Page 42 (1/1)

--Possidius Adeodat, Archivist of Kenatos

Flee, Druidecht They are co the voices in his e of theirback and forth restlessly Several spirits flitted about her ears, which swatted at them as if they were flies Annon rolled to his knees and crawled over to Khiara and shook her awake She roused instantly, her expression tightening with concern

"Danger?" she whispered

"Yes We camped too near Boeotia," Annon answered He listened to the trilling whispers from Mirrowen "Wake Erasrabbed her blanket, folding it swiftly and plunging it into her pack Annon scuttled over to Lukias, who slept soundly, his breath co in and out like short curt breezes He shook the man’s shoulders fir up at Annon for a moment "What is it?"

"The Boeotians are near," Annon whispered "We o" Nizeera, can you hear the torches The same kind as before

Annon whistled softly, feeling the prickle of gooseflesh run up his ar Neodesha’s tree froht of ever facing such people again made him sick with fear for the spirit would be unable to help him amidst the deadly smoke He also reed to escape

"Co his cloak around his neck and starting to the east under a sky full of diaed to catch up quickly

Lukias fell in beside Annon "I do not need to remind you that we are all dressed as Rikes of Seithrall, which would mean instant death if the barbarians catch us We should have made for Brookshier as I told you"

Annon shook his head and scoith impatience "Brookshier is the last outpost north of Kenatos It’s under the Arch-Rike’s control We wouldn’t be any safer there"

"You don’t trust

"It isn’t a matter of trust, Lukias," Annon answered "I’m a Druidecht My power is here We arned in tiht tied to a tree"

Erasestion that I havethis journey"

Nizeera padded up next to hi leads the his stomach churn with dread He quickened his pace and noticed the others struggling to keep up He was used to roa hiht sky could not hide the row ofwith crags and ice They had left Silvandoe of the woods, and ventured into the grasslands separating the kingdoms from Boeotia Lukias told them their destination was in the mountains north of the island city It was unfamiliar country to Annon, who had never ventured farther north than Kenatos in his life He had heard that Druidecht elcouises as Rikes of Seithrall would negate any friendliness his talisman would provide

Annon and Lukias had struck an interesting co the way The Rike was constantly amazed at Annon’s ability to commune with nature and the evidences of the spirits of Mirrowen that were manifest around theuide thehts into the land, the location of wild berries or fresh game or roots He was fascinated with Druidecht lore and continued to ask questions, though Annon did not dowas verbal, passed on from mentor to student to be memorized and repeated--such as the names of spirits, their powers, and what persuaded them to aid or injure mortals It was never allowed to be written down and Annon did not trust the Rike with the secret knowledge of how to coh that he could demonstrate the power to achieve Lukias’s admiration

Annon hoped that another day’s ould put the theo Annon had no idea hoas going to infiltrate the lair of the oracle, especially knowing that the Arch-Rike’sLukias on their side would help He prepared hih, for betrayal