Later that day Molos Gomm called his two apprentices to attend him in the library.

     The grey wizard had been gathering a few items and some of his spellbooks and was carefully packing them away in a travelling box as Tak entered. The box was eighteen inches square but only a couple of inches high. It looked like a metal-strapped rosewood pizza box with a padded velvet lining, but as Tak reached the table on which it sat he saw that it was at least two feet deep on the inside, making the boy gasp with amazement.

     Molos Gomm chuckled as he carefully placed a large, dark green bottle in the box. A space that, by all the laws of geometry, must have been far too small to contain it. His amusement was tempered, though, by an anxiety that was evident in every line of his face, every movement of his body. Obviously Gal-Gowan had told him something that had disturbed him greatly.

     "Going somewhere?" said Philip with a nod towards the box as he entered a moment later.

     Molos Gomm nodded with a grunt. "Our visitor has come to remind me of my oaths of allegiance to Khalkedon, and to tell me that the assistance I promised at need in return for my tenancy here is now required. I must go to him and serve him in whatever way he wishes until this time of crisis is over."

     "What time of crisis?" asked Philip thoughtfully. His eyes had a calculating look to them that Tak didn't like.

     "Domandropolis is at war. The Mage Lords of Sholl have launched a vicious and unprovoked attack in an attempt to seize the Rho-Marches and Khalkedon is gathering all his thrall mages for a counterattack. I don't know how long I shall be away, hopefully no more than a few weeks, but in the meantime I leave Castle Nagra in your care. Continue your studies, practice what I have taught you and stay away from my private storerooms. I have placed wards on the doors that will shrivel your arm to a stump if you touch them. Trobo will look after you. Tell him if you need anything."

     He closed the travelling box, locked it with a large brass key and tucked it under his arm as though it did indeed contain nothing heavier than a pizza. Tak would have expected a strong man to have had difficulty lifting all the stuff he'd put in there. He looked up at the grey wizard to see his rheumy eyes fixed on him.

     "Well, my boy? No words of farewell for your loving master?"

     Tak thought of some choice words of farewell. He wanted to say that he hoped he died horribly, that he was struck down by an enemy spell or contracted some horrible disease, but he was still cowed and subdued by his ordeal at the hands of Gal-Gowan. "Good luck," he mumbled therefore, making Philip choke on a snort of laughter.

     "Why, thank you, my boy," chuckled Molos Gomm, reaching out to stroke Tak's cheek and chin. "How elevating to hear such sentiments from your sweet lips. You see, Philip? Why can't you be as appreciative of all I've given you as your young colleague?"

     He turned back to Tak. "He's hoping I don't come back alive, and he makes little secret of it. He wishes to speed the day he becomes master of Castle Nagra."

     "Not at all, master," sneered Philip. "You know how much I love you. You've always been like a father to me."

     Molos Gomm chuckled again. "Of course, of course. And one night, while you're expressing your love for me, that's when I'll feel your dagger in my ribs, eh Philip?"

     The young man just smiled and said nothing to deny it. The grey wizard frowned and took a step closer, and despite being several inches shorter than the younger man he still somehow managed to loom over him, making the apprentice gulp and shrink back in sudden fear.

     "You're still a baby, my boy. You know nothing. If I died in battle, you would continue to know nothing. You would continue to be nothing. A few parlour tricks, that's all you know yet. My death now would be a disaster to you, and I believe you know it. So, my boy, do you have anything to say to me before I go?"

     Philip looked down on his master, and Tak was shocked to see real hatred in his eyes. For a moment he feared violence was about to erupt between the two wizards, but the apprentice made a visible effort to get himself back under control. What Molos Gomm had said was true. Philip still needed his master and he knew it.

     "Good luck," he hissed, almost spat.

     Molos Gomm cackled with delight and ruffled the young man's hair. "I believe there may be a grain of wisdom in there after all. Nurture it, my boy, and one day you may indeed be fit to replace me." He turned and shuffled towards the door. "Look after Castle Nagra while I'm away. I'll expect everything to be in good order when I return." The door opened itself as he approached, and they followed him out into the courtyard.

     Gal-Gowan kept them waiting, as a demonstration of his importance. Letting them know who was boss. Molos Gomm and his two apprentices stood in the cold wind for nearly half an hour, the two older men using a low level spell to keep themselves warm, Tak just shivering miserably and trying not to let it show. The grey wizard had already summoned a pair of giant eagles which Trobo had saddled, showing no fear of their wicked, screeching beaks that could so easily have severed an arm or his head. The six horsemen stood beside their horses, ready to ride out. They were also feeling the cold and were grumbling quietly to each other.

     When he felt he'd asserted his authority enough the Ginger Prince finally appeared, pausing in the doorway to frown critically at everything he saw. Then he strolled casually over to the eagles to inspect them, as if they were part of his own household's stock.

     "He can't summon them himself," muttered Philip to himself, smiling with amusement. "Never figured out how. Look how embarrassed he is."

     Tak averted his eyes fearfully, but the wizard passed right by him as if he didn't exist, with no acknowledgement of what had happened the night before. As if Tak was nothing. Something to be used and forgotten. Suddenly Tak felt real anger boiling up inside him.  Real fury at the way he was being treated. An outrage so strong that he took a step forward to attract his attention before he knew what he was doing.

     "Farewell, Gal-Gowan," he said. "Remember your stay in Castle Nagra and the hospitality you were shown here."

     Molos Gomm almost had a heart attack. He stared at Tak as if seeing a rabbit that had suddenly produced a sword and stabbed his ankle, and he stared at Gal-Gowan in real terror, fearing terrible retribution for the insolent remark.

     Tak was equally horrified, unable to believe the moment of madness that had come over him. What am I doing? he screamed at himself. What in the name of all the Gods was I thinking of? Who knows what he'll do to me now!

     His horror was ended as Molos Gomm gabbled the word that brought the hypnosis spells back to full force, and Tak felt the merciful oblivion of the mind dulling trance washing over him. Part of him wondered, in the last moments of lucid thought, whether this time he would ever be allowed to wake up.

     "Forgive him, Lord!" Molos Gomm pleaded, wringing his hands. "He is new to me and still untrained. He will be punished, I promise you."

     Philip slipped behind his master to try to conceal his delight but Molos Gomm was glaring at the boy with a furious look that promised torments beyond anything he could imagine. Tak was past caring, though. He would have cheerfully gouged his own eyes out or torn the skin from his hands with his teeth if he'd been ordered to at that moment.

     Gal-Gowan seemed more amused than angry, though. "This is the lad you gave me last night?" he asked. "He has spirit after all, it seems. You tranced him for me? No wonder he was so docile, so... lifeless. I expect more vitality in my gillies. Next time I visit, see that he is completely free. I shall expect him to serve my bed with spirit and enthusiasm. I'm sure you can find ways to ensure his co-operation."

     Molos Gomm sighed with relief, and no-one who saw them at that moment would have guessed that he was, in fact, the more powerful wizard of the two. "It will be as you say, Lord," he said, bowing low. "Our master is fortunate to have such a compassionate and merciful apprentice as you."

     Gal-Gowan beamed with pleasure. "Well, I do have a certain reputation, you know. They call me Gowan the Gentle back home. They cheer me as I pass and throw flowers under my feet."

     "So I have heard, Lord," replied Molos Gomm. "The people speak lovingly of you, even all the way out here. Why, every time I go to the village..."

     He continued to invent tales of adoration and worship as the two wizards mounted their eagles, but by this time the wind was carrying his words away before they could reach the ears of his two apprentices. Gal-Gowan waved a signal to his men, who mounted their horses. Their leader saluted, and the six soldiers rode through the gates and down the narrow mountain road, beginning their long overland journey back to Domandropolis.

     "Gowan the Cruel they call him," muttered Philip, just loudly enough for Tak to hear. "They say he has the power to see into the very souls of men and that the people of the city dare not even think of rebellion. Every so often, his men break into someone's home and everyone they find inside, men, women and children, are hung by the neck in the street until the crows peck their bones clean. Are they really traitors, or is he just picking a family at random to put fear into everyone else? I'll tell you one thing, though. He remembers those who bring themselves to his attention. He remembers well, and you can be sure he'll remember you, my foolish young friend."

     He chuckled in delight, and that part of Tak that was still free trembled with fear and cursed himself again for a fool. Even so, though, to be remembered at all, even as a fool, was better than not being remembered at all. He was someone! He was a person! He would not he used, then discarded and forgotten like a soiled blanket!

     Talking to an unresponsive statue held no attraction for the older apprentice. He liked to see the effect his words were having on his companion. "I'll put the hypnosis spells back on half power if you make no sign I've done so. Okay?"

     He spoke a magic word and Tak felt the fog clouding his mind lift, at the same time as he was hit by the cold that had seeped into his bones while he'd been held spellbound. Remaining motionless took every ounce of willpower he possessed, but he dared not arouse his master's anger any further, or that of Philip who had equal power over him. He found to his delight, though, that he remembered the word his elder colleague had just used to unbind him. Would it work if he spoke it himself? And would he be able to bring himself to say the word while he was fully hypnotised? He didn't think it would be long before he found out, and part of him was looking forward to it, because if it worked, he need never be fully spellbound again. He would be free!

     "And don't think old Gomm'll have forgotten your insolence when he comes back," gloated Philip gleefully. "You embarrassed him in front of Gal-Gowan. He promised you a punishment you'll remember to your grave and he always keeps his promises."

     His taunts no longer had the power to terrify his younger colleague, though. Tak was still exulting at the possibility of freedom and after a few moments Philip fell silent in puzzlement, confused at his sudden failure to frighten and intimidate the other apprentice. Not understanding the mistake he'd made. He was still searching Tak's face, deeply disturbed by the hope and excitement in the teenager's eyes, when Molos Gomm and Gal-Gowan cried words of command and slapped the reins to take their eagles to the air.