“What do you know of humans being a Chosen?” Trik asked bluntly.

Myrin’s eyes narrowed as he watched the King’s greatest assassin and spy.

“I know that it can happen, though it is extremely rare.”

“Why?” Trik asked tersely.

“Why can it happen or why is it rare?” Myrin leaned back deeper in the chair and crossed one leg over the other.

“Yes,” Trick answered as he began to pace.

“I’m not sure why it happens, or how. However, I believe that it is rare simply because we limit our interactions with the humans. I think that it would probably happen much more often if we spent more time in direct contact with the humans in their realm.”

“How do you know if one is your Chosen?”

“There is one thing; and one thing only that determines if a human is a Chosen.”

Trik waited for an explanation. When it didn’t come, he huffed. “Well, out with it.”

Myrin chuckled. “I don’t believe that I have ever seen Lorsan’s great killer so out of sorts.”

Trik’s eyes flashed menacingly. “I respect you old one, but my patience is wearing thin.”

“Tsk, tsk, Trik. There is no need for idle threats,” Myrin sighed. “If she is your Chosen, then she will be able to see you in your true form without your help,” he continued, deciding it was unwise to goad the assassin further.

Trik sat down hard on the couch opposite the elder as the words echoed ominously through his mind. A string of profanities in his own language poured from his lips as he considered the consequences.

“Trik,” Myrin leaned forward watching him closely. “You’ve met your Chosen.” It wasn’t a question.

“She’s human, practically a child,” Trik ground out through clenched teeth.

Myrin sucked in a breath. “Well that is impossible. A child can never be revealed as a Chosen, even if she were meant to be one. She has to have undergone her maturing.”

Trik looked up, his eyes narrowed. “What do you mean maturing?”

“I’m not totally sure what it means for humans, but for our kind she has to be matured to the point of being able to bear a child and be free from the shelter of her sire and mother.”

“She still lives with her parents, but I swear by the King that there was nothing childlike about her, other than a certain innocence,” Trik added the last as an afterthought.

“You are sure that she is your Chosen?” Myrin asked.

“She saw my natural form while I was in my human guise,” Trik answered.

“Have you told Lorsan?”

“No, I needed confirmation,” Trik stood and looked down at the elder. “Speak of this to no one.”

Myrin nodded and watched as theimpenetrable assassin left his apartment.

~

“I need an audience with you,” Trik bowed low before his King.

Lorsan lounged in his personal suite. He knew that something must be seriously wrong as Trik had sought him out in his private quarters. Lorsan motioned for Trik to sit, and since it was the King doing the motioning, Trik obeyed.

“Tell me,” Lorsan said without preamble.

Trik let out a slow breath before he met the eyes of his King.

“I’ve met my Chosen.” The words were an ominous declaration in the silence of the room.

Trik waited as he watched Lorsan process the information.

“Triktapic I swear, if this is your way of telling me you are resigning…” Lorsan growled.

“She is human,” Trik interrupted the beginning of what he knew was sure to be a grand tirade.

Lorsan snapped his mouth shut as his eyes narrowed. He stared at his assassin intently before he spoke again.

“You are sure?” He asked.

“She saw through my glamour. She saw my true form.” Trik went on to explain all that he had told Myrin and watched as Lorsan’s eyes widened in surprise and concern.

“She sounds so young.”

Trik nodded. “Yes, but it’s so hard to tell with humans. As Tony has said, some that are under the human adult age look to be in their twenties, and others that are older look like teens.”

Lorsan seemed to ponder Trik’s words. After several minutes of silence, he finally spoke again.

“Not that I don’t find it very significant that you have found your Chosen, but I still need to know what Tamsin and his elves are up to.”

Trik visibly relaxed at being asked a question he felt confident in answering, as it related to a topic with which he was comfortable. “You aren’t going to like what I have to say.”

Lorsan snorted. “Since when do I ever like what you have to say, and since when do you worry about what I like?”

“Good point,” Trik agreed. “Tamsin knows of your new venture.”

Lorsan’s eyebrows rose and his lips tightened into a thin straight line. “How is it that he came by this knowledge?”

“If you are asking if we have a mole or a traitor, then my answer at this time is, I have no clue .” Trik held up a hand to hold Lorsan off as he continued. “However, based on what Tamsin said, I would guess that he has made some sort of deal with one of ours.”

“Just tell me exactly what was said in this little meeting.”

“He said that he wanted his people to look into buying the land that you have had your eye on. He mentioned that he would simply use the excuse of looking for oil in that land if human investors began to ask questions.”