The High Lord

The moon hung low in the sky. In the growing darkness, it was hard to find the nuts. She resorted to groping around until she felt their smooth roundness under her fingers. Gathering them in the front of her shirt, she carried them to the cooking mullook, and soon worked out how to crack the shells without crushing the soft nuts inside.

Akkarin returned soon after, carrying a rough stone bowl filled with berries and a few stalks. The berries were covered in nasty looking spines.

Between shelling nuts, Sonea watched as Akkarin lifted the berries with magic and carefully peeled off the skin and spines. Soon the bowl was half filled with the dark flesh of the fruit. Next he set to work on the stalks, peeling away the fibrous outer layer.

'I think we're ready for our feast,' he said. He handed her two of the stalks. 'This is shem - Not particularly tasty, but edible. It's not good to live on just meat.'

Sonea found the inside of the stalks pleasantly juicy, if not flavorsome. Akkarin divided up the mullook, which contained more meat than any of the other birds they had eaten. The nuts proved to be as delicious as he had promised. Akkarin crushed the berries, then added water to the pulp to make a tart drink. When they had finished, Sonea felt full for the first time since they had entered Sachaka.

'It's amazing how something as simple as a meal can be so good.' She sighed contentedly. The valley was almost completely hidden in darkness now. 'I wonder what this place looks like in the daylight.'

'You'll find out in an hour or so,' Akkarin replied.

He sounded tired. She looked at him, but his face was in shadow.

'Time to sleep, then,' she said. She drew on enough Healing power to chase away her own weariness, then held out her hands. He didn't take them at first, and she wondered if he could see her in the darkness. Then she felt his warm fingers wrap around hers.

She drew in a deep breath, then sent power to him, taking care not to exhaust herself. Not for the first time, she wondered if he had accepted her decision to take the first watch to ensure she didn't give him too much power. If she exhausted herself, she wouldn't be able to stay awake.

As she felt her power ebb, she stopped and pulled her hands away. Akkarin remained still and silent, making no move toward the grass bed she had prepared.

'Sonea,' he said suddenly.

'Yes?'

'Thank you for coming with me.'

She caught her breath, then felt her heart swell with pleasure. He remained silent for several minutes, then drew in a short breath.

'I regret separating you from Rothen. I know he was more like a father than a teacher.'

Sonea stared at his shadowed face, searching for his eyes.

'It was necessary,' he added softly.

'I know,' she whispered. 'I understand.'

'But you didn't understand then,' he said wryly. 'You hated me.'

She chuckled. 'That's true. I don't any more.'

He said no more, but after a short pause he rose and moved to the overhang and lay down on the grass bed. For a long time she sat in darkness. Eventually the sky began to lighten and the stars fade and disappear. She wasn't bothered by sleepiness, and she knew her Healing power wasn't solely responsible for that. Akkarin's sudden thanks and apology had stirred up the hopes and wishes she had been trying to smother for days.

Little fool, she scolded herself. He's just being kind. Just because he has finally acknowledged your help, and regrets what he did to you, doesn't mean he considers you as anything more than a useful but unwanted companion. He's not interested in you otherwise, so stop torturing yourself.

But no matter how hard she had tried to stop herself, she couldn't help feeling a thrill every time he touched her, or even looked at her. And it didn't help that she kept catching him watching her.

She wrapped her arms around her knees and drummed her fingers on her calves. When she had lived in the slums, she had assumed she knew everything she needed to know about men and women. Later, Healing lessons had shown her how little she had really understood. Now she found that even the Healers hadn't taught her anything useful.

But then, perhaps they hadn't told her how to stop feeling this way because it wasn't possible. Perhaps...

A low noise, like a growl, echoed through the valley. Sonea froze, her mind now suddenly still, and stared out into the gloom. The sound came again, from behind, and she rose and spun about in one movement. As she realized the sound had come from somewhere near Akkarin, she felt a flash of fear. Was some night creature stalking him? She hurried forward.

Reaching the overhang, she peered into the gloom and saw no creature poised to attack. Akkarin's head was rolling from side to side. As she drew closer, he moaned.

She stopped and regarded him with dismay. He was having another nightmare. Relief and concern filled her. She wondered if she should wake him, but it had always been so clear from his expression after waking that he didn't like her witnessing these moments of weakness.

For that matter, she thought, I don't either.

Another moan escaped him. Sonea winced as it echoed loudly in the valley. Sound carried far in the mountains, and she did not like to imagine who might be listening. As he uttered another low cry, she came to a decision. It didn't matter if he liked it or not, she had to wake him up before he attracted unwanted attention.

'Akkarin,' she whispered hoarsely. He stilled and she thought she had woken him, but then he tensed all over.

'No!'

Alarmed, Sonea drew closer. His eyes roved under his eyelids. His face contorted in pain. She reached toward him, intending to shake him awake.

The sting of a shield met her fingers. She saw his eyes fly open, then felt a force slam into her, throwing her up into the air. Something hard slammed into her back, then she dropped to the ground. Pain lanced down her arms and legs.

'Ow!'

'Sonea!'

She felt hands pushing her over onto her back. Akkarin stared at her.

'Are you hurt?'

She examined herself. 'No, just bruised, I think.'

'Why did you wake me?'

She looked down at his hands. Even in the gloom she could see they were shaking. 'You were dreaming. A nightmare...'

'I am used to them, Sonea.' he said quietly, his voice controlled and calm. 'They are no reason to wake me.'

'You were making a lot of noise.'

He paused, then straightened.

'Go to sleep, Sonea,' he said in a low voice. 'I will watch.'

'No,' she said irritably. 'You've barely slept - and I know you won't wake me up when it's your turn to sleep.'

'I will. I give you my word.'

He leaned forward and offered her a hand. Taking it, she let him haul her to her feet. A bright light dazzled her, and she realized that the rising sun was just beginning to crest the rock wall at the base of the valley.

Akkarin stilled. Sensing that something had caught his attention, she squinted at him, but he was a dark shape against the brightness. Instinctively, she sought him with her mind instead. At once she saw an image.

A face, framed by hair shining in the morning sunlight.

Eyes... so dark... and pale, perfect skin...

It was her own face, but it was unlike any reflection she had seen in a mirror. Her eyes held a mysterious shine, her hair seemed to ripple as if moving in a breeze, and her lips surely did not curve so invitingly...