"Have you heard? There've been more disappearances lately" One of the men, seated on a separate table beside ours whispered.

He belched, took a large gulp from his cup of ale and patted his potbellied stomach.

"They say fifteen more babies went missing along the Coast of the Midlands" the potbellied man said, while his drinking buddies nodded.

"It scares me" one of them said.

We were seated in a Midland tavern. Since we lost Cleavon, we all have been sad. Quiet. We had not known him for long, but the few days with him were pleasant enough to mourn him in our hearts. So, instead, of hiding away in the Temple, like we had done all day, we chose to come out, and drink. Drink our sadness away. At the mysterious passing of a young vibrant fellow.

And it hurts that I could not tell them what I suspected. Randall killed Cleavon, in his sleep. But if I said so, they'd wonder how I knew. How I became aware that the king who was famously considered to be a non-Gifted, actually had Gifts that could end the lives of nearly everyone, while they slept.

And more so, was I even ready to tell the truth, either to Regalis or his friends? What if Regalis insists on aiding me, won't he end up like Cleavon?

"Fifteen babies disappeared?" Brayton said, in response to the conversation taking place near us.

Our waiter reached our table and refilled our jug of ale.

"What is this we hear?" Ashton said to the blond waiter. "Babies disappearing along the Coast?"

"You haven't heard?" The waiter arched his eyebrows and leaned back, "that is all everyone has been talking about".

We looked around the tavern. And lo and behold, it seemed like, all the men seated here, were whispering and discussing the same thing. To be here, Nadia and I had worn soldier outfits, to be able to pass as males. Women, were not allowed into establishments, such as this.

"How many, so far?" Cederic said.

The waiter tried counting with his fingers but then stopped and said, "over a hundred so far. But each time, it happens in a town or village, either in the Midlands or beyond, fifteen kids go missing at once". Then he shook his head and left with his jug.

Fifteen kids, disappearing each time, I thought.

Cederic put down his drink and said, "someone somewhere, is preparing for Samhain".

"Samhain?" Regalis and I said.

Cederic nodded.

Samhain. I've heard that word before.

"Someone wants to be immortal" Cederic said, "my aunt was a sorceress. As an adolescent, I was intrigued. So, when she was not home, I snuck in and read her Grimoires".

"I'm sure of it" he concluded.

And everyone on the table, sighed.

Immortality? It seemed inconceivable.

Stories of several ancient Kings and queens, striving to be immortal and failing, was endless. So, to think, someone could now be attempting it again and may even be close to achieving it, put fear in my bones.

But then, I thought. Samhain.

Disappearance of kids from different towns and villages. For someone or a group of persons to effectively steal fifteen babies, right under the nose of the city guards, then, someone powerful had to be involved in this disappearance case.

Randall? My heart squealed.

Wasn't it in my vision of Randall and his sorcerer, I first heard the word, 'Samhain'? And even the repeated mention of the prophecy?

I see a time,

a time of chaos,

and greed to live eternal.

And I see a conqueror,

blood of blood,

bringing an end to

the winds of darkness.

Mother of Light! I jumped up. All eyes on me. But I could hardly care. I now knew why Randall wanted Regalis dead! Why his sorcerer in my vision, was insisting Regalis had to die before Samhain came. It was because, Regalis, the only blood of Randall, has been prophesied as the only key in this world, that could bring him down.

My heart panted. If my guess was right. Then now, more than ever, Regalis had to live.

Whether or not, it favours Marjol.