Chapter 1

Rohea looked around as he stepped into the tavern. Although he did not expect to see Maes waiting at The Stinky Mug as she had told Pyar, he still held a small glimmer of hope that Maes would be around.

"Sir Rohea!" the innkeeper called as he saw Rohea enter. "It's been a while since I saw you last. I didn't believe a word they were saying about you! I knew the mages were behind it."

Rohea walked up to the bar and clasped his hand with the innkeeper's. "It's good to see you, too."

The innkeeper looked around the tavern furtively. He leaned in closer and beckoned Rohea to lean forward as well. The innkeeper whispered, "A young lass was here a while ago."

Rohea drew in a quick breath. Maes did come to The Stinky Mug after all!

"Is she still here?"

"Nay, she didn't stay long, but she did leave a message with me. She said that things were becoming dangerous, and she couldn't wait here for you."

"Did she say where she was going?" Rohea asked.

"She said something about that, lemme think," the innkeeper replied. He paused and rubbed his hairy chin. "Ah, she said she was heading back to where she healed."

She must have meant Riloo! But why would she head back there? Rohea thought. "Did she say anything else?"

"She wasn't very talkative, but she did say that she was being watched. She wouldn't say by who though. I figured it had to do with the mages."

"How so?" Rohea questioned.

"It was the way she said 'watched'. She didn't mean it in the usual sense," the innkeeper said as he gestured at his eyes with his fingers.

Rohea slammed his fist on the bar table, creating a loud noise and startling the other patrons of the tavern.

"Those damned mages!"

"Aye, they're always up to something or other. If it were up to me, I'd get rid of the bunch of them. Don't know why the king even tolerates their presence."

Rohea nodded with a grim look on his face, but didn't say anything in response.

The innkeeper chuckled and added, "You have much in common with that young lass. Aren't very talkative."

"Have you told anyone else what you told me?" Rohea asked.

"Nay, I figured that it was between the two of you."

"Good," Rohea said, placing some silver coins on the table. "I hope you will keep it that way."

The innkeeper smiled as he quickly palmed the coins. "Generous, both of you."

Rohea paced about his quarters, considering his next move. King Wespil would be unwilling to let him go on another journey so soon, especially after what had just happened. On the other hand, Rohea felt that he had to handle it himself – Maes was his squire and he felt responsible for her.

A knock on his door brought him back to the present.

"Come in," Rohea said.

Groba stepped into the room. "Thinking about your squire?"

Rohea nodded.

"She's a crafty one. I don't know what her next move will be, but we must be prepared for it," Groba said.

"So you believe that she's the mastermind?"

Groba was silent for a while. "It is hard to imagine one so young being that powerful, but Pyar did make a good case. There are many unresolved questions about her. It could very well be that she is much older than she looks, I've heard of some spells that can alter one's appearance."

"Wouldn't you have sensed something when you met her?"

"I would like to think that I would have, but between you and me, there is a lot to dark magic that I do not yet understand."

While Rohea was wary about mages, Groba was one that he fully trusted. Rohea told Groba about what he learned at The Stinky Mug.

"Hmm," Groba said. "A tough decision, Rohea."

"What do you mean?"

"If Maes is innocent, then you have to find her and regain her honor. If she is truly evil, then this could be a trap."

"I don't believe she would harm me," Rohea replied. "She had plenty of opportunity to do so in our travels."

"True, but dark practitioners are much more sinister than that. She could be out to win your trust, only to use it against the kingdom in the future."

"What do you suggest then?" Rohea asked.

"I can prepare some ward potions for you. They worked against Cyler, so chances are that they'll work against her too. However, each potion will only protect you for a short period of time."

"If she truly is a dark practitioner, then a short period of time is sufficient for me to land my blade. But, how will I know when to drink a potion?"

"Only you will be able to know," Groba replied. "If you suspect that she is affecting your mind, as dark practitioners are wont to do, then drink one potion and see if it helps. It should be able to undo whatever spells are placed on you."

"And what if she is innocent, as I believe?"

"Then we have a bigger problem. That would mean the true dark practitioner still lurks in the shadows, and we have no idea who that would be."

"What are your plans, Groba?"

"Me?" Groba chuckled. "I'm just a simple man living out his life."

"Will you be joining the Mage Council again?"

Groba shook his head and said, "As much as the council is beholden to me for freeing them from Cyler's influence, they also blame me for designing the bracers in the first place! I think they just do not want to give up any of their existing power."

"Why did you design the bracers?" Rohea asked.

"I have an inquisitive mind, and I've fiddled with magic of all sorts. The bracers were designed to persuade an enemy soldier to join our side. That way, there would be less bloodshed on both sides."

"How were you intending to get the enemy soldiers to wear them in the first place?"

Groba laughed and replied, "That's the part that stumped me! I discussed the problem with Cyler but he didn't offer any suggestions. Little did I know that he had other plans for them."

Rohea woke early the next morning, and prepared to head outside for his morning exercises. As he stepped into the courtyard, a young page approached him.

"Good morning, Sir Rohea," the page said respectfully and bowed.

"Good morning," Rohea replied.

"The king requests your presence after his breakfast," the page said. He blushed slightly and continued, "I wanted to pass the message last night but I feared I would rouse you from your sleep."

"It's alright," Rohea said, and looked a little more intently at the page. "I've received the message early enough. Were you waiting by my door the entire night?"

"Y-yes," the page stammered. "I did not want to miss you if you left early."

Rohea chuckled, remembering the days when he was a young page.

"Good, now go get some well-deserved rest."

Rohea walked to the middle of the courtyard and began stretching his muscles. There were a few hours before the sun would rise and the king would have his meal. Sufficiently warmed up, Rohea drew his sword and adopted a stance. He moved slowly, taking one step and swinging his arm gently in an arc. He raised his sword to block an imaginary attack, and then stepped backwards into a guard position. Rohea moved from stance to stance, slowly at first, but picking up pace as he continued until his movements were a blur.

After thirty minutes of practicing, Rohea sheathed his sword and glanced around. There were a number of squires in the courtyard warming up and practicing, but he did not see any that he was familiar with. What caught his attention was the lack of any other knights in the courtyard – they should have also been there before dawn like him.

Wiping the sweat from his forehead, Rohea stretched his legs and started jogging around the keep. He spotted a few patrols on the walls, and greeted a number of guards with whom he was familiar with. When he returned to the courtyard, he smiled as he saw his fellow knights.

"Good morning, Sir Puccar," Rohea greeted.

"Good morning, Sir Rohea. Care for a friendly spar?"

Rohea smiled and nodded. He drew his sword and picked up a shield from the stands. The other people in the courtyard scurried and cleared a wide circle for the pair.

"So, what'll it be? Ten silver for the winner?" Puccar challenged.

Rohea laughed heartily.

"Sure, but are you sure you have enough to pay me when we're done?" he countered.

Puccar grinned as he said, "We'll see about that!"

The two men bowed and dropped to their stances. They circled around slowly, watching each other for openings. Suddenly, both men sprang up and the loud clank of their swords rang throughout the courtyard. Rohea played defensively, letting Puccar make attacks while he parried and dodged them. When Rohea saw an opportunity, he lunged forward. Puccar quickly stepped to the side, and slammed his shield onto Rohea's back. Rohea grunted in pain and dropped to one knee.

Chuckling, Puccar taunted, "Getting tired so quickly?"

Rohea rose to his feet and spun to face Puccar. He hit his shield onto Puccar's to indicate that he was ready to continue. More wary this time, Rohea watched Puccar's every movement. Rohea made a few weak attempts that were easily parried by Puccar, and followed it with a quick swing to the left. Puccar hastily raised his shield to block the attack, and took a step backwards to absorb the impact. Sensing an opening, Rohea quickly sidestepped and kicked Puccar on the chest.

Puccar took a few more steps backwards and said, "Now that's more like it!"

The duo became a flurry of motions as they continued sparring. Dust flew in the air as their feet shuffled across the courtyard, and more than a few squires stopped their practices to watch them in action. The sounds of their swords hitting and shields blocking carried easily in the morning air.