Jerrill was yelling. Biort was telling him to settle down. Cadeyrn looked worried and Moiril, now months with child, was shaking her head. The only one of Aeronwyn's apprentices not upset was Keri. She was confused.
"No way!" Jerrill shouted. "No freaking way! You can't be serious! They want to kill you!"
"I have to admit I agree with Jerrill, Aeronwyn. The Examiners main guild hall? Really? You are serious?" Cadeyrn bit his lower lip as he stared at her, hoping he had heard wrong.
"What is this 'Book of Souls'?" Keri asked.
"I don't know." admitted Aeronwyn. "I only know where it is and that I am supposed to get it. In fact, I have to get it because until I do, nothing else will matter to me."
"A geas? Those damn Old Gods laid a geas on you? What use are they?" Jerrill brushed off his wife's hands angrily. "No, don't tell me to settle down. This is stupid!"
"Not just that. They gave me three gifts but I don't know what they are either. You can see my hair. That's one of them. I don't even know who they are for." Aeronwyn sighed. The rescue from prison and getting out of there safely had been all that mattered until the returned to the land of the Sessailaine. Now six months had passed, winter was coming and suddenly Aeronwyn had a desire to leave that was painful in its urgency. A geas.
Moiril stood up. It was getting more evident every day that she and Cadeyrn were soon to be parents and she knew that this adventure would have to start without her. "Cadeyrn can go with you." she offered.
"No, he can't. When your time comes we need our best healer here. If any complications arise, Cadeyrn would never forgive me if he was not here to help and you both know it. I will take Keri and Bron. A small group has a much better chance of success." Aeronwyn had thought this through. Keri was unknown in the Western Kingdom and Bron had many friends there. Everyone else would just be in the way.
Jerrill sat, frustrated. "You are determined, aren't you. Aeronwyn, we lost you once. We can't lose you again!"
"I understand how you feel but that doesn't change anything. Bron comes because he has contacts that can help us. Keri comes because she is unknown to the examiners. Heck, I doubt her own parents would recognize her now. I go because I have to. To put anyone else at risk for this is wrong." Aeronwyn looked around the room.
Finally, Biort said, "Jerrill, she is right. This isn't a raid. It has to be as low key as possible to even have a chance of success. We are all known. It's bad enough Aeronwyn has to go but she has no choice. Whatever this 'Book of Souls' is, the Old Gods say it is important enough that it must be risked."
"I still don't like it." Jerrill said. "So when do you sail?"
"Tomorrow. Thugard can take me to Forsyth. From there we can take one of the trade routes or even a ship. Forsyth is neutral and many of the Grall traders stop there on their way to and from the Western Kingdom. If we can get on a Grall ship we are less likely to attract attention."
"It is risky," mused Cadeyrn, "but likely the best way in. Especially if you can jump ship at one of the minor ports and make your way to the capital by land."
"Then let us say our goodbyes tonight. Thugard wants us on board so we can sail with the early tide." Aeronwyn hugged them one by one. Unlike their last separation, this one was intentional but at least they knew where she would be.
Aeronwyn and Keri were walking towards the Nereus when Bron joined them. "Our gear is loaded, Milady." he said.
"Bron, if you call me that in the Kingdom our cover will not last long. Can you please, please, just call me Rhiannon?" They had decided that Aeronwyn's birth name would be used to avoid discovery.
"Force of habit. Sorry, Mi...I mean, Rhiannon."
Keri, who had no idea that Aeronwyn had another name, was enthralled with the story when Jerrill told it to her. Of course, Bards were expert story tellers but ancient kingdoms, powerful enemies and great magic made for a grand story even if you didn't know it was true and the heroine was your best friend. Great Lady Rhiannon, the Queen of the Known World. Even the title sounded grand. Aeronwyn had told her the titles were meaningless relics of a world that had died millennia ago when her mother had torn all the magic from the world and poured it into her daughter to hold until it was safe to release it once more.
They boarded and settled in for the night. Thugard, who graciously surrendered his cabin for the two women, acknowledged them when they boarded but was busy seeing the ship made ready for sail. The port was a bustle of activity as other ships were preparing to catch the tide. Keri thought she saw Thugard's Luck and Bron confirmed that Barik, who had been Thugard's first mate was the new captain of the Luck. The other ships they had captured from the Islanders had been repaired and refitted with fresh crews. One of them had transported the prisoners to Grale where it was thought they could, with luck, either find a way home or discover a new life. All but one.
Moiril's father was, as promised, taken to the Sessailaine colony where the Skyfolk children were being protected. Keri had seen him walking from the Nereus when they had first docked and it seemed to her that he was a broken man. Moiril hadn't even glanced in his direction, which Keri thought was sad but understandable. Keri lost her relationship with her own father but believed that was not because he didn't love her but because he knew, the way she was then, that she could have no other life. She often wondered if he missed her. With that thought, Keri drifted off to sleep.
