Lucas watched his breath frost in the crisp, night air. Above, a few stars twinkled from between cracks in the clouds. Before him, the streets of Quorge looked ominous. Brown snow and grey buildings, dank and dirty. A few drunkards stumbled about. Up ahead, two city watchmen turned a corner.

Lucas continued on. He kept his hand inside his cloak, clutching at the dagger hidden there. He hated the city at night. Hell, he hated the city during the day, too. Lord Belone’s palace was much more comfortable. But his father always sent him on these tasks in the dead of night. Who knew what criminals were wandering the streets, what they might do to a virtually defenceless boy? Though none of that mattered to his father—and he feared his father far more than he did anyone he might meet on the streets.

Eventually, he reached the edge of the city. Feeling a bit of relief, he headed towards the usual meeting place. For the time being, he would be safe—until he met with his contacts, at least. He could never be sure just what sort of person would be waiting for him. They came in all types. Rich nobles and poor peasants, men and women. Many had scars from self-inflicted wounds. Those were the most frightening to look at. But the ones without were frightening in other ways. Lucas wasn’t sure he had ever seen the same person twice, but as long as they had the goat-head tattoo, that was all that mattered.

He remembered the day he had been branded with his. He’d struggled while they’d shaved his head. Instinctively, his free hand now went to the back of his head. It had been necessary to wear a hood for some time after that, until his hair had grown back long enough to cover it. Those had been some of the most frightening weeks of his life, constantly worried that someone would pull back his hood and discover what was there.

Lucas did not want to be a Servant of Sunset—had never wanted to be one. He hated everything they stood for. He hated the Lord of Darkness. But he feared his father more than he hated the Servants. So he had become one of them and he carried out his father’s orders dutifully. Although he took every precaution as he was expected to, he often wished that one day he would be caught. Lord Belone would execute him for sure, but in many ways, execution was preferable to working with his father and the one his father took orders from—the one even his father feared.

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Lucas approached the secluded cove along the lake shore. At this time of night, Lake Belone looked tranquil. Light from the few stars glinted off its surface. At the meeting place, dark shapes moved. A lot of shapes. They didn’t usually come in such large groups. As he got closer and the shapes became more distinct, he realised just how big they were. Taller than even the tallest people and twice as wide. Wings! Oh gods! They had wings!

No! Nothing was worth this. Not Volgs! Even his father’s wrath was preferable. He turned to leave, but one of them landed in front of him, blocking his way. He tried to run another way. He turned to his left, but the lake was there, mocking him with its tranquillity. He turned the other way, but another Volg had landed. “Please!” he cried. “I’m a Servant! I have the mark! I’m a Servant!”

One of them grabbed him by the base of the neck and lifted him off his feet. “I’m a Servant,” he sobbed. His breeches dampened as his bladder emptied.

The Volg holding him grunted something and carried him into the cove. A moment later, he was thrown on the ground in front of another Volg. This one bent down and began parting his hair with massive fingers. “You have a message for me, boy?” the Volg said after it was satisfied of his credentials. The Volg’s breath was hot and foul.

Lucas nodded. “The Princess Felitïa. She and her friends, disguised as merchants, will be leaving tomorrow morning for Arnor City. They are accompanied by five soldiers, disguised as mercenaries.”

The Volg stood up. “You may go now. Tell your masters we appreciate the information.”

Lucas stood up and ran. Ran with all his might, until the cove and the Volgs were long out of sight and he was back on the streets of Quorge.