Sorry it took so long to update. I know hom mad I get if the storys I like aren't uptated :-). But at least I didn't put the story on hold. How I came to hate these two words :-(

In the slums

Sonea emerged as ordered at ten o'clock in the guildhall. Dressed in the rags a servant had brought her along with the message that High Lord Akkarin had spoken with the king to gain the allowance for them all to dress like this for their meeting with Shona.

As she looked at all the magicians Sonea had to suppress a smile. She never had seen them in something other than their robes.

"So Sonea I think you should take the lead since none of us knows where we're going exactly." Stated Lorlen who was according to his tone also amused by the situation.

Sonea nodded, turned and lead the way to their meeting point.

Soon after they entered the slums Sonea was greeted by a person she knew all to well.

"Cery!" she exclaimed and hugged him.

"Hai Sonea." responded a grinning Cery. "Shona send me to guide you through the slums. She still doesn't want you to walk through the streets we're going to go through without someone she trusts."

Sonea rolled her eyes. "I can look after myself as good as you can."

"Nah, you're way too friendly for this area." countered Cery smiling.

Sonea just rolled her eyes once more. "So tell me what's happened since I last visited."

"Not much the usual; since you already know that Shona is back."

The magicians that followed these two felt strange. This was for them all the first time in years that they were completely ignored.

Finally they arrived in a particularly dirty and dark street of the slums.

"I'm leaving now Shona should be here. She doesn't want me to be here while she's speaking with you lot." Cery told the magicians. "See you Sonea:" With that he turned around and left the street the same way they came.

They all watched his retreat until a low "leave all lights out" made them jump and turn; pulling a shield up around themselves.

In the next second Sonea let her shield fall away and hugged the person standing a few paces away from them in the shadow of a nearby house.

"So how exactly does this binding of magic work?" asked the person as soon as Sonea released her.

"Don't you want to keep your power?" asked Lady Vinara surprised.

"No." Was the simple reply.

"So how do you make it?"

"To bind ones power a magician has to cut the connection from ones magic to the brain. It doesn't hurt, but for somebody who is used to have magic it can be quite uncomfortable." answered Lorlen truthfully.

"So it can be made fast?"

"Yes the magician only needs a few minutes to make it."

"Fine I don't think you'd let Sonea do it. So ...Rothen would you bind my power?"

"I…Why me?"

"Sonea trusts you" Shona answered, as she beckoned him to her; still not leaving the shadows.

"And you are sure you don't want to join the guild?" Akkarin asked curiously.

"Yes. Now Rothen, would you..."

And with this Lord Rothen stepped forward into the shadows, put his fingers on her temples and closed his eyes to concentrate on what he was doing.

After a few minutes it was over. And he stepped back still not knowing what the girl looked like for she had a cloak that billowed around her and hid her face behind a hood.

"Well since this is finished I......"she was interrupted by the sound of hurried footsteps.

A panting figure came into view the person exclaimed "Shona! Help...Norin...attack....street kids!"

Thanks again to my Beta

And Caro: sorry I know I said I would probably update around christmas but I had to change a few things in this chapter because otherwise the story wouldn't go the way I want it to.