The black-robed magician stepped out of the newly repaired Northern Gates. As always, people stopped to stare and children yelled her name and began to follow. Although Sonea hadn't yet completed her studies in Healing she had been allowed out into the city every afternoon for a month now, with an Escort, to administer healing to those in need.

Rothen watched Sonea closely. Though he was acting as Escort today - it had been decided at the Meet after the preliminary meeting in the Evening Room that Rothen could Escort Sonea into the city if he wanted to in replacement of either of her usual Escorts, considering that she saw him as a father and would never hurt him; that duty was not the reason for his concern. She was looking pale, ill, not like her usual self at all. Sensing his gaze, she glanced at him and smiled. He relaxed a little. As he had predicted, she had gained much from the work she had begun in the slums. He could see the joy she felt in helping her people, and the purpose in her step.

The hospital by the gates had been built in a few short months, an idea of Akkarin's that had surprisingly made only a few protest; mainly those whose houses were nearby. He had expected it to take some time for the dwells to overcome their hatred and distrust of magicians but a crowd of them appeared the day it had opened and every day since.

Sonea was the reason. They loved her. She had come from among them, had saved the city, and had returned to the slums to help them.

Dorrien had been by her side from the start. His greater knowledge of Healing was essential, and his experience at earning the trust of farmers and foresters also helped him gain the dwells' confidence. Other Healers had joined them. It seemed Sonea was not the only magician who believed Healing should not be a service offered only to the rich Houses.

As she reached the hospital and moved inside , Lord Darlen stepped forward to greet her.

'How was the night shift?' she asked.

'Busy.' He smiled ruefully. 'When isn't it? Oh, I found another potential recruit. A girl of about fifteen, named Kalia. She'll return later with her father, if he agrees to let her join us.'

Sonea nodded. 'How are our supplies?'

'Low, as always,' Darlen replied. 'I'll talk to Lady Vinara when I get back.'

'Thank you, Lord Darlen,' Sonea said.

Darlen nodded, and headed to the door. Sonea paused to look around the room. Following her gaze, Rothen took in the crowd of waiting patients, the handful of guards who had been employed to manage them, and the curies who had been hired for their knowledge of medicine to help with minor cases. Sonea suddenly drew in a sharp breath, then turned to a guard standing nearby.

'That woman over there with the child wrapped in a green blanket. Bring her to me in my room.'

'Yes, my lady.'

Rothen started to look for the woman, but Sonea was already walking away. He followed her into a small room furnished with a table, a bed, and several chairs. She sat down and drummed her fingers on the table. Rothen pulled up a chair beside her.

'You know this woman?'

She glanced at him. 'Yes. It's—' She paused at a knock on the door. 'Come in.'

He recognised the woman instantly. Sonea's aunt smiled and took the seat on the other side of the table.

'Sonea. I was hoping it would be you.'

'Jonna,' Sonea replied, smiling fondly but tiredly, Rothen noted. 'I wanted to come see you, but I've been so busy. How is Ranel? How are my cousins?'

Jonna looked down at the baby. 'Hania has a terrible fever. I've tried everything...'

Sonea placed a hand gently on the baby's head. She frowned. 'Yes. She's got the beginning of bluespot disease. I can give her a little boost.' She was quiet for a moment. 'There. You will have to wait it out, I'm afraid. Give her liquids. A little marin juice mixed in will help, too.' Sonea looked up at her aunt. 'Jonna, would you come live with Akkarin and I for a couple of weeks in a few months time?'

The woman's eyes went round. 'I'm sorry, Sonea. I just couldn't.'

Sonea looked down. 'I know you don't feel comfortable being around magicians, but... please consider it. I'd...' She glanced at Rothen. 'I guess it's time you knew too, Rothen.' She looked at Jonna again. 'I'd like to have someone familiar and ordinary around.' She nodded at the child. 'I'd exchange all the Healers in the Guild just for your practical advice.'

Jonna stared at Sonea, her expression reflecting Rothen's confusion. Sonea's mouth quirked up in the corners before smoothing her robes out over her stomach. Jonna's eyes widened.

'Oh.'

'Yes.' Sonea nodded. 'I'm scared, Jonna. Akkarin and I didn't plan for this, but this little one is coming in a few months and neither of us know how to care for a baby. The Healers will look after me, but they can't cure my, our, fear like you would be able to.'

Jonna frowned. 'You told me magicians had their own way of taking care of things.'

To Rothen's amazement Sonea blushed a furious scarlet.

'It seems that it's better if women do... that sort of care-taking. Apparently men aren't taught the skill unless they request it,' she said. 'Girl novices are taken aside as soon as the Healers feel they're likely to be showing an interest in boys, and I was so unpopular that nobody thought of teaching me. Akkarin assumed they had taught me these things, and he assumed that I was taking care of it. So, a little miscommunication led to a happy, if a little scary, situation.'

As understanding dawned, Rothen stared at Sonea. He found himself counting the months since her exile. Almost five months. The robes had hidden it well.

She looked at him and then smiled apologetically. 'I'm sorry, Rothen. I was going to tell you, at a better moment, but when I saw Jonna I just had to take advantage of—'

They both jumped as Jonna burst into laughter. She was pointing at Rothen. 'I haven't seen that look since I told Ranel I was expecting our first! I think, perhaps, these magicians aren't as smart as they make themselves out to be.' She grinned at Sonea. 'So, You're to have a baby, then. I can't imagine the child growing up with his or her head on right surrounded by magicians.'

Sonea smiled crookedly. 'Nor I. So, will you reconsider? You'll be allowed to use one of the apartments in the Black Magician's residence. We've already had it cleared with the High Lord and Administrator Osen.'

Jonna hesitated, then nodded once. 'Yes. We'll stay a while.'

After Sonea said goodbye to Jonna, she didn't have a moment to herself to talk to Rothen about her surprise revelation. Every time she looked at him over the course of the afternoon, Rothen had either looked in shock or deep in thought. She really hadn't been planning to tell him this way; she had been planning to invite him over for dinner and tell him then but it seemed that her life threw rocks at her every now and again and she just had to deal with the consequences.

Now, they were walking back to the Guild via the inner circle in the twilight, nodding to those who bowed or said hello.

'It's seemed I've shocked you into silence, Rothen.'

Rothen chuckled. 'It seems that way. It was a shock, but I'm getting used to the idea. How long have you known?'

'A month. Akkarin has known about thirty seconds longer than I have. It was quite a shock to the both of us. We told Taken straightaway, but decided not to tell anyone else until the news had sunk in for us.' Sonea laughed. 'I only lasted a week before I told Dorrien and Vinara; I kept getting so distracted during their lessons that it just came out. They were both about as shocked as you were, but their Healer brains took over and gave me a check up instead.'

'It's healthy then?'

'Yes. Healthy and perfect.' She paused, then looked up at him with a small smile. 'To be honest, I still can't quite believe I have a whole new person growing inside of me. It's quite surreal.'

'But, you're happy?'

'Yes, Rothen, I'm happy. With Akkarin, this baby, my life. I never thought I'd survive the Ichani Invasion, or be allowed to practice Healing on the dwells. It's like I've been dealt so much bad, that everything good is coming all at once. So, yes, I am very happy.'

'I'm so glad, Sonea. It's good seeing you doing what you love, and seeing the people interact with you. I knew you'd change the Guild when you joined, I just didn't know how much. I think you've exceeded a lot of people's expectations and it makes me so proud.'

A lump formed in Sonea's throat, and she knew that if she tried to talk any words would come out in a garbled mess. Instead, she looped her arm through his and gave him a grateful smile.

They continued walking up to Guild in a companionable silence.

When they reached the door to the Black Magician's Residence, Sonea opened the door and turned to Rothen.

'Will you come upstairs for a bit? I'm sure we could rustle up a bit of sumi, or maybe even some Pachi wine.'

Rothen chuckled. 'I wouldn't say no to either, though I can't stay long I have dinner with Ezrille tonight.'

Sonea started up the stairs with Rothen on her heels.

'How is she doing?'

'As well as can be expected. She was married to Yaldin for almost sixty years, and he was lost to her so suddenly,' Rothen sighed. 'We lost so many people that it's amazing that we're still functioning as a Guild.'

'I think it helps that everyone is going through the same thing. Everyone lost someone they loved; no one has been spared the grief.' Sonea pushed open her front door. 'But we're dealing with it together, one day at a time, and that's all that we can do.'

'Sonea!' Akkarin's voice called out from their shared study. He appeared a moment later with a smile on his face and ink stained hands. The writing of the records of the Invasion was taking a long time, but Akkarin wanted to get it right. He'd been interviewing everyone for their accounts of the battle, as well as the days before and after. Any respect that he had lost upon his reveal as a Black Magician, he had been gaining back due to his dedication to his work. Anyone who spoke to him could see how hard he was working. Sonea's heart warmed at the thought.

'And Rothen, too. I invited him up for a drink before he goes to have dinner with Ezrille.'

'Good evening, Rothen. How does some Pachi wine sound?'

'That would be lovely, especially after the afternoon I've had.'

Sonea glared at Rothen in mock annoyance as she settled onto the sofa. 'It wasn't that bad!'

Rothen laughed which made Sonea smile, and she was still smiling when Akkarin came back with the wine and three glasses.

'Was this afternoon's clinic eventful then?' Akkarin asked, as he poured the Pachi wine and handed the glasses out.

'In a way. It was very busy, but it was just the usual ailments.'

Akkarin folded himself into the seat beside Sonea, pulling her gently into his side. 'Then how was it eventful?'

'Oh, I bumped into Jonna and I took advantage of the situation to ask her to move in with us in a few months.'

'You did?' Akkarin looked down at her with a quirked eyebrow. 'What did she say?'

'Yes... after a bit of explanation. We weren't able to sort out the details, but we have a few months to plan everything.'

'That's wonderful news! And such a relief. I doubt there would have been any women on my side of the family that would've been willing to help. I'm not even sure how my parents are going to react when they find out.'

Sonea reached out to squeeze his hand. 'I'm sure they'll be happy to have another grandchild to dote on, and if not, then, I'm sure he or she will get twice the amount of love from their honorary grandfather.'

Sonea looked over at Rothen with a smile as she said that last part and watched as his facial expression changed when he realised what she meant. His eyes widened before filling with tears.

'You want me...' With trembling hands, Rothen placed the glass on the table before twisting them together in his lap. Sonea stood up and knelt in front him, taking his hands within her own. 'I'm going to be a grandfather?'

'Yes, if you want to of course. We're not going to force this on you.' She gently squeezed his hands. 'I think of you as my father, and in my eyes that makes you a grandfather to my child.'

Rothen choked back a sob before replying, 'I've thought of you as my daughter for years, Sonea, and I... I would be honoured to be your child's grandfather.'

Sonea leapt up, wrapping her arms around Rothen, and he responded in kind. She sank into his warmth, revelling in the feeling of having a father-figure in her life. She had assumed for years that he had felt this way, but they had never spoken about it in such plain words before and she hadn't realised how much she had needed that confirmation until this very moment.

She had a father who wanted her. A father who accepted her, flaws and all, and he was going to love her child as much its parents already did.

'Thank you, Rothen,' she said, leaning back so that she could see his teared stained face, a face that matched her own, 'you have no idea how much this means to me.'

Instead of replying, Rothen placed a kiss on her forehead and gently pushed her back towards Akkarin, who looked up at her with a smile and shining eyes. She settled into his arms, and Akkarin kissed her on the cheek, brushing away her tears with his thumb.

Are you okay?

Yes, more than okay. I have a father.

You've always had a father in Rothen.

I know.

'I believe I haven't said congratulations to either of you yet. I seem to be getting one shock after another and it completely slipped my mind.' He paused. 'There are no other surprises are there? It's not twins, or you're suddenly getting married tomorrow?'

Both Sonea and Akkarin chuckled, and Akkarin replied, 'no, there's just one baby, and as for marriage we'll just have to see what the next month has in store for us.'

Sonea looked up at Akkarin, and Akkarin gave her ones of those crooked half smiles that she loved so much. They had discussed marriage a couple of times over the past few months, and both of them were willing and had agreed that they should get married sooner rather than later. She just hadn't realised that 'sooner' meant within a month.

She gasped. 'You're planning something!'

He gave her another one of those smiles. 'Maybe.'

She gave him a little poke in the side and he laughed.

'We are definitely talking about this later.'

Akkarin just smiled.

Rothen laughed. 'Although I had my doubts at the beginning, you two are perfect for each other.' He raised his glass, and Akkarin and Sonea followed suit. 'So, congratulations to you both and thank you so very much for allowing me to be your child's honorary grandfather.'

'There was no doubt that you'd be anything other, Rothen.' Akkarin said with a smile before drinking from his glass.

Sonea smiled, sipping at her small glass of Pachi wine. Although unexpected, today couldn't have gone any better. The clinic was running smoothly, her aunt was going to help with the baby when the time came, Rothen had declared her his daughter, her child was definitely going to have at least one grandparent who loved them, and she had found out that she was going to be married within a month.

It was a lot. A lot of big life-changing events, but as long as she had the support of her family then nothing but another Ichani invasion could put a dampener on her spirits tonight.