Bearers of the Black Staff

“You’ve returned,” she said quietly.

She did not seem surprised, but there was something in her eyes that suggested she wasn’t quite prepared, either. She was dressed, not yet ready for bed, her hair still tied up. The room behind her was empty.

“I’m sorry for the hour,” he said.

“No, you’re not. You’re never sorry for anything, the lateness of an hour least of all. Did you do as I asked you? Did you find Panterra and Prue? Are they all right?”

Direct and purposeful. She was still the girl he had met when he was just fifteen. For a moment, he saw her that way again, composure in place, golden hair hanging down, her gaze fixed on him, tall enough to look him directly in the eyes. She could tell he was staring, and he didn’t care that she did.

“I’ve brought Panterra to speak with you. Something has happened, and the people of Glensk Wood are in danger because of it.” He hesitated. “Is Pogue here?”

She shook her head. “No. Does it matter?”

“Can we come inside?” He avoided answering her question, not wanting to risk what he might say.

She nodded. He looked back over his shoulder at the shadows where the boy was waiting, and beckoned. A moment later Panterra appeared, hurrying across the green space to the door and inside. “Well met, Aislinne,” he greeted as he brushed past her.

“And you, Panterra. How is Prue? Not come with you?”

The boy’s eyes flicked immediately to Sider, and the Gray Man knew he would have to answer the question directly, that Aislinne would not be fooled. “She stayed behind,” he said. “Let me tell it.”

He did so, a quick and efficient recapitulation of most of what had happened to Panterra and Prue and their Elven companions after leaving the valley, and then of his own part in attempting to bring them home again. He looked for condemnation and disappointment in Aislinne’s eyes as he related how they had left Prue Liss behind, but he found none. She sat quietly as he talked and did not interrupt.

When he had finished, she looked down at her hands for a moment. “At least you tried to help them. At least you brought Panterra back with you.” She looked up again. “Will you return for Prue? Will you try to save her, as well?”

“I have already promised that I would. But I had to come here first. I have to make certain that warning is given. Have you sent messengers to the other villages?”

She shook her head. “No one would go. Not without more than your word. They are afraid, Sider. Afraid of Skeal Eile, afraid of the sect. You can’t blame them.”

“No, I don’t suppose I can.” He gave her a wan smile. “I don’t suppose assigning blame in this business serves any good purpose. Those who haven’t seen it for themselves will find it hard to believe anything of what I have told you. But they will have to find a way to do so. The dangers they face will not allow them to do otherwise.”

“Even then, what can anyone do?”

“If they are attacked by the Trolls, they must fight,” he answered. “If they are fortunate enough to prevail, they must still find a way to fit themselves into the larger world. They must assimilate. They must adapt. They must forget everything they thought was true about their safe haven and rethink what it will take for them to survive.”

She nodded. “What do you intend to do to help?” She paused. “By coming here, I assume that you intend to speak with Pogue.”

“I intend it. And once I have done so, I intend to get word to those other villages. But I would ask your thoughts first. We already know how Skeal Eile and his followers will react. How should I go about this so that they cannot undermine me? I have to be certain that someone will listen to me and then act on what I am saying. Glensk Wood sits closest to Declan Reach. If the Trolls find the pass through, they will come here first.”

She thought about it a moment. “A public announcement invites trouble. Something private might be better.” She gave him a look. “What if I were to bring Pogue and Skeal Eile to you tonight. Just the two.”

“Eile won’t come,” said Panterra, standing off to one side.

“He will if he doesn’t know the reason he is being summoned.”

“Bring Trow Ravenlock, as well,” Sider said. “His Trackers are the closest thing you have to an organized fighting force, and two of them are directly involved in what’s happened.” He glanced at the boy. “Ravenlock will stand up for you, won’t he? He believes in you and the girl?”

Panterra Qu nodded doubtfully. “But he believes in the teachings of the Children of the Hawk, as well. I don’t know.”

“Well.” The word was a sigh of resignation. “We have to start somewhere.”