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

Agreement

Sonea was not looking forward to her meeting with the King. When she had left him the previous night, she had agreed to stand aside so that Anyetta's marriage to Akkarin would not be put at risk. Now she had to tell him that she was going to renege on her promise, and she expected Merin to be furious. In addition, there was also Anyetta to consider. Although there was no indication that she had any feelings at all for her prospective husband, she was a proud woman and wouldn't take too kindly to a dwell having what she could not.

She glanced over to where Akkarin was fastening the broad leather belt he wore under his jerkin. He seemed absorbed in his task and she could read nothing in his features. He had reassured her that things would turn out well. 'I can handle Merin,' he had said with complete confidence, "I've been doing it for years," and with that she had to be content.

Whatever the outcome of the meeting, they would be leaving today, returning to their home at the top of the mountain and the difficult problem of Justen. Sonea was longing to see her son again, although she was not looking forward to explaining why his mother and father would be leaving him in Takan's care for a long period of time. He was not yet six years old and although in many respects he was mature for his age, he was still a boy who loved his parents and one who had never been separated from his mother for more than a few days. She didn't know how he would take the news.

She pushed her concerns for Justen to the back of her mind, musing ruefully to herself that she was getting rather good at keeping unpleasant things hidden as far from her conscious thoughts as possible. What she had said to Akkarin was all too true; she couldn't look after her son and his father at the same time. It was not a happy choice to have to make and she was sure that there would be times when she would deeply regret it, but that didn't alter the fact that of all the people in Imardin who might have the protection of Akkarin as one of their duties, she was the only one who would do anything required in order to carry out her task, even to the loss of her own life. It wasn't just because she loved him that she felt this way. She had been convinced, right from the time she had discovered the real reason for Akkarin's actions, that he was the only person who could save the Guild, and of course that meant Kyralia, and the Allied Lands too, from conquest by the Ichani.

They made their way down to the dining room for the first meal of the day. Neither the King, nor the Princess was there, only a servant ready to bring their choice of dish immediately to the table. They both made sure they ate well. It was a long journey home and this time, they had no plans to linger at a comfortable inn. They had finished the food and were drinking the last of their tea when Merin appeared.

After receiving his plate of warm rolls and honey, the King dismissed the servant. He sat down opposite them and gazed at Akkarin with an expectant look. Recognising his cue, Akkarin lost no time in recounting his decision. He would go back to the Guild as King's Magician, but he would not marry Anyetta.

"It would not be fair to the Princess," he finished, "to expect her to enter into a marriage where it was not possible for me to give her all the affection she would deserve."

As Akkarin talked, Merin's face darkened and by the time he had finished, the King was frowning.

"You seem to have developed a strange view of marriage, Akkarin," the King said, his voice frosty. "Alliances between the Houses are practicalities, entered into for sensible reasons." Merin's eyes flicked suddenly over to Sonea, and his frown deepened. "Your…err…companion seems to have infected you with ideas from the slums, where I'm told it is required to 'love' your marriage partner."

Sonea felt her anger flare into life; would she never be able to escape from her past? But before she could open her mouth to speak, Akkarin replied.

"The Princess is a beautiful and charming woman. I am sure there will be dozens of families among the Houses who would be thrilled to take her into their homes and their hearts as well as being deeply grateful for the honour shown them. Marriage to me would do nothing for her prestige but, more to the point, Merin, I don't believe that the marriage would provide any sort of protection for me, but rather stain your royal honour with my conviction and disgrace instead. It will turn some of the Houses against you and that is something I cannot permit."

The King continued to frown at Akkarin, his lips suddenly tight, but Akkarin simply gazed back, his expression open and sincere, as if he were willing Merin to see the truth of his words. Sonea held her breath. She was uneasy being so close to the King. Despite Akkarin's frequent assurance that Merin wouldn't harm him, she always had the scenes from their Hearing in her mind; especially the one where the King was so very close to ordering Akkarin's execution. Perhaps Akkarin's boast that he could handle the King would be proved untrue. It had been a long time since he had been one of the King's close Advisors.

Merin turned to look at Sonea, "Is this your doing, despite your promise?" he asked coldly.

Before she could respond, Akkarin retorted, "I make my own decisions, Merin, you know that. If she could, Sonea would change my mind and have me marry the Princess, but I will not, for the reasons I have given you."

Merin made no reply, but stood up and went over to the side table where he helped himself to more food. He returned to his seat and began to eat methodically, ignoring the others. Sonea expected either he or Akkarin to continue their conversation, but to her surprise they did not. Akkarin poured more tea and sipped it.

Akkarin, what's happening? she sent when she could stand the silence no longer.

This is Merin's way of making difficult decisions.

Akkarin's reply was calm, with an underlying thread of amusement running through it, and went some way to reassuring her. She couldn't even think of more food, her stomach was churning so, but she had noticed a pot of raka among the food set out so carefully on the side table. It was no doubt cold by now, but she was good at reheating it to the scalding hot temperature she liked. She busied herself pouring and heating the drink, hoping that by the time she was finished, Merin would have come to his decision.

Merin finally finished his food and pushed the plate aside. He glanced up at his two companions.

"The Houses can be a source of trouble in the Kingdom," he said in a cool voice, devoid of emotion. "There are one or two with near claims to the Crown who would relish anything which might bring them a little closer to obtaining their desire. I can see your point, Akkarin, and reluctantly, I must accept it. You will go back to the Guild, as you are, and not as a member of my House."

"And me, Your Majesty?" Sonea asked quickly, "Shall I go with him?"

For perhaps the first time, Merin turned his full gaze directly on her. She found the intense examination by those pale eyes disconcerting and it was an effort not to let her tension show. The King remained silent, but his gaze sharpened, almost as if he could bore into her core and reveal the real Sonea. Then, rather unexpectedly, he smiled.

"You are a tenacious woman, Sonea. You certainly upset a great many people when you went with Akkarin and no doubt you will upset them again when you return with him. I have the strangest feeling that if I forbid you, you will simply find a way to defy me yet again. It's easier to let you have your way! You shall accompany Akkarin. There is no provision for two King's Magicians, so you will have to look to your own protection, there can be no official position for you, apart from my pardon which should make you eligible to return to the Guild."

"Th…Thank you, Your Majesty," she stuttered, but Merin's brief smile had vanished. He went on, "I wash my hands of you, Sonea. You will be on your own."

With that, he turned to Akkarin, "You will speak to the Princess? She is waiting in the guest room."

Akkarin rose and made a graceful Court bow, "I will speak to her now, then we will take our leave."

The King nodded, "I am returning to Imardin today and will make all the necessary arrangements. You will be sent instructions in the next few days." He reached down into a pocket and pulled out a heavy purse. "Money for your needs," he said as he pushed it over towards Akkarin.

Akkarin stared down at the leather purse lying on the table without making any attempt to pick it up. Sonea found herself holding her breath, surely he wouldn't toss it back to the King? Then he smiled, "Thank you Merin, a welcome parting gift." He picked it up and stuffed it in the pouch at his belt.

By this time, Merin had also risen and started for the door. "Don't forget Anyetta," he said over his shoulder as he left the room. Akkarin wasn't far behind and Sonea, at first thinking to stay in the dinning room, finally decided to wait out in the hall.

Akkarin was gone for several minutes. She wondered what was happening in the guest room. Would Anyetta be angry? Would she weep and storm at her rejection? Sonea suspected not. That would mean she had a fiery temperament and Sonea felt she was far colder than that. She wouldn't like Akkarin's decision, but at least no one but the four of them knew anything about it.

The door opened and Anyetta emerged, two spots of high colour in her cheeks, but apart from that there was no sign of her feelings. She was closely followed by Akkarin, who closed the door carefully behind him. Anyetta's sharp gaze took in Sonea and sharpened further.

"Lady Sonea, congratulations," she said in her soft musical voice, "it seems Lord Akkarin prefers your company to mine."

Before Sonea could reply, Anyetta turned in a swirl of silken skirts and ran lightly up the stairs.

"Come, Sonea, we need to leave as soon as we can." Akkarin's voice was clear and devoid of emotion. She longed to ask him what had been said in the guest room, but knew he wouldn't want to speak where he could be overheard. She followed him back to their room and packed up their few belongings.

There was silence in the house and no sign of anyone as they made their way to the stables. Their horses were already saddled and hitched to a rail outside the stables. There were no grooms to be seen. It was rather eyrie as if she and Akkarin were the only living people in the place. They loaded their belongings and swung themselves up into their saddle. There was no guard on the gates, which were open. They trotted up the path and out of the gate into the surrounding countryside.

It was a fine day, birds were singing round and about, and Sonea felt as if a huge weight had been lifted from her shoulders. Their meeting with Merin had gone surprisingly well and Akkarin had managed to extricate himself from a potentially difficult situation regarding Anyetta. Sonea smiled inwardly. Her desire for action was about to come true. She and Akkarin would be working to heal the Guild and bring it back to its former calm and resolute state. And danger would be part of that task! Sonea would need to hone her Warrior skills. So sad that Yikmo is no longer alive, she thought, he was a good teacher. But perhaps Akkarin will be a better one.