The Temple Read online

  “We’re almost there, Des.”

  They roused Elivain. A short time later he stooped over the remains of last night’s fire, rubbing a stick between his palms. He looked worried. “Something on your mind?” Halas asked.

  “Those soldiers from Fort Torrance are not going to take the news of Prince Aeon’s demise kindly,” Elivain said.

  Halas frowned. Once again, he hadn’t thought of that. We truly are blessed to have Elivain along, he thought. How many times would we have failed this mission without him? We’d be dead a dozen times over.

  Of course, that reminded him that Aeon actually was dead, and he felt his chest begin to tighten. He’d known the boy for only a scant few months, but he counted Aeon as one of his truest friends. Halas put a hand against his chest and rubbed it, trying to massage the pain away, but of course that would not work. He felt tears stinging at his eyes.

  But that wouldn’t do. Des put a hand on his shoulder and squeezed. Halas nodded to himself. Elivain made breakfast. They had little enough left in the way of provisions, but he made do. Halas sat, crunching on spódhla, deep in thought.

  There was much to do. Even Halas knew that it would be more than difficult to sort out their lives. They’d become wanted criminals, fugitives from Queen Anaua. The world thought them to have kidnapped Prince Aeon, and now the boy was dead, lost in the wilderness. Would anyone believe their story of the Temple? Halas didn’t know.

  An hour’s march later, the church spire came into view over the treetops, and that made things better. Bakunin was the first step in going home, something Halas wanted now more than ever. He missed his life dearly. I’m going to get it back, he thought. That thing told me it would take everything, but it was bluffing. It cannot interfere. I’m going to see my father again, my friends, Cailin. I don’t care what I have to do to get there. Halas and Desmond talked all the way to the village. They were overjoyed at the prospect of a warm meal and a bed. They did not know what was to come.

  If they had known that, they probably would have turned back.