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touch. Be safe, Guardsman Mikael."
    "Be safe, Sir Lanclor."
    Lanclor envied Mikael’s distraction from work, but distractions were something Lanclor couldn’t afford and his wings drooped not just from the added weight of the rain as he led his horse from the courtyard toward the castle.
     
    The afternoon mealtime had passed and Lanclor found himself leaning against the wall behind Guardsman Mikael in Royal Guard-Commander Warren's workroom. He knew Mikael took pride in his job, but he bordered on breaking regulations with his black hair falling an inch below the back of his helmet.
    "Sir Warren, I'm here to report on last night's activities."
    "Yes, Mikael. Please take a seat. I have to go over things with Sir Lanclor, so please try to make it quick if possible."
    "Yes, Sir. We investigated a murder last night, which looks to be another incident of a Changed man. He had been missing for a couple of days when his wife found him in a field. He tried to kill her last night, but somehow fell and struck his head. The blow snapped his neck. That makes ten this month alone."
    Warren rose from his chair. "I fear this is becoming an epidemic. That’s why I’ve asked Sir Lanclor to meet with me to discuss it."
    "Is there something he can do about it?" Mikael clenched his hands behind his back, out of sight of his commanding officer.
    Lanclor sensed his frustration and remained silent.
    "I'm afraid he’ll have to do something." Warren nodded to Lanclor. "The knights are more capable of handling situations that involve dark magic. You know as well as I do that most of the Guardsmen aren’t adept at magic." The Guard-Commander shuffled through some papers signaling an end to that line of discussion.
    "I know, Sir, but can't we try to learn more—"
    "Enough, Mikael. We’ve already had this conversation three times. You might be a skilled magic user, but the rest of the Royal Guard is not." Guard-Commander Warren sighed then continued in a level voice. "The Guard is here to protect the people from themselves. We’ll handle the thieves, rapists and murderers, and the Knighthood will have to handle any of the evil magic behind it. That's just how it is and how it will always be."
    "Yes, Sir." Mikael appeared to have a hard time reining in his frustration.
    Lanclor had heard him mention how tradition had a tendency of getting in the way of investigations. Mikael and some other members of the Royal Guard were capable of investigating a magic-related crime. However, with something of this magnitude, the Knighthood should deal with it.
    Mikael sighed in resignation and finished his report, relaxing his hands and assuming the detached posture of a Royal Guardsman. Lanclor’s mind kept wandering back to the words of the widow.
    Hareld was always a gentle soul.
    Lanclor knew people could change, just not overnight.

Chapter 5
     
     
    A firm knock sounded upon Kathryn’s door. "Come in."
    "My name is Elena. I’ve been assigned to clean your chamber." She was a short woman in her twenties with thinning hair and a generous smile.
    "Hi, my name’s Kathryn. It's nice to meet you, Elena." Kathryn wasn’t sure if she should leave or just hover in the background. She really just wanted to talk. "Do you mind if I stay while you clean? I haven’t had another woman to talk to for a while now."
    "I don’t mind at all. I can work and easily hold a conversation." Elena stripped the bed.
    "How is it that you can speak our language? It doesn’t appear to be the chosen one on this world."
    "My mother was from Earth. She taught me when I was young."
    Someone else had been to this world and yet back home there was no talk of this alternate world. "Your mother was from Earth? How’s that possible? Did she ever find a way back? Well, obviously not, or you probably wouldn’t be here. Sorry, I’m just surprised." Perhaps people mentioned this alternate world and others dismissed it. Just another headline on the news far behind the latest murder or