“Well, she has recruited our old friend Drogan to help her retrieve any vital information from Keb. She knew that Keb was close to me and that I would have been likely to share secrets with him. She knows that you know the same secrets, but your power is equal to hers, so that is why she entrapped our friend instead.”
“So she knows about the orb then. What are we going to do now?”
“There is no need for panic. She does not fully understand yet what it is that she has learned. All she knows is that this object has great magical powers. I alone know the secrets of its power. My concern is what she is planning to do with the knowledge she now possesses.”
“So, are you saying that even if she could find it that she could not use it?” Her master had a way of calming her down even in the most dreadful of situations.
“Unfortunately she will be able to use most of its power if she should find it. However, she will not be able to unlock its most powerful secrets. She will be able to inflict serious harm on the races and creatures of Tuwa. That, I cannot allow.” Adair said this with an edge to his voice, which made it clear that the danger was very real.
“Will she be able to find this orb?”
“No, I have moved it once again to a new home. She should not be able to find it. I do worry that Keb may sense where I have moved it to and that Kana would be able to extract that information from him.”
“I too can sense the orb in its new location. Should we focus our efforts on securing the orb or on dealing with the war that is about to break out in Tuwa?” she asked with a look of urgency on her face.
“I believe that we need to direct our efforts toward preventing an all-out war. If this object should come into play, then we will deal with it. I sense that we are needed in the field of battle right now. If we cannot stem this tide of war, then we must turn it in our favor…for the benefit of the good peoples of Tuwa,” replied the guardian stoically.
“I shall return then to the peoples gathered together in Landen. They probably have the greatest need right now.”
“I have a special favor to ask of you before you return. I need you to visit our friend Lord Neb. It is time we got back the Nairi Canyons from those fallen elves. Have Neb cleanse it.” This last statement has an ominous feel and sent shivers through Khalida.
“Ah…you are right, of course. That course of action is probably long overdue. I will take care of it.”
“I leave you in charge of this affair for the time being. I have other matters to attend to.” Adair said this with a faraway look in his eye.
“You are going to visit him, aren’t you?” Khalida spoke in a reverent manner that was almost a whisper.
“Yes. He is the only one who can advise me in these matters. Plus, I must report that your beloved sister has fallen from her high station. He will not be pleased, but he will be able to give me the guidance that is sorely needed in this delicate situation. This bloody affair that is ravaging these free lands is the responsibility of the guardians. We shall be the ones who will rectify the wrongs. However, I sense that we are going to need help from my special children.”
“Please be careful while you travel. Kana may target you next. She knows that if you get involved that her plans will be thwarted in the end. I will attempt to track her movements, but I believe that she may be using powers that are not rightfully hers.”
Adair pulled Khalida into another warm embrace and held her for a few minutes. When he broke away from her, he smiled widely and winked at her. He jumped lightly onto Osborn’s back, and they were off. Khalida watched him go as the sun began to peak through the trees. After a few moments of watching the guardian ride off toward the sunrise, she realized that he had not explained why they had met in the Seda’s home. She had been too engrossed in their discussion to remember her initial query. It was at this point that she looked around the charred clearing and noticed the spirit creatures watching her. There were several hundred floating in the cool morning air. As she continued to look around, it was clear that they had surrounded them during their discussion. Why did they surround us? Were they trying to protect us?
Your god asked us to protect you while you met in our home.
“The guardian asked you to do that?” she asked in disbelief. She knew that he did not trust these treacherous spirits.
He has forgiven our past transgressions and has asked us to help you in your fight with the orcs and those wicked elves. We will protect the fair elven cities from capture and will lead any enemy of your god astray.
“What was offered to you in exchange for your help? Surely you do not expect me to believe that because he forgave you that you are now so willing to help us.” She did not like the fact that Adair had not told her about the deal he had made with the Seda. How do I know I can trust these shifty shades?
He bade us to give you a sign if your doubt should remain. He asked us to do one special task for him and that was to guard the path to the sacred object you just discussed with your god. One of the specters floated forward and transformed itself into the orb to show that they did know about the object they had been asked to protect.
“You could have simply overheard our discussion.”
We do not blame you for your distrust. You have every right to question our motives. As a further token of our sincerity, we will track your fallen sister for you. We will report her movements to you so that you will know where she is at all times.
“How will you be able to communicate to me the whereabouts of the guardian Kana?”
Time and space are nothing more than mere guidelines for us; they do not bind us or control us. When we have information for you, we will send a messenger to you. The shades began to pull back into the forest and disappeared after this declaration.
Khalida sighed softly as she looked around the empty clearing. Could this day get any more complex? She absentmindedly began to stroke Kuma as she stood there soaking in the rays of sunlight. She knew that she needed to get back to Landen, but she could not make herself move. She was still reeling from her awkward meeting with the Seda. She still did not believe a word that they had said. She had the feeling that these vile spirits would end up betraying them somehow. She did not know how or even why; she just had a feeling that this would be the case. Adair is too trusting of others. This was not a good decision on his part. She pushed that thought out of her mind and mounted her burly steed. As she slowly made her way toward the cover of the trees, clouds from the north began to make their way toward the Black Forest. These clouds were black and were hanging very low over the Nairi Canyons. So, that is my answer as to whether or not this day could get any more complicated.
***
Kana was flying high in the sky above the Nairi Canyons, which were now covered in darkness by a black storm cloud. She did not even take a second look at this mysterious cloud that appeared out of nowhere. She was too busy contemplating the orb she had been shown. Why would Keb, of all people, have information on a powerful magical object that she did not know of? What power did it possess, and where was it? I know that the fool had no idea of where to find it, but maybe I could force him to use his special connection to the earth to track it down for me. She smiled at this thought and spurred her steed to head north once more. She intended to visit her captive friend one more time. She had methods of getting what she wanted that even Drogan knew nothing about. He served his purpose and would continue to do so, but this task required her special talents.
After flying for quite some time, she arrived at the mountain that held the earth lord prisoner. Her dragon fought her once again on going anywhere near the accursed place. This time she merely set down on the plains leading up to the evil lair. As she slid off the back of her steed, she gave him a very stern look. She did not like the fact that her dragon was afraid of anything…even though he had very good reasons to be scared. She started to walk away toward her destination and did not look back when Ryo took flight. She casually turned into a ball of fire and shot across the desolate landscape.