The High Lord bmt-3

by Trudi Canavan

"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.

  - Strike Kariko from beneath, Akkarin instructed.

  As Sonea sent heatstrike through the earth, Akkarin sent more curving down on Kariko from above. The other Ichani shifted their shields to meet Akkarin's strikes just as the ground began to steam beneath Kariko's feet.

  Kariko glanced down, then said something quietly. His companions increased their attack.

  - Keep striking at Kariko from all directions.

  Kariko appeared to have resigned himself to being the main target. He concentrated on shielding, while the others attacked. Sonea resisted a smile. This was all to her and Akkarin's advantage. Shielding took more power, so Kariko would be tiring faster.

  It seemed they would stand and blast each other until one side finally weakened. Then the ground shifted violently beneath her. She staggered and felt a hand grab her arm. Looking down, she saw a dark hole forming below her feet and sensed a disc of power.

  - Hold the shield.

  She forced her attention back to their barrier, taking the full brunt of the Ichani's attack so that Akkarin could concentrate on levitating. The air was full of grass and dirt and strikes. Akkarin moved them backward, but the shifting area of earth followed them. Through the dirt-filled air, Sonea saw the Ichani marching across the disturbed ground toward them.

  Akkarin sent a dozen strikes at the Ichani. At the same time, a dozen weaker ones streaked from the direction of the gates. The Sachakans glanced to the side.

  Sonea gasped as she saw the figure standing just inside the gates. Blue robes swirled around the man as he walked forward.

  "Lorlen!" Sonea gasped. But how could that be? Lorlen was dead. Or was he...?

  Kariko sent a blast of energy toward the Administrator. It flashed through the magician and struck the gates. The bars of metal shattered, filling the street beyond with glowing spears and fragments.

  Lorlen had vanished. Sonea blinked. It had been an illusion. Hearing a chuckle, she looked up to see Akkarin smiling grimly. Kariko and his companions looked unimpressed. They resumed their assault with greater ferocity.

  Akkarin threw a rain of strikes at Kariko, testing the Ichani's shield. Kariko sent powerful blasts back. Akkarin sent a great net of heatstrike out, curving around to hit Kariko from all sides, just as Sonea had done in her last bout against Regin in the Challenge. Sonea frowned as she remembered that battle. In the second fight Regin had saved his strength by shielding only when a strike hit. Could she do the same. It required concentration...

  She focused her will and refined her shield, leaving it weaker behind and above, but not so weak that she could not strengthen it quickly if she needed to.

  - Be careful, Sonea.

  She watched the Ic
hani closely, ready to react if any strikes should change course.

  "LOOK TO THE GATES!"

  The voice came from the top of the University. Looking up, she saw Balkan on the roof of the building, pointing toward the gates. Spinning around, she took an involuntary step backward as she saw broken and bent black spears flying toward her - the remnants of the gates. They clattered into her shield and fell to the ground.

  When I say so, go to the Arena. I will hold them while you take its power... wait... She glanced at him to see his eyes narrowed with concentration.

  - The Ichani are weakening, Akkarin sent.

  Sonea looked at the Ichani. Kariko stood straight and smiling. The rest of the Ichani looked no less confident, but the strikes against her shield had weakened.

  Akkarin took a step forward, then another. Kariko's face darkened. Sonea followed as Akkarin began to walk toward them. She sent her own strikes at the Ichani and felt a surge of satisfaction as they backed away.

  Then, as she felt soft dirt under her feet, something slammed against her mind. She pushed it away, but it returned to hound her again.

  - Mindstrike. Shut it out.

  - How?

  - Like—

  Something sliced up the side of her calf. Sonea stumbled and heard Akkarin gasp. Looking down, she saw the leg of her robe flutter open to reveal a long cut. Akkarin grasped her arm.

  But instead of supporting her, he let his full weight drag her to the ground. She landed on her knees, turned to looked at him and her heart froze.

  He crouched beside her, his face was white and twisted with pain. Bright red drew her eyes to his hand, which was wrapped around the glittering handle of a Sachakan knife.

  The knife was buried deep in his chest.

  "Akkarin!"

  He dropped to his side, then rolled onto his back. She leaned over him, her hands fluttering over the knife as she tried to decide what to do. I must Heal him, she thought. But where do I start?

  She tried to prise his fingers from around the knife's handle. He let go and grabbed her wrists.

  "Not yet," he gasped.

  His eyes were full of pain. She tried to pull out of his grasp, but his grip was strong.

  Then laughter, cruel and humorless, cut through the silence.

  "So that's where I left my knife," Kariko crowed. "How good of you to find it for me."

  Sonea suddenly understood how it had happened. Kariko had dropped the blade into the disturbed earth. As their shield passed over it, he had sent the knife upward. A trap. A trick. Not unlike what she had done to get into the shield of the murderess.

  It had worked.

  "Sonea," Akkarin gasped. His eyes shifted beyond her, and she saw the University reflected in them.

  From somewhere above, she heard shouts. Flashes of magic lit Akkarin's face, but she could not bring herself to look away.

  "I'll Heal you," she told him, struggling to twist out of his hands.

  "No." Akkarin's grip tightened. "If you do, we may lose. Fight them first. Then Heal me. I can hold on like this for now."

  She went cold. "But what if—"

  "We will die anyway." Akkarin's voice was firm. "I will send you my power. You must fight. Look up, Sonea."

  She glanced up and felt her heart stop. Kariko stood less than ten paces away. He was staring up at the University, from which strikes were raining down. Looking up, she saw two familiar faces next to Balkan's.

  "You're not even shielding, Sonea," Akkarin whispered.

  She felt a chill run down her spine. If Rothen and Dorrien hadn't attacked, she and Akkarin would both be—

  - Take my power. Strike while he's distracted. Don't let everything we have done and suffered for come to nothing.

  She nodded. As the strikes from the University lessened, she drew in a deep breath. There was no time for fancy tactics. Something direct, then. She closed her eyes and drew on all her power and all her anger at Kariko for what he had done to Akkarin and Imardin. She felt Akkarin send his strength to join hers.

  Then, opening her eyes, she focused everything at Kariko and his allies.

  The Ichani leader staggered backward. For a moment his shield held, then his mouth opened in a silent scream as heatstrike burned through his body. The next man backed away, but managed only a few steps before her magic shattered his shield and burned through him. She felt a surge of triumph. The last Ichani stood his ground. She felt her strength slipping away. He began to advance and she felt a rush of fear. A last trickle of power came to her, and she sent it forth. The Ichani's eyes widened as his shield wavered. Then, as the last of her magic flowed out, it fell. Heatstrike tore through him, and he crumpled to the ground.

  All was silent. Sonea stared at the three bodies lying before the University. A wave of exhaustion washed over her. She felt no triumph. No pleasure. Just emptiness. She turned to Akkarin.

  A smile curled the edge of his lips. His eyes were open, but fixed somewhere beyond her. As she moved, the hands about her wrists loosened and fell away.

  "No," she whispered. "Akkarin." Grabbing his hands, she sent her mind inward. Nothing. Not even the slightest spark of life.

  He had given her too much power.

  He had given her everything.

  With shaking hands, Sonea ran her fingers over his face, then bent forward and kissed his lifeless mouth.

  Then she curled herself around him and began to cry.

  39

  A New Position

  Rothen reached the end of the corridor and looked up. After the devastation of the city, the undamaged majesty of the Great Hall was both heartening and somehow shameful. The Ichani Invasion, as the five days of death and destruction were now referred to, had been a battle between magicians. It seemed wrong that nothing within the Guild grounds had been damaged when much of the Inner Circle was in ruins.

  It could have been far worse for ordinary Imardians, Rothen reminded himself. There had been few non-magician deaths. The Guild, however, was nearly half its former size. There had been rumors that the Higher Magicians were considering recruiting from wealthy merchant families outside the Houses.

  He crossed to the Guildhall, and slipped between the doors. During the week since the Invasion, the meetings of the Higher Magicians had taken place in one of the small preparation rooms at the front of the hall. Until a new Administrator was elected, it was considered inappropriate to use Lorlen's office.

  Reaching the preparation room door, Rothen knocked. It swung open. As he stepped inside, he noted the magicians present, knowing that he was glimpsing the faces of the Guild's future hierarchy of power.

  Lord Balkan paced the room. It was obvious from the way the others had automatically turned to him for leadership that he was a strong candidate for High Lord. Lord Osen watched Balkan calmly. Though clearly still deeply upset by Lorlen's death, he had gained a quiet purposefulness since being given the task of organizing the city's recovery. Lorlen had been grooming Osen as his replacement for the last few years, so it would surprise no one if the young man was elected Administrator.

  So many Warriors had died that only a few candidates remained for Head of Warriors. Lord Garrel had been present in the last few meetings, which Rothen felt didn't bode well for the future. Balkan had also been managing the lesser Head of Warrior Studies role, but Rothen had heard the man suggest that the position would be filled by another at a future date, so perhaps Garrel's sly, narrow-minded ways would be counter-balanced by a Warrior of more sensible character.

  Lady Vinara would remain Head of Healers. Director Jerrik had made no indication he wanted to change his position, and no one had suggested it. Lord Telano would probably remain Head of Healing Studies. No mention had been made of choosing someone for the role of Expatriate Administrator so far.

  Lord Peakin would probably replace Lord Sarrin. One of the older teachers would be given the Head of Alchemic Studies position, Rothen guessed. He could not help wondering, now and then, who his direct superior wou
ld be, but most of the time he was concerned with more important matters. Like Sonea.

  And she was clearly the reason the Higher Magicians had summoned him today. As Balkan noticed Rothen's entrance, he stopped pacing.

  "How is she?"

  Rothen sighed and shook his head. "No better. It will take time."

  "We don't have time," Balkan muttered.

  "I know." Rothen looked away. "But I fear what will happen if we push her."

  Vinara frowned. "What do you mean?"

  "I'm not sure she wants to recover."

  The room's occupants exchanged worried glances. Vinara did not look surprised.

  "Then you must convince her otherwise," Balkan said. "We need her. If eight outcasts can do this much damage, what might an army do? Even if the Sachakan King doesn't take advantage of our weakness, it would only take one more of these Ichani to ruin us. We need a black magician. We need her - or for her to teach one of us."

  It was true, but unfair on Sonea. It had only been a week since Akkarin's death. Her grief was natural. Understandable. She had been through too much. Why couldn't they leave her alone for a while?

  "What about Akkarin's books?" he asked.

  Balkan shook his head. "Sarrin was unable to learn from them. I have fared no better—"

  "Then you must talk to her," Vinara said to the Warrior, "and when you do, you must be able to tell her exactly where she stands with us. We can't ask her to live for our sakes when her future is uncertain."

  Balkan nodded and let out a heavy sigh. "You're right, of course." He looked around at the other magicians. "Very well, we must hold a Meet to discuss the position and its restrictions."

  "We already have discussed it, when Sarrin was chosen," Peakin pointed out.

  "The restrictions ought to be refined," Garrel said. "At the moment the only requirements are that she remain within the Guild grounds, cannot hold a position of authority, and cannot teach. It should be spelled out that she must not use her powers unless requested by us all."

  Rothen resisted a smile. Us all? Garrel was certainly confident of gaining Balkan's position.

  "Well, we'd have to change that rule against teaching, for a start," Jerrik added.