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hard lump form in his stomach. How would he explain this to his family? Worse yet, how would he explain it to the Order?
    Mara’s face flashed in his mind’s eye. Would she hate him over the death of her uncle?

    After a long march back to Naru, Talis stared up at the four black flags hanging above the gates of Naru. He cringed as he recognized the expression of anger and disgust on the faces of the guardsmen at the entrance to the city. Mistress Cavares strode past him, bold and indignant despite the swarm of soldiers.
    “You…Talis of House Storm, you’ve been summoned to House Lei!” yelled the captain of the guard. Talis recognized his helm’s plumage as belonging to Mara’s house guard.  
    “The young master will answer to no one but the Order.” Mistress Cavares eyed the approaching captain and his men with a look that dared them to oppose her.  
    When her words did nothing to stop their charge, Talis thought about fleeing to the temple for protection. As the temple was far away to the north, he couldn’t summon the massive power of the black crystal to aid him in a fight. He waited instead and watched as Mistress Cavares placed a rune on the ground and cast a binding spell.
    “If you pass, you’ll wish you never had a crazy idea like crossing a runemaster of the Order.”
    The captain raised a hand and ceased their march. He lowered his eyes to the spot on the ground where she had set the magical ward. “What treachery is this, witch? You’ll burn for your use of dark arts.”
    Mistress Cavares cackled indignantly. “And now am I a witch? Thirty-five years in the Order, and never been treated so poorly.” She lifted her eyebrows, and paused, surmising the crowd gathered around. “You puny blade wielders, holding steel as if it was actually dangerous to a wizard. Isn’t it too heavy to carry such a weight around all day?”
    When she had spoken the word “heavy,” every guardsman wielding their blades sank to their knees in unison, faces pale and strained, and dropped their swords like it was the heaviest thing on earth.
    “Now what weapon do you have left to wield?” Mistress Cavares laughed and covered her mouth shyly. “Men…all grown up but still boys.”
    Through the gate marched a unit of guardsmen flying the colors of House Storm. Father’s men , thought Talis, feelings of hope and pride rising. Would they be able to keep this nightmare from turning far worse? He recognized Father’s captain of the guard, Rallian, and waved.
    “No one is to touch young Master Talis except his father’s guard,” shouted Rallian. “We’re here to escort the boy home.”
    “Home?” yelled the captain of House Lei. “As this witch commanded, he must be taken to the Order. We will help escort him to the Order’s chambers and see to it that no trickery happens.”
    Talis couldn’t believe the feuding between the royal houses had gotten this bad. The air was bristling with the threat of violence. Mara’s father would be furious. There would be blood on the streets tonight, and all because of Ralakh Lei’s death and House Storm’s involvement.  
    Mistress Cavares patted his shoulder. “Don’t blame yourself, boy. I should have undone the spell once I heard horses.” She sighed a heavy sigh. “It is hard to explain…the mood that possesses me after summoning the gods. The gods care little for ways of mortal men, and a good bit of that attitude can rub off on me when they have shown their presence. It’s a merciless and cold feeling.”
    Talis understood little of what she was talking about, but nodded as if understanding anyways. She was strange, indeed. He locked his eyes on Rallian and marched forward through the crowd, allowing Father’s men to envelop him. But he wasn’t fooled for a moment that he was actually safe inside Naru. The only place he really felt safe was in the Temple of the Sun.  
    They marched through the lower city, the soldiers pushing their way through a crowd that