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He thought of Neodesha’s tree

The door shuddered open on its hinges as the world lurched and began to spin

"Hear the other side What is usually lacking, when there is trouble, is the lack of listening So quick we are to rush to judgment We would do well to listen more There would be far fewer disputes"

--Possidius Adeodat, Archivist of Kenatos

The look of alar Phae’s heart She rushed to the other girl, clutching her arirl’s eyes ith terror "I cannot see it It is what I feel Meh the aether, suripped Phae’s forearht "He ainst the trunk of the oak, huddling s the girl as if she were one of Da her shoulder

The girl shuddered as the er So er If he dies, I will know it Our bond will be severed" She put her face in her hands and wept softly

Phae hugged her, nestling against the bark of the tree, feeling wave after wave of e fro there to coe way The wind rustled through the trees, bringing the s the lack of words, the surging feelings In tian to ebb

"Thank you" The girl patted Phae’s arm "Normally I am the one who comforts The threat is still there, but I do not sense the saer for now"

Phae bit her lip "It must be awful to feel such preirl shook her head "I can help, in a shts can reach his mind The talisman he wears aids in this The Druidecht have always been our fiercest guardians We need them, you see They are the e can be free of our duty"

Their voices were soft, nearly whispers "He can free you byhim, is that how it is?" Phae asked soleirl smiled "It is not as you probably fear Annon saved my tree when the Boeotians caht over there He could have fled We share a special bond I’rown yet into love" Dimples appeared within a timid smile

"How old are you?"

The Dryad looked at her as if she had asked a strange question "Ageto me anymore How many leaves are in a forest? Does itthe Dryad-born? Are you very lonely here in the woods?"

The girl straightened, her look turning to auard this portal I control access to who may pass and who may not I protect memories But I do not live here My home is Mirrowen When someone approaches my tree, I sense their presence To e and die in a single day I am never lonely There are my sisters, of course, to keep ht to live in Mirrowen And then there is the Seneschal" She lowered her voice reverently

"What is that?" Phae asked, leaning forward

"The Seneschal is a title--it is an ancient title It means the oldest servant He holds the Voided Keys He is the one you must see if you are to accept your powers He is the one ill perform your oath He will bind you to your tree with a Key" The Dryad reached out and gently brushed a lock of Phae’s hair away froirl nodded "He will tell it to you I cannot speak it" She sat straighter, looking worriedly into Phae’s eyes "So you are the one as chosen? You would enter the vast Scourgelands and seek our fallen sisters? You must awaken them to the oaths they made We do not speak of what happened Only the Seneschal rereat sadness, I think The younger ones, like e is lost to all of us"

Phae nodded slowly She felt so comfortable with the Dryad "What can you teach me? I know so little about us"

"I should fetch your mother It is proper that she should teach you"