Trudi Canavan - The High Lord

Akkarin winced.

“I’m sure the owners won’t mind if their homes are used to defend the city,” Cery added.

“They’ve wrecked a lot of them,” Ravi said. “Not every building in the Inner City is magically enhanced. There can’t be many left.”

“But they haven’t been to the Guild yet,” Senfel pointed out.

Akkarin looked pained. “The University. It’s not the only magically enhanced structure in the Guild, but it contains more power than any other in the city.”

Sonea sucked in a breath. “No, it doesn’t. The Arena has got to be stronger.”

Senfel and Akkarin exchanged grave looks. The old magician cursed vehemently.

“Exactly,” Akkarin agreed.

Cery looked at the three magicians. “That’s bad, isn’t it?”

“Oh, yes,” Sonea replied. “The barrier around the Arena is strengthened by several magicians every month. It has to be strong enough to withstand stray magic from Warrior training sessions—some of them quite vigorous.”

“We have to stop the Ichani taking that power,” Akkarin said. “If they do, we may as well hand the city over to them.”

“We take that power ourselves?” Sonea asked.

“If we must.”

Sonea hesitated. “And then... confront them?”

His eyes rose to meet hers. “Yes.”

“Are we strong enough?”

“We have taken power from four Ichani, if we include Parika. We have used little of our own, and we have taken strength from the volunteers.”

“And you could again,” Senfel reminded them. “It is nearly a day since you tapped their reserves. They will have recovered most of their strength.”

“And there are only three Ichani left,” Faren pointed out.

Akkarin straightened. “Yes, I think it is time to face them.”

Sonea went a little pale, but nodded in agreement. “Looks like it.”

The group fell silent, then Ravi cleared his throat.

“Well, then,” he said. “I had best get you to our volunteers as quickly as possible.”

Akkarin nodded. As the Thief turned toward the door, Cery looked at Sonea closely. He caught her arm.

“This is it, then. Are you scared?”

She shrugged. “A little. Mostly relieved.”

“Relieved?”

“Yes. Finally we’ll fight them properly, with no poison, traps, or even black magic.”

“It’s fine wanting a fair fight, so long as they fight the same,” Cery said. “Just be careful. I won’t relax until this is all over, and I know you’re all right.”

She smiled, squeezed his hand, then turned to follow Akkarin out of the room.

For the last hour, messengers had reported that the Ichani were slowly making their way toward the Guild, destroying houses as they went. Sonea and Akkarin had hurried to the volunteers, who had dealt with their swift visit with admirable tolerance and courage, then raced back to the Inner Circle. During the journey Sonea had burned with impatience, but as she stepped through the secret door into Lorlen’s office she began to wish the journey hadn’t passed so quickly. Suddenly her knees were weak, her hands were shaking, and she could not help feeling there must be something they had forgotten to do.

Akkarin paused for a moment to look around the office. He sighed, then shrugged out of his shirt. Sonea pulled the dress over her head and dropped it to the floor. She looked down at herself and shivered. Full magician’s robes... black magician’s robes...

Then she looked at Akkarin. He stood straighter, taller. A little thrill ran down her back, similar to the fear he had once inspired.

Akkarin glanced at her and smiled. “Stop leering at me.”

Sonea blinked innocently. “Me? Leering?”

His smile widened, then it faded away. He walked up to her and pressed his hands gently against the sides of her face.

“Sonea,” he began, “if I don’t—”

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?”