A/N: Thank you so much to everyone who has been reviewing this story! It is GREATLY appreciated! :) Please note that the rating has been upped slightly due to the appearance of Ozorne. Man, nobody causes more trouble than that guy. Violence, gore, sexual innuendo, is there nothing our favorite evildoer can't provoke?


Chapter 3: Foul Play

No matter how many times Raoul of Goldenlake heard the noise, it still sent chills down his spine. The grating, screeching, ripping sound of battlesword on battlesword could still deafen the fearless Knight Commander's ears. Raoul's own sword clashed against enemy armor, body, and sword alike as he fought his way through the hand-to-hand skirmish to the door of the castle of Dunlath.

He grunted in frustration as he pulled fervently on the large, locked double doors. It was important that he get inside. Important that he ascertain whether or not any of the governing family of Dunlath was still alive...

Bringing his broadsword down heavily on the large padlock fastened to the door handles, the clang of the metal jarred him to grind his teeth. Suddenly, green and yellow light flowed out from the magicked lock to engulf the knight in a suffocating haze.


*******


Ozorne Muhassin Tasikhe, the former Emperor Mage of Carthak, was discovering that his new stormwing form gave him certain advantages. Such as flight. As he alighted on the wooden rail of the sturdy Copper Isles ship, he looked around happily at the horror his presence brought to the faces of some of the younger sailors. He found his new grotesque appearance suited him much the way his old beauteous one did; this was an advantage as well.

Prince Deniau strode out from his Admiral's quarters into the open air of the top deck to see what the noise was about. His expression twisted in mirth as he watched the fear and bedlam the stormwing inspired.

Master Stormwing, he called out. To what do I owe this pleasure?

Ozorne's steely eyes fastened onto the prince's. To the glory of Lady Chaos. he replied. From another humble servant who wishes to see her reinstated.

Deniau smiled and motioned to a cabin boy for a stormwing perch to be brought into his quarters. Then we have much to discuss.


*******


Bringing the tips of his razor sharp wing feathers to the open palm of the prince's hand, Ozorne hissed in delight and pressed down painfully, cutting into the man's soft tissues and draining his blood into a large silver bowl. Ozorne then lightly split open a wound in his own forehead, letting his blood run down his face to mix with Deniau's.

Ozorne murmured a harsh-sounding incantation, and the dark pool of red and black blood swirled and churned, eventually settling into a glass-like consistency where a moving image was clearly visible.

Deniau bent closer to view the picture of a slim, dark haired girl standing in the middle of a busy corral of horses and riders, deftly snapping a switch near the heels of the animals and their humans. Despite her proportional size to those she was disciplining, there was an unmistakable air of confidence and strength around the young woman.

She was also quite beautiful, Deniau noted, for a dirty mainlander anyway. Her stature, light skin and storm-colored eyes betrayed her Gallan origins, but her long curly hair and distinct mannerisms suggested more. There was something else, an indescribable ethereal quality to the girl that caused the prince to furrow his brow briefly in wonder.

When a gangly looking young man lost control of his spirited mount, the poor animal barreled past the rough fence too quickly, and fell over a broken piece of rail. The stormy-eyed girl ran to the horse's heaving side and laid her hands comfortingly on it's thrashing head. A faint copper glow tinged her skin as the horse calmed under her attention. After a moment, she withdrew her hands and watched happily as an animal that should have been crippled and unfit for duty arose comfortably and allowed its sheepish rider to climb into the saddle once more.

What is it? Deniau asked in awe, half in love with this girl already.

Wild magic. the stormwing replied, pleased by the desire he saw reflected in the eyes of the younger man. The Copper Islanders were always so easy to seduce, he mused. Comes from their madness. Must be from all that intermarrying. She possesses more wild magic than any human in history. Her name is Veralidaine Sarrasri, she serves the Tortallian crown.

Why show me this? asked Deniau, suddenly suspicious.

We both serve the same mistress, Ozorne replied smoothly. I know you are the mastermind behind the recent attacks on Tortall. That you seek to reclaim the Human Realms for the glory of Uusoae. That you are working on borrowed power. Ozorne looked pointedly at the prince's fingertips and greenish yellow fires flamed briefly in response.

I seek the same end, Ozorne continued. I too am desirous to feel the power of Chaos in every rock and tree in this realm. I too wish to see the rule of the fool Tortallian crown crumble and fade. I too have a dream of immortality unfettered by the conventional rules for existence.

Deniau smiled, glad to have found an ally in such a twisted mind as this. What do you bring to the table? he asked curiously.

Ozorne's eyes flashed and a packet of papers appeared on the table between them. You have long sought the spells that would dissolve the barrier between the Human and Immortal Realms. he said. You have since found pieces of the puzzle, he nodded to the oil-sloth parcel sitting on a nearby chair, but I can grant you access to the whole. Ozorne gestured to the papers and Deniau unfolded the parchment in haste.

He read for a moment, and then raised his head in a question. This spell is too much for my mages, Master Stormwing. he said. I believe it is beyond your power as well.

Ozorne smiled. There is one who is capable, he said. The image in the silver bowl flashed white and changed to a tall, black-haired man bent over a desk reading through a mess of scrolls and parchments.

Arram Draper has fought his true destiny for time out of mind. the former Emperor continued. Power such as his was never meant to be chained to such weak stuff as his stuffy morals. As long as we use the proper bait, Draper will easily be persuaded to comply.

The girl? asked the prince.

Ozorne said quietly. the girl.