Rosalind turned away from her window but could not quite bring herself to look upon Atreus again. "You see, there is only one way I can help you, and that is by sending you back to King Korox sane and sound."

"But Langdarma does exist," Atreus insisted, growing concerned. "I have it on the… highest authority."

The queen began to look impatient. "What authority could possibly be higher than my own?"

"Only that of a goddess… my goddess, Sune Firehair." Atreus's reply drew a gentle murmur of laughter, and this time Rosalind made no attempt to silence the mirth. "Sune herself commanded me to seek the valley. I am to return with a vial of-"

"Your goddess is not worshiped in the Yehimals," Rosalind said. "She is barely remembered here in Edenvale, and so it is impossible that she knows of Langdarma."

"Then who gave me this?"

Atreus reached into his cape and withdrew the map he had received in Duhlnarim, so worn from folding and unfolding that it was beginning to tear along the creases. He unfolded the map and laid it on the queen's lap.

"As you can see, it is a map to Langdarma," he said. "All I ask is a guide to help me find the Sisters of Serenity, or, failing that, the best instructions you can offer."

Rosalind studied the map, her eyes silently scanning the names of the mountains and valleys. After a few moments, she looked up and sadly shook her head.

"I am sorry. Someone has deceived you. I do not recognize any of the names on this map. The Sisters of Serenity are as much a myth as Langdarma itself."

"Begging your pardon, Most Radiant Majesty, but perhaps that is not so," interrupted Rishi. He turned to Atreus. "As I have said, I visited these Sisters only last year in the company of a-"