Sorry that is has been forever since I last updated. Thank you to all my reviewers!! Like I said in my previous chapter I truly appreciate it! I am so happy that my story is being read!! YAY!! =P

Thanks again to: Miriam, ailpods1986, Blazing-Moon, scythegirl, and Aisha C!! Hope you like the next chapter! Enjoy and as always, please review!

A/N: once again none of these characters belong to me...the ones you recognize that is...

 Chapter 4

 The Meeting

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"Enough." Andreus suddenly barked.

All conversation stopped as five pair of eyes turned to stare at him. With a sharp motion of his wrist, the room was cleared. The pleasant feeling of power surged through Andreus. The fact that he could instill so much fear into those around him was what he thrived for. He relished the power he had regained and hated being without it. But he needed more...more power to destroy his enemies...more magic to do his bidding. He smiled to himself all those desires would soon be within grasp. With that final thought Andreus strode out of his chambers.

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Kai was miserable. He was hungry and Wren was still missing. Making a small trip around the woods he noticed a pair of haggard horses grazing by the stream. Quietly creeping towards a small campfire, and taking cover in the thick bushes, Kai saw a pair of travelers. By their appearance it was easy to see they were fatigued. He smiled; they would be easy to steal from and licked his dry lips. One of the travelers, a young man with thick brown hair pulled bread and cheese from his sack to hand to a small hooded individual.

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Vaughn could not concentrate on any of his plays. Shutting his book and replacing it on the shelf, he began to pace the room. What could father be up to? Vaughn's impatience only grew as he went over his plan in his mind. His father was up to no good. The familiar feelings of deception and evil filled the air, but this time Vaughn would not remain silent. The evil that filled his father's heart only lead to destruction and demise. His father would ever be satisfied until the void he had in his soul was filled with conquering the land of Cantimoor. All his life his father obsessed over the power, unable to ever stop the hunger from within. But Vaughn swore to himself that he would all he could to stop his father's insanity. Never again would a land be as devastated as Senna Lirwan, a massive terrain that reeked of death and poison. As the sun disappeared over the horizon, leaving a beautiful swirl of colors, Vaughn was prepared himself to carry out his plan.

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Tess suddenly turned her head towards the woods. There was a rustle, she was almost sure of it. But she quickly dismissed it...her mind has been playing tricks on her...it had been doing so for the last couple of miles. Her desire to find Wren drove her and Tyron to ride as hard as they could...Wren could not have travel such a distance on foot. With all the riding, and lack of food, she was delirious. A sudden motion brought her out her thoughts.

"Did I interrupt something?" Tyron asked while handing her a piece of bread and cheese.

Tess gave him a small smile. "Just thinking about how delirious I have become. I swore I heard a rustle in the bushes over there. But I don't trust my instincts right now. I need some rest and food."

"Should I check the grounds? It may not be safe." The magician replied scanning the area around them.

"No. These grounds have surely been cleared of brigands. My father would have made sure of that."

"But we should be sure. I can conjure up an illusion to protect us."

"Tyron, you are just as tired as I, a spell will only weaken you further. Please, I am sure it was only a figment of my imagination. It might even be a wild animal that was scared away by our fire." Tess reasoned.

Tyron studied the princess's face in the dark light. Though her features were shrouded in the growing darkness, he could see the fatigue. Her once cheerful face was now sullen and her cheeks were no longer rosy, they were paled just as the rest of her face. He sighed. It was true. He was very tired and didn't look much better off than his companion. All the riding and the fast pace was not ideal for a magician. "Very well…"

The sound of a breaking twig stopped Tyron from making another statement. He glanced around himself and Tess, unsure of what dangers lurked in the woods surrounding them. Bringing his fingers to his lips, Tyron gestured for Tess to stand with him. She immediately stood, and silently stood behind the magician. He quickly weaved his fingers and a tiny light appeared in his palm. Using it as a guide, they made their way to the grazing horses, which seemed undisturbed. However as Tess approached her mare, Sunshine, she noticed her bag of rations had disappeared.

"Tyron, my rations are missing." She whispered.

Nodding the magician looked at his tiny ball of light and headed in the opposite direction. With his light as leading the way, they noiselessly neared another camp. Quickly extinguishing the light, Tyron squinted and saw…Wren's tent!!!!! Instinctively he ran towards a form sitting at the camp, leaving a puzzled Tess behind.

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Kai was happily devouring his latest loot, cheese. It had been too long since he had a decent meal that didn't comprise of berries and fruit. He didn't dare steal from Wren; she was a friend, and what kind of friend would steal from another? But he was thankful for those journeymen, for it was their rations that he was feasting on tonight. With a mouthful of cheese in his mouth, he didn't hear the exhausted steps of the brown haired young man approaching with another smaller figure not far behind.

"Wren!!" he gasped, barely audible through the attempts to fill his lungs with fresh air.

Kai looked at the young man in horror. He had been caught! But the mention of his friend surprised him even more.

"Wren? Yer a pal of Wren?" He managed with a mouthful of cheese.

The young man furrowed his brows. He quickly scanned the camp, noticing that only Kai occupied it.

"Where is she? Have you stolen her equipment?"

Kai couldn't believe his ears!! Steal from Wren? "NO! Wren is me pal. I would never steal from her."

"Friend?" Kai looked in the direction of the young man's companion. She had a very sweet voice. "But where is she now?"

Kai shook his head. "Th' other night, me and Wren were a talkin' and after I went home. I've been wanderin' 'round for two days waitin' fer her."

"Two days?" gasped the young woman. She turned to the young man.

The young man grimaced. "Tess, we must remain calm, Wren needs us to focus. Don't worry I am sure we can find out what has happened to her." He suddenly turned to Kai. "I'm sorry young one, I did not properly introduce myself, I am Tyron."

The young woman nodded and gently removed her hood. "And my name is Teresa."

Looking at the young woman face, Kai could hardly believe his eyes. She had to be one of the prettiest ladies he had ever seen! But her face was very familiar; in the back of his mind he swore that he has seen those graceful features before. That name, Teresa…and suddenly it hit him…Princess Teresa...she was well known for her constant rides throughout the realm as well as the concerns she had for her people. Kai knew that the princess was kind-hearted and was not surprised that she was Wren's friend. 

"Yer highness, me name is Kyran, but me pals call me Kai." Kai managed to say, bowing as best he could.

The princess looked at him in shock, but nodded her head in return.

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Wren found herself in the dark alone in a never ending nightmare. She could not identify where she was but the aura of her surrounding made her wary. Her feet were cold against the stone floor. Darkness enclosed her causing her to shudder and felt a draft blow through her wild hair. Standing unaccompanied in the shadows was not one of her favorite things. Suddenly a sickening laughter filled the air. Without a second thought, she started to run, uncaring of the blind direction she took with her long streaked hair flying behind her. But no matter what distance she managed to cover, the laughter followed her, mocking her. Each step was harder to make and soon she was afraid. Hearing that disgusting pitch over and over again sank her stomach. It belonged to Andreus, a distinct and repulsive tone that rattled every bone in her body. Never before had she been so afraid. In this dark, cold room, she had no help from her friends. Falling to her knees, she covered her ears and began to scream...

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During the dead of night, Vaughn returned to his plans to search the castle. Moving as silently as he could through the estate, a muffled scream suddenly caught Vaughn's attention. He quickly jerked his head towards the southern wing of the estate. Who or what was that? He asked himself. The events of the puzzling morning suddenly came back to him.

He walked around aimlessly without really knowing where the brief scream originated. But the scream had begun to lose its strength, for the prisoner was quickly wearing. He absently turned down a cleared corner and found a lone door. Peering into the barred slit of the door, Vaughn could hardly make out a make shift bed and a solitary figure sleeping within it. Ever so silently, he reached for the knob, surprised to find only a bolt as a lock. Gently pushing it aside, could hear the faint muffled sounds coming from inside. Who is that? What's wrong with them? Should I enter? Is it safe? Is it dangerous? With all these questions plaguing his mind, Vaughn felt like a fool. He was supposed to prevent his father from furthering his evil schemes. Such insignificant questions would only delay his progress. With a final shove of the door, Vaughn entered the room.

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Prince Connor tossed and turned as the night progressed. After his dinner with the village, he felt tired, but sleep did not come easily.  Why am I so worried? His thoughts constantly drifted, from his best friend Tyron, to his niece Tess, and finally stopping to Wren. Wren.  Just thinking about her name caused him to unconsciously stare at his summons ring. Why? It unnerved him to feel this, he had never felt this way before. Tip leaped over onto Connor's bed, licking his face to comfort him. Scratching his companion's head, he had the impulse to stop his exploring and return to the castle.

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Author's note: I hope that was a suitable chapter. Heehee…also thanks to scythegirl for that cheese inspiration!! It was after reading your review…that I suddenly came up with the idea! Thanks!!! =) oh, and don't forget to REVIEW!!! =D

Thanks again for reading!!

~Charmgirl