Book Three was a fun book to write. I knew the characters very well by this time, and I felt that Rugan just had more to say. He needed to get his final say and his final reward.

CHAPTER ONE - THE SORCERER'S POOL

"Well, what do you think?" Elfin Crown Prince Treyas Merripen gestured at the structure in the corner of the study, his gaze on the faces of his two good friends, Quinlin Thomarius and Jansson van Tannen.

"What is it?" Jansson asked, approaching the wooden structure.

"It's a TravelPortal," Treyas said.

"A what?" Quinlin asked.

"A TravelPortal. You step through the archway, select the MagicStrand you want, and just like that, you're where you want to be. Of course, right now there are only two exits. Your palace, Jans, and your cottage, Quin. But I hope to add more in the future."

Jansson studied the Portal thoughtfully. "So, how can I use it? I don't have elfin magic."

"Neither do I," Quinlin reminded him.

"That's the beauty of it," Treyas explained. "You can use it, Jans, because you have bardic magic. And Quin, you can use it because you're an elf. You may not be proficient at magic, but you still have the capability. Do you want to try it out?"

Jansson and Quinlin exchanged quick glances, and Treyas rolled his eyes in exasperation. "Come on. I've already tested it. Even Kyel has used it. I'll show you how easy it is."

"I don't think so," Quinlin said softly. "I mean, it's not that I don't believe you, it's just that…" He rubbed at his neck. "Hell, Treyas, you've only been studying magic for two years. Don't you think this is a little bit advanced?"

"It works. It's not that hard to maintain. Please, at least try it. It'll make it so much easier for you and Jansson to visit. Or for me to visit you. I'm tired of always having to wait for Kyel to Spell you over. Please?"

"Oh, hell," Jansson said. "I'm game. I'll give it a go."

"Wait!" Quinlin grabbed his arm, stopping him. "You'd better let me try it out first. I doubt Kyel would want the King of Odora Dava flying about someplace unknown."

"It's not unknown, Quin," Treyas assured him. "I can take him straight to Mayfaire, right to his palace. I've set up a Portal in his library already."

"You did? When?" Jansson asked.

"A few days ago. Kyel helped me."

"I didn't see anything in my library."

"You're not supposed to. I'll set up an archway like this to let people know it's there. Quin, yours is in a vestibule off the hallway from the kitchen."

Quinlin's eyebrows went up in surprise. "You mean that closet space Drisana has been keeping me away from? She said there was a present in there for…oh, a present from you. The Portal?"

Treyas nodded, grinning. "It's all ready to go. Please?"

"I need to get back home, anyway," Quinlin said. "Let me give it a try."

"All right. Jansson, you wait here. I'll be right back."

"Make it quick. We're supposed to go to the Keep in Karsaba, remember?"

"I remember. I'm all packed. See?" Treyas gestured to his pack lying on the floor near his desk. "We can leave as soon as I get back from Quinlin's."

"About this trip," Quinlin said, drawing rolled eyes from Jansson.

"Don't worry," Treyas assured him. "The guards are already at the Keep. Kyel made sure of that."

Quinlin let out a sigh of relief, then motioned toward the TravelPortal. "All right, what do we do?"

"Like I said, it's simple." Treyas led him through the archway. "Do you see the MagicStrands? I made them a different color."

Quinlin's eyes went wide. "Hoi!" he breathed. "I do see them. This is incredible. I've never seen anything like this. Is this what you see when you do magic?"

Treyas grinned. "Yes, it is. All right, see those red ones over there? If you choose those you go to Mayfaire. If you choose those blue ones over there, you go home. I made them blue like the cove in Bailiwycke, so you would remember. Give it a go." He took hold of Quinlin's arm.

Quinlin hesitated a moment, then reached out and touched the MagicStrands. Treyas tightened his grip as the magic spun them away from Lidgerwood. Seconds later they were standing in the vestibule at Quinlin's seaside cottage. The elder elf swayed dizzily, and clutched at the doorjamb, while Treyas let out a whoop of success.

"Quin?" A female voice preceded its bearer, and the door of the closet opened. "Oh!" Quinlin's wife Drisana stepped back in startlement. "Quin! Treyas!"

"Just trying out the TravelPortal, Drisana," Treyas told her. "See, Quin? It was easy, wasn't it?"

"Yes, I guess so," Quinlin mumbled, stepping into the hallway. "A question though. When will my stomach get here?"

Treyas laughed. "I'm going back. Jansson has been pestering me about going up to the Keep for weeks now."

"Why?" Quinlin asked. "What's he all keyed up about anyway?"

Treyas shrugged, his smile disappearing. "He's been having nightmares. He wanted to get out of magic for awhile and see if they went away."

"I see. Has he talked to Kyel about these dreams?"

"I don't know. Probably." Treyas turned back toward the Portal, then stopped at a shrill squeal. He turned, grinning at the little girl who toddled his way. "Reya!"

She giggled and held out her arms to him. He obliged, scooping her up and giving her a gentle hug.

"Trey," she said.

Treyas gasped. "She's talking! She said my name!"

Drisana laughed. "She's been talking for a while now. You just don't come to visit often enough to know about it."

Treyas sighed, ruffling Reya's soft copper curls. "I wish I could come more often, but Elek and Kyel are determined to force magic down my throat. At least, they let me work on the TravelPortal as a diversion." He looked at Quinlin who now wore a frown. "What's wrong? You still don't feel well?"

"No, it's not that," Quinlin murmured. "I'm just a little worried about that Portal. Do you have any security measures in effect?"

Treyas shrugged. "Why would we need them?"

Quinlin huffed an exasperated breath. "To keep uninvited visitors out of the palace, Treyas. You're not the only one in Glede with magic, you know. I'll talk to Elek about it later."

Treyas shrugged again, and kissed Reya on the nose. "I have to go now, Reya."

"No go!" Reya cried, tightening her grip around his neck. "Play outside."

He chuckled. "I can't. Not right now. I'll come back soon though, and then we can play on the beach."

"No go!" Reya said again. Tears sparkled in her green eyes.

Treyas winced, looking to Drisana for help. She smiled and pried Reya away from him, although the little girl's whimpers turned into sobs. The sound tore into Treyas' heart.

"She's just tired, Treyas," Drisana soothed, bouncing Reya gently. "She needs a nap. She'll be fine. If Jansson is waiting, he'll be fuming by now. You'd better go."

"Read," Reya sobbed. "Story."

Treyas smiled. "I can take a few minutes to read her to sleep." He reached for the little girl, and she clung to him, burying her face in his shoulder.

Quinlin chuckled. "You're spoiling her, letting her have her way all of the time."

Treyas grinned. "That's what god-fathers are for." He turned toward her room.

"Just don't forget Jansson," Quinlin called.

"I won't," Treyas called back. He took Reya to her room and settled her into bed. "Now, then, which story do you want?"

"Dragons," she said at once.

Treyas grimaced. Dragons? Again? What did he know about dragons? He wasn't even sure if they existed. Reya didn't have any books about dragons, so he spun out the little story he'd made up about powerful, beautiful dragons that lived in a land far away. He was about halfway through, and Reya had already drifted to sleep, when he felt a strange touch in the magic about him. He sat quietly, frowning, trying to analyze what had happened, but could not. He rose, tucked the blankets around the sleeping child, kissed her forehead gently, then went in search of Quinlin. Instead, he found Drisana in the kitchen. She looked up at him with a smile.

"Reya's asleep," Treyas said. "Where's Quin?"

"He went to see Elek."

"Oh. Then he didn't try using the TravelPortal again?"

Drisana laughed. "I don't think he'll be trying that on his own for quite some time. Magic still frightens him, Treyas."

Treyas sighed. "I know. But you're a wizard, Drisana. Can't you talk some sense into him? Show him that magic can be our friend?"

Drisana laughed again. "I'll do that. I just can't promise that he'll listen."

Treyas shook his head. "Well, I'd better go. Have Quin practice while I'm gone." He returned to the TravelPortal, and cast his Spell back home. He arrived to find the study empty. Treyas' pack lay where he'd dropped it, as did Jansson's, but there was no sign of the bard. Treyas frowned and stepped from the Portal. Something didn't feel right, but he couldn't put his finger on it. He stood very still, his gaze scanning the MagicWeb about him. Two years ago if someone had told he could actually see magic, he would have laughed in their face. Now? Now, he saw magic everywhere. He reached for a Strand, then thought better of it. He was no master yet at StrandSearches. Better leave that to those more qualified. He needed Kyel. He was about to go in search when the elfin king strode into the room.

Kyel stopped short, his brow furrowing in question. "Did you just use the Portal?"

"Y…yes, why?"

Kyel paused. "Where's Jansson?"

"I don't know. I left him here while I took Quinlin home. Why?"

Kyel approached the TravelPortal, his blue eyes narrowed in thought. Treyas' stomach was beginning to knot up. "Kyel, what –"

Kyel silenced him with an upraised hand. "Let me sort out these Strands."

As the black elf returned his attention to the magic, Treyas sank into a chair, his mind whirling back to the strange touch of magic he'd felt at Quinlin's. What could have happened? Where was Jansson? Treyas' gaze moved to the TravelPortal. Was it somehow involved? If it were, Kyel would probably dismantle it straight away. And all of my hard work will be gone, Treyas thought sourly. I'll be back to square one, having to rely on others to see my friends. He huffed an irritated breath.

"Please," Kyel said, "if you cannot control your magic, go elsewhere."

Treyas scowled, sinking back into the chair, trying to keep his emotions from pulling at the magic. He was once again touched with awe for the black elf. That he could do a multiple StrandSearch and talk at the same time was amazing to Treyas. Even a simple, single StrandSearch left Treyas unable to think of anything else. In fact, it had often been a task just to remember to breathe; he had lost consciousness on more than one occasion, especially if the Strand had any length to it. And here was Kyel, pulling Strands whose length Treyas could only guess at, and still completely aware of his surroundings. He sighed heavily, frustration raging through him.

Immediately, Kyel turned toward him, blue eyes flashing with anger. "I cannot work if you are going to keep disturbing the MagicWeb! If you cannot control your emotions, go to your room!"

Treyas flung himself out of the chair and stormed from the study to his own room. He slammed the door behind him and threw himself face down across the bed. He wasn't really angry at Kyel, but at himself. He knew his frustration had been pulling at the MagicWeb, but he hadn't been able to stop himself from doing it.

He rolled onto his back and stared at the patterns in the mosaic tile ceiling. This room was the one where he had stayed the first time he ever set foot in Lidgerwood. He knew every flower, every leaf carved in the white marble fireplace. He knew all the woodland scenes in the brown and green and rose tapestries that softened the glare of the white stone walls. He could almost smell the sea, so true was the color in the green velvet draperies.

Three years ago, he had felt as if he didn't belong in a palace. At that time, he had not known he was the love-child of the elfin Crown Prince, Tehras Merripen, and Reyna, Queen of the Naiads. From them, Treyas had inherited a unique and powerful ability to use magic. Tehras was dead, but he had left instructions that Treyas be raised as a commoner, away from the royal life. Still, the Triskelion had sought him out over Crown Prince Rugan, who should have rightfully been the one to carry it. Treyas still felt guilty over that; he hadn't wanted to usurp his half-brother. Gods! He hadn't even known he'd had a half-brother until the whole situation with the Triskelion. He sat up, his gaze going to the medallion hanging in an ornate open-faced frame over the fireplace.

The Triskelion. Once it had held all the elfin magic in Glede. Now, it was empty.

A tap on the door brought him to his feet. "Come in," he called.

Kyel entered, his lean face grim. For a moment, he said nothing, his attention obviously drawn to the Triskelion. He approached the medallion slowly.

"Have you touched this recently?" he asked.

"No, why?"

Kyel was quiet a moment, then reached out and laid one finger lightly on the medallion. His brow furrowed, then he abruptly changed the subject.

"Had you shown Jansson how to work the TravelPortal?"

"No, not yet. I only showed Quin. Why?"

Kyel sighed. "Apparently Jansson attempted to use it."

Treyas winced. "Then shouldn't he be at either Quinlin's or Mayfaire? Those are the only two exit points."

"Jansson is in Karsaba," Kyel said flatly.

"Karsaba?" Treyas' hopes inflated. "At the Keep?"

"No. I'm not sure where he was trying to go, but his TravelStrand was diverted."

"Diverted? By whom?" Treyas cried.

Kyel paused, his gaze again moving to the Triskelion. "Rugan."

"Rugan!" The word came out on a breath. Treyas felt a chill run through him at the mention of his half-brother. "But how? He doesn't know how to use magic does he? Besides, I thought he was locked away somewhere in another dimension."

"He was. Apparently, he has escaped."

Treyas sank back onto the bed, his legs robbed of strength. The mere thought of Rugan on the loose sent pure terror through him. The elfin prince was insane. He not only hated Treyas with a vengeance, but also he had thoroughly terrorized Jansson; had left him scarred not just physically, but emotionally, and all because of Kyel's relationship with Jansson. Tehras and Kyel had been close friends, and Rugan had always thought Kyel should have stepped in to parent him when Tehras died. Instead, Kyel was a surrogate father to Jansson, a human, with a kingdom of his own to run. The rejection and loss had, at last, sent the unstable prince into insanity. Treyas swallowed hard to calm his rising panic. "How? When?"

"At this point, I don't know. He could not have done this himself. I will need to further investigate."

Treyas' stomach fluttered. He could scarcely get the word out. "Vaalde?" Mention of the sorcerer sent panic surging through him. Vaalde had put him through hell, nearly driven him to take his own life. He could not face the sorcerer again.

"No," Kyel said softly. "Nowhere did I get the sense of Vaalde on the MagicStrand. Only Rugan."

Treyas gasped, suddenly remembering why Jansson was visiting in the first place. "Jan's dream! He was having nightmares! About Rugan! That's why we were going to the Keep. He wanted to see if the nightmares went away without magic around. Gods! I should have said something!"

"Treyas." Kyel's voice was soft. "Nothing is to be gained by self-recrimination. Jansson also talked to me about his dream. I also dismissed it. I felt nothing through the MindLink to suggest it was any more than a dream."

"The MindLink!" Treyas came to his feet at the mention of the mental connection. "Can't you use it to locate him?"

"The MindLink has been severed. Jansson is no longer in magic."

"That's right. Karsaba has no magic. Then how are we going to find him?"

Kyel shook his head. "There is much about Karsaba you don't know, Treyas. Elek and I have been exploring it, and we have found that not all of it is empty of magic. We have now mapped the entire area. Not only are there fixed pockets of magic scattered throughout the land, but balls of it move about, seemingly without pattern or motivation."

"What kind of magic?"

"So far as Elek and I have been able to determine, it contains elements of all magics. Sorcery, elfin, nymph, brownie." He walked to Treyas' desk, picked up a quill and a piece of parchment, then drew rapidly for a few moments.

Treyas went to watch him. "What's this?" he asked, pointing to a large black circle on the map.

"Rune Mountain, the only spot in Karsaba that's equivalent to being outside its borders. It's the focal point of a great store of magic, the one from which the roving balls of magic originate."

"Then that's where Rugan will be."

Kyel's brows lifted in puzzlement.

"Because Karsaba has no king," Treyas said. "And if Rune Mountain has elfin magic that Rugan can use, he can rule the country. If he can't have Lidgerwood, he can have Karsaba."

Kyel gave him a sharp look, blue eyes narrowed. "You're assuming a great deal, Treyas. Rugan may not be interested in --"

"Oh, Kyel, please!" Treyas flung up his hands, exasperation driving his tongue. "Think back on the last three years! From the moment the Triskelion called, he tried to answer. He wanted to be in control, to be in power. He couldn't force the Triskelion to choose him, so he took his rage out on Jansson. Now, he's taken advantage of the situation in Karsaba. Just because Tehras wasn't interested in power, doesn't mean Rugan isn't. Try to remember that Rugan is not Tehras!"

Kyel rose stiffly. "And you," he said coolly, "try to remember your position."

Treyas flushed. He hadn't meant to be disrespectful to the King of the Elves. He knew of Kyel's love for Tehras, and he understood why that love would extend to Tehras' son. "I'm sorry, Kyel." He paused, then tightened his resolve and went on. "It's just that I see no other explanation. If he only wanted to come home, he would have come here. He would have talked to you. He wouldn't have gone to Karsaba, then taken Jansson away. It doesn't make sense."

Kyel regarded him for a long moment, then dropped into the chair, his gaze never leaving Treyas' face. "The older you get, the more you resemble your father. Tehras never let my emotions cloud my thoughts. Apparently, neither will you. It's time I realized that Rugan has chosen his own path and he must walk it alone. My duty is with Jansson. I owe it to him as his advisor and his guardian to look at Rugan as no more than a potential threat. My apologies, Treyas."

Treyas shifted uncomfortably. Not because of the apology--Kyel was always fair minded--but because the black elf spoke of "duty", when Treyas knew his heart must be agonizing over the disappearance of the young king. "So, how do we go about finding Jansson?" he asked.

"We?" Kyel's voice betrayed his frustration. "I cannot go anywhere. My responsibilities here and at Mayfaire dictate my actions."

"Not true," Treyas argued. "Fedor and the Council Members can manage politics here for a few days, and Major Idak is capable of keeping close watch on the borders of Odora Dava until the spring treaties are signed."

Kyel rose and paced the room, eyes downcast. "Still, border conditions are in a state of flux," he said. "As much this year as any other. We've just renewed our trade pact with Pendorelle and are trying to come to a similar equitable agreement with Anrofia." He stopped walking and raised his gaze to meet Treyas'. "No, I think it best that we let Elek handle this." He picked up the map, hesitated a moment, then gestured for Treyas to follow. "I trust he's taught you how to contact him, even in another dimension?"

Treyas nodded grimaced. With a sigh of trepidation, he accompanied Kyel back to the study. Elek wouldn't come through the Portal, but the study held the most intricate MagicWebbing because of it. Treyas sat down and sought the MagicStrand Elek had told him to use. It was a long one and he wondered why Kyel didn't do it. Probably another test. And I'll likely pass out and he'll have to finish it anyway.

He found the Strand and started following it slowly, going faster as he cleared the Web of the Land and started toward the Dimensional Web. Once there, he would send out an energy pulse along the MagicStrand. That was the part he hated. It always left him with a raging headache.

Remember to breathe, he told himself, then suddenly stalled as a new MagicStrand materialized and cut in front of him. It was a wide Strand and, as Treyas tried to traverse it, he was abruptly sucked into it. That had never happened before.

He pulled back and tried to rejoin his original Strand, but found his way blocked. In confusion, he tried to drop the Spell and was immediately swept up by the spell of the wide Strand. He had a brief glimpse of his study and Kyel's startled expression, and then a blue light swallowed him.