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."You do not plan to continue on to Littlewater, do you?"Quin shook his head slowly and fixed his gaze south along the curve of the Low Road.Though he was curious to know why he was being sought by Littlewater's guards, it was obvious they were not the reason he was called to the region.Elisandrya's tale of prophecy had proven that.He held his tongue.He had seen towns disappear because of prophecy and complacent faith.The ruins of Char were still fresh in his mind, the blackened bones on ancient pews.The bloodied gates in Logfell were not far from his thoughts either.His wounds still ached, having grown stiff while he rested.He needed the healing winds of the shadowalk to prepare him for what lay ahead.Sleep had returned the mystical current of darkness to his spirit, allowing him access to that supernatural ability.Despite his desire to feel whole again, the warrior woman stood behind him, her eyes full of questions.He felt obligated to explain himself to her, for saving his life and tending to his wounds.He sensed a kindred spirit in her, a love of the road and a desire to act rather than wait for things to get better.She had defied her elders in coming to find him.He owed her as much as he could summon himself to admit.Turning to face her, he forgot much of what he'd thought to say as their eyes met."I am no champion-barely a Hoarite, and certainly no priest.I am led by an oath I made long ago, and I place no weight in dangerous prophecies.I have been called ghostwalker, but this is just as often an insult as a description.""What are you saying?"He leveled his gaze once again to the south, narrowing his eyes and collecting his thoughts."I think this Sameska has endangered her people by giving them a false hope when they should be arming themselves against whatever lurks in those trees." He looked back to her."And I'm saying that you feel the same way, otherwise you would not be here." Though his words were presumptuous considering the short time they had spent together, he felt confident they were true and awaited her response."Fair enough.What do you propose we do about it?"His lips curved in a grim smile."We're going to Brookhollow.""But that will only strengthen Sameska's stance against defending the city.With your arrival there, the prophecy may go unopposed."He placed a hand on her shoulder and his smile grew broader, a mischievous light dancing in his strange eyes."Humor me."His sudden change in demeanor startled her, and she looked at him curiously.Though dark forces seemed gathered against all she knew, she waited in his pearly gaze.He could not help but be astounded by her."Fine.But we must get moving quickly," she said."It's almost three days to Brookhollow without horses or magic.With your injuries, we should try to get close to Littlewater so I can-""No," he said."We don't need horses."Quinsareth felt the situation fully and knew what they had to do.He could not leave her in the middle of the road, but the alternative felt almost shameful to him, exposing her to terrible dangers despite the necessity.He closed his eyes, reaching within himself until the shadow responded."Take my hand," he said.Hesitantly, she agreed, and the world around them turned dark, wavering as the world beneath their world became visible in an array of shadows.He heard her whisper a quiet prayer as she stood closer to him, leaning into him.Though her prayer was finished and she did not speak, Quin still heard her voice somehow.In disbelief, he listened to what he assumed were her thoughts, quoting the words of her high oracle as she gazed on the blackened landscape of the shadow realm.He shall walk on a road of shadow."How can this be?" he whispered.The ground beneath them blurred, disappearing as they proceeded into a world of darkness that swallowed their steps.* * * * *The inner chamber of the Hidden Circle represented the pinnacle of the history of the order since its founding in Brookhollow.It was lit by several waist-high columns.On top of each, a pool of glowing water shimmered like quicksilver.The floors were of rift marble, an especially hard stone whose mixture of swirling and geometric patterns was unique to the dwarf realm from which it had come.In the center of the circular room lay a pool of placid water, a divining pool drained and filled daily by the savants.Most were aware that the pool was filled only as a formality, as it had not been used in years.Unlike her predecessors, Sameska did not approve of anyone displaying their powers in her presence, despite the Council of the Hidden Circle's long-held traditions.The whole of the room was topped in a dome, a smaller version of that in the primary sanctuary.Its walls were carved with thousands of concentric circular patterns like ripples in a rainstorm.Their similarity to the unceasing storms outside was not lost on anyone in attendance.Sameska sat in the polished oak chair at the head of the circle and glowered disapprovingly at her lessers.The twenty remaining oracles sat before their leader, avoiding her stare and deciding how best to continue their controversial inquiry into the fate of the other towns along the Qurth's border.In light of the edict against Brookhollow's resistance, none knew how to suggest that perhaps they could request aid from outside allies.Sameska had all but accused them of blasphemy.One young woman finally spoke, staring at her hands and attempting to resolve the situation calmly."We do not doubt you, High Oracle, or the words of Savras…""Questions of this nature are the very soul of doubt, are they not?"The high oracle's voice had risen.Her eyes darted from one young woman to the next, seeking dissidence among them, alert to whispers and accusing eyes.Sameska had slept only fitfully since the evening of her chilling prophecy.Her nightmares had become amplified by her own fears.Her adamancy to stay the course, though, had been bolstered.There was no other way, in her mind, no doubt whatsoever-none that she might share with these rivals, in any case.These girls are little better than Dreslya in hiding their obvious contempt and jealousy, she thought.What do they know of prophecy? Of true divination?She stared through the door as if it were transparent, knowing that the statue still stood, stained with blood and tainted by death.She imagined its single eye upon her, the eye of Savras, dimmed in red and unblinking."Forgive us, High Oracle," another said, "we are afraid and our own spells have shown us nothing.Anything within the borders of the forest is invisible to us.We seek your sight and wisdom in these trying times, nothing more."All stared at Sameska's back nervously
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