An excerpt
from The Rise of The Phoenix

He did not realize it but her twin was running out of time. Dia had every intention of bringing her visit to a close within the next few wakings, before the sun had climbed high enough to make travel impossible. And why, it suddenly occurred to her to wonder, was it so important to ensnare her? Daerus had given her only the rather implausible explanation that, as his twin, she had always been with him and must remain with him as he walked his dark path. When she had expressed her dissatisfaction with that rationale, he had refused to explain further. Odd, that. Well, she had grown perfectly willing to allow Septha and His instruments to dip their evil fingers into the mind of her twin, if only they would leave her alone. She shook her head at her own thoughts. In truth, Dia was a little ashamed of herself, for honesty compelled her to admit that she had not tried very hard to get through to Daerus. She could offer in her own defense that she had been busily trying to preserve her own mind and had little leisure to try to reclaim his. Besides, how was she to free him of the darkness when he seemed so enamored of it? He would fight her every inch of the way. But the heart of the matter lay in the fact that she found she did not much care for this new Daerus. So very detestable was she finding him that she had almost forgotten that the man she now knew as Daerus was not really her beloved brother. Seated at endmeal beside Lord Caelon, she glanced across the table at the heir to Shae and became aware of a sudden overwhelming sadness. He did not even look quite like Daerus anymore. "Someday, you will have to tell me what I have done to earn your brother's disapprobation," Lord Caelon said in her ear. "What can you mean, my lord?" she asked him. "I did not even know that you were acquainted with him." "I have not been formally presented to him," Lord Caelon agreed, "but that has not prevented him from directing some very formidable stares my way. Perhaps I should hasten to assure him that my intentions toward his sister are completely honorable?" Dia smiled faintly. "I am afraid he would not be pleased with you, no matter what your intentions might be," she said ruefully. "He objects to my attentions to you?" "He has lost his mind and has taken to talking such complete nonsense that it is not worth repeating." "I see." Lord Caelon looked down at her with that quizzing smile in his blue eyes. "Do you know, I do not think I should care to figure in your memory as the cause of a permanent breach with your twin -- no matter how much entertainment I may be deriving from needling the crown prince." That confession made her laugh. "What a handsome admission for you to make, my lord!" Then she sobered. "There is no need for you to fret on that score. You have never even seen my brother." "Indeed! How peculiar that everyone at court seems to believe the young gentleman currently scowling at you so disapprovingly is Lord Daerus of Shae." "I ... No, he ... " Impulsively, Dia reached out and grasp his hand, having made a sudden decision. "May I beg your aid for just a moment, my lord?" "My dear Lady Dia, surely you must know that you may command me in anything!" "Oh, stop that!" She looked away from him and took a deep, calming breath. "I fear you may find this just a bit uncomfortable, my lord." "I have met the Throk on the fields of Aerand and lived to tell the tale, my lady. You do not frighten me so easily." Fleetingly, Dia wondered if Lord Caelon ever took anything seriously. She would have to be quick about this, she realized. Daerus, as she knew him now, was not alone; instinct told her that he was never left alone. She hoped her contact with Lord Caelon would protect her, for she knew that she would be at least somewhat vulnerable during the sort of penetrating mind-touch she had in mind. Carefully, she prepared her defenses and reached out to touch the thoughts of her dinner companion. I do apologize for this, my lord, she told him with silent sincerity. It will not be pleasant. Not waiting for his reply, she stabbed in her brother's direction with their joined minds, moving as quick as thought. As she had expected, she encountered a formidable barrier of dank darkness before she even reached him and, without slowing down, she stabbed through it with everything she could muster. Then she was penetrating her brother's once familiar mind, and she had to clench her teeth together to keep from retching. To her, it felt exactly like plunging her arm into a stable midden. Daerus' mind bore a heavy, dense cloak of sticky, cold blackness, rancid and poisonous, that seemed to go on forever. And then, huddled miserable and alone deep in the core of his mind, she finally found the twin brother she had known and loved all her life. And, as always, he recognized her touch immediately. Dia! Take care! It is not safe for you to touch me in this way ... Daerus! she cried out in relief, sensing his fear for her and all his terrible longing. Tell me what to do! How am I to free you of all this blackness? Surrender to the light! What? Surrender to the light... And then he pushed her away, urging her wordlessly to escape from his prison. With a suddenness that bespoke a determined mental wrench, he was gone. As briefly as she had touched her brother's mind, she was not quite quick enough. She felt the first few tendrils of the same disgusting mental sludge that had overcome Daerus slowly entering her thoughts. Lord Caelon seemed to feel it too, for she felt his shoulders stiffen and sensed his indignation through their mind-link. Very suddenly her mind was filled with a blazing, blinding light, and the dark mire withered and died. She quickly reestablished her defenses. Then she turned her head to glance at Lord Caelon and found him already regarding her pensively. "I have the oddest feeling ... ," he began slowly. "Yes?" "... that I should like, above all things, to excuse myself and go bathe." She grinned. "I did warn you, my lord."