Ilse Witch

East! East, for cata? sake! Isna? that the wrong direction? Bek had demanded instantly. Didna? the Elves live west? Wasna? that where their journey to follow the map was supposed to initiate?

But the Druid had only smiled and assured him that traveling east was what was needed before going on to Arborlon. They must carry out a small errand for him, an errand he had insufficient time to run. Maybe it would offer Quentin a chance to test the magic of his blade. Maybe Bek would be given an opportunity to test his intuitive abilities. Maybe they would have a chance to meet someone they would come to depend upon in the days ahead.

Well, there wasna? much they could say to all that, so they had agreed to do as he asked. Just as Walker had known they would, Bek felt. He sensed, in fact, that Walker knew exactly how to present a request so that it would always be agreed to. When Walker spoke, Bek could feel himself agreeing almost before the words were out. Something in the Druida€s voice was compelling enough to make him want to acquiesce out of hand.

Magica? sway, he supposed. Wasna? that a part of the Druid history? Wasna? that one reason why people were so afraid of them?

a?his fellow wea?e supposed to find,a?he spoke up suddenly, halfway through the long walk home, glancing over at Quentin.

a?ruls Rohk,a?his cousin said.

Bek shifted the heavy pack on his back. a?ruls Rohk. What kind of name is that? Who is he? Doesna? it bother you that we dona? know the first thing about him, that Walker didna? even tell us what he looks like?a?/p>

a?e told us how to find him. He told us exactly where to go and how to get there. He gave us a message to deliver and words to speak. Thata? all we need to get the job done, isna? it?a?/p>

a? dona? know. I dona? know what we need because I dona? know what wea?e getting ourselves into.a?Bek shook his head doubtfully. a?e jumped awfully quick at the chance to get involved in this business, Quentin. What do we know about Walker or the Druids or this map or any of it? Just enough to get excited about traipsing off to the other side of the world. How smart is that?a?/p>

Quentin shrugged. a?he way I look at it, we have a wonderful opportunity to travel, to see something of the world, something beyond the borders of Leah. How often is that kind of chance going to come along? And Father agrees that we can go. Talk about miracles!a?/p>

Bek huffed. a?alk about blackmaila”hata? more likely.a?/p>

a?ot Father.a?Quentin shook his head firmly. a?e would die first. You know that.a?/p>

Bek nodded reluctantly.

a?o leta? give this a chance before we start passing judgment. Leta? see what things look like. If we think wea?e in over our heads, we can always give it up.a?/p>

a?ot if wea?e flying somewhere out over the Blue Divide, we cana?.a?/p>

a?ou worry too much.a?/p>

a?ure enough. And you worry too little.a?/p>

Quentin grinned. a?rue. But Ia? happier worrying too little than you are worrying too much.a?/p>

That was Quentin for you, never spending too much time on what might happen, content to live in the moment. It was hard to argue with someone who was so happy all the time, and that was Quentin right down to the soles of his boots. Give him a sunny day and a chance to walk ten miles and he was all set. Never mind that a thunderstorm was approaching or that Gnome Hunters prowled the region he traveled. Quentina? view was that bad things happened mostly when you thought too much about them.

Bek let the matter drop for the rest of the way back. He wasna? going to change Quentina? mind, and he wasna? sure he even ought to try. His cousin was righta”e should give the idea a chance, let things develop a bit, and see where they were going.