Chapter 2

Shadowdemon flitted into Venger's throne room. Venger was sitting, half concealed by shadow, in a seat that managed to be grotesque and magnificent at the same time. If his recent behaviour was anything to go by, Shadowdemon could confidently predict that Venger would be participating in his favourite pastime: brooding.

His master hadn't been the same since what Shadowdemon delicately referred to as 'the graveyard incident'. There, Venger had been at the mercy of Dungeonmaster's six pupils, who had devised a plan to destroy him. However, they did show him mercy, and Venger's mood had been all the more unpleasant for it ever since.

Then there had been the incident with the Box of Balefire.

"What is it, Shadowdemon?" Venger said, his voice a low rumble, his head turning slightly. Shadowdemon bowed slightly.

"You asked me to observe the movements of the young ones, master," he said quietly. "They.they have changed course due north, and speak of the city of Ethron." Shadowdemon looked up at Venger, and kept looking at him; he was most interested to see what his master's reaction would be.

Venger's eyes became two slits of burning malevolence. "Really. I wonder what they think they will find there." He looked at his servant. "Did Dungeonmaster send them?"

Shadowdemon nodded slightly. "I believe so."

Venger stood up, and swept to the large window that revealed a moonless night. He muttered something under his breath, and a nightmare image of a horse came soaring from the sky, halting by its master's side.

Shadowdemon looked puzzled. "You're going after them yourself? Is that wise?" he asked, regretting the words as soon as they had escaped from his invisible mouth.

The creature cringed at the quelling look Venger bestowed on him. "I assure you, Shadowdemon, that when those accursed brats are finally eradicated, it will be by my hand. Do you understand?"

"Yes, master," Shadowdemon answered meekly. "My apologies if I have spoken out of turn."

Venger said nothing as he mounted his steed and flew into the night. Shadowdemon sighed, and wondered whether today would be the day when everything changed.

"Wow," Eric said, his jaw slightly slack from awe. "That's a nice looking city."

"Nice understatement," Diana breathed. "I don't think I've seen anything like this in the Realm before."

The city before them was vast, and constructed from a strange pale blue stone, that appeared to shimmer under the intense heat. Somehow, it managed to incorporate a myriad of styles without seeming aesthetically cluttered; steep spires towered over domed roofs; cylindrical and cubic buildings stood happily together.even Sheila, who had more of an affinity with the countryside, was smitten.

"It's so beautiful," she said, leaning on Hank's arm. He smiled at her.

"Let's take a closer look."

As they drew closer, the youngsters soon realised that all was not as it seemed; the city, which could have easily be home to thousands, seemed strangely deserted. They exchanged dark looks, their earlier enthusiasm replaced by wariness.

"Why do I have a bad feeling about this?" Eric muttered.

"You have a bad feeling about everything, Eric," Presto responded nervously, but inwardly agreeing.

"There," Hank said, pointing some way ahead. "A trader's caravan. We could ask them for information."

"Or we could get attacked by orcs," Eric sighed. "Remember what shorty said about these lands being 'under Venger's dominion'. We have no idea who's in that caravan."

Hank nodded slowly, as if making a decision. "You and Diana approach them.be friendly, but be ready for anything-"

"Why us?" Eric moaned. He hated being bait.

"Because," Hank explained patiently, "if we all go, we might spook them. If there's just the two of you, it'll seem less threatening."

"I'll go, if Eric's too chicken!" Bobby said with a grin, but a steely look from Sheila made it clear that was out of the question.

"I can't send Bobby because.they might be intimidated," Hank said, thinking quickly. "We don't know what their reaction to magic-users will be, so Presto's out of the running. My weapon's more suited to long range battle, so I'd be better as back up. Sheila could go invisible, but they would be able to see her footprints, and that might make them jumpy-"

"I get the picture," Eric grumbled. He jerked his head irritably in Diana's direction, and she followed him with a grin.

Hank watched them approach the caravan, bow at the ready. He hated giving orders, especially ones that sent his friends into danger. Leadership, however, was natural to him; he knew when he had to let logic override the calling of his heart.

Eric and Diana were soon calling them over. "Okay," Hank said, "But be careful still. We don't want any nasty surprises."

They joined Diana and Eric by the caravan and its owner, an amiable looking middle-aged man with wild hair, a merchant by the look of his attire. He smiled at the newcomers.

"This is Rothgar," Diana said politely. "Rothgar, these are our friends," she gestured towards the others. "Hank, Sheila, Presto, and the little one is Bobby-"

"I'm not little!" Bobby protested, which caused Rothgar to grin broadly. Uni bleated loudly, causing everyone to jump. "And don't forget Uni!"

"How could we?" Eric muttered under his breath. Rothgar, on the other hand, seemed enchanted.

"A unicorn!" he exclaimed, his voice bright with delight. Uni revelled in the attention he lavished on her, as he ran his hand through her shaggy orange mane. "I've never seen one this close," he whispered. Eric rolled his eyes.

"If you like her so much, you can have her," he muttered again. Diana elbowed him sharply in the ribs, which was fairly ineffective on his armour, but he got the point nevertheless.

"So, that's the city of Ethron," Hank said conversationally. Rothgar nodded.

"On eof the wonders of this world," he said, but his voice was tinged with sadness. He looked at Hank, his expression suddenly shrewd. "Quieter than you expected?"

Although the question had been directed at Hank, all of the kids nodded. Rothgar sighed, still stroking the baby unicorn.

"There are few of us left now, the old families of Ethron," he explained, his eyes set on the city. "My forefathers were aristocrats, but now look at me," he said bitterly. "A merchant."

"There's nothing wrong with being a merchant," Sheila offered.

"You are generous, child," he said. "But the decline of my family line is representative of Ethron as a whole. We have no new blood coming in, and old blood leaves us all the time." He looked at the city wistfully. "Although its people fade, the glory of Ethron remains strong. The city itself does not decay, preserved by a magic that, regrettably, does not extend to its inhabitants."

"Why aren't there people queuing up to live here?" Eric asked. "This is prime real estate!"

Rothgar looked at Eric with an odd expression, seemingly puzzled by both Eric's turn of phrase and by how to answer the question.

"Have you heard nothing?" he asked, slightly incredulously. The kids looked at each other, and shook their heads, deciding it was best to play ignorant. Rothgar threw his head back and laughed.

"I would keep you in the dark, in the hope that you would settle in our fair city," he said. "But such deceit is not within me. The city," he said tiredly, "is said to be cursed."

They stood in silence before Presto chimed in timidly, "Is it?"

Rothgar smiled. "Strange things happen, true, but nothing terrible, other than the slow deterioration of our people. We.have you heard of Venger?"

"Yes!" the kids chorused, causing the merchant to jolt in surprise. The expressions on their faces left little doubt as to their thoughts on Venger. Rothgar looked uncertain.

"Well, Lord Venger rules these lands," he said. "I know he has a reputation for terrible things, but he is very fair to us!" His tone contained a note of pleading. "He generally leaves us alone, but people are scared to come to our city, to trade.so we go to them-" he gestured to his caravan. "-And try to keep our city alive."

Hank tried to keep the look of revulsion from his face, with limited success. "You allow Venger to rule over you?"

Rothgar stiffened slightly. "The elders are of the opinion that he has shown nothing but generosity to Ethron, therefore we need not oppose him." He shook his head. "Such compliance has a price, as you can imagine."

"What does Venger ask for in return?" Diana asked grimly. Rothgar raised his eyebrows.

"Nothing," he answered simply. "But his.deeds in other lands, stories of his cruelty."

He shrugged, struggling for words. "I haven't seen my two children for nearly five years; they began to question why we followed a man who is feared throughout the Realm. I couldn't give them a satisfactory answer.so they both left."

"Can't blame them," Hank muttered, and Rothgar smiled sadly. Hank looked at him shrewdly. "So what do you think, Rothgar?"

Rothgar glanced around nervously. "I.I have reservations about our lord," he admitted. "But I am in a minority; you'll find that he is held in near reverence by many of my kinsfolk. Our harvests are plentiful, sickness is rare-"

"But your city is dying because of its association with him," Sheila finished quietly. Rothgar nodded.

They plodded along in silence once more, lost in their thoughts. Eventually Hank looked up at the darkening sky.

"We'd best make camp," he said. Rothgar shuffled uncertainly, but Hank answered his question before he had asked it. "You're welcome to join us, Rothgar."

The merchant beamed with pleasure; others, however, were not so happy.