Books Page 7

Not to be outdone by the girl, Mor rushed over and bowed to Fadi too. "We will find him. But how will we
know when we do?"

"Ah," Fadi said. "Fair inquiry young Hecreas." Shadows danced across the old Bashkim's face, deepening the
crevasses in his wrinkled forehead and shading his skin corpse-gray.

"He will be a youngling, around four years. His hair will be as white as the snow on the tallest peaks of Afia
and his eyes, the area where yours are blue, will sparkle like crystals."

"What about the parents?" Sabella asked. "One cannot just walk up and rip a child from the arms of his
mother."

"Another excellent question," Fadi said. "And one I'm afraid I cannot answer. Any and all means must be
taken to ensure the Bashkim's safe passage to Bashkim de Terre before the child passes his sixth birthday.
You must bring the child back alone, for it is I and my brethren who will raise the child in the ways of the
Bashkim."

"That would mean--," Mor began, but stopped and swallowed hard. "--we may have to kill the parents." Mor
had barely made a clean kill of a deer in his young life. Killing another intelligent being was unfathomable.

"I pray that does not happen," Fadi said. "You must do everything in you power to protect all true hearts.
That is the only rule. That and you must stay on the path." Fadi turned to Stiofan. "Keep your tarpan horses
in the stables. This is not a journey for such a noble steed. The seekers shall journey on foot."

"We will not fail," Sabella said, and looked over at Mor. Mor looked back and for the first time, their eyes
intentionally met.

"Off to your chambers," Stiofan said. "You will depart at daybreak."