Loorhad one hand on the tiller. With the other hand she went for her weapon. “Don’t,” I warned.
“I can end this here, Pendragon,” Loor said through clenched teeth.
“No, you can’t,” I said, trying to keep my voice calm. It wasn’t easy since my adrenaline had just spiked too. “We gotta know what’s going on.”
Loor’s eyes were laser-locked on to Saint Dane. This was the guy who was responsible for killing her mother, and possibly her best friend, not to mention all the other mayhem he caused on his mad quest to control Halla. Loor wasn’t the type to negotiate with her enemies. She was more inclined to whack first, then not bother asking questions later.
“If he’s showing himself like this, he wants to talk,” I said. “We’ve got to listen. It’s the only way we can find out what’s been happening.”
I knew we had to play this Saint Dane’s way. There were bigger issues involved, not the least of which was the future of Halla. Picking a fight with Saint Dane wasn’t going to help.
Imagine that? Me trying to protect Saint Dane from Loor.
Loor tore her eyes from Saint Dane and looked at me. “I will listen to him, Pendragon,” she said, but it sounded like it physically hurt her to say it. I hoped she meant it. She guided the boat onto the sandy shore. I jumped out and pulled it up and out of the water. Saint Dane didn’t lend a hand, in case you were wondering. He stood in the center of the circle of torches, watching. Not moving. He wasn’t going to come to us. We had to go to him. Fine. Whatever.
“Be cool,” I whispered to Loor.
The two of us walked up the beach and stood on the outside of the circle of torches, only a few yards away from the demon Traveler. Nobody said anything for the longest time. Maybe it was because nobody wanted to make the first move. I’ve been told that’s not a good idea.
“I’m happy to see you are feeling better, Pendragon,” Saint Dane finally said.
“Really?” I asked, heaping as much sarcasm into that one word as I could. “Then why did you beat me up in the first place?”
Saint Dane chuckled. I amused him. Swell.
“And now you’re masquerading as a Ghee warrior,” he said with a smirk. “What is it you say on your territory? Trick or treat? I’m afraid I have no candy for you, little boy.”
He was trying to rile me. I didn’t take the bait.
“Speaking of masquerades, you surprised me,” I said. “Bokka knew your name. Your real name. That’s not like you. Usually you’re such a coward you have to hide behind other identities.”
Saint Dane flashed his fiery white eyes at me and smiled. It wasn’t a happy smile. The game was on.
“Ahh, yes. Bokka. The brave Tiggen guard,” Saint Dane said. “I believe he was a friend of yours, Loor? Such a shame he turned out to be a traitor to his people. I do hope his death was painful.”
Loor moved before I could react. She leaped at Saint Dane while pulling her weapon from its harness. Saint Dane didn’t budge. He didn’t have to. The instant Loor entered the ring of light, three Tiggen guards leaped from the shadows and tackled her. Two more Tiggen guards jumped me, holding my arms. Another stepped into the ring holding his crossbow full of steel arrows, ready to shoot. I recognized him. It was Bokka’s killer.
Saint Dane said, “My friend here is such a fine marksman. I believe it only took one arrow to serve justice to Bokka. Though he fired several more, just to be sure.”
Loor squirmed in anger, trying to get up, but the guards held her facedown in the sand. Saint Dane strolled over and leaned down to her.
“You want to kill me, don’t you? ” he said calmly. “And here I thought you and your friends were so righteous. You are just as capable of evil as anyone. Perhaps more so. Yet you believe your brand of evil is justified, so long as it serves your own misguided purposes.”
Loor struggled to pull free. “Why did he have to die?” she growled through clenched teeth. “He is not part of this.”
“That’s not true, my dear,” Saint Dane said. “Bokka made himself a very big part of this. Once the Tiggen guards discovered he was going to present a Ghee with a map that showed the route to Kidik, his fate was sealed.” He walked to the Tiggen assassin with the crossbow and put a hand on his shoulder. “I can’t say I was surprised, though. I knew Bokka would run to you. That’s why I gave him the map.”
Loor screamed and struggled, but the guards held her firm. I moved to go to her, but the Tiggen guards held me tight as well. I shot one guard a look straight in the eye and said firmly, “Let…me…go.” The guard stared back, and a strange thing happened. He let go. I looked to the other guard, and yanked my arm away from him. The two guards stood there, looking at me like dummies.
“Nicely done, Pendragon!” Saint Dane said. “You are learning!”
I knelt down next to Loor and touched her back gently to try and calm her. I put my face down in the sand right next to hers and whispered, “Please do this my way.”
Loor’s eyes burned with anger and hatred. We locked gazes. Slowly I saw her regain control. She gave me a slight nod. I touched her hair, then stood up and looked at Saint Dane. “Let her go,” I demanded calmly.
“Is your guard dog under control?” he asked.
“Let her go,” I said again, just as calmly.
The Tiggen guards looked at Saint Dane. He gave them a nod, and they quickly backed away from Loor as if they were releasing a wild animal. They were ready to pounce back on her at the slightest sign of trouble. The assassin with the crossbow kept his weapon aimed at her. Loor didn’t jump up right away. I think she was still trying to get her wits back. I leaned over and helped her to her feet. When we were face-to-face, I gave her a reassuring smile and a wink. She nodded. She was back with me.
I turned to Saint Dane and said, “Okay, so you gave Bokka the map to lure us to…wherever the heck this is. Nice job. Real clever. Why?”
Saint Dane chuckled and said, “To save your lives, of course.”
I hadn’t expected that. I didn’t know what to say. Saint Dane reached into his pocket and pulled out a soft, black cap with no brim. He put it on his bald head to hide the angry red scars and said, “My time with the Rokador has been so refreshing. There has been no pretense, no trickery. I’ve presented myself to them as I am, and helped them forge their own future. It’s been such a perfect demonstration.”
“Demonstration of what?” I asked.
“Of my ability to control Halla, of course,” he said as if I were an idiot for not knowing that.
“What’s going to happen, Saint Dane?” I asked, trying not to sound as desperate as I felt.
“Pendragon, my boy,” Saint Dane said. “Once the excitement starts, those fortunate enough to be on this underground island will be the only survivors. I’ve spared you because I wouldn’t want you to miss seeing Zadaa’s future. And why not? You helped create it.” He turned to the Tiggen guards and said, “Please escort our guests to chambers.” With that he smiled at me, turned, and walked away.
“What’s going to happen?” I yelled at his back.
“Patience,” he called. “Your answer will come soon enough.” He stopped and turned back to say, “Oh yes, I nearly forgot. If you feel any guilt about spending so much time with Loor, don’t. The lovely Courtney Chetwynde has found a new beau.”
He gave a smug little smile and continued walking. His comment came from so far out of left field, I didn’t know how to react. He had just jerked my head away from Zadaa, and thrown me back to Second Earth.
“How do you know that?” I shouted at him.
“Why, Pendragon!” Saint Dane teased. “Don’t tell me you’re jealous.”
“Leave Courtney alone!” I screamed. I took a step to follow him, but Loor put her hand on my shoulder, stopping me. It was her turn to be the calm one.
Saint Dane motioned to the assassin with the crossbow and walked toward a group of huge boulders that lined the beach. The Tiggen killer followed. Saint Dane didn’t turn into an animal or a bird or anything else. He simply walked away like a regular person. This may be weird to say, but it creeped me out. Seeing Saint Dane acting human was unsettling. I think maybe it was because it was easier to think of him as some impossible, supernatural being. It was harder to accept that someone who was capable of such evil, could be a normal person. It made me shudder.
“Be calm, Pendragon,” Loor said softly.
“He’s been to Second Earth,” I said, my panic rising.
