The High Lord

Sonea resisted the urge to laugh. It was a strange, yet somehow appropriate, way to begin a conversation with her old enemy.

'A couple,' she said.

He nodded. 'The one in the slums?'

'No. One in the South Pass, and one before then, in the city.'

His gaze slipped to the floor. 'Was it hard?'

'Killing someone?' She grimaced. 'Yes and no. I guess you don't think about it, when you're trying to stop the other person killing you. You only think about it later.'

He smiled faintly. 'I meant, are they hard to kill?'

'Oh.' She looked away. 'Probably. I only succeeded with those two because I tricked them.'

'Probably? Don't you know how strong they are?'

'No. I'm not even sure how strong I am. I guess I'll find out when I have to fight one.'

'Then how do you know if you can win a battle?'

'I don't.'

Regin looked up at her, his expression incredulous. Then he flushed and looked away. 'Everyone's given you a hard time,' he said in a low voice. 'Lord Fergun, me and the novices, and the whole Guild when they found out you'd learned black magic - but you still came back. You're still willing to risk your life to save us.' He shook his head. 'If I'd known what was going on, I wouldn't have been so rough on you that first year.'

Sonea stared at him, caught between disbelief and surprise. Was this an apology?

He met her eyes. 'I just... if I live through all this, I'll try and make it up to you.' He shrugged. 'If I live through this, it's the least I can do.'

She nodded. Now it was even harder to think of something to say to him. She was saved from having to when a tall figure strode into view from between the stacks of boxes.

'Akkarin!' She leapt out of her seat and hurried to meet him. He smiled grimly as he saw her.

'Sonea.'

'Did you see what the dwells did?'

'Yes, I watched through the ring, and saw the consequences.'

She frowned. His expression was tight, as if he was hiding the pain of an injury.

'What's wrong,' she whispered. 'What happened?'

His eyes flickered over her shoulder toward Regin. Taking her arm, he drew her down the aisle for several paces, then looked down and sighed heavily.

'Lorlen is dead.'

Lorlen? Dead? She stared at him in horror, then as she read pain in his face she felt a wave of sympathy for him. Lorlen had been Akkarin's closest friend, yet Akkarin had been forced to lie to him, to blackmail him, and control him through the ring. The last few years had been terrible for them both. The weight that had dragged at her since hearing that Rothen had died felt suddenly unbearably heavy.

She wound her arms around Akkarin's waist and rested her forehead on his chest. He drew her closer and held her tightly. After a moment he took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

'I saw Dannyl and Osen,' he told her quietly. 'They were with Lorlen, so they know of our presence now. I warned them that they must not tell the others and I... I took Lorlen's ring.'

'What about the rest of the Guild?'

'I doubt any are left who are not exhausted or near it,' he said. 'The Thieves have taken some into the passages. Others have retreated to the Guild grounds.'

'How many are dead?'

'I don't know. Twenty. Fifty. Maybe more.'

So many. 'What do we do now?'

Akkarin held her for a little longer, then pushed her to arm's length.

'Kariko is in the Palace with four of the others. Avala still wanders the streets alone. We must find her before she joins them again.'

Sonea nodded. 'I wish I had known what the Thieves had planned to do to the Ichani in the slums. If either of us had been close by, we could have had all his power.'

'Yes, but there is one less Ichani for us to deal with now.' He let her go, then moved back into the aisle. 'Your friend Cery does have some interesting ideas. I think, if Kyralia survives, the Guild will find the Purge has become a dangerous exercise.'

Sonea smiled. 'I thought I had convinced them of that.'

'Not quite in the way Cery's friends might.'

As they reached the end of the room, Sonea saw that Cery had returned with the promised food. Takan was eating hungrily, no longer looking as worried as he had been. Regin was looking from her to Akkarin, his eyes glittering with interest.

'Regin of Winar,' Akkarin said. Sonea recognized the hint of dislike in his voice. 'I hear you were rescued by the Thieves.'

Regin rose and bowed. 'They saved my life, my lord. I hope to repay that favor.'

Akkarin nodded and glanced at Takan. 'I think you may have your chance very soon.'

'Where are we going?'

Dannyl glanced at Farand. The young magician hadn't spoken for the last half hour. He had trustingly followed Dannyl without question, until now.

'I have to meet a friend,' Dannyl replied.

'But your former High Lord said we should leave the city.'

'Yes.' Dannyl nodded. 'He said that the Ichani are in the Palace. I have to meet Tayend now, while I still can. He should be able to give us some ordinary clothes, too.'

'Tayend? He's in Imardin?'

'Yes.' Dannyl checked the next street and found it empty. Farand followed him around the corner. The mansion Tayend was staying in was only a dozen houses ahead. Dannyl felt his pulse quicken in anticipation.

'But he didn't come to the Hearing,' Farand said.

'No, he only arrived a few days ago.'

'That was badly timed.'

Dannyl chuckled. 'It certainly was.'

'Why didn't he leave again?'

They were halfway to the house now. Dannyl searched for an answer. Because Tayend has some crazy idea he can help me survive the battle. Because he doesn't want me to face the destruction of the Guild alone. Because he cares about me more than his own safety.

Dannyl sighed. 'Because he didn't understand how dangerous these Ichani are,' he told Farand. 'And I couldn't convince him that non-magicians would be in as much danger as magicians. Are all Elynes so obstinate?'

Farand gave a low laugh. 'From what I'm told, it's a national trait.'

They reached the door of the house. Dannyl drew out a key and reached out for the lock... and froze.

The door was open.

He stood staring at the gap between the door and the frame, his heart suddenly pounding, Farand touched his shoulder.

'Ambassador?'

'It's open. Tayend wouldn't leave it open. Somebody's been here.'

'We should go, then.'

'No!' Dannyl took a few deep, slow breaths and turned to look at Farand. 'I have to know if he's all right. You can come with me, or you can wait somewhere close until I come out, or you can leave me and make your way out of the city.'

Farand looked up at the mansion. He took a deep breath and straightened his shoulders. 'I'll come with you.'

Dannyl pushed open the door. The guestroom inside was empty. He slowly and cautiously crept through the house, a room at a time, but found no sign of the scholar other than a travel chest in one bedroom, and several