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

Akkarin's Instructions

Nothing seemed to have changed in the passages. They were still the gloomy, dusty, rubble-strewn-in-places things they had always been, ready to trip the unwary or cause dust to fly up into a person's mouth or nose. There was nothing particularly pleasant about the passages, but they were very useful for moving around the Guild and its grounds unseen. Akkarin was almost certainly the only person to use them extensively, knowledge of their entrances having been lost over time. He had shown her some of them and they had used them to leave the Guild and enter the city when fighting the Ichani, but Sonea didn't know their full extent. She hadn't been in this one before, but Akkarin seemed to know where he was going so she was content just to follow.

Although they had planned to use the passages on their first night, Akkarin didn't reappear at his accommodation as they had arranged. Sonea had waited for two hours and when he didn't come, she had gone back to her own room, having left him a strongly worded note. When she awoke next morning, she found a hastily scribbled apology pushed under her door, but no sign of Akkarin. Nor did she see him during the day. He wasn't in the Food Hall at mid-day so she grabbed some food, ate it quickly and left, before anyone noticed she was there. She spent the rest of the day in the library, hoping that perhaps Regin and his friend would come, but they didn't. The day dragged, as she had nothing specific to do. She had also looked for Irun, but her search had been unsuccessful. So she wasn't in the best of moods when she arrived at Akkarin's accommodation just before midnight as his note had instructed.

This time, he was there, with a smile, a glass of wine and a plateful of savouries, but little in the way of information. When she asked what he had been doing, his response was rather vague and it was obvious he didn't want to share his activities with her.

"Various meetings with different people." was all he had to say.

"How can I look out for you if I don't know where you are?" she'd asked plaintively.

He'd murmured something reassuring, telling her she would be with him, when it mattered and then quickly changed the subject.

They'd waited until the Magicians' Quarters were quiet, with no one in the corridors before making their way to the cellars. Akkarin knew where the entrance was, but it was hidden behind a pile of cases and boxes that someone had put in storage. It took a few minutes to move them, then Akkarin pressed what seemed to be random spots on a panel, and a section of the wall swung inwards. Before the door closed, he used magic to reassemble the boxes, just in case anyone decided to visit the cellars. Sonea found herself in a very narrow passage and although she was not a large woman by any means, she found it difficult to move easily.

"It's a bit of a squeeze," she whispered, "does it get any better?"

Be quiet, Sonea, Akkarin sent sharply, his mental voice barely audible, the walls pass close to places where people may hear us.

After that, she concentrated on moving as silently as possible. Akkarin had made a small globelight, which shed just enough light for both of them to see where they were going. The passage sloped downwards for some time before levelling out. By then, she assumed, they were out from under the building and crossing the grounds. Every so often, they came across other passages, which branched off to left and right, but Akkarin ignored them and they kept travelling roughly in a straight line.

It was a largely silent journey and it reminded Sonea very much of their first days of exile, when she could do nothing other than follow a cold and distant Akkarin through the wastelands. Although part of her wanted to dismiss the thought, she found that difficult. Since they had returned, she had spent relatively little time alone with Akkarin, and when she did, their conversation centred on mainly practical things. There was no sense of a shared enterprise from her perspective. Akkarin didn't explain where he was going or what he was doing; merely announcing he was going somewhere. She was not invited along, but left largely to her own devices.

But it's only our second day, she thought in an effort to prevent her thoughts moving along such a disturbing path. There's plenty of time for me to learn his plans. But other less pleasant thoughts kept intruding. He hasn't even kissed me since we've been here.

He's made no mention of coming to my room or me to his during the night.

She was suddenly conscious that Akkarin had come to a halt not far away. She drew level with him, the passage being much wider at this point. They were standing in front of what looked like a blank wall.

We're here, he sent, and it looks as if nothing has changed.

He moved closer and began touching various points on the wall. At first nothing happened, then there was a faint grinding noise and the wall slid open, revealing a dark passageway with a flagstone floor and wood-panelled walls.

The Residence, Akkarin sent.

She followed him in and waited while he closed the entrance. There was only one direction to go, straight ahead. They started off, being careful to make no noise.

Where are we? she sent as quietly as she could.

Under the kitchens, came the response.

She had never ventured into the kitchens during her time living here, but she had a vague knowledge of the building's layout. The kitchens were large and the passage was long, but eventually they came to the end. There was another door ahead of them, with no latch, handle or lock. She felt a slight tingling sensation along the back of her neck, as Akkarin used magic to open it. It vanished. There was no other word for it. One moment the door was there, the next the opening was clear.

They slipped through and found themselves at the bottom of a flight of stairs. They quickly moved up them and at the top there was a twin to the first door. Again Akkarin used magic to make it disappear and to Sonea's surprise, they were in what had been Akkarin's private study. She looked around. Akkarin's furniture was gone and in its place was what could only be described as ordinary, plain desks and chairs. There were none of the pictures and ornaments which made Akkarin's study interesting to visit. The bookshelves, which she was used to seeing crammed with old books and parchments, were largely empty, with only a few books spread out along them.

Akkarin didn't waste time looking around, but moved purposefully towards an alcove where there was a set of sturdy shelves she remembered from their time living here. After a moment, the shelves slid to one side, revealing a cupboard, like the passage doors, without latch, lock or handle. Akkarin took only seconds to open it.

Sonea was keen to see the contents, which Akkarin obviously valued greatly, and which seemed precious to him but, as usual, he hadn't told her what they were. He was standing right in front of the open cupboard so she had to crane her neck to see. She was rather disappointed to see the contents comprised only some books, two small boxes and a larger chest. Akkarin slipped a hand beneath his robes and pulled out several bags. He shook one out and began filling it with the books. When it was full, he handed it to Sonea.

"Take this," he whispered.

She found that the straps fitted neatly around her shoulder, with the bag suspended between her body and arm. Akkarin passed her a second filled bag for the other shoulder. He had a larger bag containing the boxes which he fixed to his body so that it lay snugly against his chest. That left the last object, the chest. It had handles at each end, so he was able to carry it.

Akkarin carefully closed the cupboard, sealed it and slid the shelves back in place. They returned to the entrance above the staircase. Akkarin gestured her through, following closely behind. He paused and set down the chest, then sealed the opening, setting an extra magical lock, just in case Balkan or another sensed his recently used magic and looked for the source. He did the same at the second opening.

The journey back to the Magicians' Quarters didn't seem to take very long and they were soon back in the cellar. The boxes and cases were carefully repositioned to hide the panel. They checked them carefully to make sure they were in the exact positions they found them originally, just in case they belonged to some eagle-eyed magician.

"We'll take these to my rooms," Akkarin said softly. "Go and check to see if anyone is about."

The corridors and staircases were as empty as before, so it was only a few minutes before they were safely inside Akkarin's apartment. They emptied the bags and piled the things on the table.

"Are you going to tell me what all these are for?" Sonea asked.

"The books are some of the more sensitive black magic volumes and I must find a hiding place for them here because I'm sure Balkan will have our rooms searched. I would, in his position. The rest are just bits and pieces which may come in handy during our stay. I want to take them with me, in any case and the longer they stay in the Residence, the greater the risk that someone someday will find them and I don't want them to fall into the wrong hands."

So no detailed information then! Sonea gave a mental shrug, there was no point in trying to pursue it. Akkarin was in one of his less cooperative moods and she didn't want to give him any reason to lose patience with her.

"A glass of wine?" she asked and smiled prettily as he nodded. Perhaps there were better things to spend their time on than arguing she thought to herself. She poured two generous glasses of wine and took them over to the fireside. Setting herself down in one, she encouraged Akkarin to take the other. They sipped their wine in silence for a few minutes, then she began to tell him about the conversation she had heard between Regin and Kelda.

"So it seems we are to be watched," she said after reaching the end of her tale. "Warriors definitely and some Alchemists if Kelda has her way. Have you noticed any of them?"

Akkarin shook his head, "Not really, I can be discreet in my movements if I need to be. For the moment, it doesn't matter if I'm seen meeting certain people. It's what I've been asked to do, after all."

"Aren't you concerned?" Her voice gave away her surprise at his reaction.

"No, I've told you I can be discreet when I need to be. That's all that matters."

"Well, I don't like it and will do all I can to evade any watchers," she said firmly. "I'll keep an eye on Regin and his little friend too. I don't like the sound of what I overheard. I'm sure Regin will be part of any opposition group. If I keep close to him, I'll soon find out who the others are."

"Sonea, I don't want you to get anywhere near Regin," he replied quickly. "You are not to put yourself at risk and you will certainly do so if you are discovered spying on Regin or any of his friends."

Sonea couldn't quite believe her ears, "Not keep an eye on Regin?" she spluttered, "Not when he's obviously going to try to find out what you're doing? Not when he'll do anything to stop you?"

"I don't want you to get involved with him or his friends. Is that clear, Sonea?"

She stared at him, but he was wearing his cold mask and she couldn't tell what was going on behind it. She tried to catch a glimpse of his surface thoughts, but he easily evaded her gentle probe.

"Sonea…." he said again warningly, "you will do what I say and stay away from them. Your task is to cultivate people like that Irun and find out what they think, not to blunder in to situations where you could end up in serious trouble."

She was conscious that her mouth had dropped open during this unwelcome speech and shut it abruptly. How dare Akkarin talk to her as if she was a first year novice who had made a mess of her first magic lessons! How dare he suggest she was only good enough to talk to little Healers!

She stood up and carefully placed her glass down on the table.

"Yes, I do see, Akkarin," she said meekly. "I'll look out for Irun tomorrow and find out what I can. It's late, I'd better go back to my room and try to get some sleep."

Akkarin rose lightly to his feet, a warm smile on his face. He came over and put his arms around her. She felt her treacherous body press up against him, as her arms took on a life of their own and held him close. For a split second, she abandoned her anger and wished instead for a long night of lovemaking, then reality broke in and she remembered what he'd said.

Akkarin tilted her head and kissed her, his mouth covering her own as his tongue explored her lips. She responded, then pulled back slightly.

"I must go," she whispered with only partially feigned reluctance. "I'm so tired…..'

"Of course," he said, his arms releasing her. He smiled into her face and traced the shape of her mouth with one long, elegant finger. "I'll meet you for breakfast. Don't be late."