is Dedron, and we are in love and want to marry.â
The word marry hit Jackson like a fist in his chest. He staggered back, mouth hanging open, air coming in short, shallow breaths. Tessa was to marry him. Radnor had said so.
â Love ?â Radnor roared, pulling his bow from his shoulder again. âMarry? A Yako? Itâs against the will of Zallis!â
âFalse magic!â Yed cried. âThe Yako wants to hold her hostage in his evil spell! False magic! â
âFalse magic!â the soldiers of the Steadfast Order shouted. They began banging weapon against weapon again.
Tessa winced at the clanking din. She scanned the sky, fear showing plainly in her eyes. The clouds had begun to swirl as if whipped by some gigantic hand. Thunder rumbled, deeper, more cavernous than before.
âSee what they canât see, Jackson Cooper,â Tessa pleaded. âIn the name of Panenthe, in the name of love and harmony, help us. Now is the time.â
âYes, now is the time! In the name of Zallis, do something!â Radnor demanded.
Jacksonâs stomach twisted, his head swam. He began to tremble, then shake. How could Tessa talk of love when sheâd turned so quickly from him to thisâJackson looked at the boy called Dedronâthis Yako ? How could sheâ
âJackson Cooper.â
The words began low in Dedronâs throat, like a soft growl, so much like an animal, full of wildness. âJackson Cooper.â He stepped up beside Tessa, his dark eyes locked onto Jacksonâs, a penetrating stare that seemed to pry Jackson open, expose his very soul. Like a rabbit caught far from its burrow, like doomed prey, Jackson froze, his mouth suddenly wordless, his mind blank.
âListen to me,â Dedron said. âAfter the Baen was defeated, the earth opened up and swallowed it, leaving only the tips of two of its fangs that had broken off in the battle. With those two fang tips Musa and Grier made this.â
Not taking his dark eyes from Jacksonâs, Dedron reached under his cloak and pulled out what looked like two short bone flutes lashed tightly together with a leather thong.
âWe call it the Shaw-Mara.â
A rich amber color, the twin flutes shined as if polished smooth by the touch of many hands.
âIts notes, if blown together by a Timmran and a Yakonan, are the only thing that can stop the Baen from returning.â
Even as Jackson recoiled from Dedronâs unnerving stare and animal voice, he felt himself being pulled toward the Shaw-Mara, wanting to touch it, to hold it.
Dedron held the Shaw-Mara out toward Jackson. âBut the Baen has somehow snuck his power into the Vale and silenced it. No matter how hard we blow, it makes no sound. Help us.â
Jacksonâs hands began to twitch, to ache for the flute.
âUse your power to fix the Shaw-Mara.â
A sudden spasm wrenched Jacksonâs fingers out straight. His bow fell with a clatter onto the bridge planks.
He started to reach out for the Shaw-Mara.
âDonât listen, Jackson Cooper! Itâs a trick! Heâs trying to capture your soul, too!â
Yedâs voice jolted Jackson as if he had been in a trance. Relief flooded him, along with deep fear and anger. He had almost been bewitched by Dedron. It was evil magic. He did have Tessa and Arnica under a spell.
âDestroy him and set my daughters free!â Radnor commanded. He scooped up Jacksonâs bow and thrust it at him. âUse the magic power Zallis gave you!â
But Jackson waved the bow off. Yes, his powerânot the bow but the incredible black stone. How could he have forgotten, even in all the turmoil? Jackson reached up and grasped the pendant. Strength, more than ever, much more, instantly flowed into his hands. He glared at Dedron. âLeave me alone!â he said, his voice coming out like thunder.
âJackson, please,â Tessa begged. âThe Baen!â
Dedron held the
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