Swanheart

Chapter Three

Visions In The Night

The sound of his sharp exhale echoed eerily from the stone walls as General Burak made his way to his master's chambers, rubbing his shaved head with one hand.

It was mostly dark. Only a couple of flickering torches illuminated the corridor.

Burak's pock-marked face didn't betray any emotion. Any other man would have been cowering in some corner, trembling with fear if the master himself had summoned him. Burak was not like that, even though the news that he carried was not good. Actually, he was sure that his Lord wouldn't like it at all, but there was no way around.

The term 'don't kill the messenger' was one that the dark wizard didn't care much about at all. When the mood struck him, he would kill for no reason. Of course, to the masked sorcerer the reason would be just having been displeased.

Burak didn't slow his steps, marching confidently to his master's room. He knew that he was a great leader and he also knew that the dark wizard needed him for his army. Or at least, that was what the tall warrior liked to think. They had not been able to carry out the order but it was only a minor setback.

He stopped once he had reached the big wooden door. Tightly gripping the iron ring that hung in the middle of the door, he slammed it three times hard against the wood. He waited.

"Come in!" boomed the deep voice from inside.

Burak pulled the door open and entered.

The masked sorcerer was still wearing his full battle armor, the blood of Ashkyhra's victims glistening and gleaming in the candlelight. His head was also still covered by the demonic helmet. He was bent over a table with a map. Looking up as he heard the man enter, the dark wizard fixed his glowing silver eyes on the commander of his army. "Burak." He straightened and crossed his arms in front of his chest.

The other man quickly knelt. "My Lord, I bring news from Ashkyhra."

"Good news, I presume?"

"The castle has been torn apart. All your opponents have been killed or were thrown into prison. A few have decided to join our army and help our case since they came to see that your way is the only way, my Lord," Burak answered evenly.

The masked sorcerer snorted disdainfully. "Yes, I bet they do. Damn cowards. They just did it to save their pitiful lives." He waved his gloved hand. "Go on."

"Prince Tyrel has been brought to the dungeons as by your order, My Lord."

Growing impatient, the dark wizard cut him off. "Yes, yes, yes, I know," he grumbled. "What about the stone?"

Hesitatingly, Burak started, "My Lord..."

The glow of the silver eyes intensified and his voice lowered to a dangerous timbre. "You do have it, don't you, Burak?"

"My Lord... like I said, the castle has been torn apart. There was no stone that we left unturned... we searched everywhere..."

"WHERE IS THE STONE?!" the masked sorcerer thundered in full rage.

"It was not there." Burak had whispered the words. Squeezing his eyes shut he waited for his master to explode and unleash all his fury upon him, but nothing happened.

"You say, it was not at the castle?" the dark wizard inquired, his voice calm and even again.

"Yes, my Lord. Unfortunately, it was nowhere to be found."

The masked sorcerer turned his back to the man and strode to another table. Taking off his helmet, he uttered, "You may leave." Holding his head in his hands, he closed his eyes and began to mumble words in a foreign language.

Blinking in confusion, Burak rose. Staring at the back of his master's head, he was a bit surprised about the quick and very unexpected dismissal. The soldier had thought for sure that he would be punished for the bad news. His eyes darting around nervously, he hesitated a few more heartbeats.

"I said, LEAVE!" the masked sorcerer roared, feeling disturbed in his concentration.

Burak jumped slightly and hurried out of the room, not wishing to attract the wizard's anger after all.

*****

Night had fallen in Chitaan, wrapping the castle in a veil of darkness. The halls and corridors were empty, not counting the occasional soldiers, who had been placed there to keep watch. Most of the inhabitants were peacefully slumbering in their beds.

In one room though, sleep had not come easy and was not in the slightest restful for the blonde girl laying between soft sheets. The Animorph was feeling better. She had been moved from Loreen's hut and was given her own chambers at the castle, right next to Alannah's room.

Terrulli was tossing and turning from one side to the other. Her eyes moved restlessly behind closed eyelids. From time to time a small whimper would escape her throat. Flashes raced through her mind and finally she woke herself up with a scream.

She sat up, her chest rising and falling rapidly as she panted for breath. Beads of cold sweat stood out on her forehead and her eyes darted nervously around the dark chambers.

Only a moment later, the door opened.

Terrulli clamped her hands around the cover and pulled it up to her chin. In the dim light, she finally realized that it was Alannah, who had entered the room, holding a candle.

Cerulia was right behind her.

Concerned brown eyes came to rest on the young woman. "Terrulli, are you alright?" the princess inquired softly. She used the candle, which she had brought, to lighten the one that sat on the nightstand.

A golden glow filled out the room, chasing shadows away and making the Animorph feel less afraid. "Yes, I'm alright. I think it was just a nightmare... I..." She was unable to finish her sentence because the door was flung open once more.

Sleepy-eyed and bare-footed, her shirt and pants askew, Leigh burst into the room. "What's going on?"

"Everything is alright, Leigh," Alannah said, trying very hard to suppress a huge grin because she thought the knight looked beyond cute.

"Are you sure?" Leigh asked, rubbing her eyes. She almost stumbled over Cerulia, who had stretched out on the floor beside the princess. With flailing arms, she caught herself and came to stand beside Alannah, who put a hand on her back to steady her. "I heard somebody scream..."

"That was me," Terrulli answered in a small voice. "I'm so sorry, I woke you all up."

Alannah patted her hand. "Don't worry, its okay. Do you want to tell us what you dreamed about? It must have been pretty bad if it made you scream."

The Animorph shook her head. "I don't remember much... there were just flashes..." Terrulli shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know... it doesn't make much sense."

"I think we should get Loreen. Maybe she can make you some tea. You really need to rest and nightmares are not going to help with that," Alannah said.

"No, please, don't wake her. I'm feeling bad already for waking up you two."

Leigh smiled. "It's no problem, really. That's what we are here for and when we can help then we will."

Terrulli shook her head once more. "No. I am alright. Honest," she insisted.

"Okay, we cannot force you, but should you need anything you know where we are, okay?" Alannah wanted to know.

Giving the princess a small smile, Terrulli agreed.

"Alright, try to go back to sleep and this time with sweet dreams." Alannah winked.

The Animorph sank back and snuggled deeply into the pillows.

Blowing out the candle on the nightstand, Leigh followed Alannah and Cerulia out of the room. "Good night," she whispered.

"Good night, Leigh. Thank you for everything," Terrulli replied, also in a whisper.

"You are welcome." The knight tiptoed out of the room and met up with Alannah, who was waiting for her in the corridor.

The princess cocked her head and raised an eyebrow, eyeing her best friend from top to bottom with a huge grin on her face.

"What?" Leigh asked, drawing her eyebrows together.

"You look as if you just fell out of bed," Alannah giggled.

"Oh, do I, huh? Well, Princess, that's exactly what happened as I heard that scream," the knight replied, adjusting her clothes and running a hand through her hair that stood up, pointing in each and every direction.

Side by side, they slowly walked to Alannah's room.

Cerulia followed them, yawning. As soon as they had reached the door, the wolf slid past them and planted herself on a big, cuddly pillow that lay on the floor beside the princess' bed. Releasing a deep sigh, she curled up there, closed her blue eyes and went back to sleep.

Shaking her head softly as she saw this, Alannah remarked, "I wish I could do that too." She sat down on her bed, looking at Leigh, who was leaning with crossed arms against the doorframe. "Do you think it's possible that Terrulli might have had flashes of memories?"

Leigh shrugged her shoulders. "Could be, but as long as she doesn't tell us what she saw, we won't know for sure." Walking over, she plopped down beside the princess. "There are two sides to this particular coin. If she would remember what happened then we would be able to help her better. On the other side though, I'm wondering if knowing wouldn't hurt her worse than not knowing."

"It's a horrible situation for her," Alannah responded, leaning her head tiredly against Leigh's shoulder. "I just hope that we can soon figure out what happened."

Leigh reached over, took Alannah's hand and gave it a tender squeeze. "We will."

Inside her room, Terrulli was still laying awake, pondering her dream and what she had seen. "I could hear a woman's voice telling me to get to safety... then there was water... a wild river... it was everywhere... under me, above me, left of me, right of me...I was fighting and struggling to reach the surface but the current pulled me back... I was scared of drowning...," she whispered to herself. "Now the question is, what does it mean? To whom belongs the voice? Who wanted me to get to safety and why? Why was I in the water? Are these even memories or just a nightmare?"

She kept brooding until sleep finally overtook her and forced her to rest. This time, she was not disturbed by any visions.

*****

The burnt wood only glowed dark red since the flames had almost died in the fireplace. In the dark of his chambers, the masked sorcerer was restlessly pacing. "Incompetent fools," he groused. He knew though that Burak had told him the truth. His soldiers really had torn apart the castle of Ashkyhra, but the stone wasn't there. "They must have hidden it somewhere else. But where? Where can it be?"

His gloved hand closed around a metal goblet that stood on his table and he hurled it with a roar against the wall. It crashed to the floor, leaving splashes of dark red wine behind. His glowing silver eyes stared at the stains. It reminded him of Xandir's death.

Curling his hands to fists, he thought about Rovannah and how he had prodded her mind, trying to extract information about the stone. He had been unsuccessful. The stubborn magician had not given him what he wanted. Not even as she looked certain death in the eye.

The dark wizard stopped his pacing as he heard something.

A whisper was there, so quietly that he couldn't make out the words.

A smile appeared on his face. Cocking his head, he listened more closely. This was not the first time that he heard the hissing voice whisper to him. He had been waiting for it. He had also tried to summon it earlier but then nothing had happened. It always came to him on its own, mostly when he was angry and frustrated. It was his guiding light even though he had never found its origin. It gave him comfort for he knew it would help to save his problems and reveal new ways to him.

The whispering grew louder and he was able to understand one word."... boy..."

"Boy?"

"... the boy..." the whispering voice continued. "Make use of the boy."

Frowning, he stared at the wine stains. "What boy?"

"The prince."

"Rovannah's son?"

"Yeeesssss," the bodiless voice hissed strongly, the sound reverberating through the chamber. Then, all of a sudden it was quiet again.

A feeling of pleasure raced through the masked sorcerer's body and his eyes glowed brightly. "Rovannah was talking with somebody via mind-link before the torture robbed her of her senses," he remembered. "She told somebody to get to safety. This person must have been Tyrel. He must know where the stone is. Maybe he also has it with him." The possibility that he might soon have the first part of the Stone of Creation pleased him immensely. He left his chambers and marched confidently to the dungeons where the prince of Ashkyhra was locked up in a cell.

*****

Exhausted and his heart heavy with despair, Tyrel sat on the horrible smelling straw, which covered the floor of his cell. He didn't know how much time had passed since he had been brought here. Due to a complete lack of light, it was hard to tell how many hours had gone by. His throat hurt because he had shouted until his voice was hoarse.

Time and time again, he had flung himself against the door that was made out of strong oak and covered with metal studs. He had hammered it with his fists and kicked it with his legs, demanding to be let out. The only results were that his legs hurt and that his hands were bloody, because the skin had broken and torn under the onslaught. A foul-smelling soldier had opened the door, shackled the boy with iron chains to the wall and ordered the prisoner to be quiet or else he would be gagged.

Tyrel's back and arms were beginning to ache from the strain. Tears of frustration welled up in his eyes and his restless mind was circling around only one question. Why had it happened? Why had this strange, demonic sorcerer attacked Ashkyhra? Why did he kill his parents? They had been good people and had never hurt anyone.

"That is a good question, my boy, I'm willing to answer," he heard a deep voice run through his mind. It sounded rather gleeful.

Tyrel jerked and looked up, blinking in surprise. He had not realized that somebody had entered the cell.

The door was open. A large figure stood in the flickering light of torches that illuminated the corridor. He was still wearing his armor and the helmet with the demon face looked scarier than ever.

Grinding his teeth, Tyrel rattled the chains that bound him, trying to get up, but unable to accomplish that simple task. "Get... out... of... my... head," he demanded hoarsely.

Greatly amused, the masked sorcerer took a few steps closer until he was right in front of the prince. "Oh, but I think I like it in your head. It's a very interesting place," he projected, adding an evil chuckle.

Too tired to be scared, Tyrel concentrated on blocking the dark wizard from his mind. He felt great pain because his opponent fought him, but in the end he managed to erect a mental wall that protected his thoughts from the magician's forceful attempt to gain access.

"Impressive," the masked sorcerer said out loud since he had been banished from the prince's mind. "Who taught you how to do that? Your father or your mother?"

Tyrel was silent. He just stared at the murderer of his parents with hatred flashing in his eyes.

"I asked you a question, defiant boy!"

"What is it to you? You murdered her!" Tyrel spat, not caring if he would be killed for that also.

"Her? Oh, it was Rovannah then. Yes, that makes sense. Xandir was more the fighting type while Rovannah cared more about defense. It would figure that the first thing she would teach you would be to block others from your mind. Your talents are quite marvelous for such a young boy though."

Tyrel's guts were boiling with rage. How dare this strange man talk with him like that? "My talents are none of your business," he snarled.

Another evil chuckle sounded from below the helmet. "I think you got your defiance from Xandir."

"Stop saying their names! I will not have you dirty the honor of my parents, murderer!" In the next instant, he felt an invisible hand reach around his throat, choking him.

The glowing silver eyes, which looked through slits on the helmet, bore into his with such painful intensity that Tyrel couldn't stand it. "They brought their deaths upon themselves," the masked sorcerer explained in a very calm voice. "All I wanted was the stone. They could have lived but they chose to defy me and that is the reason they had to die."

"If you... kill me... you will never... know where the... stone is," the prince gasped, his eyes rolling upward. Tiny black dots began to dance in his vision. The vise around his throat suddenly loosened and he slumped forward, the chains keeping him from sinking face first into the moldy straw.

"So, you do know where it is. I thought as much."

Tyrel leaned back against the cold wall behind him. Taking deep breaths.

Bending over him, the dark wizard watched him intently for a few minutes. As the boy's breathing had turned back to normal, he inquired. "Where is the stone?"

"Somewhere safe," Tyrel rasped defiantly through his raw throat. "You will never find it."

"You are a fighter. I like that, boy. We will see how much fight will still be left in you after a few days in your new... home." He smirked.

Even though Tyrel couldn't see it because of the helmet, but he could hear it and it made him angry.

"Settle down and rest," the wizard continued, in a mocking tone. "I will see to it that somebody brings you something to eat." With that the masked sorcerer left his prisoner, though the echo of his evil laughter stayed with the prince and would be forever carved into his memories. As he closed the door behind him he also took away the light of torches and darkness fell once more around the boy.

"I will be strong," Tyrel whispered, encouraging himself. "I will be brave. The stone will be safe." Repeating this mantra over and over, the prince of Ashkyhra finally succumbed to exhaustion and sleep wrapped him into a tight and warm embrace.

*****

Wandering aimlessly through the beautiful gardens of Chitaan's castle, Terrulli was thinking about the flashes, she had been having the past few days. She was not one bit closer to figuring out if they were real memories or just imagination.

The Animorph stopped mid-stride. Touching a hand to her forehead, she groaned softly and closed her eyes as once again images raced through her mind. Helpless, she watched as the burning arrow whirred through the air... columns of dark smoke rose... people screaming and yelling... children's cries echoing through the night... Feet in heavy boots pounding along the stone corridors... soldiers in black armor chasing after her... 'Get to safety, my precious! GO!' a female voice shouted... she was pushed into a dark and very small tunnel... water, ice-cold water... it was everywhere, pulling her under...

Terrulli sank to her knees.

A few meters away, Leigh and Alannah were sitting at the shores of the swan pond, enjoying their breakfast. They had spread out a blanket and were having a little picnic, consisting of sandwiches and fruits.

Cerulia was laying beside the princess, watching the white birds floating on the water.

Snowfeather had joined them too, being very demanding about her favorite treat, which was a piece of Goran's delicious bread. After she had received that and a few cuddles, she had waddled back to her companions and her guarding duty.

"Alannah?" Leigh asked, after having swallowed a huge bite of her sandwich.

"Yes?"

"Have you been learning any new magic while I was gone?"

The princess smirked. "Of course. You were not the only one that had to study and undergo an apprenticeship for three years."

"Can you show me something?" the knight inquired.

Raising an eyebrow smugly, Alannah replied, "Watch and be amazed."

"You always amaze me," Leigh mumbled under her breath.

"What did you say?"

Grateful that she had spoken too low for the princess to hear her, Leigh said, "Show me something."

Alannah reached for a small bottle that contained water. Forming her left hand into the shape of a bowl, she used her right hand to pour some of the cool liquid onto the palm. She put the bottle aside, formed her right hand like her left and placed it palm down on top of her water-filled hand. Closing her eyes in concentration, she mumbled some words.

Leigh watched her with a big smile on her face.

The princess opened her eyes again and also her hands. On the palm of her left hand sat a tiny sculpture. It was a swan with spread wings, made of ice that sparkled light blue in the morning sun. Grinning wildly, she asked, "So? What do you think? Do you like it?"

"It looks pretty," Leigh breathed, reaching out her hands. "Can I touch it?"

"Sure." Carefully, Alannah placed the tiny ice sculpture into the knight's hand.

"It's really amazing." Greatly fascinated, Leigh stared at it with big eyes.

Thinking that it might be something to eat, Cerulia rose to her paws and marched over, sniffing at the little piece of art with her big, black nose. She jerked and snorted in surprise as the frozen water touched her sensitive nose, making the princess and the knight laugh.

"That's what you get for being so curious," Leigh told the wolf, who just turned her tail in offense and stalked back to the castle.

With a light plop, the ice sculpture dissolved into water, dripping off Leigh's palm. "I guess my hand was too warm," she pouted. "Hey, can..."

Before the knight was able to finish her sentence, a howl ripped through the silence. Both of them started at the unexpected noise and stared at each other, wide-eyed.

"Cerulia," Alannah exclaimed, jumping to her feet and running in the direction her wolf had disappeared.

Leigh was only one step behind her.

A few seconds later, they found the cause for Cerulia's anxious call. The white wolf stood beside a body that lay in the soft grass, next to some privet hedges.

"By the Spirits, it's Terrulli," Alannah said.

Trembling, the Animorph writhed on the ground, tiny wails and whimpers escaping her throat. Her eyes had rolled back and only the white was visible through her fluttering eyelashes.

"By the Spirits, is she having a seizure?"

Alannah shook her head. "I don't think so. I've seen this before. One of my old teachers had that. She's overcome by visions. They must be quite powerful."

"Stay with her. Try to calm her down. I'll go and get Loreen," Leigh announced and raced off to the healer's hut.

Alannah knelt beside her and moved the girl to her back, stroking strands of long blonde hair out of her face. "Terrulli? Terrulli, can you hear me? It's Alannah..."

All of a sudden, slender hands flew up and cupped her face. The tips of Terrulli's fingers came to rest on the princess' temples.

A sound of surprise escaped Alannah as she found herself staring into the Animorph's ice-blue eyes.

"Help me," Terrulli begged. It came out strangled.

"How... what..."

Heavy tremors shook the girl's body. "I need to show you," she croaked.

Alannah stared into the slanted pupils. Then her eyes closed as a wave of emotion traveled from the Animorph's body into her own. Tears slid out from below her eyelids, running down her cheeks as a flood of images and flashes flooded her mind. Burning arrows whirred through the air... columns of dark smoke rose... fires raged... people screaming and yelling... children's cries echoing through the night... Feet in heavy boots pounding along the stone corridors... "Xandir, we need to get out of here! They are coming for us! Get the children!" a woman yelled... soldiers in black armor chasing after a family... 'Get to safety, my precious! GO!' a female voice shouted... a dark and very small tunnel appeared... jumping of a high cliff, a white tiger plummeted into water... ice-cold water everywhere...

The hands fell away from her temples. Trembling, sobbing and her heart pounding like a sledge hammer, Alannah fell to her side beside the Animorph, trying to get her bearings. The powerful and painful emotions and images had caught her completely off guard.

"I am so sorry, Alannah," Terrulli whimpered, tearfully. "I had to link my mind with yours. It was the only way that I could show you..."

Reaching out, the princess clasped the girl's hand in her own shaking one. "We will help you," she promised.

"If only I knew what these visions mean?"

Alannah swallowed hard. Her throat had suddenly gone dry. She was sure that what she had just seen were memories and not mere visions.

*****

Humming a soft Elven tune that her mother had once taught her, Loreen went through her cabin, gathering things that she thought she might need at the castle. Tiny vials, flasks, bundles of herbs and other things were taken from their usual place and stuffed into a wooden basket that sat on the table.

"Good. I think I got everything," she mumbled to herself after a while. Then her eyes fell on the dress that Terrulli had worn on the day of her arrival in Chitaan. The gown lay on a chair. It was torn and dirty. Loreen walked over, picking it up. "This is in desperate need to be cleaned and fixed."

"LOREEN! LOREEN! LOREEN!" Leigh's desperate outcry made her jump. She picked up the basket and hurried to the door, Terrulli's dress under her other arm. Unbeknown to the healer, something fell out from the gown's folds, rolled across the floor, below the green curtain and came to rest beside the bed.

The door flew open in the same instant as Loreen had reached for the knob. "You... have... to come... with... me..." Leigh panted, trying to catch her breath. "In... the... garden... Terrulli..."

"Lead the way," Loreen said, following the knight to the castle's gardens.

Once it was silent in the hut, a tiny rodent nose poked out from under the bed, sniffing. Soon, it was followed by a small, red head. Curious, black eyes looked around. The red ears with the bushy tips twitched slightly, turning this way and that way, listening closely. Rubyoh could not hear anything. There seemed to be no threat.

Slowly, the squirrel crawled out from under the bed. Something had caught his attention and now that he was alone, he could investigate the matter, undisturbed. He had heard a muffled thud and something had rolled across the floor before the tall woman had left the cabin. Rubyoh carefully inched his way over to the object that had fallen out of Terrulli's dress. It was an irregular shaped gem of light-blue color and the size of a small pebble. The squirrel circled it, eyeing it suspiciously from each side. He tapped it twice with his tiny front paws before backing off.

Nothing happened. The jewel just lay there.

Again, Rubyoh moved close. This time, he picked it up, turning it over in his small paws to examine it from each angle. He lifted it to his mouth and began to nibble on it, but his sharp teeth were unable to even scratch the surface. Deciding that he needed more time with this particularly weird-looking nut, Rubyoh carried it off to his nest.

*****

"Are you sure that you feel alright?" Leigh asked concerned, tenderly running her knuckles across the princess's cheek. "You are still pale and shaking."

Alannah's face was as white as a sheet but the trembling of her body slowly subsided. "I'll be fine. Don't worry," she replied, giving her best friend a small smile. "Just hold me," she added in a whisper.

Leigh wrapped her arms around her, combing a hand gently through the princess' long silver hair. Her heart had constricted with fear and worry when she had returned with Loreen, finding Terrulli and Alannah sobbing and trembling in the grass. After the princess had gained her composure, she had told them what had happened and what she had seen.

Now they were in the throne room. Zaylan and Loreen were talking softly with Terrulli, while Alannah and Leigh sat on a bench, waiting.

"It should have been me," Leigh mumbled, staring off space.

"What do you mean?"

"I should have sent you off to fetch Loreen. Terrulli should have linked her mind with mine."

Shaking her head softly, Alannah pulled out of the embrace in order to look at the knight. "You would have been even less able to handle the emotions and pictures that would have raced through your mind. It would have overwhelmed you completely."

"I know, because I don't have magical blood and no mind-reading abilities. I just hate to see you hurt, that's all."

"The onslaught was upon me so quick that I didn't have time to protect myself. That's why it caught me off guard and effected me so strongly," the princess explained. "If that were truly memories like I think they were..." Alannah trailed off as she saw Zaylan, Loreen and Terrulli walk over to them, taking their seats opposite them.

"How are you feeling, Alannah?" Zaylan wanted to know, reaching over to hold his daughter's hand and looking at her compassionately.

"Better. What are we going to do now, Father?"

The king stroked his silver beard. "If it is not too painful for you to recall, I would like for you to tell me what Terrulli showed you. Try to give me as many details as you can remember."

Alannah did as she was asked, relating the emotions and images that were still fresh on her mind.

"Stop," Zaylan said, holding up a hand. "That woman's voice said 'Xandir'? Are you certain?"

Alannah nodded. "Yes. She said 'Xandir, we need to get out of here! They are coming for us! Get the children!'"

"Does the name mean anything to you, Terrulli?"

The young woman was unsure. "It... it does sound familiar... but I don't... I don't know where to place it."

"Why is the name important?" Leigh inquired.

"Because Xandir is the king of Ashkyhra and I think Terrulli is his daughter." That said, Zaylan rose and began pacing. Lost in thought, he rubbed his beard, brooding about everything that the past hour had revealed.

Terrulli stared wide-eyed at the king. "I am... I am the princess of Ashkyhra?"

Zaylan stopped pacing and nodded. "Yes, my child. That you are. You look so much like your mother, Rovannah. You have the same eyes and the same features."

"So, how do we find out what happened?" Leigh interrupted.

"I will send out Saberclaw," the king decided firmly. "That is the only option we have right now until we know what's going on."

*****

Tyrel flinched as a lightning bolt whizzed past his ear, blasting a blackened hole into the stone wall behind him. The wall that he had erected in his mind to keep the dark wizard out of his head was still firmly in place.

"Don't keep trying my patience, boy," the masked sorcerer hissed, only to roar an instant later, "TELL ME WHERE IT IS! WHERE IS THE STONE?!"

Defiantly, Tyrel just stared at him, not saying one word. He had gained a little bit of power in this unequal struggle and he would not give it up. The evil man would not kill him. He knew that as long as he didn't have the information he was seeking, he would be kept alive. Tyrel hoped it would be long enough that he could get out of here, wherever here was.

Greatly disgruntled, the dark wizard backed off, slamming the cell door close. Muttering and cursing under his breath, he retreated to his chambers. Maybe the voice would come to him.

He sat down in front of his fireplace, waiting and staring at the dancing flames that sizzled and crackled.

Time passed and the dark wizard grew weary. He was just about to rise as a soft buzzing filled his ears. "I'm listening, speak to me... speak to me. What shall I do?" His eyes slid shut and he saw something. He was standing in the high halls of a throne room. His gloved hand was holding a gem. It was irregular shaped and glowed in a bright golden color. "Another piece of Asram's stone..."

"Pavan..." the voice whispered. "Fulfill the plan... Pavan... it will bring you one step closer to ultimate victory... Pavan..."

"But I don't have Ashkyhra's stone yet."

"With the stone from Pavan you will get more power... it will aid you in finding the piece of Asram's stone that was kept in Ashkyhra... go to Pavan... make them surrender... victory will be yours..." the voice hissed.

The magician's eyes flew open, a greedy fire burning in their silver depths. He nodded and rose from the floor. "Pavan, yes," he mumbled, walking to a map that was spread out on a table. Grasping a nearby dagger, he drove it powerfully into the map until the blade stuck fast in the wood of the table. Now, the steel marked the position of the country that had once been forged by the Spirit Leydara.

"Pavan... oh, it will be wonderful to see you again, Tanith. I just hope you will not be as stubborn as Xandir and Rovannah were... for your sake." He laughed about his own crude remark. "There are things that need to be prepared." Reaching out with his powers, he entered the mind of his army's commander. "Burak," he projected. "Meet me in the weapon chamber. I need to visit an old friend."

*****

Ranib and Wyan had joined King Zaylan and the others in the gardens. They were standing in front of a perch, on which a big eagle sat.

From his white head to his equally white tail, he was about three feet long. The bird's yellow eyes bore bright, black pupils. They were blazing with intelligence and flitted from one human to the next, who were staring at him. His mighty wings, as well as the rest of his body were chestnut-brown. Sharp, curved claws adorned his yellow feet and his bent beak looked dangerous.

Zaylan took a step forward, brushing a hand tenderly over the soft feathers on the eagle's chest. "Hello, Saberclaw. I'm in need of your help, my friend."

Terrulli raised both eyebrows in surprise. "That's Saberclaw? That's the one you want to send out? I thought you were talking about a mighty warrior," she said, dumbfounded.

"He is the finest scout in all of Chitaan. There is nothing that could escape his sharp glance," Wyan chimed in, grinning.

Saberclaw gave a cry in agreement, turning his yellow eyes to the king.

"But how is that going to help us? How can he tell us what he saw?" Terrulli frowned.

"I will link my mind with his. Everything that he sees, I will see as well," Zaylan explained. "At first, I was thinking about sending a small party of my men into Ashkyhra, but since we don't know what will await us there, I think that might be too dangerous. Saberclaw can scout the area, undetected and then we can decide on the best course of action to take."

"I... I'm sorry if I have offended you, King Zaylan," Terrulli apologized, feeling bad for being what others may have considered disrespecting. "It was not my intention to question your wisdom and decision. I just..."

"It is quite alright," Zaylan interrupted her and smiled. Placing a hand on her slender shoulder, he continued, "I know you are just as anxious as we are to find out what happened and where your family is."

"Thank you for your help. I will be forever in your debt," the young woman answered and everybody present knew that it was a heart-felt pledge.

Saberclaw flapped his wings, drawing the king's attention back to the matter at hand.

Zaylan reached forward, cupping the birds head gently and staring deeply into his eyes. He began to chant in a strange-sounding language. A few minutes passed like that. Then, he spoke the final words. "My mind to your mind... I will see what you will see... My mind to your mind... I will see what you will see..."

The eagle gave a shrill cry.

Zaylan calmly stroked his head. "Start your journey now and return safely, my friend." He turned to Ranib and waved him over.

The tall warrior was carrying a small, woven basket that he gave to the king.

Zaylan reached inside and pulled out a couple of fish that he fed to Saberclaw.

The eagle wolfed them down. Only a moment later, he spread his wings and rose gracefully off the perch that he had been sitting on. Soaring higher and higher, Saberclaw disappeared into the clouds.

*****

Continued...