Dogewa: I understand very well what you mean. I love the books very much, but the more I analyse them and the characters, the more I notice how little priority Trudi Canavan has given to character development. She leaves out many things that would have contributed to understanding and she leaves us in the dark about the only character with really a lot of facets. I'm glad you like my fanfiction so far and I hope it will continue to do so.
Yalishandela: Thanks again for your review! It's great that I get the relationship between Akkarin and Lorlen captured well in your eyes, it's one of the things I want to focus on in this fanfiction. I firmly believe that a little more trust between the two would have given the story a completely different twist. But that trust has to be rebuilt first - no easy matter after all that has happened. Concerning Lorlen as well as Sonea.
As for your question: There is (important) action in this chapter. After all, Sonea is currently a threat to Akkarin that should not be underestimated, but the next chapters will be calmer. There is also a bit of work to be done in the guild, a stubborn novice to be trained, and so on.
Akkarin stared out of the carriage window at the passing streets of Imardin. Despite the late hour, there were still many people out and moving. 'Potential sources,' he thought grimly. It had now been two weeks since Sonea had killed the last spy, but it had brought no peace. The thief had reported new victims only a few days later - Kariko seemed in a hurry to finally kill him.
Mockingly, Akkarin tightened the corners of his mouth. Thanks to Sonea, the last spy had merely given him magic; he was well prepared. All he was waiting for was Ceryni to track down the slave. Still, it worried him that a new spy had arrived in Imardin so soon after the last one. He might need Sonea more than he would like.
Sonea. The thought of his novice brought a new direction to Akkarin's thoughts. Ever since he had involuntarily taught her black magic, their relationship had become even more complicated. She had always avoided him, but now she literally fled from him. She often stayed late at the university, either hiding in the library or exploring the hidden passages. Akkarin let her. As long as she returned to the residence in the evening and distracted herself with her studies, it was fine with him. Nevertheless, he was aware that he was taking a high risk. Sonea could always come to the conclusion that it would be better to confide in someone else and that would have fatal consequences.
Akkarin had long since come to terms with the fact that he could not fight the Ichani slaves forever without anyone noticing. Sonea's discovery had set this ball rolling and all Akkarin could do was temper the impact as best he could. Lorlen's willingness to give their friendship another chance despite the secrets and lies suited him.
In the end, his situation was complicated but not unmanageable. Sonea had learned black magic and thus could only betray him by sacrificing herself. Akkarin was under no illusion that she would be unwilling to do so. He knew her better than anyone and knew that she was absolutely uncompromising towards her own conscience and morals and that her childhood in the hut district had taught her a certain contempt for her own life.
In a way, Akkarin found it amusing that in Sonea, of all people, he had found someone who thought similarly to himself. Being a slave had changed many things; he was no longer the young, arrogant mage of the past. When he thought back now, he often could no longer understand himself. He had been reckless and self-centred, always looking for the next fun or adventure without even a thought for the consequences.
Akkarin knew that Lord Rothen, Sonea and Lorlen in particular still thought of him as ruthless and self-centred and he kept up the appearance. It was better if they thought he was. None of them would ever understand the depths of his soul enough to understand that his motives were not selfish.
As the carriage passed the gates of the guild, Akkarin straightened. His novice was surely already waiting for him; he himself was late for their weekly dinner. He was sure Sonea wouldn't even mind if he didn't show up at all. But this evening was important, Akkarin intended to take the next step to win Sonea's trust. Today he would give her the true history of the guild to read.
Lord Loren's diary was a nice introduction and clarified where Akkarin got the books from. But the unique historical work he intended to give her today was much more. It was proof that the guild had once mastered black magic.
Energetically, Akkarin pushed open the door to his residence and crossed the entrance directly to the staircase that would take him to the upper floor. Takan intercepted him halfway and bowed deeply.
"Welcome back master. Lady Sonea is in her room and a message just came for you".
Akkarin sighed softly. It had been a long day and he had been looking forward to dinner. Takan was an excellent cook.
"From our friend?"
Takan nodded and Akkarin turned on his heel. "Then I guess I'd better not keep him waiting. Tell Sonea she's eating alone today and save some for me"
"Of course, Master," Takan replied and bowed again. Akkarin could clearly sense his concern about their connection, as he always did when he left for the city, but the servant didn't let on. Akkarin left it at that.
He hurriedly changed his robes for ragged clothing and then followed the tunnel out of his cellar, past the barrier that protected the guild from foreign intruders until he met the boy who would lead him today. They did not speak a word as they walked through endless blackness, nor was it necessary.
They left the street of thieves through one of the shafts in the slums. There Gol, his contact's loyal bodyguard, was waiting for him, a grim smile on his face.
"It's all set?" Akkarin got straight to the point.
Gol nodded and pointed to a shabby hut a little way down the road.
"He's still in there," he informed. Akkarin nodded and considered his strategy. With luck, he might surprise him.
Gol disappeared into the shadows of the narrow, dark alleys. Akkarin paid no further attention to him, instead exploring the implied hut. Even at this distance, he could sense the power emanating from the spy. With grim satisfaction, the High Lord strode towards his victim, whose master had obviously not put much effort into training him.
Lorlen looked up in surprise when there was a knock on his door. With a little magic, he opened it for the visitor and was even more surprised to see Lady Vinara enter his office. They had not been scheduled to meet until the next day, or was he mistaken?
"Lady Vinara, have I forgotten one of our meetings?" he asked her, smiling and pointing to the empty chair in front of his desk. The healer sat down.
"No, administrator. I'm not coming for our little project either, that takes up enough of your time as it is. I come to you on another, somewhat delicate matter. It concerns the High Lord and his novice."
It aroused curiosity, but also anxiety in him. Had the head of the healers caught word of the secret they shared? Had Sonea revealed something? For a moment he almost panicked. Then he pulled himself together. Even if Sonea had said something that discredited Akkarin, it was the High Lord's business to answer for it. Not his.
"And what could be so delicate about that?" he inquired cautiously. "The last time I was with him, she seemed to be doing well and Akkarin seemed pleased with her performance".
Vinara sighed. "I don't think any of this is true, but I heard a rumour that Sonea seems to be showing a little too much interest in her mentor"
For a moment Lorlen stared at Vinara, speechless, then burst out laughing. The accusation seemed so far-fetched and absurd that he simply could not take it seriously. The head of the healers seemed piqued by his outburst of merriment. Her lips pressed together in a thin line. Immediately Lorlen became serious again.
"Forgive me Vinara, the idea is just so absurd that Sonea of all people could make pretty eyes at the High Lord" He suppressed the oddly strong urge to chuckle. "As far as I can see, it is more likely that Sonea fears her mentor more than is good for her"
Slowly Vinara relaxed again. She nodded. "That also fits with my observations, yet I have to deal with such accusations. Not to mention that I hardly think the High Lord could have any interest in a novice"
Lorlen agreed with her. "Should we do something about the rumours?"
Vinara seemed to think about it for a moment, then shook her head. "I hardly think it will be able to hold on for long. Sonea is not the first novice who has had to put up with such things from her classmates and so far things have always calmed down on their own."
Lorlen raised an eyebrow. He saw it a little differently and he was sure Lord Dannyl would see it differently too.
"I will still talk to Akkarin about it. Better safe than sorry."
Vinara rose gracefully and smiled at him. "Now then Administrator, don't work too long. You look tired"
Lorlen glanced at the half finished letter on his desk and decided he would be able to finish it the next day as well. Better he talked to Akkarin right away.
"I think these letters can also wait until tomorrow," he announced and left the office with the head of the healers, magically sealing the lock. Outside the university, he bade Vinara goodbye and then hurried to get to the High Lord's residence. It was better not to put off unpleasant things.
Akkarin reached the residence almost simultaneously with Lorlen. Capturing the spy had been easier than he had expected. Ceryni's cleverly devised trap had caught the Sakakan off guard and allowed the High Lord to save his magic. But this time, instead of simply killing him, Akkarin had left the spy in the care of the thieves and now he wondered if the spontaneous idea had really been so good.
His plan had been to lead Sonea to the Sachakan and teach her how to read an unwilling mind. The idea had come to him when he had seen himself in a memory of the slave. The former slave had belonged to one of Kariko's closest allies, who had also been a regular visitor to Dakova. Sonea knew that memories could not lie and these in particular were capable of convincing her of his cause. To make her his ally.
But before he could return to the huts with her, he had to take care of Lorlen, who had a serious expression on his face, as Akkarin noticed through Takan's blood jewel.
- Tell him I will be with him in a moment and then bring me water and a cloth, he instructed his servant, who obeyed him without objection.
Washed and dressed in the robes of the High Lord, he finally entered his reception room. Lorlen had not sat down, instead he had paced restlessly up and down. Now he stopped and looked gravely at his friend.
"Lorlen, what brings you here my friend?" Akkarin inquired. He had no time for wine and chatter, the spy would not remain powerless forever. Akkarin did not know his natural potential, but for as long as the Ichani had kept him he had to be strong. And the stronger a mage was, the faster he regenerated.
"Lady Vinara was with me a moment ago. There are, well, rumours about you and Sonea."
Akkarin nodded. He had heard of them himself, but had not paid much attention to them. But if they were unsettling Lady Vinara, the matter was probably growing into a bigger problem after all. "Ah, I've heard of it, but I hadn't thought anyone paid any attention to that gossip, especially with Regin and Lord Garrel spreading it."
Lorlen shrugged. "Lady Vinara is of the opinion that it will surely go away soon because it is baseless"
"Still, it is good that you tell me about it. At least she took it seriously enough to look into it"
Lorlen twisted the corners of his mouth upwards. "She never believed in it"
"Well, to be on the safe side, I will accompany you to the evening hall this week and allay her concerns".
Lorlen nodded in satisfaction. "With that settled, I'll be going now. I could really do with some sleep"
"Good night Lorlen"
As soon as the Administrator left the residence, Akkarin returned to the basement where Takan was already waiting with Sonea as he had instructed. He looked critically at the cloak over her shoulders while he put on his own. They would only be paying a visit to the thief, a full disguise was not necessary for this.
"Make sure the cloak always hides your robes".
"Where are we going?" she asked. The fear in her voice stirred his guilt, but he didn't let it show.
"I am going to show you something. Now come."
He reached for the oil lamp next to the entrance to the tunnels and opened the hidden entrance. He stopped looking at her, sensing that she was following him. Her curiosity had won out over her fear. Silently, they followed the tunnel to the Street of Thieves, where the same boy who had led him once shortly before was waiting for him. This time the path was shorter and led them into a small, brightly lit and tastefully decorated room where another acquaintance awaited them. Morren was Cery's right-hand man.
"Have you all followed my instructions?" inquired Akkarin. Morren nodded and pointed to an outgoing door.
"He's in there, well tied up. He has just become awake, my man say".
Satisfied, the High Lord motioned for his novice to follow him and entered the room. Behind them he closed the door and covered them both with a soundproof shield. With wide, dark eyes, Sonea looked out at him. Confusion, reluctance and fear were clearly written on her face. Her mind was literally screaming her thoughts at him.
"To answer your most pressing question, I am not asking you to use black magic. I will teach you something else today, how to read a reluctant mind. But before I do you must swear to me that you will only use this skill and black magic to ensure Kyralia's safety."
She was silent for a moment, then determination and understanding entered her eyes. "I swear it"
Akkarin believed her. In her world, oaths were more binding than rules and laws. Breaking an oath was something one did not do lightly.
"Good. Put your hands at his temples," he instructed her, then placed his hands on hers. They disappeared completely underneath, he noted with amusement. He closed his eyes and then switched to thought-speech.
- 'First of all, you must forget everything the Guild has taught you. Visualisation can be helpful, but in this case it is rather a hindrance. And now look carefully
He rid himself of everything, including the desire to enter the spy's mind, and so slipped behind the mental barriers. He felt the slave stiffen and a wave of hatred hit him.
- A pretty woman you have there, I'm sure Kariko will like her, the slave sent him. Akkarin clenched his jaw at the mention of his enemy.
- He will find he will have little fun with her, he replied, putting a little sneer into the mental communication. Then he pulled back and focused on Sonea. Her astonishment and uncertainty were clearly evident. Satisfied, Akkarin noted that she was already beginning to understand why he had brought her here.
- Now you Sonea. Free yourself from everything, especially the desire to penetrate his mind, he explained to her. It took her a few attempts, but finally she managed it with his help. Rarely had Akkarin been so proud of his novice. It was no easy task to penetrate a reluctant mind and she had mastered it surprisingly quickly. The slave tried desperately to resist her intrusion, but Sonea would not be thrown out so easily.
- Now you can ask him questions or send pictures, he explained, before pulling back enough that he would not reveal any feelings. This was going to be harder for him than telling her his story. Because this time he had no control over how much she learned.
Sonea sent the slave a picture of Akkarin, which immediately conjured up some memories of how the High Lord had served Dakova as a slave. Akkarin would have preferred to stop her, but he pulled himself together. He could not change his past. More and more confidently, Sonea looked at the past until she came across a memory of Kariko, Dakova and Parika sitting together discussing their invasion plans. The slave tried to make the image disappear and the memories slipped away, but Sonea did not let that stop her. Again she conjured up the trio and promptly got the correction of it all. Now she concentrated more on trying to find out what the spy knew. Several times his struggling mind slipped away from her, but she did not give up.
When they had learned everything, they both finally detached themselves from the slave. Sonea looked a little lost, radiating uncertainty. But Akkarin was sure that he had achieved what he wanted. She believed him. Of course, she would not simply forgive him and forget what he had done, but perhaps she would understand that individual fates were nothing compared to what awaited her when no one killed the spies anymore.
Gently, he sent her out of the room before he did his duty and took the last of the slave's magic. He ignored the nausea that rose in him, as always, just as he had ignored shame, guilt and helplessness before when he had relived some of the less pleasant episodes of his past. He wiped the bloody knife on the Sachakan's clothes, then left the room to return to the residence with Sonea. Morren would take care of the body.
