Dee was lost, she was surrounded by trees and it was gloomy and horrible. More importantly so far a she was concerned was the fact that she was feeling cold and hungry. And her feet hurt! Her pretty purple slippers were torn and dirty. Her dress would never be the same again. Mama would be so angry.

Dee collapsed against an old oak and wailed her distress and rage.

* * *

Far away in a rather dirty clearing Xexe the Hag perked up her ears. She rose from her rocking-chair and orienting on the delicious sound of a child in distress began making her way through the forest. It had been far too long since she’d had a guest and her fattening cage had lain empty for far too long. She licked her chops with her overlong scarlet tongue in anticipation of the feast to come.

Xexe followed the noise of angry weeping and finally spotted the little girl, of about eight, maybe a bit too old to be truly tender but she would do.

Holding her dagger down by her side where it was hidden in the folds of her skirt she stepped out from behind the trees into sight of the girl. “Hello dear, do you want to come home with me for tea?”

* * *

Dee could feel her tail hiding between her legs, and her snakes were hiding in her hair, their heads nestling near her ears where they were trying to comfort her with their soft hisses. Then someone spoke. She looked over her shoulder and recoiled against the tree. It was a Hag! It looked just like Gussy had described, a crook-backed old woman with a yellowish green complexion, ugly jagged yellow teeth and lots of hairy warts. And she stank worse than a midden.

Dee edged her way around the trunk of the oak in preparation to bolt. Xexe snarled and darted towards her prey. Dee shrieked and turned to flee only to ram into the tree and fall to the ground. Xexe jammed her hand against the tree and cursed. She kicked the girl who hissed and bit her. Two needlelike fangs stabbed their way into Xexe’s calf and delivered their dose of venom.

Xexe screamed in agony as Dee scrambled to her feet and fled headlong deeper into the forest.

= = O = =

Alike examined the young boy, the young Forest Lord. She stepped out of one of her trees, picked him up and carried him, kicking and screaming to her principal glade. Truly the little one was inadequate and unfinished. He was too vulnerable for her taste. And the constant noise was unpleasant. So she put him to sleep.

One hour later Alike double checked her ritual circle, and placed the horned skull of her former lover next to the head of the sleeping child. Then she carefully stepped into the pentagram that was entwined with the ritual circle and started to chant.

At each of the cardinal points a manna crystal woke and began feeding its charge into the ritual. Alike’s voice started to show signs of strain. The skull crumbled into dust as a ghostly form took its place. Hernson’s ghost smiled at his lover and looked down at the sleeping boy. The Ghost hovered over the child and slowly merged with him. The manna crystals emptied in a rush and shattered just as Alike’s chant came to a climax.

Alike watched with a satisfied grin as Prince Sarnollo aged and grew, bursting his way out of his clothes. She smiled as the fully mature forest lord woke and smiled at her. “Hello my love, welcome back.”

Hernson stretched and grinned at his lover. By the gods she was just as beautiful as ever. “Alike my love, it is good to be with you again.”

Hernson rose to his full two meters height and stepped carefully out of the ritual circle. Almost absently he absorbed the memories and soul of the former prince.

= = O = =

Deep in the bowels of the royal palace of the kingdom of Brakaridas, in a small rather bare room part of a warren of similar rooms, a young apprentice mage sat at a table reading a dogeared book. He jerked to attention at a loud chime that came from one of the plain cabinets that were racked against one of the walls.

He went to investigate and drew in a shocked breath. Then he tore out of the room and went in search of his master.

Not much later Firano the Fiery was seated in the office of the palace’s major domo Galvoor the quiet.

“Well it’s confirmed Galvoor, prince Sarnollo’s life crystal is lifeless. The prince must be presumed to be dead. Further princess Deerassa’s lifestone has changed. The princess would seem to be under a powerful curse.”

“Is there any chance the lifestone’s might be wrong? That the prince might be alive?”

“I’m sorry Galvoor, but no. He’s dead.”

Galvoor sighed. “The last we know of them is when a kitchen maid escorted them to the former royal mage Gustravios’ study. We found the picnic basket there. What about his life stone?”

“We had already repurpoused his lifestone when he was retired. Policy. You know, one of our dear finance minister’s Fedracos’ cost cutting measures.”

Galvoor cursed. “Well I will go and face his Majesty. Will you see to performing the location ritual? You do still have the necessary materials for that I hope.”

Firano smiled bitterly, “It is being done even as we speak. And I’ve ordered the making of a few location charms.”

“Good, good. Maybe I should wait for the results.”

* * *

King Elboran the Magnificent carefully cleaned his paintbrush and removed his paint smeared smock. He cast one final look at the meticulous miniature of a wild rose and walked to the big open window that was flooding his studio with sunlight.

“So Sar is dead and Dee is cursed.” Elboran drew in a long breath and the knuckles of his right hand whitened from the force of the grip on the hilt of his heavy dagger. “And they’re not on Marcenium. Well I want whoever is responsible for my brother’s death. But more, I want Dee back alive... Old Gussy too I guess.”

Elboran began pacing back and forth in his studio, his eyes seeking solace in the varied paintings scattered around. Then he stopped and glared at his major domo. “Galvoor, see to issuing the appropriate quests, you know the sort of thing, information quests, retrieval quests.” Elboran stopped and thought. “Oh, and make bloody sure that there will be no marrying the princess type reward. My sister is only seven. To hell with tradition, and yes I know of great aunt Esrrilia but King Druusuus II was a disgusting creature. May he rot in Hell!”

“What about Fedracos your majesty, will he allow an appropriate reward?”

Elboran smiled nastily, “Well if he goes running to mother so she can overrule me as my guardian and regent he’ll be in for a shock. Dee is Mom’s beloved youngest daughter and Sar is, was her son.”

“Ah.” Sighed Galvoor, his brain working busily. “Maybe I can word the reward in such a way that will make him loose his temper? Goad him to make a stupid mistake.”

“Do that. Maybe we can finally be rid of that sanctimonious ass. And then I can revoke that stupid order regarding the dungeon portals. In fact tell the guild master to put that request on the back burner. Retrieving Dee takes precedent.

= = O = =

Vandarbatt the guild master of Kingstown’s branch of the Adventurer’s Guild was staring into the enchanted message mirror. He was conferring with two of his fellow guild masters. He had already shown them the new quests and they had had their clerks copy them. Soon they would be going up inn guild offices all over the world.

Eclavran sighed with relief, he was sincerely grateful he wouldn’t have to confront Bluestone any time soon.