EXTRACT FOR
Curse of the Riftborn
(Donovan Deleware)

"What do you mean she's gone!?"

"I'm sorry my Lord. She came to see her daughter but never left the nursery room. When I went to check of the Queen and Yantia I found the midwife dead and the Queen and your daughter gone and they did not leave through the nursery."

"Are you saying they left by magical means?"

"Yes my Lord. They could be anywhere in the city by now. Perhaps they went back home."

"I just came from there. I'm holding you personally responsible for their wellbeing. If anything happens to wither of them I'll have all of your heads!"

"My Lord! You cannot hold us responsible for the Queen's actions!"

"All...of...your...heads!" King Ul'Garreth seethed. He wanted to lay them all to waste where they stood, but that would require the use of magic. The only ones in the kingdom aware that he possessed the gift were his wife and his most trusted and loyal guards that were hand-picked and magically charmed by him to ensure their silence.

The King stormed from the nursery and back to the castle - the look on his face as he marched down the street that of a mad man daring anyone to step in his way. None did. When he reached the castle, he went straight to the audience chamber where his personal guards stood in waiting. "Al'Dun, go fetch Tal'Brek at once. Tell him he's to drop everything he's doing and return with you immediately, or I'll have his head."

"Yes my Lord." Al'Dun replied dutifully. He left the audience chamber at once and headed straight for Tal'Brek's home. While other trackers lived and worked out of the Guild, Tal'Brek was something of a special case. He was an arrogant, self-centered and manipulative bastard they few could stomach for more than a minute, but he was damn good at his job and had worked himself up to a special position where he only worked for the King.

Al'Dun gave the sturdy door three hard knocks and waited. After nearly six minutes the door slid silently open and a disheveled man in unbuttoned pants and an open tunic greeted him with a look of disgust. 

"This better be important," Tal'Brek huffed.

"The King requires you at the castle immediately. You are to follow me back without question or complaint or he'll have your head."

Tal'Brek smirked and removed his trousers. "Fine, lead the way. And I dare you to tell the king I was wearing pants when I answered the door."

"You can't seriously think I'm going to let you walk down the streets with your...stuff hanging out!"

"Hey, you're the one that said immediately. If I were you I'd get to walking before I tell the King you're the reason for the holdup."

"At least close the tunic."

"Lead on messenger boy, lead on."