Rothen looked up from his book at the gentle knock on his door, wondering who it could be. It was midday on a Forth Day, and he had indulged in a slow morning in his rooms since he had no lessons that day until the afternoon. Usually, most novices and magicians were in the dining hall at this lunch hour.
"Who is it?"
"It's me, Rothen," came Sonea's quiet voice from behind his door. Rothen leaped to his feet, his book falling off his lap with a soft thud. He sent out magic to open the door after he had composed himself.
Sonea walked in with an armful of books and a wary, small smile. There was a touch of coldness in it, and Rothen instantly felt that pang of regret that had come and gone in waves ever since his tip-off had resulted in Sonea being dragged into that Hearing.
"Sonea! Please, come in. Will you have some raka?" He asked, ringing the bell for Tania. When Tania walked in, the two women beamed at each other and embraced like old friends. Rothen looked on fondly, remembering how they had bonded when Sonea was first captured and brought to the Guild, held under strict supervision in Rothen's rooms until she decided to take the Novice's Vow.
When Tania hurried off to get raka and cakes, Sonea perched on the edge of the couch, still gripped her books to her chest.
"I'm afraid I don't have much time until my next class, but I wanted to come by," Sonea began, sizing up her words carefully. Her face was a mixture of emotions: apology, hurt, righteous anger, concern. "How – how are you?"
Somehow, Rothen could tell there were many other questions underneath that, but he knew he had no right to demand an explanation from Sonea unless she gave one in her own time.
"I'm as well as can be… under the circumstances," he answered quietly. "Thank you for coming. I hope this meeting… will not inconvenience anyone?" Rothen added, pointedly avoiding saying his name.
"That's partly why I wanted to talk to you," Sonea said, looking down at the books in her arms, her cheeks growing faintly pink. "I want us to be able to spend time together again, now that… things have changed."
"And how have they changed?" Rothen asked, his blue eyes piercingly on Sonea's downcast ones.
"You know why they have changed, Rothen," Sonea answered, holding his gaze steadily.
Rothen sighed and broke eye contact first, looking up as Tania entered with sumi, raka and snacks. He waited until she had placed them down and left again.
"Sonea… I just don't understand how…?" He whispered, his brows knitted in confusion.
Sonea looked uncomfortably around the room. "I don't know how to explain. How do these things usually happen? We just… grew close over time. He explained his reasons for why he practices what he does. I understood why taking me hostage and blackmailing you and Lorlen was the only way at the time."
Rothen scoffed, putting down his sumi and reaching for Sonea's hand. She reluctantly let him hold it. "I find that hard to believe, Sonea! We were both terrified. I don't know what story he has spun, but you cannot truly believe it excuses making you his novice against your will, and blackmailing us?"
"Rothen, like I said, it's hard to explain without telling you what he has told me in the strictest confidence. It is not my secret to tell. But the reasons were good enough for me. And they concern all of us in the Guild," she fixed him with an earnest gaze. "I came here to make sure you hear from me that I'm no longer a hostage. I… care for him, and he cares for me," she felt her face heat.
Rothen noticed and his eyebrows raised. "You really do, don't you," he whispered, looking pained.
"You know I'm not some sheltered girl from the Houses, Rothen, to be tricked easily. I had to deal with the Thieves, who tried to hide me from the Guild. You know I tried to run away from them when I realised they were going to turn me in. And let me tell you, Faren was a convincing liar, and I was only seventeen then." Sonea squeezed Rothen's hand reassuredly.
She took a sip of raka then continued. "I know everyone finds it hard to believe I wasn't tricked or manipulated in some way. But I hoped you of all people, Rothen, would believe me. You know more than any other Guild magician about my life as a dwell. You know I wouldn't risk everything for bribes, or some silly infatuation."
"Risk everything?" Rothen's eyebrows knotted.
Sonea quickly cleared her throat, looking like there was a lot more to her comment than she had intended to let on. "Yes, I mean by agreeing to become his official mistress. I know I'm risking my reputation in the Guild, even a chance to rise high in Healing. Do you think I'd do that if I didn;t believe it is more important for… everyone… that Akkarin and I are not parted?"
"But why does it effect everyone?" Rothen's warm blue eyes begged her to reveal more.
She shook her head, and some sadness entered Sonea's black eyes. "Please, Rothen. I've already had to face the Higher Magicians twice in two weeks to say over and over again that I have not been coerced or duped." She put her cup of raka down as if the conversation was at an end. "I am tired of trying to convince everyone that I have a mind of my own and that I – Akkarin and I – made a decision together. If the Hearing hadn't forced our secret out of us, we'd have lived together until I graduated, anyway."
Rothen's eyes looked apologetic when Sonea mentioned the Hearing. "I'm sorry about speaking to Captain Barran, Sonea. I – I thought I was doing the right thing. You must understand. I had no way of knowing so much has changed. Why didn't you start talking to me again after all this started between you two? Why didn't you feel safe enough then to come see me?"
Sonea sighed, then gave Rothen a fond look. She stood up and hugged her books to her chest. "If I could tell you all I know, Rothen, I would. This is much bigger than us, than him. Just know that he is a good person. But as I said, it's not my secret to tell. I wish we'd talked before you'd made that move, but you couldn't have known. And I couldn't have suddenly started talking to you again without giving you an explanation, either. So I hope you can see that things really couldn't have panned out any other way." Sonea's lips then curled into a half-smile that reminded Rothen, for a split second, of the High Lord. But her dark eyes were warmer than his.
Rothen returned her crooked smile. "I guess I can't say that I would have believed you, not after overhearing Administrator Lorlen talk about having seen you and the High Lord… erhm… embrace," he cleared his throat and looked away, embarassed.
"The Administrator said this?" Sonea's gaze sharpened. "Before the Hearing?"
"Yes, weeks before it. That's why I took such a desperate action. From where I stood, it sounded to me like you were now suffering silently as his hostage in every way" – a pained look entered Rothen's eyes – "and that the situation called for an intervention, however risky. When I realised all Lorlen planned to do was take the counsel of the Higher Magicians on the matter – who did nothing – I was infuriated. I'm sorry for what it led to, Sonea, but you see why I did what I did?"
Sonea nodded, sympathy in her eyes. "Yes, I see how things must have looked. Thank you, Rothen, I guess – what you did, you did out of concern for me. But please, don't try to save me again," she added with a grin.
Tears stung Rothen's pale blue eyes but he blinked them back, smiled and nodded. He was relieved when Sonea accepted his outstretched arms and gave him a quick hug.
"I have to get to my afternoon Alchemy class. This was great, Rothen."
"Why don't I come with you? It's Lord Verton's class, isn't it? He has a book of mine on the properties of light. I've been meaning to ask it back," Rothen suggested.
They chatted companionably on route through the Magician's Quarters and out into the grounds, crossing the short distance to the entrance of the University. With every step, Rothen was able to observe how much more like her old self Sonea seemed, and it reassured him little by little. I still don't trust Akkarin, but it's good to see the spirited girl I grew to love like a daughter has returned. Rothen's heart swelled with pride as he listened to Sonea tell him about the advanced Healing techniques she had been learning with Lady Vinara.
There was a seriousness to her demeanor now that he couldn't quite place. She often said things like "this will be really useful knowledge in future" and "should the worst happen" – as if there was something she was preparing for. Rothen tried to ease the questions in his mind by reminding himself that she was simply maturing.
As they reached the second floor of the University, a group of fifth year girls eyed Sonea with unconcealed curiosity. It looked like they were waiting to enter Lord Verton's classroom, so Rothen and Sonea stopped and waited within earshot of the group. The tallest of the girls, with expensive-looking sapphire earrings and waist-length black hair, threw Sonea a look of pure contempt.
"It's shocking to put us maidens of the nobility into the same class as her," this girl said, seemingly at her friend, but loud and clear enough to be intended for Sonea's ears. "Whatever next, exposing us to the rowdy bolhouse crowds? Her very presence in the same room risks our reputations. But I suppose a Guild that allows its leader to keep a slum wench no longer has any regard for virtue," she tossed her hair and turned around.
"Rothen, may I introduce Tania," Sonea whispered through gritted teeth.
"A nasty piece of work," Rothen whispered back. He tried to wink at her lightheartedly, but the words had hurt Sonea. She looked angry, but also confused, like she did not know how to react. Rothen's heart ached. Just when we thought we were past all this after Sonea's defeat of Regin in the arena.
"… mark my words, ladies, if we stand for this, there will soon be more of them in the Guild," Tania had resumed speaking loudly. "The slum girl's success in trapping the High Lord will give dwells all sorts of ideas above their station."
"Trapped, am I?" said a quiet, silky voice with a dangerous inflection at the end of the question.
Tania grew pale as she turned around to find a tall, black robed figure had just come up the staircase. The haughty look on her face was replaced with panic. "High Lord!" All the girls bowed quickly. After missing a beat, Rothen and Sonea followed them with shallower bows.
Akkarin's chiseled, pale face loomed above them. His long, shining black hair was tied back with a deep, dark red ribbon today, a small gesture that nodded to his Warrior discipline. He raised a black eyebrow to emphasise his question, eyes two smoldering chips of coal. When no reply came, he took one step forwards. "Tania of family Rylan, House Velan, isn't it?"
Tania swallowed and nodded. Akkarin took another step towards her. There were two hands' widths between them. As the High Lord looked down at Tania, her cheeks began to grow pink at his proximity, and her breath became ragged.
When Akkarin spoke softly, it managed to sound both darkly sensuous and harsh as a knife's blade. "How disappointing to hear a member of my own House question the authority of the Guild." Tania's chest was falling and rising rapidly in fear as she looked up at him. "Especially when family Rylan has only managed to produce one mediocre magician in generations," Akkarin continued coldly.
Akkarin took a graceful step backwards as the blood seemed to leave Tania's face entirely. By now, a crowd of fifth- and fourth-year novices had gathered, since the ringing of the gong for afternoon classes was going to happen any minute. Sonea saw Regin's curious face in the crowd out of the corner of her eyes.
The High Lord seemed to be waiting for an audience on purpose, making eye contact with the crowd of novices around them. He looked magnificently imposing, a tall magician in his prime. It wasn't only the heavy, rich black robes that gave this impression, either. Sonea's eyes narrowed as she realised Akkarin seemed to have loosened, ever so slightly, the tight shield he kept around his reserves of power. He was allowing just a little bit to emanate from him. And the effect, to anyone with magical ability, was an undeniable sense of the raw, threatening power that this man held. Looking around at the wide eyes of several of the more skilled novices in particular, Sonea knew they had sensed it.
"You have all borne witness to the words of Novice Tania of family Rylan," the High Lord began with a quiet, deep voice that somehow seemed to reverberate to every corner of the second floor. "For the disrespect she has shown my Consort, and thus to me, I hereby defer her graduation by one month. Clearly, there are lessons of personal conduct she has yet to learn, before she can earn the honour of full robes."
Akkarin's dark eyes narrowed, and he turned away from Tania to face the novices around him. "Does anyone else wish to question the authority of the High Lord of the Magicians' Guild of Kyralia?"
Chastised faces all looked down onto the floor one by one. Sonea's eyebrows were raised in surprise at what had just happened. Rothen's mouth was slightly open.
Then Akkarin did something that sealed Sonea's fate. He stepped up to her and held out his hand.
It took Sonea a heartbeat to understand what was happening, but she managed to straighten and school her surprised facial expression into the kind of dignified calm Akkarin had worn throughout the Hearing. Grateful that she had put down her armful of books just moments ago, she extended her trembling right hand towards Akkarin's outstretched palm. He held it with a nobleman's expert etiquette: a featherlight touch. His black eyes never breaking contact with Sonea's, he tilted his head slightly into that polite half-bow magicians gave one another.
A few of the older novices caught on earlier than the rest. In the strict etiquette rules of the Houses, all knew from a young age that it was gravely rude not to follow suit right away if a senior member of your family, the Guild, or the court, bowed to someone. They turned to Sonea and gave her a full bow, with those novices slow to realise eventually following the example. Sonea looked around at the unbelievable sight, then at Rothen, wide-eyed. His eyes seemed to say, how the tables have turned, and he inclined his head towards her with a grin.
The corner of Akkarin's lips twitched upwards for a moment: a glimmer of amusement for Sonea's eyes alone. Her heart beat faster. The past few weeks had been so turbulent, their encounters had mostly been private, where they could be natural in one another's presence. So she had almost forgotten the effect Akkarin could have when he was deliberately looking to exert, in public, his deadly combination of authority and charm. Sonea felt some of the tension leave her shoulders as she realised he had put on a bit of a show deliberately. When I told him I didn't know where I stood, I wasn't quite expecting this, Sonea thought, feeling quite shaken, but also elated.
The High Lord straightened and looked around at the rows of bowed heads and brown robes. Seemingly satisfied with the deference he was observing around him, Akkarin returned his face to that cold mask of dangerous inscrutability everyone knew so well. He turned in a swirl of black robes and headed down the stairs before most of the novices had even straightened from their bows. The gong rang.
"Well," Rothen began as the fifth-years filed past himself and Sonea, eyes downcast. "Would you mind asking Lord Vorten to return my book, Sonea? I think it'll hold much more weight coming from you," he said, the wrinkles around his eyes deepening as he smiled.