"Then it is fortunate that we will be doing it together," Loranella said.

Aldwyn looked upon the human queen, her white shoulder-length hair wind-tossed from travel. She adjusted the seven-p.r.o.nged golden crown atop her head. Her eyes glanced to the empty palace grounds, and although she seemed to be trying to hide it, Aldwyn saw what appeared to be a slight grin. He couldn't help but think that while it was well intentioned to throw the queen such an elaborately plotted party, attempting to surprise one as wise as Loranella was a hopeless endeavor indeed.

Skylar and her avian cohorts dropped the illusion, and as the hundreds gathered were revealed, they screamed out a collective "Surprise!"

Queen Loranella made a show of astonishment, and she smiled as the entire crowd broke out into song.

Dragons rise and moons set on another merry year!

We wish you bowls of lifeseed and dreams that have no fear!

From every corner friends have come to join and gather here!

We celebrate this joyous day with giant shouts of cheer!

And with that, they broke into reverential applause. Loranella quieted them.

"Thank you. I am truly humbled to see all of you tonight. It has been a year of great turmoil, the likes of which have not been seen since I was a young wizard. But we persevered. Our defeat of Paksahara and her Dead Army will live on in the history scrolls, long after I go to the Tomorrowlife. Until then, we'll keep the torches burning high and our gla.s.ses filled with persimmon wine."

Aldwyn spied a flute of purple bubbly and telekinetically lifted it from a table into Loranella's hand. As she held it up, the crowd shouted as one, "Vastia!"

Music began to play from an enchanted harp in the corner of the courtyard. It was Aldwyn's cue to make his move on the fish hors d'oeuvres, but just before he pounced, a hand touched his back.

"Aldwyn, I want you to meet somebody." It was Sorceress Edna, and she was pulling Aldwyn toward a man who appeared to have only half a face. One eye, one nostril, and a crooked half grin. It was as if someone started painting a picture and stopped in the middle. "This is Nazkareth, Loranella's second cousin."

"An honor, Prophesized One," said Nazkareth. "I have read of your travels. I'm most fascinated by your discovery of the mawpi's lair in the Beyond. At some point, I'd be very eager for you to lead me there."

"Yes, well, we'll have to see if that can be arranged," Aldwyn replied, still mesmerized by the man's deformity.

"Sooner rather than later," Nazkareth said, more insistently.

Before Aldwyn could respond to Nazkareth's demand, Sorceress Edna waved over a pair of dignitaries dressed in earth-toned garb.

"Aldwyn," she interrupted, "these are the twin druids of the Ratskeever province. They wanted to invite you to be an honored guest at their Festival of Alchemy."

"We wish to welcome the saviors of Vastia to our province." The more delicate of the two gave a graceful bow.

"You haven't truly dined until you've tasted the sweet nectar of a Ratskeever fig," her twin added.

"We're quite busy with our training right now," Aldwyn said, "but should we travel east of the Yennep, we'll be sure to pay you a visit."

In the months following the Prophesized Three's victory over Paksahara, Aldwyn had been introduced to hundreds of strangers. While it seemed that every one of them knew who he was, to him their names and faces were a blur. Even ones as memorable as Nazkareth and the twin druids of Ratskeever faded in time.

"If you'll excuse me," Aldwyn said, spying Navid and Marati, a king cobra and white-tailed mongoose, across the courtyard.

As he walked away, Aldwyn could hear Sorceress Edna speaking to the twin druids.

"Those are two of the seven animals that formed the circle of heroes," she said. "They've become officers in the Vastian guard, leading an elite squadron of animals and humans known as the Nightfall Battalion. Their mission is to root out any last traitors hiding across the fair queendom."

Edna's voice faded as Aldwyn approached the duo.

"Aldwyn, good, you can settle a debate for us," Marati said. "We recently encountered a tunneler dragon ransacking the northern mountain town of Glatar. Who would you say deserves credit for the kill? The soldier who crippled the beast and battered it to its wheezing end? Or the one who merely robbed it of its last breath?"

"Mind you, the dragon was still looking for innocents to spear when my venom blast struck its skull," Navid hissed back.

The two had once been mortal enemies, but now were the strongest of friends. Of course, there was still a healthy dose of compet.i.tion between them.

"It could hardly bear its own weight by then," Marati replied.

"Tell that to the woman and child who nearly got skewered!"

"Sounds to me like it's best not to choose sides on this one," Aldwyn said. "Perhaps you can share the credit."

"What fun would that be?" Navid asked, as if Aldwyn were crazy for even suggesting such a thing.

"A tie doesn't make two winners," Marati added, clearly in agreement. "It makes two losers."

A spyball descended from above, landing next to the white-tailed mongoose. When Aldwyn was first introduced to the world of magic, he came to know the bat-winged eyeb.a.l.l.s as spies for Paksahara. But after her downfall, the spyb.a.l.l.s were spared punishment and reemployed by the queens' guard for their original purpose: to alert the protectors of the land to dangers lurking outside the gates of Bronzhaven.

"Looks like there's a disturbance in the east," Marati said. "Navid, I'm afraid it's time for us to go."

"I'll call the Nightfall Battalion," Navid replied.

The two departed, but Aldwyn wasn't left alone for long. He spotted Gilbert sitting on a table across the courtyard. Not surprisingly, his friend was staring dreamily at Anura, the golden toad who was also a part of the circle of heroes. The tree frog had developed a crush on the luck-bringing amphibian, and she didn't seem to mind the attention. Aldwyn approached them.

A worn map was laid flat across the table. Gilbert's webbed hand gripped a smooth gla.s.s stone. He placed it on the map, directly atop Bronzhaven.

"Locavi instanta.n.u.s," Gilbert incanted. "Show us where the juiciest flies in Vastia reside."

He released his hold on the stone. Suddenly it began to shake and quiver before sliding forward on its own, moving across the map. It stopped at a spot on the map labeled the Urenga Mudlands.

"Huh, I've never even heard of that place," Gilbert said.

"I guess I know where you'll be taking your next vacation," Anura replied.

"Flies never taste as good when you're eating them alone."

"Is that an invitation?" Anura asked playfully.

"That depends. Are you saying yes?"

"What's that you're doing?" Aldwyn interrupted. "With the map."

"I'm locavating," Gilbert replied. "It's one of the knowledge-gathering skills written about in the Protocols of Divination. The Ocean Oracle said it's a sister study of puddle viewing. All you need is a map and an orienteering stone. And a natural talent for seeing beyond the here and now."

"Gilbert, you're telling me you have the ability to locate anything you ask for? Didn't you think that was worth mentioning when I told you I still hadn't found Yeardley?"

"I guess I didn't," Gilbert said. "I can now see how that might have been important to you."

"Well, what are you waiting for?" Aldwyn asked.

"Right!"

Gilbert put the orienteering stone back on Bronzhaven. He focused his energy.

"Locavi instanta.n.u.s," he said aloud. "Show us the way to the Maidenmere cat called Yeardley."

He removed his hands once more and leaned back expectantly. The stone began to quiver but that's all it did. It never moved.

"Ask it to show you the way to the Well of Ashtheril," Aldwyn said.

"Of course. Yes." Gilbert rested his hand atop the stone and repeated Aldwyn's suggestion. "Locavi instanta.n.u.s. Show us the way to the Well of Ashtheril."

He pulled back and waited. The stone gave an even more dramatic shake. Then it stopped. Aldwyn's ears, which had perked up with hope, fell.

"I'm sorry, pal," Gilbert said. "Guess I still need some more practice."

"There you two are," Skylar chirped out. "I've been looking everywhere for you!"

Aldwyn and Gilbert turned to see Skylar flying over, carrying a necklace in her talons.

"Come on," she said. "I want us to be the first to give Queen Loranella a gift."

"What did we get her anyway?" Aldwyn asked, looking at the black chain with dangling pearls, their emerald hue glowing under the twinkling light of the floating lanterns.

"It's a necklace," Skylar replied. "I made it myself. These pearls are from some oyster flowers we picked in the Xylem garden. I thought it would be nice for all three of us to present it to her together."

Skylar was about to lead the way, just as one of the floating streamers got caught in a sudden gust of wind and smacked her in the face. Blinded, she flew right into an everwillow tree, causing her to drop the necklace. The chain slid toward a nearby sewer grate.

"Oh, no!" Skylar cried out.

Gilbert made a diving leap, grabbing it moments before it was lost to the tunnels below. Skylar shook free from the tangle of paper and looked to Anura.

"I thought you were supposed to bring luck to everyone but Gilbert," she said.

"I can't always explain the nature of my talent," Anura replied. "It continues to surprise even me."

Skylar gave the necklace a quick polish and resumed her flight toward Loranella. Aldwyn and Gilbert followed behind, leaving Anura sitting atop the table with the worn map. The Three arrived to find the queen engaged in a lively discussion with the bearded wizard Urbaugh, her trusted adviser.

"And I respectfully disagree," he said. "A pardon to any who did not stand with you is simply unacceptable. They should be punished as an example to others."

"We're building a new Vastia, one that believes in forgiveness," Loranella replied. "Fear can cloud the soundest mind's judgment."

"And so can generosity," Urbaugh said. "Don't be naive, my queen. Just because Paksahara is gone does not mean all evil died with her."

Loranella spied Aldwyn, Gilbert, and Skylar waiting nearby.

"We'll continue this later, Urbaugh. Unless I'm mistaken, I thought this was supposed to be a party."

Urbaugh never looked like he was having much fun, but he appeared even more disgruntled than usual. He stomped off and Skylar swooped in.

"Queen Loranella, we've brought you a gift," she said. "It's just a token. Not much really."

"It's beautiful," Loranella said, eyeing the necklace. "In fact, I'd like to try it on right now."

Skylar waved Aldwyn and Gilbert over with a wing. The queen knelt down and lowered her head. Then Aldwyn mentally lifted the chain out of Skylar's grasp and gently guided it around her neck. Loranella glanced at her reflection in the shiny armor of a nearby guard, admiring the gift. The pearls shimmered, making her eyes gleam brighter.

"It's lovely," the queen said. "Thank you."

"I thought you'd like it," Skylar replied, quite pleased with herself.

"So, now that you've all returned from your questabouts, are you prepared to take the next step in your training?" she asked. "I know Commander Warden expects great things from you. And there is still much for you to. . ."

Loranella's words came to an abrupt stop. She began to gasp for air. Aldwyn watched as the black chain seared itself into the flesh of her neck, and the pearls buried themselves into her chest.

"Skylar, what's happening?" Aldwyn asked in a panic.

"I don't know," she replied, equally alarmed.

"Do something!" Gilbert cried.

But there was nothing they could do. The queen was helpless, too, as the necklace continued to melt into her body. The chain burrowed so deeply under her skin that it appeared to be a thick black vein. The pearls were half-submerged in her collarbone, like seash.e.l.ls sticking out from the sand.

Now others were gathering, shouting out calls for help. The queen dropped down to her knees, and the whites of her eyes turned jet-black.

A palace healer sprinted up with a raven on his shoulder. He pushed aside the familiars as Loranella's lips lost their color.

"Give us some s.p.a.ce," the healer ordered.

The raven landed next to the queen and rubbed its feathers across her chest, attempting to use its magical healing talent to cure her. Aldwyn could see that Loranella's breathing had slowed. Her body was stiffening.

Soon, Commander Warden and Sorceress Edna were at the queen's side. Galatea was nearby, as well, clearly upset to see her co-ruler under such severe duress.

"Remove all of her jewelry," the healer said. "I don't want anything interfering with the raven's touch."

Warden pulled off her crown, while Edna removed her rings and bracelets. The raven's wing moved up and down Loranella's arms and across her forehead. But she looked to be slipping ever further toward the Tomorrowlife.

"We need to get her to my chamber," the healer said. "Quickly."

A group of wizards raised their arms and the queen was carried up three stories and into an open window. With his wand outstretched, the palace healer flew behind her, raven at his side.

The enchanted harp had fallen silent. Only panicked muttering could be heard in the still night air. Every eye in the courtyard was on Aldwyn, Skylar, and Gilbert.

Urbaugh and a half-dozen soldiers and wizards surrounded them. Galatea narrowed her eyes.

"Arrest them," she said.

One of the wizards flicked his wrist and dispeller chains slithered out from the palace guard shed and wrapped around each of the three animals' ankles.