trying to say, Patrick?”
“For reasons that I cannot disclose, if we do not retrieve this item, I promise you that your home, my home…everyone’s home—it will all burn to the ground in an ever-consuming fire. I can’t afford to draw any more suspicion to my cause, and it is for this reason that I have befriended Sehn and travel now with such a small group. There are those out there, many we may have already unknowingly encountered, that serve as eyes and ears of those who would see our world burn. You must believe me, Cah’lia. Everything I have done has been out of great need.”
“So what, then? You were just going to snatch this treasure from us and send us home? Perhaps even kill us?”
“Not at all, Cah’lia. From the start I have always intended to reward you for your services. The High-Chief Suhn had assured me that through Nero, you would be certain to accompany me, and that you would be invaluable in assisting with our journey. He also told me you’re not the selfish sort, and as such, you have already been paid for your services in advance. As we speak, wagon after wagon filled with food, water, and building materials are being brought by the score into Elvar to hold you over while you make it through this terrible drought. Of all the cities of the Elven people, I have heard it said that Elvar is the only one to have food shortages due to your treacherous forests. This, at great expense to my own people, should see your kin through these troubled times.”
Cah’lia studied his eyes, and Patrick knew that she finally saw the truth in them. She probably still struggled to accept his words, but she was a smart woman, and she would fight past her confusion.
“But what about Sehn? I’m sure that, while there’s some part of him that will appreciate your generosity to our people, he will still be expecting some form of personal reward.”
Patrick struggled with the question; this was the one thing he wished not to discuss. It would not harm their journey, so it wouldn’t be catastrophic to tell the woman, but he wished he could spare her from what he had to say next.
“Sehn will not need a reward, Cah’lia, because in all likelihood, with our timing as it stands, he will never return home.”
Cah’lia’s eyes widened; she visibly trembled. “What do you mean? What are you saying, Patrick?”
“I promised his father that I would try to bring him home, but I also told him, and now I am telling you, that it won’t be easy. Sehn will never live to see his twenty-first naming day. On the eve of that night he will die; because of what he is, because of what he was born with. In six months, Sehn will be no more.”
Tears came unbidden into Cah’lia’s eyes. Her hands began to shake, and her knees went weak. She fell to the floor. Patrick kneeled down to assist her, wiping her face with the sleeve of his expensive silk shirt. She sobbed uncontrollably.
“Is this…Is—is this some kind of joke?” she asked. “How is this possible?”
“It has already begun. Have you noticed he has started to lose his appetite? Sehn is dying, Cah’lia. He will remain strong until the day of his death, but soon he will begin to feel pain. It will not cripple him, but it will cause him agony. I don’t know the specifics, because I don’t know of anyone like Sehn, but if I have to drag him to our destination, I will. And I need you to be strong and help him. I wish I could tell you why we’re doing this, what evil it is we fight. But even mentioning it could spell out the end for us all.”
Cah’lia squirmed under Patrick’s hand, refusing to meet his eyes. She struggled to speak as rivers of tears navigated down her small face. “But…you don’t understand, Patrick. Sehn is going to rule the world someday. He has all these plans. I’ve never met anyone who wanted as much as he does. He has more dreams than anyone does, and he has more hopes than anyone does. Are you saying he will live to see
“For reasons that I cannot disclose, if we do not retrieve this item, I promise you that your home, my home…everyone’s home—it will all burn to the ground in an ever-consuming fire. I can’t afford to draw any more suspicion to my cause, and it is for this reason that I have befriended Sehn and travel now with such a small group. There are those out there, many we may have already unknowingly encountered, that serve as eyes and ears of those who would see our world burn. You must believe me, Cah’lia. Everything I have done has been out of great need.”
“So what, then? You were just going to snatch this treasure from us and send us home? Perhaps even kill us?”
“Not at all, Cah’lia. From the start I have always intended to reward you for your services. The High-Chief Suhn had assured me that through Nero, you would be certain to accompany me, and that you would be invaluable in assisting with our journey. He also told me you’re not the selfish sort, and as such, you have already been paid for your services in advance. As we speak, wagon after wagon filled with food, water, and building materials are being brought by the score into Elvar to hold you over while you make it through this terrible drought. Of all the cities of the Elven people, I have heard it said that Elvar is the only one to have food shortages due to your treacherous forests. This, at great expense to my own people, should see your kin through these troubled times.”
Cah’lia studied his eyes, and Patrick knew that she finally saw the truth in them. She probably still struggled to accept his words, but she was a smart woman, and she would fight past her confusion.
“But what about Sehn? I’m sure that, while there’s some part of him that will appreciate your generosity to our people, he will still be expecting some form of personal reward.”
Patrick struggled with the question; this was the one thing he wished not to discuss. It would not harm their journey, so it wouldn’t be catastrophic to tell the woman, but he wished he could spare her from what he had to say next.
“Sehn will not need a reward, Cah’lia, because in all likelihood, with our timing as it stands, he will never return home.”
Cah’lia’s eyes widened; she visibly trembled. “What do you mean? What are you saying, Patrick?”
“I promised his father that I would try to bring him home, but I also told him, and now I am telling you, that it won’t be easy. Sehn will never live to see his twenty-first naming day. On the eve of that night he will die; because of what he is, because of what he was born with. In six months, Sehn will be no more.”
Tears came unbidden into Cah’lia’s eyes. Her hands began to shake, and her knees went weak. She fell to the floor. Patrick kneeled down to assist her, wiping her face with the sleeve of his expensive silk shirt. She sobbed uncontrollably.
“Is this…Is—is this some kind of joke?” she asked. “How is this possible?”
“It has already begun. Have you noticed he has started to lose his appetite? Sehn is dying, Cah’lia. He will remain strong until the day of his death, but soon he will begin to feel pain. It will not cripple him, but it will cause him agony. I don’t know the specifics, because I don’t know of anyone like Sehn, but if I have to drag him to our destination, I will. And I need you to be strong and help him. I wish I could tell you why we’re doing this, what evil it is we fight. But even mentioning it could spell out the end for us all.”
Cah’lia squirmed under Patrick’s hand, refusing to meet his eyes. She struggled to speak as rivers of tears navigated down her small face. “But…you don’t understand, Patrick. Sehn is going to rule the world someday. He has all these plans. I’ve never met anyone who wanted as much as he does. He has more dreams than anyone does, and he has more hopes than anyone does. Are you saying he will live to see
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