Indira paused in a doorway to a small room in the hospital wing. Her healer's robe was stained and her midnight hair hung in a simple twist down her back like always when she worked. She found the familiar sights, smells, and feel of the hospital comforting. It helped relieve some of her lingering anxiety from the confrontation with the possessed Ceren.

  Adalia shadowed her, her soul a spark of determination and good humor despite ongoing dangers. Her simple presence cheered Indira.

  "Keelin, is everything all right?"

  Drystan's willowy wife sat on a padded chair, holding her baby while a Pemburu Stalwart examined the child.

  "Oh, hello Indira," Keelin said with a friendly smile. "We'll be fine, thanks. Rhys developed a fever so I brought him down to make sure it's nothing serious."

  The Stalwart removed his hands from Rhys' head. "Your baby will be fine."

  "I'm surprised Drystan isn't here with you," Indira said.

  "He was, but Kevlin only just summoned him and Jerrik. He had to rush off to the Keisara's Tower of all places."

  "What for?" Indira asked, a fresh knot of worry forming in her stomach. Kevlin ended up at the heart of too many of the ongoing troubles. She worried constantly for his safety.

  "I really don't know. Some kind of emergency. I expect they'll sort it out."

  Adalia snorted. "Knowing that lot, I 'spect they'll break something important."

  "I hope not," Keelin said. "Not in that tower anyway."

  Indira bade Keelin farewell and continued her rounds. She walked slowly, her mind troubled.

  "Ye're worryin' agin," Adalia said.

  "I'm just wondering what kind of trouble the boys could get into in the Keisara's Tower?"

  Adalia shrugged. "Lots, prob'ly."

  "Oh no," Indira exclaimed. "Lady Ceren went to the tower to visit the keisara."

  Adalia nodded. "Might be bad, that."

  Indira ran from the hospital, with Adalia on her heels, but she couldn't outrun her growing fear.

  # # #

  Master!

  Linked to Masego by the spell that enslaved her, Sitara sent out the thought in the direction she felt him to be.

  What are you doing? She could clearly sense his surprise. You stupid girl. Don’t you have any idea how dangerous it is to talk like this?

  But he’s here! She interrupted. Kevlin’s here. I need your help to take him.

  Don’t let him leave, Masego commanded. I am coming.

  # # #

  Harafin and the other members of the ruling council looked up as the doors to the large conference room where they still met banged open. Leander, dressed in full battle armor, strode into the room, flanked by a score of battle-ready Pallian Stalwarts. He looked angry, and Harafin recognized the danger signs.

  His old friend was once again embracing the crazed fury of his youth. Harafin's heart fell, and he hoped his friend wasn't planning to do something stupid. When Leander had embraced the insanity of vengeance a century ago, he'd become one of the most dangerous men in the world.

  Emperor Tegnazian scowled. "What are you doing here? I ordered you banished and I mean to see you cast out of the city immediately. Guards!"

  Leander stopped in the center of the room and planted his feet. "Your guards are unable to attend at the moment."

  "Murderer," Ambassador Janezeko breathed. The other ambassadors looked on fearfully.

  "You've always been an idiot, Braden," Leander said. "I would never murder anyone."

  "What do you call what you did earlier today?" the emperor shot back.

  "Self-defense."

  "I disagree."

  "That is of no matter."

  The emperor rose to his feet, sputtering with rage.

  Leander said, "I'm not here to re-hash the past or challenge your ruling, no matter that you proved yourself a legendary fool."

  "Get out," Emperor Tegnazian shouted. "Leave me, or by the gods I'll see you hanged."

  "First, I demand to know why the prisoner Remiel was released."

  "You have no right to demand anything here!" the emperor shouted. "Get out!"

  "Wait," Harafin interjected. "Did you say Remiel was released?"

  Leander nodded. "I received word only moments ago that he was released into the custody of Gabral and Kevlin on the keisara's order."

  "Impossible." Emperor Tegnazian sank back to his chair. "If you're lying to me . . ."

  "Tanathos escaped," Leander said. "I won't allow Remiel to do the same."

  "You're in no position to allow or not allow anything," Emperor Tegnazian snapped.

  "Enough," Harafin said. "This bickering isn't helping. This is the first we heard of Remiel's release. Why would the keisara issue such a command?"

  "I don't know," the emperor said.

  "Could they have been lying?" the hulking Ambassador Kescog asked.

  "Unlikely," Harafin said, considering the strange situation. None of the explanations he came up with were encouraging. "Zuberi, is there any reason your wife would issue such an order?"

  "No. None that I can imagine."

  "What can it mean?" The lanky Ambassador Talamantez asked.

  Harafin rose. "It means the enemy is again one step ahead of us."

  Emperor Tegnazian gasped. "You can't mean . . ."

  At that moment Harafin felt a tingle at the base of his neck. Someone had triggered the newly re-created and enhanced barrier shield around the Sentinel Tower. He raised a hand for silence and closed his eyes to concentrate.

  He caught a faint echo of conversation.

  But he’s here! Kevlin’s here. I need your help to take him.

  Don’t let him leave. I am coming.

  The connection faded and Harafin cursed.

  They were in the wrong place. Again.

  He ran around the table, tossing chairs aside, and shouted, "To the Keisara's Tower! The enemy moves to strike there."

  Emperor Tegnazian cried out, "Is my wife all right?"

  Harafin dared not voice what he feared. That was enough of an answer. The emperor sprang to his feet and gave chase.

  "To battle!" Ambassador Kescog shouted.

  He led the other ambassadors to join the chase.

  This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

  Leander beat them all to the door. He called out to the assembled Stalwarts, "Double-time. Clear a path!"

  The Stalwarts pelted down the corridor, shouting for people to make way, and forcibly moving anyone too slow to comply.

  As Harafin ran behind Leander, he wondered what they would find when they arrived. If the enemy arrived first, he doubted the keisara would survive.

  He ran faster.

  # # #

  Sitara faced Kevlin. "It wasn't supposed to happen like this. You're supposed to help me."

  "Of course I would have helped you. All you had to do was ask. None of this was necessary."

  "It was," she cried. "My master commanded it."

  Finally things were starting to make sense. "You're enthralled to Masego, aren't you?"

  She dropped Remiel's head and retreated, her expression terrified. "I cannot speak of it."

  "Not good enough," Drystan said, rising from the tangled mass of fallen soldiers. He kicked Jerrik in the ribs, producing a groan.

  Gabral stepped past Kevlin. "Sitara, you are a servant of Darkness. You will answer our questions and you will face punishment for your crimes." The blue fire encasing the Mace ball flowed up his arm and surrounded him with its protective embrace.

  "No," she begged. "Please, not like this."

  "Hold on," Kevlin said. "Gabral, wait a minute."

  Gabral spun back to Kevlin, the Mace raised to strike. "Don't interfere with me, mercenary. I'm in command and this creature will be brought to justice."

  "It's Sitara," Kevlin protested. "We can work this out."

  "Oh, I plan to," Gabral said, turning back to Sitara.

  "Back off," Sitara cried, raising her hands.

  Crimson fire roared around Gabral, charring the floor and chewing at the air. With it came a heavy scent of ash, mingled with the stench of something long dead.

  The Mace's blue protective flames flared against Sitara's conjured fire and Gabral continued his advance with barely a pause.

  "No," Sitara repeated. "This isn't how it's supposed to happen."

  "Your plots are at an end," Gabral declared. "Surrender."

  She cast a glance at Remiel's unmoving form and whispered, "There is no surrender, no escape."

  She darted away from Gabral and circled the keisara's couch.

  "You're just making it harder on yourself," he said, stalking after her.

  "Harder for one of us," she said.

  Sitara looked toward Kevlin again, and she looked like she wanted to speak. He longed to hear her story, understand what had happened to her. She had been such a sweet girl. Surely there had to be a way to salvage this mess.

  She sighed, glanced at the approaching Gabral, and clapped her hands together above her head. A cloud of thick, rolling darkness enveloped her and expanded into the room.

  Undaunted, Gabral strode into the darkness, the Mace burning with brilliant blue fire. For a second he was outlined through the dark haze.

  Then he was gone.

  # # #

  "Drystan," Kevlin called. "I need a javelin."

  Drystan instantly tossed one over and he caught the weapon, then ran around the spreading darkness toward the far door, which was already almost hidden from view.

  "Stay out of the darkness," he told his brothers. "Be ready. If she emerges, bind her. I think she wants to surrender."

  "I'm not so sure about that," Drystan said, gesturing at the growing dark cloud.

  "I plan to give her the chance," he said. Hopefully Sitara heard him.

  He had seen the light and darkness mixed within her soul. Evil had not conquered her spirit. He had a lot of experience recently casting off overwhelming external force. He had to believe she could do the same.

  "We'll be ready," Drystan assured him as he worked to extricate himself from the tangle of bodies. Jerrik rose to his feet, shedding unconscious soldiers like water. He drew his small throwing axe from his belt. Should Sitara confront them, she wouldn't find them easy targets.

  Kevlin plunged into the darkness, the javelin extended.

  # # #

  Crouching close to the floor, Sitara slipped to her left, away from where she could feel the Mace bearer advancing through her cloud of darkness. He was blundering forward in a straight line, seemingly determined to find her by sheer obstinacy.

  He would be disappointed.

  She didn't waste time considering ways to convince him to help. He was easily read. The man lacked imagination and vision. He'd try to destroy her.

  Sitara just needed to keep them distracted until her hated master arrived. Let the angry colonel unleash his mighty weapon against Masego. Even her master couldn't stand against one of the Six.

  It was Kevlin she must rely upon. If only Lady Ceren had completed the mission she'd embedded into her mind. With Kevlin already on her side, she could escape her enslavement. He wasn't actinopathic, but he wasn't a simple, non-gifted soul either. He was different. He was a hero. He was her one chance of salvation.

  She extended her senses through the darkness as she slipped farther away from Gabral, closer to the rear door. Remiel lay just yards from her, his life ebbing away.

  If they could defeat Masego quickly, she could rescue him. She needed to believe she could save him from the life he'd been trapped into. It offered a glimmer of hope that she could achieve her own dreams and return to freedom.

  Feeling nothing else within the darkness, she took a few more cautious steps. It was time.

  With a wicked grin, she cast her next spell.

  # # #

  Gabral cursed as he pitched face-first onto the floor, tripped by an invisible obstacle. He landed in a puddle of some thick, viscous material.

  Blood probably.

  Just my luck. He struggled to push himself upright. I'm going to be a gory mess when I present my victory to the emperor.

  He couldn't get up. He pushed again, but to no avail. Whatever he had fallen into held him down like glue.

  "Where are you, you cowardly witch?" he roared, managing to stick his face into the sticky mess.

  Forcing down his anger, he focused on the Mace and removed all restraints around the mighty weapon's power.

  # # #

  Kevlin cautiously crept through the darkness, blind as a ship running before a midnight gale. He had hoped the amulet would dissipate the mist, but it did nothing. The mist rolled around him but didn't quite touch him. He had no idea if that was the power of the amulet at work or not. It didn't help him find Sitara, and he felt no inrushing captured magic.

  Then Gabral cursed, and it sounded like he fell. Kevlin almost called out to ask if he was all right. The Mace should have protected him.

  Maybe he was just clumsy? Kevlin suppressed a chuckle. He would have loved to witness Gabral trip over his own feet.

  Then tip of the javelin touched something.

  Sitara?

  She was the only other person in the darkness. Kevlin hated to hurt her, but they needed to end the games and force her to talk. So he lunged, and the javelin plunged into something solid. He twisted it.

  # # #

  Sitara screamed.

  Pain roared through her shoulder in a numbing wave. Only the discipline developed through Masego's training sessions allowed her to keep from fainting from shock.

  She jerked backward, grabbed the shaft of the weapon piercing her, and pulled it free. She could feel someone on the other end of the shaft, trying to drive it into her again.

  How had she not sensed them before?

  The weapon jerked from her grasp and she dove sideways into a roll to avoid the next blow that was sure to come. She struck the floor hard and barely bit back a fresh cry as her wound flared with new pain.

  Then a brilliant flash of blue light, brighter than the noonday sun, dawned in the center of her dark cloud. It burned away the concealing mist, revealing everything.

  # # #

  Gabral rose, his eyes glued to the figure of Sitara crawling away from Kevlin, not fifteen feet from where he stood.

  She would not escape again. Kevlin, holding one of Drystan's javelins, also turned toward her.

  "Hold!" Gabral snarled. "Let me handle this."

  For once, the mercenary listened. Too bad, really. Gabral finally had ample excuse to execute the annoying man. He'd always known the day would come. It was just a matter of time.

  He strode past Kevlin, focused on Sitara, who was climbing painfully to her feet, blood spreading on her right shoulder.

  So Kevlin had scored a hit. So be it. The mercenary drew first blood, but he would win the victory. Sitara tried to escape, but she had nowhere left to run.

  "You can't," she pleaded as her back struck the rear wall of the room. She conjured a wall of glowing darkness between them.

  Gabral batted it aside. The wall shattered, blasting out one of the huge windows to his left. A chill wind rushed into the room, carrying the scent of the sea far below. He closed the distance to Sitara.

  "Last chance."

  "Leave me alone," she cried, raising a hand again.

  He applauded her choice. It made his all the easier. With great satisfaction, Gabral plunged the long center spike at the top of the Mace between her breasts and into her heart.

  She screamed as the force of the blow pinned her back against the wall. She stared down at the flaming weapon impaling her, her face shocked and terrified.

  She tried to resist, but the power of the Mace filled her and denied her the ability to do so.

  "No," she whispered before the blue flames enveloped her face and burned away the tears streaming from her light brown eyes.

  Gabral stood before her, holding her upright by the power of the Mace, determined to extract truth from this evil creature. "You're now in my power. You will answer my questions."

  The blue fire faded to bright blue light surrounding her. It pulsed with the regular, slow rhythm of her heartbeat as the final seconds of her life began ticking visibly away. The Mace would keep her alive until the force of her soul was spent. For those seconds, he could command her to obey.

  "No."

  "You cannot deny me. You will surrender to my will."

  Sitara's lips quivered as she tried to resist.

  Gabral increased the pressure on the Mace, the muscles on his arms standing out under the strain, and sweat beginning to trickle down his face.

  "Her mind is amazingly well guarded," he muttered as the mercenary and his swordbrothers gathered around. "I've never seen anything like this."

  "Sitara, why didn't you surrender?" Kevlin asked, leaning close. The fool looked sad.

  ". . .die first . . " she whispered, shaking her head weakly in protest. The regular pulsing of the Mace's light slowed in time with her heartbeat.

  "No," Gabral commanded. "You will surrender and you will answer me."

  Sitara screamed again, her body rigid as every muscle convulsed one final time. Then her will broke and she sagged against the Mace.

  "There," Gabral said between teeth clenched. "Her defenses are broken. She will answer truthfully now."

  "Tell us about your master," Kevlin demanded.

  Gabral wanted to punch the insolent man. He'd wanted to ask that one.

  She whispered, "He is Ma . . . se . . ."

  Her body suddenly shook and she screamed again. She flailed at herself, scratching gouges in her own skin as she twisted and cried in agony. "No! No! I'm sorry, master!"

  Blood began flowing freely from the continued scratching and she started weeping hysterically, muttering over and over, "Make it stop. Please make it stop."

  "What's going on?" Drystan cried.

  Kevlin grabbed her hands. "Stop it, Sitara. You're hurting yourself. Tell us how we can help."

  "It's some other spell," Gabral said as he tried to maintain control. He'd held the Shadeleech Merab in similar Mace-bound confinement, but the Sigrun had intervened and possessed their servant. Merab had nearly killed Gabral, despite the Mace piercing his heart.

  Gabral forced himself to stand his ground. He would not retreat from a tiny woman.

  On my honor, I will win this fight, regardless of the cost.

  # # #

  Without warning, an unseen power lifted Gabral from the floor and slammed him against the wall above Sitara's slumped form. He slid down the wall, unconscious.

  The Mace's fires winked out and the heavy weapon dropped from Sitara's chest. It clanged to the floor as she slid down next to it.

  Kevlin and his swordbrothers spun in surprise as cold laughter rang through the room. In the center of the room stood the Sentinel Felix.