Wizard's Spawn

Ultimatum

King Ardiel gazed steadily at the three Elders before him, his face a mask, showing no sign of the stress he was feeling.

They had told him that the magic was dying.

They had told him about the visions they had seen in the Scrying Pool.

Now Elder Aneiss was telling him about the latest girl they had found for him to marry. "She's of good blood, not royal, it's true, but... we are running out of candidates."

The King thought she had only just stopped herself from saying 'beggars can't be choosers.'

The Elder continued, her voice persuasive, "She is young, comely enough and, most importantly, has some magic in her—"

Elder Corwin interrupted in a testy voice. "This is all very well, but the truth is, you must ask her to wed you within the month. Your time for choices has run out."

"But we haven't even met!" Ardiel protested. "How do you know she would be willing to enter into a marriage so soon?"

"No need to worry she will refuse you," replied Elder Aneiss wryly. "She is a biddable enough girl. You will have time enough to bind her to you after you are wed."

"And if I refuse?" Ardiel asked evenly.

Elder Corwin met his gaze, his face set in stern lines. "Then we will have no choice but to seek the Challenger—the man who will challenge you for the throne."

~~~

Dafydd wound his way through the streets of Fairhaven, seeking the source of the call. He had made an early start but it was a difficult task. The streets of the city resembled nothing so much as a maze. Where the call pulled him straight ahead, he usually had to turn left, or right, twisting and turning back on himself again and again.

Every so often his thoughts drifted back to the man he had met last night, and his lips turned upward into an unconscious smile. He sighed. Much as he would like to, he would probably never see him again. He made an effort to put the stranger out of his mind.

Eventually he reached Castle Haven. It rose up into the sky, full of towers and turrets, and presumably dungeons down below. Was it possible a monster lurked within the very palace? He stood back for a moment, eyes shut to increase his concentration. He couldn't tell. There was magic in there, certainly, but that was to be expected in a palace. There was no choice, he would have to go inside and search.

Straightening his shoulders, he approached the huge golden door to speak to the Gate Keeper.

~~~

As one, the three Elders froze.

"He is here already!" whispered Starwind.

"How did he know?"

"Oh, he is strong! I can feel his magic."

"So the decision has been made for me!" Ardiel said in an angry voice. "You didn't wait."

"No! It wasn't us. We didn't call him!" Elder Aniess protested, shooting a sideways glance at her companions to check that neither of them had been premature.

They shook their heads, equally amazed.

A knock sounded outside, at the door to the hall.

They all watched, mesmerised, as a footman stepped forward to open it.

When Dafydd entered the hall, he saw three Elders grouped together: an elf, a man, and a woman. And beyond them he saw... the King, dressed in his royal robes, looking absolutely furious.

His hair was much shorter than the last time he had seen him. His skin was now a few shades paler, his features no longer subtly altered by magic, but nevertheless, he recognised him instantly.

It was the man he had slept with last night.