Disclaimer: BMT belongs to Trudi Canavan

Sonea first became aware of a nagging hunger and a dull pain of cramped muscles. She concentrated on her source of power and applied some healing energy to the most affected regions. She didn't want to wake quite yet, she was still too tired. A melancholy sigh was enough to bring her to wakefulness fully, however. Her eyes fluttered open. Akkarin was a dark silhouette outlined against bright sunlight.

A day…

Sonea blinked, trying to see. He turned his head slightly to stare at her, his mouth curled into a crooked smile that was so rare these days. He didn't notice she was awake yet, and she didn't want to ruin the moment so she remained still, watching him. After a short while Akkarin's features twisted into a frown of worry and frustration, and he sighed again. Sonea mimicked him.

His eyes snapped to meet hers, his expression disapproving.

"So," he said coolly. "You're awake at last!"

Sonea's eyes narrowed with annoyance.

"Yes," she retorted. "Have you slept?" she asked with a hint of irony. "My aunt used to say that men are particularly irritating when deprived of sleep. My, turns out she was right!"

Akkarin's face went blank with surprise, but he quickly recovered and put on his reserved mask.

"I kept watch," he pointed out.

Sonea blushed.

"We should watch in turns," she offered.

Akkarin ignored her.

"Get up," he ordered. "I want to move on."

She snorted at his manner, but she didn't argue. The roof of the little cave was very low so she had to stoop to get to his side. When she was finally able to stand straight, Sonea glanced at his bare back unable to contain a thrill of curiosity and anticipation. The night before was too dark to see properly... She didn't really believe he would repair her shirt. What would he do now?

As her eyes ran over Akkarin's muscled back, Sonea sucked in a horrified breath as she beheld the long scars there, her mouth was hanging wide open. Akkarin turned to see what had upset her. As he read her expression, his face hardened.

"Whipping is a common punishment for a slave, Sonea," he told her bluntly. "So ordinary that it's cliché."

She was nauseous. There wasn't even a millimeter of smooth flesh left, as if the skin of his back was made up entirely of crisscrossing reddish lines. How could any person withstand so much abuse and yet live?

Sonea looked at Akkarin, her wide eyes expressed shock and revulsion. He regarded her for some time and as he did, his face changed. He was clearly displeased that he had allowed her to see this remainder of his past. His mouth twisted and he shrugged defensively. He bent down to pick up her mended shirt.

"I think it's time I got my shirt back," he said in a dry voice.

She nodded and took the shirt from him, her hands were shaking badly. He looked away as she began to change. It took longer than usual, but finally she managed to strip despite her fumbling fingers and put on her own shirt. It was perfect, not even a loose thread to mark the damage.

"Thank you," she exclaimed in astonishment.

His eyebrows rose at her tone.

"You are welcome," he returned wryly.

He took his thick shirt from her hands and covered the hideous brands across his back. She shuddered. She was grateful that they were gone from sight at least.

"Are you hungry?" Akkarin asked.

Sonea nodded, her eyes glued to the cavern floor, embarrassed all of a sudden.

"Time to go, then."

"What about the Ichani?" she asked, looking up in alarm. "Won't they see us?"

The corners of his mouth curved upwards.

"They won't expect us to go that way," he said, cryptic as ever.

They levitated across the deep ravines, but Akkarin was soon able to set them down on the steep slope of the mountain. Sonea was amazed as she beheld the view; miles upon miles of desolate landscape stretched before them.

As he led the way up the treacherous ground, he instructed how she should behave to stay out of sight of the watching eyes above and below. She was trying to pay attention to his words, but it was difficult. The arduous climb occupied most of her concentration, and if any part of her mind was free to ponder it kept returning to the things she glimpsed earlier and his obvious anger at her shocked reaction. She knew he despised her pity.

The sun was long past the highest point in the sky when her hunger became impossible to ignore any longer. Sonea hurried her steps to catch up with Akkarin's longer strides.

"Isn't that time for breakfast yet? Or should I say lunch?" she asked him incredulously.

He looked at her, amused.

"There's nothing edible here so it doesn't matter," he remarked mildly.

Sonea groaned. Fortunately, there was plenty of running water in the rock crevices, else they'd long be dehydrated. As it was, they at least were able to replace water they were constantly sweating out.

"Where are we going, anyway?" she panted. She was already sick of walking, walking, walking. Sonea longed for a rest.

Akkarin slowed and gazed thoughtfully into the horizon. He was silent for so long that Sonea began wondering if he would ever deign to respond. Eventually, he looked at her.

"You are returning to the Fort," he said with command in his voice.

Sonea skidded to a halt. His words were like cracking of ice. She looked in the direction he was looking, and squinted. In the distance, she could make out a grayish shape of the Fort tucked between two mountains.

"What?" she gasped, aghast.

"They will welcome you with open arms," he added in the same voice.

Sonea shook her head, unable to make sense of his words. Why would the Guild want her back? Hadn't she defied the magicians and the king? Besides, what would be the point of her returning to Kyralia while he'd be left alone among his enemies? Hadn't she made it clear that she wouldn't abandon him back when Lord Osen kept pestering her?

Sonea scowled.

"I don't care," she declared hotly. "I'll go back when you do."

Akkarin regarded her in disapproval.

"Because?"

Sonea bit her lip.

"You need me," she said defensively.

"Really?" his voice turned mocking. "I don't need a disobedient, half-trained novice to protect."

Disobedient? That stung. Sonea glared at him defiantly. If he wanted disobedience she would give it to him!

"Protect?" she retorted sarcastically. "If I recall correctly, you didn't prove too effective yesterday."

Her words were unfair, but she didn't care at the moment. Akkarin winced as if she had slapped him, he obviously agreed with her. He was an inept protector. Mercilessly, she went on.

"In fact, it seems to me that I'm saving you much more frequently, isn't that odd!"

"Sonea," he murmured when it seemed her rant was over.

She ignored him. She didn't seem aware that her voice was echoing off the stone walls loudly.

"You know what," she snapped. "If it's such a bother to have me around, I'll just go my own way, High Lord!"

Sonea turned on her heels and stalked off down the mountainside. The terrain wasn't ideal for her current mood. She wished she could make a dramatic retreat, but instead she was forced to watch her every step to avoid falling to her death. It was frustratingly slow! After several hundred paces her fury began to ebb and she felt guilty and ashamed of her outburst. And angry. How dared he imply that she could scamper off back to the magicians who had sentenced him to die without a second thought?

Eventually, she calmed down enough to catch the faint sounds of pursuit behind her. She heaved a sigh and slowed. Soon after that, he caught up with her.

"Sonea," he tried again. His voice lost its chilliness. It was sincere and apologetic now. The difference was jarring. "I shouldn't have ordered you about, I'm sorry."

Sonea looked at him.

"And?"

Akkarin blinked in confusion. Obviously, he was completely missing the point.

"And you will do as you wish, of course, but I'd very much like it if you considered going back. Rothen thinks you're dead. He's devastated and,-"

Sonea glowered.

"Stop that," she said flatly. "Rothen will be fine. Unlike you, if you continue preying on my sympathies. I wish you'd just respect my choices!"

He closed his eyes.

"You are as stubborn as I learned to expect," he remarked, smiling wryly. "Let's find some food, shall we? Or were you serious about leaving me to my own faculties? You have rightly said I require saving much more than you."

"I thought there was nothing edible here," Sonea reminded him.

"Not on the ground," Akkarin grinned.

She was bemused.

"Where, then?"

His eyes twinkled in mischief.

"Do you like poultry?" he asked innocently.