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puppets. This one had lasted less than a week, after all.
    Wolfryth negligently threw his now useless cup toward the crushed body. He stood up and the room suddenly felt smaller. Standing near the fireplace, the man’s large shoulders almost hid  half of the mantel. His grey hairs were pulled back with a leather bind. His yellow eyes gleamed dangerously under the light from the flames, adding to the impression of savagery. The sorcerer touched the fine line that ran from his left temple to his chin, a present from William Pendragon, so many years ago. Yesterday.
    The man had been skilled with a sword, and sustained by survival instincts. He had broken him like dried wood nonetheless. No man-made blade could be a match for his magi c.
    He laughed and the sound rolled unpleasantly in the empty room. He had killed one Pendragon and now he n eeded one . How ironic.
    Another twist of his hand, and the corpse disappeared, leaving only empty clothes on the floor. He hated to wait. Two days ago, he had used a simple spell of transportation to hurl her cousin back to the Seer, and she was yet to show up. He watched her dreams long enough to know her heart’s desires. And what women wanted… She would come, along with Pendragon’s offspring sniffing after her skirts like a well-trained dog.
    The fire roared to mirror his growing irritation. He was the greatest wizard alive. He had mastered Air and Fire. Water obeyed when he commanded. No one for generations had controlled three of the Powers, and he needed a child, barely old to shave, to reach the ultimate one !
    The man clenched his fist and the flames reduced to the size of a candle flick. Patience… The Seer would bring him the blood of the Dragon soon. Patience…
    “Father?”
    Wolfryth released his grasp on the fire and it burned normally again.
    The young woman stepped swiftly into the room, her blond hair flying around her. Reproach shadowed her angelic face briefly when she noticed the piled clothes in the corner. Her voice transpired nothing but boredom when she approached him.
    “You did it again… How can I hope to bring up satisfying staff if you dismiss them so often ? ”
    “This one was beyond your teaching.”
    She sulked .
    “I suppose.”
    Then her smile reappeared. Her golden eyes shone in childish pleasure.
    “I have good news, however. Elwyn is awake and he will be up very soon. I like him . H e is so cute!”
    “I am delighted to hear you like your present. But you have to be careful, my child . H e is very powerful.”
    “Oh, he can do me no harm… I gave him citraurantia.”
    Wolfryth laughed again. The plant would block the young man 's powers. His magic would still be here, sleeping within him, but out of his reach.
    “Very well, my crafty little fox. Enjoy his company, but do not hold him too dear; his utili ty will eventually come to an end .”
    The fire blazed again, and its light accentuated the resemblance between the sorcerer and a wild animal.
    oOo
     
    Jeffrey, the Court physician, patted Sebastian on the shoulder, probably the only place of his body that was not covered with bandages. It hurt nonetheless. This time, the examination had been less painful, thanks to Ylianor ’s decoctions, but he was glad it was over.
    He felt like he had been trampled by a hoard of furious boars, then thrown into a ravine. Even win c ing was painful , l et alone breathing. His head felt so heavy on his neck he was sure it would have fall en sideways if the pillows had not maintained it in place.
    The young man clenched his jaw to retain a moan and settled for a quick nod to the old man who bowed and exited the room, probably to give his report back to his uncle.
    Geraint had not come back to ask if he remembered something else about the attack or the place he had been taken. Sebastian wished he had more to tell him. Truth was, he was not sure he had left the battlefield at all before waking up in his bed. Everything was so confus ed …
    A light