"I suppose that leader of yours is a draconic human as well?" Enorwin asked Bedreigh. The prince looked more annoyed than ever now that his sword had been stolen. 

"He is," Bedreigh confirmed. 

"And how are we going to take on two draconic humans without weapons?" 

"As I told you," Maréin suggested. "We could negotiate instead of attack." 

Enorwin spat on the floor. "Yes, that's a really good idea!" he said. "We'll just sit down with them and solve our problems by talking. Maréin, why don't you go get some tea to serve to our newfound friends? Mind you, these are dangerous lunatics we are dealing with!" 

"You don't know whether they are indeed lunatics," Maréin said. "You've never met this... Carlard before. The fact that his ideals are different from yours doesn't mean he's a lunatic. He may be very reasonable. You won't know until you meet him." 

"Carlard ain't reasonable," Bedreigh said quietly. "He's determined to execute whatever plan Darfith apparently let him in on. He's completely convinced that he's right." 

Maréin chuckled. "Completely convinced that he's right? That sounds vaguely familiar," he said, glancing meaningfully at Enorwin. 

If looks could kill, Maréin would have choked. However, since looks weren't capable of killing in real life, he simply smiled. He had to admit he found the boy strangely amusing at times. 

"So, what do we do?" Enorwin asked once more. 

Maréin decided chances were very small that Enorwin would ever come even close to considering his suggestion, so he remained silent. Bedreigh, however, did speak. 

"Er..." he began, "perhaps we could... sneak up on them? From behind? We could find some way to attack any potential guard and take that person's weapons. I still have my dagger; perhaps I can use it. If there's no guard, we can figure out something else, I guess." He thought for a moment and then added, "Knowing Carlard, there probably will be a guard, now that he knows that you're alive. It'll probably be Joandrey; he wouldn't do it himself. If she still has your sword with her, you can take it back, my lord." 

Enorwin bit his lip, considering. After a while, he said, "It's risky. But I don't think there are any other options." He looked at Maréin. "And before you say anything: negotiating is not an option. Do I make myself clear?" 

Maréin smiled. "Perfectly, my lord." See? Completely convinced that he's right! he thought to himself. 

"Alright," Enorwin said. "We get just one chance. Everything must go perfectly. Otherwise, who knows what will happen to us. And as much as I hate to admit it, without Arwund to help us, I don't think we stand much of a chance against whatever draconic threat we're up against." 

"Maybe Bedreigh can be of aid, too," Maréin said. 

"I know only the things Carlard told me about. And that's not much. I'm sorry, but I think that on the long run, Arwund will be of more help," Bedreigh said. 

"But I hope you do know a way to get behind the guard's back?" Enorwin asked. 

Bedreigh nodded. "I do. There's a series of tunnels that comes out on end of the corridor opposite the direction from which Joandrey would expect us to come." 

"Very good," Enorwin said. "Lead the way."

----------------------------------------------------

Carlard laid his hands on the crystal ball, closed his eyes and concentrated. "Lord Darfith," he whispered slowly, carefully articulating every syllable. 

He could feel warmth emanating from the ball. The object began to vibrate, sending a shiver through Carlard's body as a connection was being established. 

The common folk tended to mistake this means of communication for magic. Bedreigh, too, had thought Carlard had been doing magic when he had first contacted Darfith in Bedreigh's presence. But Carlard knew that in reality, it was mere technology. It was one of the remnants of the sophisticated society of the past, when Garowain had still been ruled by dragons. It was a tiny leftover of the culture the knights of yore had so chivalrously destroyed. 

Carlard, a voice spoke to him in his mind. 

Lord Darfith, Carlard thought. I have important news. 

What is it? Darfith asked. 

I know where the usurper is, Carlard thought. In fact, he is in the headquarters of our branch. 

He sensed the great dragon's excitement. Carlard, Darfith said, you know what to do. 

You can read my mind, Carlard thought. Do you agree with my plans, lord Darfith? 

Yes, I do, Darfith replied. You are a good servant, Carlard. Do not disappoint me. 

Thank you, lord Darfith, Carlard thought. I shan't.

----------------------------------------------------

Bedreigh carefully looked around the corner. 

"Joandrey's there," he whispered, drawing his dagger. "She's got your sword. Who'll go?" 

"I will," Enorwin said. 

"No offence, my lord, but you're not the most quiet person around," Bedreigh said. "I may be better at the stealth thing." 

Enorwin had to admit Bedreigh had a point. "Alright, I'll leave it to you." 

"Are you going to kill her?" Maréin suddenly asked. 

"Not if I don't have to," Bedreigh said quietly. "I've gotta say I don't really like her, but... I don't want her dead. In the end, I guess Carlard and Joandrey are still the people who took care of me when I had no-one..." His voice drifted off. 

"That's good," Maréin said. "Good luck." 

"Thanks," Bedreigh said. He took a deep breath, looked around the corner once more and then began to move. 

Enorwin pressed his body against the wall and listened. To his surprise, he heard absolutely nothing for a while. Bedreigh really was good at the 'stealth thing'. 

And then, suddenly, he heard the man grunt in pain. A loud thud sounded through the hallway. 

"You idiot," Joandrey hissed. "Did you forget my sense of smell is just as good as your friend's?" 

Eyes wide in horror, Enorwin ran into the hallway, only to see Joandrey once again pressing Bedreigh's body to a wall, her hand tightly gripping the man's neck. Bedreigh's dagger lay on the floor at his feet. "Let him go!" Enorwin commanded. 

"Or what?" Joandrey asked. "Are you gonna attack me? Too bad! I've already fully recovered from the flame I created earlier! Besides," she added ominously, "the second you move an inch, your friend Bedreigh is dead." 

Enorwin stood completely still, his mind racing. The hallway was completely empty. He saw no opportunities, no objects he could use... 

"Raise your hands and go stand in front of that wall," she said, nodding towards the wall on the other side of the corridor, "your back towards me." 

Enorwin obeyed. 

"And you," she said to Bedreigh, "go stand with your friend." 

A few seconds later, from the corner of his eye, Enorwin saw Bedreigh standing to his right. He heard Joandrey's footsteps approaching and for the first time in his life, he felt truly afraid. What if she would just... incinerate them? He swallowed hard. 

"Now let's see where that wanderer friend of yours is," Joandrey said. "I can smell him." 

"I'm here," Maréin's voice suddenly said. 

Enorwin inadvertently turned his face in the direction of the sound. He saw Maréin, standing at the end of the corridor, looking at Joandrey. However, Enorwin immediately noticed something strange about the wanderer. He couldn't exactly pinpoint what it was, but he seemed... different. More determined, in a way. More convincing. Almost... knightly. 

"You can't harm me," Joandrey said. Her voice trembled ever so slightly. 

"I have no need to harm you," Maréin said. The sound of his voice sent a shiver down Enorwin's spine. It was as though the sound had struck him right at the very core of his being. Maréin continued, "You will do as I tell you." 

"W-why?" Joandrey asked, trying to sound self-confident, but failing miserably, 

"Because you know it's the only way. I command you to stop!" 

That last sentence resonated through Enorwin's entire body. It was no longer just Maréin's voice: the sound was like a gigantic choir of people, like hundreds of men and women saying that same phrase, but no louder than a single man. 

And at that moment, Enorwin really thought he saw a golden glow in Maréin's eyes. He blinked; it was gone. 

Joandrey dropped Enorwin's sword. She stumbled backwards, breathing heavily, looking at Maréin in terror. 

Enorwin moved away from the wall and wanted to grab it, but when he touched the hilt, it felt so painfully cold that he immediately retracted his hand. He looked at Maréin. 

"You will have it back later, my lord," the wanderer explained, "but now, there will be no more violence." 

"What..." Enorwin couldn't get the words out of his mouth. He swallowed. "What are you?" he asked, somehow feeling simultaneously frightened and very secure in Maréin's presence. 

"There are many things you don't know," the wanderer said, "and perhaps it is better that it remains that way." He looked at Joandrey. "Is Arwund in that room?" he asked, nodding towards the door. 

"Yes, he is," she said. Her face had grown pale. "I have the keys." She walked towards the door and put a key in the keyhole. Turning it, she pushed the door open. Maréin entered. 

Enorwin and Bedreigh stood next to Joandrey at the doorstep. Arwund sat on a chair at a desk, tied up. Maréin began to untie him and Arwund looked at the others. "Hi guys. Thanks for rescuing me! But weren't you... you know... dead?" 

"Bedreigh couldn't get himself to kill us," Enorwin said. 

"Well, thanks to you for saving my companions," Arwund said to Bedreigh. 

"You're welcome, I guess," Bedreigh said. Then he looked at Enorwin and asked in a low voice, "Do you know what Maréin just did?" 

"I have absolutely no idea," Enorwin confessed. 

"I think I do," Joandrey said quietly. "And if I'm right, I'd be careful around him. He's powerful... dangerously so." 

"What is he, then?" Enorwin asked. 

Joandrey let out a sigh. "I think it is indeed better that you don't know. If I told you, you'll probably wish you hadn't heard." 

Enorwin wanted to protest, but then he realised that Joandrey sounded completely serious. What if she were right? 

He looked at Maréin, who was filling Arwund in on the details of their rescue mission. 

"Are you sure you trust him?" he heard Arwund's voice ask him in his mind. And Enorwin had to admit his answer had changed: he was no longer sure. 

With a shock, he realised he would never be able to look at the wanderer with the same eyes again.