Taken from Book 5 – Mitthsombaine. "You have no memory of this place, do you?" the Magus asked as he lifted a hand and gestured to the surrounding trees. "Should I?" Sasheer countered, his gaze never leaving the Magus' face. He could feel Zaileen's fingers bite into his arms as she shivered behind him. "You have slept here, more than once," the Magus said as he moved closer, his amusement obvious. Sasheer's brows drew down as his gaze followed the Magus, making sure to keep the Master of the Towers before him at all times. He took a step back, forcing Zaileen to move with him, needing to keep some distance between them as the Magus circled closer. He could feel the current sweep in around his feet, feel the tantalizing pull of mystical power that beckoned him to reach out and touch . . . and Sasheer clamped down on the temptation, shaking his head in denial. "No," he hissed, feeling Terrica, his newly formed Shade, tug at their connection. He would not risk her help, and he sent her into hiding. The Magus laughed. It was a deep rumble, a wicked in sound. "Clever," he taunted. "You are developing nicely. Tanish is right about that." Sasheer said nothing, backing up another step. "Pity Tanish can't envision your true value. Pity he refuses to accept that you would be more useful to the Council while connected to the Seer Mechanism." Seer Mechanism? Sasheer had no idea what the Magus was talking about and his confusion must have shown, because the Magus' leering smile widened. "Let me show you," the Magus said, clicking his finger to produce an image that hung in the air between them. Sasheer blinked and stared appalled at the transparent illusion, feeling Zaileen shift to peer over his shoulder at the projection. The image showed an emaciated figure locked in a chair. The figure appeared to be dead, or close to death, as it was held in place by thin cords of pulsating power. Worn clothing hung from bony limbs, white tangled hair covered hollow cheeks and claw-like nails protruded from long fingers. Then the trapped body moved, turning its head and the cords loosened and tightened around the figure's throat. "Who is that?" Sasheer asked, apprehension tightening his gut as he moved to keep the image between him and the Magus. The Magus considered him then walked through the image, and was within inches of Sasheer within a heartbeat. "This is the last gifted child who possessed Foresight," the Master said, his voice velvet-soft as he reached out to lightly caress Sasheer's cheek with a fingernail. His eyes devoured before he stepped back and dismissed the image with a wave of his hand. "That child has been sitting in the Seer Mechanism for the last five hundred and fifty years. I think it is time he was allowed to die. Don't you?" Sasheer stumbled backward, pulled by Zaileen as she fled in fear. He turned and caught her, steadying her, knowing that running blind was just what the Magus wanted. "Shh," he soothed, his hand touching her glorious hair, before he turned, preparing himself as the Magus stalked closer. "I will not willingly go into that chair," Sasheer said in defiance. The Magus laughed. "You think willingness is an option?" "I will die first." "If I let you die." Snarling, Sasheer threw up his shield, anticipating the Magus' reaction and felt the full force of the lord's anger as a lash of power swept across his mental barriers. The pain sent him flying, and he groaned, lifting his head with effort only to see the Magus grab Zaileen and drag into the center of the small courtyard. She fought him, screaming at the Magus in her own language, struggling to breath as the Magus gripped her throat and lifted her effortlessly off the ground. Sasheer climbed to his feet and resisted the urge to draw on the currents, very aware of their dark taint, knowing the Magus was setting a trap for him. Instead he drew on his inner energies and formed a dart of insidious fire, and sent it spiraling toward the Magus. It struck the Magus' shields and sank into his personal defenses before the Magus could react, and Sasheer had one glorious moment of seeing the Master of the Towers squirm in pain and surprise. The Magus growled in displeasure, releasing Zaileen. Sasheer gathered her to safety, keeping one eye on the writhing lord. He backed them toward the wall with the portal, knowing his only chance at getting them both out alive was to find the hidden entrance. "I will get you out of here," he promised, feeling how she trembled in fear. He glanced at Zaileen seeing her damp lashes, blood-stained lips and fiery determination. "I am sorry—" "Not your fault," she said, her fingers pressing against his mouth to stop the apology. "This is my destiny. Just remember you will always be my heart." "No," he said, "this is not destiny—" He got no further as pain rippled down his spine, and he turned, struggling to keep the Magus out. The dark Lord sent fingers of dark current power through his shields, like smoke, it suffocate him, inhibiting his responses and muddling his thinking. He collapsed to his knees, losing his hold on Zaileen. "You will go into the Seer Mechanism," the Magus predicted. "That is your destiny." "Let her go . . . " The Magus glanced at the dark-skinned woman struggling at his feet. He muttered a few words, spinning a web of currents that entrapped Zaileen, dragging her off her feet, lifting her to hold her suspended in a web between the trees. Sasheer lifted and arm, trying to reach her, but was unable to move; the currents winding around him, pulling him down floor. He was tethered to the ground and isolated from his Shade, helpless to free himself or help Zaileen. "Let her go free, and I will do whatever you ask," he said. "Willingly." "You will do what I want regardless," the Magus corrected. "You will show me the future. You will show me who will betray me on the High Council. You will show me how to kill the Heartstone so that I can avoid the entombing curse. I know it can be done, as I have seen glimpsed via the Seer Mechanism. I need someone with stronger Foresight to show me the entire picture." Sasheer gritted his teeth, just holding onto his shields, knowing it was only a matter of time before the Magus breached his mental barriers. "And Zaileen?" "She will stand as an object lesson for others. That disobedience will not be tolerated." "No," Sasheer struggled to stand in one last act of defiance. He heard Zaileen scream, and watched as the Magus threw more power into the web. The threads of darkness lashed around her frame, cutting into her skin, winding through her hair. "Her Fate is your doing," the Magus said. "She will become that which she despises the most." "Don't do this," Sasheer begged. "In your honor I will make her one of the undying." "No! Please—" "A pet. One of the Raveners. But a Ravener that will only hunt for me."