"The Power Within (Chapter 1)" by Alicia Hansen

The sun beat down in its usual summer intensity and Arhynn pulled his frisky mount to a stop. He spotted a small group of sprites dancing amongst the wildflowers that stretched over the broad hills of Hagis Heath. He frowned and tightened his hands on the reins and watched for the rider that was to meet him here. Two of the sprites spotted him and alerted the others. They studied him for a few moments and their tiny bodies blended with the flowers as they stopped their movements. Arhynn shuddered under their gazes and his mount shifted beneath him. They flitted away.

The distinct thud of powerful wing-beats caught his attention. The Windracer, the wyvern rider, approached. The dark red-brown wings came into view first over a higher hill, followed by the thin, whip-like body of a wyvern. It’s muscular legs reached out beneath it and it tilted its wings upward and settled into the grassy plain. Arhynn kicked his horse into a gallop and approached the beast and its rider. His horse danced in nervousness and threw its head. The wyvern angled its head, its long neck twisting as it did so. The rider, nearly obscured by the beast, dismounted and approached Arhynn on foot. He proffered a quick yet formal bow. “You summoned, my lord?”

“Queen Latyssa has sent scouts into the plains. Does she think we are so blind here?”

Zachai Tallavor’s eyes narrowed. “I would almost suspect that she does, my lord. She is getting desperate.”

“For what?” He felt his blood curdle at the suspected response.

“To be honest, my lord, I am not certain. I have not seen her hunt with such vigor since she lost her daughter.”

Arhynn shuddered at the thought of that. Latyssa had been ready to offer her daughter up in a brutal sacrifice when, by some miracle, the infant had turned up missing. She had searched in vain for almost two years before she gave up. The ritual, which was supposed to grant her with the powers her daughter was said to have, was never completed. Latyssa, a woman who dreamed of immense power, could hardly have turned down such a chance. “Is there a chance the princess could have returned?”

“My lord, the princess Tyara must be dead or else Hunter Shadroch Mandor would have found her by now.”

Arhynn nodded. “Do what you can to find out what her people are doing here. I will keep Egwen in the dark as long as I can, but there are no guarantees. You must work quickly, Tallavor. Time moves swiftly and not in our favor.”

The man bowed his head and swung atop his two-legged beast. The wyvern unfolded its massive wings and pulled itself upward until it caught an air current upon which it settled and followed out of sight.

Arhynn pulled his mount around and heeled the horse into a gallop. The animal, all too happy to be away from the wyvern, raced across the open fields. Arhynn loved the feel of the air as it whipped about him and whistled in his ears. In these moments only was he truly alone with his thoughts. The cloudless sky offered no shade as respite from the noonday sun and Arhynn loosened his shirt. He was glad he had left his cloak back in his quarters.

Along the way, Arhynn spied a herd of centaurs. The lead stallion raised his hand in greeting and Arhynn returned the gesture. The great stallion turned towards him with two young stallions at either side. Arhynn angled his mount to the side to meet up with them. “What has happened?”

“The Soldiers of the Flame have taken Rannoch’s herd. Only Felicia escaped to warn us. We beg for your protection, my lord,” said the centaur stallion with a slight bow of his head. The centaurs were a prideful species and to ask a human of help, despite the fact that that human might be friend, must have hurt them deeply.

“I’m sorry, but Rannoch led the herd that lived . . . ?”

“Off the banks of Wynor, yes.”

Arhynn nodded. “The white stallion. I remember him now. Do you know that he hasn’t done anything treasonous?”

“Of course he hasn’t, my lord. Rannoch only sought the protection of his herd. Along the banks of the Wynor, they were safe. There were a few water sprites that dwell in the lake, but Rannoch’s herd would have caused them no harm, nor they him. There’s no explanation for their unprovoked attack.”

Arhynn nodded. “I am traveling to the Ivory Palace in the next few days. I will see if perhaps Lord Fah-junneh knows anything about this. Stick to the woodland, Quinn. Perhaps the herds can gather temporarily until an answer is found.” Arhynn didn’t dare voice his suspicions to the centaur, at least not until he knew something more.

He nodded. “Perhaps. That might work. But please work quickly, my lord.”

When he arrived at King Egwen’s palace, six mounted soldiers awaited him outside the large wooden gates. “The king wishes to speak with you right away, my lord,” said the captain. He led Arhynn in through the entrance.

Egwen’s palace was different in build from anything seen elsewhere. It was built low and close to the earth. It covered much space, but didn’t extend more than one floor into the earth, which only gave the palace two floor levels. The hallways were a maze to anyone unfamiliar with them, which served as protection for the king, his family and his advisors. For formal occasions, there was a separate building, still in the walled complex, that could house any sort of formal reception, whether it was the coronation of a new king, the marriage of the heir, or even a ball. Arhynn and the six soldiers dismounted in front of the palace doors and two of the soldiers left with the animals. The captain led the way inside, despite the fact that Arhynn knew his way. By the formality of the soldiers, Arhynn knew something was wrong. He thought it over in his mind, but wasn’t certain. What had Egwen found? Did he know what Arhynn had done?

After many turns that led them to the heart of the building on the lower floor, they stopped outside Egwen’s personal quarters. The captain opened the door and slipped inside and, after a few moments, he held the door open so that Arhynn could enter before he stepped out again.

Arhynn stepped in with a deep bow to the balding, overweight king. “You summoned, my liege?”

“Yes, Arhynn.” Egwen’s voice was unusually cold.

Arhynn resisted the urge to stiffen as he raised his head. He started to smile, but let it die away at the stern expression of the king. “Speak to me, my king. What is troubling you?”

“I don’t understand it, Arhynn. After all these years! How could you do this to me?”

He knows. Arhynn felt ready to panic and he decided to play innocent for a little longer. “What do you mean, my king? What have I done?” Please, Flame, don’t let him know what I did.

“What were Latyssa’s spies doing at Dreymund?” At Arhynn’s hesitation, the king rushed on. “How could you keep this from me? This is a preclusion to war, Arhynn! You know that! How could you think to hide this from me?”

He doesn’t know! Arhynn didn’t allow himself a sigh of relief. “I had hoped to learn what they doing here, my lord, before I troubled you with it.”

“With Latyssa’s reputation, warning me would not mean troubling me, Arhynn. You know better than that. You know her better than that!”

Arhynn let his eyes roll as he bowed his head forward. “Forgive me, my king. I do not trust Latyssa’s motives any more than you do, but I also do not want you to be seen as the aggressor. If Lord Fah-junneh believed that you moved to attack her . . .”

Arhynn let the sentence trail off and it had the desired affect. The king stiffened in his chair and his hands tightened on the armrests. No one dared to cross Fah-junneh. “Yes, I see now. You should have at least let me know, Arhynn. I cannot protect this people if I do not have information that is relevant to this people.”

Arhynn nodded with another bow. “Yes, my lord. Again, I am sorry. I will learn what Latyssa’s plans are. Perhaps we can find another way to dissuade her intentions.”

Egwen nodded. “See what you can do, Arhynn. May the Flame guide your path.”

Arhynn took his leave as plans began to form in his mind. He wasn’t certain if he could do this or not, but there was only one way to find out. As long as Egwen didn’t find out.

Arhynn used a simple spell to whisk him to Atlantis, far away from Egwen’s realm. Gavin inclined his head as he approached Arhynn. “Why have you come, Magistrate Arhynn?”

“I’m sorry to intrude upon you, Magistrate. Something has come up.”

“Latyssa’s Hunters?” Arhynn nodded without word. Gavin, Magistrate of the Waters echoed the nod. “Winds is not the only realm she has intruded upon. Her minions search our islands. If they had the ability, they’d search our waters also. Thank the Flame she can’t.” He motioned Arhynn to follow him and led him to his own office in the beautiful palace.

The palaces in the Realm of Waters were glorious and grand and, though they did not appear so, they were easy to guard and protect. Columns lined the hallway and held aloft an arched ceiling above. Skilled artists had trailed murals across the ceilings to add to the beauty of their palaces. Balconies and open hallways gave an immense view of the oceans that wrapped around their islands. Blue waters reached out to the horizon and glittered in the afternoon sun.

Gavin motioned Arhynn to a chair. “Things have only gone downhill since the death of King Connor. Were he still alive, his queen would not have such power.”

“Is it true that she killed him?”

Gavin chuckled. “You are too young to remember such things, Arhynn. No one knows what happened to King Connor. I supposed it is possible he could even be alive somewhere. Doubtful, but possible. Would you believe the Realm of Flames even had their own Magistrate at one point?”

“I’ve studied history.” Arhynn shook his head. “Why has Fah-junneh allowed her to steal away such power? Doesn’t it endanger him?”

Gavin shrugged. “I think it might have something to do with Vayreena. She’s settled in Corbic Valley, near Dragon Mount. She’s Fah-junneh’s greatest threat; why should he pay attention to Latyssa? She doesn’t have true power, like she believes.”

Arhynn nodded and turned his gaze out Gavin’s massive windows. The sight of the waves lapping up against the golden sand was very calming. He hesitated to bring up the next subject, but this was the true reason of his visit. Gavin was a wise man, easily twenty years Arhynn’s senior. Perhaps more. “Tell me what you think of the possibility that Princess Tyara may have survived.”

Gavin snorted. “Impossible.” He looked at Arhynn and his smile disappeared. “You’re serious.”

“Something must be going on. You said it yourself, Vayreena is in Latyssa’s own Realm, so why risk her best Hunters by sending them out? She knows something, Gavin.”

Gavin’s face dropped. “Her men would have found the princess by now.”

“Do we know who stole the princess away? Perhaps they had a power beyond what Latyssa has? How many different dimensions are there that an infant could have been hidden away in?”

“A child with that magnitude of power? We would have heard something before now. It’s been seventeen years.” Gavin shook his head. “It’s for the best the child was lost, Arhynn. Think what would have happened had she grown into womanhood and been married to Earth.”

The infant princess had been betrothed to the young prince of the Realm of Earth. “The balance would have been tipped drastically. Surely Fah-junneh would have allowed for no such occurrence.”

Gavin shrugged. “Lord Fah-junneh has his own plans and agenda. Perhaps he had something to do with the disappearance of the princess. Or perhaps he had something to do with teaching Queen Latyssa the magics necessary to steal her child’s power.” He drew in a deep breath. “What do you plan to do? You surely can’t approach King Arjac with your suspicions.”

“I know. I came to you for advice.”

“I have no advice for something such as this, Arhynn. No, wait, yes I do. Leave it be. You can’t handle any of this. Protect Egwen’s land and his people. That is what you’re sworn to do. Forget this business with Tyara and Arjac and Latyssa. Keep your mind on your duties, there’s nothing more you can do.”

Arhynn nodded. “Thank you for your time, Gavin. I must be on my way. My king will begin to wonder.”

Gavin nodded. Though it was not forbidden for magistrates of the realms to meet, it was not commonplace. “May the Flame be with you, Magistrate Arhynn. And keep your nose and your hands clean. You don’t want to get involved in any mess that involves Latyssa.”

Arhynn nodded again as he prepared to leave. He made no promises and he saw in Gavin’s glare that the other realized it. He used the same spell to whisk him back to Egwen’s palace. He mulled over how he could prove or disprove his suspicions. Was Latyssa truly hunting after her lost daughter again? Or did she have something else in mind?

Tara stared out over the vast expanse of empty land and let a whimper escape her throat. She had no idea where she was or even how she’d gotten here, really. Her horse shook his mane and whickered. The hills were bright under a carpet of wildflowers of every color of the rainbow, with only a few scattered trees. Her heart ached with worry for her brother. She wondered who those men were who had chased her and Josh from their parents’ ranch in Colorado, and she still couldn’t fathom how she had ended up here. It just wasn’t possible.

She glanced at the sky. The sun was starting its downward slope into the western horizon. It must have been about two in the afternoon. Not a cloud marred the perfect blue. She could see the distant shape of a bird, but as she looked closer, it looked like no bird she had ever seen. She wondered what it was.

She urged her horse forward. Perchance she would come upon something, or even someone. Hours passed with the same unending landscape until she spotted a stream. Rusty also noticed it and picked up his pace. Her first thought was of dangerous bacteria that lived within the small creek. As she pulled her horse to a stop on the bank, she saw the water was a murky brown. The bed was just of sand and dirt. Only her extreme thirst and worry allowed her to take a drink from the foul water. The horse lapped it up without qualm.

There was a splash to her right, upstream. She caught sight of horse’s shape as it crested a  hill. Except it wasn’t exactly a horse. Tara’s breath caught in her throat as she saw the human face and arms and torso atop a horse’s body. This was a creature that didn’t exist.

The creature hesitated at the sight of Tara, but stepped forward, now followed by a second. Both appeared female, both very shy. Tara grabbed hold of Rusty’s bridle, more to calm herself than him. The horse whickered, but stood patiently. Another creature followed behind the two. It was male and definitely the leader. His fur coat was a brilliant copper color and his skin looked very tanned. At the sight of her, the stallion reared back on his haunches before he bounded down the stream. The two females hung back.

“Who are you?” the creature demanded as he splashed to a stop.

She froze. She wanted to answer, but couldn’t get her body to respond.

The stallion stamped a hoof and closed his fist. His eyes glared down hard at her. “Well?”

“I–I’m T–T–T­ara.”

The creature flicked his tail and snorted. He kept his steely gaze upon her face. “Tyara?” The creature showed some surprise at her name and edged backwards. He cast a nervous glance to either side. He turned tail and galloped back the way he had come, sliding once on the slippery streambed.

Tara stared after him before she came to her senses. “Wait! Please, wait!” He and his female companions were long gone. She glanced at her own horse, then back after the way they had gone. In a moment, she decided. She swung atop Rusty and spurred him after them. A purebred Thoroughbred and trained racehorse, she was willing to bet Rusty could outrun those hybrid creatures from legend. Rusty bowed his head forward and lengthened his stride to run as fast as she asked of him. As they crested a hill, Tara could see an entire herd of the half-horse/half-man creatures, about thirty or forty animals. The copper stallion led them. A younger, smaller stallion towards the back caught sight of Rusty and Tara and raised a warning bellow. The copper stallion reared back and spun to face her. He seemed truly frightened.

“Wait!” Tara called out. “Please, I need your help!”

The stallion ran against his herd to approach her. None waited for him. “I can be of no help to you, young princess. I know nothing!”

“Princess?” Tara frowned. “I can’t find my way home.”

“I cannot guide you there, princess. I endanger my herd even speaking to you! If the High Lord were to learn of this . . .” The beast swayed on his four feet and shuddered. He turned his gaze after his herd again. “Follow the sun to the end, princess. I can offer you nothing beyond that. And if anyone were to ask, I gave you no help. Travel wary, there are many predators about.” He turned heel and galloped away after the others.

Rusty started forward after the stallion, but Tara held him back. She mulled over the beast’s words. Follow the sun to the end would put her in a westerly direction. She didn’t understand how that would get her home, but with no other option, it was at least something. She turned Rusty west. They crossed the stream and wandered until the sun set that night. By the time she stopped for the night, hungry, thirsty, and cold, she had figured out nothing more of what the beast had told her. She felt even more lost now than before.

The sun rose the next morning and Tara continued in her westward journey. The morning sunshine dispelled little of the night’s chill and Tara still shivered in her saddle. Rusty trudged onward through the knee-deep grass. Her stomach rumbled in hunger.

They traveled for hours before she caught sign of another human being. To her delight, this person seemed wholly human. The man, dressed in plain colored, ragged clothes, turned at the sound of the hoof beats. He tipped his wide-brimmed hat to her. “Good day.”

“I’m lost,” she said without preamble. “I’m trying to get back home.”

“I can’t be telling you the way home, milady.”

“Why not?”

The man chuckled and continued in the direction they both had been going. “I have no eyes, milady. I hardly know where I’m going meself. Just following me gut, milady. You’re welcome to travel with me.”

Tara nodded. She felt a few tears trickle down her face. This just wasn’t fair.

Arhynn faced the Windracer and let his eyes narrow to slits. The soldier kept his gaze beyond Arhynn and waited for him to speak. “Who’s side are you on?”

“I was on King Connor’s side, my lord. I cannot support Latyssa. I only bide my time.”

“Until what?”

The dark-skinned man shrugged. “I am not certain, my lord. If the princess truly is gone, the drakes will call another heir. I must be ready to pledge my allegiances to the new Dragon’s Heir. Until then, I do not know who I serve. Latyssa certainly deserves no loyalty.”

“She seems to have plenty of it.”

“She’s tricked many people into believing she has been chosen as the heir. I know better.”

Arhynn let his voice drop to just above a whisper. “Do you believe the princess is dead?”

“Don’t you?” Zachai Tallavor shook his head. “Perhaps Latyssa has learned something that she does not wish to share with anyone else. Maybe it involves her long-lost daughter, maybe the new heir.” He cocked his head. “If I try to seek out what Latyssa is hunting, do I have your help and support, my lord?”

Arhynn kept silent for a few moments. “On one condition. Until the Dragon’s Heir comes again, you must pledge your loyalty to me. Latyssa is our greatest threat and I could use someone who is close to her and has information.”

Zachai chuckled at that. “You think I am close to her, my lord?” He shook his head. “You have my pledge of loyalty, until the arrival of the Dragon’s Heir.” He fell silent and turned his attention to the grass at this feet. “I came with other news, my lord. Latyssa has learned that you’ve been asking questions. She is sending her Hunters after you, my lord. She does not know I am here now.”

Arhynn cocked an eyebrow. “I think I can handle myself, thank you.”

“They know your abilities, my lord. They have prepared ways around them. I must take my leave now, my lord, or Latyssa will grow suspicious.” He bowed deep and swung back atop his wyvern. The great beast took off to the west and towards Tallavor’s home.

Arhynn scowled after the man. Who learned? He had asked of Zachai and Gavin . . . Had someone else overhead? Magistrate Gavin’s loyalties weren’t for sale, Arhynn knew that much. He had come out to this desolate field after a small dragon had brought him Tallavor’s message. He would be safe out here for a time, at least. Latyssa would not yet dare send her Dragon Riders into the Realm of Winds.

On the distant horizon, Arhynn caught sight of a rider and person on foot. They trudged westward. He frowned. What was a pair such as this doing so far away from Dreymund? Perhaps they had come from Skyline Breeze to Dreymund . . . but why come this far north? He hesitated, then decided not to approach them. If someone really was after him, no need to make it easy. He called his horse to him, swung into the gray stallion’s saddle and booted him to a trot. He’d take the long way to the Ivory Palace this time. It’d be a little time to sort out his thoughts before he confronted Lord Fah-junneh.

Latyssa cupped her chin in her hand as she thought. The room was darkened and quiet, just the way she liked it. No one could touch her deep within her citadel. The dark towers stretched above the mountainside that most of this palace had been carved into. As a result, they only had firelight to light their ways inside. Latyssa didn’t mind, it matched her mood well. “I thought you said you’d found Tyara.”

“They thought they had, milady. It could have been a mistake. The child would have reached womanhood by now. It would be difficult to compare a grown woman to an infant child, my queen.” The man bowed deep in an effort to take away the sting of his words.

Latyssa knew he meant no offense and she offered a slight smile. “You say she travels with a young man?”

“Again, my queen, I must correct. She did travel with a young man. He is in our custody now, as soon as Shadroch Mandor’s Hunters return.”

She rose from the cushioned chair and walked towards the distant wall. This wall portrayed the things that had been dear to her Connor before his untimely death. She fingered a long blade, wide and curved. Black dragons had been etched into the steel, spiraling their way upward. She clenched her other fist as she thought of the power that had slipped through her fingers that fateful night. No, she had not slain Connor. She had needed him, more than he would ever know. And she missed him terribly. Sometimes, anyway. “When they arrive, bring the dear boy to me. I have some questions to ask of him.”

“They are still days out, my queen. As soon as Mandor arrives, he will be pleased to bring you the boy.”

“And this Magistrate Arhynn? What of him?”

The man hesitated. “He’s been overhead asking the wrong questions. Now he’s come to some conclusion about Princess Tyara. Personally, my queen, I don’t find him worthy of your time or efforts. The man is always being paranoid about something.”

Latyssa cocked an eyebrow. “Correct me if I’m wrong, Hagan, but wasn’t he correct about the last several things you tracked him on? Like . . . Prince Arjac’s griffins and their havoc, or King Dalric’s spies?” She nodded as her servant dropped his eyes to the floor. “That is what I thought. Hagan, apparently the man is only paranoid when there is good reason. What good reason would have to be paranoid now? And what exactly is he paranoid about?”

“He is questioning whether or not the princess Tyara is truly dead. He wonders why our search parties scour all four Realms. While paranoid, he has good contacts who feed him accurate information.”

Latyssa nodded again. “This is why I want him eliminated. The man has a knack for asking questions, whether or not they are the right ones, and he’s bound to get more people to ask those questions and more. I can’t have that. Not now. Not when I’m this close.”

Hagan proffered a deep bow. “As you wish, my queen, so shall it be. I will take my best men and set after him after sundown.”

Latyssa nodded her approval and turned her back to the man. “Work quickly, Hagan. I want any doubt eliminated before Lord Fah-junneh catches wind of this.”

The man gave no more reply and he left her alone with her thoughts in the darkness.

She longed to send her Dragon Riders, but that would be seen as a sign of aggression by King Egwen, even if she didn’t harm another soul. Even Fah-junneh would see it as aggressive, then she would be sorely punished. She shuddered and hugged her arms around herself. Burn you, Fah-junneh. If it weren’t for you, I would have gained control of at least two other Realms by now! She shook her head. There was no control over that. Only this here and now.

Shadroch Mandor glanced back at their prisoner. He was mounted on what had been their packhorse and, odd as it was, had been very cooperative. Though he did refuse to say anything about the girl he had traveled with, the girl he claimed as his sister. Three other Hunters rode with him on this night as they returned to Burant where Latyssa surely awaited him and his prisoner.

This was the most dangerous leg of the journey, the forests of Mekhorbam, just east of the mountains of Abram, the boundaries between the Realms of Earth and Fire. Shadroch only prayed that those boundaries wouldn’t be broken.

The trees loomed high above them and the trail was dangerous for the careless traveler. Large roots formed a maze almost a meter off the ground in which any number of dangerous creatures could lurk, including griffins and manticora.

“You are certain that you do not now know your location, boy?” he asked into the quiet.

The boy glared daggers back at him. He knew his only strength was silence.

Shadroch chuckled. The sounds of the forest were unnerving and even he felt his skin begin to prickle. “If we are caught here, boy, you will be strung up with the rest of us despite certain friends of yours.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he spat.

“And I thought you were staying silent.” He reined his horse back to walk alongside the boy. The prisoner’s hands were not bound, that would make them obvious to a casual eye. Instead, they had taught him the hard way that he could not escape. He knew it well, Shadroch knew as he studied the boy’s face. No more than twenty years, but just these last two days had aged him at least five years. “And a place such as this is fraught with danger. These forests have eyes, which all report back to their masters.” He allowed a shiver to be visible. Sometimes, showing a shred of humanity could put a person at ease, but used correctly could scare that same person out of their wits.

“My lord?” one of the men whispered from behind him.

Shadroch nodded without turning. His instincts had flared a bare moment before Temnys Kantil had spoken. He signaled to the youngest Hunter, a boy called Yholond, to find out what tracked them. They couldn’t pretend to be regular travelers. Their armor, horses, and the wide, curved blades of their swords marked them as Flamesmen. If it was a human that trailed them, he would have to be dispatched of as quickly as possible. If it were something else . . . Shadroch’s blood chilled at the thought of they might encounter at their backs. At least we won’t be caught completely off-guard.

A few minutes later, Shadroch yanked his mount to a stop, the others slowed also. The prisoner was several steps ahead of them, but knew better than to try and run. “Arjac’s spies,” he whispered to Temnys as the cold-blooded man leaned towards him.

Temnys blinked his stunningly pale blue eyes and nodded. He pulled his white horse to the side and stepped it forward beside the boy. “Perhaps you can tell us how to get home from here, you bloody blind fool!”

“I— What?” The boy’s face had dropped in shock.

Shadroch took it up after that. “I told you this had to be the wrong way! We must be deep within Lord Arjac’s Realm now! But you don’t believe you can ever be wrong, do you?”

The color had drained from the prisoner’s face. He didn’t have a clue what they were doing.

Arjac’s spies gave him no time to figure anything out as they stepped out from cover. Shadroch and his Hunters feigned surprise at the thirty or so soldiers. Shadroch spotted no commander among them and wondered where he’d be. His question was answered as a huge man astride a nasty-looking griffin rode up. The griffin had its golden wings tucked up against its body and it eagle-beak opened. The soldiers had painted the beast’s beak and nails a stark black to give it a startling affect. Shadroch found none of it lost as he sensed the bloodlust on the beast’s breath. “Flamesmen,” snarled the commander.

“Uh . . . er . . . yes,” Shadroch started in the halting speech of a nervous subordinate. “Yes, sir. I’m afraid we’ve gotten ourselves lost. Quite lost.” He let his gaze drift around him.

The commander had no patience for the show. “Who are you and who’s business are you on?”

“I am Shae Elben, scout for the Queen Latyssa. We were called on a mission that is quite . . . beyond our capabilities. We fell under attack from some of King Egwen’s men and lost our captain and four other officers. We are all that’s left.”

“That’s not true!” the boy snapped.

The commander turned to him with a cocked eyebrow. “What’s this? Who are you?”

“I am an American citizen and I demand to be released this instant!”

“Released? You’ve not been arrested. Yet.” The commander accentuated the last word.

Shadroch buried a frustrated scowl. How could he have not noticed this many soldiers? He felt embarrassed that they had sneaked upon him so easily. Were you on my turf, you would not have found it so easy, forest pigs. He still had a surprise hidden beneath his cloak on the back of the saddle. He’d not had need to call upon it yet . . . “Joshua is but a boy, commander. He has been greatly frightened by this terrible ordeal, as have we all.” I can’t believe that the last king wanted to unite with this Realm!

“He lies,” the boy continued with no acknowledgement to Shadroch. “I was chased from my home with my sister when they caught up with us. By some miracle of God, she escaped and I have no intention of letting them take her. So they took me instead. They knew full well they were crossing into your land. They had only hoped they wouldn’t get caught.”

The commander looked between Shadroch and the boy. He knew someone was lying, but didn’t dare decide who. “Arrest them all. Bring them before King Arjac and let him decide their fates.”

That was Shadroch’s cue and he loosed the dracling among them. The small red dragon, the size of a barn cat, spiraled upward and spat a small gout of fire that singed one of the soldiers. Despite the dangers they faced almost daily in these forests, the soldiers were frightened of the dracling and its flames. They backed away, their swords held before them as though that would dissuade the small creature. The other three Hunters released their draclings as well and in the few moments of confusion spared to them, they spurred their mounts forward. Shadroch leaned to the side of his mount to grab the reins of his prisoner’s mount. No point in going to all the effort just to lose the prize. The griffin bellowed in fury as its feathery fur coat caught fire and it snapped at the dracling. It twisted upwards in some semblance of a rear and the commander shouted several obscenities after them that Shadroch chose to ignore.

The forest didn’t die away. If anything, it only grew thicker around them. The trail had disappeared entirely and the group was forced to dismount to lead the horses through. After several hours, the draclings caught up and took their places on the horses’ saddles. Shadroch was doubly alert to every strange sound and felt about at nerve’s end with the wildlife that wouldn’t quiet down around him. At least the forest doesn’t announce our presence.

“What do you plan to do with me anyway?” the boy asked after hours of silence amongst them.

Shadroch glanced back over his shoulder. “Probably not too far off, we’ll just kill you. But until then, you’ve got a valuable piece of information we need.”

“If you’re referring to my sister and her location, I can tell you all I know.”

Shadroch stopped and studied the boy. The others took the break gratefully and sank down to the moss-covered ground. Shadroch didn’t dare; he didn’t like not knowing what he was sitting in. Or standing in, for that matter, he thought with a frown. “Why are you eager to help us now? Do you expect to be spared?”

The boy smiled. “Who said the information I have would help?”

Shadroch nodded in understanding. “I see now. You don’t know where she is? I must admit, I’m not surprised. I never believed you did know. Did you think I’d haul you through all this to torture that little bit of information out of you? Then I’d have to race back and likely miss her anyway. Boy, you are a fool.”

Temnys Kantil laughed as he took a sip of water from his canteen. The water trickled down the sides of his face. He gave the boy a strange, cruel smile. “I think the boy has heard too many stories, Shadroch.”

“Perhaps.”

Yholond and Mavrin exchanged glances, but kept silent. They didn’t have the authority to speak freely around Shadroch and Temnys.

“Then what exactly do you want with me?” the boy growled. He snatched away the canteen Shadroch handed him and drank greedily. His stomach rumbled in the vain hope of food.      

Shadroch took a piece of jerky from his pouch and chewed on it. “We want nothing. It is my queen who wants you now. You know, my queen is actually your sister’s mother. Strange thought, hmm?” Shadroch’s eyes glinted and the boy flinched away . He took back his canteen and took a swig, then took another bit of the dried meat in view of the boy.

“You’re a liar.”

“Am I, Joshua? Am I really? What do you even know about me?” Shadroch shook his head. “There are many things I am. A liar . . . I guess would actually be one of them.” The frowned and pretended to think deep. “That comes with the part of a spy, Joshua.” He cocked his head and pulled out another strip of meat. This, he did not take a bite from. “There is one thing I don’t know and can’t learn on my own.” The boy glared daggers and Shadroch smiled. “What is the name of your sister?”

“I thought you’d know already, her mom being your queen and all.”

“Oh, we know her birth name, yes. I highly doubt that is the name she was raised with.” Shadroch glanced at the jerky, then at the boy. Joshua understood, and debated hard now. “Come now, boy. Her name certainly can’t help us track her down and won’t hurt her one bit. But it will put something in your stomach. Your choice.”

“All right,” he growled. “Her name’s Tara.”

Shadroch nearly dropped the meat, but kept it in his hands. Temnys choked on the mouthful of water he had just swallowed and Yholond and Mavrin had both frozen in place, their eyes locked on the boy.

“What’d you say?” Temnys said after several long moments of silence.

The boy looked uncomfortable and shifted his attention to a line of ants that marched across a log near him. “Tara. Her name is Tara.”

“Well,” Shadroch said in a cheerful voice. “That’s quite the coincidence.” He handed the boy the meat. “Break’s over. Time to move on home.”

Temnys moved to his side so they could talk quietly. “What are the chances of that happening?” he whispered so none could overhead him.

Shadroch shook his head. “Whoever took her that night stayed with her. No chance that’s coincidence.” He had been too young at the time to remember anything of what had happened. Temnys, however, was ageless. He would never grow old, and no one knew how long he had lived thus far.

Temnys nodded. “I’m trying to remember who else disappeared that night. That was the night Connor was slain. His Honor Guard . . . most were slain. Some could have escaped.”

“Who could have taken her? Where would he have fled?”

Temnys shook his head. “My memory is not that good, Shadroch. I can think of many it could have been. As to where, there are many . . . oh, how to phrase it . . . realms or dimensions that are not a part of our own which the princess could have been hidden. That would mean someone with royal blood.” Temnys frowned.

“Would one of these other realms be home to Americana?”

“America,” Temnys corrected. He locked his cold gaze on Shadroch’s. “Only someone with royal blood could have gotten the princess away . . . but only Connor and she were of the Blood.”

“Does that mean Connor could be alive?”

Temnys shook his head. “I slew him myself. No, Connor’s not alive. Oh, who . . . ?” He shook his head, then snapped it up. “Corryn!” He threw a glare back at the three others behind them when he realized how loud he’d spoken. “Corryn was the king’s brother. That would make him of the Blood, though he was not the Heir. He couldn’t speak with the dragons.”

Shadroch nodded. “I take it no one’s seen him for seventeen years?”

“More or less.” Temnys shook his head. “That little bit may put Latyssa at slight ease. We have to stop the princess. Drop the boy off and leave these two, we hunt alone.”

The days passed slowly for Tara. She spent a fair amount of time in the saddle alongside the blind man. Her feet and legs were not used to so much walking and she had returned to the saddle after less than two hours of walking. The man had asked nothing of her and she’d told little. Her mind burned with questions, but she knew it would be dangerous to voice most of them. One however . . . “Do you know where we are?”

The man chuckled. “How specific do you wish me to be, milady? Somewhere in Lord Egwen’s realm.”

“Lord Egwen?”

“King of the Winds.”

Tara nodded though it made no sense to her. King of the Winds? Who can command winds? “Where . . . Where exactly are you going?”

“Home, milady. Home.”

“Your home is in a city, right?”

He chuckled again. “I believe so. Or it could just be a small village.”

They fell silent again and Tara kept a watch on the landscape. She saw no more strange-shaped birds like her first day, and, thankfully, no more centaurs. The land itself was covered in low hills with not a single mountain around. Tara missed the mountains that she had grown up amongst. “Do centaurs live near here?”

“Centaurs, milady? Horse-men? Aye, according to legend. They don’t mix with humans, though. You’ve no need to fear them, milady.”

Tara fell silent again. She had no desire to try to explain the meeting with the coppery centaur. She still struggled to explain their existence. More than anything, she worried about Josh. Unlike most siblings, she and Josh had always had a close relationship. She still could not explain those strange men who had arrived, or how or even why they had arrived. She had no idea if anything had been done to her parents before they’d caught up with her and Josh. What if they’re dead? she thought with a small jolt of fear. Her stomach rumbled loudly enough to interrupt her musings and earn a pause from the blind man.

He motioned for her to approach him and pulled a small bundle from his back beneath his worn cloak. He handed her a hard piece of meat. “I have little, but I will share what I can. When did you last eat?”

Tara took the meat gratefully and bit into it with no thought of how much she hated jerky. “It’s been awhile,” she admitted as they began to walk again. Rusty was beginning to slow now, he showed little interest in his surroundings and no enthusiasm at the continuing journey. Tara rubbed his neck as she swung back into the saddle. Her own legs and hips burned with pain as she settled back into the saddle. She rode often, but never for this long. On the horizon, something gleamed. Tara straightened in her saddle. Are we getting close?

The gleam on the horizon gradually grew into distant but distinct buildings. They looked like nothing Tara had ever seen before. After another night’s rest, and another piece of jerky in the morning, they finally arrived shortly before twilight.

The buildings were mostly wood with thatched roofs. A few buildings, very few, had glass panes in the window, so swirled one could see nothing more than shadows through them. People wandered about, dressed in drab colors. A few boys ran with their dogs behind a flock of geese down the middle of the street. Tara had never seen anything like this. Rusty shied away from the geese as they waddled past, loudly protesting the chase. The blind man made his way through intent on his destination. Tara let him go beyond her sight. She had hoped this city would be something familiar, a sort of landmark to make her way back home. Now, not only was she hopelessly lost, her brother was still missing and likely in mortal danger.

A few citizens looked at her oddly, dressed in her strange clothes as she waited atop a tired chestnut stallion. “Excuse me,” she called to a pleasantly plump woman who leaned over a basket to Tara’s left. The woman ducked her head low and backed away, without once looking up. Tara frowned after the woman, then called to a man who waited next to a team of oxen. “Excuse me, sir—”

The man turned away from her, bobbed his head down.

Flustered, Tara tightened her grip on the reins and urged Rusty forward a few steps. “Sir, excuse me, I need some help—”

The man pulled his team of oxen forward to put them between Tara and himself.

Tara stared after him. “What—?”

“They don’t talk with those of the Blood,” a man’s voice said from behind her.

Tara whirled to see a handsome man with dark hair and tan skin dressed in dark blue silks. He sat atop an equally handsome dark bay of obvious Andalusian influence. “I’m sorry?”

“The people.” He inclined his head to the people again. “They are not allowed to talk with those of the Blood. It is forbidden.”

“Why?”

The man offered a faint smile and shrugged. “Because it was decreed long ago. That’s the way it is, milady. That is how things are done.” He leaned forward on the high pommel of his saddle. “I’m Toric.” He extended his hand.

Tara made up her mind in an instant. “I need help.” She replied instead of accepting his hand in greeting. “My brother was taken hostage and I need to find my way back home to get help.”

He straightened as though this was nothing unusual. “Well, where are you from?”

“Colorado.”

“Never heard of it.”

Tara sighed and glanced around. The people gave both of them a wide berth; though Tara could not say if it was from fear or respect. Perhaps both. As she studied the people, she could see that many of the children were far thinner than they should be, many animals’ ribs showed clearly on their flanks. She saw the worn and haggard faces of the adults, people who struggled on without knowing why. “How . . . how would I go about finding my brother?”

Toric eyed her carefully as a smile tugged at the corners of his lips. Tara found herself thinking just how handsome his dark features were. “I don’t really know. Perhaps a sorcerer somewhere would know.”

“Do you know of one?”

“Well . . .” Toric’s voice trailed off. He cast a careful glance around him as he leaned closer to her. “Technically, it’s illegal to practice magic without the High Lord’s permission. He only grants that permission to a select few, and all three are now magistrates.”

“Magistrates? What are magistrates?”

Toric looked appalled at her question and backed away from her. “Good luck wherever you’re headed, my lady. Travel carefully.” His voice was stiff and he urged his horse past her into the small town.

Tara stared after him and felt all the fears and frustrations rise to the surface in a single, blood-curdling scream. She didn’t even realize she was screaming as she watched people rush away in blind panic. She could hear the sound pounding through her body and only faintly took notice of the sudden silence as her world blackened around her.