"The Power Within (Chapter 2)" by Alicia Hansen

Arhynn stiffened in the saddle as a warning sense flared to life in his mind. He pulled his dappled gray stallion to a halt. The stallion flung his head and whickered. He scanned the surrounding plains for whatever danger he may have sensed until he realized it was in a small city. He had placed wards on every town, village, and city in the Realm of Winds to warn of any danger. He focused his mind and traced the disturbance to a small town called Windrun Cross northeast of Dreymund.

He pulled his stallion around and heeled him into a gallop. Arhynn pulled a simple traveling spell over himself and his horse. Storm stumbled as the spell left them on the outskirts of Wind Run Cross. He saw the people had scattered and left the streets rather deserted. Arhynn guided Storm through the now quiet town, his eyes scanning carefully for whatever had been the problem. He knew better than to try to ask someone, most fled if he got within five strides.

Arhynn caught sight a young nobleman atop a dark bay stallion. The boy peered around the edge of a wooden inn and hadn’t noticed Arhynn. Arhynn heeled his stallion up and caught the reins of the boy’s horse. He nearly jumped from the saddle as he spun to face Arhynn. “M-m-my l-lord,” he stammered out.

“What happened?” Arhynn’s voice held no growl, no cold or hard edge, yet the boy’s face drained of color.

“A g-girl, my l-lord.” He pointed around the edge of the building.

Arhynn glared daggers at the boy. “Get home, boy. I’d better never catch you here again. Do I make myself clear?”

“Y-yes, m-my lord. P-p-perfectly, sir.”

“Then go.” Arhynn yanked the bay’s head and slapped the animal’s rump. The boy let the horse continue away at a gallop. He urged his own stallion around towards where the boy had directed him. The boy alone could certainly have set off the warning . . . He wondered who this girl was.

A muscular chestnut stallion stood at the edge of the town. His reins dangled to the ground and his head drooped. The saddle upon his back was empty. In the dust at the stallion’s feet, a girl lay face-down. Arhynn leaped from Storm’s back and knelt down beside her. He rolled her over onto her back. She jerked away from him and bumped her horse’s front leg. The stallion snorted and shifted his foot, but did nothing more to her.

“Who are you?” she asked in something very close to a snarl.

“Magistrate Arhynn Bharshev of King Egwen’s Realm of Winds.”

Her blue eyes narrowed and Arhynn realized with a jolt that she looked very much like Latyssa. Black hair was pulled back in a simple ponytail and she wore strange but plain clothing. Her eyes, however, were the deep green of her father’s, but the resemblance to Latyssa faded when her face softened and she turned her gaze away. “That’s a long name.”

“Perhaps.” He canted his head as he crouched, one leg folded beneath him. “I could guess yours, though.”

She cast him a strange glance. “Odds are you’d be wrong.”

Arhynn looked around him. He could see heads poking out from doors and windows, but knew none would try to approach closer to listen. “My lady,” Arhynn said in a hushed tone, “there are many hunting for you. We need to get you to someplace safe.”

“I need to find my brother,” she growled.

“Let me get you someplace safe, then we’re start working on finding your brother.”

She eyed him warily. “How do I know you’ll keep your word?”

“I am a magistrate, my lady. I am bound to my word. Come. Hunters come, even now, searching for me. If they find you . . .” He pushed himself to his feet and offered her a hand up. “Nothing good will come of it if you are found, my lady. Likely you will lose your life, and so will your brother.”

“And what . . . ? You plan to take me to this hunter?” She stared at his hand as though he had offered her a viper.

Arhynn studied her face as he contemplated his words. What kind of fool does she think I am? “Of course I don’t plan to take you to Latyssa. That would mean the destruction of everything we know, our way of life, everything. What I plan to do is keep you safe from her.”

“And my brother?”

Arhynn offered his hand again with a little nod. “I can find him, my lady. If anyone can, I can. I will not rest until I have found your brother and brought him to you. Okay?”

With a slight frown, she took his proffered hand and winced as he helped her to her feet. He started to move to help her in the saddle, but she pulled herself back into the saddle of her weary horse before he could step forward.

“We shall take the long way,” Arhynn explained to her. “You are not the only one that Latyssa hunts these days. Her men may not be mages, but they have their methods for detecting magic.” He prodded Storm in the southerly direction of Dreymund. “I will hide you in King Egwen’s palace. However daring Latyssa may have become, she would not encroach upon his palace.” Arhynn cast a sidelong glance at her. “There is much for you to learn, my lady. And far too little time to learn it in.”

Jace Trev fingered the pearly white blade. The hilt was of gold and silver, flames etched so perfectly along the hilt and pommel to create a sure grip and simple weight. The flames danced partway onto the ivory blade and seemed to shimmer in the flickering torch light. He returned the blade to its owner’s hand.

The robed figure redrew his hand back into his robe. “I can remember his father, a man called Julian. The man was powerful and cunning. He was unstoppable.”

Jace scoffed. “According to everything I heard, sir, he was stopped.”

A hand waved. “By mere chance alone. He was caught in the crossfire of rival factions. He died saving his family.” The shadowy face focused on Jace. “You must stop him. You must stall him at all costs. Her plans must succeed. Things cannot . . .” The voice trailed off with a heavy sigh. “You know what is at stake.”

Jace scoffed louder and earned himself a reproving glare from within the dark hood. “I know the few fragments that Her Greatness has decided to slip my way.” He knew his voice dripped with sarcasm and made no effort to bury it. “Her plans failed seventeen years ago. They’ll fail again. She’s not dealing with a child, she is dealing with a grown woman with very powerful allies. And don’t go making that noise; you’ll not quiet me this time. The dragons are on the princess’s side. This will never work. At the very best, Fah-junneh will catch wind of this.”

“Best?” It was time for the robed figure to scoff.

“Yeah, best. Chances are Fah-junneh would only humiliate Her Highness. The girl will kill her. And if the girl doesn’t, the drakes will. The people will revolt if they learn the Dragons’ Heir has returned and was in danger. And assuming Her Loftiness even succeeds, who ever said she would actually gain control? The only thing promised to her through her daughter’s blood was power. What if the drakes decide to eat her or something for what she did accomplish? Trust me, Fah-junneh learning anything would be a best-case-scenario.”

The man grunted and turned his back to Jace. “If you think you can back away now . . .” Several moments of silence descended over the small, dark room. Jace suspected the man fingered the pearl-bladed dagger. “Things will work out, Jace Trev. Vayreena has settled herself within the Queen’s Realm. You can make it appear that she is responsible.”

“I think you guys are reaching way over your heads, Her Pompousness and you both. Surely the girl will have mastered her powers by now. You are making a big mistake.”

The man whirled so quickly that the flames of the torches flickered and danced in the breeze. “You will do your duty or you will pay the price. And you’d best beg forgiveness from the Queen before you begin or you may well lose your head before it’s ended.”

Tara stared at the back of this Arhynn Bar-something of whatever as they rode in silence through the quiet plains. A few pathetic trees were scattered among the low hills, their leaves a brilliant green and some dotted with colorful flowers. She hunched under the blue silk cloak Arhynn had insisted that she wear and sighed.

She didn’t care at all as she saw the city of Draymore or whatever it was approach. She found herself caring as little as Rusty did now. Arhynn had had plenty of food and had been more than willing to share. Rusty had perked up a little at being near another horse, despite the large dapple’s tendency to nip at Rusty whenever he got too close. She could hear Arhynn’s voice speaking of something about this Latyssa he claimed was her mother and a great deal about flames. Not fire, just flames. She didn’t care enough to even listen. He had asked little of her brother and, despite his promise, showed little interest in the questions she had about how he would find Joshua. Her hope grew fainter with each passing minute of ever seeing anything familiar again. She wasn’t lost, not really. She was abandoned, dumped in a place so far away, so different and unfamiliar that she knew she would never see her home or her family ever again. Thoughts drifted across her mind of the things she had always taken for granted, cars, school, movies. Even the mountains of Colorado. Her heart missed them almost as much as her family.

Rusty stopped and Tara looked up. A man held the horse’s reins. He was dressed in a dark blue tunic over black breeches. A strange hat with massive white feathers was perched on one side of his head and a black leather belt encircled his waist over the blue tunic. A silver emblem of a tornado was centered over his chest against the dark blue. He proffered a deep bow to Arhynn and then to her. Tara scowled at the strange expression on the man’s face as he studied her. She climbed down from Rusty’s back and felt uneasy as the man led Rusty and the dapple away. She followed Arhynn in through a double door set in a square-shaped doorframe. Relief carvings surrounded the foot or so of space between the doorframe and the building, but she couldn’t pick out what they depicted as Arhynn picked up his pace.

“Keep that cloak tight around you,” he said with a quick glance over his shoulder.

She gave him a sour grimace in response but doubted he noticed as he lead her through the winding passageways. They passed quite a few people who bowed so low they nearly scraped the floor with their noses. The women spread their skirts wide when their arms weren’t full of bundles of cloth or trays of food and drink.  She could hardly believe the building they walked through. Though the architecture itself was plain, artisans had more than made up for it with the painted carvings that filled blocks that ran about ten feet and stopped about two feet from the ceiling and a foot above the floor. In the space between the ceiling and the carvings, blue swirls were trailed along the gray stone unceasingly, interrupted every so often by fluffy white clouds or the gray streaks of a brewing storm. The light that filled the corridors could have come from fluorescent lighting she had seen all her life, but as she glanced upward, she knew that wasn’t the case. There was no explanation for the clear lighting.

“Where are you taking me?”

“A quiet room, out of the way. No one will bother you there.”

“Except you?”

He cast a glance over his shoulder, a strange expression upon his handsome face. She took note of the golden blond hair and dark blue eyes. The corner of his mouth lifted in a smile as he chuckled and shook his head, turning his eyes forward again. “I don’t plan to ‘bother’ you, my lady. I plan to protect you. No one will betray your secret here, because few will know. I will tell the King when the time has arrived.”

You seem far to sure for my taste, Tara thought with a glower at the man’s back.

Arhynn shifted his shoulders as though he could feel her glare. “This entire matter must be handled very carefully, my lady. We are walking a knife’s edge at this point. If anyone learns we are hiding you here . . .” He drew in a sharp breath and the short silence made Tara’s blood run cold. “Things have to happen very carefully. Your way must be safe and secure before you set foot upon it. We cannot hide you forever, but I mean to protect you as long as I can.”

“Protect me from what? You’ve never explained what kind of—”

Arhynn whirled on her and grabbed her hard by the shoulders. His dark blue eyes locked with her own and seemed to hold a deep anger. Or, perhaps, a deep fear. Something smoldered in those brilliant blue depths. “I may keep my castle secure, but a careless tongue leads to a dangerous situation. There are ears everywhere, most often leading to where we least want them.” He spoke in a hurried whisper. “You must never ask me such questions where someone might overhear.”

Tara ground her jaws and tried to break his grip when he suddenly released her. She stumbled and glared hard at him. “Someone might overhear anywhere we go. How do I know you don’t intend to lock me away somewhere for my own ‘safety?’ Huh?” The look on his face made her plow on over whatever he might have interjected. “I’m tired of being herded about. I’m tired of not knowing where I am, where I’m going or even who I can trust! I’m tired of looking over my shoulder, wondering when they’ll catch up with me and what will happen then!” He opened his mouth to interrupt, but she jabbed a finger in his chest. “I don’t even know you! How do I know you’ll keep even one word of all those promises you made, huh? I don’t care who everyone thinks you are here, but I’ll tell you—”

He wrapped one arm around her shoulders and gripped her hands tightly as he steered her away. Tara could see the people gathered about; no longer just servants, men stood with hands on their swords as they studied her. “So much for keeping your presence here quiet,” he whispered in her ears. “Move along,” he snapped to the people in the hallways. “Move! I am quite capable of defending myself against one unarmed woman. Go!”

The people scattered and disappeared, most likely with a great deal many new tales to tell the first friend spotted.

Arhynn shook his head and released her. “We’ll just have to make things much quicker. Yes, quicker. We must hit her when she least expects it, before she knows we have you. Above all, Fah-junneh must not learn even a rumor of all this.” His tone softened as he continued to mutter to himself.

Tara wanted to scream. She followed him down several short flights of stairs, through many more corridors, and finally into a good-sized room before he shut the door and left her alone. Tara stared about the room, almost amazed to see the beautiful and ornate furnishings. The covers of the bed were various shades of blue, at least seven, and a pale blue glass pitcher sat inside of a large bowl of the same blue. The mirror behind them reflected them with Tara’s own face. Her eyes merely brushed over the tapestries upon the walls that depicted many amazing creatures. One particular creature caught her eye, an ugly beast with a large round head and blank black eyes. The beast was reared back on two stocky hind legs and slashed at a mounted knight with clawed forelegs. The thing was easily twice the size of an elephant, if not more. With her stomach fluttering, Tara surmised it was very possible that such a creature could exist.

She sat down upon the bed, buried her head in one of the many down pillows and began to cry.

Josh held tight to the high pommel of the unfamiliar horse. He wouldn’t have minded for one instant to have his own Andalusian beneath him, but he didn’t know where his stallion had bolted to. The heavy body of the horse beneath him spoke more of strength and endurance than speed and agility. He didn’t recognize the breed, though. The two men ahead of him had their heads bowed together and spoke quickly. Josh had caught several snippets, involving a man named Corryn. Another name popped up regularly enough to heighten Josh’s concern: Tyara, only a slight shift from his sister’s name of Tara. They had created some crazy story to send the other men continuing their path through the forest and had turned to race back the way they had come. The horses were able to keep a steady canter for most of the day, with only a few short breaks. Josh had watched the sun creep across the sky, but he had not seen one familiar landmark. They traveled through many heavy forests, very similar to the one they had nearly been caught in.

In a strange instant, the world seemed to bend around them. The horizon twisted and the sun angled away. Josh felt as though his skin had come alive and was trying to scatter away. His horse whickered and danced, but followed the large black stallion of the equally dark man upon it and the agile white stallion with its strange rider. As the shimmering air settled, Josh found they were in a completely different place then they’d left. His jaw dropped.

The land around looked familiar only for the arid environment. A few of the plants he recognized, though many still were unfamiliar. Jagged peaks of brushed a cloudless blue sky all around them and the land had a distinct reddish hue, very much akin to Arizona.

Josh turned to look behind him. He had hoped he might catch glimpse of the green forested land they had left, but was not surprised to see more red mountains, covered in shrub a pathetic shade of green. A small herd of deer grazed a mile or so off. A strange winged shape spiraled in the sky and, as Josh studied it, he doubted it was a bird.

The dark man seized the reins of Josh’s mount and slammed his heels into the flanks of the black stallion. The large horse surged forward down the rocky path. Josh’s horse followed as the reins snapped taut. Josh clung to the saddle. They followed a small path around several craggy crests of the mountain.

Quite suddenly, a castle filled Josh’s view as they rounded another bend. The castle had an almost eerie appearance with its dark stone, almost black against the landscape. It was of a slender build, with tall spires that reached upward. Atop every tower, a banner flew. Several depicted what Josh would have called a dragon. The shape and build of the massive fortress only complimented the serrated mountainous desert it resided in.

A deep horn sounded its low bass call, a sound that echoed through the land and seemed to pulse in Josh’s body. The white stallion took the lead. The path led them over a narrow bridge that would not allow two men to walk side by side. A pair of guards flung the door open before they even had to slow. Josh could feel their curious gazes follow him within and gulped. He didn’t know what stories the man with pale blue eyes had referred to him hearing too many of, but he knew that his situation would drop downhill at this point. He suspected it would drop like a rock thrown over a cliff.

The doorway opened into what Josh would have guessed was a courtyard. There were a few patches of grass and several well manicured gardens, but much of the space had been paved and there were many more statues of great beasts and humans than there were gardens.

Several shouts rang through the otherwise quiet space and about thirty soldiers came trotting forward to meet them. At least, Josh assumed they were soldiers though he had never seen men dressed like them before. Each man had a large sword strapped to his back and many more weapons sheathed at the belt. They each wore a tunic the color of blood over what appeared to be golden chain mail. Their pants were brown leather and each man had armor that covered his thighs and shins. Helmets similar to what he had seen from Roman history covered each man’s head. Two men had great feathery red plumes sticking out of the top rather like a ponytail. Each man slapped his left fist to his right chest as they faced Josh’s captors. Two smaller men dressed in plain uniforms trotted around the soldiers and took the reins of the three horses.

The dark man swung down from his black stallion and glared at Josh until he hesitantly slid down from the dark bay. The man atop the white horse pulled the reins from the brown-clad boy. He also sent a dark glare at Josh. The icy blue eyes that fixed on Josh sent shivers down his spine. “Watch him,” he growled to no one in particular. He jerked the reins and his horse danced sideways and chomped at the bit. “I have business to attend to. Tell the queen I will return within the hour to answer her questions.” His cold gaze darted to the dark man and he arched an eyebrow. “There’s still a Magistrate to take care of.” Without warning, flames engulfed the man and his white horse.

The dark man motioned the two plumed officers and spoke to them hurriedly. No one seemed at all perturbed that a man and horse had completely disappeared in a short-lived combustion.

Two soldiers grabbed either arm at the plumed officers’ orders and bodily hauled Josh into the nearest doorway. After the sunlight outside, the corridor Josh was dragged down was extremely dark. Josh struggled against their grips with enough curses his mother would have made him swallow a bar of soap rather than just wash his mouth out. The soldiers ignored him as they marched forward. One of the plumed officers followed behind with at least two more soldiers behind him. Josh grunted as the grips on his arms tightened. He felt his eyes water at the exertion the soldiers put into their vice-like grips. He tried to focus his gaze and mark points he could recognize should he ever get a chance for escape, but no matter the turns, the rugs beneath his feet didn’t change from that deep blood-red with golden flame embroideries that seemed to dance down either side, torches offered meager firelight at even intervals and Josh saw not one statue or painting of any kind. The hallways seemed much more narrow than he would have expected. After eight or nine turns, Josh knew he would never find his way out. He was hauled up a winding flight of stairs that spiraled around the same point. No rugs covered the dark stone of the stairs and the torches were spaced further apart here.

The hallway the stairs emerged upon could have been in an entirely different building. The same red rugs covered the center of the floor, but the hallway was at least three times as wide. A tapestry hung on the wall of a hunting scene. He was hauled forward without pause. If he hadn’t walked, they would have dragged him just as quickly. They walked past a massive staircase, probably as long as the one they had come up. The same red carpets marched down the stairs also and Josh could see the massive stained glass windows that adorned the front of the building. There were many spaces where the glass was not colored in an effort to keep the light a neutral color. Two full suits of armor stood at attention against the wall, facing down the stairs. Another tapestry hung on the wall. Joshua caught only a glimpse as he was dragged into another well-lit corridor. The hallway ended in a massive pair of double-doors of a dark red wood of some kind. Each door had two panels and Josh could see dragons carved in the lower panels. The top panels started well above his six-foot-two height and he couldn’t see what filled them. The doors were pulled open from the inside. The red carpet lined the path they were to take into the large room. Sunlight created radiant beams along the left side of the room and a halo of light seemed to surround the woman seated in what had to be a throne against the far wall. Josh was forced to his knees as the soldiers holding him dropped to bows within the room. Fingernails dug painfully into his arm until Joshua ducked his head. The dark man marched around the group of kneeling soldiers.

“My Queen Latyssa,” he stated in a resounding voice with a deep bow. “I bring unto you this day our prisoner, Joshua. He claims to be the brother of the princess Tyara.”

Surprised gasps erupted on either side of them. Josh raised his hand a fraction and felt the nails break skin in his right bicep. He winced and dropped his gaze back to the dark stone. The stone of this floor was polished so that it shone in the brilliant light. He could see several places where the light on the floor shone red or yellow and tried to discern what pictures were in the glass windows to his left.

“Yes,” the man continued in what sounded like a very self-pleased tone, “Princess Tyara is yet alive, my Queen. We will find her and bring her to you.”

“How?” The Queen’s voice was surprisingly deep as her words resounded in the once-again silent room. “For seventeen years my Hunters have failed me, Shadroch Mandor. Am I to believe that now you will lead them to success?”

“I will, my Queen. I will have the Princess to you within the next fortnight.”

Surprised murmurs rippled down either side of the room and Shadroch plowed on in the smug tone. “The boy Joshua has already confirmed the identity of the princess and will lead us to her.”

“And what if he doesn’t know where she is?” the queen countered in a calm voice that seemed tinged with anger. “What if he can’t lead you to my daughter?”

“He doesn’t need to know, my Queen. He will lead us to her because she is looking for him. The princess will be brought home at last, my Queen.”

“Bring the boy here.”

Joshua winced as the men released him. They remained on their knees, but kept their heads raised and chins high. Josh suspected soldiers were not required to bow their heads. He could see the faces of the rich people all around him, the tightness of their eyes as they studied him. They saw the wear in his clothes and the dirt on his skin and thought him less for it. Josh steeled himself and rose to his feet. He kept his gaze on the queen, though he could not make out her face at the distance. Like many of the people around him, she had a dark complexion and black hair. Her dress was a brilliant red with golden embroidery. A necklace of red and gold glittered around her neck and dark eyes focused upon him.

“Come closer, boy.”

Josh set his shoulders and glared forward. He drew in a deep breath. “No.” Without trying, his voice carried easily in the grand room. No murmurs followed his simple denial, but the faces of the people around him hardened. Josh noticed the soldiers tense, as they awaited an order from their queen. “If you think it will be so easy to use me to find my sister, you can think again. If you want my help to find her, you will pay a high price.”

Shadroch turned to face him, as mad as Josh had ever seen him.

The queen, however, chuckled softly. “Is that what you think, boy? Is it truly? I think you are very naïve as to how things are down here in Burant. I am Queen of Flames, young Joshua. You will jump when I say ‘jump’ and leap when I say ‘toad.’ If I tell you to come here, here you will come. Do you understand how this works?”

“I do.” Joshua grit his teeth. “But if you think I’ll obey you, you’ve got another think coming. I don’t care if you’re the Queen of England, I am not so easily bullied around. You can command me to jump until you’re blue in the face and my feet will never leave the floor. I am not your servant or slave and if you think you can—”

Shadroch had strode forward at the start of Josh’s second refusal. His left-handed punch caught Josh in the right jaw and sent him to the floor. “How dare you—”

“Shadroch.” The queen’s soft voice stopped his snarl and he stepped away from Josh.

Josh winced as he pushed himself to his feet. Stars danced in front of his eyes and he didn’t dare rub his jaw. He hoped it wasn’t broken; he wasn’t sure anyone could heal a broken jaw in this place. He wasn’t sure he could speak now and still have anyone able to understand. If these people think they can push me wherever they wish, they’re dead wrong. I’ll die first. They’ll not get Tara. They won’t!

“You’ve got a stubborn streak within you to do my late husband proud,” the queen said in a soft voice. “Understand this, young Joshua, I hold your life in my hands. You aren’t my servant or slave, but you are mine. Your life and soul belong to me now. If you fight me on this, Joshua, you will learn what it means to cross the power of the Blood!”

Something wrapped itself around Josh and bodily lifted him from the floor and nearly hurled him forward. He could see nothing holding him and barely bit back a scream as he was dropped to the floor at the base of the queen’s dais. Black tipped the edges of Josh’s field of vision. He could feel himself quivering but didn’t care as he tried to catch his breath. His jaw burned with a blinding pain.

He could hear the queen speaking but couldn’t make out any of the words. He didn’t care to. He knew he couldn’t give in, but he no longer thought he could fight. Josh lifted his gaze to the face of the queen. The sight tore a scream from his chest before everything went black around him.

Arhynn steeled himself as he stepped before the king. He knew he had to bring this up now or the repercussions would be severe. Two blue-clad guards offered a slight bow of the head to him as he pushed the heavy wooden door open.

Egwen sat behind a table, facing a skinny man with shoulder-length gray hair. Both whirled to face him as though he had intruded upon a meeting about him. Egwen rose to his feet with a quick grin. “Magistrate, how good of you to join us. This is—”

“I must be going,” the man said as he hurriedly scooped papers from the table surface.

Arhynn did not think it coincidence Egwen had been interrupted before announcing the stranger’s name and business. He moved out of the man’s way and watched with a furrowed brow as the man hurried from the room. He whirled to Egwen. “What was that about?” His tone was gruffer than he’d intended.

Egwen shifted his feet and glanced away from Arhynn’s face. His smile faded. It was a bad sign that Arhynn’s confrontation had the king nervous; Arhynn took orders from the king, not the other way around. “You needn’t concern yourself with the affairs of a kingdom . . .” Egwen started with a dismissive wave of his hand. The smile leapt back to his face as he moved to seat himself upon his heavily gilded throne. “Political situations, Magistrate, nothing more.”

Arhynn chewed on his lower lip. He knew there was a lot more to it than that. “Did it involve me?”

“Why is it you rushed in here to speak with me without first announcing yourself?” Egwen asked, pointedly ignoring Arhynn’s question. That, also, was not a good sign.

“I had urgent news, my king.” Arhynn studied the man’s round face.

The king’s cheeks were flushed pink and a sheen on his forehead betrayed his nervousness in the cool room. “Well?” He lounged in his throne too casually, as though he hadn’t a care in the world. Egwen was a good king because he was a good man. He hid any form of dishonesty poorly and was about as subtle as a charging elephant. “What news?”

Arhynn glanced to the table, but saw nothing left there except a single quill. He turned back to the king and saw Egwen’s face tighten. “I believe it was just shared with you, my lord. If you will excuse me and accept my apologies for this intrusion . . .” Arhynn lowered himself into a bow at the waist. “I have other matters to attend to.” He turned to leave the room.

“Magistrate!” Egwen waited until Arhynn faced him again before he continued. “Tell me this news. This meeting was— Well . . . Omaron didn’t— That is, it’s quite possible he didn’t . . . share the news you bear.” His face turned from pink to a distinct red and sweat beaded his forehead. “Tell me. What news?”

“Princess Tyara has been found, my lord. She will be home with her mother by tomorrow.”

Egwen’s dark blue eyes went as wide as they could go. “She . . . That’s impossible . . . I can’t believe . . . .” His mutters became unintelligible as he turned his gaze to the floor beside him.

Arhynn narrowed his eyes. “When will they come for me?”

“For you?” Egwen’s head snapped up. “Why would . . . ?”

“That’s what Omaron came to speak to you about, wasn’t it, my lord? How I have created a mess of things or some such story. He must have told you that I am to be brought—”

“Yes, Magistrate. He said you were to be brought to justice.” Egwen’s expression hardened. “You have betrayed your oaths. You blunder about and your actions will inevitably lead to war. Lord Fah-junneh cannot allow that to happen. Omaron asked me questions about you, Arhynn. Question like, ‘Does he disappear for unaccountable periods of time with little or no explanation?’ or ‘How much does he know about before anyone else does?’ Simple little questions, Arhynn. Simple, but each pointed accusingly at you. Who are you? What plans do you have?”

Arhynn ground his teeth together. “If you have to ask me that . . .” He couldn’t even grit out the rest for the tightening of his chest. His breath came raggedly as though he had been forced to run ten miles without pause. “When he returns, you may tell Omaron that I have left. I cannot serve as Magistrate to a king I cannot trust, and who cannot trust me.” Arhynn spat upon the ground, symbolic of him forsaking his home and life here. “You won’t find me.” He turned on heel and strode from the room.

He knew that within minutes, guards would have orders to arrest him on sight. He gave a curt nod to either guard, rounded a corner then cast a spell to take him to his quarters. He quickly gathered several changes of clothes, several blankets and the supplies of food he kept on hand just in case. He created two tidy bundles, he hoped it would be enough to provide for him and the princess both. He transported himself to the stables and ordered his stallion and hers readied immediately before he took himself to her room.

She jerked upright from where she lay on the bed and glared at him, most likely for entering without knocking. Her eyes were red and her face was wet. She scrubbed at her cheeks as she glared at him. “How dare you—”

“We must go,” Arhynn said. He tossed her one bundle. “Now. We must leave immediately.”

Her eyes narrowed further. “Not without an explanation—”

“It has to be without explanation, my lady,” Arhynn snapped as he grabbed her arm and pulled her to her feet. “Within minutes they will begin to search every corridor and room of this palace. We can’t be here.” He cast a quick glance around the room. “Hang on to me.”

Her arms encircled his waist as he transported them back to the stables. He swung atop Storm with barely a glance as she climbed atop her chestnut stallion. Arhynn offered quick nods to each of the stablemen and booted the dappled stallion into a rushed gallop. He hoped orders would come late enough he would have time to get far enough away before soldiers were sent after him. The gates were opened for him and closed behind him. He glanced over his shoulder to make sure the girl was keeping up. He reined his stallion back to gallop alongside her.

“We must move quickly!” he shouted to be heard over the drumming hooves and the wind whistling in his ears. “I know a safe place for tonight! I can answer some of your questions there! Just try to keep up!”

“Rusty will keep up!” she called back with a sour look. “Just you keep your promise this time!”

He offered what he hoped was an encouraging smile. “I haven’t broken it yet, princess!”

She sneered at him and slammed her heels into her stallion’s flanks. The chestnut put on an extra burst of speed and thundered ahead. Arhynn booted Storm after her fiery mount and forced himself to breathe deep. The path before him was far more dangerous than he had anticipated when he first found the girl. Things were rapidly spinning out of his control and he only prayed that he could regain a fraction of that control before everything around him erupted into total chaos.

As sunlight waned, Arhynn slid off Storm’s back and allowed the stallion to amble away to graze. He studied Quinn’s hard face, a deep tan to match his coppery fur coat. “I’m sorry, truly I am. We will be gone by morning’s first light, Quinn. I promise you that.”

“It is a dangerous thing you ask of us, Magistrate Arhynn.” The massive centaur heaved a deep sigh and pawed the ground with his forehoof. His arms were crossed across his massive chest. “I only allow it in repayment for the help you have offered my herd, but you must be gone before first light. You cannot be associated with us at this time, magistrate. It is I who am sorry.”

Arhynn nodded and sighed. “I cannot ask for more. Before first light, we will be well on our way.” He offered a faint smile at Quinn’s nod and turned away to where he had directed the princess to stow their belongings. He hoped she had started a fire, but he doubted she would know how. He ducked beneath the rocky overhanging and, to his surprise, small orange flames danced beneath a large fish. The girl’s expression dared him to berate her for her actions, but he smiled and sat down across from her. “Truthfully, I wasn’t looking forward to dried meat. I fear we’ll live on that too often in the oncoming days.”

“You owe me answers,” she said with no preamble.

“Yes, I do.” Arhynn leaned against the rough stone and wondered if he’d even be able to get to sleep this night. The sky was still gray along the horizon though the sun had dropped some time ago. “Do you wish to ask me the questions, or let me tell you the story I know?”

She hesitated. “I still get to ask questions.”

“I’ll tell the story,” he said with a sharp glance to her, “then I’ll take five questions tonight.” He held up a hand to forestall her arguments. “Only for tonight. You need your rest. The journey will be long. There will be tomorrow for more.”

She nodded grudgingly as she took the fish from the spit. She offered him none as she ate in silence.

“Before I was born, things were quite normal. Each of the four Realms had one king or queen and Fah-junneh ruled all. King Connor ruled the Realm of Flames with his wife, the beautiful Queen Latyssa. No matter how some may try, things never go according to plan. You were born, my lady, a beautiful, healthy baby girl. Not one soul doubted you would be called Heir after your father’s rule had come to an end. It is said you spoke with dragons during your days in the cradle rocked by your mother’s hand.

“But things were not so happy as they appeared. Anarchy waited. King Connor was slain while he slept and the child heir disappeared. Latyssa put on a frantic search as she mourned for her husband and many from the other Realms took pity on her and overcame their dislike of her to help her find her missing daughter.”

Arhynn met her gaze and drew a deep breath. “It wasn’t for a couple of years until we learned of Latyssa’s true intentions. Many began to suspect she had slain her husband in his sleep and bitterness rose in her Realm. The other Realms pulled support entirely. Fah-junneh took no notice of any of this; it was all beneath his concern. Latyssa had planned to perform a complicated ceremony which would basically instill her with the rights and abilities of the Dragon’s Heir, your rights and abilities, my lady. Latyssa seized what control she could and stamped out any open rebellion ruthlessly. Resentment grew to bitterness, but the people did not move to oppose her, they had no one to rule after she was disposed.” He cocked his head and studied her shadowy face. “Over the many years, everyone came to believe that the Princess Tyara had died and the searches were ended after five years.”

For a few seconds, the only sounds were the soft crackling of flames, the trickling of the stream just beyond them and the few trees near here whispering in the wind. Arhynn shifted his gaze down. “I don’t know how you came to be here or what tipped Latyssa off, but a few weeks ago she began sending her Hunters out with a renewed vigor. Many were suspicious, but she was careful not to allow them to be visibly dangerous to any magistrate or ruler who might catch wind of them. I couldn’t track down who she hunted so hard. I theorized either she had learned the location of her daughter or learned of the new heir and intended to finish her ritual.”

“What makes you think I’m the new heir?”

Arhynn chuckled. “Well, I don’t. I think you’re the lost princess. First off, the heir is born and raised within that Realm. Had the living heir actually died, the dragons would have chosen someone they could speak with. Someone they had already spoken with. Someone who lived within their Realm. The fact that she searched outside her Realm made me strongly consider the possibility she’d found you. And then I found you.” He arched an eyebrow at her. “Okay, I told the tale. Five questions and then we both need to get some sleep.”

She dropped her gaze and twitched her hands in her lap. “How do you know I’m Princess Tyara?” she asked in a quiet voice, quite different from what he’d heard from her thus far.

Arhynn paused, but decided to tell the blunt truth. “You are a mirror image of your mother. You have your father’s eyes, but you look like your mother.”

She studied his face as though she didn’t believe him. Arhynn thought he saw a tear trickle down her cheek. “They chased Josh and me. I don’t know where, I don’t know how, but everything changed . . . Everything . . .” She shook her head. “What will they do with Josh?”

Arhynn pressed his lips together. “Well, chances are they’ll use him as bait for you. If Latyssa has other plans, then it would be much worse.”

“She’ll kill him?”

“Well, not anytime soon. Latyssa . . . She is a cold woman and . . .” He sighed. “Truth is, if she’s not using him for bait, my lady, he will be begging for death. Chances are great that she is using him as bait. You would be her priority, not Josh.” He doubted his last words had brought her any comfort.

“So where do I go from here? What happens to me now?”

“Where we go is to the Realm of Flames. You have to take your throne. You have to drive Latyssa from power. I don’t know how we’ll do that yet, but we will do it. You will take your rightful place as Queen Tyara of the Realm of Flames and you will bring your people the peace they have been longing for since the death of King Connor seventeen years ago.”

“Why can’t you go to this Lord Fah-junneh? Can’t he help?”

Arhynn offered a quick smile. “You’ve had your five questions. It’s time for rest. You can ask more tomorrow night.”

She scowled hard at him. “If I ask tomorrow, you will answer?”

“I will answer. Go to sleep.” Arhynn scuffed dirt on the small fire as she laid down two blankets. “Sleep well, Princess Tyara. Things will get better. That I promise.”

Jace Trev sat atop his pinto stallion and studied Dreymund form the hilltop. Soldiers scurried about like busy ants, hunting for someone. Jace narrowed his eyes. He tried to fathom who they would be hunting for so hard. Did they learn of Tyara’s return? He hoped they hadn’t. Jace drew a deep breath and nudged Odin forward.

Two soldiers urged their mounts to meet him before he reached the gateway of Dreymund. They offered quick salutes. “Good day to you, Ambassador. I assume you’ve come to speak with the King?”

“Actually, I’m here to see his magistrate. If you don’t mind my asking, what are you searching for?”

The soldiers shared a worried glance and the same man spoke up again. “Well, Ambassador, we search for Magistrate Arhynn. He turned up missing yesterday.”

“Missing?” Jace arched an eyebrow. Now this is interesting! “What happened?”

“An emissary came from Lord Fah-junneh with orders that Magistrate Arhynn is to be arrested on sight.” The two men exchanged glances again, more nervous then before. “Ambassador, did you not know this?”

Jace’s eyes narrowed. “There was no warrant issued for Magistrate Arhynn’s arrest.” Fah-junneh values his abilities too much to take him away from where he does the most good. “Who came with such orders?”

“I do not know, my Lord Ambassador.” The soldier’s face paled. One would not think that the white plume that dangled from his helmet signified captain by his betrayal of emotion. “King Egwen did not tell me.”

Maybe he’s more than a captain, Jace thought as he studied the man for any show of weakness. So Egwen mistook this impersonator for an emissary of Fah-junneh. Why? How? Who was it? The officer shifted atop his horse under Jace’s gaze, but Jace took no notice. “I wish to speak to King Egwen on this matter. Immediately,” he added when the officer appeared to hesitate.

The man bowed from the waist and ordered the second officer. “If you’ll follow me, my Lord Ambassador?”

Jace nodded and nudged his stallion to a trot. The officer cast him what might have been a glare before he cantered his horse in front of Jace and led the way at a brisk trot. Jace paid little attention to the things around, the brilliant green fields, the blue sky strewn with a few wispy clouds. A gentle breeze stirred the knee-high grass with wave-like motions. Jace suspected the soldiers within sight were searching for any magical residue in the vain hope of learning where the magistrate had disappeared to. Jace suspected that the magistrate had refrained from using magic to make his escape. He would travel the slower, old-fashioned way. He let a smile tug at the edges of his lips. He was closer than he’d imagined.

Within the steel-reinforced wooden walls of Dreymund, Jace dismounted and allowed a stablehand to lead his stallion away without a second glance. The soldier strode into the main doors and led Jace through a maze of hallways. Jace lost all sense of direction after the fourth turn and doubted he’d ever get out on his own. The curve of the hallways made it impossible to point to north from where he stood. He ignored the relief carvings that covered the walls as well as the magical lights above him and the fine carpets his feet tread upon. The king was seated in a much simpler throne room then Jace expected. He looked weary and dark circles lined his round cheeks beneath his eyes. He studied Jace with a surprising intensity.

Jace swept down in a flourishing bow. “Greetings, King Egwen.”

“What is this about, Ambassador?”

“I came here to speak with Magistrate Arhynn.” Jace chuckled as he studied the king’s face. “However, I learned that the magistrate disappeared sometime yesterday. Something about an arrest warrant?”

The king’s pink face drained of color.

Some king. He can’t lie worth anything. Jace kept his face neutral as he continued. “Now the strange thing, from my perspective, is that you would even believe there is an arrest warrant. I work with Lord Fah-junneh, King Egwen. Fah-junneh has a great deal of respect for Magistrate Arhynn. I find this whole situation very interesting, King Egwen. Perhaps you can help explain it to me?”

Egwen licked his lips and shifted his bulky weight. “He seemed legitimate,” Egwen muttered.

“Seemed? Seemed? What kind of king are you, Egwen?” Jace let his face drop into an angry glare. “Perhaps I should speak with Fah-junneh about appointing a new Centaur’s Heir as you do not seem very capable of fulfilling your duties. Do you always choose by how things appear?”

Sweat beaded Egwen’s pale forehead despite the coolness of the room. “Well, Ambassador . . . Magistrate Arhynn . . . he . . . uh . . . usually provided me with counsel.”

“So you believe the first man to traipse into your palace and name him a traitor?”

“Well . . . there was proof . . .” Egwen’s voice grew more strained and he shifted again.

Jace heaved a sigh as though he were coming to some sort of decision. “Well, the way I see it, King Egwen, you’ve got two choices. Let me head the search for the magistrate or let me speak to Fah-junneh. Lord Fah-junneh would not be pleased if you forced his favorite magistrate into hiding.” He knew he was pushing the truth, but he also knew Egwen wouldn’t realize it. He shifted his gaze to the stone floor as though deep in thought. “I mean, we’d have to find him pretty quick. If anything happened to him . . . Well, let’s just pray nothing has happened to him. I think if I can gather your men quickly enough and get everyone organized, we could find him in short enough time.”

“Yes,” Egwen said breathlessly, “let’s do that. Whatever it takes to bring Arhynn home safely.”

Jace let a smile rise on his face and saw Egwen’s face light up also. If Egwen suspected half the reason Jace smiled, though . . . Jace Trev barely suppressed a chuckled as he offered a second bow and left the room. He issued quick orders to the guard and felt that finally things would begin to go his way.

By the third day of their journey, Tara knew she was getting far too testy. Arhynn seemed to irritate a little more with each passing hour. Despite his promise to answer her questions, he was not near enough forthcoming to please her. She glared at his back as they rode through a pathetic excuse for a forest. The muscles of her body had finally stopped protesting in muscle cramps and burning pain and resigned to an ever-present ache. She wondered if she’d ever fully recover. She worried about Rusty, too; he had never been worked so much. “How do you know no one’s following us now?”

He cast her a strange look over his shoulder and turned to face forward again. “No one’s there. I will know when someone is.”

“How close will they be?” Tara pressed, more to annoy him than to learn. “Will they be within firing range?”

Arhynn gave her that strange look again. “Worried about an arrow in the back?” He shook his head. “I’ll know long before that.”

“How? How will you know?”

He drew in a deep breath. Tara knew she was near the brink of his temper. “Why do you ask incessant questions?”

Yesterday, she had countered that question with “Why don’t you actually answer my questions?” and it had just gotten ugly from there. They’d gone to not speaking to each other when Arhynn picked a campsite, and today she was pushing him yet again. She wasn’t sure why she was being so hard on him. He was protecting her, the little protection she needed right now. She wasn’t hungry or too cold at night, but she still had her doubts about him and his promises. “Because I have a mind burning with curiosity,” she responded in a tight voice.

Arhynn snorted in reply and muttered something she couldn’t hear. “I don’t know how I’ll know. I’ll just know.”

Tara glared daggers at his back. “What kind of cop-out answer is that?”

Arhynn pulled his dappled to a stop so quickly Rusty ran into the horse’s rump and jerked his head. The dapple ignored Rusty. “What color is the sky?”

She glared at him without a glance upward. “I don’t know what game you’re playing, but—”

“Humor me.” His face was anything but humorous, his blue eyes cold.

She rolled her eyes and glanced upward. “Blue.”

“How do you know it’s blue?”

“How do I—?” She glared back at him. “I know it’s blue because I know what the color blue is.”

“What if you were trying to describe blue to someone who’s blind? How would you describe it?” He studied her as she glared at him. “You couldn’t describe a color to a blind person. Just as I cannot describe this to you. You cannot understand something you cannot do.”

Tara tried to glare harder but didn’t think it made any difference. She chewed on her lower lip and frowned. The landscape seemed without change all around her. “Are we getting any closer?”

“We’ll be in the Fenra Mountain Range by nightfall.” He cast her another of his strange looks over his shoulder. “That’s in the Realm of Flames.”

“So if there’s people hunting me and you from there, why are we going there? Wouldn’t it be better to go a different route . . . or something?”

“Because I know who patrols Fenra.”

Tara glowered again. “Another cop-out answer,” she grumbled to herself. Arhynn’s grunt said he’d heard at least part.

Hours past in a mutual silence. Tara let worry take over and was reminded with a sharp pang why she’d tormented Arhynn each time she had. She couldn’t bear the thought of losing Joshua. It ate her inside to think that she would never see the home she knew again, the people she cared about, the life she knew. It was all gone. Tara almost hoped that she would wake up from this living nightmare in a hospital from a coma under her parents’ care.

The sun sank lower on the gentle-sloped horizon. There was little color in the mostly cloudless sky. In the growing dimness, Tara could make out jagged stones that interrupted sweeps of lush green grass. Arhynn led her to a small copse of trees.

“We bed here tonight. No fire.” He swung down from his dapple’s back and removed the saddle. He gathered handfuls of grass to brush the stallion’s back and flanks before he replaced the saddle. He caught Tara’s eye as she stood, leaned against Rusty. “Pick a place to lay down. I’ll tend your horse.”

“I’ll take care of him,” Tara replied, not as coolly as she had wanted. She removed the bundle secured behind the saddle, then pulled the saddle off after. She had learned that Arhynn preferred the horses saddled before they bedded down in case of a problem. He didn’t hobble his own mount, though had encouraged her to hobble Rusty. She had, but only to avoid argument. Rusty nosed her hands as she began to brush his sides with handfuls of grass. She paused in her work and hugged her horse’s head. “You’re the only friend I have left, aren’t you, old boy?” She rubbed his chin and smiled. “You’re all I have left.”

The horse lifted his head from her grip and shook his mane with a soft snort. He lowered his nose to nuzzle for grass as she finished brushing him. He snorted again as she replaced the saddle, then secured the hobbles to his front legs.

Arhynn already lay among his blankets. He was hunched over something, though Tara couldn’t make out what in the deepening dusk. She studied him for several moments as she rested against Rusty. She didn’t understand why he was here, helping her and guiding her. She wondered if he had meant what he said when he claimed he’d die before he let anyone take her. His golden hair caught the fading sunlight as he shifted his attention. He lifted his head to look at her and Tara dropped her gaze and scooped up her bundle. A bundle given to her by Arhynn.

She tried not to think of that as she laid out the blankets. He had provided each of them five blankets and three cloaks. He had packed himself two extra changes of clothes and had offered their use to her if she desired. Tara settled down beneath her cover of blankets and cloaks as the chill began to creep over the land. The soft snorts of the horses had become calming to her with the many other unfamiliar sounds. Darkness descended with only a sliver of a moon for light. She could hear Arhynn settling himself down for sleep.

Several minutes of silence passed before Arhynn’s voice broke the silence. “No questions tonight?”

Tara almost replied with a sharp retort, but held herself in check. “Not tonight.”

Arhynn’s deep breathing filled the night air again, not muted even with the clicks and whistles of insects all around them. A bird offered a mournful cry then disappeared with a soft fluttering of wings. “There is a long way yet to go, my lady. Get your rest. We will be up early tomorrow.”

Tara snorted softly. Of course we’re up early. She still hated early mornings, but no one here knew anything of sleeping in. And one certainly does not sleep in when many men want one’s blood drained somewhere. She grimaced at the thought. The little she’d pried out of Arhynn about the ritual this Latyssa planned to perform had involved bleeding a victim and using their own blood against them. The very thought made her shudder. Sleep. I need to get to sleep.

Tara awoke with a start when she felt something brush her face. Before she could react, a hand seized her neck and clamped something over her mouth. Tara still screamed anyway. The muffled sound was loud against the quiet of night and Tara felt someone else grab her shoulders, her legs, and haul her from her makeshift bed. She squirmed and struggled as roped twined around her wrists, behind her back, and her ankles.

Without warning, a brilliant flash of light flared in the trees above them. Stars danced before Tara’s eyes after it disappeared, but by the staggering of her captors, they also were blind. Flames came to life, dancing in mid-air. They touched neither ground nor trees but offered their light in dizzying lurches. Tara felt herself dropped to the ground as one of the men holding her staggered backwards, clutching his abdomen. She screamed again and the shrill cry knocked the night around them into silence. As her eyes adjusted to the dimness of the firelight, she could see Arhynn making his way to her. He held a dagger in his hand.

Tara struggled backwards away from him with soft murmurings as he grabbed her arm and sliced through the bonds that held her. He cast a wary look about him and pulled her to her feet. “Gather your things,” he whispered. “Get on your horse and wait. I have to find out how many there are.”

She could see two shapes unmoving on the ground and didn’t dare ask how they’d fallen. Except for the dagger, Arhynn bore no weapon she could see. She rolled the blankets and cloaks together quickly. Rusty’s saddlebags held the food and water bags. She couldn’t see her horse, though. She couldn’t even see Arhynn’s dapple. She looked to Arhynn. He stood in the center of his circle of fire and raised his arms higher. A high wind came to life and whipped its way through their small camp. The large trees leaned in the heavy wind and Tara crouched on the ground, crying. The wind tugged at her and she feared that if she rose to her feet, she would be carried away.

A man’s panicked cry tore at her heart. She looked up to see a man ripped from the tree he clung to. His sword was torn from his hand as he flailed through the air. Several more joined him, just as panic-stricken. Arhynn stood in the middle, arms raised, chin tilted upward and eyes closed. The wind tugged at him, but seemed to lessen its fury around him. The men were carried further yet away, their screams fading into the night. After several moments of silence, the winds died and the flames flickered out. In the sudden darkness, Tara couldn’t see anything. Her sobs were the only sound around them. She felt two hands gently rest on her shoulders.

“It’s okay,” Arhynn said in a soft voice. “You’re okay. They’re gone. Everything’s okay.”

She shook her head as her sobs rose. “Everything’s not okay!” she snarled at him. “Nothing’s alright! Nothing!” She buried her face in her arms as her sobs took control of her. Joshua . . . her home . . . these men all hunting her . . . the fire and the wind . . . She shook her head and only cried harder. It took her several minutes to realize that Arhynn’s arms were wrapped around and he held her close. He was murmuring soothing words, but she heard none of it. After awhile, she stilled her sobs. She tried to shift away from Arhynn, but he didn’t release her. “This will never end, will it?” she asked. “The running? Sleeping in the middle of nowhere? The hunting?”

“Someday it will end. I promise you, someday it will end.”

“But when?” she pressed as she turned to gaze into his eyes. They seemed full of concern and . . . fear. She wondered if he was trying to encourage her, or merely comfort her.

Arhynn drew a deep breath before he answered. “Not close enough, my lady. There are many rough days ahead, but it will end.”

Tara felt tears begin to trickle down her cheeks again. “At least when it ends, will I have Joshua back?” She felt herself begin to cry hard again and didn’t resist when Arhynn pulled her into his chest.

“Yes,” he whispered into her ear, “your beloved Joshua will be with you.”

Corryn ran a hand over his chin, glad he had decided to shave his short beard earlier that morning. He had dressed himself in a fine black suit of the local design and studied the quiet house from behind a tree. Police had filled the house for the last two days, but arrived less frequently now. He’d wait for the officer inside to leave before he’d make his approach. He struggled to work out in his mind what he would tell them. He still was not certain and only hoped he would not blunder now. He couldn’t afford to blunder now. Time was running short.

The officer stepped out of the front door and spoke a few more words with the woman leaning on the doorframe before he crossed the porch, down the steps and climbed into his car. Corryn watched the car disappear down the dirt road before he made his way forward. He gulped hard and forced his hands to remain still at his side, despite the desire to smooth his fine suit. He stepped up onto the wooden porch and rapped his knuckles upon the door.

The woman who opened it had dark hair gathered behind her to hang in a short curl at the base of her neck. Lines of worry creased her aging face. Though not old, she was losing the youth from her still-beautiful features. Green eyes, the same color as his own, studied him carefully. “Yes?” Even her voice was weary.

Corryn bowed his head. “I was wondering if I might speak to you about your daughter.”

Her eyes narrowed and she moved the slam the door. “I don’t know what kind of story you’re after—”

Corryn rested a hand on the door and lowered his voice. “I’m not looking to write a story, my lady, I’m looking to tell you one. May I come in?”

Her eyes tightened and a frown turned down the corners of mouth. She hesitated, then nodded and stepped back. “I want my children back.”

“Is there someplace we might sit and talk?” Corryn asked as he looked about the large house. The entry way led in four different directions, not including out the door, and had a massive fixture above their heads that glittered in the afternoon sunlight. She motioned him to his left into a beautiful parlor. The walls were a pale green and the carpet was white. One couch sat against the far wall, and the other on the wall next to it. Both were covered in a green, purple and white pattern. A low table sat between the two couches. He assumed that usually it sat empty except for the floral arrangement upon it, but now it was covered in various papers. Corryn ignored them as the woman sat down across from him in a dark green chair that sat upon scroll-curved feet.

“What is it?” Her words were tinged with a cold growl.

Corryn took a deep breath. Please, just let this work out. “First off, I suppose I should tell you, it was I who left Tara on your doorstep seventeen years ago.” Her face dropped and Corryn hesitated before he continued. “I tried to stay close to her, to make sure she was safe and healthy and happy.”

“You . . . ? Why . . . ? How could you just abandon a baby? How could you?”

Corryn lowered his gaze to the paper-cluttered table though she appeared not to notice. “I had no choice. Tara was in mortal danger. She still is. I knew that no matter where I went, I would be recognized. Her safety depended on anonymity and for that, she had to be raised by loving parents who wouldn’t be recognized no matter what.” Corryn lifted his eyes to her face and saw the doubt creeping in. “I left a letter with her, when I decided on you and your husband to raise her. I said that she would be called home someday. I fear that that day has come far too soon.”

“I want proof.”

Corryn bowed his head in acquiesce. “As you wish, my lady. Tara’s true name is Tyara. She was born to be queen of her Realm, the Realm of her father. I promised her dying father that I would see to her safety, no matter what. I told you that she must be protected, no matter the cost. She had to have a good education and be taught the importance of learning. She needed to learn how to work and to serve others. She needed to learn to love and allow herself to be loved. I also told you that one day she would have to leave you and return to her people and her home. I promised you that she would be cared for there, loved and cherished by those around her.” He could see a single tear trickling down her cheek and offered a smile. “I would have raised her if I thought I could protect her that way. I would have even tried to be a part of her life with you if I hadn’t thought it would jeopardize her. The one thing I never counted on being jeopardized was your son. I’m afraid that things have happened that shouldn’t. I had planned to teach her what her life there would encompass. I had planned to help you and your family understand what was happening. I had never planned to tear her from your lives like this.” Corryn heaved a deep sigh.

“I don’t care what you say,” the woman replied in a harsh voice. “Tara is as much my child as Joshua is.”

“Yes, I believe you. You raised her and loved her and cared for her. And she loved you back. I have no doubt of that.”

“Then will you please tell me where my children are?” Her calm façade broke and she began to cry.

Corryn turned his gaze again to the table. “I fear they were captured. I have followed the police reports and they say there were at lease six horsemen, including your children. What the police struggle to understand is that the tracks just disappear. They don’t return the way they came, they just disappear. What that means is, your children are back where Tyara came from.” Corryn risked a glance at her. “I intend to go after them, my lady. I wanted to tell you this so that you and your husband do not believe the worst when the police do not find your children, because the police will not find them.”

“When will they come home?”

Corryn shrugged as he rose to his feet. “That is not something I can say, my lady. That decision is up to your children and to them alone. I believe they will return to see you when they are ready. I thank you for your time, my lady. I hope you can find peace in these times of trouble. You are a good, strong woman. Your children are just as strong, if not stronger, as you are. They will be alright. Everything will be alright.” When she didn’t move to rise, her gaze intent on an invisible spot on the white carpet. “I’ll see myself out.”

“Wait. What is your name?”

“I am Corryn, First Prince of the Realm of Flames. I will be the uncle of the Queen of the Realm of Flames when she takes her place among her people.” He turned away at her answering nod and opened the door to step out onto the porch. He could hear the rumble of an engine approaching. Unless his guess was off, that was the husband. He bent reality around himself to take him away as his mind whirled.

First and foremost, he had to go to someone he knew he could trust. He would seek out Magistrate Julian.

Gavin Syranna scowled at the returned bird. The message was still attached to its leg. The bird ruffled its rainbow plumage in response to his glare and chirped. Gavin retrieved the message. “Go on, then. As long as you’re certain you checked all over for him.”

The bird spread its brilliant wings and leapt from the window sill to glide away on an ocean breeze. He had caught wind of the fact that Latyssa now hunted Arhynn and had tried to contact him every day since he’d learned. He had not heard from Arhynn since the man had shown up in Gavin’s office, some ten days ago. Gavin paced the length of his office and stroked his pointed goatee. Surely Latyssa had not caught the man already; Gavin would have heard by now if she had. So why is it no one can find him? Gavin wanted to snarl but kept his face passive and unreadable by habit. What if Arhynn was right?

“No,” Gavin muttered aloud. He didn’t dare follow that line of thought. No matter the outcome, there would be too many problems involved. It wasn’t very likely anyway. So why did Arhynn disappear? It’s not like him to place anything before his duty. What in the Phoenix’s Flame would he consider more important than his duty? The answering thought popped into Gavin’s mind like lightning and Gavin felt his breakfast begin to squirm its way up from his stomach. He rushed to the window and leaned over the edge to breathe deeply of the cool salty air. The gentle breeze was just the perfect temperature and the sun shone from behind a scattering of thin cottony clouds. He forced his mind to problems other than Arhynn.

Snapped from his mulling, Gavin whirled as he felt the realities bend to form a doorway from somewhere else. Somewhere far away. He forced his heart to calm as he watched the man exit the doorway. For a split second he thought it must be Arhynn finally answering, but the man was at least two hands shorter than Arhynn with a much stockier build. The man was not fat, but his muscles were strong as though he worked hard for his living. He was dressed in a strange fashion with a white shirt, black coat and pants and a colored piece of blue-patterned cloth hung from where it was tied about his neck. His black shoes shone brilliantly in Gavin’s well-lit office. It took Gavin only moments to register the face before he dropped to his knees with a breathed, “Your majesty.”

“Rise, old friend,” the man said in a deeper voice than Gavin remembered. “May I sit, please?”

“Of course.” Gavin forced the breathlessness from his voice and schooled himself to perfect calmness again. “Are you thirsty? Would you like something to drink?”

If Gavin’s quick ramblings surprised the man, he gave no sign of it as his green eyes studied Gavin closely. “I hope you are not offended that I came here. I had intended to seek out Julian, but I can’t find him.”

Gavin’s eyes narrowed. “Julian died fifteen years ago, my lord.”

Shock dropped the man’s jaw as he stared at Gavin. For a few silent moments, his jaw worked until he forced a single word out. “Latyssa.”

It was not a question. Gavin shook his head and dragged a chair to sit opposite the man. “No. Vayreena slew him. She’s got Fah-junneh’s hands all tied up right now.”

“I don’t know who else to trust, Magistrate Gavin.” The man heaved a deep breath and Gavin suddenly realized that the man wasn’t who he thought he was. He could see the aging in the man’s fine features and the worry that hid in the deep green depths of his piercing gaze. “The fate of all . . .” He shook his head and silenced himself before he could finish.

Gavin leaned back in the simple wooden chair. “Everyone believed you were dead, Lord Corryn.”

“Did they now?” He gave a dry chuckle. “At lease something worked according to plan.”

“So that means Tyara is still alive, doesn’t it?” Corryn’s nod nearly sent Gavin crashing to the floor, but he barely managed to keep his balance in the seat and gulped hard against the lump in his throat. “So that’s why she searched all the Realms so hard, she knew the princess was still alive.”

“She searched the Realms?” Corryn sounded as surprised by that as Gavin had felt to learn his worst fears had come true. “But she already found Tyara. I thought she already had her.”

Gavin stared at the man, and Corryn stared back just as hard. “So Latyssa had her hands on Tyara? Her Hunters found the princess?”

“Yes. So why is she searching the Realms?” Corryn perked up and his eyes went wide. “She lost her. Tyara escaped somehow. Latyssa means to get her hands on her, but if she doesn’t have her yet . . .”

“I can’t afford to get caught up in this, Lord Corryn. I can’t. I’ve got obligations to my Realm, my king and my people. Magistrate Arhynn was here little over a week ago, theorizing that the princess might be alive and that was why Latyssa was sending her Hunters everywhere. Arhynn disappeared, my lord. He disappeared without a trace. No one knows where he has gone. And no one has seen the princess, or I would have heard of it already.” He shook his head. “You are a dangerous man to be with, Lord Corryn. Latyssa has all but claimed the Realm of Flame as her own. If she can get the power as well . . .” Gavin knew he didn’t have to finish that thought and watched Corryn’s face tighten.

“So little time,” Corryn murmured. “So little trust.” He rose to his feet and focused that hard gaze upon Gavin. “Thank you for your time, Magistrate.”

“I may not have the desire to risk myself in this war, Lord Corryn, but Arhynn does. If there’s anyone you can trust, it is Arhynn. Good luck to you, my lord.” He rose and offered Corryn a bow at the waist.

Corryn returned a short bob and disappeared in another fold of reality. Gavin turned his gaze to the doorway. He could already feel guilt prick at his heart for abandoning two men now when they needed his help. He growled softly in his throat. At all costs, he had to find Arhynn. After that, he could decide what else he could afford to do.