"Daniel, ladies, I am pleased you could join me. This is of a delicate nature. Sylvan will fill you in. Sylvan?"

Sylvan cleared his throat. Daniel looked around, still bewildered about what was happening. How did he get here? Why was he meeting with the King and the head of his intelligence agency?

“Daniel, Amy, Amber, and Jasmine. It is a pleasure to see you once again. I'm so pleased you answered the summons. Time is of the essence. Your help is required in the Wilds. We sent an armed contingent deep into the Wilds to rescue Grace. We lost touch with them two weeks ago. We fear the worst. Grace, as you are aware, is vitally important to the Realm. Her ability to forecast catastrophes is priceless to the King. We need you to go in and extricate her and bring her home.”

Daniel blinked. He knew Grace, of course he did. He couldn't quite remember how, only that he loved her a great deal. She wasn't in the circle, but she could have been, had she been a witch. He would do anything for her. Without question.

“Of course, Grace is important to us," he replied. He glanced at the girls and saw their slow, cautious nod. They didn't seem to really remember Grace all that well, either.

"There is one slight problem."

Daniel raised an eyebrow. "What is that?"

"The Wild Fae family that has her. They know too much now. They will need to be eliminated."

"Eliminated?"

"Yes, put down. They have discovered that Grace has been sent to retrieve a powerful artefact. One that will redefine the realm. In the King's hand, none will stand against him. The artefact grants the wielder infinite reason. With it, he can make someone do the impossible, once asked. It will seem reasonable to them. Imagine dealing with cartels, traders, unions, dissidents. The King will be unstoppable. The artefact guarantees his rule will be unquestioned."

Daniel felt immediately disgusted. Sylvan was talking about removing people's free will. Forcing your will on another, even against their better judgment.

Why would Grace go after that? What I know about her doesn't line up with this. She wouldn't do that. Would she?

"That doesn't sound like the Grace I know?" began Daniel. He looked at the girls and they nodded their heads at him. They looked worried, too. “These people are holding her?"

“We suspect they have used the artefact on her.”

That sounded even more strange and unlikely. Grace is immune to those effects, isn't she? Daniel felt off balance.

"Could they do that? Would it even work? Grace has..."

"Yes, yes," interrupted the King. "Go find her. Release her. Bring the artefact directly to me. Kill everyone who has touched it, Looked at it, or knows about it. I need a clean slate. No one can ever know. Understood?"

Daniel didn't understand. "This family? How do they have this artefact?"

The King looked annoyed. "That doesn't matter."

"It does. Are they the rightful owners?"

Sylvan nodded, and the King glared at him.

"They are the rightful owners? And Grace went to steal it?"

The King rose, his face flush with anger. "Steal it? They own an object so powerful they could take apart my kingdom! They cannot retain possession. It is too big of a threat!"

"Have they used it before?" Daniel was surprised at his questions. He would never question the King. Why was he now? “Why do you think they would use it against the kingdom?"