For a brief moment, Teclis entertained the fantasy that some dreadful magical catastrophe had swept through the White Tower and he was the only survivor.

Impossible, he told himself. No enemy could have found their way to the tower. It was warded by some of the most powerful protective enchantments ever created, surrounded by spells that could deflect even the most terrible curses and destructive spells.

Nothing could possibly have happened. Could it?

As he emerged from the library, Teclis was relieved to see a Sword Master, one of the warrior-guardians of the tower. The elf seemed surprised to see Teclis. It looked like he had not expected to encounter anyone coming from the library.

‘What is going on?’ Teclis asked.

‘Haven’t you heard the news?’ The Sword Master asked.

‘What news?’ Teclis asked.

‘Avelorn has been attacked! The Everqueen is dead! So is everyone with her!’

Teclis’s eyes narrowed as he stared at the guardian. He shook his head. ‘That cannot be true! My brother is there.’

‘The word just came in an hour ago,’ said the Sword Master. ‘It was brought by one of the eagles of the forest. The Loremasters have verified it with their scrying crystals.’

Unbidden, the image of his brother’s body lying sprawled in a pool of blood came into his mind. He shuddered. He told himself that was only his imagination. It was not a vision. He took a deep breath and tried to calm his racing senses. He was sweating. His heart raced.

It was impossible that Tyrion could be dead without him knowing. And yet, what if he was wrong? The powerful wards that surrounded the Tower of Hoeth might stop him from sensing such a thing. Perhaps this was the reason he felt so bad and had such a strong sense of foreboding.

He refused to believe it. The bond that existed between him and his twin ran deep. There was no barrier it could not penetrate. He was certain of that. Tyrion could not be dead. He would not believe that until he looked upon his brother’s corpse with his own eyes.

Even thinking that felt like a betrayal. It was admitting the possibility that the guard might be right and that he might be wrong.

‘What happened?’ He felt like taking the guard by the collar of his jerkin and shaking him until he answered.

‘The dark elves attacked.’

‘The druchii attacked Avelorn? Nonsense!’ Teclis almost shouted. He could hear the almost hysterical edge to his own voice. It was simply impossible that a dark elf army could have got so far into Ulthuan.

‘It was the dark elves,’ said the guard. ‘And they did not just attack Avelorn. Their fleets are at sea off our coasts and their armies have attacked in other places. The news keeps coming in and none of it is good.’

‘Where?’ Teclis demanded. He felt as if he were caught up in a nightmare.