I was abruptly woken when I rolled over in my sleep and fell off the end of the bed the jarring impact from my body hitting the floor shocked me into consciousness. I groaned my head spun, it felt as though someone was using my head as a drum. I lay there on the floor for a little while trying to muster up the energy to climb to my feet, how I had found my way to my bed last night I had no idea and there was no sign of Gyn in her bed. Taking a few deep breaths I hauled myself to my feet and staggered into the bathroom, I was a wreck it was going to take a few different herbs and ointments to sort me out, how much had I drank last night? I began by splashing my face with cold water the chill rejuvenated me slightly allowing me to think more clearly, I opened my herbal case and pulled out a shrivelled brown leaf and popped it into my mouth and chewed, it had a stale taste, deep and earthy but it was the best way to get rid of my groggy hangover. Secondly I rubbed my special ointment under my eyes to clear the deep purple bags. I jumped slightly when Gyn's face appeared in the mirror behind me, she also looked rough and her hair was dishevelled. I grinned at her in the mirror.

"Must have been crazy night last night" I laughed, my voice coarse.

"Don't ask me I don't remember much" she croaked rubbing her head. I smiled turning to her and handing her one of the small brown leaves. She wrinkled up her nose but put it in her mouth all the same, colour slowly came back to her face.

"Let's go get some breakfast" she said turning and heading towards the lounge, I followed not before tucking two more leaves in my pocket. Blake was busy frying some eggs in the pan I had to admire him cooking for us all with a hangover. I gave a leaf to both Blake and Jet – who was laying on the sofa a bucket on the floor by his head, nice. I slumped down into one of the arm chairs and closed my eyes, the spinning had calmed now but my stomach complained I hoped some food would settle it. Blake served fried eggs and toast to us all, the smell was enticing and it didn't last long we had all it wolfed down, not a scrap left on any of the plates.

"Hey what's this?" Gyn exclaimed picking up a folded piece of paper from the floor "Keera it has your name on it" she informed me handing me the scrap of paper.

I took it from her and examined it; the paper had been folded into a seven centimetre square with a small blob of wax sealing it and my name had been printed in a hurry. How had the letter gotten into the room we were so drunk last night that we were all as perplexed as each other as to how it found its way onto our lounge floor. I broke the small was seal and began to unfold the letter the writing was like that on the front it was scrawled as though the writer was in a rush. I read over the letter to myself and felt the colour drain from my face.

"Keera what is it?" Blake asked resting a hand on my shoulder. Gyn and Jet stared, brows furrowed in anxiety.

"It's from Vex" I mumbled, my friends faces changed with a mixture of surprise, interest and foreboding.

"What does it say?" Jet asked. I took a deep breath and read out loud the second letter in two days.

"Keera and crew,

Sorry for the state of this letter but I must write it quickly as I cannot be found writing it. I am sure by now that you have discovered the location of the dagger but unfortunately so has my brother and he is wasting no time to get to its location before you, luckily if you leave soon you may get a head start as we have just arrived at the water alter to bless the stone. Not only that my darling little sister has joined our ranks and let me tell you that this is not a good thing. I ask one thing from you my dear the first being that you stage and execute my capture; make it seem as though you have taken me against my will, this will make things simpler for us when it comes to my siblings. We intend to leave Mirage in the morning I suggest that you are ahead and in place to carry out my abduction. We will talk more when I am with you again, until then...

Vex"

I finished reading and looked up at my friends they stood motionless staring at the letter in my hands. I would bet my life on the fact that we were all thinking the same thing... how on earth do we fake abduct a powerful shadow mage from an entourage of other powerful shadow mages. Another thing that bothered me about the letter was the mention of his sister, I had no idea he had other siblings and why did he seem so wary of her. My body jerked into action and I jumped to my feet startling my friends.

"we need to pack" I said briskly "then we can gather provisions and plan Vex's capture"

Everyone spurred into action I didn't need to tell them twice we all knew that time was of the essence especially since Taleik had already blessed the stone in one alter. I gathered my stuff as fast as possible packing it into my saddle bag and collecting my weapons placing them on my belt and hanging my bow and quiver over my shoulder. Gyn was nearly finished I helped gather her last few items and we made our way into lounge, both Blake and Jet were waiting on the sofa bags by their feet.

"Do you not think we should plan our next move while we are still here?" Gyn suggested.

"We could but we don't know what the shadow mages are going to do or how many there are of them" I said "it makes it difficult to plan"

"We could make a basic course of action" Gyn suggested.

"pft who needs a plan we just go in there kick their ass and run off with the Suave son of a ..." Jet began.

"No Jet that is called suicide" Gyn reprimanded.

"Our best plan will be to work out how many mages they have and their positions in their camp that way we can work out which of us needs to do what to distract and neutralise them and get Vex out." Blake said

"So we should make haste, get a day or so ride ahead of the so we can stake them out?" I asked.

"I think so it seems like the most tactical thing to do" he replied

"Well if Mr. Tactics thinks that what we should do what's stopping us" Jet mocked and Gyn shot him a look.

We had one last check around the room to make sure we had not forgot anything before leaving the room. Gyn handed the keys back to the receptionist and we gave her our thanks and bade farewell. We made our way back down the glass hallway and out through the door that lead to the stables I found Minx in a far stall munching on some hay, she perked up when I approached and made her way to the door of the stall clearly eager to be on her way. I have her nose a quick rub before gathering her tack and preparing her for the road, I drew power and lifted a mound of earth so I could climb onto Minxes high back. Looking over my shoulder i asked if everyone was ready and when I was given the thumbs up I spurred minx out of the stables and onto the open road.