A gentle warmth caressing Sonea's face woke her from her sleep. Blinking in the low light of the room, dark curtains blocking out the afternoon sunshine, her gaze immediately fell upon Akkarin's sleeping face. She drew in a small sharp breath. She had never seen him this peaceful, even during the time she watched him sleep in Sachaka. He looked so much younger, like he hadn't faced all the horrific trials in his life. She continued to watch him for several minutes, hardly daring to breathe. She didn't want him to wake only to remember all that he, that they, had lost yesterday. Especially Lorlen.

A sudden and deep ache appeared in Sonea's chest at the thought of never seeing Lorlen striding through the University. He had been so nice to her, she only wished that she could have seen him again rather than having her last memory of him begging her to stay in Kyralia. Maybe he would still be alive if she had.

A movement against her side bought her out of that dark place within her mind. Akkarin's arms circled her waist and she slipped her hands beneath his arms so they could lie chest to chest, legs entangled. His face tucked into her neck as she laid her cheek against the crown of his head.

Sonea, listening to the pounding of Akkarin's heart, felt the rise and fall of his chest increase as he took shallower and shallower breaths. She clutched him tighter as a small sob escaped, then another, and another. The sound was heart-breaking. Tentatively, Sonea brushed her mind against Akkarins, trying to give more support than just physically being there.

Akkarin let a small stream of consciousness through, enough to let her feel his intense pain at losing Lorlen and his gratitude and love for her being there to comfort him. Sonea's vision blurred as she held the strong, courageous man she had grown to love within her arms whilst he cried for the loss of his best friend.

A while later, Akkarins sobs became less frequent and his breaths slowed and deepened. Sonea felt his lips move against the skin of her neck,

'Thank you.' He breathed, barely audible, 'I am sorry you had to witness that.'

Shocked, Sonea pulled away so that she could look him in the eye. 'Don't you dare be sorry. You just lost your closest friend, and if I have to hold you every night for the next fifty years then so be it.'

'I hope I don't feel like this for the next fifty years,' he whispered, looking away.

Sonea freed an arm to place it gently against the side of his face, encouraging him to look back up at her. 'I'm not saying you will, but what I am saying is that I am always going to be there for you when you need me to be.'

Akkarin pressed his lips into Soneas palm, 'and I am always going to be there for you. No one but us knows what we've been through to achieve this. I am never going to let you go, unless you want me to, of course.'

Hesitantly, Sonea leaned in and placed a light kiss upon his lips then rested her head against his. 'I don't want to let you go either.'

This time it was Akkarin who instigated the kiss. It started out slow and careful, desire coursed through her veins as Akkarin pulled her closer, the kiss becoming more passionate. Sonea's hand threaded through his long silky hair as he left a trail of kisses up her jaw and down her neck.

A knock at the door stopped them in their tracks. Akkarin slumped, groaning in disappointment, as Sonea laughed lightly.

Since Akkarin had ended up lying slightly on top of her, Sonea pressed lightly against his chest so that he rolled away to his side of the bed.

Pushing herself up, Sonea leaned against the backboard and curled her legs beneath her. Akkarin shuffled slightly so that they sat only inches apart, his long legs stretched out beneath the covers.

Shooting a small half smile at Sonea, Akkarin glanced towards the door and it opened to reveal Takan carrying a tray full of food.

'Good afternoon, master. Good afternoon, my Lady.' He stepped into the room, 'I heard you talking, and I have prepared some food. Would you like it in bed? It's not messy food.'

'That would be wonderful, thank you Takan.' Akkarin replied, and Takan moved to place the tray on the bed. 'What time is it, and what news of the Guild?'

'It is three hours after midday, and from what I have heard, which isn't much since I stayed here to make sure no one disturbed you, is that there have been a few meetings about various things to do with the city and the Guild. However, I believe you will learn more later as I have been told to inform you that your presence is needed in the Night Room tonight.'

Akkarin sighed, and Sonea detected that it wasn't his favourite place to be. 'Thank you, Takan.'

Takan bowed and left the room, closing the door behind him.

'Am I going to their meeting tonight as well?'

'They probably mean just me, but I don't think I could face everyone alone. I'll make sure that it's either both of us or none at all.'

Sonea nodded and turned her attention towards the food. Her stomach had been growling since the food had entered the room; she hadn't eaten since they had made the blood gems for each other at Cery's table.

Once they had both eaten their fill, Sonea shifted so that she was lying with her back against Akkarins chest, his arms loosely circled around her waist.

'It seems that we have a couple of hours to kill. What do you want to do?'

'I am quite happy doing this, or we could go on a walk?'

Sonea looked up at Akkarin, 'would it be too painful to go up to the source of the river?'

'No, I think that's a good idea. Do you want to go now?'

'I seem to be well rested considering everything we've been through recently.' She felt inwards to look at the source of her power, 'and I have gained nearly my usual amount of power back.'

'Hmm, I have as well. However, I do like staying in bed.'

Sonea raised an eyebrow, and Akkarin smiled wryly. 'Before, I had the image of the all-powerful High Lord to maintain, it wouldn't do for me to be seen lazing about. But now, I am a free man... of sorts. I can finally sleep in as much as I deserve, and it's even better now that I have someone to share them with.'

'Ok then, I suppose we can stay here a bit longer.' Sonea rested her head in the crook of his neck and relished in the ever-growing love that they shared.

Rothen reached the end of the corridor and looked up. After the devastation of the city, the undamaged majesty of the Great Hall was both heartening and somehow shameful. The Ichani Invasion, as the five days of death and destruction were now referred to, had been a battle between magicians. It seemed wrong that nothing within the Guild grounds had been damaged, with the exception of the ground outside the University and the depletion of the power in the Arena, when much of the Inner Circle was in ruins.

He crossed to the Guildhall, and slipped between the doors. The meeting of the Higher Magicians was to take place in one of the small preparation rooms at the front of the hall. Until a new Administrator was elected, it was considered inappropriate to use Lorlen's office.

Reaching the preparation room door, Rothen knocked. It swung open. As he stepped inside, he noted the magicians present, knowing that he was glimpsing the faces of the Guild's future hierarchy of power.

Lord Balkan paced the room. It was obvious from the way the others had automatically turned to him for leadership that he was a strong candidate for High Lord. Lord Osen watched Balkan calmly. Though clearly still deeply upset by Lorlen's death, he had gained a quiet purposefulness since being given the task of organising the city's recovery. Lorlen had been grooming Osen as his replacement for the last few years, so it would surprise no-one if the young man was elected Administrator.

So many Warriors had died that only a few candidates remained for the Head of the Warriors. Lord Garrel had been present for the last few meetings, which Rothen felt didn't bode well for the future. Balkan had also been managing the lesser Head of Warrior Studies role, but Rothen had heard the man suggest that the position would be filled by another at a future date, so perhaps Garrrel's sly, narrow-minded ways would be counter-balanced by a Warrior of more sensible character.

Lady Vinara would remain Head of Healers. Director Jerrick had made no indication he wanted to change his position, and no-one had suggested it. Lord Telano would probably remain Head of Healing Studies. No mention had been made of choosing someone for the role of Expatriate Administrator so far.

Lord Peakin would probably replace Lord Sarrin. One of the older teachers would be given Head of Alchemic Studies position, Rothen guessed. He could not help wondering, now and then, who his superior would be, but most of the time he was concerned with more important matters. Like Sonea, and Akkarin, he supposed.

And they were clearly the reason the Higher Magicians had summoned him today. As Balkan noticed Rothen's entrance he stopped pacing.

'How are they?'

Rothen sighed, shrugging. 'I don't know. I haven't seen them since after the final battle yesterday. Sonea and Akkarin were exhausted. You saw what they did, it takes time for someone to recover from a battle of that magnitude. This will be especially hard on Sonea since she has had little practice at these sorts of things, Arena fights just don't prepare you enough. I did try and go see them earlier this afternoon but Taken refused to let me see either of them, they must have still been asleep.

'Well,' Balkan said. 'Taken has been given a message to make sure that Akkarin is present in the Night Room tonight so I guess we will see him there later.'

'Yes, I delivered the message to Taken myself this morning,' Osen injected. 'He assured me that Akkarin would get the message in time to be present.'

'What's going to happen to them?' Rothen asked, a slight hesitance in his tone.

'They need to be told where they stand within the Guild. There's no doubt that we need to keep them here,' Vinara answered. 'We cannot send them away again, especially now that they saved Imardin practically single-handedly no less.'

Balkan nodded and let out a heavy sigh. 'You're right, of course.' He looked around at the other magicians. 'Very well, their positions and restrictions will be presented at the meeting tonight and then again at a meet later in the week to finalise the decision.'

'The restrictions have already been discussed, when Sarrin was chosen,' Peakin pointed out.

'The restrictions ought to be refined,' Garrel said. 'At the moment the only requirements are that they remain within the Guild's grounds, cannot hold a position of authority, and cannot teach. It should be spelt out that they cannot use their powers unless requested by us all.'

Rothen resisted a smile. Us all? Garrel was certainly confident of gaining Balkan's position.

Vinara looked at Rothen. 'What do you suggest, Rothen?'

'I don't think Sonea will agree to any restrictions that keeps her within the Guild grounds.'

Balkan frowned. 'Why not?'

'She has always wanted to use her powers to help the poor. It was something to hold onto,' he glanced side-ways at Garrel, 'in difficult times. Don't take that from her.'

Vinara smiled thinly. 'And I suppose if we proposed she undertake some kind of charitable work in the city, it would give her a reason to stay with us.'

Rothen nodded. 'I think that if Sonea stays then Akkarin will too, I don't think he's going to leave her side for anything. If we try to banish him again then she will go with him. They will not be parted.'

Balkan crossed his arms. His fingers drummed against his sleeve. 'That will also help us regain the favour of the people. We didn't prove to be particularly effective defenders. I've heard that some even blame us for the Invasion.'

'Surely not!' Garrel exclaimed.

'It's true,' Osen said quietly. 'Even though we have lost nearly half our Guild members, and they lost only a few. They only see the destruction that we have caused to the places where they live.'

Garrel scowled. 'Ungrateful dwells.'

'Actually, it was certain members of the Houses who expressed that opinion on their return to the city.' Osen added. 'Including members of the House Paren, if I recall correctly.'

Garrel blinked in surprise, then flushed.

'Should we extend the area of confinement to the city, then?' Telano suggested.

'The idea of confinement was to ensure our black magician didn't have access to large number of victims, should he or she grow hungry for power,' Peakin said. 'What is the point of having an area of confinement, when it includes the highest density of population in the country?'

Rothen chuckled. 'And you'd have to persuade the King to redefine what is considered part of the city. I don't think Sonea intended to restrict her help to those within the Outer Wall.'

'Confinement is clearly unworkable,' Vinara said. 'I suggest an escort.'

All eyes turned to her. Balkan nodded approvingly.

'And if the help she wants to give is Healing, she still has many years of training to complete.' Vinara looked at Rothen.

He nodded. 'I'm sure she's aware of that. My son has expressed a wish to teach her. If he is to assist her in this work, it could be more of a formal arrangement.'

She pursed her lips. 'It would not be appropriate for her to return to classes, and it is not wise for a healer to have only one teacher. I will assist as well.'

Rothen nodded, suddenly too overwhelmed by gratitude to speak. He listened as the other continued to debate.

'What of Akkarin?' Peakin asked.

The gathering of magicians fell into silence.

'As Rothen said they will not be parted... I do not know his mind. Lorlen knew him best, he would have known what to do.' Vinara stated.

The others nodded, a sombre air filling the room at the reminder of those they had lost in the past week.

'He will have to be asked tonight how he thinks he may aide the Guild in the future.' Balkan said, 'he cannot teach, nor can he make decisions for the Guild.'

'Maybe, to begin with, he could write a record of the Invasion and the events leading up to it?' Rothen suggested, 'and then we could decide a new role at a later date once everything has settled.'

'That sounds like a fine idea,' Balkan said, 'I think the role would suit him. We will ask him tonight; he may also have other ideas that we can discuss.'

A small pause ensued.

'So will we still call them "Black Magicians"?' Peakin asked.

'Yes,' Balkan replied.

'And what colour robes will they wear?'

There was a short silence.

'Black,' Osen said quietly.

'But the High Lord's are black,' Telano pointed out.

Osen nodded. 'Perhaps it is time to change the High Lord's robes. Black will always remind people of black magic, which, despite everything, we do not want to encourage people to think of us wholly good and desirable. We need something fresh and clean.'

'White,' Vinara said.

Osen nodded. 'Yes.'

As the others voiced their agreement, Balkan made a strangled noise.

'White!' he exclaimed. 'You can't be serious. It's impractical, and impossible to keep clean.'

Vinara smiled. 'Now what would a High Lord be involved in that might stain his white robes?'

'A little excess wine consumption, maybe? Jerrick murmured.

The other chuckled.

'White it is, then,' Osen said.

'Wait,' Balkan looked from face to face, then shook his head. 'Why do I find myself thinking that you've made your minds up, and I won't win any argument about it?'

'It's a good sign,' Vinara said. 'One that suggests we have chosen a good strong set of people to be our Higher Magicians.' She looked around the group, then smiled as her eyes met Rothen's. 'You still haven't guessed, have you Lord Rothen?'

He stared at her, puzzled by her sudden question. 'Guessed what?'

'Of course, it still has to be put to the vote, but I don't expect anyone will protest.'

'About what?'

Her smile widened. 'Congratulations, Rothen. You're to be our new Head of Alchemic Studies.'

From the top of the two-story house, it was possible to see that the rubble formed a perfect circle. It was a sobering sight.

Yet another to add to my list, Cery thought. Along with the ruins of the city walls, and the growing lines of bodies that the Guild had laid out across the lawn in front of the University.

He shivered and and made himself look down again. Hundreds of workers were sorting through the rubble. A few people had been found alive, buried near the edges of the destruction. It was impossible to know how many had been hiding in the houses when they were blasted to ruins. Most were probably dead.

All because of him. He should have paid more attention so Savara's warnings about what would happen when an Ichani died. But he had been too concerned with finding a way to kill a magician to think about how his people might survive the consequences.

'Back here again?'

Arms wound about his waist. A familiar spicy aroma filled his senses. His heart lightened for a moment, then began to hurt again.

'Must you go?' he whispered.

'Yes,' Savara replied.

'We could use your help.'

'No. You don't need me. Certainly not as a Sachakan magician. And you have plenty of volunteers to do non-magical work.'

'I need you.'

She sighed. 'No, Cery. You need someone you can trust, completely and unconditionally. I will never be that person.'

He nodded. She was right.

But it didn't make parting easier.

Her arms tightened. 'I'll miss you,' she added quietly. 'If... if I'm welcome, I'll drop in whenever my duties take me this way.'

He turned to face her and lifted one eyebrow as if considering.

'I might have a few bottles of Anuren dark left,'

She smiled broadly and he could not help feeling better, even if it was just for a moment. Ever since the final battle, he had felt a terrible fear of loss, and he had tried to keep her from leaving. But Savara didn't belong in Kyralia. Not now. And he was letting his heart's demands overtake common-sense. That was something a Thief should never do.

Hooking a finger under her chin, he lifted her head and kissed her, slowly and firmly. Then he stepped back.

'Go on, then. Go home. I don't like long goodbyes.'

She smiled, then turned away. He watched her saunter to the hatch in the roof, then descend through the ceiling below. When she was gone, he turned to regard the workers again.

Much had changed. He must be ready for the consequences. Snippets of information had come his way, and he was probably not the only one to realise what they might lead to. If the King did truly intend to end the yearly Purge, there would be one less reason for the Thieves to work together. And there were rumours of certain deals already being made between the other underworld leaders.

He smiled and straightened his shoulders. He had prepared for a day when Akkarin's support ended, he doubted that the other Guild magicians would give Akkarin much free rein now. Deals had been made with useful and powerful people. Wealth and been stowed, and information gathered. His position was strong.

Soon he would find out if it was strong enough.