Disclaimer: I do not own these characters – they belong to Trudi Canavan

Allies

As Cery stepped through the metal door, he took in the scene before him. Takan was busying himself with the food, as usual, his face showing no expression. Sonea and Akkarin were seated next to one another on the large banquette, sipping wine and looking composed. They appeared to be engaged in small talk, each with a decidedly neutral expression.

It looked odd to Cery, almost unnatural, as if the three people in the room had taken up positions just before the start of a play. He looked hard at Sonea as she demurely took small sips of her wine and inclined her head to hear what Akkarin was saying. Akkarin, for his part, was gazing into space, only glancing at his companion briefly as he, in turn, listened to her comments.

Cery shook his head. There's something going on here, he thought, but I am not sure what it is! He turned and closed the door, before saying cheerfully, "Well, I hope you both have taken full advantage of my hospitality."

There was a small, explosive giggle from Sonea, immediately suppressed, and Cery turned towards her with a puzzled expression. As he did so, Akkarin said quickly, "Yes, we have eaten and rested. Thank you for all the trouble you have gone to. You seem to live well, Thief, better than many magicians, I think."

Cery snorted, "I don't live here, it is simply one of my places. Takan has been staying here since he left the Guild." He poured himself a glass of wine and took a plate of savouries. He looked again at the two on the banquette, still trying to work out what was going on.

"I have organised a meeting with the heads of the Thieves Guild, the whole Council, in fact. I have told them what the situation is and that you would like to discuss your plans with them. I need to warn you that some people are not happy with your involvement. They have a strong dislike of magicians in general and ones who have been thrown out of the Guild in particular. It was not easy getting them to agree to meet you." Cery crammed a small tart into his mouth and took a gulp of wine. "However, thanks to some tough negotiations and great diplomacy on my part, they have agreed. We are to be there promptly at nine tonight."

Sonea smiled over at Cery and said, "Thank you for everything, especially the clothing. What we arrived in was falling apart so the new clothes are very welcome. They are the finest I have worn for some time."

Cery thought that the black trousers and shirts he had chosen suited both of his guests. In Akkarin's case, it reminded him of the times when a black-robed figure had often appeared in the city. Black also suited Sonea's colouring, emphasising the whiteness of her skin and complementing her dark eyes and hair.

"I thought that they were appropriate, given that you both are Kyralia's own Black Magicians!"

Akkarin was soon questioning Cery about events in the city over the past few days, Neither he nor Sonea were surprised to learn that the families of the Houses had left the capital, taking as many of their belongings as they could transport. The slum dwellers on the other hand were not able to leave and the atmosphere in the dwells' suburbs was dismal, with many people worried that the impending fighting would lead to the destruction of their homes at best and injury and death at worst.

When Cery mentioned that a group of mainly Warriors had left the city a few days ago, Akkarin was immediately concerned. "I wonder what the Guild is up to," he frowned, and went on, "I do hope they have not done something foolish! Are you sure they were Warriors?"

Cery nodded and added "They were not wearing robes, but I recognised some of them. I've spent a lot of time skulking around the Guild over the years, you'd be surprised how many magicians I can recognise in robes or out!

Akkarin continued to frown. "I would have thought keeping Warriors close to the Guild would be sensible, if they are to remain in the city. They cannot afford to weaken their defences."

As the time drew near for the meeting, Takan began to clear away the food, while the others got ready to leave. Sonea went to get their cloaks and, as she threw open the door to the chamber, Cery could see clearly the rumpled bedclothes and the head-shaped dents in both pillows, before the door closed behind her. He quickly looked over at Akkarin who stared at him calmly.

"The accommodation is everything we could wish for, Cery, and rest assured, we have made full use of it." Akkarin's voice held hidden amusement.

So that's it! Sonea and Akkarin - no scruples about the guardian-novice relationship then! Cery was pleased to finally find out what had caused the odd feeling he'd had since entering the room. Sonea and Akkarin. Cery examined the situation from all angles. Once he had been in love with Sonea, despite knowing she thought of him as just a friend. Once, the thought of her making love to another would have caused him great pain. But now? I'm pleased for her, he thought. We are just friends now. I want to see her happy. But Akkarin! Of all people! I would never have guessed he was the one for her.

Cery stared back at Akkarin, "I am pleased you found everything to your satisfaction."

They were shown into a comfortable room, richly furnished and well lit. There were seven chairs set in a semi-circle, one for each of the leaders. Behind each chair stood a bodyguard. Seven pairs of eyes examined Cery, Sonea and Akkarin as they entered. There was no welcome or warmth in the looks, only curiosity. There was no reaction from the leaders as Sonea and Akkarin were introduced, pleasantries exchanged and chairs fetched for them.

The leaders already knew much of the information, but Akkarin had decided that he should tell his own story, so that there could be no doubt about the threat facing Imardin. There was complete silence as he spoke. His voice was calm and steady as he recounted the often terrible tale of his capture and life as an Ichani slave, being "milked" of power each day to provide strength for his master.

"That could be the fate of any citizen of Imardin who has any latent magic, to be used to make the Ichanis strong." Akkarin looked into the eyes of each of the seven men seated in front of him. "That is why the Houses have sent their people away. But magic is not simply the preserve of the rich, look at Sonea, she is strong in magic and I am sure she is not the only one from this part of the city with magic."

The leaders were clearly shocked that their people might be a target of the invaders. They had comforted themselves previously with the thought that they would be left alone, but this seemed no longer possible. At best, their people would end up as slaves, endlessly supplying power to their masters. At worst they would be drained and killed.

"What can we do?" one asked.

"The Ichani are strong in many forms of magic, especially black magic, but there are many gaps in their knowledge. They cannot Heal themselves, for example. So if they are injured, they are weakened and they can be killed. They cannot combine their powers as Guild magicians do to make strong shields, another weakness that can be exploited."

Sonea could see that Akkarin's words were having a positive effect. The leaders didn't look so downhearted.

"We can take strength from any of the dwells who have magic," she said. "There would be two benefits of this, it would deny strength to the Ichanis and it would make us stronger."

Akkarin nodded approval. "This is an excellent idea. Neither of us is strong enough at present. More power is necessary so that we can fight the invaders effectively. We would need to test for magic, though, and this would need to be organised. Lord Senfel could assist us."

There was a shocked silence, and then the man standing behind one of the chairs glowered and said, "So, you've finally found me!"

"Found you? I have always known exactly where you were," Akkarin smiled at the discomforted magician. "I simply let you be until I had need of you and that time has come."

An animated discussion broke out as the leaders and the former Guild magicians discussed ways of organising the taking of power from the dwells. Both Sonea and Akkarin were surprised and pleased at the enthusiasm of the Thieves Guild for the plans and their eagerness to help. Much of the discussion concerned the need to keep the presence of Sonea and Akkarin in the city secret.

"A black magician can read anyone's mind, whether they are willing or not. If anyone knows we are here, the Ichani will find out from the mind of the first person they read.

Our presence is known only to a few trusted people in the city, and no Guild magicians have been told. I would like to keep it that way." Akkarin's voice was stern. "Absolute secrecy is fundamental to my plans."

Eventually a strategy emerged from the discussion. Senfel would test volunteers for magic and those who passed would be sent on to Akkarin and Sonea so that their power could be taken. To preserve secrecy, both magicians would be veiled. The volunteers would be housed together, with good food and accommodation, so that as they recovered, their power could be taken again.

Sonea and Akkarin were also granted the freedom of the Thieves Road and other secret pathways around the city, so that they could move undetected by either the Guild or the invaders. The Thieves and others would try to disrupt the invaders by harassing them as much as possible. Cery suggested that these volunteers should wear robes to further confuse the Ichanis. This would leave Akkarin and Sonea free to concentrate on eliminating the Black Magicians and their slaves as quickly as possible.

Once everything had been agreed to the satisfaction of all, each of the leaders solemnly spat on his or her hand before shaking those of Sonea and Akkarin, in the centuries old custom of a binding pact.

Sonea looked on the scene with a degree of amazement. Never, in all her life, would she have imagined a situation when magicians and Thieves would be allies.