Slowly Vorden approached the demon man and knelt beside him. He glanced at the drawings, muttered something too low for the others to hear, and set to work. Lannon reached out with the Eye of Divinity and probed for danger. He saw that the demon man was asleep and the gauntlet was dormant, the magic subdued. The device did not seem to be aware of Vorden's presence.
"What an amazing young Squire," Jace whispered.
"Indeed," Taris whispered back. "The most promising I've seen in ages."
"The boy has a stout heart," whispered Hench.
Sweat dripped from Vorden's face, and he had to keep pausing to wipe it away. "It sure is hot in here," he mumbled more than once. He was trembling from anxiety and excitement, eager to prove himself once again.
"Just take your time," Taris said. "There is no hurry at all."
"It's a very tough lock," said Vorden. "It's almost like it…it tries to elude me. Like it moves or something. Very frustrating."
Jace raised his eyebrows. "Maybe it does move."
They waited for nearly a half hour while Vorden worked at the lock. Finally, he groaned in frustration and stood up, stretching his muscles. "I just can't do it. I'm certain the lock is resisting my efforts. As soon as I start making progress, the whole thing changes. It's impossible!"
"You need to keep trying," said Taris.
"Perhaps Lannon can assist you, Vorden," said Jace. "Lannon, use your power to seize the lock and hold it, if possible."
"That could be dangerous," said Taris.
"I doubt it," said Jace, though he seemed a bit uncertain. "It should work well, actually."
Lannon glanced at Taris, and Taris nodded. Lannon reached out with the Eye and probed the lock. He discovered that Vorden was right-the lock was capable of changing shape. Lannon seized the lock and froze it. It squirmed beneath the grasp of his sorcery, but he held on. The entire gauntlet surged to life in a blaze of sorcery, but with the demon man unconscious, it made no move.
Vorden worked at it furiously. "I've got it now!" he said. A loud click arose and the gauntlet shuddered. "That was one section of the lock. Just three more to go and then the gauntlet will be released."
"Don't talk," said Taris. "Just stay focused!"
Vorden was utterly soaked in sweat, and he kept rubbing his face on his arm. He muttered to himself as he worked the tools. "I definitely have it now!" Another loud click arose, and again the gauntlet shuddered. "Just two to go!"
Jace and Taris smiled at each other, and Hench grinned in amazement. Lannon was filled with pride to have Vorden as a friend. Soon the gauntlet would be free and there would be hope for Taris once they learned its secrets.
There was one more loud click, and Vorden turned to grin at them. "Only one more to go, my friends." He started to turn back when yet another loud click arose. The gauntlet split open in a hiss of steam.
"What in Tharnin?" Vorden muttered. "That shouldn't have happened yet." He reached for the gauntlet.
"Don't touch it!" Jace cried.
The gauntlet moved like a living creature with a speed that Vorden couldn't match. In an instant, it had locked itself onto his hand and arm. Vorden gazed at it in disbelief. "No, this can't happen!"
Vorden turned and stared at them, his face pale and his eyes filled with an emotion that he seldom displayed-terror. "Help me!" he yelled. "It's got a hold of me! Do something! Lannon, get it off my arm!"
Lannon tried, but his power was shoved aside.
Jace groaned. "Oh, this is very bad."
As they watched, a shadow seemed to fall over Vorden's face. His eyes shone with a yellow fire. He held up the gauntlet, the two stones glowing blue. The air burned hotter and seemed filled with an aura of crushing power that radiated from the gauntlet.
"Now this is a nice fit for me," Vorden said, his voice a low rumble. He threw back his head and laughed.
Jace flung himself at Vorden and a flash of light erupted from the gauntlet, blinding everyone for several moments. When they could see again, Vorden had fled from the chamber.
"Put Dremlock on full alert!" Taris cried. "Sound the warning!" He took a few staggering steps and then collapsed to the floor.
***
The Knights launched a massive search for Vorden, while blocking all known exits from the kingdom. They even had Lannon searching areas with the Eye of Divinity. But no trace of Vorden was found. The Knights speculated that perhaps Vorden was using the gauntlet's power to conceal himself somehow. Taris Warhawk ended up in the Hall of Healing and was unable to assist with the search, though he was in good spirits in spite of his weakened state.
The kingdom seemed plunged into despair, with grim faces everywhere. Soon everyone knew that one of the most talented Squires at Dremlock had fallen under the spell of the Deep Shadow and, even worse, wielded the Hand of Tharnin. Lannon and his remaining friends were thoroughly miserable, having lost Vorden and Timlin to evil almost at the same time. Lannon blamed himself, wondering what he could have done differently to prevent the ill turn of events.
But with Vorden remaining unfound, life had to go on at Dremlock. Shennen Silverarrow-one of the most trusted and decorated Blue Knights-was added to the Divine Shield to replace Vorden. His addition gave Lannon a badly needed confidence boost, as Shennen's skills at detecting danger were unmatched. Trenton Shadowbane also requested he be assigned to guard Lannon, but he was refused by the High Council. The Investigator of Dremlock was a strange man whom many didn't trust.
One evening, Jerret and Aldreya met with Lannon in his chamber. Jerret brought a pack with him and shoved it under Vorden's bed. "I'm moving in with you," he announced, "by order of Taris Warhawk. I am also to be trained as a Blue Squire henceforth."
"Taris ordered that?" said Lannon. "But why?" Lannon realized he wasn't extremely fond of Jerret. Jerret had been Vorden's friend, and by that connection he had been Lannon's friend. Yet he seemed a bit cowardly and lazy, and he had a tendency to cast an eye on the female members of Dremlock-which was strictly forbidden. Lannon didn't fully trust him.
"I don't know," said Jerret. "I think the Knights believe we're close friends and they want you to have a trusted Squire with you. Or something like that. Who can figure out their minds?"
"Taris is just trying to boost your spirits, Lannon," said Aldreya, who was sitting on Timlin's bed. "He realizes you're suffering over the loss of Vorden and Timlin. It's quite obvious this whole kingdom has been concerned with your comfort. They want to make sure you have trusted friends around you."
Lannon nodded. He wasn't in the mood for talk, his mind still reeling from the recent events. He wanted to be alone.
Jerret patted the bed next to him. "Why don't you sit by me, Aldreya?"
"I'm fine where I am," said Aldreya, her voice cold.
"This mattress is comfortable," said Jerret, winking at her. "That one you're on looks a bit lumpy. Isn't that reason enough to sit by me?"
Aldreya simply gazed at Jerret with a curious look.
Lannon didn't like the sly expression on Jerret's face. "She seems comfortable where she is, Jerret."
"I know," Jerret said, smiling, "but I think she would be more comfortable sitting by me."
Aldreya turned away from Jerret and gazed at Lannon, her face stony. "So how are you feeling?"
"Terrible," said Lannon, grateful for a change of subject. "I still feel responsible for everything that has happened. When Timlin asked me to use the Eye of Divinity to help him, well, I guess I should have helped him. And I was supposed to alert Vorden to danger when he was trying to remove the gauntlet from the demon man, but I lost focus for a moment."