The Red Prince

protested Jahlred, receiving a similar look Diraz had given Arelldar earlier.

“Does Varhim kill people for minor crimes!? Does Varhim poison the minds of his people?,” began the Shafhlan, “he does not. So he is nothing compared to our baron.”

“Forgive me, master Shafhlan” said Jahlred apologetically.

“It is alright,” replied Diraz, showing he was a man of compassion, “but I’ am afraid my companions and I must be back to our homes. It was good to meet you men; mayhap I will see you again.”

Soon after writing to the descendants Ashaleena received two letters in reply. The first was from an elderly man named Solidraun Qwelador, who was the grandson of Tristain. Solidraun spoke much of his grandfather, although he knew him only briefly, and mentioned his usual tale about his old master, Zaudurin. Solidraun did live in Artheld but was in no condition to travel, later in the letter Ashaleena even learnt he was slowly dying. She replied soon after and thanked him for his information, also wishing him good health. Then she commenced to read the second letter, from a woman called Ehlana Cythilmuir, who was in fact a great granddaughter of Tristain. Her mother, whom Lord Nathaniel had mentioned, was in such ill health that she was unable to write. But Ehlana still told Ashaleena everything her mother could remember of her grandfather Tristain. Once again Ashaleena thanked the descendants of Tristain and continued to search elsewhere for Zaudurin’s past. Her mind kept plaguing her to go back to his tomb, “No!,” she told herself, “not on my own. It’s too dangerous”.

By dawn the next day Breiam had led his clients deep into the Heathmar Forest.

Before leaving Alderhon he had organised for Jahlred and Arelldar’s horses, including his own one, to be waiting with his friend Sierdah not far from the gates.

The forest was a peculiar place, trees twisted and almost ghost like were abundant and an aura of secrecy befell the men. On several occasions Jahlred could sware he saw beady yellow eyes in the shadows between the trees, and assumed they were buiramwynne or something far more dangerous. Breiam seemed untroubled by all of this as he rode at the front, lighting his pipe and speaking to neither of the men.

“A curious fellow that one is,” said Arelldar, keeping his voice low so Breiam wouldn’t hear, “I wonder where he is from?”

“Well he’s most certainly not a fey,” replied Jahlred, holding his glance on the old man in front of them, “most of us are blonde and blue eyed.”

“I’ am half-fey, master Jahlred,” interjected Breiam, not turning to face the two men riding behind him, “my mother was human and my father was a fey.”

“But that is extremely rare in this world! And the ancient prophecy says...” began Jahlred.

“No, I’ am not the prophesized child, that one’s time has not yet come.”

After he minimal success in her search for Zaudurin’s life story Ashaleena returned to the records, whereupon she found another account that mentioned Zaudurin’s steam automatons. The author of this particular account mentioned the Feyran Mage Guild thought of Zaudurin’s ideas as foolish and impossible, which led him to abdicate his position in the guild after being affronted. After his failure with the steam creatures the wizard decided to look elsewhere for knowledge. He met frequently with the last dragon Derhayn-Torkandor and learnt everything the dragon, who had reverted to a human form, could remember about his lost kindred.

But Derhayn-Torkandor lived another generation after Zaudurin’s, for he died during the time of Ashaleena’s grandparents. She later learnt that Zaudurin had never asked to be preserved in a crystalline tomb and the Feyran Mage Guild had chosen to do so after his death. As for family no one could find any relatives or descendants of Zaudurin, after all he was an only child and had no direct family anywhere, according to the records. Then it struck her, she remembered the ancient magical ability to know everything about one person with a single touch. The spell