For the next two days, the castle's routine played out as normal, though under it all, in the most secret areas, only used by a very few, it was a different matter.<br/>The hive of activity hummed in the background, all making ready for Borghast to be able to carry out his plan.<br/>His armies may have been repleated and returned the their homes, but he still had enough strength and power around him to cause mayhem, even his 'huntsmen' were not what they seemed, they hunted many more things that deer and wild boar.<br/>But Borghast was no fool....he used every tool he could to further his goals, nothing was beyond him, no treachury to small, no amount of politics too long winded and though he hated it and loathed it's users, no magic left untapped.<br/><br/>To all, it just seemed that Borghast was his usual self, he kept close council.<br/>Many only knew he was there, when he lost his temper and bellowed loud enough to send the whole place into an uneasy silence, but in reality, he and tohers were preoccupied with other matters.<br/><br/>The day of the hunt dawned bright and crisp.<br/>Borghast was in a fine mood, which to some was far more dangerous and unsettling than hearing him curse and shout.<br/><br/>Everything was going to plan.<br/>His<em>dear</em>Father had taken a turn for the worse, reports from his chambers said he only had days to live now, if even that.<br/>Of course the Prince was woefully sad and had spent a time in the chapel, preying for the King's recovery and taking the priests 'advice' that he should continue with his plans for the hunt.<br/>After all, it would do his Father no good at all to have his one and only surviving son, just idling and becoming morose, would it?<br/><br/><div align="center">________</div><br/>In his chambers, at dawn, Borghast was busily being dressed by his squire.<br/>Though he was going to be baite for this trap, he wasn't stupid and had decided to wear armour. Though he'd kept it simple and well hidden, he wore a chain hauberk and arming jacket under his fine leather tunic and had several talismans hung from a silver chain around his neck.<br/><br/>Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the shadows moving in the corner of the room. The Prince gruffly dismissed his squire and the others in the room, not speaking until all had left.<br/>"So.....all is ready?"<br/><br/>The shadows formed into the dark robed figure as it stepped out from it's hiding place and moved to stand next to Borghast.<br/>The Prince grimaced at it's proximity, he hated being so close, hated having to deal with it and it's kind, but a tool was a tool.<br/>Again Borghast nodded, as though to himself.<br/>"Good.....So with 'their' power to draw on, there is only you who needs to be in the open...good...less to worry about."<br/><br/>A small cold smile curled his lips.<br/>"You stop her and I'll do the rest....then you may 'enjoy' whoever is still alive...."<br/><br/>