So it was that Kela escaped her prison.

Her past had been left behind to grasp her destiny.

Kela rested in a small chamber. There had been no sleep. Each time she shut her eyes, she was haunted by flashes of visions. The confusing, perplexing dreams left her with a feeling of urgency.

She was needed.

Father Sadon Oliver had indeed shown her kindness by giving to her a bed to lay her head. He had not pressed her about her sudden appearance. Moreover, he did not seem overly concerned about how she arrived.

He was a distinguished man, tall and thin with a long, gray beard. He had pale cheeks and piercing blue eyes. Sordarin by birth, he had no wings, only slight humps on his back that could be seen through his long black robes.

For men in the faith, clipping of their wings was designed to show their faith in the Great One. The practice, called Daripada Sayap, was extremely painful.

A servant girl brought a bowl of leek and mushroom broth and a piece of stale bread. Kela had not realized how famished she was. She ate heartily.

“I’m sorry it is nothing more than broth.”

Kela rose from the wooden chair. Looking at Father Oliver, she smiled. “I more than appreciate your kindness.”

He bowed his head slightly. “It is my calling to help those who have need of aid.”

She hesitated to confide in the religious man. In truth, she had little choice but to place her fate in his hands. A telling omen, she convinced herself, that she had landed in his gardens.

Alone within the city, fear gnawed within her.

The Forbidden Forest’s shield had fallen. What am I to face here in Yucca? Falco had not answered her since her arrival. She had no knowledge of the whereabouts of Cono or Sareta.

Her need laid with contact with her warrior and siblings. There was only one she trusted to be able to do so.

Turstan.

A sudden urge to see Turstan overwhelmed her. She hadn’t realized how much she wanted to find a semblance of comfort.

“Were you able to find the warrior Turstan?” She had asked for only one thing from Father Oliver, if he had any way to discover where Turstan might be. “Turstan was with Prince Falco’s household.”

“I have found the warrior of which you speak,” Father Oliver said. “I have sent for him. Come with me now. I will take you to a place you may wait for him.”

Kela followed behind Father Oliver through the long stone hallway. He opened a door into an atrium enclosed with porticoes.

The sky was gray. It smelled of rain.

“By all that’s good!” a voice bellowed from the stone steps at the entrance of the atrium.

She had no need to turn to know that Turstan had come.

* * * *

A soft patter of rain fell against the canopy over the bench Kela sat. Turstan stood at the post, looking down at her.

She looked at his filthy hair, scraggly beard, and dry, cracked lips. His uniform was ragged and torn. He smelled foul, as if he hadn’t bathed in weeks.

Yet, his telling eyes betrayed his emotion, welling up.

Father Oliver moved over to their side. “You may speak freely. I have ensured you privacy.”

Kela watched Father Oliver walk over to the portico. She was thankful for the sanctuary he had given her.

She wasted no time telling her tale to Turstan.

Pain crossed over Turstan’s face upon the knowledge that Guilda was no longer in the world. He constantly rubbed his chin, but said little.

Finally, Turstan roared, “Holy Gotty!”

From the corner of her eye, Kela felt Father Oliver’s eyes upon them. She placed her hands on Turstan’s chest to calm him. He needed to hear what she had to tell him.

“Guilda died with no pain. Only I couldn’t give to her the honors she deserved…and Sareta didn’t get to say good-bye.” Her voice quivered with fervor. “Something is terribly wrong. I haven’t heard from anyone in such a long time. I should have never been sent back. Turstan, something cloaked the Shimmering Pool. The shield was lost, which allowed the Hallow Minions access.”

Turstan lowered his head. Pressing his lips together, he gathered his thoughts. “Child, I’m so sorry. I don’t even know half of what you have had to endure for the king’s plan. I held faith with his plan, for I thought without question it was for the good of all. Now…”

She took him by the shoulders to look into his eyes. “What do you mean, Turstan? I do not doubt my fate lies in protecting Scarladin. I know the dangers to be faced. I am not afraid to face them. It was you who taught me. Why now are you questioning? Why have you turned back to your drink? Do not deny it. I can well see it within you. Where is Falco? Why would he allow such?”

His voice faltered with the sadness within him. “Prince Falco will not see me, talk to me after…after…”

“After what, Turstan?”

“Lord Twiten has passed away, Kela. When I heard, I went straightway to Falco, but he would not listen to what I had to say. I told him we should bring you back. My fear was as what has happened—that the shield would fall and leave you unprotected. Falco only uttered that all was as it should be.”

Kela stared at Turstan in disbelief. Falco would not ignore Turstan! He had been as a father to the three of us. “I need to talk with Falco. My call to him has been unanswered.”

Turstan grimaced. “Kela, Falco threw me into Torini.”

Stunned, Kela was taken back by Falco’s actions. “The Black Tower!”

“I lost my temper in my exchange with your brother, child,” Turstan said. “I was not the only one who would not be heard. Johannes came to me, telling of his concern about you. He had no time to make arrangements for you. He had orders to depart for the Payelaga Desert. He had only time to tell me of your need to return.”

“Falco was separated from his Euchoun?”

“Odd, but there is much amiss.” Grimly, Turstan heaved a deep sigh. “I have failed you, Kela. Look at yourself. You are so thin, so damnable pale. No one has looked after you. I gave my word to your mother to care for you. I should have never let you go back to the Forbidden Forest.”

“There was nothing you could have done.”

“I placed my trust poorly. I should have listened to Guilda.” A silent tear fell from his eye. “I know not who we can trust.”

“Cono,” Kela said. Her confidence grew with the thought of her warrior. “Dark magic is at work. We will have to tread carefully. Cono will gain me access to my sister. Has he returned from the Payelaga Desert?”

Turstan drew back. “Cono is another worry that bothers me. I see the shine in your eyes upon his name, but it was of him whom Johannes expressed one of his concerns. Guilt for not telling you all that he knew. He said it was not his place, but Cono’s.”

Confused by his words, she stuttered. “I…don’t understand. Johannes said…I told him…Cono…and I are to be married.”

“He declared such to you!” Turstan visibly winced.

“Yes, he has declared his love for me,” she said, in a voice not much louder than a whisper. “It should not be shocking. We are bonded.”

His anger spewed forth at her warrior. “Cono should have never done so, Kela. It is rumored that there is to be an announcement of the Lord Commander’s attachment. It is said King Edulf gave permission for Cono to marry your cousin… Amicia.”

“No, no—you’re mistaken. Cono has declared to me. He…loves me. He told me above all else, we are to be together forever.”

Kela paused for a moment. She saw the way Turstan stared at her. “No, you are wrong, Turstan. You don’t know Cono the way I do. We are bonded. In this I know, he loves me…I feel it within me. It has to be the dark magic… Once I’m with him, he will refuse what the king has offered to him.”

“By all that’s holy! Child, he couldn’t refuse what has already been given…what he asked for!” Turstan exploded. His face flamed to a brilliant red.

“No, Turstan, you are wrong,” she repeated. Taking a step away from her guardian, she steadfastly refused to believe the words he uttered.

“This is what angers me so. The manner in which you have been treated. Expected to protect and yet…”

“No,” she cried. Kela was in shock. Her hands began to shake; her body trembled. “Cono is all I have clung to…the belief in our love. With all that is within me, Turstan, you can’t tell me…ask me to believe…”

“In all, you’re right, Kela. All needs to be taken into account. Rash decisions need not be taken. You have only begun to trust your own instincts. Do not dismiss them now.”

Kela turned to face the steady voice that moved to her side.

“Do not give the girl false hope, Father,” Turstan pleaded. “You do not know. She is innocent to the world. I have failed her. I won’t fail her again!”

“In that, you are wrong, Turstan. I do know. I know that you have fallen back into drinking away your sorrows. You have to find the strength to fight now, more than ever. Kela needs you. Do you not, Kela?”

“How do you know what I need?”

“Because I have dealt with one such as you before. She was my sister, your grandmother, Althea.”