The day had been almost as awful as her earliest days in the Guild. Almost. There were two differences between the pointed stares, the scrunched up faces, and the whispers about slum dwellers that had followed Sonea around constantly in her first year, and what had transpired today. One, the majority of novices immediately stopped their whispers as soon as Sonea was in earshot. No doubt they now feared being reported directly, and very personally, to the High Lord. Sonea almost laughed bitterly. As if she and Akkarin had the time – in between killing of Ichani spies – to lie in bed talking about petty novice rumours.
The other was that the teachers who had warmed to her over the years now suddenly grew cold. I don't even have the goodwill I'd once been given out of pity, Sonea thought. Magicians who had always been kind to her – or those who had been strict but encouraging – had looked either uncomfortable or disapproving in her presence today.
What really hurts is that I've lost their respect, even though novices have done worse, Sonea thought in frustration. Regin regularly made thirteen novices attack me in our first year, knowing their combined strikes would have killed…
Ah, said a voice in Sonea's head, but you have now learned and killed with black magic. How can you demand their respect when you have not respected your own Novices' Vows?
A combination of guilt and anger had been Sonea's constant companion all day. First, anger at the treatment she and Akkarin were facing. After all, not only were there no clear Guild rules about their relationship, but he had been silently protecting everyone for years at great personal risk. The hypocrisy! Sonea seethed. Then she would grow worried. But I have committed a crime. They disapprove of me for the wrong reason, but I am guilty.
Sonea leaped out of her chair as the gong indicating the end of the evening classes finally rang. She was out the door before the old Alchemist leading the lecture could peer at her sternly from behind his glasses yet again.
She cursed under her breath as she saw the crowd in the hallway. Several classrooms were emptying at the same time. Pushing through the sea of brown robes would only draw more attention to herself, so she held her bag to her chest and took slow steps in the direction of the staircase, stuck behind everyone walking to the dining hall.
"It's a mystery, isn't it, Ellana," said a loud, haughty voice in Sonea's ear, clearly raised enough to grab her attention. "How she managed it, given that's what she's got to work with."
Sonea gritted her teeth and tried to look straight ahead towards the staircase.
"Oh, who knows what they learn in the slums, Tania," came the reply. "I'm sure she has ways of snaring a man without beauty or breeding." Sonea recognised the two fifth-year girls from some time ago in the library.
"Won't you reveal your secret, Sonea?" Tania now addressed her directly. Sonea had no choice but to stop and look at her. Her elegantly painted lips were twisted into an arrogant sneer, going for that careless disdain Sonea knew well from Regin. But Tania's green eyes were burning with a jealousy she was struggling to hide behind her disgust. "Well? Just how did you seduce the High Lord? What do you have that us women of his House do not?"
Interesting, Sonea thought. Tania must be taking this very personally if she is of House Velan. From the little she remembered of Rothen's explanations about Kyralian aristocracy, matches between families that shared the same House were considered ideal, as wealth could remain within the fold but the chance of being too closely related was low.
Well, she has little reason to take it so hard. Just because Akkarin and I are lovers does not mean we will marry. These snobs and their ways, Sonea thought. The idea of marriage never crossed her mind while she and Akkarin were together. Once again, she silently thanked her upbringing in the slums, where money was rarely the reason people got together. Even dwells who have a little don't hoard it as closely as this lot, Sonea scoffed mentally.
But Tania's words did twist something in her chest. Will we even live long enough to consider what our future will be?
She was jerked out of her thoughts by Ellana's shrill voice. "First you get him to make you his novice so you can live with him, and then it's quick work from there, I imagine. Tainted the High Lord's drink one night with some potion used in the whorehouses?"
Sonea finally spotted a path opening in the crowd of novices, but felt a claw-like grip on her upper arm before she could move. Tania had grabbed her, breathing heavily in anger. "Answer me when I speak to you," she hissed.
Sonea let the weakest of a forcestrike weave up the length of her own arm. Tania let out a yelp and let go of Sonea's forearm as it suddenly came into contact with her hand. It was the subtlest reminder of the fact that, when it came to magic, your family name, your House, and your money didn't matter; what mattered was skill and raw power. Tania looked scared for a split second. That type of forcestrike, snaking defensively up her arm instead of issued forth as a strike, was something Sonea had learned privately with Lord Yikmo.
"No wonder Akkarin avoids the women of House Velan," Sonea said, looking at Tania with disdain. Ellana gasped, as if Sonea's use of the High Lord's name had confirmed something despicable. But Tania blushed in anger and avoided Sonea's gaze. Looks like I've hit a nerve – maybe she has attempted and failed to get Akkarin's attention.
Turning her back on the two girls, Sonea decided the risk of drawing attention was worth getting out of the University building quickly.
She let out a breath only after her feet touched the grass outside the University. Making for the small, grey building in the middle distance, she wished for nothing more than the normality of walking into the residence to find Akkarin in his chair in the foyer. Sonea almost released a humourless laugh. To think that I would crave the routine that I once endured as a hostage…
One thing Sonea knew for sure: if she hadn't done what she'd done at yesterday's trial, Akkarin may not have woken up today with his title, in his residence. But they had not yet spoken yet, and Sonea began to feel her chest tighten as she approached the building. What will I find there? Gratitude or disapproval?
—
"All looked in order to me," Lorlen said to the Higher Magicians as they all exited the King's reception room. Akkarin glided silently behind them, his face neutral. The magicians inclined their heads politely at two of the King's advisors, who had just produced the invoices the Hearing had required. The advisors left through a side door.
"Of course, it would have been helpful if every meeting had been recorded. Then we would know all of the… individuals the High Lord met were under the King's employ," Balkan tried to keep his voice light, but his eyes glinted sharply with attention.
"True, Lord Balkan," Lorlen replied. "But given the nature of these individuals' employment, I don't know if that can be expected. The King's advisors mentioned that lump sums are paid monthly, but the timings of meetings are decided between the High Lord and the informants. Is that right?"
"It is, Administrator," Akkarin replied, his tone as calm and matter-of-fact as it had been since he had been taken to the arena two days ago. "However, I am happy to produce a record of my own schedule for these meetings, if you wish, Lord Balkan. I've kept coded notes for myself on who I meet and what they reported. Of course, these notes aren't comprehensive – sometimes, if a contact in the city has time-sensitive information, we meet outside our planned schedule."
"Understandable, given the nature of this work, I suppose," Lord Balkan replied with a nod. However, his tone suggested he had noted this potential loophole.
"Well, if everyone is satisfied, shall we return to the Guild?" Lorlen asked.
Lady Vinara, Lord Sarrin and Lord Balkan all nodded, and the five of them walked out the palace door, with Akkarin bringing up the rear. As they made for the outer gates, where two Guild carriages awaited, Lorlen slowed his pace to fall in step with the High Lord.
– I suggest you come up with something to discourage Lord Rothen from his efforts, Akkarin, Lorlen thought, hoping the High Lord heard him through his ring. I assume you know he was the one who tipped off Captain Barran?
– I do, Akkarin replied, his mental voice pensive. Perhaps I overestimated his devotion to Sonea. I blackmailed him with her safety, but he decided to act anyway.
– I think he acted precisely because he is devoted to her. He was angry and desperate, like a powerless father. Lorlen gave Akkarin a sidelong glance. Well, he clearly made a mistake, seeing as you weren't where he said you'd be.
– Indeed, Akkarin replied noncommittally.
They walked towards the golden gates where all carriages had to wait. Akkarin could sense that Lorlen was agitated, and expected him to reassure him, in no uncertain terms, that he had not been the man Barran had seen.
– So, how do you propose I discourage Rothen from another ill-fated attempt to bring about my downfall? Thanks to the revelation you forced out of us yesterday, I can no longer pretend Sonea is my hostage, Akkarin sent through the ring, a sardonic mood accompanying the mental voice in Lorlen's head.
Lorlen sighed in thought as they paused, waiting for the three Heads of disciplines to climb into their seats in the first carriage. He and Akkarin got into the second one.
– I tried, and he bypassed me, Lorlen replied mentally. You, I doubt he can even tolerate seeing at the moment. The only person who can persuade him to drop his idea of 'rescuing' Sonea, is Sonea herself.
– I agree. I'll talk to her this evening, Akkarin replied as they began the short journey from palace to Guild.
Lorlen pursed his lips slightly at the way Akkarin said that, as if life would just go on unchanged.
"You know we'll have the review whether it's even appropriate for her to continue to live in your residence, or be your novice. We haven't yet had a chance to look at the Guild records for a precedent on how to proceed," Lorlen said out loud, now that he and Akkarin were alone in the carriage.
Akkarin looked out of the window. For a moment the Administrator was surprised to notice the faintest touch of silver on his friend's temples. They were both thirty-two, but his travels had accelerated Akkarin's maturity, giving him his dignified but slightly intimidating air. Lorlen knew the years had aged him too, but not quite in the same way. He felt a familiar twinge of indignation as the feeling of being locked out of his former best friend's life.
"By all means, Lorlen, do your research. But there is no reason to disrupt Sonea's living arrangements in the meantime. She is two weeks away from her fifth-year entry exams," Akkarin said.
His mental voice sounded disinterested, but he had sat directly opposite Lorlen, and in that moment turned his piercing black eyes away from the scene outside the window and onto Lorlen's face. Lorlen read a kind of protective threat in Akkarin's eyes that reminded him of just how little he now knew of the man.
"Fifth-year entrance exams at the end of her third year? What need to race through her studies like this…" Lorlen replied.
"Her private tutors have reported to me that they have now covered all forth-year material with Sonea. I hope our Guild can still pride itself on nurturing exceptional talent," Akkarin replied. "Or is its primary task now to satisfy the rule book?" An eyebrow raised almost imperceptibly.
"Rules can ensure talent is channelled wisely," Lorlen said. He couldn't help but take Akkarin's criticism a little personally – even since becoming Administrator, Lorlen had more often than not become the mouthpiece of Guild rules and regulations.
He wanted to move away from the slightly combative mental tone that their unspoken conversation had begun to take. But if he was going to agree to them living together for now, Lorlen also wanted to remind Akkarin of some of his urgent concerns. How to put this? He pondered.
"Well, at twenty, the fifth-years are also Sonea's age mates. So I suppose it makes sense," Lorlen said. "I… do hope she will be considered on her merits, rather than any other reason," he then added delicately.
Akkarin had never been one to miss the undercurrent of a statement. His eyes snapped back to his. "You mean to say, Lorlen, that you hope I will not pressure Sonea's teachers to pass her? If there is one thing I haven't done, my friend, is use my authority to override due process in this Guild. I'm disappointed you think I would start now."
Lorlen fidgeted in his seat as the carriage rocked its way free of the cobblestones of the Inner Circle and entered the smoothly paved road that led to the Guild gates. He looked out the window to dispel the discomfort Akkarin's words raised. Lorlen had sensed an unexpected bit of hurt via the ring.
"I didn't mean that, Akkarin. If anything, you showed almost too little interest in Sonea's studies before this year, allowing the poor girl to suffer Regin's bullying." Lorlen locked eyes apologetically with Akkarin. "What I meant was… I hope that her examiners will assess Sonea for her impressive abilities, rather than according to whether or not they disapprove of her… personal life."
Akkarin's nostrils flared subtly in contained anger. "I see. Thank you for sharing your concerns, Lorlen," he replied. Lorlen could tell the possibility bothered him. He felt the slight sensation in his mind that happened when Akkarin snapped his attention away from the ring.
The Administrator sighed, embarrassed to have brought this up. By now, he had picked up enough over the past few days from a range of signs – glances, facial expressions – that whatever was happening between him and Sonea, it was mutual. Akkarin had, uncharacteristically, been too distracted since the Hearing to shield the mood of his mind from Lorlen's blood ring, even though he shielded his thoughts. Lorlen didn't need to be able to hear Akkarin's thoughts, however, to come to interesting conclusions about the mix of possessiveness, concern and anticipation that emanated from the ring whenever he discussed Sonea.
The three Higher Magicians stepped out of the carriage ahead of them, and approached.
"Administrator. Shall we have some refreshments in my office to discuss the last remaining item raised in the Hearing?" Balkan asked, giving Akkarin a quick glance. Lorlen knew he meant the relationship between the High Lord and his novice.
"Yes, let's proceed," Lorlen said, inclining his head politely
"Do you require my presence, Lord Balkan?" Akkarin asked. Oh yes, that's definitely silver at the temples, Lorlen thought as he looked at the High Lord in the strong midday sun. And annoyingly, he looks even better with it, of course.
"As part of our deliberations, we will need to interview yourself and Sonea separately in due course, High Lord," Balkan replied, looking uncomfortable. "But that will likely not be today."
Akkarin bowed to them all then turned around, heading in the direction of his own residence with black robes billowing behind him.
As Lorlen followed the Higher Magicians towards Balkan's office, he felt relieved to have mentioned what he did. Now that he had an inkling about the strength of feeling between them, he hoped they were seriously considering what may happen if they refused to end things. The revelation of their relationship would disadvantage Sonea more than it would the High Lord. And Lorlen suspected that, if Akkarin's cold rage just now was any indication, the High Lord knew this. And he was at a loss about how to protect Sonea from it.