It didn't take them long to find Donegan. They started by taking the floor beneath his study and heading to where the room was located above them before Vega was able to check that he wasn't there. Then they decided to take a look at his bedroom but, before they set off, Vega saw him through the roof, walking along the corridor right above them.

'Shh! He's above us,' the girl whispered. 'He's going in.'

The six of them followed him (well, Vega followed him) and tried not to make any noise with their footsteps. Vega suddenly stopped and indicated with hand movements that Donegan was above them. While she was alert to all of the knight's movements, the others looked at her wondering what she could see.

'It's the seer's bedroom!' Vega whispered. 'He's just entered it. He's looking for something. I imagine it's her diary. He's opening all the drawers.'

'How did he unlock the door?' Noa asked.

'He didn't open it. It looked like... like he passed through it. He stopped in front of it and a minute later he was inside.'

The girl was silent, her gaze still fixed on the roof where it remained for a further two minutes.

'He's left. Let's follow him,' she said, retracing their steps along the same corridor.

'Did he find the diary?' Rodrigo asked.

'I don't think so. I don't think it was there.'

'Where's he going now?' Oliver inquired.

'I don't know,' said Vega. 'I think he's going to his bedroom. No, wait. He's going down the stairs. Hide!'

The six of them backed away several metres and huddled against a wall as Donegan passed a few metres from the place they were hiding. He had been so close to discovering them but fortunately he disappeared without noticing their presence.

'He's still going down,' Vega whispered. 'We can follow him now.'

Step by step, they began to descend the staircase as they paid attention to their friend's indications as she tried to keep Donegan in her sight at all times. After descending two more floors, Vega stopped and the rest of them copied her.

'He's on the ground floor where the studies are,' she said. 'We'll watch him from here.'

Once again they followed Vega as she hurried through the fortress' corridors, this time with her stare concentrated on the floor. After turning a corner, she stopped so suddenly that Oliver couldn't avoid bumping into her.

'He's gone into Balkar's study!' she said. 'He's looking through all the drawers and wardrobes again.'

'He'll keep looking for the diary,' Rodrigo said. 'If it wasn't in the seer's bedroom the grand master probably has it.'

'You're right. He's just found it,' said Vega. 'He's put it under his tunic and... and...'

Vega's eyes looked as though they might fall out of her head as she began to turn her head to look in different directions.

'What's wrong?' Darion asked.

'He disappeared!'

'He what?' Oliver asked.

'Donegan suddenly disappeared!'

'Come on,' said Rodrigo. 'We need to let Balkar know, even if it's too late.'

'How can he pass through doors and then disappear?' Aisha wondered as they ran towards the stairs. 'His gift is recognising lies. Nobody has two powers.'

'I think he's been lying to us all,' said Rodrigo. 'He must have invented it to hide his true power and then that allows him to blame others for his own crimes, like he did with Adara.'

When they reached Arms Courtyard, they came across Toravik, the smith, who was walking in small circles with his head down.

'Good afternoon, Sir Toravik,' said Rodrigo. 'We're looking for the grand master. Have you seen him?'

'No,' the smith bellowed, 'but he'll remember me when I get to him me. When I catch that swine, I'll tear out his insides and crush that troll brain he has inside his head.'

'You mean... you mean Balkar?' Rodrigo stammered.

'Of course. Do you know another grand master?'

'No, of course not. But, what did he do?'

'Don't you understand?' the smith shouted. 'He left without telling anyone! He went to look for Adara without me. Right now, he'll be alone facing up to who knows what kind of dangers and I'm here, with my recently sharpened sword dying of boredom.'

'Well,' Darion began, stuttering. 'I'm sure–'

His words were interrupted by the powerful sound of a horn.

'Open the gates!' a knight cried from the watchtower. 'It's Balkar.'

Two other knights began to turn an enormous wooden wheel that triggered the opening mechanism of the gates.

'Now he'll hear what I've got to say, that damn apprentice spoon sharpener!' Toravik roared.

A moment later, they saw the grand master crossing the bridge on the back of a stunning black horse. An animal was strewn across its hind-quarters. It looked like a dead wolf.

'That's it?' Toravik asked him. 'You're gone for hours in an empire infested with varblins and what have you brought us? A wolf! You left me forging swords and growing my beard for that?'

'I believe it is Adara,' said Balkar, his voice weary with tiredness. 'I found her on the slope of the volcano. Someone has pierced her neck with an arrow.'

'How do you know it's not just any wolf?' Toravik asked.

'Wolves never approach the volcano,' Balkar replied. 'Fire is one of their greatest fears.'

Toravik was quiet for a while, clenching his fists and teeth with all his might. His face seemed as though it was about to explode at any moment.

'Lady Adara!' he sobbed suddenly, supporting his bearded face on the animal's hind legs. 'Damn them! I swear I will never rest until I find those responsible for this crime. I won't stop until they're dead. I swear I'll never wear boots again until I walk on their graves!'

Toravik immediately removed his boots amid curses and blasphemies and he threw them as far as he could. One of the guards at the gates had to duck to avoid being hit in the head by a flying boot.

'Do not despair, Toravik,' said Balkar. 'I believe she is still breathing. Take her to the infirmary immediately. Someone notify Mirena!'

The smith lifted the wolf in his muscular arms and began to cross the courtyard barefoot. His eyes were red and he was on the brink of tears.

'I told you,' Oliver stated. 'There's a soft side underneath Toravik's harsh exterior.'

'Oh, shut up, Oliver,' said Aisha whose eyes were also red.

'We have to tell Balkar what we saw,' said Rodrigo. 'Come one.'

Rodrigo walked speedily after the grand master who was crossing Arms Courtyard in huge strides.

'Sir Balkar, sir, we need to talk to you,' he said.

'Now is not a good time, children,' Balkar responded. 'I have urgent matters to attend to.'

'It's about Donegan, sir,' Rodrigo insisted. 'We think he's the traitor. He took the diary from your study and he disappeared.'

The grand master stopped short.

'How do you know that?' he asked.

Rodrigo explained to the grand master what Vega had seen a few minutes before.

'You are saying that he entered my study without opening the door and then he disappeared?' Balkar asked the girl. 'Are you sure?'

'Absolutely, sir.'

The grand master was silent for a while.

'The truth is it had occurred to me when I saw Adara had been attacked,' Balkar whispered, saying his thoughts aloud. 'If she was not the traitor it could only have been Donegan. Are you sure he has gone?'

'We don't know for sure,' said Noa. 'He disappeared as soon as he found the diary and we haven't seen him since.'

The grand master looked each of them in the eye.

'Can I trust you will not speak of this with anyone else?'

'Of course, sir,' they said.

'Thank you for everything, children,' said Balkar, giving them a small smile. He turned and strode away.

When it was time for dinner, the dining hall seemed much sadder than it usually was. It lacked Adara's voice ordering the diners and the tasks of those who had to serve the tables but, by now, the entire stronghold had heard about the murder of Agatha and nobody had a desire for foolishness.

'I don't know why, but without Adara I feel more vulnerable,' Noa commented. 'It's as if the fortress is no longer a safe place.'

'Don't be scared,' said Aisha. 'We're surrounded by brave and powerful knights. Not only that, if Donegan has gone in search of the Mirror of Power, he'll never be able to return to the fortress again.'

'How can you be so sure?' Noa asked. 'What if he manages to get the mirror to Arakaz? Maybe not even the fortress will be able to protect us if the emperor acquires even more power.'

Before Aisha could reply, her friends were distracted and their eyes moved towards the door to the dining hall. Balkar had entered and walked towards the centre of the room. He didn't need to ask for silence.

'My brave squires,' he said. 'Today, extremely serious incidents occurred in the fortress and you all have the right to know what has happened. As you already know, Lady Agatha was murdered last night. She died defending a secret that must never fall into the hands of our enemy. Lady Adara, whose absence you will surely have noticed, is also seriously wounded.'

This latest piece of news had still not seeped through the fortress, meaning a major commotion took hold of all the squires. There was no one whose rage wasn't evident on their face.

'We have reason to believe that the source of such harm has been another of our colleagues, Sir Donegan. I regret to inform you that he has betrayed us and that he now serves our enemy, Arakaz.'

The grand master stopped talking for a moment and waited for the hubbub to subside. Little by little, the general murmuring stopped and he could finally continue.

'I know it is difficult to ask you to remain calm, having told you such unhappy news,' Balkar continued. 'However, I assure you the person responsible for all of this is already far away from the fortress and he shall never enter here again. Even still, the knights shall keep watch day and night, but I assure you there is nothing to fear.

'The final thing I should tell you is that tomorrow at midday, Lady Agatha will be buried. Those of you who would like to pay your respects to our dear seer will be most welcome. Oh, and one more thing. While Lady Adara is recovering, Lady Porwena will be charged with coordinating your chores.'

As soon as Balkar finished speaking, the whole dining hall erupted in a cacophony of noise, dozens of voices speaking at once. Rodrigo continued looking at the grand master who, instead of leaving the dining hall, headed straight towards them.

'Rodrigo and Oliver, when you finish dinner I would like you to stop by my study, please.'

'Of course, sir,' Rodrigo replied.

'Have we done something wrong?' Oliver asked when the grand master had disappeared.

'I don't think so,' Rodrigo answered. 'It'll be to talk about our search for the mirror, or the prophecy, or Donegan.'

'I don't think it'll be about Donegan,' said Darion. 'He would ask to see Vega if he wanted to know more about him. She's the one who saw it all.'

'There's still one thing I don't understand,' Rodrigo said, pondering the thoughts that were filling his head. 'Why did Donegan kill the seer before he could speak to her?'

'How do you know he didn't manage to?' Oliver asked.

'Because he had to look for her diary the next day,' Rodrigo responded.

'Maybe Agatha resisted so much that Donegan had no other choice but to kill her,' said Darion.

'Or maybe she tricked him,' Aisha suggested. 'Whatever happened, Agatha died without revealing the secret to that traitor. She was very brave.'

When dinner was over, Rodrigo and Oliver went to Balkar's study. The door was half-open but Rodrigo still knocked to signal their arrival.

'Come in, boys,' said the grand master. 'Please, sit.'

Rodrigo and Oliver sat down and almost instantly Kepi, Balkar's ferret, ran to sit on Oliver's shoulder.

'Well, it seems to like you,' Rodrigo laughed.

'I asked you to come here as I have something for you,' said Balkar, placing two rings on the table. They looked like they were made of gold and they each had a small, shiny, black stone set in them. 'These rings will protect you. I want you to look after them well and to always carry them in your pockets. As soon as you put one of these rings on your finger, I will know that you are in danger and I will immediately come to assist you. I only need touch the stone of my own ring to appear at your side, wherever you may be.' The grand master showed them his hand. On his index finger was a ring identical to those he had just set on the table.

'But didn't you say we were no longer in danger?' Oliver asked.

'I did, child, but I would like to be absolutely certain,' Balkar answered.

'Why are you giving us these rings?' Oliver insisted.

The grand master was silent for a moment, carefully choosing his words.

'You already know about the prophecy,' he said eventually. 'It is possible that the enemy also knows it and if that is the case he could attempt to use you to locate the Mirror of Power. I do not think you are in danger here but even still, I would like you to always carry these rings with you.'

'We will, sir,' said Oliver, picking up one of the rings. Rodrigo claimed the other and placed it inside his pocket.

'One more thing. I want you to keep this between us. Do not tell even your friends. If anyone should see your rings and asks you about them, tell them they are a family heirloom.'

'Yes, sir,' said Rodrigo.

The grand master rose to his feet to signal that they could leave.

'Rodrigo,' he said as they were leaving the room. 'If you should discover your gift at any time, I would like you to inform me of it before anyone else. Will you do that, please?'

'Yes, of course,' Rodrigo replied. 'Do you think I will ever discover my power?'

'Absolutely, Rodrigo. You will see.'

When they reached the floor where their dormitories were located, Darion, Aisha, Vega and Noa were still waiting for them in the reading room.

'What did he tell you?' Vega asked.

Rodrigo felt his stomach sink. He had promised Balkar he wouldn't mention the rings to anyone but he was incapable of lying to his friends.

'He wanted to warn us of possible danger and ask us to be on the lookout,' he said finally.

'What danger?' Darion was puzzled.

'He says that if the enemy knows about the prophecy, he could try to use us to find it. He doesn't think we're in danger inside the fortress but he still wanted to warn us.'

'Do you think Donegan really left the fortress?' Noa asked.

'It makes sense,' Rodrigo commented. 'He managed to find the seer's diary.'

'He also knows about the prophecy and he must know it speaks about you two,' said Aisha. 'If he didn't know what it meant, he wouldn't have kept that book locked away.'

'But that means...' Noa murmured.

'That means he knows that Rodrigo and Oliver are the only ones who can pose a threat to his emperor,' Aisha concluded.

'Well, Balkar's sure Donegan is no longer inside the stronghold,' Noa said nervously. 'He doesn't think there's any danger, right?'

'I feel dizzy,' Oliver interrupted, leaning his head on the table. He was very pale and his forehead was beaded with sweat.

'Are you in pain?' Noa asked.

'No, but I'm finding it hard to breathe. It's as though something's tightening my chest.'

'I'm going to look for Lady Mirena,' said Rodrigo but as soon as he stood up, he also began to fill sick and dizzy. For a moment, he thought the floor was going to fall away from beneath him. He had to sit down again and lean his head on the desk like Oliver.

'I don't feel well either,' he said.

'I've let Mirena know,' said Aisha. 'She'll be here right away.'

'Will we help you into bed?' Darion asked.

'I don't feel like I could walk another step,' Oliver muttered.

'Me neither,' said Rodrigo.

The nurse must have been close by when Aisha notified her because she barely took a couple of minutes to reach them. As soon as she entered the room, she inspected their eyes, mouths and foreheads.

'You have very high temperatures,' she said. 'Does any part of your body hurt?'

'My chest,' Rodrigo replied. 'I can hardly breathe.'

'Do you feel dizzy?' Mirena asked.

'Yes,' Oliver answered. 'It's horrible. My head's spinning and I think I'm going to be sick.'

Just then, Balkar appeared on the stairs.

'What's happened?' he asked.

'Oliver and Rodrigo are very ill,' said Lady Mirena. 'It could be some sort of disease. I must take them with me immediately.'

'I shall accompany you,' said Balkar.

'No, Balkar,' Mirena replied in a surprisingly authoritative tone. 'This could be the beginning of an epidemic. They must remain isolated. If you want to keep watch over them, it will have to be from outside the infirmary.'

The next thing Rodrigo knew, the nurse had removed a pendant from the inside of her tunic and brushed his and Oliver's hands with it. An instant later, everything had shifted. Now, he was inside a circular room and his friends and the grand master had disappeared. Although it was very dark, Rodrigo could make out several empty beds and many cupboards full of jars stuffed with herbs and liquids of different colours. There was also an enormous bookcase which was overflowing with books.

'Where are we?' Oliver asked.

'In the infirmary, of course,' Mirena replied, having just appeared at his side and begun to wander around the room lighting the candelabras on the walls.

'How did we get here?' he asked.

'With a teleporter,' she responded, not stopping for a moment.

'Is Adara here?' Rodrigo questioned, finding it strange that he couldn't see the injured wolf.

'She's over there, behind the last bed, on some blankets,' Mirena explained. 'Now, get into bed. I'm going to prepare you a potion.'

Mirena selected various ingredients from her colourful jars and began to boil them in a small pot.

'Is what we have serious?' Oliver asked.

'It's too soon to tell,' she replied, dividing the potion into two cups. 'This doesn't taste very nice but you need to drink it.'

Rodrigo raised the mixture to his lips and almost spat it out. It was the most disgusting thing he had ever tried in his life. Oliver, who had just tried it too, had the same expression on his face, making him look as though he'd swallowed the head of a rotting fish.

'What on earth is this? Troll bogey soup?' Oliver asked.

'I told you it doesn't taste nice. Now finish it. It's time for you to sleep.'

Having drunk all their medicine, Mirena extinguished the candelabras and sent them to bed.

'Good night, boys. Rest as much as you can,' she said, closing the door.

Rodrigo listened to the nurse's footsteps descending some stairs before he fell asleep a moment later.

The following day, Rodrigo woke with his whole body shivering. Oliver was still asleep despite how late it was. Mirena was preparing another of her potions and Rodrigo couldn't help but watch her with apprehension.

'Relax, this isn't for you,' said the nurse who had spotted him watching her. 'It's for Adara.'

'Is she awake?'

'No. She's still unconscious but she's better that way. The arrow wound is very serious and any movement could make her situation worse.'

'How are you going to make her drink the medicine?' Rodrigo asked.

'This potion doesn't need to be drunk,' the nurse replied. 'I only need to put it on the wound so it doesn't get infected.'

'What if she's unconscious for a long time? Isn't there the danger that she'll starve?'

'Don't you worry about that. Yesterday I made her swallow an anefora fruit. Those fruits dissolve slowly in the stomach and release sufficient water and nutrients to keep her alive for a week.'

Rodrigo felt more at ease but a minute later, his body was racked with chills and he curled up beneath the blankets.

'I'm really cold,' he said.

'You have a fever,' Mirena replied.

'Could I have some more blankets, please?' he asked.

'I'm sorry, child, but now you need to be cold for a while so your fever doesn't rise. You must ride it out.'

Mirena removed the potion from the fire and began soaking some bandages that were stretched out on a type of tray with the mixture. Then she approached the wolf and gently placed the bandages on the wound.

'She's lucky she'd transformed into a wolf,' said Mirena. 'No person would still be alive after suffering a wound like this.'

'What will happen when she wakes up?' Oliver questioned, having finally lifted his head from the pillow.

'I hope the wound will have healed better by the time that happens. In any case, if you see her wake up when I'm not here, you must tell her not to transform. She must continue in her wolf form and refrain from moving. Her life depends on it.'

'Don't worry. If she wakes, we'll tell her,' said Oliver.

'Excellent. I'm off to look for your breakfast,' said Mirena. 'I'll be right back.'

'Can our friends come and see us?' Rodrigo asked.

'No, Rodrigo. No one will be able to visit you for two weeks. It could be contagious.'

'But Noa's your apprentice. Could we see her?' Oliver inquired.

'I'm afraid that won't be possible either. We can't risk the illness spreading.'

'What about you? Aren't you afraid of catching what we have?'

'It's my job. Somebody has to take care of you. Now, before I leave, I want you to listen carefully to what I have to say. Don't even think about touching anything in here. Some of the things in those cupboards are very dangerous if they're not used correctly. I don't want you going anywhere near them. Is that clear?'

Rodrigo and Oliver nodded. With that, the nurse placed a hand inside her pocket and instantly disappeared.

'Two weeks!' Oliver complained. 'Do you really think they'll keep us locked up in here for two weeks? If we don't die of fever we'll die of boredom.'

'Or maybe her disgusting potions,' Rodrigo added.

'Yuck. Don't remind me. That was the most awful thing I've ever tasted in my life. I thought I was going to throw up.'

'Hey, don't you think it's weird we've fallen sick almost at the same time?' Rodrigo asked. 'And so suddenly.'

'Well, yeah,' said Oliver. 'I think Balkar already knew we were in danger. That's why he gave us the rings. I think... My ring! I left it underneath the pillow. It's gone!'

'What are you on about?' replied Rodrigo. 'It'll have fallen to the floor. Ha! Leaving it under your pillow! I've got mine here, in my... It's not here! Mine's gone too!'