Cassie and Elora both headed through the door. They both froze as they entered the storeroom. The door closed ominously behind them as they saw three very intimidating elves standing before them.

“Uh, hi.” Cassie gave a meek wave.

Trik, in his Elfin form, stood across from two other figures. Apparently Trik wasn’t bothering to hide himself from Elora. He leaned lazily against the back wall, but he wasn’t fooling Cassie with the relaxed pose. She could tell that he was ticked off and knew that it was because she hadn’t stayed at her house like he had asked.

Across the room from him, stood Syndra and another male elf. Syndra smiled at Cassie warmly.

“Hello Cassie, Elora,” Syndra’s smile didn’t quite meet her eyes.

Elora crossed her arms. She looked over at Trik. “Okay I know why you are here. You’re pouting because Cassie didn’t obey your orders.” She looked over at Syndra and the male elf. “I don’t have a clue why you are here and who is the tall dude?”

“This is Tamsin, King of the Light Elves, and my Sh'mai ,” Syndra explained.

Tamsin bowed his head slightly as he watched Cassie closely. He seemed to be ignoring Trik’s presence.

“Cassie, could you please come here?” Trik asked. His voice could have cut through tempered steel.

Cassie cringed.

“Now probably isn’t the best time,” she told him.

“Now is the perfect time. Come here.” She saw that his eyes were glowing.

Elora clucked her tongue. “Why don’t you just put a collar on her if you’re going to treat her like she’s your pet?”

Trik’s eyes snapped to Elora, who had the intelligence to not back away from the stalking predator.

Cassie looked over at Elora, nervous for her friend for being so blunt with an obviously ticked off dark elf assassin.

Cassie gave up and walked over to him.

He reached for her as soon as she was within his grasp. He took her hand and placed it on his chest. He didn’t bother to speak out loud but instead shared his frustration and fear at finding her room empty.

“I was bored,” she tried to implore him with her eyes.

“I explained to you why it was so important for you to stay at home. Cassie, I can’t lose you. I won’t. If something happens to you I would destroy the world, no one would be safe from my wrath.”

Cassie could see that he was not bluffing or exaggerating, could feel the resolve in his mind.

“You would lose what good is left in you if you allowed yourself to act on those words.”

“I keep telling you there is no good in me, never was.”

“I don’t believe that.”

“Nor do I,” Syndra interrupted.

Cassie turned to look at her, having forgotten that others were in the room with them. Trik had that effect on her, when he was with her he took over her world.

Tamsin stepped forward and Trik pushed away from the wall and pulled Cassie behind him.

“I mean her no harm,” Tamsin told him.

“What do you want Tamsin, King of my enemies?” Trik asked and it sounded strangely formal.

“I’ve come to implore you to seek out the Forest Lords.”

Trik’s eyes glowed even more and his face turned to stone.

“Why would I do that?” He asked sharply.

“Because you know that something is changing. Something is causing this change and I think you know what it is. What does your King have planned that the Forest Lords have emerged from their long absence from our people?”

“I know not of what you speak,” Trik lied smoothly.

Cassie leaned around him and glared daggers up at him.

“Really? That’s your answer?” She folded her arms across her chest.

Elora snorted out a laugh. “Man you sure know how to dig your own grave rather impressively.”

Trik ignored her, his eyes still locked with his Chosen’s.

“Cassandra,” his lips were drawn tight. “You do not know what you ask of me.”

“Please.” It was Syndra who snorted this time. She rolled her eyes. “You are your King’s most trusted warrior. You know that whatever he has planned, it is not good.”

“Has he figured out just how important your Chosen is?” Tamsin asked.

Trik and Cassie both blurted out questions at the same time.

“Excuse me?”

“What are you talking about?”

“She will be Lorsan’s downfall,” Syndra answered.

“How? How do you know this?” Trik’s voice was full of concern and more than a hint of skepticism.

“Seek out the Forest Lords. They are waiting to hear from you, and take your Chosen with you.” Tamsin repeated.

Trik thought of something then. “You know of the land and the plant. Why are you acting as if you have no knowledge of it?”

Tamsin folded his arms across his chest and leaned back against the wall behind him, taking the same nonchalant air as Trik.

“So you were at the meeting?” Tamsin’s eyes narrowed.

“You suspected me?” Trik asked surprised.

“Something felt off. I didn’t detect your presence, but I knew that something wasn’t right.”

“Are you going to answer my question?”

“I know of the plant and the land,” Tamsin agreed. “However, I do not know why he wants to grow the plant in the human realm, or for what purpose he intends to use it.”