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servants. They sighed and turned around again to comply with their master’s wishes.
    Nor continued onward until he came to a large set of oaken double doors. The wood had diamond shaped patterns carved into it across the whole of the entrance, and a pair of brass rings hung from lion-heads made of dark iron. Nor waved his staff, almost imperceptibly, and the doors opened inward.
    Candles burst into flame upon his arrival, bathing the chamber in a soft, warm light. There was a rather large window at the far end of the narrow library, but Nor demanded the thick velvet drapes be closed at all times. Day or night, he preferred the candle light, especially in this room.
    The doors closed behind him and he moved to a low-backed, overstuffed leather chair and sat down. He drew a curved knife from his belt and examined the blade in the light of the candles. He focused on the ruby placed in the pommel and closed his eyes.
    “What is it, my king?” a voice asked.
    Nor opened his eyes and saw a smoky figure floating in the air before him.
    “Zek, I am sending a runner to you. He has something that will aid us in finding the traitor.”
    The face in the smoke nodded, becoming slightly blurred as it moved.
    “Most excellent. I have discerned the path the traitor fled as well. I have already sent a group of men northwest, along the foothills. They will scour every village until we find him.”
    “The runner has found a lock of hair,” Nor said.
    The smoky face grinned wide and Zek’s nostrils flared.
    “The traitor’s hair?” he asked.
    “Perhaps,” Nor replied. “It was found in the traitor’s bed chamber. So, it is either his hair, or perhaps—”
    The door to the library burst open and Nor stopped speaking. He turned to see a woman in tattered clothes, hands bound by tight cords in front of her waist, and a gag securely in place. Nor turned to the smoky apparition.
    “You work with the hair, the guards have found the traitor’s wife. I will see what I can learn from her.”
    Zek smiled and nodded. “By your command, my king.” The smoke disappeared and the magical connection was severed. Nor rose from his chair and approached the bound woman. Her blue eyes were wide, following him as he walked. Nor dismissed the two guards and then closed and locked the door after they left.
    “Your husband is a bad man,” Nor said. He reached out a hand to brush the dirty hair from the woman’s face. She shied away and tried to shout through the gag. Nor seized her arm and gripped it tightly. She winced in pain as Nor pressed her up to the closed doors.
    “Your husband has committed terrible crimes against the crown,” Nor said. “Not only is he a traitor, but did you know he is guilty of kidnapping as well?”
    The woman’s eyes flared wider and she trembled with fear.
    Nor grinned. “I know of kings who have tortured people accused of such crimes. I know of rulers who have even tortured for fun and pleasure, but I am not like that.” Nor released her arm and took a step back. “I have, other tools at my disposal,” he said as he waved the scepter menacingly close to her face. The purple crystal popped and hissed as yellow bolts arced out and zapped the woman’s hair and forehead. “Tell me where your husband is, and I shall spare you. However, try to defend him, or lie to me about your involvement, and I will kill you.”
    Nor reached up and undid the gag. The women sucked in a deep breath and then spat in Nor’s face.
    “Khefir take you!” she shouted.
    Nor sighed and wiped the spittle from his face.
    “You are fortunate that my mother raised me never to hit a woman.” The purple crystal glowed brightly and the woman was lifted from the ground. She winced and tried to scream, but the magic trapped her voice so she could no longer speak. “Don’t bother fighting it,” Nor said. “To do so is futile. Besides, it won’t hurt anyway.”
    The crystal sent out a long, snake-like tendril that slowly slithered into