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

Theirn stopped at one point, scowling at a particularly barren area along one side of the pass. “It should be warmer than this, and there,” he pointed, “that should be green and flourishing, not brown and sere. He has done something to the land, something evil.”


“Drawing power from it,” Castien suggested.


“I will kill him for that alone,” Theirn growled.


“I do not fault your feelings, my lad, but that is not why we are here.”


“I know, but…” Theirn smiled wanly. “I know.” He started forward only to stop a few yards farther on. When Castien arched an eyebrow in inquiry Theirn pointed again, this time at an almost invisible path branching off from the one they were on. “Do you hear it?”


Castien listened intently then nodded. “Water. A stream?”


“No. It sounds more like a waterfall.” Theirn started down the path with Castien immediately behind him.


Chapter 31