"Speak, Christopher, or must I cut it from you?"

Christopher was dressed as Boyafed, wearing all black, except for a golden shirt. His cape also bore the Order's symbol. His bone-handled dagger was sheathed on his left hip and his blessed long sword hung on his right. His hair was long and pure white, and his eyes looked as if they were made of a fogged crystal with a gray pupil. Christopher's voice was strong, and his skill with the Order's blade was well-respected throughout Boyafed's army.

"A runner has returned from the spot where Dayden was found." Christopher tossed Boyafed a dagger used by the white army.

Boyafed unsheathed the ivory-handled blade and lifted it to get a closer look. The mark on the blade was the same as the marks on the arrows. Boyafed's scream filled the hall. "Dowd!"

Christopher waited only a moment. "What are your orders?"

"Call for the council! I want them to be seated and ready for my arrival by Late Bailem!"

"Will that be all, My Liege?"

Boyafed's eyes sent chills down the future Argont Commander's spine. "Unless you wish to be offered up to Hosseff, I'd get out of my sight!"

Christopher fled from the room.

Boyafed vanished.

A moment later, Marcus emerged from behind the statue of Hosseff, smiling. "How interesting. Both councils shall convene tonight." The Dark Chancellor disappeared.

Just South of Grogger's Swamp The morning had been unkind to the lands surrounding the swamp of Western Luvelles. Pebble-sized hail and earth-scarring strikes of electrical fury had punished the terrain. The forest took the brunt of the storm. The high winds had abused the evergreens, and the weakest of their branches broke and fell to the ground. Countless mud puddles were scattered along the dirt road following the tree line.

Shalee grit her teeth and moaned as she crawled along the road. The wound across her abdomen had left a trail for Kiayasis to follow. The once sporadic, speckled drops of blood were beginning to turn into smaller coin-shaped pools of saturated earth as her escape slowed. She had used her sweater to try to pack the wound, but nothing seemed to help. She was exhausted, and the loss of blood was making her weary. Her desire to live was beginning to be replaced by her desire to end the pain.

Kiayasis grinned as he stalked Shalee from a distance. He knew she was approaching the end of a valiant effort to run. He rubbed his hand across the blood-stained earth. "You can't flee forever," he whispered, "Your life's source gives you away. It didn't have to end this way. I will miss you." He rubbed the essence of her life between his fingertips and tasted it.

Shalee pulled herself off the road and into the forest. Her forearms were torn from the gravel that was embedded in her skin. Her teeth chattered as her body continued to lose heat. She managed to force herself into an upright position against a large stone.

The Knife of Spirits had made a clean cut. Yet again, she tried to use her magic to cauterize the wound, but failed. Why can't I use my power? Her mind screamed for answers, but none could be found. She closed her eyes and tried to teleport-nothing-there was no escape. I've got to get out of here. He's gonna kill me.

It was not long before Kiayasis stood above Shalee, looking down with eyes full of evil intent. He had changed, and he was now dressed in the Order's armor. "You betrayed me. You tossed me aside as if I was no better than the slop trudgeboars eat."

Shalee's voice was weak. "I'm so sorry, Kiayasis. Please. I beg you to stop. I don't want to perish. What can I do to make you stop?"

"The moments for talking are over. You could've had a wonderful life with me. I was prepared to give up everything for you. I was sent here to end you, but as we traveled, I fell in love with you. I was going to let you live and start a new life together. We could've moved far away from my father's army."

"I'm sorry, Kiayasis. Please, don't do this to me."

The dark paladin unsheathed his blessed long sword, and then he lifted it toward the sky. "Hosseff, accept this sacrifice as a token of my faithful service! My blade shall bathe in her life's source! I am yours, and as your child, I wish only to please you! You are wise and an almighty G.o.d!" He stomped his right foot. "Blessed are the children of Hosseff!"

As Kiayasis lowered his blade, a voice from the side of the road called out. "If it's a sacrifice you seek, come claim it!"

Shalee could not believe her ears. She struggled to focus and called out. "Sam! Oh my goodness, is it really you? Help me!"

The King of Grayham was dressed in leather hunting clothes. He wore no armor, but Kael hung from his hip. His crown was missing and his hair was a mess from the high winds. The front of his shirt was tied halfway up, and his broad shoulders pulled the material apart, exposing his muscular chest.

Kiayasis laughed. "How poetic! The King of Brandor has come to retrieve his wh.o.r.e! There's much you don't know about your wench! She has been a naughty girl! Do you wish to know-"

Sam spoke over Kiayasis as he entered the trees. "Why does everyone talk when the moment to fight has come? Ready your weapon, and let's find out how strong the Order actually is!"

"What honor is there in fighting with blessed blades?" Kiayasis responded. Seeing the surprise on Sam's face, the dark paladin added, "You didn't think I would know of your weapon. I have been informed of your skill. We will fight with daggers ... if you're man enough to accept the challenge."

As Sam hung Kael on the branch of a nearby tree, Kiayasis lowered his sword to the ground. They each retrieved their daggers and engaged. An exchange of metal clanks and grunt-filled lunges filled the air. It was not long before Kiayasis' fist found its mark, leaving the king's lip split open.

Sam did not allow the punch to faze him. He grabbed the arm that was holding Kiayasis' dagger and then threw the paladin to the ground. Sam followed with a right knee that smashed into the dirt next to Kiayasis' head as the dark warrior narrowly rolled away and jumped to his feet.

Kiayasis nodded. "Solid moves for a king. I'm going to enjoy this."

"Again ... more talk," Sam responded, " and not enough fighting."

Shalee managed to shout, "Sam, he has-"

Kiayasis attacked to keep the king from hearing the rest of his queen's warning. Despite the dark paladin's stab being defended, Kiayasis spun to Sam's right and then buried his fist into Sam's kidney. The blow sent Sam falling forward, but the king regained his balance fast enough to defend a downward strike that was meant for his head.

Sam spun out from under the strike. As he did, he secured Kiayasis' arms and then rolled backward, pulling the paladin with him. He pushed with his legs and threw the dark warrior into the side of a tree. Kiayasis' plate armor made a loud thud against the bark as he fell in an awkward position on his shoulder. The dark warrior dropped his dagger.

Sam rolled to his feet and followed. The king stomped on Kiayasis' blade with his left foot, and then he smashed his right fist against the side of Kiayasis' face. Blood poured from Kiayasis' mouth as two of his upper teeth fell to the forest floor.

Sam grabbed Kiayasis' dagger, stuck it into the side of a tree and pushed sideways to snap the blade. He threw the bone handle to the ground and shouted, "Get up and fight!"

Kiayasis stood, spit and then wiped the blood from his chin.

Again, Shalee tried to speak, but the dark warrior shouted above her, "Shut up, woman!"

Kiayasis turned to face Sam. "Does your queen always run her mouth so?"

Sam ignored Kiayasis' snide remark. The king untied his torn shirt and then took it off. With the garment clenched in one hand and his dagger in the other, he wiped the blood off of his lip as the clouds opened up, and the rain began to fall.

Shalee had never seen her husband look so intimidating. The rain was running down Sam's chest as the king studied Kiayasis' face. A moment later, he threw both his knife and his shirt to the ground. "Now it's a fair fight," Sam mocked, and then he cracked his own neck. "I have no blade and no armor. Perhaps now you'll stand a chance."

Without waiting for a response, Sam lunged for Kiayasis, motioning as if he was going to bring up his left knee.

The dark warrior reacted by lowering his arms to block the a.s.sault, but quickly realized the king's knee was just a decoy.

Sam pulled back his knee and delivered a right hand that pa.s.sed above the paladin's lowered arms. His knuckles landed flush against the bridge of Kiayasis' nose and sent the dark warrior falling onto the forest floor.

The king stopped his attack and allowed Kiayasis the moments he needed to recover. His voice was cold. "You're not much of a warrior. I bet Boyafed would be sick to his stomach."

Kiayasis stood and removed his hands away from his nose. The blood pouring down his face was so severe that every word he uttered was followed with a red spray. "You don't know me, nor do you know my father!" Kiayasis argued. "You know nothing of the Order!"

Without speaking another word, the dark paladin lifted his arms. Fire erupted from the palms of his hands, and flames engulfed Sam's body.

For a lengthy period of moments, the king could not be seen, and Sam's screams echoed throughout the forest. But as the flames faded, the king's screams were replaced by hysterical laughter.

Sam pointed at Kiayasis. The heat had not affected him at all, and even the hair that was covering his head remained unharmed.

Kiayasis muttered, "How?"

Sam rushed in and delivered a series of punches and kicks that Kiayasis struggled to defend. The dark warrior's armor was enc.u.mbering, and the speed of the king was just too much to counter.

With the dark warrior becoming winded, Sam kept pressing forward while he sought to overwhelm his enemy, and it was not long before Kiayasis made a critical mistake. The paladin was unable to block a tremendous right elbow that was delivered across the center of his chest, and the impact was severe enough to cause the breastplate to cave.

With the dark warrior's plate now crushed against the paladin's sternum, the king stepped forward to compensate for Kiayasis' loss of balance. While Kiayasis stumbled, the king quickly delivered a crushing left hand that pulverized the right side of Kiayasis' jaw. The impact sent the dark warrior tumbling.

Sam followed his attack with a right foot that landed against the side of Kiayasis' head. The impact forced his enemy to his back, and then the king mounted the dark warrior by placing a leg on either side of his adversary's body to pin Kiayasis to the ground.

Sam delivered a barrage of punches. He kept at it until the dark warrior was unconscious and would have continued until Kiayasis' life had been ended, but Shalee found the strength to call for Sam to stop.

"Sam! No more!"

After one more punch, Sam stood. He looked down at Kiayasis' bloodied face. He spit on the bridge of the paladin's nose and then moved to stand above Shalee. Realizing the queen's condition, the king ran back to the road, grabbed his bag and then produced a vial. He crouched next to the queen. "Open your mouth and lift your tongue. This will stop the bleeding and close the wound."

Shalee did as she was told.

Sam's eyes failed to show love as he administered the elixir. His movements were tense, and his actions were cold and precise.

Shalee's heart dropped. She now knew that Sam was aware of her unfaithfulness. As she watched Sam stand to cover the distance between him and the unconscious warrior, she tried to apologize, but Sam ignored her plea.

Sam grabbed Kiayasis by the legs. He pulled the dark warrior by his feet across the forest floor and stopped next to a tree. Throwing Kiayasis' feet to the ground, he grabbed hold of the dark warrior's breastplate and slammed the paladin into a seated position against the trunk and then tied him up.

Shalee found the nerve to speak again. Her voice was shallow. "How did you find me?"

With the dark paladin secure, Sam returned to check on the progress Brayson's healing elixir had made on Shalee's wounds. He bent down, placed his hand against her belly and then responded. "I tracked you after meeting with Head Master Brayson."

"How do you know how to track someone?" Shalee queried. "And how did you protect yourself against his magic?"

"I made a few requests prior to my arrival. Brayson lent me a ring that protects me from the elements. The Order apparently has an affinity for fire. As for tracking you, I don't know how to do it, but the tracker I hired did. Once I had you in my sight a few Peaks ago, I told him he could leave. I've been watching you ever since. I wanted to wait until you were alone to approach, but I didn't want to interrupt you while you were curled up with your 'baby' over there. I was going to return home without speaking to you after I heard that, but as it turns out, changing my mind has saved your a.s.s. How could you call him that, Shalee ... especially after everything we've been through? I'm supposed to be your baby."

Shalee lowered her eyes. "You heard?" She looked up. "Then you also know I didn't sleep with him."

"Okay, okay! Hold on just a moment! From what I saw, you did sleep with him. You may not have had s.e.x with him, but you did sleep with him. In my mind, that's close enough. You allowed him to hold you. I saw you kiss him. How could you stab me in the back like that?"

"Sam, I'm so sorry."

"Don't apologize, Shalee. Your regret isn't something I care to hear about right now. I'm leaving for Grayham. You'll have to continue your search for the crystal without me. I want you to know something before I go. I'm going to end the man whose arms comforted you. You make me sick. Did your parents forget to teach you what faithfulness means?"

"Sam, I told him I wasn't going to cultivate our relationship. That's why he tried to end me. After the loss of our son, I was just so messed up in the head. I felt like you hated me. I wish I could fix it and make it go away."

Sam just stood and shook his head.

"Don't end him, Sam. I realize my mistake. You've got to be better than me."

Without saying a word, the king moved to untie Kiayasis' bonds. He pulled the dark warrior clear of the trees, woke him up and then lifted his enemy to his feet. Once Sam was sure he had Kiayasis' attention, he said, "You should leave. Tell your father that no man will be touching my queen ... not on this Peak, or any other. Don't let me see your face again, because the chances of you finding me in a forgiving mood when next we meet are highly unlikely. Go or perish."

Sam watched as Kiayasis turned to leave. Once confident the dark warrior would not return, Sam turned to face Shalee. He lowered to his knee to take one final look at the queen's abdomen. The bleeding had stopped and the pebbles in her forearms had been pushed out of her skin, but it would be a while longer before the cut across her stomach would completely heal. Her condition was stable, and he could return to Grayham.

Suddenly, Shalee cried out.

Sam was barely able to spin fast enough to stop the downward force of a large stone that was meant for his head. With both hands, Sam caught the stone and used his G.o.d-given strength to redirect its intended path. With a thud, the forest floor took the blow as the stone landed next to Sam's right knee.

As quick as the attack happened, Sam's right fist was now on a collision course with Kiayasis' groin. The strike stopped the paladin's advance and sent him stumbling backward and to his knees.

Sam jumped to his feet and kicked. The muddy sole of his right boot left a nasty imprint that broke the socket around Kiayasis' left eye, sending the dark warrior to his back.

The king moved Kiayasis into a seated position and then knelt behind his limp figure. Sam tapped the paladin on his broken jaw to wake Kiayasis up. "What am I going to do with you? Do you have a death wish?"

Kiayasis had to force his response through clenched and broken teeth. "With every breath, I serve Hosseff." As blood continued to drip from his nose, the dark paladin announced, "I cannot return to my father's house until your queen has been ended. I won't stop hunting her. I can't."

Sam shook his head. "So be it. Blessed are the children of Hosseff," he mocked. The king delivered a quick, powerful strike into the side of Kiayasis' head and sent the dark warrior back into unconsciousness.

Disgusted, Sam allowed Kiayasis to fall to the ground. "This guy isn't giving me a choice, Shalee! I've got to do it."

The queen knew what was coming next. She wanted to say something, but the words she would need to use to plead for Kiayasis' life would only cause Sam to resent her further. The dark paladin had sealed his own fate.

Sam pulled Kiayasis back up and then knelt behind him. He looked the queen dead in the eyes. "Your actions have consequences!"

Shalee cringed as the bones in the dark paladin's neck filled the air with horrid cracking sounds. Sam's eyes were cold as he moved to stand above his queen. "I told you that you could come home when you're ready. I also told you that I would always love you. I'll be there when you get back. I suggest you try to be faithful from here on out. It would be a shame if I had to end anyone else."

"Sam, I'm-"

"I don't care, Shalee! I don't care that you're sorry."

Sam reached into his bag and tossed the queen a package. "You should eat. You're going to need your strength." He put his shirt back on and then took a deep breath as he tied it up. "I do still love you. The problem is ... I just can't trust you anymore." Sam retrieved his sword, pulled a scroll from his backpack, and after a few words were uttered, he vanished.

Shalee began to cry. She was left to sit only paces away from Kiayasis' broken body. As the rain turned to a downpour, she was too weak to move and would have to suffer the agony of Sam's disappointment, the sight of Kiayasis' corpse, and the cold she was experiencing because of the loss of her own blood.

City of Inspiration The Circle of the High Council Lord Dowd walked toward the head of a chamber that was located at the center of a large, circular structure. He had always been fond of this building and admired the many shades of color that had been applied to the gla.s.s throughout various areas of this domed meeting hall.

Created at the far end of a garden courtyard, opposite Gregory's tower, the design of the building was official, governmental if you will, and had been the meeting place for the White Paladin Council for more than 7,000 seasons.

Lord Dowd took his position as the rightful head of the council with Gregory at his side. He shut the gate to a waist-high enclosure and motioned for Gregory to ascend a short staircase that led to their thrones. Surrounding their seats was a stage that allowed a significant amount of freedom to maneuver while they addressed the council.

The council took their seats. Numbering 120, each man had served and had retired as an officer in the white army. They were dressed in black and silver. Their shirts bore the symbol of the army across their chests, the Turtle Elf of Healing. These men were responsible for making the decision of how the Kingdom of Lavan would handle the threat of war, and on this Peak, the council had gathered to address Lord Dowd's request to declare war.

Mosley, Alistar, and Hosseff had taken positions behind the council, and they were looking down at Lord Dowd and the White Chancellor. The deities were unable to be seen by those present.

Now, fellow soul ... Gregory Id found himself in a unique situation. Not only did he need to perform his duties as the Chancellor of White Magic, but he also had to a.s.sume the duties of the dead king, Heltgone Lavan, until the Head Master met with the republic leaders of Lavan to appoint another sovereign.

Because of his weight, the King of Lavan had been impotent. Heltgone had no sons or daughters, and his wife pa.s.sed only a few seasons prior. His only living relative was a sister, but she was deaf and dumb, and her many personalities were incapable of running a kingdom.

Brayson would be required to determine who the five most powerful families were within the Kingdom of Lavan, and with the republic's help, he would choose the family that best fit the role of the royal family. The head of this family would then be named king.

Fellow soul ... in case you don't understand the hierarchies of the Kingdom of Lavan and the Kingdom of Hyperia, let me explain. Both were similar, each having a king to represent the halflings. These kings were not powerful men, despite being treated as such. They acted as figureheads for the halflings living throughout the Lands of Kerkinn. Since the halflings' magic was inferior to the magic of the elves, the Head Masters throughout the ages required that two councils be appointed to govern the ma.s.ses. They did this in an effort to keep halflings from being enslaved by elves who commanded more advanced magic, no matter where they lived. The kings' voices were the only voices the halflings were given when their respective councils convened.

The most powerful position within each council was held by the man who led their respective army, yet this position was not the position the beings on all of Luvelles considered the most esteemed. Gregory and Marcus' positions were the most prestigious throughout the world of Luvelles, second only to Brayson's position as Head Master.

To maintain the balance of power, the Head Masters throughout the seasons required the chancellors of magic and the leaders of the armies to abide by their respective council's rulings. Just as the leaders of the white army before him, Lord Dowd had conformed to the laws of the land.