That chapter was a lot longer than the last one! Yay! Anyway, here's the next chapter. It's in Driskoll's view again.

CHAPTER 4

The rain had stopped by the time the group got home. Torin unlocked the door and let three in. Saying a brief good night, he trudged upstairs to his own room. Driskoll and Kellach turned to Moyra, who standing just in the doorway, staring at the floor.

Driskoll cleared his throat. "Er, I guess we'll be going to bed now," he said.

Moyra looked up swiftly, a look of panic on her face. "Wait!" she called, before the boys could start up the stairs, "Please don't leave me alone tonight! Um, would it be all right if I shared your room with you?"

Driskoll and Kellach looked at each other then at Moyra. "Of course you can," Kellach replied. Moyra sighed gratefully and followed them up the stairs. When they got to their room, Kellach immediately went over to the closet and started pulling out extra blankets and pillows. Driskoll thought he was going to make Moyra sleep on the floor, but instead he said: "You can take my bed tonight, Moyra. I can sleep on the floor."

"Kellach, I couldn't ask you to do that for me," Moyra replied, holding up her hands.

"I insist," Kellach said, "I don't mind, really. You've had a rough day, and I would be more than happy to lend you my bed."

"If you're sure," Moyra murmured, sitting down on the bed across from Driskoll's.

"Positive," Kellach insisted, spreading the extra blankets on the floor. Driskoll, who was already settled into his own bed, watched as his brother and Moyra made themselves comfortable. Once they were settled in, Driskoll blew out the candles lighting the room, and they were plunged into darkness. Driskoll rolled over and tried to settle into sleep.

…

"Kill… kill…" a voice whispered in Driskoll's head, "You know what you must do… they will betray you… kill them first… make them suffer…"

Driskoll woke in a flash of panic, swiftly sitting up in his bed and breathing heavily. Then he realized where he was. It was just a dream, he thought, Nothing is wrong.

He looked around the room and saw the very early rays of dawn weakly streaming in from the window. He looked down at his brother, still sleeping on the floor, as he gently breathed in and out. His back was turned to him, but Driskoll could tell just by how peaceful his breathing was that his sleep was undisturbed by nightmares. Then he looked up at the bed across from him and saw Moyra, wide wake and staring right at him. Driskoll started a bit.

"What's wrong with you?" Moyra asked quietly as to not disturb Kellach.

"I just had a night terror, that's all," Driskoll replied in a low voice.

Moyra blinked at him. "Did you want me to hold you?" she wondered.

"What? Ew, no!" Driskoll spat, good naturedly, "It was just a nightmare. I'm fine. Anyway, how long have you been awake?"

"I've been awake since the sun started coming out," she answered, "I was just watching you boys sleep." She put on a mischievous grin. "You look so peaceful in your sleep," she teased.

Driskoll smiled and rolled his eyes. At least it looked like Moyra had most of her spirit back, he reflected. He looked at Moyra, who sat up a little and grinned.

"So I was watching you sleep last night," she repeated, "And you were like a little angel! …Except for your snoring, which was like a growling bugbear with a sinus infection!" She tipped her head back slightly and, as quietly as she could, replicated the sound of Driskoll's snoring.

"That's not funny," Driskoll said. But he would have been more convincing if he hadn't been trying to hold in a laugh and also hadn't been grinning all over. Both of them started giggling softly.

"I know that your house burned down and that you've had a rough night," Kellach suddenly mumbled from the floor, startling them, "But do you think you could keep it down?"

"Sorry, Kell," Driskoll apologized.

"Yeah, sorry," Moyra agreed, silently grinning over at Driskoll. They both lay back down to go back to sleep until the sun fully came up. Before Driskoll closed his eyes again, he couldn't help but notice Moyra staring down at Kellach, who had fallen back asleep. Deciding to think nothing of it, he closed his eyes and fell back asleep.

…

When Driskoll woke up again, Kellach and Moyra were still sound asleep. Stretching and getting out of bed, he carefully stepped over his brother, who looked as though he hadn't moved an inch all night, and headed down stairs. Torin was already gone, and he had left the customary note to his sons telling them not to destroy anything. He shrugged and was about to start making breakfast for himself, when he heard a knock on the front door. He walked to the door and opened it.

Standing there was a girl he had never seen before. She looked to be around Kellach's age, but she wasn't as tall. She had long light brown hair that was tied in various types of braids and her eyes were a hazel color. The only other thing of note about her was that she was wearing apprentice wizard's robes, much like the ones Kellach wore. Driskoll lifted an eyebrow at her.

"Can I help you?" he asked.

"Is this where Kellach lives?" she wondered.

Driskoll narrowed his eyes at her. "How do you know my brother?" he hissed. The girl sighed and rolled her eyes.

"My name is Alexandra," she replied, "I'm one of Zendric's students." She looked at Driskoll. "You didn't seriously think your brother was Zendric's only apprentice, did you?"

"Of course not," Driskoll growled. He had just never met any of Zendric's other students. Zendric taught his apprentices one at a time, so the only one Driskoll had ever seen was Kellach. "Anyway, he's asleep right now," he continued, "What do you want?"

Alexandra scoffed. "Best student, yeah right," she muttered under her breath, "He's not even awake yet."

Driskoll felt himself growing hot out of anger. "He is Zendric's best student," he snapped, feeling a need to defend his currently unconscious brother, "He's a far better wizard than I bet you could ever be. He just had a long night last night! Now, for the last time, what do you want?"

"Zendric wanted me to give this to him," she answered, tossing a letter at him, "It's about lessons, or something." She folded her arms and glared at him as Driskoll opened the letter. He knew he should probably just bring it to Kellach, but he wasn't going to let this girl tell him what to do. It read: Kellach, I am canceling our lessons for a few days so I can research how to defeat the Beast of Shadows. Please stay safe and don't go looking for the monster. I am completely serious on this Kellach. Do. Not. Look. For. It. At. All. I'm not trying to secretly tell you to look for it. I am telling you straight that this monster is very dangerous, possibly one of the most dangerous creatures you've come up against. I don't want you or your friends getting hurt or possibly killed. I'm serious, Kellach. No looking for it.

Zendric

P.S. There was something else I wanted to tell you. What was it? Oh yeah, this is Alexandra, one of my other students. Unfortunately she is not doing as well as everyone else in her studies. I want you to tutor her for me while I research the shadow beast. Maybe you can actually make something out of her.

Driskoll read the letter and looked up at Alexandra, who was scowling at him. He put on a nasty grin. "So, you're not doing so well in your studies, huh?" he sneered, "And you dared to chastise my brother?"

Alexandra glared at him, but didn't reply. Driskoll sighed. "I'll go wake him up," he told her, "Wait here." Then he left her in the doorway and trudged upstairs.

Kellach was exactly where Driskoll left him, looking completely dead to the world, and again, as if he hadn't moved the tiniest bit. Driskoll carefully inched over to him and crouched down next to him. He gently shook his brother, not wanting to disturb Moyra.

"Hey Kellach," he said quietly, "Wake up."

Kellach didn't move at all. Driskoll sighed and leaned down so his mouth was just inches from his brother's ear. "KELLACH WAKE UP!" Driskoll hollered directly into his ear. Kellach flung himself up in a panic, gasping and throwing a hand to his now probably deaf ear. Moyra was also startled awake, nearly falling out of Kellach's bed. Kellach glared angrily at his brother, his hand still to his ear.

"Driskoll!" he hissed, "What did you do that for?"

Driskoll shrugged. "You wouldn't wake up," he replied.

"And you couldn't just wake me like a normal person?"

"No, but I could wake you like a normal brother," Driskoll countered.

Kellach continued glaring at him. "And why exactly did you feel a need to shout in my face?" he inquired angrily.

Driskoll pointed to the door. "There's someone here to see you," he replied, "It's an important message or something." He wasn't going to tell him that he had already read the message in fear that it would enrage his brother further.

Kellach sighed and fell back onto his blanket and pillow. "Tell them I'm busy," he muttered.

"Can't do it, brother," Driskoll said, shaking his head, "I already told her that you were only asleep. And she seems really impatient."

"Wait," Moyra said, speaking for the first time, "There's a girl at the door?" Driskoll could've sworn a dark look passed her face.

"She's one of Kellach's classmates," he told her, avoiding her gaze.

"I don't have any classmates," Kellach said simply, placing a pillow over his face to block out the light.

Driskoll sighed and rolled his eyes. "I know that," he said, "I meant she's another student of Zendric's. And she has a message for you."

"Good for her," Kellach replied, keeping the pillow over his face.

Sighing again, Driskoll pulled the pillow off of his brother's face. "The message is from Zendric," he told him. At the mention of his teacher's name, Kellach scrambled to his feet.

"Why didn't you say so?" he snapped, heading out the door and down the stairs.

Driskoll looked over at Moyra, who was simply sitting cross-legged on Kellach's bed. "Perhaps I should have lead with that," he said to her.

"Really?" Moyra replied in an exaggerated tone.