The fire smouldered, the children's blanket lay discarded, and Hex stood frozen to the spot. He managed to teleport himself and Chester to the children's location once they were clear of the tunnel's entrance. But despite his efforts, he was too late to save them. Prince Horace had been and gone just moments before he arrived. Hex sniffed. Like rotting garbage, the awful stench of dark magic lingered in the air.

"Erm... Hex," Chester said, patting the sorcerer's clenched hand. "Could you put me down?"

Hex had forgotten he still held Chester and placing him on the ground, he strolled to the crumpled blanket. "They're gone," he muttered.

Chester hopped beside Hex and stared up at him. "It seems so."

"I'm too late."

"You tried your best."

"My best is not good enough." Hex sat on the blanket with his chin resting on his knees.

"This is not your fault," Chester said, trying to sound reassuring.

"Yes, it is. You were right. If I'd left Cathy in the human realm, she wouldn't be in danger. I did this! I made a mistake that has cost her and the boy their freedom." Hex slumped even lower.

Chester tried to come up with a few words of wisdom, but he was at a loss. There wasn't anything he could say to make Hex feel better. Guilt was a terrible emotion to be riddled with.

"I don't know what to do." Hex covered his face with his hands.

"You're not crying, are you?" Chester shuffled sideways, just out of grabbing distance.

Hex shook his head.

"You are!"

Hex lowered his hands to glare at the toad.

Chester's heart thumped so hard he struggled to breathe. But with a gulp, he pushed his luck as far as he dared. "Who would believe the most powerful sorcerer in the entire realm is a big, cry-baby."

Above Chester, the moon vanished behind a thundercloud. A sudden fierce wind whipped through the valley, and a dark shape slid from behind a tree.

Hex leapt to his feet, his cloak billowing behind him and charged towards Shadow. Shadow shot to his left and faded into the gloom of the impending storm.

"Come back, you coward!" Hex yelled; his face red with rage. Bolts of lightning flicked from tree to rock to soil, and from the soil to Hex.

Terrified of being fried in the crossfire, Chester found a pile of leaves and buried himself. He'd hide until the sorcerer calmed down.

"Hex, let me explain," Shadow shouted. "We need to talk." Lightning struck the floor mere inches from where Shadow stood.

"I have nothing to say to you." Hex threw his cloak back and yanked the sleeves of his shirt to his elbows, the buttons pinging left and right.

"I made a huge mistake. Have you never made a mistake?" Shadow yelled from behind a tree.

"This is not about me. You lied and schemed and led my great-grandchildren to Horace. Knowing what he and his mother planned to do. Knowing they had already taken my wife and driven my daughter away."

Chester listened from his hiding place. Hoping the sorcerer and the spy would take their fight far away from him.

"Indeed, I lied and schemed. I am guilty... but I didn't know the children when I agreed to Prince Horace's terms. If I had known how kind Cathy is, or how delightfully irritating Boy can be... I would never... I am truly sorry." Shadow held his breath while he waited for Hex's response. He didn't have to wait long as lightning struck the tree, slicing it in two. The halves parted and crashed to the ground, leaving Shadow with nowhere to hide.

Hex strode towards Shadow, the magic sparking at his fingertips. This was it. Shadow dropped to his knees and braced himself for oblivion.

Hex raised his arms above his head and whispered a spell.

"Wait!" shouted Chester from his pile of leaves.

Distracted, Hex lowered his arms. "Chester, stay out of this!"

Shadow raised his head. In the dark, just two feet away, Chester's bulbous eyes glowed.

"I have an idea." Leaves rustled as Chester hopped closer. "I know of only one creature who escaped from Horace's maze. And that creature is Shadow. I can get you inside the Castle of Jewels. I can even get us thrown into the maze... but I cannot get us out. Nor can you!"

Shadow held his breath.

Hex considered what Chester had said. The toad was right. He couldn't escape the maze once inside it. However, vaporising Shadow would feel good. Magic flicked between his fingers.

"Hex!" Chester yelled. "Think before you do something you will regret."

Hex sighed. Dropping his hands to his sides, he glared at Shadow. "Very well. If you show me how to escape the maze, you may live... for now."

Shadow could have kissed Chester. The former Chancellor had saved his life, and one day, he would return the favour. Slowly, Shadow stood, brushing the dirt from his coat, he said, "I'll help you escape from the maze and rescue the children."

Hex snorted in return, spun on his heels, and stalked away.