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Rin’s face held the biggest grin I’d seen in at least a year.
Grand Wizard Seelain continued to check the work the young stablehand had done in preparing her mount. “Excellent, Stablehand Rin,” she said, finishing her inspection of the cinches and straps. “In addition, Moon Ash appears well fed and groomed.”
Rin nodded. “Thank you, Grand Wizard.” Then he pointed at the assistant handler standing next to me and Wick. “Marquan’s been teaching me t’do more than clean stalls. You should thank him some ’cause he deserves it more than me.”
Grand Wizard Seelain, dressed in her buckskin riding outfit, turned to Marquan. “Thank you as well.”
The red-headed handler bowed. “It was a pleasure to tend to and see to the preparation of your mount for travel, ma’am.”
While Marquan spoke, Rin stood at attention. He made eye contact with me and rested his hand on the pommel of his curved dagger. I nodded and he stood up even straighter.
Grand Wizard Seelain handed Moon Ash’s reins to Rin so that he could lead the wyvern out to the launch yard. “By your look, Flank Hawk, I can see you’re ready to be on our way.”
I handed Wick’s reins to Assistant Handler Marquan. “We’ve another scouting mission and a great distance to travel.” It was a lie, but one meant to throw off anyone too curious. The plan was to rendezvous with the rest of the team and an escort that would accompany us at least as far as the Reunited Kingdom.
Wizard Seelain said to one of the king’s guards that had escorted us through the late evening streets, “Return and inform Prince Reveron that we left the city shortly after nightfall and will return upon completion of my mission.” She handed him an envelope sealed with wax. “And deliver this to him.”
With that, Marquan led Wick out of the roost. With a command my mount leapt into flight. Grand Wizard Seelain followed on Moon Ash and we raced out to sea to meet the rest of the team. We found them circling high above a pair of boats bearing three lanterns each, the fishermen quietly casting their bait for orange squid.
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WE SAT HUDDLED in a small tool shed that appeared to have doubled as a workshop for someone with blacksmithing skills. All valuables had been taken when the farm was abandoned, or stolen sometime after. Along with the shed, a barn remained intact, but the house and two other structures, probably barns, had burned to the ground. Private Zunnert estimated the home had burned last spring, and the two barns in late winter.
Major Jadd and Captain Bray were in the remaining barn tending to the two dragons and three wyverns. Jadd’s aft-guard, Sergeant Drux, patrolled the abandoned farm’s perimeter.
Lesser Seer Jonas set two green crystals the size of my thumbnail on the dirt floor while Grand Wizard Seelain spoke to me, Lilly and Zunnert. The diplomat, a stocky woman with a round face and clad in brown riding clothes like what nobles wore during stag chases, stayed back against the wall. By her looks I guessed she wasn’t one to smile much. The name, Grimsby, didn’t help.
“This farm and the one we’ll reach tomorrow morning will shelter us from curious eyes during daylight hours,” Wizard Seelain said. “From then on we’ll travel by day and establish camp in isolated areas. Serpent patrols, while uncommon, are not unheard of. In any case, once we are outside the Kingdom of Keesee, I should not be easily recognized and the king believes the sight of serpent cavalry by both friend and potential foe is a positive for morale.”
Enchanter Jonas mumbled a few words and ran his right hand over one of the crystals. A map, scaled to show what I recognized as the western shore of our continent and the island nation of the Reunited Kingdom emerged from the crystal. Opaque, and the size of a barrel hoop, with colors of brown, green and blue.
He kept chanting quietly, working to sustain the crystal spell while Diplomat Grimsby stepped between Lilly and me. “We are going to land on the shore near the Thames River and await permission to enter New London.” Her voice bore little inflection, yet carried a musical tone. “Grand Wizard Seelain and I, accompanied by Private Zunnert and Mercenary Flank Hawk, will meet with the prime minister, or his representative.”
“Why?” asked Lilly.
The diplomat answered without hesitation. “While that is an astute question, I am not at liberty to explain. Grand Wizard Seelain may, if she deems it appropriate.”
Lilly pushed up the sleeves of the dark blue wool coat Roos had wrapped around her just before his death, but didn’t look to Wizard Seelain for an answer.
“Lilly,” said Wizard Seelain. “Inhabitants of the Reunited Kingdom do not use magic and communication between our two peoples, except on the battlefield, is sporadic at best. We will be asking for a writ of permission to fly over and camp upon their lands, en route to the islands that Enchanter Jonas is about to show us. One of them, long ago named Iceland, you have been on before.”
As the enchanter slowly drew his hand toward himself, the map shifted, like a paper sliding under a circle of candle light.
“These islands are along the route we will take,” said Wizard Seelain, pointing, until we reach the Western Continent, until we reach where both Flank Hawk and Lilly have been before. The Colonel of the West’s Outpost Four.” Her finger stopped above a spot on the continent’s east coast.
Lilly held her tongue. I wanted to question the reason for going there as well.
“We are aware of your encounter with the Warden of Outpost Four.”
I recalled the fallen angel that now served the Colonel. Even though constrained by some apparent orders, still he tried to wrest the Blood Sword from me through one of his minions. It wasn’t something I liked to think about.
“If we do not receive aid there, we will use the second crystal, which holds maps drawn from Flank Hawk’s memory by Imperial Seer Lochelle. It was wise of you, my mercenary friend, to periodically view the terrain from aboard the Colonel’s mechanical flying machine.”
Birdcalls, three of them resembling a brown-jay, signaled there was potential trouble. I got to my feet, donned my helmet and grabbed my spear. Private Zunnert grabbed his helmet and opened the wooden door a crack to peek outside.
I stood next to him and looked back to Wizard Seelain. “We’ll see what caught Drux’s attention.” She nodded approval.
Lilly moved a step closer to the grand wizard and for a split second her gaze met mine. She’d protect Wizard Seelain should it come to a fight.
Zunnert and I slipped out the door and made our way to the rock wall that encompassed the main buildings. Jadd met up with us as we climbed over the four-foot barrier and stepped into the thin line of trees where Drux crouched behind a large maple. He pointed with my loaded crossbow along the hardened path that served as a road leading up to the farm.
I wished I’d asked Lilly for her spyglass to better view the approaching wagon. From a distance the wagon appeared weathered. A team of four oxen pulled it. Once or twice a glint of sunlight reflected off what had to be glass windows built into the faded red sides. The two horsemen, armed with long spears and scimitars and leading the wagon and the five that trailed behind, spoke of importance, if not wealth. The water barrels on the wagon’s side and the string of goats that trailed the wagon between the riders suggested self-reliance.
“I know that wagon,” said Jadd. “A gypsy named Madame Creeanne. She’s traveled far from Sint Malo.”
“Is she one of the Conjurer’s minions?” asked Drux.
“No,” said Jadd. “But her family clan hails from that region. She’s a member of their council, and those on horseback are likely her sons.”
Zunnert said, “So far from home, maybe she’s been exiled.”
Jadd shook his head. “I don’t know much about gypsy culture, but I think they put to death rather than exile.”
“Wonder why she’s here?” asked Drux as we slid deeper into the thin stand of trees. “Are you on good terms with her?”
“Her family came into conflict with a cult of demon worshippers. I was one of several mercenaries they hired. I fought well. Earned my pay.”
“Do you want to be seen by her?” I asked.
Jadd rubbed his chin. “I was wondering that myself.” Then he added, “Some say there’s a sliver of nymph blood flowing in her veins.”
“They’re getting close,” Zunnert commented.
“Private, you’re the best at not being seen. Go make sure nobody is approaching the farm from another direction, and then get into position should trouble start.” After the infiltration soldier slipped back over the wall, Jadd continued, “No sense letting them get any closer. Sergeant, stay here ready with the crossbow. Flank Hawk and I will go out a short bit and meet them.”
“Seven on horseback against two, plus what’s in the wagon,” Drux said with a crooked smile that emphasized the deep scar on the right side of his chin. I’d seen that look before, one showing he was ready for a fight.
“I have you with a crossbow, brother,” said Jadd, mirroring his aft-guard’s smile. “And two dragons and an air wizard behind me.”
“Yeah? Air wizards and dragons don’t dig graves none too well.”
Jadd adjusted his sword in its scabbard. “If it comes to that. But with Flank Hawk at my side it’ll only be gypsy graves. Come on,” he said to me.
I followed my friend out, wondering about his decision. I was a better shot with a crossbow, and Drux had served for years in the royal guard in the roughest areas of the King’s City. He reminded me of an experienced bouncer from one of the Brown District taverns. With his chainmail shirt and well-used broadsword, Drux was far more intimidating than me.
As we emerged from the treeline, Jadd said, “I see you finally replaced that rust-bucket helmet.”
“Yeah, I did,” I said, wondering why he made that comment now. “I figured I should at least look the part when guarding...you know.”
He laughed and I shook my head. The lead riders brought their horses to a stop. A young girl next to the wagon driver stood on the bench seat and appeared to say something through a long rectangular window.
After a few more strides Jadd whispered, “I don’t anticipate any trouble. Still, look sharp.”
All but one of the rear horsemen joined the front two, blocking our view of the wagon. They remained mounted as we approached.
Jadd and I stopped about twenty feet from them. “Gerard,” said Jadd. “I never expected to see you in the Kingdom of Keesee.”
The gypsy rider on the far left answered, “Road Toad, I see you’ve traded your mercenary sword for allegiance to King Tobias.” His reply came in Sea Spittle, language of traders, especially used among sailors. While Lilly had studied the complex Crusader tongue, I’d managed to pick up the basics of the straight forward trade tongue, sometimes through fellow wyvern scouts and other times through a tea merchant that I’d met and befriended.
What concerned me was that the rider’s reply didn’t reflect the light tone that Jadd had used.
Jadd shrugged, refusing to shift to Sea Spittle. “Times change. What brings you this far east?”
“A gypsy’s travel recognizes no limits,” Gerard said in the sea trader’s tongue.
“And how many travel the Shadow Forest?”
“What reason would there be for us to travel within the Necromancer King’s domain?”
“I don’t know,” said Jadd. “What reason do you travel within the domain of King Tobias?”
The question brought no response other than a scowl. The other riders, while listening to the exchange, betrayed no emotion. I had little experience with gypsies. They were rare around my home in Pine Ridge, and even rarer within the Kingdom of Keesee. Some said they were less than honest traders but, unless crossed, they were also said to be a friendly people.
Movement behind the horsemen soon revealed that the final horseman who hadn’t joined the line had dismounted and was escorting a woman dressed in a colorful skirt and blouse. Patterns of red, blue, purple and green matched her gemstone rings, earrings and necklace. She appeared only a few summers past middle age and not in need of the gnarled walking stick she used.
“None of my sons know why we’ve travelled east,” said the woman, stopping in front of the horsemen. She matched Jadd’s use of the Mainland tongue.
Her focus shifted from Jadd to me, and she examined me with a penetrating gaze. I did my best to ignore her scrutiny while remaining alert to her sons and other potential danger.
“Road Toad,” she continued, “you have been elevated to one of the king’s dragon riders. This mercenary is your partner?”
“I once was a serpent cavalryman, and am one again.”
“And the young mercenary?”
“He is not my aft-guard.”
She asked me, “Are you a fellow dragon rider?”
“No,” was all I answered. If there was some game, political, intelligence gathering, or otherwise, it wasn’t my place to get involved.
“Would you gentlemen care to join me in my wagon? Share our tales of travel over tea?”
Jadd said, “We must decline, Madam Creeanne. Our mounts need tended to.”
Her eyes narrowed and turned back to me. “You, mercenary, would lie to me?” The accusation stirred the interest of the horsemen.
I shifted my spear enough to be noticed. “I have not, and have no reason to lie to you, or to any of your sons.” One of the rules among mercenaries was never to let an insult pass unchallenged. I was sure she knew that, although she hadn’t fully named me a liar.
“It is odd. Dragon riders of the king traveling at night. May we camp and share the farm’s well with you?”
“It is odd that you should keep a cold camp, without a fire to light the night,” said Jadd. “You may take water from the well, if you desire, but then continue your journey.”
“What makes you believe we have not traveled the night?” she asked.
Jadd glanced at the riders and their mounts. “I know horses almost as well as serpents.”
“Very well then, Road Toad, or whatever name you now choose to go by. In truth, it is an unexpected turn that our paths have once again crossed. Yet I am pleased to learn that war has elevated you to your former station. However, I have not travelled east to exchange chary words with you.”
She stepped closer and said to me, “You would be the mercenary given the name Flank Hawk.”
I did my best to hide my surprise that she knew my name. “I am,” I said, wondering what else the gypsy elder knew about me.
“Then the one you would name Belinda the Cursed is indeed correct. The King of Keesee has indeed set a favored pawn again upon the board. Does your lycanthrope scout travel with you, young mercenary?” She smiled, her left eye half closing. “Ahh, I can see by your reaction that she does.”
Lilly and I met Belinda the Cursed over a year ago in the dark city of Sint Malo and bartered with her for passage across the Western Ocean. During the journey I learned that the woman many named the Eternal Hag was daughter to the immortal Colonel of the West. She was the gypsy’s source and I saw no reason to lie. “My scout is nearby.”
“Since you will not avail yourself of my hospitality, would you walk with me?”
Jadd turned to me and said, “I’ll just stay here and continue my conversation with Gerard.”
“You were not invited,” said Madame Creeanne, before dismissing the son standing next to her.
“But I might have invited him,” I said, handing Jadd my spear. He’d have a better chance with my spear against the mounted gypsies, while giving it up served as a gesture of trust. I still had my sword and dirk.
Bees and other insects took to flight from the yellow flowering weeds covering the untilled field as we slowly walked through it. I stayed to her right, interposing myself between her and the farm.
She shifted her walking stick to her left hand. “You smell of reptile. If not dragon, what beast do you ride?”
“Wyvern,” I said.
“Iceheart told me of your cautious nature, and of your loyalty. Tell me, are you loyal to King Tobias?”
Iceheart was the name that the Warden of Outpost 4 used when he spoke to Belinda the Cursed. Roos believed the warden was a fallen angel. “Are you Iceheart’s servant?” I asked.
“I will take your question, instead of answering, as no, Mercenary.”
“I will take your evasion as a yes, Madame.”
“You would be wrong,” she said.
It was my turn to smile. “I know Iceheart. Just as I’m not a true serpent cavalryman, you’re not a true servant.”
She stopped and turned to face me. “You, Mercenary, don’t know me, and who I am.”
“No, I do not.” I squared up to face the gypsy. “But I do know Iceheart, as much a man might.”
At that, she laughed. “What do you know of Iceheart?”
“I have fought by her side,” I said. “Have you?” She continued to laugh but the mirth left her eyes. “I have faced a fallen angel with her at my back. Have you?”
“I have known Iceheart more seasons than you and Road Toad combined have walked the earth.”
“Although you may not be such, I understand that a servant may know her master. I will take your response to mean you have not fought at her side.”
Anger laced the gypsy’s voice as she said, “You know nothing.”
I had nothing to gain by angering Madame Creeanne further, and whatever her intent, anger was the conversation’s path. I took a step back. “I will escort you back to your sons or, if you prefer, take my immediate leave. Where we are going can only lead to blood.”
“It would be your blood, and that of your friend, young mercenary.”
I shrugged. “Maybe, for a start. Maybe not.”
“Fool, you cannot slay me.”
“If my death is your purpose, I shall put your belief to the test.” If I went for my sword, I’d put Major Jadd’s life in danger, so I pulled my dirk from its sheath and held it down along my side, hidden from her sons’ view. If the gypsy madame didn’t recognize the smell of fire-weed resin coating my silver blade, she might wonder at the stain upon it. “I’ve stood to worse than you,” I said quietly.
She glanced at her sons and then beyond my shoulder. Then I met her gaze, matching its intensity. “If it comes to my blood,” I said, “you and your sons will join me well before witnessing today’s noon sun.”
Her face broke into a toothy grin. “As Iceheart said, King Tobias has placed a pawn upon the board. One that fears not sacrifice.”
I still stood ready. “Iceheart knows that.”
“And now I do. You may put your blade away and escort me back to my sons.”
I hesitated then slowly slid my dirk back into its sheath in my boot.
“Good,” she said. “I believe your lycanthrope scout watching from beyond the wall may now relax.” She turned and walked back toward the wagon. “Road Toad was your mentor. Does he approve of poison upon your blades?”
Grand Wizard Seelain must have sent Lilly to see what was happening. Without looking her way, I signaled Lilly things were okay. “What’s on my blade has its uses.”
“Enough of the chary words between us as well,” Madame Creeanne said, motioning to her dismounted son. He turned and hurried to the back of the wagon, disturbing the line of goats enjoying a meal of the flowering weeds. He high-stepped over the tether line to reach the steps and entered the wagon.
We stood in silence. I caught another glimpse of the gypsy madame’s eyes. They had much the same cobalt blue color that Belinda the Cursed’s eyes had, but the gypsy’s didn’t glow, especially when she’d been angry. I wondered if it was all an act, and that she hadn’t been angry with me.
The youngest son, probably several summers younger than me, strode with purpose, carefully carrying a sturdy wooden chest reinforced by steel bands. He set it at his mother’s feet.
The gypsy adjusted her skirt and knelt before placing an index finger upon the latch. She opened the lid and lifted a small wooden box and a narrow leather sheath from the chest and set them on the ground.
“Edmund, return this to its place,” Madame Creeanne said, closing the chest. “And then remind Gerard that I will be most displeased if he allows the former mercenary to provoke him to violence.”
Once Edmund left, the gypsy elder moved her walking stick to the side and invited me to sit with her.
I wasn’t comfortable with the idea of sitting, so I knelt in front of her, with one knee on the ground and rested a forearm on the other.
She gave a frown of disappointment and picked up the small wooden box that had images of feathers lightly carved into it. She flicked a latch and slid the lid open to reveal a crystal the size of an acorn. It was attached to a sturdy necklace formed from paired silver links. “This is why I travelled east. To deliver a gift to you.”
She lifted the necklace from the box and held it up for me to examine. “If you know Iceheart as much as you suggest, you know that she despises Tyegerial.”
The crystal dangled in the sun, capturing and reflecting a rainbow of colors. A dark blue spot in the center of the crystal marred its iridescence.
“Tyegerial?” I asked.
She looked at me as if assessing my question. “You might know him as the Warden of Outpost Four?”
“Yes. I am not fond of him either.”
“This,” she said, “contains a drop of the angel’s blood.”
I imagine my eyes widened at what she said. “How did she get that?”
“You would have to ask Iceheart.”
“Why is she giving it to me?”
“You foiled and embarrassed the warden, and I imagine that pleased Iceheart. She said you’d lost a charm in the process. This repays you.”
“The daughter of the Colonel of the West is giving me the blood of a living fallen angel to replace a charm that held the blood of a dead mercenary?” I looked at the crystal, but not too closely, wondering what power it might contain.
Madame Creeanne shrugged and lowered the crystal and silver chain back upon the cotton padding within the box. “I and my sons traveled through dangerous lands to deliver it for her.”
“What is its purpose?”
She closed the lid and slid the latch back in place. “I do not know.”
I wondered if it was a good idea to accept Belinda the Cursed’s gift. Or if it might be a ploy to bring me to her. “How did you know I would be here, at this farm on this day?”
“That, she did not share with me. However, I will say that we have been here a week, awaiting your arrival. The advanced guard that scouted the farm yesterday helped me identify the correct place.”
It worried me when I realized the length of time it took Madame Creeanne’s wagon to travel from Sint Malo along the Western Ocean’s coast to northern Keesee. If Belinda the Cursed could guess my movements, did she know what mission I was a part of? And if her blood was only half immortal, what about Fendra Jolain, who was an immortal goddess?
She held out the box for me to take. “Here, Mercenary Flank Hawk. There is something else.”
I took the box with my left hand but didn’t hold it close. The gypsy madame picked up the finely crafted sheath and withdrew a six inch rod the width of a rose stem. It appeared to be brass with tiny runes etched upon it in a spiraling pattern. “This is from Colonel Ibrahim for your scout.”
“What is it for?”
“I see now that you are full of questions and glad of my answers.”
“That I am,” I agreed. “If you were me, wouldn’t you be?”
The gypsy laughed again, but this time her eyes were filled with mirth. “If your scout drops it, the rounded end will point to her destination.” She demonstrated before putting the rod back in its sheath and handing it to me. “It will work for her hand alone. None other.”
She looked past me, over my shoulder to her sons. “It is time we return to Sint Malo.”
I stood, holding the gifts in one hand and helped her to her feet with the other. It was a polite gesture that wasn’t necessary, just like the walking stick.
When we got close enough to hear Jadd conversing with Gerard, I said to Madame Creeanne, “The Colonel and Belinda the Cursed consider me their pawn as well.”
“You would have to ask them that,” she replied.
“It wasn’t a question.”
“The prince is not leading your mission.”
“He is not,” I said, after a second’s thought. Part of Prince Reveron’s plan to keep our mission hidden was to make sure his presence was known within the city.
“That wasn’t a question,” she said, then laughed. “My chance to remind Iceheart she’s not infallible.” Madame Creeanne frowned. “Just like my eldest son, whom your friend Road Toad managed to distract while you drew a blade against me. He’s just like his father was.”
Lilly caught up with me as I went to join Major Jadd along the side of the barn to eat our evening meal. “How’d your shortbow lesson with Private Zunnert go?”
“Okay, I guess,” Lilly said. “I’m still better with my sling.”
She must have caught my expression and said, “I know what you’re gonna say. I know, I’m sitting aft-guard for Captain Bray, and a sling won’t work.”
“You’ll get better,” I said and rounded the corner of the barn. I sat down in the shade next to Jadd and handed him his share of dried turkey and a raw potato. Lilly sat next to me and I shared what I had with her. I sighed and bit into my potato. I didn’t care for them, especially raw, but they travelled well. Both Lilly and Jadd laughed under their breath and pretended to look away as I chewed and swallowed.
“Don’t blame me,” Jadd said. “Private Zunnert selected our travel menu.”
I licked my teeth and decided to change subjects. I asked Jadd, “Why’d you take me out with you to meet Madame Creeanne instead of taking Sergeant Drux?”
“Why wouldn’t I?”
“He’s your aft-guard. Part of your brotherhood. He fights better and looks more like someone a gypsy wouldn’t want to mess with. More than me.”
He took a bite of turkey and chewed for a few seconds. “I trust Drux, same as you. We’ve been in some tough scrapes.” He leaned forward. “When it comes to life and death, you’re his equal.
“Beyond that, it was better to leave the gypsies uncertain. My armor and insignia mark me as a serpent cavalryman. Your mix of armor and arms, not wearing any purple and gold. That obviously marks you as a mercenary. It gave them something to consider, to be unsure about, and leave the notion my aft-guard might bring Flame Lance into the dispute should one arise.”
“Everyone’s afraid of dragons,” Lilly said. “What’re you gonna do with your magical pendant?”
“I don’t know if it’s magical,” I said. “Enchanter Jonas detected enchantment in your rod. He didn’t sense anything in the crystal.”
Lilly sat up, ready to argue. “But you’ve seen it just like me. Crusaders aren’t affected by magic.” She pointed to Jadd. “Road Toad and Wizard Seelain said faith in their God blocks it. And that warding angel once served their God, and it’s his blood.”
“But remember the blessed saber Roos carried? When he drew it you sensed it, even saw an aura around it, right?”
She nodded. “Yeah, so?”
“You don’t see anything with the pendant.”
She shrugged. “Maybe blessing ain’t the same thing as an angel’s blood. Plus, there’s lots of enchanters better than him, right Road Toad?”
“Enchanter Jonas is competent,” Jadd answered. “He deciphered most of the runes on your rod.”
“Yeah,” said Lilly. “Wizard Seelain said we’d land tonight so I can try it. See if it points the same direction.” She pulled the rod from a pocket and dropped it. As always, it pointed west.
“Either the Colonel’s mountain fortress or Outpost Four,” I said. “That’s what I’d bet on.”
“But look how far that Colonel’s seeing ahead,” said Lilly. “Wizard Seelain said it’s like playing chess. I don’t know how but I’ve seen people play it. She says seers, like the king’s seer, see into the future, what the board will look like two turns ahead. And the Colonel of the West might be able to see three turns.”
That bothered me, because Fendra Jolain was immortal like the Colonel of the West. Imperial Seer Lochelle was the most powerful seer in Keesee, maybe on the continent. But I recalled when Belinda the Cursed battled a high priestess of the sea goddess Uplersh. Belinda was half immortal, but couldn’t defeat a high priestess channeling energy from her goddess. Even if Fendra Jolain wasn’t a seer, she might be able work through one to outdo Seer Lochelle.
“You’ve stopped chewing and haven’t even swallowed the potato in your mouth,” Lilly said to me. “And you haven’t looked this worried since you were getting ready to go into Sint Malo alone.”
I explained my concern to her and Jadd.
“Yeah,” said Lilly. “And if you’re right on where my direction rod points, that means we don’t need Enchanter Jonas.”
Major Jadd drew his sword and examined it. “I thought of that too, Lilly. Maybe they didn’t anticipate us having him and the map crystals. Belinda the Cursed thought Prince Reveron would be leading our mission.”
“Or he’s gonna die and we’ll need the rod.” Lilly’s eyes became wide. “You think he’s thought of that, Flank Hawk?”
“I’m sure Enchanter Jonas has,” I said.
“I feel bad for him,” said Lilly
Jadd nodded in agreement. “We’ll cross that bridge if it comes. The question now is, what are you going to do about the crystal, Flank Hawk?”
“You gonna wear it?” asked Lilly. “You’re not gonna leave it or bury it or something, are you?”
“I don’t know,” I said, thinking about the box stowed in my saddle bag. I asked Jadd, “What do you think?”
“I really don’t know, Flank Hawk. You know Belinda the Cursed far better than me. You and Lilly met the Colonel of the West.”
Lilly said, “They wouldn’t give you something that’d hurt you.”
“Maybe, but they’ve got their own objectives,” I said. “How much do theirs match ours?”