Chapter Eighteen: Home is the hunter, home from the hill.

The rain was incessant. It had been for about a week now.

It was coming down in such droves that even in his office on the ground floor of the University, the Administrator could hear it beating heavily on the grand building. The wind had picked up over the last couple of days, and was sending the water in great thrashing gusts at the windows. The Administrator absent-mindedly wondered whether he ought to consider the possibility of flooding throughout the city in it didn't stop soon, but immediately chastised himself for having such a thought and pushed it aside.

Each to our own jobs. Stop trying to run everything! All you'll end up doing is running yourself into the ground…

After all, he had more than enough to keep him busy with Guild matters without having to do the King's job for him as well- but then again, Merin was young and relatively inexperienced, compared to himself. Perhaps he ought to suggest that the High Lord mention it to the young monarch to look into…But that plan in had its own issues. The Administrator was loath to ask the High Lord to do anything these days- he hadn't been looking well for some time now.

There you go again, you silly man! Really, you need to focus

Sighing, he brightened his globe light and forced himself to return to the task at hand- a report from the First Ambassador in Elyne suggested there might be trouble brewing in Capia's court. Several traders had apparently been holding secret meetings in order to organise a trade block unless the Elyne King agreed to tax reforms. It was the kind of situation that the Administrator most feared- one that could seriously impact upon the Guild, but not one they could involve themselves with properly without becoming overly involved in politics. Tricky…

Just as the Administrator was coming up with a solution- a perfect balance of enough diplomacy to seem polite and unobtrusive, and enough forcefulness to ensure a positive outcome for the Guild, there was a timid knock on the door. With a sigh of impatience, the Administrator looked at the door and willed it open with a gentle whisp of magic. A messenger stood at the door, looking slightly nervous. He was breathing heavily from the speed at which he must have come, and his hair glistened with droplets of rain.

The Administrator raised an eyebrow at him, silently hoping that this was something he could pass onto his Assistant- Lorlen really was coming on very well, and could be left to deal with many of the minor issues the Guild faced on a day to day basis. "Well, what can I do for you?"

The messenger suddenly seemed to realise that he was being spoken to- his eyes became more alert and he sketched out a neat bow. "Begging your pardon, Administrator, but the Guard at the Guild entrance weren't sure on how to proceed with a particular situation and asked for your assistance."

The Administrator held back a sigh of irritation. The City Guard always had a way of making situations, as they called them, seem far worse than they actually were. "Oh, and what particular situation may this be?"

"There is a man at the Guild gates who is claiming to be a magician and wants to be let in. But he isn't wearing robes and…" the messenger hesitated, looking a little sheepish. "and is less than well attired."

The Administrator was about to ask why they didn't simply ask the man to perform magic for them, but then decided the Guard didn't want to put themselves as potential danger from challenging someone who could potentially hurt them. Good decision. So, how to proceed?

"Did this man give the Guard he spoke to a name?"

"He says his name Lord Akkarin, my Lord. A Lord Akkarin of the Family Delvon, House Velan. -He says he left the Guild on a research trip some years before and hasn't been in contact for some time, but has now returned."

"Lord Akkarin," the Administrator murmured, astonished. It was a name that had been mentioned to him several times over the past few years- first with humour at the man's ability to disappear, then frustration at his inability to return, then concern at his continued absence. The last the Guild had heard was that he was retreating to the mountains to study in solitude, apart from the local farmers, of course. They had assumed if any harm had come to him, the locals would have informed the Elyne court, who would have in turn informed the Guild. As they had heard nothing, the young warrior must be simply flexing his right to be annoying. But now he had suddenly returned. Or… had he? Perhaps this was someone making use of Akkarin's absence… He decided he didn't have enough information to go on at present. "You had better bring the so-called Lord Akkarin to me so I can ascertain who exactly it is that we are dealing with," he said firmly.

The messenger shuffled awkwardly. "Actually, my Lord, the Captain of the Guild Guard has said that he will not let this man in until he has been properly identified. You will have to come to him." The man's expression was apologetic, but showed no room for negotiation.

The Administrator resisted the urge to roll his eyes- it wasn't this young man's fault, after all, but this did seem a ridiculous precaution. "Well then, I shall have to come to him, I suppose." He folded the letter he had been reading and placed it in a drawer in his desk, then rose. He smoothed his robes, locked his door with magic and strode in the direction of the Guild entrance, hearing the patter of the young messenger's feet behind him.

As they made their way down the ornate entrance steps to the University, the Administrator created a shield to protect himself from the rain and glanced at the messenger. "Where exactly has the man in question been taken?"

"To the Guard House," the boy replied, nodding at the sturdy looking building to the right of the Guild gates. A Guard stood at the entrance, staring at a fixed position somewhere in the distance. As the Administrator approached, he could hear the rain bouncing off his armour with a satisfyingly tinny noise. The man bowed and opened the door to the building. The Administrator nodded his thanks and stepped inside- glad to be out of the rain, even after such a short spell in it. Immediately, an older man with gold edging on his armour came forwards to meet him.

"Administrator, thank you for coming so quickly. I am Gannel, the Captain on duty, I am sort for the trouble I have caused you, particularly in this weather."

"Do not apologise, you're only doing your job, after all. Thank you for alerting me to this, Captain Gannel. I am certainly hoping you haven't put this man in a cell- he certainly hasn't done anything to warrant it, and may well be a Guild magician."

"No, of course not, my Lord, he's just through here." Gannel gestured for the Administrator to follow him. He strode to the back of the entrance room where there were doors on each side. Gannel went to the left door and opened it, revealing what appeared to be a currently dark small dining room. Instinctively, the Administrator made a globe light and filled the room with a dim but helpful light. It showed a rather scuffed but large table filed most of the room. Sturdy chairs surrounded it. All of them were empty. Save one.

At the far end of the table, a man sat. His posture was one of a man considering a difficult problem- his arms rested on his legs and his head was bent low, almost touching them. His hair was somewhat longer than one would expect for a Kyralian man, and an unkempt beard covered his jaw. All in all- not exactly the graceful visage of a member of the Magicians' Guild. More a man of low station who appeared to have the weight of the world on his shoulders.

As the globe light had been sparked into existence, the man looked up towards the doorway.

"Ah, Administrator, they said they had sent for you. This must be something of a shock- it has been a while."

The voice was both familiar and strange. It sounded like the young man who had left the Guild nearly six years ago, but at the same time seemed to hold a lot more weight- gravitas, one might call it, the Administrator mused. The sound of a young person who had come to realisation that their words meant something now.

As he had been thinking this, the man before had risen from his chair, surprisingly gracefully for someone who looked not much better than a beggar. He held his height with obvious care and dignity. He bowed his head politely and from that moment, the Administrator was under no doubt that this was the warrior who had disappeared. The only difference was that the boy had left and the man had returned.

Clean him up a bit and put him in some robes, and he could be quite…well, impressive!

"Lord Akkarin, it is most gratifying to see you again, it has indeed been quite some time since I last set eyes on you." The Administrator turned back to the Captain. "Thank you for your services, Captain. I can confirm this man is of the Guild. He shall return with me- if he is free to go?"

The Captain bowed his assent. "Of course, my Lord."

The Administrator beckoned to Akkarin. "Come, I believe you may be in need of some fresh robes and a rest. If you don't mind me asking—" The Administrator was drawn from his question as he realised, with not a little shock, there was a fourth person in the room. A man of short stature and with tanned skin had stepped out of the shadows of the corner of the room when Akkarin had made to move round the table to the door. The man made a graceful bow towards the Administrator, but kept his eyes fixed firmly on the floor. Akkarin looked at the Administrator as his question went unfinished and followed his gaze.

"Oh, I should explain—" he said, gesturing to the new figure, "this man is a servant I met whilst on my travels. He has agreed to serve me in the Guild. I hope this is convenient."

The Administrator as so perturbed from not realising the man had been standing there watching him he answered almost without thinking. "Of course, I don't see why ever not." It was only as they left the room and he allowed himself another glance at the man through the corner of his eye that he realised the man must be Sachakan. He decided to think about the implications of having a Sachakan in the Guild at another time. He clearly wasn't a threat, so it could be left for now. Now there were more important, and interesting, questions to ask.

"I believe you were about to ask me a question, Administrator?" Akkarin's softly spoken voice brought him back from his thoughts.

"Oh, yes. I believe I was going to ask what happened to your robes? As I see you are…ah, without them."

Akkarin looked down at himself, a frown darkening his face. It was only then that the Administrator noticed how thin the man was- thin and tired looking. And this didn't appear the natural wear that one gets from long periods of travel. No, this was a more sustained look of fatigue.

Goodness, what has happened to him?!

"I am afraid to say that I managed to lose them. I took to wearing the clothes of the local people in the mountains- the red of the robes made me far too easily noticed in that environment- but somehow they all went missing, I don't know whether by accident or by design. Either way, I shall be heartedly pleased to have new ones."

"I see."

The Administrator stepped out into the miserable grey day once again. As he had before, he made a shield against the rain without thinking. Looking once again at his companion, he was curious to notice that he didn't make a shield. He looked as if he were prepared to walk through the rain to the university and simply get wet. Then Akkarin seemed to notice he was being watched, and quickly made a shield to protect himself- and his servant.

Curiouser and curiouser…

"So, time for the obvious question, I suppose- where have you been, exactly? Everyone was getting quite anxious. Your mother has contacted me many times- she has been quite desperate to hear news of you."

"Ah. Then I must apologise on her behalf- I know how she can get when she doesn't get the answer she wants." Akkarin took a deep breath. "As I say, after I had been to the Allied Lands to do my research, I went to the mountains. There I finished my book. I found it so peaceful there I stayed much longer than I intended. It was there I found Takan." Akkarin gestured absently at the man who followed them up the University steps at a polite distance. "Unfortunately I wasn't able to find any good means of transport back- as I say, I had lost my robes and no one believed me when I said I was of the Guild. So we were forced to take the long road back. As you can imagine we had to deal with all sorts of difficulties, and due to that all my notes and the only copy of my book were lost."

The Administrator looked at Akkarin in surprise. This story didn't fit the image that the Administrator had in his head of the young man at all- the novice who was always the brightest in his year, the one who managed to balance being popular but also a diligent student- he had lost all of his findings?! "So you have no records at all? Of any of the research you did?"

Akkarin shook his head, and looked suitably despondent. "No. It is, as you can imagine, a source of deep regret to me. All that time and nothing to show for it. Quite the wasted trip."

The Administrator shrugged. "Well, I don't know about that. now you're home and safe, maybe you might want to think about finding it all again. Surely it won't be as hard as the first time?"

Akkarin smiled thinly, looking away. "Perhaps. For now, I think I may simply enjoy being home."

"Indeed, you are the hunter who has returned from the hill, you have earnt yourself a rest. Walking all the way back here, it's almost unheard of! I will arrange for your old rooms to be prepared for you- and have a tailor sent to you to get to some fresh robes. You know where the baths are, of course, should you wish to make use of them."

The Administrator had expected some sort of response from the younger man to that, so was surprised when silence came. When he glanced to the side, he realised Akkarin was no longer walking next to him. He looked behind, back to where the top of the stairs met the great university doors that led up to the Guildhall. Akkarin stood there, staring at the great space with wide eyes. The Administrator couldn't help but smile at his expression.

"It appears you're not used to such surroundings yet. Don't worry, I am sure it will come back to you. Welcome home, Lord Akkarin."

Akkarin dragged his eyes away from the great façade and turned to look at him. The Administrator was startled to see the haunted look in his eyes as he attempted a small smile and nod at the words. "Thank you, Administrator. It is indeed…most pleasant to be back with you all."

"I am sure there will be a great many people who will be most eager to hear stories from your travels."

Akkarin nodded absently at that, but said nothing. The Administrator watched as Akkarin once again bowed his head politely, then slowly turned and paced away in the direction of the Baths, the servant following only a step behind, and wondered at seeing such a deep, despairing look on one so young. It was in that moment that the Administrator decided that he did not believe Akkarin's story, and also decided he would make considerable efforts to find out what had actually happened to him.

Happy Election Day to all my UK followers! If you haven't voted, go do that NOW. Literally right now. Sending love to you all from a cold and winter North.