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

Flirting with Akkarin

The next few days assumed a regular pattern. She and Akkarin divided up the days and nights so that one of them was always watching over Wilden. She had no idea what Akkarin did when he was not on watch. He never said and she felt unable to ask. Her free time was spent eating, reporting to Kelda and sleeping. In between times, both of them were in Wilden's room at the same time and it was then, that Sonea found most difficult.

Until she got to really know him, Akkarin had always seemed to her to be a cold and distant figure. Apart from Lorlen and Takan, Sonea couldn't think of anyone in the Guild who could be regarded as his friend. He could turn on his charm, or bang heads together, to achieve his goals, but he had never been one for pointless social discourse. She had expected her task as Jalette to find flirtation with him somewhat difficult, yet, it didn't seem to be working out that way.

Almost from their first meeting, Akkarin had been what only could be described as friendly, not distant at all. He smiled at her frequently, made free with her name and often made what she found were disconcerting remarks. On the face of it, they were fairly ordinary, but she sometimes found herself finding a different, hidden meaning. She could have been mistaken, of course, but having once or twice caught a glimpse of something in Akkarin's eyes, or the shadow of a hastily hidden smile, she didn't think so.

Wilden continued to lie motionless but she could sense a continuation of the weakening of the barrier. It seemed that Kelda was telling the truth, so Sonea made sure she told Akkarin of even the slightest change. If he thought she was curing his Warrior, then so much the better. She had taken to putting a few powders in his water, making sure Akkarin saw her mix the potions. They were harmless drugs, used to build up a person's strength after a lengthy illness, so they would not do Wilden any harm, but at least they looked as if she was really treating him. At times, her deception warred with her essentially honest nature, but she reassured herself with the idea that she was doing her duty to Akkarin and to the Guild, and everything she did was justified.

Her main problem was replenishing her power source. Maintaining the illusion of Jalette's physical form was draining. She spent more and more of her free time locked in a cubicle in the bathing room. There she could let the spell lapse but although this was a useful ploy, it was not the answer. She needed to find a source she could drain and she needed to do it very soon. If only she could remember her lessons on the Ichani way of taking power from buildings heavily imbued with magic. She was surrounded by walls so full of magic, they made her whole body tingle, yet she couldn't find a way to access it. There were few plants or trees either in the Fort, or just outside, so there was no other easy source. She could carry on for a day or so more, but after that, she would be in real trouble.

Her meetings with Kelda also assumed a regular pattern. They would meet at meal times, when the Alchemist would suddenly appear next to Sonea in the queue for food, or casually slide into the next seat at the table. Sonea was able to reassure Kelda that things were going to plan, but she couldn't report that Akkarin was definitely engaging in an intense flirtation.

"Don't worry," Kelda replied. "Just keep him interested, get him to think a little about you when you are away from him. That's what we want you to do."

That was all very well, Sonea thought to herself, but what if Wilden wakes before Akkarin becomes really interested in me? What if he thanks me and goes off again? She wanted to be nearby when any attack on Akkarin happened and she wouldn't be, unless he wanted her. Everything depended on when any attack would take place. But when she tried to find out when Kelda's friends were likely to move against Akkarin, she found the Alchemist wouldn't be drawn.

"No need to worry yourself over that," she had said gaily. "Leave all that to us. Your part is only to distract Akkarin and from what you've been saying, that is working very well."

She would say nothing more, so Sonea had to be satisfied with that.

By the morning of the fourth day, there were definite signs of Wilden beginning to throw off the spell. Sonea gave him more of the potions which he was better able to swallow than at first. Akkarin had gone almost immediately she arrived after her breakfast and didn't return for several hours, so Sonea was left alone with her thoughts. Although, as usual, Akkarin took up his fair share of them, her search for a power source was much more to the forefront. She could feel her own source weakening and there was little she could do. There were a few plants dotted around the reception areas of the Fort, and she had taken what she could from them, but it was nowhere near enough.

She made a conscious effort to remember what the Ichani did to extract magic from particular buildings, but apart from knowing that the process involved destruction of the building materials, there was little helpful she could remember. Does the Fort have a library? she wondered, before deciding that if it did, it was probably full of books on military tactics or government rules and regulations rather than arcane magic.

When Akkarin came to relieve her, he brought her a cloth filled with savoury tartlets. She was surprised at his thoughtfulness, because there was no doubt she was hungry, but when she blushingly tried to thank him, he smiled warmly and said, "It's a pleasure, Jalette. You have been working hard to help Wilden and I'm very grateful."

She glanced at him quickly to see if he were making a joke at her expense, but all she saw him smiling at her in a way which sent a tingle through her. She thanked him and ate one or two while he questioned her about the Warrior's condition. They were delicious, each filled with meat and vegetables, and she couldn't wait to eat the others.

She took some of the tartlets with her as she went out to get some fresh air. She had found a way of getting up on to the Warriors' walk at the top of the walls and from there she could see out over the ocean. There was always a sea breeze blowing which she found cheered her up and allowed her to think more clearly. She rested her hands on the battlements and noticed immediately the tingling along her nerves at the magic which pulsated in the stone. It was stronger up here and she wondered if there was some special magic protecting the tops of the walls from attack.

It was all so frustrating. All the power she needed just below her finger tips and no way to take it. She tried everything she could to extract even the tiniest drop of power, but to no avail. As the magic pulsated through the stone, she could almost imagine that it was laughing at her feeble attempts to capture it.

She swallowed the last of the tartlets and scattered the crumbs for birds to find. There was no hurry for her to return to her patient. The sun was warm on her skin and the sea breeze was only slight, not even strong enough to ruffle her robes. She leant her elbows on the wall and rested her chin on her clasped hands, then let her thoughts drift.

She had no way of knowing how much time had passed when she head footsteps heading in her direction. She raised her head and saw a familiar black-clad figure coming towards her.

"So this is where you hide yourself," Akkarin said cheerfully. "A very pleasant spot you have found."

She had no doubt that he had come specifically to find her and she wondered how he had tracked her down. She made some commonplace reply and turned back to regard the ocean again. He came and stood next to her, so close, his robes brushed against her thigh. He said nothing but, like her, stood staring out over the sea. Sonea found the silence disconcerting and felt compelled to break it.

"What about Wilden? Will he be all right?"

"There are two of my Warriors guarding the door and another sitting at his bedside. He will be safe."

There was silence again, but this time it was he who broke it. "What can you see?"

She smiled, "I can see the sea."

She head him laugh, one of his carefree laughs, which she had heard little of in recent months, "Indeed you do, Jalette! Indeed you do!"

He turned towards her and took one of her hands from where she had left it resting on the wall, and enclosed it in his own, "I meant what I said, Jalette," he said earnestly, "you have worked very hard to help my Warrior and I am grateful."

She was forced to turn to look at him and as she did so, she caught a glimpse of purple robes whisking out of sight round the nearest corner. Kelda! Right on time. She glanced up at him to find his eyes staring into hers. She dropped her gaze quickly and thought long and hard about a complicated recipe for some soothing salve. Hide those surface thoughts and conceal everything else! He moved closer to her until she was almost, but not quite, pressed up against him. She was frightened to move, Kelda would expect her to capitalise on the situation and she didn't want to drive Akkarin away. There was another reason, but she refused to even consider it.

"It's my calling, Lord Akkarin, to Heal others." She hated the way she sounded, so smug and superior, but her mind refused to think of anything better to say.

He reached out a hand and gently brushed her hair off her face. She froze at the unexpectedness of the gesture. She could feel her colour rise and the urge to run was so strong, she was never sure afterwards how she managed to remain still.

"You are an attractive woman, Jalette," he said softly, "perhaps too attractive to spend your life in sickrooms. My Warriors could do with a Healer dedicated to looking after them and I have been considering asking Lady Vinara to allocate one to me. Would that appeal to you, Jalette?"

"I…I.." she stuttered, "I…don't know what to say, Lord Akkarin."

"You could start by being less formal with me, Jalette." His smile grew broader at her obvious confusion. "We have worked well together and you seem to have a knack with Warriors. You would find it an interesting occupation and…." his smile grew broader, "…we would spend more time together."

Before she could stop herself, she said "And what of your companion, Lady Sonea?"

Akkarin, who had been intent on smoothing her hair, stilled, then withdrew himself a little. He was still close to her, but she no longer had the impression he was about to clasp her in his arms. "My companion is not a Healer," he said after a moment's silence.

"That's not what I meant, and you know it," she said tartly.

There was another moment of silence, then he said, "My companion and I were forced together by a series of events. Neither of us chose the other, but we have lived together for some years in harmony, working and studying magic. She is a good magician and I am proud of what she has achieved, especially as she was not born to magic as we were."

Sonea could learn nothing of his feelings from his voice and she couldn't bring herself to look at him directly. He obviously expected some sort of response from her and she cast around for something meaningful to say. In the end, she managed a weak, "I see." He continued to wait for something more, so she was forced to say, "I will think about what you've said, Lord….er…Akkarin. Thank you for asking."

He seemed satisfied with that and laid his hand against her cheek for a moment, "Good girl," he murmured, then he was gone.

Her emotions were in a turmoil, her nearness to Akkarin had awakened her desires so her mind was filled with memories of their times together, the feel of his mouth hard on hers, the way his hands played such sweet music on her flesh and the moments of intense pleasure he created in her. Her fear had always been that once he found out about her deception, he would turn from her in anger and she might never find her way back to him again.

Running through this maelstrom of desire was a river of misery. Akkarin seemed taken with the beautiful Jalette so much so he contemplated bringing her into his group of magicians. The words he had used to describe his relationship with his companion – forced together – neither of us chose the other – echoed in her mind andbroke her heart. All their years together meant nothing to him after all. She was someone to share his exile, to study with and to warm his bed. As soon as he was back amongst the magicians from the Houses, what use did he have for a dwell, when there were opportunities to form relationships with women who shared his background?

At least I have Justen. When this was all over and Akkarin was safe, she would take her son and vanish. She would be controlled and rational. There would be no outbreaks of weeping, no recriminations, she would be dignified and take her leave, wishing him well for the future.

At this point in her thoughts, she heard Kelda say, "Well done, Jalette. I thought he was going to eat you, he was staring so at you and when he stroked your face, well I thought a least a kiss was in prospect!"

She forced herself to smile cheerfully at the Alchemist, "Yes, so did I, but at the last minute something changed his mind. Still, there's always the next time."

"His manner seemed very intense when he spoke to you. What did he say?"

"He asked if I would like to join his group of magicians, to look after his Warriors," she replied. "He's going to ask Vinara for a Healer but would like me to volunteer."

Kelda thought for a moment, "That's even better. If we run into trouble and can't control him here, you can work from inside his group and keep us informed of all his plans."

Inwardly, Sonea groaned. Now she was expected to become a spy! But of course, it was impossible. The real Jalette would return to the Guild sometime soon and in any case, even if she didn't, the power drain was so great, she would never be able to keep it up. But none of that showed on her face as she smiled and nodded to Kelda, who went away believing she had a potential spy on her hands.

The sun was sinking slowly, gilding the waves and clouds with colours of rose and gold. Sonea had to get back to Wilden. She dreaded being alone with Akkarin so soon after their recent encounter, but she had no choice. Flirting with Akkarin, she thought ruefully, it's more like flirting with danger!