Chapter Text
Sonea was pacing the Dome. She looked up to the huge, hollow stone sphere surrounding her. It was once the practice room of the Warriors, before the Arena was built. The door was open to allow air into the space, three magicians were standing outside, watching her. Two Warriors, the red of their robes just visible in the dim light outside, one green-robed Healer. To make sure she wouldn’t escape. Sonea grumbled, little could they guess her power, the power she took from the Sachakan woman. She could… Well, she would do nothing, since she had promised Akkarin she would do what he instructed and he wanted to talk with the Guild, not fight it. Knocking down these three and disappear in the night might not be interpreted as ‘wanting to talk’.
Earlier this night Vinara, Balkan and Sarrin had come one by one and had questioned her about Akkarin’s activities. She had told them first to listen to Akkarin’s story – as friendly as possible, pointing out that he wanted to talk – and in the end each of the three Heads of the three Disciplines had given up. Rothen had also visited her, but again she had refused to talk about Akkarin.
A movement beyond the door caught Sonea’s attention. A man was talking with her guards, more Warrior magicians were behind him. Four Warriors came inside the Dome and took positions left and right of the door. The man entered after them, no magician’s robe. His clothes were all velvet and silk with gold brocade, golden rings with jewels on each finger. She had never seen him before, but – apart from the magicians – she didn’t know that many people from the Houses.
“And you must be Sonea,” the man said without introducing himself.
“I am. The slum girl, that doesn’t know how to behave and sneaked her way into the Guild.”
The man smiled and shook his head. “The girl that might be the strongest novice Kyralia ever had and got nothing but praises from most of her teachers.”
Sonea raised an eye brow. “You talked to my teachers?”
“I had them rapport to my monthly on your progress. Especially the High Lord always tells me how unique you are.”
She studied his face, looked again at his clothes and the jewels on his hands. Someone that could tell the Guild to rapport monthly to him, who could even tell Akkarin to rapport. It had to be king Merin. “The High Lord didn’t mention how stubborn and cheeky I am?” she asked.
“A few times, but always with a proud smile. You realize you and the High Lord are causing me a problem?”
“I didn’t realize since no-one ever told me who you are or what role you will have in the coming Hearing.” That was true whether he was king Merin or not. “As far as I know, the Guild is going to judge Akkarin and me.”
“That is more or less correct. The Guild is going to judge and they think they make a conviction, but that is not the case. The Guild is going to give me an advise and I am the only one that makes the final judgment,” he said.
Definitely king Merin Sonea decided and gave him a small nod.
“During my reign I always followed the Guild’s advice resulting that those magician’s – well, you magician’s, since you’re member of the Guild – do think I always will. But to your case: you realize just studying black magic is forbidden and you can get the death penalty, even if you never practiced it.”
Sonea swallowed. “I do.”
“Books on black magic were found in your room. Someone suggested they were placed in your room by the High Lord, to frame you.”
“You can ask Akkarin during the Hearing,” she said, sticking to what she said earlier to the High Magicians and Rothen.
“He should get the death penalty.” Merin pursed his lips and stared for a few moments at her. “But I can also ban him. What would you advice?”
She hadn’t slept all night, she was tired, she was insecure and she didn’t see how answering this question could do any harm. “Banning him makes it possible to let him come back if you ever learn the truth.”
“Which truth?”
“That he only….” She took a deep breath and shook her head. “He will explain during the Hearing.”
“The same holds for you. Death penalty? Banned? Or even acquittal and put all blame on the High Lord.”
“Akkarin doesn’t deserve that,” she snapped.
“Ah! We’re getting somewhere. Let’s hypothetically say: we ban Akkarin to Sachakan and acquit you. How would that look?”
“I will go with Akkarin to Sachakan. I will not let him go alone.”
“And if we not let you go?”
She gritted her teeth. “There is no way the Guild can stop me.”
“Is that the case?” He studied her face. “You were with Akkarin all the time yesterday evening?”
She thought the question over. It seemed an innocent question. “Yes,” she admitted.
“And he was wearing such an ugly beggar’s coat all the time?”
Sonea shrugged. “Yes. What is wrong with a beggar’s coat?”
Merin smiled. “Do you like Akkarin?”
“Yes.”
“Do you love Akkarin?”
“Relations between a novice and her guardian are not allowed,” she said.
“That is no answer to my question,” the king said.
“It is an inappropriate question.”
“Both the High Lord and you will be questioned during the Hearing and both of you will be asked to swear you speak the truth. And in doubt I can ask someone to read your mind.”
“I know the procedure,” she said.
“Ah, yes, of course. The case with Lord Fergun. Anyway, I can repeat the question during the Hearing, Sonea, so all of the Guild will know your answer or you can answer it now.”
For minutes they looked at each other, without speaking, without moving. Sonea turned away. “Yes, I do.”
She didn’t look at him, didn’t want to know how he reacted. Behind her he said: “I will see you at the Hearing.”
When she finally looked, king Merin was gone and so were the four Warriors that had entered the Dome.
Sonea was left alone with her own thoughts. You’re a killer, she accused herself. I had to, she answered herself. The Ichani was going to kill Akkarin, destroy the Guild, destroy Kyralia. I was just in the position to stop her. But she had killed using magic, while she had only accepted her magic powers because she wanted to heal people.
There was daylight outside when Lord Osen came in, a globe light above his head filled the spherical room with light. “The Hearing is about to begin, Sonea. I’m here to escort you to the Guildhall.”
She nodded, raised to her feet and brushed sand off her robes. A circle of magicians was waiting as her escort.
“Sonea,” Osen said. “Your guardian is accused of murder and of practicing black magic. As his novice you will be questioned about your knowledge of these matters. Do you understand?”
She swallowed to wet her throat. “Yes, my lord.”
“Due to the discovery of books on black magic in your room, you will also be accused of learning about black magic.”
“I understand.”
Osen nodded. “To the Guildhall, then.”
When they reached the front of the University, a mental communication from Lorlen made Osen to stop. “Akkarin says he will not enter until Sonea is here.”
“What shall we do?” Osen asked.
“Wait. We will decide.”
Sonea felt her heart lighten a little. Akkarin was refusing to enter the Guildhall without her. And they had no idea how strong he was. She realized she had also no idea how strong he was at the moment. The fight of yesterday evening must have costed him a lot of energy and she didn’t know how much he still had. She was aware of the great increase in her own strength since she had taken the Ichani woman’s energy, but she hadn’t enough experience to guess how much stronger.
“Bring her,” came Lorlen’s mental communication.
Akkarin stood in the center of the Entrance Hall, surrounded by his own escort. She felt a thrill as she saw him. The corner of his mouth curled up in the familiar half-smile. She smiled in reply, but schooled her expression as she saw the tense faces of the magicians surrounding them. Lorlen stepped forward. “You may enter together, but you must remain out of each other’s reach.”
When all magicians and novices had found a place, Lorlen struck a small gong. “All kneel to King Merin, ruler of Kyralia,” he intoned. It was indeed the man that had questioned her tonight in the Dome. All magicians dropped on one knee. Sonea glanced at Akkarin and as he was going to kneel too, followed his example. After a pause the magicians began to rise, the Higher Magicians took their seats. Akkarin continued to kneel until all grew quiet, then stood and Sonea did likewise.
Lorlen spoke: “We have called this Hearing to judge Akkarin of family Devon of House Velan, High Lord of the Magician’s Guild and Sonea his novice. Akkarin has been accused of murdering Lord Jolen of House Saril and his family and servants, and of learning and practicing black magic. Sonea has been accused of seeking knowledge of black magic.”
After a short pause Lorlen continued: “Akkarin of House Velan, will you answer our questions truthfully?”
“I will,” Akkarin answered.
“Then swear it.”
“I swear that all I speak in this Hearing will be the truth.”
Lorlen turned to Sonea and she repeated Akkarin’s words.
“Lord Administrator.”
All looked to the highest row of the tiered seats in front of the Hall. It was King Merin who had spoken.
Lorlen turned and kneeled. “Yes, your majesty?”
“I would like to first deal with the murder of Lord Jolen. All discussions about what the High Lord and his novice have learned should come after discussing this murder.”
“If that is your wish, your majesty.”
“It is.”
“Yes.” Lorlen turned to face the audience in the Hall. He was clearly more than a bit confused and looked at Lord Balkan.
The Head of the Warriors straightened. “Your majesty, Lords and Ladies. Yesterday evening I heard a short call from Lord Jolen, he was attacked by a magician. When I could not contact him I visited his house.”
Balkan explained he had found Jolen, his family and servants dead. He had asked Lady Vinara as Head of the Healers to investigate the cause of death and Lady Vinara stood straight to explain what she had found. “… the bodies were drained from all energy. The only way we know how this can happen, is if they are killed with black magic. Also, Lord Jolen had this clutched in his hand.” She showed the audience a piece of a black robe, enough to be recognized as part of one of the High Lord’s robes. “When we searched the High Lord’s residence, we found the robe from which this piece is cut.”
“There is one more testimony,” Lorlen announced. “I call forth captain Barren, investigator of the Guard.”
The room quietened as from one side a man in guard uniform entered and knelt to the King. “A young woman came to the Guard House. She told that while passing the home of Lord Jolen, she heard screams. She hid in a doorway and saw a man leaving the house. The man wore a magician robe, a black robe and had blood on his hands. He came in the direction of were she was hiding and passed her at only a few yards. She could see his robe was damaged. We found the woman dead this morning, so I sought her family – well that is: the family she had told us she was a daughter of – to ask more questions. The family told me they didn’t know the woman, she was not their daughter.”
“I examined the body of that unknown woman,” Lady Vinara added. “She looked as if she was from Sachakan and she was certainly also killed by black magic.”
A buzz went through the Guild Hall. Sonea looked around and noticed magicians looking at her and Akkarin while they whispered to each other. Rothen was staring at her, while holding Dannyl’s arm. The two were sitting together at the first row.
“Lord Administrator.” It was again king Merin who interrupted the Hearing.
“Yes, your majesty?”
“I have a few questions.” The king rose from his chair high on the top row of the tiered seats and descended to the floor of the Hall.
“We will try to answer them, your majesty,” Lorlen stammered. All Higher Magicians glanced uncertain at their king. Sonea gave Akkarin a quick look. He tried to keep his face blank, but she could see he was just as amazed as the other Higher Magicians by Merin’s interruption.
“Lord Jolen was attacked by a magician?” The king looked at Balkan.
“Yes, your majesty. That is what I sensed in the communication.”
“How far away from him was that magician?”
“I…” Lord Balkan blinked his eyes. “I don’t know, your majesty.”
“The piece of robe in his hand was cut off with a knife. It seems his attacker was at most at arm’s length.”
“It seems indeed, your majesty.”
Merin looked around and then addressed Dannyl. “Lord Ambassador.”
Dannyl raised from his chair and sank one one knee.
“At arm’s length, would you recognize our High Lord?”
“Of course, your majesty.”
“At arm’s length, would you expect any magician to recognize our High Lord?”
“Yes, your majesty.”
“Also Lord Jolen?”
“Well… yes, your majesty.”
“Suppose you were attacked by the High Lord – this only hypothetic, no such thing will happen – would you send mental communication ‘I’m attacked by a magician’ or ‘I’m attacked by Akkarin’?”
Sonea saw how Dannyl’s eyes wandered between Merin, Akkarin and herself. “I would send that I was attacked by Akkarin, your majesty.”
“Thank you, Lord Ambassador. But Lord Jolen didn’t. Can you think of a simple explanation why he didn’t?”
Again Dannyl looked for some moments at Akkarin and Sonea. Then he cleared his throat. “The first explanation I can think off, your majesty, is: the attacker was not Akkarin.”
“Indeed,” Merin said. “The same thought as I have.”
Merin turned to Sonea. “Dear novice, you were with your guardian all evening yesterday?”
“Yes, your majesty. And the High Lord didn’t kill anyone.”
“Not too quick, we discuss first where you were, girl. You never left him alone?”
“No, your majesty.”
“When walking outside on the streets, how far from his side did you walk? Close enough to touch him?”
Sonea didn’t understand his questioning. “Yes, your majesty.”
The king turned to the captain of the Guard. “Your witness saw a single man in black robes? He passed her at only a few yards?”
“Yes, your majesty.”
“But your witness didn’t mention a second person next to the magician?”
“No…. your majesty.”
Merin looked at the Higher Magicians. “Any questions, Lords, Lady?”
“Your majesty,” Balkan said. “We don’t know whether Sonea is telling the truth.”
“I will deal with that in a moment. First one more detail. Sonea, what did the High Lord wear while the two of you were out on the streets?”
“A beggar’s coat, your majesty?”
“No magician’s robe?” Merin asked.
“No magician’s robe, your majesty,” Sonea answered.
Merin turned to the Higher Magicians. “One can’t cut a piece of a magician’s robe from a beggar’s coat.”
“Your majesty,” Balkan said. “The girl might…” He took a deep breath and didn’t look happy.
“Sonea,” Merin said. “Did the High Lord wear a beggar’s coat during your visit to the city?
“Yes, your majesty.”
“Were you always close to him while walking the streets?”
“Yes, your majesty.”
“Did you or the High Lord kill Lord Jolen?”
“No, your majesty.”
“Did you or the High Lord enter the Inner Circle yesterday evening?”
“No, your majesty.”
“You’re willing to acknowledge these answers with mental communication?”
“Yes, your majesty.”
“Please, your majesty.” It was Akkarin who spoke. “Mental communication is in this case dangerous. Sonea might have some knowledge of black magic and any magician communicating with her might learn a glimpse of this.”
“I am told you magicians are trained to compartment your thoughts during mental communication.”
“We are, your majesty,” Akkarin reacted. “But a mistake is always possible.”
“During just one second? Only acknowledging all answers she gave during the Hearing were truthfully.”
“But…” Akkarin started.
“My responsibility,” Merin interrupted him. “Sonea, can you hide whatever you know about black magic during a short communication?”
Sonea looked at Akkarin. She was sure she could. He breathed deep and shrugged. “Yes, your majesty,” she said.
“Perfect.” The king turned to Dannyl again. “Lord Ambassador, will you help me?”
“Me? But your majesty. If… Knowledge of black magic is forbidden.”
“The girl says she won’t make a mistake.”
Despite the situation Sonea chuckled. Everyone looked at her. She made a step to Dannyl. “Come, Dannyl. I won’t stab your leg with a knife this time.”
Slowly Dannyl relaxed and gave her a shy smile. He took her hand, looked her in the eyes and asked. “Yes?”
“Yes.”
“Please be careful,” he whispered.
“I am, Dannyl.”
She let his thoughts enter her mind.