She felt as if she was just about to get the answers she sought when her concentration was interrupted. The crystals she had placed to allow Rone and his companions to return to Dusk Haven began to glow and hum.
She had barely managed to move from the center of them when a portal opened, and the companions stepped through. She could tell by Rone’s expression that he was troubled when he turned to look at her.
“What happened? Did you get the heart?” She asked, unable to hide her concern.
“We did,” Traijen replied as he came over to hug his aunt.
“The golden dragon is dead mistress,” Trisha added with a look of sadness coming over her.
“You fought a SkyFae?” Lunarie asked with disbelief.
“No, there was no fight. Draconis wanted us to end his life. It was the only way he would give us the heart.” Rone said as he came to stand before the History Keeper.
“I didn’t want to, but I had no choice,” Rone said as guilt again flooded through him. Katrina came to stand beside him, reaching down to take his hand in an effort to comfort him.
Rone looked at her then back at Lunarie and swung his pack from his back. Placing it on the floor in front of him, he retrieved the leather bag that held the heart.
He opened it and pulled the heart from within. He could not deny as he held it that the power emanating from it was almost intoxicating. It drew on his mind and spirit as if it wanted him to use it.
He quickly dropped it back inside the bag and tucked it away inside his pack. Lunarie did not miss the look that came across his face when he touched it, though.
“It calls to you, doesn’t it?” She asked with a look that said she understood.
“It does,” Rone replied, looking down at his pack.
“You must resist the urge to use it, Rone. At least until the time comes for the cleansing spell to be cast.
“I will,” He said as he hoisted his pack across his shoulder again.
“I have to hurry, while I was gone, I saw how bad it has gotten in Agnar. The Thorn Callers have all but fell apart, and the forest is dying even faster than before.
I do not know how we will get past the Orcs that now control the forest. But they don’t know it as I do, so maybe we can use the lesser-known paths to get as close to the river as possible. Trish says that we must cast the cleansing spell there, to push the poison back from the water’s edge and toward its place of origin.
If we are lucky, we may be able to complete the spell before the Orcs even know we are there. If they do catch wind of us, though, it’s going to be an uphill fight to keep them at bay.”
Rone was still trying to decide what his best course of action would be when Lunarie placed a hand on his shoulder.
“Maybe I can help. Unlike your journey to the Voidspine, there are no wards in place on Agnar. I can open a portal to pretty much anywhere I choose. I can set you upon the banks of the Crystal River, placing you exactly where you need to be to use the heart.
I can offer you no aid against the Orcs, but like you said, if they aren’t expecting you. You may be able to cast the spell and make it across the river before you’re discovered.”
Rone listened with baited interest. This could be the very aid they needed to save Agnar.
“It’s our best shot. Let’s do it.” He said, smiling at Lunarie.
“And thank you, mistress, you may have just saved my home,” Rone said with bowing low.
Looking to the others for their approval, Rone was glad when they all gave it with a nod of their head.
“If anyone doesn’t want to come, now is the time to say so. There will be no shame or disgrace if you choose not to, as you know, what we may face there.
If the Orcs catch us before we finish the spell, they will not hesitate to kill us. I will not be able to hold the heart during the spell and fight too. And even if I could, their numbers would surely overtake us in no time.”
Rone looked into the faces of his friends and waited as they considered his words. Trisha was the first to step forward.
“I have no choice but to go. You will need a mage to cast the spell.” She said as she came to stand beside Rone.
Traijen pulled his dagger from his belt and twirled it in his hand before sliding it back into its sheath. A broad grin crossing his face as he did.
“Well, you going to need someone there to hold them off if it comes to that. Besides, if you’re going to get yourself killed, you might as well have someone there to make sure you do it with style.” With that, he moved to stand beside Rone, clasping his hand in friendship.
Only Katrina remained unsure. She knew that going to Agnar and possibly facing Zannith, meant her secret could be revealed. But she also could not let Rone face this alone.
She had only known him for a short time, but already she felt a closeness to him she had never felt before. So even if it meant losing him, she would at least do everything she could to see he survived.
She came over and stood before Rone then leaned up and kissed his cheek.
“I told you HoloFae I want to see where this goes. So, if that means I must follow you to some Orc ridden forest. I guess that’s what I’ll do.”
Rone smiled at her and hugged her tightly, whispering his thanks in her ear. He then turned back to Lunarie and smiled.
“Then I guess we are ready, Lunarie. If you open the portal, we will finish this.” Lunarie smiled back at him, then motioned for them to move out of the circle.
Once they had, she spoke the words of power and opened the portal to Agnar. Rone could see the Crystal River, and in fact, the very spot he had camped the night he started all of this.
He bowed to the historian once more and thanked her for all she had done. Then he and his companions stepped through the portal and disappeared.
After they were gone, the slim form of the LunaFae called Tolf stepped from the shadows.
“Forgive me for noticing mistress, but I have been your assistant for a long time now. What is it you are not telling the HoloFae and his friends? You have spent far too many days reading their fates. To not know more than you are saying.”
Lunarie looked at her assistant and smiled. But this was not a warm smile or a caring one. Something about it sent shivers down Tolf’s spine, instantly making him regret that he had asked.
“I was wondering when you would get around to asking,” she said, still smiling. Lunarie reached under her robe and produced a cylinder that contained a large scroll.
“Read this assistant. When you are finished, come and ask me again.” With that, she spun around and walked from the room. Leaving Tolf there to wonder what was really going on. As he unbound the leather wrapping that kept the cylinder sealed, he pulled the scroll from its container and unrolled it.
As he read, his eyes filled with fright, and his hands began to tremble. What has she done? Why, in the name of goodness, would she help the HoloFae knowing what it would bring about?
Tolf slumped to the floor and continued to read the long parchment in his hands. He found that even though it terrified him, he still needed to read it. He prayed he might find something in there that would offer even a glimmer of hope. Not just for Lunarie, but for every mortal race on Earthera.
36
Rone and his companions now found themselves standing on the banks of the Crystal River. The gentle breeze that blew toward them from within the forest was tainted by the smell of burning wood and decay. Rone knew instantly the Orcs had now begun to burn away what the poison had already destroyed.