"Try to see your queen's point of view. Take a look at everything that's happened since your arrival from your Earth. You lost your families. You were asked by the G.o.ds to slay many beings. You even fought your way into a position of power on a world that you had no idea existed until you woke up inside the temple. The queen's best friend was taken from her, and I heard the queen with my own ears describe Helga's loss as something she'd never heal from. She loved Helga as if she was her own mother. I'm sure you must have felt the same when BJ took his life."

Sam sighed. "Sure, I felt terrible, but I wouldn't abandon my family because of it. I think what BJ did was cowardly."

Michael nodded. "Perhaps BJ was a bad example." The general took a seat on one of the many benches throughout the garden and paused to admire his surroundings. "BJ's loss was hard, but you've handled this loss much better than your queen handled Helga's."

Now, fellow soul ... allow me to interject. In case you have not noticed, the theft of the crystal moon has created a unique situation. The flowers within the garden were still in bloom, just as they were across the rest of Southern Grayham. Under normal circ.u.mstances, this would not have been the case. They should've been lying dormant for the winter, but these were not normal circ.u.mstances. The theft of the Crystal Moon had many side effects and one of these took away each world's ability to flow through the seasons. This would not change until more of the pieces of the Crystal Moon were reunited. Southern Grayham would continue to experience a mild summer.

Michael reached behind him, picked a carsoreign and then smelled its auburn petals. "The queen will come back when she's ready. She's lost her way, but she'll remember how much you love her. The loss of your baby was devastating, and I would wager it has taken the last of her will."

Sam took a seat next to Michael. He removed the flower from the general's hand, and then he plucked its petals and dropped them to the ground. "I know you're right, but I'll be d.a.m.ned if I know how to solve this problem. This isn't something my intelligence can fix. I'm out of my element. What would you do if you were me?"

Michael put his right arm around his king. "If I were you, I would take another approach. I'll give you my suggestions, but it'll require you to put a tremendous amount of faith in me."

Sam looked Michael dead in the eyes. "I trust you. I'm listening. Let me hear your ideas."

Meanwhile, Western Luvelles Gregory's Gla.s.s City of Inspiration After listening to Brayson's instructions on how to use a scroll of teleportation, Mary collected her daughters. She put baby Garrin in a wagon and then ordered the girls to huddle together. After ensuring everyone was touching the baby, Mary read the scroll to release its magic. When the group reappeared, they were standing next to a river that led away from Gregory's city. The river banks, like the rest of the chancellor's creations, were made of gla.s.s, and they were glorious to look upon.

The girls had come to Inspiration with a goal in mind-spend the Peak shopping and sightseeing while learning as much as they could. As they walked through the enormous gates, they marveled at how the gla.s.s had been altered. The gates appeared as if they were actual pieces of wood, but upon closer investigation, their secret was revealed. No matter where they looked, it was impossible to avoid the need to gasp at the next beautiful wonder. Cobblestone streets, merchant carts, ornate lamp posts, and fountains that flowed outside of a number of storefronts-were all gla.s.s. Colors they had never seen before were used to give the structures definition and depth. Large prisms had been placed throughout the city. They cast rainbows that moved across the sides of Gregory's tower as the sun traveled across the sky.

Ma.s.sive corannan trees cast shadows throughout the city. Smaller vegetation had also been given access to the earth, allowing their roots to retrieve the nutrients necessary to survive below the gla.s.s. After asking questions, the ladies learned that the magic used to create the city also harvested the sun's excess heat. This excess was directed away from the plants to allow for abundant growth and further used as a source of power to replenish the magic's ability to maintain its function.

"Can you believe this?" Mary said while looking across the distance at Gregory's tower. "I would've never imagined that such a place could exist."

Athena took Mary by the arm and pulled her mother close. "I have to admit ... I like your new elf. This is going to replace our best Peak of shopping. How thoughtful was it of Brayson to send us here."

"I agree," Susanne added, her voice full of excitement. "I've got to find me a magic man. It's not fair. You two can't have all the fun. Help me find a handsome one while we're here. I mean, how hard could it be? This is a city filled with them."

Mary and Athena laughed and then Mary responded. "We'll just add that to our shopping list."

After a few more pleasant giggles, the women came across a beautiful, elven woman who was sitting on the edge of a fountain. The fountain was much larger than the others they had seen. The gla.s.s had been altered and held a canary-yellow hue. The sign above the door was written in the language of the elves.

Mary reached into her handbag and produced a book. "Brayson said we could use this to translate what we don't understand. I guess this sign qualifies."

Susanne looked over Mary's shoulder while she adjusted Garrin's weight to rest on her opposite hip. "Brayson thinks of everything. What's the translation?"

"Give me a moment. I'm working on it. I think it says ... if I'm reading it right ... it says, The Future's Vision." Mary looked up from the book, "Sounds mystical."

Athena tugged at Mary's dress. "It sounds intriguing. Perhaps we should check it out."

They nodded and walked past the woman. She was wearing a feathered mask that rested over her eyes and extended toward the top of her head. The lady stared at them as they walked into her store.

Athena whispered to Mary, "How strange. That woman frightens me. I wonder why she's wearing that mask."

Mary nudged Athena. "Don't be rude. This isn't our culture. Perhaps staring is their way of acknowledging us."

"It's an odd tradition if it is," Athena protested.

"I said, don't be rude. Let's look around."

The store was full of an a.s.sortment of crystals, potions, and many jars filled with odd-looking creatures. A knee-high table sat at the center of the room. It had a circular top and a symbol engraved at its center.

Susanne looked at the symbol and then lowered Garrin back into his padded wagon. "What does it mean? Look it up, Mother."

Athena took note of Garrin's heavy eyes. She crouched and rubbed his head while she waited for Mary's response.

Susanne poked Mary on the arm. "Haven't you figured it out yet? What does it say?"

A voice from the store entrance responded with the answer. "You look upon future's symbol."

Startled, everyone turned to look. It was the woman who had been sitting outside. As she entered, her movements were graceful. Her soft-white bustier flowed against her figure while a red, patterned belt hung loose around her hips and swayed with each step.

Mary recovered from her surprise. "h.e.l.lo. I'm Mary. These are my girls, Athena and Susanne." She motioned toward the wagon. "This is my grandson, Garrin."

"Bryanna is my name." She lowered next to Garrin and rubbed her hand through his hair. "He's as striking as this Peak is glorious. I've been waiting to cast my eyes upon him. Fate has brought this little one to me." Bryanna stood and then looked at Mary. "I know you have questions ... questions of love ... questions about the future. I can see all." She reached out and caressed Mary's cheek. "I can see you. I can speak of things unknown. Do you wish to have revealed what is to be?"

Glances were exchanged, shoulders were shrugged, and the desire to know filled the ladies' eyes. "We would," Mary responded. She removed Bryanna's hand from her cheek and then patted the top of it. "How much coin will it cost?"

"Your coin matters not. Fate demands this of me. I shall speak of your destinies without compensation." Bryanna walked out the back of her store and onto a patio that overlooked the city. The view was breathtaking. The dome of Helmep's temple crested the trees as it lifted into the afternoon sky.

The seer lowered to her knees and leaned toward a second table that was similar to the one inside. Bryanna waved her hand over the symbol at its center. A mist appeared, and the face of Brayson formed within the haze as it lifted toward the ceiling.

Mary had to catch her breath. She could not believe her eyes as she backed away from Bryanna.

"Are you okay, Mother?" Athena inquired as she moved close to Mary.

"What kind of trickery is this?" Susanne whispered as she moved to Mary's other side.

The green hue of Bryanna's eyes vanished and turned milky-white. Her voice trembled as she began to chant. Soon, her chanting turned to a whisper. "Love. A true love. A union between elf and human. A union blessed..." Her voice amplified, "... and doomed! Beware!"

Brayson's image faded and was replaced with George's face. "A heart cries for a soul's release. A young girl is trapped. A father desperately wants to witness her return, but evil stands in his way."

Bryanna began to shake. "Evil feeds from this family's table the way a child would suckle a mother's teat. It guides its head. It's testing a father's love." She began to scream, waking Garrin, who started to cry. "The worlds, misery, destruction, sorrow. Aahhhhhhhhhh! All is lost! We are doomed!"

Mary had enough. She grabbed Garrin and ran out of the store. Athena and Susanne grabbed the wagon and were not far behind her. They did not stop until they were winded.

Mary tried to console the baby while Susanne and Athena caught their breath. She rocked Garrin in her arms. It took a while before the motion pacified the child. He settled down and then fell back asleep.

Mary lowered Garrin into his wagon. "I know I shouldn't speak as George does, but what the h.e.l.l was that about? What kind of garesh was she spewing?"

"Mother," Athena said, covering her mouth.

"Don't you 'Mother' me! What did she mean when she said evil feeds from this family's table? She said it guides its head. What father's love is she talking about? And why did George's face appear when she began to shake? Does evil control him?"

Susanne cut in, "Mother, you've got to calm down."

"No!" Mary snapped. "She said Brayson and I were a union. Does this mean we're going to be wed, and if it does, why is our union doomed? She also said something about misery, sorrow and destruction."

Before the girls could answer, Mary pulled an emerald from her handbag. "Brayson said I could use this to summon one of Gregory's servants. They'll take us to see him. Let's hope Gregory can give us some answers. I've never been so scared in my life."

Susanne cut in again, "Why don't we just go home and talk with Brayson? He could tell us everything we need to know. We can always come back on some other Peak."

Mary shook her head. "No. We can't use the scroll to teleport until after Late Bailem. That's when Brayson said it would be safe to use it again."

Mary rubbed the gem. It was only a matter of moments before a glimmering carriage appeared. A tiny halfling, no taller than a a pace, jumped from his seat and then climbed up the side to open the door. "Aman nay elle nay," was all he said.

Athena looked at Mary. "What did he say?"

Mary climbed into the carriage. "I don't know. Just get in. We need to find Gregory."

Ancients Sovereign Mosley's Cabin Mieonus appeared on the front porch of Mosley's cabin. The wolf was lying in the sun and did not bother to lift his head to acknowledge the G.o.ddess' presence. With his snout tucked beneath his front legs, Mosley spoke in a somber voice. "What do you want, Mieonus?"

"Is that the way you greet your guests, Mosley? I only wish to have a simple conversation."

"Again ... what do you want? A guest is someone I wish to have around. You don't qualify as a wish I would've made."

"Your words wound me, Mosley."

"Your drama is misdirected. What do you want?"

Mieonus turned away from the wolf and looked down across the valley. "I've noticed Shalee is traveling near the village of Bestep. She's with one of the Order's paladins."

"And?"

The G.o.ddess spun around. "And I want to know why she's with him. The third piece of the Crystal Moon is nowhere near that part of Luvelles. Where is she going?"

"Do you truly believe I would tell you?" the wolf sneered.

Mieonus took a seat on the steps of the porch. She peeled Mosley's front legs off his snout and then reached under his jaw to lift his head. After kissing the tip of his nose, she responded, "Must you always be like this, Mosley? I would like to start over. Let's try to be friends."

Mosley pulled away. "Your smell stings my snout." The wolf jumped off the porch. After walking a ways, he turned, squatted and then continued to talk amidst grunts. "If you wish to be friends, I'm sure you're prepared to tell me where George is going."

"Must you do that while we talk, Mosley?"

The wolf tilted his head and a look of confusion appeared on his face. "Do what?"

"What do you mean, 'what?'" the G.o.ddess snapped. "Must you be so revolting?"

A look of understanding appeared on Mosley's face. "Ohh! I apologize." The wolf pinched off what was left and then lowered his snout. Once satisfied that the smell was as it should be, he jumped back onto the porch.

Mieonus stood and moved away. "As disgusting as you are, wolf, I'd still like to create a friendship. I'm willing to share everything I know about George. If we cannot help the mortals find the crystal, then we might as well share information amongst ourselves?"

Mosley smirked. "Then prove your sincerity. Where's George going, and what conclusion did he come to after he read the three words on the parchment?"

"George has decided to stand before the Source. He thinks the crystal will present itself once he has looked into the Eye of Magic. I think he's right. The words on the parchment spoke of a soul being swallowed. The Eye does swallow souls."

Mosley lowered his head to clean himself, but he managed to mumble a response between licks. "Perhaps he's right. But we'll never know if he doesn't survive the Eye's inquisition, will we?"

"George is confident. I feel good about his chances." Mieonus responded. After a smile appeared on the G.o.ddess' face, she urged, "Now it's your turn. Tell me about Shalee."

Mosley stood and stretched. "I'm glad you were sincere, but I never said I wished to be your friend. You'll just have to wait to see where Shalee is going." Mosley vanished.

"d.a.m.n that wolf!" The G.o.ddess stomped her right foot.

The Village of Bestep The Peak of Bailem Once again, Kiayasis a.s.sisted Shalee from the krape lord's back. He took a moment to put on his armor, and then he faced the queen.

Shalee took a cloth from her sack. To clean off his breastplate, she brushed away the hair that had acc.u.mulated while it was inside Joss' pouch. "You look handsome in black. The gold accents have been well-placed."

Kiayasis winked. "Perhaps you could help me out of it when I return."

Shalee could not hide her pleasure. "Are you flirting with me, Kiayasis?"

A feigned innocence appeared on the dark paladin's face. "I wouldn't dare be so bold, Your Highness."

"Yeah, right," Shalee chuckled. "Well if you're going to flirt, then you best be willing to back it up with dinner."

"Will this dinner be followed with a kiss?"

Shalee took Kiayasis' face into the palms of her hands. She leaned in and whispered in his ear. "You're being awfully presumptuous."

Kiayasis blushed and took Shalee by the hand. They began their walk into the village after tossing Joss' reins to a servant of the Order. The stable hand led the beast into a stall that had been prepared for the dark paladin's mount. Three corgans were tied up inside. The beasts screamed as the krape lord tore into his meal.

"Goodness-gracious!" Shalee exclaimed as she turned around to look. "That sounds dreadful. Joss must have been hungry."

"I told you he's a carnivore." Kiayasis looked down the dirt road toward the village. "I have business to attend to. I'll take you to the inn and then meet you for dinner once I'm finished. I'll see to it that our meal is special."

"I hope so." Shalee winked.

The sorceress' wink was so seductive that Kiayasis had to catch his breath. "Um ... we'll need to leave in the morning. I think just after Early Bailem should give us the moments necessary to recover from a night of drink and fun. We have a long journey ahead of us."

Now, fellow soul ... allow me to tell you about the village of Bestep. It was a rough place that was full of hardened people. Many of the village's inhabitants were mercenaries-warriors with magic for hire. Parts of Bestep were in ruin. Hot tempers had destroyed many of the structures on the east side of the village that was filled with the less fortunate. There was a stone wall that separated the cla.s.ses. The wall had been scorched on the east side from ending those who had committed crimes. Though the definition of a crime had a tendency to vary from one villager to the next, all sentences were given and carried out by one man, Tygrus, an ex-soldier of the Order, and the owner of the best inn in the village.

When Shalee and Kiayasis reached Tygrus' inn, E Agare Kolpala (The Blood Bucket), Kiayasis left Shalee under the retired soldier's care and then headed for his destination. Tygrus was well-known as a merciless executioner, and ironically, his inn was the safest place for the queen to stay. All those who came to Bestep avoided confrontation while in Tygrus' establishment.

It took most of the afternoon before Kiayasis arrived at his destination. As he crested the final hill, he stopped to look at an old, run down shack that sat on seven stilts above the Id River. He jumped down from the back of his horse and then patted the animal's neck as it lowered its head to chew on the gra.s.s.

After securing the horse's reins to a bush, the dark paladin walked down the hillside toward the shack. The structure was rickety, and the wood planks of the boardwalk leading out to it felt weak beneath his feet.

The door to the structure was not solid. A fire burned inside, and he could see through the cracks. Kiayasis had to knock on four occasions before a brown eye peeked through one of the holes.

A hermit of a man shouted, "No one's here, I claim! Go away, I say!"

Kiayasis' tone was cold. "Open in the name of the Order!"

"Open in the name of the Order, he says. What else will the mean elf threaten, I say?"

The bottom of the door sc.r.a.ped across the wooden floor. A little man with a bowed back and arms covered in sores scurried away from Kiayasis. He took a seat next to the fire at the far side of the room and then pushed his long, matted hair clear of his face before he pressed his tongue against the backside of a smile filled with rotted teeth.

Kiayasis could not hide his disgust. "How do you live like this, Gorne? It's not wise to have a fire in here."