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didn’t know her. She could be anyone. His world changed in an instant.
    “Who are you?” he asked.
    “My name is Mirim Ariel. I’ve come to take you home.”

CHAPTER FIVE: ARAS
     
    “My Lord, the healer is here,” the attendant announced. She quietly ushered through a gray-robed man into the chamber. Once they reached the front of the dais, she moved back into position beside Aras.
    Through the agony of another migraine, the young Emperor watched the other man approach. Aras cursed. The man had to be another fake. He was gratified to feel fear in the other man’s mind.
    Turning to his attendant, he said gruffly “Has he been told everything?”
    “Yes my Lord.” The servant whispered back. “He knows to make as little sound as possible during the ceremony.”
    Relieved, Aras nodded at the visiting wizard to continue. Aras plucked the man’s name easily from his mind. Ecu bowed in response and drew back his hood to reveal hawk-like features, with dark close-set eyes, under heavy brows with a nose too prominent, Aras’ thought uncharitably.
    The man’s mouth set in a grim line as he silently drew a wide chalk circle on the marble floor. Careful not to smudge the chalk, he began to put his equipment into precise positions within its confines in front of the dais.
    First, he placed a bowl of oil in the center. This was set on a tripod representing birth, death and life - Magi magic.
    Aras relaxed, settling back in his chair. He was familiar with this. Next the man surrounded the tripod with objects in a circle to represent the elements; a feather for air, moss for earth, a lit candle for fire and a small vial of water.
    Aras glanced at Ecu for an explanation.
    “Your power is from two sources, my Lord. As you know, one is from your great-grandmother who gave you the undiluted power of the Magi, and the other from the Elementi. Your powers are disharmonious. One is fighting the other.
    “These two forms of power should never be combined in one man. Your great-grandmother did something admirable. However, by tricking the last High-King and bearing his child, she created something against the forces of nature. You can command both forms of magic but it was at a price.”
    “I know this!” Aras snapped. He winced at the pain the outburst cost him.
    “My Lord, as your Magi power is corrupted, I must use a corrupted magic to find out why you are being affected this way. Why now? I understand from the attendant beside you that usually you only suffer mild headaches and that you have been able to live a normal life until now.
    “It is my belief,” Ecu continued, he looked even more nervous, “that your inheritance of these powers can only lead to a premature death. However, something has happened recently to hasten this. I need to use the tripod to ascertain what has happened. The spirits that guide me cannot only look into this world but can seek through the veil into other dimensions as well.”
    This was new. Aras hadn’t been told of these places before. He leaned forward in interest.
    “Dimensions?”
    “Sire, I have reason to believe that your grandmother was not able to slay all of the Elementi. Records at the Great Library indicate the bodies of the High-Queen and one of the lesser queens were never found. Furthermore, the children were also never found. She thought they were destroyed in the Winter Palace fire, but...”
    He broke off as he nervously fiddled with the collar of his robe.
    “There is a possibility that the Elementi may rise again. With another High-King and a representative from each of the other four families, your throne may be in danger.”
    Aras looked skeptically at the old man. “The old king died without issue, except for my grandfather - my great-grandmother made sure of that! Still, you have my interest; continue.”
    Ecu finally had the objects to his satisfaction. He stepped into the center of the circle beside the tripod. As he stirred the oil, a putrid fragrance rose from