 
## Wizard of Ends

### Book 1

Vanessa Finaughty

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2014 Vanessa Finaughty

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

Thank you for downloading this free ebook. You are welcome to share it with your friends. This book may be reproduced, copied and distributed for non-commercial purposes, provided the book remains in its complete original form. If you enjoyed this book, please return to Smashwords.com to discover other works by this author. Thank you for your support.

Dedication

This series is dedicated to my baby daughter, Myka Kiera Finaughty, without whom these books would not exist.

### Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

About the Author

Chapter 1

King Lanaran Dragonsbane, ruler of the Land of Ends, stood at the foot of the royal bed, gazing down at the sleeping queen, whose silky black hair framed her pale oval face. So intense was his love for Queen Narraki that his breath caught in his throat as a faint smile curved her delicate lips. She must be dreaming about something pleasant, he thought, realising that he was smiling too – her smiles had always been so infectious. Even now, in this darkest of moments. His chest ached with the knowledge of what was to come. He could stop it if he wanted to. All he had to do was give the order and she could remain here where it was safe. He could... but he couldn't. Not if he was to retain his throne – and the respect of his people. He could not show weakness, for to do so would invite war, and that would kill more than just his wife. His enemies had spies everywhere. What he was forced to do now was proof of that.

Lanaran turned from the bed and walked to the door, where he cast one last glance at his wife. He caught a glimpse of himself in the wall mirror, but looked away, disliking his drawn appearance – and was that a hint of grey creeping into his black hair? No, it couldn't be. At thirty-one, he was far too young for that. He left the room and, without meeting their eyes, murmured to the guards outside, "You remember what we discussed." It wasn't a question. He knew that they knew. "The potion has worked. She will sleep for some time. Make sure no one sees you, and be quick about it."

The two Guards of Ends, both of whom would be loyal to the end, Lanaran was sure, nodded almost imperceptibly.

"Good."

Lanaran strode down the wide stone corridor and went to the royal lounge, which was always stocked with a choice variety of the best wines. Goodness knew, he needed a drink if he was to get through the night without sounding the alarm and sabotaging his own plans.

<><><>

Lashlor Leaflin cursed as the icy wind blew out his lantern and he tripped over a branch. He stood up and patted himself down, then checked to make sure the small brown pouch was still attached to his belt. It was. His chest heaved in relief; he hadn't come all this way after dark just to lose the herbs now. Everyone knew how dangerous the Jeltar Woods were at night. All manner of deadly creatures emerged once the sun set, ready to devour travellers, wary or otherwise.

Lashlor winced and squinted as the wind lashed his shoulder-length brown hair into his eyes. He waited for his eyes to adjust to the dark, then continued along the path, trying to make as little noise as possible – night creatures had far better hearing than day creatures. That was the only reason he had chosen to wear his uncomfortable leathers, which made him feel trapped they were so tight – his other clothes may catch on bushes or rustle, alerting the night creatures to his presence.

An indignant shriek somewhere nearby startled him, and he stumbled again. Sharp pain pierced his right thigh and he bit his tongue to prevent himself from crying out. It would draw night creatures like a drop of blood drew a lake monster. He felt his leg.

Really?

He'd stuck himself with his own arrow. Lashlor gritted his teeth and yanked it out, along with some flesh.

Of all the stupid...

The shriek came again, this time filled with terror. It sounded like a woman.

The wind whipped faint words to Lashlor.

"Unhand me, you oafs!"

"Just do as we say!" a male voice demanded gruffly.

"How dare you talk to me like-?"

The wind picked up, drowning out the rest. Lashlor hesitated, torn. The urge to keep walking and get out of the forest, to the safety of the city, was almost overpowering. However, like any decent man, he found himself unable to ignore a woman in trouble.

Lashlor hastened in the direction he thought the voices came from, stopping to listen when the woman screamed again. It was cut short this time, as if someone had placed a hand over her mouth. Moments later, he spotted them. Two men and a woman. The woman wore a nightdress with a royal blue robe draped around her, and both men were clothed in black.

He frowned. The woman looked familiar. That long black hair and pale oval face...

Queen Narraki Dragonsbane!

Kidnapped and to be held for ransom by those who would usurp the king's throne, Lashlor assumed, judging by her dark mauve aura, which indicated fear.

He swung his bow off his shoulder, then pulled an arrow from the quiver on his back and drew it.

"Take your hands off her," he commanded.

The two men glanced at each other, panic evident in their eyes, even in the dark.

"This is none of your business," said the beefier of the two. "Don't make us kill you. We don't want to, but we won't hesitate if you interfere. Now go."

"Leaving now would be treason," Lashlor growled. "And I'm no traitor." He levelled the arrow at the man. "Now step away from the queen and maybe I will let you live."

The thinner man nudged his friend and whispered something in his ear, gesturing to Lashlor, who smiled. He knew what they were talking about. They had just noticed the silver leaf-shaped pendant he wore around his neck – his wizard's medallion, recognisable by the silver aura that surrounded it.

By law, all magic users had to wear one plainly visible to prevent unnecessary deaths by warning those who might be in the mood to pick a fight not to do so with anyone wearing a medallion. Too many drunken fools running around town. Lashlor thought it would have been better to just outlaw alcohol, but the king liked his wine too much for that to ever happen. At least the medallion looked cool, he thought. It was also nifty in that only a magic user could wear one. The only ones forged had a spell cast on them to ensure they would lethally reject any non-magical person who tried to wear one.

Lashlor was glad he was a wizard, however, or the medallion would have annoyed him, for every magic user's medallion was called a 'wizard's medallion' even if said magic users were not wizards. The medallion had been invented by a wizard, and the name was in honour of him. It would have been better named after him: 'Sorlit's medallion' sounded so much better.

"You don't understand," the beefy one said, shifting his weight from one foot to the other.

"Not killing you is fast becoming an effort," Lashlor said evenly. "And you should know I'm a lazy bugger."

The other one said, "We are Guards of Ends – from the king's personal guard. We're doing this to protect the queen."

"And never mind that," the beefy one said, "we're following the king's orders!"

The queen spluttered. "You are not!"

Lashlor gaped.

"Yes, we are! I have a sealed, signed letter to you from the king, My Queen. There is no time to read it now, but I promise you will have a full explanation once we're safe. The night creatures-"

As if on cue, a low growl came from the nearby bushes. A set of slanted yellow eyes glared at them from the foliage. Judging by the shape and small size of the eyes, it was a gabbertok... a young one, and, therefore, not much of a threat. If they ignored it, it would most likely either stay where it was or leave.

Lashlor turned back to the men. "Let me see the royal seal."

The men hesitated.

"I won't ask again."

The thinner man fumbled in his satchel and produced a letter with a dark blue and silver seal – the royal colours. Lashlor stepped closer to examine the seal: a dragon's head sliced in two by a crown. It was the Dragonsbane seal, all right.

The queen obviously knew it too, for she looked shocked and confused.

Another low growl came from the bushes.

Lashlor lowered his bow and replaced the arrow in its quiver. "Put that away and let's get out of here." He bowed to Queen Narraki. "My Queen. Can we assume the king is acting in your best interests?"

She hesitated, then nodded.

"Then may I escort you to ensure your safety? I would consider it a great honour."

This time, she nodded without hesitation. "Yes, thank you."

"Now, let's get moving before-"

A deeper growl interrupted Lashlor, and he spun to face the sound. An adult gabbertok stood staring at them, salivating.

"Kill it, wizard," the queen commanded.

Lashlor reached for his bow, but the queen's incredulous voice froze his arm midway.

"What are you doing?"

"Preparing to kill it," he said, without taking his eyes from the gabbertok.

Lashlor sensed the queen's displeasure when she said, "I meant use magic. You're taking a chance with my life... our lives... for what?"

"Magic should not be used unless there is no other way and the situation is life or death."

"It is life or death!" The beefy Guard of Ends took a step back when the gabbertok took one closer.

"But there is another way." Lashlor withdrew an arrow.

"Unbelievable," the queen muttered.

"Wizard, please!" Beefy pleaded. "My wife is preg-!"

The gabbertok roared, a sound like no other, piercing yet deep, and utterly terrifying. It gave one last snarl – as if it had any hope of intimidating them more than it already had – then charged.

Lashlor nocked and released the arrow, but the great beast twisted aside in midair and the arrow flew harmlessly past. The gabbertok landed just short of them, glanced back to make sure its offspring was still okay, then turned and snarled, its sharp fangs glinting menacingly in the moonlight.

Standing beside Lashlor, Queen Narraki commanded, "Wizard, fulfil your promise to protect me."

Lashlor loosed another arrow, this one hitting the gabbertok square in its left eye. It screeched, an unholy sound if he had ever heard one, then turned to race back to its young. The two charged into the bushes. She was trying to get the young gabbertok as far from the humans as possible, he knew, in the hopes they would not kill it too. Lashlor felt sorry for both – the little one, for its father would eat it without the mother around to prevent it, and the mother, for she would die within minutes.

Filled with sadness, Lashlor slung his bow over his shoulder again. "My Queen." He bowed. "As always, at your service." He straightened and looked at the Guards of Ends. "So what now?"

Queen Narraki turned on him. "What were you thinking?" Her eyes flashed with anger, yet her tone was even.

Lashlor shivered. "That my archery skills would save us."

The queen eyed him and took a step back. "You aren't one of those mad wizards, are you? The ones who get themselves killed by living in a fantasy world?"

Lashlor smiled. "No, My Queen, I am most certainly not."

Chapter 2

Dawn's pale tendrils touched the sky as Lashlor, Queen Narraki and the two Guards of Ends reached their destination – a small cabin in the heart of the Jeltar Woods, where barely a soul had set foot since anyone could remember, though no one could recall why it was believed to be so dangerous a place.

The beefy Guard of Ends, whose name Lashlor had learnt was Nashel, opened the door and peered inside, sword at the ready. His shoulders relaxed and, clearly deeming it safe, he stepped aside for Queen Narraki to enter.

Lashlor followed, then Kanar, the other Guard of Ends, who closed the door to keep out the early morning chill for which the Land of Ends was so well known.

The cosy single-room cabin had a fireplace set into the right wall, bordered by a row of red fire bricks that held the heat longer than any other known stone. A pile of logs rose halfway up the wall on either side. A single bed stood against each of the joining walls, with the fireplace between them, and a pile of thick blankets lay on the floor next to the nearest bed. The space along the wall opposite the fireplace held an open-plan kitchen, complete with a fire pit for cooking, and pots and pans hung on hooks above a small wooden table. There was even a basin, with running water, Lashlor was pleased to discover.

He studied the queen. Her expression was indecipherable. Was she unimpressed with the 'lowly surroundings', or just glad to be safe with a roof over her head and some amenities?

Queen Narraki sat on the edge of the nearest bed, and Kanar began piling logs into the fireplace.

Nashel approached the queen and placed his satchel at her feet. "My Queen, the letter we spoke of is in here. The king also packed in a change of clothes, your hairbrush, and one or two other items he thought you might want."

She stared at the satchel as if it might bite her.

"I assure you, My Queen, your husband has only your best interests in mind. He would sooner die than see you harmed."

Lashlor's stomach grumbled.

The queen's head snapped up and she frowned at his stomach. "I'm also hungry," she stated matter-of-factly. "What are we going to eat?"

"We're set for a few days, My Queen," Kanar said over his shoulder, trying to start the fire. "The king would never send you on such a journey without food."

Queen Narraki reached down to open the satchel, fumbled inside and withdrew the letter with the Dragonsbane seal. She looked up and opened her mouth, her lips forming what Lashlor thought might have been an 'l' sound. Then she closed it again and gazed at the letter.

Had she been about to say 'leave me', then realised that would mean sending her men – and wizard – outside into a potentially dangerous forest and changed her mind?

Her shoulders sagged.

"I'll make us something to eat." Lashlor retrieved Kanar's satchel and took it to the kitchen area.

Since she had been nice enough not to send them out, the least they could do was keep busy to give her some semblance of privacy.

Lashlor had only just started the cooking fire when the letter dropped from Queen Narraki's fingers and fluttered to the wooden floor. He kept his eyes respectfully downcast. Kanar and Nashel, who had busied themselves making beds of blankets, paused in their task, their shoulders stiffening, but neither looked at her.

Lashlor put a pot of water on the iron grid atop the fire, then began chopping vegetables. Their beds made, the two Guards of Ends stood up and faced their queen.

Kanar cleared his throat, nervousness tainting his aura a light brown. "My Queen?"

Queen Narraki looked up, her lips pursed. "Don't worry; I'm not going to run back to the castle, Kanar."

The two Guards of Ends appeared relieved.

Lashlor looked up from his task and asked, "Why did the king feel this was necessary?" He swept out his arm to indicate the room.

She sighed. "My life has been threatened."

Lashlor frowned. "Who would dare?"

"He knows not."

Lashlor's frown deepened. "But wouldn't you have been far safer with all the royal guards protecting you, in the castle with all its security, than here, in the middle of nowhere, in a place known for its dangers, with only two guards to protect you?"

"And a wizard," the queen corrected. "Two guards and a wizard."

"The king didn't know I would be here," Lashlor pointed out. "And besides, why did he have you kidnapped? Why not just tell you what was going on?"

A faint smile curved her lips. "I would not have agreed." She looked up at the guards. "How much do you know?"

Nashel said, "Almost everything, I think. Enemies of Ends want your husband's crown, and have promised to assassinate you if he does not hand it over by dawn today."

Kanar glanced out of the window at the rising sun. "They will be hunting for you already, I suspect."

Nashel continued, "The king said he has a plan to draw out the culprit, but would not tell us what it is."

"He will have them hanged," Queen Narraki murmured, almost as if to herself.

"And so they should be, My Queen." Kanar went to stand by the door. "Someone needs to patrol outside to ensure we aren't happened upon. I'll be back in three hours."

Lashlor watched him leave, a deep foreboding brewing in his gut.

<><><>

King Lanaran looked up from his desk when the ash blond Amkesh, the Captain of the Guard, entered – without knocking. The king frowned. It was considered disrespectful to enter anyone's private space without an invitation, but to barge in on royalty...? As tolerant a king as he may be, he still expected the respect rightfully due to royalty. Had the queen's absence been discovered? Surely not already.

"Forgive me, My King. This was found in the royal stables..." Captain Amkesh handed the king a blood-stained piece of papyrus, folded in half.

A chill snaked through Lanaran. He started to ask who the blood belonged to, but choked up. Not Narraki's. Not Narraki's. She's safe, far away.

Amkesh shifted his feet. "It was nailed to your horse, My King."

Relief flooded Lanaran, followed by anger... then sadness swept over him to think the majestic beast had been hurt by the swine who wanted his kingdom and its riches.

Amkesh sighed. "To his eye, My King. He's dead." He looked at his feet. "I know it's no consolation, but Mardis said it was quick."

The royal vet was the best in the kingdom. "It is some small consolation, Captain." Lanaran stared at his hands. "Very small." His gaze shifted to the letter. "Did you read it?"

"No, My King, not past the 'dear Lanaran' part."

No 'king'; just 'Lanaran'. The cheek.

"Does anyone else know it exists?"

"To the best of my knowledge, only the one who wrote it and the stable boy, who did not read it."

His heart heavy, Lanaran unfolded the letter and read it.

It was a final demand for the crown, signed by 'the rightful ruler'.

He tore it up and dropped the pieces onto the desk. "Captain, it is time I told you... an unidentified someone claims ownership of the Crown of Ends. Not only that, but the queen's life has been threatened if I do not hand over the crown."

Amkesh gasped. "Your right to the crown cannot be disputed, My King! For as long as anyone can remember, a Dragonsbane has worn it."

"I know." Lanaran banged his fist on the desk, making Amkesh jump. "But that isn't stopping the bastard from threatening the life of someone I love!"

Amkesh frowned. "How does this someone expect you to hand over the crown when he has not identified himself?"

"I was to declare that I am stepping down as king and the new king 'will be announced shortly'. You and I both know that, if I did so, there would be no going back and anyone could claim the crown. I wouldn't even know if whoever claims it is the same one who demanded it, or just some random opportunist."

"I will put extra guards on the royal quarters until this treasonous viper is apprehended."

Lanaran shook his head. "That won't be necessary." He pushed back his velvet-covered chair and stood up. "Have someone bury my horse in the royal cemetery, and then meet me in my chambers."

"As you wish, My King. I will also arrange for a new steed for-"

"That can wait," Lanaran interrupted. "I have something else to tell you that is far more important."

<><><>

Lanaran stopped pacing and spun to face the door when someone knocked on it. "Come in."

Amkesh entered, casting a nervous glance at the curtained bed, on which he believed his queen lay, ill.

"Fear not, Captain. You will not disturb your queen's privacy, for she is not here."

Amkesh's brow creased in confusion.

"You are to tell no one, but I have sent her away to safety," Lanaran explained. "Somewhere no one will think to look."

Amkesh narrowed his eyes. "But she should be guarded!"

"She is. Nashel and Kanar are with her."

Amkesh's shoulders relaxed a little. "They're the best we have."

"Exactly."

"So you're hoping that, when you don't hand over your crown, whoever it is will attempt to assassinate the queen? I will place guards in the room, in the bushes below, on the balcony and in the bed, if you will allow. Besides enabling us to catch the person, it will make it appear as if the queen is still here. The culprit will not get away with this, I assure you, My King."

"Good," Lanaran said. "He had better not."

<><><>

King Lanaran's study door burst open – again Amkesh, and again without knocking. Lanaran rose to his feet.

Amkesh beamed. "We caught them, My King! We caught the bastards!"

"How many?"

"Three, My King, but the bad news is I believe they are only hired help. Bandits, no doubt, judging by their attire. They won't talk."

Lanaran's jaw tightened. "We will see about that." He strode from the room.

Amkesh hurried after him. "They've been taken to the dungeon. Should I bring them to the throne room?"

"No," Lanaran said. "I will not give them the smallest chance of escape."

The dungeon was teeming with guards when they arrived. Apparently the Guards of Ends didn't appreciate their queen being threatened any more than Lanaran did and were intent on ensuring there would be no escape.

Lanaran loomed over the shackled men at his feet. All three were attired in tight-fitting clothes in dark shades of brown and green, and smelt as if they hadn't bathed in months.

"I will make this easy for you. Tell me who sent you, or I will have you skinned alive."

They stared at him in stony-faced defiance.

"Without your skin, you will leak bodily fluids everywhere," Lanaran continued, business-like. "Your body will go into shock and you will die." He paused, pretending to examine his fingernails, then looked at the men again. "Eventually, that is. The pain will be excruciating, and it can take days before death puts you out of your misery." He knelt before the prisoners, ignoring his guards' gasps of shock. "However, if you tell me what I want to know, I will give you a choice: life imprisonment in the dungeon, or a quick death by hanging." He stood up. "You have ten seconds to decide."

"Assassa! It was Assassa Tinletor!" the middle man blurted.

The other two prisoners looked as relieved as they did terrified.

King Lanaran frowned. Something about the name struck him as odd. "Who is Assassa? What is his family name?" Then it hit him. "Hold on... isn't Assassa a woman's name?"

Chapter 3

Lashlor awoke to terrified shouts outside the cabin. He shot up in bed and looked across the room as Queen Narraki sprang from her bed. Lashlor joined her at the window and scanned the darkening forest.

"Shouldn't one of the guards be here?" he asked, frowning.

The queen glanced around the room as if to double check they were alone, her brow furrowed. "Yes."

Lashlor grabbed his bow and quiver. "Stay here, My Queen, and latch the door."

He stepped outside, closed the door and waited to hear the latch slide across.

More shouts came from the trees, and Lashlor made his way towards the sound, hastening his steps when the yells became more urgent, then halted when the two Guards of Ends came into view.

Nashel and Kanar stood back to back, sweeping their swords in front of them in an attempt to keep at bay the pack of hound monkeys that surrounded them.

Lashlor counted seven of the creatures. Hound monkeys usually travelled in packs of ten, for some odd reason. It was possible, but unlikely that three hound monkeys from the same pack had been killed so close together that replacements had not yet been found for any of them. Unlikely, for the ferocious beasts stood man height on all fours, and, with the torso of a hound and the neck and head of a monkey, complete with sharp curved teeth and deadly claws, if fear alone didn't kill you, they most certainly would. The fact that Nashel and Kanar had lasted this long was either testament to their renowned skill, or the hound monkeys were playing with them, as they were sometimes known to do.

Lashlor loosed an arrow, striking one hound monkey in the side of the head. It fell, writhing. Its pack eyed him hatefully, and two slunk away from the Guards of Ends, fixated on Lashlor.

Where were the other three pack members? Lashlor looked around nervously as he backed away from the hound monkeys, raising his bow again. He killed the closest one mid-spring, then threw himself aside as a second launched itself at him. He dropped his bow and reached into his boot for his knife. He used it for cutting herbs, but it would do nicely as a weapon too.

"Wizard! What are you doing? Save yourself – and us!" Kanar shouted, jabbing his sword at a hound monkey that got too close.

Lashlor kicked the hound monkey in the head as it attacked again, then screamed when it bit through his boot and shook its head viciously, tearing off the boot's heel. He shoved it away as it took a swipe at his face, but it grabbed him in a bear hug. They grappled, and he stabbed it in the side of the head three times before it stopped moving.

A glance at the Guards of Ends showed they were still surrounded by five hound monkeys. Lashlor wasn't surprised they hadn't killed even one – the creatures were expert hunters – then again, so were the two men.

"Behind you!" he yelled as a hound monkey, clearly deciding that play time was over, leapt at Kanar's back.

Kanar had only half turned when the creature was upon him, and he went down, sword flailing. Nashel made to help him, but two hound monkeys sprang at him and he was forced away from his comrade.

Lashlor ran to help Kanar, but stopped halfway there when the three 'missing' pack members emerged from the trees, eyes fixed on him.

It appeared he had no choice...

A sizzling sound and a white flash filled the forest. Lashlor squinted into the light – wizard fire.

A lone man stood a few paces from him, hands upraised and chanting the ancient language that only certain magic users were capable of learning.

When the light dissipated moments later, not a single hound monkey remained alive.

It was all very anticlimactic, Lashlor thought.

He wiped sweaty palms on his trousers, then hastened to Kanar and Nashel, both of whom glared at him.

"How did you get that pendant around your neck?" Nashel demanded.

Lashlor frowned. "What are you implying?"

"You're no wizard," Kanar said, sheathing his sword. "If you were, you would have killed the pack the moment you saw it."

"Like I did," said their rescuer, coming closer. "It was easy."

Dressed in a tight-fitting black tunic with gold trimmings, his blond hair slicked back and gold rings adorning his fingers, he looked completely out of place in the forest.

"Thank the goddess you came upon us!" Kanar shook the stranger's hand. "I'm Kanar, and this is Nashel." He glared at Lashlor. "And this is our fake wizard 'friend'." He stared at the pendant Lashlor wore. "How did you get that pendant around your neck?" he asked menacingly.

"Oh, come now, does it matter?" asked the stranger. "What matters is we're all alive, right?"

"No thanks to this liar," Kanar muttered, glaring at Lashlor again.

"It was my pleasure to risk my life to save yours," Lashlor retorted, beginning to lose his temper.

"You didn't save us. We'd all be dead now if not for the wizard!" Kanar shouted. "The real wizard. It's illegal to wear a medallion if you aren't a magic user. The queen will hear of this, that I promise!"

"It's not illegal," Lashlor said evenly. "Just impossible."

"Yet here you are, a non-magic user pretending to be a wizard. How did you get the confounded thing around your neck?" Nashel asked again, clenching his hands.

"Maybe next time I'll just leave you ungrateful louts to die." Lashlor retrieved his bow, turned on his heel and walked away.

<><><>

Lashlor was only halfway through the door when Queen Narraki asked, "What of the guards? Was it them screaming?"

"Yes. A pack of hound monkeys attacked them."

The queen raised a hand to her mouth and gasped.

"Don't worry, they're fine."

Her brow creased as she dropped her hand to her side. "Then why do you look so upset?"

Lashlor shrugged. "They think I'm fake."

"Fake?"

"Yes, as in not a real wizard."

The queen smiled thinly. "Then they're fools. Surely they know only a wizard can wear one of those." She pointed to his medallion.

"Yes, and they want to know how a fake can wear it."

Her frown deepened. "Why do they think you're fake?"

Lashlor sighed. "I didn't use magic to defend us against the hound monkeys."

Queen Narraki sighed and shook her head. "Why on earth not? You don't come across as a fool, yet this is the second time in the short time I've known you that you've acted like one."

"My Queen, the moment I saw there would be no survival otherwise, I prepared to use magic to save us, but-"

The door opened and the two Guards of Ends entered – with the other wizard.

"Then he showed up," Lashlor finished, pointing to the stranger.

"We owe him our life, My Queen," Nashel said.

"Then he will be richly rewarded, for, in so doing, he might have saved mine too," Queen Narraki said. "What is your name?"

The blond wizard bowed – far lower than necessary, Lashlor noted with a scowl.

Butt creeper.

"My name is Undassan, My Queen, and, pray tell, why are you here, so far from home, with only two guards?"

"That is none of your business!" Lashlor snapped.

"It is his business if the queen wishes to answer!" Kanar snapped back.

"And I wish not," the queen said calmly. "I apologise for the secrecy, Undassan, but my presence here must remain a secret. You cannot tell anyone you saw me."

"Of course, My Queen. Your secret is safe with me."

A certainty swept through Lashlor that the strange wizard would be the death of someone, perhaps the queen. Not for the first time in his life, he had the intense urge to commit murder. He would be saving someone innocent, he was sure.

Undassan bade them goodbye, and Lashlor watched from the window as he walked back into the forest. When he was no longer visible, Lashlor turned to the queen. "We should leave this place, find somewhere else. It is no longer safe here."

"Don't be silly," the queen said. "He seems perfectly nice to me. He will tell no one I am here."

"I hope you are right, My Queen, but I think you are not."

<><><>

King Lanaran forced himself to remain on the throne when the guards dragged the terrified serving girl before him and shoved her to her knees. Her shackles had been fastened too tight, so her wrists and ankles were already red. The guards had been bold to shackle her that way without his orders – or to shackle her at all, since he had not ordered it. For once, Lanaran didn't care. She had arranged for the murder of his beloved, and he was unwilling to forgive that.

"What makes you think you are entitled to my family's crown?"

Assassa tossed her head, and her waist-length black hair fell partly across her face.

The disrespect angered Lanaran. "I can have you hanged – nice and quick – or I can have you flailed... nice and slow," he said icily. "The choice is yours. But do not keep me waiting. I am not a patient man."

Assassa sneered, "We share the same father."

Lanaran gaped, then snorted. "Don't be ridiculous."

His balding chief advisor, Kealmonn, whispered into his ear.

Lanaran scowled. "So? My father couldn't keep it in his pants. What of it? A child born out of wedlock is not entitled to anything from the father." He nodded at the guards. "Have her hanged."

"He'll die without me," she said smugly.

"Wait," Lanaran ordered the guards. He scowled at her. "Who are you talking about? And be careful about wasting my time with nonsense, or I will order you flailed before you are hanged."

"The child I kidnapped. Only I know where he is, he has no food or water, and he cannot escape." She grinned.

"My King," Amkesh said, stepping forward. "Forgive my boldness." He bowed. "But there is a woman waiting to see you when you are done here. She says her son has been kidnapped and only you can save him."

"How does she think I can save him?" Lanaran glowered.

"She says she doesn't know, My King; just that the kidnappers told her to come to you for help."

"Told her?"

"In a note, My King."

"If you do not relinquish your crown," Assassa said, "he will die, and his mother will hate you, as will many others. You will lose your kingdom anyway. Only then you won't have anyone to turn to, because the people will hate the man who would let an innocent child die. You have until sunup to make your choice, brother."

Lanaran rose from his throne and held out a hand for his sword. "I would sooner kill you," he grated, then strode towards her.

Assassa raised her shackled hands and a blinding yellow light filled the throne room.

Lanaran's vision dimmed as he slumped.

Chapter 4

Lashlor paced the cabin. "How long are you supposed to stay here, anyway?"

Queen Narraki shrugged. "My husband will send someone when it's safe for me to return."

"I have a horrible feeling," Lashlor said. "We need to get to the castle immediately. Someone might die if we don't."

Nashel looked up from his stew. "Oh, so you can't use wizard's magic, but you miraculously have a wizard's gift of foresight?"

Lashlor scowled. "Give it a rest! I told you, I was about to use magic when Mr. Knows Where the Queen is..." He gave the queen a pointed look. "...Showed up! You're starting to annoy me!"

The queen cleared her throat. "Tell me again why you won't use magic?"

Lashlor sighed, irritated. He hated explaining the same things over and over to a bunch of narrow-minded fools who weren't really listening. If she wasn't the queen... He sighed again. "If something can be done another way, it should be. Magic should only be used when there is no other means of achieving your goal. To use it for frivolous things your physical body is quite capable of doing is to abuse it, and those who abuse magic will not see the goddess in the afterlife."

Kanar sniggered. "Neither will those who tell lies."

"Besides," Nashel said, glaring at Lashlor. "How do we know you aren't an enemy spy sent to keep tabs on the queen?"

"Enough, you two," Queen Narraki ordered. She scrutinised Lashlor, then said, "I will give you the benefit of the doubt, for now... wizard."

"Then can we find somewhere else to wait?" Lashlor asked.

"How would the king's messenger find us, then?" Nashel asked.

The queen gave him a warning look, and he lowered his gaze.

She shook her head. "Nashel is right. We cannot leave a note, so we must stay."

They ate in silence for a while, then Kanar said, "I've never understood the difference between magic users. Explain it to me, please."

Lashlor almost choked on his stew. The Guard of Ends was testing him, he knew. Knowledge of the types of magic users was freely available to everyone – most just didn't bother to ask. It would prove nothing, and Kanar was bound to point that out afterwards.

Queen Narraki said, "Oh! I've always wondered about that."

Lashlor sighed and put down his spoon, his appetite lost despite the fact that the queen had a genuine interest in the topic.

"There are too many types of magic users to mention them all now – that would take hours," Lashlor said. At Kanar's triumphant expression, he went on, "Many abilities are shared by more than one type of magic user. For example, wizards, sorcerers and necromancers can manipulate reality with the power of the mind. Wizards are the best at this, and necromancers are... different. Their manipulation ability is restricted to raising the dead."

Lashlor took a breath, noticing Kanar's unimpressed expression. "Wizards also have the gift of foresight and we specialise in magical objects."

"Does that mean that you can create and use any magical object?" asked the queen.

Lashlor shook his head. "Not exactly. All wizards can create magical objects, but no one other than the one for which the object is intended can use it."

Nashel asked, "And what about sorcerers?"

"They can also conjure magical creatures and follow magic to its root to undo it."

"Why would anyone want to undo magic?" asked Kanar.

"If you were cursed, you would want it undone, wouldn't you?"

Kanar reddened.

"Most magic users can cast spells, but the best spell casters are witches. That's because, unlike most magic users, witches can read and speak the Old Language, which has power in itself. Those are the main types of magic users you'll come across."

Queen Narraki finished her stew and pushed back the bowl. "There aren't that many magic users in the Land of Ends, but all those I've met have been either wizards or sorcerers."

Kanar said, "Your knowledge is impressive, but proves nothing."

Here we go again. Lashlor stood up. "I need some fresh air."

The queen rose to her feet too. "I will join you." She cast the guards a disapproving glance when they made to stand. "You two may remain here and clean up."

<><><>

Lashlor and Queen Narraki stood a few paces from the cabin, gazing at the stars, bright in the cloudless night.

"Something's been bothering me, wizard."

Lashlor almost groaned. What now?

"What were you doing out in the woods so late? When you found us?"

"Collecting herbs." The words came unbidden and Lashlor could not restrain the groan this time. Now she would just ask more questions.

"So late? Why would you brave the dangers of the Jeltar Woods at night for herbs? What in all the lands were they for?"

"It's..." It's nothing I want to talk about, Lashlor thought, upset with himself for his inability to think up a smooth lie on the spot. Before he could properly settle in Ends, there was one last thing he had to go back home to do, and the herbs for said thing could only be found in Ends.

"Is it personal?" asked the queen.

Lashlor sighed. "Very."

"Then I will pry no further."

<><><>

King Lanaran awoke with a splitting headache. He raised his head from the cold stone tiles of the throne room's floor. Most of his guards were sitting up groggily too, rubbing their eyes or heads. Captain Amkesh hastened to his side, almost toppling over on unstable legs.

"My King, are you okay?"

Lanaran grimaced as Amkesh helped him up. "I think so. What in damnation happened?"

"The serving girl has magic. I didn't know, My King. If I'd known-"

Lanaran waved a hand to silence him. "Relax, Captain. You could not have known, for I saw no medallion around her neck." He looked around. "I assume she is gone?"

Amkesh nodded.

"And the three prisoners?"

Amkesh sent someone to check on them, then said, "I don't understand why she didn't kill us. Perhaps she is not powerful enough?"

Lanaran shook his head. "The people will not accept her as queen unless I am seen to hand over my crown by choice. To kill me would be to lose the crown."

Kealmonn approached. "What of the boy, My King?"

Lanaran frowned at the advisor. "Is his mother still waiting to see me?"

"I assume so, My King. She appeared too distraught to have gone home without seeing you."

Lanaran sighed. "Bring her to me."

A pretty young woman with long brown hair was brought before him.

Without waiting to be announced, she sank to her knees and pleaded, "My King, my son has been taken, and I was told that only you can save him. Please, do something. He is all I have!"

Lanaran forgave her lack of protocol. She was clearly not capable of niceties with her only child in danger. He explained the situation to the distressed mother, then said, "So you see, I cannot give up my crown."

"Please, My King, I beg of you, help-"

Lanaran held up a hand to silence her, then turned to Amkesh. "Captain, dispatch men to search the city and surrounding areas. I want the boy found."

Amkesh nodded and left to organise the search.

Lanaran looked at the young mother again. "I cannot hand our kingdom to a rogue sorceress. Nothing good will come of it, and many more will suffer than just one boy."

The woman cried hysterically, wringing her hands. "I beg you-"

Lanaran threw his hands in the air. "Do you understand what you are asking? Do you think your son will survive long under tyrant rule? Do you think any of us will?"

Her sobbing grew louder.

Lanaran sighed. "Ma'am." He did the unthinkable. Ignoring his guards' and advisors' gasps of horror, he stood up and went to kneel before the woman, then took her hands. "I will do everything in my power to find your son and bring him safely home. You have my word."

The guard who had gone to check on the three prisoners returned, and Lanaran rose.

"The prisoners are still in the dungeon, My King."

"Good. Have them tortured to see if they know the boy's location."

"And if they do not?"

The royal torturer was the best in all seven kingdoms. If the prisoners did not speak after half an hour with him, it meant they knew nothing.

"Then have them hanged." Lanaran turned to his chief advisor. "Kealmonn, bring me a wizard."

<><><>

Lashlor lay awake, his mind filled with a terrible sensation of impending doom. Something terrible was going to happen. He was sure of it. The wizard, Undassan, had been lying when he had said the queen's secret was safe with him. Lashlor was as certain of that as he was of the fact that he currently breathed. It was the fleeting malicious glint in Undassan's eyes that no one else seemed to have noticed. Lashlor always noticed things others didn't, but it had never frustrated him so much.

Why did he care, anyway?

Because she's my queen, he reminded himself.

Whatever else Lashlor was, he was no traitor... and to leave his queen when he felt she was in danger was the action of a traitor.

Kanar sat by the window, gazing out into the darkness.

Lashlor rose and crept over to him, careful not to wake Queen Narraki. "I can't sleep. Want me to take over the watch?"

Kanar glared at him, then whispered, "I don't think so. It's partly you I guard against, lest you attempt to abduct the queen or kill her in her sleep."

Lashlor swallowed his anger, then whispered, "You're still stuck on that fake wizard ridiculousness." He shook his head. "You're worried about the wrong wizard, friend. I hope you do not discover that truth the hard way."

Kanar stuck a finger in Lashlor's face. "I am not your friend," he grated.

The door burst open and Nashel hurtled in. "Wake up! We must flee!"

<><><>

King Lanaran studied the wizard who stood before his throne. The guards had not even given the poor man a chance to dress, and Lanaran couldn't blame him for looking so unimpressed, for he wore a rather embarrassing white nightgown with pink-striped sleeves. The king suspected that the only reason his guards had survived the encounter was because they were Guards of Ends and to kill one was considered treason.

"Bring the man some clothes," Lanaran ordered. "To treat one whose help we need thus is unacceptable." He glared at the three guards who had brought the red-haired wizard. "We will have words on this later." He addressed the wizard. "You are Krance Tulor and you are a wizard. Am I correct?"

The wizard nodded. "You are."

Lanaran disregarded the lack of formal address. The man was probably still half asleep and too focussed on being seen in public in what appeared to be a woman's nightdress. A serving boy arrived with black trousers and a blue silk shirt, and handed them to Krance.

"Leave us," the king ordered, sweeping his gaze over the guards and long-robed advisors.

A guard objected, "But, My King-"

"I said leave us! Give the man some privacy to dress. He will not harm his king." Lanaran rose from the throne and met the wizard's eyes. "Especially not when so great a reward is offered for his help."

Lanaran waited for the room to empty, then walked over to the wall and examined a tapestry depicting a herd of wild horses galloping across a grassy plane. Clothes rustled behind him as the wizard dressed, and Lanaran explained the problem in detail.

"I am dressed, My King," Krance said.

Lanaran turned. "The clothes look good on you," he commented. "Consider them a gift."

"Thank you." The wizard gave a half bow.

"Can you find and subdue or kill her?" Lanaran asked. "And the boy? Can you find him?"

"It depends."

"On what?"

Krance said, "On how powerful she is, whether or not she has cast any spells to hide herself and the boy, and, if so, what spells she cast and exactly how she cast them."

"Fair enough." Lanaran nodded. "I will give you one hundred gold coins just for trying. If you find the boy, another hundred. If you find the sorceress and subdue or kill her, I will grant you anything you ask for, as long as it is within my power to do so. Land, riches, titles..." He grinned as an idea came to him. "In fact, if you achieve either of the latter, I will also make you the official Wizard of Ends – a title no one has ever held. You would be the first. A legend."

Krance returned the grin. "At your service, My King." He bowed low. "I will need silence and privacy. Where can I work?"

"Right here," Lanaran said. "Do you require anything before you begin?"

Krance shook his head. "No, My King, just my mind."

"Good." Lanaran strode to the door. "I will ensure no one disturbs you."

Chapter 5

Lashlor raced through the forest beside the queen, who was still in her frilly white nightdress. Nashel had insisted there was no time to dress or grab anything, and Lashlor had been forced to leave his bow behind when the Guard of Ends had rushed them out. Thankfully, he had slept fully clothed in case of such a situation. His feet felt as if they bled, since Nashel had not even allowed them the time to put on their boots. They must have been running for at least half an hour, and still didn't know from whom they fled.

Nashel stopped, gasping, when they came to a wide, fast-flowing river. He scanned its banks frantically, probably searching for a way across. There was none that Lashlor could see.

"This way, My Queen," Nashel said. "We must keep moving."

Queen Narraki doubled over, clutching her stomach. She waved away Kanar when he moved to help her. "It's just a cramp, Kanar. I do not need help." She straightened. "Nashel, I have tolerated your actions thus far, but I will go no further without an explanation."

"Please, My Queen!" Nashel dragged her forward.

Kanar took a menacing step towards the pair. "Unhand her!"

Nashel continued to drag the protesting queen, and Lashlor went after them, intent on putting a stop to it.

Nashel gasped, "Creatures of magic follow us! I witnessed their conjuring with my own eyes, though I saw not who conjured them." Nashel hauled the queen another few paces. "They need no sleep and can track our auras – there will be no hiding from them. We must return to the safety of the castle!"

Queen Narraki raised an eyebrow. "You would disobey the king's orders?"

"To save your life, yes!"

Nashel released her arm. "Please, My Queen, we must keep moving, or they will catch up to us and then there will be no escape!"

Lashlor shuddered. Creatures born of dark magic were not to be trifled with. "My Queen," he said, "Nashel is right. We must keep moving. Creatures of magic are fleet of foot."

<><><>

Krance sat back on his haunches with a scowl. The sorceress had cast a concealment spell on the boy, and it was not within his power to see past it. That was one hundred gold coins lost. Still, he had already earned that amount just for trying.

Now, the sorceress.

He reached out his mind, searching for the auras of fellow magic users. The first three auras he found did not belong to Assassa. Luckily for him, few magic users resided in the Land of Ends, and even fewer in the city, and hers was the fourth aura he found. He remained only long enough to ascertain her location, then drew back, afraid she would sense him.

Krance smiled.

King Lanaran had basically said that Krance would be rewarded if he presented Assassa to him – dead or alive. It would be easier to render her unconscious from here and then tell the king where to find her, but, if she was a powerful sorceress, it might not work and then she would know the king had pitted another magic user against her... and then Krance could pay the price, if she was vindictive. However, if he tried to kill her from here and she was more powerful than he, the spell would backfire and kill him instead.

A sorceress bent on revenge could curse one with something far worse than death, but Krance decided to take his chances anyway. At least there was still a chance he could escape death or a worse fate if he didn't try to kill her, and if it worked out he would have the esteemed title of Wizard of Ends... and whatever else he wished for.

Magic flowed strong in his veins. He could do this. He would do this.

Krance gathered his energy, then whiplashed it out, its silver-mauve tendrils destined for Assassa.

<><><>

"We'll have to jump in!" Lashlor said, struggling over the rocks that now formed the riverbank.

Nashel stared wide-eyed at the steep cliff that rose before them. It wouldn't be long before they would no longer be able to walk along the bank. From here, the river flowed into a wide gorge that progressively narrowed until it eventually came out into calmer waters.

"We won't survive it," Kanar said. "We will all drown."

Lashlor examined the darkness. Was that a gleaming eye he glimpsed? Just an owl, you fool. Stop being so paranoid.

Queen Narraki said, "We have a better chance of surviving the river than an encounter with creatures of dark magic whose sole purpose is to destroy us. I'm going in. I leave each of you with your own fate in your hands." She stepped closer to the speeding water, then turned back and said, "Good luck." She leapt forward and the water whisked her out of sight within seconds.

Lashlor swallowed bile, then looked at the guards. "See you on the other side."

He leapt into the river. Icy water closed over his head, and he resisted the urge to gasp for air, for that would surely drown him. The river shoved him back up and he took a quick breath, glimpsing dark shadows at the top of the gorge... keeping pace with him.

The creatures of magic had caught up to them.

<><><>

Krance experienced Assassa's surprise when his magic touched her. Then a feeling of deep satisfaction and... was that smugness? Krance frowned. Why in all of creation would the sorceress be so arrogant when she must know she had been discovered by a foe?

His throat constricted as dark magic flowed into him, and then he knew...

<><><>

Lashlor gulped another mouthful of water, realising it was futile to fight against the river. He put up one last fight to position his head in the direction the river flowed, then kicked up his feet to get onto his back, filled his lungs and hoped the water would keep him buoyant in that position, like it would a log.

He still had to be careful not to swallow water, but at least he was less likely to drown. He prayed the queen had thought to do the same. He even wished the two suspicious Guards of Ends would survive.

Above, the dark forms still followed, but they were slowly falling back. The river was too fast even for them. Maybe they would reach the castle in time, after all.

Their pursuers appeared to be beyeni, one of the most deadly magical creatures that could be conjured. With sharp claws and teeth, glowing orange eyes and poisonous saliva, only the most strong-minded magic users could conjure one... yet there were at least five that Lashlor could see. Whoever they were up against must be powerful indeed.

The river dragged Lashlor under again, and he tried to keep himself relaxed. To do otherwise would be to invite drowning.

<><><>

"Open the doors," King Lanaran ordered. "I have given him long enough."

The guards obeyed, and Lanaran entered the throne room.

Krance sat cross-legged on the floor in front of the throne, his back to them.

"Have you been successful, wizard?" Lanaran asked, walking around to face Krance.

The wizard's face was almost as red as his hair, and his cheeks were puffed out, as if he was holding his breath.

Lanaran frowned. "Wizard?"

In Assassa's harsh voice, Krance said, "Your wizard was stronger than I expected, but not strong enough."

An icy fist squeezed Lanaran's heart.

"I knew the moment you hired him, for I cast an eavesdropping spell on the castle, dear brother. I warned you. Now, the boy will pay the price. Since you will not give me my crown, I will take it from you. You have started a war you will never win, and you will lose your dear wife in the process."

"My wife is quite safe!" Lanaran said, confident of it.

"Is she? As we speak, beyeni track her. She will be dead by dawn."

Lanaran had heard of beyeni. Creatures of dark magic that almost no one could overcome. For generations, no magic user had been born powerful enough to conjure one, and they had almost become things of myth. Could Assassa truly be that powerful?

Krance sneered as Assassa said, "I am not the only magic user working against you, brother. You can get almost anyone to do almost anything if you promise enough."

Krance froze, then crumbled to dust.

Lanaran took an involuntary step back and, his voice choked, said, "I want a list of all the magic users in the kingdom. Then I want them all brought to the castle. Do a roll call and list everyone who cannot be found. Kealmonn, I will leave that in your capable hands. Amkesh, have the fastest horse in the stables readied for me... and a hundred men." He hesitated. "And another magic user. We need a magic user to fight magical creatures, and I want the horses spelled so we can ride them harder and faster for longer without killing them. We ride in ten minutes." He spun to face Amkesh. "Captain! Why are you still here? I must get to my wife!"

<><><>

Lashlor hadn't seen the beyeni for a while. He couldn't be sure how far behind they were, but he knew that, at the speed they travelled, they would catch up to him within minutes of him reaching calm water... and he didn't think he could walk away from a confrontation with just one of the creatures, never mind five.

It was easier to keep his head above water now, and he hadn't swallowed any for some time. Had the queen been as lucky? The river would soon slow enough to allow him to swim to shore, and then he could search for her.

They had to warn the king about Undassan too, for it must have been him who had conjured the beyeni – they could not be set upon someone whose location the magic user did not know. Why save the Guards of Ends from the hound monkey pack, though? Had the wizard merely been toying with them, or had he been morbidly curious about the woman he planned to murder? It could also be that he hadn't yet discovered the cabin, and the guards had led him straight to it.

Once they were safe, he would get to the bottom of it, Lashlor decided. He didn't appreciate being chased by deadly creatures.

Chapter 6

King Lanaran urged the stallion faster through the thickening forest. Most of his men had fallen behind, their steeds not nearly as fast as the king's. If even half of what he had read about beyeni was true, he would not reach Queen Narraki in time to save her... but he had to. He could not – would not – live without her. He would rather die. Perhaps he was intentionally going on a 'suicide ride'. The thought jolted him, and he urged the stallion faster still.

It would take at least another two hours to reach the cabin, but only if they did not stop to rest the horses. Despite the fact that they had been spelled with far greater strength and stamina, he risked tiring them too fast and rendering them useless, but was unable to bring himself to stop for even a moment.

His wife's life depended on their utmost haste.

Captain Amkesh, riding one of the few horses that could keep up, drew alongside and yelled, "My King, the horses cannot go on like this for much longer!"

They had been riding for about forty minutes at a full gallop. The horses would last a little longer. He voiced the thought, and Amkesh dropped back, obviously worried.

For once, Lanaran didn't care about the horses, and he would be happy to walk back as long as his beloved walked by his side.

<><><>

Lashlor crawled onto the sandy river bank and stood on unsteady legs. He scanned the area for signs of the beyeni, and was relieved to find nothing unnatural. The queen was nowhere to be seen, and no other footprints emerged from the river, so she had either drowned or emerged elsewhere along the river bank. If Queen Narraki was dead, the beyeni would no longer exist.

Either way, Lashlor had to get to the castle. Clearly, King Lanaran Dragonsbane's enemies were as relentless as they were powerful, and he needed help.

Lashlor strode along the beach, casting fearful glances over his shoulder in between searching for footprints in the sand. When his legs were once again steady and he had somewhat recovered from his ordeal in the river, he increased his pace.

Some time later, something howled shrilly in the distance, the sound petering off into a hiss.

The call of the beyeni... they were drawing closer.

Joy flooded Lashlor – his queen lived! – followed swiftly by terror. They would not be able to outrun the beyeni. The best he could hope for was to buy the queen some time, enough to get her to the castle, with some luck. The longer it took the creatures to find him, the more time the queen would have to reach safety – and the beyeni would stay to fight him, for they would attack any who aided the one they had been conjured to kill.

Lashlor broke into a run.

<><><>

King Lanaran leapt from his horse before it had come to a complete stop, stumbled, regained his balance and raced to the cabin. The door stood open and his stomach lurched. The cabin was empty. The beds were unmade – something he knew his wife would have insisted on, if she'd had a choice in the matter – and the satchels and weapons had been left behind.

Lanaran frowned when he spotted the bow and quiver. Neither Nashel nor Kanar was an archer. Who, then, did the items belong to?

Captain Amkesh entered the cabin, and Lanaran ordered, "Find their trail."

They exited the cabin together.

Less than a minute later, one of the trackers called, "Over here!"

Icy fingers once again squeezed Lashlor's heart. Four sets of footprints led into the trees – as did five sets of paw prints.

"They were running," the tracker said. "The prints are deep."

"And they fled with great haste, for they did not even take the time to put on their footwear," Lanaran said. He climbed back onto the horse and ordered the tracker, "Lead the way, Thiel, and make haste! I fear we are already too late!"

He could only hope that the stranger who now travelled with his wife – the owner of the bow and quiver – was more capable of protecting her than he was.

<><><>

Delight washed over Lashlor when he finally spotted dainty footprints leading away from the river. He changed direction to follow them into the trees, hoping he would not catch up to the queen. He would be of far less use to her if she did not already have a head start when the beyeni reached him.

The shrill howl came again, followed by a series of long hisses. Closer than before.

Lashlor increased his pace, trying to steel himself for the death that would surely befall him when the beyeni attacked. He couldn't do it. He wasn't ready to die.

Another shriek sliced the air – a human one, Lashlor thought. The beyeni had found one of the Guards of Ends.

His breath came in ragged gasps and his chest burnt as he tried to outrun what he knew he could not.

<><><>

King Lanaran stopped when his horse could go no further. The gorge before them was impassable without a boat. Not even the horses could swim in such rough waters. Yet it was clear that all four of those he followed, including his wife, had leapt into the raging river. He climbed off his horse and stood staring at the small footprints that must belong to Queen Narraki.

Captain Amkesh reached his side and got off his horse too. "My King, we should follow the beyenis' trail – it will lead us to the queen."

"But not fast enough," Lanaran muttered.

"The river might be faster, but it is also deadly. We won't survive it."

"Wizard!" Lanaran called.

"He has fallen behind, My King, with most of the others."

Lanaran cursed. They could not afford delays.

When the grey-haired wizard arrived, rather worse for wear, Lanaran asked, "Can you conjure a boat?"

The wizard thought for a moment, then said, "I believe I can, My King, but it will be a small one, suitable for only two, perhaps three people."

"Do it," Lanaran commanded.

<><><>

Lashlor almost didn't notice Queen Narraki curled up against a tree in the foetal position as he ran past. He turned and ran back to her, then knelt beside her. Her nightgown was plastered to her flesh, practically see-through when it was wet. She appeared to be sleeping – or passed out. He shook her.

"Wake up!"

She opened her eyes and stared at him as if she didn't know him, then seemed to remember her predicament and tried to stand, but fell back. "I am too weak. You must save yourself. Go!"

Another shrill howl echoed through the woods, closer than before.

Lashlor was tempted to obey the queen's order.

"Go!" she insisted.

Lashlor stared at her. A queen who would rather die than see one of her subjects harmed was one worth dying for indeed.

He wanted to run, save himself... but he couldn't.

He scooped her up and stumbled on towards the castle.

"Unhand me, you oaf!" she yelled, hitting him in the face. Not girly slaps either. Real punches.

"Neither of us is going to die," he shouted back. "Now stop that or you will get us killed!"

<><><>

Lanaran clutched the magical sailboat's railing, noting that Thiel, the tracker, and Yuldin, the wizard, looked as ill as he felt. Thanks to a speed spell, the boat sped down the river at a rate the human body could almost not endure.

They would reach Narraki in time to save her. They had to.

Mere minutes later, the water became gentle and the gorge's steep walls fell away. The boat slowed enough for them to scan the shores, and Lanaran's heart sank when he spotted a bloodied Guard of Ends helmet lying on the shore next to a large chunk of meat that might once have been human. To his relief, there appeared to be only one body – and not that of his beloved.

Further downstream, another set of footprints led from the river.

"Male," the tracker said.

In the distance, the moonlight shone on five hound-like creatures, blacker than a starless night, loping along the riverbank.

The beyeni.

They had not yet found Narraki. If they had, according to the tales, they would no longer exist.

Hope swept through Lanaran.

Minutes later, they passed the beyeni, all of which turned malicious glowing orange eyes on them, then veered towards the river as if to attack.

"Faster!" Lanaran ordered.

<><><>

Lashlor fell to his knees in the long grass and Queen Narraki tumbled from his arms. His legs would take him no further. The queen sat up and looked at him, concern creasing her pretty oval face. Ignoring it, Lashlor scanned the surroundings. Moonlight filtered between the thinly spaced trees, revealing no large bushes for them to hide behind. Not that hiding would do them any good.

Lashlor sighed. This was where he would make his last stand.

He stood up and helped the queen to her feet.

"You must go on without me," he told her. "They will first stop to kill me, and it will buy you some time. If you make haste, you might still reach the castle in time."

"Will I truly be safe there?" she asked, dusting herself down.

"As long as they do not get inside, yes. They cannot pass through physical objects any more than you or I can. Now go, or it will not be time enough. They are almost upon us!"

Another shrill howl cut the forest's stillness.

The insects fell quiet, sensing the approach of a predator.

"Go!" Lashlor shoved her.

Her eyes flaring in anger, she snapped, "I cannot leave you to die! Not even though you are so rude! This is not your fight, wizard."

"I said go!" Lashlor screamed, so hard it hurt his throat. He had once left someone to die, and would not do it again.

Another howl.

Lashlor shivered, his stomach heaving.

He met the queen's eyes, silently pleading with her to leave.

Something caught her eye behind him and she focussed on it, then broke out into a joyful smile.

What in damnation did she have to be happy about?

Lashlor turned to see.

Chapter 7

"Narraki!" King Lanaran exclaimed, rushing forward.

"Lan!" She flew into his arms and hugged him fiercely.

"My King..." Thiel cleared his throat.

Lanaran unwillingly held his wife away. "We must leave. Creatures of dark magic track you, as I'm sure you already know."

She nodded.

Lanaran glanced at her companion, a wet, dishevelled man in his prime with shoulder-length brown hair and midnight blue eyes. He nodded a greeting, then Lanaran swept his wife into his arms. When he realised that her companion was unable to do more than hobble, he ordered the well-built Thiel to carry him.

"He'll slow me down!" Thiel objected.

Lanaran turned on him. "I will not tolerate cowardice!"

"Leave me," the stranger said. "I will keep them busy for as long as I can."

Chilling snarls snapped their attention to the trees behind them and Lanaran whirled, then put down Narraki and drew his sword.

There would be no more running.

The beyeni leapt at the group, intent on fulfilling their reason for being.

"Run!" Lanaran shouted to Narraki.

Her comrade raised his hands, palms forward, as did Yuldin.

What sounded like thunder boomed throughout the forest, and then a flash of blinding white light forced Lanaran's eyes shut. When he opened them moments later, the beyeni were gone.

Lanaran ran to his wife's side. "Are you all right?"

She heaved a sigh of relief and her shoulders relaxed. "I am." She gave him a shaky smile, then turned to her companion and the wizard. "Which one of you did that?" she asked.

So, Lanaran thought, her friend is a wizard.

He couldn't be a very powerful wizard, though, since he had run from the beyeni rather than confronted them, which was clearly so much easier. Perhaps he hadn't known it would be that easy to get rid of the creatures.

"Me," replied both wizards.

They glared at each other for a moment, then Yuldin admitted, "Actually, I didn't think I could do it, or I'd have tried when we passed them on the riverbank. Maybe our combined power is what did the trick?"

The other wizard appeared thoughtful, then nodded. "Perhaps. In fact, that seems more likely, for I, too, did not think I could kill them."

"Where are my manners?" Narraki asked, smiling. "Lan, this is Lashlor. He risked his life to save mine."

Lanaran clasped Lashlor's forearm. "You have my thanks, and you will be richly rewarded."

Lashlor shrugged. "I need no reward, My King. Anyone else would have done the same thing."

Lanaran glanced at Thiel. No, not everyone would have. "Regardless, you will be rewarded." Remembering why his beloved was out in the woods in the first place, he said, "I am needed at the castle. The longer I am absent, the greater the chance that our enemy will seize the crown."

"You should have hidden it," Narraki chided with a smile.

"The last time I did that, I put it in such a safe place that even I couldn't find it!"

They laughed, remembering how all the servants had scurried around looking for it, each worried that he or she would be accused of stealing it.

<><><>

They reached the City of Ends shortly after dawn. They had to walk through the marketplace to reach the castle compound, and Lanaran was shocked to find the market abuzz with urgency. This time of morning, vendors were usually setting up and there wasn't all that much noise. Something was wrong.

A red-haired guard recognised him and rushed to him. "My King! A boy has been hanged! And his mother says it's your fault!" He looked over his shoulder as if he expected the mother to be on her way to attack the king, then seemed to notice the king's dishevelled appearance for the first time. "My King! What happened?"

"Never mind that." Lanaran scowled, his stomach somersaulting. "Show me the boy."

He wanted to tell his wife to go straight to the castle, but knew she would not listen. The two wizards still accompanied them, so she was not defenceless, at least.

The guard, whose name was Xain, led them past the gallows in the market centre, to the gallows at the far end, just outside the castle compound.

The boy couldn't have been older than eleven or twelve. Not only had the culprit hanged the poor child, but gutted him too. Lanaran forced himself to look at the spilt entrails. It fuelled the rage that welled in him, and he would need that to fuel himself in the search for his supposed sister.

She will pay for this. I will-

Hysterical sobs drew his attention, and he recognised the woman whose son Assassa had kidnapped. She noticed him at the same time, and her face contorted in hatred as she shrieked, "You killed him! It's your fault! May you rot in Damnation forever, murderer!"

The guards moved to arrest her, but Lanaran ordered, "Leave her be! Can't you see she is senseless with grief? She cannot thus be held accountable for her actions."

"To Damnation with you!" she screamed, struggling to get to Lanaran.

Nausea swept through him, and he leant on Narraki for support, then steadied himself, gestured to the distraught mother and ordered the nearest guard, "Ensure that she never wants for anything again. Have Kealmonn arrange it." Then he strode towards the castle.

<><><>

"So can you help me, wizard?" King Lanaran asked, leaning across the long dining table towards Lashlor. "The last wizard didn't fare so well and there is no time to waste, so be truthful if you do not have the power."

An ethereal fist squeezed Lashlor's heart at the thought of going up against Assassa, the king's alleged half-sister. By the sound of it, her magic was incredibly potent. In fact, she was possibly the most powerful sorceress he had heard of.

Lashlor shook his head. "I'm sorry, My King, I am not that powerful."

"That's because he isn't a real wizard," croaked a voice from the door.

King Lanaran leapt to his feet. "Kanar! We believed you to be dead!"

The Guard of Ends entered the room and another guard pulled out a chair and helped him to sit at the table.

"Sustenance!" the king ordered, and the serving boy rushed from the room to fetch food and water for Kanar.

The king sat down again and frowned at the guard. "What do you mean he isn't a real wizard?"

Queen Narraki sighed from the window seat, where she sat reading. "Kanar, I am glad to see you alive, but I wish you would stop this nonsense. Since you last saw him, Lashlor used magic to save my life and that of your king, and a few others too. He has proven himself."

A scowl crossed Kanar's face, then vanished as quickly as it had appeared. "My Queen, are you absolutely certain?"

"To be fair," King Lanaran said, "it could have been Yuldin who did that."

The queen sighed again and closed her book. "We have more important things to worry about."

"How did you escape the beyeni?" Lashlor asked Kanar accusingly.

The king frowned, then asked, "Yes, how did you?"

The serving boy returned and placed a mug of water and bowl of stew in front of Kanar.

Kanar spoke in between mouthfuls. "I ended up on the other side of the river. I don't think they even came after me."

Lashlor thought for a moment, then said, "They wouldn't have. They wouldn't go off course to kill you, because their true goal was to kill the queen."

King Lanaran scrutinised Lashlor again. "Then it's settled. Yuldin will aid me in this quest, and you will aid him. You might not be powerful enough to fight Assassa on your own, but, together with Yuldin, you did defeat her dark creatures, and easily too." He paused. "Or, if you are no wizard, as Kanar believes, you will probably die by her hand. We will see."

Panic swept through Lashlor. "But My King-!"

The king raised his hand for silence.

The queen came to him and stood behind him, her hands on his shoulders. "Come now, wizard or not, Lashlor has bravely stood by me. Leave him be, my love. If he thinks he cannot help, he might just get in the way."

King Lanaran looked about to give in, then his jaw set in a grim line and he shook his head. "No. Assassa must be found and executed. If she is not, she will find a way to make herself the Queen of Ends. If there is the slightest chance that Yuldin will fail without his help, it is too big a chance."

Queen Narraki gave Lashlor an apologetic look, which he returned with a weak smile.

The king ordered Lashlor, "Go and find Yuldin. He is in the castle library, I think. Help him locate Assassa and do not dally or your life might be forfeit too."

My life is probably already forfeit, Lashlor thought despondently, standing up to comply.

Chapter 8

Yuldin's face contorted and he yanked his hands from the crystal ball he had used to locate Assassa. Lashlor had seen her too. Had seen her look up at the magical orb that allowed them to view her. Had seen her look right at them.

"Did you see that?" Yuldin breathed.

Lashlor nodded. "How in damnation did she see us?"

"That's supposed to be impossible," Yuldin said.

Thank you for stating the obvious, Lashlor thought, still upset about being forced to help find Assassa.

"Maybe we should ask the king for more help," Yuldin suggested, giving Lashlor a hopeful look. "More magic users will mean more power. Her creatures are one thing, but she will not so easily be defeated."

"Yes." Lashlor's hopes soared. "I agree. That's an excellent idea."

<><><>

King Lanaran agreed to acquire the services of other magic users, but insisted they leave immediately to find Assassa. The sorceress would probably go elsewhere now that she knew her location was no longer a secret, and her aura trail would dissipate within an hour or two – only someone who knew her well would be able to see it after that. Lanaran instructed his chief advisor, Kealmonn, to send the other magic users after them as soon as they were hired. At Lashlor and Yuldin's behest, he even agreed that they would not accost the sorceress until their back-up magic arrived, but would follow her instead so as to not give her the opportunity to hide again.

Captain Amkesh argued, but Lanaran would not change his mind – his captain was to remain at the castle and make protecting the queen his only focus.

Only five of his finest guards, the two wizards and Lanaran would be going to find Assassa. If they were to follow her, a smaller group was better, or they would disrupt the city. Both wizards believed she would know they followed no matter how stealthy they were, but it didn't matter. What mattered was that she did not get away, and the eight of them could certainly ensure that. The eight of them and any citizen whose help they needed, that is. No one would refuse to help the King of Ends.

<><><>

Lashlor followed King Lanaran along the sandy road that ran along the city outskirts. They stopped outside an elegantly carved wooden door, and the king drew his sword and flung it open. The two nearest guards shoved past him into the house's gloomy interior, clearly intent on bearing the brunt of any attack from within.

As expected, Assassa was gone.

"Her aura trail is strong, but she's..." Yuldin frowned. "...Done something to it. It's growing fainter by the moment. We must hurry!"

He led the way out of the house and back the way they had come, then turned down a side street that took them to the city's community vegetable gardens, on the outer side of the city wall.

"She's a clever one!" Yuldin exclaimed, sounding almost envious. "Her aura is mixing with those of the vegetables. I cannot tell it apart!" he wailed.

Lashlor said, "We must split up and walk the perimeter. It will be visible at the place where she left the garden."

"And if it is not?" the king asked anxiously.

"Then she is still here," Lashlor replied.

"We will run," the king said. "Her trail will soon be gone."

The vegetable garden was large enough to serve the entire city, and it was dusk by the time Yuldin spotted Assassa's fading trail.

They followed it into the forest, Lashlor silently cursing the sorceress for choosing such a difficult path as he pushed his way through the dense vegetation, much of which boasted sharp thorns.

Climbing over a fallen tree, Yuldin glanced at the sinking sun. "If nightfall comes before her trail vanishes, it will make it a little easier to see."

"Move faster," the king gasped, losing his balance and stumbling onto his hands and knees in his haste to get past a large bush. He brushed away the guards when they tried to help him up. "Keep moving!"

Countless thorn pricks later, Yuldin stopped and announced that Assassa's trail had vanished.

King Lanaran cursed, then turned to Lashlor. "Can you no longer see it either?"

Lashlor shook his head. "Sorry, My King."

"Should've brought the blasted tracker," the king muttered, searching the forest floor for signs of the sorceress.

"What about her feet?" Lashlor asked. Everyone stared at him in confusion, and he explained, "You have to dissipate the energy from your feet separately when you do what she's done to her aura. Maybe she forgot."

Yuldin's eyes sparkled as he spotted an aura-filled footprint to their left. "There!" He pointed at it, then grinned at Lashlor. "Good thinking!"

They followed the trail further into the forest in which Assassa obviously hoped to lose herself. Her ghost-like aura footprints soon faded too, and Yuldin stopped again and gave the king the bad news. With nothing to light their way and no trail to follow, King Lanaran ordered the guards to collect firewood and told them they would be spending the night. He insisted he would not return to the castle without the traitor who had ordered or performed the act of killing and mutilating a child – or threatened his wife, for that matter.

As frustrated and upset as the situation made Lashlor, he couldn't blame the king. He wouldn't want Assassa running around free either if she was out to get him.

<><><>

They didn't have to wait until morning to find Assassa. The sorceress found them, late that night when all but two guards and Lashlor were sleeping on beds of leaves, with rolled-up blankets as pillows.

She strolled into their midst as if she expected to be welcomed as a friend, and Lashlor leapt up, yelling, "Wake up! She's here! She's-!"

"Oh, hush," Assassa said, her tone sweet and her smile terrifyingly disarming.

She flicked her wrist at King Lanaran as he leapt up, fumbling for his sword, and he flew backwards into a nearby tree, her magic crackling around him.

She advanced on the king, and Lashlor searched on hands and knees for a rock to use as a weapon. He found one and rose to his feet, only to see the sorceress looming over his king, who gasped for air and clutched his throat as if strangled by invisible hands. The rock would be no use from this distance. Lashlor had always been terrible at ball games, and was just as likely to spill the king's brain as that of the sorceress. Lashlor flung up his hands in reflex just as the king slumped, and thought for a moment that he was dead, but then the king looked up at Assassa and grinned triumphantly as she fell to the ground, apparently unconscious.

Yuldin lowered his hands. "My King, that took everything out of me. It will be hours before I can use my magic again."

"When will she wake?" the king asked.

"It's hard to say. It depends on how much power she has in her at the moment, and how much stronger than me she is."

<><><>

King Lanaran leapt up from the throne and faced his advisors. "You cannot be serious!"

Kealmonn sighed. "I know you do not like the idea, My King, and, truth be told, I do not like it either."

The other seven advisors nodded and muttered their agreement.

"However," Kealmonn continued, "you must always be seen to be fair. If you have her executed now, the people might think you unfair and rash in your anger. You must always be seen to be in total control of yourself, and fair even to those who do not deserve fairness. Such has been the way of all your ancestors, and such must be the way of all your descendents – and you, My King, you must act thus. When it comes to something of this magnitude, it is the only way to ensure a happy people."

Lanaran sat down again and pounded a fist on the arm of his throne, cursing when one of the jewels adorning it cut into his wrist. Rubbing the welt, he shook his head at the eight men before him, trying not to hate them for being right. If he ignored their advice, his people might lose some of their respect for him.

"Fine!" he snapped. "Make an announcement and write down the names of all those who would present evidence. Arrange the trial for first thing tomorrow morning, and make sure the wizards are comfortable in the dungeon." He paused. "But not too comfortable. I want them wide awake. I will not give her chance to escape while we waste time on trials that won't change anything."

<><><>

Lashlor sat on one of the guards' chairs in the castle dungeon and stared at the unconscious sorceress, praying she would not wake up. Yuldin, who sat to his right, was still in the process of replenishing the magic he had used when rendering Assassa unconscious, and Lashlor hadn't cast a sleeping spell in years. If she awoke before Yuldin's magic was replenished, she would likely escape, and probably kill them in the process.

Yuldin glanced at him. "Don't look so nervous. My magic's almost strong enough to put her back to sleep if she wakes up, and anyway, I'm sure you're more powerful than you think. I know I certainly am! I didn't think I could do that to her!"

The wizard prattled on and Lashlor tuned him out. This was no situation to be excited about.

"What do you think?" Yuldin asked.

Lashlor hadn't a clue what Yuldin was asking about. He had long ago perfected the art of selective hearing. "I think I want to know when I can go home, and when she's likely to awake." He nodded at the shackled sorceress.

"How does now work for you?" Assassa asked snidely from inside the cell they sat outside.

Both men leapt to their feet in fright, and Yuldin flung his hands up and towards the sorceress, who promptly slumped unconscious again, the look of shock remaining on her face.

Yuldin turned over his hands and examined them as if he'd never seen them before. "And it gets easier each time," he muttered, clearly awestruck by his newfound abilities.

Lashlor repressed the urge to smack him. Power was nothing to be bragged about. The more powerful one was, the more others expected from one... unless, of course, no one knew of the power in the first place.

He considered sharing this insight with Yuldin, but, seeing the joyful sparkle in the wizard's eyes, decided it would be wasted breath.

Chapter 9

King Lanaran sat on his throne glaring down at Assassa, who lay slumbering on the stone floor, still under the wizard's sleeping spell. Six guards stood in a semi-circle behind her – triple the number that guarded most prisoners. The two wizards stood one on either side of her, ready to undo the sleeping spell when ordered.

Lanaran swallowed a yawn. The proceedings would be tedious and he'd had little sleep. Queen Narraki gave him an encouraging smile from the throne to his left, and he returned it grimly, then spoke to those gathered. "The accused lies before you, under a sleeping spell. For your safety." He paused, silently daring anyone to object to the spell. "Assassa, the serving girl, claims to be my half-sister, sired by my father, King Norix. She has not only claimed the throne to be rightfully hers, but has threatened the life of your queen, and has organised and paid for her murder." He waited for the crowd's angry and shocked murmurings to cease, then said, "If not for these two wizards..." He gestured to Lashlor and Yuldin. "...Your king and queen would be no more, and the Kingdom of Ends would be under tyrant rule."

Most of those in the crowd gave Assassa murderous or fearful looks, and cast awestruck gazes at the wizards.

"I hereby charge Assassa with treason. Bring forth the first witness," Lanaran commanded. He wasn't at all surprised when no one was brought forward. He turned to his chief advisor. "You could find no one willing to testify, neither for nor against the accused?"

Kealmonn shook his head.

"Not a single citizen?" Lanaran scanned the crowd of citizens who had come to watch the trial.

Kealmonn said, "No, My King."

"Then we are done here." Lanaran began to rise. "I hereby sentence-"

"Not yet, My King," Kealmonn said solemnly. "The law states that a child born to royalty out of wedlock does indeed have a claim to the throne."

The crowd gasped, and Lanaran growled, "Excuse me?"

Kealmonn raised his hand for silence and the citizens of Ends settled down. "But only if no full heir to the throne remains alive. Since you are alive and well, your half-sister has no legal right to the throne."

Lanaran scowled. "And if I was to die?"

"Then the throne is rightfully Queen Narraki's, or your son's, if you had one, and then your daughter's, if you had a daughter and no son."

Lanaran relaxed, but only a little. Fighting to control his rage, he said, "Yet still, under the law, she has committed treason by threatening the life of the current queen."

"That is correct, My King." Kealmonn nodded.

"Then I hereby senten-"

"I apologise, My King," Kealmonn interrupted, "but, also under the law, royalty may not be executed. She can only be sentenced to life imprisonment in the dungeon."

"But she is not royalty!" Lanaran shouted, unable to control himself any longer. "She is a serving girl! With no proof to her claim of the throne, I might add!"

"That is true, My King, but we must investigate her claim before she can be properly sentenced. There was not enough time to do that between last night and this morning."

Lanaran glared at Kealmonn. Just whose side was his chief advisor on? "Fine. Take her back to the dungeon. And wizards..." His wife's new friend looked none too pleased. "Remain with her at all times. I apologise for the inconvenience, but you will be well compensated for your troubles, and you have my word that this matter will be finalised in all haste." He turned to his eight advisors. "You have three days. As per the law, if no evidence is found within this time, I may sentence Assassa according to her actions alone."

<><><>

Lashlor sat next to Yuldin on the green velvet couch the king had ordered to be brought in for them. Only one bed stood behind it, for the king wanted one of the wizards awake at all times. Knowing how powerful Assassa was, all involved were well aware that they had got lucky when she had been captured, and they probably wouldn't be so lucky a second time. She could not be allowed to regain consciousness.

After two days of sitting staring at the sleeping sorceress, spelling her back to sleep each time she awoke, and trying to make conversation with someone who clearly wasn't interested, Yuldin had lost most of his enthusiasm and barely spoke, to Lashlor's relief. Assassa awoke every two to three hours now – the spell seemed to be losing its effect, as if the sorceress was gaining immunity to it. Lashlor could see the toll it was taking on Yuldin, but the wizard did not ask for help and insisted on casting the spell each time.

Lashlor was quite fine with that and did not argue. He picked up a ruby grape from the feast the king had ordered be brought for them. The fruit was far tastier than that grown outside the castle compound, due to the richer soil inside. He picked up another grape and popped it into his mouth, then choked on it as the couch flew backwards and smashed into the wall behind.

Lashlor scrambled onto his hands and knees, still choking, then coughed up the grape, his chest burning from the effort. Yuldin lay unconscious or dead under the couch, only his legs protruding.

The cell bars burst apart in a dizzying flash of orange.

Assassa emerged, partly obscured by the smoke.

She stepped towards Lashlor and raised her hands as if to attack, then hesitated and stared at him.

Was that uncertainty in her eyes? Why would she hesitate to kill him?

Yuldin groaned and Lashlor glanced in his direction, then turned back to the sorceress, fully expecting to die... but Assassa was gone.

<><><>

"How did this happen?" King Lanaran thundered. "Where were the guards?"

Captain Amkesh cleared his throat. "I'm told they were on a toilet break, My King."

"A toilet break? A toilet break! All ten of them – at once?"

"No, My King," Lashlor said. "Eight were present, but none saw anything strange. Even now, they claim to see her sleeping in the cell. They were spelled, My King. They are not to blame for her escape."

"And what about you, wizard?" King Lanaran accused. "Why did you not stop her?" He gave Yuldin a reproachful look, but did not address him, most likely because he had been told the wizard had been incapacitated for a bit. "Yuldin says you did not even try!"

"What?" Lashlor spluttered. "Yuldin was under a couch at the time. He could not see anything!"

The king glared at Lashlor, then Yuldin. "That is a good point, wizard," he said to Yuldin. "How could you see what was going on from under that couch?"

Yuldin shuffled his feet. "I could not, My King, but I could hear perfectly well. After we were flung back, I heard the cell bars burst open, and then nothing. If he had tried, there would have been a lot of noise. Aggressive magic is never silent, My King."

"Is that true?" the king asked Lashlor.

"About aggressive magic? Yes, My King, but that does not mean I did not try to stop her from escaping. It means I did not have the chance. She was there, in front of me, free, and then she was gone."

"Just vanished? Into nowhere?" King Lanaran asked, his tone disbelieving.

"Yes, My King."

"Is that possible?" the king asked Yuldin.

Yuldin looked a bit upset when he admitted, "Yes, My King."

The king clenched his hands at his sides, then rose from the throne. "I want her found. Kealmonn, make an announcement – I offer a reward of ten thousand gold pieces to anyone who brings her to me. Captain Amkesh, take as many soldiers as you can spare. I want every last corner of this kingdom searched. Do not stop until she is found."

Captain Amkesh nodded and turned to leave.

"And Captain..."

The Captain of the Guard turned back.

"I do not care in what condition she is returned to me."

The captain nodded his understanding, then left.

<><><>

King Lanaran walked hand in hand with his wife in the castle gardens, enjoying the mid-afternoon birdsong and sweet scent of the abundant pink merrylo flowers, when a royal messenger ran up to them.

"My King, a letter has been found," gasped the black-haired youth, his chest heaving.

Lanaran held his breath for a moment, then asked, "Regarding the sorceress?"

The messenger nodded. "Captain Amkesh sent me to tell you. He brings it personally and will arrive at the castle in the next few minutes."

"Thank you. Take the rest of the day off. You've earned it."

The youth smiled, thanked him and strode off, and Lanaran took Queen Narraki's arm. "Shall we?"

She nodded. "Yes, let us hope this letter will end this madness, one way or the other."

"Indeed," Lanaran murmured, heading for the throne room.

<><><>

Lanaran paced in front of his throne when Captain Amkesh arrived with a handful of guards and three citizens Lanaran had never seen before.

"My King, we found a letter, supposedly from Assassa's mother to your father." Amkesh hesitated, his face flushed and eyes downcast.

"Captain," Lanaran said sternly, "look at me when you speak to me."

Amkesh looked up and met Lanaran's eyes.

"Show me the letter."

Amkesh retrieved it from his inner jacket pocket and handed it to Lanaran, who read it with ever-growing incredulity. According to the letter, his father had been having an affair with one of the noblewomen of Ends. When she had fallen pregnant, she had demanded that their child be named the rightful heir of the throne of Ends. Lanaran had not yet been born, apparently, for Assassa's mother had called her unborn child the 'firstborn'. His father must have refused, for her letter condemned him for his choice and threatened to have Lanaran's mother murdered if his father did not change his mind.

Like mother, like daughter, Lanaran thought, his throat constricting as he looked up at his captain.

Amkesh cleared his throat. "My King, these three citizens have first-hand knowledge of what's detailed in the letter."

Lanaran scowled at them. "Who are they, and how did you find them so fast?"

"These two live in the house in which the letter was found." Amkesh looked down again.

"Captain!" barked Lanaran.

"They live in the servants' sector, My King."

Lanaran's frown deepened. Only royalty had servants these days. Angry at how the nobles treated those less fortunate, when he had been crowned king, Lanaran had practically destroyed the segregation by providing everyone with free food. Now, the marketplace only sold luxuries and clothes, and, since the rulers of Ends fed all those under their rule, even providing some coin for luxuries now and then, no one was really considered poor anymore. As for the servants, all had committed minor crimes, and had been offered a choice between a term of imprisonment in the dungeon or working out that time in service to the royal family. Almost no one chose the dungeon.

"What have they to say?" Lanaran asked.

Amkesh said, "That the letter writer speaks the truth. Assassa is your half-sister."

Chapter 10

King Lanaran stared at his ashen wife, icy fingers squeezing his lungs.

Lanaran took a moment to compose himself, then said, "Let them speak."

The first citizen stepped forward and bowed low. An elderly woman with silver-grey hair and remarkably blue eyes, she was unable to rise to her feet again and one of the guards had to help her up.

Captain Amkesh announced, "My King, I present to you Iaracella Tinletor, grandmother to Assassa Tinletor." He looked at the old woman. "You may speak."

She croaked, "The handwriting in that letter is that of my daughter, Aglade. Assassa's mother. I tried to stop her from delivering it to your father, but-" A coughing fit overcame her, then she cleared her throat and continued. "But she would not listen. She was so very angry. Please understand, My King, all mothers want the best for their children. Aglade was just... overly emotional, and her anger clouded her judgement."

Lanaran leant forward, his elbows resting on the arms of his throne. "What proof do you have that my father was the father?"

Iaracella shrugged. "I have no proof, My King, other than that my daughter told me she had bedded no other, and she was not prone to lying to me." She looked guilty as she said, "She had no reason to lie. She knew I would not judge her regardless."

"And where is your daughter now?"

"In the graveyard, My King. The goat flu got her last winter."

So, she could not be questioned. Lanaran did not like this one bit. He'd had enough of this witness. "Thank you, madam," he said. "You may step back."

The next witness stepped forward, a woman who looked more or less the same age as Assassa, perhaps a little older.

Captain Amkesh announced, "My King, I present to you Thorona Tinletor, half-sister to Assassa Tinletor." He turned to her. "You may speak."

Thorona flicked long black hair over her shoulder, then said, "My mother used to cry herself to sleep every night after..." She paused, also looking guilty. "She said the king – your father – took their child to raise as a servant as punishment for that letter." She glanced at the letter in Lanaran's hands. "That's all I know. She told us what happened once and then never spoke of it again."

Not looking good, Lanaran thought. Then again, these witnesses could easily be called compromised, since both were close relatives of the accused.

"Thank you, madam," Lanaran said. "You may step back."

The next witness was a servant – not another relative. Thank all things good.

The well-built man had known Assassa's mother and, after looking at the letter, confirmed that it was, indeed, her handwriting. He then produced a stack of letters, which he handed to a guard to give to the king.

Lanaran took the letters and studied them, his lips tightening as he noted the handwriting was the same, and the letters were addressed to Assassa and signed 'your loving mother'.

Damnation!

"Captain Amkesh, ensure that, when she has been found, she next finds herself in the most unpleasant cell we have available." He paused. "In fact, if there is a more unpleasant cell unavailable, move whoever is currently in it. Now, go and find her, Captain. Do not disappoint me."

<><><>

Lashlor wandered the wide castle corridors, seething about being ordered to remain in the castle until the sorceress was found. Yuldin had been instructed to create a sleeping potion that could be administered to Assassa, something Lashlor felt he would be the better man for. All his life, he had used herbs for pretty much everything, from stubbed toes and sicknesses to broken bones. People would be amazed at nature's healing power if only they would give it a chance. The king didn't seem to trust him anymore, however, despite the fact that he had given Lashlor a nice new bow, made from lemonwood – the best type of wood for bows.

Then there was the fact that he was to be permanently employed by the king, to take shifts watching Assassa when it came to mealtimes, as she would die if not allowed to eat, and that in itself was murder. Lashlor wished the king had more say in her punishment. Then there would be no need for anyone to watch the sorceress.

Lashlor stopped at a massive arched window and gazed out at the view. The City of Ends stretched out before him, the city wall not tall enough to block the view of the forest from this height.

Ends was supposed to be his place of refuge, a new start, where he could live in peace and do what he pleased without anyone trying to force him to do anything. Now here he was, again being told what to do. Yet how could he refuse, considering who had given the order?

Queen Narraki came up beside Lashlor, making him jump.

She smiled. "Sorry to have startled you."

Lashlor shrugged. "No harm done, My Queen."

"I know you must tire of explaining the same thing repeatedly to the same people," the queen murmured, "but I need to ask you one last time, and then I swear I will never ask it again." She smiled again. "Perhaps I will remember it better if told under less stressful circumstances."

Lashlor almost groaned. She was going to ask him yet again why he refused to use magic, and probably if he really was a wizard. She was right. He was tired of it.

She asked, and he explained it again, because he believed it wrong to deny royalty if the request was reasonable. When he fell silent, the queen nodded, then turned her gaze on the city.

Her expression indecipherable and tone neutral, Queen Narraki said, "I know you do not want to work for my husband. Is there a reason?"

Lashlor asked, "Are you implying that I might not be a wizard, after all, as I've been accused?"

The queen shrugged. "I know not. That's why I'm asking you."

Lashlor glared at his feet, then looked up and gave the queen a thin smile. "I am what I claim, My Queen. Just because someone does not do something does not mean they cannot."

<><><>

King Lanaran paced the bedroom. Narraki sat on the red velvet window seat watching him.

"I should be out there, helping to look for Assassa," he ranted.

"It's too dangerous."

"Yet my men are doing it." He came to the window and stopped to look out. "I will be seen as a coward."

"You will not."

"Some of the courtiers have already given the impression they think it. Others must also think it. How can they not when I think it too?"

His wife sighed. "Captain Amkesh will find her, Lanaran. It's only a matter of time."

Lanaran shook his head. "I'm going to join the search." He turned to leave, but Narraki stopped him with a hand on his arm and looked up at him, concern shining in her bright green eyes.

"What if you are killed?" She patted her stomach. "You have no heir yet."

"I will not be killed."

"I didn't know you were a fortune teller. A magic user," she said, with no hint of mirth in her tone.

A thundering boom came from outside, and the door burst open as they spun to face it. Assassa stood framed in the doorway, smirking. Two guards lay on the stone floor behind her. She raised her hands, palms forward, and Lanaran and Narraki flew back into the wall and slid to the floor, Assassa's magic crackling around them. The sorceress advanced on Lanaran as he leapt up. She raised her hands again, but then her face contorted and an inhuman screech came from her. She slumped, revealing Yuldin standing in the corridor holding a vial of blue potion.

"Just in time," Lanaran said, helping Narraki up. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." She glanced at the slumbering sorceress. "Especially now that she has been apprehended."

<><><>

Lashlor sat on a guard's chair in the dungeon, staring at the cell in which Assassa lay shackled and sleeping. A bowl of slop lay before her, and she would wake at any moment. If the king truly no longer trusted him, why did he want him to take a turn watching the sorceress... or was Yuldin or another magic user waiting outside the door to see if he truly could will her to sleep once she had eaten?

The guards gasped and Lashlor turned to look. Queen Narraki strode down the damp passage, her long midnight blue gown bunched in her hands as she held it up off the dungeon floor.

"At ease," she said, moving towards Lashlor.

He rose to his feet. "My Queen, this is no place for-"

"Assassa will be here until the end of her days. I want to know the finer details of how magic works, so we can better protect ourselves and the citizens of Ends from her." She glanced at the sorceress. "For example, how likely is it that she will slowly become immune to the potion, like she did with the sleeping spells?"

Lashlor stared at the queen. "Well... quite likely, I'm afraid. When the magic flowing through one's veins is powerful enough, one can overcome even poison."

"So how do we stop the immunity? Is it possible?"

Lashlor thought for a moment. "I suppose the potion could be modified, but it would have to be done every few days and there are only so many modifications that can be made before it no longer acts as a sleeping potion."

Queen Narraki nodded. "And what about spelling the cell? Yuldin is busy working on a spell of entrapment to keep her in the cell no matter what. Is it possible he will succeed?"

Lashlor frowned. "Technically, yes, but..."

"Do not mince words with me, wizard. But what?"

Lashlor cleared his throat. "It would require much energy. Whoever casts the spell would have to refresh it every few days, and each time would drain the magic user a little more."

"So we need a few magic users to take turns."

Lashlor shook his head. "Yes and no. To keep someone as powerful as Assassa entrapped indefinitely would require a kingdom of magic users who do nothing else, and they would all need to be more powerful than she." He gave the queen a pointed look. "How many magic users do you know of who are that powerful?"

Assassa stirred, and Lashlor and the queen glanced at her.

"Only Yuldin – and we are not even sure how powerful he is. Thus far, my husband believes we have just been lucky."

Lashlor shifted his weight from one foot to the other. 'Lucky' was the correct word, all right.

Chapter 11

King Lanaran shot up in bed, clutching his throat. His breath came in ragged gasps and his Adam's apple ached as if strong fingers had pressed against it only moments ago, but the room was empty of intruders. Thank goodness, it was just a dream.

He noticed that his wife was not in bed as she should be at this hour, and panic flooded him again. Perhaps the dream had been an omen.

Leaping from the bed, Lanaran called, "Guards!"

The doors flew open and four guards rushed in, ready to defend their king and queen.

"Where is the queen?"

"She left a short while ago to walk in the castle gardens."

"With the sorceress in the castle?" Lanaran yelled, knowing the guards could not have stopped her from leaving regardless, since that would be treason.

The guards frowned at him, and one asked, "My King, what happened to you?"

Lanaran frowned too, fingering his tender throat, then strode across the room and stared at his moonlit reflection in the full-length mirror. A fast-blackening bruise in the shape of slender fingers reflected back at him.

Someone had, indeed, tried to murder him while he slept.

The guards searched the room. When they found no one, he ordered them to find the queen and make sure the sorceress was still in the dungeon.

They left and Lanaran threw on a pair of black trousers and a dark blue shirt with the royal insignia embroidered on the left sleeve. He had always liked the insignia, in silver, a dragon's head sliced in two by a crown, on a dark blue background. He was halfway to the door, intent on finding his wife, when ghostly fingers squeezed his throat again, bringing him to his knees. Even if he could have called for the guards – which he doubted – there were none left outside the door to hear him.

Lanaran doubled over, choking. The damned sorceress must have escaped.

A blond servant who was passing by saw him and rushed into the room, then dropped to the floor at his side. "My King! What ails you?"

Lanaran tried to speak, but the ethereal fingers squeezed tighter. "Assassa..." he managed to gasp, then the servant's face blurred and darkness overcame him.

<><><>

Queen Narraki's eyes misted. "So you do not think it possible to imprison her indefinitely?"

Lashlor shook his head. "No, My Queen. I truly feel an exception should be made in her case and she should be executed. It is the only way to ensure the safety of you and your husband, and the kingdom."

Commotion near the dungeon entrance drew their attention. A blond servant tried to push past the guards, who had drawn their swords.

The servant spotted the queen and shrieked, "The sorceress attacks the king!"

Assassa, however, still lay slumbering.

Queen Narraki's eyes narrowed and she strode towards the servant. "Cynley, the sorceress still sleeps. Where is my husband?"

"Your husband has passed out, but his last words accused her!" Cynley pointed at Assassa.

The queen's eyes flashed with concern. "Where is he?"

"In the royal bedchambers."

"Is it possible?" she murmured in disbelief.

"If she is capable of lucid dreaming, yes, My Queen, I believe it is possible. But..." Lashlor shook his head. "I haven't heard of anyone capable of it for centuries!"

Queen Narraki scowled. "Wake her, wizard, and let her escape at your peril!" She dropped her skirts and ran towards the dungeon exit, ordering the servant to fetch the royal healer.

Lashlor walked up to the cell bars, his heart heavy. Waking Assassa was a bad idea, he suspected, but if he refused he would be committing treason, and he was no traitor. He nodded at the guards. "Open it."

They moved to obey, but then Assassa sat up and smirked at them. "No need to free me, kind sirs. I am quite capable."

Lashlor blinked and the cell was empty.

He stared at the guards, his gut churning. Would the queen have him executed for his failure?

<><><>

King Lanaran shifted on the throne and spoke to his chief advisor. "So you agree, since there is no way to control her, an exception can be made to the law?"

Kealmonn cleared his throat. "In a way, My King. You must amend the law to fit the new situation. Only then can you have your half-sister executed."

Queen Narraki frowned. "Can we not do the formalities later? It's surely more important that we end her before she can end us."

"I'm afraid not, My Queen. It is the law."

"She tried to kill me in my sleep and I must waste my time amending laws?" Lanaran fumed.

"It will take but a few hours, My King. By the time she is apprehended again, the law will be in effect."

"If she is apprehended again. I do not think we will be so lucky this time."

"If she truly wants the throne, she will try again."

"That's very comforting, Kealmonn." Lanaran glared.

"Indeed, My King, for Captain Amkesh has the guards well prepared. She will not escape this time."

Narraki stood up. "And we have almost every magic user in Ends in the castle, preparing all sorts of magical traps for her."

Lanaran glowered. "Well, I can tell you one thing for sure..." He met Kealmonn's watery blue eyes. "When this is done with, I will be taking another look at all the laws – with the aim of abolishing the stupid ones."

<><><>

A week later, Assassa had still not been found. No longer able to control his growing fear that his beloved, and his kingdom, would be ripped out from under him, King Lanaran announced that he would be joining the next search party, due to leave the castle grounds within the hour.

"Perhaps that's what she wants," Queen Narraki said.

"Then it will make it easier to find her."

Kealmonn shook his head. "It's a bad idea, My King."

"I do not care for your advice right now. The law has no say in this."

"I know, but-"

"You may leave. I wish to say a proper goodbye to my wife."

"Take the wizards, Lanaran," Narraki said. "Yuldin and Lashlor. You will be safer."

Lanaran snorted. "Lashlor? All he has proven is that he can let her escape – twice now!"

"There was nothing anyone could have done either time. You cannot blame him for that."

"Just how sure are you he's even a real wizard? I had Kealmonn check, you know. No one has ever seen him use magic, not even a few days before you met him, when a wild dog-horse pack almost trampled him. I'm told freezing animals is easy for most magic users and it doesn't harm them. So why did he almost die rather than use magic? Because he can't use magic, that's why!"

Narraki sighed. "He didn't die and perhaps he knew he would not. Besides, he wears a wizard's medallion. How could he, if he was not who he says he is?"

Lanaran glared at her. This was not the goodbye he'd had in mind. "You would have me risk my life on the slight possibility that he is a real wizard?"

"No, my love. You risk nothing by having him at your side. Whatever else Lashlor is or isn't, he is loyal and has risked his life for ours on more than one occasion. Even if he is not a wizard, he would gladly give his life for yours given the chance."

<><><>

Lashlor followed the king's guards along the city streets towards the main gate. King Lanaran's curt tone whenever he addressed Lashlor made it clear his presence had been the queen's idea. He hoped this would be the last time he would be dragged into 'kingdom business'. Much more of this was likely to be the end of him.

The search party reached the city gates and marched down a narrow dirt road towards the forest, the deepest parts of which had not yet been searched. The king led the way, followed by five Guards of Ends, then a middle-aged red-haired witch, a long-haired blond witch and Lashlor. He didn't have to wonder why King Lanaran had instructed him to take the last position – it was likely to be furthest from any danger they encountered. Clearly, the king had no confidence in him.

That no longer bothered Lashlor, however. This way, he was more likely to survive another encounter with the powerful sorceress. He prayed she would be found and apprehended... by another search party.

The goddess saw fit not to grant his request as an explosion ahead flung the guards off the path.

King Lanaran stood facing Assassa, whose long green dress billowed around her despite the fact that there was no wind.

At first, Lashlor thought one of the witches had cast a protection spell on the king, but then Assassa snarled, "I will leave you for last, dear brother. You will watch your followers die."

The older witch muttered something and Assassa scowled at her. "Did you really think that would hurt me? Foolish woman!"

The air sizzled and the witch screamed as her flesh melted from her.

The second witch raised her hands, and Assassa warned, "Do that, and you will suffer the same fate."

Lashlor's heart seemed to stop beating. He had to do something....

Chapter 12

King Lanaran stood rooted to the spot, unable to move. Assassa must have cast a spell on him, because his legs refused to obey him, and it was certainly not fear freezing him in place, for his itch to end the sorceress' life was far too great to be hindered by mere fear. His guards seemed to be out of commission, along with at least one of the magic users. Assassa smirked at him, then turned her attention back to the few still standing. Her face contorted in apparent disbelief, then horror. She turned as if to run.

Hope flooded Lanaran. She feared one of the magic users.

The crackling of invisible lightning filled the air, and an unseen force lifted Assassa and hurled her against a tridit tree. She slid down, the tree's thorny bark leaving myriad cuts on her face. Her features contorted again and she made a choking sound, then her eyes rolled back and she lost consciousness.

Lanaran lost his balance as he was released from her spell, then spun to see who he should thank.

Only Lashlor and one of the witches stood standing.

"Who did that?"

The witch said, "I did, My King."

He should have known it wasn't Lashlor. Fake piece of-

Lanaran gave himself a mental shake. It didn't matter. What mattered was that Assassa had been recaptured and would soon be too dead to cause any further trouble. "You shall be richly rewarded," he told the witch. He hesitated, then his face flushed and he asked, "What is your name again?"

"Elmadra, My King."

Lashlor looked a little upset, and Lanaran said, "As will you be rewarded, for the risks you have taken, and for saving the life of your queen." He paused, frowning. "Even though you are clearly no wizard, at least you have proven to be loyal and brave."

<><><>

"Please, do not kill her! She only wants what is-" Thorona Tinletor, Assassa's half-sister, fell silent as King Lanaran's icy stare fell on her.

Lanaran was certain Thorona had been about to say 'what is rightfully hers'. Would he have to execute her, too? He hoped not.

The guards dragged her away from the gallows, on which Assassa lay sprawled, still under the witch's sleeping spell.

Thorona struggled, still pleading, "Please! I will make sure she does not attempt to harm you again! Please!" She gave up resisting and sank to the cobbled courtyard, sobbing.

Lanaran sighed and glanced at Narraki, who stood beside him. She gave him a wan smile and nodded, her lips set in a thin line. She knew as well as he that they could not afford compassion. Not when it came to the sorceress who would take Ends as her own.

Lanaran spoke, loud enough for all those gathered to hear. "I hereby charge Assassa Tinletor with high treason, attempting to assassinate the queen, attempting to assassinate the king, and attempting to take the Kingdom of Ends by force. I sentence her to death by hanging." He nodded to the executioner. "Do it."

Two guards picked up Assassa, placed her upright on the gallows and held her as the executioner slipped the noose around her neck. The guards released her and the trapdoor under her feet dropped open.

The rope around Assassa's neck snapped and she fell to the cobblestones under the gallows – still very much alive.

The arrow that had severed the rope thwacked into the gallows' wooden frame, narrowly missing the executioner.

A few paces away, Assassa's grandmother lowered a bow, giving Thorona a brief nod before the guards dragged her away, presumably to the dungeon, where she would await trial.

Assassa stirred, and the witch, Elmadra, stepped between the king and sorceress.

"It must be done now, My King, for my energy is not yet replenished enough to cast another sleeping spell."

"Yuldin!" Captain Amkesh shouted, looking around for the wizard.

A none too cheerful Yuldin emerged from the crowd, his eyes fixed on Assassa. "The protection spells around the castle have worn me out, My King." He looked apologetic. "I cannot guarantee-"

"Execute her!" Lanaran roared at the executioner, chilling panic snaking down his spine.

<><><>

Standing near the centre of the crowd, Lashlor stared at Thorona, convinced the nod from her grandmother had been a go-ahead to rescue Assassa. Was Assassa's half-sister, too, a magic user? He could not tell, so either magic did not flow through her veins, or she was not terribly powerful.

Not that it mattered. Yuldin and Elmadra were there to sort them out, standing next to the king. Elmadra could probably handle two Assassas without help, Lashlor thought, envious, but comforted by her presence.

A glance at the gallows showed Assassa once again held upright, the trapdoor now closed.

The guards holding Thorona cried out and fell, and the people around them backed away as one, like a tide leaving shore. Lashlor craned his neck to see what was going on, pushing his way towards the front.

Guards closed in on the king and queen, surrounding them.

The executioner pulled the rope that opened the trapdoor.

The trapdoor remained in place.

Thorona spoke, her voice loud, clear and confident. "I will not let you murder my sister!"

She must have spelled the trapdoor.

She strode towards the gallows, but was forced to halt when Elmadra and Yuldin stepped into her path. Thorona flung up her hands and a faint orange shimmer shot towards her foes. Elmadra flicked her head back and the shimmer blinked out of sight.

Lashlor shoved his way further to the front. Was that uncertainty he saw in Thorona's eyes? It was if she had a shred of wisdom in her.

Yuldin cast a sleeping spell, but it only made Thorona yawn, then she smirked.

The air filled with cracks and sizzles as the magic users attacked.

Elmadra flicked her fingers, and Thorona screamed and clawed her eyes. Halfway to her knees, an invisible force flung Assassa back, then suspended her above the gallows.

Relief flooded Lashlor, but it was short-lived.

Yuldin screeched and charged into the crowd. Citizens scattered as he raced passed, punching or kicking those who moved out of his way too slowly. Thorona must have cast a false vision spell of him, and now he ran from terrors only he could see. Lashlor fought his way towards the wizard, hoping he could calm him.

Elmadra scowled and clenched her hand, then twisted it viciously.

A loud snap reverberated around the courtyard and Thorona screamed. A glance at her showed her left leg twisted at an unnatural angle. She was obviously not powerful enough to focus on too many things at once, because Yuldin regained his senses and hurried back to the fight.

Lashlor fought his way to the front of the crowd and went to stand beside the group of guards surrounding the king and queen. He reached them just as Yuldin tried to cast another sleeping spell on Thorona. Wounded as she was, Yuldin still didn't have enough power left to perform the spell. Thorona squinted at him, causing him to double over, his face contorted in agony.

He should let Elmadra handle it. His confidence will be the death of him, Lashlor thought, amazed at Yuldin's stupidity. He was so outmatched that even a fool could have seen it... and he thought he was powerful because he had 'killed beyeni' and put a sleeping spell on Assassa? As King Lanaran thought, they had got lucky, and that was all there was to it.

Elmadra yelled three guttural words from the Old Language, and Thorona floated up until her neck was in line with the noose, which slipped over her head and tightened. Assassa raised her head a fraction, clearly still weak and half asleep, and focussed on the trapdoor beneath her half-sister's feet. Yuldin looked constipated as he, too, fixed his gaze on the trapdoor. He had enough power for that, at least, perhaps because Assassa was still too sleepy to thwart him. She fell back, sweat sheening her brow, and the trapdoor swung open.

Thorona fell and dangled, kicking and gurgling, then flung out her arms and brought them back together in an unnaturally loud clap. The rope snapped and she dropped, crying out as she landed on her broken leg and it gave in.

Elmadra walked under the gallows platform and loomed over Thorona. "Clearly, the goddess does not wish you hanged."

Thorona glared up at her defiantly.

"So I will choke you to death instead." Elmadra raised a hand and clenched it.

Thorona mimicked the action and Elmadra's face contorted as she fought with her own hand to avoid punching herself in the face. Her jaw taut with determination and anger, the witch flung out her offending arm and opened her hand, palm forward.

An invisible foot seemed to kick Thorona in the gut, and her arms and legs spread out as she flew back. She slammed into the gallows' wooden frame, then slid to the ground clutching her stomach. Her face twisted in agony, and sweat streamed down it and her neck.

Elmadra looked strained, but in control. She raised her fist once more.

Yuldin emulated her.

They exchanged glances, then narrowed their eyes at Thorona, who grabbed her throat as if their magic already choked her. It probably did, Lashlor thought, relieved he didn't have to get involved. It would be over in seconds and the bad guys had lost, as it should be.

A silent flash of white light came from behind the gallows.

A slim blond figure in a tight-fitting black tunic with gold trimmings stepped into view.

Undassan, the wizard who had come across them in the cabin. It was he who had betrayed the queen's being there, Lashlor was still certain.

Undassan's presence here, now, could not mean anything good.

"Now, now, is that any way to treat a lady?" Undassan asked Elmadra and Yuldin, then cocked his head.

Tortured shrieks left their lips as their wrists snapped and Thorona was released from their magic.

Thankfully, Elmadra was still powerful enough to hold Assassa partly under the sleeping spell, but it was clear that her energy was fast fading. It was incredible that she had lasted this long, Lashlor thought. It could only mean that she didn't use her magic on a whim – it tended to build up rather nicely when not used for trivialities. Knowing this made Lashlor like her even more.

"Undassan!" Queen Narraki exclaimed.

He turned to grin at her. "I would say I'm sorry for betraying you, but it would be a lie. It was rather lucrative, and will soon be even more so." He glanced at Assassa. "When my queen takes the throne."

Lashlor's blood ran cold.

It looked like he would have to get involved, after all.

Chapter 13

"I will behead them myself!" Lanaran grated, trying to push his way past the guards.

Captain Amkesh barred his way, sparing his men the king's wrath. "My King, this is one fight you must stay out of."

The blond man clicked his fingers and Yuldin crumpled to the ground. Lashlor hastened to him and dragged him to the side.

Lanaran turned from the wizards and shouted at Amkesh, "Nobody tells the king what to do!"

Some of the king's guards began to choke, their faces reddening as Lanaran watched. Two sorcerers he remembered interviewing emerged from the crowd and stood beside Elmadra.

"I cannot allow it." Amkesh grasped Lanaran's arm. "You and the queen must come with me."

Lanaran leant closer to Amkesh and murmured into his ear, "Allow it? My dear captain, if you do not move out of my way this instant, yours will be the first head that rolls this day."

"Lanaran!" Queen Narraki admonished.

Amkesh did not as much as flinch. Normally, Lanaran would have appreciated that type of steadfastness, but now it just angered him further.

The air grew thick and sizzled, and then multi-coloured sparks shot into the crowd as Elmadra and the two sorcerers unleashed the full force of their magic against Undassan. Citizens scattered, only the boldest – or perhaps the most foolish, Lanaran thought – remaining to watch. A wayward energy bolt shot towards them, and Amkesh bowled Lanaran and Narraki out of the way, howling as the magic singed his right arm.

Lanaran hunched over his friend. "How bad is it?"

Amkesh grated, "I'll live."

Lanaran helped him up and they followed Narraki to the cover of the nearest stall.

Assassa's half-sister bent over her under the gallows, waving her hands, her eyes closed and jaw taut in concentration. She must be undoing the sleeping spell.

Lanaran drew his sword. Amkesh put a hand on his arm and shook his head, his brow ceased with concern. Lanaran shook it off.

"No one has noticed what Thorona does. It's up to me."

Narraki looked like she was about to faint. She knew as well as he that if Assassa awoke they were in big trouble. He glanced at the battling wizards as Elmadra ducked another energy bolt and threw one of her own. Not that they weren't already in big trouble.

Assassa's eyes fluttered open and Elmadra spun in her direction, eyes wide, as if she sensed her spell being broken.

Lanaran looked around. Where were all the guards? He asked Amkesh.

"I don't know, My King." Amkesh looked embarrassed, as if he was somehow to blame.

Narraki said, "All fallen foul of dark magic, we must assume."

Lanaran whirled to face the battle again as an explosion rocked the ground. Elmadra and the two sorcerers stood side by side, eyes narrowed and features twisted in what was clearly a great effort.

Assassa raised her head, but fell back as soon as she'd completed the act.

Undassan snarled something at the three magic users pitted against him, then ducked and flung out his hands. A wave of energy surged towards Elmadra and her comrades, none of whom paid it any attention. Not two strides from where they stood, it came to an abrupt stop, then boomeranged back at Undassan. He snapped his fingers and it vanished.

The ground under the wizard's feet appeared to ripple, then thin cracks snaked out from under him, stopping an arm's length away.

Lanaran frowned. What the-?

Undassan looked down, then up to stare at his attackers in apparent disbelief.

The cobblestones melted beneath him and his feet sank into them.

Assassa sat up, rubbing her head, and Thorona beamed.

To Lanaran's left, Yuldin sat up. Thank goodness, he lives.

Undassan was already up to his chest in the melted cobblestone sinkhole.

Elmadra nodded to the sorcerers, who moved to intercept Assassa and Thorona as they emerged from under the gallows. To Lanaran's surprise, there was no hint of victory or smugness in Elmadra's expression – just a touch of sadness, or regret, perhaps. She wasn't enjoying killing Undassan. It was merely something she believed was right and necessary.

Assassa glared at the taller of the two sorcerers who confronted her. His eyes went wide and he turned to scan the crowd. His eyes fixed on Lanaran's, then he charged him, flailing his arms and screeching, "Be gone with you, unholy wench!"

Lanaran stood rooted to the spot. For the first time since he had been in training, his reflexes failed him.

<><><>

Lashlor and Yuldin looked up.

"An insanity spell," they said in unison.

Yuldin stood up. "We must undo it."

Lashlor's eyes widened as the poor sorcerer grabbed a sword from a prone guard, raised it above his head and leapt at King Lanaran.

Captain Amkesh came from behind in a crouch-run and raised his sword at the same time, impaling the sorcerer. The captain yanked out his sword and the sorcerer slumped, his eyes vacant.

Lashlor realised he had been holding his breath and let it out. A glance at Undassan showed him up to his neck in a magical sinkhole from which there would be no return.

"We cannot let the sorcerer stand alone against Assassa. She will slaughter him." Yuldin darted towards the confrontation.

And us too, Lashlor thought, unwilling to put his life on the line and feeling like a coward for it.

The surviving sorcerer hung in midair, clutching his throat.

Undassan's mouth and nose were no longer visible. Elmadra turned from him, her work done, saw what Assassa was doing, then scanned the crowd. Her eyes fell on King Lanaran, and she sank to her knees and raised her hands above her head, swaying gracefully, as if to music only she could hear.

Lashlor recognised her actions – it was the beginning of a long and complicated protection spell, one that would last long after her death, possibly even until the king and queen died of natural causes.

Amkesh raised his sword and charged Elmadra, obviously having mistaken her actions as aggressive.

Lashlor ran to cut him off, shouting, "Amkesh! Captain Amkesh, stop!" He reached Elmadra just before the captain did, and gasped, "She casts a protection spell on the king and queen! Leave her be!"

Uncertainty flashing in his eyes, Amkesh turned to look back at the king, who frowned, but shook his head, then continued arguing with the two guards who were left, who were probably trying to persuade him against joining the fight.

A snap echoed around the almost empty courtyard.

The suspended sorcerer dropped to the cobblestones with a thud.

The top of Undassan's head vanished beneath the melted cobblestones and the ground became solid once more.

Yuldin focussed on Assassa.

She smirked at him. "You won't put me to sleep again, wizard." She blew a kiss at him and he began scratching himself all over as if a nest of fire beetles crawled blazing trails across his flesh.

Lashlor's heart sank. If the spell was not undone, Yuldin would literally scratch off his skin and, when there was none left, would do the same to his innards – if he survived that long. Incredibly, some did. He had seen it before and had no wish to do so again.

<><><>

King Lanaran watched in horror as Yuldin scratched himself to the point of bleeding. What in damnation?

Lashlor hurried to his aid, but Yuldin kicked him in the kneecap and pranced away, still scratching.

Assassa hurled an energy bolt at Lanaran. He flung himself down just in time to avoid being speared through the middle. Narraki hurried to his side as he stood up.

"You shouldn't be here," Lanaran told her. "Go back to the castle."

"No one tells the queen what to do," she teased, referring to his earlier outburst at Captain Amkesh.

That she could joke in the midst of such violence was beyond Lanaran, but it was one of the countless things he loved about her. Right now, however, it instilled no deep love, but panic and fear that she would be killed or hurt.

"This is no time to joke. You must go to the castle!"

"Where all the guards are dead or bewitched?" She folded her arms. "I think not."

Bloody strips of flesh flapped about as Yuldin danced out of Lashlor's reach again, still scratching.

Lanaran shuddered.

Assassa must have attacked Elmadra, for the witch shifted her focus for a few moments and squinted at the sorceress. Assassa yawned and her eyes closed, and hope surged through Lanaran, but then she opened them again and sneered at the witch, wide awake. Elmadra appeared unperturbed and turned her attention back to Lanaran and Narraki. Assassa conjured what looked like a glob of blue mud, then flung it at the witch. It bounced off an invisible shield and shot back towards Assassa.

Assassa ducked, then flung another three bolts at Elmadra, all of which boomeranged back to her.

Amkesh hurried up to Lanaran, Narraki and the two guards who still stood with them. "My King, you must get back to the castle. We will handle this."

"You think three men can defeat a sorceress whom fellow magic users cannot?"

"We must try. If you die, all will be lost."

"You lot..." Lanaran gestured to Amkesh and the two guards. "...Have treated me like a child this day. I command you to hinder me no more!" He pushed past them, heading for Assassa.

"My King!" a guard called.

Lanaran paused and looked back. "The witch has cast a protection spell on me. I will be safe."

"She does not appear to be finished yet," Narraki pointed out.

Elmadra still focussed on the royal couple, sweat sheening her brow and streaming down her cheeks and neck.

Assassa raised her head and spread her arms. Unnatural thunder rumbled above and the skies turned dark.

Lanaran searched for Yuldin and Lashlor, their only hope with Elmadra otherwise occupied. Lashlor's hands weaved invisible patterns across Yuldin's prone form. Lanaran couldn't see the human for the blood. Surely the wizard could not survive?

Lanaran raised his sword and raced towards Assassa, swinging the weapon towards her neck as he reached her. She turned and blew at it, and an unseen force ripped it from his hands. She flung out her arms, palms forward, looking confused when nothing happened.

Lashlor removed his cloak and spread it over Yuldin's bloodied face, then rose to his feet, met Lanaran's gaze and shook his head. The wizard was dead.

Elmadra slumped and cradled her broken wrist, her spell seemingly complete.

Assassa saw the motion and flung another energy bolt at the witch, who raised her hands in a feeble attempt to protect herself. Her magic must have been spent, for the bolt pierced her abdomen and her face contorted in agony, then her eyes fluttered closed and her chest stopped heaving.

Elmadra, too, was dead. Elmadra, the only one who had stood a chance against Assassa... along with the wizard duo, of course, one of whom was dead, too.

The kingdom was doomed.

Lanaran looked back at Narraki and mouthed 'run'.

Assassa glared at Lanaran, then snarled, "Your witch might have protected you and your whore beyond her death, but she cannot protect your kingdom."

Lanaran scowled, fear clenching his gut as he realised Thorona was unaccounted for. He had lost track of her during the fight.

Assassa's delicate features contorted in fury and she bellowed, "If I cannot have Ends, no one will. I will raze it to nothing!"

"You mean we will raze it to nothing," Thorona said, stepping out from behind the gallows, a pack of beyeni at her back.

Chapter 14

Cold fear snaked up Lashlor's spine as Assassa's words echoed throughout the courtyard. If channelled correctly, his fear would fuel his magic, but it would not be enough to defeat the sorceress, he knew. Today would see the end of him, but perhaps he could at least buy time for the king and queen to escape.

"If spells cannot kill you, perhaps my sister's pets can," Assassa sneered at King Lanaran.

The beyeni – seven by Lashlor's count – spread out to surround the king, some slinking towards the queen. The two guards with her brandished their swords, their faces ashen with terror. Captain Amkesh stood by the king's side, sword at the ready.

<><><>

King Lanaran slid his hunting knife from its ankle sheath. A pathetic weapon against creatures of dark magic, but his sword was out of reach. Amkesh tried to swap weapons with him, but Lanaran glared and yanked the knife away.

"Now is not the time for heroics, Captain. We need all able hands."

Amkesh opened his mouth to argue again.

"That's an order!" Lanaran barked.

A clear, sharp voice rang out. "The king has ordered your death this day, and so it shall be."

Lanaran gaped as Lashlor – the fake wizard – stepped into the circle of beyeni.

To Lanaran's amazement, Assassa took a step back. It seemed she was afraid of the fake wizard, but surely she could sense he was not a fellow magic user and posed no threat?

Even the beyeni hesitated, then some snarled at the fake wizard and turned their attention to him.

"He's trying to divide them to give us a greater chance," Lanaran murmured.

"He's a fool." Amkesh jabbed his sword at a beyeni that got too close.

What in all the lands were the dark creatures waiting for? It seemed their mistress had commanded them to toy with the prey before going in for the kill.

Lanaran shook his head. "No. He's a hero."

"He'll die."

"A hero." New respect for the fake wizard flooded Lanaran. "But not alone. Come, Captain. Let's get this over with. If they will not attack first, we will."

<><><>

Time seemed to slow and the scene grew hazy. Lashlor blinked. He sensed it. Without doubt. Assassa and Thorona were afraid of him. They must perceive the magic flowing through his veins, but a sorceress as powerful as Assassa had no reason to fear a lesser wizard like him, who'd had almost no practice at magic in recent years. Thorona's magic was weak, so she would give him no trouble, but Assassa...

Lashlor took a sharp breath of fright as Thorona flicked an energy bolt at him. Chilling war cries filled the air as Lashlor flung up his hands in reflex. An arm's length from his face, the bolt vanished with a pop. Something yelped and a woman shrieked. Lashlor turned to the sounds. Captain Amkesh had wounded a beyeni and the king struggled on the ground, trying to hold back the beyeni straddling him. The wounded beyeni's eyes filled with hate and it leapt at the captain, who also fell. Both the queen's guards were down, one already dead. She cast panicked glances between the king and beyeni as she backed into a wall.

It was now or never.

Lashlor took a steeling breath.

Ignoring the survival instinct that urged him to flee, he focussed on the thunderclouds Assassa had conjured. A teal mist dropped down like a curtain, falling between Queen Narraki and the three beyeni that advanced on her. The first creature reached it and sniffed, drawing back with a yelp as its nose came into contact with the magical mist.

That should keep those beyeni busy for a while.

Lashlor clenched his hand and made a vicious twisting motion, and the beyeni that ripped chunks out of the unconscious – or dead – king slackened and fell on top of its bloodied victim. A similar motion saved Captain Amkesh from certain death just as a beyeni sank its teeth into his neck.

Something tickled Lashlor's arm and he turned his head to look. Thorona stared at him, disbelief warping her aura. A beyeni limped away, towards its mistress, its tail between its legs. A glance around showed no other magic users. Who, then, had cast the spell to protect him from the beyeni's attack? Clearly, someone so powerful that even a beyeni was afraid to anger whoever it was – and he hadn't thought it possible for a conjured creature to disobey a command or feel fear.

The half-sisters raised their arms and chanted.

A purple lightning bolt streaked from the clouds towards Lashlor.

A beyeni leapt at him.

Captain Amkesh stopped it midair with a sword to its belly.

It twisted as it fell, then sprang at the captain, the sword stuck between its ribs scraping on the cobblestones.

Lashlor reached out with his mind and snapped its neck as he dived to avoid the lightning, which struck the ground not a pace from where he landed, leaving a smoking hole.

Assassa and Thorona exchanged glances with incomprehensible expressions, then Assassa's eyes narrowed and she glared at Lashlor.

An insane itch came over him. This was what Yuldin must have experienced.

The stubbornness Lashlor had inherited from his mother took over, and he shouted, "An itching spell? I refuse to itch!"

To his astonishment, the itching stopped.

Thorona clenched her hand and raised it, a triumphant gleam in her eyes.

Invisible hands wrapped around Lashlor's neck and squeezed.

"Bugger off!" he shouted.

Thorona lowered her hands and walked away, the wounded beyeni following.

Assassa called after her, "Thorona! What are you doing?"

Her half-sister ignored her.

Lashlor gaped.

It appeared as if a puppet spell had been cast on Thorona, but he hadn't done it... had he?

Let's see...

Lashlor looked at the three beyeni still trying to get around his mist wall, which moved each time they came near the edge. "Oi! You three, drop dead!"

The beyeni choked, foaming at the mouth, then dropped dead.

Lashlor gasped.

It seemed he had built up more magic stores than he had believed possible.

Assassa gave a rage-filled screech, then pointed at Lashlor. "You drop dead!"

No!

The word was barely thought when searing heat blazed in Lashlor's blood, fading as fast as it had begun.

Assassa gaped, then recovered from her shock and tried to snap Lashlor's neck. A pins and needles sensation warmed him, but no invisible hands choked him this time.

Perhaps he would not die this day, after all, but he was sick of being attacked. Besides being unpleasant, it drained him of energy, and he disliked feeling so weak.

Lashlor faced her, his hands clenched at his sides. "Hang, you bitch! Hang!"

Assassa rose and hung suspended in midair, kicking and grabbing her throat. "Curse you! Curse you all!"

His voice colder than he'd ever heard it, Lashlor said, "I don't think so."

"The Queen of Ends is cursed. She will be but the first. A rabid bitch is she, and a creature of darkness all will see."

"Shut up!" Lashlor shouted.

Assassa's mouth drew shut in a thin line, her eyes betraying the fact that she had been spelled silent.

Lashlor stared at her in wonder, his apparent power making his head spin.

A weak, wheezing voice came from behind Lashlor. "What are you waiting for, wizard? End this." King Lanaran spluttered and fell back.

Lashlor spun back to Assassa, visualising a rope around her neck and an imaginary trapdoor opening under her feet.

She dropped a fraction, kicking and grabbing her neck, her eyes bulging.

Assassa struggled for so long Lashlor thought he would have to will her dead another way, but then she gave one final gasp and hung slack.

Lashlor released her from the spell and she dropped, lifeless.

Relief flooded him. If only he had known it would be this easy...

Captain Amkesh kicked her in the side, then turned an incredulous gaze on Lashlor. "You really are a wizard."

Queen Narraki knelt at the motionless king's side. She looked up and pleaded, "Wizard, help him!"

Chapter 15

Two days after the death of Assassa, Lashlor sat in the castle gardens, the late morning sunshine warming his face. Most of the citizens of Ends had survived unscathed, and only a handful of guards and four magic users had perished. Their deaths consumed Lashlor with guilt, for he knew that, if he had helped Elmadra and the others earlier, it was unlikely any of them would have perished. If he had known how powerful he truly was, he would have acted sooner. Instead, his cowardice had caused their deaths.

Lashlor sighed and watched a green-eyed caterpillar make its way up the leg of the wooden bench he sat on. He shouldn't blame himself for wanting to live. He hadn't killed them, nor had he known he was so capable of saving the day. If he had...

If, if, if! Shut up, fool!

He stood up just as a portly servant came around a nearby rose bush.

"The king is awake and wishes to see you."

Relieved that his king would live, Lashlor smiled and followed the young man.

<><><>

King Lanaran sat up in bed and Queen Narraki perched on the edge when the wizard entered. Lashlor looked happy, which added to Lanaran's anger.

"I should have you hanged, wizard!"

Lashlor stopped halfway to the bed, his smile freezing.

"Now, now, dear," Narraki soothed. "Is that any way to treat a hero who saved the life of his king and queen?"

"He didn't save us – Elmadra's protection spell did."

"Actually," Lashlor said, his tone tetchy, "her spell didn't include magical creatures. I'm sure you remember being mauled half to death by a beyeni."

Lanaran glared at the wizard, hating the fact that he was right.

"Good people died, wizard. Had you used your magic sooner, they would still be alive."

Guilt flashed across the wizard's face, gone so fast Lanaran wasn't sure if he had imagined it.

"I used it far sooner than you noticed, My King."

Lanaran sat forward, then fell back with a gasp of pain.

"You must rest, My King!" admonished Maven, the tall royal healer.

"Yes, yes." Lanaran waved her away from the bed. "How so, wizard?" he challenged.

"Who do you think roused Yuldin? One doesn't awake so fast from a sleeping spell unless one is un-spelled."

"He would have been better off asleep," Lanaran said. "He only died because he was awake to help."

He knew it was unfair to blame Lashlor, but couldn't shake off his anger at the unnecessary deaths. He should rightfully blame Assassa and Thorona, but one was dead and the other had not yet been found – and that, too, was the wizard's fault.

Lashlor's jaw tightened and shoulders tensed, then he relaxed and said, "Yuldin made his own choice. I tried to stop him, but his eagerness to be a hero overcame his common sense. I also tried to undo the itching spell that killed him, but could not get him to stand still, which is required for the undoing spell. And there's another thing you have me to thank for... Thorona was not the one who put your guards under a sleeping spell."

Lanaran gaped. "You sabotaged our defence?"

Lashlor scowled at him – something few had ever dared to do. "I did no such thing, and I'll thank you to stop making buggering assumptions!"

Narraki stifled a giggle, averting her eyes when Lanaran frowned at her.

He opened his mouth to call for the guards – nobody spoke to the king so rudely.

Narraki put a hand on his arm. "Hear him out. Never forget he is the only reason you and I live. The only reason we all live. The only reason our people are free from tyrannical rule right now."

Lanaran bit his tongue, then nodded. "Make it quick, wizard. My wife will not sway me forever."

"Thorona cast a death spell on the guards. A potent spell that can make an entire army simply drop dead, or any specified group of people. I blocked her death spell and replaced it with a special sleeping spell that mimics death. Her magic – I sensed it – was not nearly powerful enough for that type of spell, and I hoped she would assume her spell had worked when no guards attacked. The fact that most of them live is proof my plan worked." Lashlor took a breath. "I'm just not sure if she deliberately left some of us out of it or if her magic wasn't strong enough, so it missed some of us."

Lanaran had wondered why some guards seemed to have been killed by the sleeping spell, while others had not been affected at all. The wizard's tale explained a lot, if it was true.

"Besides," Narraki said, "we all thought Elmadra could handle the situation. Did you not think the same, wizard?"

Lashlor nodded. "I did. I believed her to be far more powerful than me. When I did make my presence known, I fully expected to die."

"But magical energy builds up and is stored if not used, isn't it?" Narraki asked.

"Yes, but I had no idea it was capable of building up that much! If I had, I would certainly have helped sooner, before any innocents died!" Lashlor clenched his hands at his sides and a vein in his neck bulged. "And I've been using magic a lot lately!"

Lanaran sighed and leant back against the pillows, weakness threatening to overcome him.

"You need to rest, My King," Maven fussed again.

"And rest I will, but first..." Lanaran shifted, grimacing as pain lanced him. Narraki was right. The wizard had done them a great service and should be rewarded. "We will speak of a more... solid... reward when I am well. However, I will have Kealmonn draw up a new legal document announcing a new title, one only the best and most loyal, who have proven themselves beyond doubt, will ever hold. By the end of today, you will be the first to ever hold the title, and all who follow will be held up to your standards." He paused for dramatic effect. "You are to be the official Wizard of Ends."

Lanaran grinned at the wizard. No one before had ever had the honour of having a title created just for them. It was bound to make up for the accusations and put Lashlor in a wonderful mood.

Lashlor threw up his arms. "Are you serious?"

Lanaran frowned. The wizard was upset.

"I know what that title will mean. It will mean I'll be forced to use magic unnecessarily. You forget that my power comes from not using magic when there is another way. Make me the Wizard of Ends or whatever, and my power will be sapped and, if you ever truly need me again, I will meet the same fate as Elmadra. That's not a reward; it's a punishment. So I'll say thank you, but no thank you!" Lashlor shook his head. "And never mind that, the goddess frowns on those who abuse their gifts. I will not anger her, not for anyone, not even you, My King. I would rather be hanged than risk losing my eternal soul."

Lanaran's initial anger at the rejection deflated. He wasn't sure he believed in the goddess – perhaps Narraki would convince him one day – but the wizard had a good point about the reason he was so powerful.

"All right. I will not force the title on you, wizard. I had not thought of it that way. That's all. However, I will still call you the Wizard of Ends. Even if it is not an official title, it still sounds rather grand, don't you think?"

Lashlor scowled. "It will give people the wrong impression."

Lanaran chuckled. "You mean like acting in a way that makes us believe you are not a real wizard?"

Lashlor sighed. "I give up!"

<><><>

Lashlor asked to go home, and King Lanaran agreed. "But first, I must ask you... I'm told Assassa cursed the queen. Do we need to be concerned?"

Lashlor scrutinised the queen. He'd been so angry and caught up in defending himself that he hadn't noticed... dark magic clung to Queen Narraki, almost unnoticeable as it merged with her aura.

"Wizard?"

Lashlor held up a hand. "Give me a moment."

Try as he might, he was unable to see exactly what the dark magic was intended to do. It could be anything from causing mild depression or making her suicidal or homicidal to a death or disease curse, or anything in between. Assassa had hidden her intentions well.

"What was it Assassa said before she died?" Lashlor murmured to himself.

Queen Narraki said, "The Queen of Ends is cursed. She will be but the first. A rabid bitch is she, and a creature of darkness all will see."

The king said, "She has a better memory than all of us put together."

Lashlor nodded. "Dark magic surrounds the queen, but I cannot see what harm it's intended to do. However... 'she will be but the first' – I suspect that means that every future Queen of Ends will suffer the same curse at some point if it is not undone. As for the rest..." He didn't want to say it. It was unthinkable.

"Am I to turn into a creature of darkness?" the queen asked, calmer than Lashlor would have been had it been he Assassa had cursed.

Lashlor hesitated. "It would seem so, My Queen."

"Undo it," King Lanaran ordered.

"I cannot, My King. As I said, I cannot see exactly how the curse was created. Meddling with a curse when one doesn't know the method used to cast it has the potential to make matters far worse."

"What could possibly be worse than turning into a creature of darkness?" Queen Narraki asked. "And a rabid one, at that! If that happens, I will most likely kill my beloved! Remember Assassa said if she cannot have Ends, no one will."

"What could be worse?" Lashlor shook his head at her ignorance. "Worse could be cursing the king to the same fate, or myself, or anyone else in the vicinity. I cannot meddle without more information."

"You mean you will not," Lanaran growled.

Chapter 16

The king had threatened and pleaded, then threatened some more, but Lashlor was adamant – he would not risk making matters worse until he knew more about the curse. The king had eventually accepted that Lashlor needed time, and the wizard had lost himself in ancient books for the last three days and as much of the nights as he could keep his eyes open, trying to find a drawing or description of anything similar. Other magic users had been called upon to help too, but thus far none had come up with a sure-fire way to break the curse.

Alone in the Great Library, Lashlor put his head in his hands, defeated. If there was anything in the books that could help, it was doubtful he would find it in time. The library held thousands upon thousands of books, most of which had not been opened for generations, and the filing system left a lot to be desired. It didn't help that his feet, hands and nose felt like ice blocks, since the building had no fireplaces to rid it of the night's chill.

Usually, the time when most others were slumbering was an enjoyable, peaceful time for Lashlor. Now, however, it made him feel so very alone, as if he had imagined defeating Assassa and he was the only living person left in the Kingdom of Ends.

If he did not discover exactly how the curse had been cast, the queen would die, and it was possible that her dark creature form would kill the king, as she had said. Lashlor had even searched for a spell to enable him to sense the curse's magic, as he could with other magic, but to no avail.

Then he remembered... Rune.

Except Rune had told him that if she ever saw his 'rotten face' again she would ensure everyone else also saw it as rotten. She could do it, too, and her threats were hardly ever idle.

Lashlor shuddered.

Without a legal heir to the throne, the Kingdom of Ends would fall to chaos once the king and queen were dead, and, sooner or later, it would be claimed by another king – probably sooner, knowing the greedy nature of most of the other six kingdoms' rulers.

Perhaps having everyone see rotting flesh when they looked upon him was better than chaos and tyrant rule... or perhaps it was not. Regardless, if he did not find an answer soon, he would find himself with little choice.

A shudder of darkness swept through the Great Library.

Lashlor shoved back his chair and leapt up in alarm.

The curse had been activated.

<><><>

King Lanaran stirred in bed, snug under the covers. He kept his eyes closed, enjoying his wife's warm presence pressed against his back. She shifted and her hair tickled the back of his neck. It felt... wrong. Not nearly soft enough. A cold wave of terror rushed through him as he remembered the curse. His eyes shot open and he sat up and looked down.

Lanaran choked back a yell of fright and skittered off the bed. He landed on his side, glad for the thick blue rugs. He scrambled back as a large furry black head rose from Narraki's pillow and fixed glowing orange eyes on him.

He would have called the guards, but he would rather die than live with the knowledge that he had failed to protect his beloved.

"Make it quick," he whispered, blinking back tears.

The beyeni sat up and stared at him balefully, its thick tail wagging. It glanced at itself in the mirror on the far wall, then examined its paws and whined.

Lanaran stood up and stared at the creature. What sat on his bed might look like a creature of dark magic, but it – she – was still Narraki. Either Assassa had not thought to curse Narraki to kill him, or she had not had the time before Lashlor had silenced her.

The creature moved awkwardly, clearly not used to the new body yet, then climbed off the bed, padded up to him and sat down. It – she – stared up at him, her expression sad. She nuzzled his hand, spinning towards the door with a snarl as it was rudely flung open.

<><><>

Lashlor raced into the royal bedchambers behind the four guards who had been at the door.

"Wait! Don't hurt her!" King Lanaran yelled, coming between the guards and beyeni as they drew their swords. "She will not harm me!"

"Don't let her lick you," Lashlor said. "A beyeni's saliva is poisonous."

The king paled.

"Oh for the love of everything! Did she lick you?"

The king shook his head. "She was about to, I think."

Lashlor looked into the beyeni's eyes. Had she known that licking the king would kill him? Had she truly retained her mind, or was that just a clever illusion, part of the curse? One thing was for sure...

"She isn't rabid," Lashlor said.

"So that part of the curse didn't work."

"More likely it will take effect in a few hours. Spells this powerful often cannot happen all at once." Lashlor folded his arms, then unfolded them and began to pace. "Once the rabies sets in, her brain will begin to swell. If it wasn't brought on by a curse, I could have prevented the swelling, but..." He sighed. "It is always fatal, My King. Once she begins to display symptoms, she will live for between two to ten days, no more. That is how long we have to undo the curse." He stopped pacing and met the king's gaze.

His voice hollow, the king asked, "What are the symptoms?"

"She might not show all symptoms, but they can include fear – which would make her attack – and loss of consciousness, lack of appetite, paralysis, anxiety or confusion. When paralysis sets in, and foaming at the mouth, death will soon follow. We will have to cage her, My King, for her safety and ours."

King Lanaran stared at his wife helplessly, then asked Lashlor, "How do you know so much about rabies?"

Lashlor could tell the king didn't want to believe what he'd just been told. He didn't blame him.

"I read a lot, My King, and have had many jobs, one of which was an animal healer's assistant."

The king walked up to Lashlor, gripped his forearms and stared into his eyes. "She was the only one who gave you the benefit of the doubt. The only one who did not call you a liar. The only one who had faith in you." He paused, squeezing Lashlor's arms harder. "You must find a way to help her!"

"My King..." Lashlor shook his head, unable to break eye contact with King Lanaran. Then hope flooded him. "Wait! We might have more time than we think. Elmadra's protection spell means that no magical threat can harm either of you – magical creatures aside, of course. So surely that means the rabies will not kill the queen, since it is caused by magic?"

King Lanaran's eyes widened and the beyeni whined. "Do you mean that she might live with the symptoms until death from old age frees her of the curse?"

Lashlor took a deep breath. "It's possible, My King."

The king swayed, appearing as if he was about to faint. "Then you might have a little more time to undo it." He paused. "But do it fast nonetheless. I will not have my wife suffer a moment longer than can be helped. Do you understand what I am saying, wizard?"

Lashlor shook his head, incredulous at the way King Lanaran asked for help. "Fail at my peril and all that?"

The beyeni whined again and pawed the king's leg.

He looked down at his cursed wife, then released Lashlor's arms. "I apologise. The reward-"

"Will be awesome," Lashlor interrupted. "I couldn't care less about rewards. I will, however, help as much as I am able... because you are the only king in all seven kingdoms under whose rule I wish to live. I should remind you also that curses that remain effective after the death of the caster are almost impossible to break."

"And I should remind you," the king challenged, "that you were able to kill a sorceress we all believed could not be defeated. If you can conquer an unbeatable sorceress, I am sure you can break an unbreakable curse."

<><><>

Mid-afternoon that same day, the beyeni that was Queen Narraki dashed through the castle in a fit of confusion, clawing and biting anyone who obstructed her. Lanaran ordered the guards to capture her, and promised a beheading to any who hurt her in the process. Almost two hours later, they finally succeeded when they cornered her in the royal lounge. The royal healer mixed up a sleeping potion, but it only made the beyeni woozy. It was, however, enough for the guards to take her to a cell in the dungeon, unharmed.

Lanaran sent for the wizard, then sat on a guard's chair outside the cell, just out of claws' reach.

When Lashlor arrived, Lanaran could not meet his gaze. He did not want the wizard to see the same desperation he had seen reflected back at him in the mirror earlier.

"Find a way, wizard. Find a way or you will surely end up ruled by another, for this curse will be the death of me, one way or another, for, if it is not broken, I most certainly will be."

He loathed the hopelessness in his voice, in his heart, in his very soul.

Where was Narraki's goddess now? To Lanaran, the curse was just more evidence that belief in a goddess was nothing but a fantasy created by those terrified of the idea of not having an all-powerful protector watching over them every second.

Lashlor hesitated. "There might someone who can help." He sighed, as if what he had to say pained him. "If anyone can, it is she."

Lanaran's head snapped up, anger chilling his lungs. "Why did you not mention this person before?"

"We have history, My King, the type of history that could result in me being cursed should she ever see me again."

"Tell me her name and where she can be found. I will send guards. She would not dare kill royal guards." Lanaran frowned. "She wouldn't, would she?"

"No, My King, I think not. She is loyal to the kingdom, though she does not reside here." Lashlor shuffled his feet. "But your guards will not find her. I've heard rumour she's become a hermit, and hides herself with magic. Only a fellow magic user who knows her well will be able to find her."

"A hermit where?"

"The Land of Storher, My King. Specifically, in the Mountains of Eclador."

Lanaran shuddered. Tales of the Mountains of Eclador reached the Kingdom of Ends often. It seemed there was never a shortage of Storher denizens foolish enough to enter the mountains. Why anyone would choose to live there was beyond him, and never mind that...

"If that is where she went to live, she has most certainly perished by now," Lanaran said.

"I do not believe so, My King. She would not have gone in the first place if she thought she would not find a peaceful life there. I can almost guarantee she lives."

"'Almost' is not good enough."

Lashlor sighed. "Is there a better choice?"

Lanaran put his elbows on his thighs and dropped his head into his hands. He sat like that for a few minutes, his shoulders heaving in silent sobs, then composed himself and met Lashlor's eyes.

"I will send thirty guards with you, led by Captain Amkesh himself."

"She would not like that-"

"I couldn't give a beyeni's backside what she likes!" Lanaran stood up and faced Lashlor. "For the queen's sake, I will not risk you perishing before you complete your quest. Thirty soldiers will accompany you. You will have the best horses our stables have to offer, and enough food to last twice as long as the journey will take." He ran a hand through his sweat-dampened hair. "Make haste, for you could be wrong about the rabies not being fatal thanks to Elmadra's protection spell."

"I'm well aware of that, My King. I can move faster alone-"

"I have decided. Prepare to leave within the hour." Lanaran stared at the groggy beyeni, which snarled at him. "Do not fail her... please." This time, no threat was implied. "I swear on all living things, I will never ask anything of you again, if only you save her, and I will give you whatever your heart desires, until the end of your natural life." He paused, then gripped Lashlor's hands the way one only did with old friends. "If anyone can do it, you can. Do not let me down, Wizard of Ends."

###

About the Author

Vanessa grew up in Cape Town, and still lives there with her husband of fifteen years, her baby daughter and plenty of furry, four-legged 'children'.

Her passion for the written word started her career as an editor and copywriter, and she part-ran a writers' critique group for close on seven years. She's been writing ever since she learnt how, has always been an avid reader, and currently lives on coffee and cigarettes.

Her interests include reading, photography, the supernatural, life's mysteries and martial arts, of which she has five years' experience.

### Other books by Vanessa Finaughty:

Fiction:

Legends of Origin, Book 1, Sanctuary for the Devil (Free)

Legends of Origin, Book 2, Orion's Harvesters

Legends of Origin, Book 3, Creator Species

Dragon Kin and other fantasy stories

Sorcery & Subterfuge

Crimson Rain (free short story)

Ashes to Ashes

Dance with Evil

Horrotica

Terrorscape

Futurescape

Life

Non-fiction:

December 21, 2012: Survival Guide

Editors' Bible

The Better Writing Guide

### Connect with Vanessa online:

Website: http://www.vanessafinaughtybooks.com/

Blog: http://vanessafinaughtyfantasybooks.wordpress.com/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Vanessa-Finaughty/675304162554124

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/VanessaFin

Goodreads: <https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5044271.Vanessa_Finaughty>

