These were busy days in Darkshade. Warriors came and went as the fighting continued, and the house of Darkshade seemed always on edge. Wyn Limeria sat in his study deep in thought. He was very worried about things in the Elven kingdom these days. But the one thing he worried about most was his son Elan. He knew he hadn’t been in the Academy when it disappeared and that he hadn’t even been in Winterhaven at all. He was on some mission for his mother with his friend Aron. Friend he thought. A dangerous friend Wyn thought. More like his lover. Wyn had seen the way his son looked at Aron. And if his mother ever saw him look at Aron that way there would be hell to pay. It was the same way he use to look at Talsara in the old days before she had taken control of the Darkshade kingdom. Talsara he knew had always been selfish and bent on power and conquest not caring about anything but what she wanted. But he loved her. He wished he didn’t but he did. He remembered those days when it all started.Long ago when they were younger Talsara had met a Elven warrior in her mother’s court. He was tall and very handsome with short cut black hair and dazzling gray almond eyes. On his uniform he wore all the metals and signs of the rank of captain of the Red Skulls bestowed on him by her mother and her council for his bravery and obedience in all his past battles. She had fallen in love with him instantly the minute she had seen him waiting for an audience with her mother the queen. He was one of three soldiers there waiting that day. They stood there preening and adjusting their tunics as they waited.
“Does it look straight to you?” The tallest asked.
“It’s fine Kel.” One of his fellows answered. “If you keep brushing you’ll wear a hole in your tunic then where will you be? Tell him Liat.”
“Relax.” The handsome one told his companions. “They just want to congratulate us on our success in the Greywing campaign. It’s not like we’re being made Barons or something.”
“I just want to look impressive as I can.” Kel the tall one said “You never know who we might meet in there.”
“Actually I don’t want to meet anyone.” Liat said. “My mother says to beware of strangers today. Nothing good would come of it.”
Silence filled the room as his fellows stared at him. For a minute none of them talked as Talsara entered the room unknown to the three soldiers.
“Liat. Who was that?” Rom asked staring at the door she had gone through. The second one stood and faced his friend. “Everyone in there will be a stranger to us. We can’t avoid strangers. It would be impossible.”
“I know Rom.“
Talsara walked toward them smiling followed by one of her maidens. Two soldiers jumped to their feet and bowed as she passed. Liat looked but paid little attention to her. In her hand Talsara held a fan. She flicked it open and hid her face as she turned towards them nodding as she walked by. Her heart beat a mile a minute as she stepped through a door into a outer chamber to the audience room. She stopped to catch her breath amazed to the handsome soldier she had just passed. Who was this Liat? She had to know for she knew he was the one to be her king and husband.
“What is it Princess?” Asked one of her maidens seeing how flushed she had been.
“Who are those men?” She asked them.
“You mean the soldiers?” The girl asked. “I don’t know. Just men your mother plans to give honors to. It’s no one that should matter to you.”
“I chose who matters to me.” She scolded the girl. “You would do better to watch what you say Ilyra. Go in to the office and find out who they are. I wish to know everything you can find out and hurry.”
“Yes Princess.” Ilyra nodded and ran on to carry out her Princesses order. Talsara reached down to open the door and listen in on the three men she had left in the waiting room.
“Who was that?” Rom asked staring at the door she had gone through. “She was beautiful.”
“Who do you mean?” Liat asked.
“Did you not just see her?” Kel asked. “Is your head so full of battles and war you don’t notice a beautiful girl right in front of your face?”
“You mean the Princess?” Liat shrugged. “Yes I saw her. So was pretty yes, but not for me.”
“Are you kidding?” Rom threw up his hands in frustration at his friends words. “I’d give my life, my sword and anything else I have if she would just smile it me again.”
“ You spend to much time in the tavern’s drinking with dancing girls Rom.” Liat laughed. “She was just a girl.”
“ And you don’t spend hardly enough my friend.” Rom said sternly. “None of them are just girls. They’re all like princesses. Especially not this girl, she is a princess. Ambition is one thing Liat but a kiss is another. It’s something way better. You better get your head off the battle field and look around. There’s more to life then swords and battles.”
As they talked the doors to the audience chamber opened and one of her mother’s aides came out to greet them.
“Gentlemen the Queen will see you now.” He said. “You may follow me.”
Talsara watched as the three men followed him into see her mother and the door closed behind them. She opened the door and stepped back into the waiting room they had just left and walked to the bench where they had been sitting. She looked down and saw a glove on the floor where Liat had been. It had to be his. She bent down and picked it up and looked at it. Inside his name had been written. Captain Liat Caldas.
“I’ll show you what a Princess is Liat Caldas.” She smiled. “You will be mine. You’ll see. Talsara Darkshade always gets what she wants.”
Many days passed before Talsara saw the soldier again and hard as she tried, she couldn’t get his face from her memory. Ilyra had come back and told her his name which she already knew. What she didn’t know was how Liat had stormed a stronghold held by their enemies the Greywing's and with the help of his two friends dispatched the eight men holding her cousin captive and brought him home. That was why the Queen was honoring them. She also didn’t know that Liat was the son of her mother’s most trusted prophet Hasmira Caldas one of the most powerful noble of Darkshade. But none of what she learned mattered to Talsara. She had made up her mind that Liat would be hers and no one, not even her mother the queen could change her mind. Now all she had to do was to lure him to her and set her trap for him. Surely there was no way a simple soldier could ever deny the Princess of the Darkshade, could he?
For days she had her most trusted aide Prince Wyn Limeira of the coastal kingdom of Limeira and Ilyra watch him everywhere he went to see who he might meet. Talsara wanted to know all she could about the soldier. Wyn thought she was becoming obsessed with him but he dared not say any of this to the princess. He knew her temper and how he would be punished if he did. So he did as he was told and followed Liat to meetings and sparing sessions. He followed him to the places he liked to eat and when he went out with his comrades. Lastly he had to tell her of the time he was caught watching the soldier by his mother Hasmira. He didn’t know how she knew but somehow she did. Liat had been shopping with his mother when she caught his eye. It was a brief look but for that time on every time Wyn looked over at them, Hasmira would be staring back. Wyn knew who she was. Hasmira was not just a prophet. But she was a very accomplished mage in her own right and if she thought Wyn was a threat to her son, there was no telling what she could do. That was the end of Wyn’s surveillance. With Hasmira aware he could no longer follow or keep his eye on him without being in danger himself.
Armed with all the information she could get her hands on, Talsara decided it was time to make her move. Calling out to Aesis her imp, she sent him out with a royal command for Liat to come to her palace to see the Princess Talsara Sabrena Darkshade the next queen of Darkshade. He was to be sure to tell him when he was alone and to tell him to dress appropriate but not to tell anyone where he was going. A coach would meet him to bring him to her. She knew he would come. It was treason not after all.
She spent all day deciding just what to wear. Having her hair dressed and finding just the right perfume to wear to impress the soldier as they met for lunch. She sent a coach to bring him to her villa where they could meet at last in privacy.
Once dressed and ready with a lunch buffet set out she waited in the garden for him to arrive. Finally the hour came and her coach arrived with Liat again dressed in his finest uniform. He was brought into the garden where she waited by Wyn and announced.
“As your highness ordered.” Wyn called out. “I present to you Captain Liat Ryeor Caldas of her majesties royal guard.”
“I am honored your highness.” Liat bowed dropping to one knee.
“You may raise Captain Caldas.” Talsara smiled walking out to meet him. She was dressed in a beautiful wrapped gown of some shimmering cloth. On her wrist she wore many bracelets of silver and platinum. In her ears were diamonds and at her neck she wore a sapphire hanging from a silver ornate chain. “I thank you for coming.”
“ Your wish is my command.” He stepped down to meet her and kiss her hand. “But I am a bit curious as to why you’ve asked me here.”
“I wish to meet the elf that saved my cousin Ryn.” She smiled as she lead him in toward the table laden with food. “Ryn is very special to me and I think you deserve more then just some trinket to wear on your chest.”
“I thank you your highness.” Liat smiled. “But it took more than just me to bring Ryn home. I had help from others. They should be here to.”
“This lunch is just for the two of us Liat.” She reached on to the table and took a berry from a dish and tried ti feed it to him. Liat looked at her as if he didn’t understand what she was doing but opened his mouth and took it. “May I call you Liat? Captain is so formal don’t you think.”
“As you wish your highness.”
“Please call me Talsara.” She gestured to the chair for him to pull out for her.
“Pardon me,” Liat pulled her chair and held it as she sat down.
“Now please have a seat and dine with me. I want use to become friends Liat.”
still not exactly sure what was going on here, Liat took his seat and unfolded his napkin and placed it in his lap then waited for Talsara’s clue as to what to do next.
“ I hope you like it.” She said picking up her fork as waiter came in and began serving them. “My kitchen worked all morning preparing our lunch. Eat please.”
Slowly and carefully Liat began to eat. He made sure not to put his elbows on the table and he tried to remember all his mother had taught him about manners. He didn’t want to embarrass himself in front of the princess by using the wrong fork or spoon since there were so many here on the table. But he wasn’t really sure what he was suppose to do with all this silverware. A salad came first and Talsara picked up the smallest of forks and began to eat. Liat found his and carefully began to eat to. The salad was delicious. He had never had anything like it before and he wasn’t sure of exactly what was in it. There were vegetables here he had never seen before and would probably never see again he thought.
“ It’s good isn’t it?” The princess smiled.
“ Yes.” He said after clearing and wiping his mouth. “Kel and Rom won’t believe where I am when I tell them. They should be here to. They had just as much to do with the rescue as I did.”
“This is your day.” She told him. “I’ll send them something later if you insist. Right now I wish to know about you.”
“I’m just a soldier.” He said. “I’m nothing special at all. I was lucky that day. We all could have been killed.”
“ What day?” She asked.
Liat looked up from his salad at her a curious look in his green eyes. “The day we rescued your brother from the Trolls.”
“ And a good day that was to.” She said.
Liat put down his fork. There was something wrong here. He wasn’t here for any thank you. She wanted something else from him and it was time to find out what it was.
“Why am I here your majesty?” Liat asked “It’s not so you can thank me for the rescue is it?”
“You’re here because I want you here.” She said boldly dropping all her pretenses. “You’re here because your princess commands your attention.”
“Yes.” He said Standing up and putting his fork and napkin to the side. “I came because I was ordered to come here. If it’s a guard you need for your house guard I can recommend someone suitable for you. But I think it’s time I go.”
“No Liat.” She got out of her seat and walked over to him and put her hands on his face to touch his cheek “You’re here because I like you and I wish you to be my consort. I won’t have any of the petty princlings they keep sending before me. I will pick the man I will marry and I pick you.”
“You don’t even know me.” Liat said puzzled at her attention. He didn understand why this Princess would want him.
“Does it matter?” She smiled. “Darkshade is ruled by the queen and like my mother I will have the man I want and that’s you. As your future queen you have two choices here. You do as I say and live happily as my king or I make you my king and use you how I please anyway. You’ve already eaten the Leola root I had served in your salad so soon you will be as complaint as any of my pets. Make your choice. But like I said. It doesn’t matter.”
Liat looked at her in horror as he remembered his mother’s warning about a stranger. He stumbled against the table and fell knocking it over and spilling the feast all over the floor.
“I’ll fight you.” He whispered before passing out.
“Fight all you want.” She laughed. ”No one can resist Leola root.”
[Liat?] A voice drifted into Liat's conscious mind from far away. At first he didn’t recognize it though it was very familiar. [Wake up.]
Slowly he opened his eyes and tried to see. Everything was a blur to him. He blinked many times trying to clear his vision then decided to lay there for a few minutes until his mind cleared.
[Liat?]|
[Mother?] He answered. [Where am I?]
[I don’t know.] He heard. [Your minds not clear enough for me to find you. What do you remember? ]
[Not much.] He tried to sit up but couldn’t move. [I can’t move Mother! What’s wrong with me?]
[I don’t know.] She said. [But I’ll find you. Don’t worry. Keep trying to remember where you are and who took you. I’ll send you strength to resist whatever spell you’re under.]
[I don’t remember anything at will.] He sent. [ I remember being honored by the Queen with the others but that’s it.]
[That was last week.] She told him. [You’ve been missing for five days now.]
Fear began to fill Liat as he tried with no success to remember where he was. He opened his eyes again but everything was still to blurry to see.
[Rest my son.] He heard. [Get stronger. I will break whatever has you in its hold and find you. Don’t worry.]
[Hurry Mother.] He sent pleading and again drifted into black.
It must have been hour that he slept because when he woke again, he could no longer feel the sun on his face. Liat opened his eyes again and found the room darker. He still couldn’t see or move but from the draft he felt on his body he could tell he was naked.
Where am I?, He wondered. Who did this and why am I here? These were all the questions he kept asking himself but he couldn’t find any answers. His memory was still blank. Suddenly there was a sound to his left. Something had moved. There was someone there with him.
“Hello?” He called. “Who’s there?”
“No one important.” Came the answer. “How do you feel?”
“I feel trapped.” Liat said. “How do you think I feel? I’m you prisoner.”
“Not mine.” The voice said. It was a male voice whoever it was. “But you are a prisoner for now you’re right. Are you thirsty? Do you need a drink?”
“I need to go home to my family.” Liat said pleading. “Why are you keeping me here?”
“I told you I’m not your captor.” The voice said. “Here, drink this.”
Liat felt someone take hold of him and lift him into a sitting position. A glass was put to his mouth and he tasted water. He drank deeply gulping down the cool water. Its taste was so good in his dry mouth.
“Who are you?” Liat asked again. “Why am I here?”
“Here, let me cover you up. You must be cold.” Liat could feel the blanket the man covered him with and it did warm him. But he still hadn’t given him any answers to his questions.
“Liat I see your strong and fighting.” The man said. “Just stop fighting and accept what’s happening and you’ll be free to go on.”
“ I’ll never stop fighting.” Liat told him. “Not now, not ever. I am an Elven warrior. Captain of the Imperial guard and I don’t care who holds me friend or foe. I will fight until the death for my freedom. You tell that to your master.”
“I believe you.” The voice said calmly. “And that may be our problem.”
“What do you mean?”
“How I’d give everything to be in your place.” Liat didn’t understand what he was talking about. He wished it was him laying here a paralyzed prisoner? What strange place was this? Who held him here?
“Liat, just do as your told and all this will soon be over.” He pleaded, “Please!”
“You will have to kill me because I won’t stop fighting.”
“ Even for a kingdom?” The man asked. “Even if you could save a kingdom?”
“Even if it was to save a world.” Liat answered. “What’s the point of saving a kingdom with no freedom? Everyone in that kingdom would be living a lie. Obedient to an oppressive regime. Under a tyrants thumb. This no way to live. Help me get out of here whoever you are. I can help you free whatever kingdom you’re talking about. I know my queen would help you.”
“I’m sorry Liat.” He said walking away. “Your queen can’t help me. No one can.”
No matter what spell Hasmira used she couldn’t locate her son Liat. She tried scrying for him, she listened in on him for any clues but she still had no idea where he was. She had gone and talked with Kel and Rom and neither of them knew where he had gone. The time had come to go to the one person in Darkshade that could help her, Queen Caline.
When she arrived at the palace she was taken right into the queen’s personal study to see her. As she walked in Queen Caline was talking to one of her advisers. She looked at the worried look on Hasmira's face and dismissed the man without another word.
“What have you found?” She asked.
“All I know is that the last time he was seen was a few days after his audience here.” Hasmira told her friend the queen. “I know he made it back to the barrack. We had lunch and shopped a day later. Then nothing. It’s like he’s fallen off Keanna into some hole. I can’t find.”
“Hasmira don’t worry.” Queen Caline said talking her to a place where she could sit. “I’ve alerted everyone in Darkshade to find him. I have the guards scouring the whole kingdom for him. We’ll find him.”
“I know Caline.” Tears started running down Hasmira's cheek as she spoke. “ It’s just that I know somethings about to happen here and not just to Liat.”
“ What do you mean?” Queen Caline sat down across from her friend anxious to hear what she had to say.
“I feel danger here.” She said. “Here in the palace. All around you. Caline Someone close to you is going to hurt you but I can’t see who it is.”
“I’m safe dear.” She hugged Hasmira comforting her. “But I’ll double the guards here if that makes you feel safer. But don’t worry about me. You concentrate on finding Liat. You’re his only hope. I’ll give you all the men you need to search for him. Just find him.”
“I will.” Hasmira stood and faced her queen. “I’ll find him and whoever has him I will make sorry they ever saw him. That I swear.”
“So will I Hasmira.” The queen promised. “So will all of Darkshade.”
Evening fell in Darkshade as Talsara’s coach arrived at her villa. She stepped out and walked to the entrance and made her way in. In the front hall she found Wyn waiting for here. She walked to the bar and poured herself a glass of wine and took a sip.
“What is it?” She asked. She knew from the look on his face that something was wrong.
“The city guards were here twice today to search for Liat.” He said. “I can’t keep them out much longer. You have to do something now before they find him.”
“You worry too much Wyn.” She smiled sipping her wine. “I have everything under control. We don’t need Liat anymore. I have what I want for him. It’s time to put him to use in a more interesting way.”
“What do you mean?” Wyn asked him.
“I mean Liat’s going to solve all my problems.” She said. " And your problems to.”
“How?” He asked. He wasn't sure he was going to like her answer.
“By killing my mother and making me Queen of Darkshade.” She walked to Wyn and ran a finger across his face. “Did you think I only wanted him for my pleasure? Well I guess in a way you were right. He is going to do a great service for his queen. “
"You mean to kill him?" Wyn looked at Talsara. He couldn't believe what she was telling him. She had done some selfish things in the past, but to kill someone. He wasn't sure he could go along with this. Liat didn't deserve to die. He was innocent. Completely innocent.
“What did you think I was going to do with him?" She asked. “Marry him? Make him my king? I could never trust him. No matter what drug or spell i put him under, sooner or later he would break free and then I would have to kill him. It would be messy. But if he kills mother, no one will believe any excuse he gives them. They would just think he was a Greywing spy and execute him. This will work Wyn. It's the only way to get me my throne."
“How do you expect to get him to kill Queen Caline?" Wyn asked still in shock at her plans.
“I don't." Talsara took him in her arms and kissed him. Her perfume making Wyn's head spin with lust. " I expect you to kill her. Then leave this next to her body."
From her bag she pulled a glove and handed it to Wyn. Wyn took it and examined it. He looked inside and saw the name written there. It read Captain Liat Caldas. Suddenly the horror of her plan was clear to Wyn and he knew she was right. It would work. They would think him a traitor and execute him and nothing he said would change their minds.
You do as I say and we will be king and queen of Darkshade." Talsara whispered in his ear. "Then we will have everything we want."
But Wyn knew there was only one problem. If he did what Talsara wanted, he would lose his soul and it would really be him that was the traitor, not Liat.
That night Wyn slipped a little something extra in Liat’s food to make his sleep. He knew Talsara had been there earlier with Liat behind locked doors, but with what he had to do tonight, he couldn’t think about that. What he had to do, he had to do alone. Wyn couldn’t trust anyone else with the knowledge of what when on tonight. Tonight he would commit treason. A death offense against the crown. Once Liat was asleep, Wyn dressed him and carried him in the dark to a coach he had waiting in back of the villa. From there he drove him to a little cottage in the hills of Darkshade where no one would find him until they were ready for him to be found. From there he drove to the palace where Talsara had lured one of the guards from his post with a smile and a skin of wine.
In the dark Wyn made his way into the palace through the back kitchen entrance. Queen Caline's suite was located on the second floor. But to get there, Wyn would have to pass through halls that were guarded heavily by her own house guards. But there was another way. A secret way that very few knew about. Luckily for Wyn, Talsara knew all about the secret passages behind the walls of the palace and once the queen was asleep, she guided him in and showed him the way.
After quietly opening the bookcase to enter the queen’s chamber, Wyn slipped in and made his way to her bed. He looked down on her as she slept comfortably in her bed wishing he was any place but here doing what he knew he had to do. Slowly he reached for a pillow that lay beside Caline. He picked it up and held it over her then placed it tightly against her face. Caline instantly woke and tried to fight him of so she could breathe. But Wyn was too strong for her so she died quietly with no one aware of what happened but her murderer. Once Caline was dead, Wyn took two items from his belt. One was Liat’s glove which he slipped onto his hand. The second was Liat’s dagger which he plunged into the dead queen’s heart getting her blood on the glove. Once he had the evidence he needed he took off the glove and dropped it by the bed and left taking the dagger with him. Out in the passage Talsara waited for him. Wyn wasn’t sure if she would be there. For a second the thought that she could just as easily betray him as Liat passed through his mind. But she was there waiting and took him out through the secret exit of the palace that led to where he had hidden the coach.
“Don’t forget to leave the dagger in Liat’s hand.” She whispered. “Once they find that, there will be no question of his guilt.”
“Talsara.” Wyn whispered gripping her hand. “What have we done?”
“We took what is mine that’s all.” She kissed him quickly. “Now if you want to be king of Darkshade, go and finish this and keep your mouth shut.”
Wyn nodded and left. The cottage where he had left Liat was an hour away. But he was sure he had even Liat enough sleeping draft to keep him out until morning. They he would wake with a headache and no memory of his days with them. But able to move and see again. He would be the perfect tool to hasten Talsara’s ascension.
Deep in his drugged sleep Liat dreamed. He dreamed of a man and a woman holding him hostage. He dreamed of the woman coming to him at night and using his body against his will. He tried to fight her but he had no control of his body. But there was one thing that he could do. Unknown to them, his vision cleared and he could see and what he saw stuck in his dreams. He saw Princess Talsara and so did Hasmira when she visited her son’s dreams.
The next morning the kingdom was roused to the terrible news of the queens’ murder. Sadness filled the hearts of every elf in Darkshade for Queen Caline was dead. But evidence had been left and they knew who to look for. Word had gone out all over Darkshade and the search for Liat Caldas was taken to even higher level.Soldiers went from town to village searching every house and any where Liat could hide. Finally in the small village of Oak wood they found fresh tracks leading to a house on a hill. A small squad of warriors rushed the house and there they found a sleeping Liat. With a kick to his side Liat was woken up and dragged out and put in a caged wagon to be delivered back to the palace for his trial. Scared and confused Liat didn’t put up a fight. He had no idea what had happened and there he sat until he got a visitor.
“ There’s someone here to see you Slaugh! “A guard called then opened the door a left. Liat stood and walked to his cell door. He watched as Kel and Rom walked down the hall to his cell and stopped.
“Tell us you didn’t do this.” Kel said. “Tell me it couldn’t have been you.”
“Kel I don’t even know what I’m supposed to have done. “Liat told his two friends. “ I don’t remember anything since our audience with the queen.”
“ You killed the queen!!” Rom screamed at him. “They can prove it was you.”
Liat stared back at them in shock. He didn’t know where he had been but he did know he hadn’t killed the queen or anyone else.
“It’s a lie Rom!” Liat clutched the bars. “You really think I would kill Caline? Why? To help who? It’s all a lie!!”
“ Then where have you been?” Rom asked.
“I don’t know!!” Liat threw up his hands in frustration. “But you believe what you want if our friendship has meant nothing to you all these years. You go on and believe I killed my god mother.”
“I believe you Liat.” Kel reached through the bars and gripped his hand. “But how do we prove it?”
“By finding the one that did kill her.” Rom said. “And we better move fast. What do you remember? Think hard. It could be our only hope.”
“ Nothing.” Liat said. “I don’t remember a thing.”
“Then we’re in trouble.” Kel said sadly. “What do you want us to do?”
“Find my mother.” Liat told them. “Tell him I’m innocent.”
“I’m sure she knows.” Then a light shined in Rom's eyes. “Your mother! She may be able to help!!”
“Kel, let’s go!” Rom grabbed Kel's arm. “We’ll be back!”
The second Liat opened his eyes Hasmira knew exactly where he was and that he was in trouble. He had been wakened by pain and there were soldiers surrounding him screaming and pulling him out of the cottage he had been sleeping in. But what were they yelling at him? Hasmira concentrated on Liats hearing to find out what why instead of rescuing him they were treating him like a criminal.Then she heard their accusations. Queen Caline was dead and they thought he had killed her. Her prophecy of Caline getting hurt had come to be. But Liat hadn’t been the one to kill her. That was impossible. If Liat had been awake to do this crime she would have known. There was but one explanation. Talsara had killed her mother and somehow blamed Liat for the crime. But what should she do? Talsara was queen now and he obviously was to take the blame for the murder. Who could she talk to that might listen to her. Darai, Talsara’s grandmother? No, She would still be so upset she wouldn’t listen to reason, and neither would any of the council members. Hasmira had two choices. She could help him escape or wait and hope given time the council would listen to reason. But Hasmira didn’t thing reason would be the answer. They would want blood to avenge Calines death. She had to get him out of there before it was to late. Quickly she stood and ran and grabbed her cloak and turned to the door when it suddenly burst open and soldiers came in.
“What do you want?” She asked.
“We’re here to take you to the palace.” A captain of the guards told her. “ Liat has been found and arrested for the murder of Queen Caline. We’ve been ordered to bring you to the palace.”
“Am I under arrest?” She asked.
“No. This is for your own protection.”
“I think I’d rather not.” She said. “I can protect myself.”
”I’m afraid I must insist lady.” He held out his hand. “ Please come with us.”
Hasmira knew she could fight them and defeat them, but that would make Liat look guilty. Her only choice was to go with them and hope she could reason with the council and make then understand Liat was just as much a victim as Caline was. Unfortunately nothing Hasmira said or did could save her son. Kel and Rom disappeared that day never to be seen again. Hasmira knew Talsara was responsible for there disappearance but she couldn’t prove anything. One week later Liat was put on trial and found guilty. The sentence was death. He was beheaded in the city square in front of a crowd of thousands and Hasmira disappeared. Talsara was crowned queen and soon she married Wyn and had a son with green eyes. On that night Talsara Darkshade managed to end the life of three people and make an enemy that would never stop until she revenged her son’s death.
Now Wyn saw everything was coming back to the beginning. Talsara was at war and there was a chance Wyn would end up losing the most important thing in his life. his son. Just as Hasmira had lost hers. And he only had himself to blame because if he had been stronger, maybe he could have stopped all of this from happening long ago. God knows he wishes he had. But was it to late? Could he stand by and let Talsara do to Elan what she had done to Liat? Did he love her that much. Wyn thought about it for a minute. But that was all it took to find an answer. Would he let her destroy the only real thing he had been able to love? No, he'd kill her himself if she threatened Elan. With the same hands that had killed her mother she would die if it came to it. In Elan's name that he swore. The question is, where is Talsara and what's she doing? The last he had heard, she was in Eventide and Wyn's imp Argus had told him she had used a magic item to put some deadly spell on Dasyra. She had doomed another elven queen. Wyn stood and paced his study. When would she stop? Did she have to rule all of Keanna to satisfy her lust for power? Could anyone stop her? And where was Elan? Was he safe from her? Did she know about Aron and there obvious relationship? Wyn know he needed answers and that he couldn't sit and just let this happen anymore. Elan had to be found if he was going to try and keep his son safe and to keep Elan safe, he would have to find Aron and make sure he was safe to or Elan would just charge in to his rescue. But first things first. Find Elan.
“Argus!! He called out. In a second he heard a pop and Argus his imp was bowing while standing on his desk. Small in statue about a foot tall Argus was a handsome imp that had been with Wyn since he had been a child. He had been his protector and most trusted friend all his life and always Wyn's fateful servant. Light skinned, blond and fairy like with gossamer wings, Argus was kind and of the light persuasion. He was nothing like Talsara's imp Aesis who was dark, grotesque and mischievous. He cared about nothing but pleasing his mistress and would even kill if that was her wish.
“You called your Highness?”
“ I have something for you to do.” Wyn sat down at the desk. “I want you to go find Elan. I think he’s in trouble.”
“Shall I bring him home?” Argus asked.”This is the safest place for him.”
“No.” Wyn thought about it for a second and knew he couldn’t keep his son here if he didn’t want to be here. “Find him and see that he’s safe. I want you to keep a watch on him. Help him if he needs help. His safety is now your main responsibility. There’s one more thing.”
“Yes highness?” Argus asked.
“Beware his Mother.” Wyn ordered. “If she try's to hurt him in anyway, you do what you have to do to protect him. Even if that means fighting her.”
“Highness.” Argus looked at him scared. He knew how powerful Queen Talsara was and the laws against an imp going against one of his masters. “How am I to fight her? She is my master to.”
“I’m your master.” He told the imp. “Your blood oath is to me. Not to Talsara or the house of Darkshade. You came here with me from Limeira and by rights of our oath you answer to me only. Now I Wyn Edyrm Limeira Darkshade transfer your oath to my son Elan. Will you accept?
“My magic is his now.”The imp swore. “I will find him and protect him just like I've always protected my lord.”
“Thank you Argus.” Wyn smiled. “Now go find him.”
Argus turned then stopped as Wyn got to his feet. “Highness?”
“Yes?”
"How will I find him?" Argus asked As he took to the air and landed on Wyn's shoulder. "He could be anywhere."
Wyn stood and pushed back his chair and started to pace his bedchamber. Argus was right. Elan could be almost anywhere now. So where to look. He had last been in Winterhaven until Lord Larin started all this madness. Then Talsara sent him after Emrel Eventide in Fey Shrea with Aron at his side. Wyn knew what Talsara wanted him to do. She wanted him to capture the Eventide princess to further her own plans to take Eventide. But that would mean kidnapping the girl and Wyn knew his son's heart. Even the influences of the Larin's couldn't make Elan cold enough to do that, not with his love at his side. So where would Elan and Aron go? They would want to help the Eventide's if they could and the best way to help them would be to bring down Lord Larin in Winterhaven. He might be the key to stopping the whole war.
"Look in Winterhaven." Wyn told the imp. "Start there and if he's not there try Eventide."
“As you wish my prince. I now am sworn to Elan.” He said as he slowly faded away. “But you will always be my master.”
"Find him my friend.” Wyn begged. “Keep him safe, no matter what.”
Deep in the glades of Eventide no wind moved in the trees. The canopy foliage of the trees had changed from a deep forest green to a paler shade. It seemed the Eventide glade was in trouble. It was all tied into the family that ruled this Elven kingdom. There health and safety. There well being and it looked like the Eventide's were in trouble. Up in the city of Eventide dark elves patrolled the walkways. Tayor’s spell had all the Eventide elves in a trance almost like the walking dead. All except one and she was dying. Dasyra had only hours left to live and deep in her soul she knew it. In her coma like sleep her spirit couldn’t reach out to her only son in Eventide who was deep under the spell. No one could save her now, but Evindal and his wife Allisa were still here and so were many cousins and nephews and nieces. There were still a lot of Eventide family in danger in the city not to mention the trees of Eventide that depended on them. She could feel they were dying and it was all because of Talsara Darkshade and her ambition. Dasyra knew she had to find help for her home so her spirit lifted from her body and took to the winds in flight To find the closest true soul to Eventide. She hadn’t traveled far when she found two men riding through Eventide heading for her city. Two strange men disguised as elves. She moved down to get a closer sense of the two men. She felt the power emanating from them and knew they were of New Keanna the dragon city. She probed the two men and felt something deep in one man’s heart that surprised her. Seven! This man was in love with her daughter Seven. Maybe he could be the one to help them.
[Greetings.] She sent out to him. [There’s someone in your heart that is dear to me.”
Toric stopped his horse in shock at the sudden call.
“What’s wrong?” Denner asked from beside him.
“Shh!” He held up his hand. “Someone’s here trying to contact me.”
[Who calls?] He asked.
[I am the mother of the woman in your heart.] He heard. [Is she safe? Are my children safe?]
[Dasyra Eventide?] Shock filled him when he realized who he was talking to. [Thank Rimnar! Seven and Adanar sent us here to find you. To see for ourselves what goes on in Eventide. ]
[What of the others?] She asked worried. [Jake, Emrel and Ryel? How are they?]
Toric thought for a minute. How could he tell her that Cutter had disappeared with the Academy or that Emrel and Ryel was missing and he had no idea where they were.
[No need to tell me.] She sent. Toric could feel her sadness. [I can read your heart and it tells me all I need to know. But I don’t have much time. My body is failing. Let me tell you of Eventide. Talsara Darkshade rules there now. She has all my people spelled and in a deep trance. She is siphoning off the magic of the Eventide glades as we speak. You must stop her or they will all die. No Eventide can live if our glade dies.]
[We’ll hurry so we can save you.] Toric promised her.
[Nothing can save me.] She told him. [I go to be with my husband. But you can save the others.]
[How?] Toric asked.
[Find my seventh son.] She said. [He can save them all.]
[How?] Toric asked.
[Find Ryel] She said weakly. [He will find his brother.]
With those words she was gone. Toric knew Dasyra Eventide had just died. His heart broke for his love. He knew he would have to be the one to tell her of her mother’s death.
“What just happened?” Denner asked. “Are we still going to Eventide?”
“No.” Toric told his friend. “We have to find someone.”
“Who?”
“The ninth Eventide.” Toric turned his horse around. “Come on. I’ll explain.”
High in the trees of Eventide Talsara spoke with her generals about the fighting in Dree and the troops she and Lord Larin had moving into Elond. Aon walked in and stood close to the desk where she went over the plans with her generals.
"Well?" She asked looking up. "What do you want?"
"Pardon Majesty." He bowed. “There’s someone here to see you. He says it’s urgent.”
“Who is it?” She asked.
“He says his name is Taren and he’s here by your orders.”
“Everyone out.” She ordered moving behind the desk and sat down. “Show him in.”
“There’s something else Majesty.” The elf said. “Queen mother Dasyra is dead.”
Talsara smiled. That was one enemy down. Her spell had worked. She was that much closer to ruling all of the Elven lands.
“Send Taren in.”
Again the elf bowed and left. Seconds later a dark elf dressed in dark Elven armor with a scar on his face entered the room and bowed.
“Greeting my queen.” He said. “I have news.”
“What is it?”
“All goes well in Remus.” He said. ”The invasion of Yadessa is ready to begin and I have two things to report that you should hear about.”
“And that is?” Talsara folded her hands in front of her face a little angry. She didn’t want to hear of problems. But better now than when they were in her face.
“Your hostages being held by the Goblins have escaped.”
“WHAT??” Talsara stood and picked up a paperweight from the desk and threw it it the Eventide family portrait on the wall. “Who is responsible for this?”
“It was Lord Larin that ordered the Goblins to march.” Taren said. “There is one more thing.”
“Yes?”
“How well do you trust Lord Larin to deal with the dragons?” He asked. ”In my dealings with them you can never underestimate their power. I think we should find another way to be sure they won’t be bothering us.”
“What do you suggest?’ She asked. His advice was valid. Larin was a fool she knew she would have to deal with later and she didn’t want the dragons flying in to save the day.
“There’s someone I think may help us.” He said. “Someone with a cold heart that hates them more than we do.”
“Very well.” She told him, “Find whoever you need to help you.”
“I’ll require your magic to help.” Taren smiled. “I’ll need the help of a old friend to and it will take a very powerful spell to get him here.”
“That won’t be a problem.” She smiled. “My magic has grown lately. Just tell me who your talking about.”
“I need Terror.” He said. “My horse.”
“I remember him.” She stood and walked out to where he was. “I think I can help you. Come with me.”
Together they walked out of the office and down through the tree walk ways. They left Eventide and walked into the glade where the magic was strongest.
“Stand back.” She clapped her hands three times and began summoning her magic. Wind began to blow and lightning flashed through the glades.
FIRE BURNS AS EVIL GROWS.
FROM BELLOW I CALL THE ONE THAT KNOWS.
OF HATE AND FIRE AND REVENGE LET HIM WALK.
BRING TERROR BACK TO WALK AND STALK,
From the sky a lightning bolt streaked down and hit the ground. A pit opened and gout's of fire bellowed out. As the ground trembled a horrible shrieking was heard. Then like a streak of black lightning, Terror the demon horse leaped from the pit eyes blazing with hate.
[BROTHER I RETURN!!]
Taren walked over to Terror and strokes his muzzle. “It’s good to have you back.”
“Go.” Talsara ordered them. “You have work to do.”
Taren climbed on Terrors back and they were off into the night. Suddenly a tree falls in the distance. Talsara laughed as she made her way back into Eventide. There would be a lot more down before she was done.
The sun slowly moved down as Elan, Morganz and Braddoc stood outside the walls of Winterhaven dressed in heavy hooded cloaks waiting for the cover of darkness to slip into the city. Around them the sounds of the forest grew louder by the minute as it got darker.
“You sure you can stay in this forest?” Elan asked Braddoc. “There are things in here that attack men on the roads.”
“ Don’t worry.” He said. “There’s nothing here I can’t handle. Besides, I won’t be staying in here that long. Once you go in, I’ll go grab a few of my men and keep watch on Tayor’s armies. Insa thinks Yadessa will be next on the list for invasion. We can’t let that happen. If you need me I have a message stone, I’ll come running. Good luck both of you.”
“You to my friend.”Morganz gripped Braddoc’s arm and they bid each other good bye. “Lets get moving.”
Elan nodded and climbed down off his his horse and handed the reins to Braddoc. “The tunnel in is this way.”
“This is going to bring us out on Lord Larin’s property.” Morganz said as they moved toward the tunnel entrance.”I want your right on my heels at ever second you understand?”
“ I understand.”Elan nodded, “How do you plan to find the Shadows?”
“I have my ways.”Morganz told him. “I’ll find them. There’s a tavern that the dark type go to. I disguise myself and use an alias. I’ve done business there in the past. They know me. As a dark elf you should blend in will. Just let me do the talking.”
As then entered the tunnel Elan looked around for the stash of torches that were usually there. He found them and handed on to Morganz.
“No.” Morganz told him. “Use you magic sight. A torch could warn anyone station down here we’re coming.”
“What about you?” Elan asked dropping the torch. “You could get hurt stumbling around down here in the dark.”
“I’m a captain in the Winterhaven guard.” He reminded him. “My eyes have been enchanted to see in the dark and to have very good far sight. I see fine. Move quietly. I doubt we’re alone down here.”
Elan took the lead since he knew the way through the twist and turns of the passage. Morganz whispered to elan that once this was all over he would have to come down here and see where all these corridors went. They could be useful sometime. As the neared the end Morganz hearing caught something and he stopped them.
“What is it?”
“There are guards waiting up ahead.” Morganz whispered.
“You think they know we’re here?” Elan asked as he stained to hear. But he heard nothing.
“No.” Morganz told him. “They’re still talking. If it was a trap they would be silent. We have to get by them with them knowing we were here.”
“How?”
“Can you see them?”Morganz asked. “What they’re wearing? I mean the armor?”
“Yes. It’s the same thing all of Tabor’s guards always wore. So?”
“Can you put and Illusion on us so we look like we’re wearing the same thing?” He asked the young mage.
“It won’t last long.” Elan smiled understanding what he wanted. “We’ll have to move fast. Just don’t touch me or let them touch you cause it’ll break the enchantment.””
“It won’t take long to get pass them.” Morganz told him. “Cast your spell just before we’re in sight.”
With confidence in Elan's magic, Morganz walked ahead. He readied himself in case they had to fight. As they drew closer Elan whispered his spell.
ILLUSIONS OF ME, ILLUSIONS OF YOU.
SEE US AS COMRADES AS WE WALK THROUGH.
A SALUTE AND A WAVE AS WE PASS BY.
NO TROUBLE OR QUESTIONS, YOU’LL SEE NO LIE.
Light shimmered around them as they moved into sight of the two guards. With a snap to attention the two men saluted the waved as they walked pass. In front of them were the stairs up and out of the tunnels.
“Very good.” Morganz smiled. “I’m going to have to learn me some of that magic.”
“Hope you’ve got years to study.” Elan told him. “Cause it isn’t easy.”
“OK.” Morganz opened the door and liked out then closed it back. “Where are we?”
“Near the stables. The gate is to the left under the trees there.” He pointed.
“Move fast and don’t stop no matter what happens.”
“Wait!!” Elan said. “Tabor use to sneak out all the time. I know how he did it.”
“How’ Morganz asked.
“The east wall there.” Elan pointed to a place just across from where they were. “He said the was a passage from his room that went to a place in the wall where there was a hidden gate that took him off the grounds of the house. Let me look. I’m sure I can find it.”
”Elan, there are guards out there. If they catch you, you go straight to Tayor. If he catches you, you go straight to your mother. Are you willing to take that chance?
“Do I have a choice?” Elan looked Morganz in the eyes. “All this is going to lead me back to Aron. And for him I’d storm Tayor’s house on my own so your answer is yes. I’m willing to get caught for him.”
“Then go Elan.” The captain stepped out of his way. “ Just keep down and good luck.”
Elan swallowed and quickly opened the door and slipped out. The wall he was looking for was less than twenty feet away. But between him and the wall there was a guard standing watch. This didn’t surprise Elan at all. As suspicious as Lord Larin had to be they probably would be another hundred guards stationed around here. Keeping down, Elan ran for it to hide behind a bush where the guard was standing. Now all he had to do was get past the guard and there was only one way he thought he could do that. He stood behind the guard and whispered a command.
"SLEEP!"
Like a stone the guard dropped to the ground fast asleep. Quickly Elan searched the vine covered wall and found the spot where he thought the gate was and whispered Tabor’s secret words.
"Zarin sucks."
Suddenly the vines started moving and a gate was revealed in the old wall. Elan smiled and waved Morganz over. Without another sound they where through the wall and off Lord Larin’s grounds and into Winterhaven.
“You’re pretty handy to have around.” Morganz clapped him on the back.
“Where to now?”
“We need somewhere we can stay until we can find our friends.” Morganz pulled his hood up to cover him so no one would recognize him in the city he once guarded with his life. “If the Academy were still here, that would be the perfect place to hide, but it’s gone. Any idea’s?”
“We could check and see if any of the outer buildings are still there. The gardening shed or how about Macan’s old clinic. That was outside the walls.”
Morganz looked over to Elan and smiled. “You know what Elan? We’re going to be good friends. The Academy grounds it is. Let’s just hope we don’t run into any trouble on the way.”
So there it was. Morganz and Elan were back in Winterhaven the home of the enemy and where this had all started. After searching the Academy grounds they found the clinic abandoned and a perfect place to hide. It was quiet and everyone thought the place haunted so they kept away. All that was left to do was to find the Shadows and see how they could help in bringing Lord Larin’s reign as king of Winterhaven to an end. And that could prove to be the hardest part of they’re mission.
