[brianeyci]

==

He had found another dead end.

Flavius swore. The lizard people insisted that he go through this maze every time he came. He did not know the intent or the purpose of the maze, other than to delay and irritate. Despite being here several times in the past, Flavius could never remember the layout. It was as if every time he left, he had the memory of the maze erased. Or perhaps the maze actually changed.

However they did it, Flavius didn't like it. He had been chosen for this assignment because his father was one of the leading diplomats to Esthia. He had tried to protest, but had been overriden. Somebody had a grudge against him. Now he was stuck as the messenger to Esthia, a land of trickery and magiks which made his skin crawl.

Flavius turned a corner. He had been consistently preferring the right. Logically, Flavius would eventually reach the end of the maze. If the sorcerers didn't change the rules in the middle.

A rustle. Perhaps they had tired of the game. Flavius turned around...

==