The High Lord

- He needs a little encouragement, Akkarin observed.

From the distance came the sound of a rock skittering against the road. The figure took a step forward, then a light blazed into existence, flooding the area. Sonea caught her breath. The man was dressed in a fine coat and his hands glittered with jewels and precious metals.

- Great, she replied. Now he has only to look up and he'll see us.

- He won't.

A thin, hunched man shuffled up behind the Ichani.

'I saw—'

'I know what you saw. Go back and stay with—'

The Ichani suddenly broke into a half run. Looking down the road, Sonea saw that a light was visible behind the next turn, several hundred paces down the road. It was fading, as if moving away. She looked at Akkarin, guessing that he was the source of the light. His forehead was creased with a frown of concentration.

The Ichani hurried on, passed the turn and disappeared. When Sonea looked down again, the slave was gone. Akkarin drew in a deep breath.

- We haven't got much time. Let's hope Riko obeys his master promptly.

They descended to the road, then hurried on toward the Pass. At every step, Sonea was sure they would catch up with the slave, but it wasn't until several hundred paces later that they saw the man ahead of them.

Soon after, they saw a flickering light in the distance. A fire, Sonea saw with relief. She had dreaded that they would discover another Ichani. Riko reached the fire and sat down beside a younger woman.

Akkarin and Sonea drew closer, keeping to the shadows. The fire lit steep rock walls on either side of the road.

- We can't slip past without them noticing, Akkarin sent. Are you ready to run?

Sonea nodded.

- As ready as I'm going to get.

Akkarin did not move, however. She glanced at him, and saw that he was frowning.

- What is it?

- I should take the opportunity to divest Parika of his slaves. They will only be used against us later.

Sonea felt her blood go cold as she realized what he intended to do.

- But there is no time...

- Best make it quick, then.

He let go of her hand and started forward.

She bit back a protest. Killing the slaves made sense. Their strength would be used to kill Kyralians. Yet it seemed so cruel to kill people who had been victims all their lives. They hadn't chosen to be Ichani tools.

The woman was the first to notice Akkarin. She jumped up, then flew backward as a force slammed into her. She landed on the ground and lay still.

Riko had bolted down the road. As Akkarin broke into a run, Sonea dashed after him. Somewhere behind them, Parika would have seen the attack through the slave's blood ring. She paused only to look at the woman. Her eyes stared sightlessly at the sky.

At least it was quick, Sonea thought.

A light flared above Akkarin's head and he lengthened his stride. The road twisted about, but sloped downward now. Sonea caught no glimpses of the slave running ahead of them. She could not help hoping he would remain out of sight. Akkarin could not kill someone he could not see.

Then they heard a scream from the road ahead. Akkarin checked, then ran faster. He drew ahead of Sonea easily, rounding the next corner several strides before she did. As he reached the turn, she saw that the road ahead twisted sharply. It left the confining walls of the Pass, and hugged the steep side of a mountain. Akkarin was standing at the turn, looking over the precipice. She stopped beside him and peered over the edge, but saw only darkness below.

'He fell?'

'I think so,' he panted. He looked at the road ahead. It curved along the side of the mountain for several hundred paces before it turned out of sight. 'Nowhere... to hide. He was... not that far ahead.' He glanced behind, and his face hardened. 'We must... keep going. If Parika follows... we'll be as exposed.'

He started forward. They pounded along the road. When they passed the next turn, Sonea's relief turned to dismay when she saw another long stretch of exposed road. They kept running. Her back prickled, and she resisted the urge to glance over her shoulder.

Time stretched out as they sprinted on. The road descended steadily. The sense of urgency and fear faded. Weariness grew until it dominated all her thoughts. She healed it away.

Surely we can stop now, she thought, over and over. Parika wouldn't follow us into Kyralia, would he?

But Akkarin continued on.

How many times can I Heal myself like this? Can I damage my body doing it too often?

When Akkarin finally slowed to a walk, she let out a great sigh of relief. He chuckled, then put an arm around her shoulder. She looked around and realized they were walking between trees. The moon was gone. Akkarin reduced his globe light to a faint glow. They walked for another long hour or more, then Akkarin steered her off the road.

'I think we've come far enough,' he murmured.

'What if he follows us?'

'He won't. He won't enter Kyralia until Kariko does.'

She felt soft, uneven ground beneath her feet. They walked for several minutes, then Akkarin stopped and sat down, his back to a tree. Sonea collapsed beside him.

'What now?' she asked, staring at the trees around them.

Akkarin pulled her close to his chest, and wrapped his arms around her.

'Sleep, Sonea,' he whispered. 'I will watch. We'll decide what to do next tomorrow.'

27 A Surprise Meeting

No. It's too soon to wake up, Sonea thought. I'm still too tired.

But a growing feeling of unease would not let her slip back into sleep. Her back leaned against something warm; she was sitting mostly upright. She drew in a deep breath and felt the weight of arms around her. Akkarin's arms. She smiled, then opened her eyes.

Four slim, hair-covered legs stood before her. Horse's legs. Her heart skipped a beat and she looked up.

Familiar blue eyes stared back at her. Green robes, half-covered by a heavy black cloak, shone in the late morning sunlight. She felt her heart fill with joy and relief.

'Dorrien!' she gasped. 'You have no idea how good it is to see you.'

His expression was cold, however. The horse shifted its feet and shook its head. Sonea heard the snort of another nearby. She looked to one side and saw that four more riders waited several strides away, dressed in plain clothes.

Akkarin stirred, then drew in a deep breath.

'What are you doing here?' Dorrien demanded.

'I... we...' Sonea shook her head. 'I don't know where to start, Dorrien.'

'We are here to warn you,' Akkarin replied. She felt the vibration of his voice against her back. 'The Ichani