The High Lord - Chapter 38: The Black Magicians

For the last hour, messengers had reported that the Ichani were slowly making their way towards the Guild, destroying houses as they went. Sonea and Akkarin had hurried to the volunteers, who had dealt with their swift visit with admirable tolerance and courage, then raced back to the Inner Circle. During the journey Sonea had burned with impatience, but as she stepped through the secret door into Lorlen's office she began to wish the journey hadn't passed so quickly. Suddenly her knees were weak, her hands were shaking, and she could not help feeling there must be something they had forgotten to do.

Akkarin paused for a moment to look around the office. He sighed, then shrugged out of his shirt. Sonea pulled the dress over her head and dropped it to the floor. She looked down at herself and shivered. Full magician's robes... black magician's robes...

Then she looked at Akkarin. He stood straighter, taller. A little trill ran down her back, similar to the fear he had once inspired.

Akkarin glances at her and smiled. 'Stop leering at me.'

Sonea blinked innocently. 'Me? Leering?'

His smile widened, then it faded away. He walked up to her and pressed his hands gently against the sides of her face.

'Sonea,' he began, 'if I don't—'

She put a finger to his lips, then pulled his head down so she could kiss him. He pressed his lips hard to hers, then drew her close against him.

'If I could send you far away, I would,' he said. 'But I know you'd just refuse to go. Just... don't do anything impulsive. I watched the first woman I loved die, I don't think I could survive losing the second.'

Sonea drew in a breath in surprise, the smiled.

'I love you, too.'

He chuckled, then kissed her again, but they both froze as a mental voice blared out.

Akkarin! Akkarin! What a pretty place you have here.

An image of the Guild Gates, and the University beyond, flashed into Sonea's mind.

'They're here,' Akkarin muttered. His arms slid from her shoulders.

'The Arena?'

He signed and pressed his lips together in defeat. 'It's that or the city,' he looked at her and offered his hand, 'come on, we'd better be quick.'

Sonea took Akkarin's hand and straightened her shoulders. With a deep breath they set off through the University towards the Arena.

'So they've finally arrived,' Balkan murmured.

Rothen looked out at the city. The late afternoon sun sent long shadows across the streets. As he watched, three men stepped out and started towards the Guild Gates.

'What did Akkarin and Sonea plan to do once the Ichani knew they were here, Dorrien?' Balkan asked.

'I don't know. They never discussed it.'

Balkan nodded. 'Time for us to leave, then.'

Yet he did not move, and neither did Rothen and Dorrien. They stood and watched as the three Ichani passed between the gates and strode towards the University.

Then, from below, came a hollow boom.

'What was that?' Dorrien exclaimed.

They leaned over the façade and look down. Rothen caught his breath as he saw the pair on the steps below.

'Sonea! And Akkarin.'

'They've closed the University doors,' Balkan said.

Rothen shivered. The University doors hadn't been closed for centuries.

'Should we call out and let them know we're here?' Dorrien asked quietly.

'Knowing you two are watching could be a distraction to Sonea.' Balkan warned.

'But I can use my powers now. I can help them.'

'So can I,' Rothen added. Dorrien glanced at him in surprise, then grinned.

Balkan frowned. 'I would like to communicate the fight to the rest of the Guild.'

'Dorrien and I will keep out of sight until we have an opportunity to help,' Rothen suggested.

Balkan nodded. 'Very well. Just be mindful of the moment you choose.'

The forest surrounding the Guild was striped with golden light. Twigs cracked under Gol's feet so frequently, Cery began to wonder if his second was deliberately trying to make a lot of noise. He glanced back and couldn't help smiling at the big man's strained expression.

'Don't worry,' Cery said. 'I've been here before. We should be able to watch without being seen.'

Gol nodded. They continued on. As Cery saw glimpses of buildings through the trees ahead, he quickened his stride. Gol fell a little behind.

Then Cery saw a figure crouching beside a tree trunk at the edge of the forest. He stopped and signalled to Gol to stay where he was and remain silent.

By the way Savara was cautiously peering round the tree, Cery knew she was anxious to avoid being discovered. Too late, he thought. He crept forward. When he was a few steps away from her, he straightened and crossed his arms.

'We can't seem to stop running into each other, can we?' he said.

It was gratifying to see her jump. She let out a sigh of relief as she saw him.

'Cery.' She shook her head at him disapprovingly. 'It's not wise to sneak up on magicians.'

'Isn't it?'

'No.'

'You've come to see the show, then?'

She smiled crookedly. 'That's right. Join me?'

He nodded. Beckoning to Gol, Cery crouched by the trunk of the other tree. As he saw what lay beyond, he felt his heart sink.

The University doors were closed and Sonea and Akkarin stood on the steps. The three Ichani were less than a hundred paces from the, advancing confidently.

'You and your friends have done well,' Savara murmured, 'if this is all that remains of Kariko's allies. Perhaps you have a chance after all.'

Cery smiled grimly. 'Perhaps we do. We'll just have to see.'

Sonea blinked as an image of herself and Akkarin, seen from above, entered her mind. From the angle of the view, the watcher must be behind them, on top of the University. She caught a sense of Balkan's personality, but no thoughts or emotions.

If we can sense this, so can the Ichani.

Yes, Akkarin replied. Block out the images. They'll distract you.

But it will alert us to any trick the Ichani try.

And warn the Ichani of ours.

Oh. Should you tell Balkan to stop?

No. The Guild should see this. They might learn—

'Akkarin.'

Kariko's voice echoed across the grounds.

'Kariko,' Akkarin replied.

'I see you've bought your apprentice. Do you intend to trade her life for your life?'

A chill ran over Sonea's skin as the Ichani looked at her. She stared right back, and he smiled maliciously.

'I might consider taking her,' Kariko continued. 'I never liked my brother's taste in slaves, but he did show me that the Guild magicians can be surprisingly entertaining.'

Akkarin slowly started down the steps. As Sonea followed, she took care to stay within the blended magic of their shield.

'Dakova was a fool for keeping me,' Akkarin said, 'but he was always making stupid mistakes. It was hard to understand how a man with such power could have so little grasp of politics or strategy, but I guess that is why he was Ichani – and why he kept me.'

Kariko's eyes narrowed. 'You? I don't think so. If you are a master of strategy, why are you here? You must know you can't win?'

'Can't we? Look around you, Kariko. Where are all your allies?'

As Akkarin and Sonea reached the bottom f the steps, Kariko stopped. He was about twenty strides away.

'Dead, I suppose. And you killed them.'

'Some.'

'You must be worn out, then.' Karkio glanced at the other Ichani, then back at Akkarin. 'What a perfect end to our conquest. I will avenge my brother's death, and at the same time Sachaka will finally have revenge for what your Guild did to our land.'

He lifted a hand, and the other Ichani followed suit. Strikes flashed towards Sonea and Akkarin. She felt magic batter their shield, more powerful than any strike she had encountered before. But their combined shield was stronger than any shield she had created before, thanks to the magic taken from the arena. Akkarin sent a trio of strikes in reply but all curved inwards towards to attack Kariko.

More exchanges followed, and the air hummed with power. As Akkarin continued striking at Kariko and ignoring the other Ichani, the leader frowned. He said something to his companions. They moved closer, leaving only a narrow gap between their shields.

Strike Karkio from beneath, Akkarin instructed.

As Sonea sent a heatstrike through the earth, Akkarin sent more curving down on Kariko from above. The other Ichani shifted their shields to meet Akkarin's strikes just as the ground began to steam beneath Kariko's feet.

Karkio glanced down, then said something quietly. His companions increased their attack.

Keep striking at Kariko from all directions.

Kariko appeared to have resigned himself to being the main target. He concentrated on shielding, while the others attacked. Sonea resisted a smile. This was all to her and Akkarin's advantage. Shielding took more power, so Kariko would be tiring faster.

It seemed they would stand and blast each other until one side finally weakened. Then the ground shifted violently beneath her. She staggered and felt a hand grab her arm. Looking down, she saw a dark hole forming below her feet and sensed a disc of power.

Hold the shield.

She forced her attention back to their barrier, taking the full brunt of the Ichani's attack so that Akkarin could concentrate on levitating. The air was full of grass and dirt and strikes. Akkarin moved them backward, but the shifting area of earth followed them. Through the dirt-filled air, Sonea saw the Ichani marching across the disturbed ground towards them.

Akkarin sent a dozen strikes at the Ichani. At the same time, a dozen weaker ones streaked from the direction of the gates. The Sachakans glanced to the side.

Sonea gasped as she saw the figure standing just inside the gates. Blue robes swirled around the man as he walked forwards.

'Lorlen!' Sonea gasped. But how could that be? Lorlen was dead. Or was he...?

Karkio sent a blast of energy towards the Administrator. It flashed through the magician and struck the gates. The bars of metal shattered, filling the street beyond with glowing spears and fragments.

Lorlen had vanished. Sonea blinked. It had been an illusion. Hearing a chuckle, she looked up to see Akkarin smiling grimly. Kariko and his companions looked unimpressed. They resumed their assault with greater ferocity.

Akkarin threw a rain of strikes at Kariko, testing the Ichani's shield. Kariko sent powerful blasts back. Akkarin sent a great net of heatstrike out, curving around to hit Kariko from all sides, just as Sonea had done in her last bout against Regin in the Challenge. She reached inside to judge the amount of power she had remaining; the battle so far had hardly dented the power she had taken from the arena. She increased the strength of the shield as the barrage of attacks continued.

'LOOK TO THE GATES!'

The voice came from the top of the University. Looking up, she saw Balkan on the roof of the building, pointing towards the gates. Spinning around, she took an involuntary step backward as she saw broken and bent black spears flying towards her – the remnants of the gates. They clattered into her shield and fell to the ground. She glanced at Akkarin to see his eyes narrowed in concentration.

The Ichani are weakening, Akkarin sent.

Sonea looked at the Ichani. Kariko stood straight and smiling. The rest of the Ichani looked no less confident, but the strikes against her shield had weakened.

Akkarin took a step forward, then another. Kariko's face darkened. Sonea followed as Akkarin began to walk towards them. She sent her own strikes at the Ichani and felt a surge of satisfaction as they backed away.

As she felt the soft soil beneath her feet she realised that the shards of the broken gate were inside their shield, and she also thought she saw a glimpse of gold. She grabbed Akkarin's arm and gave them both a strong shield at skin level, and not a moment too soon. A golden knife surged out of the soil towards Akkarin's chest. Sonea felt the knife hit the shield and let out a breath as it dropped away back into the soil.

Sonea heard Kariko growl in frustration.

I have an idea, but I cannot strike and carry it out whilst holding both these shields

What do you need me to do?

Take on the inner shield, then cover your eyes and stop striking when I tell you.

Akkarin poured his power into the inner shield as Sonea reduced her input.

Ready? NOW!

Sonea closed her eyes and covered her face as she simultaneously turned the outer shield into a bright ball of light and expanded it so that it covered the Ichani as well. The battering of both their shields reduced to nothing as the Ichani instinctively covered their eyes. Using the levitation disc Sonea removed herself and Akkarin from the light shield and back into the dusk, then made the light disappear.

Uncover your eyes and strike them with all we've got whilst they're blind!

Opening her eyes, Sonea focused everything at Kariko and his allies.

The Ichani leader staggered backwards. For a moment his shield held, then his mouth opened in a silent scream as heatstrike burned through his body. The next man backed away but managed only a few steps before the onslaught of magic shattered his shield and burned through him. She felt a surge of triumph. The last Ichani stood his ground. She felt her power reserves depleting rapidly and she felt a rush of fear as the he began to advance.

Join our strikes! Akkarin's voice punched through the fear.

She sent out the last part of her magic and watched as it joined with Akkarin's magic. The Ichani's eyes widened as his shield wavered. Then, as the last of her magic flowed out, it fell. Heatstrike tore through him and he crumpled to the ground.

All was silent. Sonea stared at the three bodies lying before the University. A wave of exhaustion washed over her.

'Sonea!' Akkarin cried out as she crumpled to the ground. He could do nothing to stop her since he was just as exhausted. As Akkarin's arms wrapped around her Sonea turned to look up at him.

'We did it,' she whispered hoarsely, 'we did it.' With shaking hands, Sonea ran her fingers over his face, then leant in and kissed him.

'We did do it,' Akkarin murmured, sounding a little shocked. 'And I couldn't have done it without you. I am glad you came with me to Sachaka.'

He relaxed a little, pulling Sonea against his chest with the strength of someone who didn't want to let go ever again.

'Sonea!'

Sonea raised her head from Akkarin's chest at the cry. Rothen! Dorrien! She smiled tiredly at the pair as they came running towards where she and Akkarin lay.

Soon two faces appeared above them.

'Are you alright? Are you hurt?'

Sonea mentally assessed herself. 'I'm ok,' then turned to Akkarin, 'how are you?'

Akkarin looked at her with a small smile then turned to address the two magicians standing above them, 'No injuries here, just exhaustion. You wouldn't mind healing us a little so that we can go and get some rest in a proper bed?'

Dorrien crouched and placed his hand on Sonea's arm. The exhaustion diminished a little and she sat up to face the healer. Squeezing his hand gently in thanks she noticed a sadness in his face as he regarded her proximity to Akkarin. Ah, he was bound to find out anyway. She smiled at him and allowed herself to be pulled to her feet.

'Sonea!' A force crashed into her from behind, arms wrapping around her middle, holding her tight. 'That was one of the best and scariest things I have ever seen!'

'Cery!' Sonea turned around to embrace him back. 'Although I am glad you're here, you really shouldn't have been here. You could have been hurt.'

'Nah, I would have been okay. I had her with me.' He thrust a thumb over his shoulder.

Sonea looked up to where Cery was gesturing. Only the bulky form of Gol stood there. 'Um, who?'

Cery turned to look behind him, 'ah, doesn't matter,' his cheeks flushed.

Sonea felt a hand on her shoulder and she turned, only to be pulled into Rothen's arms. She wrapped her arms around his back and felt his lips being pressed into the top of her head. Her throat constricted as a few tears escaped.

'I thought you were dead,' she whispered, not daring to speak any louder for fear of her voice breaking. She pulled away to look up at his tear streaked face. 'Don't ever do that to me again!'

'You were amazing, Sonea.' He glanced up at Akkarin, 'you both did so well today.'

Sonea looked to Akkarin and saw a rare smile grace his lips, 'Thank you, Rothen. However, I don't think the Guild is going to be very happy when they see how much energy we took from the Arena.'

'The Arena!' Dorrien exclaimed. 'You just saved Kyralia, I think that they'll just have to deal with it!'

She smiled weakly at Dorrien.

'Sonea.' She looked at Akkarin, his eyes soft. 'Takan has just informed me that all the magicians that were in the slums are heading back up here. Unless we want to be questioned for hours, I'd say we should make our escape.'

Sonea sighed, extricated herself from Rothen's arms, and pulled Dorrien into a hasty but strong hug.

Akkarin offered his hand and Sonea accepted it gratefully. They turned to look at the small party.

'We're going to go and sleep in the High Lord's residence, and I'd prefer it if we weren't disturbed until at least tomorrow afternoon. Would you be able to spread the word?'

Rothen nodded, 'I'll make sure of it.'

Akkarin inclined his head towards the two magicians and the two thieves and gently nudged Sonea into walking. Her feet stumbled over the uneven ground as she took in the destruction they had caused to the University.

A strong arm wrapped around her shoulders as she placed her arm around his waist, gripping the fabric of his robes. Together they supported each other across the grounds in companionable silence.

By the time they reached the High Lord's residence it was pitch black. Sonea had no power left to create a light, and since Akkarin hadn't made a light either she guessed his power was in a similar state to hers.

Akkarin opened the door and they stumbled across the threshold.

'Home sweet home.' Akkarin murmured, and Sonea sensed the slight smile behind the statement.

Sonea regarded the stairs to the upper level and her knees buckled, it was only Akkarin's strong hold on her that stopped her from hitting the floor. The short walk between the University steps and the High Lord's residence had completely drained her back to the state before she had been healed by Dorrien.

'Come on, let's go to bed.' Akkarin swept his arms behind her knees and pulled her into his arms.

'Akkarin!' Sonea protested weakly, blood rushing to her cheeks. 'Put me down!'

She felt the rumbling against her cheek as he chuckled, starting up the stairs. 'Make me.'

Sonea pushed lightly against his chest but soon gave up knowing that this would be a battle she would lose today.

Akkarin nudged the door to his room open with his foot and carried her across to the bed. As he sat her down on the edge of the bed Sonea summoned what little energy she had left to place her hand on his cheek and gently brush a kiss over his lips.

Thank you, she whispered leaving her mind open so he could feel everything she was feeling. Akkarin drew in a sharp breath and Sonea felt his mind open to her. An onslaught of feeling crashed into her. Love. Desire. Sadness. Relief.

They stayed like that, heads touching, sharing everything they had been feeling in the past couple of hours until they were both breathing hard. Reluctantly, Akkarin withdrew his mind and fumbled with Sonea's sash.

It wasn't long before Sonea sat there in her undergarments, she closed her eyes and sagged against the post of the bed listening as Akkarin got undressed.

Akkarin slipped his hands beneath Sonea and she made no protest as he lifted her to place her beneath the covers. He soon joined her in the bed, gently pulling Sonea into his arms.

I love you, Sonea. The voice was so quiet that she hardly heard it, but she knew what had been said.

I love you too, Akkarin.

Sonea felt a light kiss press against her temple as she succumbed to her exhaustion.