3. The spring
The university gong rang out and echoed throughout the Guild grounds. Lorlen was glad to get out of lessons and stand in the warm sunshine once again. Lord Margen's class had dragged on and Lorlen found himself yawning yet again. The results for the test had been given back and luckily Lorlen had done well, despite the little revision he had managed. To his amazement Akkarin had done really well, and he doubted that he had done any revision. Nevertheless, the next lesson was Healing and he looked forward to it. Deciding to eat outside, Lorlen grabbed some food from the foodhall and headed towards the gardens. The soft light bathed the ground in a gentle heat and Lorlen sighed contentedly. He could finally sit and eat in peace.
"Lorlen!" A voice called from behind him. Lorlen silently cursed to himself. What now? He turned around to find Akkarin walking towards him. "Lorlen, you never guess what I've found!"
"What?" He replied impatiently.
"In the forest, you've got to come and see!"
"In the forest! There isn't enough time to go in there. We have a lesson soon, show me after."
"Fine." Akkarin said begrudgingly. "So what are you doing now?"
"I was going to eat in the gardens and read, but it looks like there is no chance of that happening now!" He smiled at Akkarin playfully.
"Of course there is! I am quite capable of being quiet."
"But are they?" Lorlen replied pointing behind him. Akkarin turned around to see Ranna and Danna giggling at each other nearby. "I can't believe they are still following you."
"They've been stalking me for days now." Akkarin said irritably. "I've tried telling them, ignoring them, I've even slipped away from them, and yet they still follow me about!"
"I bet they'd even follow you into the baths if they could." Akkarin gave Lorlen a direct look and shuddered. Lorlen found their stalking amusing, they went to all sorts of troubles just to follow him about. Fortunately Kale walked up to them and diverted their attention.
"Do you want to leave before they see which way you went?" Lorlen asked.
"Most definitely." He replied striding away.
"AKKARIN!" The twins screeched at him. "Wait up!" Akkarin stopped suddenly and turned abruptly, his robes whipping round with him. "What?" He replied angrily.
"Kale just told us that the Healing lesson is cancelled. Lady Daria wont be teaching all week! So we were wondering if you'd like to join us in the foodhall." Ranna said prettily.
"No thank you." Akkarin replied harshly and walked towards the courtyard. Lorlen followed hastily, trying to keep up with his pace.
"I can't believe the lesson is cancelled! I was looking forward to it!"
"Ahh, but now it means I can show you what I found in the forest." Akkarin said mischievously.
"Indeed it does." Lorlen smiled. The forest loomed closer and soon they found themselves under the green canopy. The light filtered through softly and gave everything a warm glow. "I can't believe I haven't been in here yet, it is so beautiful.." Lorlen sighed happily. After a few minutes the forest dispersed around a rock clearing, and the sound of running water rang calmly through the air. Lorlen gasped at the next sight – rock shelves covered the lowered floor and water flowed over the jutting shards of fallen stone. Large slabs of rock littered the floor, and tufts of luscious grass sprung forth in between them. "What is this?" Lorlen breathed.
"The source of the Guild's water supply."
"This is the spring?" Lorlen said unbelieving. "It's so calming..."
"Better than a Healing lesson?"
"Much better!" Lorlen chuckled and sat down against a tree. "I wonder how many people know about this place."
"Not many. Every time I have been here it has been just like this." Akkarin smiled at Lorlen. "I thought you might like it here." He said smugly. Lorlen looked around warily.
"At least those twins didn't follow!" Lorlen chuckled.
"I have a plan to evade them in the University." Akkarin said deviously, "I found a very curious looking map in the library..."
"The secret passages?" Lorlen interrupted aghast. "You can't use them! They are off limits."
"Only if you get caught."
Lorlen snorted softly. "Well I won't come save you if you get crushed under rubble." Akkarin laughed in reply. "They just say it's dangerous to make novices scared of using them. I will be fine... And if I hurt myself you can practice your Healing on me." Akkarin joked.
"Well maybe the rocks can knock some sense into you." Lorlen replied defeated.