Black Magician 03 - The High Lord

by Trudi Canavan

  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.

  38

  The Black Magicians

  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?"

  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'II 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 bac
k, 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 Ichani 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 then-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. Hashes 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.