“We need to find the druid,” I called to them.
“We already knew that,” Heidel answered.
“Yeah, well, now we really need to find him or else Faythander won’t survive.”
“Faythander’s survival is always in danger. What else is new?”
And people say I have a smart mouth. Sheesh.
“We need to find the druid or else my stepfather will never heal from his injuries and most likely die. Also, Theht will destroy our world with an asteroid. Ninety percent of not only our planet, but also of Earth, will die. Is that good enough motivation to find him?”
She shrugged. “I suppose.”
“Sister,” Kull said, “you are incorrigible sometimes.”
“I learn from the best, Brother.”
“Well,” Brodnik said. “When do we leave? I’d like to get this over with.”
“We all would,” I answered, glancing back at the witch.
“You must enter the portal leading to the Shadow Realm as soon as the sun rises,” Silvestra said. “Only the energy of the first light of day at the spring equinox can negate the dark energy that exists there.”
“How long will it take to travel to the portal?” Rolf asked.
“It is on the other side of the mountain’s peak. We should leave soon if we wish to arrive before morning, but I must beg you to reconsider this quest.”
“Why?” I asked.
She stood straight, seeming taller and more menacing as she scanned each of us. “Because this place you travel is not one I’ve ever allowed any mortal to enter before, and there is good reason for it. When I became the portal’s protector, I swore an oath to keep it safe. I only allow you there now because these are the direst of circumstances. But know this—the world you cross into is not like our own. It is inhabited by creatures who feed off life energy, who will do whatever it takes to survive. They cannot be killed with our weapons, for life does not exist there as it does here. The creatures there have no morals, no conscience. They will kill and take your life’s energy without a second thought.”
“Can’t be killed?” Brodnik said. “Then why are we bothering to bring our weapons?”
The witch narrowed her eyes. “There is one weapon that has the ability to stop them.”
Silvestra reached out, palm facing up, and whispered a word of magic. Greenish mist gathered around her hand. When the fog disappeared, she held a staff with a blue jewel atop it and runes etched into the dark wood.
The staff of Zaladin.
“Hold on a moment,” I said. “Is that—?”
“The staff of Zaladin? Yes.”
“But how did you get it? The elves had it last, didn’t they?”
“Yes,” Silvestra answered. “However, I was able to obtain it once again.”
“How?” Kull asked.
“A bargain was struck.”
“What sort of bargain?” I never liked when the witch mentioned bargains.
She smiled, but gave no answer. “Use this staff to find your way.” She held the staff toward me. As she did, Grace trotted forward, sniffed the staff, and let out a long, pitiful whine.
Heidel walked forward and patted Grace’s head. As Heidel focused on the staff, a haunted look crossed her face. Zaladin’s staff must have brought up memories. She’d been caught in a portal with Maveryck and traveled to Earth with him in order to retrieve it. There were memories attached to this object—fresh, painful ones that had yet to heal.
Heidel backed away. “Grace, come away from it,” she said.
The wolf lingered, looked at the staff, and whined once again.
“Grace,” Heidel repeated. “Come away.”
Grace sniffed, then paced back to Heidel’s side.
I took the staff from the witch. As I touched the wood, its magic made my heart skip a beat. The power was ancient, brittle, yet powerful. Theht’s presence also reacted to the magic. She stirred inside me, calling to the magic. I pushed the presence back as best as I could, but I still felt it lurking, watching. Waiting.
Breathing deeply, I focused on the witch to stay distracted from Theht. “Will this staff lead us to Lucretian?”
“Yes,” she answered. “Use your magic and the staff will show you the way.”
I studied the staff, its magic warming my hands, hoping I could use its powers without awakening Theht. Well, more than she already was awoken, anyway.
“What more can you tell us of this land we travel to?” Kull asked.
“I can tell you that to enter, you must rely on Olive’s magic.” She looked at me. “Do you know the spell word to cross through?”
Spell word? This was the first I’d heard of it. “I have the spell to cross from Earth to Faythander.”
“No, child. That spell will not work for a crossing like this.”
“Then what word am I to use?”
She studied me with those icy eyes, and I tried to keep from flinching. “The word you were given—the name of the world.”
Aha! “Yes, I know it.”
She nodded. “Keep it guarded. Do not repeat it unless you must.”
“I understand.”
“Very well. I shall guide you to the cave where you will prepare to cross before sunrise. Follow me.” She turned on her heel and headed for the doorway.
I glanced back at Fan’twar. He rested with his eyes closed, his head propped on his tail, reminding me of the way Han perched on the couch. I didn’t want to leave him. Even though I wanted to tell him good-bye, I decided it was best not to disturb him. Besides, I knew I would see him again soon.
The others followed the witch toward the doors, but I couldn’t bring myself to take a single step forward. If I was being honest with myself, I had to admit I was scared. I had confronted the bloodthorn in that cave—and it was also the place where I had encountered Theht. I never wanted to return to that place again.
Kull saw me waiting. He turned and came to my side.
“You’ve got that look,” he said.
“Look?”
“Yeah, that look that tells me when
