It was time, he realized, to decide which of Kol’s sons would have the kingdom of the Dark Lands. Wherever his master was, if he was even alive, it was obvious he was not returning to rule. Kol had offended those with far greater powers than his, and by failing to gain the faerie woman’s powers he had rendered himself virtually helpless. Kolbein and Kolgrim would be fifteen now. He would choose one of them, remain with him long enough to guide him properly, choose his successor and retire to his home atop a mountain peak far from this castle. But which boy? And how to choose? He knew the families in which they had been raised would champion their fosterlings. He must first learn all he could about those families.

Kolbein had been put with a Wolfyn lord and his mates. Kolgrim had gone to one of the few Forest Giants who had not defected from Kol’s allies before the battle of The City. He had placed them with these families, and never set eyes on either of them since. He had received no reports, made no visits to Kol’s twin sons. In this manner he had protected their whereabouts. Now, however, he would make a visit to each family to see how these two boys had grown up. Then he would make his decision.

Neither boy knew about the other. Neither knew of his heritage. Alfrigg had gained an oath from each of the foster families in this matter that they would not tell. It was important because the laws of the Dark Lands forbade the killing of a male from the ruling family. For centuries this had not proved a problem as only one male was born in each generation. But Kol’s chosen mate had birthed identical twin sons, and only one could rule. Alfrigg would choose between them, and the other would never know he might have been a great ruler.

Alfrigg departed the deserted throne room and found his way to his own small chamber. There upon a little table was his supper of oat porridge, black bread and a wedge of hard cheese. There was a goblet of bloodred wine. He ate the food and drank the wine. Then locking his chamber door and, setting a heavy iron bar across it, he climbed into bed to fall instantly asleep as was his custom.

When he was deep in slumber, his snores rattling the small window, in the wall a wraithlike Munin appeared. He stared long and hard at the Twilight Lord’s chancellor. Then with slender gray fingers the Munin reached into Alfrigg’s head to draw out a gnarled gold thread. He studied the thread thoughtfully, unraveling it, reading it carefully. Then, replacing the thread, the Munin disappeared into the shadows of the chamber to reappear in Prince Kaliq’s palace of Shunnar. The Munin shivered. The Prince’s desert kingdom was too warm for him. The Munin far preferred a more temperate climate. He would deliver his information, and depart as quickly as he could. Making his way to the prince’s privy chamber he entered.

“Were you able to obtain what I seek?” Kaliq of the Shadows asked the Munin.

“He had obviously been thinking of them, for the memory was on top, not buried deep in his subconscious,” the Munin said. “The one called Kolbein was placed with the Wolfyn. His twin, Kolgrim, is with a Forest Giant. I also found new memories of the Darkling Ciarda. She came to see him, and roused his suspicions. He has put a watch on her, for although he is fond of her he does not trust her,” the Munin reported.

“Were you able to obtain the name of either the Wolfyn or the Forest Giant?” Prince Kaliq asked the Munin.

“He has buried those memories much too deep, my lord. He is an ancient dwarf, and I feared to harm him if I probed any harder. Alfrigg is a careful fellow. I suspect he has actually almost forgotten the names of the Wolfyn and the giant in order to protect his charges. I did my best for you,” the Munin said.

“I know that you did,” Prince Kaliq said. He tossed the Munin a bag of gemstones. “As you requested, half of them are Transmutes from the Emerald Mountains mine. Give your lord my felicitations. You gained me enough information so that I will more easily be able to seek out the names that I need. Thank you.”

“Thank you, my lord Prince,” the Munin said, and then, clutching the chamois bag containing his fee, he faded away.

A Wolfyn and a Forest Giant, Kaliq considered carefully. Skrymir, Lord of the Forest Giants, would know who had remained behind in the Dark Lands before the battle of The City. There had been one or two, but given the opportunity to escape the Twilight Lord’s kingdom the remaining Forest Giants had gone with Skrymir to the forested hill country of Terah. Kolgrim should be easy to find. Kolbein would be more difficult because the Wolfyn were yet numerous despite their defeat at the battle of The City. Their mates always bore litters of several pups who grew to adulthood within two years, and so their numbers, while diminished by the battle of The City, still remained high.

“Skrymir, Skrymir, heed my call. Come to me from out yon wall,” Kaliq said aloud, and then watched as the wall seemed to melt away, and the Lord of the Forest Giants stepped through into the Shadow Prince’s privy chamber.

“What is it you want of me, Kaliq of the Shadows?” Skrymir asked, and he shook himself. “This magic of yours is too compelling.” He was so tall his head was close to touching the high ceilings of the chamber.

“Let us go outside,” the prince invited, attempting to make his reluctant guest a bit more comfortable. “My garden is lovely.” He ushered the giant into the outdoors.

“Ah, yes, that is better,” Skrymir agreed, stretching. He held out his hand. “Step into my palm, Kaliq of the Shadows, so we may speak face-to-face.”

The Shadow Prince might have made himself larger, but he sensed that the giant was intimidated enough, and so he graciously stepped into the offered palm, which Skrymir raised so they might speak more comfortably. “The darkness is threatening to rise again,” Kaliq began. “Kol has a daughter, a Darkling called Ciarda, who is stirring the pot. Because of her, Alfrigg believes it is time for one of Kol’s twin sons to take over the Dark Lands and begin to rule.”

“Will not Kol return, my lord?” the giant asked Kaliq.

“Anything is possible,” the prince answered, “but it is unlikely Kol will return. Alfrigg has been keeping up a pretense in order to maintain a peace of sorts within his master’s kingdom. Now he believes the time is right for a new ruler. The twins have been hidden most of their lives. One of them has been fostered by one of your own, Skrymir. Who remained behind in the Dark Lands when you brought your people out?”

“Arild and Gnup,” Skrymir replied. “Arild is my kin, but he once attempted to supplant me with our people. They would not have him, and it angered him greatly. Gnup is his toady. He is a vicious fellow, but he is useful to Arild, for he will do whatever is asked of him. His loyalty to my kin is his only virtue.”

“Which one of them would take Kol’s son and raise him?” Kaliq asked.

“Gnup would not have the means as he was always a hanger-on. It would be Arild. He had two wives, both Mountain Giants, a comfortable home and he would do whatever he had to do to gain the Twilight Lord’s favor,” Skrymir replied.

Kaliq nodded thoughtfully. “Despite the different choices you made those many years ago have you remained in contact with this Arild?”

“Alas, my lord, no,” Skrymir said. “He called me traitor, and was so certain that Kol would win he ceased speaking to me. And then of course when we were given our new home Arild would not come. And because he would not, Gnup would not.”

“It is likely that one of the twins has been fostered by your kinsman,” the Shadow Prince said. “Do you know where within the Dark Lands Arild makes his home?”

“Before we departed his home was located on a mountainside near the valley of the Penumbras. I see no reason for him to have relocated. His lands were wide, his house spacious. And he was well isolated,” Skrymir said. “If the Twilight Lord wished to hide one of his sons with Arild, the boy would be well hidden, and well protected.”

“Then I shall seek him there,” Kaliq said. “Now I shall return you back to your own home. I apologize if I took you from something important.”

“Just my bed.” Skrymir chuckled. “I hope my wife did not awaken and find me gone. She will be sure I am visiting a certain pretty giantess.” Then, lowering his big palm, he set Kaliq back down on the gravel path next to the fishpond.

The Shadow Prince laughed, and, raising his hand, he said, “Return Skrymir from whence you came. Come back when once I call again.” And the giant was gone from the garden. Kaliq sat down on the marble bench next to the pond and considered what should be done next.

He’d virtually found Kolgrim, but Kolbein’s Wolfyn protector would prove a slightly more difficult creature to locate. While the Wolfyn were more numerous now there were only but half a dozen or more dominant families where Kolbein could be safely fostered. Kaliq called a servant to him, instructing him to send to his brothers inviting them to a feast on the morrow. He would tell them of what was transpiring, and then ask for volunteers to go into the Dark Lands and seek out Kolbein. Once both boys were located Lara would observe them and make a decision as to which would rule in place of his father.

That decided, Kaliq took himself to the Hall of Arild. It was early evening, and servants moved about the large hall setting the High Board for the meal. In a corner by the great hearth two women sat talking while they sewed. At their feet three small children, all girls, played. Clothed in shadows, Kaliq listened to their chatter, for women’s chatter was often quite informative.

“Kolgrim grows more determined to learn who his parents are,” one of the women said. “Arild does not know what to do. He has sent to Chancellor Alfrigg for instructions. We should hear within the month.”