The door opened and Marc entered, carrying a tray with a flagon of wine and a silver goblet. Moorcroft looked to where Calibex had been standing and discovered that the wizard was no longer in the room. A glance to the table showed that the wizard's wine goblet was no longer in evidence, either. He looked quickly around the room, but there was no indication the elusive magician had ever been within its confines.

Marc set the tray down and silently poured a cup of wine, then handed it to Moorcroft. The minister snatched the cup and quaffed down the liquid, discovering as he did so that his hand was shaking. He held out the empty cup. "More," he said, and drank that down quickly, as well.

Feeling a little more like himself after the second cup of wine, he thought about what Calibex had said. It made no sense to him that Humphrey would indeed head north, but then the knight could not be sure of Isabelle's safety anywhere within the Westerlands, at this point. And, he was no fool. Humphrey would protect the princess with his life, and would see to it that she was safe, regardless of the cost or risk to himself.

"Marc," he said, making his decision. "Send word to Captain Goetz. Inform him that I wish birds sent north, as well, advising our spies to watch the roads for Sir Humphrey and Princess Isabelle. If sighted, they are to be taken alive, if possible, but if there is any chance of them escaping, they are to be killed. Do you understand, my dear?"

Marc, nodded, ducked his head and dashed from the room. Moorcroft sighed and rose from his chair, suddenly feeling the need to be around other people, but he glanced nervously over his shoulder as he left the seemingly empty room.

To be continued...