Prologue

The mist was heavy listing low to the ground and covering the grass like a blanket. In the early morning light, it appeared otherworldly. Quiet was all around the meadows and fields; the livestock had not yet been led out to pasture that day. The village, its inhabitants and the countryside were still asleep.

However, into the quiet a soft wheezing grew, like a wind through reeds and then suddenly died away. A pair of people appeared, walking out of a small cluster of trees, to stand in the field.

The younger, female half of the pair held up a small piece of equipment. She sighed and with a shake of her head addressed the taller, older male companion. "It is very far away indeed, Father."

The man smiled, a wide smile that was only accentuated by his goatee. "Ah, dear Cassiopeia, I could not land in the castle proper. These people are not entire primitives; they know of offworlders and their proximity to Gallifrey means that they know of Time Lords. It is better that we approach them as inconspicuous travelers."

"Travelers with means…" Cassiopeia offered. She arched a perfect eyebrow into her hairline. "How can you be assured that they will give us the pieces we need?"

"Money speaks loudly; our wits speak louder; my trusted weapon speaks loudest of all," the man offered, looking around. "Come, daughter…"

**

"The Nightwanderer scout has arrived, my liege."

King Lazotan glanced up from his papers. The late night frolicking the night before and the early morning hour had taken its toll on his youthful face. He was paler than usual, making his brown eyes seem like great dark shadows and his black hair hung like a tattered rag about his head. He wore a simple robe of green knotted over a plain white shirt and black pants. "Well…show him in, Harkil, before someone sees him."

The servant bowed quickly and left. Lazotan rose, skirting the ornate wooden desk to approach the drink canister. As the door behind him opened again, he held out a filled chalice without looking at the man who entered. "Makran…"

"No thank you, your majesty," Makran answered. As the King turned to face him, the man

bowed quickly and extended his hand to a small brass box that was on the desk. The King walked over to the desk, sipping his chalice slowly. When he was close enough, he opened the box and a small smile came across his features.

"And the magic materials?"

"The large pieces are here, my liege. The others remain at the seller's circle."

The King shifted his hands through the gold pieces in the box. "Good, good. Tell Jandar that I require the flat silver piece with the emerald knobs. If he brings it to me within half a fortnight, he may receive 100 trinas for his trouble and a larger cut of the sales." He rubbed his nose momentarily and then glanced at the man as he stood. "You may leave now…"

As the door closed behind Makran, the King chuckled lowly, shifting his hands through the box and watching the early morning sun glint off the golden edges.

**

Another strange occurrence had happened on the quiet countryside. A blue box, similar to a coffin had appeared at the edge of a clearing. The door opened and a young man, his lips pressed tightly together and a hat on his head, stuck his shoulders out. "Wonderful…a perfect landing."

As he walked out, his hands stuffed deep in the pockets of his striped trousers, he was followed by a boy in a multicolored jumper, and a young woman dressed in a purple and lavender uniform. The woman stopped to glance up at the trees, but the boy continued, following the young blond man to the edge of the meadow. "But Doctor…"

"I said no, Adric," the man turned, bending at the waist to stare at his young friend. "You have to stay here at the TARDIS with Tegan and Nyssa. I will return shortly."

"But you said yourself that this planet is peaceful…" Adric argued.

"And beautiful," Tegan offered, glancing over to the edge of the meadow where an oceans was visible, peaking through the trees. "I knew it sounded too good to be true."

The Doctor sighed. "When I return, we can explore…visit a few villages I know…but for now, the both of you and Nyssa need to remain here. And no arguments. I haven't the time or the patience for it right now." He glanced off to the east. "I'll be back."

And then he was gone walking across the meadow at a clipped pace.

Tegan shook her head and crossed her arms over her chest. "What was that all about?"

"He is in one of his moods again," Adric answered, narrowing his brown eyes at the middle of the Doctor's back. "We landed and he immediately gathered up a few tools. When you came into the console room, he had already told me to stay behind."

With a shrug, Tegan turned back towards the TARDIS. "It doesn't bother me...as long as he can get me home.  I'm going to talk with Nyssa."

Adric didn't answer, but stared at the retreating man's back. The Doctor's cream coat tails were flapping as he nearly ran from the meadow. "I just wish I knew what was going on…" the boy said quietly and then turned to follow his friend back into the blue box that was a time machine that was their home.