Iphis Bliss & Mesharis (Please zoom) Don't underestimate this young lady here. Brought up as a farmgirl in a small northern village but actually a princess and heir to the throne of the mighty Kingdom of Korr. The last member of the royal family but how to prove it in a land of turmoil, corruption and power struggle. The Royal Counsel consisting of five members of nobles are in fact without any influence to the government. The real power lies in the hands of the mysterious secretary of The Royal Counsel, Alarik. Nobody knows much about him but slowly sees him form his own loyal troops and weakening the institutions of law and ordinary armies. Alarik is not interfering with the nobles business , let them only becoming richer and richer. Alarik is uttermost feared, because openly speaking enemies disappear or dies in accidents.. Iphis is aware of all this because her teacher through her childhood and youth, the wise wizard Pentwahir, told her any detail known about the kingdom's history and affairs. In secret Iphis was brought up for her future role and at the same time she happily worked together with her beloved forster father Eamund Bliss in the fields. She is very bright, pretty and somewhat boyish in her actions and doings. Secretly trained with weapons from the age of nine, beating up three bully boys at the age twelve, two years later she rescued the very young foal, Mesharis from some horse thieves, totally regretting they even thought of trying to do it. In gratitude the horse owner allowed Iphis to take care of the young stallion and later she both rode and making tricks with him. The two are very close and Mesharis tend to be very protective. Even as a smart thinking horse, he can't avoid showing that he doesn't like Agaran, Nightshade's black stallion, but just a simple look or a word from Iphis makes him think better than confronting his rival. Yet, concerning Iphis - she has other enemies like the wizard Bodekar living far northwest from the Empire of Korr. Weird stories telling about frightening creatures and beasts roaming across the borders from his abode - but even worse, very strong rumors concerning building a giant army, for what purpose? Pentwahir regards Bodekar as their biggest threat. Iphis gets the hunch and feeling that Pentwahir knows a lot more about Bodekar than he tells.. Furthermore, there is the tyrannical ruler Lord Baloch in Hell, the Earth's paralle world. He is Nightshade's halfsister, Darkhawk's archenemy, because Baloch killed her mother, the mighty demoness Karheel. Iphis has a lot of tasks, from getting the powerful sword "Sevaril" into her hand, to solving riddles of importance from 800 years ago, uncovering the truth like a detective. In the present it is a race against time to save The Kingdome of Korr and maybe even the whole world. With only twenty very skilled men and women, led by the Crown's ranger Nightshade, his sister Darkhawk, the most powerful in magic on Earth and finally the wise wizard Pentwahir - they rode on their horses into adventures on a dark night..Will they see the dawn rise again..? Acording to Pentwahir Iphis is their only hope and she is opposed all odds very confident.. Have a very pleasant week end :o) JohnnyC aka Rhanagaz