The first minutes of daybreak through the branches of the forest illuminated the path before them.  As the two made their flight from Stonebarrow, Garadaine and Myllia found a cloaked figure standing before them, standing behind a small tree, looking about the horizon.  With the spell of invisibility that Myllia had cast upon them, the man could not have seen them approach, but he seemed to be aware someone was near.  
    "Masark!" Garadaine spoke happily.  
    Masark turned around quickly, looking about startled.
    "It's good to see you again, my friend," Garadaine continued.
    "I wish I could say the same, my Prince," Masark smirked, looking about again.
    Suddenly two figures appeared before the cloaked man, causing him to take a quick step backward.
    "Sorry about that..." Myllia said softly.
    "Oh?  Who is this, pray tell?" Masark smiled.
    "This is Myllia," Garadaine motioned to the woman, "she helped me escape from Stonebarrow."  Myllia bowed her head slightly; Masark returned the same.
    "I did not have any doubt as to your success in doing so.  But your father's actions have left me with some concern."
    "Yes," Garadaine sighed, "I've never seen him like this.  Are you alone, Masark?  Where are the others?"
    "Trenial went off to rally his clan of Paladins to your aid; Rillik went along with him.  Gartgnar went off to bring back his Dwarven brethren, and Cassrien went to fetch elf kind."
    "And you?" Garadaine smirked.
    "Waiting here as ordered," Masark smiled.
    "Wait," Myllia interrupted, "how could you have ordered him to be here?  I was there, you didn't say a word to him..."
    "The Prince never enters into any situation without a contingency plan," Masark replied.
    "I try.  Now that I'm a fugitive, the whole country will be hunting me down," Garadaine stared at the ground.
    "I suspect you have quite a few friends left, Garadaine, do not think your father's downward spiral into madness has gone unnoticed."
    "Perhaps..." Garadaine sighed.
    "So what were you doing so conveniently inside Stonebarrow, Myllia?" Masark asked turning to the woman.
    "I was searching for this," she replied, holding out the Gem Dagger slightly, "Garadaine helped me acquire it for his freedom."
    "I see," Masark rubbed his chin slightly, "and what do you want with this item?"
    "The person I work for wants it, and I do my job," Myllia said.
    "You do what you are told, you mean," he replied.
    "What?" Myllia gasped in offense.
    "Garadaine, I believe your lady friend here has been put under a spell."
    "What makes you say that, Masark?" Garadaine looked over at Myllia.
    "Trust in my judgment.  Myllia, you are under a very strong curse, I would say you are a slave to your master."
    "That's a lie!" Myllia scowled, "My mind is my own!"
    "I can sense it Myllia, I can feel an evil aura around you that is not your own."