world, and the landmarks that existed then are gone. You will have to rely on the Elfstones.»
«I thought as much.» The Valeman sagged back in his chair. «Use of the Elfstones will tell the Demons where we can be found.»
«Unfortunately true. You will have to exercise great discretion, Wil, I will relate to you what the Ellcrys told the Chosen about Safehold before they were slain — what she later told also to me. This may help you in your search. The Bloodfire lies within a wilderness with mountains and swamp all around — obviously the Wilderun, as the Druid histories record. Now here is the rest of what she said. There is a deep mist that comes and goes. Within the wilderness can be found a lone peak; beneath the peak is a maze of tunnels that burrow deep within the earth. Somewhere within the maze is a door made of glass that will not break. Behind the door you will find the Bloodfire.»
He cocked his head reflectively. «As you can see, the general description of the Wilderun remains surprisingly accurate, even after the passage of so many years and the cataclysmic changes wrought in the geography of the earth by the Great Wars. Perhaps the balance of the description remains accurate as well. Perhaps the Bloodfire may still be found beneath a lone peak, within a maze of tunnels.» He shrugged. «I would give you more help if I had it to give, but I do not. You must do the best you can with that.»
Wil managed a faint, if somewhat forced, smile of encouragement. He did not dare look over at Amberle.
«How do we reach the Wilderun?» he asked.
The Druid glanced questioningly at Eventine, but the Elven King appeared preoccupied. At last, distracted by the silence, he looked over at Allanon and nodded absently.
«Everything has been arranged.»
The Druid seemed to hesitate, then turned to Amberle. «Your grandfather has selected Captain Crispin, who commands the Home Guard, to be your guide and protector on this journey. Crispin is a very resourceful and courageous soldier; he will serve you well. He has been instructed to choose half a dozen Elven Hunters as your escort. Six is a small number, but a small number may be best in this case. It will attract far less attention than a large command and it should enable you to travel more swiftly.
«The plan that the King and I have settled on is this. You will be taken from the city in secret; the means have been left to Captain Crispin. Only Crispin will be aware of your mission. He and the Elven Hunters under his command will go with you as far as you need them. All will have been instructed that no harm is to befall you, that they are to do whatever is necessary to protect you.»
«Allanon.»
It was Eventine who spoke, glancing over suddenly, a worried look on his face. His penetrating blue, eyes found those of the Druid.
«There is something I have not yet told you. I did not speak of this before because we had only those few moments at the close of the Council. But I think something should be said now. There is reason for concern in this venture beyond the obvious danger of being tracked by the Demons who have pursued you this far.»
He leaned forward, arms crossing loosely on the table to support his weight. His face, caught in the dim light of the candle, seemed very old.
«You know how the Chosen died — perhaps Wil and Amberle do not.» His gaze shifted. «They were torn apart, mangled almost beyond recognition.»
Horror reflected in the faces of the Elven girl and the Valeman. The King put his hand gently on his granddaughter’s shoulder.
«I do not tell you this to frighten you more, Amberle, nor you, Wil, but because of this.» He looked back at Allanon. «Since you have been gone from Arborlon, there have been more deaths like those of the Chosen. A great many deaths. Whatever it was that killed them has been roaming the surrounding country, systematically destroying everything and everyone it encounters, man or beast, young or old. Over fifty Elves have died — all in the same manner, all by being ripped apart. Three nights ago, an entire Elven patrol was waylaid and destroyed. Six armed men. A week earlier, an army compound at the north edge of the city was invaded and twenty men were killed while they slept. There has been an increasing number of Demons sighted in the Westland since the Ellcrys began to fail and more than a few unpleasant pitched fights as well but nothing on this order, nothing as deliberate and premeditated. This creature knows what it is about; it kills with purpose. We have tried without success to track it. We cannot find it. We have not even seen it. No one has. But it is out there — and it hunts us.»
He paused. «It was sent once, Allanon, for the purpose of destroying the Chosen. It did so — all but one. It may be that it will be sent again.»
Amberle had gone white. Allanon rubbed his bearded chin thoughtfully.
«Yes, there was such a Demon in the old days,” he mused. «A Demon that killed out of instinctive need. They called it a Reaper.»
«I don’t care what they called it,” Wil spoke up suddenly. «What I want to know is how to avoid it.»
«Secrecy,” the Druid offered. «However vicious and cunning this Demon, it will have no more reason than its brethren to suspect that you have; left Arborlon. If it believes that you are still here — if they all believe that you are still here — they will not be looking for you elsewhere. Perhaps we can give them that impression.»
He turned to Eventine. «The time will come very soon now when the Ellcrys can no longer maintain the wall of the Forbidding with sufficient strength to contain the remainder of the Demons still imprisoned within. When that time comes, the Demons will concentrate their strength at the wall’s weakest point and break free. We cannot wait for that to happen. We must find the place where they will attempt their crossover and do what we can to prevent it. Even if we fail, we can fight a delaying action which will slow them in their march on Arborlon. They will try to march here, for they will seek to destroy the Ellcrys. They must. They cannot tolerate her. Remember that while she was strong, she was anathema to them. But as she weakens, she becomes less so. Once they have broken through her wall, they will move quickly to destroy her. We must do what we can to prevent that. We must give Amberle time to reach the Bloodfire and return again. We must keep the Demons from Arborlon until then.
«So.» He let the word hang for a moment in the silence, of the little room. «We shall deceive the Demons who are already through the Forbidding by acting as if preparations to seek the Bloodfire are yet to be completed. We shall make it appear as if you have not left. The Demons know that it was I who brought Amberle here; they will expect me to be with her when she leaves. We can make use of that. We can focus their attention on me. By the time they realize that they have been misled, you should be well beyond their reach.»
Unless their spy is more resourceful than you anticipate, Wil wanted to say; but he decided not to.
«It all sounds very promising,” he said instead. «That seems to settle everything except the matter of when we should leave.»
The Druid leaned back in his chair. «You will leave at dawn:”
Wil stared at him in disbelief. «At dawn? Tomorrow?»
Amberle sprang to her feet. «That is impossible, Druid! We are exhausted! We have not slept in almost two days — we have to have more than a few hours rest before setting out again!»
Allanon held up his hands. «Peace, Elven girl. I understand this as well as you. But consider. The Demons know that you have come here for the purpose of carrying the seed of the Ellcrys to the Bloodfire. They know that you will attempt to leave the city, and they will be watching closely. But they will not be watching as closely now as they will in a day or two. Do you know why? Because they will expect you to rest first. That is exactly why you must leave at once. Surprise offers you your best chance to slip past them.»
Understanding flickered in Wil’s eyes. This was the advantage that the Druid had hoped his deception at the High Council might yield them.
«There will be sufficient rest for you after you are gone from the city,” Allanon promised. «Two days of travel will enable you to reach the Elven outpost in Drey Wood; you can catch up on your lost sleep there. But delay in Arborlon is dangerous. The quicker you are gone from here, the better your chances.»
Wil hated to admit it, but there was logic in the Druid’s argument. He glanced quickly at Amberle. She stared down at him silently for a moment, frustrated and angry, then turned back to Allanon.
«I want to see my mother before I leave.»
The Druid shook his head. «That is not a good idea, Amberle.»
Her jaw tightened. «You seem to think that you have the final say in whatever I wish to do, Druid. You don’t. I want to see my mother.»
«The Demons know who you are. If they know also of your mother, they will expect you to go to her. They
