"You are nothing." Borit's words stung his heart like a scorpion's tale.

Suddenly, all the nightmares from so many years flooded back into Silver's head. He had heard those words over and over. He had been called nothing more times than he could count by more people than he could ever name. The pain of seeing the ones he love turn to ash always gripped him and threatened to stop his heart from beating. The phantom was always lurking to take him away.

Yet, death never came. Even in the river when he should have drown, his body persevered until he was made a Guardian. Even in the fire where his adoptive parents died, he was saved by the magical cloak he wore. Even when Borit had come to Rynnlee the first time to finish him off, a crowd of people, many who were surrounding him now, had rushed to his aid and stopped death's pursuit.

Now it was happening again. Silver couldn't wake from the dream because it was all too real. Death would finally claim him.

But as Borit spoke his condemnation, Silver knew for the first time that the words were lies. His life had value. He thought of Haven, Alexis, Gareth, and even Ethyn. That boy had was a handful but he wouldn't consider his life complete without having known him. Yes, Silver loved all these and more. Just as importantly, he was loved. And because of that love, he would sacrifice himself to save them now.

Silver straightened his shoulders. "You are wrong, Captain. You may pretend to be exceptional and virtuous all you like, but it is all a lie. At the end of the day, we are both thieves." There was a deep calmness in his statement which caused the words to carry through the company.

"Watch your tongue," Borit hissed, "or I will lose my temper."

The Guardian went on without heeding his warning. "What is the problem? I call a spade a spade. You have stolen so much from so many, including people's lives, and yet your thievery never stops, does it? I see the way you clutch that mirror. I do not think for a moment that you plan to return it to the Baron. Though why you wanted it bad enough for all this show, I have no idea."

"The Baron will get it back after I show it to the king as proof of your treachery…" Borit protested, seeing he was beginning to lose control.

"He may get back a copy maybe, but not that one." The Guardian laughed. "What is so special about that looking glass? Does it make your hair look thicker?"

"Enough!" Borit stepped back from the Guardian. The guards, seeing Silver's arms in the air, moved in and secured him once more. They roughly tied his arms back and forced the cloaked figure to his knees.

The Captain raised his arms triumphantly to the crowd. Even now he still believed that he was some great hero, a gift sent by the Maker himself. Borit just knew without the Guardian, the town would see his true magnificence in time, if he let them live that long.

"And now, people of Rynnlee, I will carry out the sentence. For trespassing on Baron Monte's land and pilfering this priceless antique, the sentence shall be….death."

The word hung in the air for a moment. Silver had been expecting it, but from the look on Sage's face, she clearly had not. Borit had forgotten she was near, and her scream made him jump with surprise.

"You promised!" Sage yelled indignantly, all pretense of control gone. "You swore Silver wouldn't be hurt."

Borit regained his equanimity. "I did, and I won't hurt him. I will kill him quickly and painlessly, which is more than he deserves after his outburst. Silver owes that mercy to you." He added mildly to the Guardian, "Thank the lady for saving you all that pain."

"I will show you pain!" Incensed, Sage grabbed Borit's short knife from his waist and swung it directly at the captain's throat. Her hateful glare had betrayed her even before her words, and Borit easily avoided the wild arc. Grabbing her wrist firmly, the captain redirected the blade toward the brunette. It lodged squarely in her side, and Sage gasped.

"No!" Silver struggled to his feet, only to have four more soldiers surround him to hold him back. Borit ignored the Guardian as he pulled Sage close to him and brushed his lips against her cheek.

"Don't worry," the sharp nose man whispered in the lady's ear, "when you are back in Prince Armel's arms, you will forget all about this coward."

With his excellent hearing, Silver heard every word. He remembered Ethyn's words. 'Sage is a princess, but she doesn't want to be.' Now it made sense.

Borit had threatened her, and in the end she had chosen the Guardian anyway. Silver's heart was torn.

The Captain shoved the woman away from him. "Oh, and I want my knife back when you are through with it. Take her away." The last words were directed to some of the soldiers. Borit, confident now in his victory, turned back to Silver with a superior air. "She will be fine, Silver, which is more than I can say for you. Now kneel."

Silver did not have the opportunity to comply as he was forced to the ground by his captors. All but two of the soldiers returned to the crowd as the captain neared. Borit reached for Silver's hood.

"Perhaps the villagers would like to see your face as I remove your head. What do you think?" he called to the townsfolk. "Do you want to see the thief's face? It might make for some interesting campfire tales."

The townsfolk glared with contempt. Were it not for the children among their lack of weapons to combat the soldiers, they would have already swooped in to try and free their Guardian.

His eyes full of malice, Borit placed his hand on top of Silver's head and took hold of the cloak's hood. Instantly a shock like a bolt of lightning shot up his arm, knocking him backward. The Guardian chuckled as his eyes flashed silver.

'Good cloak,' he thought as he hugged the fabric to his back with his tied hands.

"I guess you will have to wait until I am dead to remove my hood. Such a pity!" he mocked.

"It's a small matter." Borit responded, shaking his hand and flexing his fingers. It was obvious the jolt had injured him. He handed the mirror over to the closest soldier. "Don't lose that!"

Unsheathing his sword, the captain waved it experimentally a few times. The razor sharp edge sang as it sliced through the air.

"You better try that out on something other than me first. Just to give me a little more of an idea of what I am in for."

For some reason, this pleased the Captain. "That is quite a final request, but because I am a fair judge, I will oblige."

Borit called for a neck-sized branch. While two townsmen held either side of the log, the Captain loomed his blade over its target. With a clean swipe, the sword cut the log in twain with barely a whisper.

'At least it will be quick,' Silver comforted himself. 'Which is good because I'm not sure how else I can stall.'

"Satisfied?" Borit mocked, leaning on his weapon.

Silver gritted his teeth. "Yes, well. I cannot complain for long, can I? We best get it over with, unless…"

"No more stalling!"

Silver bowed his head, the silver fairy necklace slipping from his cloak and catching the light. Borit was about to comment on the strangeness of the jewelry when there was a murmur of conversation in the rear of the crowd. The Captain turned his attention toward the crowd to spot the disturbance. A boy was pushing his way forward.

'Finally!' this was the moment the Guardian had been waiting for. The one person that he had not seen in the crowd had arrived at last.

Ethyn made his way to the front, and his look of fear gave way to relief. He wasn't too late.

"Stop!" the boy commanded, authority in his voice that belied his years.

Borit sneered at the Ethyn, "Stay out of this or you'll be up next for treason."

"I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss him. He tends to know what he's talking about." Silver looked, and the boy blushed; the compliment-apology was not lost on him.

"She's coming! Stop while you can." Ethyn warned.

Captain Borit scoffed, "Are you talking about the 'demon beast'? I've no fear of myths."

A soft breeze tugged at the cloak, and Silver lifted his head. His lips curved as he spoke. "Oh she's not a demon beast, but she is mythological. You should be very afraid."