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

Incursion

Wilden's recovery soon accelerated and within a day of beginning to swallow the potions more easily, he was awake and trying solid food. Seeing him sitting up in bed, spooning down some broth was a great relief to Sonea. Despite Kelda's reassurance about the spell, she had been concerned that something would happen which she just couldn't deal with given her limited Healing skills, but it looked as if the Alchemist was telling the truth. Wilden was rapidly regaining his strength and would be up and about in the next day or so.

Akkarin questioned him about the attack, but Wilden couldn't tell him much. "I'd just put my things down by the bed when suddenly everything went black. The next thing I remembered was lying in bed with a Healer bending over me." Wilden smiled at Sonea and gave her a big wink, "a very pretty Healer, I might add."

Sonea, her eyes fixed on Akkarin, saw him frown. As clearly as if she were standing in his mind, she could see him think through the possible candidates for wielding the spell. Someone who had the skill as well as the opportunity. Someone who wouldn't be thought out of place near Akkarin's Warrior Leader's room. Then he stopped frowning.

"Jalette, I want you to come with me. Wilden stay here and rest until your strength has recovered. I don't want any more risks to your health."

Sonea had barely enough time to reach for her pouch before Akkarin had left the room and was half-way down the corridor. "Where are we going?" she asked somewhat out of breath as she caught up with him.

"The High Lord," was the terse reply. "He needs to know what is going on and you can tell him about the injury to Wilden and your treatment."

Sonea didn't reply, instead she was trying to think what she could say to Balkan which wouldn't lead her into any more trouble. The last person she wanted to see on this adventure was the High Lord. She found it difficult to keep a civil tongue in her head when talking to him, so strong was her resentment of the way he had treated her and the way he had tried to blacken Akkarin's name even further than it had been blackened already. But she knew that she mustn't let her personal feelings interfere with her plan. She must not give Balkan any cause to think her other than a Healer caught up in events beyond her control.

The other question on her mind was why now? She had assumed that Akkarin had already told Balkan about the attack, but he had not. What has made him change his mind? She could only suppose that he now had a good idea who had caused Wilden's injury.

She didn't recognise the area of the Fort that they were passing through. She was beginning to realise that it was much bigger than she had supposed. But luckily, her companion had no trouble finding his way around. He moved swiftly along the corridors, not needing to pause when they came to where passages and corridors intersected, he always took one without hesitation. She was beginning to think they would never reach their destination, when Akkarin paused before two large intricately carved wooden doors. They were guarded by two Warriors who stared at the King's Magician with a less than friendly look.

"I wish to speak with the High Lord immediately," Akkarin commanded in that must be obeyed voice Sonea knew so well.

There was a moment of silence while the guards weighed up the possibility of refusing, but in the end, they decided to let the High Lord make the decision. The visitors were instructed to remain outside, while one of them went in to check. After a few minutes, the doors opened and they were shown inside.

Like many of the rooms in the Fort, the room allocated as the High Lord's private reception chamber was huge. Its walls were made of the same granite as the rest of the building, but most were hidden behind colourful wall hangings, shot through with the gleam of gold thread. The ornately carved furniture was large as befitted such a big room and the floors were covered in thick woollen carpets. The whole room reeked of expense and ceremony. Balkan was sitting behind a desk at the far end of the room, a small figure lost among all the grandeur. He was alone. He made no effort to rise or come to meet them, so they were faced with a relatively long and silent walk down towards him.

When they arrived at his desk, he waited until they had made their formal bows, before saying, "You wanted to see me on an urgent matter?"

There was no immediate invitation to sit, so they remained standing. Sonea was reminded of the times when she had been called before the Novice Mistress for some misdemeanour she had committed during her noviciate. But this time, she had no fear of what Balkan could do. Despite her disguise, she was in reality a powerful magician and there was nothing he could do to overpower her. Besides, Balkan was not a particularly strong magician, so even restricting herself to ordinary magic, she could probably defend herself successfully, even if she couldn't defeat him outright. However, there was still the question of giving away her true identity, so she made a point of keeping her expression respectful and her eyes downcast, as befitted a lower ranked magician.

She risked a quick glance sideways at Akkarin, but as usual nothing could be discerned of his feelings. He showed no resentment of the fact that he had been made to stand, but simply waited until he had Balkan's full attention.

"My chief Warrior, Wilden, was attacked the day we arrived and has been incapacitated ever since. It is only thanks to the treatment given by Lady Jalette here that he has started to recover."

Balkan made no comment upon the fact that Akkarin had delayed for some time before informing him of the incident, but Sonea noticed a faint tinge of colour in the High Lord's usually pale cheeks as if he had something to hide. "I'm sorry to hear that, Lord Akkarin. Who was responsible?" Balkan said in a cool disinterested voice.

"I have questioned him, but he cannot remember. It is of great concern that such an attack could be made inside a fort and upon one of the Guild's magicians."

"Yes, I quite agree."

Sonea was getting bored with standing like a naughty novice in front of the High Lord, so she shuffled her feet a little and cleared her throat. Both magicians turned to look at her, Akkarin with a raised eyebrow, but her purpose was achieved when the High Lord belatedly asked them to sit down.

"I would like you to have the matter investigated," Akkarin went on. "We must prevent any reoccurrence of an attack against any of my Warriors."

The High Lord turned his attention to Sonea, "What was the cause of Wilden's illness?" he asked.

She described how she had found him and the symptoms she had identified, "I did not recognise the spell which had been used," she said carefully.

"Was it black magic?" Balkan asked sharply.

She paused before replying. She sensed there was a trap here, but she couldn't quite see it. Still, it paid to be careful with her words. "I am not familiar with black magic, High Lord," she said quietly, "but it was certainly a type of magic I have never encountered in all my time as a Healer." And isn't that the truth? she thought in amusement.

Balkan steepled his hands under his chin and thought for a moment, "I cannot see any good reason for such an attack on one of your Warriors. What would be accomplished? He is not dead and is recovering. What would be the purpose?"

Akkarin shook his head, "I do not know, High Lord."

Almost without thinking, Sonea said, "Perhaps it was an attack against Lord Akkarin."

She sensed movement as Akkarin turned towards her, but she resisted any temptation to look at him, instead she stared back at Balkan. "Perhaps there are those who wish to strike at Lord Akkarin, but are too afraid to attack him directly, so they chose an easier target."

As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she regretted saying them. They didn't fit well with the role she had chosen, that of a simple Healer caught up in events which didn't concern her. Her fears were confirmed when Balkan's sharp gaze bored into her, almost as if he could read her innermost thoughts. Thank the Eye he doesn't have Akkarin's skill, she thought.

"Why do you think that, Lady Jalette?" Balkan asked.

She thought frantically for a moment, "It seemed to be a logical conclusion," she said rather lamely, hoping he would not ask for more details. "It would seem likely that Lord Akkarin has enemies in the Guild."

Balkan looked shocked, "Enemies in the Guild, what a ridiculous thing to say! No, I would say that this attack came from a rogue magician, perhaps one with knowledge of magic other than our own. Wilden probably happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time."

Sonea barely stopped herself from reacting to Balkan's little speech, but of course as Jalette, she wouldn't be aware of the High Lord's real views of the King's Magician or the history between them.

"I shall ask the Administrator to investigate," Balkan went on, "and ask him for a report as soon as possible. In the meantime, I shall ensure the Warriors and the King's Guard are extra vigilant and keep a good lookout for strangers."

Sonea wondered why Akkarin said nothing. She glanced over at him to find him regarding her with a crooked smile on his lips which vanished quickly as he met her gaze. He turned to the High Lord and bowed, "Thank you High Lord," he said, "I shall await the Administrator's report."

Balkan look down and shuffled the papers in front of him, giving the distinct impression that the meeting was over. They bowed again and turned to take the long walk to the door.

"Thank you," whispered Akkarin. "It was very helpful to have someone give Balkan an objective opinion."

Sonea felt her colour rise again at his praise. I will have to get a grip on my blushes, she thought ruefully, or he'll think I'm just a silly Healer!

She was about to reply when her mind was assaulted by several loud mental voices. Akkarin stopped dead at the same time, obviously hearing the same thing. She couldn't sort out what she was hearing. Someone was sending to Akkarin and another was sending to Balkan. There were other alarmed voices in the background. Nothing seemed to make any sense, but there were a few words she could distinguish – attackers was one and help was another. She turned to see the High Lord suddenly rise to his feet, his face showing the tell-tale signs of someone engaged in a complicated mental conversation.

There was a commotion outside, then the door burst open and Administrator Osen rushed into the room.

"High Lord! High Lord, did you hear?" he called as he pushed past Sonea and almost ran to the desk at the far end of the room.

Sonea could hear running footsteps from outside the room. Osen was standing close to the High Lord whispering something in his ear. Akkarin suddenly took her hand and began to pull her towards the door.

"We must hurry," he said quietly. "Go back to your room, gather your potions and stay there until you're called. If it is an attack, Healers will be wanted soon."

With that, he dashed away from her down the corridor and round a corner. If he thinks I'm going to hide in my room, Sonea thought furiously, he has another think coming! She went after Akkarin, not hurrying because she didn't want to run into him. He was heading upwards and she guessed he was going to the Warriors' Walk.

Soon after she emerged onto the Walk, she saw him in the distance, issuing instructions to some of his Warriors. Balkan's Warriors and the King's Guard were milling around, waiting for orders which had yet to come. She looked out over the walls and saw, some distance away, a group of ships, around four in number, pulling steadily for the Fort. There was nothing about them to cause such a disturbance. She grabbed a passing guard and asked what was going on.

"Those ships have refused to acknowledge our hails," he explained hurriedly, "and that doesn't happen round here." There was a shout from a nearby guard, and Sonea's captive pulled his arm free of her and rushed away.

She continued to watch the approaching ships. Still there was nothing untoward as far as she could see. Some distance away from them, she could see one of the King's ships trying to close on them. The ships were sailing close together, as if they were forming an attacking force, but she could see no weapons on the decks. Of course, if they were the Ichani, they would not need ordinary weapons.

Raised voices accompanied the arrival of the High Lord, closely followed by Osen. They pointedly moved away from where Akkarin was standing and were soon surrounded by their own Warriors. Sonea wasn't near enough to hear what was being said and she was reluctant to move closer in case Akkarin noticed her. I've disobeyed him again, she thought in amusement. Even as someone else, I do not do what he says I must!

She noticed that Akkarin had sent his Warriors off and was now alone, staring out to sea. She was afraid he might turn and catch sight of her, so she walked around the walls until she was facing the land side. At first, everything seemed as normal, but as she continued watching she began to see the first signs of something wrong in the Corres Town. It started with a few people running through the twisted streets, then she could hear the rising sounds of panic coming closer and closer to the Fort. Then she heard the sound of distant explosions.