"Are we expecting anyone?" Savara asked as they heard the coded knock at the door.
Cery stood, his hands at the daggers on his hips. "Not me," he said in a mild tone that did not reflect his poised, tense stance.
Sonea stood from the table and moved to Akkarin's side by the couch as he put up a strong, invisible shield around all four of them.
"I am," the High Lord answered, giving Cery a small nod. "I was not expecting him until the morning, but there have been… developments."
Cery raised an eyebrow but strode swiftly to the door, and saw Gol on the other side when he looked through the peephole. He unlocked the door from the inside and Gol stepped to one side. A figure in a dark grey cloak stepped in, but the hem showed just a hint of blue robes. Gol swiftly shut and locked the door when the guest had entered.
Akkarin stood up, his lips curling into a small smile. "Thank you for trusting me."
Sonea sighed in relief when the figure removed his hood. Lorlen looked sleep-deprived, but returned Akkarin's smile. "It's never too late to avoid making the same mistake twice." He nodded hello to Sonea then turned to the two he hadn't yet met with curious eyes.
Savara stood up swiftly. "Well, that's my cue to leave. Before the entire Guild comes knocking at my door." She shot Cery an annoyed look, as if to say, I did not agree to this, and left through the bedroom door, her hips swinging.
Cery smiled cheekily at Savara's exit, then nodded to Lorlen. "Cery here. You're in my territory."
Lorlen looked like he wanted to ask about Savara, but thought better of it. He looked at Cery, then realisation dawned on his face. "Yes, I remember you from the trial two years ago. Sonea's friend, isn't it? The one Lord Fergun took hostage? I apologise again."
Cery shrugged. "Water under the bridge. So, if the Administrator of the Guild has fled, I take it the odds don't look good on your end?"
Lorlen exchanged a quick look with Akkarin.
"Cery has my confidence. We wouldn't be here without him and his people," the High Lord replied, then gestured for Lorlen to sit on the couch opposite him and Sonea.
"We've suffered heavy losses. But we're regrouping," Lorlen explained.
"Administrator… w-who was the Healer who was killed in the ambush earlier today?" Sonea asked tentatively. She tried to shield her thoughts but the image of Dorrien was on her mind, and she was sure Akkarin saw it through the blood gem. He threw her a quick glance but then his expression returned one of alert seriousness, his eyes locked on Lorlen.
"Lord Parrin," Lorlen answered, his eyes sorrowful. "I don't believe you were ever taught by him. We declared for the Healing discipline in the same year, but he had been posted near Calia."
Sonea tried to hide the relief in her eyes so as not to offend Lorlen. "I'm sorry."
Lorlen nodded. "You should also know that…"
Akkarin's eyes flashed in warning and Sonea suspected he had warned Lorlen via the blood gem to stop talking.
Sonea looked between the two men. "What? What is it?"
"She has a right to know, Akkarin," Lorlen murmured, not meeting the High Lord's gaze.
"Now is not the time – " Akkarin began, but Lorlen looked at Sonea and interrupted him.
"Lord Rothen was also at the ambush, overseeing the Alchemic weapon. He was brought back alive," Lorlen added quickly when Sonea leapt to her feet in the middle of his sentence. Akkarin laid a hand on Sonea's arm, his mouth set in a thin line of displeasure at Lorlen's reveal.
"… but severely injured. The Healers are doing all they can. He was still unconscious when I left," Lorlen finished, sympathy in his eyes.
Sonea breathed heavily through her nose. She could feel the pressure of Akkarin's hand, asking wordlessly that she sit back down. "Thank you for telling me, Administrator." She slowly let herself sink back into the couch.
– I'm sorry, Akkarin sent through the blood gem. I'd have preferred Lorlen had kept that to himself for now.
Sonea said nothing, her jaw set tightly. She knew Akkarin meant that they could not afford to be distracted before battle, but she bristled at how he was, once again, trying to decide on her behalf what she should and should not know.
Lorlen returned his gaze to Akkarin, his eyes serious and worried. "Akkarin, we've had reports of the last two Ichani destroying the palace. But I think – "
"They are drawing the power of the building," Akkarin finished softly, his dark brows furrowing in anger. "I should have thought of this earlier. Have the reports included anything else? Have either of them left the Palace?"
"Not to my knowledge, no."
Akkarin's shoulders relaxed a little. Sonea frowned. "Wait… the houses in the Inner Circle… some of them also have magical structures, don't they?"
"That's what I'm thinking," Akkarin nodded, looking thoughtful. "It's a risk. But if we could get there before they realise there's more power to be had outside the Palace…"
They locked eyes. "We can draw it ourselves," Sonea finished, feeling a fleeting bit of hope for the first time since witnessing the carnage earlier today.
Lorlen's eyes widened and he shook his head. "Akkarin, you can't. You would both be completely exposed. Balkan is not planning to venture into the city again. He is focusing on fortifying the Guild and waiting for the Ichani to come to him. If they were to find you in the Inner Circle… there won't be any other magicians there to help."
Akkarin stood up, pacing as he took in what Lorlen had said. Balkan's new strategy was news to both of them. "And yet, if we are to confront Kariko and Kivara in the Guild, Sonea and my additional power could mean the difference between victory and defeat," he said.
"How close does the Thieves' Road get to the villas in the Inner Circle? We've been under them many times when we've moved between the Guild and the Outer Circle. Aren't there any exits in between, to the Inner Circle?" Sonea directed her question at Cery, who had been listening to the conversation from the table.
Cery frowned. "Not many, no. Inner Circle is more guarded than the Outer. No bolhouses or inns. Thieves didn't dig many entrance or exits: too much rub to keep them open. Bribing the City Guard or servants from the Houses bleeds too much money."
"Is there an exit close enough to the Inner Circle gate to the Southern Quarter?" Akkarin asked. Sonea recognised the glint of an idea in his black eyes.
"Think so, yeah. On the Outer Circle side of the gate, though," Cery said.
Akkarin turned to Lorlen and Sonea. "I've had word that my family safely left for Elyne yesterday. We could start with the Delvon villa; it's empty. And use it as a base to return to as we work through the wealthiest houses in the Inner Circle. Even some power is better than nothing."
"The Delvon villa is too close to the Palace," Lorlen said worriedly.
"I know it best – including its hiding places," Akkarin smiled grimly. "My father was always a little paranoid. We have a vault with a tunnel that leads to the Guild grounds. Apparently, a former Administrator owed my great-grandfather a debt; it was settled in exchange for the tunnel being secretly dug."
Sonea's eyebrows raised and she exchanged a quick look with Cery, who laughed. "Looks like the heavies have their own little Thieves' Road," he said, shaking his head.
"Only to smuggle their wealth out should the worst happen, I assure you" Akkarin replied, slight distaste showing on his face.
"Well, in my experience, an escape route makes every plan ten times more likely to succeed. I'm in," Cery said, nodding at Akkarin.
"But what if this tunnel has caved in?" Lorlen asked. Since Cery and Akkarin already seemed to favour the plan, he turned to Sonea, his eyes entreating her to say something.
"Every minute we waste makes the Ichani grow stronger. I'm sorry, Administrator, but I think this sounds like the best plan we've got," Sonea replied, her voice firm and her eyes apologetic. Akkarin looked at her determined face with a small smile.
– AKKARIN! AKKARIN!
Lorlen almost jumped off the couch and Sonea winced, holding her head. Kariko's taunting mental communication rang in everyone's heads.
– DO YOU KNOW WHAT WE DO TO RUNAWAY SLAVES, AKKARIN? COME TO YOUR PRECIOUS GUILD AND FIND OUT!
"W- what?" Lorlen looked at Akkarin in confusion.
Akkarin's mouth was set in tense line. It worried Sonea more than anything she had seen so far to observe that he had paled a little.
– Are you okay? She sent him privately through their blood gem.
– It was bound to come out sooner or later, he replied. If anything, I have guarded this secret for too long. A feeling of sorrow and regret emanated into Sonea's mind from the ring, but it was contained as soon as she sensed it. She felt anguished at his pain, but did not know how to respond. It was all happening so fast.
Akkarin cleared his throat and addressed Cery, who hadn't heard the mental call but was watching the magicians warily, clearly realising something serious had just happened. "We have confirmation that the Ichani are making their move on the Guild," the High Lord said. "We must leave for villa Delvon now. Let's hope that Balkan's defences will buy us the time to drain one or two houses before making our way to the Guild."
Cery leaped to his feet and nodded. "Give my men five minutes to send word down the Road and check the exit to the Southern Quarter." He opened the door and spoke to Gol in hushed tones.
Lorlen hadn't taken his eyes off the High Lord. "What did he mean, Akkarin?" He whispered.
Akkarin returned his gaze with a sad smile. "I'm sorry, my friend. I have kept so much from you for so long. I hope… I'll have the chance to explain, later." The unspoken if I survive hung in the air like lead.
Cery returned at that moment and nodded. "Let's make our way over."
"Sonea, do you have the blade I gave you?" Akkarin murmured quietly to her. Sonea nodded, her eyes determined. Akkarin turned back to Lorlen and rested a hand on his shoulder. "This is Gol," he nodded towards the man standing at the doorway. If it comes to it… he will take you to the Marina for your safe passage to Capia."
Lorlen stood up, looking like he was going to protest. His forehead creased with emotion as he looked at his friend. Sonea joined Gol in the doorway to give the two men a moment.
They did not exchange any words. Akkarin held out his palm. Lorlen touched the red blood gem ring on his finger and shook his head. "Please," Akkarin muttered under his breath. "If I am captured, I don't want you to see what they do, and suffer." Sonea looked away, but felt tears stinging her eyes.
"No," Lorlen whispered heatedly. Sonea had never heard the Administrator's voice sound like that. "I want to know."
"You will know the outcome of the confrontation through Sonea's blood ring. But please, Lorlen. Give mine to me." A pause, then Akkarin muttered, "Thank you."
When the High Lord joined Sonea and Gol in the doorway, his jaw was tightly set and his black eyes glittered with moisture. They stepped into the dark and damp passages, following Gol's lead. When Sonea grasped Akkarin's hand tightly, he did not pull away.