Coming up from the ground outside the gnomes' compound, Gandr was breathing heavily. "That's not as easy as it looks," he said as he set down the unconscious boy to catch his breath. "You think that looked easy?" Devrim guffawed. His brow crinkled. "You look spent. Have you been looking for me for a while?" Gandr nodded. "When you were not back in the room where we parted, I looked all around the area, popping in and out of each room through the ground. Then the thought occurred to me to try Cafer's rooms." "I am glad you found me, but I am sorry you had to waste your magic. We could really use it now." The Emperor was also weak, but he picked up Alaron across his shoulders. Together, they slogged along around the side of the lake. It was mid-morning, and the sun was beginning to beat down on them in earnest. They were far north, but somehow that did not lesson the heat that they felt. Both males were sweating heavily before long. "Part of me hopes the boy will wake up so we can fo

Having finished as many of the orange-tinted glasses as the pair could manage, Renat and Mairwen turned their collective attention to other projects. Renat's mind was beautiful but scattered, and the princess took great pleasure in directing it more carefully. The scientist had a million ideas, but not all of them were worth pursuing."What about a a machine that will milk a goat for you?" Renat queried. He tapped his chin with a feathery pen."Surely a machine to milk a cow would be more useful," the princess countered."More poor people can afford goats than cows, but I believe cows can produce far more milk per day. What if I could make something that comes in two sizes, large and small? Then both animals could be serviced. Or better yet, one machine to milk them both! Two attachments to milk both animals at the same time. We could create a super hybrid milk!"Renat's mind whizzed on as his eyes glowed with excitement. He began to scribble feverishly on the page before him. The sci

Aurora cast her gaze across Valiant. While she was not at the highest point in the castle, she towered above the cityscape on a raised walkway. The walkway connected two of the tallest towers and was one of the few additions Zephyra made to the castle during her reign. Aurora could understand why she had done it. The narrow strip gave the sense of flying and reminded the young Empress of her time in the Mystic Spires with the Fates."I thought I might find you here," a friendly voice called.Aurora was pulled from her thoughts as a figure in a black cloak appeared beside her. "Am I that predictable?" she chuckled softly.Zan pushed back his hood to reveal his stunning silver eyes. "I could see your far off look in court this morning, Your Majesty. I felt you slipping away before you ever called a recess."Aurora looked out again at the world before her. Her expression was pained. "So many of them are hurting, Zan. I feel the weight of them on my shoulders.""You bear the burden heroic

"Renat!" Mairwen cried as she saw the shaft protruding from his back. "We need help!""I am fine," he responded hoarsely, trying to disentangle himself from the princess.Eira tackled the the sharpshooter to the ground before he could get off another shot, and the two began to tussle with their fists. Brinn took on the blond assassin: her sword against his knife. He gave a dazzling smile before feinting left. The elf swung at him, but he evaded her easily. His blade nicked her right wrist, which only increased his menacing grin."You jerk," she yelled. Her eyes lit with determination. Brinn leapt to an impressive height and came crashing down on her opponent. He never stood a chance.The third assassin barreled toward the couple with his sword drawn. The princess narrowed her eyes at him. Since returning from the garrison, Brinn had been honing Mairwen's fighting. "You've been slacking. You must be able to defend yourself," the elf had said. Now the princess was glad for the extra tra

"That should do it," the Emperor announced.Alaron stood with his hair tucked under a borrowed woolen cap, a cape too short for him, and mud caked on his face. The boy lifted his bound hands to his cheek. "I feel like a fool," the prince moaned."Then stop acting like one," Gandr retorted before realizing he had spoken aloud. "Sorry, Your Highness…even though it is true," he muttered his half-apology.The Emperor held a cloth in his hand. "Don't bite me." He narrowed his eyes at the prince."Can we talk about this? How about if I promise…" the rest of his words were muffled as he received the gag."Nothing you could promise would be helpful just now. People may want to free you or kill you based on who you are and I do not need that added worry." Devrim tied the cloth firmly behind Alaron's head. He turned to Fedelmid and Ashleigh. "Please lead the way.""I recommend you say as little as possible until we are inside Oblivion's walls," the duchess advised the group. "My guards will be