« Not by us or those who travel with us,” the taller Druid replied, coming forward a step. «We’ll leave them here when we depart. What happens to them after that is up to them.»

  It was the best Pen could hope for. He would have liked to have found a way to get them back to Taupo Rough, but he couldn’t chance trying to make that happen. Kermadec was resourceful. He would find a way.

  Pen glanced down at the darkwand. The dirt and mud that coated its length mostly hid its runes. Its smooth surface was dull. If he was lucky, they would not pay close attention to it. If they took it, he would have to find a way to get it back later.

  His gaze shifted to the island of the tanequil, to the dark silent wall of the forest that concealed the sentient tree. He was leaving things unfinished here, he knew, and he might never have a chance to come back and set them right. The urge to act immediately threatened to overpower him, to turn him from his path to the Ard Rhys. He knew her so little, and Cinnaminson so well.

  He took another deep, steadying breath and looked back at the waiting Druids. «I’m ready,” he called out in what he hoped was a brave voice.

  Then, using the staff as a crutch, he began to walk toward them.

Two

  From deep in the shadows at the edge of the gardens, Khyber Elessedil watched the drama unfold with a mix of anger and indecision.

 « Oh, no, Pen,” she whispered.

  She had returned before him, seen the Druid airships hanging over the gardens like spiders from an invisible web, the Gnome Hunters ringing the captive members of her little company, the Druids watching the bridge, and she had determined that she must do something to warn the boy.

  But she was too late. He appeared abruptly, incautiously revealing himself before he could think better of it and before she could stop him.