1

“He has been gone over three days now. How long does it take to get help?” Anna asked Rith. She was not really expecting an answer, she just wanted to vent about the fact that Elwin still had not returned. They did not know where he was or when he would be back. They knew nothing about this Jax person who took him away for that matter. For all they knew, he was a fraud and something bad had happened to Elwin.

The pair of them followed a winding narrow trail down to a freshwater stream not far from their latest encampment. It was still early morning. The sun was just breaking on the horizon. Anna and Rith had gotten up before everyone else. They wanted to fetch fresh water for cooking that day.

The refugees for Domara were still heading south, down the Imperial Verant River Road in the direction of Verant City. It was slow going because of the mass of people, over a thousand by last count. Some had started moving further ahead while others were lagging behind. This mass of people had stretched out over several miles now. They were the only ones on the road these days. Other traveller had stopped using the road once word had spread. The travellers feared this many people, starving and pushed closer to the edge, would become dangerous and highwaymen had already become a problem in certain parts of the Empire.

How long before they get aggressive and they start fighting, robbing and killing? Anna wondered to herself. She would have said it out loud, by Rith was already on edge these days. She realized that his outlook was not always as sunny as hers tended to be. She felt that it was best not to say anything that might upset him.

“Hopefully he will be back soon. A day or two more maybe? If he’s in Verant City it will take at least that long,” Rith reasoned. Anxiety had crept into his voice. He had no idea where his bother was or what was taking him so long. Still, he was more optimistic than Anna had expected. Rith asked. “What did Jax say? A two-day flight on griffin?”

“Something like that. I just miss Elwin that’s all,” Anna said in a melancholy tone. Rith was probably right. If Elwin was in Verant City, it would be a few days more at least. “He always knew what to do. We’re lost without him.”

Rith nodded.

They started filling some empty canteens and other containers with water. They worked quietly and alone. Only the sound of the babbling stream filled the air.

“I’ve been waiting for a good time to talk to you,” Rith told her. His voice seemed small and a bit fearful. Anna could tell this was something bothering him, but he was reluctant to say.

“Really!” Anna beamed back at him. Was this it? Was he finally going to confess his feelings for her? She hoped so. Then she could finally confess how she felt about him, but not before he told her first. She would not have her feelings crushed. She had to know that he like her as more than just a friend before she would say anything in return. But why was he so reluctant? She wondered.

“I’m having these strange feelings and emotions that I can’t control. I don’t know what’s going on. I’ve never felt this way before,” Rith confessed. He started off slowly and chose his word carefully.

Anna put her container down. She reached out and held his hand. Her heart was racing. This was it, wasn’t it! Caught up in the moment she said. “I’ve also wanted to talk to you, Rith! I’ve been waiting for you to finally open up to me. It seems like ages since we really talked!”

“I see it my dreams, like it is calling out to me or something. I don’t know. I just can’t put it into words. The feelings are just overwhelming me,” Rith replied as if he had been defeated. He hung his head as the words failed him.

Anna moved in closer and gave him a hug.

“It’s alright Rith. I’ve been feeling the same way about you!” She whispered in his ear.

Rith suddenly stiffened under her grip. He pulled away from her.

Anna looked confused.

“No, you don’t understand what I’m talking about. Do you remember the time we talked in the alleyway in Verant City?” Rith asked her.

She nodded. Of course, she remembered the talk they had. They had talked about several things that day. The cards in Rith’s reading, his reluctance in becoming an adventurer, and the vision he had at the druid’s hut.

Anna wanted to comfort him then. She wanted to comfort him even more now. She could not restrain herself any longer. She moved in as if to kiss him, but he held up his arm to block her.

“No, no, you’re not understanding me, Anna! This isn’t what I’m talking about!” Rith said frustrated.

Anna backed away and blushed. She was embarrassed and little hurt.

Rith sighed. “Do you remember when we talked about the druid? The vision that I had?”

“You mean your delusion?” Anna raised a sceptical eyebrow. She folded her arms cleanly put off by his reaction.

“You don’t believe me?” Rith gaped at her. A look of anger crossed his face. “I knew it! I knew you didn’t believe me! This was no delusion, Anna! It happened again to me, in Domara!”

“I don’t understand!” Anna replied bitterly. She fought back tears refusing to cry. Damn the Gods! She felt so young and foolish!

“During the eruption, back in Domara. You, Rowdy and I were running down some street. We stopped and a huge boulder was coming at us,” He explained the scene to her.

“Of course, I remember! Do you think I would ever forget a moment like that?” Anna snorted. “It bounced to the side and struck a house. I was terrified, so were you!”

“That’s just it! I was so scared that the emotions… did something! They caused me to experience the same sensation that I felt in the druid’s home,” Rith explained.

“It’s called shock Rith. We were all experiencing it,” Anna said with a shrug. She began filling the last of the containers.

“Listen to me!” Rith demanded. He gripped her arm. “I’ve waited all this time to tell you and now you don’t care!”

Anna’s expression softened a bit. She sighed. “Okay, I’m sorry Rith. You’re right. I’m mad at myself, not you.”

Rith looked doubtful, but he pressed on anyway. “When I was healing, I thought that maybe you were right and it was just the magic working, but when it happened again in Domara… where no magic was being used… I started to think it was something else!”

“How do you mean?” She questioned.

“I had the same vision again. I saw the boulder a few yards away and suddenly I was falling in on myself again, falling into a deep dark place. I came to the black pearl again. It was pulsing with that same deep red. I reached out and touched it and snapped out of… the trance or whatever it was. But when I snapped out of it, I felt different… like I had all this power at my fingertips. I reach out with my mind… or that’s what it felt like at least. I could feel the boulder, like really feel it! Every speck on the surface and then I moved it into the building next to us with the wave of my hand. It was the strangest sensation I have ever had!” Rith explained the experience the best that he could.

“Are you trying to say that you used some… untapped magical power to save our lives?” Anna was completely sceptical now.

“I’m just telling you what I felt,” Rith replied. It was clear her reaction was upsetting him.

“I think it was just shock that you were feeling, we all were. We were almost killed. Maybe you just thought you were doing it…” Anna tried to explain.

“Just like I thought I was healing myself in the druid house?” Rith said hotly. “You think I’m a liar? You think I’m making this all up!”

“No, no. I don’t know what’s going on, Rith! Honest!” Anna cried. “Maybe it’s possible that you have some sort of magical power that’s never come out before. Maybe you’re an untrained wizard or something else. I don’t understand these things! Magic is beyond me!”

“You’re right,” Rith conceded. “It’s just frustrating me so much. I see the black pearl in my dreams now, all the time. It’s taunting me, calling out to me.”

“Look, maybe if you could demonstrate the power. If you could show me something that you can do with it. Then we could try and figure it out together,” Anna said. She was being truthful. If he did have some sort of power, she wanted to really see it before she could believe it. Wizard’s usually showed skills at a much younger age. They were taken away to the schools usually around eight years old. Some graduated and became wizards and other dropped out and became sorcerers.

“I’ve already tried, but I haven’t been able to do it yet,” Rith said, his voice heavy with disappointment. “I don’t know what triggers it other than extreme danger. As I was telling you earlier, I feel different now. These emotions are uncontrollable. I think the power is taking over.”

“Maybe we should talk to Myra-Lynn about it,” Anna suggested. “She knows some magic. She might be the better person to ask.”

To Anna that made most sense. Myra was an Elf, and they were magical by nature. Anna could talk to her about anything at all. They were good friends now. She thought it was a good idea consult Myra about it before jumping to conclusions.

“Yeah, maybe your right,” Rith conceded.

2

Anna turned around her containers were full of fresh water. She was about to leave when Rith grabbed her by the arm and turned her back to face him. This time his expression was much softer.

“Wait,” he said to her. “There’s something I need to do… Something you have been waiting for…”

He put his hand upon her face and held it gentle as he leaned in. He kissed her softly upon the lips. Anna dropped everything and put her arms around him, returning the kiss but with a little more force. Whatever anger she had, or hard feeling melted away in an instant as if they had never been there at all.

“By the Gods!” She whispered as they parted. Her heart was suddenly pounding and there was a warmth in her cheeks.

“I needed to apologize… For stopping you earlier…” Rith told her, but before he could finish, she kissed him. A longer deeper kiss.

“Wow, that was some apology!” She said. She felt out of breath, she was getting choked up. She felt like a flood gate had just been released.

“I’m not completely blind,” Rith said to her with the slightest hint of a smile. “I know you wanted to do that sooner, but I had to get all that off my chest first.”

“By the Gods, I love you!” Anna said. She could not stop the tears even if she tried. She put her arms around his neck and pulled him in tight.

Rith was stunned into silence. She was not upset that he did not say it back, she had caught him completely off guard and she knew it. It just sort of slipped out. He will say it when he can wrap his head around the concept! She mused to herself.

“I mean, I love you all!” She chuckled, even through her tears. She hoped to cover up for the fact he had not said it back. Give him some time to think about it. What was she to do? She was aware that she was the kind of person who wore their heart on the sleeve, as the saying went. “I mean, it’s a little different with you obviously…”

“I know,” Rith assured her. He hugged her back tight at least.

She pulled away, but still held his hands. “It’s just I grew up with all brothers… And I lost that, and I was just so sad for so long,” she swallowed hard. She wanted to finish what she had to say without the tears getting in the way. Being a teenage was hard, so many emotions getting in the way!

She cursed silently. She continued to speak as truthfully as she could. “And then I met you boys and it just felt right. Elwin, Selby and yes even Emerson!” She rolled her eyes at his name. “They are all like brothers to me. I love them… like my family.”

“And Myra-Lynn?” Rith teased her.

“By the Gods!” Anna exclaimed. She wiped her tears away. She was done crying, for now. “Myra is like the sister I never had, but always wished for!”

“And Rowdy is like that weird funny uncle…” Rith added.

“Exactly!” Anna exclaimed. “See? You get it!”

“Of course, I get it!” Rith was really excited now. He joked, “How could I spend so much time with you and not get it?”

“I don’t know,” Anna laughed. “All you men seem really dense sometimes!”

“Fair enough,” Rith replied.

They had a good laugh together. They sat down on a large rock by the water. They were still alone. The pair kissed some more. After a while, they needed to get back before someone came looking for them.

Rith said. “Look, let not saying anything about this to anyone right now. It’s not that I’m embarrassed or anything like that… It’s just I don’t need Emerson or Selby saying anything or trying to give me advice, do you know what I mean?”

“Trust me,” Anna said with a bit of relief herself. “I know exactly what you mean. I don’t want to say anything to Elwin either when he gets back. Let them figure it out on their own!”

“Agreed,” Rith confirmed.

“Let’s bring the water back, and then I’m going to go talk to Myra about magic, alright?” Anna asked.

“Sure,” Rith said. “But one parting kiss?”

“I insist on it!” Anna demanded.

They embraced one last time.

3

“I’m going to tell you what I told Elwin when he asked me about this,” Myra-Lynn said to Anna.

“Wait!” Anna said with surprise. “Elwin, asked you about this already?”

“Yes. He told me what happened with the druid, and I made him tell me all the details surrounding what happened that night,” Myra related to her.

“Really? And what did you tell him?” Anna asked.

“That magical power doesn’t come from within. It doesn’t come from a black pearl or whatever it was,” Myra explained. “It comes from the environment. It comes from your surroundings. A wizard draws it in towards themselves and uses things like staves and wands to focus that power. The words… they just help focus and direct the mind. And herbs and potions, well anyone could do that really, with the right training.”

“You’re right,” Anna agreed. “That doesn’t sound right. What Rith is describing is different.”

Anna felt a little disappointed by Myra’s response. She was hoping the Elf would have all the answers. It wasn’t Myra’s fault that Anna got her hopes up. She did not want to believe that Rith was crazy. She was hoping to explain it somehow.

“What about the Gods?” Anna tried another angle. “Could he have some divine power?”

“Honestly I don’t know,” Myra admitted. “But I have never heard of anyone describe it as a black pearl.”

“Are you sure?” Anna questioned. Her eyes were pleading. She had really hoped that Myra would have some sort of explanation other than Rith has lost his mind! No, his mind could not be cracked like that, she thought firmly. She refused to believe it. He seemed normal enough most of the time. He does not talk or mutter to himself. He does not claim to come from one of the moons or some other dimension in space and time.

The visions he told her about were very specific and tied to equally specific events. The rest of the time it seemed that everything was normal. She really wanted to believe that he was fine and there was a perfectly normal explanation for why he was seeing these visions of the black pearl as he called it.

“Like I said, I can’t be sure of anything, but I doubt it,” Myra said to her. “Look, when I went over this with Elwin, I asked him about the fortune cards. Rith’s reading.”

Anna nodded. Everything was packed and ready to go. Anna and Myra got into the back of the cart. It was the same one they had been using ever since they had fled Domara.

The men rode ahead on horse back. Rowdy directed the pony, which just happen to be the right size for him to ride on it.

“When he explained the cards to me, I looked at them objectively,” Myra continued to explain. She had a leather-bound bag of trail mix that she kept for when supplies were low. The women sat facing each other and shared the content of the bag. It was mainly nuts, dried fruits and berries.

“It is a powerful destiny,” Myra admitted. “A quick three card reading should not turn up three major arcana unless its important.”

Food had grown scarce, so lunch had not consisted of much. As adventurers Anna and her friends had gotten used to iron rations as the adventuring storeowners called it. It was really nothing more than a bit of trail mix, dried beef jerky and hardened bread that could last for months without going bad.

It was all packaged in wax paper with one serving worth for each packet. Anna had seriously doubted that it was enough food for a meal. At least that was what her stomach was telling her! Being and adventurer kept you lean at any rate! She thought. She was not going to grow fat like some lazy aristocrat! She had images of the man they saw when they enter the city, the one being carried on the litter. She shuttered.

Anna was grateful that Myra was willing to share what she had with her.

“Here is the thing about cards,” Myra continued to explain. “There’s no real context. You don’t know if the future is tomorrow or twenty years from now.”

Anna must have looked very disappointed because Myra-Lynn added. “Look, I know you want to believe that I’m an expert on the subject magic, but the truth is that a real wizard would know a lot more than me. I just learned a bit about healing because I knew it would be useful on my journey. I can do a few other tricks with a wand, but that’s about it,” Myra replied as honestly as she could. Anna believed her.

“Could it be some force of sorcery? Like a Druid’s powers perhaps?” Anna questioned. Despite Myra’s lack of knowledge there was no one else around she could ask these questions of. In the back of her mind, she still hoped to have something to tell Rith that would put his mind at ease. There had to be another explanation other than Rith is mazy!

“Well, Elwin explained everything that happened that night in Golden Meadows. And believe me a pressed him for all the details,” Myra told her. “Then I got him to explain what happened at the temple of the Fire Lord. Did you have a religious experience while you were there as well?”

“Yeah, it was just more of an overwhelming experience though,” Anna confessed. She had not thought about that day in a while. Now it was coming back to her.

“Elwin said a priestess came out to talk to you and took you back to see the sacred fire,” Myra said.

Anna nodded. “Yeah, she did. Do you think that’s important?”

“Most certainly,” Myra said firmly. “I’ve had some time to thing about it now. Do you know what the priestess’ do, beside keeping the fire going?”

Anna shook her head. “I thought that’s all they did.”

“They see visions in the fire,” Myra explained. “I’m not an expert on the religion, but they are looking for faces.”

“Faces?” Anna was confused. Why would they be looking for faces? She wondered.

“Yes, they are looking for people who are God Touched,” Myra said to her. But the way she said God Touched, it gave Anna pause for concern.

“God Touched? That sound like divinity,” Anna countered. “But I don’t understand it.”

“Elwin told me what the druid said to him and Rith that night about them being wydring, which is a very old word, not used much anymore,” Myra-Lynn spoke in that cool and soothing Elvin voice that was so disarming.

“I don’t know about that,” Anna admitted. “You stopped making sense a while ago.”

Myra pressed her a little further. “The word wydring means a group people, usually God Touched, who have been brought together for a purpose. They have a powerful intertwining destiny.”

“Damn the Gods!” Anna exclaimed. “Could that mean all of us? Our adventuring party? Our friendship? What if we are all God Touched?”

“I have no idea,” Myra said shaking her head. “We have reached the limits of what I know and can explain.”

“What about you?” Anna asked. “You’re part of our friendship, our party…”

Myra should her head. “This is a human thing. For whatever reason, the Gods don’t choose Elves,” She clarified. She remained focused of Rith. “Rith told you that he felt different, not himself, right?”

Anna nodded.

“Then we have to consider the fact that he might have been given some power for whatever reason,” Myra concluded.

“So, you believe he did the things he claims?” Anna ventured. “He’s not crazy?”

“I can’t say for certain,” she said. “But at least for now we have to take what he says as true.”

Anna finally breathed a sigh of relief. So, Rith was not crazy and not suffering from shock or trauma. That was welcome news.

Myra-Lynn put her arm around Anna and pulled her into a tight hug. “Oh Anna, I’m so glad you can confide in me. I really hoped we could be the best of friends.”

“Are you sure you’re not just trying to get closer to Elwin?” Anna questioned in a sly and teasing way. She could not hide her smile when she saw the reaction from Myra. Her Elvin expressions and deep red hue gave her away so easily.

Anna had suspected for some time, of course. She had noticed the way the Elf looked at Elwin. Stealing glances when she thought no one else was watching her. But Anna was watching.

Myra tried to deny it. She told Anna that she wanted to get to know her. That she felt a feminine kinship, despite the difference in race. Anna, for her part, did not believe any of it. Myra squirmed uneasily beneath Anna’s gaze and said, “How do you know I’m trying to get closer to Elwin? Maybe I consider him a good friend and strong leader. There is much to admire you know.”

Anna made a sour face before teasing even further. “I’m not stupid, Myra. I see how you look at him. You admire him alright, but not for leadership qualities!”

Myra was caught a bit off guard, but she had a good counter. “Well now, I see how you look at Rith.”

Damn the Gods! Anna thought. We know each others’ secrets! Anna opened her mouth to speak, but then closed it. Myra had her. There was no sense in living in denial any longer.

“Alright I will confess something, but this stays between the two of us,” Anna said to her in a low voice. “Not even Elwin understand?”

Myra nodded.

“Rith kissed me this morning when we were getting water!” Anna admitted. “So, you may have figured us out. But Elwin’s a human and you’re Elvin so how do you know a relationship would work? Besides how do you know he’s interested in you?”

“It can work! My cousin married a human, and they live together with two children!” Myra countered defensively. “Besides how can you and Rith have a relationship, you are cousins, aren’t you?”

“I was adopted into the family. We aren’t blood related at all!” Anna proclaimed smugly.

“Ah, I see!” Myra said with a raised eyebrow. Anna gave her a suspicious look, but Myra just laughed it off. “Well Anna, it appears that we know each others’ secrets. It’s alright! I won’t tell if you won’t!”

“Agreed!” Anna replied quickly.

They laughed together and Anna felt good knowing they were on an equal footing. She never had a big sister, only brothers. It was not the same. Anna was overjoyed to have another woman around whom she could talk with. She had spent too much time around men. She needed another woman around and Myra was a natural fit. Myra was also a good listener and gave good advice as well. Anna felt as though she had someone she could really trust and confide in.

The cart stopped moving.

“What’s going on?” Anna yelled out.

Rowdy pulled up next to them on the pony. There’s a stream up ahead. Were going to rest the horses and let them drink.

“Let’s get out and stretch our legs,” Myra suggested. “I’m going to look for berries.”

“Alright, I’m getting more water,” Anna said. “Meet me back here.”

Anna gave Myra one last embrace and then got up and started towards the river.

4

There was a path that made its way through the bush to the river that was a few hundred yards away. As Anna got closer, she could hear voices. But they were not coming from the river. It seemed to be going on inside her head. Whispers but she could not understand what they were saying clearly enough. Was she losing her mind? She was alarmed by the thought.

Anna came to a clearing by the riverbank, just up from where the men had gone to get water. Suddenly she came across a young girl of about ten, who seemed to be standing by herself, almost as if she was waiting for Anna. Anna thought that this was very strange, since a parent was not likely to leave a young girl alone given the circumstances. The girl just stared at her silently and unblinking. It gave Anna a chill, but she did not know why. The air seemed strange. It smelled like lightning had struck close by. The sounds of the river were distorted ever so slightly.

The girl had long straight bight orange hair and deep green eyes. In fact, Anna shuttered when she looked into the girls’ eyes. Something was not right here, she thought.

“Are you alright?” Anna asked the girl timidly. “Are you lost?”

The girl shook her head no but continued to stare as if in a trance.

Anna was very unnerved by the way the girl gazed at her. “Are you sure…”

“You’re looking for him, aren’t you?” The girl said coldly. She had a deadpan expression revealing no emotion whatsoever. Her voice was flat, almost inhuman.

“What are you talking about?” Was she talking about…? But her thought was interrupted.

“The one you call Rith,” The girl replied without hesitation. It was as if she plucked the thought from Anna’s own mind.

“How do you know that? How do you know of him?” Anna was completely bewildered by this bizarre encounter.

“You won’t understand him. You can’t understand him. There’s no point in trying,” The girl said between tight lips. She did not seem angry, just stiff and emotionless.

“I don’t know who you are, but you must be mistaken! Now where are you’re…”

“He one of them now!” The girl continued cutting her off with her cold voice.

“Are you mazy, child? What do you mean by that?” Anna replied hotly. This girl was starting to get annoying! She thought.

“He’s a Child of the Enki. He thinks he’s seeing visions, but he’s not. He’s using the true power! He just doesn’t know it yet,” The girl said firmly.

Anna opened her mouth as if to speak, but no words came out. What did this girl know? How did she know that Rith had visions? No one else knew this. She decided to take another approach. “How do you know this? Do you have powers to?”

“I can recognise the Children of the Enki, even if others don’t see them for what they are,” The girl said reluctantly. Then she added. “Sometimes if I concentrate really hard, I know where they all are.”

“And you see Rith as a Child of the Enki?” Anna questioned. She did not really get it, but this child seemed to know something that she should not. Was it magic? Anna wondered.

“Yes, he will understand after they come for him,” the girl stated.

“What are you talking about? Who’s coming for him?” Anna demanded.

“The elders will… eventually,” the girl explained.

“I don’t understand. Who are the elders you speak of?” Anna replied baffled by this strange conversation. Half of which she could not even understand!

“I don’t know,” the girl shook her head and finally broke off her gaze. “I just know that they are watching.”

“Are there a lot of these Children of the Enki around?” Anna asked her. This conversation just seemed too surreal to be believed. Was this really happening? She still did not even know this girl’s name. And what in the name of the Fire Lord was Enki? She wondered. She had never heard of this name before.

“I have a met a few of them in person, but mostly I know them from my dreams,” the girl lowered her voice to almost a whisper. Anna had to move in closer to hear her. The young girl looked around suspiciously as if they would be caught at any moment in some sort of conspiracy. “Even the monsters!”

“The monsters?”

“The evil ones!” the girl said with a shutter. She hugged herself as if to emphasis the point. “I have nightmares sometimes. I see visions of people with great power. They burn, torture and kill!”

“Tiberia! There you are!” A woman with the exact same flowing red hair came running toward them. “Where have you been, my dear? I’ve been looking for you! You know better than to wander off like that!”

The woman came up and knelt to give her daughter a hug. She looked at Anna. “I’m so sorry! I was just getting a bit of fresh water. I only turned my back for a second and she was gone, just like that!”

“It’s alright we were just talking,” Anna said with a sweet smile. “Your daughter told me that she has visions. I found it very interesting.”

The woman scolded her daughter. “You’re not supposed to tell people that! I’ve told you that before. People will think you’re mazy headed if you keep telling stories!”

No kidding! Anna thought, but she merely smiled. She did not want to get the girl in too much trouble, so she said. “I’m sure it’s just bad dreams. I mean look what we’ve all been though!”

“Oh no, she doesn’t just have dreams!” The mother proclaimed. She obviously believed in her daughter’s powers. “She has visions of the future!”

“Really!” Anna was a bit sceptical, but than again everyone else seemed to be having strange experiences except for her. Was she the one who had something wrong with her? It was a frightening prospect.

“Oh yes, four years ago she predicted that Xander II would be crown Emperor, but Getta was still on the thrown at the time! She was only six years old and she didn’t know who he was! Xander hadn’t emerged as the leader of the rebel forces until two years later. And that’s not all, she has made other predictions that also came true,” the mother said. “Oh, forgive my manners! I’m Julia and this is my daughter Tiberia!”

Julia shook Anna’s hand. Anna did not say much as the woman continued to recount other tales. The woman loved to talk! Anna thought. She believed Julia was very proud of her daughter’s ability. Was it possible that girl could see the future?

“Maybe she has magical power?” Anna suggested. She felt it was the only other reasonable explanation for the young girl’s powers.

“We thought that too, so I took her down to the Wizard Tower in Verant for evaluation two years ago. Three wizards examined her, but she was rejected. They said that they couldn’t explain her powers, but it wasn’t magic, they said that they couldn’t teach her the art,” Julia mother recounted.

“They weren’t interested in her at all?” Anna questioned.

“Oh no, you misunderstand me! They were very interested in her! They just said that what she was doing wasn’t magic. They didn’t understand it themselves. They said when she was older. I should bring her back again,” The mother replied.

“I don’t trust them,” Tiberia stated looking up at her mother. “I think they were lying about a lot of things.”

Julia gave her daughter a sceptical look.

“That’s okay Tiberia,” Anna said bending down and talking directly to the young girl. “I don’t trust wizards either!”

5

“It would seem that the boy is smarter than I thought,” Vask Fillius said in his cold deep voice. He held Sinister on his back in his lap and petted his furry belly gently. He stared absently at his bookshelf, “I wasn’t expecting this at all. I hoped it would be easier.”

Vask was sitting in the top floor of his wizard’s tower again. As usual he was carrying out a telepathic conversation with his ferret familiar. The ferret sprawled out enjoying the petting.

“Are you sure he spent the night at the Imperial Palace?” The old wizard asked the familiar. His eyes focused tightly as if he could tell if the ferret was lying or not.

The ferret nodded enthusiastically.

“This is unexpected. I’m going to have to talk to my contacts and find out what happened. So, you say he left yesterday, eh? By Griffin-back, was it? With an Imperial Guard? Hmmm,” Vask said. He considered this new information long and hard. He even put the ferret on the table. He got up and paced around the room stroking absently at his beard deep in thought.

“I’m going to have to change the way I approach this,” He said to himself. “The boy surrounds himself with warriors. And with the Emperor giving him his orders… Well, it is a very dangerous situation indeed!”

Vask had been trying for the last few weeks to find out more information about this map, but he hadn’t learned much. He had confirmed that the map was for the hidden location of the Ariela stones, but he had suspected that already. He was glad to find out that he was right.

“I can not wait any longer,” Vask said to the ferret. “We need to drop this for now and focus on Decimus. That’s why we need Servia. With two God Touched on our side we have the power to confront him finally. We need to act fast before he can damage the wizard council.”

Yes, he thought. It was time to take another approached.

Vask walked over to the table and picked up a dossier. It contained information on a young woman. The name at the top read Servia De Gallio. Vask read the pages over carefully. She was perfect he thought. A young woman was exactly what the job called for. Decimus, and Elwin for the matter, would never see it coming.

Sinister scurried over to his master.

“I have some messages for you to deliver to some important people!” Vask said to Sinister. “Its time to put these plans into motion!”

Vask laughed in a deep belly laugh.