Chapter 2:
When Rothen saw Dannyl arrive back with Fergun, he frowned. "I thought you were avoiding him."
"I was. But somehow I got stuck with him all day." Rothen chuckled.
"You had lots of fun then?"
"Tons of it!" Dannyl exclaimed waving his hands about. "But where were you all day?"
"The High Lord had me talking all afternoon about this young girl. He is worried that because of her unusual strength we may need to get the stronger magicians to search for her in case of loosed magic."
"I doubt they'd have any of that. Besides, I don't think she will last much longer. When we were out, she moved again and I felt her presence. It kept flickering..."
"If she can't keep it hidden then she is dangerously close to losing complete control." Rothen said worried. "But there is nothing we can do."
"Surely the Thieves know we are telling the truth by now? Especially seeing as we have tried and tried to contact them." Dannyl seethed frustratedly. "Serves them right if they lose stuff thanks to her."
"Dannyl!" Rothen said shocked. Sighing, Rothen asked, "where was she last?"
"In the Northside, close to the wall."
"I'll carry on the search. We have to find that poor girl before it is too late."
Faren's eyes hung heavily as he tried staying awake. One of his informants was dragging on an important story, and he couldn't hurry him. The man had a stutter so he'd end up taking twice as long, and Faren could barely take any more.
"Thank you Mullin." He yawned. "Continue watching the post for now, I heard they'll be a whole lot of rub going down there soon." As Mullin left, Faren hurried off to Sonea's hiding place. Her requirements were multiplying and he was running out of favours fast. Ravi had also sent word that magicians were getting anxious and had tried numerous times to talk with any of them, and each had declined. Cery had also confided in him worrying about Sonea, and wondering whether it would be better to let the Guild help her... Eventually Faren had decided that this was probably for the best, even though he would be breaking their deal. When Sonea next had to be moved, he was going to 'accidentally' let them find her and save her. However the day was dwindling fast, and the magicians weren't going to hang around for much longer. As the door creaked open, he felt a twinge of guilt as he smiled at Sonea. I'm a Thief! This is business and shouldn't affect me so. He scolded himself mentally. "Hai, Sonea, we have to leave again. You'll like this new place, it is much comfier than here."
"Where are we going?"
"You'll see." Faren said letting her pass. "Cery said he'll meet us there." He guided her through the maze of tunnels and let her up a short ladder. "We'll have to take our chances on the street." He hissed, "the tunnel back there has collapsed.
"But they might see me!"
"Wear this." Faren said giving her his cloak, "and stay close to me." Nimbly, he slipped out of the grille in the wall and onto the street. Sonea followed warily, looking around for anyone who vaguely looked magician-like. Faren led the way across the open streets, occasionally looking around. Catching a glimpse of Cery, he quickly signalled for him to wait and follow when ready.
"I think that's a magician there!" Sonea hissed, and backed up to a shadowed wall. Faren cursed and slipped into the shadows with her.
"Calm, Sonea. You don't want to loose magic now." Sonea took deep breaths and closed her eyes, trying her best not to release magic. But her thoughts kept returning to the fact a magician stood no more than ten paces away, and wanted to kill her...
"Ah!" She cried as the crate beside her exploded into flames. Faren grabbed her arm and ran. Pulling her into an alcove, he gently consoled her.
"It's ok Sonea, they are going the other way. They don't know you are here."
"I can't stop it!" Sonea gasped, "it won't stop!" The wall behind them started crumbling, and bricks fell.
"Sonea!" Faren cried, trying to grab hold of her. "You've put up one of those barriers and it is visible. Stop it or they'll see you!"
"I can't!" She said surrounded by a white globe. More and more debris pattered down onto it, as the wall disintegrated. "Help me!"
Faren cast about for a magician, but there were none. "I-I don't know what to do..." He admitted. Suddenly out of nowhere, a cloaked figure emerged and ran to her. "Hai! What are you doing?" Faren hissed at him.
"I am a magician." He replied dismissively. Faren eyed the man curiously. Don't magicians have to wear their robes at all times? Why is this one dressed as a dwell?
"Look at me." The magician said to Sonea, voice full of command. "Breathe deeply and slowly." Slowly the shield became transparent again, and Sonea flinched away as she saw him. "I will help you." He continued, "if you let me. But first you have to lower the shield." Sonea looked at him. His dark eyes watched her carefully, and looking deep in them, she realised she could trust him. She looked up as crumbles of mortar landed on her head, and she found that the shield had gone. "Give me your hand." He said gently, reaching out with his own. Hesitantly, she lifted her hand to his, and he took hold of it. His presence appeared at the edges of her mind, and she concentrated on it. She knew he was there, but couldn't work out how. Somehow she immediately knew his name was Akkarin.
-Thank you. Now you must listen carefully, you are in danger of completely losing control of your magic. This is why you can't stop it. Right now all we can do is use it up, then this will stop.
He sent her a thought of flowing magic, but she flinched and pushed it away. Returning again with a stronger presence, he tried again by sending her a thought of giving the magic away. Slowly understanding, she followed his commands, and gently pushed the magic away, giving it all to him instead. Sighing, Sonea realised it was safe now. He had saved her life. His eyes broke away from hers and he stood. She tried to speak to thank him, but her body gave into weariness and slept.
"Other magicians will have felt this, and will arrive shortly. They will take care of her." Akkarin said looking at Faren. And with that he disappeared back into the streets. As Faren went to pick Sonea up, footsteps fell behind him.
"Hai, Faren?" Cery called.
"Yes?"
"I got the magician." He said as a cloaked figure stepped into view.
"She's asleep?" The magician frowned.
"Another magician came along and did something, he said more of you would come."
"Who?"
"He never said. But he was dressed differently." Faren said stepping forward with Sonea.
"I will take her to the Guild. She will be safe with us. It is lucky she only did this much damage." The magician looked around at the crumbled walls. "Thank you for handing her over." Faren gave the old magician one glance, then slipped back into the shadows without a trace.
