The town of Moraine was once an imposing sight, situated as it was upon a promontory overlooking a long, wide valley of dense evergreens. A severe war with the inhabitants on the other side of the valley, and the following economic blight, left Moraine with the appearance of an ill, defeated old man. The once proud buildings stood untended and stooped as foundations eroded; the streets surrendered to indifference, now overgrown with weeds and the litter of poverty.

Even the roadway leading from the valley to the town seemed to have lost interest in its destination, looking grey and dusty in the late morning sun. The band of riders slowed to a walk, watching alertly as the Queen's carriage bumped and struggled up the steep incline. Jared felt an acute embarrassment at this entrance to his home after seeing Terrault. He hurried on ahead, hoping to have the town's officials at least present themselves with some sense of dignity.

As Queen Primula's carriage bumped through the town gates, Jared waved Jak toward the shabby looking entrance to the town hall where a small group of men resembling flowers wilting in a vase awaited patiently. The carriage halted with a small bounce and a puff of dust and Queen Primula disembarked without ceremony, approaching the group and identifying herself.

"A great honour indeed, your majesty, even in such regrettable circumstances." The voice held a tinge of disdain as the sentiment hung between them. "I am Elder Stemm, Regent of Moraine; I welcome you to our town. Please come inside, we have some refreshments and a place to relax while discussing business." The group turned as one, preceding the visitors up the crumbling steps.

"Where are you going?" Jak snagged Jared's sleeve as the lad began leading the pony away.

"I uh- I'm not... I don't have any business in there. My task is done."

"I think not, young friend." He took the reins and signaled one of his men to take the pony. "You don't get to eat at my table, wear my clothes, accept a mount and then just walk away."

Jared's face flamed red. "I was not just walking away. I- I would return the clothes and pony- I- I-"

"Calm yourself, lad." Jak put an arm around the boy's shoulder. "You need to develop a sense of humour about yourself-and life. The Queen told me to make certain you are in attendance when she speaks with the Elder. She wants you to hear her compliments on your diligence and manners."

Jared blushed a deeper shade, mildly protesting as Jak led him into the town hall.

After the business was discussed, Queen Primula accompanied the Elder and his entourage to the sick uncle's quarters. Jared stayed outside in the noon sun with the Jak and the soldiers. He told Jak a little about the town, pointing out different locations and indicating his own dwelling, a weary looking shed that was slipping into grave disrepair. He wandered over and knocked on the rough wood door, stepping back and waiting, his attention drifting back to Jak and the other men.

"Your mother not home?"

"She's not- they're not my parents." Jared walked quickly back toward the town hall.

"Where is your mother?"

"I don't know." His eyes watered and Jak backed off on his questioning, deciding the subject to be out of bounds and at that moment Primula strode out the doors and down the few steps to the street, waving her carriage forward and at the same time, beckoning to Jak. Elder Stemm and his advisors stood in a close group in the hall entry, dark expressions painted each of their faces.

"Your uncle, m'lady, is he-"

"Dead. But not before relating a strange tale, Jak. Join me in the carriage." Primula pulled the curtains closed and leaned close to her Captain. "As you know, the Winter War was when Dramoraine split into two factions, each retreating to opposite sides of this valley. Lazzard proclaimed himself ruler of the new kingdom of Moraine and his older brother, Eldergar, became leader of the Dramins." Primula parted the curtain and scanned the courtyard for eavesdroppers.

Satisfied they were secure, she continued. "My uncle was a confidant of King Lazzard, and when the war began to go badly for Moraine, he called him to his quarters and set him a dangerous task. Even though they became two kingdoms, the bloodlines retained legal right to ascendancy of the original kingdom. When the kingdom split apart, Eldergar took the woman Lazzard had been living with for his wife and immediately sired a son, hoping to preempt his brother as next in line. What he didn't know was that the woman was already carrying Lazzard's child!"

Jak rubbed a hand across his face and squeezed his temples. "So the child that's next in line was actually Lazzard's and Eldergar didn't know."

"Neither of them knew at first. Lazzard kidnapped the baby intending to eliminate an obstruction. The mother kept silent, biding her time until she saw who would prevail in the war. When it became apparent that Moraine was losing, she told the truth to her husband hoping to win his favour by denouncing the child. Eldergar became enraged and killed her and placed a price on the baby's head."

"So what was your uncle's task?"

"Lazzard was stunned to learn that the child was his, but since he had the child, he could protect it, so to thwart Eldergar, and save his own life, Lazzard chose the wife of his bravest soldier, Wissam Croft, to flee with the baby to a secret place that would be known only to my uncle. He gave me a map that shows the location of that place."

"What happened to Lazzard?"

"His plan backfired because he couldn't convince Eldergar he didn't know the whereabouts of the baby. He died under torture. We must find the woman, and the baby... a young lad by now, and see that he takes his rightful place in the Dramin court."

"That's Jared's mother you're talking about? She's the one who fled with the child?"

"It would seem. Apparently, he doesn't know what happened to her... he was only a baby himself. Actually, he and Eldergar's nephew would be about the same age now."

"I presume there is another reason for your caution."

"Indeed. Elder Stemm is a puppet of Eldergar. He was left in charge of Moraine as an ear to any clue of their whereabouts."