Chapter 2
Visions
Firstcouncilor Trunculin and King Asa had returned from the mess they left in the kingdom of Thure. Loren and the Thurian merchant Denogg had escaped, gone without a trace. Trunculin had put Asa in his chamber under his loyal guards. They had been orders not to hurt him any further, unless Trunculin gave express permission. Better to rule the boy by fear. He knows what I'm capable of now. He won't get out from under my thumb again, Trunculin thought as he stared at the mystic.
The mystic sat in the small room, eyes closed. After all these years, Trunculin was still uneasy around them. He wondered if the feeling would ever go away. Trunculin looked back at the mystic. His eyes were open now, staring. The mystic did not speak.
After a long moment, Trunculin could not be
