"But…"

Samira moved his hand down her shoulder and across her chest.

"But nothing, Liam," she said. She leaned down and kissed him.

The aches and pains in his battered body were instantly replaced with a feeling of euphoria.

"I've seen how you've looked at me, Liam," said Samira, pulling away slightly. "I've secretly looked at you too."

Whatever worries Liam had in the world were swept away by those few words. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her down on top of him and squeezing her to him.

"I've always loved you," he said, somehow now not afraid to tell her about the feelings he had been holding back for so many years.

"I know," she said as she moved her hand along the side of his body and down his leg. "I know."

Ryder stood beside the giant basin, slipping his shirt back over his head.

Giselle was also getting dressed. She watched Ryder as he put his clothes back on. "If you didn't have a wife back in Duhlnarim, would you stay here?"

Ryder took a deep breath and shook his head. "There are other things in Duhlnarim that I must attend to."

"What is so important in that backwater village of yours? The farm?"

"No," said Ryder. "I have unfinished business with the Baron Purdun," he said.

"The man who put you in chains?"

Ryder nodded. "The man who holds all of Duhlnarim in chains."

"So you wish to return to get your revenge?" asked Giselle.

"No," said Ryder. "I return to free the people from the tyranny of a cruel and evil man."

A sad smile came across Giselle's face. "Well, Ryder of Duhlnarim, I can't let you leave the Broken Spear."

"But-"

She cut his objection off short. "So I guess the Broken Spear will have to go with you."

She turned and headed out of the tower. "Get a good night's sleep. We'll leave in the morning."

The baron's personal herald burst into the sitting room, obviously upset. Lord Purdun looked up from the map he was studying.

"My lord," blurted the herald, not waiting to be acknowledged by the baron-an obvious breach of courtly etiquette, "there are men here looking for you."

Lord Purdun stood up, calmly adjusting his shirt and pantaloons. "There is no need to be so excited, Master Beverly," said the baron. "As you are aware, there are visitors to Zerith Hold every day."

The herald continued to barge into the room, coming right up to the baron, causing Liam to step in front of the lord. The half-giant guards came out of their corners as well, but Purdun raised his hand, and everyone stopped in their place.

"My lord," continued the frantic herald, "these men are from Klarsamryn. These are the King's Magistrates." Master Beverly swallowed. "They are here to put you in chains."

"What?" shouted Purdun. Then he quickly composed himself. "Well, good. Finally we will be able to communicate directly with Llorbauth."

He smiled and nodded as he looked at Liam, but the baron's newest bodyguard thought he could see significant worry in the man's eyes.

"Master Beverly, show the King's Magistrates in, won't you?"

The herald looked from the baron to Liam, then back to the baron. "But, my lord, they are here to imprison you. You must flee."

Purdun placed his hands behind his back, and nodded. "I thank you for your concern, Master Beverly, but I assure you there is no reason to be alarmed. Now please, let them in."

The herald was slow in backing up. He grabbed the baron's hand and kissed it several times. "It has been a pleasure to serve you, my lord." Then he turned around and, taking a look back, hesitantly walked out of the room.

When the herald was gone, the half-giant guards returned to their spots in the corners of the room.

The baron took a deep breath. "Liam," he said, "stay close. I don't know what all of this is about, but I do not intend to be taken from Zerith Hold in chains."

The grim possibilities of what might happen in the next few moments gripped Liam. He nodded, touching the hilt of his enchanted long sword, just to remind himself that it was there, waiting for him if need be.

The two men stood in silence for what seemed a very long time. Liam could feel his heart beat in his chest. He didn't know what was going to happen. The uncertainty unnerved him. He'd rather know he was about to fight an entire tribe of goblins with only a rolling pin and a rock than face the unknowable next few moments.

When the herald finally knocked on the door, the sound startled Liam, sending a shot of adrenaline through his veins.

"My most excellent Lord Purdun, Baron of Ahlarkham, Ruler of Duhlnarim, and purveyor of all that can be seen from the Deepwash to the borders of Tanistan…"

Liam had heard the herald present visitors to Lord Purdun before, but never had he been so elaborate or long-winded.

"I present to you King Korox's Magistrates," finished Master Beverly.

Through the door came six highly polished soldiers. Each of them wore a helm and heavy plate mail, painted white, with the red entwined twin-wyvern crest of King Korox on their chests.

Typically, as Liam had learned not only as a guard but also as an invited guest, visitors to the baron's private sitting room were not allowed to carry weapons. The King's Magistrates were an exception to this rule. They were the strong right arm of Llorbauth, the policing force for the entire kingdom of Erlkazar. The Magistrates could be judge, jury, and executioner. They were the enforcers of the kingdom's laws, and they answered to the king alone.

From what Liam understood, there were almost as many Magistrates as there were soldiers in the King's army. The fact that Korox had sent only six to talk to Purdun meant either that he didn't expect any trouble, or that these were extremely dangerous men.

"Welcome to Zerith Hold," said Lord Purdun. "To what do I owe the pleasure of having six of the King's Magistrates in my personal chambers?"

A man on the end stepped forward and doffed his helm. He was a rugged-looking man with a jet black goatee and long black hair pulled back in a ponytail.

"Lord Purdun, I am Magistrate Olivio." He put his helm under his arm and bowed. "We are here under order of the king to take you back to Llorbauth."

Baron Purdun stood up straight. "And may I ask why the king would need to send the Magistrates to collect me?"

"The king has heard that the good people of Ahlarkham are up in arms. He has sent us to collect you so that he may avoid another Elestam," explained the Magistrate.

"Another Elestam? The king is worried that the people hate me so much that they will revolt and eventually secede from the country?"

Olivio nodded. "Yes. That is what the king would like to avoid."

"That's preposterous," said Purdun. "The king should know that the situation in Ahlarkham is nothing like it was in Elestam."

"I beg the baron's pardon," argued the Magistrate, "but the king understands that the vampires have returned."

This gave Purdun pause. "Yes," he said after a moment, "we have seen vampires recently, but-" He placed his hand on Liam's shoulder-"my men have them and the local rabble under control."

Magistrate Olivio bowed again. "While I'm sure your men are quite capable of taking care of any threat that plagues your barony," he looked Liam up and down, "that does not change the fact that the king wants us to bring you to him." The Magistrate took a step forward. "So you can come with us peacefully, or we can use other means."

Purdun shook his head. "This must be part of her plan."

"Excuse me?" said the Magistrate.

"Nothing." Lord Purdun shook him off. "With all due respect, Magistrate, you don't understand. If you remove me from the barony, then there will be no one here to lead the fight against the vampires. If the king is truly worried about the reappearance of the undead causing a major peasant uprising and a secession of the barony from Erlkazar, then surely he wants me here to direct the effort to fight them off."