6The Challenge, Part II
Regin now had a week until his brother's wedding and time was of the essence. Things were, well, not going his way. The memory of his second rejection was painful. He had "accidentally" met Sonea once again on one of her periodic walks. That time she had been alone. He had attempted once more to persuade her to come to the wedding. She however, did not just politely refuse as she had before, but quickly became very angry with him and started shouting about him not respecting her space.
Needless to say, Regin had been quite bewildered and confused as she stormed off until one of the few women in the Guild she actually got along with quite well (and had been witness to the whole affair) quietly whispered to him that Sonea was experiencing "that time of the month" and unlike most women in the Guild, she refused the standard Healing procedures.
"Just plain ridiculous," Regin muttered to himself upon reflecting on the circumstances. He was pacing in his room once more, and once more received little clue as to how to alleviate his dilemma from the repetitive movement.
There was a knock at his door. "Come in," Regin said distractedly, undoing the magic that kept the door shut for the most part.
"Excuse me, Lord Regin," a small voice said. He turned and saw Sonea's son staring at him.
"Yes?"
"Mother told me to bring you this," he said extending a crisp white envelope.
"Thank you," Regin replied.
Lorkin quickly disappeared from the room and Regin sat down, tearing open the envelope eagerly.
Dear Regin,
I wish to apologize for my previous actions. It was wrong of me to shout at you. Please accept my humblest apologizes for such a disgrace. However, I am afraid that I still cannot accompany you to your brother's wedding. As I have previously mentioned several times, I am far too busy to attend.
Yours truly,
Sonea
Regin crumpled the note in his hand. It was one step forward and two steps back. He had returned to her good graces, only to be denied once again. He could hear his brother laughing at him now. It would not do. He simply could not live with himself if he did not bring Sonea to his brother's wedding.
Frantically he searched his desk for paper and a pen and set about writing at a furious pace. When he was finished he called out to his servant, who arrived with visible alarm in his countenance. "Deliver this immediately," he instructed.
"Yes, Lord Regin," the servant replied, worried for his master's mental well-being.
Several hours later, the sun had set substantially and darkness stole onto the evening. Sonea arrived at Regin's apartments as he had requested in his hastily written letter, looking slightly flustered, annoyed, but also very graceful. Regin towered over her in height as he met her at the door and took from her the long, well-made but not-too-rich cloak that hugged her shoulders in the chill winter air. Her dark eyes studied him and Regin wondered what it was that she could possibly be thinking beneath those eyes.
"Please sit down," he told her courteously.
She did not thank him as she took a seat in one of his chairs.
"Are you angry with me?" he asked.
She bit her lip and Regin could see that she was hesitating between the truth and a lie. "Angry is such a strong word," she said at last.
"But you didn't answer the question."
She sighed, knowing full well that she had been very easily caught. "I am annoyed, Regin, because it seems that you are incapable of taking no for an answer as always."
Regin chuckled. "No, I'm not very good at that. It's one fault that I've managed to still keep."
"So you think of yourself as reformed now?" Sonea asked penetratingly.
Regin felt doubtful now. "Don't you?" he countered.
"In some respects, I suppose," she replied vaguely.
A smile found its way onto his lips. "Well, despite your annoyance, I hope you will still stay to dine with me tonight."
She sighed humorously. "I suppose. Since you asked so nicely."
Their dinner passed quickly. Somehow they managed to find things to talk about, though how never of them would ever know. Their only supposition on the matter would be that perhaps it was due to Regin's reformation that they found that, in the end, they shared the same sort of clever brain and sense of humor.
Sonea discussed her son frequently. She adored him and Regin found her fondness completely endearing. The mother and son proved wrong every claim that Sonea was the cold, heartless black magician. How could such a loving woman be cold and heartless?
Regin talked of his latest project with the other Warrior magicians. The threat of Sachaka and black magic still loomed over Kyralia like a shadow and while they rebuilt, the Warriors were working on a way of counteracting the draining effects of black magic on an ordinary magician. The Guild did not wish to fall to the horrors of the past, but they also needed to protect themselves. Sonea listened to him with awe. The burden of black magic was a difficult one to bear. She had learned it for Akkarin and when they were together life was easier to live, but with him gone, each day brought a new struggle and a new resentment for the darkness within her. As lonely as she was, she would not wish her suffering on anyone.
It was not until they had retired from the dining room into more comfortable chairs that, not Regin, but Sonea brought up the subject of his brother's wedding once more. Regin had been planning to mention it much later in the evening, perhaps when the wine had taken a little more of its effect, making him more confident and her more compliant.
Instead, however, those plans were completely ruined as Sonea said, "So when is your brother's wedding again?"
"In one week," Regin replied calmly. "It is such a shame you could not come. It will be an event to remember, what sort of memories I could not say, but it would certainly be interesting."
Sonea nodded solemnly.
"But I suppose it is all for the best," he said.
She looked at him strangely. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Thinking on it more deeply, I am sure my family would turn your coming into a circus festival or something ridiculous like that. I would not wish to put you through that."
"Aren't weddings circuses anyway?"
"True. And my brother's will certainly be no exception. I'm afraid I'm not going to enjoy it at all, particularly without company so enjoyable as yours, but what is the use of discussing it any further? You cannot go and I must." Regin struggled very hard not to smile. If he did, it would ruin everything.
He watched her eyes stare at him from across the room. Something was going on inside her and was threatening to burst. He waited eagerly.
"Is something the matter?" he asked softly. "Do you need anything?" He gazed at her with such a powerful intensity that she had not noticed him cross the room to stand next to her.
"It's just… it feels warm in here," Sonea said distractedly.
Regin took her hand gently. "Come stand by the open window then." They crossed to the back end of the room where a single window was open letting in a small amount of the cool winter air.
A moment or two of the cold wind made Sonea realize that Regin was still holding her hand delicately. She gazed at the gesture completely and utterly perplexed. "The wedding is in one week, you said?"
"Yes," Regin replied, feeling excitement and tension boil up within him.
"You know, my schedule is actually clearing up lately," she said quietly. "I suppose I could go with you… for a little while." Sonea looked up at him.
"I would be honored to have you come with me," he said. It was true. It had all started off as a challenge at first, but now he realized how much he had really wanted her for himself.
Despite the cold air filtering in from the window, the space between them felt very warm. An embarrassed flush had crept into their cheeks and they stared openly at each other. "Regin, I—"
Something in Regin sparked to life when he heard her speak his name. It was the first time she had said it that didn't sound as if it were dripping with hatred, or layered in respectful restraint. Before she could say another word he had cut her off, placed a hand on her cheek, and pressed his lips against hers.
They pulled back quickly in surprise and studied each other.
"Well, I didn't see this coming," Sonea said at last.
Regin grinned and Sonea realized it was the first genuine smile she had ever seen him wear. She liked it. "Neither did I," he replied and pulled her close.
End
Author's Note: Reviews please?
