by Cheryl Dyson
CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE
RETURN
Brydon staggered with the aftereffects of sending his mind so far to reach Toryn. He tried to stand and failed, sinking back into the chair. He vaguely wondered how Nykar had gotten the furnishings to the cave—more seemed to appear each day. He shrugged off the wayward thought, gripped by nausea. Rakyn watched him thoughtfully as he fought the effects.
"I did it, Rakyn!" he said when the need to vomit subsided. "Toryn is fine and on his way back here. Where is Thalarii, anyway?"
"South, somewhere." Rakyn shrugged. "How are you?"
"I could possibly take on a tame kitten right now. Against anything stronger, I believe I would lose."
"It is not easy," Rakyn acknowledged. "What are you going to do now?"
"I think I will sleep for twenty hours and then head for Ven-Kerrick. Are you going to tell me I’m not ready?"
Rakyn shook his head. "You are as ready as I can make you. Are you certain you don’t want to wait for your friend?"
Brydon shook his head. "I got him involved in this in the first place. I don’t want him in any more danger."
Rakyn nodded and glanced at Nykar. "If he is anything like Nykar, he will find danger on his own well enough." Nykar snorted and swigged from his bottle of brandy. Brydon laughed and bid them goodnight.
He slept soundly and awoke to find both Rakyn and Nykar up and waiting for him. Darkling was saddled and stood outside, packed with food and spare clothing. Jace adjusted the saddle on Archangel and Verana smiled down at him from astride Thistle’s back.
"Thank you, Nykar." Brydon knew full well who had made the preparations for him. Nykar coughed and went to throw another log on the fire. "And thank you, Rakyn. For everything. You have done more for me than I can ever repay."
The Silveran prince smiled. "You may be surprised at how well you can repay me, Brydon. I always look out for my own interests in the end."
Brydon was not sure how much of that was truth, but he let it pass. He mounted up and sat looking down at the two men.
"Do not forget about the gauntlet, Brydon. The girl is important, but the gauntlet is even more so. Reed must be stopped, but do not allow yourself to be sidetracked from the ultimate goal."
"Try to keep your butt from being sliced off," Nykar added. Brydon grinned and touched his heels to Darkling. Jace and Verana followed suit. It felt good to be traveling once more, even though it seemed odd to be doing so without Toryn at his side. By the time they stopped for the noon meal, they were near the border of Vineyard. Brydon felt better than he had in a long time. He patted Darkling’s soft neck.
"You are getting fat. Too much soft living, I suppose." Darkling snorted and Brydon smacked him companionably on the neck. "Don’t worry. Your rest period is over. Time to go back to scant grain and hiding from cold rain under scraggly trees, being baked by the sun and scoured by blowing dust. Fun, isn’t it?"
Darkling, as expected, did not reply. Jace and Verana trailed behind, lost in their own conversation. After pausing for a subdued meal, they moved on. Jace’s mood was somber, although he told several amusing stories, likely in an attempt to ease the tension. Brydon could think of little but Shevyn.
He tried to contact Davin that night, to let him know there was no need for him and Alyn to find Toryn. There was no silver chain for him to follow, as there had been with Toryn, but he felt a sense of presence that was almost a trail. He thought he had reached Davin when he was suddenly swatted away like a pesky insect. He tried again for some time and finally gave up, shaking his head in frustration.
"He must be blocking me," Brydon grumbled to Jace. "Perhaps he thinks I am Reed."
He sighed and contacted Toryn, instead. The effort was still immense.
//Where are you now?// Toryn asked. //And where is Alyn?//
//I’m in Vineyard. Alyn is—//
//What? You were supposed to wait for me! You had better not confront Reed on your own!//
//I’ve waited too long, already. Go to the Black City in Darkynhold and ask for Prince Rakyn. Tell him who you are and wait for me there. When this is over, I’ll meet you there.//
//Like Sheol you will!// Toryn raged. //You will wait right there for me so we can kill that bastard together!//
//I have to go, Toryn. This distance tires me. I’ll contact you later.// Brydon cut the connection abruptly. If he survived, he knew there would be hell to pay from Toryn later.
