Disclaimer: see first chapter

Author's Note: One word: please review! Well, that's two, but so what if I can't count! I can write (or at least I think so, that's what you are supposed to be telling me, wonderful reviewers)!

Chapter 15

Elissa walked briskly through the dark forest, thinking longingly of the warm blanket that awaited her back in camp. It was remarkable how cold it could get up north here, even in late March. The wind rustled menacingly through the branches of the stunted trees, and Elissa shivered harder, picking up her pace.

As she half-ran toward camp, fear gripped her heart in its icy claws. She hadn't though she'd wandered this far from camp. She had decided to leave after the others spent the entire afternoon practicing the skills they would need to blend into the Four Lands. They had spent hours working on their speech, both common and courtly, as well as practicing their weapons so that they looked competent. The weapons practice had been kind of fun, but the rest of it had just made her more conscious of the fact that she wouldn't be going. She had already escaped once during the day to do some hunting (and try out her beautiful bow), and had brought back dinner for the rest of her grateful friends. But the moment dinner was over they had started up again with their discussions of "If this happens, should we..." And so she had escaped again, to languish in the peace of her thoughts.

It had taken several minutes for her to fight down the bitterness about being left behind. She felt so utterly left out. Amanda seemed to feel her unhappiness, sending her sympathetic glances every once in awhile and changing the subject a few times. But the conversation had inevitably returned to the upcoming journey, and Elissa's depression had only deepened.

Once she had cleared her mind, she began to wonder about why Allanon had told her to stay behind. His reasoning that twins would draw attention rang hollow in her mind. There was something else, something he hadn't told her or anyone else. The others had discussed it with her for a little while, coming up with several alternate explanations, none of which clarified the Druid's reasoning. Perhaps he needed someone to stay behind and defend the camp against Skull Bearers, Erin had said. I'm certainly not capable of that, Elissa thought bitterly. Allanon's the only one who can do that, and he has to go. They needed someone to care for the horses, and make certain they didn't run away, Amanda had suggested. I can do that, but surely Sarah could have handled that chore perfectly well by herself. Immediately a little voice said, Allanon didn't know Sarah was staying. But still, why me specifically, when Adrienne or Sarah or even Erin would have done just as well? Elissa argued back at herself.

She had come to no conclusions, other than that she and Allanon needed to talk. And so she had decided to return to camp, since they would probably be setting watches soon. Allanon might even have come back, to tell the others more about their journey. That would be a perfectly good excuse to confront him.

But as she attempted to remember the way back to camp, it suddenly hit her that she was lost. She looked around her, and thought she saw the flicker of a fire in the distance. She started towards it, but it promptly disappeared. The darkness was a net of black fabric, obscuring her vision and muffling sound. It drew closer and closer, stifling her breathing. She panted with fear as she began to run, panic freezing her mind into a standstill, leaving only one thought free to circle about its mental cage: I'm lost, it's nighttime, and nighttime is when the Skull Bearers come out. What if she never got back to camp, never saw her friends again, never saw Amanda again? What if a Skull Bearer saw her right now and was swooping down toward her? She stopped, looking up into the pitch-black sky, eyes wide with terror. Then she shifted her gaze to the surrounding forest, scrutinizing every inch of black, empty air for the faintest flicker of firelight...

Suddenly a tall shadow separated itself from the trees. Elissa's heart skipped a beat, and she froze in her tracks. There it was, one of the Skull Bearers, or maybe something even worse, this didn't look like a Skull Bearer...whatever it was, everything about its appearance spoke danger. Elissa knew she should probably be running, darting behind trees to deflect the magical firebolts it sent after her...

All at once Elissa's mind unfroze, and swung straight into high gear. Everything about her shifted into acute clarity as her senses went from dulled to intensely sharp. Time slowed, and it seemed to take hours for her violently trembling hand to move from her side to the handle of her long knife. She drew it and prepared to run, only to find that her legs wouldn't move.

The dark figure pulled back its cowl, revealing its face. Elissa almost shut her eyes, her racing mind painting a dozen hideous faces onto the creature in the time it took for that black fabric to fall back.

But the face that stared back at her was anything but hideous, with the black beard and sharp features she had seen every day for the past month. Elissa's mouth fell open as her knees nearly buckled under the sudden onslaught of relief. Allanon beckoned her closer with a hand that seemed ghastly pale in the nighttime absence of color. She sheathed her knife and obeyed, moving forward slowly. She was still fearful of the Druid, even if he was vastly better than the creatures her mind had been conjuring a moment ago.

"Elissa," he rumbled softly when she was close enough to hear him, "I have something to give you."

Elissa was still apprehensive, as she always was whenever Allanon turned his attention solely to her, but now that trepidation was offset by interest. What more than this beautiful form could he possibly give her? But then, maybe this would give her some answer to the question that had plagued her all night: why had he asked her to stay?

The Druid held out his hand. In it lay a small leather pouch tied closed with drawstrings. Elissa took it tentatively, surprised to find that it was filled with something weighty, like stones or coins. She loosened the ties, and gasped as three perfectly rounded, emerald-green stones tumbled onto her palm. Her hand seemed colorless in contrast to their vibrancy. "They're beautiful!" she exclaimed, face glowing with wonder as she touched them.

"And powerful." Allanon rumbled. Elissa's eyes shot up to meet his. "They are Elfstones, magical gems that can only be wielded by one with Elven blood. They will guide you in your journeys and protect you against enemies with magical powers. Yet use them sparingly, for when they are wielded their power calls out to all who possess magic, be they friend or foe."

Elissa nodded nervously at the ominous warning, quickly slipping the stones back into the pouch, as if the leather might shield them and their power from unfriendly eyes. When she looked up again, Allanon had already begun to walk away.

"Allanon," she called softly, and he turned back. "Which way is the camp?" He pointed wordlessly and disappeared into the shadows. Elissa shivered at the ease with which he vanished from sight, like some spirit of the darkness. She turned and walked briskly in the direction Allanon had demonstrated, unable to shake off the ominous chill that had settled over her.

She was on the outskirts of camp before she realized that she had never thanked him.

The small fire flickered weakly as the girls crowded around it, chatting about home as they attempted to forget the impending journey between worlds for a little while. Amanda watched enviously from the edge of camp as Erin threw back her head, laughing at some joke or witty comment.

Amanda absentmindedly stroked the nose of her horse, Silver, who whickered in appreciation. She smiled as Erin's mare, Elba, nudged her shoulder like a petulant child asking for candy. Soon all the horses had clustered around her looking for attention, even Allanon's horse, who was normally as aloof as his rider. Amanda chuckled, making certain to rub each animal in all the right places.

After nearly three weeks of traveling together, the five girls had gradually found their niches in the various aspects of outdoor life. Erin hunted, Sarah cooked, Elissa washed, and Adrienne gathered herbs, learning all she could of their various uses from Allanon.

Amanda had taken up the responsibility of caring for the horses. They were beautiful, graceful creatures, with their sleek hides and gleaming hooves. She loved watching Silver as she rode, losing herself in the interplay of the horse's powerful muscles. And they were so similar to humans; each animal had a distinct personality. Midnight was temperamental and secretive, Lucky was endearingly mischievous, and Elba was a gentle little mare. Rain was typically rather sullen, as if she wanted nothing more than to go home, and Silver loved attention, specifically in the form of caresses.

She felt she knew them almost as well as her human friends. If they understood the human language, they certainly would know her at least as well, if not better than her human friends did. Amanda had spent many an evening during this journey pouring out her life's story to Silver as the horse sympathetically nuzzled her shoulder and her friends chatted gaily around the fire.

The horses were perfect confidants. They didn't judge or try to repeat clichéd, meaningless words to her in comfort. Her fear didn't seem like a weakness when she described it to them. The horses couldn't ask questions back, and she didn't have to endure the sympathetic looks from her friends. She appreciated her friends' efforts, but they just weren't good listeners, it seemed.

Amanda had needed the animals' comfort more than ever as they neared the Hadeshorn. She needed their quiet confidence, their sturdy, unflinching strength. Sometimes she would wake from a nightmare and just come and sit, crying silently into Silver's mane as she fought down her fear and homesickness. The horses were warm, too, and there had been more than one morning when Amanda had awakened curled up against Silver's side.

But tonight she would be leaving them, her support system, her silent confidants. The thought caused her just as much sorrow as the thought of leaving Sarah and Elissa, even if it was only a few weeks. She was frightened, more than she had ever showed to anyone except her equine friends, not even her twin.

Around the fire, the other four girls rose and dispersed, all but Elissa going to bed. Elissa glanced around, her gaze turning sad when she saw Amanda with the horses. Amanda knew it hurt her twin that she wouldn't confide in Elissa, but every time she tried the words just dissolved in her mouth.

Elissa came and sat silently with her, leaving the awkward silence intact. Amanda could see the look of accusation she caught on Elissa's face every once in awhile when Elissa saw her sitting with the horses.

A sudden sense of shame overwhelmed her. What had she done—pushing away the one person who could give her the most comfort and support, the one person who needed her support and comfort just as much. "Elissa," she started, failing to keep the guilt from her voice, "I just wandered away from camp for...certain reasons, and stopped to calm Silver down a little—"

"And Elba, and Rain, and Lucky..." Elissa interrupted in an angered tone, then trailed off. Amanda sighed with frustration; the words wouldn't come out right, no matter how hard she tried to make them.

"I'm sorry Amanda," Elissa began again in a soft voice. "I don't hate your making friends with the horses. I hate that you won't talk to me. I think I know what's wrong, but I still can't help you until you let all those feelings out. Please let me help you, Amanda." Her voice broke for a moment with her earnestness, but she took a deep breath and continued. "It could have been me in your place; I've had nightmares about it since we left. I know what you're feeling, and I want to help you."

Amanda stared toward the dying embers of the fire, unable to meet her twin's pleading gaze. The words were there in her mind, but once again they dissolved on her tongue. The silence grew longer, but Elissa didn't turn away, keeping her gaze locked on her sister, as if trying to express through the force of her gaze how much she meant those words.

Finally Elissa rose with a frustrated sigh. "I'll be right back, I have to go to the bathroom." She turned and left.

Amanda stared at the dying embers, as a single silent tear slipped down her cheek.

Erin's watch came much too soon for her. Allanon's statement that she would help him in the summoning had unsettled her, to say the least. She had lain awake for a long time, trying to comfort herself with her knowledge of Allanon. She knew he cared for her...or at least she thought so. After that afternoon, she wasn't as confident in her ability to predict him. She had tried to figure out what she could do during the summoning, without any of her own magic, but had come up empty-handed.

Suddenly Erin remembered a scene in The First King of Shannara in which Allanon had lent Bremen his strength. Together they had wiped out the Warlock Lord's siege engines and many of his men. But even then, Allanon had had some small command of Druid magic; Bremen had already begun his instruction. Erin had none. Still...perhaps it was not necessary to have magical training...

Whatever he's going to make me do, worrying about it won't change anything, Erin reminded herself. Still, she was afraid, and the silent darkness gave her no comfort. As she had done so many nights on her watch, she began to sing.

Cold as the northern winds in December morning,

Cold is the cry that rings from this far distant shore.

Winter has come too late, too close beside me.

How can I chase away all these fears deep inside?

I'll wait the signs to come,

I'll find a way.

I will wait the time to come,

I'll find a way home.

My light shall be the moon, and my path the ocean.

My guide the morning star, as I sail home to you.

I'll wait, the signs to come,

I'll find a way.

I will wait, the time to come,

I'll find a way home.

"Was that song by Enya as well?" Allanon's deep voice drifted softly through the still air. Erin stiffened momentarily, then relaxed as the Druid took a seat next to her. She nodded.

Allanon was more relaxed than usual, Erin noticed. Perhaps it was the prospect of returning to the Four Lands. Erin knew that in his position, she would be glad to see some familiar sights too. At least he hadn't gotten too much of a culture shock in this world; he hadn't gone to a dance or even been in a modern house, with its televisions and computers and electricity.

Erin desperately wanted to ask the Druid what he had planned for the summoning, but she was afraid to break the companionable silence they shared. Allanon spoke first. "I gave Elissa the Elfstones."

Erin glanced at him sharply, surprised that he had spoken so bluntly. "I thought Shea had them!"

"He has the blue Elfstones. There are many different ones, many colors. Elissa's are green." Allanon replied.

"Do they have the same effects as the blue Elfstones?" Erin asked, mostly concerned about their ability to kill magical creatures. That would be a helpful tool for Elissa in the future.

Allanon seemed to have read her mind. "They will provide her with a defense against the Skull Bearers." He fell into silence.

"And will they guide her when she is lost?" Erin prodded.

"No." Allanon replied. "In this, they are different from the blue Elfstones. The green Stones have the power to heal."

Erin drew in a breath. "That may prove useful." she said finally. Then, speaking on a sudden thought, she asked, "Have you told her?"

"About the healing powers of the Stones? No." Allanon said.

"Why?" Erin asked, puzzled.

"I do not want her to use it while I am not here to instruct her. The healing power can be...difficult to wield." Allanon answered.

"But what if Sarah were badly hurt while we were gone? What if Elissa could save her through the Elfstones' power?" Erin pressed.

"I do not want her to use any form of magic while she and Sarah are alone. I would rather the Skull Bearers believe we have all traveled to the Four Lands," Allanon said.

"They already know we're here. You've done enough magic yourself; they can't have missed it," Erin said.

"But they may believe after tonight that we have all departed. In that case, they will waste no time searching the area. They will merely wait for us to return. When we do, I will be there to protect all of you." Allanon answered. Erin was struck again by the Druid's selflessness.

She sighed resignedly. "As long as you promise to tell her when we return," she said, a slight tone of command in her voice.

Allanon wasn't affected. "I will make no promises."

Erin almost protested, but knew that it would make no difference. A stone wall would bend easier than he when he had made a decision.

An awkward silence descended between the two of them. Erin broke it after many minutes of thought. "Allanon, tell me about Bremen and the First War of the Races," she said. "Not the version you tell everyone else. Tell me what really happened."

Even in the darkness, Erin could tell that he was giving her a surprised look. "I know what happened according to Terry Brooks and the books he has written. It was different than the account you gave to Shea, at least as Terry Brooks wrote it. I want to know what really happened."

Allanon was silent for a moment. "I was young, and do not remember it well."

Erin waited for a few seconds, half-expecting the Druid to continue, but he did not. "Tell me what you remember then," she said finally.

"Not now. It is time to wake the others," Allanon said.

"Later, then? Maybe when we reach the Four Lands?" Erin pressed.

"Perhaps," Allanon answered, already rising. Once again, Erin let the matter drop, instead joining him in rousing her sleeping friends.

A half-hour later, the five friends said their goodbyes. Allanon offered a last, ominous warning. "As soon as we are gone, move the camp to the other side of the valley. Try to cover all traces of our presence here. Do not confront the Skull Bearers. If one discovers the camp, leave immediately. Abandon the horses if you must."

"You aren't taking them?" Sarah asked.

"I would not subject them to that," Allanon replied, and an awkward silence descended upon the group. Allanon looked up, meeting Elissa's eyes for one brief, terrifying moment, and she heard his voice in her mind. Do not use the Stones.

Then he turned away and led Erin, Adrienne, and Amanda down the cliff back to the Hadeshorn. Elissa shuddered, remembering the maelstrom of the previous night. Amanda would be right in the middle of it, right next to the swirling, shrieking waters of the black lake. And then she would be somehow transported between worlds. Elissa stopped her train of thought there; she really didn't want her overactive imagination to start visualizing that experience. Her overwhelming anxiety for her twin, paralyzing her mind with its cold iron grip, was enough to deal with.

Though she had learned many valuable skills during these past few weeks of travel, Elissa had found far more value in her personal discoveries. Something about the solitude and silence of the night made one turn inward, looking deep within for the hidden secrets that fled from the light and laughter of day. One of her most profound revelations had been just how deeply she cared for her twin. Certainly they had always shared a house, classes, and many interests, but their competitiveness in every aspect of their lives had pushed them apart. Elissa had always judged herself against Amanda, and it had long frustrated her that Amanda often received better grades, made better times in track, or won better chairs and awards in band. Out here in the wilderness, faced with constant danger and relentless inner battles that could only be truly understood by each other, finding their faith and friendships tested and tried, there was no place for that type of childish competitiveness. They had begun to rediscover their connection, sitting apart from the others after dinner or during their watch, just talking. At least, until Amanda found out she was the Heir, Elissa thought, suppressing a growl of frustration. Now she only talks to the horses.

The line of figures had wound its way down the valley wall to the floor. From her perch at the rim, Elissa could not tell the girls apart, though she could certainly distinguish which figure was Allanon. The tall Druid was unmistakable.

The three smaller figures stopped a few feet from the slope of the valley wall. Allanon continued forward, until he was mere feet from the edge of the deadly waters. He seemed about to begin the summoning when he turned back, and one of the smaller figures separated itself from the others and walked towards him. Suddenly Elissa remembered the Druid's words to Erin the day before. Since you are so determined to make certain I keep my strength up, you shall help me.

Since you are so determined to make certain I keep my strength up, you shall help me. Erin remembered as she reached Allanon's side. Her apprehension from an hour ago returned tenfold. She had observed the summoning ceremony as closely as possible, had replayed it dozens of times in her mind, and had found no place where she might contribute. But those had been Allanon's words.

Allanon seemed to sense her fear. With a slightly mocking smile, he motioned for her to stand in front of him. He placed his hands on her shoulders, leaning down to whisper in her ear. "You need do nothing. Merely feel the power and let it feed upon your strength." Erin nodded slightly, swallowing back her fear, willing it away. Allanon was going to do what Bremen had done years ago: use her to amplify and augment his magical strength. The only consequence had been exhaustion for both men. The same would be true for this...right?

Then the time for thoughts ended as Allanon raised his hands and began the spell to summon the dead. Erin could not suppress a shiver as the valley around her came to life, the waters of the Hadeshorn swirling ominously, the earth groaning as if tortured. Even as Allanon's voice grew louder the volume of the rumbling increased, though the ground was steady beneath Erin's feet.

Suddenly the irrational fear seized her that this valley was the cone of a volcano, and that she and all her friends were about to be blown away by plumes of burning lava. No, Erin, you've watched Allanon do this before, there aren't any live volcanoes in the Rockies, you're... Her thoughts were abruptly cut off as Allanon screamed the last word of the invocation, struggling to be heard over the cacophony, which followed his voice to new heights. The circle of madly churning waters tightened and deepened into a whirlpool in the center of the Hadeshorn, a gaping maw from which an eruption of sound sprang forth: the previous rumbling, multiplied tenfold, and the wailing spirits of the dead. Erin had thought watching the display from the valley rim was frightening, but she was utterly unprepared for the terror of being at the center of the maelstrom.

Then Allanon's hands dropped onto Erin's shoulders, and for a few moments her attention was focused solely inward. Her limbs seemed to droop as a sudden fatigue seized her muscles, her strength draining away like blood from an open wound. Yet at the same time the blood in her veins was replaced with raw, liquid power. It was an exhilarating feeling, almost like a particularly intense surge of adrenaline; she suppressed the urge to scream with the intensity of her elation.

In the same moment she became aware of an overwhelming sense of fear, so potent she felt as if she were about to choke. But somehow she knew it was not her own, and she realized that to draw strength from her Allanon had been forced to join minds with her. It was the Druid's fear she sensed; he was mortally terrified of the journey they were about to undertake.

Allanon's hands tensed on her shoulders, gripping them so hard it was painful. The fear began to lessen gradually, and Erin realized the Druid was shutting his feelings away, locking them down in an effort to cover up his supposed weakness. Too late, she thought; acting instinctively, she gathered up some of the remaining anxiety and drew it into herself, noting with satisfaction that his hands loosened on her shoulders.

Then her attention was drawn back to the lake as Bremen followed his spirit brethren out of the dark waters. As the shade approached them, Erin decided that maybe Allanon's fears weren't completely unfounded. Bremen's shade towered over them, face invisible within the black hood as he glided towards them over the suddenly calm waters. The wailing died down to a whisper, and a queer stillness descended over all, sending shivers down Erin's spine. She shrank back towards Allanon, who stood still as stone behind her. She wished she could see his expression, but she couldn't tear her eyes from the unseeing gaze of Bremen's shade.

The shade stopped mere feet away, towering over them. Erin realized with a detached, calm part of her mind that she could see the valley wall through Bremen. How could this insubstantial spirit carry solid beings? Then again, Erin supposed bringing science into the picture when they were about to travel between worlds was slightly hypocritical.

All thoughts of scientific probability were driven from her mind when she heard Bremen's voice. –Why have you come— From behind Erin came two gasps; she didn't have to turn to know that Adrienne and Amanda had also heard the shade's voice in their minds.

"We wish to journey to the Four Lands," Allanon replied, his deep voice calm and controlled as usual.

—Very well. I shall take you singly— Bremen's shade replied, gliding closer. Erin fought down a scream as it came near enough to touch; she could feel its coldness even now.

"Which of you shall travel first?" Allanon called. For several long moments there was silence; no one stepped forward. Erin risked a glance back at her friends, who were staring at Bremen with wide eyes. Neither of them was moving so much as a finger.

Erin looked back at Bremen, sure her eyes were just as wide as her friends'. Allanon would probably have to be the last to travel, because he had to hold the shade here. And if Adrienne and Amanda weren't going to step forward...

Her knees shaking so fiercely she wasn't sure they would hold her weight, Erin took a single step forward to the edge of the lake. Allanon's hands fell from her shoulders as he realized her intent, and she swallowed hard at the loss of contact, feeling as though with that one step she had crossed a chasm of immeasurable width. Her friends, Allanon, could no longer help her. She cleared her throat and spoke in a voice that was much steadier than she felt, "I...I'll...I'll go first."

The shade did not reply. It seemed to condense for a moment, becoming smaller and more solid. Then its arms, shrouded in long sleeves of shadowy mist, came down and enfolded her.

All at once a veil of shadow came over her eyes, dimming the world until all she could make out were three blurred, faceless shapes. A corner of her mind told her that they were her friends, but the rest of her mind had shut down entirely except for one thought: cold. The freezing mists cocooned her, slowing her thoughts in a crushing weariness. They clung to her, sliding over her skin like icy silk, immobilizing her emotions and thoughts.

—Who— an insidious, cold tendril of thought whispered in her mind. Her thoughts were too sluggish to form an answer. –Who dares to come among us. Why do the living enter the realm of the dead—

A word surfaced in Erin's mind, though she had no idea where it came from. —Amanda— There was a vague sense of urgency in the name, but she couldn't summon the energy to break through her frozen lethargy and explore it. More of the shadowy voices invaded her thoughts, raising a host of alarm bells in a distant corner of her mind. Something within her rebelled at the stealthy invasion, but she couldn't pull together the logic to figure out why.

Then, through the dim mist of her vision, she made out several huge, dark shapes. All at once the gentle floating sensation was replaced by the feel of hard, rocky ground. The dark mist dropped from her sight and Erin realized that the shapes she had seen were mountains.

Then it hit her. She was in the Four Lands. She had traveled through the spirit world and now stood on the earth of a world that just weeks ago she had believed pure fantasy.

An ecstatic grin gradually spread over her face as the realization sank in. "Oh my god..." she whispered. "Oh my god, oh my god I'M HERE!" She shouted the last words, reveling in the way the echoes surrounded her. Burying her hands in the sharp rocks of the valley floor, Erin allowed herself a few moments of pure joy. Here she was, sitting on the bank of the Hadeshorn—the one she had read of, the one where first Bremen and then Allanon had stood seeking guidance from the immortal spirits. And she, Erin Warford, was here.

Then there was a rumbling and churning all around her, and Erin scrambled away from the edge of the lake. Someone else must be coming through, she thought with excitement. That exhilaration soon turned to fear, however. The valley walls around her were dislodging rocks as the sound intensified, and it suddenly occurred to Erin that if something went wrong she would be unable to do anything about it. Allanon was still in her world and would have to come through last.

Erin watched Bremen's shade rise out of the roiling waters, heart pounding with apprehension. With surprising care the shade laid down another form and retreated back into the dark waters, leaving the valley silent once more.

As soon as she was sure the valley would not split open beneath her feet, Erin rushed forward to her friend, who was stirring slowly as she came out of the lethargy of the spirit world. Erin caught a glimpse of a broadsword as she neared the crumpled form; it was Adrienne then. Amanda would be coming through any minute.

"Adrienne," Erin called softly, shaking her friend's shoulder. "Adrienne, we're here!"

Adrienne cracked one eye open. "Erin?" she exclaimed, sitting up quickly. "You made it too!"

Erin grinned. "Yeah. We're in the Four Lands now!"

Adrienne looked around with a slow smile. "It looks the same," she finally remarked.

Erin looked around as well. "You're right, it does. That's weird."

Before Adrienne could respond, the rumbling started again. Erin dragged her to her feet and they hurried back to a cliff several feet away from the lake. Once again Bremen rose out of the Hadeshorn, leaving a prone form on the shore before retreating into the Hadeshorn's murky depths.

As soon as he was gone Erin and Adrienne raced to Amanda's side. When Erin put a hand on Amanda's shoulder, intending to bring the girl back to consciousness, Amanda twisted away with a short scream. Erin drew her hand back as if stung, exchanging a wide-eyed glance with Adrienne. She took a deep breath and turned back to face Amanda.

Amanda was breathing hard, as if she had run a race, her eyes impossibly wide and frightened. "You...you..." she managed, and then she started to cry. Erin moved forward, tentatively placing a hand on her shoulder, then wrapping her in a hug. "It's okay, Amanda. Adrienne and I made it through, and now you're here. You're safe now. Everything is fine."

Amanda looked up at her with pathetic, swimming eyes that made Erin want to cry herself. Instead, Erin forced an encouraging smile onto her face as Amanda whispered, "The...the voices...they're gone?"

"Yes, Amanda." Adrienne said, coming up next to Erin. "You made it. You are sitting in the Four Lands right now."

Erin glanced anxiously back toward the lake. "Hey guys, I think we ought to move back to the cliff." She nodded toward the shelf of rock to which she and Adrienne had retreated, and helped Amanda stand, the girl's legs still weak after her ordeal in the spirit world.

When they had reached the cliff, Amanda collapsed back to the ground. Erin and Adrienne exchanged a worried glance. "Amanda?" Erin said softly, sitting down on one side of her friend. She didn't know what had happened to make Amanda act like this, but she wanted to find out. Adrienne joined them on Amanda's other side. "Did...did anything happen?"

A tremor went through Amanda's frame. "When?" she asked, and Erin's worry increased. She was obviously dodging the question.

"In the spirit world." Adrienne said, watching Amanda's face carefully for clues.

Amanda's voice shook when she answered. "No. I came through, just like you guys." It was evident from her tone and tense posture that she was lying, but it was just as obvious that she did not want to talk about it.

Suddenly the lake awakened for a fourth time, thundering with a terrifying volume far surpassing that of Bremen's last two appearances. Amanda reached out for something steadying to grasp, finding Erin and Adrienne's hands and squeezing them so tightly that Erin grimaced in pain. The girl's expression was that of mortal terror; she looked as though she were about to bolt, even though there were small stones raining down the cliff side past them.

"It's just Allanon," Erin soothed, but her own voice was slightly shaky. She managed to pry her fingers loose from Amanda's grip and capture Amanda's hand in her own, less painful grasp. In her concern for Amanda, Erin had nearly forgotten Allanon. Even with her help she was unsure what state the Druid would be in when he arrived in the Four Lands.

For the fourth time Bremen's shade rose out of the churning whirlpool, this time with a dark bundle clutched in its arms. The shade set Allanon down on the shoreline and then straightened, bestowing a last cold look on the girls before it sank into the inky waters. The rumbling died away and the tremors stopped, and then all was still.

For several moments Erin and her friends sat motionless, afraid to move, watching Allanon's still form on the shore. Erin's worry grew as each moment passed and the Druid gave no sign of life. Finally she rose and crept cautiously out from the small overhang which had sheltered them, her steps gaining speed as Allanon continued to stay motionless. In moments she knelt at the Druid's side, Adrienne and Amanda at her heels. With their help Erin rolled Allanon onto his back and checked for a pulse, relieved to find a weak one. His chest rose and fell slightly, further reassuring Erin. If Allanon were to die, they would be stuck in the Four Lands forever. Not that there wasn't a certain appeal to that thought, but there was a Dark Lord that needed taking care of back on Earth.

Erin glanced at the sky, noting the large clouds looming in the distance. Here it was late afternoon, if not evening; they needed to find a place to shelter for the night. But with Allanon unconscious, they were unable to move far. "Let's move him under that overhand," Erin suggested. Amanda and Adrienne gave her a dubious look, as if unsure they could carry him. Erin reached under his arms, and Adrienne and Amanda moved into place, Amanda taking his middle and Adrienne his legs. Erin nodded to her friends, and together they managed to lift the Druid off the sharp rocks.

He would hate being carried like this, Erin thought with a mental grin. Though Allanon did weigh a considerable amount, being nearly seven feet tall, it was not as much as Erin had been expecting. Erin had a sneaking suspicion that the majority of the weight they were carrying was his voluminous robes; if she remembered the books correctly, he was described as being quite thin.

Once they had reached the overhang, they lowered him gently down onto the rocky ground. As Erin laid his shoulders down, she accidentally brushed his face. An expression of shock appeared on her features as she reached back, this time deliberately touching his cheek. "Adrienne, get a fire started!" she exclaimed. "My god, he's cold!"

Adrienne touched his hand, recoiling in shock when she felt the Druid's icy skin. "You're right! I wonder why..."

"Right now that doesn't matter," Erin replied sharply. "We need that fire!"

"Okay, okay! I have to go up to the valley rim to get wood, though, so I might be awhile," Adrienne said, slightly miffed by Erin's tone. She glanced at Amanda, a request for help on the tip of her tongue, but the girl was wedged into a far corner of the rock with an expression of mingled horror and fear, her eyes locked on Allanon's unconscious form. "Cold..." she murmured softly, hugging her knees to her chest.

Adrienne looked back at Erin, who had also noticed Amanda's strange behavior. "You get the wood," Erin said. "I bet warm fire will help both of them. I'll stay with Amanda." Adrienne nodded, leaving swiftly.

With slow, deliberate movements Erin approached Amanda. She waved a hand in front of Amanda's eyes, but the girl didn't so much as blink. Erin grimaced in frustration, then reached out a cautious hand to touch Amanda's shoulder.

Amanda's head shot up. She screamed at seeing someone so close, making a vain attempt to scramble backward, but there was only rock behind her.

Erin didn't remove her hand. "Amanda," she called softly. "Amanda, it's me. It's Erin. I won't hurt you. I'm your friend."

Amanda looked at her for a few more moments, and then her terrified expression softened, tears rising in her eyes. She couldn't stop them; they trickled down her face as she dropped her head into her hands.

"Shh..." Erin soothed, coming closer. Hesitantly she wrapped an arm around the shaking shoulders, tightening her grip when Amanda said nothing. "Shh, you're with me, and I'll keep you safe. Everything will be all right..."