'Did he really vanish in time?'

He was in Hartwell's old castle, near Merinsk. He had occupied the largest room in the keep, as befit someone of his stature. Gray stone walls surrounded him, draping the room in silence. He'd gotten rid of all the tapestries and paintings. He wasn't in a contemplative mood lately. 

He heard a gentle knock at the door then Hartwell came in. 

"The witch is on her way to Milogac," Hartwell said. "At this rate, she'll reach the island before we could get to her." 

"Let her do as she wishes," Stalwart said in a bitter tone. "Did you find my grandson?" 

"No, Supreme Leader,�� Hartwell replied. "I even sent word to Kozag, no one's seen or heard from him." 

Two months had gone by and there was still no sign of Myles. Theolonius had to face the facts. His eyes didn't deceive him back then. "What about the boy?" he asked. "Is he ready?"

"He's almost lost his mind," Hartwell replied. 

They had kept Sam alone for more than two months. He was confined in a small cell, with a ball of light constantly s.h.i.+ning above his head. Food would pop up in a corner of his cell every time his eyes drifted off. 

They'd kept him isolated from the outside world. His powers were dampened in the cell Stalwart had prepared. He couldn't escape, nor could he find anybody to vent his anger on. To make matters worse, the constant light in the room disoriented him. He no longer knew what time of day it was. 

"Recently he'd started speaking to imaginary friends," Hartwell went on. "I don't think he can tell the difference between real and fake anymore." 

 Stalwart nodded. "Did you silence that nosey wife of yours?" he asked. "Don't forget she's the reason we're in this mess." 

"I personally dealt with her," Hartwell said.

"So you've been to the capital!" Stalwart turned to look at his underling for the first time in two months.

"More priests are joining their master in the capital," Harwell said. "It won't be long before they make a move." 

The Church had declared war against Stalwart, and the king of Biarkh had given them his blessing to rid the world of the Tyrant once and for all. Aslanor had withdrawn their support of Stalwart. They'd even stormed his estate and took all his supporters prisoners. Stalwart was isolated in Biarkh, with no means to call for backup. 

"Get your army ready," Stalwart said. "I'll go have a word with the boy. It's high time I put the bishop and his church back in their rightful place." 

"Should I summon the Hors.e.m.e.n?" Hartwell asked. 

Stalwart nodded. "We won't wait for the Church to make a move," he said. "Gather your men and your Hors.e.m.e.n. Tell them we're executing plan Samhae."

Hartwell's eyes widened. He opened his mouth, closed it, then opened it again. "On the capital?" he asked. 

"I didn't take you for a doubter, Hartwell," Stalwart said with a hint of warning in his voice. 

Hartwell immediately regained his composure. "As you wish, Supreme Leader," he said. "When do we depart?" 

"After I talk to the boy," Stalwart said. "Get your men ready, it won't take long." 

Harwell nodded and left before Stalwart did. The mad wizard stayed in the room, thinking about what he'd seen before Myles vanished. 

'He'd definitely used time energy back then,' he thought. 'Minsec would never approve of such things. Perhaps I thought of this the wrong way. Minsec may not even be involved in this mess.' 

"Adwerald!" he called out at the top of his lungs. Soon after, his grandson rushed inside the bleak room. 

"Yes, grandfather?" he asked. Where his arm used to be, dried up vines interlocked to form an imitation of a human's, with fingers slightly longer than normal; it was his grandfather's doing. After learning of that beast's presence, Stalwart's mind raced with possibilities. 

"What did Abrath tell you when you offered your arm?" he asked. 

Adwerald's eyebrows knitted together. "Like father like son," he said. "What did that even mean?" 

Theolonius Stalwart's eyes widened. "That f.u.c.ker!" he spat. "And you're sure your brother was nowhere in sight when you met the beast?" 

Adwerald shook his head. "What's this all about all of a sudden?" he asked. 

"You go back to Aslanor," Stalwart said. "You have a very important mission to accomplish my boy." 

Adwerald put one knee on the ground. He bowed his head then spoke ceremoniously. "I'm yours to command, Supreme Leader." 

"You are to find the king's hostage and Raiya's daughter. Her name is Fiona," Stalwart said.

"Do you want me to kill her?" Adwerald asked. 

"No, nothing of the sort," Stalwart replied. "Don't let the king's men see you or even notice you're in their territory. Meet with Hartwell tonight, he'll give you something to take along with you. Take the girl, and meet me in Kozag. I'll deal with the Church here. Then we'll see about your brother's disappearance." 

Adwerald left and Stalwart followed. He had a few things to settle before making his move against the church. He went to the first floor, where the guest rooms were. First, he had to make sure the ghost captain was ready. 

"I got your helm back," Stalwart said as soon as he got in. 

Two women lay in Osgar's bed. The ghost captain was nowhere in sight. Underneath the thick blankets, Stalwart noticed someone moving. It was only after the women noticed the old man's presence that they squealed. Then the bed sheets flew in all directions, and a naked Osgar revealed himself to the world. 

"That thing is really small, I see why they call you PegLeg," Stalwart said as he eyed the ghost captain's privates. The women giggled, and Osgar's cheeks burned. "I got you a s.h.i.+p and a crew too," Stalwart went on as though nothing had happened. "Follow the Castellan's orders, and you shall be fine." 

He threw the helm at the foot of the bed, shot a last glance at the frightened women then left the room with the door wide open. He headed for the guest room at the end of the first floor, where he'd kept Elsa Vogel. 

He found her sitting in a corner of the room, her head buried in her hands. She looked up as soon as he closed the door behind him. All hope she had vanished in an instant when she saw her visitor. 

"You didn't think I forgot about you, did you?" he asked.