Sire finished his story and turned to look at Bridget. She had her head propped up on one hand and an incredulous expression on her face, but she had not interrupted once.

"What?" he asked.

"Nothing," she said.

"You think I'm lying, don't you?"

"Not really," she replied. "You seem pretty convinced you're telling the truth so I figure only two possibilities. One: you're crazy and you've convinced yourself of this fantasy to hide your own mundane existence from yourself, in which case Zeus won't care about finding you. Or two: you're telling the truth and Zeus will soon realise after viewing your DNA samples what a threat you represent and will hunt you to the ends of the universe in order to slaughter you and everybody who's with you."

"I'm not crazy." Sire grinned.

"I pray for my sake that you are," she scowled. Sire turned away, smiling to himself. She might not believe a word of what he was saying, but just the telling of it to another human being was wonderfully liberating. Still, he felt a stab of danger in his gut. Now he had started a chain. She could tell anybody his story and it could spread furiously and doom him and the future of his bloodline. The idea that he may have to kill this girl slipped across his mind for one dark little moment and then was gone. He had told her out of a desperate need to reach out to somebody, and he would take the consequences in kind.

Sire glanced back at her. She was silent, and avoided his gaze. She was pretty, in a sour kind of way. If she stopped whining for a moment and let her hair down she certainly wouldn't look too unpleasant. He decided to keep this sentiment to himself. He had no desire to annoy his only allies further. Terez appeared suddenly behind them.

"We're close," he said. "Can you see it yet?" Bridget glanced at the readouts.

"It's on the port side," she said, taking the sticks in front of her and turning them gently so that the little craft angled in on the planet Ammon.

It was a truly wondrous sight: a green, blue and golden planet, more fertile than any other in the system. It was composed of vast, deep oceans, expansive grasslands, wide savannah, great plains of rock, arid desert, towering snow-capped mountains and giant forests that stretched for thousands of miles obscuring all that dwelled within. The sun cage that surrounded the planet had not been maintained for centuries yet still life flourished beneath, a vast eco-system that sustained itself without man's aid or interference. The planet was host to millions of life forms. Animals, fish, insects and birds could be found in abundance and nature was apparent in everything, as savage as it was beautiful.

Sire had read about Ammon many times. It was an untamed planet, with a strange and dangerous reputation regarding its treatment of intruders. No development projects ever seemed to last more than a few months. There had been accidents, natural disasters and financial difficulties that had led to huge losses of funding or materials. Consequently Zeus and the other planetary powers had been forced to look elsewhere for their future homes and businesses. It was as if the planet itself refused to play host to these outsiders. As a result only a handful of inhabited areas existed on the planet's technically worthless surface; mainly minor spaceports and small villages.

A tingle went up and down Sire's spine as he thought of the lush, green wild-lands, sweeping valleys and the abandoned ghost towns that lay hidden throughout. To him it was an unspoiled promised land he could lose himself in and disappear from Zeus's searching eyes. It meant something else too, for somewhere down there, were the palaces of his bloodline, now most likely a desolate collection of ruins, but still a solid link to his true past. For some reason, the family of Alexandria had managed to flourish there, where others could not. Two decades after their downfall, would there be anything left to mark their passing?

"Start up the short wave radio," Terez ordered.

"What frequency?" asked Bridget.

"1138. I'm contacting my old friend," said Terez.

"How old is this friend?" she replied. "That's a prehistoric frequency, nobody uses it any more."

"Exactly," said Terez. "Go to these co-ordinates." He cited a collection of three digit numbers. Bridget programmed them into the flight computer. The radio mike crackled and Terez spoke into it quietly.

"Goldilocks, Poppa Bear is home," he rumbled. It should have sounded ridiculous, but coming from somebody so large and dignified, it didn't. "I need you to meet us in the exact same spot where you last saw me." He turned to Bridget. "There are some ruins at those co-ordinates, touch down there." He smiled dryly. "An old ghost will be waiting for us." He sat back in the navigator's seat and said nothing more.

Sire and Bridget eyed each other warily. It seemed unlikely this man would be sending them into a trap, but their delicate freedom was precious to them right now and they felt naturally cautious of the enigmatic blind man.

***

The ruins of Threnon were now silent. In the past, it had been a garrison outpost, providing both a home and a watchtower to the surrounding land, built long ago during one of the countless attempts at settling. Many people had been born and died within, and battles had raged here, taking their toll on the architecture as well as its inhabitants. Now, it was silent and still, yet to be amongst these stones made Sire shudder and the hairs on his neck stand on end. Eyes were watching from every archway and empty window, and the ancient walls breathed slowly in and out.

Waiting.

Creeping shadows and doorways that led to nowhere surrounded the trio as they sat on a stone slab and waited. Plants and trees had seeded and grown tall within the walls since this place was last lived in, and animals had made homes in dark corners. Sire could feel movements from them at the edges of his eyes. He was standing on a plinth, with Terez at his feet, listening to the world around him. Bridget was sitting beside Terez; shoulders hunched, lips pursed, arms folded, eyes darting ceaselessly.

"I have a really bad feeling about this," she said.

"We're fugitives," muttered Sire. "Waiting for Vincent's friend in a populated area would be a bad idea. This helps us disappear off Zeus' map." Bridget grumbled something under her breath but jumped when Sire knelt down next to her.

"You're not scared, are you?" he grinned. She shot him a withering look, but it was obvious that she was. He had to admit this was one of the eeriest places he had ever been in. He turned to Terez to ask something that had been bugging him for hours.

"Back on Zeus you said something about my light hurting your eyes," said Sire. "What did you mean by that?"

Terez was silent for a moment. A chill wind crept through the ruins and slid like frozen fingers down the back of Sire's jacket.

"That's something new," Terez said. "I've always been able to see the future in some way or another, but since Zeus bagged me, took my eyes and boosted my power, I've been able to see people's souls."

Sire felt like snorting with derision, but was this really less believable than clairvoyance? He had been very careful not to ask Terez to perform for them and prove he could see the future, but he had been right about their escaping, and he was in the hangar at exactly the correct time to meet them, so thus far Sire had no reason to believe the man to be a liar.

"So why does it hurt to look at me?" Sire asked.

Terez shrugged. "Some souls are brighter than others," he replied. I'm used to those guys from Zeus. They have dirty grey souls so it wasn't until I met you that I saw that there could be a difference."

Bridget turned to Terez at this, suddenly alarmed. "Do these souls have to be living for you to see them?" Terez shook his head slowly. "Can you see everybody, then?" she asked, lips trembling. Terez glanced about and nodded.

"Why, can you?" he rumbled quietly.

"I can't see anybody around here," Bridget said.

"I can feel them too," Sire breathed. He scanned the area for the wispy forms he was so desperate to prove existed. He was, deep down, very nervous, but the prospect of seeing an actual ghost was exhilarating. In his mind's eye he gave them features and detailed their appearance; tall figures, with long hair in armour and battle dress. Their faces and bodies were an indistinct swirling mix of shadows and light. They looked at the newcomers through ethereal eyes and whispered to one another. Surely this was just his imagination?

"They're all around us," Terez said, his voice husky.

Bridget nearly jumped up and fled. Then something warm and heavy lowered over her shoulders; Sire's leather jacket, which he had liberated from an unconscious guard back on Zeus. She looked up at him. He did not look back. Suddenly she gripped his leg and nodded her head frantically towards a nearby doorway. An old man was standing there. The first things Sire noticed about him were his eyes; embers of bright wisdom set in an aged, noble face. Long white hair cascaded from the crown of his head, almost to his waist, adorned with long braids and a topknot. He was clad in grey and white robes, finely cut and yet modest and eminently practical. He was leaning on a smooth staff of polished ebony and his expression was solemn yet quizzical.

"I can see him," said Sire. Terez got to his feet and approached the man. Smiling, he reached out and offered his hand. The old man shook it with some ceremony, then smiled and embraced Terez. Sire and Bridget breathed a sigh of relief. This was clearly who they were here to find. Four more people appeared, much younger than the first man, but similarly dressed.

"It's been too long, my friend," said the white-haired man.

"Way too long," said Terez. "I've been waiting to get back here for five years." There was a pause as the old man studied Terez' face.

"What did they do to you?" he asked softly. Terez took off his sunglasses. His friend did not falter; he only bowed his head in respect. "They took my eyes and accelerated my abilities..." He paused. "I can only see on the other side now. I'm half dead already."

"But that means you're still half alive." Terez nodded and grinned. He turned to his companions.

"Guys, this mysterious fellow is Master Erudite Raven. Raven, this is Sire Firebrand and Bridget Chase. Fellow escapees from Zeus." Sire and Bridget jumped down off the plinth and Sire lowered his head politely. Raven's eyes twitched almost imperceptibly as he looked at him properly for the first time, but he said nothing. Bridget managed a tight smile. "I owe them my life and my freedom," Terez added. Raven nodded slowly.

"Welcome to Ammon," he said. "We must be swift in leaving this place. Will you all accompany me back to my school, where we can regroup and, if you wish, depart from there?" His voice was warm and soft, with a slightly rough undertone that demanded attention and respect. "I'll get one of my students to scramble your shuttle's black box and send it off to some distant planet. That way Zeus will lose your trail." Terez nodded. "Master Springbuck, will you do the honours, please?" One of the four young people behind him, a lithe young man with bright eyes, nodded and sprinted off in the direction of their shuttle.

They followed Raven through the ruins. He walked far in front, with Terez at his side, talking quietly. Sire patted Bridget's shoulder as they walked.

"Relax," he said quietly. "This guy seems okay." Bridget looked at him and said nothing.

Up front, Terez spoke softly to Raven. "You'll have noticed the glow around that boy."

"Yes, very intriguing. He's generating spiritual energy of an amazing intensity."

"I can't look directly at him for fear I'll go blind a second time," said Terez. "I can barely focus on you."

"I am sorry to hear that," Raven said. "As soon as you are ready we can work on helping you filter out some of the brightness so that it no longer causes you pain."

"That would be very good."

They came up over a ridge, and down below Sire and Bridget caught first sight of one of the most magnificent, wondrous and ancient ships in the entire planetary system. It was a gleaming silver galleon with huge turbines located at the back. Giant solar panels stretched up to the heavens forming sails, connected to sturdy masts and a broad deck with a complex system of rigging. Both sides were flanked with ion and fusion cannons, revealing its heritage as a warship. It lay before them, the breathtaking embodiment of intrepid exploration, bringing back Sire's most beloved memories of swashbuckling adventure. From the rear mast, Raven's flag blew in the evening winds, ten stars surrounding a great white bird of prey, its wings spread wide, emblazoned on black with silver borders. The same white bird formed the figurehead at the prow of the ship.

Sire nearly choked at the sight of it. This was a ship he had sailed in his childhood dreams; never faltering, onward into uncharted waters. For the first time in as long as he could remember, he was stilled by his emotions and stood in awe.

Raven turned to view the reactions of his new charges and was not disappointed. Even Bridget seemed impressed. He paced back to Sire and stood beside him.

"She is quite beautiful, isn't she?"

Sire nodded, breathlessly. "What's her name?" he asked softly.

"The Storm," replied Raven. The name danced through Sire's mind and he realised that Raven was still just as enamoured of the sight as Sire was himself. An immediate bond of understanding had formed between them already. Here were two men, separated by decades of age and experience, united by the single fact that every fibre of their being craved an ancient and timeless journey through danger and the unknown. Adventure was in their blood and at this moment, Sire began to trust - for the first time - somebody other than himself.

"Let's get on board," the old man said, and briefly rested a hand on Sire's shoulder.

They climbed the gangplank and somewhere nearby, their shuttle fired up and shot off into the sky, shortly afterwards, Master Springbuck came running up the gangplank behind them, signalling to the bridge to set sail. A tall, blonde man at the helm nodded and fired up the engines. There was a joyous roar as the turbines began to rotate. The deck shook and the ruins fell away beneath them as the gigantic ship rose up, into the evening sky, turning slowly towards its destination. Raven stepped over and addressed his guests.

"I'd hold onto something if I were you." Sire nodded and ran to the front prow to get the best view. He gripped the railing as the ship began to hurtle across the landscape, the wind rushed through his hair, blowing his jacket out behind him. Far down below, Sire saw the plains of Ammon, opalescent in the dusk-light, herds of unidentifiable creatures moving here and there in an untouched paradise. Ahead of them lay mountains that capped the horizon, a dark inviting hiding place at the base of the sunset. This land was sacred. Here was Sire's old kingdom. Here, he was home.

***

The Storm had slowed its course a little and Sire was able to relax his grip on the rail before him. Raven was now standing not far away to his right.

"Are you so very desperate to escape Zeus, or is there something more in your flight?" Raven asked finally. Sire did not reply immediately. The man had skipped polite introductions and casual questioning and gone straight to the heart of why they were here. Sire found this immensely refreshing. Nobody but his mother had ever managed to appeal to him, not by what they said, but what they didn't say.

"I want to be rid of my old life," Sire murmured. "It was very dangerous being who I was, back where I used to be, but I'd rather face the danger here, head on. I'm through with hiding from it."

Raven nodded. "Many people come to me in flight. They run from danger or responsibility, or they come here seeking both. Which is it that you want? Escape or discovery?"

"Can I have both?" Sire ventured. It seemed at first like a sarcastic answer but in truth, he still felt an acute conflict between what he wanted to do and what had to be done.

"That would depend on the course you wish to take," said Raven. Sire was suddenly filled with questions.

"What kind of school do you run?" he asked.

"My halls are full of people of all ages, who come to me for a time to learn about other cultures as well as their own, history free from censorship by the narrow-minded, art that has not been sullied and neutered by those who would keep us blinded and mute; most of all, it is a place where philosophies and ideas are exchanged, considered and questioned by all."

"So you have all the books, movies and music that Zeus won't let us experience?" Sire asked hopefully. Raven nodded.

"But it is much more than that, Sire. I am bringing together people who would otherwise feel utterly alone. It is my hope that with enough time and effort, we can formulate a way to bring this unity to everybody, on every planet, who feels the same. Zeus does not want this, but with enough connections we may be able to affect change for the better and improve the lives of countless people. That, to me would be a life well spent."

Raven smiled and looked out below the ship. At the base of the nearing range of mountains lay his school. It was too large to be a cathedral and yet too beautiful to be a fortress. Its towers and high spires were worn with age, yet shone like silver in the last of the evening sun. The walls were lined with tall windows glowing with the lamplights within and wide courtyards were dotted with Raven's students waving them home. In the centre of the largest building was a smooth domed roof that opened, iris-like, to accommodate the descending ship.

As they lowered, Sire breathed deeply and decided that nothing had ever smelled so agreeable. The whole school smelled like fresh bread, new-mown grass, wild strawberries and sealing wax. He had never felt a place that was so welcoming. At this point, Raven could have asked him to do anything to be a part of this world and he would have complied.

"This is my sanctuary, and home to all who seek balance and knowledge," Raven said in reverent tones. "Welcome to the House of Bright Souls."