(Yes, I am still working on this and the others but no, I don't know when the next chapters will be done. Sorry about that.)

Chapter Five

It had been a long time since Mahado had been as hungry as he was now; then again he had never used so much heka in so short a time. He took it as a good sign; if he was hungry then his body must be recovering. Thankfully there was plenty of food to help take the edge off his hunger.

As he set aside an empty bowl and readjusted the cloak he had been given, Mahado was startled when a bird flew into the kitchen and landed at one end of the long meal table he sat at. The bird appeared to be a raven- large and black except for the few feathers around its eyes that had a deep blue sheen to them. As it shook its body, fluffing out its feathers, the bird kept its steady gaze on him.

The little girl, Maili, squealed in delight as she stood on her chair and offered the bird a piece of bread. Turning its head, the bird regard the food a moment then stretched its neck to delicately take the chunk from the girl's fingers.

Looking up at Gaighdon's wife Moira, Mahado found that she was closely watching the bird, but was making no move to remove it from the table. The bird took one more piece of bread from Maili, and then carefully stepped around Lachann's empty platter so that it could stand in front of Mahado.

"Are you here to fetch Mahado, Dubh?" Moira asked nonchalantly as she set a bowl of fruit on the table. Glancing at her over its shoulder, the bird bobbed its head once, then turned its gaze back to Mahado.

"Is it acceptable to the Mor-Ríoghain that Lachann show him the way?"

The raven tilted its head. There was a flash of heka across Mahado's senses, and then the bird walked over to stand beside the hand Lachann had resting on the table. Moira looked at her son, then at Mahado, a reassuring smile on her face. "Best to not to keep her waiting," she said to Lachann.

Lachann took a deep breath, then rose to his feet, letting the bird climb up onto his hand then raised the hand up so that it could settle on his shoulder.

As he followed Lachann out of the kitchen, Mahado asked, "Where are we going?"

"To the meeting hall." The bird bumped its head against Lachann's and cawed loud enough to make Mahado wince. Lachann stopped. "Not the meeting hall?" he asked. The raven shook its head. Frowning, Lachann asked, "The audience room then?"

The raven bobbed its head and Lachann turned around. "I guess we're going this way," he said with an apologetic smile

"He understands what you are saying?"

Lachann nodded his head. "Yes."

"Is he under a spell?"

"A spell?"

"So that he can understand you?"

Lachann looked surprised. "I never thought about it." He shrugged. "I suppose he is. Dubh is one of the Mor-Ríoghain's three messengers."

Before Mahado could ask who the Mor-Ríoghain was, they stepped into another hallway that ended at two ornately carved doors guarded by an armored man on one side and a woman, similarly attired, on the other. Without a word they opened the doors, allowing them entrance into a long, high ceiling room. Mahado stared in fascination at the arching wooden supports holding the roof up, and the colorful banners hanging along the edges of the room. Light streamed in from openings along both walls, and Mahado had to force himself to move forward. Sheets of glass, some colored, some clear, were set into each opening. It was like nothing he had ever seen before.

The bird leapt from Lachann's shoulder and soared across the room. Mahado followed the bird's path to a door set halfway down the wall to his right, and then had to stop and close his eyes when the door swung opened. He gasped and bent over- momentarily overwhelmed by the heka that was concentrated in that one spot.

There was the sound of footsteps approaching. "Mahado?" Lachann asked, his voice rising with worry on the last syllable as he rested a hand on Mahado's arm.

Cautiously opening his eyes, Mahado found Gaighdon, and the healer Birog standing before him.

"Are you all right?" Lachann inquired. Mahado could only blink at him in bemusement as he tried to shake off the effects of the heka around him.

A hand rested on his shoulder and Gaighdon said firmly, "Mahado." Mahado shifted his gaze to Gaighdon and felt the bond they had forged during the night strengthen between them. The bond helped ground him and he closed his eyes to regain the rest of his equilibrium. When he opened them again, the air still shimmered with heka behind Gaighdon, but it was not as strong as it had been before. Mahado took a few deep breaths.

He nodded once. "I…" He took another deep breath. "I am all right."

He saw Birog smile as she turned to Lachann's. "Something to keep in mind, young man," the healer said. "Heka users see the gods and goddesses a little differently than we do."

"Oh." Lachann grimaced as he looked at Mahado. "My apologies."

"You could not have known that would be his reaction," a woman's voice answered. Gaighdon turned towards the voice and Mahado caught a glimpse at what it was that had overwhelmed his senses.

A tall woman, on whose shoulder the bird now sat, stepped forward. Heka shimmered above and beneath her skin. Mahado had trouble focusing on her face; her features seemed to shift and Mahado could not tell if she was an old woman or a young one.

Instinctively dropping to his knees, Mahado bowed and said, "Forgive me; I know not how to honor you." He sensed the heka around the goddess ripple with amusement even as Gaighdon strengthened the link between them. He also felt the distant presence of Coeremar rising up in the back of his mind, ready to be summoned, regardless of the danger.

"There is no reason to bow to me as I have told your guardian here on more than one occasion," the goddess said.

Startled by the goddess's words, Mahado opened his mouth to speak, but before he could say anything the goddess announce firmly, "Master of the Sword."

Gaighdon moved between him and the goddess again, blocking his view.

"My Lady."

"This bond that I sense between you and the boy, was it of your own free will that you allowed it to be forged?"

"It was, my Lady."

"And who is the other I sense guarding his mind with you?"

"He refers to himself as the Magus of Illusion." Gaighdon said. "He is Mahado's spirit guardian."

Mahado listened to the goddess take a deep breath and slowly let it out. The heka in the room suddenly coiled tightly around her as she moved closer.

"You stand between me and the boy," she said, her voice taking on a ritualistic cadence. "Why is that?"

"He has been entrusted to my care," Gaighdon responded in the same tones. "Forgive me, my Lady. I cannot allow any harm to come to him."

"You would protect a stranger who carries a power that could destroy all of the Tuatha de Danna?"

"I would. I cannot break the trust that has been given to me."

"Do you have the strength to stop those who may deem him a threat that must be removed?"

"I do not know."

"Then we best discover the answer, Ceann-feadhna." The heka surrounding the goddess suddenly flashed towards them, and the surge of power stole Mahado's breath. Gaighdon staggered back a step then straightened but Mahado could feel the link between them tremble under the attack and sensed how much keeping the effects of the attack from reaching him was hurting Gaighdon.

Mahado scrambled to his feet and had to fight back the instinctive urge to add his own power to Gaighdon's, afraid of what the Ring's reaction would be. "Wait," he shouted, "you're…"

"Boy." The word froze Mahado in place as he gained a clear view of the goddess. Without looking away from Gaighdon, she said calmly, "I am simply testing the parameters of the bond the Master of the Sword has forged between you and him," she said.

"But…" The goddess turned her gaze on him. Mahado took a deep breath and braced himself, but the goddess appeared more amused then angry as she arched an eyebrow and asked, "Do you often contradict those of a higher power than yourself, young draoigh?"

Mahado bit his lower lip, properly chastised by the comment. "No, forgive me," he answered quickly, "I just-"

"You were concerned for the safety of your guardian." She smiled. "An admirable emotion." The heka under her control abruptly returned to her and she turned her attention to someone to her right as Gaighdon dropped to his knees. "Ailig," she said, "I believe your Ceann-feadhna requires your assistance for a few moments."

"I am all right," Gaighdon protested as he struggled to his feet. The goddess crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow at that comment.

A man, whose amused smile reminded Mahado of Ciorstag's, knelt beside Gaighdon and helped him to his feet. "You just don't know when to keep your mouth shut, do you cousin." Gaighdon scowled at him but seemed grateful for the help. A flash of heka passed between the two men and Gaighdon seemed to gain strength from the exchange.

When Gaighdon was standing without support, the goddess said, "I wish to talk to the boy's spirit guardian."

The sound of a chair moving drew Mahado's gaze over to a group by the table. He recognized the man stepping towards them- Cian, the one who had helped him seal the Ring. "My Lady," the man said, "that may not be wise. The talisman…"

The goddess shook her head. "There is no danger- the spirit is not tied to the power sealed within the Ring, only to the boy." She turned her gaze on Mahado. "Call your other guardian to your side, young draoigh."

At Gaighdon's nod, Mahado called Coeremar into being. There was a pulling sensation, as if someone had reached into his chest and was drawing heka from him, then the Magus of Illusion appeared in the air beside him. Mahado was relieved when he sensed no reaction to the Magus's presence from the Ring.

The goddess however, did not look relieved. She frowned and asked, "Your name, spirit?"

The Magus bowed. "I am called Coeremar, the Magus of Illusion, Lady."

"Why have you been bound to this child?"

"I am not bound. I come of my own free will when summoned, as it was done in the ancient times."

The goddess was silent and thoughtful for a moment. "And where is it that you come from?"

"It is called Vesedhe by my people." He glanced at Gaighdon, then back to the goddess. "I believe it has been referred to as Tir a Nog by your people's ancestors."

There was a collective gasp in the room, and Mahado could see surprise on many faces— except that of the goddess. She turned to Gaighdon.

When Gaighdon met her gaze, she said, "Events are moving quicker than expected. It would be best to take the boy home so he can settle things there. Tell the Màileachan Naomh she is free to offer whatever aid she deems appropriate to the one known as Pharaoh. And to you I order that you keep those oaths sworn to me and those that now bind you to the boy until I release you of them, Master of the Sword."

Gaighdon nodded. The goddess nodded in return, and then took a step back. Her gaze swept over the others in the room. "Lachann," she announced, "step forward."

Lachann moved forward to stand nervously beside Ailig. "Mor-Ríoghain," Lachann said with a quick bow of respect.

She smiled briefly at the boy then focused on Ailig. "The task I have given the Ceann-feadhna of Skye will put him in conflict with the oaths he has sworn to you Ailig, and those sworn to the Ard Righ. For that reason I now remove him as Ceann-feadha and raise his son Lachann up as Ceann-feadhna of Skye."

"What?" Lachann sputtered in surprise. "I'm not-"

"You are more than ready, Lachann. If I did not believe in your abilities, I would not be raising you up." The goddess glanced at Gaighdon. "If it is of any comfort, your father had much the same protest when he became Ceann-feadhna even though he was many years older than you are now." She made a gesture, and the bird on her shoulder flew back over to Lachann. "I will leave Dubh to assist you in your new duties during your father's absence." A wave of her hand caused a flare of heka to surround Lachann and the raven. "This spell will give you the ability to hear Dubh's words, though I doubt you will need his help in this, Ceann-feadhna."

She took a step back, then suddenly disappeared from view.

Ailig drew in a deep breath, shaking his head as he looked at Gaighdon. "Well that went as well as expected," he said.

Lachann stared at him in astonishment. "You expected this to happen?" he exclaimed.

Gaighdon quickly stepped over to Lachann and rested a reassuring hand on his son's shoulder. "We hoped it would not come to this," he said, "but yes, we did."

"And the Mor-Ríoghain is right, Lachann, you will do fine." Ailig added kindly. He then gave Gaighdon an amused look. "Unlike your father, you tend to think things through before you act."

The spell around Lachann surged for a moment, and a startled look crossed Lachann's face as he glanced at the bird on his shoulder.

"Dubh!" Gaighdon shouted. "That's more than he needs to know." The bird chucked at Gaighdon's annoyed look.

Ailig laughed. "You'll have to tell me what he said," he said to Lachann.

"I don't think so," Lachann responded as he shook his head and blushed.

"It was about the incident at the summer solstice gathering the year after I became Ceann-feadhna," Gaighdon muttered.

Birog laughed. "Ah, yes, I remember that." She also ignored Gaighdon's annoyed look as she turned to the bird on Lachann's shoulder to say, "And that probably was more than the new Ceann-feadhna needed to know about his father, Dubh."

The bird fluffed its feathers and looked back unrepentant.

"You should get going," Ailig said, growing serious as he gestured to Lachann. "I'll take care of our new Ceann-feadhna and inform the Ard Righ what has happened when he returns from his meeting with Ìomhar. We will meet you both at the Crosspoint at the beginning of second quarter." As Gaighdon nodded and began to walk away, Ailig added lightly, "And good luck explaining all this to Moira."

Gaighdon sighed as he guided Mahado out of the room. "Thank you. I think I'm going to need it."

As they stepped into the hall, Mahado gave Gaighdon a puzzled look. "The Mor-Ríoghain," he said carefully, unsure as to what the goddess's proper title would be and not wanting to cause any offense, "does she often appear to your people as she did here?"

Gaighdon raised an eyebrow. "Do you mean does she often appear or does she often interact with us?"

Mahado thought about that a moment. "Both, I suppose."

"The Mor-Ríoghain does not often interact with us," Gaighdon explained. "But she will appear during times of unrest or crisis. However, there have been occasions where she has visited just for the sake of visiting."

Mahado thought back to Gaighdon's action's on the duel grounds. "Is that why you were able to face Ammit without fear? Because you are used to interacting with gods and goddesses?"

Gaighdon laughed softly. "Without fear? No, I would not say I felt no fear then, but I suppose that this is why I was not afraid to question your goddess." They stopped outside the kitchen and Gaighdon suddenly stiffened and glanced back the way they had come.

When he shook his head and raised his hand, Mahado turned around to look back himself. A black bird was flying towards them. Landing lightly on Gaighdon's hand, the bird made a chucking sound and looked at Mahado.

Shaking his head again, Gaighdon smiled and set the bird on Mahado's shoulder. Unlike Dubh, this bird had a tiny ring of glittering white feathers around its eyes. Mahado could feel the echoes of the goddess's heka flowing through it.

"It seems you have impressed the Mor-Ríoghain." He pointed at the bird. "This is Súiche. He will guide you to the library." Gaighdon sighed. "I will come and get you once I am done explaining where things stand to Moira."

"I understand," Mahado said. He grimaced and added softly, "I'm sorry for all the trouble I have caused you and your family."

"It was my choice to get involved; you had nothing to do with that." He nodded at the bird. "Súiche."

I will take care of him, Master of the Sword, it said.

Mahado looked at the bird in astonishment. Gaighdon chuckled and headed into the kitchen. The bird pulled its head back slightly so it could give Mahado a look.

I am magic," Súiche said in his mind, of course you, as a magician, can hear me when I'm sitting on your shoulder like this.

"Oh," Mahado said. He followed the bird's direction to the library and wondered what other interesting things were going to happen to him today.

Atemu rubbed his fingers around the stone hanging from the silver chain around his neck and tried to ignore the growing itch Ciorstag's spell seemed to be causing as he stepped into his father's private meeting room. The itching had begun when he encountered Akhenaden and Lord Dartz, his new wife's aide, just outside the palace. Unfortunately it was not an itch he could physically scratch, though rubbing the stone seemed to bring some relief.

Stepping into the meeting room, Atemu glanced towards the low dais where his father and the High Priest were seated. It was unusual for anyone to be on the dais with his father in such a situation as this but it was clear from the heka glittering around Inherynakht that Amun was listening in through his representative. Atemu wondered what the god found so interesting that he would use his High Priest in such a way; especially after all that had happened in his temple the day before.

Atemu took his place beside his father and turned so he could watch both those on the dais and the others who had followed him in. After fingering the stone one more time, Atemu straightened his back and forced his hand down to his side. Briefly meeting Ciorstag gaze, he noted the frown on her face then dismissed it before turning his attention to Dakhamazu's aide.

Lord Dartz stepped forward and knelt once again before Pharaoh. Pharaoh showed no reaction to the man. Instead, he studied the book, slowly turning the pages back and forth before closing it and handing it to Inherynakht. Atemu felt a sudden flash of heat against his chest where the stone lay as the High Priest took possession of the book. He reached up and touched the stone but found it cold beneath his fingertips.

"Tell me about this book, aide to Dakhamazu," Pharaoh said as he leaned back in his chair and finally acknowledging Dartz's presence. He gestured with the crook in his hand for the man to stand. Lord Dartz stiffened as if offended by Pharaoh's form of address but quickly changed his expression as he rose to his feet.

"It is called the Book of the Eclipse," the man explained. Before he could add anything more, Ciorstag said, "Impossible."

Pharaoh raised an eyebrow. "This book is familiar to you, Màileachan Naomh?"

For a moment, Ciorstag did not answer. She shook her head as if she'd been stunned then regarded Lord Dartz, her expression troubled. Shifting her gaze away from the man and up to Pharaoh, Ciorstag stepped forward and said, "Forgive me for speaking out of turn, Pharaoh; I was caught off-guard by Lord Dartz's words. There are legends among my people that mention a book by that name but I am sure it is not the same one before you." Puzzled, she looked at the man beside her to ask, "Where did you find it, this book of yours?"

"I believe you already know the answer to that question," Lord Dartz answered smoothly. Ciorstag swayed and took a step back.

"How?" she asked, softly. "How is that possible? The book you speak of was lost more than five millennia ago. This cannot be the original Book."

"It is possible in the same way that the Book of Millennium Magic has come here and—" Lord Dartz stopped when Pharaoh suddenly stood and Akhenaden's Millennium Eye began to glow as he moved to grab Dartz. Much to Atemu's surprise though, it was Inherynakht who spoke in a voice that stirred the heka in the room and brought the Iry to a halt.

"Even we had no knowledge of the Books," Amun said through his priest. "How is it that you both know of these Books when we did not?"

As Ciorstag bowed her head in acknowledgement of Amun's presence, Lord Dartz simply tucked his hands into the arms of his robe and said calmly, "We are the children of Atlantis. It is as simple as that."

Atemu watched Ciorstag's head snap up and heard her draw in a sharp breath. Atlantis was not a word Atemu was familiar with. He could tell he was not the only one though clearly it was familiar enough to Amun.

"It is not as simple as that," Amun said as Inherynakht stepped off the dais to stand face to face with Lord Dartz. "Atlantis was swallowed by the sea and her defenders died on the field of battle. There are no children of Atlantis remaining in this world."

Ciorstag sighed and rubbed her forehead. "No," she said. "There were some who survived the cataclysm though not many."

"Like Danu?" Atemu said suddenly. Ciorstag glanced his way and gave him a small smile.

"Gaighdon's been telling stories, I see." When Atemu nodded, Ciorstag turned back to Inherynakht. "And yes; he is correct. According to our legends, we are the descendants of Atlantis through the children of the Goddess Danu."

"She was not a goddess," Lord Dartz said, his voice sharp.

Ciorstag raised an eyebrow at the outburst. "Perhaps not but we honor her with that title."

"And you?" Amun asked as he looked at Lord Dartz. "To whom do you claim your linage through?"

"Through that of the royal line, of course." It was clear Ciorstag was about to interrupt again when Lord Dartz turned to her and said with a smile. "Why else would I carry the name that I do?"

Ciorstag hummed but made no comment in response to the man's words. Inherynakht's eyes narrowed as he held up the book. "And was it you who removed a section from this book?"

"That was done before it came into my possession."

"Removed?" Ciorstag asked. Without a word, Inherynakht handed her the book.

Atemu's hand clenched tightly around the still cold stone as Ciorstag took the book and quickly flipped the pages. She stopped at one point and ran a finger down the center. "They were cut," she said. Inherynakht nodded and held out a hand. As she handed the book back, Amun asked a question of his own.

"Are you able to tell what it was that was removed?"

Ciorstag shook her head. "It is a language older than any I know. Perhaps Gaighdon or the High Seer would be able to tell you but I cannot."

"And you?" Amun asked Dartz. "Can you read what is written here and what it is that is missing?"

"Of course I am able to read it; we have not been so careless as to forget the language of our birth." He gave Ciorstag a small bow. "However I do not blame you for that—many things were lost in the wake of the cataclysm." As he straightened, he added, "As to what is missing from the book? I do not know. As I said, it was removed before it came into my possession."

When Lord Dartz finished speaking, Inherynakht handed the book to Akhenaden then studied the white haired man. Sighing silently in relief, Atemu let go of the now warming stone and rubbed his hand against his kilt. As he did, the heka around the Millennium Item seemed to shift in a way he had not felt before. The shift caught Ciorstag's attention and she turned to look back at him. Puzzled more by her reaction than by what the Millennium Puzzle was doing, Atemu scowled at her for distracting him and blocked the tendril of questioning magic she sent through the healing magic within him. Before she could do anything to counter that, Inherynakht looked up at Pharaoh to say, "If he speaks the truth, then he would have knowledge of the Book of Millennium Magic."

It was obvious to Atemu that his father was not happy with Amun's words as he focused on Ciorstag and said, "And you, Màileachan Naomh; do you have knowledge of the Book of Millennium Magic?"

She shook her head. "It is said to be a book of powerful magic but beyond that, I have no knowledge of it. Others may but I can offer nothing more than that."

Pharaoh frowned and turned his gaze to Inherynakht. They stared at one another then the High Priest nodded his head. As he returned to his former position on the dais, Amun said, "If the monsters of old are returning to this world, it may be wise to learn this trick the aide to your new daughter speaks of."

The High Priest's eyes shifted to Ciorstag. He narrowed his eyes and said firmly, "We will trust him; for now."

As soon as Gaighdon entered the kitchen, his wife moved into action. Quickly hustling the children off to their morning class, Moira then snapped her fingers at her husband and pointed at the doors that led to the kitchen gardens as she turned to speak to Adwr, the head of the castle's staff, regarding the day's orders. Knowing better than to argue Gaighdon simply nodded his head and made his way towards the open doors. He could see several members of the kitchen staff giving him concerned looks and wondered how much of the strain the Mor-Ríoghain's test had caused was visible on his face.

Once outside the busy kitchen, Gaighdon paused to close his eyes and draw in a deep breath. When he opened them, he was surprised to find the morning sun was only just beginning to crest the edge of the courtyard's walls. The way his body was aching, he felt as if the sun should be dipping below the horizon instead of still rising into the day.

Dropping his gaze, Gaighdon slowly made his way to the far corner of the walled gardens where an ancient oak tree spread its branches. It was one of the few spots within the gardens that would offer some seclusion for the potentially loud discussion he was about to have with his wife. As he approached the corner there was a flicker of light beneath the tree. Gaighdon frowned and glanced up. The sun's light had yet to move far enough to light anything more than the highest branches of the oak tree.

As he stepped closer to the tree, he saw that the light emanating from the wide shallow bowl that was held by the statue of the goddess Danu that stood beneath the tree. The statue had been carved to show the goddess in a moment of contemplation. Dressed for battle, her head was bowed and bared and a long heavily embroidered cloak flowed down from her shoulders. A sword hung from her waist and one could see the armor protecting her body in the opening between her raised arms. In her hands she held the bowl out as if handing it to another. Gaighdon's moment of relief that what he was seeing was simply the sky being reflected in the rain water that settled in the bowl was short-lived; there was no water to be seen there. Instead, the bowl was overflowing with magic.

Drawn to the glow, Gaighdon stopped in front of the statue and leaned forward slightly to look down into it, his hands coming up to touch the stone hands that held it. As soon as he came into contact with the statue, there was a flash. For a moment his vision went dark; and then suddenly he was somewhere else.

A battle was raging around him and he swung the sword in his hands; taking down the enemy soldier who had dared to attack him. As he turned to deal with another, a roar filled the valley. All fighting stopped as a green dragon soared overhead. Following the dragon's path, Gaighdon turned to look across the battlefield at the great serpent that rose up out of the darkness to meet the dragon. There was a flash of light above the serpent's head—a light that suddenly filled Gaighdon's vision. He staggered back and closed his eyes. When he opened them he was back in the courtyard. He looked up at the goddess and then at the raven standing on top of her head.

Gaighdon shook his head as he tried to get his bearings. The raven— the ring of red feathers around its eyes indicating that it was Caismeachd, the third of the Mor-Ríoghain's ravens— tilted its head and squawked but offered no other comment on what had just happened than that. Gaighdon glared at the raven until it turned to look into the courtyard. Looking in the same direction, Gaighdon was not surprised to find his wife standing in the middle of the path leading back to the kitchen staring at him with wide-eyed astonishment.

Exhaustion flooded through Gaighdon and he turned away from both his wife and the Mor-Ríoghain's raven to move over to the low wall that separated one section of the garden from another and sat down. Leaning forward, he rested his head in his hands until he felt his wife carefully settle on the wall next to him. When he glanced her way, he found she was not looking at him but at the statue instead.

"What did you see?" she asked softly.

"A battle," he answered, "though whether it was long ago or sometime in the future…" He shrugged.

There was a flutter of wings. Caismeachd dropped onto Moira's shoulder and said, It was long ago and yet to come.

Gaighdon rolled his eyes. "That not much help, Caismeachd." The raven just fluffed its feathers.

Moira looked at the bird on her shoulder then at her husband. "Two of the Mor-Ríoghain's ravens are here?"

"No; all three. Súiche is with Mahado and Dubh is with Lachann."

Moira's eyes widened in surprise at her son's name then they narrowed. "What did you do, husband?"

There was a flare of magic. The Master of the Sword did what he always does, the raven said to Moira then it laughed and jumped into the air. Moira watched it fly over the outer wall and pursed her lips together.

"Do I want to know what he meant by that?" she asked.

Gaighdon sighed. ""Probably not," he answered but then told her anyway.