Akkarin seethed internally as the Higher Magicians continued to fire questions at Sonea, eventually forcing her to admit to killing the Ichani woman. What was she thinking? She knew the risks—he had explicitly told her what the punishment was for learning black magic before he had taught her. She had also agreed to do what he had told her to do. With Rothen's testimony added to her own, she likely would have had no more than a slap on the wrist for reading the books, perhaps not even that if they believed he had somehow coerced her into doing so. With her admission, however, she had invited her own execution.

In the back of his mind, he could not help but wonder why she had done what she did. While a truthful person, he knew that her upbringing ensured she could manipulate the truth to serve her purposes. If she had wanted to keep her knowledge of black magic a secret, she could have done so without much trouble. But she did not. A small part of him wondered if perhaps she might have done it out of concern for him, but he quickly squashed that thought. Whatever her reasons, Sonea had just made his job much harder.

As the Higher Magicians deliberated, Akkarin listened through the blood ring, relaxing slightly when they decided on exile. While some small part of him had hoped that the Guild would trust him enough to listen to his reasons and keep him in Imardin, he could sense the fear emanating from the magicians around him. He knew that they were afraid of what he might do, afraid that he would turn on them with whatever dark knowledge he had learned. They were foolish, of course—if he had truly wanted to turn on the Guild, he would have done so long before. However, it had taken Akkarin many years to come to terms with using black magic, and on some days, he was still not sure he had done the right thing, so he could understand the fear. It was why he had worked so hard to keep his knowledge a secret. At least exile gave him the chance of coming back. Though it had been years since he was in Sachaka, the memories he had would never leave him, and he knew he could make his way back over the mountains. The Ichani, of course, posed a problem, but perhaps if they were focused on Kyralia, they would not notice him. And if he could keep Sonea in the Guild—something Lorlen and Rothen seemed to be working hard on doing—she could prepare them while he made his way back.

Lorlen called for the vote and announced the punishment that Akkarin had known he would receive. He could not resist a final challenge, however, and his eyes met Merin's, forcing him to confirm the punishment. After years of friendship and collaboration, he hoped Merin would realize that Akkarin was loyal to the Guild and Kyralia. But of course, Merin was sometimes just as easily led by his emotions as others. His eyebrows rose before he said firmly, "I do." They announced Sonea's punishment next, and Akkarin felt a weight lift from his chest when they declared that she could stay in the Guild. He had heard the Higher Magicians agree to it, but there was always a chance that they would relent. Once more, however, Sonea seemed determined to wreck his plans.

"Sonea, do you accept this judgment?" Lorlen asked.

"No." Her voice carried a surprising amount of anger, and Akkarin wondered once more just what was fuelling her decisions. He saw Lorlen look his way, obviously wondering the same.

What have you done to the girl, Akkarin? Lorlen asked in his mind, but Akkarin did not answer.

"Stay," he told her softly. "There is no sense in both of us going."

She turned to him, and he could see the determination mixed with anger written clearly on her face. "I made Takan a promise to take care of you. I intend to keep it."

He doubted her determination was all about a promise made to his servant who she barely knew. His eyes narrowed. "Sonea-"

"Don't tell me I'll get in the way," she said fiercely but quietly. "That didn't stop me before, and it won't now. I know where they're sending you. I'm coming with you, whether you like it or not." Turning back to the front, she raised her voice. "If you send High Lord Akkarin into exile, you must send me, too. Then, when you come to your senses, he might still be alive and able to help you."

The hall was silent though the volume of the surface thoughts that swirled in Akkarin's head increased dramatically. However, his mind would not focus on them, for it was too focused on digesting what had just happened. Though he was still angry with Sonea for her defiance, he could not help but feel another emotion as well. Of all the magicians in the Guildhall, she was the only one who had believed his reasons for what he did instead of condemning him immediately. And while he had perhaps shown her more evidence than the others, he had also inspired more fear in her than he had in anyone else, thus giving her far more that she needed to forgive. And yet, after everything that he had done to her, she had not only believed him but insisted on helping him. She was still insistent on helping him. Somehow, despite everything, she trusted him. Even his best friend had not done that—Akkarin had seen in Lorlen's mind how quickly his friend had condemned him. It was why he had used a blood ring instead of trying to explain himself; he had known even then that the explanation would not be enough. Except for Sonea. There was something special about her, something more than just the power she commanded or the fact that she was the first Natural in known memory. And he had condemned her to a likely death.

Lorlen came forward to speak the ritual words as he tore Akkarin's robes, and Akkarin could not help but stare at his friend, part accusingly, part sadly. The fact of the matter was, Lorlen had the best chance of anyone to help the trial turn out differently, but he had let his prejudices against black magic override any other feelings in the end. It hurt, but Akkarin knew that it was mostly his fault.

The ritual of casting him out and the subsequent ride through the city did not bother Akkarin as much as it might once have done. Sachaka had changed him irrevocably, and not just because it was there he had learned black magic. He had not cared about House politics in a long time and, while he had always done his best to be a good leader for the Guild, he had never concerned himself with what those in the Guild thought of him. He had enough trouble with the normal duties of the High Lord as well as the Ichani threat.

However, as they rode farther from Imardin, there was one thing that weighed on his mind. Or rather, a person. Sonea. Despite all of his attempts to keep suspicion away from her, she had still ended up exiled with him. And though she had essentially chosen her fate by refusing to accept the Guild's judgment, he could not be angry with her. No, after everything that had happened, there was only one person he was angry with—himself.

They changed clothes at the border, Akkarin's mind already working through a plan. No matter what, he would keep Sonea safe and not just because of a promise he had made to Rothen during the ceremonial banishment. He would do it because he refused to watch another woman he loved die. It was time for him to face his past and overcome his mistakes. It was ironic, truly, that he should do so in the same place where everything began—Sachaka.

Sonea followed him silently into the wastelands of Sachaka. He sensed her confusion and fear, but he ruthlessly pushed those emotions aside, forcing himself to focus on the situation. He had heard the mental call about their banishment as well as Kariko's laughing response, so the Ichani knew they were in Sachaka. That meant they needed to move away from the border quickly, preferably in an unexpected way. Fortunately, Sonea no longer seemed inclined to defy him, and she followed his instructions exactly as they levitated and climbed as quickly as he dared through the mountains. He could tell she was tired—even he had begun to feel the effects of the climb and needed to heal away a bit of fatigue—but he could not slow down.

After a few hours, he finally felt what he had been dreading since crossing the border—a magical presence. It was faint, but it was definitely behind them. He glanced around, reaching out with all his senses, and it did not take long for him to find their follower. Given the aura emanating from him, Akkarin knew he was an Ichani, and he immediately grabbed Sonea and pulled her down into the shadows. "Keep low," he whispered. "We might be visible against the sky." He glanced backwards, carefully watching the shadows until he saw the hint of movement. Sonea questioned where he was, and Akkarin pointed him out before instructing her to move quickly. He led the way, satisfied when he heard her footsteps behind him. Fortunately, though it had been years since he had last crossed the mountains, he was still relatively surefooted. In addition, it seemed that his time chasing the slaves had increased his endurance, and with some Healing magic to chase away the worst of his exhaustion, he was able to set a grueling pace through the mountains. However, the man behind them was clearly familiar with the terrain, and despite Akkarin's best efforts, he was not falling behind.

"Time to put him off our track," Akkarin murmured. Sonea's brow furrowed in confusion as he led her around a boulder. "I will go to the left for about a quarter of an hour and then to the edge," he explained quietly. "He'll assume we descended into the ravine. You levitate to the other side, then make your way parallel to the mountains. Keep in the shadows as much as possible, even if it means slowing down." She nodded, and he quickly turned away, trusting that she would be safe. He was taking the more dangerous path, the one the Ichani was far more likely to follow. Besides, he would be keeping an eye on her.

For the next quarter of an hour, he did travel in a different direction from her as promised though he stayed close enough to catch a glimpse of her from time to time and assure himself of her safety. He had to admit—she had held up surprisingly well so far despite the circumstance, but she was no ordinary Guild magician. She had already faced much adversity in her life. As he looked up at her again, he frowned slightly, noting their pursuer was still following her instead of descending into the ravine as Akkarin himself had done. Quickly, Akkarin levitated himself back up, taking a path that would allow him to cross the path on which Sonea had recently traveled before heading down again. After he had done so, Akkarin watched carefully, but the Ichani continued to follow Sonea unerringly.

Once Akkarin had tried crossing Sonea's path three more times without once attracting the attention of their pursuer, he realized that something must have attracted the man to his novice. He glanced in the direction he knew she was heading, but she had heeded his words and was staying in the shadows, so he was unable to make out her figure. In addition, he did not see any tracks that indicated she had come this way. That meant the man was following her using some other means—most likely magic. Akkarin scanned the side of the cliff again, allowing himself to use all his senses, and he quickly realized what the Ichani was tracking. Sonea had taken a good deal of magic from the Ichani woman, and she was unused to hiding it. To a magician, her figure stood out like a beacon on the cliff face.

With a curse, Akkarin increased the speed of his steps. There was no point in attempting subterfuge at the moment; he simply needed to take her excess power as quickly as possible. Moving as quickly as he dared on the tricky terrain, he rushed toward Sonea. When he was a few dozen meters from her, he saw her round an outcrop and start to tumble toward a ravine. His heart leapt into his throat, but his rational side fortunately took over and began reaching for power to catch her with magic. However, such an action was unnecessary; just before losing her balance completely, she managed to pull herself back onto the path. As she did so, however, Akkarin glimpsed something else that made his heart begin to pound again. The Ichani who had been following was very close, not much further from her than Akkarin himself.

Heedless of the uneven terrain, Akkarin began to run, not even bothering to slow as he reached her, slamming his body into hers. They both tumbled over the edge immediately, and Akkarin wrapped his arms tightly around Sonea as he let his magic form a disk beneath them, keeping them from falling. He turned them with magic, letting the disk take them upwards as his eyes searched the cliff face opposite them for an opening. Part of him was dimly aware of the warmth of her body pressed against his and the fluttering sensation of her breath against his neck, but he knew their survival depended on his ability to push aside those thoughts, so he did so ruthlessly. As he did so, he spotted a spot in the rock where the darkness seemed more complete, and he sent them towards it. They tumbled together into the ravine, Akkarin releasing Sonea from his arms as his feet hit the ground harder than he had intended. She stumbled backwards, scrambling for balance, and he thrust his hands toward her. "Give me your power!" he commanded, the fear for her safety that had been building since the trial giving a desperate edge to his voice.

"I-"

"Now! The Ichani can sense it! Quickly!" He saw movement as she pushed out her hands, and he fumbled for a moment before managing to close his own hands around them. As soon as he did, he felt the familiar rush of energy suffusing his body, and he welcomed it into his own power source, feeling it merge seamlessly with his. After a few moments, the flow increased, the power coming so quickly that Akkarin struggled for a moment to accommodate it. Eventually, it began to slow, and he realized that she had exhausted herself. "Stop, Sonea." She obediently stopped, opening her eyes. As she did so, she stumbled slightly, and he tightened his grip on her hands to keep her from falling backwards. "You gave too much. You've tired yourself." He frowned. He had wanted to continue onwards, but it was clear that she was not going to be able to do so in her current state. He was not even sure that Healing her would help after their exertion that day. He supposed they were as safe as could be where they were, so he told her to sleep, confirming the extent of her tiredness when she did not bother arguing with him. As he settled down to keep watch, he heard the soft sounds of her settling herself behind him, and they unexpectedly lightened his heart. Though he would have rather had her stay in the Guild where it was safe—at least for now—part of him was elated that she was there with him. For the first time in many years, he did not feel quite so alone.