Disclaimer – I do not own BMT world, it belongs to Trudi Canavan

Merin's Request

The inn was only a about half a day's journey from the King's hunting lodge and because royal etiquette stated that late mornings or mid- afternoons were the proper times to visit royalty so the King's meals were not interrupted, they decided to time their arrival for mid-afternoon. They rose late and had a leisurely breakfast. The innkeeper, still keen to show potential regular customers what kind of service he could offer, provided a range of tempting dishes along with a selection of hot drinks. Sonea found her appetite still had not recovered, so she only picked at a few of the dishes before pushing her plate aside.

Although Akkarin raised his eyebrows at her rejection of good food, he said nothing. She was surprised to see him tuck into a hearty meal until she remembered what he had told her years ago, when they first started working with black magic together. His golden rule, or so he said, was to eat properly, regardless of how he felt, because the use of black magic was draining on both his magic source and his physical body. She guessed that a difficult meeting with the unpredictable King might be just as demanding in its own way as fighting black magicians.

After finishing their meal, the next task was to change into the more appropriate clothing they had brought with them. Although the clothing was of a reasonable quality and, in Sonea's case, unworn, they were garments that might be worn by a prosperous farmer, rather than members of the Houses visiting the King. Akkarin, of course, looked elegant in whatever garments he wore, but Sonea was more self-conscious about her own appearance.

As a dwell, she had worn shabby clothing, often ill fitting and usually second-hand; as a member of the Guild, she had worn robes supplied to her over simple loose trousers and a shirt, and living in the mountains meant she wore sensible clothing suitable for working on the land. So her experience of dressing to meet anyone of importance, let alone the King, was very limited. It didn't help the slightly queasy feeling in her gut, when she looked at herself in the mirror and saw small slim figure dressed in a dark green woollen skirt, a cream linen shirt, embroidered around the neckline, and with a green cloak folded over her arm. It was an image that was quite unfamiliar to her and she wasn't sure she liked it.

They collected their horses from the stable and set off. Sonea had used magic to divide her skirt, so that she could sit in the saddle easily. It was a quick spell and it would be equally quick to reverse once they got to the hunting lodge. As usual, Akkarin seemed to know the route they must follow and once again, she envied his ability to carry around a map of Kyralia in his head.

Their journey took them through a more gentle landscape than they had been used to of late. The countryside consisted of rolling green hills with gently rising tracks that opened out periodically into wide views across streams and meadows to the distant peaks of the Grey Mountains. There was plenty of woodland, with open glades and they took advantage of one of these for their mid-day meal. The innkeeper had made them up a bundle of food, bread, cheese, thick slices of ham and several sweet cakes. There was a bag of fruit too, and a bottle of pale rose wine to wash it all down.

Sonea spread it all out and they sat down to eat. The sun was pleasantly warm and she could hear birds singing nearby. After finishing what little food she fancied, she lay back in the sun and closed her eyes. She tried to remember everything she had ever known about the King. She knew he had been close to Akkarin, but that hadn't seemed to count for much when it came to the Hearing. He should have trusted Akkarin! Her thoughts were angry because she couldn't understand how someone could have relied so closely on Akkarin for years and yet be convinced so quickly that he was an evil person. Whenever she had tried to discuss this with Akkarin, he'd always refused to condemn Merin for what he had done, but she was not so charitable.

She felt a touch on her arm and opened her eyes to find Akkarin squatting next to her.

"Time to go," he said softly, "Although you do look very comfortable lying there rather invitingly."

She stretched her arms until they reached round his neck and pulled him down towards her for a kiss. When he wanted to take things a little further, she pushed him off with a tiny shriek, "My skirt! Don't crease my skirt!"

He laughed and pulled her to her feet, "Why worry when a little magic will fix things?" But when she continued to protest, he let her go and turned to untie the horses. He boosted her into the saddle, then swung up on to his own horse. He looked up at the sun.

"Yes, we will arrive in good time," he said. "Not too early, nor too late."

The closer they got to the hunting lodge, the more wooded the landscape. There was plenty of deer and other game in the countryside so the King would be able to enjoy good hunting. They met no one, though. There were no villages or hamlets along the trails they followed, so if the King wished for solitude, this area would seem to be the ideal place.

Leaving the woodland behind. they found themselves in an open area surrounding a large stone building next to a river. There was a wall around the building and its garden, interrupted only by a pair of large metal gates, guarded by a bored looking man who was, Sonea guessed, a member of the King's Guard in civilian clothes.

"Captain Verrin to see the King," Akkarin said as they reached the gates. "He is expecting us."

The guard nodded and opened the gates, "There's a stable round the back. Take the horses there. Someone will show you where to go."

They walked the horses along a path that took them round the side of the building. It wasn't as large as she'd first thought and certainly not the sort of place you would expect the King to own. That's the idea, I suppose, she thought. He can spend some time pretending he isn't the King! Certainly it would be impossible to bring even a quarter of the Court to stay here, what with all their attendants and servants, to say nothing of their baggage.

As they neared the stable, a groom emerged and took charge of the horses. Another took them into the lodge. They were shown into a fairly small guest room, barely half the size of the one in the Residence. The furniture was made in country style, with none of the ornate decoration found in homes in the wealthier parts of Imardin. Sonea looked around with a faint air of disappointment. She had been expecting something a little more, well, regal.

Akkarin wandered off to look at the paintings on the walls, while Sonea sat in one of the chairs and picked up a book from a side table. It was a learned discourse on hunting, with very little in the way of illustration, so she soon lost interest and put it down again.

There was silence in the house and no sign that anyone was coming to take them to the King. Sonea found herself tapping her fingers on the arm of the chair, impatient with the wait. She forced herself to stop and jumped up to walk round the room to have a closer look at its contents.

It didn't take her long. Akkarin had by this time finished his inspection of the paintings and had taken up the discarded book on hunting, seemingly engrossed in its contents. Sonea found herself becoming quite cross. Not only had they been left alone in the guest room, but also no one had even thought to offer them refreshments, a traditional part of welcoming guests. After all, she thought crossly, we are here because he asked us, not because it is our idea!

She was just about to make her thoughts known to Akkarin when the door opened and the King himself came in. It took her a moment to recognise him as he was dressed in a very plain shirt and trousers with no jewels on his person, apart from the royal ring. She was about to make her curtsey when Merin brushed past her and went up to Akkarin.

"Akkarin, my friend," Merin said warmly, "It's so good to see you again after all this time."

Akkarin made a graceful bow, "It has been a long time, Your Majesty," he replied in a courtier's tone, with none of the warmth of the King's voice.

Sonea opened her mouth to add her greeting, but it seemed as far as the King was concerned there was no one in the room but Akkarin. Merin clapped him awkwardly on the shoulder in a half-hug and said, "Come, we'll find a more comfortable room where we can talk properly."

He turned and led the way out of the guestroom, continuing to ignore Sonea who trailed along behind them. The King led them along a passage, then up a flight of stairs. He opened one of the doors arranged round a landing and took them into a much larger room. It was more like a library or study, filled with light from the large windows. There was a large fireplace, a series of comfortable chairs, a huge desk and walls lined with bookshelves. He indicated a chair and suggested Akkarin sit down.

"You recall my companion, Your Majesty? She was my Novice, if you remember." Akkarin's voice had an underlying thread of annoyance which Merin noticed at once.

"Err, yes," the King said unconvincingly, "I remember. Sit down, err…"

"Sonea," she supplied as it became obvious Merin had forgotten her name.

"Yes, of course, sit down, Sonea." Merin said quickly, then turned his attention back to Akkarin, "We have a lot to discuss."

A servant entered the room noiselessly, carrying tray containing a bottle of Anuran Dark and two glasses. The King waved him towards a table, but Akkarin, noticing the missing glass quietly drew the servant's attention to the omission. The man coloured and went swiftly to find one, which he placed quietly next to the others.

Meanwhile, the King had seated himself behind his desk and was looked impatiently at his former Advisor.

"We have a lot of important things to discuss and I don't think it appropriate that your…err…companion remains. If she would like refreshments, I can arrange…."

"My companion shared my judgement, shared my exile and shared my battles with the Ichani. I have no intention of excluding her from anything we might discuss." Akkarin's voice was cold, "If you feel that strongly about her, Merin, then our discussion is at an end."

With that he rose from the chair and turned towards Sonea, holding out his hand, "Come Sonea, we will leave now."

She stood up abruptly. Whatever she'd expected from the afternoon's discussion, being dismissed in so casual a fashion had not been part of it. She glanced at Akkarin who was at his cold and distant best and after hesitating a moment, placed her hand in his. They turned for the door.

"No! No, Akkarin," the King's voice was anxious. "You're quite right, do remain, Sonea. I'm sorry if you felt unappreciated. It's a very worrying time."

"Are you sure, Merin?" Akkarin asked. "I'm more than happy to leave…."

Sonea was astonished at the casual way Akkarin addressed the King. She had only ever seen them together in formal situations, when the former High Lord had been careful to bend his knee at the right time and his conversation was littered with 'Your Majesty' or 'Sire' at regular intervals. To see them now gave her a completely different view of their relationship. The King seemed to regard Akkarin as a friend and Akkarin in his turn spoke as if to an equal.

The King nodded, "I've been going out of my mind with worry about the Guild and what's going on there. There's no one I can trust to give me proper advice and when Vinara hinted you were alive, it seemed as if the Eye of Heaven had preserved you to come to my aid."

Akkarin laughed unexpectedly, "You've been seeing too many plays, Merin! I doubt my preservation had anything to do with the Eye." He glanced briefly over at Sonea, "No, it had more to do with other things."

They turned back from the door and Akkarin went to sit opposite the King. Sonea found a place where she could observe the two men without being in their direct line of vision. For a moment or two, they drank some wine and spoke about ordinary things, re-establishing a connection disrupted by several years' separation. Then at last, Akkarin changed the direction of their conversation.

"So, Merin, I'm here at your invitation. What is it you want?"

Merin seemed a little taken aback at the directness of the question and didn't answer for a moment. Then he stared straight at Akkarin and said, "I want you to go back and get the Guild under control again. Balkan has created a situation where one group seems to be fighting another group, one Discipline is manoeuvring to outwit another and the whole organisation is in danger of simply falling apart. It must stop. You are the only man who can do it."

Sonea found herself almost holding her breath. What would be Akkarin's reply to such a direct plea for help? For his part, Akkarin's expression didn't change, he merely looked searchingly at Merin, then said, "I'm sorry, Merin, but it's too late. Seven years ago, you had the opportunity to take what I said on trust and support my position. You chose not to. How close was I to execution?" He held up two fingers, a hair's breadth apart. "That close! You should have trusted me then, Merin. But when it came to it, you couldn't or wouldn't! Why should I heed your call now?"

Sonea watched as various emotions flashed across the King's face. She saw how his lips tightened and his eyes narrowed. Suddenly she was afraid. Friend or not, Merin had almost yielded before to a desire to kill Akkarin.

Take care, she sent softly, the King is angry.

If Akkarin heard her mental whisper, he gave no sign, merely continued looking at the King.

"I am your King!" Merin said sharply. "You owe me duty and loyalty."

Still Akkarin said nothing, but his gaze on the King's face was unwavering.

"I command you to do as I say!" There was a slight tremor in the King's voice.

"You no longer command me, Merin," Akkarin's voice was steady. "I am here because you are my friend, not because you are my King."

Something changed in Merin's face. Sonea wasn't quick enough to read his expression, but she saw how his shoulders slumped a little and it seemed to her that he grew smaller somehow, as if he was shrinking in on himself. Akkarin's sharp eyes noted it too, and his expression softened slightly.

"You're my friend, too, Akkarin. Sometimes I think you are my only friend and I have missed you and your counsel these last years. My Advisors either tell me what they think I want to hear or they try to bully me into doing what they want. You were the only one who tried to understand me and what I wanted."

Akkarin refilled the King's glass and pushed it into his hand, "Drink some of this, it'll make you feel better. Now tell me everything."

Over the next few minutes, Merin explained what exactly what was wrong at the Guild. It was much as Lorlen had already told them, factions fighting amongst themselves, a lack of discipline within the Guild itself and a clear absence of leadership from its High Lord. When he came to the end, he looked at Akkarin with hope in his eyes.

"It needs you to pull it all together and put an end to the in-fighting. What will happen if the Ichani try again? The Guild is in no position to be able to defend itself, and what will happen to the rest of the country then?"

Akkarin rose and began pacing up and down. Merin watched him closely, waiting to hear the words he was desperate to hear, that his former Advisor would do what he asked. But when Akkarin stopped pacing and sat once more in front of the King, his first words summed up the main obstacle to doing what the King wanted.

"I have been expelled from the Guild. I no longer have any rank or authority. I cannot simply turn up at the Guild gates, demand to be let in and then start a wholesale reorganisation. The Warriors would capture me as soon as I tried and I would be dead before nightfall. It won't work, Merin."

To Sonea's surprise, Merin was undismayed by Akkarin's words. He smiled slowly and leant forward, "I have been carrying out a lot of research in ancient Court records in recent weeks. Ever since I spoke to Vinara and found out you were alive, I have been thinking of how to get you back into the Guild, and I have found the answer."

"When the Guild was established all those hundreds of years ago, the King at the time was closely involved. After all, no King worth his crown wants a powerful body set up in his country over which he could exercise no control at all. You know how it all works, but there's probably one thing you might not know."

The King's smile got broader as he saw the interest in Akkarin's face, "The King has the power to appoint a properly trained and qualified magician to the Guild and neither the High Lord, nor the Higher Magicians can prevent it. The King's Magician is under the direct protection of the King and cannot be disciplined by the Guild without the King's full involvement and consent. There hasn't been one for almost four hundred years, because there's been no need of one, but things are very different now. I want you to become the King's Magician!"