DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the character features in this story. The characters were invented by and belong to David Eddings (Possibly Leigh Eddings aswell, but I don't know!)

Talen rode slowly through the gates of Cimmura, his black Pandion armour clanking loudly and shining in the weak autumn sunlight. It didn't seem two days since he had left the dirty and overcrowded streets of his hometown, yet in all reality he had been in Rendor for five years, attempting to keep the peace there.

      "Yeah, like that's ever gonna actually happen," he thought sullenly "Peace in Rendor? Pffffff!"

  It had certainly been a difficult task and Talen was glad to be home, though he did not know how long he would be back for.

  As he rode through the overly familiar streets, Talen saw faces that he vaguely recognised, people from long ago. He thought back over his past and everything that had happened since their return from the Tamul continent. He had been thirteen then and had only just started his Pandion training. Twelve years ago. Was it really twelve years?

  Talen sighed. The world had been reasonably peaceful since the events with the Cyrgai and their God. Bhelliom had passed on, no longer confined in its Sapphire case, and the troll God's had been freed. The emperor, Sarabian, and several of his wives still visited frequently, as did Kring and Mirtai. He had missed them all, and indeed while he's been away he had missed the birth of Kalten and Alean's second child.

  It was definitely good to be back Talen decided.

  He had certainly grown up a lot since their return from Tamuli. Indeed anybody at the age of 25 would be expected to be grown up, though Talen quite frequently still felt like a child at heart. Although theoretically he was no longer a thief, he still visited Platime and Stragen, the 'leaders' of all the criminals in their respective cities, and he still pick-pocketed, as he had done when he was a young boy.

      "Just to keep in practice!" he told Sparhawk.

  A career as a thief would always be something to fall back on if his life as a Pandion knight didn't work out after all!

  His horse plodded on toward the entrance on the Pandion Chapter house. Having gone through the ritual at the gate, he dismounted his horse, leaving her with one of the novices in the courtyard, before he entered the building. He was greeted by many familiar faces, though the people he really wanted to see were his brothers and one of his oldest friends; Berit.

  Talen walked into a small room, shutting the door quietly behind him, before he dumped his large pack onto his bed and began to strip himself of his armour. It really did smell foul he decided. He changed quickly into a loose fitting tunic and a short pair of trousers, and just as he was beginning to re-tie his shoes there was a knock at the door.

      "Come in." Talen said as the door swung noisily open.

      "Welcome back!"

  Talen looked up as Berit, and his own brother Khalad entered the room.

      "How were things in Rendor?" Khalad asked him.

      "The normal," he replied as he picked his armour up from his bed and placed it inside the large closet that stood in the room, "hot, lots of fighting."

      "Sounds about right for Rendor," Berit smiled as he looked at his old friend warmly.

  Talen laughed. "I don't think it will ever change!

  Berit smiled too. "Let's hope for our sakes that it doesn't, or we shall all be out of jobs!"

  Khalad looked up at both of them, suddenly remembering something.

      "Word got round that you were coming back …and…well…you're wanted at the palace as soon as possible."

 Talen smiled and laughed lightly. "Sparhawk and Ehlana don't hang around do they? They obviously can't wait to see me!"

      "Actually, it was the princess Danae who requested your presence."

  Talens face fell. The princess.

  For her whole life she had had her eyes on Talen, planning one day to marry him, and although to begin with the idea had scared him, being only six when she had made the announcement to him, quite calmly in front of the whole room. He'd never gotten used to the idea. He was a free spirit and didn't like being under anybody's control. Could he cope with being Danae's husband and the responsibility that would place on him?

  He'd done a lot of thinking while he'd been away in Rendor and realised that although he cared greatly for Danae, he couldn't marry her, quite simply because he didn't love her. He loved someone else.

      "Are you alright?" Berit asked him, looking concerned

      "Fine," Talen murmured.

  He stood up, slowly drawing his cloak around him, preparing to go up to the palace.

  He could see this was going to be difficult.