touched two fingers to forehead, lips and chest and bowed in Karryl’s direction.
His suspicions aroused Karryl frowned. “Areel? You’re the last person I expected to see here. How did you find me?”
Areel crouched down and pulled a basket containing a black and white cat and three assorted kittens away from the vicinity of the portal. “They would not survive very long in the desert.”
The portal vanished as Areel moved to stand in front of Karryl. “I have met with the Lady Evalin.” The desert warrior’s lips twisted in a wry smile. “Her powers are remarkable. She has some very subtle ways of testing credibility. She told me you were probably here, after I had spoken with her and King Vailin and told them as much as I know.”
Karryl nodded and forced a little smile, although this was one of those rare occasions when he felt annoyed. What he had to do he wanted to do alone. The as yet unexplained arrival of Areel could complicate matters.
The warrior’s obsidian black eyes met Karryl’s dark brown ones. “It was necessary to warn you, and this was the quickest way. My thoughts may not have reached you.”
Unable to ignore the gravity of Areel’s tone, Karryl frowned. “Warn me of what?”
The desert warrior’s expression was troubled. “The same thing of which I have warned your king and the lady. Lord Ghian’s dark forces are gathering in Vedra. In a bid to recover the medallion along with the third artefact and so gain ascendancy, he has already instructed the Grelfi. A full-scale attack on this city is imminent. You must counter this threat before the city and its people are destroyed.”
Karryl’s mouth set in a grim line as he rapidly considered his options. “How soon do you think they’ll attack?”
Areel’s reply was immediate and positive. “I was present when Lord Ghian revealed his plan to the Grelfi, and also when he gave his rallying speech from the platform above the grelfon arena. The attack is scheduled for the night of the next full moon, but my master is not renowned for his patience.”
Karryl scowled. “The Wraith only gave us until then to return the artefacts to them, or there would be retributions.”
Areel looked at him askance. “And you expected a Vedran Wraith to keep its word? If that is what it told you, you may rest assured the attack will be sooner. Why were you visited by a Wraith?”
Karryl briefly related the events of the past few days while Areel listened intently. It was only when Karryl had finished that he spoke. “How close are you to recovering the third artefact?”
His suspicions aroused, the young Mage-Prime gave him a long look. “Why?”
Areel looked around the cold, grimy kitchen. “Is there a place more comfortable where we can talk? If you are close to recovering the Navigator I may be able to avert this impending disaster.”
It was only when Karryl was entering the drab sitting-room that Areel’s words registered. He spun round and glared at the desert warrior. “What did you call it?”
The Jadhra raised a narrow eyebrow. “The object which you call the third artefact is properly called the Navigator.”
“Yes, I know. I’ve known for quite a while. I also know what the medallion is called. But I didn’t expect you to know.”
As Karryl perched on the edge of a shabby chair, Areel pulled a cushion off another one onto the floor and seated himself cross-legged on it. “There is every reason for me to know. I am the last of a line of warrior chiefs whose tribe are the rightful owners of the artefacts. We also know the exact location of the fourth artefact, and it is that above all else that the Vedrans want.”
Moonstone wandered into the room and looked up at Karryl. “He speaks the truth. You can trust him.”
Areel chuckled. “Thank you, little hunter. Your assessment of me is greatly valued.”
The tortoiseshell cat leapt up onto the arm of Karryl’s chair and glared at Areel. “Not so much of the ‘little’
His suspicions aroused Karryl frowned. “Areel? You’re the last person I expected to see here. How did you find me?”
Areel crouched down and pulled a basket containing a black and white cat and three assorted kittens away from the vicinity of the portal. “They would not survive very long in the desert.”
The portal vanished as Areel moved to stand in front of Karryl. “I have met with the Lady Evalin.” The desert warrior’s lips twisted in a wry smile. “Her powers are remarkable. She has some very subtle ways of testing credibility. She told me you were probably here, after I had spoken with her and King Vailin and told them as much as I know.”
Karryl nodded and forced a little smile, although this was one of those rare occasions when he felt annoyed. What he had to do he wanted to do alone. The as yet unexplained arrival of Areel could complicate matters.
The warrior’s obsidian black eyes met Karryl’s dark brown ones. “It was necessary to warn you, and this was the quickest way. My thoughts may not have reached you.”
Unable to ignore the gravity of Areel’s tone, Karryl frowned. “Warn me of what?”
The desert warrior’s expression was troubled. “The same thing of which I have warned your king and the lady. Lord Ghian’s dark forces are gathering in Vedra. In a bid to recover the medallion along with the third artefact and so gain ascendancy, he has already instructed the Grelfi. A full-scale attack on this city is imminent. You must counter this threat before the city and its people are destroyed.”
Karryl’s mouth set in a grim line as he rapidly considered his options. “How soon do you think they’ll attack?”
Areel’s reply was immediate and positive. “I was present when Lord Ghian revealed his plan to the Grelfi, and also when he gave his rallying speech from the platform above the grelfon arena. The attack is scheduled for the night of the next full moon, but my master is not renowned for his patience.”
Karryl scowled. “The Wraith only gave us until then to return the artefacts to them, or there would be retributions.”
Areel looked at him askance. “And you expected a Vedran Wraith to keep its word? If that is what it told you, you may rest assured the attack will be sooner. Why were you visited by a Wraith?”
Karryl briefly related the events of the past few days while Areel listened intently. It was only when Karryl had finished that he spoke. “How close are you to recovering the third artefact?”
His suspicions aroused, the young Mage-Prime gave him a long look. “Why?”
Areel looked around the cold, grimy kitchen. “Is there a place more comfortable where we can talk? If you are close to recovering the Navigator I may be able to avert this impending disaster.”
It was only when Karryl was entering the drab sitting-room that Areel’s words registered. He spun round and glared at the desert warrior. “What did you call it?”
The Jadhra raised a narrow eyebrow. “The object which you call the third artefact is properly called the Navigator.”
“Yes, I know. I’ve known for quite a while. I also know what the medallion is called. But I didn’t expect you to know.”
As Karryl perched on the edge of a shabby chair, Areel pulled a cushion off another one onto the floor and seated himself cross-legged on it. “There is every reason for me to know. I am the last of a line of warrior chiefs whose tribe are the rightful owners of the artefacts. We also know the exact location of the fourth artefact, and it is that above all else that the Vedrans want.”
Moonstone wandered into the room and looked up at Karryl. “He speaks the truth. You can trust him.”
Areel chuckled. “Thank you, little hunter. Your assessment of me is greatly valued.”
The tortoiseshell cat leapt up onto the arm of Karryl’s chair and glared at Areel. “Not so much of the ‘little’
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