“Shadow and Elenyr managed to get inside Blackwell Keep,” she said. “They spoke to Gendor.”
“The assassin?” Light yawned, the momentary excitement having failed to alleviate his fatigue.
“Elenyr and Shadow saw a memory,” Rune said. “It was a memory of the four horsemen, and one that could close the Gate.”
“Where did they get this memory?” Senia asked.
Rune’s expression turned apologetic. “You.”
Senia frowned in dismissal. “I don’t recall such a vision.”
“Serak visited you in disguise,” Rune said. “You saw his future, and he removed the memory of the vision.”
“Impossible,” she said.
“They saw it,” Rune said, taking another swig of water. “And there’s more. Apparently you foresaw there was someone that could defeat Draeken, one born with the blood of dwarf, human, and elf.”
“Lachonus?” Light blurted.
“Who?” They all turned to face him.
He hadn’t really been listening. In fact, he’d begun to fall asleep, but the mention of the three races mingled could only be one person. Was it him? Light shook his head, now uncertain. Then he noticed the others were still waiting.
“Lachonus helped us destroy the Order of Ancients in Talinor,” he said. “His father was a dwarf. Not sure if there was an elf in his line.” He yawned.
“This is all based on a vision I cannot remember,” Senia said.
“Can you not see it again?” Rake asked.
Senia shook her head. “I could only replicate the vision if I had Serak in front of me.”
“Could it be a trap?” Willow asked.
“Elenyr thought of that,” Rune said. “She didn’t think so. The vision and its source did not strike her as deception.”
Willow returned her weapons to her tattoos. “If it’s true, it’s our first real weapon against Draeken.”
“Hey!” Light protested, and then recalled that Draeken was not part of him anymore. “Sorry.”
Willow patted him on the shoulder. “So is it true?”
Rune shrugged. “I don’t know. But Elenyr believes it.”
“And I trust Elenyr,” Senia said.
“Then my message is delivered,” Rune said with a nod of satisfaction. “I guess I’ll just . . .” her eyes widened in horror. “Not again.”
BOOM
She disappeared in a burst of energy which crackled across the road. Light shielded his gaze and when the energy had diminished, Rune was gone. He advanced to the spot and found the ground to be burned, scorch marks going in multiple directions.
“Can I go next time?” he asked Willow.
She rolled her eyes. “You would enjoy such a thing.”
Light grinned as Rake swept a hand to the departed Rune. “What does that mean for us?”
“It means we are going the wrong direction,” Senia said. “Rake? You think you can fly us to Terros?”
“Is Light going to fall asleep?”
“That happened one time,” he protested.
“Six times,” Willow corrected. “But the bigger question is, will Serak be in our path?”
“I think not,” Senia said.
Light sighed. “Do we have to travel at night? I thought we were going to camp for the night.”
“We need to leave now,” Senia said, and motioned for Rake to change form. “We got the information from Serak, so he will be searching for Lachonus as well. We must hasten.”
Rake bowed his head and his body began to change shape, the large wings sprouting from his back, his forearms swelling and his hands morphing into claws. As Isray appeared, Willow stepped close to Light.
“You almost fell off last night. Are you sure you can stay awake?”
“It’s not my fault a dragon’s hide is so comfortable,” Light muttered.
Willow smiled and the trio mounted the dragon’s back. The white dragon launched them skyward and soared over the forest. In the still night, Light relished the sensation of power granted only on the back of a powerful dragon. But several minutes later fatigue got to him, and his eyes began to droop.
