Disheartened, he looked down at the medallion around his neck. Taking it in one hand, he slowly closed his fist around it. The gold medallion had been given to him by his parents, just before they had died at the hands of the Coven of Sorceresses. The medal showed the lion and broadsword, the twin symbols of the House of Galland. Shailiha wore an identical one.

"It's not your fault," Wigg said quietly. Taking a deep breath, he placed his hands into the opposite sleeves of his robe. "It never has been. You must sense that. All you have ever done is protect both the citizens and the nation you care for so much. But they don't know that, Tristan. And that is because they are still without what they need the most."

Tristan did not look up. "And what is that?" he asked.

"What only you can provide," Wigg answered. "Their rightful king."

Tristan took a deep breath. For several long moments silence filled the space between him and the wizard.

"But to be king, I must wear the Paragon," he said at last. "And to do that, my blood must first revert to its natural state."

"Yes," Wigg answered heavily. "Despite whatever is causing all of this destruction, we must never lose sight of the fact that finding a way to alter your blood is paramount. If we do not figure out how to do that, then everything else we do-no matter how well-meaning-will be for naught. The Jin'Sai must eventually be trained, and then read the entire Tome of the Paragon. The future of our world depends upon it."

Tristan thought for a moment. "You still haven't told me what is causing all of this," he replied defensively.

Wigg took a deep breath. "If I am right, when we reach it, one look will tell us all. And if I am wrong, which is also entirely possible, then we will be seeing whatever it is for the first time. For now I would prefer to leave it at that."