Chapter 1

Having draw the heavy velvet drapes across the chamber's small windows, there is almost no light in the room as Tannis sinks into the soft bed. The castle is quiet. A clattering of horse hooves from the bailey is muted by the thick castle walls. Sleep takes Tannis quickly.

Tannis is sitting in the classroom. The through the open window the whole city appears to erupt into shouting. "War!" "Felin!" Tannis goes to the window. The city is quiet. He turns. Zanros is there, smiling. Another prank. Tannis goes to give Zanros a friendly clout, but finds he has cut Zanros' throat. Air gurgles and bubbles out of the gaping wound. The gurgling air sounds like speech. "Remember me". Tannis stumbles backwards. The bloodstained dagger drops from his hands and clatters on the wooden floor of the classroom. A pool of blood spreads from the dagger. Tannis steps backwards. He is falling backwards out of the window. Blackness.

Tannis is stood on the steps of the Royal Palace, dressed in the gold-trimmed robes of a master of Alnerwick Academy of Magic. There are crowds of people. Guards in shining armor. His classmates are there. A gentle breeze plays upon so many colourful banners. And upon Florithe's golden hair. Tannis stands in front of the king. The king smiles at him and pins a medal to his shoulder. His shoulder sears in pain. Blackness.

Tannis is standing on the front line of soldiers. His feet are stuck in mud. He has no staff. No spell book. The soldier to his left and right are his brothers and sisters, but they don't recognise him. The enemy forces are charging towards him. He has no staff. No spell book. The mud has turned to stone. His feet are trapped in stone. The charging enemies become a wall of fire. The fire engulfs them. Blackness.

Tannis wakes sharply, sitting bolt upright in bed, covered in sweat. He is in a stone-walled chamber, dimly lit through the cracks in the curtains and under the door. His staff is propped against the wall. Memories force themselves back on Tannis. He is in the keep at Southam. He survived the battle. He is alive.

As Tannis leaves the room, he sees a serving girl, walking away down the corridor carrying a tray of crockery. Her light brown hair is tied with a white kerchief. She turns at the sounds of door.

"Oh hello dear. You must be the young Tannis Tobias told me about. My have you had a long sleep. I guess you must've needed it. I was told not to disturb you with breakfast - but there's a tray of food put aside for you in the kitchen. Would you like me to bring it? Also, the Governor wants to see you in his office when you're ready. Do you know the way? I can show you" she manages to say all of that without pausing for breath.

Denaothun welcomes Tannis into his Office. He is dressed in formal red robes and carries a black, sliver-topped cane. Tannis sits in one of the proffered red leather armchairs in front of the large paper-strewn desk. The room is dimly lit by a high castle window, the light supplemented by a solitary candle in an ornate gold holder on the desk. The room is lined with bookshelves, some of which look to be the records of Southam, and others to be Denaothun’s reading collection. The paper and books give the room a musty smell.

The Governor sits behind his desk and introduces himself formally as His Excellency Kidil Batsk Denaothun, Governor of Southam, the Soverbot Valley, Hildreth Marshes and surrounds.

"I’m glad to see you cleaned up. You have been asleep for more than a day, perhaps to be expected given what you’ve been through. It is now the 7th of Withertide. I trust you feel better."

He continues. "I have news. Danrer of your school. I have met him a few times. He reached out to me with his mind. He had been unable to contact the Eastern Army. He remembered I was nearby. King Brakrel’s forces defeated Lord Nuhmem at Redwick. Nuhmem was taken prisoner and a peace has been agreed. The Felin will forfeit a great swathe of land for their aggression."

"It is interesting that you should ask about going back to your school. I was going to come on to that"

Denaothun pauses. He looks uncomfortable. His aged brow grows more furrowed.

"The King..."

He pauses again.

"The King takes great pride in his victory over the Felin at Redwick"

He pauses.

"A victory that he doesn't want to have overshadowed..."

"I have been asked... Ordered in fact... I have been ordered to keep the defeat of the Eastern Army under wraps. And you likewise. On pain of death..."

"You are not welcome to return to Newbore City. Or to the Academy..."

"Denrar is very sympathetic to your situation, he's a very reasonable man, but the King is adamant. Denrar will contact you... explain it better than I can..."

"You are welcome to stay here for a time... I realise these events will have been hard on you..."

As Tannis stands to leave, Denaothun adds "Ceta and Luth. They went to the marshes. They found the battlefield. There were ghouls still there, picking the bones of the fallen clean of flesh."

"I know you tell the truth." he kneads his forehead with his fingers "I'm sorry it took these events to teach you that the truth often has no place in this world"

After a short time of waiting in his room, Tannis hears a voice in his head. "Tannis, this is Master Sternova. Have you spoken yet with Denaothun? If you have and are ready, I will form a telepathic link with you"

The voice is instantly recognisable as Master Sternova from the times Tannis has heard him addressing the school, or the few times they have interacted personally. From some brief practices in class, Tannis recognizes that this is a Sending spell, and that he can respond with a short phrase.

Although Tannis had experienced the feeling of a Sending spell before, when Arch Master Sternova appears Tannis's mind it is an altogether difference experience. Not words but presence. And a richness of senses.

Tannis sees himself in Sternova's office in the Academy, standing before the large wooden desk. Sternova is congratulating Tannis on being the first in his class to master the Misty Step spell. Sternova is holding a written commendation from Gavarenth. The smell of the office is acrid, one of the master's experiments bubbles away in a corner, belching forth dense smoke that clings to the floor.

The scene ripples as if a single drop of water had landed on Sternova. Tannis sees Sternova sitting on canvas chair in a dark tent. The walls of the tent are made of heavy cloth, dyed purple. Behind Sternova is a camp bed and a small chest.

Sternova looks weary. He was old when Tannis last saw him, but he looks yet older.

"Hello Tannis" the words come from the image of Sternova, and yet echo around Tannis' head.

"I trust Denaothun has been looking after you. And that you have recovered from your injuries."

"These are difficult times we live through. To be attacked so brazenly by the Felin. For you to see battle at such an age. For us both to lose so many friends."

Sternova's face hardens in response to Tannis's outburst.

"I understand your frustration, but it is the cruel hand of fate that has ordained this outcome, not the King. What could he do? The victory at Redwick was already shared with the people when the news of your defeat reached us. Should the king dampen the spirits of the nation? Should he smother the belief of the people? He had no choice but to keep those events from the record."

"But we will find a way to honor those that lost their lives. Few knew where the armies marched. We will add their names to the list of the dead of Redwick. Although their sacrifice was in vain, it will not be forgotten."

The hardness drops. There is pity in his eyes.

"It is the King's decision in respect of you that most troubles me. And I did argue your case... He doesn't like loose ends. He would see it as a liability were you to attend the Academy and freely walk the streets of Newbore City. A potential thorn in his side."

"I'm sure your family would be safe, but you... " he pauses, "you should know that your brother lies amongst the fallen at Redwick. He did his King and country proud, leading the charge on the left flank. He will be greatly honored for his valour."

"I, er.." his voice falters "I'm sorry. I know I have only added to your woes. And perhaps I am not the best person at communicating these things..." his voice trails off.

"There is something else"

"I hope to be able to help you in some way. And I, er, also, er, would have a favor to ask"