Chapter 6 Excerpt

Lydia recoiled from his grasp.

“Tristan?”  It was both a question and a gasp of fear.

“Did you not recognise me?  I am hurt!”  Tristan spoke lightly, as if in jest, yet every word carried a dark threat underneath.  “I suppose I have changed; as have you!  I am come into my power, cousin.  I am Kashan Eed, a “dark mage” as some simple fools would have it.  The King has still not seen fit to install a mage on Fain-Arn, I find.  Well, his loss is to be my gain.  I am back, cousin, and this time I intend to stay.  Good news, don’t you think?”  Lydia nodded weakly, taking another step back.

“We should be getting back.”  Elaine spoke for the first time.

“No doubt you should,” Tristan replied.  “But fool though he was, poor Mr Groth was not wrong.  You are valuable and I have need of you.  Perhaps my father can be persuaded to step aside without his weak heart giving out on him.  No, my dear girls, you will be coming with me.”

“No, Tristan!”  Lydia turned and ran to her horse, suddenly desperately afraid.

“Cousin!  You could not resist the bewitchment of a fool.  Do you think I cannot make you do as I command?”  Tristan waved a hand and the two horses reared in panic and fled.  Elaine and Lydia huddled fearfully together.

“We will not go with you!” Elaine said, her voice trembled but a sudden resolve burned within her.  Enough was enough.

“Brave words from your friend, Lydia.”  Tristan smiled thinly.  “Very well, let us see how strong you are!”

The enchantment, which was of an altogether darker sort than the one Groth had used, struck Elaine without warning like a physical force that dropped her to her knees.  The emotions it stirred within her were a mixture of fear and despair.  It was as though Tristan were inside her head, willing her to give in to a desire for a sleep from which there would be no awakening.  Dark forms lurked, the half-visions of the dreams that would haunt her and yet was that not preferable to the terrible weight of the struggle?

Elaine fought him.  She fought the drowsiness; refusing to give in though the torture of the effort was like nothing she had ever experienced.  Every fibre of her being rebelled against it, drawing on a strength she had not known she possessed but of which she knew she had little left.  The struggle lasted what seemed a lifetime, though it was perhaps as little as thirty seconds when:

“Enough!”  A stern voice broke the enchantment abruptly.  Elaine collapsed against her cousin, gasping for breath.  Lydia held her tightly and looked up to see the last man she had expected.  The Mageblade who had saved them at the school stood before them once again, dressed now in a pale blue robe and clasping a slender staff tipped with white horn.  His blue eyes were locked on Tristan and a terrible rage and strength emanated from him.