Tyson reached forth and retrieved the crystal from the mindless hand that held it. "I’m sorry kiddo," he said. "But you’re my ticket to controlling those three juggernaughts you have been living with." Tyson returned the crystal to his pocket. "At least you’ll be happy in there," he said.
He had arranged for the lure in the mind trap. He really did like Sam. As far as Sam was concerned, he was in the arms of his mother, or at least Tyson's memory of Marlena. "Maybe now you’ll have the childhood you were denied."
Tyson paused for a moment as if considering something then at the last instant he reached out and removed the buckle from Sam's belt. It had been a gift as far as Sam had been concerned, but its real purpose was to gently and persistently generate sympathy for him in Sam's mind while generating antipathy for anyone who opposed him.
Tyson knew that Avery's healing powers would detect a charm on Sam had he used a spell. The buckle was an inanimate object, and would escape the healers vision. "This has served its purpose," he said as he tucked it away in his pocket. "There’s no reason to leave it behind as a clue," Tyson muttered as he prepared his teleportation.
Tyson cast his spell and effected his escape. He gazed on the body laying in the dry grass of the small meadow. As the ether energies began to vanish him from the forest, the view faded. "I'm sorry," he said, though no one would ever hear it.
Avery moved through the forest at top speed. He was not worried about silence or stealth. Speed was of the essence. He leaped across thickets with the grace of a gazelle, and vaulted from tree limb to tree limb over brush too thick and wide to move through or leap over. He was drawing near to Sam for the scent was stronger, when he stopped cold. A second scent made itself present. Tyson!
Avery surged forward in a mad dash. He was not armed and if it came to physical blows, Tyson would easily defeat him, but if he could just get near enough, a quick magic bolt might throw the monk off long enough for reinforcements to arrive.
After a sprint of about a hundred yards, Avery burst into the meadow. He was too late.
Nikki and Calista were huddled close to the fire while Armegon cursed himself for not catching the signs of the charm sooner. Ultrecht paced back and forth from the window to the door. He was talking to himself about how to break the spell once Sam was back under their control.
When, after agonizingly long minutes, the door finally opened, Calista screamed and jumped to her feet. Nikki broke into tears, and Armegon stood dumbfounded. Ultrecht simply shook his head in weak denial.
Avery stepped inside carrying Sam's limp body.
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