Frostfell_ The Wizards - Mark Sehestedt [28]
"So you did nothing? All these years, you simply sat?"
"No!" The belkagen looked up at Lendri, and a bit of the heat had returned to his eyes. "I have sought knowledge and chased every rumor, hoping and praying for any sign of Erun and the others. I only became more certain of the boy's fate, but I learned nothing of how to save him."
"I'm going after my son," said Amira. "And don't you silence me again, elf. Not ever. I have half a mind to broil the lot of you for keeping me here all day. You promised me help, Belkagen. You said if I waited, you might give me hope. Where is it?"
"I believe they are taking your son to Iket Sotha," said the belkagen. "For what reason? I do not know. But knowing what I have told you, we can go after him prepared. Perhaps we can rescue your son. You said you did so once before. If we can get him away-"
"They'll only take him again," said a voice from the darkness. Gyaidun emerged from the mists. He looked down at the belkagen in disgust. "They did so once already. They traveled across half the world to get him." He looked to Amira. "Do you wish to spend the rest of your life-and your son's-running?"
"I'm going after my son," said Amira, though the cold fear had returned to her heart. She had to force a steady calm into her voice. "I don't think I can kill this dark one who leads them. His powers are beyond me. But I'll get my son back or die trying. If I have to spend the rest of my life keeping him safe, so be it. I'm his mother."
Gyaidun smiled, but it was one of the most frightening smiles Amira had ever seen. "Well said. Lendri and I will be going with you."
"And me?" said the belkagen.
"You can sleep in the Nine Hells for all I care," said Gyaidun.
"Rathla!" said Lendri. "Chu set!"
The belkagen said nothing, would not even look at Gyaidun.
A spasm seized Lendri and he would have fallen had Gyaidun not rushed over and caught him. The big man helped the elf to sit.
"Your anger is just," said Lendri. "Your disrespect shames us both, rathla. The belkagen's silence these years borders on deceit, but his words are not without some wisdom. If our foes are as dangerous as Lady Amira and the belkagen say, we will need help."
"Who would-?" said Gyaidun the same time that Amira said, "There is no time-!" They both stopped and looked at each other.
"Tonight I walk the dreamroad," said Lendri. "Tomorrow you two should follow the trail. I will seek out the Vil Adanrath."
The belkagen hissed. "Foolish. They are more likely to kill you than help you. You know that."
"This concerns Erun," said Lendri. "Haerul may well kill me, but he'd hunt the Beastlord himself if there were a chance of finding Erun. If I can find them. If not, I will meet you at Akhrasut Neth in three days."
"Wait," said Amira. "Who is this Haerul? And who is Erun?"
"Erun is my son," said Gyaidun. "He was taken eleven years ago. Just like Jalan."
CHAPTER SEVEN
Near the ruins of Winterkeep
The old, old woman raised her head and sniffed into the wind. A northern wind, it bit with the promise of ice. Not hard. Not yet. The season was passing, but she still had a few nights before the first snow, a few more days of scrabbling through the ruins. Every evening darkness caught the land earlier and held it longer. She would have to leave soon. Very soon. Old and powerful as she was, even she was not foolish enough to be caught at Winterkeep when the snows came.
As the first rim of the sun touched the western horizon, the old woman stood in a shadow cast by a massive stone. It had once stood