Chapter 2

“Has it ever occurred to you that you’re digging a deeper grave with the things you do?”

Evan turned and lifted a pale eyebrow. “I might as well enjoy myself while I’m alive.”

William laughed to hide a touch of nervousness. Evan’s nonchalant regard for his own soul baffled William to no end. “Have you found anything more on your book?”

Evan buckled a black leather belt around his waist. A small dagger hung on his right and a short sword on his left. “No,” he muttered. “It seems I am on my own.”

“You have me.”

Evan looked up and met William’s gaze. “Aye,” he said with a soft smile, “and I thank you for it with every breath I take.”

William grasped Evan’s shoulder. “I wouldn’t leave your side if my life depended on it.” He grinned. “Although with you, sometimes common sense demands otherwise. Now let’s get out of here, and please try not to get into too much trouble.” Evan nodded, but William knew damn well it was too much to ask of his twin.

At the north side of the tower, a path wound through the forest surrounding the tower’s hill. The perfect defense, Evan had always said, and William didn’t disagree. A host of wild animals roamed the forest, keeping intruders away from the tower. The denizens of the forest, strangely enough, paid no attention to either of them. William often wondered if perhaps Evan’s magic had something to do with it. There had been many times in which they had met a lone wolf or a bear, but a wave of Evan’s hand would send the animal off, giving them leave to pass untouched.

Evan had confided in William, after their parents had passed on, that he searched for a book. Written long ago, it spoke of a prophecy, one in which Evan played a major part. William had thought his brother crazy at first, but then Evan had found mention of the manuscript in an abbey outside Cardiff.

The prophecy did indeed exist and, frighteningly enough, made mention of a ‘twin-born sorcerer’ as one of its catalysts. William hadn’t wanted to believe the reference meant his brother until Evan showed him an inscription that matched a mark Evan bore on his inner right wrist. Seeing the strange sigil had been enough to convince William of the truth of it. He swore then to help Evan find anything they could on the prophecy, but the book itself still eluded them.

The air was crisp and clear with the much-anticipated arrival of spring. Fresh buds were beginning to form on the trees. When the time was right, they would open into the sweetest bouquets of white and purple. Despite the beauty of the forest, however, it was the village below that drew William and Evan out of the tower. Evan loved the outdoors and was quite fond of standing on the cliff under the blazing sun or during a lightning storm, but William knew his brother’s mind was set on something more tangible this evening.

They neared the town, and Evan caught sight of this evening’s quarry: a young man stacking empty ale barrels behind a tavern. The man looked up, brushed a swath of wavy blond hair from his eyes, and flashed Evan a smile. William rolled his eyes and led the way to the front door.

Once inside the small tavern, he found a table and waited. He looked around, taking note of their surroundings, should Evan get in trouble. It was a rare occurrence when he got himself into a bind he could not escape, but still possible.

Evan stood at the bar with one foot up on a crate and his arms folded over his thigh. He chatted with the barkeep, but his attention seemed to be elsewhere. William followed Evan’s gaze to an open doorway leading back to the kitchen. The man from outside, younger than Evan’s twenty-three, bustled about, casting Evan coy glances and smiles. Evan’s mouth curled into a smile, the smallest trace of a sparkle in his eye. Evan had already found his ‘tamer’ game

The barkeep handed two mugs to Evan and waved over the young man from the kitchen. William couldn’t hear what was said, but the barkeep slipped his arm around the young man and gave a proud grin only a father could produce. Dear God Almighty, Evan treaded on dangerous ground with this one. Evan bowed his head briefly, gave the young man a quick, discreet wink, and started back to the table.

William narrowed his eyes and scowled.