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Altar of Providence. Every ranger in the legion would lose his extraordinary skills. They'd be helpless in the face of impending evil. The raw guilt twisted in his heart again.
    "The Jalora will not abandon us. We must trust its wisdom. Leo received a letter which caused him to flee this fortress. I can only hope it is the answer to what he seeks."
    "A letter," Dragon whispered absently.
    The silence erupted in a thunderous roar, reverberating against Wolf's skull like cannon fire. He fell from the cot to his knees, slapping his hands over his ears. Deafening in its intensity and painful in its sorrow, Leo’s death cry shattered Wolf’s being. He cried out in pain and grief. His own cries were soon joined by others sharing his bond. The Lords of Valdeon were the Sacred Guard, bound in body and soul to protect the Altar of Providence. When one of them died, the others felt the pain as well.
    Dragon helped him to the cot and took Wolf’s face in his hands. "What has happened? Tell me."
    "It's Leo." Wolf sucked in a miserable breath. "He has passed from the world. The Lion Ring is black with death."
    "The ring? Where is it?" Dragon gripped his face harder.
    He let his hands fall away when Xavier shook his head. Dragon stood away from him. He closed his eyes, but opened them soon after.
    "The Jalora will not answer my pleadings." He leaned his back against the wall, turning pale and sick. "Lost, the Lion Ring is lost."
    Rafael the Fox fell into the room. His handsome features mirrored Wolf’s own grief and horror. "Sir?"
    Wolf stood, projecting absolute confidence to his much younger guardsmen. "Have our ship ready to depart immediately. We must return to San Leonora, before news of Leo’s death causes civil war. And Fox, we don't have four days to waste in the air. Drain the last crystal in the ship's engine if you must. Get us to San Leonora in all haste."
    Fox saluted and darted out the door. The other rangers called after him as he ran. Wolf's grip tightened upon the cot. The Lords of Valdeon were still boys. They should not have to carry this burden Leo had placed upon their shoulders. It was up to Wolf to lend them his strength. He kept the confidence wrapped around his being like armor.
    "I don’t know why the Jalora remains silent, Dragon, but I still have faith it will not abandon us."
    "The legion is at your disposal. Any assistance you need, we will make our top priority."
    Wolf nodded his thanks. Forcing his trembling legs to obey, he moved toward the door. Above all else, he must be there to support the Chancellor of Valdeon and protect the Altar. They were weakened now, exposed to their enemies. Edmund's death could not be hidden once the court saw the Orb of Valdeon black and lifeless. Using the magic of the Ancients, the Crown of Sorrow had left Edmund's brow the moment the Lion Ring was severed from his life force. It's silver would be gripped tightly once more in the golden jaws of the lion's head within the throne. Such omens could not be mistaken. Watchful traitors were keen to strike. They'd be disappointed in their treachery. The Lords of Valdeon were duty bound to stop them just as they had been since the first rings were forged.
    The weight of his new responsibility settled into a permanent ache at his temple. In all of Valdeon's history, the bearer of the Wolf Ring but served. Now with Leo dead and his worthless brother the Hawk banished from San Leonora, leadership of the sacred guard fell to Wolf. The people of Valdeon looked to him to keep their society at peace and stem the tides of civil war. Somehow he would see his duty done. The Jalora would not abandon them. He had faith its wisdom would see them through tragedy.
    He cast one last look at Leo's meager possessions. Why? What could be so important to Edmund D'Antoiné that he'd been willing to risk his life and his country to hide? Wolf turned his back on the mystery. Leo's reasons didn't matter anymore. Their king had passed from the world.