Summary A bold plan of William Tell's to infiltrate the Citadel through his friend, the brilliant horseman Alexim, goes dangerously awry when Leon is caught talking to Alexim in the marketplace, and arrested. Rather than execute Leon immediately, as Xax would prefer, Kreel holds Leon prisoner - as bait, convinced that William will mount a rescue attempt. Will witnesses Leon's arrest and seizes a Xaxian Warrior's death-wand which he takes back to the Shelter with him. Will believes he can tune the death-wand tho his thoughts, but in fact the reverse is true: the death-wand works by turning the bearer into the Dark Crystal, and therefore making them vulnerable to Kreel's evil influence. Will lures Xax from the Citadel by proposing a duel with death-wands in the forest. With Xax out of the way and with the help of Alexim, Will slips into the Citadel to rescue Leon. But Kreel is expecting him, and the closer Will gets to Shaytana's Eye the more he is pulled into Kreel's sway. Alexim is filled trying to free Leon and finally Will is turned completely to the Dark Side, agreeing to become Kreel's puppet as Xax has been. Kalem, speaking through Vara, calls Will back to the Light - and he, the princess and Leon escape through the Citadel just as Xax returns to confront Kreel for his failure to destroy Tell and the resistance movement. Will has learned a hard lesson and lives to fight another day.

• Adventure
• Swashbuckler
• Fantasy