Disclaimer : I don't own anything you could to recognize from Trudi Canvan's books, since they're hers.

11- Deadlock

"So, any idea about what comes next?" The High Lord asked.

"First of all, you need to be more discreet when together! Or even better, don't show yourself together. At least no more than before." The Administrator answered.

"Lorlen, Sonea's my novice. It would only seem normal if we spend some time together, wouldn't it?"

"If it wasn't the two of you, I'd say yes. But it is you we are speaking of. You never seemed to care much about your novice, and Sonea never took the trouble to disguise her dismay about her change of guardian. Can't you understand how only the sight of you two together could seem weird for someone who paid so much attention to Sonea as did Regin?"

Sonea, silent until then, intervened.

"Concerning Regin, the harm's done already. The question should rather be how to keep him silent on what he suspects, and how to avoid giving him evidence."

"Do you think we should go back to what our relationship was before?" Akkarin was visibly not pleased with this prospect. Sonea's shook her head.

"That won't do. If Regin noticed something, then he may not be the only one. People won't question it if we were to grow more... friendly , but they will if there were to be too many reversals. We can't just go back to ignoring each other publicly."

Lorlen looked sceptical.

"Even one change is enough for people to talk, you surely know that."

"I know. People will talk. People always talk. People have been talking about me since before I came to the Guild. But because they talk doesn't mean they believe what they say. And if they talk just because of one change, what will they do of three changes? Remember that, even if we do go back to the previous situation, they will have to know sooner or later – if possible, later – that we're going to marry. That may be a bit too much for them to take."

The men took a few moments to think about this assertion, and then the High Lord sighed, turned around Sonea's chair and took a seat next to her.

"I don't like it." His frowned deepened. "Actually, we can't do anything, or he will know he's right."

"But you must do something! You can't let it go on!" Lorlen said vehemently. "Or the entire Guild will know of... of what's happening between the two of you!" He breathed slowly, trying to regain his composure. "Akkarin, can you read his mind regularly to see if he has decided to move onto the attack? For now, all we can do is make sure you two don't give him – or anyone – a reason to suspect something. For instance," he added with a smirk, "by not coming out half-naked from the same room."

His last sentence was received with a furious blush from Sonea, and a slight reddening and very embarrassed look from Akkarin. Seeing him blush for the first time in all the years they had been friends, Lorlen grinned inwardly and thought that this wedding could well provide him with interesting situations.

Sonea was a bit taken aback by the Administrator's eagerness to protect them. But after all, he was a friend of Akkarin's, and besides, he was already too much involved in this for Regin's revelation to be harmless for him. She suddenly felt odd that during all those weeks he spent trying to help her, they still hadn't talked about it. And he may have been thinking the same, because as he prepared to leave, he asked her if she didn't mind accompanying him to the Magicians' Quarters, where – one way or another – he learnt that she was supposed to meet Rothen. She agreed of course, and went upstairs to take her cloak. They began walking silently, as they were both eager and worried at the same time of the conversation they were going to have. Lorlen finally broke the silence hesitantly.

"Are you happy this way, Sonea?"

She hadn't expected their conversation to begin this way.

"I suppose... Yes. Definitely happier than before. Even with Regin being such a scoundrel. I have Rothen and Akkarin with me, that's more than I ever had before."

"You really missed Rothen, didn't you?"

"Yes, I did. It seemed terribly empty without him."

"And yet, you don't resent Akkarin?" She pulled a face.

"Well, let's say I'm not exactly pleased with that, but I think I can bring myself to forgive him what he did. Most of it, at least. And you know, he looks like he really regrets having separated us."

"So you truly love him?" Her face turned into a surprised look.

"Do you doubt it?"

"I'm not sure whether I doubt it or not, but I will certainly feel better if you were to told me that you're not faking it. I understand that the actual situation presents advantages for you – seeing Rothen again, for instance – but if you don't love him -"

"I do. I truly do. Besides, I may be in love, but I haven't lost my memory. I still remember who he is. Believe me, if I was faking, I would not be able to sleep for fear that he learns it. And I must say I have slept very well last night." Her offhand tone would have been perfect without the red on her cheeks, and without Lorlen knowing what he knew about her last night.

"Having him holding a grudge is sure to be a deterrent to lie!" This brought another thought to Lorlen's mind. "By the way, has he explained how..." He didn't finish his sentence, but Sonea knew what he wanted to say.

"Not yet. In fact, he is to tell me today."

"Good. It is a good thing that at least one of us knows of the truth." Both were well aware of the implication of this statement. Silence fell again on them.

Soon they reached the entrance of the Magicians' Quarters. Before they parted, the Administrator had one last question to ask, not for himself but for his friend's sake. This latter would never admit it, but Lorlen knew how much it had been bothering him.

"You won't let any rumours change things, right? You don't intend on breaking your engagement should Regin succeed?"

She smiled fiercely at him.

"I don't intend on doing anything Regin may want me to do. Not the least."

She bowed, turned her heels and went to Rothen's room. Lorlen looked at her back and let out a sigh, relieved. Regin had to be very brave, or very stupid, to take on both Akkarin and Sonea.