“Shouldn’t we be heading west for the castle by now, Flinn? Or are we headed somewhere else first?” Johauna asked after Flinn signaled a quick halt. They were less than an hour’s ride north of Bywater, and the crippled village lay out of sight behind the winter forests. The sojourn in town had been p ainf ul to Jo, though she had seen worse destruction done to parts of Specularum when the lords had decided to “clean up” the slum quarters. But the poor folk of Specularum had learned of the coming disaster and fled. The people in Bywater had had no such warning.
“To keep my word to Baildon and avenge Bywater, I must see if I can locate my sword before I do anything else,” Flinn said slowly. His moustache twitched a little, and he leaned against Ariac as he looked at Jo and Dayin. “I lost Wyrmblight deliberately-I won’t tell you why-in a game of bones to a dwarf. His name is Braddoc Briarblood, and a finer man I never knew. He lives somewhere north of Bywater and to the west of the Castellan River.”
“Somewhere? Don’t you know where he lives?” Jo asked. “No. I’ve never visited his home. You see,” the warrior hesitated, “we were mercenaries together for a while before I began trapping.” Flinn shrugged. “It was a living.”
“You lost Wyrmblight-the most fabulous sword in history-to a mercenary?” Jo’s voice rose. “Of all the-! What makes you think this-this paid raider still has Wyrmblight?”
Flinn shook his head. “I don’t think he has it. In fact, I’m sure he doesn’t. But I’ve got to find Braddoc to see if he knows where the sword is. The dwarf is notoriously well informed. He should also know the news of the castle- why the order hasn’t killed or banished Verdilith, who Yvaughan married, and whether she had her baby like Brisbois said.” Jo stiffened. “So we’re going to run around the Wulfholdes in the middle of winter until we find this dwarf?” she asked sarcastically.
“Yes, we are. I know how to find his place, and it’s not that far out of our way,” he answered, growling slightly. “We head north along the Castellan, then turn west at a rock formation called the Broken Arch. That’ll bring us to Braddoc’s and head us back toward the castle.”
“What about Karleah?” Dayin asked quietly. Jo and Flinn glanced questioningly toward him.
“Karleah?” Jo asked.
“You said Karleah was northeast of the castle,” the child said to Flinn. “Couldn’t we stop to see Karleah on the way to the castle?”
“It’s a possibility I considered, but the decision’s Jo’s,” Flinn said heavily, then looked at Jo. “I know how eager you are to get to the castle, Jo.”
“Aren’t you eager, too?” she retorted.
Flinn cocked an eyebrow. “I’ve waited seven years; I can wait another few days.” He put his hand on Jo’s shoulder. “Jo, we can head straight for the castle if you want. I know time is precious to the young. I only wanted to go to Braddoc’s so I can find my sword, because I won’t be able to defeat Verdilith without Wyrmblight.” The warrior shook his head. “And if there’s trouble at the castle… if Brisbois and his cohorts are waiting for me, as they likely will be, I’d feel better with Wyrmblight in my hands. That’s assuming I can retrieve it between Braddoc’s and the castle, of course.” Jo paused to consider the options. “You still think Karleah might show us how to use the abelaat stones to see past events?”
“Yes, I do,” Flinn nodded.
“Then, let’s do it,” Jo said agreeably. “Braddoc’s first, crazy Karleah’s second, and the castle’s third. If we can use the crystals at the council, we’ll be sworn in as knight and squire that much quicker.” Jo smiled wistfully at the warrior and the boy.
“Good girl,” Flinn said briskly. “Mount up! I want to be north of the river before we set up camp.”
Nightfall found them north of the Castellan. They had located the wide river’s shallow ford just before the Castellan branched off into the upper Castellan and the Highreach. Flinn had not traversed the Wulfholde Hills in a long while, and he felt uneasy. The Wulfholdes were a rugged, treacherous range, home to Ogres, bugbears, orcs, and other humanoids. The Order of the Three Suns had often tested its mettle in these hills. Flinn set the boy the task of rubbing down and feeding the animals, while he and Jo set up the tarpaulin and the rest of camp. He scanned the sky nervously.
“Is something wrong, Flinn?” the girl asked.
“Something feels wrong,” he answered. “Don’t start a fire just yet. I want to check around a little before true night falls.”
She nodded, and Flinn slipped away from camp. His sword drawn, he began a systematic search of the half- mile or so of surrounding hillside. Their position by the riverside allowed the water to protect their backs. Few creatures would cross the river before morning, and by then they would have already broken camp. The hills surrounding him now were another matter. They seemed too quiet, as if something was on the march and silencing the lands as it went. Flinn cursed himself for not asking Baildon about activity north of By water. As a rule, none of the humanoid tribes moved in winter, for the Wulfholdes were too wild and treacherous even for them. Still, a small band of orc hunters or scouts might be on the move.
The warrior scanned the terrain as well as he could in the fast fading light. The wind blew from the south and the air was moist. They’d have snow on the morrow. He frowned. The Wulfholdes were no place to get caught in a blizzard. He could only hope he was overestimating the strength of the coming storm. At last, satisfied that nothing imminently threatened their camp, Flinn returned to the river.
“Did you see anything?” Jo asked, handing Flinn a bit of smoked pork on bread. She added by way of explaining the cold meal, “I figured we weren’t having a fire.” She and Dayin turned to their own food.
“Thanks,” Flinn said. “No, I didn’t see anything. Something still doesn’t feel right, though maybe it’s the weather. We’re in for a storm tomorrow. I think we’d best break camp before first fight,” Flinn added, wolfing his food. “You two turn in after you’re finished eating. I’m going to stand watch for a while.”
“Wake me at midnight for the next watch,” Jo said. She and Dayin disappeared into the tiny tent.
“If it’s necessary,” Flinn called after them. He made a tour of the campsite one more time while he finished his meal. Then he checked Ariac, Fernlover, and Jo’s hone. She had named the roan gelding Carsig, though why she wouldn’t say.
Flinn stood watch for the next several hours, restlessly roaming the camp’s perimeter. His thoughts were occupied by the bloody massacre of Bywater. The carnage there had forcibly reminded Flinn of the unspeakable evil of the dragon. Somehow he’d forgotten that evil in the last seven years. Verdilith was a threat to the entire region, and Flinn had to address that threat. At the least he should discover why the order hadn’t hunted the dragon. By rights, the Order of the Three Suns was supposed to protect all the citizens of this region. That right had been stripped of Flinn upon his dismissal as a knight. He had been strictly forbidden to act in any manner as a knight for fear his actions would mock the sanctity of the order. If my petition to be reinstated is denied, he thought, perhaps they will at least let me help track Verdilith. I know Verdilith’s mind better than anyone else.
At midnight he checked the perimeter one last time, but only a few wolves were moving in the hills. Flinn quietly entered the tent. He decided against sending Jo out on watch.
Flinn crawled to one side of the tent, Jo to the other, and Dayin took the middle. Flinn had instructed the child to sleep between the two adults. The warrior slid between the furs and knew immediately that it wasn’t the boy’s slim form next to him.
“Dayin? Dayin?” Flinn whispered, his voice cracking.
The child responded only with rhythmic breathing. Jo, however, said sleepily, “The boy’s asleep, Flinn, and so was I until you came in.”
“What are you doing in the middle?” Flinn asked, trying to relax his suddenly tense muscles.
“I told Dayin I was often cold in the morning, and he offered to trade places with me. I accepted. Am I supposed to stand watch now?”
“No, you don’t have to. Things are quiet out there.” Flinn shifted his position, wondering why he wasn’t comfortable.
“Good,” the young woman murmured. Then she rolled over, her head unexpectedly finding the hollow of his
