The castle in Prasa Potama had not been darker. Even in the daytime, the sun did not shine through the windows, but fear hovered over the entire Potamian kingdom as some great storm threatening to strike but never shedding its tears. A sadness captured the people as the king mourned for his daughters. Barin paced through the halls, waiting for news from Cho Nisi. No one came. King Tobias’ shoulders bent in heaviness. He lingered in silence alone, wandering the gardens or in his study, staring at books but rarely reading them. Often the king would fall into coughing spells, and Barin would have to send a servant with an infusion to comfort him. Barin tried talking to him, but his father only answered his questions with a word or two and often a yawn. The king ate in solitude, which was unlike him, and some days the only ones who saw him were his page and his servants.

Barin worried. Not only about his father’s health. A scouting party had come across the remains of several men who it seemed had been attacked by skura in the fields close to Prasa Potama. His father suspected it may have been the fishers whose boat Erika took. No one knew for sure.

Barin also worried about his men sent to Fairmistle and other river towns skura had allegedly raided. No word from them. Rory had been the last messenger who had arrived at the castle—the young soldier who had deserted his army and sailed to Cho Nisi with Erika. When Rory appeared before the throne informing King Tobias that the Cho Nisi demanded a parlay with the king, Barin, in his rage, had him locked away swearing an oath that unless Erika returned unharmed, Rory would never see the light of day.

Now nothing of the outside world but silence lingered within their cold stone walls. Servants moved about religiously, baking, chopping wood, and tending to the chickens, swine, and horses. Whether the world around them had vanished, or the dark lord had swallowed it, they had no knowledge.

On a cold and gray day, no brighter than any of the others had been since Princess Erika’s departure, a messenger brought word from the valley. Barin greeted him personally and brought him directly into the king’s chambers so that his father might hear the news firsthand.

“Your Royal Highness,” the young man bowed, his tattered coat touched the floor and clumps of mud fell from its hem. Frost still clung to his cloak and his water-soaked shoes carried mud across the floor. Had he not worn thick leather gloves, he may well have been frostbitten.

“I come from over the mountain with news from Lord Garion.”

The king raised his head as he looked the young man over. “What is your name, soldier?” An air of hope hung in the king’s voice.

“Fermont, Vasil,”

“Fermont, I see that you have traveled hard and that your journey was not a pleasant one.”

“In that, you are correct, Vasil.”

“Did you cross the path of mountain giants?”

“I did, Vasil. I saw several of them moving in the shadows, however, they didn’t notice me. Worse things linger on the mountain though, slowly creeping from their chambers. Dragons.”

“Yes, I suspected that. It’s only a matter of time before those reptiles join the chorus of the dark lord’s forces. And how might Lord Garion be?”

“Sire, he is well as expected, but for the terror that ravages his lands. No longer are skura satisfied with pillaging livestock and destroying gardens. Vasil, the skura have grown stronger and attack children daily now, carrying them away to their nests in the tallest firs. You can hear the little ones scream as the monsters pick them apart and devour them, while parents watch helplessly below. We’ve hunted, we’ve struck, we’ve killed them and still they come too many for us to control. They grow in stature and soon will carry adults away as well. We need your help. Our valley is doomed. Whereas they only attacked livestock in the summer months, the raids have not let up in the snow. Lord Garion asks again for your help. Weapons do little. We need magic.”

“And where is my wizard, Barin?” King Tobias lifted his head high and glared at his son. Barin didn’t answer. His father knew full well Kairos had left with Erika, along with his daughters. If they didn’t return soon, Barin would be the one having to fetch them all. He groaned quietly.

“There are wizard apprentices in the city, Father. We can find Kairos’ notes and potions. He’s not the only sorcerer.”

“It took Kairos a year and a half to find suitable magic to counter these beasts, and that after being trained by the noblest wizard ever to serve in this kingdom. His father. I would not care to send a school of amateurs to ward off the devil himself.” He turned to the messenger. “Fermont, take advantage of our hospitality while I, my son, and our advisors discuss this unfortunate news. Hopefully, within a day or two we can come up with an answer for you. You’re weary. Sleep well and eat. Bathe. We’ll have some fresh clothes in your quarters.”

Fermont bowed low and muttered his appreciation before he left.

Tobias turned to Barin. “Find them.”

“Father!”

“I have no one else, Barin. Should I load myself into a ship and sail away as well? We need Kairos here. And I need my daughters here. I want them home. All of them. I am sick from their absence. Do as I say.”

Barin bowed low and hurried out of the room, dreading a trip to the island in stormy weather, and with the war so fierce and close to home. He would rather fight the dragons than deal with his sisters.

He met Neal in the courtyard on his way to the stables. His friend had just arrived with his scouts and was unsaddling. Smelling of dust and horse, Neal bowed and then shook hands with Barin.

“I’m glad you’re back. I have a new assignment and I’d like your company,” Barin said.

“Oh? Where to?”

“Cho Nisi,” Barin grumbled as he watched the stable boy tighten the cinch to his favorite mare.

“If you’re in pursuit of your sisters, we will cut your trip short.”

“How so?”

“Rhea’s ships are docking as we speak. I came to fetch a buggy for her highnesses. Perhaps you’d like to come along?”

“I would.”

A gentle snowfall dampened the woods, flakes gathered in clusters on his cowl, sticking randomly on Barin’s cloak, and blowing on his lashes. Beau’s hooves made an occasional squeak as the gelding trudged steadily through the fallen slush behind the carriage. By the time Barin had arrived at the dock, the snowflakes had increased in size, and he could barely see the ship. Neal braked the carriage, and bending his head against the wind, walked up to Barin.

“I’ll go get your sisters unless you want to come along?”

Barin dismounted and tied Beau to the rear of the carriage and walked with Neal, face buried into his woolen scarf. They did not have to travel all the way to the end of the pier before Rhea appeared with Kairos. A welcomed sight. Weighted down with luggage, the wizard nodded when he saw them. Behind the two, Olinda shuffled, arms tucked tightly in her hand muffs. They exchanged no words. Their faces were too numb from the cold, and the ride back home was slippery and long.

Someone had shoveled the castle courtyard clear, and little sign of snow remained with window washers sweeping ice from the windows and men with shovels freeing sleet off the steps. They stomped their boots clean, entered the castle, and hastened to the nearest fireplace in the hall.

Once Barin warmed himself enough to speak, he inquired of their trip, not ready to ask about Erika. He feared the news would be troublesome. “It took a while!” he said. “But we’re glad to have you back, Kairos, Rhea, Olinda.”

The three mumbled how they were glad to be home. Barin did not bother with small talk, instead, he got right to the matter. “Kairos, my father needs your services immediately. And I’m sure he’s going to want to speak with you, Rhea and Olinda.”

“He knows Erika ordered me to go with her, doesn’t he? I’m not in any kind of …trouble…am I?”

“I’m aware of what happened when you left, Kairos. I would have preferred Erika hadn’t left so hastily, and I resented her taking my sorcerer, but at least she had you for protection. I suppose you have word of my sister and why she didn’t return with you?”

Guilt paled their faces as the three exchanged glances.

“She’s still alive, isn’t she?” Barin asked, half-jokingly. But when he saw their reaction, he sobered. “Isn’t she?”

“Alive now, yes,” Rhea said. “I would really like to have a hot bath and change my clothes, wouldn’t you, Olinda?”

Olinda didn’t answer but headed for the door before Rhea caught up to her. Neal stood by the fire, warming his hands, and Kairos shuffled nervously where he stood.

“What happened?” Barin asked the wizard.

“Not a lot. Except Rhea…well, I don’t like to gossip. I told Rhea I would tell the truth when I saw you. It didn’t seem to bother her, so I’ll make it short. Rhea told the king of Cho Nisi—that is the new king—you were aware he had an heir, correct?”

“Rory came here and told us King Rolland had an heir. That news surprised us all. Go on with your telling. What did Rhea do?”

“She told the new king who killed his father.”

“Rhea did?”

“Yes, Vasil. I guess Rhea held a grudge against Erika for taking me away, and my begging her to keep quiet made her angrier. She accused me of siding with Erika.”

“Enough of that chatter! What is the Cho Nisi king going to do with Erika?”

Kairos sighed heavily and looked toward the fire, his face glowing with the red of flame, shadows accenting his strong jawline and high cheekbones.

“That’s what took us so long because after they released me to Rhea, I returned to…to petition the chief. By that time, it was too late to sail back home, so we moored nearer the island. For a couple of days.”

Barin shifted his weight and sighed, impatient with all of Kairos’ babble.

“Anyway, the council wanted blood for blood.”

Barin’s heart skipped a beat. He repeated Kairos’ words slowly, trying to best comprehend what was about to occur.

“Blood for blood?” He suspected as much, but to hear it coming from the wizard’s tongue boiled his blood. Never had he fully realized the gravity of his sister’s foolishness.

“I asked him what they’ll do to her. He wasn’t sure. He told me sometimes their justice demands torture before they kill the criminal, especially if it’s an offense like murdering a king.”

Barin stared at the wizard, his mouth open, his fists clenched. “How could you?”

Kairos inched away from the prince.

Barin spun around from Kairos and slapped his fist into the palm of his hand to avoid hitting him. His mind soared with fragmented thoughts.

“You fool!” he growled. “My little sister, Erika! Blood for blood? You let them take her?”

“I asked if they would grant mercy. The chief didn’t know if they would. It wasn’t solely his decision. He said every council is different,” Kairos stuttered, his voice trembled.

Barin whirled back around and grabbed Kairos’ collar. With gritted teeth, he shook him. “What kind of wizard are you? Why didn’t you bring her home? Why didn’t you steal her away out a window or something?”

“I was a prisoner.”

“And a wizard! You have spells!”

Kairos pushed Barin’s hands off of him, his face fuming red. “Good holy idols, Prince, everyone expects so much out of one measly wizard! I have no magic potions to change people’s minds, or hearts. If I did, I would have changed your sister’s decision about going there!”

Why bother reprimanding Kairos? Barin turned to his friend. “Neal, we need to go.”

“That would be war,” Kairos stated.

“Yes! It would.”

“Now settle yourself, Vasil,” Neal rested his hand on Barin’s shoulder. “Let’s think this through.”

A desperate situation. Still, Neal found a way of calming him, though Barin had no desire to be calmed.

“I don’t think it’s all lost,” Kairos assured him. “There are other dynamics at play. We have leverage. Let’s go get something warm to eat and I’ll tell you all that has happened, and the whole of my conversation with the chief.”