The High Lord

Dorrien stared at him in horror. 'Abandon Kyralia?'

'Yes.'

'There must be another way.'

Akkarin shook his head.

'But you came back. Why would you do that, if you did not intend to fight?'

Akkarin smiled wanly. 'I don't expect to win.'

Dorrien's eyes shifted to Sonea. She could almost hear him thinking: And you are in this, too?

'What will you do?' he asked quietly.

Akkarin frowned. 'I haven't decided. I had hoped to return to Imardin in secret and wait for the Guild to call me.'

'We can still do that,' Sonea interjected.

'We have no horses and no money. Without them, we cannot reach Imardin before the Ichani.'

Dorrien smiled thinly. 'I can help you with that.'

'You would disobey the Guild's orders?'

The Healer nodded. 'Yes. What will you do once you reach the city?'

'Wait for the Guild to call me back.'

'And if they don't?'

Akkarin sighed. 'Then I can do nothing. I gained some power from Parika today, but not enough to face an Ichani.'

Sonea shook her head. 'We weren't strong enough to face an Ichani this morning either, but we still managed to kill one. Why don't we do the same thing to the others? We can pretend to be exhausted, let them catch us, then use our Healing powers to kill them.'

Akkarin frowned. 'That would be very dangerous. You have never experienced the drawing of power. Once it begins, you cannot use your own magic. You would not be able to Heal.'

'Then we'll have to be quick.'

Akkarin's expression darkened further. 'The other Ichani will see what you have done. Even if they don't understand it, they will be cautious. It would only take a barrier at the skin to stop you using Healing power on them.'

'Then we have to make sure they don't see.' Sonea leaned forward. 'We get them when they're alone.'

'They may stay together.'

'Then we'll have to trick them into separating.'

Akkarin looked thoughtful. 'They are unused to city surrounds, and the slums are quite a labyrinth.'

'We could enlist the Thieves.'

Dorrien looked at her, then narrowed his eyes. 'Rothen said you had broken all connections with them.'

She winced at Rothen's name. 'How is he?'

'I haven't heard from him since before Lorlen's order to cease mental communication,' Dorrien replied. He looked at Akkarin. 'He would be relieved to know Sonea is still alive. If I tell the Guild that I have seen you, I can tell them that you are willing to help.'

'No.' Akkarin's expression was distant and thoughtful. 'If Sonea and I are to ambush Ichani in the city, they must not know we are there. If they do, they will band together and hunt us down.'

Dorrien straightened. 'The Guild would keep your presence a—'

'The Ichani will read it from the mind of the first magician they kill.' Akkarin looked at Dorrien, his eyes dark. 'Where do you think I learned that trick?'

Dorrien paled. 'Oh.'

'The Guild must not know we are in the city,' Akkarin said, a note of determination entering his voice. 'So you must not tell them you have met us, or of your encounter with Parika today. The fewer who know of our return, the less chance of the Ichani discovering what we plan.'

'So we have a plan now?' Sonea asked.

Akkarin smiled at her. 'The beginning of one, perhaps. Your suggestion may work, though perhaps not on Kariko. Dakova learned to Heal from me, but he kept that secret to himself. I'm not sure if he ever taught the skill to his brother, but even if he didn't, Kariko is more likely to know Healing is possible and have considered how it might be used to harm another.'

'So we avoid Kariko,' she said. 'That leaves us seven Ichani to kill. I think that will keep us occupied for a while.'

Dorrien chuckled. 'Sounds like you do have a plan. I might be able to drop a hint or two here and there when the Guild are debating strategy. If there's anything you'd have me say...?'

'I don't imagine anything you say will persuade them to hide,' Akkarin replied.

'But they might, once they've fought and exhausted themselves,' Sonea pointed out.

Akkarin nodded. 'Suggest they focus their power on one Ichani. The Sachakans are not used to helping and supporting each other. They don't know how to shield together.'

Dorrien nodded. 'Anything else?'

'I will consider on the way. The sooner we leave, the better.'

The Healer rose. 'I'll saddle up again and find horses for you both.'

'Could you get us some clean clothes, too?' Sonea asked.

'We should travel in disguise,' Akkarin added. 'A servant uniform would be ideal, but anything plain should do well enough.'

Dorrien's eyebrows rose. 'You're going to pose as my servants?'

Sonea shook a finger at him in warning. 'Yes. Just don't get used to it.'

29 Legacy of the Past

The Guildhall fell utterly silent as Lorlen rose from his seat.

'I have called this Meet at the request of the King. As you must all know, the Fort was attacked and breached by eight Sachakan magicians yesterday. All but two of the twenty-one Warriors at the Fort were killed.'

A whispering rose from the audience. The discovery that two of the Warriors had escaped the Fort had been the only good news Lorlen had received in the last day.

'It appears that some of the former High Lord's claims and predictions are right. We have been invaded by Sachakan magicians of immense strength. Magicians who use black magic.'

Lorlen paused and looked around the hall. 'We are unable to avoid the possibility that we are too few and too weak to defend the Allied Lands. In these circumstances, the King has asked that we set aside our laws. He has asked us to choose one among us, one we consider unfailingly trustworthy, to learn black magic.'

The hall filled with voices. Lorlen read a mixed reaction from the crowd. Some magicians voiced protests, while others looked resigned.

'I ask you now to suggest candidates for this role,' he called out over the noise. 'Consider carefully. Strict rules will curtail the activities of this magician. They must remain within the Guild grounds for the rest of their life. They may not hold a position of authority within the Guild. They will not be allowed to teach. These rules may become more restrictive, as we consider the consequences of creating this position.' Lorlen was pleased to see no sign of eagerness on any magicians' face, 'Any questions?'

'Can the Guild refuse to do this?' a voice called.

Lorlen shook his head. 'The King has ordered it.'

'The Council of Elders would never agree to this!' a Lonmar magician declared.

'According to the Allied agreement, the Kyralian King is obliged to undertake whatever measures necessary to protect the Allied Lands from a magical threat,' Lorlen replied. 'The Higher Magicians and I have discussed this