High druid of Shannara_ Jarka Ruus - Terry Brooks [152]
“Oh, they can find us, don’t you doubt it!” Tagwen snapped. “They are resourceful and skilled. I should know. And Shadea a’Ru is a demon. She won’t give up, even with the Galaphile gone. Maybe especially with it gone, since she will blame us for its destruction. And for Terek Molt’s death.”
Khyber glared at him. “Well, they won’t find us right away. If we can get out of this swamp, we can find help among the Trolls. Didn’t you say that Kermadec lives in the Taupo Rough country? Surely he will help us.”
“He will help us if he is still alive, but given the way things are going, I wouldn’t say that’s at all certain!” Tagwen was not to be placated. “I don’t know how you expect to find him when you don’t know where you are yourself! And you say we will be all right if we don’t use the Elfstones, but if we don’t use the Stones, we might not find our way out of here! And remember this — Ahren Elessedil thought he wouldn’t have to use the Elfstones, either, but he did have to, didn’t he?”
He was nearly in tears, the tough old Dwarf, and for a moment it appeared he would break down completely. He looked away in embarrassment and frustration, then rose and stalked down to the edge of the bay, where he stood for a time looking out into the mist. Pen and Khyber exchanged glances, but said nothing.
When Tagwen returned, he was calm again, his rough features composed and determined. “You’re right,” he announced without preamble. “We should go on. Going back would be a mistake.”
“Will Kermadec help us if we can find him?” Pen asked at once.
The Dwarf nodded. “He is devoted to the Ard Rhys. He will do whatever he can to help. He is a good and brave man.”
“Then we have our plan,” Khyber declared. “But we will be careful how we go, Tagwen,” she assured the Dwarf. “We won’t be careless. Uncle Ahren gave us a chance to complete this journey. We won’t waste that gift.”
“Then we’d better think about moving away from here right now,” Pen declared. “If they can track us from our use of magic, they won’t have much trouble finding us here. Not after the expenditure of magic used to destroy the Galaphile. We have to leave at once.”
Khyber stood up. “Once we’re back in the trees, we won’t be so easy to track.” She paused. “I just wish I knew how much farther we had to go.”
“Then why don’t you find out?” Pen asked. She stared at him. “Use the Elfstones. What difference does it make if you use them now? We’ve already given ourselves away. Before we set out, let’s see where it is that we’re going. Then maybe we won’t have to use the Stones again.”
“The boy is right,” Tagwen said at once. “Go ahead. Let’s see where we are.”
They stood in a ragged group at the shore’s edge while Khyber took out the Elfstones and balanced them in her hand. They stared at the glittering talismans for a moment, transfixed by their brightness and their promise. Without saying so, they were all thinking the same thing. So much depended on what the Stones revealed. If they were too deep in the Slags to avoid its snares and predators, then they might have to use the magic again, even if it gave them away. But if they were close to the wetland border, they might have a chance to escape undetected.
Khyber closed her fingers about the talismans and held them out in the direction of the sunrise. Long moments passed, and nothing happened.
“They’re not responding,” she said. Her voice was strained and rough. “I can’t make them work.”
“Don’t be afraid, Khyber,” Pen said.
“I’m not afraid!” she snapped.
“Well, I’m frightened enough for the both of us.”
She glanced over at him, saw the concerned look on his face, and smiled in spite of herself. She dropped her arm to her side. “All right,” she said. “Let me try again.”
She took a deep, steadying breath, exhaled slowly, and held out the Stones. Her eyes closed. An instant later, the magic flared from her fist, gathered itself in a blaze of fire, and shot out into the gloom like a beast at hunt. Slicing through trees and brush and