VI

Dantera sighed deeply as Yoreno sat in a chair. There were dozens of guards about. “It wasn’t your fault, Yoreno.”

“If I could have just—“

“No!” Dantera snapped. “Cypia was a competent adventurer and mage—more so than you. What happened was the fault of that—that killer! Do you understand?”

Yoreno nodded.

“Now,” she said. “I suppose there is no point trying to learn the identity of this Lord Brailar you’ve told me about. Apparently this shape shifter has changed forms yet again when he attacked you. We can safely assume that Sir Moryss is also dead.”

“We should lock the castle down,” Sir Cedrik said. “We search for the killer until we find him.”

“I will speak to the king,” Dantera said. “I think we should consider stopping the festivities.”

“Do you think he will allow it?” Yoreno asked.

“I do not know. But we must try, or else the next victim could be a visiting noble, or gods forbid, someone from their royal families. This can start a war.”

“They usually have very good security,” Sir Cedrik said. “Even with his shape shifting powers—and apparently his ability to navigate the castle by way of the windows and outside ledges, it would still be difficult.”

“But still possible,” Dantera said. “We do not know this killer’s motives. For all we know, his next target is the king or the princess. Come, Yoreno. We will speak with the king.”

He stood, feeling completely numb.

“Hey,” she said, snapping her fingers. “We have to stay focused. I am angry and distraught about Cypia as well, but we will have to mourn her later. For now—we must be adventurers—professionals. We will find this threat and we will end it, Yoreno! I swear!”

Glancing into her eyes, he nodded, feeling a new sense of resolve and strength in his spirits. Dantera was a leader. She knew what had to be done.

From numbness, Yoreno’s feelings resolved into anger and hatred. She was right. They would find this man—and they were going to kill him. If not for the first few he had murdered, then for Cypia.

She had been his friend.

Yoreno would avenge her.

“All right,” he said, nodding firmly as he made tight firsts.