Poor Vantann is plagued with guilt, and seeking a way to deal with it. That, combined with his age, makes for one very volatile little adventurer.

CHAPTER ONE - BLOOD SACRIFICE

"No!" Elfin Prince Vantann Merripen faced the two boys before him with authority and determination in his blue eyes. "And if you so much as think a Travel-Spell, Thomlin, I'll go straight to Papay."

Ten-year-old Thomlin glared at his twin brother, then gripped his young companion by the arm and steered him toward the bedroom door. "Come on, Durri, let's get out of here. We won't get any help from him."

Vantann blocked their path. "I'm warning you, Thomlin. Forget this crazy idea now."

Thomlin's anger exploded. "One year ago, you wouldn't have called it crazy," he shouted. "One year ago, you'd have thought of it yourself! And one year ago, you'd have done it!"

Vantann grabbed Thomlin by the front of the tunic, his face red with rage. "One year ago I was a child! I've grown up since then. Why haven't you?"

Thomlin stared at him, his anger giving way to fear and heartache. This was not the Vantann he'd grown up with, not the identical twin who shared everything from looks to emotions, not the Vantann he loved with heart and soul. That Vantann had disappeared, replaced with this rage-filled boy threatening his own brother.

The threat was not an idle one. Vantann had already given him three black eyes and a split lip in the last year. Wisely, Thomlin decided to placate his brother. "All right, Vans," he said softly. "It was a stupid idea. You're right. Again."

Vantann regarded him for a moment then released him, his small, finely chiseled face softening. He visibly relaxed and placed a trembling hand on Thomlin's shoulder. "I...it's just that..." He struggled to find the words, and when he did his voice shook. "I don't want you to get hurt. Or you either, Durriken. And...I don't think you should cause Papay the worry. That's all."

Sadness pierced Thomlin's heart. The grief and agony that lay in Vantann's eyes was almost too much to bear. "I know, Vans," he said softly. "You're right. I won't do anything further about this."

"Promise?"

"Promise." Thomlin reached out tentatively and gave his brother a hug. It was like holding a marble pillar. Thomlin released him. "Vans, Pepin is going to Mere Odain today to visit Faolan. Do you want to go?"

A wild look came into Vantann's eyes. "Is Papay going? Why can't Faolan come here instead? Why does Pepin have to go there? Doesn't he know how much Papay worries about him going there? Gods! Doesn't anybody care about Papay? Doesn't anybody care how he feels?"

"Vans," Thomlin pleaded, easing away from him. "Papay knows. He says it's all right. He's not worried about Pepin going and neither should you be."

"Well, I am!" Vantann snapped. He ran a shaking hand through his shaggy blond hair. "I don't think Pepin should go. Even if Papay tries to act like it doesn't bother him, I know it does. Where is Pepin?"

Thomlin sighed. "I don't know. But, Vantann, you can't police the whole household. Pepin is an adult and so is Papay. I think they're capable of making their own decisions."

"Are you going?" Vantann asked.

Thomlin hesitated, not quite sure what to say. He had planned to go. Mere Odain's Queen El'leigh had just had a new baby and he wanted to go see her. If he lied, Vantann would know and probably get more upset. Lately, Vantann had a thing about being lied to. On the other hand, if Thomlin told his brother the truth, who knew what Vantann's reaction would be? He seemed more tightly wound today than usual. Thomlin took a deep breath. "I sort of wanted to see El'leigh and Andison's baby," he admitted. "Don't you?"

"No!" Vantann's answer was immediate. "I hate babies. There are entirely too many babies."

Durriken rolled his eyes at Thomlin and stepped around Vantann to the door. "Well, I don't hate babies," he said. "I'm going."

"No!" Vantann grabbed his arm. "What if something happens? Durri, stay here where it's safe."

Durriken grimaced. "Laith, Vantann, you need help."

Rage tore across Vantann's face and Thomlin quickly jerked him away from Durriken. "Get out of here, Durri!" he ordered.

"Thoms?"

"I said go! Now!"

"But Thoms, I thought we were going to use Mere Odain as a jumping-off spot," Durriken blurted. "If you don't go then--"

"What?" Vantann interrupted. He whirled on Thomlin, furious. "You were going to leave from Mere Odain for Winze? Without telling anyone?"

"N...no," Thomlin stammered, backing out of reach. "I...I only said that if we went, Mere Odain would be a good place to--"

"Liar!" Vantann roared. "You were going to go! Well, you're not now!"

Thomlin cringed as a WardSpell enveloped him. Then his own anger exploded. "Stop it, Vans!" He crumbled the WardSpell easily. "Maybe Durri's right. You do need--"

He never finished his sentence. Vantann's fist slammed against his mouth. Durriken bolted from the room, as Thomlin staggered backward. Fury and pain drove his tongue. "I'm sick of this, Vantann! You've been trying to control everything I've done for the last year. Ever since we came back from the Caves of Challenge you've been like this. I know you got hurt there. I know you used your magic to kill. But, it was a year ago. Let it go!"

"I can't!" Vantann shrieked, his whole body trembling. He yanked off his tunic and turned his badly scarred back to Thomlin. "Anymore than I can let this go!" He spun back around and stomped toward Thomlin. "It was my fault that we went there. It was my responsibility. And it's my responsibility to keep you from making the same stupid mistakes that I did." He grabbed Thomlin's forearms. "I'm not going to let you go! Not anywhere!"

Thomlin struggled against his brother's hold. "You're not my keeper, Vantann! Sometimes I wonder if you're even my brother!"

Vantann sucked in his breath, his eyes going wide with disbelief and hurt. With an enraged roar he flung Thomlin toward the floor. Thomlin pulled Vantann with him as he fell, then punched him soundly in the side. Vantann retaliated with a series of wild, painful blows. One punch caught Thomlin on the ear and pain ripped through him. Without a conscious thought, he snapped Vantann with a bolt of magic. Vantann gasped and arched back, then retaliated with a searing bolt of his own. Thomlin recoiled in pain, and in horror at what he had done, what Vantann had done. He made a desperate grab, snagging Vantann's wrists. "Stop it, Vans!" he begged. "Please, stop it!"

But Vantann was beyond listening. Tears leapt to his eyes, flooded over and fell on Thomlin. "You want to use magic, Thoms?" he sobbed. "I can use magic! You know that! I can kill with magic. Remember?"

"Vans!" Thomlin shrieked as a wave of dark magic washed over the room.