The encampment was suddenly alive. The night was filled with shouting and clamouring.

"We must go now!" Zhovian peered through the tent flaps.

He didn't wait for a reply, but led the way out into the melay of barbarians. Adrian, the Prince, and Joel followed closely behind. They moved through the tents and scattered fires, towards the horses. It was as Zhovian and Joel were untying the animals that they were spotted.

Zhovian turned his back to the line of horses and drew his long sword from its scabbard. Adrian did the same. The Prince had no weapon and Joel was at work freeing the horses. Three or four men with swords drawn, rushed towards them. The clash of steel cut through the night. Zhovian was battling two of the barbarians and Adrian was using his honed warrior skills as Yuxia, to defend against the other two. Together they fended off the attack, injured two of the barbarians and killed the other two.

With horses free, they each mounted a steed, but as Joel was last to pull himself up an arrow whizzed through the air hitting him in the back of the shoulder. He was so charged with adrenalin, that any pain was only a mild thud as the fleche pierced his skin and shattered his shoulder bone. Slumped over his horse he kicked the animal and sped off after the other three.

More arrows soared through the air, but none found its target.

Joel had taken the time to release all the horses. The beasts were spooked by the noise and the arrows. They galloped off into the forest. It would take some time for them to be rounded up, which meant they had a head start.

Zhovian made sure they took their advantage and he disguised their true direction, backtracking and trotting along the bed of a stream. He was determined to lose their pursuers.

They kept going relentlessly until Zhovian agreed it was time to rest the horses. As they sat in a circle beneath the canopy of trees, the Prince was the first to speak.

"Your heading for the Palace."

Zhovian nodded and gave a half smile. "Yes, indeed. I will confront your uncle and return the kingdom to you, it's rightful ruler."

"And if I don't want to rule the kingdom?"

"Did your tutor never beat you for making smart remarks?"

The Prince looked shocked, "No, I am the Prince, am I not?"

"A riddle, I think. A prince who would renounce his heritage."

Joel was lying on the ground obviously in pain. The arrow was still embedded in his shoulder.

"He needs some help," Adrian interrupted their debate about the kingdom.

Both Zhovian and the Prince turned their attention to Joel.

"I know of a magnetiser," the Prince announced. "She lives outside a village not too far from the Palace. We should take him there."

Zhovian raised his eyebrows, looking far from convinced. "A magnetiser," he mumbled.

"What is a magnetiser?" Adrian asked.

"First, we need to pull the arrow out." Zhovian moved to crouch over Joel. "You two hold him."

The Prince and Adrain shared the task, one on each side.

"Give me some room," Zhovian pushed the Prince out of his way.

After studying the wound, it appeared Zhovian reached a decision. "Hold tight!"

Adrian and the Prince looked at each other, then firmly took hold of Joel. Zhovian shoved a cloth in the boy's mouth. Grabbed the arrow close to the arrow head and pulled. Joel screamed and lost consciousness. He took the cloth and applied pressure to the wound. There was a lot of blood.

"You do know what you're doing?" The Prince asked.

"Prince or no Prince, don't make me angry."

"I know a magnetiser, we should take him to be healed," the Prince said.

"You mean the old witch who lives in the forest near the Palace. I don't like her."

"Our father took us there when we were young. She cured my sister."

"Maybe, it will work" Zhovian said, thinking.

The hall was open to the outside, thick stone columns supported ornately carved oak beams which held up the roof. A roof which had four angles and a silver star on a pinnacle in the centre. The tiles were glazed in red, green and blue, making a zigzag pattern towards the centre point. Of course, none of this could be seen from the round table placed in the centre of the hall, where two men sat facing each other.

A board of squares in black and cream, not unlike a chessboard, except that a little diamond of sparkling crystal, joined the four corners of each of the four squares. Figures, like chess pieces were spread across the board. A gentle breeze moved the leaves of the lilac tree, and wind chimes tinkled their sound.

"Why did you cast an emotional tye on our little Prince?" The old man who had spoken wore a long white robe which seemed almost to match his beard.

"Well Micha, I cannot influence our players in that other world, only when they are on the board. I thought it would be amusing if the Prince were to fall for the warrior Zhovian has brought here."

The younger man grinned as he reached out a hand to pluck a figure from the table. "And I shall move him," he held up a miniature figure, "to the witch's hut in the forest."

"Ah! That will do you no good. My barbarian hoards are ready to sweep down. I have them all amassed. Your little band is doomed."

"You may think so," Ankar grinned, "but aren't you forgetting something?" He leaned back in his chair.

"What my young friend?"

"The Mage!" He clapped his hands and laughed out loud.

"They are all but pawns in our game," Micha declared, and swept his arm over the table.

"We have not much time," Zhovian told them, as they arrived at the wooden hut burried deep in the forest.

Several crows screeched and took flight, as if startled by their arrival. A gust of wind ruffled the leaves in the trees and the sky grew dark.

"Let's get him inside," Adrian said, and the Prince helped him to ease Joel from the saddle.

As they both supported him and turned towards the hut, they stopped. Looking at the figure filling the door frame. An elderly lady in faded clothes of different colours. Vestments which were once bright primal colours, but we're now turned pastel by the passage of time.

"I was expecting you, your highness," the lady gave a little curtsey.

The scene was rather bizarre, but Adrian had little time to reflect as they dragged Joel inside and laid him on a bed in the middle of the room.

"Leave me now, and wait outside."

Adrian and the Prince went to join Zhovian who was sitting under a large oak tree.

"I don't know what will happen," Adrian said, turning to look at the Prince.

The Prince smiled and sat down on the earth next to Zhovian. "We need a plan," he told him.

"Indeed they do," Ankar grinned at Micha, "but I have one."

"Then make your move," the old man replied.

Ankar picked up the Mage and placed him at the edge of the forest, where the road turned and went up hill towards the city and the Palace.