Fireblood (Whispers from Mirrowen 1)

“Alone?” she said. “As alone as you were in the Arch-Rike’s prison? As alone as you were with the Arch-Rike’s ring on your finger? Be thankful Annon got it off of you before I did it my way.”

He was furious. His anger was ready to explode. But he would not let her see it. He would never let her have the satisfaction of unmanning him in front of her again.

“Go wherever you wish,” he said coldly. “Better you go in secret. A secret is a weapon and a friend, after all.” He thought the Romani saying was a nice dig.

Her gaze matched his. They stared at each other coldly.

Annon sighed deeply. Paedrin did not care.

“When we accomplish our tasks, let us meet again. I would suggest here at the manor, but the Arch-Rike knows where it is. So perhaps we meet in Canton Vaud. It is the seat of the Druidecht hierarchy and it is in Silvandom right now.”

Paedrin shook his head. “The Arch-Rike has spies there. He knew you left this morning. We need another place.”

Annon nodded. He looked at Khiara. “The other Dryad tree. The one that I saved. You know where it is. Can you explain the location to the prince?”

The prince nodded. “She told me its location already. It is being guarded. I agree with your choice.”

“Thank you.” He turned to Paedrin and Hettie. “It is in the forest west of Silvandom. The Bhikhu are guarding it. I will have spirits watching for you, and Nizeera can guide you to it. Agreed? Hopefully we will be ready to challenge the Scourgelands then. There is safety in numbers,” he added. “Be watchful. I have a feeling the Arch-Rike will not be friendly to us after his defeat today.”

“Do you think Tyrus is dead?” Hettie asked her brother. Her voice had lost its edge. She sounded as if she actually cared.

Annon sighed again, shaking his head. “I…I do not know. He’s a clever man, but that Kishion could not be stopped. I do not know how he could have survived.”

“What of Kiranrao?” Paedrin asked with a deliberate accusing tone. “He has the blade Iddawc now. He is a danger to our plans.”

Annon looked thoughtful. “I think Tyrus always intended him to have it. I think he meant him to kill the Arch-Rike with it. If he does not go mad first.”

Paedrin shook his head, amazed. “Then we part company here. You said this tree is a portal. Can it go anywhere?”

“Anywhere another portal exists. Why? Where do you want to go?”

“There is one place I must go,” Paedrin replied. “My search for the Shatalin temple begins in Kenatos.”

He enjoyed seeing the surprised looks on their faces. “My friends,” he said with a grin. “Life is the Uddhava. The Arch-Rike’s minions will be looking for a Bhikhu roaming the kingdoms. I will blend in with the city itself and can walk freely inside there. I must see my master. He can tell me where to start looking. The question, though, is if there is a portal inside or near Kenatos?”

Hettie surprised him.

“I know where it is,” she answered.

“Some have accused the Arch-Rike of manipulation, intrigue, greed, and occasionally even murder. The weak always look to blame the success of the strong. The Arch-Rike is a powerful man. He is a wise man. He is also, to an extent, rather ruthless. But when you consider all the good he has done for the city and the surrounding kingdoms, we should thank him for his leadership and for being stronger than normal men. On a private occasion between himself and me, I have heard him say that his success was not to be attributed to what he has known or done himself, but to the faculty of knowing and choosing others who did know better than himself. Wise indeed.”

– Possidius Adeodat, Archivist of Kenatos

Annon didn’t know if he should act surprised when Paedrin finally decided to join Hettie on his assignment. He could not understand their relationship. Only after verbally sparring did they finally agree to journey together to Kenatos. Once there, they would part ways. That was understood by both of them. Annon rather doubted it would happen. They were both uncommonly stubborn.

“The way through the portal is through that gap in the tree,” Annon explained. “Think of where you would go, and you will emerge there.”

“Will we sleep?” Hettie asked cautiously. “As we did when Drosta found us?”

Annon shook his head. “I do not know. I don’t understand how this spirit magic works. Be careful, Hettie.”

She smiled wryly. “I’m always careful. Be safe, brother.” She reached out and squeezed his hand. He was not sure what she meant by the gesture, but it warmed him. She was about to pull her hand away, but he kept hold of it. He dropped his voice lower. “I trust you. I want you to know that. I also forgive you. You were being coerced as much as Paedrin was. I see that. This is your chance for freedom. I may be lingering in Silvandom myself when this is through. I would like us to always be friends. What happened is in the past.”