Spirit of Shadow

It seems a dereliction of duty on the part of the servants who keep the Palace at Shadovane in order when Lance starts seeing a spider in the window by his bunk each night; but soon after, he begins to hear voices, and a peculiar sickness steals over him when those around him use magic. He begins to believe the voice so intent on chasing him away from sleep belongs to a real entity, and it wants something from him; but he can't bring himself to tell anyone of what is afflicting him for fear he will be taken by the palace's eyes and ears, taken away to die.

It is while shadowing a courier that he finds himself before Lord Aren, among the highest ranking officers in Shadovane's militia, who knows something of what is afflicting him. Lord Aren swears him to secrecy, and directs him to an ally in the furnaces who may be able to help. In the bowels of the palace, Lance soon discovers that a conspiracy against the crown has long been simmering among a faction of servants and others, and he may be the missing piece they've been looking for to turn the tables on their ruler.