Evaine shook her head. That the wizard of Denlor's Tower lived still was no minor miracle and was in itself a great testament to a strong spirit. The attack of the pool's guardian had left Evaine feeling sapped of all strength. Even now, nearly a tenday later, her joints still throbbed, and dark circles lingered under her eyes. Yesterday, she had attempted to light a candle with a routine incantation and had fainted from the excruciating pain that had surged through her body.
"We are lucky Shal is still with us," Evaine said, glad for the warm winter sunlight streaming through the window-panes. "You have a very dangerous enemy, Kern Desanea."
"I know." His shoulders slumped slightly, a troubled look crossing his broad face. "I… I hope the journey the two of you took wasn't for nothing."
"It wasn't," Evaine said firmly. "Don't think that Shal would do anything differently if she was given a second chance, Kern. She knew the risks involved when she agreed to the spirit journey, and she accepted them. Shal was prepared to live or die with the consequences of her actions." She gazed at Kern intently. "You must accept risks that are no less dangerous."
The young paladin stared at her. "I will do my best," he managed to say.
"Good," was Evaine's only reply.
Night descended swiftly this time of year, and it was already dark outside when everybody gathered around the oaken table in the comfortably cluttered main room.
"Shal and I made some important discoveries on our spirit journey," Evaine began. She clasped a mug of fragrant rose-hip tea in her hands. "First of all, whoever he may be, Kern's antagonist is not allied with the evil force that is warding Tyr's hammer in the ruins of the red tower. Instead, I think it's quite likely your enemy hopes to use you to obtain the hammer, Kern."
"Me?" Kern asked, picking at his bowl of venison stew.
"You have been ordained by Tyr to seek the hammer," Miltiades said in his reverberating voice. "And you are the only one who may lift the hammer from its hiding place. Since the attempt to abduct you failed at the temple, it seems likely this foe now intends to wait until you have acquired the relic before striking again."
Evaine sipped her tea, nodding. The paladin's reasoning made sense.
"How can you be so certain you're right?" Sirana asked the undead paladin. It was not lost on Listle that Sirana had shifted her chair closer to Kern's, so her arm brushed his slightly every time she moved. "Why wouldn't this elusive enemy try to abduct Kern again on the way to the red tower?"
"And pin his hopes on a tactic that has already failed once?" Listle asked with a bit more vitriol than intended.
"I see," was all Sirana said.
"Let's move on," Evaine said with a disapproving frown at both Sirana and Listle. "Shal and I made another discovery on our journey, one that should concern us even more. Kern's enemy has apparently allied himself with a creature guarding a magical pool in the Dragonspine Mountains. Pools contain enormous and perilous amounts of power-that's something I know about firsthand, as do Ren and Miltiades. That means our enemy has a considerable advantage. What's more, this pool is like none I've ever encountered before. There is something very primordial about its power. I think it's quite possible that this pool is older-older by far-than the others I've destroyed."
" 'For awaiting them still is the twilight pool's shadowed guardian,'" Kern murmured. Evaine arched a single eyebrow, regarding him curiously. "It's the last line of Bane's prophecy concerning the hammer," he explained.
" 'The twilight pool,'" Evaine repeated. "Never in all my studies have I come across any mention of a pool of twilight." The sorceress shrugged. "Well, one thing seems clear enough. If you find the Hammer of Tyr, Kern, don't plan on taking a rest right away. Be ready for another attack, and a powerful one. You can be sure it will come-and when you're at your weakest."
"Thanks for the advice," Kern said with understandably little enthusiasm.
Ren had been quiet through all of this, listening carefully. Now he spoke. "Well, Daile, what do you think?" he asked as he scratched his gray-shot beard.
"About what?" she asked in puzzlement.
"About going on another journey. I think Kern here could use a bit of help." He grinned mischievously. "Unless, of course, you'd rather hurry home to repair the keep's old stone walls."
Daile smiled happily. "Let the wind blow the leaves in," she said. "Kern, if you want my company, you've got it."
"I would consider it an honor," Kern said with a grin.
Suddenly a thought struck him, his smile vanishing. "I just remembered something," he said gloomily. "The prophecy said that five are to quest for the hammer. But if both you and Ren come with us, Daile, that will make six."
"Oh," Daile said, her spirits sinking. She sighed. So much for quests, she thought.
Kern gave Miltiades a troubled look.
"I cannot resolve this for you, Kern," the paladin said solemnly. "The prophecy speaks clearly. Only five can enter the red tower in search of Tyr's hammer. However, I will say this. How I know I cannot say, but it seems right to me that both Daile and Ren should journey with us."
"It's settled then," Kern said firmly.
Daile smiled excitedly. She had her quest after all.
It was late when Listle sought out Evaine. The sorceress sat near the hearth, gazing into the crimson flames.
"Evaine?"
The sorceress looked up, then smiled warmly. "Listle. What is it?"
Listle sat in the chair opposite Evaine, her silvery eyes earnest. "I need to ask you something." She took a deep breath, steeling her resolve. "What do you think of Sirana? I… I don't trust her."
There! She had said it. Maybe it marked her as little more than a jealous child. But Listle couldn't help but wonder if Evaine had noticed anything strange about the wild mage.
Evaine regarded Listle thoughtfully. The elf felt suddenly uncomfortable under the sorceress's piercing gaze.
"If you fear I'll believe your suspicions are motivated by jealousy, Listle, do not worry," Evaine said finally. "The wild mage is hiding something, of that I have no doubt. She is not all that she appears. You've sensed that, as have I." Her green eyes sparkled sharply in the firelight. "But then, you understand such matters well, do you not, Listle Onopordum?"
All color drained from Listle's face. She stared at the sorceress. How could Evaine have possibly known?
"Don't be afraid, Listle," Evaine said gently. "Your secret is safe with me. But a word of advice. The longer you keep a secret, the harder it is to reveal the truth. And in the end, the truth will be known. It's inevitable. You would do well to remember that."
Listle nodded. She could find no words to reply. Evaine knew!
"And keep an eye on Sirana," Evaine added. "It's up to you to make certain she tries nothing treacherous."
"I… I will," Listle whispered. "Thank you, Evaine." Trembling, she rose and hurried from the room, turning her back to hide the tears that streamed down her cheeks.
A moment later a figure stepped from the shadows and into the firelight. Beaten steel gleamed dully. A faint coldness tinged the air, along with a dry, dusty scent.
"She has a great deal to learn," Miltiades said quietly, standing beside Evaine's chair. His metal armor made no noise as he moved.
"Give her a few years, Miltiades," Evaine replied softly. "She hasn't had much time to come to grips with her true nature." She gazed up at the paladin. "Certainly not as much time as you and I have had to accept ours."
"You're right, of course."
"I know," she said with a crooked smile.