A/N: Finally back! A thank-you for all (both) of you for reviewing! :D I am not really sure of how Sonea and Akkarin really feel for each other, if you know what I mean— is it to the point that they call for each other after waking? For Sonea I think it is, but for Akkarin? Not critizing anyone, just that I want to go into it in my next chapter.

Please R and R!

Chapter 1 Shields and daggers

It had come down to this.

Sonea stood along with the Guild's four new black magicians, Balkan, Sarrin and two other warriors as they surrounded Kariko, the only Ichani that remained.

The battle had stopped temporarily, but all the magicians maintained strong shields. The air crackled with power and practically shimmered and glowed with all the intensity, but all Sonea could see was the bloodied, limp figure Kariko was holding up by his long black hair. Akkarin.

Akkarin—

As Akkarin was locked in combat with the Ichani at the pass, who'd sneaked back to ambush them, Sonea knew he wasn't strong enough. She'd been rooted to the spot, but Akkarin's mental shout had forced her on.

How hard it must've been, engaged in full combat and telling her what to do at the same time! She had hesitated, knowing what else this would mean.

Akkarin must've sensed it too, for he poured into her an understanding, using only seconds to explain what otherwise would have taken moments in words. Something Sonea could only understand so quickly when looking at it from Akkarin's point of view.

All in a flash—

The Ichani would not kill him now. Torture him, yes, but they would certainly want to bring him with them to Krylia, where he would witness the fall and destruction of his beloved Guild before being killed. If Sonea didn't go now and teach the Guild black magic, everything would surely end. But if she managed to return in time and defeat the Ichani in Krylia, she just might save him…

So she had run. After that it was like in a dream. She dared not ponder what Akkarin had told her, but had followed his instructions. After encountering Dorrien and helpfully at that moment seeing a vision from a magician of the fort being attacked, she had Dorrien evacuate all the villagers along the way to the guild.

She didn't see Akkarin from that magician's point of view, but she didn't dare wonder why…

Upon arriving in Krylia she'd contacted the Thieves, whom Takan had been staying with. The magicians—finally, thank heaven—had realized the truth of AKkarin's words. Ignoring King Merin, they'd elected four magicians to learn Black Magic. Cery by then had, with the help of that secret magician who'd refused to teach her, found over a hundred dwells who were willing to and could be a source. Sonea had taken their power. The others drew power from the other magicians and the Arena.

At first they had all given Sonea the feeling that she shouldn't participate in the battle, and instead should go out of the city along with most of the population. It was practical—she had not the skill. But Sonea knew this was her battle too. If they won, she needed to be there for Akkarin. If they lost, she would go down fighting; her life already felt hollow. What would she do without Akkarin?

But she didn't say that. No one knew about their relationship yet, and as Akkarin had said, the Guild was too weak. She simply stated that she was the only one here who had ever encountered an Ichani, and had found a way and thus might find another one.

And now only kariko remained.

"Strike, and I'll kill him," Kariko jeered madly, shaking Akkarin's motionless figure. Sonea involuntarily took in how bad he looked.

Akkrin's face was covered with blood, and something was unthinkably wrong with his legs. Bloodied rags hung on his frail frame and his hands were tied quite unnecessarily in front of his. His eyes were closed and he didn't seem to be breathing.

Sonea sent her senses outwards to him, feeling desperately for a spark of power. A spark of life.

It was there, small and diminishing but there—

Kariko laughed and kicked Akkarin, who gave no reaction. Snarling, the man gave an even harder kick. Sonea didn't know how she felt when Akkarin's face, almost recognizable with all the blood and grime, was contorted with pain. For a moment his eyes opened, but they were unfocused and full of something beyond pain.

"Oh, he'd alive," Kariko laughed. He threw Akkarin on the ground and took out his dagger, glistening wickedly in the setting sun, and held it above the twisted heap. Turning his head slightly so that he faced Sonea directly, he cackled again, and she realized fully just how insane he was.

What they were to do was obvious. Of course they wouldn't – couldn't – surrender. If they all blasted Kariko at once it was sure to shatter his shield, but then he'd drop his knife and AKkarin, she knew, as probably did the four men standing with her, wouldn't be able to withstand the blow.

Either way, Akkarin would die, but at least he'd die quicker and in a comparatively less painful way. Oh that knife…if it weren't there.

A sudden desperate idea came to her. Could she move the knife with magic? She racked her mind, trying to recall whether a shield intended to block strikes would repel ordinary magic. But the hopeless situation made her reckless and daring. She was glad they had decided not to made blood gems.

It was too silent and still. Exerting her will, Sonea willed the dagger to move.

It did.

In an instant, surprised and exhilarated but bent now on revenge and clear about how it was to be done, Sonea used magic to yank the dagger out of Kariko's hands…

…and sent it plunging into his chest.

She didn't hesitate this time. That bastard deserved it.

Almost simultaneously four dazzling strikes shot from four directions at Kariko. The Ichani still had an amazing store of power, for the strikes only managed to shatter the shield but didn't hit kariko. The Ichani screamed as the dagger erupted from the front of his chest.

Sonea was already running towards the Ichani, and Akkarin, trying to get there before what remained of Kariko's power was let loose.

But she couldn't get there fast enough. Her mind was screaming at her: TOO SLOW TOO SLOW TOO SLOW—

Then Balkan appeared by the Ichani. And then crimson blood splattered from a hasty, swift cut. Balkan concentrated, his expression tense. And then Kariko, the true monster, fell dead.

But it wasn't over yet. As soon as she saw Kariko's eyes glaze over, Sonea dropped to her knees by Akkarin. He wasn't moving, and she poured all her remaining power into him, along with a trickle of Healing magic.

Akkarin's breathing became…louder. Everything seemed either to stand out too much or fade away to Sonea.

A pair of hands gently held her upright as pale hands protruding from purple material touched Akkarin's chest. A moment later Akkarin cried out and retched, his breathing becoming panicked.

They should've brought a Healer.

"VINARA!" she screamed with both her voice and mind. "Dorrien! Please SAVE HIM!"

She hoped, as blackness enveloped her, that she heard footsteps hurrying towards them…