"He is almost here," the mage said to his co-conspirator. "He imagines that he is successfully avoiding my magic, but it is drawing him in. There is no escape for him."

"It is well past time," the other said, "you had promised would be sitting on the throne by now, and still I live in a drafty old house far from the power that I deserve."

"Say rather, the power you 'desire'. There are no secrets, no lies, between us."

"What does it matter? The important thing ...