Author's Note: Okay, here's where the previous chapters being to make sense (or at least, I hope). Enjoy!

Chapter 42: Setting an Ambush

“Dregan!” The three mages were at their friend’s side in an instant. He was sobbing heavily, arms crossed over his stomach as if trying to hold himself together, shaking violently. When he realized they were there, he attempted to quickly stop his tears, gasping in deep gulps of air which made it sound like he was choking a bit.

“We’ve - got to hu - hurry,” he gasped, pushing himself to his feet and grabbing his staff. “Cerene’s in danger!”

“What!” cried Alaric.

“The - the beast said that the rapist would go after ‘the one who got away before the moon peaks.’ She’s the only one who survived his assaults, so he’d returning to finish the job before she can remember who he was.” With hardly a farewell to the king, they raced off, back to Alaric’s house. Dregan stumbled frequently, his vision blurred by tears, and when the others tried to help him he brushed aside their aid, bidding them to run on as he could be there as they spoke.

Fortunately they found the two women in the company of the cousin, Pyric, in the study. They were all quite alarmed when they heard the news, but Dregan already had a plan, and by this time he had composed himself enough to explain it.

“We set an ambush,” he said simply.

“An ambush?” echoed Cerene. Dregan locked her eyes on his.

“Cerene, this will require you to be very brave, but it’s the best chance we have. For the rest of the day, I want you to be always with at least two people. The culprit is most likely watching you, and won’t strike with others around.

“Then, tonight, you will go to your room and go to bed as normal - alone.”

“What?” from her mother, but Dregan continued. “A spell around your bed will prevent anyone with ill intentions towards you from touching you. And we will be in the room,” Dregan indicated his ‘brothers,’ “invisible to sight. Before he gets you, we’ll get him.” She was pale with fright, but nodded.

“I’ll do what I must.”

“Good girl.” Dregan took a steadying breath. “I - I think I need a quick rest.”

“Of course,” Alaric agreed. “There’s a guest room you can use. Follow me.” They left, and the instant they were out of sight the others looked at each other.

“Was Magus Dregan feeling well?” Cerene asked.

“I don’t think so,” answered Orko.

“Zentarou, what caused you to cry out earlier?” Vivi asked. “What crystals were those?”

“A dark - that was the shadowy one - a fire, and - “ He shuddered. “ - an unholy jewel.”

“Unholy?” all repeated.

“He was using a type of evocation magic, one of torment. I’ve never used any such spell like that, of any involving unholy jewels. It’s said that those casters who use them... well... they tend to be tainted by them. And some who use them a lot become totally twisted and evil.” He glanced the way Dregan had gone. “I have to wonder how he knew the spell at all, and why would he take such an unnecessary risk when there were other ways to get the information.” Vivi was silent. He’d seen the disturbed look in Dregan’s eyes, and he could recall the elf mentioning, oh so long ago, of a darker side, a ‘vile, twisted monster.’ The Black Mage had a hunch where Dregan had learned such a spell: In the place of his birth, among his evil kin. And he would bet that using the spell, falling back to that side, had disturbed Dregan greatly.

Alaric returned, informing them that their friend was resting in a guest room upstairs. Then, as there was nothing to do but wait, that’s what they did. Zentarou and Orko distracted Cerene and Fallina from the dangers at hand with minor illusions and slight of hand tricks. As the sun began to set, Dregan reappeared, looking still a bit haggard, with an odd reddish hue around the corners of his mouth; barely noticeable is his friends weren’t studying him so closely.

“You okay?” Zentarou asked. Dregan nodded, though the other three suspicious mages shared a common, private thought:

Liar.

The elf sat down with them, and began outlining his plan.

“I asked to get a good look at Cerene’s room - it’s the one she was resting in before - and I think this will be our best plan.” Using illusion magic, he created am image of her room. “The hostility barrier will be in a three foot boarder around the bed. Any who are affected will get a jolt of electricity, just enough to stun them for a few moments. As we will be invisible, we can stand just about anywhere, but best if we’re out of the way. Vivi,” A place near the nightstand lit up. “I thought perhaps you could crouch here. There’s not much chance he’ll pass close by, as it has items on it that could fall easily.” Next the wardrobe across at a diagonal to the dresser lit up. “Orko, I want you here. Zentarou, I’ll need you by the door, but not behind it. And I’ll be by the curtain, in the corner.” Placed so, they could converge from all four directions, two always within close range of their target. “Now, most likely he’ll so for the side of the bed, in which case whoever gets to Cerene first and isn’t on the same side as the attacker, get her off the bed and out of danger. Cerene, you can help there by getting away and off the bed as fast as you can.”

“O - okay.”

“Now, he might go for the foot of the bed, and in that case Orko, Zentarou, your only job is to jump him. Vivi, you get her away in that situation.”

“Got it.”

“He’ll probably be armed, with a dagger of similar weapon most likely. And it could be poisoned. So be careful.

“We spring our trap tonight.”