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

Merin's Plan

"So what do you think the King wants?" Sonea asked as she idly watched Akkarin pour two large glasses of wine.

Akkarin didn't answer, but concentrated on filling the glasses. Sonea didn't press the matter, Akkarin would answer when he decided to and not before. She had learned that lesson over the years they had been together. Instead, she looked around his rooms. It was some time since she had been there and she noticed several changes. There were new floorcoverings, cheerfully bright, with a deep pile. Several new pieces of furniture were carefully placed, to present a sense of space, rather than the cluttered look she remembered from her first visit. The shelves were full of books and parchments.

There were new curtains and one or two paintings decorated the plain walls. It wasn't the Residence, but it was certainly better than the shabby rooms he had been given on his return to the Guild. It all spoke of a man sorting out the furnishings and seeing to his comfort. It boded well for a long stay. Sonea wasn't sure what she felt about that.

She continued to watch Akkarin, who was standing at the side table which contained a number of bottles of wine, most were Anuran Dark, the kind he favoured, although she did notice one or two bottles of lighter wine lurking at the back. There were bowls of fruit and small plates of sweet tarts set out. He was obviously prepared for visitors.

Her own comfort had been catered for. A dish of her favourite sweetmeats had been placed on the small table next to her chair. She had already sampled some and they were good, too good, because there were not very many left.

Akkarin handed her the wine and settled himself in the chair opposite. He raised his own glass to his lips and took a swallow. "A good vintage," he remarked, and took another mouthful.

Sonea was bursting with impatience to find out what Akkarin knew of the king's plans, but she resolutely stopped herself from asking her question again. Instead, she sipped her own wine, "Yes, you can really taste the fruit. It's obviously a good quality wine."

Akkarin looked at her and smiled, a deep, warm smile. There was a gleam in his eye and she knew he had read impatience in her surface thoughts. She smiled sweetly back and waited.

"I have a gift for you," he said unexpectedly, reaching down by the side of his chair and picking up a black velvet bag. He tossed it over to her and she opened it eagerly. Inside something was wrapped in more black velvet. She pulled the object out and began unwrapping it. It was a pendant of some sort, made of gold, hanging from a long golden chain. It was heavy. She turned it over in her hands, it was elaborately carved on both sides with a design of leaves and flowers.

"To remind you of your green magic source," he said smiling. "Open it."

She fumbled with the pendant, it was thick and was obviously made of two halves but she couldn't see how to undo it. The edges were smooth, there was no sign of a hinge or catch. She opened her magic source and let the power flow through her. Now she could see a tiny indentation on one edge. Her fingers seemed too big and clumsy to work the opening. Let your magic do it, she told herself.

The pendant clicked open suddenly and immediately she could feel a tingling along her skin, a sign of powerful magic. Looking inside, she saw a piece of sparkling rock.

"A piece of Corres Fort," she breathed, feeling the energy from it flow into her.

"Yes, there is a lot of power in even the smallest piece of stone and we can use it to focus and increase the strength of our own magic. It will make us stronger and harder to defeat. I have one just like it."

It was not often that Akkarin gave her a gift which made each one even more precious. She went over to him and put her arms around him, "Thank you," she said simply, kissing him gently on his mouth. She could taste the wine on his lips and suddenly she was annoyed that they had to go to see the King. She would have preferred a quiet evening alone with Akkarin.

He took the pendant from her and looped the chain over her head. "Wear it always, but keep it hidden and never reveal what is inside. We still have enemies here in the Guild but with the power of Corres stone, we cannot be easily taken."

"The pendants are not the only thing I brought from Corres. I have two small blocks of stone which can be used to make further talismans if necessary. They, too, will be hidden. I do not want anyone to start trying to unlock the magic from the stone. That would be unwise and dangerous."

Sonea frowned, "You think that our enemies are still active in the Guild?"

"Of course, but Balkan's death has unsettled them and it will take some time before they can rekindle their efforts. Without the High Lord to back up their actions, it will be more difficult to act, but that will not stop some of them."

"They will be disappointed at the outcome of the Hearing today. I am sure some hoped that I would be blamed in some way for Balkan's death. Luckily, Regin is well known to be an enemy of mine, so his evidence cannot be easily discounted. Of course, Merin had no intention of letting blame rest on me, but Regin's words made his task so much easier."

Sonea opened her mouth to speak, but Akkarin forestalled her, "There is no time to discuss this now, we must go to the King."

ooo OOO ooo

Merin's private study was warm and welcoming. The furniture had seen better days, but the King obviously preferred well used comfort to the perfect, but mainly uncomfortable furniture found in other parts of the Palace. The King poured their wine himself and, after some general conversation, sorted through some papers on his desk.

"Akkarin has told me of the crucial part you played in the defence of Corres Fort, Lady Sonea," he said, his voice less glacial than usual. "You are a powerful magician and, like Akkarin, have special skills in certain areas."

Sonea fought the urge to laugh at the way the King described black magic, and continued to look at him with a bland but interested expression stuck firmly to her face.

"Loyal service to Kyralia and the Allied Lands should be rewarded."

Merin held out a scroll and Sonea, after an uncertain glance towards Akkarin, took it. She undid the ribbon and unrolled it. At first, she couldn't quite take in what it said. Then as her mind cleared she read a brief description of a small estate which had been gifted to Lady Sonea, of family Verrin, House Velan.

Startled, she looked up and caught the King staring at her. He smiled awkwardly, "Yes, what you read is true. You are no longer a dwell, but a member of a House, with your own family. Your son will be part of that and inherit the estate in due course. When he joins the Guild, there will be no doubt about his status."

"Thank you, Your Majesty, but this is not necessary. I am sworn to defend magic in the Allied Lands….."

The King held up his hand, stopping her mid-sentence, "I deem it necessary, Lady Sonea. The estate and its lands will provide for you and your son, so that you can live in the style appropriate to a member of one of the Houses."

His cold, but firm tone indicated the end of the discussion and Sonea fell into silence as the King turned to Akkarin.

"Now we must discuss your future with the Guild…"

Sonea's mind was whirling. A member of one of the Houses; she had never dreamed of such a thing! Does this make marriage to Akkarin more acceptable? No, no, I mustn't think of that. But her treacherous mind would not let go of the thought. A lady of a noble house might marry a former High Lord and there would be no one to say he had forsaken his birthright. Not true! They would say once a dwell always a dwell. Dressing up a pig in fine clothing did not make it a prince.

She read the scroll more carefully. Her new possession consisted of a house, extensive grounds and several farms in the surrounding area. There was no indication of where it was, although she got the impression that it was nowhere near Imardin. Did the King expect her to go off to live on the estate, leaving Akkarin in the Guild? Was it Merin's plan to separate his friend from someone he had never liked and who he regarded as not worthy of the former High Lord?

"No."

The sound of Akkarin's quiet but firm refusal brought Sonea back to the present. She looked at the two men. Merin's face was as dark as a thundercloud. Akkarin's was unreadable.

"It would be for the best, Akkarin, you must see that." Merin leaned forward as if to lend force to his words. "You are the best choice, there's no-one else remotely capable of doing what needs to be done."

Instead of answering, Akkarin got up and went to fill his glass. He took a long swallow, then put the glass down with a thump. He began to pace round the room. Sonea knew this was his way of keeping his temper under control. Whatever the King had asked, it had disturbed Akkarin.

Ignoring the formalities and the King, Sonea asked Akkarin directly what the matter was, but he didn't answer, just continued his pacing. Then he stopped and returned to his chair. He sat down and stared at the King.

"No, Merin, I will not do it?"

"For the Eye's sake, not do what?" Sonea asked sharply.

Akkarin turned to her, "The King wishes me to put myself forward for election as High Lord."

Sonea was both unsurprised and shocked at the same time. She knew that Merin saw Akkarin as a friend and as a trustworthy Advisor. He had long regretted the loss of Akkarin and resented the way Balkan had treated him, so it was only natural that he would wish to see Akkarin once more restored to the leadership of the Guild. It was logical too. Akkarin was the most powerful magician in the Guild and traditionally only the strongest were selected to stand for election. That was how he became High Lord originally, although no-one knew then that his power came from forbidden magic.

But it was still a shock to hear the King's plan. Sonea had always had a rather hazy idea of what their life would be like if they were to remain living in the Guild. When she had thought about it, she had envisioned some sort of studious existence where she and Akkarin continued to extend and develop their magic skills. She had never envisaged a return to the Residence, with Akkarin once more in the silken robes of the High Lord.

Both men were looking at her, obviously expecting some sort of comment, but for once her mind was blank. She couldn't think of anything helpful to say to either man.

"What are your reasons for refusing my request?" Merin's tone was kingly, as if he hoped to intimidate Akkarin into accepting.

Akkarin sighed, "High Lords are rather like Kings, Merin. They hold their position for life. I doubt there are any cases in the whole history of the Guild where a former disgraced High Lord has returned to power." He held up his hand to forestall Merin, who looked as if he wanted to interrupt. "I know that you pardoned me and I am once again a Guild magician, but to move from that to putting myself forward for re-election, that's a step too far. "

"I agreed to your request to return and to try to put things right. I did that because it was my fault that things went wrong in the first place. I have done what I can to cleanse the Warriors of the taint imposed by Balkan's use of them as spies. Wilden and my special group have been working hard with the others to bring them back to understanding what a Warrior is and what a Warrior is not. The deaths of Balkan and Osen gives the Guild a chance to elect a High Lord who can bring change, can sweep the Guild clean of all the sickness of the last few years. I am not that man, Merin. I cannot go back and hope to achieve everything that needs to be done. Many in the Guild still do not trust me and they wouldn't follow me. Instead of a Guild where everyone works towards the same goal, there would be factions and groups, some supporting me and what needs to be done, and many who would not. It would be like Balkan's regime all over again. That is not what the Guild needs and you know it, Merin."

Several times during this speech, the King had looked as if he wished to say something, but when Akkarin finished, and there was silence, he remained mute. It seemed as if Akkarin had already disposed of any argument the King might make.

"Let me go, Merin," Akkarin said softly. "If you need me, I will come and be your King's Magician, but I cannot be the High Lord any more."

"Where will you go?" Merin sounded defeated, his voice flat.

Akkarin smiled, "We have a comfortable home well away from towns or villages, where we can live undisturbed. We have Sonea's estate to visit and money to buy all the books and materials necessary to further our study of higher magic. We will still work to protect the Allied Lands, but in our own way, out of the sight of others."

"It's for the best, Merin. If you value my advice and trust me, you must trust me in this matter too."

Merin stared directly into Akkarin's eyes for a moment as if by doing so, somehow Akkarin would change his mind. Sonea wondered if he knew that both she and Akkarin could read the panic and desperation in his surface thoughts. She found herself feeling sorry for the King, which surprised her. Then, as she watched, she saw resignation and then acceptance begin to wash through his thoughts.

Merin stood and came round to where Akkarin was rising to his feet. The King put his arm across his friend's shoulders, "I know I can rely on you, my friend, but it will be hard not to have your advice to hand when things are difficult."

"When things are very difficult and you have nowhere else to turn, Merin, send for me, Lorlen will know how to find me."

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