The pot had become a cup now. Where it had been huge and black, now it was crystal and the liquid shone white between his fingers. The cup shrank to a thimble and then it vanished.

Paul looked down at himself and saw that the knife still stuck in him. He pulled it out and let it drop to the floor where it shattered like glass. Guards in black surrounded him and pointed swords at him. The King was shouting incoherently at them. One of them shrugged and stabbed Paul with his sword. Paul ...