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

The Return to the Fort

Sonea once more in the guise of a Healer, pushed her way forward to hang over the walls of the Fort, not far from the huge towers which guarded the Landgate, in order to catch a first glimpse of the procession now making its way from the town. Balkan and Osen had been particularly disciplined and no mental pictures or sounds of their ordeal had been sent, but Akkarin's request for a party of Warriors had been widely heard, so the Fort's inhabitants knew that something unusual had happened.

After leaving Akkarin and Regin guarding the bodies of Guild dead, Sonea had hurried back to the Fort, hoping she could get back into the Fort the same way she had left it, undetected. She was somewhat concerned about whether she could find the hidden path, but in the event, she didn't have to worry. Someone had decided to open the Landgate and let in the crowd outside, so she managed to re-enter the Fort along with some townspeople with no questions asked and without drawing attention to herself.

Luckily she was able to join the group of magicians milling around the entrance and there was so much confusion that no one commented on her sudden appearance nor asked where she had been. From what she could hear of their various conversations, many were curious about Akkarin's request for Warriors. No-one knew where the High Lord was as one of his Warriors had gone to his rooms to ask if Akkarin's request should be granted, but had found them empty. As yet, there was no concern about Balkan's absence. High Lords were known for coming and going unannounced, but people were curious about what he might be doing.

Someone said loudly that Akkarin was obviously in difficulty if he needed help, while others were more interested in what he might want with extra Warriors. Many expressed surprise that Akkarin was outside the walls and wondered just what he was doing there. Most questioned his motives. A variety of suspicions were voiced, but no one, as far as she could discover, knew the real reason for his urgent request.

As she loitered near a group of Healers, she mulled over her brief conversation with Akkarin. Did he know she was Jalette? Had he been playing some sort of game with all the flirtation and remarks with hidden meanings? On the one hand, she was well aware that Akkarin was clever and quick at reading the smallest of signs, so she told herself that of course he must know! But, then again, she remembered, he had not seemed keen to spend much time in her company since they had been back at the Guild. Perhaps he had simply lost interest in her and was attracted to the pretty young Healer? She just didn't know what to think. By the Eye, Akkarin can be frustrating to deal with, she thought, not without some wry amusement. But how dull life with a more ordinary lover would be, though! But then again, she mused, I wouldn't be in this endless wheel of thinking one thing, then the exact opposite over and over again!

"Ah, there you are! I've been looking for you" Kelda's voice came loudly from behind her.

Sonea turned and replied mildly, "I've been here for quite a while, but I didn't see you in the crowd."

"Well, no matter, I've found you now!" Kelda sounded rather put out, but Sonea decided to ignore that.

"What do you want?" Sonea asked politely.

"Have you heard? The High Lord has vanished, and the Administrator with him, and no one knows what has happened to them."

Sonea shook her head, "I was watching the people flooding into the Fort and wondering where they were going to stay. How do people know the High Lord is missing? He may have gone to investigate something or other."

Kelda frowned, "I think it's very suspicious. Not only has Balkan vanished, but Akkarin is outside in the town. You must have heard his request for Warriors"

"Yes I did, but I didn't realise he was outside the Fort. Do you think the High Lord is with him?"

Kelda's frown deepened, "I hadn't thought of that! That makes Akkarin's message all the more curious. When he returns, I want you to join him and see what you can find out."

Sonea inwardly sighed. She had hoped Kelda's interest in her flirtation would have receded by now but it seemed she still had a use for her latest spy. She allowed a keen expression to cross her face as she assured Kelda that finding Akkarin would be her only priority.

Kelda smiled, "I knew I could count on you. You've been a great help, Jalette. We've tried before with other young women, but no one else has managed to hold Akkarin's interest like you."

Sonea didn't know whether to be pleased or not by this praise. Her mind returned to her present preoccupation – did Akkarin know who 'Jalette' really was or had his interest truly been aroused by an attractive and attentive young magician?

She remembered bitter words one morning when her uncle came home after a heavy night in the bol house. 'Men, once they have what they want so desperately, soon go looking for new excitement anywhere they can find it,' her aunt had said as she grimly watched her husband stagger over to the bed and collapse on to it, stale vomit staining the front of his shirt. Perhaps Akkarin wanted a change after so many years cooped up with her in the Steelbelt Ranges. They had been rather forced together by circumstances after all.

She resolutely refused to continue this train of thought. It was pointless because she could find no convincing lasting answer to her many questions. Kelda was looking after her expectantly so she was obviously waiting for a reply to something. Sonea smiled apologetically, "I'm sorry, what did you say?"

Kelda grinned, "Judging by the expression on your face, you seem pleased that Akkarin is drawn to you." Her grin vanished quickly and she put a warning hand on Sonea's arm, "But don't be fooled by his easy charm. He's a very dangerous man, so beware of falling under his spell."

"No, I won't forget. But he is rather charming, you know, despite his cold and distant manner." She noticed that Kelda was frowning at her again, so she gave herself a mental shake, plastered a false smile on her lips and asked brightly, "What was it you wanted to ask me?"

"I said I'll leave you to find Akkarin and discover what you can. I'll come and find you in the dining hall later."

With that, Kelda abruptly turned away and disappeared into the crowd. Sonea was annoyed with herself for speaking rather warmly about Akkarin's charm. She wasn't supposed to like him and Kelda was already concerned that perhaps Jalette was in danger of liking him a little too much.

That encounter had taken place more than fifteen minutes ago, and now she found herself on the Warriors' Walk with most of the others, peering over the walls waiting to see Akkarin's return. She wondered what the reaction would be when the bodies of Balkan and Osen were identified. Most would assume that Akkarin was somehow the cause of their deaths. She wondered what Regin would have to say about it all.

The flat area outside the Fort was now empty of people and all was quiet. There was a sense of tension in the air as everyone strained to see. Into the silence, the sound of boots striking against stone slowly grew nearer. Then, Sonea saw the tall, black clad figure of Akkarin leading a small procession towards the Fort. Close by him paced the scarlet figure of Regin. They were moving slowly and with reverence. Behind them came two columns of Warriors, each column bearing on their shoulders a bier upon which rested a body. A little way behind them came more Warriors carrying their dead comrades.

The silence at the Fort was now so thick, a knife could have cut it. Sonea found herself holding her breath and noticed her companions were doing the same. Then she heard the first whispers as people tried to see who the fallen were. It did not take long for them to notice the white robes and the blue and the crimson stains.

"The High Lord! The High Lord!" Many voices called out the news. In amongst those voices, Sonea heard one or two calling out Osen's name. Then, as one, the crowd on the Warriors' Walk turned and rushed for the staircase, Sonea among them. The river of people rushed down and down, until they reached the entrance hall. As they did so, the enormous doors opened silently and Akkarin led the procession inside.

The Fort's Commander stood uneasily to one side, surrounded by a few members of the King's Guard, staring at the magicians crowded into the entrance hall. His life and the life of his Fort, to say nothing of his command, had been severely tested in recent hours and he looked rather like a man who's carefully ordered life was slipping out of his control. He said nothing as the Warriors carefully laid their biers down.

Now all could see the lifeless figures clearly, the gaping wounds and the drying blood stains. For a moment, there was silence, then the voices began calling out their questions, some people openly sobbing as they moved nearer the bodies. The mood of the crowd was becoming ugly. Those at the back pushed those at the front ever closer to the biers at an increasing rate. It looked as if there would soon be a river of people engulfing the dead magicians.

At once a shield snapped into place around the biers just before the press of people reached them. There were loud angry murmurings and Akkarin stepped forward.

"Stand back," he warned, "for your own safety and to protect our High Lord and his Administrator from further disturbance."

His calm words settled the crowd for a moment and Sonea began to breathe more easily. There was still a lot of muttering and she was conscious of a medley of mental voices. Then a loud voice from somewhere behind Sonea called out.

"So you finally killed our High Lord, Traitor!"

Heads turned rapidly to see who had spoken. Then another voice sounded, adding to the accusation, then another and another, until the noise swelled to fill the vast entrance hall.