Chapter 2

Eric stifled a yawn, pretending to be calm. This was dumb!

The four remaining Young Ones were all sitting on the cold, stone floor of the hall, waiting for Hank to return. It seemed like hours since the Ranger had run off after Sheila. They had waited obediently, but however much Eric preferred the hall to the mud, he was getting impatient.

Diana and Presto were sitting cross-legged on the flagstones, both looking as fed up as the Cavalier felt. Bobby sat opposite them, hefting his Club from hand to hand. The Unicorn was walking slowly around beside them, occasionally stopping to sniff the floor, and casting fleeting looks up to the shadow of the ceiling.

Eric shivered. Ah, yes, the Dragon! Would it come swooping down for a snack sometime soon? Or would it wait up there until Hank and Sheila returned, then come and eat them? It was unlikely that it would just leave them alone. Nothing in this awful place wanted to leave them to get home in peace.

Home! How he would love to get away from the Realm this time! But he could still feel the hopelessness of the Curse, gnawing way at the back of his mind. There was no doubt that the others felt the same, the looks on their faces told him that.

Dungeonmaster's words had helped for a while. But the longer they stayed, the worse it got. What if they had to wander around for longer? What if they couldn't keep going?

'This place is kinda creepy, don't you think?' he said, breaking the heavy silence.

The others looked at him. Uni stopped sniffing and looked up too.

'Yeah,' said Presto slowly, 'Definitely creepy.'

Eric waited, but no one else said anything. Ok, so it wasn't the best conversation opener he'd tried, but a three-word response was just an insult!

The unicorn was still watching him, her big, pink eyes gleaming in the dim light.

Great, thought Eric, the stupid unicorn is the only one listening!

He would have to try something else. The Cavalier shifted uncomfortably, and let out a loud huff. The others ignored him, and his discomfort turned to annoyance. This was boring, this was dangerous and something had to happen soon! He stood up abruptly.

'That's it!' he said. 'I'm not waiting any longer.'

Presto looked up at him, disinterestedly.

'What are you going to do, Eric?' he asked. 'Hank told us to wait here.'

Eric gave them a surprised look.

'Hank was being dumb! Dungeonmaster said not to wander off on alone in this stupid place, and what does Hank go and do?' He drew himself up to his full height and said:

'I'm going to find them!'

'You'll just get lost. Again,' said Diana.

Eric frowned at her. Why didn't she have any confidence in him? Beside her, Bobby gave a quiet snigger. The Cavalier scowled more deeply, but didn't reply. He was in no mood to argue with the pipsqueak again just yet.

'So how long are we going to wait?' demanded the Cavalier. 'Who knows how long it's been since Hank went after Sheila. They could be in trouble.'

The other three looked at each other.

'Hank can cope!' said Diana. 'He'll be back soon with Sheila. They've probably found the portal too!'

Both Presto and Bobby smiled hopefully at her, but Eric still scowled. He waited for a few more seconds, but none of the others moved.

'I'll just take a look anyway,' he said and started towards the door Hank had used. No one tried to stop him.

Others had always said that Eric wasn't the most perceptive of people. One particularly cutting remark by his Father had suggested that he had the sensitivity of a brick. But as he moved towards the door, the Cavalier knew something was going to happen. Perhaps his time in the Realm had sharpened his senses, or perhaps he was just lucky this time.

He stopped within a foot of the door, hand half-outstretched. He knew it was coming, and that he couldn't get away. Panic was useless, fear was useless. Nothing was going to help.

He heard a murmur of indistinct words, like a sudden gust of wind, then suddenly a deep, clear voice said:

Shine like lightning.

Pulse of light swept through the halls, searing into his eyes and mind. He staggered, stumbling to the ground beside the door, hearing his own voice in a howl of anguish.

He was hurting inside but couldn't identify the source of the pain; it was as if someone had stuck a red-hot poker through his chest. He could barely breathe. What was happening to him?

Suddenly, his body went numb. He felt the joy, the happiness all seeping away, until he was left with a thin façade of life. Hands gripping the side of his head, and realised they were his own. But the pain didn't stop. In a flash of inspiration he knew what he was feeling. Loneliness.

No one had ever truly cared about him. Not even his own Father wanted to spend a whole evening in his presence. His family…

Family.

That word reverberated through him lifting a memory from the darkest recess of his mind. But Eric's panic was stronger than that particular experience. He slammed his right hand down on the floor beside him, sending a stinging pain all the way up his arm, and shouted:

'NO! I'm NOT thinking about that!'

His eyes flicked open at the sound of his voice. Dizziness and nausea rose through him but quickly faded away. What was happening?

He looked back to the others.

Bobby had pulled Terri's necklace out of his pocket, and was watching the little golden heart swing back and forth with a sad, half-smile on his face. Presto was frowning, twisting his Hat in his hands and was rocking gently back and forth, eyes shining with unshed tears.

Diana was huddled on the floor in a ball, her knees hugged close to her chest. Even from far away Eric could see the Acrobat was shaking.

'Cry like rain.' The words rang out across the hall.

The Cavalier watched as tears suddenly flowed down Diana's cheeks and she let out a choking cry.

'Kosar! Don't leave me!'

The word echoed round the hall.

An unexpected tear rolled down the Eric's face. Then he heard his Father's voice: 'Crying won't help, boy. How many times do I have to tell you? You have to grow up.'

Shame filled him. He could never live up to his Father's standards. He was never going to be the man his Father expected.

Fighting back more tears, the Cavalier tried to keep a grip on the situation.

'It's the Curse,' he mumbled. 'It's not real! Hold on to hope, that's what Dungeonmaster said. Hold on to hope, hold on to hope…'

But what was he going to do?

'Hear my calling.'

A sound of evil laughter echoed round the hall, a laugh that the Cavalier recognised instantly. Only one being in the whole Realm that could laugh like that!

Above the loneliness, he felt a renewed anger. They were caught! Again! Why couldn't he just leave them alone? That damn, one-horned, evil son of a …

'Know my Name.' He didn't need to hear the name to know who it was, but the low voices in the wind hissed: Venger!

The Cavalier felt sick. Venger had caught them! He was the one who'd Cursed this Temple! Why had Dungeonmaster sent them here, knowing who had made the Curse? This is what the Arch-Mage had wanted all a long: the Young Ones helpless and defeated. And they had just walked into it!

Anger surged through him again, directed at both Venger and Dungeonmaster and it helped enormously. The stabbing pain faded to a dull ache.

But the Curse was still working in him, searching for his darkest, blackest memory. He could feel it rifling through his experiences as if searching through a book. Sooner or later it would find what it wanted, but there was no way he was going through that again, no fucking way! He had to get up and get out.

Legs shaking, Eric pushed himself up off the floor, reaching for the wall for support. The stones seemed alive, as though he had his hand on a magic battery. Such force took him by surprise, and he froze, feeling the delicious sensations of power flooding through him. Then the loneliness and the anger were replaced by a feeling of extreme jealousy.

Hank and Sheila: they were together.

He had always known about them. It was so blindingly obvious, even if they pretended otherwise: when Hank was doing his To-Be-A-Leader-Is-To-Be-Alone act, for example. Even Bobby had figured it out!

Now, finally, the waiting was over and they were one, sharing a perfect kiss that would last for all time. They could feel nothing but love. They were safe in their sanctuary.

Fear and pain were outside, with him, alone forever. He was doomed to be always on the outside. No one could ever love him as much as Hank loved Sheila. It was true love, a state he would never, ever understand. The power of their emotions made the walls around shake.

Eric stood there, eyes wide, his mind filled with secret knowledge.

Then the reality of what he was doing hit him. He was spying on them, with mute eagerness and nauseous voyeurism, desperate to touch at least part of something he could never have. No one would ever speak to him again if they found out!

Shame flooded through him again. He was small, and disgusting and he hated himself for being so weak. He had to get away from this.

With a huge effort, the Cavalier pushed himself away from the wall, and staggered over to the others.

'Get up!' he said, his voice slurring. He reached down and pulled Presto upright. The Magician was whispering a single word, over and over and over: Varla.

'Presto!'

He didn't move. Eric looked around uncertainly. Why didn't they listen to him? In desperation, Eric reached for Bobby, dragging him off the floor by his arm.

'Bobby! Snap out of it!'

The Barbarian stirred, and looked at Eric in annoyance.

'When did Terri let you in?' he asked, with a special contempt in the word 'you'.

Eric grabbed the Barbarian by both shoulders.

'Get a grip, Barbarian!' he shouted.

The Cavalier turned to Diana, who was silently sobbing her heart out in such a wrenching way that Eric wanted to cry in sympathy. Uni was sitting close by, her pink eyes watching the Acrobat with an expression of utmost pity.

'We have to get out!' the Cavalier said. 'Presto! Bobby!'

The Barbarian moved at the sound of Eric's voice, but Presto still continued to stare into the gloom.

'Presto! C'mon!'

There was a shudder through the building that made the walls groan. The force of the Curse was spreading. Eric could feel himself drawn towards the desire for affection. He had been lonely for so long. His family ignored him, split apart by…

'NO!' he heard himself shout. He raised his hands to his head once more, trying to block out the memory. 'No, I'm not going to think about it! I'm NOT.'

Every fibre of his being was screaming at him to run. After all, he had done all he could and the others would be fine. They were bound to follow him. He looked at Diana, sobbing on the floor. Who was he trying to kid? She wasn't going anywhere on her own.

Decisively, ignoring his own fears, Eric bent down and picked up the crying Acrobat. She was still shaking. As he held her, she turned towards him, pulling herself closer and crying into his shoulder with a renewed intensity.

Eric glanced back at the other two.

Bobby had collected Uni and was heading for the door, but the Magician still hadn't moved.

'Bobby, bring Presto!' he ordered. 'Hurry!'

His emotions were intensifying. The fine balance between sanity and desolation was tipping in the wrong direction. He had to get out.

Eric staggered forward towards the door then outside, into the mud and mist.

Venger sat on his Dragon throne, as still as a sleeping golem. There was no need to rush a delicate plan such as this. He had to give the children time to succumb to the Temple's power. He could afford to wait: he had an eternity to rule the Realm for his Master. And he had to be sure.

Nothing could disrupt this plan, he was certain. The children would go into the Temple, unprepared for the subtle assault on their emotions. They would wander, searching in vain for the portal, getting weaker with each step, and finally they would just give up and stop. Even the pure at heart had weaknesses. The Temple would finish them.

But what of the Dragon? he thought suddenly. But no, she was of no consequence. She would let them wander her halls, desperately hoping they would help her. But it would all be in vain. Either that or she would attack them! And it didn't matter who won the battle. The Dragon had no use for their weapons, and the young ones (being the foolish, innocent children that they were) would not kill her!

The Arch-Mage glared at a passing Orc, who quickly scuttled out of his Master's sight.

Under other circumstances, he might have gone out, perhaps set fire to a forest or destroyed a village, just to pass the time. But not today. When his slave returned with news, he wished to leave immediately. Destruction could wait for a few more hours. And in few hours he would have the weapons of power! In a few hours Tiamat would be no more! In a few hours the Realm would be his!

He waited.

And waited.

And waited.

Then, just when Venger had decided to banish Shadow Demon permanently, the being in question appeared at the window and glided silently up to the Dragon throne.

The Arch-Mage looked at his servant with distaste. It should have been destroyed a long time ago, but it was so useful. And it had impeccable timing, too.

'Master! The children have entered the Temple.'

Slowly Venger rose, pulling himself up to his full height, and looking down arrogantly to his grovelling minion.

'Come, Shadow Demon!'

The air was fresher outside, and the Cavalier took a long, deep breath to clear his head. The feelings of desperate loneliness were still writhing inside him, but they were dying down with each step he took away from the Temple.

There was an exhilarating mix of relief and pride in him instead. They were safe! He had got them out! And they said denial was a bad thing! He was never going to remember. Hell would freeze over before anything would make him remember THAT day again!

The logical part of his brain, the part that set the highest store on survival, told him to keep walking and never stop. The Temple was trouble with a capital T. But he was tired, Diana was heavier than she looked, especially when your legs kept shaking and your heart felt like it had a knife in it. He had to rest.

He set the Acrobat gently on the ground. But she wouldn't let go, her arms locked around his neck. She was sobbing in his arms, her face buried into his shoulder.

The Cavalier managed to look round to the others.

Presto had stumbled to the ground close by, his head bowed down. The Hat lay in the mud beside him, ignored. Bobby was standing next to Presto, the golden heart necklace still in his hand. Uni stood next to him, leaning against his legs, her head held low.

Eric turned to the silver doors, surprised at how far they were away. He lifted his hand to mask more tears. Hank and Sheila were still inside. They had each other and he had nothing. He stifled a shudder.

What the hell was going on? What were they going to do?

Beside him there was a sharp huff, and Eric looked back. The Barbarian was glaring at him again.

'Well, that was another great idea of yours, Er-ric,' said Bobby sourly.

Eric disentangled himself from Diana's grip, and she slumped down to the ground, not noticing the mud.

'Don't go blaming me!' he said. 'I didn't go wandering off on my own!'

Bobby paused, obviously searching for another explanation.

'Well, you went after them!' he said suddenly.

'Aw, quit bugging me, short-stuff!' the Cavalier replied with a scowl.

Bobby glared back at him, hefting the Club from hand to hand, and then a look of worry broke across the young boy's face.

'I've gotta find my sister!' he said suddenly and turned back to the silver door.

'Wait, Barbarian!'

The two young ones turned.

'Dungeonmaster!' said Bobby, his voice full of relief, a relief that Eric definitely didn't share. 'What's happened, Dungeonmaster? Where's Sheila?'

Dungeonmaster held up his hand, looking impassive.

'Patience, Barbarian! The Ranger and the Thief are now a part of the Temple. The power of Love has caught them.'

The old man turned to look directly at Eric, who felt the colour rising in his cheeks.

How much does he know? wondered the Cavalier. Does he know what I know? Does he know what I felt?

'You are all in grave danger, my pupils.' continued Dungeonmaster. 'The power of the Temple has been rekindled and Curse will increase in strength. It will drain you all, unless you can stop it.'

'Why did you send us in there in the first place if this stupid Curse is so powerful?' snapped Eric, his voice taking on the familiar whine.

Dungeonmaster bowed his head.

'The Curse has found a new source of Magic.'

Eric frowned, trying to remember everything that their guide had told them last time he had appeared.

'But you didn't say anything about rekindling in your dumb riddles!' said Eric. He gave the old man a smug smile, positive that the Dungeonmaster couldn't wriggle out of this one. 'What's going on?'

'There is more than one force at work here,' said Dungeonmaster sagely. 'I warned you all not to wander alone, Cavalier.'

'But what's happening?' demanded Eric, his smile vanishing as his frustration increased. 'The Curse was already active when we got there. We felt it taking the hope that we would get home!' Dungeonmaster stared impassively at him, and Eric let is anger lash out at the old man.

'What have you got us into this time, Dungeonmaster? Do you know what happened in there? Do you even care?'

'Er-ric!' said Bobby, 'Of course he cares!'

The Cavalier snorted.

'Yeah, right! He cares so much that he wont give me a straight answer! What is going on?'

Dungeonmaster shook his head.

'There is no straight answer to give, Cavalier. The Temple is a source of great power, and its nature is not easy to fathom. The source is something that no man can control, the power of Love. Love is the only thing it understands.'

'Give me a break!' shouted Eric. 'I don't want soppy philosophy! I want an answer!'

Dungeonmaster looked sternly at the Cavalier and, for the first time ever, Eric sensed anger simmering just under the surface.

'It is not just the Temple of Love,' the old man said slowly. 'The Temple IS Love. The Ranger and the Thief have found magic in the Temple. But the Curse is stronger!'

Dungeonmaster's face became hard, and his voice lost all emotion.

'And now the full wrath of the Curse will spread out once again.' He looked at the two boys. 'All those who were in the Temple will eventually succumb to its power.'

The Cavalier glanced at his remaining friends. Uni had draped herself miserably over the Acrobats arm, but Diana didn't seemed to notice. She hadn't stopped crying.

Presto sat on the ground close by, still whispering the Illusionist's name.

Bobby stuffed the golden necklace back into his pocket, but the gold chain was still dangling out. He was watching Dungeonmaster pace around.

Eric himself felt weak, his legs were shaking and there was a constant whisper in his mind: Remember your family. But he didn't want to remember, and he would do anything to get rid of this terrible feeling.

'What do we have to do, Dungeonmaster?' he asked, shocked the firmness in his voice.

Dungeonmaster nodded grimly at him.

'Time is already running out. The effect from the Temple will spread. You must be quick.'

'But what about my sister!' demanded Bobby.

Dungeonmaster smiled.

'She is safe for the moment, Barbarian. But the longer the Ranger and the Thief are in the Temple, the less easy it will be to free them. You must go to the town of Amoran,' the Dungeonmaster pointed off to his left. 'Find a curse-breaker. Quickly!'

'I don't wanna leave my sister!' said Bobby.

The Barbarian looked back at the silver door, tightening his grip on the Club. There was a gleam in the Bobby's eye that Eric was very familiar with: the smash-something-quickly-look that Bobby only got when faced with a task he didn't want to do. Dungeonmaster had spotted it as well, because he put his hand on the Barbarian's shoulder.

'No Barbarian! Your Club cannot help her. Only love can help your friends. Remember young Pupils, friendship is shown in many ways. To succeed, you must give what must be given!'

'Huh?' said Eric. 'That doesn't make any sense!'

'Nothing is harder than a selfless sacrifice,' continued Dungeonmaster. 'Yet nothing is more worthwhile.'

'But what about Presto, and Diana?' asked Eric. He glanced down to his friends. There was no answer to his question.

'Dungeonmaster?' The Cavalier looked around quickly. The old man was gone.

The two boys looked at each other, and tears started in Bobby's eyes.

'And what about Sheila?' asked Bobby. Impulsively, Eric reached out, and put a hand on Bobby's shoulder, just as Dungeonmaster had done. He smiled, but didn't know what to say. Hank would have known how to help, Diana would have known. Heck, even Presto could have come up with something.

'We had better go,' he said, cringing inside. Couldn't he think of anything better than that?

But it was enough. The Barbarian nodded, then turned and walked off in the direction Dungeonmaster had pointed. The Cavalier followed.