The High Lord

She put a finger to his lips, then pulled his head down so she could kiss him. He pressed his lips hard to hers, then drew her close against him.

'If I could send you far away, I would,' he said. 'But I know you'd refuse to go. Just... don't do anything impulsive. I watched the first woman I loved die, I don't think I could survive losing the second.'

Sonea drew in a breath in surprise, then smiled.

'I love you, too.'

He chuckled, then kissed her again, but they both froze as a mental voice blared out.

- Akkarin! Akkarin! What a pretty place you have here.

An image of the Guild Gates, and the University beyond, flashed into Sonea's mind.

'They're here,' Akkarin muttered. His arms slid from her shoulders.

'The Arena?'

He shook his head. 'Only as a last resort.' His expression was hard as he strode across the room to the door.

Sonea straightened her shoulders, drew in a deep breath, and followed.

'So they've finally arrived,' Balkan murmured.

Rothen looked out at the city. The late afternoon sun sent long shadows across the streets. As he watched, three men stepped out and started toward the Guild Gates.

'What did Akkarin and Sonea plan to do once the Ichani knew they were here, Dorrien?' Balkan asked.

'I don't know. They never discussed it.'

Balkan nodded. 'Time for us to leave, then.'

Yet he did not move, and neither did Rothen and Dorrien. They stood and watched as the three Ichani passed between the gates and strode toward the University.

Then, from below, came a hollow boom.

'What was that?' Dorrien exclaimed.

They leaned over the facade and looked down. Rothen caught his breath as he saw the pair on the steps below.

'Sonea! And Akkarin.'

'They've closed the University doors,' Balkan said.

Rothen shivered. The University doors hadn't been closed for centuries.

'Should we call out and let them know we're here?' Dorrien asked quietly.

'Knowing you two are watching could be a distraction to Sonea,' Balkan warned.

'But I can use my powers now. I can help them.'

'So can I,' Rothen added. Dorrien glanced at him in surprise, then grinned.

Balkan frowned. 'I would like to communicate the fight to the rest of the Guild.'

'Dorrien and I will keep out of sight until we have an opportunity to help,' Rothen suggested.

Balkan nodded. 'Very well. Just be mindful of the moment you choose.'

The forest surrounding the Guild was striped with golden light. Twigs cracked under Gol's feet so frequently, Cery began to wonder if his second was deliberately trying to make a lot of noise. He glanced back and couldn't help smiling at the big man's strained expression.

'Don't worry,' Cery said. 'I've been here before. We should be able to watch without being seen.'

Gol nodded. They continued on. As Cery saw glimpses of buildings through the trees ahead, he quickened his stride. Gol fell a little behind.

Then Cery saw a figure crouching beside a tree trunk at the edge of the forest. He stopped and signalled to Gol to stay where he was and remain silent.

By the way Savara was cautiously peering around the tree, Cery knew she was anxious to avoid being discovered. Too late, he thought. He crept forward. When he was a few steps away from her, he straightened and crossed his arms.

'We can't seem to stop running into each other, can we?' he said.

It was gratifying to see her jump. She let out a sigh of relief as she saw him.

'Cery.' She shook her head at him disapprovingly. 'It's not wise to sneak up on magicians.'

'Isn't it?'

'No.'

'You've come to see the show, then?'

She smiled crookedly. 'That's right. Join me?'

He nodded. Beckoning to Gol, Cery crouched by the trunk of another tree. As he saw what lay beyond, he felt his heart sink.

The University doors were closed and Sonea and Akkarin stood on the steps. The three Ichani were less than a hundred paces from them, advancing confidently.

'You and your friends have done well,' Savara murmured, 'if this is all that remains of Kariko's allies. Perhaps you have a chance, after all.'

Cery smiled grimly. 'Perhaps we do. We'll just have to see.'

Sonea blinked as an image of herself and Akkarin, seen from above, entered her mind. From the angle of the view, the watcher must be behind them, on top of the University. She caught a sense of Balkan's personality, but no thoughts or emotions.

- If we can sense this, so can the Ichani.

- Yes, Akkarin replied. Block out the images. They'll distract you.

- But it will alert us to any trick the Ichani try.

- And warn the Ichani of ours.

- Oh. Should you tell Balkan to stop?

- No. The Guild should see this. They might learn—

'Akkarin.'

Kariko's voice echoed across the grounds.

'Kariko,' Akkarin replied.

'I see you've brought your apprentice. Do you intend to trade her for your life?'

A chill ran over Sonea's skin as the Ichani looked at her. She stared back, and he smiled maliciously.

'I might consider taking her,' Kariko continued. 'I never liked my brother's taste in slaves, but he did show me that Guild magicians can be surprisingly entertaining.'

Akkarin slowly started down the steps. As Sonea followed, she took care to stay within the blended magic of their shield.

'Dakova was a fool for keeping me,' Akkarin said, 'but he was always making stupid mistakes. It is hard to understand how a man with such power could have so little grasp of politics or strategy, but I guess that is why he was Ichani - and why he kept me.'

Kariko's eyes narrowed. 'You? I don't think so. If you are such a master of strategy, why are you here? You must know you can't win.'

'Can't we? Look around you, Kariko. Where are all your allies?'

As Akkarin and Sonea reached the bottom of the steps, Kariko stopped. He was about twenty strides away.

'Dead, I suppose. And you killed them.'

'Some.'

'You must be worn out, then.' Kariko glanced at the other Ichani, then back at Akkarin. 'What a perfect end to our conquest. I will avenge my brother's death, and at the same time Sachaka will finally have revenge for what your Guild did to our land.'

He lifted a hand, and the other Ichani followed suit. Strikes flashed toward Sonea and Akkarin. She felt magic batter their shield, more powerful than any strike she had encountered before. Akkarin sent a trio of strikes in reply, but all curved inward to attack Kariko.

More exchanges followed, and the air hummed with power. As Akkarin continued striking at Kariko and ignoring the other Ichani, the leader frowned. He said something to his companions. They moved closer, leaving only a narrow gap between their shields.