Cyrus felt warmth on his face, and then a bright light illuminated his eyes. He found himself lying on a blanket of grass. He had a horrible nightmare last night. He shook the foreboding feeling of death, grabbed his walking cane and traveling pack, and proceeded toward the King's Road. The blue cobblestone road was near where he slept. A few yards away, Cyrus saw a sign amid some bushes. He got closer to the sign, and it read The Last Inn written on a wooden board. The wind swayed amid the trees. The scent of wildflowers perfumed the air. He used his Wizard sight to gaze upon the forest. He saw the forces of nature play along the road. The sun's reddish glow infused the air swarming and touching every single leaf, tree, and rock. He felt the cycle of death and life among the falling branches and bushes. He could stay gazing at this dusty road for the whole day, but he needed some breakfast.

He heard the tavern before he reached it. The snicker of horses and the sounds of men drinking alerted him that he was getting closer. He wondered if everything that happened last night was a dream. He could have dozed off on the road. He was lucky no highwaymen or robbers took his belongings.

The bar came into view. Two large trees sheltered it. The main building connected to a two-story dwelling. A stable was on the far side. Even at this point on the day, Cyrus could hear loud men cursing and singing. His stomach grumbled again. He never entered these establishments, but he was hungry. Again, he thought last night was just a dream because he was so famished. The white paint covering the walls of the building was peeling and the sign with the name of the tavern was almost unrecognizable.

He walked inside and saw a bar on his left with a tall dark, gray-haired man standing behind the counter. The barkeep's eyes were dark as midnight and his brow wrinkled with impatience. Cyrus saw the denizens of the tavern hunkered in their chairs drinking and laughing.

The barkeep said, "Sir, what can we do for you? Do not worry about the drunken fellows. They are lumbermen from the deepest woods. They are back from a long month of work. They always do this. They get piss drunk and pass out."

Cyrus said, "Some food and ale, sir."

"Call me Barthol," the barkeep said.

"Thank you," he said.

A young, dark girl came up next to him.

Barthol said, "Marianne, please show this man a seat and get some food and ale for him."

The girl nodded and ushered Cyrus through the throng of people. She smiled at him several times, while she swatted away the hands of the lumbermen.

"Sit here," she said, "I will be back with your food."

Cyrus didn't touch his food. It was just a crust of bread, some runny eggs and a piece of cold bacon. One of the men of the tavern stared at him. He hid in a long black robe. Cyrus could not see his eyes, but he knew the man was staring at him. Cyrus waved his thoughts away. He was being paranoid.

Cyrus still sensed the black-robed person scrutinizing him and was about to confront this interloper but when he glanced back, he was gone. Foolish, he thought. Cyrus grabbed his traveling pack to view his map. He found something odd, a round stone. It was the charm from his dream. His mind went blank for a second. He pieced together the conversation he had with the Necromage. This charm was something from his father. It was pure gold and gave off a luminous glow. He saw his reflection on the surface.

"Nice stone," a man said.

The man was dressed in a brown frayed robe with mud stains at the bottom. His face was long with an amused grin.

"Do I know you?" Cyrus said.

"You should remember me. I wrestled you down to the ground. It was that darn princess," he said, "she can make you do anything."

"Meza?" Cyrus said.

"The one and only," Meza said.

"I have not seen you since..."

"Since the funeral," Meza said.

Cyrus shook his hand and invited him to sit.

"Do not show your charm around here. It is not safe," Meza said while looking around the room.

"So, what have you being doing?"

Meza said, "I am now a full mage. I finished my magical studies after Master Darthel died. I owed it to him."

Cyrus said, "Master Darthel was a great Wizard."

"Yes," Meza paused and said, "Cyrus, what happened to you? I have not seen you at the capital. I thought you and the princess had something."

Cyrus said, "No. I am now a teacher at the town of Plathos."

Meza said, "Master Darthel always thought you could have made a great wizard, if only you concentrated more on his teachings than on the princess."

Cyrus said, "I know. I tried to learn, but I my magic is limited."

"Bah, you have more magic than most people," Meza said.

He said, "Do you miss the former king and queen?"

"I haven't thought about them for years," Cyrus said.

"But you have thought about the princess," Meza said.

"Meza, that was a long time ago. Besides I am a commoner, and she's a princess," he said.

"I remember how you followed her around like a lost puppy," Meza said.

They both sat silently thinking of better times. Cyrus didn't want to think about the princess. His body was warm and he clenched his shoulders.

"Meza, what are you doing out here? Doesn't the emperor need good mages?" Cyrus said.

Meza sighed and said, "Emperor Hawkney has his own mages, dark magicians."

"The emperor will never use black mages and their dark magic, since his brother was murdered," Cyrus said.

"Things have changed, Cyrus. The emperor will deny he employs these blasted mages. But I have seen them," Meza said.

He said, "I do not believe these rumors."

"Do not speak anymore," Meza hissed and said, "So, where are you headed?"

"I am going to the capital to seek help for some strange murders happening at my village," he said.

"Cyrus, let's talk about this outside," Meza said.

He paid the barmaid for the food, and they took their belongings and left the tavern. The sun's light blinded them. They walked a few yards away.

Cyrus said, "Why all the secrecy?"

"You have been away far too long. You should not go to the capital." Meza said.

"I'm determined to go," he said.

"Bah, by the God's Thunder you are a stubborn one. Well, I'd better accompanied you," Meza said.

"I'm not sure," he said.

Meza said, "I'll be happy to show you the quickest way to the capital."

"Sure, you can come," Cyrus said, wondering why he gave in so easily.

Meza said, "First, you are taking the wrong path."

They walked enjoying the warm day. Cyrus wondered if it was a good idea to let Meza come along. Meza should be at the capital with the Mages Guild not out here wandering around. He remembered mages needed constant meditation to perform their magic and needed a place to hone their skills.

"The tavern back there was a den of thieves," Meza said, "and the emperor's spies are everywhere."

"I have nothing to hide. I am loyal to the crown." Cyrus said.

"The emperor is not a good ruler liked King David," Meza said.

He said, "Yet, he is the emperor and the descendent of the Rowan blood line."

"Times are changing," Meza said.

Cyrus said, "You speak treason."

Meza said, "Are the murders you spoke of before all children?"

Cyrus nodded.

Meza said, "I can tell you these murders are happening all over the kingdom."

"I cannot believe you." Cyrus said.

"Yes, it is true. I have been traveling from different towns, and they are all are having unexplained murders. Something is not right. The constables are not investigating. Something bigger is happening," Meza said.

"Why are the constables not doing anything? This does not make sense," he said.

"The emperor is turning his back on his people," Meza said.

"Then it is more imperative for me to go to the capital," he said.

Meza said, "You're determined. I can tell you that."

"I have to try."

"Can I see the charm?" Meza said.

He held the chain while the medallion moved back and forth. It glistened in the sun.

"Where did you get this?" Meza said.

"My father gave this to me," he said.

"I have seen this before. I think it was from a magical book," Meza said.

"Do you know what it is?" Cyrus said.

"I think it is an ancient object of power. I can research this more at the Wizards Guilds," Meza said.

Meza reached out and touched the smooth surface of the medallion. He flinched.

"What, what?" Meza said.

"Are you ok?" he said.

Meza did not answer him. His eyes closed and he swayed and fell.

Meza said, "Ah."

Cyrus knelt and shook him. Meza came out of his trance and said, "The charm did something. I felt some kind of presence."

The medallion had fallen out of Meza's hands. Cyrus could not find the charm anywhere. Something pricked his skin. The medallion hung around his neck.

Meza said, "Hah, I knew the charm was magical."

OO