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.”
Her look softened and she clung to him fiercely for a moment, pressing a little kiss against his cheek. “You have changed, brother. I am sorry, if that matters at all.”
Annon smiled and touched her cheek, then fingered the earring. “It does. Be safe. I’ll miss you.”
When they turned, Paedrin was floating up to the gap in the tree trunk. Hettie sighed with impatience and then worked her way swiftly up the craggy surface. She was quite adept at scaling the tree.
Paedrin waited for her, his expression disdainful, and he looked down at the others and nodded.
“Be careful,” Annon warned him. “But I pity the Arch-Rike your wrath.”
“He does not deserve any pity,” Paedrin replied. He nodded again. When Hettie reached him, they locked arms and entered the gap together.