Castien, an elf mage who cannot speak except with the aid of a magical dagger, has been captured while on a mission. He is freed by his companion, the warrior elf Daeron, and returns with him to Daeron’s homeland. There they will join forces to rid the land of a Lord bent on the destruction of the elves.<br><br>Theirn, a young half-elf thief, attempts to rob Castien during his stay at an inn and is caught by the mage. Much against Theirn’s will, he is enlisted into the group of rebel elves. But as Theirn's infatuation with Castien grows, he becomes more than eager to risk treachery, betrayal, and even death on dangerous missions just to be close to the man he is growing to love.

Mage of Silence

Finally the guards left convinced the two they hunted were not there. Castien lifted the spell and he and Theirn descended to find their rescuer growling angrily about the mess that had been created. Theirn thanked him profusely then told him they would help put things to right.


“No, the two of you must flee and quickly. It will not take long for the bastards to seal the castle so not even a mouse could escape.”


“How? Where can we hide, how can we leave if they do that?” Theirn asked him.


The man went to the arch to look out into the ward then turned back and crossed the room to the far wall. He indicated they should follow. There was a small door there which led, they soon found out, to the middle ward. The man took them through the deep shadows there to a small flight of steps that went up to the wall-walk.


Chapter 16