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

Intrigues

She had a lot of free time to fill before she need worry about the King's summons. It was too early for an evening meal and she hadn't been in the Day Room or the Night Room since her return. Sonea found herself wandering towards the Library and mentally shook herself. Not the Library again! Despite herself, a brief laugh escaped her. When she had been a novice, she had dreamed of having free time, when she could do what she wanted rather than have to follow a strict timetable. Now, of course, she had nothing but free time. She had gone to one of the lectures not long after she returned, thinking to improve her skills and knowledge, but the whispering and hostile glances had made her feel so uncomfortable, she had not repeated the experiment.

So, where to go? She was still thinking about it when she noticed Regin come out of the University buildings. He didn't stop to look around, but set off purposefully towards the gates. Without a moment's thought, she began to follow, using a little magic to prevent immediate recognition, should he happen to turn around. It wouldn't fool a clever magician, of course, but she had never felt Regin was particularly clever. A bully, yes, but clever, definitely not!

He went through the gates and turned down the road towards the city. She followed and was not surprised to see him turn off into the wooded area by the side of the road. He was likely going to meet someone and she made a quick prayer to the Eye, that it wasn't simply a lovers' tryst. After a few moments, he stopped and sat on a convenient fallen tree trunk. Sonea slipped behind a dense bush, which provided enough cover, yet let her see reasonably clearly.

After a few minutes, she heard the sound of someone moving through the wood. It was Kelda. The Alchemist went up to Regin and there was a period of rather passionate kissing while Sonea averted her eyes. It looked like a lovers' tryst after all. She decided to wait until they were fully involved in whatever they came to do, before she tried to move, but to her surprise, the kissing came to an end and Kelda joined Regin on the tree trunk. They were obviously waiting for someone else.

They were murmuring quietly to each other but Sonea was too far away to hear. She didn't want to use listening magic, because that had to weave itself around the target and she was afraid that Kelda or Regin would notice it. She risked a trickle of Healing, however, to deal with the painful cramp, which was starting to affect her legs, and tried to find a more comfortable position. She hoped it wouldn't be a long wait.

In the event it was a good half an hour before anyone else came. Sonea was almost at the point of giving up when she heard the telltale sound of footsteps among the leaves. This time, the magician wore green and Sonea was not as surprised as she might have been a few days ago to see Irun emerge from the trees. She went over to the others and an animated conversation took place. Sonea cursed the fact she couldn't hear but there was nowhere closer to move to unseen. She tried, instead, to judge the conversation by the body language and expressions of the three magicians. It was obvious that Regin was very much the leader, because on several occasions he silenced the other two, while he spoke. He must have made some sort of request to Irun, for the Healer shook her head rapidly and launched into a somewhat passionate argument, but Regin dismissed whatever she was saying with a brief hand movement and she shut up. Then it was Kelda's turn to speak forcefully about something, but again Regin's authority soon dampened her argument and for the rest of the time, the two girls listened quietly to what Regin was saying.

The group finished their discussion and they dispersed in the order they had arrived. Irun, looking rather pale left first, closely followed by Kelda. Regin stayed sitting on the fallen tree for several minutes after the others had left, before setting off after them.

Once he had gone, Sonea gratefully emerged from her hiding place and stretched her cramped legs. She was beginning to understand why Irun's name was on the list. She was obviously a spy, set to befriend Sonea and learn her plans. Sonea thought back to the first time she had seen the little Healer. I had just had a run-in with Regin and she was in the corridor – yes that was it – conveniently waiting until I came along. I wonder if she had a long wait! Well now she knew and perhaps she would be able to make use of the spy to spread some confusion among the others.

ooo000ooo

Akkarin reached over and picked up an expensive looking book, all leather covers and gold lettering with the gleam of jewels as he opened it. He began to read and Sonea stared at him with impatience. They had been waiting for their meeting with Merin for almost an hour now and she was bored. They were in what was obviously the King's personal Library. The room was filled with fine furniture and sturdy carved bookshelves. Every shelf was crammed with old books, each with a gleaming title picked out in gold. She had looked at some of them. They were mainly about Kyralian law and other matters only a King could be interested in. There was a small section about hunting, but when she had taken one down for examination, she found it had no illustrations and was written in very small script which was difficult to read. Akkarin, on the other hand, had picked out several volumes and had settled down to peruse them.

She began to walk around the room, swishing her robes in an effort to attract some attention, but her companion continued to read without looking in her direction. Eventually she gave up and sat down in one of the large fireside chairs and contented herself with staring out of the window.

Not long afterwards, the King's Secretary came for them and they were shown into Merin's private study. It was a comfortable room, furnished with well-worn chairs and battered tables. It was a room that looked both lived-in and cared for, a place where the King could feel most at ease. A side table was set out with plates of food and pitchers of fruit juice as well as bottles of Akkarin's favourite wine. It looked as if this could be a long meeting.

Merin greeted Akkarin with warmth but merely gave Sonea one of his empty court smiles as she made her deepest bow. All his conversation was directed at Akkarin, but Sonea was determined not to allow herself to get into a mood over it. After all, she was used to the fact that the King disliked her, more so since Akkarin had refused the marriage Merin had picked out for him, so she settled her features into an expression of polite interest and waited to see what this was all about.

As the King and Akkarin exchanged information, Sonea began to realise this was not the first meeting between the two of them since their return to the Guild. Something else Akkarin didn't share with me! The King talked about the spies he had sent into Sachaka and thanked his former High Lord for suggesting the most reliable of those from Akkarin's network.

"They spent several days scouting around the border area," Merin said, "and found rumours of several gatherings of the various clans. These were particularly strong in one area, so they travelled some way inland to investigate. You were right, Akkarin, the Ichani are on the move again."

Akkarin nodded, "I have long believed they would regroup and make another attempt on the Guild. Have you told Balkan?"

Merin got up and went over to collect more food, pouring himself another large glass of Anuren Dark and Sonea got the strong impression that he was reluctant to answer. He offered the bottle to Akkarin who refreshed his own glass and passed the bottle on to Sonea. She put it aside, feeling a clear head might be preferable to the warm, but slightly fuzzy feeling she got from drinking too much of the potent dark red wine.

Eventually Merin could delay no longer and looked decidedly uneasy as he shook his head, "I intend to, of course, but I wanted to speak with you first."

"A bad move, Merin," Akkarin said firmly, "Balkan is already angered by my reappearance. If he should find out you have used my spies and kept the information from him, he would be justified in refusing to cooperate further with your King's Magician. You cannot keep the High Lord of the Magicians' Guild in the dark about a direct threat to magic in the Allied Lands!"

Merin raised his hands in mock surrender, "I know, I know. I'll send a message to him now."

The King hastily scribbled a note on parchment, folded and sealed it. He rang a small bell and when the servant appeared, directed him to send it to the High Lord immediately. When the servant had gone, he looked up and smiled, "I've missed your firm advice, my friend."

Akkarin made no reply, merely sipping his wine but continuing to look calmly at the King over the rim of his glass. Sonea could feel the strong connection between these two men, so different in themselves, yet able to work so closely and effectively together. Not like working with Balkan, she thought, he probably tries to bully the King and like all weak men, Merin is probably very. very stubborn.

She was aware that the conversation had resumed. The King pulled a large map on to the table and both men bent over it. She craned her neck to see but it was too far away for her to see anything clearly. The two men carried on a lively conversation, pointing at various features on the map, while they discussed likely routes for the invaders to take.

"The last report I had mentioned ships," she heard Merin say.

"Ships? Hmm, that's rather unusual," Akkarin responded looking thoughtful, "In my experience of them, the Ichani feared the open sea…but, I wonder….."

He pulled the map closer and began examining it carefully, a frown creasing his forehead. Merin said nothing, simply watched as Akkarin's eyes flickered all over the map. Finally, he sat back in his chair and looked at the King, a crooked smile on his lips.

"I know that both the King's Guard and the Warriors have reinforced the Northern and Southern Forts and perhaps the Ichani prefer a less difficult entry into the Kingdom." He stabbed a finger at a point on the map and Merin bent to look at it. " Corres Fort, both a sea and a land fort. If the Ichani split their forces, with some attacking the land side and the rest attacking from the sea, there's a good chance the Fort will fall quickly."

Sonea could stand it no longer, and moved closer to the King, so that she could look at the map in comfort. She cursed anew her poor geography as she searched for the Fort Akkarin had described. Eventually she found it at the most northerly point on the Kyralian coast.

The King, in the meantime, looked rather alarmed, "The state of the Navy is not good," he muttered. "There's never been any real threat from sea-borne forces and the money has been used in other, more important areas."

Whatever discussion might have followed this was killed off by the sound of raised voices outside the room. All three turned towards the door as it opened and one of the King's servants attempted to introduce the visitor. In the event, he was pushed aside as Balkan swept into the room, then stopped dead as he saw the two black magicians, one on either side of the King. Administrator Osen, who had been following closely on the heels of his High Lord only just stopped himself from knocking into Balkan. Then he too stared at the King's other visitors.

A look of extreme anger flared briefly on the High Lord's face, but he schooled his features into a brief smile as he bent his knee, "Your Majesty, I came as quickly as I could." He paused and stared briefly at Sonea, before continuing, "I was not told you were already engaged with other visitors."

"Welcome, High Lord," the King said cheerfully, "May I offer you some wine or fruit juice?"

Balkan shook his head and spoke in a rather sharp tone, "What is so urgent that you sent for me so late at night, Your Majesty?"