This chapter is for Yalishandela, whose review pleased me immensely. Thank you so much for your compliments!
Also big thanks to Dogewa.
It took Sonea just two days to read Lord Loren's diary, although she didn't have much time besides her normal study load. Akkarin was not surprised to find her in the library every free minute - he himself had been equally fascinated by the diary. It had helped him to see the skills he had acquired in Sachaka in a new light.
The well-known architect of the guild had not only discovered how to shape stones, but also how to use black magic. He wrote down all his doubts in his diary and Akkarin had been able to understand every one of them.
And even before Akkarin had found the box with his diary and some more books on black magic, Lord Loren had given him a task with his cryptic letter. For months he had searched the guild and mapped the passages below to find the treasure. More than once he had spent whole nights doing it, curing exhaustion with magic. Anything had been better than sleeping. At some point he had found it - but even that had not given him more sleep. Instead, he had spent nights reading the books Lord Loren had hidden away and that had finally helped him hate himself less for what he had done.
Of course, in his naivety, he had still ensured that Kyralia and the Guild faced a new threat and he still mastered a forbidden form of magic. But at the same time he had realised that black magic was not evil in itself, but that not everyone could handle the power it bestowed. He swore to himself that he would never let it get to the point where his power corrupted him.
He looked up as Sonea closed the book noisily and stared at it thoughtfully. As she often did, a crease appeared between her eyebrows, making her look older. As if sensing his gaze, she looked up at him all at once.
"Why did you give me this to read?" she asked. Her voice sounded calm, but there was a lurking undertone underneath.
Akkarin pulled up one corner of his mouth in amusement. He had guessed it would confuse her. "Why do you think I did it?"
Sonea frowned. "If you want to show me that black magic isn't evil, then you gave me the wrong book," she asserted. "Lord Loren never used black magic again once he realised what he had discovered. Instead he used it to shape stone and hid the books about it"
Akkarin raised an eyebrow. "And what exactly does that say about black magic? And the people who learn it?" he inquired.
Her gaze became thoughtful, then darkened. "You are trying to manipulate me," she accused him. Her eyes flashed. "I will never use black magic again. It is forbidden for a good reason."
Akkarin smiled challengingly. He had her right where he wanted her. Her fierce reaction betrayed her confusion. A little more truth and she would understand just as he had then. And eventually she might even be ready to believe him. He had never intended to let her in on so much, but her plight had forced him into an awkward position where her trust was his greatest asset. That was why he had told her his story and that was why he would have to show her much more. But for now, he had to give her time to think.
"So you condemn anyone who uses black magic. Then why did you give me your power two days ago?" he inquired. He was actually interested.
Sonea snorted angrily and folded her arms. "I don't know that I owe you an explanation for that, High Lord."
Akkarin eyed her until she hunched her shoulders uncomfortably and tripped from one leg to the other, only then did he reply. "You didn't. You should go to sleep now, you have classes again in the morning and I know you've spent the last few nights reading"
She lowered her arms and bowed hastily. "Good night high lord"
He watched her leave the library as if black mages were after her. Only then did he realise that he had not wished her goodnight. He shrugged his shoulders and in turn made his way to his bedroom. He, too, had not had much sleep in the last few nights. Lately he had been tormented by nightmares in which his unwanted novice played an annoyingly large role.
Deeply Lorlen breathed in and out before raising his hand and knocking on the door. He felt silly because his heart was pounding so much, even though it was only Akkarin he was visiting. Just his old friend. His lips twisted into a mirthless smile - if only it were still like that.
Lorlen winced as the door swung open silently, revealing a familiar scene: Akkarin in his favourite armchair, a book in his hand and a smile on his face. Hastily, the administrator stepped over the threshold before he could change his mind. He had made a decision and he would stick to it. At least for the time being.
"Welcome, my friend," Akkarin greeted and rose. "Do sit down. How is our little family?"
Lorlen's heart contracted at those familiar words. Could he ever hear them again without thinking of Akkarin's betrayal of 'their little family'? He forced himself not to think about it further. Instead, he sat down and watched as Akkarin poured them both wine. When the High Lord finally spun around with the two glasses in his hand, he raised an eyebrow.
"Cat got your tongue?"
Lorlen pulled himself together. "No, it just feels-" He broke off. He had wanted to say 'wrong' but that was something he would have said earlier. When he hadn't been afraid of Akkarin.
Akkarin sat down in his chair and took a sip of wine before replying. "I am sorry you feel that way. I can only assure you that I have no intention of harming you, the Guild or Kyralia."
The administrator made a throwing away hand gesture. He didn't doubt that, not any more. "I wish you would tell me the whole truth".
For a brief moment something like pain flickered across his friend's face, but the expression was gone so quickly Lorlen wondered if it had been there at all. Quickly he changed the subject. "The construction work in the huts is progressing quickly. Soon Lady Vinara will be able to send her healers. Lord Peakin and Lord Davin are once again arguing about the weather lookout and the novices have more nonsense on their minds than is good for them"
"Have you decided who to send yet?" inquired Akkarin.
Lorlen shook his head. "There's no one fussing about it. Lady Vinara is thinking of sending her healers to the huts on a rotation schedule"
The High Lord was silent for a moment, then shook his head. "I don't think that's a good idea. The hut people need someone they can trust" His gaze wandered absent-mindedly towards the stairs to the upper floor. "Maybe Sonea should help once a week in the new hospital. She is most interested in the healing arts anyway"
Uncertainly, Lorlen looked at Akkarin. "Along with her other private lessons, that might be too much for her" he interjected. At the same time, he wondered if Akkarin was punishing her for something.
"I will keep an eye on her health. I am sure she would agree to the idea. She..." he did not finish the sentence, instead changing the subject. "What are Peakin and Davin arguing about this time? I thought by the guild approving the construction this tiresome subject was finally over."
Lorlen regarded Akkarin for a moment, trying to make sense of him. It was obvious that the High Lord did not want to talk about his novice, even though he had brought her into the conversation himself. The administrator would have liked to know what else Akkarin had actually wanted to say, but he knew better than to ask. "Oh, this time it's about the designs and the costs," he said lightly instead.
"Do you know what you're going to do with it?"
"Osen thinks we should stick to the budget we approved and I agree with him. The tower should be functional, not a landmark or anything like that"
Akkarin nodded in agreement and took another sip of wine. Silence settled over them like a leaden cloth, as it had so many times since Lorlen had revealed what he, Sonea and Rothen knew.
"How is the court?" asked Lorlen when he could stand it no longer.
"Ah, it's business as usual at court. The Houses are indulging in their petty squabbles and the King is regularly enquiring about the new hospital. He will be pleased to know that it will soon be ready. He is keen to learn more about the magical potential in the huts"
Lorlen recognised the quiet undertone of disapproval and the barely perceptible drawing together of Akkarin's eyebrows and drew his conclusions.
"You don't trust his motives," he stated matter-of-factly. The administrator could not help but agree with the High Lord's concern. The King usually preferred to ignore the huts and everything related to them as much as he could. The houses, on the other hand, would have preferred it if the huts had not existed at all. By now inquiring about the magical potential of the huts, the king put himself in a difficult position.
"No. He claims he wants to calm the houses and ensure that there will be no more incidents like Sonea's admission to the guild. Perhaps that is even one of his aspirations, but his interest in the matter is too high for it to be just that. I fear Merin has more far-reaching plans for the people from the huts, who have great potential"
"Do you think he will order the guild to take them in?"
Akkarin sipped his wine thoughtfully and stared ahead before answering. "I don't know Lorlen. But I am sure whatever he has in mind, we will not like it."
Lorlen felt a small shiver run down his spine as he realised what Akkarin was implying. "You mean he might" he put in, but he could not say it.
Akkarin turned the glass in his long fingers and then looked up from the deep red liquid at Lorlen. "I hope he only puts the guild in turmoil. We could use powerful mages and some of the houses have weak magical bloodlines. And my affairs in the city would be made easier if there were fewer powerful sources in the huts."
He said the last sentence so quietly that Lorlen barely understood it. Inquiringly, Lorlen looked at him. It was the first time Akkarin had brought up the subject of his own accord, although he usually avoided talking about it. Was his friend finally ready to tell him the whole truth? But before Lorlen could inquire further, Akkarin had taught his glass and stood up.
"You should come here more often again Lorlen. There is no need to resent me"
Lorlen did the same to him. He knew his friend well enough to know that the friend was not willing to receive him any more. "Well, you're still not telling me the whole truth," he blurted out. Akkarin's piercing gaze made it clear to him that this was a mistake.
"I'm not going to put you in danger with that knowledge Lorlen. You already know too much anyway"
Lorlen waved it off. He knew he had lost for this evening, besides he felt the old familiar bitterness rising within him. Why couldn't Akkarin tell him the truth for once?
"I would like to understand, Akkarin," he said quietly, then took his leave and wished the High Lord a good night before heading back to his own quarters. No doubt he was in for another sleepless night wondering which side Akkarin was on.
