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had formed around the arena. Talis scanned around and spotted several instigators shouting curses at him. Probably paid by House Lei to start a riot , Talis thought. Rumors had swirled that Mara’s father had eyes on the throne. King Balmarr Merillia remained silent. Everyone knew he was old and his mind was failing. The stress of the Jiserian siege had taken its toll.
    As they left the tunnel to the upper part of Naru, children above tossed cabbages and tomatoes and onions onto the soldiers. An egg landed on Rallian’s silver helm. He glanced angrily around the crowd as if he intended to maim the source of the attack. His eyes found nothing but a scattering group of vagabond boys.
    He whistled and gestured for two lines of soldiers to push the crowd back and open up a pathway towards the Temple of the Dawn. The temple dome still remained broken, but many of the administrative buildings and teaching facilities were undamaged. Other deeper, secret chambers, including the Order’s crypts and archives, were locked shut and guarded well.  
    “What have you done?” Master Viridian stood with an expression of contempt and disappointment on his face. “First you bring black magic into our midst, and now this?”
    “It’s not black magic—” Talis was interrupted by Master Viridian’s raised hand.
    “Enough talk here. Mistress Cavares, he is your pupil, lead him down to the Order’s chambers. We will conduct our interrogation there. House Lei has brought formal charges against Talis.” He frowned at her. “They have provided credible witnesses.”
    “Credible?” Mistress Cavares scoffed. “Now those drunkards are credible in the eyes of the Order? My how the wind changes.” She looked at Master Viridian with mistrustful eyes.
    “They are members of House Lei, and Viceroy Lei vouches for them.”
    Master Jai of the Order motioned Talis inside. “This way, if you please.”
    When Talis arrived at the Order’s chambers, he couldn’t help but notice the lack of magical energy compared to the last time he’d visited. The air no longer crackled with power from the old temple crystal. Golden candles lined the stone interior of the vast, underground chamber. Comfort was not an option here. There were no seats or table like the Sej Elder’s chambers. The far side of the room contained seven levels of ranking where wizards now stood and stared accusingly at Talis.
    These were familiar faces, those Talis had fought with side by side in the battle against the Jiserians. He thought he still had allies here, but from the expression of suspicion and mistrust in their eyes, he knew all that was gone now.  
    Master Viridian ambled up the stairs to the top level and turned to address those gathered around the room. “We are here to judge the case of murder…murder against one of our own. Ralakh Lei was slain today by the power of dark magic.” He jabbed the air with his finger pointing at Talis. “And this young royal and student of the Order is accused of this crime.”
    The crowd murmured and glanced around at each other and at Talis.
    “Let me continue.” Master Viridian raised a hand to settle the crowd. “Justice for this kind of heinous crime can be only one thing.” He glanced at Talis with cold, doubtful eyes. Talis remembered Master Viridian’s distant expression after he’d shown him the black crystal and wondered if that was the reason his old master was treating him like this.
    When silence returned to the room, Master Viridian focused his gaze on Talis.  
    “The penalty if proven guilty is death…and we will not be lenient.”

6. DARK HAND OF THE GODS
     

    Talis felt himself shrink at his former Master’s words. The penalty is death… From the time he was a boy, he’d always looked up to Master Viridian. He was the strongest and most powerful wizard in the Order, the only one able to cast Light Magic. That is until Talis had returned, armed with the power of the sun…and the power amplified by