'He's a trusted friend. Otherwise, I find him indescribable. You'll simply have to meet him for yourselves.'
'I'll need to speak with my Guardians about this,' Catrin said, unsure of what to do, though it seemed she had little choice, having worn out her welcome.
'Yes, of course, I understand. But I'm afraid we have little time. If I am to guide you, we must leave this day. Soon I'll be entrenched in ceremony and ritual. I have but ten days before the rites of ascension begin, and I'll be hard pressed to make it back in time. Please do not delay.'
'Thank you. Your kindness and support are greatly appreciated. I'll seek out my Guardians this instant and will return to you as soon as possible.'
'I would do more if I could, but I am bound by my duties,' he said as Catrin and Benjin departed for the First Inn. Before they closed the door behind themselves, though, he called after them. 'Have you any weapons at the guardhouse?'
'Yes. Thank you for reminding me,' Catrin replied.
'I'll write you a weapons pass so that you may arm yourselves,' he said as he scribbled on a piece of parchment, closing it with his wax seal. 'Just give this to the guard, and he will return your weapons. Keep it with you in case any of the guards stop you on your way back.'
Catrin and Benjin spoke little during the long walk, but his presence alone was comforting. The uncertainty of her future consumed Catrin's thoughts. She considered Brother Vaughn's words regarding the boys, but she hated the thought of leaving them behind; they had all come so far together. But even if they stayed, at least she would not have to go alone.
Word of the attack preceded them. The streets were empty, and a somber pall hung over the common room at the First Inn. Chase, Strom, and Osbourne sat at a corner table. When Catrin and Benjin entered, they leaped from their chairs and rushed to greet them. Tears flowed freely as they shared their grief along with the joy of seeing one another. Benjin urged them back to the table. They huddled together, and Catrin rattled off the news in a whisper.
'No,' Chase said. 'I'll not be left behind to hide while you two go off into danger. I'll not hear of it.'
'Now, Chase…' Benjin said.
'Absolutely not.'
Catrin was torn. She didn't want to hurt Chase, but his presence would be a danger to her. A plan began to form in her mind, one that would never work, but at least it was a plan. She left the others to argue while she plotted the path in her mind, and she heard not a word they said. When her mind was set, she interrupted their debate.
'Benjin and I will depart this day. Brother Vaughn will guide us, and we'll make for Faulk. We should be able to blend in with the pilgrims until we reach the statue. I'll destroy the statue, and then we'll continue south to the coast.' Chase tried to interrupt her, but she plowed over his efforts. 'Chase, your task is most important. You will depart following the ascension ceremonies, when Brother Vaughn is available once again. You will locate us a ship and arrange for it to pick us up on the southern coast of Faulk. Strom and Osbourne will stay here and assist the Cathurans in their ventures until I send word. Agreed?'
'That's the craziest plan I've ever heard,' Chase said, and Benjin chastised him with a look. 'How are you going to destroy the statue? And once you do, how are you going to escape? And even if you manage to escape, which seems highly unlikely to me, how will you locate the ship along such a large coast?'
'We'll meet you at the most southern and western tip of Faulk, then. The rest I haven't figured out yet, but it is the best plan I have come up with so far.'
'You've lost your senses,' Chase muttered.
'Actually, I think much of her plan has merit,' Benjin countered. 'I agree there would be no good way to explain your presence travelling with us. Everyone on the Greatland of your age has already been conscripted. If you walk free, that marks you as either a traitor or deserter. It would seem the task Catrin assigned to you is the most dangerous of them all, but you've trained well for it, and I've faith in you. Catrin and I can travel in disguise. I'll be a lame old man and Catrin my youngest daughter. We can simply tell folks her brothers and sisters were conscripted, and she was left to care for me.'
'I still don't like it,' Chase said, but he seemed to realize the necessity of their separation.
'Neither do I,' Catrin said. 'If I had my choice, things would be much different, but they are what they are, and we must do the best we can given the circumstances.'
Chase nodded in morose silence. Strom and Osbourne did not object to her forceful requests, and she truly believed they could help the Cathurans in some way. She worried about their safety, but security seemed to have vacated their world, leaving only fear and despair to fill the void.
'It's all so sad,' Strom said. 'I wish things could go back to the way they were. I don't want you to leave, but I understand. I just hope we really do get word from you someday soon. You do promise to come back for us, don't you?'
'I give you my word. If I'm able, I'll come back for you.'
'And I give my word as well,' Benjin added.
'You take good care of her,' Chase said, his voice heavy with emotion as tears rimmed his eyes. He gave Benjin a tight hug and faced Catrin.
'It's a tough world out there, Cat, and I won't be there to grant your kills a quick death. Be strong, take care, and meet me on the shores of Faulk. I'll await you there.' He managed to say it all without his voice cracking.
Catrin embraced him. She kissed him on the forehead and promised she would be there; nothing could keep her away.
After she retrieved her staff and her personal items from her room at the inn, she and Benjin left, waving farewell. It was surreal, walking away from the First Inn, intent upon leaving her companions, her Guardians, her friends. It was a painful parting, and despite her promises, she knew she would probably never see any of them again. Chase had been right; her plan was insane, and she didn't expect it to work, but at least she would leave this world doing the best she could. If there were some way she could avert the disastrous threat the Statue of Terhilian posed, then she would have done a great deal for the world. It was a worthy cause and, she supposed, one worth dying for.
'You mean to go through with your plan?' Benjin asked as they huddled against the icy winds.
'I don't know. I have to at least try to destroy the statue before it detonates, which is most likely suicide, but what other course of action could I take and keep a clear conscience?'
'We will just have to deal with the details along the way. We'll find some way to overcome the obstacles, you and I. We always do.' His words offered Catrin a small amount of comfort, and she leaned on him as they walked. So many times he had been there for her; she did not know what she would do without him.
Captain Longarm was not in the guardhouse when they arrived, but another guard retrieved their weapons and returned the parchment to them. Benjin handed Catrin her knives and grabbed his own knife and sword. The rest he asked the guard to return to storage, and with that, they departed for the Inner Sanctuary.
Brother Vaughn looked nothing like himself when they returned. He was dressed in leathers with picks and hammers dangling from his belt. He wore a sturdy leather cap and gloves, and he slung a pack over his shoulder as they entered. Two more packs, near to overflowing, sat in a corner. Catrin and Benjin needed no prompting, and they shouldered the packs. Catrin stood with her staff in hand, trying to be confident, but her knees shook. This was perhaps the most dangerous parting yet.
'There is no time to waste. We must leave at once,' Brother Vaughn said, but he stopped to flip through a book that contained charts and drawings of the moon.
'I must beg a favor of you,' Catrin said. 'I have a mission for Chase that requires him to depart after the ascension. Will you guide him?'
'It won't be easy. The rites of ascension are long and will require much of my time. I cannot abandon my responsibilities at such a crucial time, but I will find a way to accomplish it.'
Catrin nodded her thanks, aware she was asking a great deal of him, and also knowing he would keep his word regardless of the cost. She was glad he did not downplay the inconvenience; she valued his honesty, even if it did make her feel guilty. It was preferable to pretty lies.
Brother Vaughn led them to the main stairwell, and they descended to its base, where the air was icy and dank. Lanterns had been left for them, and only the light they shed kept the darkness at bay. From his pocket,
