Martin, Gideon, and Raulff, somewhat annoyed at the trip to the forest being a waste of time, returned to help Agares study the secret of Recall.

Placing a Rune in the door of Agares’ room that prevented all sound from entering or leaving, Agares need not care about anyone hearing anything.

Right now, Agares stood in his room, holding the King’s Stone in his hand. “I, Agares Bright of Highland command thee to recall thine sister from the deeps!” The Stone pulsated green for a moment, but then stopped.

Martin looked up from a text book he’d gotten from his Tower’s Library. “I know that, hmm, all Sindarin artifacts, hmm, need some sort of, hmm, command from the owner of the, hmmm, artifact itself.”

“Well, something’s wrong.” Agares said. “I can get it to glow, but that’s it. But if I can at least get it to glow, I must be on the right track.”

“I think we may be missing some of the more ritualistic parts of this summoning.” Gideon said, pointing to a piece of text from a scroll on the table before him. “This text is in Sindarin, which is a little hard to translate, but I think it says an Altar of Oak, candles of the blue flame, and…Goat cheese? No, that can’t be right. Just a moment.” Raulff rolled his eyes and continued to read through another book.

“Ah! It was wrong.” Gideon said. “It says, bones of the beloved.”

“Bones of the beloved?” Asked Agares.

“I’ve heard of that, hmm, particular piece.” Martin quipped. “It’s the remain of someone very important to the Summoner. Very powerful piece of magic.”

“But I who could I use?” Agares asked. “I don’t consider Ruka beloved, and there is no way in I’m killing Jillia and using her remains…” He trailed off. “There is, however, the remains of my dear, departed wife, Queen Sara.”

“I see.” Martin said. “Do you want us to exhume the Queen then?” Agares bowed his head. “I hate the idea, but Sara would’ve wanted me to protect Highland and serve it as best I could. Do it.” “Very well.” Martin said. “Gideon, Raulff, and I shall perform the exhumation. Wait here.” The wizard and his assistants vanished.

Agares sat down. “Forgive me, Sara.” He whispered.

Sara’s body lay on an altar that had been assembled via Martin’s magic for the occasion. A few enchantments placed on the candles surrounding the altar produced Blue flame. Martin stood ready, should anything happen to Agares during the ritual. Agares looked down at Sara’s decayed remains but didn’t see the rotting flesh and empty eye sockets. He saw Sara as she had been when she was alive. Memories flooded Agares. When he’d first met Sara, giving birth to Ruka, Dagan (Dagan brought even more memories to him), and Jillia. He remembered the sorrow and rage he felt when he’d been told Jowston had killed her, and almost killed his beloved Jilly. He remembered it all. He sighed and looked down at the King’s Stone clutched in his hand. Was achieving his Life’s Greatest Work really that important to him? Did an artifact he’d never seen before really matter to him more then disturbing his wife’s rest?

“Sara…” He said. “I know you’ll forgive me when we meet again. You must understand, I have to do this for Highland. It’s my duty as King. Please understand. And know that after I perform the Ceremony, I’ll hate myself for it. But I know you’d do the exact same as me in my place. I know you would, because you loved Highland as much as I do. You’d want me to do everything in my power to protect this country. I know you would.” He sighed again. It was time.

He held the King’s Stone above him. “Oh Gods of the Abyss, Immortal, Undying, I beseech thee! I call upon the power of thine stone! Bring about Infinity to me! I, Agares Bright call upon the name of Dijada, father of Kings and Infinity to bring about thine sister! I command thee!”

The room shuddered violently as Agares uttered these words. Suddenly, lightning crackled through the room! A giant, black hole appeared on the altar, sucking it, the candles, and Sara into it.

The voice of Dijada rang in Agares’ ears.

Very good, King Agares. He said. You have done well. Step inside to claim your prize. Dijada, Alchemist of the Sindar, permits this! Agares, knowing what to do, stepped inside.

Agares was surrounded by blackness. He was afraid, for only fools never feel fear. He looked around for the Infinity Stone.

“Agares.”

That voice! It couldn’t be!

Sara Bright appeared in front of him. She was dressed in a white cloak and dress. A circlet was worn on her head.

“Sara!” Agares cried. “It’s really you!”

“Yes, Agares.” She said sadly. “Agares, why are you so blind?”

“B-blind?”

“Don’t you see the power you will unleash if you bring the Stones together?

It could destroy Highland!”

“But Sara…”

She looked at him. “I know you want what’s best for Highland, but can’t you see that even more will die if you create your weapon?”

“Jowston killed you!” Agares cried. “They deserve everything I give them! I will not rest until everyone who was part of your death is burning in Hell!”

Sara looked horrified. “No, Agares! You mustn’t-“ She vanished.

“SARA!!!!” Agares screamed.

Do not worry, King Agares. Dijada said from nowhere. She spent all her energy appearing and speaking to you. She has merely returned to the Other Side. The only reason she appeared to you is because you used her remains in the ceremony and because Limbo exists between the planes of Life and Death. Do not worry, your wife continues watching over you, as she has done with you and the Princess since she died.

Agares was crying. His wife had been there, right in front of him! Why had she not forgiven him? Why had she not comforted him? So many whys spun around in his head.

“Just give me the Infinity Stone and leave.” Agares snarled through his tears. “I never want to hear from you, or the Sindar ever again!”

Very well King Agares. But I warn you now, if you do not want to hear from us again, we cannot tell you the location of other artifacts we created to help you win your little war. You must-

“GIVE ME THE DAMN STONE AND GET ME OUT OF HERE!” Screamed Agares.

Very well.

Suddenly, Agares was blown back. The blackness faded and he hit something hard and passed out.

“Agares! Wake up!” Agares slowly opened his eyes. He looked around. His room lay in disarray, and Martin, Gideon, and Raulff were crowded around him, anxiously watching him.

Then it came flooding back to him. The ceremony, Dijada, Sara…

“How long…have I been out?” He asked.

“Not long.” Martin informed him. “We, hmm, saw you enter the hole, and, hmm, be blown out a second, hmm, later. You’ve only bee out, hmm, about two, hmm, minutes.” He smiled. “We also, hmm, found this in, hmm, your hand.” He held up a small red stone.

The Infinity Stone.

Agares took it from Martin. “So.” He said. “My quest is over. I have that which I have sought for the better part of my life.”

“Why don’t you seem, hmm, more pleased?” Asked Martin. Agares stared at the stone, his face expressionless. He rose.

“I know now that the High Priest will no longer trust me.” Agares grew angry. “He hid this Stone at the bottom of the Sea and knew full well about it when he talked with me. If he is too afraid of power of this magnitude, so be it. He is a superstitious fool, who knows nothing outside of his petty religion. If this Stone means we are enemies henceforth, then that is the price I must pay. And this…The means by which I shall kill the devil himself. I shall put an end to this war, and avenge Sara! I know she will forgive me. She has to.”

Agares took the King’s Stone from around his neck.