“Of course they are.” Sneered a red cloaked man standing some ways behind Tarien.

Whirling to confront the new comer the high lord’s face stiffened as he recognised the Head of the Mage’s guild standing beside the throne.

“Belias... I told you to use the door like all others in this kingdom.” Growled an angry Tarien.

The head of the mages guild was a striking man that would have been popular with the ladies except for a sneer hat permanently disfigured his chiselled face.

“My good Tar...” the mage stopped short and stared confused for a second, then grimaced a second before a massive explosion rocked the castle.

“What in the Gods names was that?” Bellowed the Lord Tarien as he pulled himself up off the marble floor.

“Daemons lord.” Answered Belias calmly dusting some grime from his intricately detailed red robes.

“Daemons?”

“Yes a crude form of insubstantial creature that can harness a twisted from of magiks, drawing it and feeding it from the ill will of all near by. They take men’s’ darkest thoughts and amplify them, feeding of the warped energies that our brains put off.”

“How do you know all this?” questioned a suspicious Tarien as he fondled the hilt of his dragon sword. As with all the other Tarien Lords before him this Tarien was a master of the blade, and proudly bore the mark of the eagle on the back of his thumb as proof.

“The leader of their forces told me as much when we met not a month ago at the start of the siege.” Replied Belias with a dangerous smile upon his face.

“I ordered that there be no conferring with he dark forces Belias. This is treason against my throne.” Whispered Lord Tarien a dangerous tone taking his voice as he began to take stance, drawing his deadly Dragon Sword.

“Oh but it’s not your throne. Not any more Lord Tarien.” Belias almost spat the last words.

With a silent prayer the defender of Baremount launched himself at the robed mage.

His whole body was moving in synchronisation, aware of every muscle Tarien brought his sword to bare on the mage, only to be stopped mid flight barely inches from his target.

“What is this Belias?” he demanded

“Call it a shield,” sneered the mage in response as flames lept up the blade lighting Tarien’s arms on fire. “We have no longer any use for you.” He snarled launching the screaming Tarien Lord through a gilded window and onto the bridge hundreds of metres below.

“Quite a shame really.” Murmured Belias as he stalked from the room setting it ablaze as he left.

Upon the bridge the captain of the guard Caelem-du-Fonsac, swore an oath as he turned the burnt body over recognising the face of his Lord. Prying the Dragon Sword from Tarien’s scorched fingers Caelem sounded the retreat to the second battlement abandoning the bridge for the third time in its history.