminous outer robe pregnant magicians traditionally wore. She was going off to meet up with her Warrior students for the first time since the battle and he was relieved that her life seemed to be returning to normal.

Akkarin watched her progress until she disappeared out of the gates of the Residence, then turned and went to the guest room where he was expecting Morwhellin. She was not there, of course, still making sure that she was the one to dictate the timing of their meetings. He sat down and poured a glass of his favourite wine and sipped it slowly. He used one or two of his Warrior training mental exercises to keep his thoughts calm and controlled. I won't let the old woman disturb my concentration, he thought. I will not let her affect me.

Morwhellin arrived a few minutes later and sat down opposite him. She looked at the wine bottle, a faint smile on her lips.

"A little early for wine, isn't it. High Lord," she observed. "Perhaps, for your peace of mind, you should adopt our custom of drinking only water, tea or fruit juice, like your servant, Takan."

Akkarin bit back a sharp comment. Despite all my efforts, she's done it again!

"Thank you for your advice, Morwhellin," he said, pleased that his voice remained calm.

"I shall be leaving today," she said abruptly. "It will be better if the child is not told until after I am gone."

"Do you require anything, money, food for the journey, an escort to the border?"

Akkarin was determined she should have no complaint about her treatment, not that he expected her to spread word of where she'd been or what she'd been doing once she was home.

"No thank you, High Lord. I have made my arrangements. As I said, my only price for treating your wife was to have Alysa here, in the Guild. She is a hard-working child and will be loyal if she is treated fairly."

"Will she go home to Elyne for the holidays or will you travel here to see her?"

Morwhellin stared directly into his eyes, as she said, "No the child is to remain here and not go back to Elyne. I shall not see her in this life again. There is a darkness within me which is eating my life. I do not have long left. My last task was to settle the child and this, I have done." Her voice was matter-of-fact and Akkarin could hear no emotion.

"There are Healers in the Guild who could examine you…" he started, but the Elyne Witch interrupted him.

"I need no help from your Healers! I know everything there is to know about what consumes me." She answered his unspoken question, "And, no, Alysa doesn't know and you will not tell her. She has enough to worry her without this knowledge."

"As you wish," Akkarin said. "Is there anything further?"

The old woman stood, "I have been teaching the child a few words of Kyralian, but, of course, you are a fluent speaker of Elyne, High Lord, so I expect you will be able to help, especially as she will be living here."

Akkarin allowed a hint of his annoyance creep into his tone, "You seem to know so much about me, Morwhellin. Where does this knowledge come from?"

She laughed, "I have studied you for a long time, High Lord. Your reputation travels far beyond the borders of your own country. Among my Ichani students, your character is well known; nothing has been hidden from me. I know all about your life in the Wastelands and your treachery. I know what you learned and how you learned it." Her voice was, to his ear, suddenly filled with menace, "I…know…what…you…are!"

The added emphasis caused a shiver to run down his spine, but he continued to look at her calmly.

"I don't know what you mean, Morwhellin," he responded, challenge in his tone.

She smiled and for a moment, he could see traces of the pretty young girl she had once been, "As you like, High Lord. There is one further piece of information you might find useful. I've already told you that Alysa's father was an Ichani. His name was Kariko."

He had been half-expecting it, but even so, he was disturbed by the implications. What a weapon she has introduced into the heart of the Guild, he thought, The child of the man I killed.

He was silent, still thinking though the possible consequences. But it's all too convenient, he thought finally. What are the odds on such a thing? The old bitch is trying to unsettle me, after using Sonea to get what she wanted!

Akkarin allowed a small smile to form on his lips, "Thank you for that information, Morwhellin. I shall remember it."

She stared back at him for a moment, then turned away. "I shall take my leave of you, Black Magician, and wish you all the rewards your past behaviour merits."

After she had gone, he refreshed his wine glass and took a long swallow. He was not sorry to see the back of her and only regretted that she had left her granddaughter behind…. in the Residence! He was still angry at how she had out-manoeuvred him. That thought led him to Sonea.

He sipped his wine and let his mind wander through the memories of Sonea, his young Novice. Sonea the Defiant, Sonea the Rude, and Sonea the Disdainful. Yes, all of those words described the first few weeks of their relationship. A crooked smile formed on his lips as he remembered some of her most cutting phrases, the way her lip curled slightly when she looked at him. Little did I know what all of that concealed, that she was falling in love with me and fighting it with all her strength.

He sipped some more of the rich red liquid as he moved on to memories of their early days of passion. The fear of discovery and the delight of possession, how that had caused him so much grief until at last, he accepted that she was necessary to him.

Yet, I would be free of her, he gave a small start of surprise as this thought popped into his mind. In many ways, she weakens me, despite her strength in the struggle against the Ichani. She distracts me from my purpose, even now, when I have a serious plot against me in the Guild, I have been concentrating on her instead of dealing with it.

And now, the old witch has used her to force the child on me. If she can bespell Sonea to act against my strong wishes, what other traps has she left?

His mind ran on and on, trying to second-guess Morwhellin's plan, for there was no doubt she had one. There were so many things which could go wrong; so many people she could have enchanted, but after a while, he stopped. It was no use simply going over old ground. He would have to wait until something happened, and then deal with it as best he could.

He suddenly noticed that he had sipped his way through the entire contents of the bottle of Anuran Dark. He couldn't remember refilling his glass, a bad sign, he decided. He heard the front door close heavily and then, Sonea's mental voice rang out.

Akkarin, I have so much to tell you!

She came in, eyes sparkling, already chattering about her friends and he was struck anew by her charm and vitality, so different from his own melancholy nature. His spirits lifted as he rose to greet her.

She is good for me, he decided. She brings me joy and, above all, hope. I cannot be without her now and I long for the twins to be born, so that we can once again discover the delight of being in each other's arms, making love until dawn….

He noticed that she was gazing at him strangely and laughed.

"I was thinking about you," he said in answer to her unspoken question.

He watched the colour flood her cheeks as her eyes looked directly into his.

I love you so much, she sent.