"Sihr."

Callum was alone at the Banther lodge, having asked Harrow for a vacation. He was busy with an alchemical study of the properties of a particular type of alloy that had been brought back from a raid into Xadia a few months prior, when his father called him. Aaravos had been calling him that since he connected to the Star Arcanum four years before. The elf claimed it would have been his name, had the boy grown up with him. Callum found he rather liked the sound of it. He responded in Startouch elvish, which he had been using with Aaravos ever since he became fluent.

"Yes, father?"

Aaravos looked as if he was bent over something. Probably scrying, Callum thought. He himself had not been allowed to scry into Xadia. Although he had somewhat mastered the Stars, his father thought the risk of his wards being broken and his location found was too high. As such, he was restricted to the Pentarchy.

"Put on your robes. Xadia has made it's move. I don't think it will be long before the wards you placed around the castle are set off."

True enough, a pulling sensation went off in Callum's head not a minute later. He would have liked to cast proper defensive wards around the castle rather than mere alarms, but even Viren would be able to sense that much power, if nothing else. He hastily made his way to his room and pulled the mage battle robes he'd made at his father's instruction out of his pack. They looked much like Aaravos' own, though Callum's were more blue than purple, and he lacked the see-through material his father's robes had. He was also wearing light steel vambraces and greaves and they actually covered his chest.

The rest of his belongings were left behind as he rushed into the forest, racing across the branches with speed and agility he couldn't have even dreamed of years ago. He would have to come back for them later. His mage-staff was still stashed in his room at the castle, and he would need to grab it as soon as possible. As he ran, he spoke aloud, knowing Aaravos would hear him.

"How have you not noticed earlier?"

"I do have better things to do than babysit the Council, you know? Though I am fairly certain that this wasn't sanctioned. If I had to guess-"

"Moonshadow assassins jumped the gun?"

"...you know I hate it when you interrupt me. But yes. The only others impatient enough to take things into their own hands are the Tidebound raiders. But the castle far too removed from the sea for their liking."

"It would also explain why we didn't notice their presence until now. Any advice?"

"None I have not already given. You are as ready as you can be right now. Grab one of them, get the egg and your brother and make your way into Xadia. Only my fellow Archmages or a high dragon could defeat you now, and the chances of running into either are slim."

"I still don't understand what need there is to drag Ezran into this?"

"You are half-elven, my son. Though you may be able to make yourself look fully human, if your true nature is found out, there is a chance that the peace you broker might not last. Besides, if the so-called 'High Mage' manages to capture one of the assassins and finally finds out my mirror's secret, would you not agree that the little one is best off by your side?"

" As opposed to being around your new puppet? …Yes."

"Do not be so condescending. His actions led to Sarai's death. Humiliating, and then choking himself on the dark magic he loves so much, is merely a fitting punishment."

"You have still not told me how you plan on communicating with him, much less control him."

"Blood magic is an ancient elven art. There are many rituals you do not know of. And I can be quite persuasive, as you are well aware. Now, you had best prepare yourself. You near the gates."

The assassins were heavily outnumbered, and looked to be on the back foot when he turned the corner onto the hallway leading to Harrow's chambers. Viren and Soren were there, and the royal guard was holding their ground. The attack would fail, his window was short. He couldn't talk with one of the elves now, much less leave with them. A problem for later, then. Ezran and the egg first. He dashed to his room and grabbed the pack of supplies he'd stashed there and his mage-staff. It was just a twin-bladed spear, really, modeled after his mother's, except he had the handle colored blue rather than red, and had replaced the bronze with alchemically treated steel to channel magic; as a result a faint white light glowed in the circular gap at the base of the blades when he held it. As he was running towards Ezran's room he felt a presence behind him.

He ducked, a curved blade swiping the air where his throat had previously been. He swung himself around, bringing his staff up just in time to block the two blades that came crashing down to his head. His attacker was transparent and hard to see, but he could discern her features if he focused enough; it was a rather beautiful Moonshadow elf, a girl that couldn't have been more than a year older than him. There were scratches on her clothes, a couple of which had drawn blood, indicating she had managed to slip away from the fight in front of the King's chambers. That was fortunate. They went back and forth for a few seconds, neither gaining ground, before he allowed her to cut his upper arm. He kicked her away, and used the seconds he'd bought to dab his palm into the blood, and draw a purple rune in the air. She stared, mouth agape as he uttered a short draconian incantation, before she let out a yelp. The blood flowing from her wound had coiled around her upper body, and trapped her arms to her sides. She cursed in an elven dialect he didn't understand, but recognized as Moonshadow elvish, and glared at him.

"What sort of foul magic is this?!" Callum raised an eyebrow.

"You know human common? Color me impressed."

She continued to glare, struggle, and curse, but didn't respond.

"As for the magic, I'll have you know that it is an ancient form of blood magic, an elven art, and it isn't any more foul than primal magic is. Though I imagine it must have been forbidden in Xadia, after Elarion invented dark magic based off of it."

The elf stopped her struggle and stared. Clearly, she hadn't known that particular bit of information.

"Now that we've calmed down, I'd ask you to follow me. The fight outside the King's quarters didn't look like it would last long. We need to make our escape before the castle is secured."

"And why would I follow a human?"

She spat out that word in common elvish, as though it were a curse.

"Because there is something that you must see. Also, you don't have much of a choice."

His use of the elven language seemed to have shocked her, but it must have made her curious also, for she followed him as he walked down the hallway. Her bindings would have forced her to do so, anyway, but the fact that she did so of her own will was a good sign. He could get through to her.

"Why would you want to escape from your own castle?"

He glanced at her. She was walking to his right just a couple of steps behind him. No doubt looking for an opportunity to kill him.

"Because I am about to steal from the High Mage and kidnap the Crown Prince."

She stared at him again. Probably trying to decide if he was making some sort of joke. No matter, they had reached Ezran's room. He briefly wondered at the fact that he led an assassin straight to her target's son, but dismissed the thought. It was unavoidable at this point. As he entered, he saw his brother by the bed, having just closed his pack. He was supposed to join Callum at the lodge today. Bait was on the bed next to him.

"Hey Callum! Weren't you supposed to be at the Banther lodge? What's with all the noise?" He must have spotted the assassin behind him, because his eyes widened. "Is that an elf?!"

"That can wait Ezran. Are you done packing?" He received a nod as the boy shouldered his pack and held Bait to his chest. The glowtoad croaked.

"Bait says he's done too." Callum didn't doubt that, if the jelly at the frog's mouth was anything to go by.

"Good. Do you remember that thing I showed you last week?"

The boy's eyes widened.

"We're taking it back now?"

"Yes. Now hurry into the tunnels."

Callum let the elf properly enter the room and closed the door as his brother was busy opening the entrance behind his bed. They shuffled through the tight space and began descending into the depths of the castle. The trip must have only taken a few minutes but it felt longer than that. The sounds of battle faded to silence as they reached the dungeons, and stepped out into Viren's laboratory. The elf looked around in disgust.

"What is this foul place? It reeks of death."

"The High Mage's secret laboratory. I don't like it much either, but there is something here that we need."

"Is that elvish?" Ezran was looking at him in wonder. "How do you know elvish, Callum?"

"It's a long story Ezran, I'll tell you another time."

"Impossible..."

The elf seemed to have frozen mid-step. Callum didn't have to ask to know she had seen the egg.

"It goes without saying that it must be delivered to the Dragon Queen. The war must stop."

She seemed hesitant to trust him, but eventually nodded.

"Why is it here? How is it here?"

"The High Mage stole it. He wanted to use it as reactant for one of his spells, so he told everyone that the egg was destroyed. He has tried to use it several times already, but I managed to interfere with his magic and prevent damage to the egg. I would have tried to take it back sooner, but if we want peace, then both human and elf have to deliver it." With a wave of his hand, the spell holding the elf captive was dismissed. She didn't make a move to harm either of them, as Ezran took the egg off the pedestal and carefully wrapped it in cloth. That was when Callum's luck ran out.

His brother was placing the egg in his pack when Claudia stumbled through the tunnel entrance they had used. She stared open mouthed at the scene before her, before pulling out the Sky Stone and hurling lightning at the elf. She dodged and made to attack the mage, but Callum caught her arm and pulled her back just in time to avoid the jaws of the shadow wolves Claudia had summoned; her casting time had improved, but he was still faster, in a sense. Filling raw magic with intent, without runes or words, was very dangerous for most mages, but thankfully the effect he was looking for was simple, and he was not most mages. He guided the magic into his mage-staff, making it glow brighter, and slashed the pair of wolves with the blades. The shadows dispersed. Claudia was visibly shocked by his casual dismissal of her spell, but recovered quickly.

"Callum, what are you doing?! I understand you want to protect Ezran, but if you'd just let me kill the elf, he'd have been safe!"

"She isn't a threat Claudia, not to us, at least. And this isn't about Ezran, it's about the egg. We're taking it back to Xadia."

"What?! Have you gone insane?! The whole reason my father took it was to prevent them from using it against us, and now you want to take it back?! Did that elf brainwash you or something?!"

"No, but it seems Viren brainwashed you." He sighed. He should have known the man had forced Claudia into his way of thinking. But there was little he could do now.

"What is that supposed to mean? Never mind, just stay back, okay? You're clearly not thinking straight, so let me deal with this, and everything will be fine."

This was going nowhere. They had to get out of here, fast. He attacked Claudia as she was drawing another Sky rune. She was clearly not expecting that, and dodged too late. He knocked the Stone out of her hand snatched it out of the air as he kicked Claudia in the gut. She hit the wall and he cringed at her gasp; he hoped she would forgive him. The two brothers and yet unnamed elf fled into the tunnels, and only stopped once they reached the outer courtyard, in front of the gates. Guards were still out, and Ezran looked like he could use a little break. The elf turned to him and Callum spoke again, this time in human common.

"My name is Rayla, Moonshadow elf of Silvergrove. I take it the little one is Prince Ezran, and you are Callum, apprentice to the castle's mage?"

"Nope, Callum is a Prince too. He is my brother!" Ezran grinned. The elf was confused.

"Then how come he is not the Crown Prince?"

"Because my father was not the King. Ezran and I share a mother." He turned to the twelve-year-old. "Have you caught your breath?" The boy nodded. "Good. We make our way to the lodge, then. I need to gather some things I left there before we leave."

"How far to this lodge?"

"A couple of days on horseback."

"It would only take me a couple of hours."

"Yes, but the egg stays with Ezran. So we'll get horses and-"

He was interrupted by a shout, and clanking of armor. Soren was leading soldiers into the stables. Callum turned to Rayla, and held his hand out.

"Okay, change of plans. We sneak out. Give me your hand."

"What for?"

"Do it and you'll see."

The elf hesitated for a second, but complied when a shouted command reached their ears. Callum grabbed Ezran's hand as well, focused, and muttered a short incantation. The blood staining Rayla's hand vanished and the two Princes became transparent as well.