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your
family too.”
    Télia’s words were wise, he supposed. He wanted no harm to befall
his family because of him, and he ached for answers to an ever-mounting number
of questions. At Jon’s he might finally have these.
    He turned to Kaal. “I should go.”
    Kaal was fuming. “You want to leave with her? But none of this
should be our problem! We can handle ourselves here and let people like her and
Jon sort this out.” He was searching for excuses.
    “But I need to know the truth. I have to go!” Aldrick blurted.
    “Aldrick, we must leave as soon as possible,” Télia said with
urgency. “I am ready. You should prepare yourself now. It will take us two days
to reach the ranges and there may be danger along the way. Your family should
seek shelter in Rain in the meantime. They will be safe there, though they
should remain watchful. I recommend your brother stay with them.”
    He turned to Kaal and looked him over. “Will you stay with Bree
and Phelvara until Braem returns?”
    “I suppose I could do that,” Kaal muttered reluctantly.
    Aldrick looked back at Télia. “Well, I guess I’ll go and prepare
for the journey.”
    “Meet me here when you are ready, Aldrick,” she said as he and
Kaal made to leave. “Don’t be long.”
    They walked back up their road in silence. All the while Aldrick
could sense Kaal’s ill mood. He probably wanted to leave with him, or perhaps
he was just worried. He had every right to be.
    When they entered the house they found Phelvara arisen and sipping
tea in her gown by the embers of last night’s fire. She looked up at them as
they approached. “Hello boys, you are up early… is something wrong?” She had
noticed the anxious expressions upon their faces.
    Aldrick took her hand. “Mother, there is little time to explain.
The ka-zchen was hunting me. There is a woman here to protect me. She says I
will be safer at Jon’s. I’m going to go there with her. You must leave here
too, in case more danger comes. Will you move to Rain for a few days and await
Braem’s return? I know this is all crazy, but it is important that we all be
careful.” He took a breath.
    She looked upon him in bewilderment. “Oh Aldrick, if you say this
is the best thing then I have to believe you. We will go to Rain, as you ask.
And you,” she touched his cheek with a gentle hand, “you pursue the answers you
rightfully seek.”
    It was a much better response than he had expected. He smiled.
“Hopefully I won’t be too long. Perhaps in a week I’ll return. We’ll see.”
    Aldrick prepared for the journey hurriedly. He felt lightheaded
and a little sick. Life was changing rapidly and keeping pace with it was
exhausting. Into a leather travelling bag he stuffed everything he would need:
a change of clothes, a pillow and enough food to last him until Farguard. He
already had his bow and wore hunting gear, but decided to add two knives to his
belt and extra arrows to his quiver. He couldn’t be too careful.
    Outside, he saddled and then fastened his gear onto his favourite
steed, Tame. The horse whinnied excitedly at the prospect of open travel and
pranced merrily about in the morning sun once readied.
    All that was left to do now was to say farewell to Phelvara and
Kaal. Bree was still fast asleep inside and he would not wake her. Phelvara
came and hugged him tightly. She had tears in her eyes and breathed in heavy
gasps.
    “Be calm. It’s all going to be fine,” he said softy, attempting to
subdue her emotions.
    She smiled and wiped the tears away.
    “Yes it will be,” she sniffled before fresh tears took their
place. “Aldrick, I’m sorry Braem and I have raised you in such a sheltered
lifestyle. There is much more for you out there than we can ever offer here.
You are greater than you know.”
    Aldrick took her by the shoulders. “I love living here, Mother.
This place is always going to be home to me. You and Braem are the greatest
parents, to all three of us. Don’t worry about