Times of Darkness

The party was good, the band played well, the food tasted superb, the company (especially the girl Zed had his lips on) was fantastic. Richard sure knew how to throw a party. Richard, more commonly known as Prince Zhad, was the son of the ruler of Asargnia. Zed had first met him in his teens; he was a promising wizard, son of the great Zedicus Azúll, the greatest wizard of all time. Zed cared little for his father, and hated being named after him. Zedicus and his son had fallen out after he had tried to forbid his son from joining the Zhad family as court mage.

They had had a heated discussion, and Zedicus had hit his son-who had responded in kind, and fled the his home for the last time. Zedicus hated the Zhad family. He and Richard's father had been friends, just as their sons had been. But, they, too, had fallen out. Zedicus wasn't great at keeping friends. Wise wizards rarely are. Zed, however, was not a wise wizard. He was young, clever, brilliant-a genius!-but not wise. He would become wise, in age. But this was yet to come. Zed turned from his passionate kiss from this lovely concubine as his friend tapped his shoulder. "Come, friend" he said, gravely. "I have news that must be told"

The two left the laughter and conversation of the palace ballroom to the quiet solitude of the balcony. It overlooked the palace gardens, which looked stunning at midnight. They were well tended to, and full of life: creatures, both great and small, dangerous and timid, fast and slow, wise and stupid, ugly and beautiful, magical and not-so-magical, all were making their last sounds as they settled to sleep in their fine home, literally fit for a king. Vines crept meters up the wall, and wrapped round the banistars of the stone railing that Richard took himself to lean upon. His serious face looked so heroic with his back to the night.

"Well friend, what it is that troubles you?" said Zed, quite loudly.

Richard put a finger to his lips: "I think we are in danger. My father has had an attempt on his life!"

Zed gasped in shock. "But the guard-"

Richard interrupted: "A man attacked my father, and said he would kill him if he did not tell him the whereabouts of Zedicus Haranda Azúll"

Zed looked dark at the mention of his father. "So my father is in danger?

Richard shook his head. "My father told him where your father lived, and the attacker proclaimed 'No, the other one!'. My father, always the coward, told him about tonight, but sent his quickest messenger to warn us"

Zed relaxed. "The palace is well guarded. We may sleep easy!"

Richard shook his head quickly. "My father's elite guard failed, and my father knows why! He sent his maid to the kitchen to get some bread. She was gone a full ten minutes, while the attacker broke in and spoke to my father. When she came back in, the man had gone. He asked her what had took so long, and she was so confused. She thought she had only been a minute. And the guard had neither seen or heard of this mysterious intruder"

Zed looked, perplexed. "And? What do you make of it?"