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quite handsome.  They made sure there was no way he would refuse.  And he didn’t.
    That was seven years ago, when Kael was only three years old, and Saba had since become part of their family.  Maeryn watched as he knelt down and talked to Kael.  He was so patient and gentle, and Kael’s eyes lit up with excitement every time Saba was near.  The agreement had always been that he would tutor Kael in a variety of subjects for several hours each morning.  The hours would get longer as Kael got older, but at the beginning, the tutoring was to end by midday so Kael would also have the time to play like every child should.  The tutoring eventually evolved into something much less formal.  The two became friends and did everything together.  Whether play or work, every situation became a teaching experience and Kael thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it.
    “Have you seen Adair this morning?”
    Saba looked up and shook his head.  “He was gone before I woke.”
    Maeryn smiled nervously.
    “Have fun, you two,” she replied, turning to leave.
    As she reached the steps to the house she turned around to watch them from a distance.  They were both kneeling by the tree, as Saba pointed at the peeling bark and explained some incredibly detailed information that would have bored her.  But Kael was enthralled.  As she watched, her thoughts returned to her husband and she wondered how long it would be until she would see him again.

Chapter 4
     
    The carriage bounced and creaked in response to the stone road underneath, as Adair watched the scenery pass by the window.  To the east, rolling meadows stretched from the road to the mountains, the land rising sharply as it drew close to the foothills.  Occasionally, a tall row of trees would divide the land, designating a property boundary.  To the west, the cobblestone road gave way to patches of grass, clinging stubbornly to the shoulder, which ended abruptly at a steep cliff.  The ocean, which was hundreds of feet below only minutes ago, was getting closer now as the carriage descended into a valley.  After a few minutes, the road ended at a sandy beach and the carriage came to a halt.  Adair quickly opened the door and stepped out, happy to be rid of his method of transportation.  He preferred to ride a horse, but because of his position, was expected to do otherwise for safety reasons.
    A hundred yards away, at the opposite side of the beach was a wooden guard tower clinging to the side of the cliff like a vine in one of the surrounding vineyards.  It reached from the beach floor, all the way to a lookout perched fifty feet above the top of the cliff.  Two of the four soldiers that had been accompanying Adair rode up and began to dismount, intending to follow him inside.
    “I’ll return shortly,” he said to them.
    They each glanced at the other and then back to Adair, conceding with a nod.  Adair turned away and walked toward the guard tower, leaving the men to keep charge of the carriage.
    It took him several minutes to reach the lower entry.  Two guards on either side of the door tipped their spears in salute.  They were otherwise motionless, staring straight ahead without making eye contact.  Adair never ceased to be impressed at the discipline of his soldiers, especially those who were stationed at posts far away from the scrutiny of the Governor.  It was a small sign, but it confirmed his success at ruling the city.  He smiled as he walked past the soldiers and through the stone archway.  This room was one of many rooms making up the lower level, serving only as an entrance to the enormous staircase carved into the rock.  Around the other side of the building, facing the ocean, were other rooms of supplies and stables for the mounted patrolmen who rode up and down the coast at scheduled intervals, but this one was completely empty.  Adair waited for a few seconds, looking around at the construction of the room.  He had been here many times, but